How to Properly Dry Your Firewood
Most people don’t know this, but freshly cut firewood is made up of over 50% moisture. This newly cut wood is termed “green firewood’ and it is not suitable for burning in this moist state. Wet firewood just does not burn, and thus you need to dry this green wood out for a number of months. This process, known as seasoning, is not terribly difficult, but it does require about 6-12 months and it also requires vigilance so the wood does not get wet on a constant basis. Here are some tips to get the best out of your firewood:
Proper size: The size suggested for cutting the individual pieces of firewood for use in wood burning stoves and fireplaces is between 6″ to 8″ in diameter and approximately 16″ to 18″ in length.
Storage: The green firewood, which contains significant moisture, is not ready for use in the fireplace as is. Rather you should store in the wood in a good outdoor firewood rack. A firewood storage rack keeps the wood off the ground, so it cannot suck in the ground’s natural moisture. Never stack the wood tightly since the wood also requires ventilation as it gets seasoned. Covering the top layer of the logs of wood in your firewood racks with a good firewood rack cover is a significant step as it would protect the wood logs from the damages which may be otherwise caused by the weather conditions.
Types of wood: Different types of wood require different amounts of time to dry out. Usually, soft woods such as pine will be ready for your fireplace in about six months, while oak and other hardwoods can take as long as a year to season. The time of year that the wood was felled can also impact the time it takes to season. In general, wood that was logged in winter is dryer than wood felled in summer, and so it may season a few months earlier.
Using and Buying Garden Lights
Creating drama in the garden is about planting, hard landscaping and great design. But all of this fails if the lighting in the garden is not properly lit at night. Once the sun goes down, all the hard work and planning, vanishes for the next 8-10 hours! All that is needed to remedy the situation is some good garden lighting. That said, a harsh security light beamed onto the garden is not going to show your hard work off to its best. So what garden lights are on the market and how can they be used to get the most out of your garden planting?
Accent Lighting
This kind of garden light is purely to throw attention on to a planting scheme, landscaping or garden sculpture. Placing an up-lighter in a border will create drama and texture whereas a wall washed with light provides soft diffused light and can cast some intriguing shadows through the borders. If you have a water feature, you can install lights under the water to give a magical impression by night. This kind of lighting is usually mains wired and is difficult to install and change once installed. Often, special cables need fitting by a qualified electrician.
If you want something easier to fit try the Select-A-Light low voltage garden lighting system. Simply buy the special Select-A-Light cable and place it a round the garden where you want it to go. Then choose from the numerous styles of outdoor garden lights in the range. From the number of lights you have, calculate the transformer you will need and plug it into a mains socket in the house and you have your easy to instal lighting system.
Lighting for Effect
In this category the light itself is the feature rather than a spotlight for something else. Solar garden lights are the new kids on the block when it comes to special effects lighting. From flush solar decking lights to luminous fairy bowers, that would look just as at home on your bedroom furniture as in your garden, there is a style to suit you. Solar garden lights are great for placing in corners that you can’t reach with conventional lighting so you can let your imagination run wild.
There is nothing as flattering as candle light and there is plenty of space for torches and tea-lights in any garden scheme. Just follow safety rules. Do not place a naked flame where children or pets can be hurt by it. Keep plants and flammable materials well away. Make sure your candlelights are firmly secured and never leave a naked flame to burn unattended.
A clever mix of all three will create a beautiful feature garden that is a delight by night as well as by day.
Looks and Origins of Phalaenopsis Orchids
What is a Phalaenopsis Orchid?
Phalaenopsis orchids are the most popular and common type of orchid you see. These are monopodial plants that bloom with flowers generally between the months of December and May. These orchids are often called “moth” orchids because they resemble a large moth whose proper name is the “phalaenopsis” moth. There are many different hybrids of this plant that are made and sold.
What does a Phalaenopsis Orchid Look Like?
A phalaenopsis is a beautiful, unique, and simplistic plant. It is monopodial, meaning it grows from one stem, and shoots upwards like a tree. there are usually a couple of meaty leaves that grow along the stem. Towards the top it starts to curve horizontally, and this is usually the area where flowers bloom. Due to the fact that there are many different hybrids, there are many different colors and sizes of flower. The most popular ones are white and pink. The white phalaenopsis orchids have white petals except for the lip, which is often a bright vibrant shade of red, yellow, or orange depending on what color it was bred with. Some hybrids make small, cluster-like flowers, where others grow large, spaced flowers along the stem.
Where do Phalaenopsis Orchids Come From?
These orchids come from South-East Asia, where the weather is tropical year round. They flourish in tropical weather where the air is humid and the sun is shaded by vast canopies of jungle. They also grown in South America, where you can find phalaenopsis growing on large farms. From here they are shipped to the United States and sold in floral shops and stores all over the country. However, if you want to grow your own orchid, fear not – it is not as difficult as you may think it is to grow a moth orchid. They are picky plants, but if you steer them clear of direct sunlight, keep them in rooms with indirect sunlight, never let their roots dry completely, and keep them indoors, then you will most likely keep the orchid living and go on to have beautiful flowers.
A Nice Shed Is a Must Have In Your Garden
A garden is the leisure place in a home. It’s where kids play and all the family members spend fun times. So, it should be one of the most loved areas in our space. When it comes to decorating our gardens, sheds are among the first things that come to our minds. In this context, used sheds are more available than new ones, and they are more convenient for our budgets. There are also other pieces of home and garden outdoor furniture that can be used to add a touch of charm to the backyard decor such as wood coffee tables, teak chaises, steamer chairs and so forth.
When you decide to start decorating your backyard, the first thing that you think of is a nice shed in the middle of your plot. It’s much better if you buy a used one for your garden, because it would be cheaper and more affordable.
Online, you may find some owners that want to sell their sheds, and you can have the chance to find a sturdy one. If you can buy a used shed from your neighborhood, that would be even better for you. At least, you can check the shed by yourself and verify its quality.
These sheds are not just a decoration in your garden; they can be also efficient for storage where you can put your different gardening equipment. They can also be a greenhouse for your plants. In addition to that, this shed may contain a nice gazebo where you can have some relaxation during summer.
Thinking about other garden furniture, a high-quality oval coffee table might be in the top of your list. This item is quite useful when you invite your friends for any occasion, in your backyard; you can bid them for some coffee around this nice table.
In our times, garden furniture has became as important as home furnishings. That’s why many home owners take an interest in this matter. So, why don’t you become one of them?
Help With Yard Work Maintenance
Taking care of a yard can be a lot of work, but it can be well worth it after the maintenance has been completed. Depending on the area, the amount yard work that needs to be completed each year will vary.
The first thing that is important to do is to take an inventory of all the aspects of your yard, so that you then have a list of all the things that are going to need maintenance. This will include fencing, trees, shrubs, grass, flowerbeds and flowers to name just a few. Each one of these tasks requires specific treatments in order to maintain them so that they remain healthy and look beautiful. After you have taken inventory it is a good idea to create a weekly schedule that will help you to complete the yard maintenance.
Learning about the maintenance that is needed for your lawn can be a big help in preparing a schedule. Grass generally needs to be mowed on a weekly basis and it will be necessary to apply fertilizer several times a year depending on the climate. Trees will need maintenance, including trimming branches and applying any necessary chemicals to protect from diseases and bugs. Shrubs will need to be trimmed and hedged regularly as they grow so that they remain healthy as well as look nice.
The trick to having a beautiful yard is to perform regular maintenance as well as to understand what needs to be done for each aspect of a yard. Since yards are different from home to home, the level of work that is needed will vary. Make sure that you have enough time each week to complete the necessary tasks or that you have the funds available to hire a maintenance crew to do the work for you. This will help you to always have a beautiful yard!
Three Reasons why Gardeners Choose a Petrol Hedge Trimmer
If you are wondering why most of the professionals choose a petrol hedge trimmer over an electric one, here are three good reasons for their decision to choose a real ‘work-horse’ for getting the job done.
1. A petrol hedge trimmer is safe and reliable to use, with no risk of accident with an electric cord, either tripping over it, cutting through it or getting it snagged on branches when working at a height. A petrol hedge trimmer with a two-stroke engine is safe to use at any angle. If you have shaped hedges in a more formal garden, this can be a huge benefit when you are trying to shape a topiary piece that requires delicate cutting or cut a large formal hedge to a batter (wider at the bottom, narrower at the top) which is the correct way to trim such a hedge.
2. A petrol hedge trimmer has far more power than a cordless hedge trimmer and more than its equivalent electric model. This extra power means that the machine can safely cut through thicker twigs than its electric counter-part – although you should always be sure only to cut through branches of the maximum thickness for which the blades on your hedge trimmer were designed. For anything thicker, you should always use lopping shears or a chain saw.
3. It is not safe to use an Electric hedge trimmer in wet conditions and it is not always possible for a professional gardener or even a weekend gardener to wait for exactly the right weather conditions to be able to cut the hedge in safety. There are no such problems with petrol hedge trimmers and this means that they can be used at any time. They can also be used any place because of the fact that they do not require any electricity supply which is often such a problem in inaccessible parts of a large garden.
So, a petrol hedge trimmer can be used, rather like the words of the old ‘Martini’ advert – ‘Any time, any place, anywhere’. So to carry on the ‘Martini’ analogy, try one – you really will find that it is the ‘right one’ for you!
Ways To Decrease Your Carbon Footprint Through your Garden
We all know that having a garden is a great way to decrease the impact that you are having on the earth and its natural resources. What most of us do not know is how we can further reduce our carbon footprint of our indoor or outdoor garden. Today we are going to be talking about some of the various things that you can do to make your garden more self sufficient and less of an environmental pothole.
The very first and probably the biggest way that your garden is hurting the environment is through fertilizers and pesticides. People often do not think of this as hurting but all of the manmade chemicals and by products produced in the creation of these applications contribute to polluting both our streams and the ground, and our landfills. To remedy this problem try switching to organic or green fertilizers such as manure or compost and for pesticides try natural options such as a garlic spray or nicotine to keep critters at bay.
If you have an indoor garden try switching from your costly high intensity discharge grow lights, to more cost effective and less energy drawing LED grow lights. LED grow lights can save over half the cost that you would otherwise be spending on other types of conventional grow lights; they also produce less heat which reduces the need to cool the area which further reduces the cost involved.
Crop rotation is another thing that a person can do that will over time greatly helps both himself and his environment. To properly rotate your crops just simply grow one crop one growing season and do not grow that same crop on that same piece of land until you have cycled all of your other crops through it first. The reason that crop rotation helps out your land so much is that it gives your land the nutrients back that it needs to produce full crops and it does not such the land baron leaving it un-farmable.
Looking after your Lawn in an Organic Way
A well kept lawn is the most attractive part of a home garden. It needs regular care and maintenance to keep it looking clean and healthy always. It needs to be taken care of in different ways according to the seasonal changes. For example, during the fall, it will have a lot of leaves falling which have to removed, scarified and aerated properly in an organic way. So let us see the benefits of organic care for your lawn.
During the fall it is obvious that there will be a lot of leaves falling to the ground. However, they may cause some harm to your lawn by leaving bare patches. So you can begin by removing the leaves using a spring rake or a leaf sweeper. With these you can push the unwanted leaves into a sack. This must be done when they are dry. A rotary mower can also be used to remove the leaves. Lawn Sweeper Info has a lot more information on automated methods for collecting leaves from your lawn that will save you a lot of time.
Another important procedure is scarifying. It helps to remove dead matter from the lawn which suppresses new growth and the soil. If you feel that your lawn is badly drained, or if the soil is very acidic, then this is a good way of treating your lawn. It will also help the grass to grow properly. There are special tools available for this purpose.
If you feel that the soil is very compact then you need to think of aeration. You can make this out when you see the browning, bare patches, lack of vigor, moss growth etc. Aerating is making deep and thin holes in the lawn surface to allow penetration of air, encourage root growth and reduce compaction by improving the drainage. This is usually done during early-mid autumn.
If all these procedures are done properly, your lawn would look clean, healthy, attractive and welcoming. It will be a highlight of your home garden and enhance the overall appearance.
Methods Of Garden Shade Netting
Many gardeners enjoy the pleasure of planting their own flowers, herbs and vegetables. However, gardeners and their plants also enjoy shade. While sun is an essential part of plant growth, it can be damaging when in excess. Not only can a lack of shade damage crops, but it can also resulting in great discomfort for the gardener. Fortunately, there are many solutions available to consumers that can help provide shade to gardens.
The best solution for a lack of shade is getting a type of shade cloth. These aren’t difficult to set up, and can be installed in almost any home-based garden imaginable. These nets come in a wide array of styles and feature an almost universal uniform weave construction. These nets will not only provide shade to the garden, but will also allow enough light to shine through for plants to flourish. This is why garden shade nets are the best possible solution for an over exposure to sun!
Where exactly should shade netting should be used, and how should it be applied? Well, the easy answer to this is that netting should be used in any garden where there sunlight is in an unhealthy excess. If you live in an area which has a desert climate, you may find it very difficult to plant anything that is native to cooler environment. Thankfully, netting will allow you to plant what you want without having to move to another location, or set up an artificial environment
Another way to utilize the benefits of garden netting is to install it when new plants are being planted. New plants often have difficulty surviving under new climates, and shade netting will allow for these plants to flourish into fully-grown, healthy plants. Plus, since garden shade netting lets sunlight through, netting will provide an added benefit for those who live in warmer climates.
Whatever you may be planting, garden netting will most likely be beneficial to your garden and it’s plants. Not only can netting increase the longevity of your garden, but will also guarantee healthy plants.
What is a Mini Greenhouse Good For?
If you ask any plant lover why they like to grow plants they’ll likely tell you that they enjoy the feeling of reward that comes from producing a healthy crop. There is nothing quite like seeing the results that come from putting in a lot of hard work, which is why so many people continue to garden despite the temptation to simply purchase bloomed or finished plant material from their local nursery. Don’t get me wrong – there’s certainly nothing wrong with buying plants, but doing so doesn’t compare with the satisfaction you can achieve by doing things yourself.
When it comes to growing plants, most people use the basic tools – a set of pruning shears, some gardening gloves, good soil and the right amount of fertilizer. Although these tools are indispensable if your goal is grow high quality plant material, there are some more advanced methods that can be used to really get your crop off the ground. One of these methods is to grow your plants inside of a mini greenhouse. What is a mini greenhouse, you ask? It’s much like a typical commercial greenhouse except that it operates on a much smaller scale. These smaller structures are designed to be placed in the yard or on an adjacent lot, to be used by homeowners to grow their own personal collection of plants, flowers and vegetables.
Like many other gardening related purchases, there are many different types of greenhouses to choose from, each with their own unique set of pros and cons. In order to choose the right structure for you, it’s important to ask yourself what you intend to accomplish with the structure, including how many (and what type) of plants you want to keep. You also need to take the size of your lot into consideration, knowing that a greenhouse will need to be located in an area that receives uninterrupted sunlight throughout the day. Lastly, you need to have a budget in mind when it comes to your purchase. Although it’s tough to pinpoint an exact price range due to the different types of structures that are available, there are greenhouses available for just $75 on the low end to well over $500 on the high end.
Whether or not you’re interested in purchasing one of these structures or not, it’s important to know that mini greenhouses exist for those that want to provide their plants with the optimal environment for growth and development.