Building a Garden Pond for Koi Fish
By Therese | September 30, 2008
Would you like to have a water pond for koi fish? Bringing these Gergeous decorative fish in home pond can be great fun and it is not as time and money consuming as it seems. With the right care koi fish live for several year and even decades and get very big in size. Follow these simple rules to plan your fish pond properly so your koi fish will live and multiply.
Koi don’t like shallow ponds
Depth of your pond is very important. The minimum recommended depth is 4 feet, however it is recommended to provide for your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your fish are protected from raccoons, household cats and other animals who can empty your pond. Deeper fish pond also helps to keep water cool in the middle of summer
Larger pond - happier fish
Small ponds are not suitable for koi. Remember, with time will grow in size and numbers and they will need some space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that later you will probably want to get other varieties. So it is better to create a big garden pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is suitable for a koi fish pond , bigger would be even better.
Use fish pond heater in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi are resistant cold; however you should never let your pond freeze to the bottom. Installing a proper garden pond heater will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi fish only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Plan some shade for your koi
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond can be very beneficial - not only they add beauty to the overall look of your pond, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is can become a hard work.
Keep the birds away
There are many birds of prey that would eat your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to cover it with a net.
Insectocides can kill your fish
When designing your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides near the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can make sick and possibly kill your beautiful fish.
Pumps, filtration systems and other fish pond accessories
Several accessories are absolutely essential for healthy garden fish pond. Ideally you should get a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is not moving, your fish might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems cost a lot, so as an alternative you can make your own homemade filters.
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Sprinkler Systems - Keep Your Garden Green!
By Therese | September 29, 2008
The growth of vegetables, plants, shrubs and flowers in your garden depends upon the amount of water you supply. And hand watering or moving a lawn sprinkler attached to the hose to supply water to your garden is not an easy task . Therefore, plan a layout of proper watering system which can supply required level of water and also save your time and your money as well.
Installing drip irrigation systems can offer your garden a sufficient level of watering by way of dripping at the root level of plants. The main thing you need to consider for selecting a watering system is the requirement of your watering schedule keeping in mind what sort of plants or lawn you need to grow.
Planning a Lawn Sprinkler System
Planning a watering system for your garden depends upon the climate, the sort of soil. Besides this, it is essential to remember that the watering system you design for your garden need to have right sort of pressure and flow of water.
While planning a watering system , first of all measure your yard and guess how much pipe you will want to purchase. Secondly, you need to consider which sorts of sprinkler systems and supplies like sprinkler heads or valves you will need.
Measuring your yard can give you fair idea where your sprinkler systems will go to get the maximum water coverage. Moreover , it will work fairly for you if you place the valve boxes at the proper place so that valves can serve every zone required level of water.
Why Sprinkler Systems are recommended ?
There are reasons for recommending lawn sprinkler systems for your garden. This system performs moving water through pipe from one point to the other. You must have observed that hand watering and shifting watering pipe from one area to other is quite painstaking . So, such water supply by hand watering or using oscillator is often time consuming task and also waste of water. This can give your garden either over-water supply or under-water supply. And therefore, installing suitable lawn sprinkler system can give your garden a required level of water supply which determines its growth.
Finding suitable equipments for your watering task is very essential because right amount of watering is essential to the growth of your garden vegetations and plants .
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Energy Efficient Landscaping in Your Backyard
By Therese | September 29, 2008
All of us like to save money. With easy energy efficient landscaping you can save up to 30% or more on your energy bills. Just a few simple adjustments to your existing landscape or by careful planning of your new landscape you can create an energy saving home.
Of course we would all like to save on our energy costs but how can we do this? There are several innovative ideas to look into when relandscaping your yard.
Making Use of or Protection from the Sun’s Rays
Where and how you can include energy efficient landscaping would greatly depend on the part of the country in which you live. Your home may be hit on three sides by the sun each day making the cooling system work extra hard during the hotest part of the season. Others may have a home that is situated on their property so that it faces morth-east with lots of shady trees on the south-west side making it very cold in the cooler months.
Usually, the best way to keep the sun out is to design shade landscaping. Plant deciduous, dense, and broad trees to the south or west of the house, where their foliage can provide shade against the rays of the hot summer sun. Keeping the sun out can reduce temperatures to up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
You will also want the warm rays of the sun to heat the hardscape surrounding your home this will also increase the heat levels inside the home.
Adding Protection from the Wind
One of the primary contributors to lowering home temperatures is the wind that blows through the house. Especially in the winter, this wind is particularly sinister as the wind chill is much colder than the normal atmospheric temperature in the area.
Plants that serve as effective windbreaks include evergreens or trees in general. In fact, even fences placed in strategic locations can serve as windbreaks.
Keep the Heat or Cool In
One way you can help save energy by making sure the warm or cool air does not escape from your home by adding insulation in the ceilings, gaskets around the doors, vents and windows, and having double pain windows.
The best way to achieve this is by planting shrubbery around the home’s foundations. This creates a dead air barrier, keeping the heat and cool inside the home where it matters. Experts have suggested widening the distance between the shrubbery and the house’s walls in order to increase this area for dead air.
The end result of your planning should be not only a beautifully landscaped yard, but one that is also energy efficient. Energy effiecient landscaping will save you money and one you can enjoy for years to come.
Find more information on landscaping go to Low Voltage Landscape Lights
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Tips to Help You Create the Most Alluring Landscape
By Therese | September 28, 2008
A patch of green adjacent to your home— a great idea indeed! It’s a refreshing dream that every urban dweller loves to cherish! But few of them get to the job for fulfilling this dream; or rather they don’t just dare to undertake a landscaping project out of the fear that the task may turn out to be too imposing to handle.
But believe me; it is not going to be that exorbitant that you are imagining! What you need are the right tips, and it’s just a matter of few weekends’ efforts and you get your private heaven ready right at your threshold!
Don’t get nervous just because you are a novice at the job of landscaping; go by our tips and your pro-looking landscape is just few weeks away.
Plan well
Irrespective of the size or type of a project, the secret of success lies in good planning and planning needs great deal of research.
- As it is said, landscaping is the combination of both scientific knowledge and great aesthetic sense, a good deal of research can supply you with the practical information about ideal plants type for the type of the soil and climate in your area, local wind patterns, the requirement of irrigation and so on.
- Also roam around a bit in the public gardens as well as in your neighborhood to get more design ideas.
- You might have your own visualization about your dream landscape. Now blend your dreams with your new found knowledge to create the most alluring garden in the neighborhood.
Weave it around a focal point
Pick out a focal point for your landscaping project and then spin the entire design around it. It offers the viewer the right perspective. Such elements as a fountain, a stone statue, a birdfeeder, a solarium and even an old big tree in the middle of the lawn can serve the purpose of a focal point to give a natural flow to your landscaping efforts.
Follow consistency in the use of shapes and lines
For the right visual impact, use the shapes consistently in your garden. These govern the viewer’s eye movements and as such your aim will be to draw the viewer’s attention to the focal point.
- As for example, if the garden has a natural poodle in the middle, design the beds and pathways in meandering lines to naturally flow with the spirit of a curvy water body.
- If you want a British style landscaping with a more formal look, make more use of the straight lines and geometric shapes instead.
Make sure, the landscape appears attractive all through the four seasons
It is practical to choose the plants cautiously so that you have the shrubs in full bloom through the summer, autumn and fall. Make sure your landscape has some elements to withstand the chill of winter and offers something to look at.
- So combine deciduous shrubs and evergreen trees in your design.
- While deciduous plants add to the variety, the evergreens with their bloom and foliage offer year long continuity.
Choose the right landscape edging
Use the edging to make the right design statement; the proper edging not only provides your garden the necessary framing, it also gives a finished look to the greenery.
A last tip: your landscaping project must suit your lifestyle. Before getting started, keep in mind that some plants require more attention while others thrive with little attention. So ask yourself first how much time and efforts you are going to invest in your landscape. If you are a novice, start with a few easy to grow varieties.
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Solar Powered Landscape Lighting: The First Step to a Perfect Summer Evening
By Therese | September 27, 2008
Summer is for evening parties and what can be better venue than your backyard lawn for hosting a cozy gathering with your friends? Proper lighting plays a key role in the success of such parties.
Now the question is: what do you mean by the term, proper lighting? Here are four main points to consider:
- The light should adequately illuminate the place, so that your guests can sit or move around comfortably. This is the functional side of your landscape lighting scheme.
- On the aesthetic side, the lighting should be such that it rightly accentuates the beauty of the landscape.
- More importantly, the lighting should be power efficient.
- The wireless lighting offers a fuss-free way of installation, and that make them more suitable for outdoor use.
Solar powered landscape lighting is one that helps you meet with all these criteria in one.
- Solar powered landscape lights offer you the most energy efficient solution. They are virtually free, as they need nothing but clean energy from the sun to run.
- With solar powered landscape lighting, you are not only cut benefit on the personal plain by saving on energy bills, at the same time you are making valuable contribution in conserving precious environmental resources.
- It may sound unbelievable, but you will need as little as twenty seconds to install a solar powered light in your outdoor space. Spare fifteen minutes more and you are done with the task of illuminating the entire outdoor space for enjoyment after sundown.
- With no wiring required, solar powered landscape lighting can be installed even by an inexperienced homeowner. Your task almost ends with locating the proper place of installation of light; after that all you need to do is just plant them in the ground, without needing any cumbersome wiring.
- In case you need some alteration with your original scheme, it is easy to just pick the lighting fixtures up and replace them.
- You don’t have to compromise on the aesthetic side too; these solar powered lights are available in variety of styles starting from decorative lanterns to accent lights.
What makes a basic solar light?
- In a solar powered landscape light, the source of illumination is an LED lamp that is expected to withstand 10,000 hours of usage.
- The solar panels are made of photo cells that charge up the battery from solar power.
- The solar panels need to receive enough sunlight during the day, so that you can get illumination throughout the evening. The rechargeable batteries provide about 8 hours of light at a stretch.
- These lights come with built-in light sensors that work for automatic turning on and off of the lamp.
Ideas for creative use of solar powered landscape lights
You have worked hard to give the desired shape to create your dream landscape; now is the time of finishing touch. Add the final polish with a stylish lighting scheme.
- First locate the places in your garden that requires lighting and use different types of lights for different areas.
- If you happen to have a pond in your plot, use floating lantern style lamps for an unusual look.
- In the sitting areas or in the places where foods are served, place the table top solar powered lanterns.
- It is equally important to lit up driveways and pathways; use pole lamps or pedestal style lanterns here. Pole lamps are also ideal for illuminating the patios and decks.
- The solar powered accent lights are also available to decorate the rock sculptures or other architectural attractions in the garden.
- Use footlights in the corners of edging and fences for a dramatic ambience. For the same effect, you can hide the source of light behind the bushes to bring about a silhouetted view.
In the end here are some useful facts about solar powered landscape light that may help in your selection.
- Solar lights come both with ornamented outdoor fixtures, and without them. Select the type according to your plan of using them.
- Your local garden store can be a great source of solar powered landscape lighting options. If you want to spark off the imagination a little more, surf the internet; the online stores are the ideal place for finding out the products that you are looking for.
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Attractive Japanese Landscape Design
By Therese | September 26, 2008
Japanese Landscape Design
After careful design, planting and arranging your Japanese landscape design there would be little to do accept sit back and enjoy the tranquility it creates. The garden should include some traditional Japanese stonework, a trickling water feature or pond, as well as the groomed evergreens.
Some of the most beautiful Japanese gardens have some type of water feature, which is often a small pond or stream if room allows. Water in this type of garden helps create the overall look and feel of peace and tranquility, making it a vital element. To not only complement the look but to actually make the water more functional, you could consider a Japanese garden bridge.
A Beautiful Japanese Garden Bridge
By adding a Japanese garden bridge you create safe passage through your exotic garden. At the heart of a Japanese garden is harmony with nature. Through the careful use of plants, stones, and water, areas of serene and quiet beauty emerge.
You should be able to find an authentic looking Japanese garden bridge at your local garden shop. They will either be made out of wood or stone. They add a nice touch to your Japanese garden and offer a fun way to cross over a small stream or pond.
In a traditional dry Japanese garden everything has a meaning and has been specifically placed. There will commonly be a bed of carefully raked sand with several stones strategically arranged.
Locating Japanese Garden Supplies
The thing to remember is that when shopping for Japanese garden supplies to include a bridge, you want to choose the size that will work with the size of the garden, and then go with the style and material that looks best. After all, in Japan, the bridge is believed to be a journey, taking a person from one place to another. For this reason, the bridge in your own Japanese garden needs to represent your own personal journey and the movement involved.
When shopping try to find authentic accent pieces for your Japaneses garden. Items such as the small Japanese garden bridge, a small replica of a pagoda or tea house, Japanese lanterns, water features such as a pond, waterfall or stream.
Find additional information on Japanese landscaping visit Making A Japanese Garden
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Cedar Fence MA - How To Choice The Right Fence
By Therese | September 26, 2008
There are a lot of different types of wood fence that you may see in the Boston area. For example, you’ll see a lot of cedar privacy fencing in suburban yards. of course in Metro Boston, one will find tiny yards, with very unique buildings and styles of fencing that fit in with these conditions. In Boston, you’ll see a little less fencing than you will in many other cities. Why? Well, while Boston has the fifth highest population density among major U.S. cities, it also is small in terms of land mass ? third smallest, in fact! However, the classic and timeless look which only a wood fence can achieve lends itself perfectly to this, a city with so much history that it’s there to be found around every corner.
If you want to put up wood fence on your property, you’ll have to decide on a fence design which suits your home and your property. In suburban Boston, you can put up really any kind of fence you want; though the stockade picket fence is the most popular. Also common in suburban areas is 6′ cedar privacy fencing. Both of these fences are more commonly seen with newer construction. Older colonial homes, on the other hand, are better suited by more traditional fencing ? as are newer homes which emulate their look.
In the city itself, fencing has more to do with the personal preferences of the homeowner. The brownstones seen in many neighborhoods often have low picket fences to delineate property lines while keeping the feeling of a tight knit community (a trademark of many Boston neighborhoods) intact. In backyard Boston wood fencing, though, you’ll see both the low picket fencing common to the front of homes as well as tall basketweave privacy fences which can create a private space even in the most densely populated of urban areas.
Based on homeowners who have located Boston wood fence contractors to build their fencing, we can give you a good idea of how much you’ll pay to have a wood fence built. In Massachusetts the expense for most seater defense installations is between $1500 and $5,000 with $2000 being the average expense, including materials and insurance. most jobs took about two weeks of the month been the slowest and seven days being the fastest. Of course, longer jobs usually mean it’s more expensive.
So what does all of this mean to you as a homeowner in the Grater Boston area? It’s pretty good news, as it happens. Boston wood fencing prices are consistent across the board in this area, so if you find a good contractor to build you fence and know what to ask for; you’ll get a good value for your money ? and a good wood fence. And what should you ask for? Wood which can stand up to the hot, humid summer and cold, wet winters of New England, with all of its Nor’easters and offshore storms. Cedar is the best wood to use; its natural oils repel moisture, making it a good choice for the tough weather of the Boston area.
If you want a cedar fence to stay looking its best and protected from weather damage, you should treat it every five to ten years; a small price to pay for a wood fence which looks great and will last. If you don’t use cedar, pressure treated lumber is the next best option. Be sure to paint it if you want to keep that fence around for a long time though. Lastly, always do your research into any wood fence contractor you’re thinking of using and evaluate their track record. It may take a little of your time, but it’s well worth it for a fence which will hold up over the long run.
Ready to save a ton on cedar fencing in Massachusetts? Watch my new video review revealing exactly how I saved $1442.17 on a cedar fence with the best-rated Boston fence company.
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Insecticides
By Therese | September 25, 2008
If insects were supermen then insecticides would be kryptonite. Insecticides are a chemical agent that kills of insects, or acts as a deterrent to hungry insects looking too impeded on our food, flowers, or plants. Insecticides became popular during World War II, and remain popular as ever today. There are several types of commonly used insecticides that are worthy of having a look at so when we are buying them we know which works for our needs, and what won’t work.
Malathion is the most popular insecticide; it’s synthetic and remains effective for 1 to 3 days at a time. It keeps multiple insects and bugs off of our plants and fruit, and most effectively vegetables. It seems to be the insecticide of choice among those that grow vegetables because of its nature to keep off the bad bugs without compromising its taste, and growth patterns.
Diazinon is another popular insecticide that lasts for up to 1 week after being applied. The problems with this insecticide are that it can hurt the good bugs. That’s right, there’s such a thing as good bugs. Some creatures, like the bumble bee, are beneficial to an organism’s growth. Daizinon is more toxic then most insecticide and thus deters the good bugs from doing their good deeds to our fruits and vegetables. Also Dizinon can damage nearby water organisms, and thus is not used when near ponds, rivers, and other bodies of water that contain organisms.
Carbaryl also known as Sevin, is also an effective insecticide. The reason Carbaryl is such an effective insecticide is because it is less toxic, lasts longer, and keeps away some nasty bugs like the codling moth. This insecticide can be harmful to such good bugs as bees, and is not always effective on certain types of spiders.
Regardless of the insecticide you choose to utilize for your garden, be sure to read all instructions on the packaging before applying. Also be sure to check to see where you are spraying it, and be sure to keep pets, kids, and any other unknowing characters away from the hazardous chemicals. Finally when eating something that has been sprayed with insecticides be sure to wash it thoroughly, and dry before eating.
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Lawn Care Tips for Everybody
By Therese | September 25, 2008
Lawns often vary in size, shape, and form for most homes. Some lawns are beautifully ornate with lush gardens, and pruned to look like art. Other lawns are thick with weeds, grass, and often give off a sense of an old style farm to passers by. There of course are thousands of other types of lawns that typically fall in between the categories of impeccably groomed, and garden of weeds. For all lawn owners, no matter what type, there are several helpful tips to maintain your lawn, because no matter the look of the lawn, it will hopefully be one that’s healthy.
The first thing lawn owners should do is create an ideal lawn type they are striving to achieve. It’s often said that we can’t know where we are going unless we have a destination to begin with. Many lawn owners make the mistake of winging it, or going with whatever inspires them that day. This can lead to unforeseen obstacles, as well as changes of heart in the overall design or landscape of the lawn. To create a visualization of the ideal lawn should take time, and sincere thought. Once you have a vision for your lawn, write it down, review it for plausibility, and start to plan for what you will need. By visualizing your idea lawn a clear set of steps to achieve such a lawn will start to arise.
No matter what type of lawn you are interested in having, be sure to invest in water for your lawn. This could mean investing in sprinkler systems, or hoses, or even just a hand held water pourer. The idea with investing in water for the lawn is that your lawn will only be as healthy as the amount of water you put into it. Lawns need water to grow, and maintain color. Without water your lawn will face struggles in staying vibrant.
As with any enduring task we humans put ourselves up to, we must make it fun. Create incentive for you to get in the lawn and work on it. Make lawn care fun, by getting a workout from it, or getting a suntan, or just spending time with family while tending to the lawn. The more fun the lawn care is, the more likely you will be to continue it over the years.
Get help when your lawn is growing to proportions you can’t attend to. Most lawns, when put on the right track will be able to grow consistently, and thus have greater needs for ones time. This is when help can take your average lawn and make it exceptional. Lawn care doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. For a more reasonable rate negotiate a long term contract with your gardener, for bi weekly visits. The longer commitment should lower the rate you have to pay per visit.
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Use Landscape Design Software To Implement You Outdoor Landscaping Ideas
By Therese | September 25, 2008
A little creativity can produce beautiful outdoor landscaping ideas to make your home stand out from the rest. You can enlist the help of a professional landscape architect or design it yourself, either way the effort will increase the curb appeal and value of your home.
Landscape design software is available for those who have a computer. This type of program will help you as you figure out what exactly you want to do and what will suit your home and yard the best. Many of these types of programs will offer different layouts and options that will help you visualize the design and narrow down your choices.
Before starting the landscaping project check on the internet to find the best ideas and locations to purchase plants and materials. Online resources can produce ideas that may not have been thought of or considered.
There are likely thousands of different landscaping ideas that you will find to be useful for your yard and well within your budget and there are a lot of sites that focus specifically on home landscaping. These sites will also give you some great ideas as well as practical information. It is important to do extensive research before you begin your project to minimize the mistakes so that the job will not have to be done over again.
What is your Landscape Budget?
Being patient and purchasing smaller trees and shrubs and allowing them to mature over the years can be a huge money saving idea. Try to Cut back on expensive water features, rock and tile. “Less is more” is a great saying and can be a great way to not overspend on unnecessary items.
Call in the local utility companies to locate any possible gas or electric lines that may be running through the are to be excavated. A dangerous accident can be avoided as well as money saved in relocating these lines. It is far cheaper and easier to rethink the project than to redo something after it is already done.
You should also check with the city regarding zoning and setback restrictions. Most cities will give you a set of guidelines to follow. Some cities also have restrictions on tree elevations and fencing so be careful and comply with all the requirements. Do you homework and find out all you can before you start your project and avoid any wasted time and unnecessary costs
Interviewing landscape architects and contractors and searching online can uncover never before thought of outdoor landscape ideas. They can be expensive, but planned and executed properly, they will yield long lasting and valuable results.
If you would like more landscaping ideas go to Landscape Patio Design.
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