Garden Arrangements can make a huge difference in your yard

Author: Johann Erickson

Article: Gardening is a very popular hobby, and one that can be enjoyed by young or old, whole families, someone employed outside the home, and those who are self-employed or stay-at-home parents.

Getting outside into the fresh air, and exercising your creativity on floral, herb and vegetable gardens is not only healthy, but will bring pleasure to your family and visitors. Whether you devote hours every day to your efforts, or concentrate all your talents on weekend binges of planting and weeding, it's possible to create just the look you want, from old English country gardens, to the carefully organized "wild" look.

The first thing you'll need to consider before starting on a grand plan for revamping your yard, is the type of soil. If you don't know what you have, for example the level of acidity, check with your local garden center for test kits before investing in plants and bushes that won't thrive in what you can offer them. Once you know what you're working with, you can go ahead and decide what to plant, and how you want your gardens laid out.

No matter what the topography of your yard, e.g. completely flat, dotted with trees, undulating, or sloped, you can find just the right plants to brighten up a dark corner, or fill in a bare space.

Areas which get a lot of shade are often dark, but that doesn't mean they have to be dull. This can be a great place to install an in-the-ground lined pond for goldfish. Or how about a rock garden, and let the kids help you collect the rocks that will elevate the level of the plants, and give it that "natural" look. For a touch of the whimsical, place something like a bear figurine with a gazing ball, right in the center, where it will be the focus of attention.

Wide open spaces, such as along the edge of a lawn or yard, are the perfect place to plant a large, "graduated" garden in the shape that fits the surrounding area, including wedges, ovals, and long rectangles. Depending on the shape, and the amount of space, you'll have lots of scope to create a multi-level riot of color. If the garden faces the house, you'll want to plant your longer flowers to the rear, and then "step down" in size to border plants. With ovals and circles that can be appreciated from all sides, the taller plants should go in the center, and work your way to the shortest ones from the center, outwards.

These larger, display gardens are the perfect place to put focal decorations such as birdbaths, or <a href=""http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/sundials.html"">sundials</ a>. In a smaller garden, one bird bath would be sufficient, but in a long strip garden, one near each end, with perhaps a sun dial in the center, will make an outstanding display.

Gardens that are closer to the house, and which are seen from the windows, are usually where people choose to add those extra special touches. An herb garden that gives off delightful scents in summer, is made more charming with flat garden stones placed at intervals. These come with pictures, mottos, quotations and even Bible verses.

Another highly popular item to tuck in amongst the blossoms, are decorative figurines. The durable construction in long-lasting vinyl or alabastrite, offers years of enjoyment from squirrels, rabbits, fairies, and the always amusing, <a href=""http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/garden-gnomes.html"">gnome s</a>.

You can also extend your outside décor from the house to the garden, by matching garden flags to the design of flags you have mounted in brackets on your home. These come in seasonal and holiday designs, and can be part of an overall theme that would include things like a lady bug house flag, <a href=""http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/garden-flags.html"">garden flags</a>, garden stones, and key hider!

Imagination is the only key you'll need to designing a garden that will enhance your property and be a pleasure to work in. When you're done, make time to sit back and enjoy what you've created.

About the author: Johann Erickson is the owner of <a href=""http://www.onlinediscountmart.com"">Online Discount Mart</a> and <a href=""http://www.tvproducts4less.com"">TV Products 4 Less</a>. He is also a contributing writer for sites such as <a href=""http://www.helpfulhomeideas.com"">Helpful Home Ideas</a>. Please include an active link to our site if you'd like to reprint this article.

Water Conservation in the Yard

Author: Silvianne Barthe

Article: It is that time of year again. The water companies are sending us notices to reduce watering in our gardens.

What are you doing to help conserve this precious commodity?

Often we don't appreciate something until it's gone! That can really be true with water. Taken for granted when it is plentiful, its importance is truly appreciated in the garden once it becomes scarce. If you find yourself in a drought, there are some things you can do to help conserve water and make the best use of what you have available.

If you have not already mulched your plants, do it! Mulch will help limit the amount of water that evaporates from the soil. While organic mulches such as grass clippings or wood chips are preferable since they add organic matter to the soil, plastic mulches are useful in limiting evaporation from the soil. They can be laid between rows in the vegetable garden and will help limit moisture loss; however, they also will limit infiltration.

Place your water where it will do the most good. Sprinklers are very inefficient for getting water to the roots of your plants. Much of the water lands on the leaves and evaporates before reaching the ground. A slow gentle watering at the base of the plants, allowing the water to soak into the soil, will be most efficient.

Water those plants needing it most. Newly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers with limited roots systems will most likely suffer first from drought conditions. Give these plants priority if water is scarce. Well-established plants, especially those native to the area, are likely to withstand drought conditions with limited damage.

Water in the early morning before the heat of the day. This limits evaporation and supplies plants with needed moisture to make it through the hot, sunny day.

Consider using drip or trickle rrigation systems. Many inexpensive, easy to install systems are available that provide small amounts of water to the base of individual plants. These systems place the water where it is needed most, rather than applying it across the whole garden. Check with your local garden center.

Collect water from downspouts when it rains. Roofs intercept significant amounts of rain. Collecting this runoff into a barrel can help limit the use of city or well water during dry spells.

Are you looking to imporve your backyard landscaping? Look no further we have plenty of suggestions on our website.

# # #

About the author: Silvianne is an enthusiastic gardener. One of her major concers, because she lives in the high desert, is water conservation. Visit her website at: http://atlgardening.com/landscaping/landscaping/

Lawn Moles and proper Lawn Care

Author: Linda Paquette

Article: Are your making mountains out of your molehills? Although lawn moles are underground creatures, the benefits they add to your garden are clearly visible and far outweigh the disadvantages.

Of the six species of mole found in North America, the Eastern mole (or gray mole) is the most common. Moles are about the size of chipmunks and weigh from three to six ounces. A tiny creature, its total length is just six to eight inches.

Many gardeners and groundskeepers are under the mistaken impression that lawn moles eat the roots of their plants and turf grasses. However, moles are insectivores. Their primary diet is earthworms and grubs and a single mole can eat more than 140 grubs and cutworms daily. They also feast on destructive garden pests like snails, beetles, and millipedes. In fact, at just over a quarter-pound, a mole can consume 45 to 50 pounds of worms and insects each year.

The greatest harm that mole tunneling does to turf grass is by separating soil from roots. Still, the mole's digging actually improves soil quality by turning and aerating the soil and mixing accumulated nutrients throughout the excavation.

Moles don't continually dig each time they forage for food. Once a tunnel system is established, it is infrequently extended. In fact, the only signs of mole activity you might see are those when the mole must repair its construction. When disturbed, moles may temporarily vacate the area, but generally return within a week or two. In addition, when a tunnel is abandoned, a new mole inhabitant will ""recolonize"" using the handiwork of its predecessor.

For these reasons, even the most effective method of mole removal, trapping, is not a permanent solution to a ""mole problem"". Besides which, the three types of mole traps that work with any success sound like relics from the Spanish inquisition-- harpoons, scissor-jaws, and choker loops. In fact, numerous remedies have been used to try to control moles Pickle juice, red pepper, razor blades, bleach, moth balls, brambles, human hair braids and hair balls, vibrators, ultra sonic devices, and poisons offer inconsistent and generally ineffective results; many including environmentally unfriendly side effects.

As in all elements of lawn care, the best solution to a lawn mole problem is applying practical gardening principles. Mole tunnels (except for the hilled entrances) are typically deep enough to be almost invisible. Over-watering your yard brings earthworms and other invertebrates close to the surface, making it necessary for the moles to ""move up"" in search of them. Reducing the amount or frequency of watering may help both moles and their prey stay underground where they are most beneficial to your lawn.

Another solution to a lawn mole problem is to reduce the size of your lawn, converting it to gardens, paths, and hedgerows. First, moles prefer straight tunnel runs. However, more importantly, converting some lawn to gardens, paths, hedgerows and patio areas adds eye-appeal, reduces signs of damage, and in addition attract birds and butterflies to your property.

About the author: Linda is author of <a href=""http://www.lawnmower-guide.com/product-pages/prod_lawn_care .htm"">The Lawn Care</a> section of <a href=""http://www.lawnmower-guide.com""> http://www.lawnmower-guide.com