Adding edging around your garden or landscape is as important as the garden itself. The edging frames your garden much like a picture frame. A picture can be interesting and beautiful but it needs a frame to enhance its appearance, so it is with your garden.

There are various types of garden edgings. Many people prefer to use something heavy and permanent, like a low brick wall, or rocks set together with mortar. However, not everyone is physically capable of creating such a structure.

Bricks set freely can be just as effective. They can be placed in a simple line, end to end, or stacked in a double row, with gaps in between. They can also be set diagonally, leaning against each other for support.

Another attractive alternative is to decorate short lengths of board with old tiles. Tiles can often be purchased very cheaply from re-recycling places. Glue your choice of tile along the board using outdoor glue. On each end of the board, tack a peg with one end pointed. This will be used to push into the soil to support your board and keep it off the ground.

Bush rocks can also be used to give your garden that finished look. They need not be too big, unless you have plenty of muscle or help. You may be able to gather rocks from a friend’s farm, or from the bush if that is legal in your area. Otherwise, garden suppliers usually have plenty to choose from.

How about flowering plants or shrubbery to create a living border. Choose a plant that will be suitable for your climate and conditions. The pretty pink of alpine phlox is an attractive border and the plants can be divided and planted again and again. Many other plants can be propagated in this way, thus reducing the initial costs. Of course, your border will take a little more time to get established than if you bought all the necessary plants at once.

Gazanias are another hardy border plant that can be divided many times. Bulbs might seem like a good choice too, but remember that they will die down and leave your borders looking messy for ages. In addition, they remain dormant for at least six months, so if you plant anything else there you risk damaging the bulbs. Of course, you can dig them up and replace them with something else, but you may prefer a more permanent border edge to save on the workload.

If you have a larger garden, comfrey is a plant to consider using for an edging plant. Its thick growth habit will prevent any grasses intruding into the garden, and the leaves can be pulled for excellent mulch around roses or other plants. It has delightful, dainty flowers in season too. However, a small garden could be overwhelmed by more than one comfrey plant.

In a small garden attractive annuals like sweet alice, pansies, violas or petunias make great borders. For something a bit different, try an herb border. Then you can go out and pick your herbs any time you want. Chives have a crisp green color that would make your garden sparkle while strawberries will entice the kids out into the fresh air to have a healthy snack.

Some people prefer to simply bevel an edge around their garden with the shovel. This is a good option if your lawn has the sort of grass with runners, like kikuyu. Those runners can be kept under control by chopping them off every so often with the edge of the shovel.

Whatever option you choose, it will enhance your garden to have a beautiful edging. For more ideas on creating a border for your garden, visit the links at the bottom of the page.

For more information, visit these sites: The Garden Info Center and www.gardendesignguide.com” target=”_blank”> The Garden Design Guide

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The best way to enjoy the beauty and serenity of a garden in full bloom is to sit at one corner of the garden and admire the surroundings. In this regard, presence of garden furniture is important since people can use them for different purposes such as sitting or relaxing. There are different materials that are used in the manufacturing of garden furniture such as wood, wrought iron, copper, as well as plastic. Among these, plastic garden furniture offers certain advantages in comparison to other types of garden furniture.

Unlike wood furniture, plastic doesn’t get damaged easily due to factors such as extreme heat, rain and moisture. Apart from this, plastic furniture is economical and is available in a variety of colors, designs, patterns and shades that can easily blend with the colors of the surroundings. Plastic furniture is lightweight and can be carried from one location to another without much difficulty. They are easy to clean and require least maintenance. One can easily find them at any of the patio furniture stores. However, they do have certain disadvantages. Unlike other types of furniture, longevity of plastic garden furniture is not very long. They are easily breakable and colors get faded due to prolonged exposure to sun.

When creating a comfortable, usable outdoor space, nothing could me more inviting and warm than furnishing that space with natural products such as wood. Often, though, there are problems associated with wood furnishings. Wood is susceptible to the elements and can splinter and degrade if not cared for properly. That’s why many people choose teak chairs and teak furniture for their outdoor spaces.

Teak, a hard strong durable yellowish-brown wood, grows in the region of Southeast Asia, mainly in Java, Indonesia, and is harvested from the surrounding forests and teak plantations by the locals and the Indonesian government. The wood of the teak tree is naturally resistant to insects, warping, splintering and the elements, which makes it an ideal wood for creating chairs and other outdoor furnishings.

Many people choose teak over other natural materials because it requires no sealing, varnishing or finishing, and it only gets better as it weathers. A teak chair is able to withstand the elements for decades; retain its beauty, durability and smooth texture; and, over the course of time, weather to a gorgeous silvery color.

Not only are teak chairs durable, they come in a vast array of styles and designs to complement your individual personality and space. You can make your selection from numerous different pieces of teak furniture including teak Adirondack chairs, teak dining chairs, teak rocking chairs, teak swings, and teak folding chairs, just to name a few.

There are also a large number of teak chair styles to choose from. No matter whether you prefer the intricately carved designs often associated with country French designs or the sleek lines of the teak Adirondack chair, you will not be disappointed when you shop for teak chairs. Some of the styles available include Nantucket, Derby, Normandy, Mandalay and many, many more.

If you find that you are in the mood for a little color, you can add your own stylish flair with a couple of throw pillows or teak chair cushions. There are over 40 colors available, and you can choose from both solid colored fabrics and patterns.

And teak chairs are affordable. While you may find that you spend a fraction more on teak chairs than chairs made with other materials, you will be more than compensated by this furniture’s beauty, comfort and durability. To help put it into perspective, think of how often you have to purchase outdoor furniture because it has succumbed to the elements and is not attractive anymore. Wouldn’t it be worth it to spend a little more, but enjoy that furniture for decades? Not only that, but there is very little maintenance required for teak furniture. How much more will you spend staining and finishing weathered outdoor furniture made out of other kinds of materials? After you take all of this into consideration, you would agree that teak furniture is the better buy.

So remember teak the next time you shop for furniture for your garden or outdoor space. Whether you need teak furniture or simply a teak chair for your poolside or formal flower garden, you will be sure to find something that is perfect for you.

Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.MoreThanTeak.com. Her sites offer product and information about teak furniture and other decor for your home and garden.

Why is Teak Wood so Popular?

As the days go by, teak is becoming rarer, harder to acquire and more expensive to own. Regardless, in the face of fierce competition from other types of hard woods like cedar, fir, oak, mahogany and cherry, teak wood remains one of the more popular materials to be used - especially if we’re talking about outdoor furniture. Even as the supply of teak wood dwindles, there must be a reason why teak wood continues to be the preferred staple for outdoor furniture.

The popularity of teak wood has everything to do with its weather-resistant nature and naturally shiny and beautiful color. The gentle and natural yellow-brown color provides an excellent contrast against natural green backgrounds. As mentioned, because the supply of teak is slowing down, the price of teak is quite exorbitant now but people who know wood knows that it’s worth investing in.

Many efforts have been made to find a suitable and adequate substitute for teak wood but many of them do not have the same qualities as teak wood and they always fall short of being as useful and efficient as teak. Let’s admit it, it’s kind of hard to measure up to teak wood.

One will truly appreciate and understand the reason why some furniture experts insist on having teak furniture instead of other cheaper wood-type furniture when they see the extraordinary durability of teak in harsh weather conditions. In some Asian tropical countries, building beams made of teak shines on in near-perfect condition even when the building has aged more than a thousand years. With evidence like that, it’s not at all hard to see why teak is commonly used in the construction, shipbuilding, and outdoor furniture industry. In fact, it has been shown that even when iron was introduced into the shipbuilding industry; it did not replace the high demands for teak wood.

Teak wood is considered superior to other types of hard woods because once it is weathered and seasoned, it takes a lot to crack, split, shrink or alter the shape of teak wood. Teak is definitely far more superior to oak. On top of that, teak wood has great elasticity making it a favorite type of wood to work with among craftsmen. Teak takes on a beautifully polished appearance when finished because it contains natural oils. Despite its superior strength, teak wood is not too heavy, making export of the hardwood popular.

The natural oil in teak wood is extremely aromatic. Some say the smell of teak is somewhat strange but it smells very natural and fragrant to most. In fact, the oil from teak wood is extracted in some cultures and the oil is used for medicinal purposes.

With all the obvious advantages of using teak as opposed to using other types of fancier, more available and cheaper hard woods, it’s not hard to understand why teak wood remains one of the most popular types of hard woods. It’s beauty and durability make it an excellent choice for any outdoor garden or patio.

Read all about teak at: http://www.teaksupplies.com

Joseph Miller is the President and CEO of Mainline Marketing Group, LLC., and works as a full-time Consultant and Internet Marketer. Prior to becoming an internet Consultant and Administrator, he was a founding partner of Boatmasters Inc., an Aquatic Service company that specialized in Teak and hull maintenance for multi-million dollar yachts. His interest and appreciation for Teak wood, inspired him to create the internet site: www.teaksupplies.com

CHOOSING THE RIGHT SPRINKLER Sprinklers come in 4 basic designs.
Each of these sprinkler types has their advantages and
disadvantages. Lawn size, frequency of watering and soil types
are all important factors when choosing which type of sprinkler
is best for you. Of the 4 basic designs a stationary or fixed
sprinkler is probably the worst type you can purchase. These
types of sprinklers work best for spot watering or used in
conjunction with another sprinkler system. Varying flow rates
are this type of sprinkler’s greatest disadvantage. At the
outside edge of the spray pattern the grass can receive upwards
of 6-8 inches of water while at the base it may only receive 2
inches of water per hour. This is due to the water being
directed through the fixed pattern of small holes in the base.
Oscillating sprinklers use a curved piece of metal or plastic
with small holes that move back and forth to deliver the water
in a rectangular pattern. By pausing when the spray is furthest
away this sprinkler does a better job of delivering the water in
a more effective pattern. More up to date models will allow you
to adjust this pattern as well as adjusting the width of the
spray. Revolving sprinklers use one or more arms to throw the
water in a circular pattern. This type of sprinkler has a fairly
decent radius but suffers in the uniformity of the water being
delivered to the lawn. Generally speaking the majority of the
water is delivered to an area 4-9 feet out. For a large area an
impulse or impact sprinkler is a good choice. By using a
combination of a jet internally and a hammer externally this
sprinkler can shoot jets of water in a circular pattern. On many
models the head is adjustable from a fine mist to a strong pulse
or anything in between. Coverage is good with this type of
sprinkler. One of the more odd sprinkler systems is what is
known as a traveling sprinkler. I haven’t come across too many
of these which is too bad. This system while looking a little
bizarre gives good thorough coverage and excellent rates of
moisture. The sprinkler follows the hose or track laid out by
the homeowner. By varying the hose pattern you get excellent
coverage. The pressure of the water exiting the rotating arms
propels the unit along. For most homeowners the choice for a
sprinkler system would be an in-ground system. By installing the
sprinkler heads at key locations you ensure uniform coverage and
excellent water delivery. Most units come with a timer to make
watering your lawn even more convenient. Some models also
incorporate a sensor to let the system know if it has been
raining to curb the cost of your watering bill. The spray heads
pop up from the lawn when activated and return to their almost
hidden position when finished. When having your lawn aerated
ensure the heads are clearly marked to avoid damage to them
while the lawn is being aerated.

There are more reasons than ever why anybody with access to a few square feet of the outdoors should grow their own organic vegetables.

You may be shocked at how much of the produce at your local supermarket has been genetically modified. Some estimates now put this at over 50%. While there is no strong evidence that genetically modified foods are immediately harmful to your health, there are no long term studies either. Do you want to take that risk?

Let’s take a look at pesticides and fertilizers. Farmers no longer use crop rotation or natural manures to improve soil fertility, so they are forced to use ever increasing amounts of chemicals to improve yields and multiple pesticides to protect the weakened plants. Pesticides penetrate deeply into the leaves of plants and pestiside residues remain even after you have scrubbed them.

To quote from The Environmental Protection Agency - “Pesticides are designed to kill pests. Many pesticides can also pose risks to people. The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. Some, such as the organophosphates and carbamates, affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may be carcinogens. Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body.”

Sure you can, and should, buy organic fruit and vegetables but have you seen the prices? Anybody with even a modest vegetable garden can grow healthy organic vegetables at much lower cost than those at the local supermarket. Not only can you grow them at much lower cost, but you can grow them one hundred percent better.

Even the long-keeping vegetables such as potatoes, onions and squash are noticeably tastier picked straight from the home vegetable garden; but when it comes to peas and corn and salad vegetables- well , there is absolutely nothing to compare with the home garden ones, gathered fresh, in the early slanting sunlight, still gemmed with dew, still crisp and tender and juicy, ready to carry every atom of savory quality and taste, without loss, to the dining table.

It is not in price or health alone that home gardening pays. There is another point. Agribusiness has to grow the things that give the biggest yield. They have to sacrifice quality and taste for quantity and long shelf life. You do not. The strawberries on the supermarket shelves may look bright and red and uniform but you will soon find they taste more like the cardboard of their containers when compared to a home grown variety picked straight from the vine.

And this brings us to what may be the most important reason you should garden. It is the cheapest, healthiest pleasure there is. Give me a sunny garden patch in the springtime, give me seeds to watch as they find the light, plants to tend as they take hold in the fine, loose, rich soil, give me succulent and tasty springtime salads. And when you have grown tired of the springtime, come back in summer to even the smallest garden, and you will find in it, every day, a new vista, new pleasures and, yes, new challenges.

Better food, better health, better living — all these the home vegetable garden offers you in abundance. So, turn off that computer, pull out some old clothes and find a spot to dig.

About the Author

Vince Apps
http://manualofgardening.com

To keep wood garden sheds, arbors, or trellises looking their best, consider using a wood finishing product such as sealer, stain, or outdoor paint. Wood finishing protects exposed wood from sun, water, insect, and fungal damage.

Here’s a list of some common wood finishing products:

Wood Sealer: Wood sealer blocks the pores of the wood, while still allowing natural fading and weathering.

Stain: Stain penetrates the wood, and unlike paint, it does not trap moisture and cause blistering or peeling. Stains come in many colors, and in transparent or solid applications. Reapply the stain every other year to keep the color fresh.

Paint: Exterior paint protects the wood surface and is available in every conceivable color. The garden shed or arbor must be sanded and primed before application. Remember that aging paint flakes and cracks, so you’ll need to scrape and sand again to refinish the wood down the road.

If none of those appeal to you, there are some other low maintenance wood finishing options:

Vinyl Siding: For wood garden sheds, you can use vinyl siding instead of wood siding. Vinyl siding is ultra low maintenance, comes in many colors, and only requires periodic cleaning (once a year) with water to keep its fresh appearance.

Unfinished Cedar: If your wood garden shed or arbor is made from cedar, (such as Western Red Cedar), you can choose to leave it unfinished. Cedar does not warp, and it contains natural preservatives that prevent rot. Natural weathering over time turns unfinished cedar a lovely sliver-gray color.

Applying wood finishing products is easy with the right tools
Stains and sealers can be applied with a brush roller, pad, or spray gun. Check the wood finishing manufacturer instructions. Apply two coats and expect to reapply every two the five years.

Leanne Tremblay is the author and publisher of http://www.gardensheds.greenhouses.arbors.learnabout.info where you can find great ideas on garden sheds, shed plans and shed kits, greenhouse kits, arbors, and trellises.

If we fill our time taking care of plants we can get rid of stress, it is a scientifically proved thing. Taking care of our green friends (the ones with leaves not Aliens!) we will discover new hidden sides of our personality and will get to know better how to love and care for others, firstly because a plant that we won’t care for will die for sure.

Accepting a plant we are assuming a new responsibility, we are adopting a breathing being. This way, we learn just what it means to pay attention to those around you.

We have to concentrate over needs that are exterior to our ego. We become aware of the needs of another being: we know how much water the plant needs, how much light it gets, the intervals it needs to receive water again, and slowly we will transfer these cares and abilities in our social relations. We become more and more aware of others. Visual contact with a beautiful plant makes us realize our own beauty.

Studies show more and more that taking care of plants can be the most efficient method to improve our physical and emotional general condition. They have a serene effect, they can reduce stress and relax muscles and therefore improve the mood people taking care of them are in.

Different studies have demonstrated that the existence of plants reduce mental exhaustion. When we are overwhelmed with work, we just have to look up for a couple of minutes to a plant and we’ll instantly feel more relaxed. In conclusion, plants fascinate and attract people, they break boredom and monotony generated by forced attention. The oxygen generated by plants creates a feeling of mental agility.

Some big plants placed in the right spot will help us insolate ourselves from annoying surrounding noises. The technique is the same as the one of hanging paintings in an empty room to minimize the echo effects. The thick leaves will absorb a part of the noises, including the sound of the phone, printer, coffee maker or any other noise, making these sounds a little bit friendlier.

To discover some great gardening tips visit http://www.gardeningtoolsandtips.info for information such as container gardening.

Ready for something different in your garden? Take a look at Japanese bridges. These beautiful ornamental bridges bring the Far East right into your back yard or garden.

Japanese bridges add elegance to gardens and look beautiful when placed over a koi pond or Japanese style dry river bed. There are many flowers, shrubs and trees that compliment Japanese bridges also.

If you are interested in Japanese bridges for your garden you may want to look online for ideas and suggestions. There are excellent sites that not only feature the bridges but have information about planning an entire garden space in the Japanese style.

Many of the designs for these Japanese bridges are taken from ancient drawings. The Japanese bridges are graceful and unique. Place a Japanese bridge in your garden and create a space to meditate, a quiet area for contemplation and dreaming. These are just a few of the benefits of having a Japanese bridge.

You might want to begin planning a Japanese bridge by surveying the space you have to work with. Make sure the Japanese bridge is the correct size. The Japanese bridge will not look as lovely as it should if it is too big or too small for the area. Think carefully about the other things you will have in the space. You will want to coordinate the flowers, trees and any other ornamental elements you plan to use. If you have a pond you will need to determine the best Japanese bridge for the pond.

Plan carefully and you will be able to add a little Oriental flair to your yard even if you live in New York City!

We have a large number of styles and varieties of garden
bridges available online. For more information and to learn
more about garden bridges, visit:
Garden Bridges Online

Do pests ‘gopher’ your lawn? Chances are, if you have a lawn, you risk the chance of having pests, such as the gopher and his cousin the mole. And, perhaps even those pesky six-legged creatures- ants and other insects- call your grass patches home. Why are these animals and insects attracted to your lawn? And, what can you do to stop them from burrowing and nesting? Those answers and more will follow in this article.

Most household lawns are not large enough to attract so many pests that a serious problem will result, but nonetheless, they can be a nuisance and cause some minor damage to your grassy nook. Insects are not very easy to spot, as some are so small they are naked to the eye, however, they can be identified by dead, brown patches of grass. Telltale signs of moles and gophers are a little more obvious- dirt hills on the top of your lawn, and beneath them, tunnels and holes. Once you identify that you have pests, you then need to decide the best way for you to take care of the problem.

The first option is to call an expert. Use your local directory or a referral from someone you know that had a similar problem. But if you are like most people today, you may want to do it yourself. And, if you are a DIYer, the first thing you need to do is size up your situation, and what you are up against. Let’s look at insects first.

When dealing with insects, the first thing you must realize is that not all insects are bad guys. Sure, we probably would swat at them all, but in reality, some insects can actually act as exterminators against others. Other insects can actually help control your thatch level. There are two types of insects when it comes to the ones who invade your lawn: above and below ground insects. Above ground insects usually feed on your grass, and can be seen fairly easy. Some examples of these can be chinch bugs, green bugs and armyworms.

The below ground insects are just that, they feed on your lawn through the root system, which means they are the most destructive of the two. They are also the most difficult to identify since they are not easily seen. These can include grubs, beetle larvae and billbugs. There are literally thousands of species of insects, far too many to list here. You could borrow a book on insects from your local library, or check out some entomology websites to learn more about what roles and functions they have. After all, you don’t want to kill off any allies!

There are five basic types of treatment for anthills and other insects: chemical insecticides, biological insecticides, botanical insecticides, insecticide soaps and predatory insects (remember- some are your friend!). There may also be specific types for specific insects. Weigh each option and choose which one fits your needs the best.

Moles and gophers are two of the most common animal pests, and due to striking similarities they are often confused. Both animals build tunnels under your lawns, but that does not mean they are the same. These two have many things that set them apart from one another. Moles are smaller than gophers, and have pointed snouts and large front claws. They do not feed on your lawn, but the insects that dwell within. Sounds like they are helping you with the insects? Maybe, but the moles’ tunnels leave mounds of dirt on the ground above, and their shallow tunnels cause uneven ground.

Gophers, the largest of the pesky pair, have buckteeth and small ears. These creatures love to dine on your grass and plant roots. Gophers also leave mounds of dirt, but they do far more damage underground, causing sinkholes. While your green may not encompass as many acres of the turf in the movie Caddyshack, they can cause just as much recurring trouble. Getting rids of gophers and moles leads to one grand solution- killing them. There are also more conventional methods, such as traps.

The best way to deal with pests though is to perhaps not have them at all. This can be achieved by taking preventative measures in your lawn. But of course, nature has a mind of its own!

About the Author

For hundreds of other tips for creating your own perfect lawn, be sure to visit:

http://www.YourPerfectLawn.com