http://healthyhomesmart.com Healthy Home Living Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:26:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 http://healthyhomesmart.com/2010/07/30/selecting-flowers-with-a-florists-flair/ http://healthyhomesmart.com/2010/07/30/selecting-flowers-with-a-florists-flair/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:26:28 +0000 Eric-Admin http://thoughtsearch.com/Selecting-Flowers-With-A-Florist-s-Flair/74299/106.html Title: Selecting Flowers With A Florist's Flair

Article: A basic requirement of florist shops is the purchasing of flowers to suit the preferences of their customers. The flower market, like other agriculture markets, is subject to many fluctuations due to natural factors, supply and demand, and fashion. Learning how to buy in such a way as to best serve a variety of clients while earning a profit is not a simple skill. Knowing how to create the wreaths, bouquets, and other more complicated arrangements clients will ask for is essential to florists. The flowers sold in florist shops typically represent the varieties abundantly available in the season but also include blossoms flown in from around the world. Basic varieties include roses, tulips, irises, and lilies. Wreaths can be made out of many different types of flowers and plants. Typically, a florist will organize flowers by season and holiday. Flowers have various different meanings in different cultures which florists are keenly aware of. The holidays and events for which flowers are used vary. Poppies are used to remember fallen soldiers only in England and the Commonwealth countries. The cultural meaning of colors also strongly affects the choice and use of flowers. People often prefer flowers that are associated with their ethnic group or country, and various colors may have special meanings of luck or death or love or other basic human traits. A flower such as a red rose might to some mean love, but to others it might be considered indecent or simply puzzling. The vastly divergent views on the color white can lead to major flower issues. White is viewed as standing for death in many Asian cultures but is considered a symbol of purity and innocence in many European and American cultures. Such differences can lead to difficult issues when a bouquet of white lilies, for example, is delivered. Many people, however, don't know what flowers or their colors symbolize. To them, it's just a pretty arrangement to enjoy. Or maybe their favorite color is yellow, so they always buy yellow roses. Or lavender goes with their wedding colors, so they choose the chrysanthemum to carry down the aisle. For many ordinary people, flowers are chosen based on aesthetic appeal, rather than any meaning behind the color or variety of flower. Here is a short list of popular flowers, and what they are said to mean. Roses Pink, Friendship Red, Passionate Love Red and White, Unity White, Purity Yellow, Zealous Tulips Pink, Caring Purple, Royalty Red, Declaration of Love White, Forgiveness Yellow, Hopelessly in love Lily Calla, Regal Casablanca, Celebration Day, Enthusiasm Stargazer, Ambition Chrysanthemum Bronze, Excitement White, Truth Red, Sharing Yellow, Secret Admirer Carnation Pink, Gratitude Red, Flashy Striped, Refusal White, Remembrance Yellow, Cheerful Baby's Breath, Festivity Alstroemeria, Aspiring Daffodil, Chivalry Delphinium, Boldness Daisy, Innocence Gardenia, Joy Geranium, Comfort Holly, Domestic Happiness Iris, Inspiration Ivy, Fidelity Orchid, Delicate Beauty Snapdragon, Presumptuous Star of Bethlehem, Hope Stephanotis, Good Luck Violet, Faithfulness Hopefully this will help in your quest to send the perfect bouquet of flowers to that special someone. You might even include a list of meanings, so that they know exactly what your feelings for them are. More information on florists
florists

http://www.flowerdeliverydirect.com

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Article: Rose plants for forcing purposes are generally grown from cuttings of the new wood made any time from November to February, but for most purposes the earlier date is preferable. The rule generally given for learning if the plants are in proper condition to be used for cuttings, i.e., when in bending a branch the wood snaps, does not hold for roses, as cuttings should not be made until the buds in the axils of the leaves have become firm and hard. Some consider that the lower buds on a stem are in good condition when the flower buds are ready to be cut, while others believe that the best time for making the cuttings is when the buds begin to show colour. At any rate, the cuttings should be made before the leaf buds begin to swell. The cuttings made as soon as the buds have formed and the wood has lost its succulent nature, will root quicker, and a much larger per cent of them will form roots, or "strike," as it is called. If the variety is a new and choice one, the blind shoots, or those that have not formed flower buds, are often used for making cuttings. While it may be done occasionally without marked injury, if persisted in the tendency will be to develop plants that form few flowering stems, and the results will not be satisfactory, so that the continued use of the blind shoots for cuttings is not to be recommended. When the stems have long internodes, and particularly if it is a new sort, a cutting should be obtained from every good bud, but those at the lower part of the stem, and all at the upper portion that are to any extent soft and succulent, should be rejected. The cuttings of American Beauty, and other varieties with short joints, should contain two or more buds. Cuttings should be from one and one-half to three inches long, with one bud near the top, at any rate, and with the lower end cut off smoothly at right angles, with a sharp knife. If the upper leaf is large, about one-half of it should be cut away, and the other leaves, if any, should be rubbed off. The cuttings should be dropped into water to prevent their drying out, and as soon as possible should be placed in the propagating bed. This should contain about four inches of clean, sharp sand of medium fineness, and should have heating pipes beneath, to give bottom heat. Set the cuttings in rows, about two inches apart and three-fourths of an inch in the row, and press the sand firmly about them. At once wet them down thoroughly, and if the weather is clear and bright the beds should be shaded during the middle of the day for the first week. The propagating house should be kept at a temperature, at night, of fifty-Height or sixty degrees, with about ten degrees more of bottom heat. During the day, it should be well ventilated to keep up the bottom heat and thus promote root development, and to admit fresh air, but a temperature ten degrees higher than at night is desirable. In about three or four weeks, with proper care, every cutting should be rooted. The requirements for success, as noted above, are, good cuttings, clean, sharp sand, a proper temperature, shading when necessary, and an occasional wetting down of the bed, in order that the cuttings may not at any time become dry. If the house is inclined to dry out, or if the weather is bright, the cuttings as well as the walks should be sprinkled occasionally, and the ventilation should have careful attention. It is best to use fresh sand for each batch of cuttings. This is an extract from Greenhouse Management To purchase the full ebook visit the DirectoryGold eProducts Shop Recommended by ThoughtSearch.com: Home Hydroponics Is The Future Of Healthy Eating ! How You CAN Grow Virtually Any Plant Or Vegetable Without Soil.

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Article: The beautiful flower arrangements we see on the most important occasions of our lives didn't just come about by randomly mixing flowers of different colors. Sometimes we take them for granted and think it's easy to create a beautiful floral arrangement. We often think anyone can just create this work of art. The reality is, the craft of floristry takes hard work! Creating a floral arrangement that adds beauty to a place involves flair and skill that only a well-trained florist can possess. The craft of floristry is the craft of creating floral arrangements in baskets, bowls and vases, or making bouquets from foliage, flowers, herbs, ornamental plants and other botanical ingredients. Florists, or those who specialize in the craft of floristry generally work in retail, and should not be mistaken for gardeners or horticulturists. Floristry can sometimes be taken to mean as a term that refers to the arrangement of flowers, rather than simply the business of selling them. Still, the floral industry is the fundamental force behind floristry. Flower shops, like your friendly neighborhood flower stores, are the main flower-only establishments, although you may also still find flowers being sold in filling stations, garden supply stores and even supermarkets. The craft of floristry is more complicated than just choosing which flowers go well together. Florists require a specialized eye for design, as well as innate visual imagination that he or she must be able to translate into a beautiful work of art. Creating an original floral design. involves creative stimulation as well as good communication and interpersonal skills. Florists must be able to communicate with their clients in order to achieve the desired result. They have to establish rapport between themselves and the customers so that a stable, efficient working relationship can be achieved for the comfort and benefit of both parties. Florists must know the ins and outs of customer care, because customers really drive the floral industry. Florists must also be well-versed with the strength and durability of flowers, as well as their shapes and textures in order to create innovative flower arrangements. Florists need an understanding of how flowers and plants work so they can better care for them and decide which ones are more suited to go together. A knowledge of the horticulture or gardening is really an added benefit. The craft of floristry also involves the physical aspect, such as being able to use your hands, being able to stand on your feet for extended periods of time and be able to list heavy delivers. A driving license may also be necessary to collect stock and make deliveries to customers. Floristry doesn't simply involve the creative aspect. The craft of floristry also deals with the more administrative parts of flower arrangement and flower retail. Florists must also be good managers, as they also handle money and supervise a staff. Floristry can become extremely hectic, especially during special occasions like Valentine's, Christmas or Easter. There are also special occasions celebrated throughout the whole year, such as weddings, birthdays and funerals. Flowers for these occasions have limited time to prepare the flowers, so florists must know how to deal with time pressure as well as how to deal with clients during sensitive times. Jonathon Boundy is the webmaster for inbloom flowers online - an internet marketer of flowers and promoter of the popular website: Inbloom.com

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Article: If you have hard water, you need to get it fixed. Hard water will stain your bathroom doors, windows, the shower head and can leave a white texture on your skin. It will leave stains and lime scales in your bathroom. Hard water has calcium and magnesium irons in it. You can also see a cloudy looking mass in your water when you put it in a glass. It is gross! You have to put some water softener into it to make it soft. People can do this themselves, but it is good to have the water company do it for you. It is hard on your skin. It makes it feel funny, and it will look chalky. If you have dry skin, the hard water will not help it even if you put on lotion. It will keep it dry. Hard water can cause rust on your shower, and it can clog your pipes, too. It also can leave soap on your skin when you are taking a bath. If this happens, your skin will get irritated, and you will be itching really badly. When you have skin problems and you have hard water it can cause your skin to become thinner and aggravate it. It damages your hair by making it thinner and it can split your ends. You don't want to drink it because it will look nasty, and it will taste nasty, too. It will cost you a lot of money if you don't get it taken care of right away. You don't want iron or any of the other things in your water because it can hurt you. My grandparents had hard water, and they had so many things wrong with it that they had to get it fixed before it got worse and so it won't hurt them. If you have hard water, you need to get it taken care of by a professional so you can have softer water. Soft water is better for you to have on your home and for your skin. You need to get a hard water filter so it can fix it. It can be hard to get the water stains off your shower, sinks, and your door. So you will need to try to clean it with vinegar. It will get it off of your stuff. Keep in mind of all the stuff it can do to you and realize it before it gets worse. Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like Water Damage Restoration and Document Drying.

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Article: We spend a substantial part of our life in our beds. Given the amount of time we spend on our mattresses, and the stains that inevitably go along with it, it is surprising to realize that few people actually know how to clean mattress stains! The most important thing to keep in mind is that you need to deal with the stain right away. The sooner you try to clean the stain, the easier it will be to get the stain out. Even if it is the middle of the night, and all you want to do is go back to sleep, do not give in to temptation and just cover up the stain with a towel and go back to sleep. You will get a bit more rest that night, but you could end up ruining your mattress. The first step in cleaning your mattress is to try the gentle dry suds method. Take a cup of mild powdered laundry detergent and put it in a bowl. Slowly add about a cup of warm water to the detergent, beating the water (preferably with an electric mixer on medium) until suds form. Using a sponge, take the suds and rub them into the stain, repeating as required. The key is to keep the mattress as dry as possible - that is why it is essential that you only use the suds and never the liquid. Dry the spot thoroughly with a hair dryer before putting clean sheets back on. The above method will work for general stains on your mattress. Two common types of stains, however, will likely require a more intensive method. If you are trying to get a blood or urine stain out of your mattress, take hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar and apply it with a towel in a circular motion around the stain and in to the middle. In the case of urine, applying a coating of baking soda to the newly cleaned area and letting it sit overnight can help remove unpleasant odors. Using hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar is a far harsher solution than the dry suds method, and may bleach or otherwise discolor your mattress. If this is a concern, it is best to spot check first on a hidden section of the mattress. Even if you know how to clean mattress stains using the above methods, you will someday face a stain that will not come out. That is why it is important to remember that preventing stains in the first place is the best protection you can give your mattress. Byran Kempa for Mattress Information - A site with news and articles on mattresses and Jamison mattresses

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Article: One of the biggest things in our homes that cause health problems is the existence of mold. Causing some minor problems, but at other times problems that are life-threatening. Building of a new home if done incorrectly will not even prevent mold from coming into your home. That's why it's important that you know a few tips that can help you to fight the mold and eliminate it from your home. There are conditions that need to be present in order for mold to exist. They are a humidity level that is at least 75%; temperature should be in between 40 or up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. But the mold needs to have some food to exist too. That food can come from many places; some are wood, tiles for the ceiling if they have cellulosic content, jute that is on the back of carpet, or paper on the back of gypsum. What makes mold so dangerous is that it produces the toxin mycotoxin. This toxin can cause a response in many vertebrates. Some of the more common and minor symptoms of mycotoxin existence are headaches, dermatitis, and coughs. More serious symptoms are pulmonary homosiderosis, and asthma. Finding many different sources of food inside your home, mold can thrive with those above conditions. Some foods it will use to live off of include dust, wood, and even cooked and raw foods. In order to help prevent mold from coming about in new construction more rules have been placed on builders to ensure the proper construction methods are used. Another development to help with mold is products that are now coming out as mold-resistant. Many of these products will be used on new construction, but they can also be used when you upgrade an older home. Check out mold-resistant products in carpet, upholstery, and even paints. What about the mold in the older homes though? It must be taken care of too, and here are the ways you go about eliminating mold in your older home. Get a purifier for the air, but it will need to have a filter that is HEPA, which will aid in the removal of mold from the air. Also have some mold removing spray, this should be used on any mold you see come up. Clean the area thoroughly and then apply a mold preventer to the same area. Dehumidify your home and keep the humidity low enough so that mold will not grow. The suggested humidity level is 50%. Also when you buy filters to place in your air conditioning system make sure they will help in the removal of mold. Finally, to prevent mold from the outside, get a filter you can place in a window. It will help remove mold that is coming in through an open window. With these steps and tips you can eliminate the mold that is in your home. Use several of them at once to ensure that those mycotoxins don't come into your home. Go to Steamatic Triangle Services for more information on Raleigh mold removal and Raleigh air duct cleaning and sign up for their newsletter for more Tips and insights.

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Article: Hurricane Ike was just one severe storm system that battered the Gulf coast area this season. This time it was Texas that suffered the most damage in the city of Galveston. Of course, this was not the only place where power was out and had homes and businesses flooded. Even though Ike was only a category two, the damage was wide spread because the storm was so large. Once again people were asked to evacuate their homes and head for higher and safer ground out of reach of the first impact of the hurricane along the coastal regions. The vast majority of those who were asked to evacuate did. They had several days notice that the hurricane was coming. They still had time to board up their homes if they wanted to and make plans and arrangements to find someplace further inland to stay during and immediately after the storm. Advance warning can make all the difference for those who live in harms way. They can remove certain valuables from the home. Pets will not have to be left behind because there is no ready place to take them. Flood threats are so dangerous and some people who have experienced them before should know they are not to be taken lightly. Even though many people do have the good common sense to leave a flood threatened area while they have a chance, there are always those who choose to ride out the storm and take their chances. They might have experienced some false alarms in the past where they were asked to evacuate and did. When they returned and discovered that very little or no harm had been done, it might be enough to make them a little braver the next time. Why do they not realize that it only takes one time when things pan out like forecasters are predicting to place themselves and their family in extreme jeopardy? Many times these same people will misjudge the danger and end up having to be rescued because of there decision not to leave. Even though there are measures in place to do these rescues when there are natural disasters, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars to carry them out. One reason that many people will tell you they choose to stay instead of evacuate is that it cost money they might not have to leave. If they have no friends or relatives to go to, they will have to take refuge in a shelter or motel. Some are afraid to leave their home unprotected from looters or vandals. Although these might sound like logical reasons, they really are not. When the power will likely be out and they become trapped because roads and bridges are flooded, they will probably end up wishing that they did get out while they could. Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like Miami Water Damage Restoration and Chicago Water Damage Restoration.

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Article: If you have ever seen a wild fire, you will know how bad it can be and how it can get out f control fast. If your city is under a drought and it is very hot outside, it can cause the dry weeds to catch on fire. When there is no rain to give the plants and the weeds flourish, it will make them turn brown and get very dry. It is like a torch that is ready to be set on fire. Wild fires will burn down trees, homes, and burn up the land. It is a living thing that burns everything that it wants because it is a destroyer. That is all it does. Itarticles whatever it wants whenever it wants to. When air gets to it, it will spread into a bigger fire. Firefighters are really good at what they do, but sometimes it can get out of control and can harm one of them. Sometimes, it won't hurt them at all. It all depends on how they handle it and how bad the fire is. The firefighter will try to get it out with water before it gets really bad, but sometimes they have to get a helicopter that will carry a good amount of water to pour over it to stop it. A lot of times, they have to use a lot of them to take care of it. Wild fires are very dangerous so get away from them and get out of the area as fast as possible. It can burn you bad and scar you for life. It also will send toxic smoke into the air and can get into your lungs. It will give you breathing problems, and you will be sent to the hospital. If the wind is high, it will move the fire in the way that the wind is blowing, causing massive damage. It is as if it has a mind of its own, and it will grow as big as it wants. It will be very hard for the firefighters to get it out, so they have to get the police and anyone else to help put out the fire so no one will get hurt. It is a really scary thing to see or go through. Animals can bearticleed or hurt. Their home will be gone, and some of them will leave to find a new place to live and find food so they can survive. Aydan Corkern is a writer of many topics, visit some of her sites, like Water Damage Restoration and Document Drying.

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Article: What most of us know about bats we learned in B movies - Vampire turns into bat; bat flies back to castle; bat changes back to vampire; hero drives stake through his heart. The truth about bats is considerably less frightening, but much more interesting. A single bat can eat up to 3000 mosquitoes per night; they don't attack humans except in movies; their rate of rabies is no different from other wild mammals; they are not blind; and they are - believe it or not - quite clean. While bats are intriguing and beneficial creatures, if they get into your home, they can become really annoying - that means noisy, messy, and smelly. Starting in mid-August (for most of the USA) you will have a window of opportunity to rid your house of bats relatively easily. Here's how. First, you will need to provide alternative housing for the bats before you start excluding them from your home. (Bat populations have been in serious decline. It's inhumane to simply kick them out with no place to go.) The best plan is to install a bat house nearby that is specifically designed to attract bats. Placing it on a pole at a specified height is usually preferable to attaching it to the exterior of your house. The next step is to determine where the bats are coming/going from your house. There may be one - or many - ways bats are getting into your home. You may be able to find these entry/exit points by going into your darkened attic in daylight and look for light leaks. Or, you may be able to observe the bats coming and going. If there are multiple points of entry, you will need to seal permanently all but the most obvious point of entry (you need to leave one entry point to allow the bats to leave.) Once you have eliminated all but one entry point, you will need to devise a way of allowing the bats to leave, but not reenter. There are three basic ways of doing this. 1.Each night after the bats leave, temporarily plug the entry hole, so they cannot return in the morning. If any bats remain, the next day, open the entry hole to allow the remaining bats to leave. You may need to repeat the process for several nights. (Note, depending upon your situation, this method may require climbing ladders at night, in which case I cannot recommend this procedure. Use your own judgment.) 2.There are valve-like devices available that allow bats to leave, but not return. 3.You can make a check valve yourself. An Internet search will turn up suggestions or plans. The timing of when you do your bat removal is very important. Your bat removal must be done between mid-August and mid-May. This is the time when the young bats have been weaned and can fly, but the bats are not yet breeding again. This time frame is appropriate for North America. Bat removal at any other time is inhumane, and will trap bats in your home, creating other problems. (You might check with a local extension agent as to when bats occupy roosts in your area.) These procedures should work, but every situation is different. By providing an alternative roost, you not only get the bats out of your house, but retain the benefits of having bats around. Pretty simple, huh? And a hammer and stake are not required. Janet Winter is a web designer, travel agent, and writer on many topics. She delights in providing great resources for bird and nature lovers. You can find more information about bats and appropriate bat houses at Wild Bird Goodies.com.

Syndication Source: ThoughtSearch.com]]> http://healthyhomesmart.com/2010/07/30/bats-in-your-home-heres-how-to-get-them-out-humanely/feed/ 0 http://healthyhomesmart.com/2010/07/30/tips-on-how-to-manage-your-compost-heap-3/ http://healthyhomesmart.com/2010/07/30/tips-on-how-to-manage-your-compost-heap-3/#comments Fri, 30 Jul 2010 06:23:49 +0000 Eric-Admin http://thoughtsearch.com/Tips-On-How-To-Manage-Your-Compost-Heap/10182/110.html Title: Tips On How To Manage Your Compost Heap

Article: There are many instances when homeowners choose not to get started with backyard composting because of the perception that it is hard to do correctly. In reality, you just need to collect the basic organic materials, find a place for the compost heap and then allow nature to take over the task. But, there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind that can help make the whole process move forward without a hitch. There are a number of different types of compost bins on the market that you can use to help manage and contain your compost. But, a special bin is not a requirement that is needed to accomplish successful composting, but more of a convenience. It is easy enough to build your own bin for your pile and simply cover it over with a sheet of polythene or chunk of cardboard. Some people, however, prefer to have their compost heap more contained and neat in appearance and to have it easier to manage as well. If that is the case, then compost bins can be a good solution. These special bins are easy enough to find online or at local stores that sell organic gardening tools and supplies. Some local municipalities also have compost bins available at a reduced cost to encourage people to recycle their organic waste. Making a compost is as simple as adding your organic items that are compostable on a regular basis. Any waste product that was at one time a living thing will compost, or decompose, but some items are not recommended to be thrown into your pile. Meats, dairy foods and cooked foods will end up attracting pests and vermin so these should not be used in your home composting efforts. Dead and decaying leaves, lawn clippings, manure, and kitchen waste such as rinds, peelings, coffee grounds and even eggshells can be added to it. Older, thicker and tougher plant materials are slower to decompose but they benefit the compost by providing more substance, or body, to the finished product. These heavier materials usually comprise most of a compost pile. Wood items take a long time to decompose. Whenever possible it is best to shred, chip or chop wood materials to help accelerate the rotting process. However, as long as they are mixed in with other materials that decompose faster they will still provide some benefit to the process overall. In general it is best to have fairly equal amounts of what is called brown material and green material in it. Brown materials are the manures, dead leaves, small twigs and cardboard and newspapers. Green materials include hedge and grass clippings, coffee grounds, fruit rinds and uncooked vegetables. You only need to have about one foot of organic material to get your compost heap started. In most instances, just mowing the yard and weeding your flowerbeds and vegetable garden will give you enough to begin. If needed, then you can also add organic kitchen waste and newspaper, and even a little straw if you are coming up short of the one foot level. Once things get piled up, nature will take over and the decomposition process will start. It is good to turn the heap about every two weeks and within four to six months you will have a nice compost of waste materials that will give a boost to your soil. A free audio gift awaits you at our portal site, where you can enrich your knowldege further about the compost heap. Your comment is much appreciated at our recycling blog.

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Article: There's a lot of materials out there about composting and compost and the last thing you need is another one that explains the technical aspect of the process and the scientific basis behind the importance of using composts. Although, I'm not denying the fact that technical explanations such as those are necessary as well, but it would be nice to hear or read something more of layman's approach on the subject. Well that's something that this article would like to do, anyhow. Compost is an organic substance that is added to the soil which functions more than just being a fertilizer. It is a mulch, a soil conditioner, and something that will help the soil give the best nutrients and minerals your plants need. With compost, the soil also is able to hold more water, which is also beneficial to your plants. There are several composting methods which you can employ or use. The so called no-turn composting method seems to be the easiest. Like what the title of the method indicates, you don't need to turn the pile of compost at least once every week to quicken the process of decomposition. In this no-turn technique, all you need to do is add a lot of coarse materials to your compost. Adding a lot of straw would do just fine. What the straw does is to create air pockets and allow the pile to be aerated. You can expect your compost to be developed at the same rate as when you employ the traditional turn-over composting technique. When you use this composting technique, be sure to get your compost from the bottom of the pile. Just add new organic materials on the top keeping in mind adding coarse materials as well. If the only available composting materials in your yard are piles and piles of leaves, then don't worry. Creating composts from leaves alone can be done. You just need a couple of things, and some very simple techniques. Select a place where you will make your compost pile. For the leaves, the place ideal would be a well shaded area which will help keep the pile damp or moist. Also keep in mind that the pile should not be packed tightly. Keep it loose to allow the air to circulate. In four or six months, the compost from leaves should be finished and ready to be applied to the soil. Take a mental note, however, that the compost created from the leaves does not contain enough nutrients and microorganism to function as a fertilizer. The finished compost, however, is great as soil conditioner. When composting, you will need materials rich in carbon and nitrogen namely fruits and vegetable scraps and other table scraps except left over bones because they attract a number of pests and animals. Other products include eggshells, grass or shrub clippings, pine needles, seaweed and kelp, coffee grounds, wood ash, tea leaves, cardboard and shredded paper, corn stalks, wood chips, and sawdust. To discourage fruit flies and other pests from grouping together on your pile, it would be best to cover the pile or add lime or calcium over the top or whenever you add new materials to your compost. The lime and calcium also help neutralize the odors from your pile. I hope you were able to have a simplified view of the composting and got some useful and simple tips from the article. Just remember that composting is difficult only if you want it to be. 1000s of Affordable Garden,Organic,Agriculture and Food Products - WorldGardenPages.com, WorldOrganicPages.com, WorldAgriculturePages.com and WorldFoodPages.com

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Article: Some of us may be hesitant in making and using compost. They find the task of making one troublesome and time consuming. Or they might have false perceptions of smelly compost piles and having such a messy process right in their backyards. While others would prefer buying their fertilizers, soil amendments or conditioners, and mulch from their garden stores to avoid all the hassle of reading about compost and actually making one. Here are my top personal reasons for composting. I only hope that you move your butt out of that chair and begin your own compost pile before you reach number ten. 1.Free and readily available - The first reason I find composting highly worthwhile is the fact that the materials used are absolutely free and are readily available. Compare that with the ever rising costs of commercial fertilizers and other gardening products in the market today. All you need is a little extra effort to find the best materials for your compost pile, but otherwise, everything's for free. 2.More nutrients and minerals for the plants - The second one is that compost provides more nutrients and minerals needed by my plants than commercial organic or synthetic fertilizers. The overall effect of compost is also longer than commercially available fertilizers. It's free and it works better, who wouldn't want that? Plus, if you organize your ingredients just right, you can provide a whole lot more range of nutrients. 3.Strong soil structure - The third reason would be the benefits of compost to the soil structure. When applied to the soil, compost can help the soil be more resistant to erosion, improve its retention of water, and in some types of soil (like clay) it can reduce the chance the soil becomes compact. This is also important for farmers since compost can make the soil easier to till conserving time and fuel needed to operate the machines. 4.Eliminate weeds and disease causing organisms - With the right composting technique, the process canarticle those troublesome weeds as well as pests and disease causing organisms present in the materials being composted. High temperature composting is the technique I am talking about. Although, this technique is not the backyard variety but rather a more laboratory or industrial type variety, I still find it a good reason why we should make composts. 5.Suppress the growth of diseases in crops - There have been studies which indicate that using compost can suppress the growth of diseases in crops. Other studies also show that crops grown over compost rich soils can resist better pest or insect attacks. Likewise, some news and observations in the field also shows that crops grown using compost bear produce that can be stored longer. If that's not reason enough, I don't know what else you are looking for. 6.Reduce cardon dioxide in the atmosphere - For the environmentalists and conservationists, compost has something for them as well. Using compost together with the soil can build soil carbon which can eventually reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It may take a lot of compost to have a positive effect on the greenhouse gases but that fact is quite useful as well. 7.Balance the soil acidity - It is also found out that compost works well as an antidote for soils that are toxic with agricultural chemicals. Compost can balance the levels of soil acidity, and helps farmers to go organic after years of using synthetic agricultural products. These are my top reason for composting. Some of it may not directly benefit my personal needs but having those reasons to cling onto is a good thing to motivate the use of compost. 1000s of Affordable Garden,Organic,Agriculture and Food Products - WorldGardenPages.com, WorldOrganicPages.com, WorldAgriculturePages.com and WorldFoodPages.com

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Article: We all know how important it is for our kids to be active and involved in physical activities. And that is the reason why we often arrange our backyard in a way that helps them to remain involved in some kind of activity. But one thing that we regularly overlook is the playground surface and how protective it is. If we are talking about public playgrounds then almost 0% of them are relatively safe with shock-absorbing protective surfacing under the playground equipment. But what is startling is that only 9% of the home backyard playgrounds have any kind of protective surface. These are the figures that have been arrived at during a research study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). There are other facts which are equally shocking. Of the 50,000 injuries that happen on an average every year which can be associated to home backyard playground equipment, about 70% are because there was no protective surfacing installed. The playground surface is generally made from either grass or dirt. But both these surfaces don't offer much of a protection against serious injuries due to falls. Someone falling from even a height of two and a half feet can suffer fractures of arms and hands, lacerations and contusions of the head and face. In fact these are the most common reports of injuries that happen for a child falling from the playground equipment to a non-protective playground surface. The good news is that there are plenty of playground surface options that will give your kids protection against such falls. Recycled rubber mulch is one such option. They are very durable and you don't require to replace them once every year. In fact there are manufacturers who claim that there rubber mulch would not require to be replaced even in fifty years time. If such claims are true then you can have your kids and your grandchildren playing on the same rubber mulch. But before buying the rubber mulch check with the dealer as to what guarantee or warranty comes with the product. Rubber mulch is generally cleaner and unlike many other protective surfaces they don't make your kids get dirty during the play hours. There clothes, shoes and hands remain cleaner even during active play. There are other advantages too. There are no issues like mold and fungus growth, neither are insects or animals attracted towards it. Thomas MacIntosh writes about on Offer Your Kids Protection in the Playground: Get Playground Rubber Mulch to visit :- playground rubber mulch

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Article: There's no question that when it comes to landscaping in Australia, using native plants is always the best idea. If you're trying to come up with a great native plant to accentuate your existing landscape design, the grass tree might be just the thing you are looking for.Facts About Grass Trees -Grass trees are fascinating plants, and are native to Australia. They live an average of 600 years, so longevity is certainly not a concern. Their rate of growth is very slow - they only grow an average of 1 metre every 100 years. Overgrowth is not a concern, another feature that makes them popular with landscape gardeners Brisbane. As a result, most people simply prefer to re-establish existing grass trees in their gardens or within their outdoor areas.Tips For Growing And Maintaining -If you've been thinking about adding a couple of these palnts to your existing landscape design scheme, you should know that they work best as accents. In other words, they should be used to accentuate the existing layout of your home's landscaping. As expensive as they are, it is impractical to plant large numbers of them, anyway. Most people place one or two about a garden or other landscaping feature, letting them draw attention or serve as backdrops to the rest of the features.Planting and maintaining a grass tree isn't terribly difficult. Some key points to keep in mind include:=> Grass trees require very little water and don't require a great deal of maintenance. Once established, they do pretty well on their own.=> Optimally, you should plant or re-establish these trees in a sunny area. At minimum, a partly sunny area is necessary for these plants to thrive properly.=> As for soil, you're going to want to place your grass tree in well-drained soil. The top of the tree's root ball should be just beneath the surface of the soil so that it can act as a natural well.=> During the dry season, from October to May, water once or twice per week. Take care to ensure that the root ball and the other roots get soaking wet every time you water the plant.=> In the spring during the first couple of years of owning a grass tree, cut off any flower stalks that may appear. They can stress the tree and make it harder for the plant to thrive properly.The ongoing maintenance is minimal once the grass tree has successfully established. These plants make a great addition to absolutely any landscaping. Some of the best landscape gardeners Brisbane such as MP Landscapes will tell you that using native plants is always the best course of action. When you ask a landscaping Brisbane professional for a recommendation for a great native plant, you"ll often hear the words "grass tree" in response. Indeed, these plants bring many great advantages to the table.

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Article: If you are looking for direction on what to plant in that achingly empty plot outside your front door and the thought of watering every day has you retreating to your living room sofa before you can say soil-prep you will not have to look any further. The City of Austin has excellent recommendations for you. You will be the smartest person on the block with minimal maintenance and delightful results. Writing a smaller check to Austin energy for water consumption helps too. Earthwise, sustainable plants that are native to or have successfully adapted to Central Texas are the focus of their free picture filled 41-page booklet compiled and sponsored by a joint effort between the City of Austin and a host of their earth conscious partners. The goal is to preserve Austin's water resources. This not only equates to watering less but using fewer chemicals and fertilizers, if any, to maintain your own piece of paradise. Austin is sitting at the mouth of the recharge zone and watershed of the Edwards aquifer, which is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Austin promotes responsible planting to prevent overall depletion and detrimental runoff into the aquifer and other pristine natural pools such as Barton Springs. You may be thinking that choosing plants from our native landscape precludes the "exotic and lush rainforest canopy you have always wanted off of your breakfast nook". It does. What about, "predictable?" you may ask. To this we say, no-siree. You may not be able to transplant the abutilon megapotamicum you adored in Costa Rica but the tremendous variety of native vegetation available enables you to create unexpected and heavenly compositions. The City of Austin has included non-native but adapted plants for special situations like shady areas, poorly draining soil, deer resistance and due to their unusual beauty. They are selected because of their non-invasive nature and their inability to out-compete local vegetation. The guide entitled, "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants", but referred to by most Austinites, as the Grow Green Guide is available at nurseries in town. The plants are placed in categories such as trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, groundcover, etc. They are listed alphabetically under their common names with details on height, spread, light conditions required for growing, color and features, maintenance and other helpful details. The guide makes it easy to select plants from a purely aesthetic standpoint due to very clear and enlarged pictures. As a builder you may receive Green Building credits when plants from the guide are utilized. If you do not have access to one of the local nurseries the city of Austin site is filled with information. Here you will find the pdf's of the printed guide and you will find updated information including local partnering nurseries, the least toxic way to deal with bugs and pests and many other issues related to landscaping in Austin and Central Texas. Ki helps people interested in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site has a search of the Austin MLS and updated market stats on his blog covering Austin real estate.

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