Plant Gardens 101

Every year millions of people have been adding tomatoes to their yards to save money on produce during the summer months. Believe it or not, there are several edible plants that you can add to your landscaping as well. A variety of trees, plants and even some weeds are suitable for eating and will add to the look of your landscaping. Fresher fruits and vegetables will not only look great in your lawn, but they are better for you as well. Fresher fruits have a higher fiber, vitamin and antioxidant content. Growing a salad right in your very own yard is both rewarding and nice to look at. It also puts you in charge as to what your food is exposed to in terms of fertilizer, pesticides and other chemicals. Growing your own produce can also be very earth-friendly because your food does not have to travel to get to you. In other words, you are reducing your carbon footprint by growing your own fruits and veggies. A garden that adds to your landscaping is not only good for you; it is good for the planet as well.

Fruit trees are a staple of food-friendly yards. Not only do the trees provide appetizing fruit, most also have gorgeous blooms that come before the produce. Bear in mind that when fruit is left to decompose on the tree, it can modify the health and productivity of the tree next season. If your trees bear more fruit than you can consume, be generous with your neighbors, friends and local food banks. (more…)

Hundreds of years ago, simple huts were made with grasses and plants assembled into the thatched roofs, which grew to keep the house insulated and protected from natural forces. Today, this ancient concept of a roof garden has changed into the modern practice of installing and growing numerous kinds of plant life in many different forms on top of homes, log cabins, sheds and other neighboring buildings. From detailed, ornamental gardens to simple, practical mats, these new structures (and the technology that makes them possible) are spreading swiftly across the country.

Roof gardens that are more lavish can be relaxing retreats that offer solitude to homeowners who want to install a private garden totally under their care. These useful varieties of roof garden, harboring mostly grasses and herbs, act as an extra tier of protection, keeping your home warm during the winter and cool during the summer. Rainwater that falls on these roofs is gathered and used within the garden. By the amount of sunlight and weather damage that the garden absorbs, you can double your roof’s lifespan by adding a roof garden.    (more…)

Many of the tools that you will need to make your own brick or paved pathway are familiar to any home repair project. If you have a yard, then you might already have a water hose, rake, shovel, and trowel. It’s important for you to have safety goggles and hardwearing gloves for this, and a broom, hammer or mallet, measuring tape, and scissors are also needed. You will need string and poles, along with whatever you want to use for edging (brick, metal, wood, or plastic restraints), 2×4 or pipe sections to use for leveling the levels, and if using wood for edging, a drill and suitable bit. A wheelbarrow may be useful to haul supplies to the elected point. You should be able to rent a plate compacting machine and brick cutter from where you buy the key materials: bricks, gravel, and sand.

Be sure that you use materials specially meant for sidewalk or patio use. Gravel or crushed stone mixtures are an easier choice to a concrete base layer. Do not use everyday bricks, such as the kind found in fireplaces, for this; paving bricks do not have the holes found in everyday bricks, and thus are stronger and safer to be used for ground implementation. (more…)

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