Did you know..
When you construct a wood deck or stone patio, be sure
it's large enough to be useful.
A 10-foot square area is comfortable for a small table
and four chairs, or two long lounges and two chairs.
The best way to estimate how much you need is to measure
it out on the lawn, setting the furniture as you would like
to use it and judging how much space is required. You'll
quickly know what's possible in the space you've got to
work with.
Did you know..
If you acquire plants before the bed is prepared for them,
you'll need to find a temporary holding area.
Perennials and shrubs in containers can stand in permanent
shade alongside of a house wall or garage, and you must
water them every day. Larger balled-and-burlap plants must
be heeled in somewhere.
Dig a shallow depression in a shady spot and set the burlapped
rootball in it, then cover the exposed portionwith a purchased
bag of shredded bark and keep it wet.
If there's no area to heel in, you can put the root ball
and the shredded bark in a large plastic garbage bag and
prop it up in a shady corner. Poke drainage holes in the
bottom of the bag and keep the root ball damp, but not dripping
wet.
Did you know..
The main plant nutrients are nitrogen for deep green color
and strong leaf growth, phosphorous for aggressive root
development and bud set, and potassium for healthy tissues.
Every fertilizer bag or box has three number on it representing
the amounts of the basic nutrients contained. If the numbers
are 10-15-6, that means the ferilizer is 10% (by weight)
nitrogen, 15% phosphorus, and 6% potassium.
Basic fertilizers for ornamental garden plants should have
all their numbers below twenty. Anything higher is too much
and runs the risk of damaging the plant.
Did you know..
Lawns require a minimum one inch of water weekly to maintain
strong growth.
Watering for short periods each day doesn't put down enough
moisture to reach the root zone.
It's more effective to irrigate the lawn twice weekly,
for one hour each time, and put down sufficient water to
penetrate into the root zone.
Did you know ...
If you want to fine-grade a large area for a new lawn,
try using an 8-foot length of chain-link fencing as a 'drag'
to level and prepare the soil.
If the chain link is from a new roll and has a strong curl,
you can tie some bricks to one edge to hold it down while
you grasp the opposite end and pull.
