backyard garden Archives

NYC - Queens - Flushing: Queens Botanical Gard...
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Regardless of where you live and your local weather patterns, your gardens and landscape will have their own specific micro-climate which is created due to several different factors and influences working together. The factors include the orientation of your site, its protection from wind, whether it slopes or not, and the amount of sun and shade it receives each day. So besides your local growing conditions, your micro-climate is a very important consideration for a successful landscape and garden.

Any type of structure or building on your property can cause different effects on the micro-climate. All your landscaping and garden ideas could easily be effected by just one placement. A house, for example, can cause a windbreak that changes the airflow around it. There will be a warm area and a colder one created on either side of the building; and shade at certain times of the day. Walls and fences both have an effect on a property just the same as natural elements like trees and hedges.

Locally, the temperature changes according to the composition of the ground surface. Some surfaces, for example, bitumen, get so hot that you cannot walk on them in summer and this heat is felt in the air above. Comparatively, concrete surfaces will keep cool. All landscaping plans will be effected differently by different elements. Grass is always cool, although the temperature of the soil beneath is influenced by the length of the grass above it. You can use temperature changes like this to help you grow warmth loving plants like semi-tropical varieties. Surfaces that heat up during the day will release the heat slowly throughout the night. This effect can sometimes prevent frost damage in areas that are susceptible.

In gardens and landscapes that are exposed to strong winds, a barrier of some sort is usually needed. It’s been shown that solid wind blocks like wood fences make areas of turbulence on each side. This is common knowledge to most landscape design contractors. The best sort of barriers are the ones that allow some air flow. A partial barrier like that will work more like a filter rather than a solid barricade. You can use trees or shrubs with light foliage, an open spaced board fence or even a brick fence with spaces between the bricks to create a good wind barrier.

Water can have many different effects on a micro-climate. Depending on the pond size, it helps stabilize the temperature of the air. Ponds reflect light so any plants that surround a pond usually get more water and light than those planted in other places. However, even though a pond has a cooling effect on its surroundings in the heat of Summer, it can also have a very chilly effect in Winter. Keep this in mind when you’re considering where to place a pond.

Both humans and vegetation do well when you give your micro-climates some thought and propper planning.

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A garden lawn
Image via Wikipedia

If you’re currently searching for tactics to raise better grass for your lawn, you must already understand about how an organic lawn fertilizer can really enhance the health of your grass crops.

Nowadays, typical homeowners dream of having their own green lawns at home. They want a great place where they can relax, a place to practice mini-golf and a place to have picnics on the grass with their brood.

Because your lawns are often used by barefoot kids and pets, the most essential thing to consider in lawn management is the type of fertilizer you will use. Your fertilizer must be organic and natural so that it will not leave horrid and even unsafe waste materials on your grass. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides may stay on your lawn for a long time, and these can cling to human skin and result in rashes.

With that said, let us talk about some organic lawn fertilizer options for homeowners.

gardeners and homeowners alike have developed a particular system to create beautiful gardens and lawns without using synthetic fertilizers. These tactics include choosing a grass type that’s inherently immune to pests and weeds. This variety should be able to adjust to the weather of your region well. Homeowners who know better also apply organic fertilizers to prevent the build up of chemicals in the soil which leads to more crop issues in the long run.

The basic thing you need to understand about fertilizers is that they give plants with necessary nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Because of this, you should pick a fertilizer with a good proportion of these important nutrients. Using a fertilizer that is deficient in one or more of these nutrients will result in over feeding or under feeding. Insufficient minerals may lead to weak rooting, diseases and vulnerability to pests.

But these nutrients in excess can also be unsafe. Your application style must also correspond with the variety of grass you’re raising to steer clear of runoff and groundwater contamination.

The general idea is that organic lawn fertilizers more cost-effectively provide nutrition to your plants without damaging the soil. The organic varieties may also prevent soil fatigue.

Some examples of organic fertilizers are fish emulsion, compost tea, seaweed, and cow or poultry manure. The nature of these fertilizers helps the soil build up its own nutrients and nurtures the growth of beneficial rhizosphere microbes and fungi in the soil

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The Importance of Outdoor Patio Furniture

Classic garden bench
Image via Wikipedia

Outdoor patio is one of the best places to relax. But, there are times that outdoor patio are also the best place where we can have party with family and friends. It is the times we socialize and mingle with them. Spring is the most ideal season we can throw party in outdoor patio. While having our best time outside the patio we always spend time staying in the patio furniture. Before we held a party do we really know the importance of the patio furniture?

I list down some of the outdoor patio furniture and their importance:

Table and Chairs
The most important among the outdoor patio furniture is this set. Tables and chairs main purpose is used for eating meals. We play board games with our family and friends during our spare time oftentimes. There are various materials that tables and chairs can be made of. Three of the most popular materials are plastic, wood and aluminum.

Benches
All at the same time, many people may sit on a bench. If you have a big family and guests, it’s ideal to have a bench in the patio. There are other benches that are made of metal and plastic materials but it is typically made of wood. We are relatively close to each other when we use bench that’s why it is the perfect patio furniture for bonding and chatting.

Porch Swings
Porch swings give added attraction in the outdoor patio though they are rarely found in most of the outdoor patio. Porch swings can accommodate three adults all at once. While sitting, porch swings can give us added relaxation than regular bench.

Planters and Garden Accents
Planters and garden accents are outdoor patio furniture’s add-ons. {Planters give added beauty and attraction to any areas in outdoor patio.} Planters main purpose is to hold any plants so it’s made weather resistant. Also, garden accents do the same function as planters. But, garden accents are much more visibly eye-catching. Every garden accent is designed uniquely. It gives us a pleasant feeling by having them in our outdoor patio.

It’s always nice to have all of this outdoor patio furniture. After everything, we all like to see our home well groomed. Now, it’s better to know their importance then consider having them afterwards.

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