Gardening Issues Featured Article

Making a Garden

The first thing in garden making is the selection of a spot. Without a choice, it means simply doing the best one can with conditions. With space limited it resolves itself into no garden, or a box garden. Surely a box garden is better than nothing at all.

But we will now suppose that it is possible to really choose just the right site for the garden. What shall be chosen? The greatest determining factor is the sun. No one would have a north corner, unless it were absolutely forced upon him; because, while north corners do for ferns, certain wild flowers, and begonias, they are of little use as spots for a general garden.

If possible, choose the ideal spot a southern exposure. Here the sun lies warm all day long. When the garden is thus located the rows of vegetables and flowers should run north and south. Thus placed, the plants receive the sun's rays all the morning on the eastern side, and all the afternoon on the western side. One ought not to have any lopsided plants with such an arrangement.

Suppose the garden faces southeast. In this case the western sun is out of the problem. In order to get the best distribution of sunlight run the rows northwest and southeast.

The idea is to get the most sunlight as evenly distributed as possible for the longest period of time. From the lopsided growth of window plants it is easy enough to see the effect on plants of poorly distributed light. So if you use a little diagram remembering that you wish the sun to shine part of the day on one side of the plants and part on the other, you can juggle out any situation. The southern exposure gives the ideal case because the sun gives half time nearly to each side. A northern exposure may mean an almost entire cut-off from sunlight; while northeastern and southwestern places always get uneven distribution of sun's rays, no matter how carefully this is planned.

The garden, if possible, should be planned out on paper. The plan is a great help when the real planting time comes. It saves time and unnecessary buying of seed.

New garden spots are likely to be found in two conditions: they are covered either with turf or with rubbish. In large garden areas the ground is ploughed and the sod turned under; but in small gardens remove the sod. How to take off the sod in the best manner is the next question. Stake and line off the garden spot. The line gives an accurate and straight course to follow. Cut the edges with the spade all along the line. If the area is a small one, say four feet by eighteen or twenty, this is an easy matter. Such a narrow strip may be marked off like a checkerboard, the sod cut through with the spade, and easily removed. This could be done in two long strips cut lengthwise of the strip. When the turf is cut through, roll it right up like a roll of carpet.

But suppose the garden plot is large. Then divide this up into strips a foot wide and take off the sod as before. What shall be done with the sod? Do not throw it away for it is full of richness, although not quite in available form. So pack the sod grass side down one square on another. Leave it to rot and to weather. When rotted it makes a fine fertilizer. Such a pile of rotting vegetable matter is called a compost pile. All through the summer add any old green vegetable matter to this. In the fall put the autumn leaves on. A fine lot of goodness is being fixed for another season.

Even when the garden is large enough to plough, I would pick out the largest pieces of sod rather than have them turned under. Go over the ploughed space, pick out the pieces of sod, shake them well and pack them up in a compost heap.

Mere spading of the ground is not sufficient. The soil is still left in lumps. Always as one spades one should break up the big lumps. But even so the ground is in no shape for planting. Ground must be very fine indeed to plant in, because seeds can get very close indeed to fine particles of soil. But the large lumps leave large spaces which no tiny root hair can penetrate. A seed is left stranded in a perfect waste when planted in chunks of soil. A baby surrounded with great pieces of beefsteak would starve. A seed among large lumps of soil is in a similar situation. The spade never can do this work of pulverizing soil. But the rake can. That's the value of the rake. It is a great lump breaker, but will not do for large lumps. If the soil still has large lumps in it take the hoe.

Many people handle the hoe awkwardly. The chief work of this implement is to rid the soil of weeds and stir up the top surface. It is used in summer to form that mulch of dust so valuable in retaining moisture in the soil. I often see people as if they were going to chop into atoms everything around. Hoeing should never be such vigorous exercise as that. Spading is vigorous, hard work, but not hoeing and raking.

After lumps are broken use the rake to make the bed fine and smooth. Now the great piece of work is done.

Read more articles at www.4HouseAndGarden.com

Permalink • Print

March 11, 2010

Ugly Carpet ? Here Is The Quick Solvent

Don’t worry when you observe spills are everywhere on your carpet and you know that everyone notices it. If on that point are any kids in the home, the family will worry when it comes to the carpet. They are perpetually seeing for hints they can apply to clear their carpets and remove stains to maintain their home seeing clear. There is nothing direction to gain approximately the fact that kids and spills seem to work hand-in-hand.

Always read the directions 1st when you are scheming to apply any commercialised carpet cleaning product. You’ll observe that most of the general carpet cleaner are not advocated for place cleaning. There are various particular place cleaner for dissimilar kinds of spill.

If you hold a carpet, and an individual accidentally spills a container of wine, soda, coffee, or beer. Without delay blot the zone with paper towels or rags to remove everyone the liquid you could. Then mix a solution of one-quarter cup of white vinegar and 3 quarters of a cup of water. Soak the place with this mixture, and then blot the zone to remove everyone traces of moisture.

If the fruit juice is spilled completed on your carpet, you require to blot up the added liquid or apply a wet vacuum on it if you hold one. Once the juice has dried, re-saturate it with a half-teaspoon of dish soap mixed a quart of water. Apply this to the spot, and blot best. Reapply the solution if necessary. After you’ve completely removed the stain you can rinse the zone with clear water and blot dry.

If you hold children, they may gain sick and vomit on the carpet. Begin cleaning one by one. First, blot the region. Then mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia and 3 quarters cup of cold water in a spray bottle, and exhaustively saturate the stained region. After spraying, blot the moisture away. Re-spray if necessary. This method will also function on ketchup stains and any acidic type stain.

Children may also stained the carpet with paint or crayons. Again blotting is the greatest policy. Then apply a white cloth or cotton ball soaked in alcohol and blot various extra. Repeat if it is necessitated. Only be certain that the moisture stays previous the carpet backing. After you’ve blotted up the alcohol, mix a quart of water with a half-teaspoon of dish soap. Apply a little of this to the place and blot dry.

If the regions are overly big you may want pro assist, and oriental carpet cleaning is perpetually here to assist.

Use carpet-cleaning answers that will be the greatest for the size and type of stain. House finished or store purchased answers are suitable for the precious carpet. Different kinds of carpet fibers react otherwise to all product, so observe away what is safe to apply on your carpets.

Cleaning carpet stain is not simple routine. Consult with pros if necessitated. If you require to maintain it decent for a quantity of years, you want to take care of the stains as soon as they take place.

Permalink • Print

March 10, 2010

Planning The Lighting For Your Home? Consider Chandeliers

People have different tastes in how they want to light the interior of their home. Some folks like low levels of light for closeness and intimacy and lower energy costs. Several types of lamps provide this type of light, such as table lamps, floor lamps, or subtle track-lighting. Other folks like a well-lighted room that appears to be lit by the sun with daylight. These folks may enjoy reading or working on hobbies in the evening or may merely prefer a bright room. The best type of lighting for this preference is the chandelier. A chandelier is a lighting fixture that hangs from the ceiling and has either a few or many small light bulbs. Chandeliers came into being during the days before electric lighting. Since candles and oil lamps emit a very faint light, rooms tended to be dark at night. But if a collection of candles were arranged on a candelabrum and hung from the ceiling, a greater amount of light became available to illuminate the space. In those days, the chandelier was hung from a rope or a chain so that it could be lowered for lighting. If the room decor is in a traditional style, a traditional chandelier is the best choice. On the other hand, in a modern room, a modern chandelier is the best choice.

The first location for a chandelier is over the dining room table. This is a good lighting solution because it emits a good amount of light for the diners without taking up precious table space with a light source. A dimmer switch is often installed in the dining room so that the level of light can be varied according to the preference of the day. The dining room chandelier is usually of a smaller shape. A popular style in a traditionally decorated home is the Tiffany-style lamp with leaded or stained glass. Another popular style of dining room chandelier reflects the beginnings of the chandelier, with a resemblance to a grouping of candles. The small light bulbs that are shaped like a candle flame are easy to find in the electrical department of department stores, drugstores, and supermarkets.

Another popular placement for a chandelier is in the entry hallway or foyer. The main consideration is that the size of the chandelier must match the size of the foyer. In a large home with a dramatic foyer, the ceiling may be as high as the second story. Here, a large, dramatic chandelier can shine down with lots of twinkly light bulbs. There are two drawbacks to this type of lighting, and both involve a long step ladder. First, to keep the twinkle shiny, you need to clean the chandelier regularly. Dust and cobwebs hide the glitter and must be removed. Second, occasionally, a light bulb will burn out and need to be replaced. This latter bit of maintenance can be eliminated as LED lights become more commonly available and less costly. And this type of light is the ideal use for LED light bulbs.

Permalink • Print
Made with WordPress and a healthy dose of Semiologic • Myrna's List skin by Myrna Weinreich