Timber playhouses will offer your child a chance to allow their imagination to run riot as well as allow them a place where they can while away a few hours on a summers afternoon. When it comes to what kind playhouse a parent wants for their child they will soon find that they have a number of different styles and sizes that they can select from. So finding one that really suits their child’s requirements is not going to be as difficult as they first thought.

Actually purchasing such an item is extremely easy a visit to your local garden centre or DIY store and they will have a number of different designs that you can select from. Also if you find that you do not have the time then a quick search of the internet will provide you with some ideas as well. A lot of the playhouses that are currently available come in prefabricated kit form and can easily be installed by you as they come with a good set of instructions as well.

The other choice that you have open to you rather than going for a standard playhouse that anyone can buy, is in fact to have one custom made instead. Although they are more expensive than the prefabricated models you can select a design or come up with one that it completely unique instead.

After deciding on whether you are getting a custom or prefabricated playhouse there are a number of other factors that you will need to take into consideration before you may that purchase. Below we look at just a few of these factors and which should further help you in making the right selection.

One of the first things you need to decide upon is where the playhouse is going to be located. Ideally it should be in a position where your child has easy access to it, but it is somewhere that you can actually see it from inside your home as well. Also place it in a location where it will be getting plenty of sunlight.

Once the location has been chosen you now need to make a decision on just what size of playhouse you want built. If you intend to install anything over 100 sq ft then you may well need to seek permission from your local authority to do so. Also before you purchase the playhouse depending on its size it might be advisable to see if your neighbors are bothered about such an installation or not.

Remember the size of playhouse you choose for your child should be one that will meet their requirements not only at the time when it is installed but as they grow up. Although prefabricated ones are cheaper, the custom built models are far more likely to meet these requirements and save you money in the long run as you are unlikely to need to replace it in the future.

After choosing where the playhouse is going to be located and the size you need to next decide on what style you want. Because there are so many to choose from this is probably going to be the most difficult part of the selection process, therefore why not get your children involved (unless it is a surprise for them). By doing this you will be ensuring that you get exactly what they want and something that they will actually use.

Now that we are well into the 2008 lawn growing season, I’m sure you’ve got your turfgrass properly fertilized properly and looking super thick and pretty. You’ve toiled to foil the onslaught of invading dandelions, clover and other weeds; and you are on a regular watering and irrigation schedule to keep your investment alive and growing.
The final basic element involved is the cutting. This is my favorite part of the maintenance process.
The positives are not only for the turf grass, but for the homeowner as well.
Mowing benefits to the homeowner include:
First off, cutting the lawn involves a power tool, namely, your mower.
Secondly, it involves some form of exercise (for which my wife is appreciative).
Finally, it affords the operator a chance to get some real thinking done.

Let’s explore each of these benefits.
(1) The power mower: I use a variable speed, self-propelled 21″ Lawn Boy ’sense-a-speed’ mower, rear wheel drive. (Oh that sounds hot just to say out-loud!)
My lawn is only 8,000 square feet, so I am not in need of anything larger; besides, I run that puppy wide open!
(2) The exercise: It takes about an hour to mow my lawn including edging, weed-whacking and cleanup. That’s not bad really. I suppose if I wanted to increase the aerobic benefits in this process, I could lose the “self-propelled” mower option and push the thing, but I’m not really that fat! Ha!
However, one thing I am in favor of to increase the benefit in exercise is mow the lawn 2 or 3 times per week! This helps #3 come more into focus as well as benefits the turf itself: it’s a venerable cornucopia of benefaction!
(3) The thinking time: (this is a great one!) Ponder this: you are out for 1-hour doing a job that only requires one person to do, that no one else in your household really wants to do anyway (especially if you have teenagers like I do). This means it’s all yours; you own it … completely!
On top of that, your wife can’t bark or nag at you during this time because the mower engine noise drowns her out completely and she knows it! It’s just plain quiet time for you inside your head! That’s better than a hammock under a tree and a cold lemonade as far as I’m concerned.

Now let’s get down to the tips that benefit the lawn itself.
(1) Mowing height
(2) Mowing frequency
(3) Mowing direction
(4) Mulch or Catch

Mowing benefits for the lawn, by the numbers:
(1) The height: This one varies according to the type of grass you have. But who *really* knows their grass type? Chances are you have a mix of Kentucky BlueGrass and some sort of fescue or rye. With that in mind, I tell folks to set their mower on the highest or second-highest setting. You just don’t want to remove much more than 25% of the grass blade in any single cutting.
It’s like this: If I lose a finger-nail, I’m going to be just fine, but if I lose my entire arm, I’m in a world of hurt, …got it?
And on a side note, ya gotta have a sharp blade. A dull blade rips the grass blades instead of cutting them. Rips turn brown and rob the lawn of it’s color.

(2) Assuming proper irrigation year-round, the lawn needs cutting weekly. I’ve had people call me to complain that after cutting their lawns, they turned yellow. Upon further investigation, I found that they had not cut the lawn prior for a month! Now we’re back to the finger-nail vs the arm analogy. Please folks, be responsible and keep your turf trimmed regularly.
As mentioned above, I actually try and get people to mow twice per week, but that’s over-the-top for most.

(3) The mowing direction isn’t the biggest deal here, but you certainly don’t want to mow the exact same way all the time or you take a chance on developing ruts in the lawn. You also will literally push lines of turf down, and “train” them to lay down all the time … like people “train” their hair to lay a certain direction…this is not a good situation for turf-grass.

(4) Mulch or catch? Ford or Chevy?
Yeah, it’s like that. I do both depending on my mood. Catching has benefits in the end because you don’t have as many clippings to blow off the driveway. If you do mulch, make sure you have a quality mulching blade installed to grind up the cuttings into super-fine bits!

So next time you head outside to cut that lawn, be sure to review the benefits to you, as well as your nice patch of green grass.

Al Haneson blogs about Illinois issues and life at Ambit Illinois Natural Gas and DIY Lawn Tips

Maintaining An Interesting Hanging Basket Throughout The Year

Hanging baskets are traditionally associated with the summer, but they can also be enjoyed at other times of the year. Spring baskets, possibly involving some dwarf bulbs, such as daffodils, irises or crocuses, with a few early bedding plants, are always a delight, but it is also possible to enjoy baskets in autumn with a combination of tender perennials, which seem to go on flowering for ever, with the addition of some late-sown annuals.

Winter baskets offer less scope, but it is still possible to have some choice of colour. Choose robust, winter-flowering heathers and hardy pansies, and even dainty ivies, whether colourful variegated varieties or plain green, can be surprisingly interesting and attractive.

Sun Or Shade
Once you have decided where your baskets are to go, the amount of sun or shade the position offers will influence your choice of plants. Many of the summer flowers are sun worshippers, but remember that in a very sheltered spot against a warm wall, the heat on a hot summers day will be intense. Reserve such a favoured spot for real exotics, such as South African osteospermums. Many plants will thrive in shade. Lobelias are shade tolerant, and begonias and busy lizzies actually prefer it. Fuchsias usually do best if kept out of direct sun.

Size Matters
The size of the basket is an important consideration. Although large baskets are the most spectacular and can house the greatest number of plants, they will take up a lot of space when the plants are mature and will be heavy, particularly when wet. That can be an issue if you need to move the basket for any reason. However, a large basket would be first choice for growing fruit and vegetables, which normally need a good root run to develop properly. Smaller baskets create a daintier effect but perhaps offer less scope for exciting colour combinations.

Getting Started
Once you have decided what you want your hanging baskets to provide, you can begin to explore the many types that are available and decide which best suits your needs and the style of planting you have in mind.

Types of Hanging Baskets
Hanging baskets come in all shapes and sizes, and when you come to shop for one you will be amazed at the range available. The traditional basket is half a sphere and is usually made of plastic coated wire, with three chains to hang from. Wrought iron is also sometimes used, especially for hay baskets, which are meant to be fixed directly against a wall.

More ornate antique baskets (and, increasingly, reproductions of these) can be found, but decorative as these are, they are usually less sturdy, so are less suitable for a very heavy planting.
Decide whether it is the basket itself or the plants that are in it that will be the focus of interest. Some baskets really are baskets and are made of wicker or bamboo or some other twiggy material. Many are beautiful to look at and are perhaps best with a simple planting. It is not always possible, or indeed advisable, to plant through the sides of such containers.

Unless they have been treated with some kind of preservative, they will be vulnerable to changes in the weather and may dry out and split in hot sun. They may need to be replaced after a few seasons, while a metal basket is virtually indestructible and will last for many more years than those made of wicker or bamboo.

The ideal basket is strong but lightweight. It will be heavy enough once it is full of moist soil and all the plants have reached their optimum size so you do not want to start off with a heavy basket that is going to add substantially to the overall weight. Some baskets are sold already lined with plastic, but remember to pierce this before use to allow for drainage.

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Expand Your Garden by Propagation

Did you know that you can grow an entire garden starting with just one plant? It’s true. By buying and caring for just one small plant, over time and with the proper care, you can end up with many, many more… all at no additional cost. It’s done with techniques known as propogation, and dividing.

Many common indoor and outdoor plants can be multiplied easily using basic dividing and propogation techniques. And once you know how it’s done, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been doing this before now.

Dividing a plant simply means to break it up into smaller pieces. This is often done when a plant becomes too large for a container it’s growing in, or too large for the garden space it’s planted in. You can divide a plant almost anytime though, as long as it is healthy and not too small.

To divide a plant, you’ll need to dig it up out of your garden first, Clean the roots off a bit with water so you can see them well - you can clean the soil off the roots by simply rinsing them gently with a watering can.

Once the roots are clean, it’s usually fairly easy to tell where you should divide the plant at because often it looks like you have two or more plants all growing together to begin with. If this is the case, then simply pull the plants and their roots apart into multiple pieces.

If the plant doesn’t have an obvious place to divide it though, don’t worry, it’s still easy to do. Just use a very sharp knife, and cut the plant into pieces from the base through the roots. Be sure you’re leaving plenty of roots for each section you’re cutting off, so the plant can continue growing healthy and strong.

Once you have the plant pulled or cut into multiple smaller plants, then you just need to replant them in separate spaces. You can still have them all in the same garden bed if you’d like, just space them apart as if you’d bought multiple plants at the store, and care for them as you normally would.

Another way to get multiple plants off of one is to simply take cuttings. My mom used to do this with her houseplants actually, when a stem got broken off. She’d simply place the broken stem into a glass of water and sit it in the kitchen window. Within a few weeks new roots could be seen, and she’d plant it into a new pot of it’s own.

You can often do the same thing with outdoor plants too, and you don’t always have to wait for a stem or branch to break. Go outside and cut a branch off one of your plants. Try to cut it several inches from the tip and just below a leaf. Then pinch off at least the bottom three leaves on the branch, and place that into a glass of water. Sit it in a window which doesn’t get too hot, and refill the water in the glass every few days.

You can also just place the cutting into moist vermiculite, and you may find the new roots developing faster.

Do any number of these techniques regularly and you’ll soon find yourself overflowing with many beautiful plants.

Find out about propagation in the greenhouse

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The cost of log cabins varies greatly depending on the kinds of logs which have been used and the size of the property. You will find that those cabins that have been built using handcrafted logs will cost much more than those where the logs have been milled.

Therefore, before you actually go ahead and get a cabin built from logs it is crucial that you actually know what the difference is between milled and handcrafted logs. Those that have been milled will have been placed through a sawmill, lathe or planer. This will ensure that they all come out in the same uniform size, shape and have the same profile.

In addition, what you will often find that milled log cabins are ones where the wood has been either air or kiln dried. This enables the right amount of moisture to be extracted from the wood before they are used to build a home with.

The actual surface of these kinds of logs will be flat on the top and bottom of each one and they may also have been coped. In some cases, a tongue and groove joint will also have been inserted so that actually assembling the cabin together is a lot easier. Plus it helps to make a much more rigid and strong. These logs can be left with a rougher side to offer a more rustic look but can also be sanded smooth.

The most favoured types of woods, which are commonly used to produce milled logs for cabins, are pine, cedar, spruce or fir. The least expensive type of log cabin using the milled process are ones that are made from pine or spruce whilst those from cedar tend to be the most expensive.

Now let us look at a cabin that is made using handcrafted logs. These will have been prepared by either being hand peeled with a drawknife or water peeled. The logs used are only a matter of days or weeks old after being cut down so will still be green. Because of the size of the logs this ones are usually allowed to dry in the air as kiln drying is a very expensive process. Also there are not many kilns are available that these sizes of logs would be able to fit into.

As well as pine and spruce being favorite trees for making handcrafted log cabins from other trees that are used are the Douglas fir, Oak, Juniper, Cyprus and Alpine Fir. The last tree mentioned is also known as a True Fir.

As mentioned the cost you pay for buying and having log cabins constructed will not only depend on the way in which the logs have been prepared. You also need to take into consideration the size of the cabin you are having built. The bigger the cabin then the more labour intensive and the more logs will be needed in order to build it. If you want to save money but would like a large cabin then you are better off going for milled rather than handcrafted logs.

Teak garden furniture can really enhance the features of your garden and provide a relaxing and comfortable location to pass the time. But because the wood from which this furniture is made comes from Southeast Asia if you want it to last you need to look after it properly.

Although it is a hardwood making it very strong, it is still very likely to suffer from what the elements can throw at it. The wood in teak is much denser than some others and contains a resinous oil that can extend the life of the furniture. Yes, this oil can help to prevent the wood not only drying out but makes it far more resistant to moisture as well.

Today you can either purchase teak garden furniture in its raw state or when it has been oiled. Furniture, which is still in its raw state when it arrives, will have a golden color to it. However, as time passes and if the wood is left, untreated it will fade to a silver grey color instead.

Certainly if you are after the silver grey look then once the wood has reached this stage there is very little that you will need to do to make sure that it retains this color. However, if you would prefer your wood to retain the golden color of when it arrived you need to start applying teak oil to its surface.

In order for your teak garden furniture to retain its golden color, then one should be applying teak oil to its surface twice a year. The first that you will need to do is actually clean the wood.

To do this you take some warm water (with a mild detergent mixed into it) and then use a soft damp cloth to wipe off and remove any dust or grit. After you have done this, you now need to leave the wood to dry naturally before you actually apply the oil.

It is important that you only use a specialist teak oil on the furniture and apply this using a lint free cloth. You could use a spray gun that is filled with the oil but using a cloth will ensure that the oil is spread evenly over the surface of the furniture. Now you need to leave it for sometime until it feels tacky.

Once you feel the oil is tacky you take yet another clean lint free cloth and this one you wipe across the surface of the teak garden furniture in order to remove any excess oil. After this cleaning stage, you leave the wood for a further hour before you then take another clean cloth that is free of lint and this will be used to polish up the surface of the wood and present that golden color you were after.

If you own a large amount of garden equipment and supplies that you want to keep in good repair and safe then you need some form of storage. Today you have the choice between both wooden and metal sheds into which you can place essential items for your garden. As well as ensuring that all your equipment remains in good working order, by placing them in a shed you know exactly where they are when you need them.

As you will soon discover when looking to purchase a shed there are a large number of different styles, shapes and sizes to select from. But which one you purchase will depend on a number of factors including the size of your garden and how much equipment and supplies you wish to store inside it. Certainly, there are many advantages to be gained from installing either a metal or timber shed in your garden.

Many people choose timber sheds over metal ones simply because they look much better. If you are going to purchase a wooden shed then go for a hardwood one such as cedar rather than one made from softwood. Although these sheds tend to be more expensive they are far less likely to rot compared to softwood shed when it becomes exposed to the elements.

Yes a timber shed does not pleasing on the eye but you need to remember that they will need regularly maintenance to prevent the elements from damaging them. It is important that you regularly check it to ensure that no water has been able to penetrate it. Also after any strong winds or strong storms it is crucial that you check the shed over especially around the roof.

As for metal sheds, these are much more preferable as they need far less maintenance. A shed, which has been made from galvanized steel will not rot, is completely weather proof and rodents are very unlikely to be able to gain access (unless you leave the door open). Also, these sheds will never warp or crack like a wooden one will and will never need to be repainted once installed.

Another advantage to owning a metal rather than timber shed is that they are far more secure. Whereas breaking through a wooden door is relatively simple even with a lock on it, a metal one would be very difficult indeed. So not only is your garden equipment protected from the elements but also from would be intruders.

When you are looking for a shed to use for storage in your garden it is important that you choose one which will provide you with ample space that everything can be stored in it, and can be reached easily. So try to go for as big a shed as your garden and budget will allow. However, you should be aware that if you purchase one that is more than 100 sq ft then you will need to confirm with your local authority what building permits are required for it.

In this article we have shown why some people prefer timber sheds over metal ones. However when it comes to choosing between timber and metal sheds for your own garden it comes down to your own personal preference. Certainly if you do not want the spoil of your garden ruined then wood is far better. However, if you do not want the costs of maintaining such an item then a metal shed would be the far better option to choose.

Gardening is both a peaceful endeavor and one that fulfills our natural instinct to make use of and cultivate the land around us. With many gardening shows and gardening specialty channels now available on T.V, and numerous places to gather information related to gardening online, gardeners are now more informed and knowledgeable about their craft than ever before.

This, combined with an increased awareness of the environmental hazards facing us, has given rise to an increase in the popularity of solar lighting in gardens. These are both environmentally friendly and great additions to any garden.

Solar lighting is not only cheaper and better for the environment; it also avoids the pitfalls that occur when installing electrical lighting in a garden area. These electrical lines must be installed underground in shallow trenches to avoid the danger of being exposed wear and tear and the elements. Solar lighting requires nothing more than a battery and some natural sunlight to perform their magic.

There are many varieties of garden lighting sometimes called landscape Malibu lighting. Dome lights, pole lighting, globes, stepping stones and lanterns are all viable choices. Dome lights are kept low to the ground, and often have spikes attached to them which can be easily inserted into the ground, holding the dome light in place above the ground.

Garden lighting is often constructed from molded plastic, stainless steel or copper, and can be fitted with colored bulbs or panels. Solar lighting will most often exude a soft white or amber glow.

For gardens featuring at least a small pond or water source, solar balls can be used to great effect. These balls will float freely on the water, providing a gentle, moving source of illumination.

Another popular garden lighting source is solar floats. These objects are disc shaped and can be used in a number of places where other lighting sources may not be viable, such as on a table, in a pool or hot tub, or in a garden pond or water source. These discs can also come in styles which change color, offering a unique visual accompaniment to your garden.

Solar flowers are one of the latest innovations in garden lighting, and certainly one of the most unique and stunning available. They come in styles resembling typical garden flowers such as lilies, sunflowers and poinsettias. The flowers are placed into the ground attached to a spike, and offer illumination by way of thousands of fibre-optic strands.

To give your garden visitors the red carpet treatment, consider adding solar stepping stones. These stones come in a variety of styles, shapes and colors, and infuse your garden path with a bright glowing ambiance through the use of LED lights.

No matter the style or layout of your garden, there are a number of great lighting choices that can be used to seamlessly match the style of your garden and accentuate it. Going the solar route can save you a lot of many over the long term and is great for the environment. Don’t leave your garden wallowing in darkness, illuminate it and share its splendor with all, day or night.

Roses are simplistic, in fashion and pieces of art . Each rose color has its own meaning and presents a different message. There are many different rose colors available to fit any mood or occasion. A rose is a great one to display your very personal feelings.

White is a color symbolic of many positive things, such as marriage, purity, virtue, and innocence. White is linked to emotions of harmony and serenity. Because of all these positive associations, the white rose has always been a favorite flower and is used a lot in wedding ceremonies. The breathtaking purity and simplistic beauty of a white rose can’t be beat. They can mean a number of different messages, all of which convey deep feelings

White roses are sometimes called the “flower of light”. White is often considered pure, and unlike red roses, which symbolize passion, white roses are signs of true love within a person. When one gives a white rose, this signifies understanding, companionship, trust and commitment. By giving a white rose, the giver is stating they hold the highest intentions towards the recipient.

At Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840, bouquets of white roses played a significant part. Since then the tradition has lived on. At modern weddings, most brides carry a bouquet of white roses during the ceremony. Brides also carry these roses as a sign of their innocence and purity to their beloved.

Also, these flowers can symbolize the traditional Victorian attributes of women: modesty and purity. A white rose bud, though, can symbolize those virtues in a unique way. It can stand for a girl who isn’t old enough to experience romantic love. This kind of girl isn’t a teenager yet, and is viewed as innocent and untainted. Like the white rose bud, she is sweet, graceful, and pure.

There are roses, like the white, blue, and yellow rose that can symbolize secrecy. It is helpful for one to know what each rose color means before buying a person roses. For example, a white rose would symbolize that a woman is as pretty and as charming as a white rose.

These roses also symbolize loyalty, unity and honor. Someone who gives you these roses will stay by your side till the end. They are also the color of spirituality. These roses symbolize honestly, holiness, and truth. It is these traits that make these roses the perfect wedding flowers. Weddings are normally all about love, loyalty, unity, new beginnings and spirituality, just like these roses. You can order them through online florists and they will do the flower delivery.

Hydroponic vegetable gardening is a process in which vegetables are grown in a liquid nutrient solution. The plants typically have either their root system in inert medium or completely submerged in the fluid. Hydroponic vegetable gardening is a simple and straightforward method of growing plants and vegetables indoors using common and relatively inexpensive equipment.

There are several variations of hydroponic gardening systems, these are the ebb and flow system, the drip system, the passive system, an NFT system, and the aeroponic system.

With the ebb and flow system, the roots of the plants are flooded periodically with nutrient solution and the plant is able to obtain its nutrients in this manner. This is achieved using a pump on a timer that will periodically pump nutrient solution into the plant containers and allowing the chambers to drain completely. The ebb and flow method typically uses a growing medium of some kind for the plant to root in.

The drip variation uses the pump and timer to pump solution directly onto the roots of the plants on a regular schedule. The excess solution then drips back into the reservoir where it is used again on the next timer interval. This method also typically uses a growing medium of some kind.

In a passive system, the lowest maintenance of all systems, the plants are grown with their roots dangling directly in the growing solution. There are no timers or pumps required for the technique, however, an air pump and air stone are often employed to ensure that the oxygen levels in the solution are sufficiently high.

Aeroponic is a slightly more complicated and advanced method of hydroponic vegetable gardening. The roots of the plants are completely exposed to the air and the pumps are used to mist nutrient solution onto the roots with a very regular frequency. Insufficient misting will risk drying out the roots and killing the plant while excessive misting can cause molding. There is no growing medium used with aeroponics.

Finally, the Nutrient Film Technique, or NFT, systems make use of trays in which constantly flowing nutrient solution is pumped over the roots of the plants before draining back into the reservoir. This is another method in which a very regular frequency is required to keep the plants from drying out as there is no growing medium to help trap moisture.

Hydroponic systems sometimes make use of a growing medium to help the plants along. The growin medium can be any number of chemically and nutritionally inert substances, such as Rockwool, coconut fibers, gravel, sand, or even air. The only additional requirement for a growing medium is that it allow the nutrient solution to drain freely from the container.

Once a method has been chosen and the system is setup, it is critical to ensure that the pH of the nutrient solution is kept consistently in the 5.5 to 6.5 ranges. Anything lower and you risk burning the plant with an acidic solution, and anything higher and you eventually risk burning the plants with a basic solution. In either case the plants will suffer and cease to flourish before eventually dying.

Finally, unless the system is sitting in a location where it can easily obtain natural sunlight, some manner of light will need to be provided. The options, from worst to best and also listed from cheapest to most expensive, are: incandescent, fluorescent, and high intensity discharge lamps.

Getting started with hydroponic vegetable gardening may seem a daunting task but it is fairly straightforward once the basics are learned.

Damien Konrad is a freelance writer currently writing for http://www.hydroponicvegetablegardening.info