Cost Effective LED Grow Lights

Posted on February 17, 2012 by TipsHub Writer

You do not need to be an experienced gardener to realize that gardening can take a lot of time and money. If you have ever tried gardening inside the house, you probably know that replacement grow lights can cost a pretty penny. Grow lights are an integral part to growing plants in low-light conditions, but many people cannot sustain their hobby because of extensive costs in replacement lights. Conventional grow lights have a mediocre lifespan of a few months. At twenty dollar or more per bulb, this hobby can really start to cost big bucks. However, there is an alternative known as LED grow lighting.

LED lights have been around for a while now and are now a big part of the gardening industry. They are used in both consumer and industrial applications. If you look closely at an led grow light, you will realize that the fixture is made up of many bulbs fit next to each other. Most orientations use a combination of several colors such as red, orange and blue. These light spectrums are chosen because they are the ones that plants can make the most use of. Plants are green because they reflect green, not needing it to perform photosynthesis.

There are more advantages to these lights other than their effectiveness at sustaining plant life. LED grow lights do not use a lot of power. This is one reason why the government is pushing for incandescent lights to be replaced by CFC’s and LED’s. Their power consumption is so low that you can come into contact with the fixture without getting burned. Less heat means less energy costs. After all, the typical plant cycle requires the lights to remain on for eight hours or more. The energy savings can really add up over time, which is especially important if you have several fixtures.

What Are Three Signs That You Have Grubs In Your Lawn?

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Howard Wesley

If this is the first time you ever had grubs eating the grass in your lawn, then it is important for you to know how to diagnose a problem. This article contains three different ways in which you can tell if you have a problem with grubs in your lawn.

To start with, you do not want a lawn that has a lot of patches in it. If it has patchy areas and areas that are dead next to areas that are green and healthy, it could be a sign that your lawn has insects.

A second sign could be if your grass has yellow spots. If you try to pull the grass on these spots, it comes out very quickly and easily. This is a sign that you’re lawn has grubs, because they eat out the roots on your grass. With the roots gone, the grass starts to turn yellow and actually pulls out very easily.

The third sign that you could have a problem with insects is if you can actually find them. This is actually a good way to test to see if you need to treat your lawn. You want to start by digging out an area of 6” x 6”. You do not want to find more than two grubs in this area. If you do, then you will probably need to treat your entire lawn with grub control. You can also test a few different spots just to make sure because grubs tend to congregate in specific areas.

If you need to treat your lawn, you should remember that the best time for white grub control or treatment is in the spring and in the late fall. During the months of June and July, these insects will actually turn into adults. They will mate and lay their eggs in the beginning of the fall. Insects are the least susceptible to poison when they are in their egg stage. They are also less susceptible as adults than they are as worms.

Make Your Garden Look More Appealing with Retaining Walls

Posted on October 17, 2011 by A. Stancy

A retaining wall is functional as well as stunning multipurpose wall which can be built to give your back and front yard a new exciting look. The main purpose of the retaining wall is to stabilize, provide support and help the soil from moving away. They are also used as boundaries and defining structures for patio pavers as well as decks. A retaining wall should be strong and sturdy and it should separate the areas of the yard well, so that you can decorate each defined area uniquely.

All the retaining walls should be premeditated with leaching holes, so there is a way to drain the ground water. This reduces the pressure and the wall remains at its place for longer period of time.

There are a lot of options available to construct a retaining wall. One can pay a minor fee to contractor to build a wall as per their preference or they can do it themselves if they have some know how. Some of the options available in material for constructing retaining walls are: concrete, stone or aggregate of both. The choice of material is hugely dependent upon one’s liking, cost, availability and colors. If the wall is designed by building blocks they fit well into each other and one does not need to invest in mortar.

The options and possibilities in creation of retaining walls are simply endless. One can explore interior decorating magazines to get some innovative ideas and then implement them with personal twist. It is best if you build the wall in some sort of tiered structure, it will provide you enough space to play around and one can decorate each separate tier with different types of plantings, flowers and decorative materials. This will add more color to your yard while protecting it from erosion.

For budget conscious people, the best choice is to get pre-designed blocks which just need to be arranged. For having a customized look like rough rock pattern or wood, one need to order customized blocks and it can cost a lot of money. Money saved from material can be spent to hire a landscape architect that can suggest you some awesome patterns to arrange the blocks.

Remember that effective planning always reduce your efforts when you are implementing it at later stage, plot the design on paper and get the required material accordingly. It will increase the chances of success. Always provide support to your retaining wall by back filling it with sand and gravel.

Make sure that the drainage system is in place before building of the wall so water would not put any pressure on it. Filter fabric and gravel can be used to achieve the grading.

Always keep in mind that stronger the foundation better is the structure based up on it. So invest some quality time and effort in raising a compact wall.

(Image courtesy of q-creteonline.com)

Advantages of Planting Trees in Your Garden

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Howard Wesley

People plant trees in their garden to enhance its beauty. The leaves of the trees provide you shade under which you can sit on your rocking chair, relax and watch your little children play around. This is only for your personal advantage, but it provides other benefits too.

A gardener Edinburgh plants trees to create a green atmosphere. The green plant of the tree during the day breathe out oxygen and breathe in carbon dioxide, this increases the oxygen level in the atmosphere and reduces the carbon level which results in reduction of pollution from the environment. Thereby retarding the process of global warming.
Apart from purifying the air, it offers shelter to the house from the cold wind of winter, thereby conserving the heat energy, which you would use to warm your house. And in summer it releases water particles into the air, Thereby creating a cool atmosphere and reducing your electricity bills.
The roots of the trees help in preventing soil erosion and the beautiful trees attract various types of birds to its branches.
Having a beautiful garden with trees and ample of natural beauty will increase the saleable value of your premises.

Tree planting can be done with different sizes of trees. Small trees come cheaper and adapt to their new position in no time. The choice should be made according to the soil in your garden and the climate. It will not only absorb less carbon from the air but will give your landscape a long life.

Large trees are more expensive and are complicated to grow, and the larger ones need a lot of work to be done and you will need help from specialist to dig the soil and put the tree into position, and watering and taking care of them should be done in an appropriate manner.

Idaho Falls Landscaping for a Picture Perfect Garden

Posted on August 13, 2011 by Chloe Anderson

Don’t those gardens being shown on television and on magazines look outstandingly perfect? Don’t they seem to be too perfect? As we keep appreciating their beauty, we also tend to wish that we had the same landscaping in our own garden. But we just know that it would be impossible to do, especially on your own. Those gardens you would find on television and in magazines are often found in private or botanical gardens that have full time gardeners who work on these gardens each day for hours and wise enough those shots or pictures had been taken at certain areas or sections of the garden. So to put it lightly, there is nothing completely perfect when it comes garden landscaping. However you can also create the same landscaping on your own if you can devote time and effort to it or you can contract an Idaho Falls landscaping professional.

Sometimes, our manual labor of pulling weeds, pruning, getting rid of pests, deadheading, cutting, raking and everything else is just not enough. This is the time we call in professional reinforcements who can do the job for us without much effort as it seems to be all natural for their creativity an skill to come flowing out through their hands as they work on your garden. You will also find certain additions being made on your garden such as Idaho Falls sprinklers for a more convenient, sophisticated and fresh feel or even sculptures at certain points of a garden for an elegant finish.

There is so many details to add of any garden landscaping, but it is always a manner of how to and if it would look good. Hence, visiting New Leaf at 2441 Stace Circle, Idaho Falls, ID 83401 (208) 529-3333 where you can get a free consultation and estimation is recommended. Just imagine your garden can look like those you find in magazines and televisions any day soon.

Why Should You Use A Dethatching Blade For Your Lawn?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Howard Wesley

Have you ever wondered what lawn thatch is? Well, this is something that a lot of people have wondered about before. Thatch is material that includes dead grass, moss, and mulch in your lawn. They form a layer on the surface of the soil which will harm your grass if they are allowed to build bu excessively. For this reason, it is really important to remove excess thatch. This can be done by a thatching machine or by a dethatching blade attachment that attaches to the bottom of your lawnmower. This article will talk to you a lot about what is a dethatching blade, how to use it, and how to install it.

The truth is that a dethatching blade is not that expensive. Most of them can be purchased for $20 or less. On the other hand, renting a power rake will cost you at least $40. When using a dethatching blade, you must first mow your lawn to a short height, and then remove the existing blade from your lawnmower and add the thatching blade to it. Usually this is very simple to do. You only have to remove one or two bolts, and then replace the existing blade with the new one. The new blade is only for thatching, so you should not use it for mowing your lawn on a regular basis. You need to be careful when you use a lawnmower thatching blade so you do not scalp the lawn, or go over it so many times that you end up killing the grass. While you have your old blade off of your lawnmower, perhaps it would be a great time to sharpen it with a file or a grinding stone. Do not forget to replace it back on your lawnmower when you are done using the dethatching blade. There is no set time frame in which you should thatch your lawn. Each lawn is different and thatching should be done on an as-needed basis to improve the overall health and vigor of your lawn. Thatching can also prevent insects and disease from overtaking your lawn.

Mulch or Chippings?

Posted on July 29, 2011 by G.Timothy

Many people get confused on what the difference between mulch and a bark chipping is, but in reality they are actually the exact same thing. These can be a very nice addition to your gardens and flowers bed for the aesthetic look and also for some natural benefits that it offers to your garden and plants.

Most people put mulch in their yard because that is just what they think is typical, which it is, but not everyone knows the benefits of putting down mulch. First off, you have the option of what you want your mulch to look like. This decision is up to you and should be based off what color your house may be, or what is in your backyard. Typical colors of mulch include red, brown, black, and natural looking mulch or chippings.

Next you will have to choose how many times they grind up the chippings. They come as either single ground, double ground, or triple ground. The single ground are the largest pieces of bark, but they also last the longest. The triple ground ones are probably the nicest looking because they are very small pieces of bark, to the point where it is not very noticeable that it is actually bark. However, the triple ground chippings do not last very long because, due to them being small, they disintegrate quite easily from the weather. The decision is ultimately up to you on what is more important to you.

Laying down mulch in your gardens and flower beds is very good for the health of your plants. You can even add a little to your garden pots to keep moisture in there as well. The mulch acts as a protective barrier that traps moisture in for the plants to use to thrive, and it also protects the plants in the winter by acting like an insulator. Since mulch is an all natural and organic compound, it is good for the soil because it actually enriches it. Not only does it nourish the soil, but it also prevents weeds from growing and spreading.

Adding mulch is only beneficial. There is only one drawback about laying down mulch or bark chippings and that is the manual labor it takes to put it down but you can hire a landscaping company to do that task for you and have your garden looking beautiful and healthy. Just remember to make sure you are buying your mulch from a reputable landscaping dealer so that you do not experience any issues with weeds or other additives.

Things To Consider When Building Your First Garden Pond

Posted on July 20, 2011 by A. Stancy

There are plenty of ways to add interest to your garden. Why not add attractive fencing and pretty plants? But, if you really want to make your garden stand out why not consider building a garden pond? Decide what shape and size you would like your pond to be and where you would like it located.

A garden pond may look nice under trees, but this is a bad place to site your pond. Leaves will fall into the pond and could change its water chemistry dramatically, ending up in fish deaths. Place your pond away from any underground cables or tree roots where it will get full sun for some of the day. You can choose any pond shape you desire, just mark it out in your garden using rope and stakes. You might want to enlist friends and family to help you out with the digging. If you are just installing a simple pond then the minimum depth should be between 35 and 60 centimetres. If you want a bigger pond then you will have to dig it deeper. You can get any advice from books, the Internet, garden centre, or your local pond supplier.

Once you have dug the hole you will need to mix together some concrete so the sides of your pond have a sturdy foundation. Once this is done you will need to install a pond liner. You must do this before placing any stones or rocks around the perimeter. Ask about the different types of liner at your local pond supplier and choose one that suits you best. You will need to buy a very durable liner, as it will need to last many years, decades even, and support a huge body of water.

Once this step is completed you may go ahead and fill the pond with water. Do this slowly so you manage to get rid of the creases in the liner. Don’t worry, if there are a few left as they will iron out eventually. This is the time to debate about whether you wish to keep fish and also, what type of plants you desire. Popular fish choices are Koi and goldfish. Both are very colourful and attractive but Koi are extremely large fish and can be expensive to buy. Goldfish are more reasonable and smaller but are still very attractive.
You will want to add some aquatic plants to your pond. But which ones are best? If you are keeping fish then you don’t want them to decimate the plants after only a few days! Ask for advice on which types of plant are best kept with fish.

You will now need to buy a good quality and powerful garden pond filter system. You will need to ask advice on which item to choose as they vary according to the size of your pond. Choose a reputable make and don’t scrimp on the price. This filter will be cleaning your pond of waste and aerating the water 365 days per year and cannot run the risk of breaking down.
Check your pond every day and you will spot problems early and will be able to deal with them before they establish themselves. Ponds do require regular maintenance so you should only install one if you know you are going to be able to care for it adequately.

Damask Roses Compliment Any Landscape

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Howard Wesley

When brainstorming ideas for landscaping your front yard, it is easy to get caught up in choosing common plants that you see in your neighborhood. If you are looking to add charm, beauty and fragrant flowers to your landscaping design, look past the many modern tea hybrid and knock out rose varieties and consider adding a Damask rose to your yard.

The Damask rose is a popular ancient rose flower that dates back to ancient times. It is a pure, elegant plant that has beautiful fragrant flowers. The Damask rose is easy to grow and will tolerate almost any soil type. Some varieties do not perform well in wet environments so do ask your local nursery or research the type of flower before planting. This plant is best known for its rich fragrance that is often used in rose oils, cosmetics and perfumes. There are many varieties of Damask rose that will can fulfill your ideas for front yard landscaping design.

If you are looking for soft pink roses and a smaller rose bush, consider planting the Pink Leda Damask rose. This bush is easy to care for and requires little attention. It will perform well up to zone five planting areas.

For a very fragrant variety of rose with large pink flowers consider adding the Professor Emile Perrot Damask rose bush. This plant is larger than the Pink Leda, growing to almost five feet tall.

If you would prefer that your rose bush flowers more than once in the summer, try the Autumn Damask. This lovely plant will often bloom again in the fall so that you may enjoy its deep pink roses for an extended blooming period.

The Damask rose has been popular since ancient times for a reason. It’s elegant, fragrant blooms were revered by royalty and continue to delight people today. These plants are easy to grow and require little maintenance. The Damask rose is an excellent addition to almost any yard.

Comparing Wooden Garden Sheds

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Howard Wesley

Garden sheds truly come in all shapes and sizes but the most common materials for their construction are metal, wood and plastic (uPVC). Each material has its’ own advantages and disadvantages in terms of price, durability, looks and functionality.

Metal garden sheds are available from small strong box type tool stores up to around 10×10 walk in sheds and a good quality one will provide strength and durability for years to come. Metal sheds, even large ones are relatively cheap when compared to other materials. They are easy to build from kit form and you can choose from a wide range of accessories and upgrades to increase security and storage of your expensive tools and equipment. They are surprisingly light and most will need to be bolted to a concrete or paving slab base to prevent movement by wind. In the looks department, metal sheds unless painted to blend in can look a bit of an eyesore after some wear and tear.

Wooden garden sheds are the most traditional and are considered the most attractive and garden friendly option. They are strong and long lasting and come in pretty much any style you can imagine. Adding storage accessories to wooden garden sheds is a simple matter of turning screws or hammering nails. On the downside to maintain the wood’s water and bug resistance on-going maintenance in the form of painting, staining or applying preservatives is needed.

Plastic or vinyl garden sheds are coming into there own now with advances in uPVC technology creating a better looking finish which is guaranteed to keep it’s color and not to become cracked or brittle with exposure to sunlight as older models were prone to do. Plastic sheds over a metal frame provide strength, are water and insect proof and will require no maintenance at all. They can also be placed directly on level compacted ground if desired. The main drawbacks in cheap plastic garden sheds are in security, you need to look for strong construction and locking options, and in appearance depending on your taste. Also you are more likely to have to buy accessories and extensions from the same manufacturer which may bump up the cost.

When you have your budget, location, and shed size decided, it’s time to research on line to help decide on your construction material and go to local stores to compare different model’s quality and looks.

Tips Hub

Tips And Advices For Your Everyday Life

Category Archives: Gardening Tips