Make Gardening a Family Event
Show them how much you enjoy gardening. Spend time in your garden. It is especially easy to stimulate a child's interests when they see you having fun.
Make gardening easy. Don't expect a perfect garden. Allow your family to work at their own pace and within their attention spans and age range, especially children.
Dig it! Kids love to dig. This is a great way to teach the basics while letting them play and just have fun.
Let them play an active role in planning. Take your children to the local nursery and let them pick seeds or transplants to start their garden. Take your time and let them browse and enjoy all of the beautiful plants.
Grow a theme garden. This is a great way to let your children use their imagination and express their creativity. The sky is the limit. Some great ideas are gardens that coincide with the holidays, alphabet gardens, a garden themed in their favorite colors, a sensory garden where you can experience different smells, tastes, textures and sights, or a "Freedom Garden".
Give children their own "kid sized" tools. They don't have to be expensive. You can go with an old spoon and a bucket that you have around the house or you can venture down to the garden center and purchase garden tools made for children's hands.
Give them a space to call their own. It doesn't have to be big. This will teach them ownership and responsibility, and your children will be able to take credit for their own little space.
Get crafty! Press or dry flowers to make a beautiful arrangement, make potpourri, or make a pomander ball. Children love making things and will be amazed at the crafts and gifts that they can make from the garden.
Grow a vegetable garden. Your children will be amazed that they can grow their own food. Be sure to use organic pesticides.
Use gardening to brush up your children's math and science skills. Let them count the seeds they are planting, or teach them how plants are living things. Not only will you capture their attention, you will be polishing their skills as you go.
Have a contest. Kids love to be rewarded. Be sure to give each child a reward; the biggest tomato, the prettiest flower, or perhaps the best tasting herbs (a little Spray-N-Grow will help!)
Don't try to do it all! Pick a few of these tips that you know are best for your family and have fun with them. After all, gardening is meant to be fun and easy. And with a little help, something the whole family can enjoy.
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Starting Your Own Lawn Care Business
If you are looking to start up your own lawn care business, you will need to do a lot of research in order to make sure that it is possible for you to do it.
When it comes to starting your own business it can be an exciting time and it can bring financial and emotional freedom with it at the same time. If you are interested in providing a great lawn care service to clients and you know everything that there is to know about it, then this could be a great business for you. The good thing about this line of business is that there is a very high demand for great lawn care services. So if you can provide a high quality service then you could bring in a very profitable income from it.
Is a Lawn Care Business for You?
To determine whether this line of business is the best option for you then you should consider whether you actually enjoy doing lawn care yourself. If you really enjoy lawn care and you know about the things that can help it to grow properly as well as the certain conditions that can affect it, then you could do extremely well. If you just want to set up your own lawn care business for the money but you have no passion for the job, then there is a high chance that it will not be a successful business.
If this business is something that you are passionate about then it is certainly worth being given a lot of thought, but it is something that you cannot rush into. When it comes to small businesses, it is an extremely wise idea to enjoy what you are doing, otherwise you will not want to put your all into it and you will not be able to compete with any competition in the same field. Something that you may need to keep in mind is the fact that it can be irregular hours and it may include nights and weekends too.
Another thing to remember is that to start with you probably will have to do all of the work yourself and if in time your business has picked up, you may be in the position to hire staff to help you. You may need to keep your full time job whilst you are setting up your business, just to have something to full back on in case your business does not take off how you hoped it would.
If you have decided that the best option for you is to set up your own lawn care business then you will need to do as much research as possible in order to help you on your way. You need to consider all of the start up costs, the equipment that you will need as well as accountants and lawyers etc. By having everything in front of you, you can then start to build for the future and try to make your business as successful as possible.
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Grub Worms in Your Lawn This Spring
Spring has arrived, and chances are you're getting out into the lawn to see what winter has done to it! As you dig around, you may come across some grub worms either in the turf, or in your flower beds.
Many homeowners' first instinct is to rush to the local big box store and purchase granular insecticide and throw is all over the lawn in mass quantities.
But there is no need to expose our environment to anymore un-needed chemicals.
Here's How Grubs Operate:
Grub worms are the larvae of the Japanese beetle or "June Bug." These beetles fly around in early summer, munching on your trees and shrubs, warming themselves on your front porch lights, and getting caught in your pool filter.
In July & August they begin laying eggs in well irrigated lawns like yours, and those eggs develop into larvae called grub worms. If you've ever seen them, they basically look like little shrimp under the turf.
Grubs chew up the turf's root system, causing dead areas that begin to appear in early Fall. Most lawns can withstand minor grub worm damage and require nothing more than normal fertilizing and proper mowing to stave off an attack. Severe grub worm infestation, however, can completely destroy a lawn in one season.
Prior to winter, around November, the grubs head deep into the soil and hidernate until June, when they emerge and the process starts again.
With this in mind, some grubs will grab a quick "root snack" this season in April and May just before they fly out, but it won't be enough to cause noticeable damage to your lawn.
Even if your lawn was severely damaged last year by grubs, the ones that you find this Spring won't do anymore damage. It's their offspring this July and August that post the biggest threat.
Some of you will be tempted to run out and buy some insecticide anyway, but it is not needed! We wouldn't want you spreading pesticides in your lawn unecessarily.
The best advice is to keep your lawn properly fertilized and mowed, and you'll be fine. If you do have noticeable damage from last season, then grab your rake and grass seed and get to work repairing.
So if your lawn care guy tells you to get a grub treatment in the Spring, or you see a scare-tactic television commercial, don't believe it!
If you are still worried about grub worms, then this summer you should put down a grub worm preventative product such as Scott's Grub X, or have your landscape professional do it for you. Be sure he uses a product that is long lasting in the soil such as Merit (Grub X contains Merit as a staple ingredient).
If you're thinking of using Dylox or Diazanon, you are also making a mistake. Those products are curatives for insects, but do nothing for long-term protection. Merit is a proven, long lasting grub worm preventative and is the industry standard to be applied in early Summer.
Japanese beetle populations have been very high in the Midwest in the last few years, so get the treatment... but wait until summer!
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Synthetic Grass: an Increasingly Popular Alternative for the Yard
As Australia’s severe drought has turned many green, lush gardens and yards into brown, lifeless dustbowls, an increasing number of Australian homeowners are turning to synthetic turf as a viable solution. Similarly, more home builders, landscapers, and sports and commercial facilities are actively investigating and promoting synthetic surfaces, causing a dramatic surge in synthetic turf demand here in Australia.
There are many benefits to installing synthetic grass versus natural grass, here are just a few:
The Benefits of Synthetic Grass versus Natural Grass
Watering
With increasing Stage 3, Stage 4 and Stage 5 water restrictions in place across most of the country, water conservation is now at a critical point, and many homeowners are finding that they are simply not allowed to water their lawns. While rainwater tanks can certainly alleviate the problem in the short term, they really only work if there is adequate rainfall to fill them up. Grey water systems can also address some of the problem, but the fact is that the chemicals and soaps in grey water collected from some of these systems can, if not treated properly, actually damage a lawn. Finally, for commercial applications, including football ovals, golf courses, retirement communities, property developments and sporting facilities, the cost and effort to transport water via a pipe system or truck can be prohibitive (and, as has been seen in the news, can anger a town’s residents by using this precious resource for a non-vital purpose) .
Synthetic grass, on the other hand, requires no watering, thus helping Australians to conserve water. A synthetic lawn remains green, lush and soft regardless of climate changes, temperature or other environmental conditions, making it a logical and viable alternative for both home and business applications.
Maintenance
The hot and dry climates unique to Australia make natural grass very difficult (and costly) to maintain. Homeowners, councils, and property management companies spend large amounts of money on water, fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals, mowing and general labour to keep their natural grass in good condition.
Synthetic grass, however, requires none of these costly items. Maintaining a synthetic lawn is as simple as raking the leaves when needed, and an occasional topdressing of sand or rubber. In addition, many synthetic turf manufacturers will apply a special UV coating to protect the lawn against the harsh ultraviolet rays of the sun – ensuring that the synthetic grass will not fade or weaken with age.
Environment
As mentioned above, maintaining a natural grass lawn requires regular use of fertilizers, chemicals and pesticides. Apart from the inherent danger of exposure to children, pets and native animals in the neighbourhood, these products invariably migrate into the soil, groundwater, and eventually into lakes, streams or even the ocean. This can have significant long-term effects on the planet’s plants, animals, the air we breathe and the food we eat.
Synthetic Grass, on the other hand, requires no chemicals or pesticides for maintenance, and provides a safe, healthy environment for families and the public.
Safety
Natural grass lawns and sports fields are rarely perfectly flat. With regular use, a grass lawn will develop dips, mounds, bumps, holes and other inconsistencies that can cause tripping, twisted ankles or other major injuries.
A properly-installed synthetic lawn, however, is most commonly built on top of flat, level ground (usually excavated and grated), which contains one or two layers of compacted, crushed base and a layer of foam padding. The lawn is then in-filled with a combination of either rolled sand or crushed rubber, and then raked or brushed to ensure a consistent, flat, soft surface. When done right, a synthetic lawn or sports field is much safe than natural grass, hence the reason why more major sports organisations and schools in the U.S. and Australia are replacing their sod and natural grass with synthetic surfaces.
Appearance
Technology has vastly improved synthetic turf in the past decade. Gone are the days of neon-green Astroturf or knee-burning plastic-fibre carpets. Today, synthetic turf comes in different fibre lengths, colours and weaves, and is manufactured to exactly replicate the look and feel of natural rye, bermuda, bluegrass, centipede or virtually any type of natural grass available. The new generation of synthetic turf also feels incredibly soft to the touch, which is a welcome addition for children and pets.
Cost
It is commonly believed that natural grass is much cheaper than synthetic grass – as grass seed or turf transplants are relatively inexpensive. So at $50 to $100 per square metre (installed), the bulky up-front investment for purchase and installation of synthetic turf may seem expensive. But in reality, the costs over the long term are actually lower than that of natural grass. When factoring in the 5- to 10-year cost of grass seed, water, fertilizers, lawnfeed and pesticides, as well as the labour and time to mow, trim, aerate, fill, mulch and maintain a natural grass lawn, it becomes clear that a synthetic lawn can pay for itself within a few years, depending on the size of the area and the quoted cost.
For the average homeowner, however, the most popular benefit of owning a synthetic lawn is “Time”. Less time maintaining a lawn means more time enjoying it. More time for backyard cricket with the kids. More time for backyard footy. Or just simply "more time in the backyard".
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Benefits of Using Lawn Care Services in Orlando
The signature beauty of Orlando, Florida is its verdant lawns and landscapes. Having a beautiful lawn does take work, though. Rather than spending most of your time working on your lawn, hire a lawn care service in Orlando to do the work for you. Then, you can spend more time enjoying the lawn and relaxing, and less time working.
Why Hire a Lawn Care Service?
The climate in Orlando is conducive to plant growth year-round. If you have a yard to care for, this means that you essentially never have a day off! Not only do the plants you want grow year round (grass, trees, shrubs, flowers), so do the plants you don't-WEEDS! Additionally, fungal diseases and insects have a grand old time in Central Florida, where conditions are ripe for growth of one kind or another all year. What looks like a lovely oasis outside of the window, is really an entire ecosystem needing care. With a lawn care service, the service, not you, has to worry about all of that! Benefits to hiring a lawn care service in Orlando are:
• A professional lawn care service in Orlando will know exactly the right time to fertilize your lawn for optimum growth. This will save you time and money because you will not apply fertilizer at the wrong time for plant growth.
• A professional lawn care service has all of the tools and equipment needed to do the job efficiently, thoroughly and quickly. Each service will not only include mowing and trimming, but edging, weed control and a general checkup of the lawn. You could spend four hours doing what it takes a lawn care service thirty or forty five minutes, and they will do more than you could. (Do you trench edge your beds every time you mow? I didn't think so!)
• A lawn care service in Orlando will be specially trained to diagnose and treat pest and disease problems before they get out of hand. The key is proper diagnosis and proper treatment. A homeowner can go to the hardware store and buy a kill everything type of fungicide/insecticide, but that can literally kill everything-including plants and beneficial insects. A trained, certified lawn care service will help you fix the problem and avoid mass destruction in the yard.
• Lawn care services will have a schedule that optimizes their ability to properly care for your yard. Grass looks its best when it is cut regularly, and at the right height with sharp mower blades. Lawn services keep their own interests, and the interests of their clients in mind by properly maintaining their equipment at peak performance levels-something the average homeowner does not have time to do.
The main benefit of hiring a lawn care service in Orlando is the ability to enjoy your lawn, rather than spend all of your free time working in it. You will, in the end, save time and money by hiring a trained professional to care for your lawn. If you don't do your own taxes, or cut your own hair, or re-wire your house, outsource your lawn care. Your back, your neighbors and your wallet will thank you!
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How to Prepare Your Lawn for Fall This Year
Hemingway once said, "America is the land of wide lawns and narrow minds." Now, I don't know about narrow minds, but we definitely love our lawns. Fall is one of the most important times of the year to perform lawn care maintenance.
The process you need to follow will vary with the type of turf on your lawn. The two main types of turf grasses are cool season and warm season. The main difference is that cool season grasses require regular maintenance throughout the fall and winter seasons, while warm season grasses need to be prepped for the following spring. Common cool season grasses are ryegrasses, fescues, bluegrasses, and bentgrasses. Common warm season grasses include St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalograss. If you are unsure what type you have on your lawn, you can take a sample to your local county extension and find out which type you have. The most important thing to remember is that maintenance doesn't end when the grass stops growing.
The process of fall lawn care consists of the following steps:
* Test Your Soil
* Apply Herbicides for Weed Control
* Water
* Fertilize
* Mow
* Seed or Sod
* Remove Leaves and Thatch
* Maintain Equipment
Test Your Soil
The first thing you should do this season is perform a soil test to determine levels of nutrients, pH and other factors that affect the growth of your lawn. These results will help you understand what your soil needs this fall. If you need to reduce the acidity in your soil, you should apply lime. If alkalinity should be reduced, then you should apply sulfur. The Cooperative Extension Service of state universities will usually perform a soil test for a reasonable fee. You can contact them or a local service to determine how you should collect samples and where to send them.
Apply Herbicides for Weed Control
Many broadleaf weeds start to show their ugly faces in the fall. Dandelions, plantain, clover and creeping charlie are just some of the perennial weeds that come out to play. If the weeds are spread out and few in number, you can spot treat them with an herbicide. Spray container products make it easy to do spot treatments. You should complete this task while temperatures are still above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure you carefully evaluate the number and types of weeds in your lawn. It is not necessary to apply herbicides over your entire lawn unless there is significant infestation. Don't worry about crabgrass and other annual weed-like grasses. These are controlled more effectively in the spring.
Water
Even though temperatures are cooler and the growth of your grass is slowing down, the lawn still needs to be watered. This is often one of the most neglected areas of fall lawn care. Visions of cool fall and winter weather often cause lawn owners to take a vacation and forget about their lawns. But, you should continue to water until the ground is cold and freezing temperatures are on the horizon. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you will need to use compressed air to blow out the pipes and sprinkler heads before damage occurs from a freeze.
Fertilize
If you are a lawn fanatic like me, you can make two applications of fertilizer, once now and another in the late stages of fall (late October/ early November). This will provide nutrients to your lawn over a longer growth period. Late season fertilizing often causes lawns to be the first to grow in the spring. However, the longer you wait to fertilize, the less likely it is to be beneficial. When in doubt, simply skip the final application. If your soil test indicates that your lawn has a shortage of phosphorus, then you may consider using a 'winterizing' type of fertilizer. Otherwise, leftover spring fertilizer or a weed and feed fertilizer is sufficient. One final thing to avoid is slow-release fertilizers. During this time of year, soil has a lower level of microbial activity which means it takes longer to break down fertilizer and make its nutrients available to the grass.
Mow
You should continue to mow your lawn throughout the fall until growth stops. It is important to keep your grass 2" to 2 - 1/2" tall during fall. If your grass gets too long, it will mat and risk lawn diseases like snow mold. However, if you cut it too short (less than 2"), you can diminish the lawn's ability to make and store food for growth in the spring.
Seed or Sod
This is not always a necessary lawn care practice, but this time of year is the best time to establish or repair a lawn by seeding or sodding. Seeding and sodding should be completed as soon as possible before really cold weather sets in. If you are overseeding your lawn, you need to rake up debris and dethatch your lawn if thatch is thicker than half an inch. This ensures that the grass seed will be as close to the soil as possible. You should also aim to keep the soil moist for a few weeks while the seeds are germinating.
Remove Leaves and Thatch
When leaves begin to fall in autumn, it is important to remove them before a thick layer forms that can smother the grass. Simply raking often removes thatch from your lawn, but in bad cases of soil compaction, you may need to get a lawn aerator to perform core aeration. If you have the funds, and you're serious about lawn care, you may want to buy an aerator. Otherwise, you can simply rent one at a local hardware or garden supply store.
Maintain Equipment
Lawn care equipment requires constant maintenance throughout, but the fall season involves a more thorough maintenance process. Upkeep can save you tons of money and heartache in the long run. Fall is a great time to perform an oil change on your mower. You should also drain the gas from your mower or add a gas stabilizer. Consult your manual before using a stabilizer, because it may void your warranty.
Remove the mower's spark plug with a spark-plug wrench. Lubricate the spark-plug cylinder with a teaspoon of oil through its hole. Install a new spark plug, but keep the spark-plug wire disconnected. Grease where necessary, especially the rear height-adjuster on a self-propelled mower.
You should check your blade and the bolts on the unit to ensure tightness. You should also inspect and possibly sharpen your mower blade. After you have completed these steps, store the mower in a clean, dry place away from any possible ignition sources.
Final Thoughts
Following the fall lawn care practices outlined in this article will prepare your lawn for winter and reward you with a healthy, thriving lawn in the spring.
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