Traffic, loud radios, power mowers, generators and power tools are noisy. Noise is a form of pollution that causes tension, irritation or illness. High levels of sustained noise causes hearing loss. Plants reduce noise pollution, provide privacy, add value to property and look beautiful.
Two rows of carefully selected trees, shrubs and their locations can reduce noise in half. Trees and shrubs buffer more sounds when they are planted close to the source of the noise. Plant them as close together as possible without overcrowding, and make the rows as long as possible. Select species that quickly grow upward (more…)
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Plants can be used in a lot of different ways to accomplish your goals for your property. Landscaping can help to preserve water, lower energy costs and protect from wind.
Check with the National Weather Service to determine the prevailing winds in your area. For example, the prevailing winds for most of the year may come out of the southwest. During the spring or fall, storms might frequently blow in from the northeast.
In such a case, wind barriers would be planted (more…)
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Hedges can be a nice decoration that can really accentuate the home and the yard. For many front lawns, the hedges really bring out the design and invite the eye to explore, however they can also be seen as a sign of wealth and opulence. While that may be a good thing for some (who doesn’t love showing off?) the fact remains that you run the risk of drawing entirely the wrong kind of attention and if your home doesn’t have some kind of protection or ADT monitoring or something you could be in danger.
That is why, if you are particularly worried about the possibility for a break in, you might consider cutting back the hedges so at least you can see over them. You don’t want to give potential intruders anything to hide behind. However, if this is too much of a change to your beloved yard you can also consult your local law enforcement to see what they have to say on the matter. No one else will have a better idea on the matter or what you are up against than these folks, and they might be able to give you the insider info you need to make a decision about those hedges.
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Those with a love and admiration of plants but lack of experience or time can still enjoy gardening; it is simply a matter of creating a garden space that works with the individual’s skills, time, and region. Using pots and containers of various sizes can allow easier access to the plants for pruning and maintenance, a more controlled and nutrient-rich soil, and less weeding. It may also allow the gardener to move temperature sensitive plants indoors as required. If planting directly in the ground, attention should be paid to the type of soil present in order to (more…)
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It is fun to watch wildlife up close without being noticed. The birds sing delightful songs, the chattering of squirrels is comical and the grace and beauty of the butterfly is awe inspiring. It is also fun to watch a cottontail race across a field. It can be fun to landscape the property to provide a safe haven for wildlife.
Wildlife will appear on the property once a favorable habitat is created. The basics to provide for a favorable habitat are food, water, cover and a safe spot to raise young. Most wildlife does well with native trees, shrubs, (more…)
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Native plants grow naturally in certain areas. Unique landscapes can be created with natural plants because of the many different colors, textures and forms. A benefit of using native plants is the way they adjust to different areas according to frost, climate, soil and amount of rainfall. They generally aren’t affected by most pests and diseases. After they begin to grow, native plants are easy to take care of because they need less water and fertilizer than other types of plants. These plants will flourish with only a little attention. (more…)
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If you’ve been watching a lot of football on your satellite-hq.com channels this year and you’ve grown to admire the University of Georgia’s famed hedges you may be feeling the pull to get back in your garden. Some plants work great this time of year and we’ve made a list:
Plentifall Pansies: They’re hearty enough to stand up to colder temperatures and they bring a much-needed punch of color to an otherwise barren fall landscape. They work well on porches and window boxes so plant away!
Spanish Bluebell: It (more…)
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When choosing plants for your landscaping needs one of the most important things to consider is the amount of sun your yard has. You will need to choose flowers and shrubs according to whether they can handle full sun or will need full shade or will do well in either.
The best perennials and ornamentals for sunny areas are the daylilies. These flowers can grow and thrive in full sun areas of your yard and can actually be up to six feet tall. They are easy to care for and come in a variety (more…)
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Are you looking for creative ways to beautify your lawn? Do you have a love for decorative plants but are not sure which varieties would be best for your shady lawn? If sunlight is at a minimum in your yard due to heavy tree cover, certain plants will work better than others. Read on for a list of the best perennials and ornamentals in shady areas.
– Japanese Painted Fern
This deciduous fern variety is hardy enough to survive in cooler climates and is a mixture of silver, red, purple, green (more…)
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It can be difficult to determine if your soil needs amendments and if it does, to determine what to add. The simplest way to evaluate your soil is to conduct a PH test. Determining the PH of soil does not have to be a difficult process, there are kits for purchase on the internet and in local garden stores. It is also common to take a soil sample to a local garden supply center where the PH balance is determined for you. As for what to add to the soil, that depends on your needs. The PH level (more…)
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