Household Fixes

Thinning Seedlings

Seedling need to be thinned if you do not want weak spindly plants that bear poorly. Beets, carrots, onions, leaf lettuce and all flowering annuals should be thinned to 2 or 3 inches at least between plants. Large annuals and such vegetables as beans, parsnips, turnips and head lettuce should be at least 4 to 8 inches apart. Do the thinning after a rain or after thorough sprinkling. Its easier then.

Cultivating should start as soon as the seedlings show through the ground. Soil that is cultivated regularly every 10 days never gets hard, weeds are kept under control and the ground is aerated.

Lawn Weeds

Weeds in the lawn present a big problem but during May… you can get the jump on them while they are still small. If you have only a few pull them by hand. Treat dandelion, plantain with a weed killer and a couple of weeks later the weeds will be gone.

For heavier infestations call in a professional, they will apply an application over the entire lawn. If you do any spraying with a weed killer dont use the sprayer or for anything else unless you wash it thoroughly after each session with the weed killer. The best action is to purchase a sprayer for weed killers on;y and another for pesticides applied to plants.

Beetle Grubs

Japanese Beetle grubs can be controlled in the lawn with chemical sprays this month. It will also help control the chinch bug that kills grasses by sucking the juices. One application is effective for the whole season against the chinch bug and grub proofs the lawn usually for several years. Check with your county agent or law professional for control. Also feed the lawn this month with fertilizer to give it new vigor and overcome the damage.

Tender Plants

Set out tender plants late in May. This includes zinnias, marigolds and other tender annuals raised in coldframes or greenhouse and the tender vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplants and peppers.

Chrysanthemum cuttings that are well-rooted should be potted now. Theres still time to start more cuttings and make it an indoor potted plant but keep them growing without interruption if you want a good crop of flowers. A check in growth produces a tough woody stem that reduces flowering.

Amaryllis that have finished blooming should be kept growing until fall or until the leaves yellow and the plant goes into a rest of its own accord. Then lay the pots on their sides under a bench or in the basement to dry off and rest for several months.

Carnation cuttings it does not pay to let them stay in pots and become potbound. Set the plants high and pack the soil firmly around them. Water thoroughly.

Heliotropes, Geraniums, Lantanas or other plants grown as standards should be pinched shortly before planting out so the heads will be stocky and able to withstand unfavorable weather. Strong stakes are also essential and should be put into place at the same time as the plants are set out.

The garden and landscape is beginning to show the rewards of regular attention. Bring on the blooms.

Tags: garden, landscape, lawn, remodel
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As the earth’s energy resources such as gas, coal and oil become scarcer, it’s vital that new sources of energy are found, both for industrial and domestic use. It’s not surprising that many families are looking to “green energy” for their power requirements.

Huge wind turbines can be seen in many parts of the countryside, but a wind turbine suitable for an average family home can be built from scratch. It’s not that difficult (or expensive)

There is hardly a place on earth that does not have enough wind activity to keep a home-built turbine whirring away. The great thing about wind energy is that its free! Like solar power and of course water which powers various hydro-electric power stations, it is something that occurs naturally. Its available all the time, waiting to be harnessed, to be tapped into.

It is possible to build such a system for $200 or less. With a little know-how, and a reasonably good DIY ability, you could conceivably build such a system over the course of a weekend. And the materials you will need should be available in your local hardware store.

Its no wonder really, that so many people are turning to this source of energy. It is very satisfying to be able to produce your own home made wind power. You could even produce more than you need ” then sell it back to the electricity company. Thats a nice thought – watching the electricity meter going backward for a change!

There are many arguments in favour of building such a system – one thing that I like about wind power is that its so clean – there is no smoke, no waste material to worry about. And the wind is freely available to all.

The great saving that can be achieved through a home wind system is one of the main attractions. It’s estimate that it could reduce your energy bill by 80% – or eliminate it altogether| You are saving from the day it is connected up.

Once the system is up and running, it will require a minimum of maintenance. And the running costs will be low also.

Another good thing about producing home wind power, is that it is of course helping in the fight against global warming, and reducing one’s carbon footprint.

Wind power has been in use for many years in electricity generation, and is tried and tested. The technology is well developed and it is now available to supply power to an average home. I’m sure we will see more and more families turning to wind power, as the public realises its many advantages.

Tags: a, alternative energy, d, dit, diy, g, garden, green energy, green power, h, Home, home & family, Home Improvement, home wind energy, Home Wind Power, home wind turbines, home;improvement, home;repair, i, o, r, t, technology
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Good for you! Most likely you have recently made a decision to start an organic garden, great choice! Read this and you will know where to begin.

Decide what goes where!

First, look at your garden during the day. Where is it sunny? Where are the shady areas that perhaps just get a glimpse of sunlight?

Vegetables usually need a lot of sun to grow and mature well, so make sure to choose the sunny spots for them. However, many perennial flowers grow quite well in the shade, or actually prefer the shade.

Accordingly: put your vegetables where the sun goes, and your perennials where the shade is, but feel free to mix the suncraving perennials with your veggies to add even more beauty to your garden.

Soil preparation

Next you want to take a look at your garden soil. Is it sandy? Muddy? Dry? Moist? Or different in different parts of the garden?

To prepare a sandy soil in the best manner, you should add organic matter. If you are the lucky owner of a compost pile, you can simply use the degraded material from that. You do know that a compost pile is the backbone of every organic garden, so make sure you have one. However, if by any chance you do not have one at the moment, you have to purchase for example cow-dung or the like, which is very good as it will not only bring organic matter to your soil but also a lot of nutrients. Be careful with peat though, as it may make your soil to acidic.

Your soil will improve over time if you remember to add organic matter every spring.

What if your soil is muddy then? If it’s heavy clay, you’ll probably do well to add some gravel or coarse sand to make it drain better. Beware of fine sand, as it will turn your muddy soil into concrete. And thats not what we are looking for, is it?

Shovel after shovel of organic matter will make wonders with your muddy as well as your sandy soil. It will get porous and give the earth worms plenty to eat and thereby airing your soil.

It is tempting to use a rototiller since it is fast and seemingly efficient. However, it will spread some of the weeds by shredding the roots into pieces that will turn into more plants, huh. The earth worms will also thank you if you instead take the old shovel and simply dig two shovels deep.

Now it is time to rake and prepare for sowing. When your garden flourish, make it a good habit to walk through it every day to check for pests and weeds, and discover any problems as early as possible!

Tags: family, garden, gardening, grow organic food, grow vegetables, hobbies, Home, organic garden, start a garden, start an organic garden
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