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	<title>Backyard Garden Blog</title>
	
	<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog</link>
	<description>Gardening Information, Articles and more . . .</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:36:14 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Help The Elderly Avoid Fall Accidents in the home</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/help-the-elderly-avoid-fall-accidents-in-the-home</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/help-the-elderly-avoid-fall-accidents-in-the-home#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:31:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jed Green</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Elderly Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home and Family Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Term Care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stairlifts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1565</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Local Councils and health departments have a duty to improve the quality of people's lives and their general living arrangements when possible. For an older family to fall can easily cause injury such as broken bones and hips and this can end up in lengthy periods of hospital care. Often tiny jobs such as fixing loose carpets or fitting a hand rail can stop a fall and avoid a lot of nonessential distress to the individual]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Local Councils and health departments have a duty to improve the quality of people&#8217;s lives and their general living arrangements when possible. For an older family to fall can easily cause injury such as broken bones and hips and this can end up in lengthy periods of hospital care. Often tiny jobs such as fixing loose carpets or fitting a hand rail can stop a fall and avoid a lot of nonessential distress to the individual </p>
<p> If a family member is at an age where climbing up the steps is presently a major task it might be a great idea to access the situation and act find a remedy how to defeat this obstacle.  Installing <a href="http://www.stairlifttrader.com/cheap-stairlifts.htm">inexpensive Stairlifts</a> could decrease the risk of fall accidents in the home and give assurance and comfort to family members that their loved ones will be safe </p>
<p> Accidents in the home particularly for seniors is a serious concern  and let us be fair  nobody would like to see any family member hospitalised or hurt especially when it can be prevented with one or two simple home modifications. </p>
<p> There is a great spectrum of mobility aids available to help with simple everyday chores which most of us do without thinking about it. Showering and washing might appear a simple task and something most of us do at least twice per day. </p>
<p> For an old person just getting to the loo might be a mammoth task particularly if the facility they need is located in an upstairs room. Here&#8217;s where the modern day Stairlift holds its own and can be a god send. </p>
<p>The old generation not only use such devices to move themselves up and back down the steep stairs but soon work out that it may be employed to transport heavy bedding sheets and washing up and back down the stairs which otherwise would have been an Imposable task for a frail older person.</p>
<p>Find <a href="http://www.stairlifttrader.com/stairlift-selling-tips.htm">Secondhand Stairlifts</a> and <a href="http://www.stairlifttrader.com/stairlift-batteries-Acorn-Stannah-Minivator.htm">Stairlift Battery Packs</a> visit our site</p>
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		<title>How Best to Apply Lawn Fertilizers</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/how-best-to-apply-lawn-fertilizers</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/how-best-to-apply-lawn-fertilizers#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:04:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nick Harbard</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Landscaping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[garden fertilizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[garden fertilizers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[garden tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hobbies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lawn care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lawn fertilizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lawn fertilizers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lawn mowers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lawn tractors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mowers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1559</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Slowly-releasing fertilizers are most appropriate for your lawn if you need the nutrients dispersed little by little over a length of time. These fertilizers are produced with the average gardener in mind, and available at most home and hardware suppliers.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Slowly-releasing fertilizers are most appropriate for your lawn if you need the nutrients dispersed little by little over a length of time. These fertilizers are produced with the average gardener in mind, and available at most home and hardware suppliers.</p>
<p>Since slow-release lawn fertilizers release their nutrients in time, instead of at the same time, you&#8217;re in essence extending the feeding. As nutrients are let go, the root body of your grass fills in any bare spots. This by itself endorses lawn weed management, depriving weed seeds of a spot to germinate, and thus getting rid of the weed plant on your lawn.</p>
<p>Before purchasing these or other fertilizers, read the guidelines on the bag thoroughly (or ask someone at the store for details). A specific product may well not be suitable for your sort of grass. Similarly, when using lawn fertilizers, follow instructions expressly, with regards to the amount to utilize, how often they should be applied, and under what conditions they should be applied.</p>
<p>Lawn fertilizers are best put to use with spreaders. Be cautious never to fill the applicator with the spreader left parked on the lawn. To do so encourages grass-burn, as you might unintentionally release way too much while loading. Instead, fill the applicator someplace else, then bring the spreader onto the lawn. Some individuals are going green with their growing using free of chemicals fertilizers and weed control. Having said that, they don&#8217;t realistically provide you with an edge when fertilizing your lawn and garden.</p>
<p>Plants absorb nutrients in a similar manner if the source be organic or a standard fertilizer. Turf grass roots will only absorb dissolved nutrients present in the soil water. Organic fertilizers fail to offer any added benefits to the treatment of your lawn. The choice is purely personal preference, so avoid getting worked up over the variances between both. The important thing is that you are applying a fertilizer of any sort, as (typically) any fertilizer is more effective than none.</p>
<p>In addition, there are lawn fertilizers that promote lawn weed control simultaneously. Successful lawn weed control should, in the end, go hand-in-hand with the utilisation of lawn fertilizers. If the weeds suck up some of the nutrients you are providing, those are nutrients essentially being destroyed, as they will not be going to your grass. Fortunately, employing lawn fertilizers and using weed control is often automated into the same chore, though if you were to only practice weed control you&#8217;d quickly see an increase in the health of your lawn as a by-product.</p>
<p>Last but not least, take a look at this lawn care blog, looking at the Black and Decker <a href="http://www.lawnmowerbase.com/black-and-decker-gr3400-mower-review/">GR3400</a> and the <a href="http://www.lawnmowerbase.com/black-and-decker-gr3000-mower-review/">Black and Decker GR3000</a>.</p>
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		<title>Organize a Bright Desert Home Exterior</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/organize-a-bright-desert-home-exterior</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/organize-a-bright-desert-home-exterior#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:26:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Tyler Brooks</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Landscaping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colorful cacti]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[decorative rock las vegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[desert landscapes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[do it yourself xeriscape]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rocks las vegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water preserving landscapes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[xeriscaping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1555</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Taking advantage of a Prickly Pear or other drought resistant plant can add color and variety to the garden while keeping costs low. Almost all plants and cacti that are found in the desert region of the US are plain in color. Xeriscaping does not have to be bland. It actually allows more creativity and individuality than a boring turf yard ever could. No two xeriscapes tend to be the same.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Taking advantage of a Prickly Pear or other drought resistant plant can add color and variety to the garden while keeping costs low. Almost all plants and cacti that are found in the desert region of the US are plain in color. Xeriscaping does not have to be bland. It actually allows more creativity and individuality than a boring turf yard ever could. No two xeriscapes tend to be the same.</p>
<p>The high demand for water and the declining levels of the earth&#8217;s aquifers are great motivators for new, green <a href="http://hafried.expertdigi.hop.clickbank.net"  class="alinks_links" onclick="return alinks_click(this);"  style="padding-right: 13px; background: url(http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/alinks/images/external.png) center right no-repeat;" title="Garden Secrets Guide" rel="external">gardening</a>. The cost of well drilling can be a financial burden in a region that has limited supply and demand for the water to begin with. Using Xeriscaped plans a home owner can save a tremendous amount of money on water bills and maintenance fees. If you get lost or overwhelmed with the concept call a friend or a professional.</p>
<p>Xeriscaping is a green technology that focuses on the beautification of a desert or dry area while preserving the water supply. The main goal of Xeriscaping is to minimize water waste in desert landscaping. The expense of building a Xeriscaped garden can be costly in the short term, but the long term cost savings of having to pay for water in a desert area can be phenomenal. The petals of the plant bloom with yellow or orange blossoms and are indigenous to the ecosystem.</p>
<p>The loss of food crops and death of livestock is an impending problem due to the decline of readily available water. The consequences of seasonal drought appear to be more and more devastating. The increased levels of greenhouse gas that are being produced by the free world are steadily increasing. The contribution of a Xeriscaped garden can help to reduce greenhouse gas and be a positive influence on the ozone layer.</p>
<p>The combination of hearty drought resistant plants and cosmetically enhanced rocks can give an amazing flare to the scenery of an otherwise dull setting. By utilizing correct mulching techniques any water that is put into the garden can be retained. The process of mulching your garden will help keep in the water it does get and keep out the overbearing sun and heat to maintain your soil integrity.</p>
<p>Check out: <a href="http://storify.com/writingforever7/conserving-water-in-the-desert">boulder placement las vegas</a></p>
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		<title>Florida “Sugar Ants”</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/florida-sugar-ants</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/florida-sugar-ants#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:51:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Doug Asher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[get rid of sugar ants safely]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[geting rid of sugar ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[getting rid of sugar ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to get rid of sugar ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to rid sugar ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[piss ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[run you little piss ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sugar ants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sugar ants baking soda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sugar ants corn]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sugar ants florida natural poison]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1553</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sugar ants, are a nuisance pest in North America and are very abundant. These persistent ants are very hard to see and are also called "piss ants". They are found in North America and are many species. Unfortunatly to the untrained eye, they all seem to look the same.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sugar ants, are a nuisance pest in North America and are very abundant. These persistent ants are very hard to see and are also called &#8220;piss ants&#8221;. They are found in North America and are many species. Unfortunatly to the untrained eye, they all seem to look the same.</p>
<p>It is very common to mistake an ant as a &#8220;sugar ant&#8221; or a &#8220;sweet ant&#8221; because they have been seen eating some type of food which is sugary or sweet. Since most ants will eat anything from carbohydrate to protein to fat, it is not hard to find any ant species in about any kind of food.</p>
<p>The most common species called sugar ants include Pharaoh Ants, Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, Thief Ants, Acrobat Ants, Argentine Ants, Odorous House Ants, Citronella Ants, and Small Honey Ants. These ants invade homes, condos, townhouses, apartments, and any structure that has food readily available for nesting sites.</p>
<p>After all, both ants are controlled and killed the same way. So, if you are ready to get rid of sugar ants, start here. To begin controlling a sugar ant infestation follow these simple steps. You want to keep your kitchen sink clean and dry. Then wipe down kitchen counter tops with bleach each night to get rid of sugar ants. Sweep and mop your kitchen floor with bleach every night during the summer to control them as well. Then you will vacuum the floors of spaces where food is consumed to avoid inviting sugar ants into your home. Change your garbage bags often and take the trash out regularly to avoid sugar ant infestations. These simple steps can prevent an infestation and also avoid a headache trying to eradicate them.</p>
<p>The most common baits that are used to get rid of sugar ants, and are called sweet baits. And in sweet baits the most common ingredient is boric acid, or Borax. Most sugar ants and ants in general are prone to boric acid. Borax is mined in California and is refined and dissolved into all manners of ant bait systems. It is non-toxic to humans unless you inhale or ingest in large amounts which I highly suggest that you not do it. Borax however does not kill the ants right away, and the ants take the bait back to the colony and share them with them. Because borax is a slow poison this is how a whole colony can be eliminated.</p>
<p>Piss ants have also made me a little more aware of the different baits out on the market. Out of all of them I highly recommend Terro brand baits. They are really effective and can eliminate a colony fairly quickly. The best part about Terro is that you can find it in many grocery stores and even hardware stores. However if the ants are proving to be a headache, I recommend hiring a professional; most offer a guarantee and will do the legwork for you. They also work with you on how to eliminate these pests and give you tips on how to prevent them in the future.</p>
<p><a href="http://pestcemetery.com/?s=ants">Everything you wanted to know about ants!</a></p>
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		<title>The Unstoppable Earwig</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/the-unstoppable-earwig</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/the-unstoppable-earwig#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:57:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr. Doug Asher</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earwig infestations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earwig populations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earwigs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earwigs in bath]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how do earwigs get inside]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to kill earwigs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[massive earwig populationsroom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1550</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There's nothing extra ordinary about the earwig. No super hard shell that keeps pesticides from penetrating, they're not fast enough to out run even a sleepy eye housewife with a fly swatter and yet it seems you can't kill these things. In reality it's not that you don't smoosh the thing all over your bathroom floor on the bottom of your shoe, it's dead alright. It is however that with one dead another pops up in its place. Not so much like german roaches mind you but later that day or perhaps even a week later you'll find another wayward earwig near the spot where his kin earlier lost his life. It is difficult at times to control the earwig let alone achieve zero population in or around your home.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There&#8217;s nothing extra ordinary about the earwig. No super hard shell that keeps pesticides from penetrating, they&#8217;re not fast enough to out run even a sleepy eye housewife with a fly swatter and yet it seems you can&#8217;t kill these things. In reality it&#8217;s not that you don&#8217;t smoosh the thing all over your bathroom floor on the bottom of your shoe, it&#8217;s dead alright. It is however that with one dead another pops up in its place. Not so much like german roaches mind you but later that day or perhaps even a week later you&#8217;ll find another wayward earwig near the spot where his kin earlier lost his life. It is difficult at times to control the earwig let alone achieve zero population in or around your home.</p>
<p>While some insects lay thousands of eggs and that is how their colony size gets so large, earwigs usually only produce one generation per year 50 to 60 eggs at a time. While the earwig is harmless to you and I they can be formidable on other bugs. The female actually protects her nest until they eggs hatch which is quite rare in the insect world. The earwig pincers are a source of fear for most but they are not even powerful enough to cause but a tiny prick. Earwigs do posses fully developed wings but rarely fly. Stories go that the earwig seeks out human ears to crawl in and nest but there is very little truth to the myth. While is does happen that earwigs and other bugs have entered into sleeping peoples ears, it is not something these insects do on purpose in order to lay eggs and bore into your brain.</p>
<p>Earwigs do best in damp situations such as leaf litter or mulch. Home owners oblige this six legged creature by adding more mulch every year on top of old and by constant watering of plants and landscaping that is close to the home. This yearly practice allows the population of the earwig to grow with each new season. Since earwigs survive the winters by hibernating the adults and new born combine to increase the numbers every twelve months. This build up continues until finally the numbers explode and it seems like &#8216;over night&#8217; a home can be over run.</p>
<p>The drier the area the less you&#8217;ll have earwigs and this is why inside populations can&#8217;t survive very long. Earwigs are constantly on the move looking for food and it&#8217;s usually an opportune crack or open door that earwigs use to get in. They often find their way to the bathroom of a house because of the lure of life giving water. There is no express strategy of the earwig to infest your home. It is mostly the wandering tendencies that eventually lead the earwig inside. As populations get bigger and food competition is tougher or if things dry out a bit you&#8217;ll have earwigs on the move looking for a better situation which often leads them inside.</p>
<p>Earwigs are not as able bodied as other insects but find it easy to enter homes through cracks and crevices. Front door thresholds or back sliding glass doors are the most common spot you find earwigs coming in. We often place potted plants near these entries and even put welcome mats out just in front of the doors. All these items collect dampness underneath and offer the nocturnal bug a great place to hide and replenish their much needed moisture. This in turn puts the earwig in close proximity of the main entries and from there it&#8217;s only a few inches from them coming into your home. With the repetitive cycles that we the home owner practice every year it&#8217;s no wonder the earwig eventually explodes.</p>
<p>Don&#8217;t fall for the <a href="http://pestcemetery.com/legend-earwig/">Folk Lore</a> and myths. Get the correct information and<a href="http://pestcemetery.com/prepare-and-prevent-the-earwig-this-year/">Keep Your Home Earwig Free</a>.</p>
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		<title>Wall Coatings</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/wall-coatings</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/wall-coatings#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:45:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Joe Smith</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Landscaping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[exterior coatings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[external coatings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outside coatings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wall coatings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the latest torrential rains have shown recently, the weather in UK can be pretty intense for all homes and buildings. There are several ways of protecting your home from weathering. Damp is a huge problem in the UK for house owners and with the right help this is really avoidable with the correct <a href="http://www.wethertex.co.uk/wall-render-coatings">wall coatings</a>. More than seventeen per cent of the homes in the UK have exhibited damage down to penetrating damp.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As the latest torrential rains have shown recently, the weather in UK can be pretty intense for all homes and buildings. There are several ways of protecting your home from weathering. Damp is a huge problem in the UK for house owners and with the right help this is really avoidable with the correct <a href="http://www.wethertex.co.uk/wall-render-coatings">wall coatings</a>. More than seventeen per cent of the homes in the UK have exhibited damage down to penetrating damp.</p>
<p>There are lots of reasons why water may get into your house and create damage. Broken guttering, drain pipes, poorly fitted glazing/windows and roof tiles will all expose your house prone to damp. But the worst is caused by external walls that have been poorly maintained over many years. Over the years stucco on the exterior of your house will break up and the rendering wears away from weathering. Walls often wear away and stonework finally crumbles. Such damamage then makes pathways into your house which will be found by damp. </p>
<p>With excess moisture on your exterior walls, your property is probably going to be damaged by the weather as in extremely cold conditions the water in the masonary will freeze. This will in turn cause the wall to shrink and expand, making cracks. This is frequently reffered to as freeze thaw cracking and can cause many problems.</p>
<p>When taken to extremems could cause structural problems for houses as the moisture is absorbed into the wood. The easy simple answer to all these potential damp problems is not rocket science. Exterior coatings are supplied by specialist contractors.</p>
<p>Modern day wall coverings are micro porous in other words they have the ability to breathe and all damp that is drawn in will be able to disperse before it has chance to cause any problem. In addition the exterior house painting is a impervious barrier so that all damp that has been absorbed can then be able to dry out, just like our skin functions.</p>
<p>Joe Smith has a website and Blog featuring lots of advice about wall<br />
coatings. It outlines why <a href="http://www.wethertex.co.uk/textured-coatings">textured coatings</a> are best when <a href="http://www.wethertex.co.uk/exterior-house-painting">house<br />
painting</a>.</p>
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		<title>Hedging Plants</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/hedging-plants</link>
		<comments>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/hedging-plants#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:18:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Oliver Stone</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Landscaping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Family:Gardening]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[home_improvement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1540</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Erecting good quality fencing to mark the boundaries around your home is commonly a big expense, especially when you need to contain a large area.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Erecting good quality fencing to mark the boundaries around your home is commonly a big expense, especially when you need to contain a large area.</p>
<p>A lower cost natural looking alternative is to make a screen with evergreen hedging plants. These hedging plants, once established provide a fantastic windbreak, additional privacy, or security for your garden and property. Plants can also be used effectively to disguise unsightly views or areas you do not want to see.</p>
<p>Smart planting, instead of fences is typically much cheaper than fencing and gives your home curb appeal.</p>
<p>There are lots of plants you can choose to form a hedge. You will achieve the best results possible by choosing plants that are native to your area. It is essential to know what type of soil you have.</p>
<p>Great plants for hedging include yew, privet, boxwood, laurel and lastly photinia, although this list is by no means exhaustive.</p>
<p>Yew is a native British tree which clips very well and is commonly used to form a classic boxed hedge or topiary. The yew is a thick, tough plant which grows well almost anywhere.</p>
<p>One of the toughest plants is privet. This is a rapid growing shrub which can thrive in poor quality soil. Adding nutrients to poor quality soil will give your plants the best start as good ground preparation always pays off.</p>
<p>Boxwood produces pretty little\attractive blooms during the spring and is a wise choice in shady positions. It is a hardy plant which continues to grow for a number of years. It is nonetheless a very slow grower. </p>
<p>For a substantial windbreak, laurel is a good choice as it grows as high as fifteen feet tall. </p>
<p>Photinia grows to a similar height, providing a heavy barrier with leaves that turn from red to green after the spring.</p>
<p>If you have a tight budget, you can keep costs down by purchasing the smaller plants, but these will take a much longer time to establish. An almost immediate hedge can be produced with large shrubs.</p>
<p>It will also help you to cut costs if you can put the plants in yourself rather than pay a professional to do the job. It is a time consuming task which requires you to be strong enough to dig holes and trenches, but it is fairly simple to do. You will have to take care to prepare your ground well and water your new plants regularly to start with, to avoid losing any of your new shrubs.</p>
<p>A mixture of plants can be combined to form a natural appearance. Use evergreen hedging plants as an appealing low cost alternative to fencing.</p>
<p>Greenshutters Evergreen Hedging Tree Nursery, with a Garden Centre based near Taunton, Somerset has been growing trees and evergreen hedges on the nursery, including <a href="http://www.evergreenhedging.co.uk/">Leylandii</a>, laurel &amp; evergreen shrubs since 1980. <a href="http://www.evergreenhedging.co.uk/">Leylandii Trees for Sale</a></p>
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		<title>Growing Orchids Thai Style</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/gardening/growing-orchids-thai-style</link>
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		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[orchids]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1539</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Orchids have the reputation of being difficult to grow in the West. Gardeners shy away from trying to grow them because they think that they are a problem to grow and because they are expensive. This is easily understood, but there is more to the story than that. The fact is that most countries have their own native orchid species, so it is possible to grow orchids wherever you live, if you pick the right species.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Orchids have the reputation of being difficult to grow in the West. Gardeners shy away from trying to grow them because they think that they are a problem to grow and because they are expensive. This is easily understood, but there is more to the story than that. The fact is that most countries have their own native orchid species, so it is possible to grow orchids wherever you live, if you pick the right species.</p>
<p>The other side of the coin is that what most gardeners in the West think of as orchids are orchids from exotic countries and they can be a problem to grow. I say a problem to grow, but that is not the whole story either. If you can make an environment comparable to where the orchids come from, it need not be a problem at all.</p>
<p>A lot of the spectacular orchids are parasites, like mistletoe is a parasite plant in the temperate countries of the West. These orchids often grow on trees. In trees and on trees, that is. So, their natural environment is to become attached to the bark of a living tree or to be lodged in the fork of a branch.</p>
<p>The orchid will then suck its nutrients and water from the inside of its host much in the same fashion as does a flea or a bed bug. Another thing to be aware of is that if a plant lives under the canopy of a tree, it rarely, if ever, experiences strong sunlight. Wooded areas are also fairly humid. It is also worth mentioning that exotic plants normally come from warm or hot countries.</p>
<p>Therefore, if you can recreate these conditions of providing warmth, humidity and a host, growing exotic orchids should not become that much of a problem. And in truth, it is not, although in the West it might require a greenhouse.</p>
<p>Thailand is home to many parasitic orchids, most of which grow on trees in the forests, which are warm to hot and humid, but most people do not live under those conditions. Most Thais live in either open villages or cities where conditions are not favorable to growing jungle orchid varieties. However, most Thai gardeners do not need or even have greenhouses.</p>
<p>Instead, if a Thai gardener is interested in nurturing jungle orchid varieties, he or she will purchase (or acquire) the root complex of a dead tree which also has a tree stump of, say, a metre attached. They will then move this tree stump in to a very shady place, say, under a canopy and grow their wild jungle orchids on that.</p>
<p>How is that done?, you may ask. Well, it is actually simplicity itself. First you get hold of a sample of the orchid and then you attach it to the stump with a &#8216;strap&#8217; of something that will both allow the orchid to grow and to breathe. Most Thais use some of the fibres from inside a coconut.</p>
<p>The gardener will strap the baby orchid to the stump using the coconut matting as a band-aid with either staples or small nails. By the time the orchid has sunken its roots into the host, the matting will have rotted away, as will probably the staples.</p>
<p>The only thing left to do is to keep the tree and the infant flower well watered so that it can draw the remaining nutrients out of the dead tree. They will flourish for numerous years under these conditions and the tree stump will be a living flower pot, of sorts.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on several topics, but is now involved with <a href="http://packageholidaystothailand.org/loy-krathong.html">Loy Krathong</a>. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at <a href="http://packageholidaystothailand.org">Package Holidays to Thailand</a>.</p>
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		<title>Is Natural Insecticide Harmful To Humans And Animals?</title>
		<link>http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/landscaping/is-natural-insecticide-harmful-to-humans-and-animals</link>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:07:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Owen Jones</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We kind of make a distinction between 'chemicals' and 'natural products'. This is actually quite strange, because everything can be reduced to its chemical ingredients. Not only that, but government organizations, such as America's FDA, has to approve chemicals, whereas natural chemicals are completely unregulated.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We kind of make a distinction between &#8216;chemicals&#8217; and &#8216;natural products&#8217;. This is actually quite strange, because everything can be reduced to its chemical ingredients. Not only that, but government organizations, such as America&#8217;s FDA, has to approve chemicals, whereas natural chemicals are completely unregulated.</p>
<p>For example, some insecticides are injurious to humans and animals and the label will say that, but you can read somewhere that deadly nightshade is good for something, collect some, use it and die. No-one but you is responsible for that. Therefore, never just presuppose that &#8216;natural&#8217; means safe, because it most certainly does not, necessarily.</p>
<p>The label on a tin or box gives you a measure of safety. In other words someone has done the research for you and is frightened of being sued. If you use hedgerow cures, you are on your own.</p>
<p>A &#8216;natural&#8217; pesticide called rotenone, is extracted from derris root. It is completely safe for humans, but it will kill fish. Like most substances, rotenone is lethal in large doses, but no-one or no animals are likely to eat that much of it</p>
<p>Sabadilla is a natural insecticide, which can cause irritation to the eyes and breathing in some people, but it is not dangerous. To be on the safe side, lock up your pets and wear a mask when dispersing it</p>
<p>Pepper can be used as an insecticide. Crush it up, mix it with water and spray it on insects or foliage. As we all know, dry pepper, particularly white pepper can irritate the eyes and nasal passages.</p>
<p>If you want to create your own insecticides, particularly termite killer, from tobacco leaves, you have to be very cautious. The vapours are toxic to mammals as well as insects. If you want to try using tobacco, which eradicates many insects, you ought to study the topic very carefully before you start.</p>
<p>However, there are many natural insecticides that are almost completely risk-free. Boric acid for example. It will kill many insects, but it is only a little more toxic to man that salt. Surprising, eh? Yes, salt is poisonous as well, if you eat 52 kilos of it.</p>
<p>Diatomaceous earth is a completely safe pesticide that works by dehydrating the insect. It is very improbable that you will get yourself into a situation where diatomaceous earth could dehydrate you or your dog.</p>
<p>Things that smell like lemons, such as lemon juice, lemon grass and citronella are effective mosquito deterrents and are completely innocuous to humans and their pets. You can dab the essential oil on or sit near the plants themselves.</p>
<p>The neem tree is also fairly harmless to humans and other animals, although it is worth understanding more about this vigorous insecticide and anaesthetic.</p>
<p>All in all, you should be careful when believing that &#8216;natural&#8217; equates to safe. &#8216;Natural&#8217; means rather that it is often cheaper and is less strong, which can be better for the environment, us humans and the animals that live with us.</p>
<p>Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on quite a few subjects, but is currently involved with <a href="http://killingcarpenterants.com/terro-ant-killer.html">Terro Ant Killer</a>. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please visit our website at <a href="http://killingcarpenterants.com">Killing Carpenter Ants</a>.</p>
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		<title>Advantages Of Laminate Flooring</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:48:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sarah James</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[boundary wall]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.backyard-garden.com/blog/?p=1535</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Floor restoration is expensive. This is why sometimes people opt to buy materials that are capable of hiding the flaws of their floors than to spend loads of money for its restoration. But with the development in building materials nowadays, there are available options at an affordable cost for homeowners and building occupants alike to still get that most wanted revamp. One is with installing laminate flooring Singapore building manufacturers offer. The following are the advantages of laminated wood and things to consider when deciding to avail of it.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Floor restoration is expensive. This is why sometimes people opt to buy materials that are capable of hiding the flaws of their floors than to spend loads of money for its restoration. But with the development in building materials nowadays, there are available options at an affordable cost for homeowners and building occupants alike to still get that most wanted revamp. One is with installing laminate flooring Singapore building manufacturers offer. The following are the advantages of laminated wood and things to consider when deciding to avail of it.</p>
<p>One of the advantages of laminate flooring is its ease of installation. Unlike tiles, putting it in place is quite simple because there is no need for cement or grout anymore. Also, it seldom requires the use of nails. Some forms already come with self-adhesive glue attached to it, while others may need some wood glue.</p>
<p>Laminate flooring Singapore spaces are easy to maintain. It won&#8217;t necessitate any re-sanding or re-polishing at all to make it smooth and shiny because it is almost resistant to scratches. In fact, using a mop or dry cloth is enough to make it clean. Hence, homeowners may not need to buy costly cleaning agents for their floor.</p>
<p>Compared to hardwood, laminated wood planks are less costly. But this doesn&#8217;t mean that laminate flooring looks cheap. On the contrary, it appears to have that classy look and feel all hardwood floors evoke. Make sure though, that like rooms with wood flooring, it should pass the following quality standard tests: abrasion, thickness and swelling, stain-resistance, cigarette, fade-resistance, fire resistance, rollers- and castors-resistance and impact.</p>
<p>In conclusion, it is still the homeowners&#8217; knowledge on how to maintain wooden floors that will help them keep the wood in good condition. According to research, conducting regular maintenance can help keep the beauty of the wooden floor. But also remember the above-mentioned factors in deciding which specific supplier to choose.</p>
<p>When it comes to <a href="http://www.woodmate.com.sg">laminate flooring Singapore</a> homeowners still favor those materials made of wood. Visit this website to know more about the services that professional <a href="http://www.woodmate.com.sg">wooden floors Singapore</a> companies offer.</p>
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