1. It uses less water. Depending on the conditions, drip irrigation can save 25% to 70% on water usage. This is because the water is not thrown up into the hot, dry air but slowly drips out underground at the plants’ root zone.
2. It reduces fungal diseases. Supplying water to the root zone decreases the amount of moisture reaching the leaf surface. If you grow plants susceptible to fungal diseases, such as roses (which get black spot), you will appreciate this feature.
3. You don’t need to move a drip irrigation system every 30 minutes. One of the frustrations of using a conventional sprinkler is the need to frequently move it around.
4. You know the water is getting to the plants. Overhead sprinklers allow water to puddle in some areas and cause dry spots to form in others. Drip irrigation brings the water directly to the roots of the plants you are growing.
5. It increases yields. Plants are often stunted or set back by infrequent or insufficient waterings. Drip irrigation brings the water right to the roots and supplies it at a rate slow enough for plants to make full use of it, preventing the drought cycle that sprinkler-fed plants often endure.
6. It is economical. Consider the savings in water, the increased yields, fewer dead plants, etc.
7. A drip system doesn’t prevent you from working in, or just enjoying, your lawn or garden while you are watering it.
8. By adding an in-line fertilizer, you can fertilize and water at the same time. Another work saver.
9. By adding a timer, the watering will be fully automatic. With this clever combination you almost never need to think about watering again.
10. It can be installed anywhere. No matter what the situation – raised bed, row garden, borders, or lawn area – drip irrigation is the most logical choice in watering.

Article is courtesy of Lee Valley Tools Ltd.

For more information on drip irrigation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drip_Irrigation

It wasn’t too long ago that rain barrels next to the side of a house or barn were common sights. During current times of environmental concern, they should be there again. There were never any good reasons to do away with them in the first place. Perhaps people thought that they were no longer needed when houses started being equipped with running water. Not having a rain barrel let other people know that you had achieved a certain status in the community. Or, maybe the wooden barrels used were considered eyesores. For whatever reason, not keeping the rain barrel was senseless.

Rainwater is the best water you can give your plants. It isn’t chemically modified (like your municipal tap water), it’s free and it’s always at the right temperature.

Collecting rainwater is quite simple. Although you can set buckets under your downspouts to catch the rain as it comes down, a rain barrel connected to your downspout is a much easier solution. And, for when it really pours (or if you want to catch every last drop of a rainfall), you can connect several barrels together. As one barrel gets full, excess rainwater will spill into the next barrel.

By saving rainwater for a sunny day, not only will you be protecting your garden from a potential summer drought, you will also ensure that your plants are getting the best possible water.

Article is courtesy of Lee Valley Tools Ltd.

Discuss your garden plans in Central Roost’s Gardening & Landscaping Forum

When seeding, select a blend of grass seed that is suitable to your region and climate. Consider using alternatives, such as ground covers, where grass is underperforming. Adjust the height of the mower blades based on the conditions - higher in the dry season, lower when it’s rainier. Cut only the top third of the grass blades and leave the clippings where they fall to provide a layer of mulch that will slow water evaporation, choke out weeds, and provide a dose of nitrogen. This will not only promote deeper roots, which help retain moisture and nutrients, but will also help maintain density, which plays a role in keeping diseases and weeds at bay. To maximize water retention in the soil and prevent water run-off, aerate your lawn in the spring and fall.

If you must water your lawn, use rain gauges to help measure the amount of water your lawn is receiving. In general, a lawn requires about one inch of water a week. Ideally, the water should be applied slowly so that it soaks down to about one foot in the soil. Frequent light waterings should be avoided, since they encourage shallow roots and render them susceptible to drying out.

Published Courtesy of Lee Valley Tools Ltd., www.leevalley.com

Look for the latest trends in decorating accessories including shells and coral in black, white and red. Also check out the their unique collection of candle holders and vases in black, white and silver.

For more store information go to www.homewerx.ca.

For most areas in northeast North America, use the following schedule as a general guide to common garden chores (west coast and southern gardeners should adjust it according to climatic differences).

January (All outdoor plants dormant)

• Plan garden
• Order seeds and propagation equipment
• Prude shade trees
• Start slow-germinating seeds indoors
• Inspect bulbs in storage

February (All outdoor plants dormant)

• Sharpen pruning shears and loppers in storage
• Prune shade trees
• Start seeds indoors

March (Some growth starts outdoors towards end of month)

• Prune fruit trees/shrubs
• Apply dormant oil spray
• Examine gardening tools; fix, sharpen and replace as necessary

April

• Dig over and prepare growing beds for planting
• Rake lawn
• Seed bare patches
• Fertilize lawn with a slow-release fertilizer
• Plant bareroot trees and shrubs
• Start lawn mowing toward end of month
• Remove protective cover from roses and prune them
• Plant perennials
• Plant peas, oninions, leeks, sweet peas, lettuce, radish, chervil, Swiss chard,
• spinach and chives outdoors
• Plant asparagus and rhubarb
• Start to build a compost pile

May

• Set out annuals
• Plant container-grown plants
• Mow lawn weekly
• Fertilize and mulch beds; apply manure or compost to growing areas
• Dust roses
• Seed new lawns
• Plant perennials and summer flowering bulbs
• Plant evergreen hedges
• Set out brassica crops (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.)
• When danger of frost is past, plant and sow frost-tender vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans and corn
• Weed growing areas weekly or biweekly, as needed

June

• Mow lawn weekly
• Fertilize and mulch beds
• Prune evergreens
• Spot kill or dig persistent lawn weeds
• Support tall perennials as needed
• Prune spring-flowering shrubs to remove dead flower heads
• Thin vegetable garden
• Plant successive crops (lettuce, carrots, beans, etc)
• Pinch chrysanthemums to force lower growth
• Weed growing areas as needed
• Dust roses

July

• Mow lawn weekly or as needed; cut no shorter than 2″
• Water growing beds during dry periods
• After fruiting, prune rasberry canes
• Stake tall perennials such as delphinium and peony
• Dust roses

August

• Prune climbing roses
• Seed new lawns toward end of month
• Sow fall vegetables (radish, spinach, lettuce, etc.)
• Mow lawn weekly or as needed; cut no shorter than 2″ in hot weather
• Remove sucker growth from weeping grafted trees
• Harvest vegetables

September (First light frosts)

• Plant spring-flowering bulbs and perennials
• Mow lawn weekly or as needed
• Harvest vegetables
• Divide perennials if needed
• Compost frost-killed annuals
• Apply fall fertilizer to lawn
• Aerate lawn

October (First heavy frosts)

• Dig and store frost-tender summer-flowering bulbs
• Plant trees, shrubs and spring-flowering bulbs
• Dig over vegetable and annual beds
• Water evergreens liberally until freeze-up to prevent winter sun scalding
• Rake leaves

November (All plants dormat)

• Mound rose bushes with soil to protect from freeze thaw cycles
• Wrap evergreens to protect from wind, sun and snow damage
• Clean and oil hand tools before storage; rub wooden handles with tung oil
• Drain hoses and sprinklers; store in shed or basement

December (All plants dormat)

• Rest

Article is courtesy of Lee Valley Tools Ltd.

Discuss your garden plans in Central Roost’s Gardening & Landscaping Discussion Forum.

Write on the wall
Choose from their selection of standard words and quotes or create your own. Write on the Wall’s vinyl letters will adhere to any smooth or lightly textured surface and can be removed without difficulty. Visit their website for a complete catalog or for more information, call toll free at 1-866-95WRITE. 

Wall Talk
Wall Talk’s pre-spaced and pre-cut adhesive words and quotes can be applied to any flat, smooth or lightly textured surface (walls, mirrors, glass etc). The lettering take minutes to apply and is removable. Wall Talk’s product line also includes ‘Baby Talk‘ a collection of words and quotes specifically for children’s playrooms, bedrooms, toyboxes and more. Check out their website for more information and a full list of retailers in Canada and the US. Cost: $24.98 Cdn per quote or $7.98 Cdn per word.

To find out where to buy visit www.presidentschoice.ca.

Recycled cardboard vases from Card Board Design, $60 US each.

Bamboo serving bowls from Mangoleaf come in various colours and sizes. Large $31, small $21 CAD each.

Environmentally friendly, “spalder alder” vases and tealight holders. The wood comes from trees that have fallen naturally and is aged up to three years in the elements to enhance grain and colour. $26 CAD each, Flavour Design.

Furniture by Vancouver-based artist, Brent Comber is made from reclaimed or recycled wood. For more designs and prices visit www.brentcomber.com.

]]> http://www.centralroost.com/lcblog/2007/02/04/trendy-eco-decor/feed/ http://www.centralroost.com/lcblog/2007/01/29/decorate-with-sola-balls/ http://www.centralroost.com/lcblog/2007/01/29/decorate-with-sola-balls/#comments Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:32:50 +0000 macsterhome Decoratingdecorative accentsEco DecorSola Balls http://www.centralroost.com/lcblog/2007/01/29/decorate-with-sola-balls/ Try ‘Sola Balls’ for a natural, eyecatching, decorative accent. These balls are made from sola wood, a paper like product derived from the tapioca plant.
Sola wood can be treated for craft purposes and is used to create a variety of attractive accessories and pieces of art.
Deal spotted: You can buy a package of 14 from Superstore for approximate $5.00.

Cleaning tips:

- Remove and clean grease filters by soaking them in hot water with some mild detergent.

- Rinse and dry the filters before replacing.

- Do not place the filters in the dishwasher or use corrosive cleaning agents (eg. lye-based oven cleaners).

- Always check your manufacturers guide for cleaning instructions and information on how to properly remove your filter.

Charcoal filters
Microwave hood combinations that are installed to recirculate air should have a charcoal filter. Charcoal filters cannot be cleaned and should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.