HOME & GARDEN

Grow Strawberries in the Home Garden

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Growing Strawberries

Tips for a Successful Strawberry Garden

Strawberries are a small fruit that can be successfully grown in the home garden. With recent fuel and economic concerns, growing food at home has become important. Here is what you need to know about growing strawberry plants in your home garden.

When selecting a site for planting strawberries, it's important to avoid swampy soils and soils with poor drainage. The best soil to grow strawberries in would be a well-drained soil high in organic content with a good water-holding capacity. A sandy or otherwise quick drying soil can work provided you water often. Avoid growing strawberries in frost pockets to minimize spring frost injury to flowers.

Although strawberry plants can be planted any time during the growing season, spring is the best time to plant strawberries. With spring planting, the strawberry plants get planted during conditions that favor growth. The strawberry plants also have time to produce early runners. Studies have shown that daughter strawberry plants that develop earlier in the season fruit better the following year. A strawberry plant only fruits well for about the first two or three seasons, so plants that grow from strawberry plant runners are the future of your strawberry patch.

The best source of strawberry plants is from a reliable nursery. You want your strawberry plants to be healthy and disease free. Some nurseries sell strawberry plants in packs. Look for strawberry plants with white, healthy roots. Avoid plants with black or dark brown or soft roots. There are several varieties of strawberries; planting more than one variety of strawberry in the garden can extend the harvest. Avoid wild strawberry plants unless you are satisfied growing tiny fruit.

Although Strawberry plants grow best in soil with a pH of 6.0, they will tolerate a wide range of soil pH. When preparing the garden, add any compost, fertilizer, limestone, etc to the soil. A soil test can be purchased and used if you desire to know what your soil pH is.

When planting strawberry plants, care should be taken to improve the survival of the plants. In cases of bare root plants, avoid exposing the plant roots to the air for any length of time. Spread the roots out in the hole and fill the soil in around the roots. Root length of four to five inches is sufficient. Prune long roots rather than have them fold within the hole. Pack the soil lightly around the strawberry plants to eliminate air pockets. Planting depth of strawberries is so that all the roots are below the soil, yet the bud is above the soil. For plugs, loosen the roots that have begun to encircle the outside of the plug and be mindful of your planting depth. Be sure to water the transplanted strawberry plants after planting.

During the first year, take care to water the strawberry plants thoroughly to get them established. Times in which irrigation is important are in fall when the next season's fruiting buds are forming and in spring as the young fruit are developing.

Winter mulch is important in colder climates. Research has found that if the crowns of the strawberry plants are exposed to too much cold, yields can be impacted. A mulch of straw or pine needles is desirable. A good source of straw mulch is recycling the straw bales Garden centers sell as a Halloween decoration. Mulch should be three inches deep. Delay mulching as long as possible; yet make sure mulch is applied before night temperatures reach 20 degrees or below. Leaves can be used in a pinch, but are undesirable, as they tend to blow away or compact over the plants. Pull back mulch away from the crowns of strawberry plants in spring when growth begins. Mulch can be left around the strawberry plants provided the mulch is pulled back from the crowns. The benefit of doing this is the fruit will rest on the mulch, resulting in a cleaner, disease free fruit.

If there is danger of spring frost, floating row cover can be placed over the plants during the night as a protection. Other options include sheets, blankets, five-gallon pails, etc. Make sure these are removed the following morning after it has started to warm.

Harvest time is determined by fruit color. Strawberry fruits continue to grow until the fruit is fully red, delay harvest of firm strawberry varieties until fruit are completely red. It may be necessary to pick softer varieties a bit earlier, but in most cases, the fruit will be eaten immediately so this is not a concern for the home gardener. A half-inch to inch of stem should remain on the fruit to enhance preservation. Strawberries do not store well and should be eaten within a week.

Maintain your strawberry plants by removing any plants that are old and have declined production. Thin out daughter plants when they become too crowded. Daughter plants can be transplanted into a new patch or used to replace old strawberry plants. With the proper care, your strawberry patch will reward you for many years.

Sources:
Personal experience
Research (UConn cooperative extension system)

Mr. Dave, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Apr 30, 2009 "Contribute content like this. Start Here."

How to Find Great Free Home Improvement Catalogs

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 16:42:00 +0000

Home Improvement Catalog

With entire television networks and multiple magazines dedicated to home improvement, it's easy to see why home renovations are quickly becoming the fastest growing trend in North America.
Giant, big-box stores and smaller, specialty retailers are popping up all over and they all have their own catalogs. Whether you're planning a one-room design idea, pricing tile or working on an estimate for a total house overhaul, free home improvement catalogs are a great way to get inspiration and price points for every project. Keep reading for five tips on how to find the best home improvement catalogs and how you can use them to help plan your next project.
1. Call your favorite manufacturers.
If you love your best friend's new kitchen tile, ask who made it and call that company to request a copy of their latest catalog. They'll gladly send it out to you along with the contact information for a local sales representative.
2. Ask at your local hardware store.
Because company reps visit home renovation retailers, they often drop off piles of free catalogs that are chock full of product information, prices and design ideas. Simply ask your local store clerk if they have any catalogs that you could take home to browse through. They're happy to distribute them.
3. Search online.
Most manufacturers either make their full catalog available to browse online or they provide a simple order form that lets you request a mail-order copy of their free catalog right from your home office. You can also use the web to hunt down new companies and look for products you wouldn't normally try. Check home improvement and design blogs for ideas on manufacturers to investigate.
4. Attend a home improvement "show."
Attending a home improvement show or exposition is the best way to see a lot of products in one place and pick up hundreds of free home improvement catalogs. Most manufacturers set up booths with sales reps who can not only demo their available products, but also answer your questions. Their sales reps are happy to give out full catalogs along with their contact information for future sales.
5. Don't forget the specialists.
Some companies do absolutely everything. Others are highly specialized and may only make designer faucets or unique drawer pulls. When building your home improvement catalog collection, remember to include the specialists. Take the time to at least glance through a few home improvement catalogs. They are packed with great ideas they may sway your ultimate do-it-yourself project decision.

For information on practical home flooring recommendations, please visit [http://www.home-flooring-styles.com], a popular site providing great insights concerning help with floor renovation ideas, such as Armstrong Vinyl Flooring [http://www.home-flooring-styles.com/armstrong-vinyl-flooring.shtml], Mannington Flooring [http://www.home-flooring-styles.com/mannington-flooring.shtml], and many more!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Rutledge

Having Problems Choosing Plants For Your Garden? Hire a Garden Designer

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:03:00 +0000

Plants

If you are having problems choosing plants for your garden, why not hire a garden designer. They don't only design gardens in a purely planned and created layout way, they also know about plants; which will work best and which to avoid. They can help you choose the ones that will set off your garden to perfection, saving you time and money as well.
One of the most useful skills that a garden designer should have is the ability to listen to what the client has to say. They will listen attentively as you explain all your problems, all your wishes and all your hopes. Then they will discuss with you what is possible and what is not, what is likely to work best and what is best avoided.
Much of what can be done will depend on the site analysis. This is a comprehensive assessment of your garden that the designer will undertake. It will start with an accurate measurement of every element so that an accurate plan can be reproduced. Then the soil will be analysed to see what it can sustain and what it can't. Existing drainage conditions are also important, as well as how the light may affect certain areas. There may be little areas of micro-climates. These will also be noted.
Some things in the garden may work better if they are changed. The soil may be unsuitable for certain plants and may need enriching. The drainage may be unable to cope adequately with heavy rains and this could possibly present problems at certain times of the year. Large bushes or trees may be blocking light to parts of the garden and this may need to be addressed. Putting right all of these things and more is what you can expect to get when you hire a garden designer.
When it comes to knowing all about plants, this is where the designer should excel. They can save you a lot of time, frustration and money by knowing exactly what your garden will cope with best. All too often people have bought a cute looking plant only to discover that it stayed small when they expected it to grow big, or it grew huge and almost took over the garden when they thought it would stay small.
It's not only the knowledge of which plants to buy to work best for your garden that a designer can help you with. They can also advise on the best location in your garden where the plant will flourish and be unrestricted. This is not always obvious to the keen amateur gardener as there are so many factors to take into account, and every garden is different.
When you hire a garden designer you will also be buying into their expert knowledge of buying plants. They will know where to get the best deals in terms of quality, as well as in terms of price. Their skills will save you time and money and give you precious peace of mind too.

David A Robinson
Help and information about garden design in Aberdeen.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_A_Robinson

7 Types of Decoration/Techniques on Glass

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Decoration

1. Cutting
Glass is usually cut with a glass cutter, which controls the breaking of glass. But sometimes smaller glass can be cut by hand. Cut facets reflect light and create sparkle for special effect.
2. Enamelling
This method of painting on glass was popularized in 15th century Venice. Powdered glass was fused to a substrate by firing. This powder is hardened to a smooth coating when put on glass.
3. Gilding
Metals such as gold, silver, or bronze decoration are added to glass by firing gold onto a glass surface. This method was used by ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
4. Etching
Usually used on clear glass; acidic, caustic, or abrasive substances are applied on the surface of glass after the glass is blown or cast. It is essentially a process of dissolving glass with acid. This type of decoration goes not deep into the surface of the glass. Areas of glass that would not be decorated are protected using grease, wax, varnish, or tar. Then, unprotected areas are decorated with acid such as hydrofluoric acid for a frosted look. The longer the acid is left on the surface, the deeper the etching is. Afterwards, hot water is used to remove the residuals.
Originally, artists had to handle each piece separately, but later a way to mass-produce etched glass was developed. The artist would scribe the design on a steel plate, and the plate could be used over and over again.
5. Engraving
This method began around the 16th century. Tools such as diamond or hard metal were used to scratch the surface of the glass. However, at the time the method was limited since the artist could not make deep cuts or wide scratches; only surface decorations could be made. Later, kick-wheel spindle tools were used as a cutting device, in which abrasive liquid cut the glass.
6. Battuto
This means "beating" in Italian, and is a style of wheel-cutting. The surface is cut to produce innumerable small irregular markings running in the same direction.
7. Slumping
This is shaping glass by allowing it to sag through its own weight into or over a form during heating in a kiln.

Find out more about hand blown glass bowls, paperweights, and vases at Mirakkul Glassware. These products are owned by the nation's leading museums, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Corning Museum. Each piece is signed, dated, and registered to verify its authenticity, protecting its value for the future.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Milena_MJ_Kim

Better Homes and Gardens Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (the.denzo) — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:23:00 +0000

Homes Gardens

Today, "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine is one of the most popular home magazines sold. For years it has been showing people everything from how to get clutter out of a house to which plants can be grown in doors. It also has shown countless recipes and quick-fix meals. Various crafts have also been show cased.
History
This magazine actually started off under the title of "Fruit, Garden and Home" in 1922, and was published by the Meredith Corporation. This was a family and home service magazine. Then in 1924 the name was changed to "Better Homes and Gardens". When it first hit the newsstands one could buy it for $.10 a copy. The price for a subscription for a year was only $.35
Several years later in 1930 to be exact, a cookbook under the same name of the magazine was published. Building Ideas was published as a special interest publication under "Better Homes and Gardens" in 1937.
Then in 1978 a real estate service was launched under the Better Homes and Gardens name. Also the Australian version of the magazine was published. A quilting magazine under the Better Homes and Gardens name came out in 1993 offering even more information for people on home activities.
Circulation
The latest circulation figure for this magazine is a whopping 7,688,000 people. Now that is quite a following!
Content
Since early in the publication of the magazine the content has been based on the home and its garden areas. Included in the topics for the home have even been craft ideas people can make on their own. Also various ideas on home décor have been included to help one decorate their house. Tips on planting seeds and taking care of plants are even included in one current issue of this magazine.
From a 1940's information on how easy ironing was then to January 2010 article on how to cut down the clutter in the house among other things, this magazine strives to be of help to people. This magazine has had recipes on various items from cookies to bread puddings.
The recipes are all kitchen tested to make sure they work. This magazine has offered even a food guide in the past. It is quite a job to plan meals for a family and magazines like this one make the job much easier.
In the July 1963 issue had an article "How to Stay Young and Look Great". It seems like the public does not change in what they need to read since many articles are written today on that same subject. In 1965 an issue came out showcasing which campers were the latest on the market.
Where to Buy
The Better Homes and Garden magazines are sold in most bookstores that carry magazines, grocery stores, drugstores, and on a home subscription basis. The subscription price today is $5.99 a year with 12 issues. That is only $.50 a piece. In stores the price is $3.99 an issue in the USA. You can also order a Better Homes And Gardens magazine subscription online.

Graeme Olsen is a senior contributor at Magazine Central, specialising in magazine subscription circulation and orders.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Graeme_I_Olsen