One of the most hazardous things that can happen to your plants is extreme weather. Lots of garden have been demolished overnight because of this phenomenon. And seemingly, there is nothing we can do to prevent it. Of course, if weather didn’t exist at all then we wouldn’t have those wonderful sunny days that are beneficial to the growth of our plants. But then again, we wouldn’t have the tragic hailstorms that tear down everything we’ve worked for so many hours to grow.

When rain starts to fall, generally the first reaction in a gardener is purejoy. After all, this means you don’t have to worry about going out and watering it manually. The natural rain fall can’t be anything but good forall your thirsty plants, can it? Well, once that same gardener starts to see the gorgeous rain drops turn into small globules of ice, generally a complete emotional breakdown is in order. I know this from experience, because when I was a blooming gardener I had my garden completely demolished by about 10 minutes of severe hail.

When I first learned my lesson on the damage hail can do, I quickly came up with a method of coping. I started to keep large clay pots within 10 feet of my garden, so that at any sign of hail I could run outside and have the plants sheltered in a matter of seconds. This saved me from being forced to watch my plants be ripped to pieces on multiple occasions. I’ve never dealt with hail more than an inch in diameter, but I’m guessing that if there had been any baseball sized chunks then those pots would have been quickly demolished.

But, as the number of fragile plants in my garden grew, it became slightly impractical to have a pot for each plant, and run outside to place each one before significant damage had already occurred. After much thought, I ended up building a horizontal, retractable screen mechanism made out of a strong but flexible wire mesh. At any sign of rain I could pull the screen out over my entire garden and have instant protection. Not only did it let the rain through, but the collected hail provided a steady drip of water for as much as a day afterwards. This project cost me several hundred dollars, and more blood, sweat, and tears than can be measured with earth dollars. Therefore I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone.

If it’s too late for you, and you’ve recently lost your precious plants to those wicked balls of ice, then you’re probably looking for some way to help the plants recover. Unfortunately there aren’t many choices for you. The best thing you can do is give them the tender care they deserve, and attempt to nurse them back to health over a long period of time. The several weeks after being severely damaged by hail are vital to whether the plant survives or not. If you expect more rain or wind, you should keep the plant covered. In this brittle stage, even raindrops or a strong breeze could create more damage.

So if you live in an area that experiences frequent hail, you should definitely have some emergency plan for protecting your plants. Sitting by and watching them be ripped to shreds should never be an option!

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building a pergola
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Having a pergola in the backyard creates not only a focal point but it is a great place to relax or entertain family and friends. And they don’t have to cost thousands of even many hundreds of dollars. And of course you are adding value to your home.

Everyone who wants to be green is into composting these days. But there are different ways of doing it besides a big bin in your backyard. There is more than one way to make organic fertilizer for your home.

Worm composting is a method of recycling food waste and organic materials into compost with the use of worms. This worm compost is called “vermicompost.” Worms feed off of scraps of food and leftovers, which turns into compost as it passes through the worm’s body. This compost can then be used as soil or fertilizer for growing your plants. The reason the vermicompost is so good for plants is because the worms have been eating vegetable and fruit scraps that are rich in nutrients. This is then turned into compost very high in nutrients. Isn’t gardening fun?

Starting your own worm bin in the garden is relatively easy. Many people choose to build their own worm bin for worm composting and gardening. The main three ingredients you’ll need are the worms, a box and moist strips of newspaper. In order for your worm bin and worm composting to be successful, you have to provide the worms with what they need, which is air, darkness, moisture, food, and warm temperature. Make sure the temperature is warm, but not hot. The purpose of the newspaper or also leaves is to provide them with moisture and the necessary air spaces. The most common worms for worm composting are red wigglers and red worms. If you order them on your own, the scientific names are Lumbricus rubellus and Eisenia foetida. Otherwise, you may choose to get them from a worm farm.

Worms have been working hard making compost for years, only doing it on their own. Starting a worm bin of your own is just completing the cycle and stimulating the worm to do what it normally does anyways. The only difference is that you’ll be feeding them specific foods that they require and are better for worm composting. Although they’ll eat any type of organic matter, there are certain foods that are better for the worms being used in a worm bin for worm composting.

The most recommended foods for the worms are raw fruit and vegetable scraps. There are myths that people believe stating that any kind of leftover scraps are good, but this is not true. Try to avoid giving them oily or buttery cooked foods as they may attract pests. Foods like dairy products, oils or meats should also be avoided as they also can attract pests and will take longer to break down. Also avoid citrus fruits because of their acidity and ability to attract fruit flies. Onions and broccoli have a strong odor and should be avoided. Use a wide variety of foods if possible, with vegetables being the best. The more vegetable matter you use, the better your worm bin will be.

A nice size worm bin for starting is 24 “x 18″ x 8″ and should be more shallow than deep. The red wigglers enjoy living on the top few inches of the soil. You can choose a glass, wooden or plastic container. Wooden bins should be lined with plastic and covered with a lid, that fits loosely and has holes to allow in air. The more time that goes by, the less lining you’ll have in your bin and the more compost you’ll have as these little worms will work tirelessly eating their bedding. Harvesting (removing) your compost from the bin can take place in about 5 months. You can remove the compost and store it until it’s ready to use or use it immediately and start a new compost bin with the worms you’ve left behind. For more information visit Texas lawn care services.

The original square foot unit is 4×4ft, 16 sq ft, which can supply one person with vegetables and salads.

When I made mine I made raised beds and made them 36 “wide and since there were 6 of us I had to make two 3 ft. wide by 24 ft. long with a 20” path between them. Now if I had to do it over again I would make them 24” wide and do the math for the length. At this writing we are down to only two of us and one of them is not a gardener.

When I put the first square foot gardens in we removed the lawn and tilled the ground which is mostly red clay where we live so we had to modify that with top soil that we had hauled in and organic matter.

Then I read that about putting down old carpet between the beds.

I suggest plain mulch. Even today’s cardboards and especially newspapers have a lot of chemicals in them and on them. We could get wood chip mulch for free from out local lumber mill at that time.

If you are starting from scratch you will need a good layer of top soil and organic compost and we put about 10-12 inches in our raised beds. Here again we used the “double digging” method for our beds.

At this point our beds became pretty high and with the sloping down of the sides we were reducing our growing area, so we made wooden sides for our beds and that allowed us to put up trellises or growing hoops where needed.

Do not use pressure treated lumber. We were able to get some good boards from our local Amish lumber mill. Plus because we were also building a house and stuff was being delivered on pallets we were able to salvage the wood from the pallets.

We had a good crop that summer. However, in the following spring we noticed our raised beds had settled and we had to add another 5-6 inches of dirt to them. We also used seaweed emulsion as an additive.

The years have flown by and it is now almost 9 years later. We no longer need all those beds as I said there are just 2 of us now.

The container method is good for the urban gardener who wants to do square foot gardening.

For the info about heirloom organic seeds and organic gardening tip - read the heirloom organic seeds blog.

Dog breeds of all shapes and sizes and from all fitness levels can enjoy and benefit from several types of dog sports. Whether you have a toy breed or one that needs a little push in order to get motivated, you can get your dog involved in one of several types of canine sports.

Dogs enjoy the freedom and challenge of the sport, while the owners gain an opportunity to create a stronger bond with their canine pals.

Taking part in sports and dog competitions is fun for both dogs and their owners. Once you’ve determined on the sport, find out what the requirements are to enter the competition. Next, you need to find an instructor who can guide you through the process or help you get more information. The trainer may be able to refer you to an association or club that can help you pick the sport that best suits your dog.

You will want to take a look at these dog apparel

You will need to be taught how to utilize your dog’s skills and abilities as well as how to handle them in these sporting events. You have to realize that training means having patience and not getting angry at your dog. Just like you, your dog is learning something new and needs tender loving care, not anger and harsh scoldings! The trainer should be current as well on new and modern methods and should be able to teach them to you and your dog effectively! If you are new to Dog Sports; a novice you will want to observe some key factors.

For all the novices out there who are new to training with your dog for a specific dog sporting event, there are some key factors you must understand before beginning your training regimen.

The number one issue that comes up in the majority of dog owners who are new to dog sports is becoming overly frustrated when trying to teach dogs a new skill. It is important to remember that positive training is always the number one solution to your goals. Avoid getting angry and do not sweat the small stuff, especially when you and your dog are both learning something new together.

Do you need a great deal on a wide variety of dog products.

Always remember that you have a choice in changing the sport if you see that your dog is not learning or enjoying himself. For example, if you start training for fly ball, and your dog is having a hard time by dropping the ball repeatedly, perhaps it’s time to consider teaching him disc dog or agility instead.

Spend as much time possible at teaching your dog. I realize that this sounds like a simple, common sense tip, but many people overlook it. The more time you spend with your dog, the more fun you’ll have, and the better he will perform.

Keep training for the specific sport of your choice fun for your dog. Use plenty of toys and dog treats, along with an abundance of praise and affection. Your goal is to motivate your dog to accomplish each small task for the sporting event you are training for. In time, he will be ready to rock ‘n roll and both of you can then take your chances at the next sporting event.

Be sure to view this pet carrier.

All my kids talk about getting every year for Christmas is video games if they don’t go downstairs and find Gears of War 2 under our new white flocked christmas tree I do not know how they will survive. This drives me a little crazy since I like to encourage my kids to go outside. I would much rather give them a pair of new skates or golf clubs then some mind numbing thing that will enchant them in front of the television. Alas, I suppose boys will be boys. Arguing with the boys over “appropriate” lengths of time is just too much work.

After saying that I guess I should get to the point that I’ve developed a few ways to control their television addiction. I do a couple of things in an effort to force them outside. First off I limit their time every day to one hour (they can earn more). I find placing a limit is important because then they know that anything above that is a privilege. To be more fair I’ve allowed them some methods of earning more television time. That leads me to talk about trick number two. They can get more television time by either doing chores or spending time outside. I like the chores option because it is nice for me to have a few less things to do, and the reward for them isn’t bad either. I set it up so it ends with one hour of chores earning one hour of television time.

The number two way they get more television time is by spending some of their time outside. When they go outside and play nice I allow them 15 minutes of gaming to every hour of outside time. I know that it isn’t a huge payoff for the boys, but they like being outside and I do not think it’s a lot for me to ask of them. That option works the best of their long Saturdays where they spend the majority of the day outside anyway. They spend all day outside on Saturdays and earn themselves a couple of hours in front of the television. Realistically a night of playing games and watching movies isn’t so bad after a full day outside.

That being said I’m ok with one or two ending up under flocked christmas tree this year , that is if it allows for the positives of getting the boys outside and making them a little more obedient. They had better like the games they’re getting, because I know I’ll like my “gift” of one more thing to use “against” my boys.

Have you ever thought it would be fun to make your own soap? If so, you’re definitely not alone. Believe it or not, soap making is both a thriving hobby as well as a lucrative business opportunity for a growing number of people.

Soap making enthusiasts enjoy making their own soap because it makes a unique and thoughtful gift. For holiday gift giving or special occasions, nothing tells someone how special they are quite like something you’ve made yourself.

Another popular reason people like to make their own soap is to control the ingredients put into the recipe. More to the point, these folks probably want something kept out of the soap they use. Whether due to allergies or simply wanting to keep their lives as simple and pure as possible, soap making continues to be a growing trend.

Still another great reason to make your own soap is the money you’ll save if you like to have fancy soaps available around the home. You can make decorative shaped soaps of every fragrance imaginable for a fraction of what a retail outlet would charge.

As far as the money making side of soap making, the profit margins can be quite high as you might imagine. In addition, the amount consumers are willing to pay for quality soap that is free of harmful chemicals and impurities is growing all the time due to increased awareness and concerns about the environment. Soaps make great gifts too and when packaged attractively sell extremely well. Needless to say, if you know what you’re doing, profits can be significant in a soap making enterprise - even if it starts right at your kitchen table!

Soapmaking can be as simple or as difficult as you make it. It all starts with the right recipe, ingredients and supplies. Longer ingredient lists combined with specialized soaps usually mean you’ll need some advanced soap making skills.

However, basic soap making recipes are perfect for the beginner and are the best place to start. If you want to learn to make your own soap, do it right by getting some expert advice first. A number of guides are available and they will save you hours of time trying to figure everything out on your own.

If you are trying hard to search a name for your baby, I am sure you must be pretty exhausted by now. You and your spouse are just not able to have compromise on a single name. This is the reason we have made it easier for you by listing some of the top selected names of babies. This list will surely help you finding the best possible name for your lovely child. Also, if someone from your colleagues is trying to get a new name after legal procedure, this list may help him find the suitable name for him or her.

First, here is a list of some top baby boy naming-

CAFLICE- brave- anglo
CAI- variants of Kay, Arthur’s brother- arthurian
CAILEAN- child- gaelic
CAIN- possessed- hebrew
CAINDALE- from the clear river valley- english
CALAIS- myth name (son of Boreas)- greek
CALCHAS- myth name (a seer)- greek

If you have given birth to a beautiful baby girl, here is the list of girl names meanings from which you can select a nice name for your beloved-

CAITLIN - pure (Greek)
CALA - castle (Arabic)
CALANDRA - lark (Greek)
CALANDRE - lark (French)
CALANTHA - lovely blossom (Greek)
CALANTHE - beautiful flower (French)
CALIDA - the most beautiful (Greek)

The children, who have so much understanding parents like you, will never think of changing their names after they get older. Let your child enjoy his societal interaction with good name.

Selecting a proper method of irrigation plays a crucial role in keeping your garden greener and healthier. It is true that not only over water supply but also inadequate supply both slow down the growth of your vegetation you irrigate.

What sorts of garden plants you have and the size of garden can determine your irrigation choice. This will help you choose the irrigation supplies you will want for building your irrigation system. You can consult a veteran gardener or even make online search for getting relevant information if you have confusion of choosing apt watering system.

Drip Irrigation Watering Technique

Water is so precious that one cannot simply afford to overuse aimlessly. Suppose you have dissimilar types of plantation in your garden, then drip irrigation can really be helpful. This irrigation system involves watering in a unique way. It offer water drips in uniform manner with the help of emitters and avoids waste of water.

The most important benefit of this watering technique is it facilitates evaporation of water. It can offer the reduction of the level of water usage and you can contribute to water conservation. Drip irrigation supplies can be useful to you water. This drip irrigation can save your time that is being wasted in manual process of watering with using a water hose.

Where Sprinklers Can Work Better

Drip irrigation system fails to cover the vast range of garden lawns while watering. You therefore need to use sprinklers to irrigate your garden lawn. The overhead types of lawn sprinklers are easy to install and maintain and therefore and popular these days.

Through pipe, sprinklers throw water over the lawn area in haphazard manner. Thus water gets sprayed in small drops and your entire targeted area gets irrigated. For achieving water conservation, prepare and install the best sprinkler system in your garden.

Lawn sprinklers are also available with advanced automatic functions for easy operation. Also you can regulate them realizing the moisture level in the soil. Thus knowing your watering requirements, lawn & irrigation sprinklers are easily adjusted and customized.

Lawn Sprinkler System: Installing on Your Own

Designing a sprinkler system involves few procedures to follow. So fist of all, Spray Pop-ups are required. For controlling the spray direction, they are useful. Besides this, they facilitate a clog free inlet.

For making ease your pop-installation, you can use Swing Joints which are flexible. There are leak tight swivel joints that can simplify you pop-up installation in different areas of your garden.

There days, Floppy Sprinklers are utilized to maintain garden lawns effective manner. For water distribution purpose, you can put them on an aluminum stand because of their light weight.

Use couplers to assemble and replace floppy sprinkler easily and quickly. As couplers are made of plastic, they have chemical and weather resistance.

The entire installation process of suitable irrigation system its appropriate use will certainly give you great many benefits to maintain your garden green.

I have a niece who is 15 years old. She’s a delightful young lady and we love her dearly, but when it comes to Christmas gift ideas, she is difficult to shop for. I also have a daughter who will soon be 13. As I start working on my Christmas list I like to add unique gift ideas for her. I find that it is difficult to come up with ideas for a pre-teen. Yes, I was once a teenager, but it was so long ago. And yes, some of the styles that were popular when I was a teen are now coming back in vogue. But that’s kind of frightening!

Teenage girls are no longer interested in dolls and toys (at least they won’t admit to it). The toys they are now interested in are technological gadgets such as MP3 Players and cell phones. Buying my niece a cell phone is out of the question, as my budget and her parents would not allow it. But teen girls love accessories, even for their gadgets. So cell phone holders or other small purses designed to carry them securely is generally a safe bet. Also I’ve found that tote purses personalized with their initials or name are also items they enjoy.

Of course, it’s all about “the look” for teens. For some teenage girls, “the look” is something akin to Hannah Montana. But for others, they wouldn’t be reel in horror over such fashion choices. So, you have to be aware of her personal taste so you don’t offend. Jewelry is always welcome (remember, teen girls love accessories). There are so many choices. There’s casual jewelry for the girl who hates to dress up, there’s elegant silver jewelry for the more particular teen, and everything in between and much of the personalized or engraved jewelry is quite nice. A precious locket or even a beaded bracelet can become treasured keepsakes. If you’re not comfortable giving her jewelry, consider a jewelry box or a quilted jewelry roll up.

Make-up is a new and an for young teens. Many girls love to collect eye shadows and lipsticks in every color of the rainbow and spend hours applying it. While giving a gift of make-up is a bit personal, consider giving her a cute cosmetic bag or two to keep it all organized and tidy. Cosmetic cases come in everything from a purse size to the size of suitcases.

While at times it seems that pleasing a teen girl is the ultimate challenge, finding her a meaningful gift doesn’t have to be difficult. Taking a moment to consider her new lifestyle and interests will lead you to a great choice.

There are several things that impact waste management resources. You are the biggest impact of all and without you the environmental services they provide would simply not exist. They rely on you, the customer, to do your part to participate in their waste reduction. You would not want to let them down, would you? After all, this is your home and your Earth that you are currently residing on unless you shuttle to Mars on a daily basis.

Waste in cities and towns across the globe continues to pile up. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only thirty-two point five percent of people are now recycling more waste than ever before, which means a very large number of people don’t bother. Household hazardous waste pollutes the environment and continues to destroy our precious ecosystem. But you do not throw recyclables in with your regular trash, do you? Good, because that would mean you are not doing your civic duty.

solid waste management
Waste management is about taking care of your duties to the Earth. You have to be aware of how much garbage is going into your area landfills and instead place your recyclables with recycling services. It is about recycling plastic materials, keeping paper products out of landfills and taking part in recycling aluminum cans and glass bottles as frequently as possible.

You probably also buy products that contain recycled materials because that is the type of great environmentalist that you are. You know that by buying recycled goods you are perpetuating the cycle of recycling. From the road that you drive on to the paper that you use to write letters, these products may contain materials that have been recycled; so you are doing a great service. Congratulations on doing your part to help save the environment and keeping waste that can be reused out of our landfill sites.

waste disposal
Should you be swayed by a guilt trip? In this case the answer is “Yes!” [/spin]Recycling begins at home and it is each person’s duty to the environment to help protect Earth in any way they can. |But you should really consider getting your act together and taking part in waste management. |It all begins at home and is remarkably easy to do. Waste management can only be successful if everyone complies.[/spin] Do your part in solid waste management by recycling your recyclables. At first it may seem a hassle but before long you will be able to do it with your eyes closed.