Easy Composting with Black Garbage bags

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Sep 292010
 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, yard waste such as leaves accounted for more than 13 percent of the 250 million tons of garbage that Americans put in landfills in 2008. Just think of the impact that has on landfills and townships collecting leaves and disposing of them.

An environmentally friendly and garden friendly was to clean your yard of leaves is to use a black bag composting method. I use this method when I am in a hurry and want to collect leaves and forget about them until spring.

All you need are black garbage bags and a place to set them until spring. I will often set them in a place where I might want to put in a new garden the following year – if its out of site and not in the front yard! Along a garage or by a storage shed or woodpile is also a good location.

Why black garbage bags? They will attract and hold heat from the sun helping the leaves to compost faster.

First rake the yard and fill the black bags with leaves. Add a little water and close them with tie wraps. If you have grass clipping you light want to mix some of them in. Place them in an out of the way place and ignore until spring.

In the spring check the leaves to see how they are breaking down. You may want to add grass clipping or straw if you have it. I lightly sprinkle the leave mix and seal it up.

Usually by march the leaves have broken down and can be used in gardens or added t o compost and stirred in. I use the leaf compost around new shrubs or perennials. Its a cheap green gardening technique for your home and garden areas.

One thing that will also help leaves to break down quicker is if they have been mowed. By mowing the leaves you break them into smaller pieces that will decompose at a quicker rate.

Composting by black garbage bags works well in towns and suburban areas where you might not be able to set up a composting bin. They can be easily moved and tucked into small spaces. And within a few months you will have a rich soil mix to add to the soil.

Posted by Denise at 7:48 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

How to Create a Tutti-Fruity Herb Garden

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Sep 282010
 

One of the more entertaining backyard activities is introducing your child to gardening. Herbs are easy to grow, have many unique characteristics and will get your child asking questions abut gardening and what herbs are.

One fun and different child’s  garden is a tutti fruity herb garden. All the herbs will smell like their favorite fruits or candy. A tutti-fruity herb garden will introduce the child to the idea of growing an aromatic herb garden and that gardening can be fun. Be sure to explain to your child that these herbs are for smelling only and that no one should ever eat anything in the garden without asking an adult first. This even pertains to vegetables. Your children should know not to eat anything that they haven’t shown you first.

You can make a day out of creating a tutti-fruity herb garden by taking them to your local gardening center or greenhouse and letting them select a few of their favorite scents. You may want to include a few soft and touchable herbs for more color and interest.

Good plants to let children try are pineapple sage, lemon balm, or any of the scented geraniums. Scented geraniums come in scents like apricot, lime, orange, and strawberry. Children also enjoy plants in the mint family, especially peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint. Chocolate mint is a favorite for children of all ages!

A few other positive points in herb gardening is that they take little small, grow well in containers and can be grown indoor and all year long if your child enjoys growing plants.  They will also make a great windowsill garden or hanging basket garden.

Letting your child grow his or her own herb garden is a fun way to learn about nature, gardening, and cooking. It will also give your child a sense of accomplishment, create curiosity about nature and boost self-esteem. Gardening is a wonderful hobby that you and your children and enjoy for years to come and have fond memories of summer, gardens and growing experiences.

Posted by Denise at 10:05 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,

Safety tips for Raking Leaves

 landscaping  No Responses »
Sep 252010
 

It may seem strange but a simple job such as raking leaves can cause numerous injuries if you don’t think ahead and plan accordingly Date collected by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2004, discovered more than 12,000 Americans were seen for injuries related to raking leaves. Most injuries were minor, but a few were life threatening.

So here are tips for raking leaves that will create a safe backyard project.

  • Warm up for raking by walking and stretching you muscles.
  • Rake in the morning, evening or on a cloudy day. If you are raking on a sunny day wear sunscreen and have water and a comfortable chair nearby.
  • Avoid injuries by wearing gloves to protect your hands from blisters and slivers from the rake handle.
  • Wear skid-resistant shoes to prevent falls. Wet leaves can be very slippery, particularly on a hillside.
  • Always bend and lift with your bent-knee legs, not your back. This will help to alleviate back and muscle strain.
  • Avoid repetitious movements that can cause fatigue and strain. Try not to twist as you rake and vary your movements to prevent these types of problems.
  • Pick up your rake and any other garden tools so that no one will trip over them
  • Finish your raking sessions with some muscle stretches to cool down.
  • Dispose of leaves, preferably in an environmentally friendly way. Composting is a great way to recycle leaves and will benefit your yard and garden areas.

Raking leaves can be a fun job and makes a great family activity, particularly if you rake a huge pile and have a leaping jumping party.

Posted by Denise at 2:12 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

When to Rake your Leaves

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Sep 222010
 

My backyard is lined with tall red oak trees along the creek. In fall I spend quite a bit of time taking care of those leaves. To me, it’s an enjoyable job but I have learned a few shortcuts along the way.

So when should you start to rake your leaves?

As long as the grass continues to grow, you can continue to mow your lawn. This will mulch the first falling leaves of the season. I take this lawn mulching and add to the compost bin or cover a garden if its retired for the season. Once the lawn has ceased growing, it is the right time to begin raking.

Tip: If you don’t have a lawn sweeper, rake the leaves onto an old sheet and pull the sheet to the compost pile. It’s easier than loading and unloading a wheelbarrow or garden cart.

Where to rake

There are some people who leave leaves that fall and collect under trees and shrubs where they are to compost by themselves. If you have a more natural look in the backyard this is an easy alternative. The leaves will break down into mulch on their own and benefit the soil and plants.

Open areas of lawn however will need to be raked. A thick carpet of leaves can kill a lawn or create bare spots because they do take so long to break down. They also will block the sunlight the grass needs to grow in the spring so the grass will get a tattered look and may even get a disease.

Make sure that you rake the areas where the leaves blow and gather into deep piles such as along the foundation of your home, ditches, pathways or fences and gates.

The proper rake

There are certain rakes that will do a better job or that are easier to use. The old-fashioned rakes often will get clogged at the ends. This means you take time out of raking to clean out the tines. I have also stuck myself a few times when in a rush cleaning tines. I didn’t cut myself but it didn’t feel good.

Newer rakes are available with variations in the design of tines. This makes them less likely to clog as often. A thicker handle will help to decrease the fatigue to your hand. Also make sure the handle has no cracks or areas that can sliver and cause an injury.

Rakes with comfort grips will prevent hand-slippage and reduce blisters. As will a good pair of garden gloves.

And if you have back trouble or just want to reduce muscle strain, an ergonomically designed rake may be the right choice for you. Almost all garden centers and farm supply stores carry tools designed to ease back and muscle strain.

How often should you Rake?

It’s not necessary to rake every time the wind blows a few leaves from the trees to your lawn. However, it is not wise to wait until the leaves have piled up too deep. In my backyard near the oak trees I have a heavy leave fall so I rake about twice a week during the heavy leaf fall. A normal yard raking could be raked somewhere between 3 and 5 times, depending on the size of your lawn. Just remember to spread the work out over a few weeks to make it more enjoyable. Really raking leaves can be a relaxing backyard task.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I like the feel in the air and the abundant colors in NW Pa. And if I take care of the leaves in stages it’s a fun, relaxing task that benefits my compost pile and next year’s gardens.

Posted by Denise at 1:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Create a Fall Garden Party Garden

 backyard design  No Responses »
Sep 192010
 

Its fun and easy to plan a fall picnic or garden party.  It will give you the opportunity to  enjoy the final days of fall and turning of the leaves if you live in a fall foliage area.

There are many ways to quickly decorate for a fall party including centerpieces and table decorations but a fast a simple fall garden will spruce up a backyard, add a quick backyard focal point and can be used for the rest of the fall season.

One quick fall flower garden is easy to create by utilizing an old wheelbarrow as a container and plant mums and flowering cabbage inside it.

Mums and flowering cabbage are good selections because they handle cooler evenings and light frosts. The combination also works well as the mums have vibrant color selections and the cabbage has pretty colors, wonderful greens and will add texture to the display.

Start by drilling holes in the bottom of an old wheelbarrow for drainage. This will add proper drainage for you plants. (Pick up an old wheelbarrow at an auction or garage sale. The more beat up the better in my opinion. )

Place peat moss around the plants. This will help hold in moisture and protect the plants on colder nights. Decorate the display with a hay bale off to the side of the wheelbarrow, a bundle of corn stalks, a scarecrow and assorted pumpkins and gourds.

This fall garden will last through several frosts and can be covered at night to keep it more colorful for several more weeks after cold weather has set in.

Posted by Denise at 10:54 pm  Tagged with: , , , , ,
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