Garden DecorEverything In Decor For The Garden

Keurig My K-Cup Reusable Coffee Filter $14.95 K-Cup Adapter for B40 Elite, B50 Ultra, B60 Special Edition Keurig brewer / Allows you to use any gourmet ground coffee desired in your Keurig brewer…

Medelco #4 Cone Permanent Coffee Filter $0.01 #4 Cone, 8-12 Cup, Golden, Basket Permanent Coffee Filter, Universally Designed To Fit Most Coffee Makers, Heat Treated Surgical Grade Stainless Steel Mesh Filter, Color Can Not Wear Off, Environmental Option To Disposable Paper Filters, Top Rack Dishwasher Safe, Unlike The More Expensive Alternatives, 5 Year Limited Warranty….

Sprouting Strainer Lid $3.95 The Handy Pantry Sprouting Lid fits most wide mouth mason jars. It’s made of a durable food-grade plastic with mesh holes big enough to drain well but small enough to hold in tiny seeds such as alfalfa! Order more than one and rotate your crops every 3-4 days to make sure that you always have a steady supply of your favorite sprouts….

Drawstring Yard Bag, Clear 39 Gal $14.92 0…

Pioneer Suede Series Bound Photo Album, Random Solid Color Soft Suede Covers, Holds 208 4×6 Photos, 2 Per Page $11.95 Sewn faux suede leather cover with leatherette rounded book spine and contrasting beige stitching. Holds two 4×6 photos per page. Clear plastic pockets with black mesh background. Capacity: 208 photos. Dimensions: 7-1/8 x 9″. Available in 4 colors. See also: Pioneer SU4-100 – 1 photo pocket, 100 photos, Sewn Faux Suede Leather Photo Album….

Pioneer Kingsley Series Sewn Album, Tan/Hunter Green $14.99 Sewn leatherette covers with gold embossing and contrasting color raised spines. 4 x 6 optically clear pockets with a black mesh background. Holds 208 photos….

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden $12.95 Witness one of nature’s most spectacular transformations up close with this reusable, collapsible habitat. Fine, transparent mesh lets you see butterfly metamorphosis up close. Product includes easy-to-use feeder and complete instructions for habitat. Butterfly larvae with food shipped directly to your home. The habitat collapses for storage when not in use. You can adopt and raise a handful of ca…

MWN – Bird Netting

Plastic Garden Mesh

Garden Arbor & Pergola Designs

When planning a landscape design, garden structures such as arbors and pergolas are wonderful elements to incorporate.  These structures not only provide a strong focal point in the landscape, but they can also be utilitarian as well, serving many purposes that vary depending on the size and design used.  Garden arbors and pergolas can range in size from as small as 24 inches to as large as 10 or 20 feet across.  In this article, we’ll discuss some varying arbor and pergola designs, and how you can use these structures to your advantage when planning an overall landscape or garden design.

When we talk about the design of a garden arbor or pergola, we’re talking about the material as much as anything.  The type of material used in making the structure will have a big impact on the look and use of the end product.  There are three primary materials used for garden arbors and pergolas: wood, metal, and plastic.  All three materials have their pros and cons, as we will explain.

Wood is probably the oldest type of material that has historically been used for constructing arbors and pergolas.  It is inexpensive, readily available, and can be easily cut.  Furthermore, wood can be stained or painted to match another existing structure, such as the house, shed or garage.  One downfall of wood is that it does decay over time.  Wood can also harbor certain types of pests, and it will eventually rot, splinter, and crack.  The types of wood that can be used in an arbor or pergola are almost endless, but generally it’s a good idea to look for a wood that weathers well and resists decay, such as cedar.  For a rustic look, consider using log cedar.  For a very basic, rudimentary structure, you could even use fallen timber, branches, and twigs tied together.

Plastic arbors and pergolas can be purchased in almost every color imaginable.  When choosing a vinyl unit, be sure to look for a plastic that is treated with a UV inhibitor, so it won’t fade or discolor over time.  Vinyl is a good choice if you want your end product to be relatively maintenance free, because it won’t need to be stained or painted.  A vinyl arbor or pergola typically lends itself to a clean and modern design.  White vinyl can be an especially attractive choice for an outdoor wedding in the spring or summer.

Metal arbors and pergolas are probably the most durable and long-lasting choice.  In terms of their design and style, many have an almost gothic appearance, and they tend to mesh well with wrought iron gates and fences.  There are many types of metal to choose from, including iron, steel, and aluminum.  Depending on the type of metal chosen, you may encounter rust on the structure over time.  A good powder coat paint finish will slow this process.  Aluminum can be a good choice because it will not rust like steel, and it is also lightweight and extremely durable.

Another consideration that will play into your design choice is whether the arbor or pergola will serve a functional purpose.  Arbors and pergolas can be merely aesthetic design elements, placed in the corner of a yard or garden simply because they are visually pleasing.  On the other hand, if you design them correctly, they can also provide an excellent support for climbing plants and vines.  Consider designing an arbor or pergola with horizontal pieces beginning close to the ground and continuing upward.  Climbing plants such as morning glory, trumpet vine, and clematis will quickly make the structure their new home, adding another dimension of beauty.  Arbors and pergolas can also be used to shade a patio or walkway.  If you build a structure large enough to span a deck or patio, consider planting grapes or some other vine that will quickly encompass the structure, as this will help shade the area underneath.  Arbors and pergolas can also be designed with garden benches or swings underneath to provide an additional seating area in the yard.

There are as many different ways to design a garden arbor or pergola as there are uses for the structures; the choices are almost endless.  By taking into consideration the type of material that best meets your needs and the purpose, if any, that the structure will serve, you will come up with a design that compliments your yard beautifully.  Remember, an arbor or pergola is a large and important element in your landscape design.  Take the time to choose a unit that’s right for you, and you will be rewarded with a beautiful structure that will grace your garden for years to come.

About the Author

Ellen Bell works for Home Products ‘n’ More, a retail website offering a wide selection of garden arbor kits and pergolas. Visit us at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/Garden_Arbor_s/629.htm

Gardening in a Limited Space

It is totally possible to have fresh food you grew yourself, even if you live in a mobile home park with barely any un-paved earth to call your own. No, don’t go digging up that tiny patch of lawn and getting yourself kicked out. I am referring to suspended container gardening.

You might be surprised at what can grow in a hanging container. Anything that doesn’t need a lot of root space will do just fine. Berries such as strawberries are common for hanging planters. Tomatoes do well also, especially the light-weight cherry varieties, as do many types of lettuce and other greens.

To make the classic hanging basket, find a wire frame, metal mesh or even a solid plastic basket. Plastic pots can be used if you can safely fashion a way to hang them. You will also need a liner for any basket with holes in it. A liner needs to hold soil but drain water. Commonly used basket liner materials include sphagnum moss and coconut fibre, but you could also use a large piece of an old wool sweater. Alternatively, a black plastic bag with some small holes poked in it a few inches above the bottom will do the trick.

You will want to find a nutrient rich soil, preferably a fresh compost. The more concentrated the nutrients the better, as yield and quality of food will be higher. Also, since a container can dry out fast in a hot climate, adding water-retentive granules can be a good idea. These swell up upon watering and release their moisture slowly.

For multiple layers of plantings in a wire-frame or otherwise well perforated basket, fill your container part way with soil and then add seedlings of trailing fruits such as strawberries, tomatoes and small squash and cucumber varieties. Lay a few of these sideways, in alternating directions, with their roots across the surface of the soil and their above-ground parts coming out the side of the basket. More holes may need to be made in any plastic or wool liners to allow the plant to come out. Cover more soil over the roots, filling it to a few inches below the top of the basket. You can now plant another layer of trailing plants, or something that grows upright, such as lettuce, kale or basil. Even carrots could be planted here if the basket is deep enough.

Lettuce can also be planted so that it comes out of the sides of the basket, and can be planted quite densely. Harvest the largest leaves as desired, leaving the plant intact to continue growing.

Hanging gardens are also an excellent way to have fresh herbs and spices on hand. Almost any herb can be planted in one. Try oregano, rosemary, thyme or tarragon. Basil is an herb that will need to be re-planted each year, but the other varieties I mentioned should come back every spring, and even, as is the case with rosemary, provide usable leaves all year long in moderate climates.

About the Author

Nelson Stewart is a representative of the best Gated Community in Arizona. The Palm Gardens Arizona 55 Community Come visit our site and see what the best in senior living can be Contact us anytime or visit us online at http://www.palmgardensonline.com