Tips to Improve Flower Arrangements

Landscape Ideas to Save Energy

One should be aware that plants properly placed in our landscapes can save both energy and dollars. As you plan your landscape or add to an existing landscape, consider locating plants where they will save energy and money. Windbreaks have long been used on farms to help divert wind and control conditions. Even in the home landscape, a small planting to divert the wind can be beneficial. Evergreen plants placed to the north or northwest of a home to break the prevailing wind can reduce heat loss and fuel consumption. Where adequate space is available, several rows of trees may be used. However, in a limited area only a few are still helpful, although less effective. Where adequate space is available, the ends of a windbreak should extend 50 feet to each side of the area to be protected. A windbreak is effective for eight times its height, so even before the plants become as high as your house they will provide beneficial effects. Pines can be used for windbreaks, but because they ten...

How to Give Your Bathroom a Deep Clean in 15-minute Segments

Bathrooms can be a haven of relaxation, however if mildew is growing, counters are overflowing, and hair and dust balls line the floor, the idea of lingering in this room is not appealing. Even if the idea of a clean bathroom is appealing, the idea of a three or four-hour cleaning regiment might not be the motivation needed to complete the bathroom’s spring clean. Instead of trying to complete the cleaning project in one day, spread the chore over several days in 15-minute segments. Daily Bathroom Cleaning Schedule The first day Clean out any drawers, cabinets, or closets in the bathroom area. Usually items are found that are unnecessary, outdated, or no longer used. Throw away or recycle any material, products, or linens that fit one of these categories. The second day Take items off of the countertop and decide what should be kept, thrown out, or recycled. Try to store most items in the drawers, cabinets, or closet in order to eliminate the clutter. If it is too ...

5 Berry Plants to Brighten Winter Landscape

The first (and sometimes only) berry plant that people associate with winter is the Holly berry bush. As beautiful and prickly as the Holly is, it’s not the only plant that produces brilliant red berries and colorful foliage to brighten the winter landscape. Incorporate some of these other five berry plants into the landscape for year around beauty, fall and winter color, natural bird food and for use in Christmas décor. 5 winter plants with berries for color in the snow Firethorn (Pyracantha) – A Spectacular Evergreen Berry Plant Firethorn gets it’s name from the thousands of blazing red berries it produces and the needle like thorns which protect the berries. This spectacular evergreen berry plant is a rapid grower and will reach a height and width of 10 or more in just a few growing seasons. The rapid plant growth is easy to deal with since the firethorn loves to be pruned and is easily trained to grow in a hedge row or espaliered against a wall. Chose a disease resistant ...

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