Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Home Reno Plans: Value Added Or Value Subtracted?

Canadians' ongoing love affair with renovating their homes is alive and well, with more than $20 billion being spent every year since the new Millennium. But how do you know what improves your home's value, and what might make it harder to sell? Here are some tips that might make the decisions a little easier:
Develop short-term and long-term goals: If you will be at your house for less than five years, you might want to forgo the addition to your home and simply repaint, or install new windows or floor treatments.

Don't use a renovation just to express yourself: Don't expect prospective buyers to pay for your wonderful, but unique taste—you might love a pink and black marble en suite, but not everyone will.

Stay in character: When planning your renovations, try to match the neighbourhood aesthetics. Ask yourself if mini-Windsor Castle touches work well in your post-war housing neighbourhood.

Become a Do-It-Yourself-er: Hardware and home renovation shops often have project seminars to show you how to get the job done properly. Many stores also have in-house experts who can give you advice, should you need it.

Consider professionals: Professional architects, contractors and designers know the quirks of your local zoning regulations. You don't want your garage conversion shut down because you don't have the correct permits.

Financing: If your project exceeds your cash on hand, there are many financing options available including small loans and larger mortgages. Consider taking out a line of credit to help you get the job done properly and see it through to completion. One of the most innovative home equity lines of credit available is Manulife One, offered by Manulife Bank.

About The Author
News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.
News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Labels: ,

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Want a Garden But Not Enough Room or Soil? Then Hydroponics Gardening Could Be For You.

Hydroponics gardening is a great idea for anyone who wants a garden but doesn't have enough land or soil. Hydroponics gardening is, essentially, a way to cultivate plants using a nutrient solution instead of soil. With hydroponics gardening, it's easy to grow lovely flowers and succulent vegetables virtually anywhere you want! It's true that hydroponics gardening needs much less time than an ordinary garden. In fact, you might spend only five minutes a day maintaining you're hydroponics garden.

Once a month the nutrient solution will have to be changed but this will only take a few minutes. Big fruiting vegetables like peppers and tomatoes may not be able to thrive but most other vegetables and flowers will do great.

Tips for the newbie to hydroponics gardening.

While hydroponics gardening can be a little confusing sometimes when starting out, you'll soon get the jest of it. The same as you need gardening supplies for a ordinary garden, you'll need hydroponics supplies for your hydroponics garden. The most popular system is the passive system. This is where the plants sit directly in the nutrient solution. All passive air systems use an aquarium air bubbler otherwise the solution can become deoxygenated and could rot the plants. If you can find the right system for you, hydroponics gardening could produce you with all the flowers and vegetables you could possibly want.

For more information go to: http://www.gardeningsupply.info/.

About The Author
Jan Money is a freelance writer from Poole, Dorset, England. Jan has been writing gardening articles since 2005.
For all your gardening needs and information: http://www.gardeningsupply.info/

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Art and Design

Maybe you've faced it before – a new house with an empty room or two. This room is just crying out for some furniture. So off you go to purchase a sofa you admire - then a chair. Or perhaps you purchase a full living room set complete with tables and rugs. With delivery a few weeks off you can just picture your living room (and not surprisingly, it looks just like the showroom). The delivery day arrives and you can't wait to cut the tags off of your new furnishings. You may have to position the sofa a few times to get it just so, but all in all, you're pretty satisfied – until you notice there's no art on the wall. And so you decide to buy some art that matches the sofa. I cringe a little while I write this, but in reality that is how many of us choose art. In fact, little confession, I still have art in my house that I bought because the frames matched!

If you have also considered buying art in an afterthought, you're not alone. We have all been taught that accessories finish off a room. In fact, if you've ever watched a design show, you'll notice that some professional designers decide on the art once fabric, furniture and rugs have been selected. So maybe we've all been brainwashed to believe that filling our space with art doesn't require much planning – just the ability to carry a swatch of fabric to a store. Well, just for a moment, I'd like you to think about your art and why you might acquire it sooner rather than later.

Art inspires creativity. First choose art that appeals to you, and then let your furniture and accessory purchases be influenced by the art you have selected. This shift in viewpoint allows for freedom of expression. Through the process of seeking out new art, and finding something you'd like to live with, you open your mind to all the new possibilities. Perhaps an abstract piece of art inspires you to consider an eclectic collection of furniture instead of a uniform suite. Maybe art with cool beach tones allows you to consider that slip covered furniture with a nautical appeal. Or a tropical print encourages you to use a hand-painted floorcloth in vivid hues in your new artistically inspired room.

Consider also the structural elements in your room. Many living areas have unique architectural details that historically have been used to display important art. By only focusing on furniture placement or accessorizing, you may lose sight of some of your home's great details. If the architectural details are not what they once were, before you rip it out, liven it up. Apply a mosaic design or faux finish to your fireplace surround. When you're thinking about changing things break out of the familiar and experiment with your creativity.

For some creative inspiration, find the nearest child. Generally, young children are much more free to express themselves than some adults, and when it comes to design, I can say from experience that they'll have their own unique opinions on what goes in their rooms. Take a cue from your child's artwork when you design their rooms. This way they are more inclined to love it when you're done. Gather together several of their favorite paintings or sketches, and note their favorite color, or emerging themes. You can copy these same themes through painted fabric, a wall mural, unique stained glass for the window, a floorcloth or even a quilted wall hanging. Don't forget to frame and hang the original artwork that inspired their new design.

So set out to design your living spaces with art as forethought. You will appreciate the art for what it adds to the overall project as well as the positive feeling you experience when you see it. And then you may begin to wonder why you ever tried to buy art that matches that pillow with the odd purple color. Happy art collecting!

About The Author
Lise Richards is an Artistic Lifestylist and owner of The Creativity Center, Inc and Red Door Gallery. Her Artistic Lifestyling program helps all people live more creatively in artistically designed spaces. Visit the company online at www.ArtisticLifestyling.com
information@artisticlifestyling.com

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Why Egyptian Cotton Is Still King

Egyptian cotton has become wildly popular for bedding in recent years. Why exactly? Does it really matter?

It was thought for ages that cotton was cotton and thread count was king when choosing quality sheets. That is no longer true. Consumer guidelines for buying bedding suggest that cotton from Egypt is superior to other cotton. Is this true and, if so, what is the big difference?

Egyptian cottons are used to create bedding of all types from sheets to pillowcases to comforters. The long staple or long fiber of Egyptian-grown cotton means that there is more continuous fiber to use when creating threads or yarns. This yarn is smaller in diameter yet stronger than other cottons. Smaller yarn means that more threads per square inch can be use to create stronger fabric which is light in weight yet breathes well.

More threads per inch mean that the thread count on the bedding label will be higher. Many buyers think that choosing high thread count sheets is the only gauge of quality. This is not true, but in the case of cotton grown in Egypt, the higher thread count means the fabric will be incredibly strong and will last for years and years. If cared for properly, Egyptian produced cotton fabric used for creating bedding products can last for decades.

The hand or feel of the sheets created from Egyptian grown cotton is a bit harder than other cottons when the bedding is new. However, with every single laundering, the cotton sheets from Egyptian fibers become softer and softer. Like a fine wine, age improves the Egyptian fiber cotton bedding and, unlike many products, you will prize your Egyptian fiber sheets of cotton more and more as they age and become soft and cuddly.

Cotton grown in the Egyptian fields will also produce less lint and therefore will not pill after repeated washings as some materials may do. At one time, the only way to obtain Egyptian fiber cotton sheets was to shop in high-end expensive stores. This is no longer true and most department stores and online bedding stores carry a selection of Egyptian produced cotton sheets and other bedding items for the buyer seeking this quality product.

King Cotton was once the name for the cotton grown in the Deep South of the United States. This cotton has much shorter fibers or staple than the Egyptian produced cotton. Egyptian fiber is now considered the king of all cottons for its durability and luxurious feel. After all, we spend almost one-third of our lives in our beds and our bedding should be comfortable and durable. Choosing the right sheets made from the king of cotton, Egyptian produced fibers, you will experience a bed that is comfortable and cozy.

A word of caution regarding bedding labels: if the package says "cotton rich" the actual amount of cotton, whether Egyptian or other cotton, is not stated and can be a very small amount. It is better to select products that state 100% cotton or, if choosing a blend fabric, that clearly state the exact proportion of cotton in the bedding. This will ensure your product composition is one that you will be pleased with.

If the package says "percale", this means that the thread count is at least 180 count. Many people believe that percale is a fabric type in its own right. This isn't the case at all; it simply means the thread count is 180 or more. Percale can be 100% cotton or a blend of cotton and other fibers!

Sferra Brothers always has a special eye for quality and their Celeste linens in 100% cotton from Egypt is no exception. These mix and match fine quality linens are created with 406 thread count. The linens are cool and crisp yet soft for luxurious comfort. White plus 10 solid colors are available. You simply can't go wrong with these machine washable luxury linens.

Matouk Classics collection includes the Lowell design. These Egyptian long fiber cotton sheets are 600 thread count for true luxury. Available in white with one inch sateen tape accents around edges of pillow cases and on sheet hem. Select choice of five solid colors for the accent. These linens are elegant enough for the finest bedrooms.

Frette's 600 thread count Royalty sheet sets come in a shade called "money green" which is actually a deep olive green. Other colors are also available. The linens are accented with a square jacquard weave around the edges for a very distinctive, classic look. If you want beauty beyond compare, these linens from Frette are for you.

Egyptian remains King of the cotton world today and will retain that crown for many years into the future.

You'll find this long staple cotton used in sheets by many different designers and can enjoy this Egyptian luxury, suitable for the kings and pharaohs in your very own home!

About The Author
Patricia Bowlin makes it easy to create a bedroom with flair! Find countless Free tips, ideas and information here on choosing all of your bedding by visiting now http://www.best-in-bedding.com.

Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

How to Use the Internet to Help Your Apartment or House Hunting

So you are looking for an apartment to rent or a house to purchase. One of the most important steps is researching the neighborhood to decide if you really like to live in that area. The best way to do this is driving around that area to see if you really like that neighborhood. You should pay attention to traffic, available stores, available transportation, noise level etc. Also, you should try visiting the neighborhood during different times of the day.

Do you know you can get help from the Internet for your apartment or house hunting?

You can view interactive maps on the Internet. The best tools I've seen so far are Google Maps (maps.google.com) and MSN Virtual Earth (virtualearth.msn.com). With these online tools, you type in the address of the place you are interested in and a map centered at that address will show up. You can zoom in, zoom out and drag around the map to see what other streets are close and how close this place is to the highway, etc.

You can view satellite images on the Internet. This new service is available at Google Maps and MSN Virtual Earth. After you type in an address, you can choose to view a satellite image of that place. Just like maps, you can zoom to different levels and move around using your mouse. This might give you a more direct feeling on what this neighborhood look like than looking at the map alone.

You can find out what business/services are available around a place on the Internet. With Google Maps, MSN Virtual Earth and Yahoo! Maps (maps.yahoo.com), after you get a map or satellite image of an address, you can do a local search in that neighborhood. For example, you can search for "Pizza" and all nearby pizza restaurants will show up on the map. This way you can get a feeling if it'd be convenient for dining, shopping or entertainment in that area.

You can get driving directions on the Internet. Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps and other online map sites provide driving direction services. You type in the starting and destination addresses and they will show you a detailed driving direction with map, total mileage and estimated driving time. This way you can estimate how easy would be for you to drive to other places (such as to work or school) from that neighborhood.

Although this Internet tools are pretty cool, it's still important to go check out the neighborhood in person by yourself. Happy hunting!

About The Author
Brian Walker is a freelance writer who has written many self-help articles. Check out more apartment living guide at 101ApartmentForRent.com (www.101apartmentforrent.com) and mortgage guide at Mortgage4House.com (www.mortgage4house.com)

Labels: ,

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Home Loans for Credit Challenged Borrowers

Just because you have negative items on your credit report doesn't mean you can't obtain a home mortgage loan. There are options for you. Bad credit is not the end of the world. It's true that getting a bad credit mortgage loan is not always the easiest or fastest mortgage loan out there, but you can still buy your own home even with bad credit.

Bad credit shouldn't stop you from getting a home loan. There are credit repair options. Most mortgage brokers will do everything they can to get your credit in good shape for your home loan. They work with you on finding the mortgage loan option that's right for you. You can get a home loan, even if you've had a bankruptcy or a foreclosure.

There are several bad credit mortgage loan options available for the credit challenged and even people with no credit at all, such as:

Sub-Prime Mortgage Home Loans
Stated Income Mortgages
No Money Down Home Loans
Jumbo Loans
Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Step One: Know Your True Credit Score

Perhaps you've already been turned down for a mortgage because of a negative credit report or having no credit at all. Perhaps you've filed for bankruptcy. Whatever the case may be—You know your credit is bad.

But do you know how bad?

Are you sure your credit report is accurate? Eighty percent of credit reports have mistakes. At Mortgage-Loan-Advantage.com we help you find out if your credit is really as bad as you think it is. Here's what we can help you do:

Get a copy of your credit report.
Verify the items listed on your credit report.
Take steps to repair any errors on your credit report.
Take steps to remove errors on your credit report.
Monitor your credit regularly.

Step Two: Consider Your Options

You really have two options, once you know what your credit score is. You can contact a bad credit mortgage lender and accept that for a while you must pay a higher interest rate than you would if your credit was perfect.

Or you can wait and try to fix your credit and bring up your credit score before you buy a home.

If your credit history is not that bad, you might want to take some time to bring up your score. To improve your credit score:

Pay off as much debt as you can.
Pay your bills regularly and on time.
Don't apply for too much credit.

If you absolutely must get into a home now, or it looks like it would take too long to bring up your credit score significantly, contact a bad credit mortgage lender. Be prepared to pay a higher interest rate and more "points"—which are a percentage of the loan.

Step Three: Prepare Yourself with the Facts

Before you approach a bad credit mortgage lender, prepare.

Assess your financial situation. Do you have the income to add a mortgage to your debt load? Have you made as many lifestyle changes as possible to reduce your debt? Have you done all you can to bring up your credit score?

If the adverse credit items on your credit report occurred because of some reasons beyond your control, for instance, illness, job layoff, marital problems or other temporary setbacks, you must provide a written explanation of your circumstances to the bad mortgage loan officer. This can be provided with the loan application or at some other point in the loan process. If you have had sufficient time to regain financial stability since the problems occurred and to demonstrate prompt payment, the lender may offer some consideration on the rates.

About The Author
Horace Hawkins is the President of Mortgage-Loan-Advantage.com and HoraceHawkins.com. As a mortgage loan broker, Horace serves the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex with superior home mortgage loan services.

Labels: , ,

Monday, September 19, 2011

Landscape Design

Landscaping is a wonderful pastime enjoyed by many. It provides a natural beauty and needs no ornaments or other attractive items to help achieve its magnificence. What it does need, however, is a little TLC from you and great ideas to keep the landscape design ever changing and up to date.

Landscape design is an art that not only gives you the freedom to express yourself, but also makes your home more beautiful and inviting. Landscape design is an ever growing popular pastime for middle class suburban adults, who find enjoyment in complementing their home and neighborhood with new and exciting landscape designs. More are learning how to do their own landscaping, rather than hire a company to do it for them.

There are many methods of landscape design to explore. You can trim your hedges or bushes in a decorative manner. For instance, you may want to cut every other hedge a foot shorter than the next to produce a rolling effect. You could also put a large decorative fountain in the middle of your yard. This is a costly option but, if you can afford it, looks gorgeous.

If you don't feel that landscape design is for you, then think about it like this...how much expense and trouble have you gone through to make sure the inside of you home is coordinated and looks great for visitors? Does your living room have a theme? Do you have paintings and sculptures placed around your home? More people see the outside of you home than the inside. Most of your neighbors base their view of you by how good your yard looks. So why go through the trouble inside if your not going to do the same outside?

If you are considering landscape design, or have already dabbled in it a bit, you will need a good website to go to, such as www.thelandscapingpro.com, for all of your exterior design needs. There you will find everything you seek all in one spot.

About The Author
David Dunlap is the founder and owner of The Landscaping Pro, an online resource for any sized landscape project. For more information, visit http://thelandscapingpro.com or email at david@thelandscapingpro.com

Labels: , ,

Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Importance Of Bedroom Design In A Home Decoration Project

A home is a place where we live, spend most of our lives, with family members and our loved ones.

A bedroom design project includes a careful study of the surrounding of the entire home. When an architect plans a home, he takes into consideration many parameters for the location of various spaces.

Lets take an example of the bedroom itself.

While deciding the location of the bedroom, an architect might go through the following checklist.

North direction
Path of the sun.
Surrounding landscapes.
Presence of other natural elements such as lake, flowing river, seashore, etc.. which could be visible through bedroom window.
Wind direction.
Manmade other features, such as tall buildings, roads, etc..

These external factors directly affect the interior of a bedroom. This is true with any space and not only bedroom.

For example the amount of sunlight entering in a room will affect the dimensions of the window openings, which will in turn affect the available space inside the room for furniture.

The overall atmospheric conditions outside, will affect the type of finishes and materials used for furnishings, linen, flooring, etc.. A bedroom on seashore will have a different set of weather conditions to deal with than a room on a hill slope with heavy snowfall.

That's why the interior design of any living habitual space is an exact replica of what's happening outside. Everything is so dynamic. A slight change in the outside world can affect the appearance of the home altogether.

If you are trying to design your own space then this article might help to start thinking on the concept level.

With these words I end this article and hope it was useful.

About The Author
Shrinivas Vaidya
For more powerful and in-depth concept level knowledge of bedroom design visit Bedroom-Design-And-decorating-Ideas.com. You will find good concept level thinking to design your own bedroom here.

Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, September 16, 2011

The Truth About Honda Pressure Washers

"What they don't tell you about Honda Pressure Washers"

I recently received the following e-mail regarding honda pressure washers:

"I was unaware Honda made pressure washers. I can get one locally now that I have seen your web page".

Thank You

My response:

Thank you for visiting our website. I would like to point out that HONDA "does not" manufacture pressure washers. Honda makes Engines, Autos, Motorcycles etc. When Pressure washers are referred to as Honda it's industry shorthand for "Honda Powered" which means you still need to consider the manufacturer.

We distribute the "Pressure-Pro" line of pressure washers. Pressure-Pro is the leading manufacturer of Pressure Washers in florida.

Keep in mind that very little of a pressure washer is "manufactured", what the majority of manufacturers really are is "component" assemblers. This is no bad thing as long as they use quality components and have large purchasing power to deliver the final product at a value for the consumer.

I recently received a flaming email from a woman lambasting me for selling Honda pressure washers. She told a story of how she and her husband had purchased a pressure washer from a local box store, she really didn't say which. At any rate, after using it 3 times over the course of a year it developed a serious problem with the pump.

She took it to the store authorized service center only to be notified that it was out of warranty and could not be repaired anyway. Needless to say she was furious, after all this was a Honda pressure washer!!

She went on to say that the only reason she purchased it was because it had a Honda engine which implied quality.

The name Honda does not imply a quality pressure washer, it only implies a quality engine. There are many ways a manufacturer can lessen quality to achieve a price point that the superstore will be willing to market. The good news is that "spotting this ploy is not rocket science" and you can get quality advice at this website.

I believe it's an excellent choice when you choose Honda but please remember a pressure washer is far more than just the power source.

About The Author
Article by Randall Madon visit our website at http://www.The-Power-Washer-Advisor.com
for more useful articles, tips and resources about pressure washers and pressure washing.

Labels: , ,

Monday, September 12, 2011

Save Money and Buy Wholesale Carpet

If you are in the market for some new carpets you are probably already aware of how costly that can be. There are many ways you can get better pricing for your carpet such as buying remnants or flawed carpet. But why not save money and buy wholesale carpet? Yes even you as a consumer can buy wholesale carpet.

Many people hear the word wholesale and believe they must be a business, dealer, or high volume purchaser to get wholesale pricing. That's simply not true. There are various types of wholesale carpet plans around. You just need to find the one that works for your situation.

Carpet Wholesale Distributors have low overhead and great buying potential. You'll not find any store fronts here, just a basic large warehouse, lots of concrete, and lots of carpet. This type of carpet wholesaler is in business to supply carpet to carpet retailers. They may also deal with large corporate clients that buy large volumes of carpets. For instance developers of condos, home builders, or commercial office builders. There pricing is competitive and their goal is for there to be enough room for the retailer to add their mark up and still be competitive. They are quick to deliver their product.

Wholesale carpet retailers are open to the general public. Yes this means you! You can safe a substantial amount by buying your carpet from wholesale carpet retailers. Besides the savings there are other benefits like quick delivery and installation. You'll save both time and money.

There are a couple of reasons why these retailers can offer carpets at wholesale pricing while other retailers cannot. They have massive buying power so they order large volume and obtain the maximum discounts from the supplier.

You'll not find fancy show rooms, snazzy lighting, or any other cosmetic perks. What you'll find is a big concrete warehouse with rolls and rolls of carpet. This reduces their overhead dramatically

Most of these operations are looking to move volume at a reduced price so they are willing to work on a much smaller profit margin.

They purchase seconds and thirds meaning they have imperfections. These imperfections can be small or large. They might be a dye lot that was off, snags or runs, or a host of other items.

When buying from a wholesale carpet retailer you'll want to find out the answers to these questions.

Make sure you understand the warranty and whether any warranty claims will be dealt with at the wholesaler level or whether you'll need to deal with the manufacturer of the carpet.

You'll also want to know if the carpet you are buying are seconds, Normally too small to notice but you'll need to make sure. The last thing you need is a nice long line of missed looping that runs right through the center of the carpet. Just be sure to have a really good look if you are buying seconds. You'll also want to find out if the manufacturers warranty is still valid.

Remember if a deal sounds to good to be true, 99.9% of the time it is. So if the price is just to good find out what's wrong with the product before you jump the gun and spend your money on an unsatisfactory product.

Make sure you get your pricing with underlay and installation. No sense in getting cheap carpet if they soak it to you on the underlay or install. So be sure to get a full package price.

Buying wholesale carpet can save you a ton of money. So if you don't care if there's a fancy show room, and you don't need someone to hold your hand while you pick out your carpet, and you just care about basic service this is a doable option. So remember save money and buy wholesale carpet! Think of all the money you'll have left for other home decor projects.

About The Author
John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit: http://www.carpets-guide.com.

Labels: ,

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Pet Stains? My Carpet Is Cleaner Than Yours!

Pet stain removal depends on a few common sense factors. Understand that older stains demand lots of effort. Fresh stains, by definition, are totally curable. Stop torturing yourself if you consider your pet stain situation is incorrigible. Maybe you won't have success in totally removing the pet stain. But you can always improve its condition. Let's start with the basics. When applying a detergent go from the outside to the inside. Avoid making the common mistake of scrubbing circularly from inside to outside. Do this and you'll save yourself another big headache.

Don't despair no matter how scary and big the pet stain seems. Use the force of nature in your advantage. Think about how temperature manipulates the physical realm. When something gets hot it melts, making it easier to move around and eliminate. Methodically heat up the pet stain in careful fashion. Just don't burn the whole carpet. An industrial incinerator is not the ideal tool for this job. Start with towels soaked with hot water. Apply the towels on top of the stain. The pet stain should transfer from the carpet to the towels. Repeat several times.

When you finish cleaning, never forget to quickly dry the affected area. A high powered fan can take care of the details. Have one handy during the pet stain removal process. When you finish you might notice that remaining solids stiffen up. Treat these a bit differently. Smash the remaining solids apart and after pick up the pieces. If appropriate, use a vacuum to suck up these little crumbs. When finished, rinse the affected area with water. A little soap never hurts. Finally, let your carpet rest for a few days. It should then look as good as new.

About The Author
Anne Willis has won numerous battles against all types of stains. Check out her latest exploits at http://www.stain-removal-tips.com and be sure to read her featured article: http://www.stain-removal-tips.com/pet-stain-remover/.

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Building a Compost Bin

Compost can act as a great fertilizer, enriching the soil with organic materials rather than making use of chemicals that can do more harm than good if used improperly. Composting is a great way to save money as well. Using compost requires that you thoroughly mix it into the soil, reducing compaction and providing oxygenation to the soil. Compost can help plants stay healthier, and that contributes to their ability to repel diseases and survive insect attacks. A healthy landscape can be achieved with a little help from composting.

It is important to note that composting does require a little extra work. The pile needs to be turned, and you need to make sure that you have adequate break down of the items in your compost pile. You need to be discriminating in what you put in your compost: it should only be items that will break down naturally. Plant matter (including pulled weeds) and some foods are excellent in compost and will add to the health of your soil, and thus to your landscape over all. There is no reason, however, that your compost pile needs to be a true pile. A bin can help you better contain your compost and keep it from being spread across your yard in a smelly mess by animals or a really fierce storm.

The first thing you need to do before you build a compost bin is decide what your needs are. Many people actually use a three-bin system. The bins may be connected, or they may be individually lined up. Some people use the bins for different types of compost (regular compost, slow compost like woody plants, and leaves collected in the fall). Others like to have a three-bin system for the turning purposes. Move the compost from one bin into the next, allowing it to turn. Then you can start a pile in the newly vacated bin. By the time the compost makes it into the third bin, it is ready for use. Others find that a single bin is sufficient for their needs, and just go out to stir it around occasionally.

Next you need to determine what materials you will use to build your bin. It is important to note that some exposure to the elements is necessary for more effective and quicker composting. Chicken wire is not particularly good for compost bins as it can stretch out of shape very easily and does not wear well. Materials like 16-guage plastic-coated wire mesh and hardware cloth are better choices, as is hog wire. Wood makes an interesting choice, but it is important to note that it will eventually compost itself and will need to be replaced. Do not used pressure-treated wood, as it has toxic levels of copper and chromium, and there is evidence that arsenic can leach into your compost. Other materials that are acceptable for building compost bins are spoiled hay bales, old cinder blocks or bricks, wooden pallets, snow fencing, and a discarded rabbit hutch. The hutch is desirable because there is very little that needs to be done to make it ready.

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to build a compost bin is to construct it from wooden pallets. Most warehouses, grocery, and hardware stores are more than happy to give these away for free, or for very cheap, as it saves them the trouble of having to discard them. You can use plastic ties to hold four of them together in a box formation. Adding another bin to create a system is easy: just attach three more pallets using one side of the already made bin to complete another box. Be warned: after about two years you will need a new bin, as this bin will be composting itself.

A cinder block or brick bin is also rather easy and cheap to build. If you visit a demolition or construction site, you are bound to find the materials you need readily available. Simply ask for permission to take them. As with the pallets, if you take them away, it saves the company from having to pay for the costs associated with disposing of them. Simply create a square enclosure by stacking the blocks or bricks on top of each other. Make sure you leave space between the blocks for ventilation.

About The Author
Janeth Duque of Geeks On Steroids. Janeth is well-known in the world of web design and search engine optimization.
Web Site: Geeks on Steroids
View their website at: http://www.geeksonsteroids.com
janeth@geeksonsteroids.com

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

Find The Top 8 Carpet Extractors

Carpet extractors are an excellent method of basic economical in depth carpet cleaning. Carpet extractors will clean your entire carpet, remove spots and stains, keep high traffic areas clean, and they'll even clean your upholstery and drapery. Here are the top 8 carpet extractors.

1. Dirtdevil Featherlight Carpet Extractor

The dirtdevel featherlight is a lightweight and very portable carpet extractor. Comes with a 5 brush nozzle system which will gently clean your carpets and the powerful vacuum will dry the carpets quickly. It has a 1 gallon reservoir for your cleaning solution, and a nice wide nozzle.

2. AX9 Carpet Extractor

The AX9 is designed to clean almost any surface no matter how tough the access it will get into those tight crevices. That's because it comes with a complete set of accessories to make the job easy. It provides total dryness with only one sweep. Complete with an ergonomic handle that makes moving it around more comfortable.

3. EAG 1400

The EAG 1400 is a commercial size carpet extractor that will clean up your commercial or home space. Built much like a wet/dry vac it has a dual two stage vacuum motor that provides maximum power. It has a 12 gallon solution tank as well as a 12 gallon recovery tank. The 8 large castor rear wheels, and 3 front castors make it easy to maneuver. It has a 25 foot cord so will reach and a 15 foot vacuum hose.

4. Admiral 8

The Admiral 8 comes with an ergonomic and adjustable handle with finger tip controls for operation. This no hose design makes it easy to fill and empty. It can also be purchased with the hard floor cleaning kit.

5. Ext 311 Extractor

The Ext 311 has a nice compact carpet extractor that pulls soil from the carpet effectively. The 2 stage vacuum motor, 10 foot hose, and a 9 inch and 10 inch heavy duty tool will clean any carpet easily. It has an 11 gallon solution tank and recover bucket can be removed to empty. Easy to roll along on the 2 inch casters.

6. The Speedster Carpet Extractor

The Speedster comes with 100 PSI solution pump and dual two stage vacuum motors that have a 150 degree water lift. The large rear wheels and grip handle makes this extractor easy to maneuver and move around.

7. Clean NB 48 Carpet Extractor

The NB 48 is complete with heat to dry up behind you. This commercial carpet extractor is one of the best sellers for professionals. 10 foot wand, 20 foot hose.

8. Harding 1408 Carpet Extractor

The Harding 1408 has a forward reverse brush action which gets down deep and takes less time to clean. It has an 8 gallon solution and recovery bladder as well as two sets of spray nozzles which work independently, and a 14 inch shoe. All lines are built inside so there are no outside lines. Comes complete with 40 foot chord.

These are 8 top carpet extractors but there are many many other excellent products on the market. The carpet extractor you choose will depend on how much carpet you have to clean, and how often. The one thing that has been proven over and over is that carpet extractors will extend the life of your carpets and keep them looking fresh and new.

About The Author
John Murray makes it easy to go through the carpet buying process and provides tips to keep your carpet lasting long. To learn more and receive your free mini-course visit: http://www.carpets-guide.com.

Labels: , , ,

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Home Improvement – Don’t Exceed Comps In Your Area

For most homeowners, the pride of ownership includes a consistent home improvement effort. While this makes sense, be careful you don't improve the property so much that you can't recover the costs when it is sold.

Home Improvement

You've picked up a heck of a deal on a home in a nice neighborhood. The purchase price was $200,000 and you put twenty five percent down [$50,000]. The comparable homes, "comps", in the neighborhood appraised for $300,000. Yes, your home is a bit run down, but that's why they have Home Depot and weekends! You'll just fix the ugly ducking up and pocket a quick $100,000 in equity when all your projects are done. What a country!

This situation definitely has potential. The value of the home is so low when compared to the comps that a relatively quick equity grab certainly looks possible if the home can be fixed up. Off to Home Depot we go...

Let's do an evaluation of our ugly ducking. Put another way, what needs to be done to get it on par with the other ducks in the neighborhood? Okay, we need new doors, new windows and landscaping in a very big way. The drive way looks like a toxic dump sat on it and we aren't even going to get into the peeling, ugly paint on the home. Pricing everything, deciding to use homeowner labor as much as possible and so on, we find it is going to run roughly $50,000 to makeover our ugly duckling. It's going to be a lot of work, but that's what weekends are for. We should still come out with a $50,000 gain and $100,000 in total equity considering our $50,000 down payment.

Budgets and Temptation

The problem with the above scenario is it is very hard to stick to a budget. If you've owned a home, you're already familiar with this problem. If you are buying a home for the first time, watch out!

With homeownership, the structure you own quickly evolves into "my home." Once this occurs, you tend to view the quality of your home as a statement to the world and you want to show the world your best. Instead of buying moderately priced cabinets for the kitchen, you buy custom pieces that would make Bill Gates envious. Counter tops soon become marble counter tops. Refinishing the driveway evolves into putting in an entirely new one with brick inlays. And so it goes.

You are no longer trying to bring your home up to the standard of the neighborhood homes. You are trying to turn the home into a swan and swans are expensive. After making all your improvements, you are distressed to find the total cost being $90,000 instead of $50,000. For all your hard work and effort, you've realized only a $10,000 gain in equity.

In Closing

Make sure you objectively budget improvements and stick to those budgets. While there is something to be said for making a home glow, make sure it makes financial sense.

About The Author
Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home?" page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month. Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, September 05, 2011

How A Filterless Air Purifier Works

If you watch television late at night, you are probably familiar with a filterless air purifier called the Ionic Breeze. These systems have benefits and drawbacks. Lately, there has been some controversy over their safety. Some consider them to be unsafe, while others swear by the results.

How a Filterless Air Purifiers Work

A filterless purifier works by giving the incoming air an electrostatic charge. This charge also charges particles in the air. The air is then moved past an oppositely charged collection grid. The impurities in the air are attracted to the grid, like a magnet. The grid must be removed periodically and cleaned of the impurities. This is easily done with a damp cloth. Once the grid is completely dry, replace it and turn the machine back on. These systems can be installed on a forced air heating system to treat the whole house, or can be purchased in portable units.

This process creates ozone in the air. If you have been outside after a thunderstorm, you have smelled natural ozone in the air. These systems clean the air the way nature cleans the outdoor air.

However, some feel the ozone that is created can be a health hazard, particularly if it is highly concentrated. If you are using a portable air cleaner, be sure it isn't too big for the room in which it is being used. The square footage is listed on the box and in the owner's manual. Another option is to run it for a while and then turn it off before using the room.

Benefits of a Filterless Air Purifier

There are no filters to change with this type of purification system. Replacement filters can be expensive and not having one saves money in the long run.

They use a collection grid to collect impurities, rather than a filter. The impurities stick to the grid and are wiped off with a damp cloth. Once the grid is clean and dry, place it back in the machine and turn it on.

The filtration process leaves a fresh smsell in the air that many people find vitalizing. You won't need to use air fresheners with these systems.

They are nearly silent when running. This is great for night time use. Some air purification systems can be very noisy and may need to be turned off at night.

Drawbacks of Filterless Air Purifiers

The safety of these filtration systems was called into question a few years ago when Consumer Reports gave the Ionic Breeze a bad review and called it hazardous. The reason is the ozone that is a by product of the purification process. Ozone is a pollutant and can be irritating to people with asthma or other respiratory disorders. Sharper Image responded by adding a component called "Ozone Guard" which is said to convert most of the ozone into oxygen. On a later review, Consumer Reports still gave the machine low marks, but said the ozone output is now in acceptable levels.

These systems are more expensive than other air purifiers. However, when you add in the cost of replacement filters, this price difference diminishes over time.

The collection grid must be cleaned frequently. If it isn't clean, it won't work. The frequency depends on the number of impurities in the air. Homes with pets, smokers, a lot of dust, etc, will need more frequent cleaning.

About The Author
Ken Morris releases many articles for http://www.air-purifier-and-cleaner-guide.com. Amongst his works he is featuring http://www.air-purifier-and-cleaner-guide.com/filterless-air-purifier.html and air cleaner.

Labels: , , ,

Sunday, September 04, 2011

Pool Table Lights Guide: How To Light Up Your Game

The proper pool table lights is critical to playing your best game of pool. The ideal pool table light fixture is attractive, unobtrusive, and provides just enough illumination without creating a glare. Choosing the right pool table lights for your home need not be difficult. Just keep a few points in mind.

The Best Pool Table Lights for the Job

The most effective pool table lights cover the entire length of the table. Measure your pool table before you start shopping. The majority of pool table lights fixtures available have multiple globes in order to direct several points of light at the table, usually two, three, or four globes. Multiple globes on your pool table lights fixture also help to eliminate any glare. Some fixtures contain multiple globes within one larger fixture.

Traditional vs. Contemporary Pool Table Lights

Pool table lights come in a wide variety of styles and finishes. Traditional, Victorian, Tiffany-style lights are popular pool table lights. These fixtures, modeled after designs by the famous glass artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany, are made of small panes of glass joined with lead piping. These colorful glass pieces are put together to form all manner of designs, logos, and slogans.

Tiffany-style pool table lights are available in one long shade with several bulbs inside the globe or in multiple shades along a single, metal bar. They may be elaborate, multi-color showpieces or relatively simple, one-color pool table lights fixtures.

Other traditional fixtures of pool table lights come in black or brown wrought-iron fixture with alabaster glass shades. Most often the pool table lights fixture is crafted into a scrolled design with multiple glass shades. This style of light fixture is also widely available in bronze, brushed pewter, and brass finishes. pool table lights made from ooden fixtures, too, can lend a warm and homey touch to your poolroom.

Contemporary pool table lights can give your room a clean, sleek, modern look. Bar pool table lights in chrome and brass with simple, smoked glass shades can create such a look. Some pool table light fixtures insert a vibrant touch by adding green, red, and blue colored glass shades.

Something a Little Different

Customize your pool table lights by adding a college or professional sports logo. Tiffany-style lights often incorporate the logo into the glass motif whereas solid glass shades can be etched with your favorite team's logo. Cheer on the "Fighting Irish" of Notre Dame, the Colorado "Avalanche" Hockey team, or the New England "Patriots" right from your recreation room.

Military logos are also popular designs for pool table lights. The Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Air Force insignia are all available, both in Tiffany lights and in solid etched glass shades. Also consider "Jack Daniels" logo pool table lights or perhaps one with the "Harley Davidson" logo.

The Technical Stuff

Installing your pool table lights should be relatively easy for the weekend home remodeler. There must be a secure place onto which to mount your pool table light fixture and that it has its own separate electrical box. As with any electrical project, turn off the electrical current before you start working on mounting your pool table lights.

The correct light bulbs go a long way to ensuring your pool table lights fixture is safe as well as creating the right mood. 60-watt bulbs are recommended although some of the pool table lights with multiple shades might look better with 40-watt bulbs instead.

Where to Shop

The Internet has made shopping for pool table lights much easier. A typical search yields hundreds of online retailers of pool table lights. Browse through thousands of pool table lights, right in the privacy of your home. Many Web merchants even offer free shipping and live online customer service. Expect to pay from $150 for simple bar pool table lights to over $1000 for an elaborate Tiffany-style light fixture.

The right pool table lights can give your poolroom that ambiance of casual elegance or rustic charm that you desire as well as providing the lighting necessary to play your best game of pool. Shop carefully; consider all your options, and you'll enjoy your pool table lights fixture for many years to come.

About The Author
Richard Aubin runs and maintains the Kicking And Banking Secrets website. You'll find free video previews and information on a complete home study course for diamond systems mastery. Visit http://kickingandbankingsecrets.com for more details.

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, September 02, 2011

Rustic Stone House Signs

You may own a remarkably constructed, attractive house that is perfect from every angle. The outside of the house is designed to demand a second look from anyone passing by. So it's important that people know the name of the particularly well-constructed house. Also anyone visiting the house should easily be able to locate it hence putting up your house name or street address in a legible and presentable manner is of utmost importance.

Among the commonplace options available for choosing the type of house sign or plaque for the house is a metal sign that might rust after sometime or the wooden signs that could crumble and become illegible. Therefore a solid everlasting piece of stone to display the name of one's house is essential. Our handpicked stones express a lavish, individual view about the house and provide a high-quality first hand _expression of the owner.

The natural unpolished stones are perfectly resistant towards any type of corrosion or decay that could occur in our lifetime. Once the desired inscription is engraved on the stone and is mounted on walls or the sides of the door or at any other place of owner's choice it stands there with out any cause for concern. Unless some one intentionally removes the plaque or house sign from its place there is no need to worry about the sign. Another added advantage of slate signs is that it is almost maintenance free. It can stand all weathers and climatic condition with out getting damaged.

The house owner's name and address written on a stone and slate plaque also gives an impression of the solid personality and individuality of the owner. Since the stones come in varying sizes, and shapes its very simple for anyone to find a plaque or freestanding stone to suit their individual tastes and preferences. Any design or text, as per the choice of the client can be inscribed on stones. The names and addresses along with any specific graphics can be engraved permanently on slate pieces. The wide variety of fonts is available for customers to choose the typeface that best suits their taste.

Lots of endeavor to get the finest quality of stones ensure that our clients get best available quality of the material. Also before inscribing finally on the slate, a proof reading of the artwork and chosen stone by the client makes sure that there are no problems after the job is done. Also the delivery service is very prompt so that there are no discrepancies later.

Adding to already existing qualities of a stone plaque is the fact that is comes at a very genuine price. The price tag of a slate house sign is set by the size of sign not the text engraved, although images may cost more and require artwork to copy, hence is easily affordable by anyone aspiring to give a smart look to the outside of their house.

About The Author
Mansi Gupta writes about house signs in stone. Learn more at http://www.rusticstone.net.

Labels: , , , , ,

Cat Decorating - Protecting Your Pet

Interior Decorating for Cat owners


Protecting your pet

If you own a cat, then designing the décor of your home will require taking several precautions in order to protect your pet from harm. Glass items should be avoided both because they are easy to shatter, and because fragments of glass can then become embedded in your cat's skin. Other items to avoid are those that have sharp edges, spikes, or that have small pieces which can break off and be swallowed.

You should also consider whether any object you bring into your home would be unhealthy if eaten by the feline. These items may include plants, flowers, and scented candles. Cats are fairly self-sufficient, as well as intelligent, however they are also curious, and you do not want to give them any easy method for hurting themselves.

Cats are fascinated by string, as part of their inherent instinct to kill snakes. This fascination may carry over to electrical wires. If you catch your cat attacking or playing with electric cords you should stop them immediately. This is a very dangerous problem that can not only result in the cat electrocuting themselves, but also in causing a fire. If your pet persists in this problem, one way to protect your wires is to wrap them in duct tape. This will make them harder to break through and less appetizing for a cat to chew on. There are also many natural sprays which have specially formulated smells that will cause a cat to avoid an area in which it is sprayed.

Curtain cords hold much the same fascination that electrical wires do, and they can also be a danger from strangulation. If you have rope that dangles too far from your curtain, the cat may attack it, causing it to tangle. If the cat becomes caught in the tangle itself, it can be very dangerous. Long hanging cords should be tied up out of the cats reach, or cut so that they do not dangle where a feline can reach them.

The level of caution you should use is based upon your individual cat. Monitor your pet and your home, and change your setting as necessary. Always use caution when bringing a new object into an area, and be certain you don't introduce anything which can be harmful to the cat. Mostly, just use common sense and try to remove any obvious hazards to where they can't be reached.

About The Author
Joey Lewitin is one of the authors that adds helpful home decor resources to the site http://pebblez.com/information/home-decorating-idea.html.

Labels: , , ,

Thursday, September 01, 2011

Weed Control Facts - Winning the Battle of the Weeds

Keeping your landscape plantings, flower beds, and nursery crops free of weeds is a battle, but if you approach it with a strategic plan, you will prevail. In order to develop a plan, you first must understand how weeds work, and what kind of weeds you are dealing with.

Basically weeds grow either from seed, or they reproduce from their roots. As the roots grow outward from the parent plant, new plants sprout up from the lateral roots, creating more parent plants and the process continues and the weeds thrive. Weeds that tend to reproduce from the root are usually more difficult to control.

Weed control facts? Weeds are plants, and they function just like the desirable plants in your yard. They need water, sunlight, and nutrition to survive. Of these three key survival needs, the easiest one for a gardener to eliminate is sunlight. Through proper mulching you can eliminate the sunlight.

But first, let's look at the steps you should go through before you mulch, then we'll discuss the best mulching techniques to use. In order for your weed control efforts to be truly effective, you should do everything in your power to make your gardens as weed free as possible before you plant or mulch. There are a couple of ways you can go about this, either organically or with chemicals. I don't like using chemicals, but I do use them for weed control, and I use them for pest control when necessary.

I'll discuss organic control first. The first thing you should do is remove all unwanted vegetation from your planting area. Using a hoe, spade or other digging device, undercut the roots and remove the undesirable plants, roots and all. Then you should work the soil by rototilling or turning the soil by hand.

Once worked, let the soil sit for four days or so, and work it again. Keep doing this over and over as long as time permits. This process serves two purposes. It brings the roots that were left in the soil close to the surface so they can be dried by the sun, which will make them non-viable, and it disturbs the weed seeds that have started to germinate, which makes them non-viable as well. The longer you continue this process the more weeds you are eliminating from your garden.

Weed control facts? Depending on the time of the year, there are a few billion weed seeds drifting through the air at any given time, so to think that you can eventually rid a garden of weed seed is false thinking, but at least this process is effective for the remaining roots, which are the most difficult to control.

With that process complete, go ahead and plant your garden. When you're done planting you can either mulch the bed, or keep turning the soil on a weekly basis to keep it free of weeds. Most people opt to mulch. Not only does mulch help to control the weeds, but if you select a natural mulch it also adds organic matter to the soil which makes for better gardening results down the road.

Before mulching you can spread newspaper (7-9 layers thick) over the soil and place the mulch over top of that. The newspaper will block the sunlight from reaching the surface of the soil and help to keep weed growth to a minimum. The newspaper will eventually decompose, and not permanently alter the make up of your garden. Paper grocery bags also work well, so the next time you hear, "Paper or Plastic?", you'll know how to answer.

What about black plastic, or the weed barrier fabric sold at garden centers? I don't like either and I'll tell you why. For one, neither one of them ever go away, and the make up of your garden is forever altered until you physically remove them, which is a real pain in the butt.

Weed control facts? Plastic is no good for the soil because soil needs to breathe. Plastic blocks the transfer of water and oxygen, and eventually your soil will suffer, as will your garden. It's all right to use plastic in a vegetable garden as long as you remove it at the end of the season and give the soil a chance to breathe.

Weed barrier fabrics allow the soil to breathe, but what happens is that when you mulch over top of the fabric, which you should because the fabric is ugly, the mulch decomposes and becomes topsoil. Weeds love topsoil, and they will grow like crazy in it. Only problem is, they are growing on top of the fabric, and you are stuck with a ton of problems, like a weedy garden, and a major job of trying to remove the fabric that is now firmly anchored in place because the weeds have rooted through it.

Weed fabric is also porous enough that if an area becomes exposed to the sunlight, enough light will peek through and weeds below the fabric will grow, pushing their way through the fabric. I don't like the stuff. I've removed miles of it from landscapes for other people because it did not work as they had expected.

Weed control facts? Controlling weeds with chemicals is fairly easy, and very effective if done properly. I know that many people don't approve of chemical weed controls, but millions of people use them, so I might as well tell you how to get the most effect using them.

There are two types of chemical weed controls, post-emergent, and pre-emergent. In a nutshell, a post-emergent herbicide kills weeds that are actively growing. A pre-emergent prevents weed seeds from germinating. Of the post- emergent herbicides there are both selective and non-selective herbicides. A selective herbicide is like the herbicides that are in weed-and-feed type lawn fertilizers. The herbicide will kill broad leaf weeds in your lawn, but it doesn't harm the grass.

One of the most popular non-selective herbicides is Round-up®, it pretty much kills any plant it touches. Rule number one. Read the labels and follow the safety precautions!!! Round-up® is very effective if used properly, but first you must understand how it works.

Round-up® must be sprayed on the foliage of the plant, where it is absorbed, then translocated to the root system where it then kills the plant. It takes about 72 hours for the translocation process to completely take place, so you don't want to disturb the plant at all for at least 72 hours after it has been sprayed.

After 72 hours you can dig, chop, rototill, and pretty much do as you please because the herbicide has been translocated throughout the plant. The manufacture claims that Round-up® does not have any residual effect, which means that you can safely plant in an area where Round-up® has been used. However, I would not use it in a vegetable garden without researching further.

No residual effect also means that Round-up® has no effect whatsoever on weed seeds, so there is absolutely no benefit to spraying the soil. Only spray the foliage of the weeds you want to kill. Be careful of over spray drifting to your desirable plants. To prevent spray drift I adjust the nozzle of my sprayer so that the spray droplets are larger and heavier, and less likely to be carried by the wind. I also keep the pressure in the tank lower by only pumping the tank a minimum number of strokes. Just enough to deliver the spray.

Buy a sprayer that you can use as a dedicated sprayer for Round-up® only. Never use a sprayer that you have used for herbicides for any other purpose. Once you have sprayed the weeds, waited 72 hours and then removed them, you can go ahead and plant. Mulching is recommended as described above. To keep weed seeds from germinating you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide.

Depending on the brand, some of them are applied over top of the mulch, and some are applied to the soil before the mulch is applied. A pre-emergent herbicide creates a vapor barrier at the soil level that stops weed seed germination, and can be very effective at keeping your gardens weed free. They usually only last about 5 or 6 months and need to be re-applied.

Visit a full service garden center and seek the advice of a qualified professional to select the pre-emergent herbicide that will best meet your needs. Never use a pre-emergent herbicide in your vegetable garden, and be careful around areas where you intend to sow grass seed. If you spill a little in an area where you intend to plant grass, the grass will not grow. They really do work.

That's what I know about weed control. Read this article several times. Your success depends on getting the sequence of events correct.

You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the contact information at the end. Website URLs must be active links. You are welcome to use this article with an affiliate link, http://www.freeplants.com/resellers.htm

About The Author
Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his most interesting website, http://www.freeplants.com and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter. Article provided by, http://gardening-articles.com/.

Labels: , , , , ,