Front Yard Landscaping

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Because of the transpiration of a tree, especially in the hot days of summer, lawn and specimen trees must be watered at least every 10 days in summer to avoid trouble. Since the roots are deep, light watering just won’t do. The hose or sprinkler should be used for at least an hour. If the soil is hard packed, loosen it with a gardening fork.

For a large tree, drive or bore a number of 1 1/2 inch holes 3 to 5 inches deep and 3 feet apart, below the outer branches. Use a canvas hose or cover the hose with a gunny sack and let the water run. When planting new trees or small trees, if you put a few pieces of drain tile in the hole and put the hose in these, you can insure the water reaching the subsoil. Cover the drain-tile holes with stones to avoid evaporation.

Tips On Care

Certain trees will not live long if a fill of soil is laid over their roots, or if a terrace of blacktop, stone, brick or concrete paving blocks is laid over their feeding roots. Large, valuable trees should be protected with drain tile so that they will get water and air. The bark should be protected from dirt from a fill directly against it. You can buy metal tree wells, 3 to 7 feet across and 1 to 3 feet high, or build a masonry wall.

The wall can be capped with a circle of bricks or a low wall to make an extra seat on the terrace. If you have some surface other than sod or earth around the tree, see that it does not extend as far as the tree’s outer feeding roots, and leave a circle of natural soil around the trunk. This can be planted.

Care for your trees as injuries occur rather than wait to call in a tree surgeon and allow a weakened spot to remain untreated.  Remove all dead, decayed, diseased or injured bark.  Do this by removing the entire limb, or, on a large limb or trunk, dig out the decayed matter, sterilizing and waterproofing the cut surfaces with creosote and liquid tar. White lead or paint are not as good to use as they will not seal when used on damp surfaces. Fill deep wounds with concrete. Use a pruning hook carefully, avoiding bruises.

Front Yard Landscaping

Technorati Tags: tree care, watering trees

When trees grow naturally in the forest, the leaves fall around them, decay and form a good soil. The leaves also preserve moisture in the soil. On a lawn, however, the tree must compete with the grass for moisture and nutrients, and the leaves are raked up to prevent grass disorders, so that the successful gardener finds it wise to supply nutrients every two or three years.
 
Feeding should be done when the ground is workable, in the spring or in the fall.
A difficult but worthwhile method of feeding is to strip the sod from an area all around the tree extending at least 2 to 3 feet beyond the outer branches, since the root system extends this far. Apply stable or barnyard manure to this area, spreading it 3 inches thick and digging it in. Then firm the soil, rake it level and return the sod.

An easier method is to drill holes over the same area, 12 to 18 inches deep and spaced about 15 inches apart. Fill each hole with a commercial fertilizer (made up of bone meal, tankage, peat moss or humus) plus chemicals, in a formula containing 10% nitrogen,6% phosphoric acid and 4%  potash.  Many nurseries also provide stakes made from compressed fertilizer that you can drive into the ground around the tree.

Technorati Tags: fertilization, tree fertilizers

Sohodecor 2 Pack Grand Luxy Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Solar Path Light with 4 5 Inch Amorphous Solar Panel

Sohodecor 2 Pack Grand Luxy Stainless Steel Wall Mounted Solar Path Light with 4.5 Inch Amorphous Solar Panel

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Silky Telescoping Landscaping Pole Saw HAYATE 420 20 Feet 372 42

Features: New locking system. Optional sickle blade. Maximum working reach 24 feet. Approximate weight 3,970g (8.76lb). Comfort-grip handle with cushion tip. 6.5 teeth per 30mm (5.5 teeth per inch). 3-Extension model that extends to 20 feet. Extension range 80″ to 20-0″ (2,400 to 6,100mm). Comes with its own full length, hard plastic scabbard. High-tech 420mm (16.54 inch) length curved chrome plated blade. Limited lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship.

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SohoDecor 2 Pack Classic Distressed Iron DI Landscaping Solar Lights New 2009 Version with Ultra High Sensitive Amorphous Solar Panel

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Tree Gator 20 Gallon Treegator Original Landscaper 98183

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Pools and Spas Ideas for Planning Designing and Landscaping

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Pools and Spas
There are some good ideas and landscape ideas in this book for designing spas and pools. In the end I probably only spent 20 minutes in this book and didn’t get a whole lot out of it. We spent a considerable amount of money on our pool but we live in Arizona and the landscape ideas didn’t apply to this climate. Overall, lots of pretty pictures. 2 out of 5 stars.

5 Stars Another Winner in Pool Books!
I borrowed this book from the library (too many pool books are not worth buying), and spent the rest of the night looking at it. Great photo examples of various types of pools that are described in detail, along with chapters on Safety, Design, Landscaping, Materials, etc… One of the best! (Same review as Pool & Spa Planner by Better Homes & Gardens, because they are both great books!)

4 Stars Great read
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4 Stars We Borrowed Then Bought!
We also borrowed this from the library, but found we didn’t want to return it. We spent hours showing each other what pictures we really liked, got great tips on thhe issues the pool owner faces and have a real idea of what we need to consider. So, since we want to use this during the planning process, we bought it!

5 Stars Great info, great pictures, recommended resource
There are a lot of pretty home design books out there that have very little information tucked between the pictures. This book is full of information but also has a number of handsome photos of pools, spas, and water gardens which will give you ideas if you are planning a custom designed pool or tub. It’s a great resource for someone thinking of installing these features in their backyard, and it also touches on landscaping, lighting, and even sauans.

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