RecreationJungle

The temperature in the summer months – and the sun we get in my neck of the woods – makes it a perfect time to plant a big garden, put the wintertime tools away, and enjoy the warmth.

I’m a sharing person. I like to share my favorite finds so I thought I’d do it in a more public arena today. Let me know what you consider of these:

Cultivators

There are more than 10 varieties of tillers. Big tillers can be heavy and hard to maneuver so choose a tiller that matches your strength. You can purchase cultivators anywhere today. In stores or online. I found reliable high quality rototiller from the Rototiller Store. Check it out. The Rototiller Store is very informative and easy to navigate. You should check it out soon. I bet almost every tiller brand and special are listed at the Rototiller Store. You can’t go wrong with having all the deals and good prices in one place.

Need Energy?

Don’t read this if you don’t want to make more money. This is really a comfortable opportunity because it’s different. I am a MLM hater…a skeptic. But this one turned me around and I’m energized! This isn’t the answer to all your problems but it’s close. I recommend emailing the ‘a’ team to get a taste for free. You won’t believe this – but the drink will energize you for quite some time. No crash. The energy drink by efusjon only has 40 or 60 calories. Everybody should go check out efusjon at Startup4Less – I recommend running with the ‘A’ team because they are showing a ton of promise for the income side of things. This is a forced matrix mlm which means you can join and do nothing after getting 3 people to join and still make money…sounds too good to be true, but that’s what I’m doing. Review it!

Wood Splitter

Time to clean and prep the log splitter for storage. Maintaining a commercial sized log splitter can be annoying. Cleaning is good maintenance protocol. Visit the link I posted earlier for a good variety of low cost log splitters. I don’t know about you, but I am always on the lookout for good info. Their wood splitter buyer’s guide is easy to read. Don’t forget about the site when you go for your next splitter.

Copacetic! Those were my choices for the week.

The first thing to look for is the plant’s grade.

Nearly all bare root roses sold today are grown in the field and are approximetly two years old. They are sold in three main grades.

Grade 1 is the best and most expensive grade. In order to obtain this grade the plants are required to have at least three strong cains, two of which must be at least 18 inches in length for hybrid teas anf grandifloras. The canes should be at least 1/8 inch in diameter.

Grade 1 1/2 is the most popular grade due to it’s lesser price. In order to obtain this grade the plants are required to have at least two strong canes which must be at least 15 inches long for hybrid teas and grandifloras. The canes should be at least 1/8 inch in diameter.

Grade 2 is the least expensive grade. These plants are only required to have two canes 12 inches or longer. These plants can be a gamble as they may be stunted.

Note: Measurements are for plants when dug from the fields. Sometimes the plant sellers will shorten the length of the canes for easier handling. The number of canes remain the same and usually the thicker the diameter the better the plant.

There are three main sources for buying roses.

Nurseries are normally more expensive but are usually the best places to buy your plants. Plants are normally kept in sawdust thereby allowing you to inspect the roots. Plants with badly damaged roots are less likely to do well and may not make it at all. Additionally, a nursery usually carries a large variety of new and old standards. Finally, a good nurseryperson can provide advice as to which plants do best in your area and climate.

Mail order suppliers are normally less expensive and usually have a greater variety of plants than your local nursery, however you can not inspect the plants before buying and they sometimes arrive damaged. Furthermore, although most mail order suppliers are reputable a few are disreputable and ship very poor quality plants. Additionally, it is hard and can be expensive to return plants that you are unhappy with.

Supermarkets are inexpensive but usually carry a limited variety of plants. Additionally the plants usually come with their roots wrapped in plastic, therefore you are unable to inspect the roots for damage. Plants can be treated roughly in supermarkets, not only by the people that stock them, but also by customers. Therefore, there is a much greater potential for damage.

Should you buy newly developed varieties or the old standards?

Which variety of plant you purchase depends on your taste and what is available for your climate.

There are hundreds of varieties of roses, however I prefer the older time proven standards. They may not come in as many color variations but they are reliable, still come in a large variety of colors and are usually more heavily scented (I like to smell the roses). My two favorites are both red. The Chrysler Imperial is a full well shaped velvety dark crimson red flower with a rich delightful fragrance which grows on a heavily flowering medium height bush. Mister Lincoln has long buds with full open dark rich red fragrant flowers with long stems and grows on a tall bush with dark glossy leaves.

Roses, if properly cared for, can last years. Therefore, in order to obtain the most enjoyment from your plants it is a good idea to do your research. Spend some time looking at types, colors, shapes and sizes. Check catalogues, the internet, check out friend’s gardens and if possible go to an arboretum or nursery. Look at and smell the roses before buying.

Permission is given to reprint this article providing credit is given to the author, David G. Hallstrom, and a link is listed to http://www.nationalrealtorsdirectory.com the owner of this article.

David G. Hallstrom, Sr. is a retired private investigator and is curently the publisher of several internet directories including http://www.nationalrealtorsdirectory.com

There’s nothing worse than having to go out and paint a fence every few years. Up and down. Up and down. It feels like your arms will fall off! For those who hate dealing with the regular, routine maintenance associated with wood fencing, vinyl fencing is a solid alternative. It has some great advantages over wood with very few downfalls.

Vinyl fencing is a fairly new creation that was born out of all things – the PVC pipe industry. That’s right. PVC pipe is some incredible stuff. It’s not just for plumbing any more. Everything from furniture and robots to fences are made from this stuff, and there’s a good reason for it: It’s easy to work with, it holds its appearance and it’s simple to maintain.

Vinyl fencing has come a long way since it was first introduced. Earlier models of the fencing, made from PVC, were prone to break down after exposure in the sun. Now, specialized coating is used to protect the material’s form, shape and appearance. In fact, the vinyl fencing made today stands up better-than-well in the elements, but it did take some time for manufacturers to figure out a process to make that so.

Vinyl is a bit different than wood when it comes to fencing. It has its advantages and disadvantages. They include:
Pros:

* Vinyl is strong. It’s harder than break or tear than wood and it’s flexible, too. Considering its plastic qualities, it’s also very good at holding its shape.

* Easy maintenance. Vinyl only needs to be washed to maintain its appearance. There’s no need to paint it – ever!

* The color is the same throughout. Wood fencing can have one color on the surface and another inside. This will make scratches, dings, dents and especially breaks stand out more. This isn’t the case with vinyl. Vinyl hides imperfections well.

Cons:

* Movement. Vinyl expands when it’s heated. This means it can move. If it gets extremely hot, it can take on the properties no one wants to see in their fencing. The good news, however, is that this only occurs in extreme temperatures nearing the 200 degrees F range!

* Colors are limited. Because of the heating issues, vinyl fencing can only be found in light colors. It can, of course, be made to resemble wood, which is not a bad thing, but you won’t find it in darker, wood colors. And if you do, stay away!

Vinyl fencing is a great way to go for homeowners or businesses that don’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance. More expensive than wood or chain link, the costs can be justified by the fact this fencing doesn’t need to be painted or treated and it tends to stand up to the test of time better. It’s stronger and more durable and simply only requires a good cleaning to look brand new again. For many the investment is well worth the time savings vinyl presents.

http://www.vinylfencinghq.com

Many people love hanging out, relaxing, cooking, and even sleeping on their patios. So what do you do when it rains? To provide you shelter during rain people used patio covers. Patio covers block a lot of sun and water from the patio area. Many people enjoy their patios much more during the night time hours. There is one major problem with that. Mosquitoes can destroy a good comfortable location very quickly. So how can you prevent them from bothering your relaxation? Installing a patio shade will do the trick. Best of all shades are usually a quick and cheap fix.

Solar screens and shades have become very popular as of lately. They can indeed help cut down your utility bills. Shades are very effective for blocking heat. This means you won’t need to run fans or air conditioners to keep your patio area cool. Patio shades have been used for a long time during winter months to help prevent heat from escaping. It is said that using solar screens can reduce your heating bills by fifteen percent. A patio shade is a shade used to help keep your patio shaded making it cooler while blocking the sun’s rays. Nearly all patios are compatible with most types of shades.

Over the last fifteen years, solar energy has become a highly
flexible power source. One of the best ways to use it and cut
costs is go with solar lighting for your walkways.

A common misconception among many people is that solar energy
requires large, bulky panels to work. While this is true if you
want to produce large amounts of electricity for a structure, it
leaves out a large segment of cheaper solar users.

The solar industry has made major advancements in creating one
piece solar platforms that are cheap and can be used for
practical purposes. Using solar lights for pathways around your
home is one area.

Solar lighting is now the choice for gardens, landscaping and
lighting paths. Lighting products typically come in sets of two
to six self-contained lights. Each light typically is comprised
of a metal or plastic stem with a lighting mechanism on the top.
The lighting mechanism uses LED technology and is powered by a
small solar panel built into the top of the piece. The lights
can be purchased with or without backup batteries depending on
your needs.

Once you’ve selected your solar lighting pieces, you simply map
out where you want to add lighting in your landscaping. Next,
you put the solar lights in place by sticking them in the ground
to a point where they are snug and will not blow over in the
wind. Congratulations! You now have lighting for your pathways
that isn’t adding to your utility bill.

Your lights will charge during the day and light up in the
evening. Depending on the particular brand, the lights may stay
on throughout the night. Alternatively, certain brands will run
for 8 hours or so, which means they go dark around midnight or
one in the morning.

Maintaining your solar lights is very simple. You really don’t
have to do anything. If the lights start to dim or go out
earlier than usual, they are not broken. Typically, the problem
is you have dirty solar panels. Clean them off with water or
follow the manufacturer direction. Once clean, the lights should
work perfectly.

Using the sun to power your outdoor lighting needs is a great
way to highlight your home and save money on energy costs. Keep
them clean and the lights will last for years.