David's Landscaping Blog July 2004 Archive

Overseeding Lawns
Is your grass not performing up to expectations? The thread I'm featuring today from the Landscaping Discussion Forum began with a question about conditioning soil. Indeed, poor soil is often ... Read More

Friday July 30, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Getting Creative With Paving Materials
"Some of the most inviting paths and interesting terraces I've seen combine two or more paving materials -- pea gravel and cobbles, stained wood and cut stone, brick and tile, ... Read More

Tuesday July 27, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

The Best Material for Landscape Edging
Ever wondered what the best material is for landscape edging? This participant in the Landscaping Forum sure did. And she researched her possible answers very well....

Monday July 26, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Catnip Plants
Most everyone knows that catnip plants drive cats crazy. But as Franny Syufy, About's Guide to Cats, reveals in her article on catnip plants, not all cats think it's the ... Read More

Friday July 23, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Landscaping Narrow Lots
Better Homes & Gardens furnishes this useful piece on landscaping narrow lots. When landscaping narrow lots, use "visual trickery" to make your yard appear bigger, while utilizing every square foot ... Read More

Thursday July 22, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Lawn Mower Safety
Lawn mower safety cannot be preached enough. About 230,000 people are injured from mowing each year in the U.S., according to the Jackson Channel. Don't let yourself or your children ... Read More

Tuesday July 20, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Moss Rose: Drought-Tolerant Plant
The annual pictured to your right, moss rose (Portulaca grandiflora), is a drought-tolerant plant. If you have a dry spot in your yard, an area blasted by the sun all ... Read More

Monday July 19, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Organic Lawn Care
This article on growing that green grass you've always hoped for focuses on organic lawn care. If you have the time, using compost, the staple of organic lawn care, can ... Read More

Sunday July 18, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Interlocking Concrete Pavers and the Portable Patio
Let's say you want a patio -- but for whatever reason, you don't want it to be permanent. Precisely this topic came up recently on the Landscaping Message Board. In ... Read More

Saturday July 17, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Lawn Insect Control
Cornell University offers these tips on lawn insect control. The tips are accompanied by a slideshow identifying the tiny pests lurking beneath your feet: grubs, chinch bugs, cutworms, sod webworms ... Read More

Thursday July 15, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Drainage Problem on Flat Land With Clay
A simple French drain won't always solve a drainage problem. That's the premise of this discussion in the Landscaping Forum, started by a member who has a drainage problem on ... Read More

Wednesday July 14, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Landscaping the Entrance Gate for Curb Appeal
"First impressions are important," begins this article on landscaping the entrance gate by Todd Steadman. It's good first impressions we're referring to in landscaping parlance when we speak of "curb ... Read More

Tuesday July 13, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Tips for Achieving a Low-Maintenance Landscape
While homeowners do want to perform the tasks of yard care properly, few wish to toil in their yards any longer than they have to. In this feature I offer ... Read More

Monday July 12, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

How to Make Wind Chimes
Would you like to add the magic of music to your patio or deck? Enter About's Guide to Family Crafts, Sherri Osborn. Sherri presents a piece that will show you ... Read More

Sunday July 11, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Planting Trees Wrapped in Burlap
Perhaps you've seen it on TV. Landscapers are sometimes seen planting trees wrapped in burlap. Ever wondered under what conditions this practice is healthy for the tree? See what our ... Read More

Saturday July 10, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Briggs & Stratton Corp Contest
Dianne Hadaway, About's Guide to Single Parents, announces a contest that will determine who is "America's Most 'Yard Smart' Woman." Briggs & Stratton Corp. runs the contest. "The grand prize ... Read More

Friday July 9, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

An Exotic Pond - Turtle Pond Facts
Do you love wildlife? Do you want to involve the kids in a fun learning experience. Perhaps most importantly, do your tastes tend toward the exotic? Fish ponds are so ... Read More

Thursday July 8, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Staining Wooden Products in Your Hardscape
Wooden products in your hardscape usually need to be stained, unless you are painting them. Do you need to stain a deck, fence, bench or arbor, for instance, this summer? ... Read More

Wednesday July 7, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Mosquito Control: Part 3
Do you feel helpless against the threat of West Nile virus? Well, you shouldn't. Learn what measures you can take against West Nile, including measures that involve mosquito control ... Read More

Tuesday July 6, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Mosquito Control: Part 2
About's Guide to Chemistry, Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., discusses the natural repellents for mosquito control. She includes a list of plant oils at our disposal and tells us how to ... Read More

Monday July 5, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Mosquito Control: Part 1
You remembered the hotdogs for your July 4th cookout, didn't you? But did you also remember to take action for mosquito control? After all, you want to eat, not be ... Read More

Sunday July 4, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Books on Desert Landscaping
About's Guide to Phoenix, Judy Hedding, has assembled a handy list of books on desert landscaping. Browse Judy's selections to see why desert landscaping is about more than just "sand ... Read More

Saturday July 3, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)

Summer Yard Care Tasks
In Monday's entry I offered a checklist for summer yard care. Today we'll have a look at a similar yard care checklist compiled by Steve Jones, the Plant Man.

Friday July 2, 2004 | permalink | comments (0)