Hidden in plain sight: Sheds in landscape gardening

All green fingered individuals will be aware that the humble garden shed can be a cost effective, economic and green-friendly way to boost both the storage space and yield of a garden. Unfortunately (and rather unfairly!), they have also gathered reputation for lacking a certain “aesthetic appeal”. While this may be in a fair assessment of a neglected garden shed, hidden away at the back of an overgrown and messy garden, it is most certainly not true for gardens and sheds on the whole!

As with anything else worth doing in life, getting a shed to become a beautiful feature within the garden it inhabits requires a little work…

Below are some of the top tips for making sure that your shed feels like it is ‘part of the furniture’, not ‘part of the problem’:

A little paint goes a long way ­– it’s amazing how many people complain about the “look” of garden sheds – when, in fact – they can look any way you like! One of the quickest and most striking ways to get a shed looking more to your tastes is to endow it with a quick lick of paint.

Stains aren’t always a bad thing – if paint and sheds are not to your taste, adding wood stain to the structure is another sure-fire way to give it a touch of elegance. In addition to enriching the looks and characteristics of the shed, staining it properly also adds a protective coat to shield it from the elements!

Grow for it – a great way to get a shed looking as though it belongs in a garden is to help the process along with climbing plants. Although this is not as quick of a fix as painting or staining the shed; this is because it is very important to do thorough research as to which plant(s) would be the best partner for the shed. This is not just for aesthetic reasons, but also because the wrong plant could potentially do some significant structural damage to the shed later down the line!

Get creative – although paint and plants are a great starting point for helping a shed to sit comfortably in a garden, the only real limit on what can be done is your imagination! There are plenty of outlandish ideas that could really help to bring a shed to life in its garden surroundings.

With a little time and effort, a shed can feel right at home in any garden…

Lawn Mowers Compared

Lawn mowers have a variety of features that you must consider when selecting a particular model. Important factors include the size of the mower, the engine type and the cutting method. Many homeowners are also concerned about the environmental impact of their lawnmower.

Push Mowers

A push mower is designed to be pushed by a single person. This type of mower may or may not have an engine. A mower without an engine has a blade assembly attached to the wheels. The operator pushes the mower, which causes the blades to turn and cut the grass. The engine on a push mower expends all of its power turning the blades, and relies on the operator to push the mower forward.

Self-Propelled Mowers

A self-propelled mower uses some of the power from its engine to drive the mower forward, so that the operator doesn’t have to push it. A drive belt connects the engine to the wheels, and a simple transmission allows the operator to select a speed setting. Self-propelled mowers typically travel 2 to 3 mph, and the top speed is typically 5 mph. These mowers require a more powerful engine than a push mower.

Riding Mowers

A riding mower has a seat for the operator. These mowers are self-propelled and self-contained, merely requiring the operator to steer the vehicle. A riding mower generally resembles a small tractor, although they may vary considerably in size. These models are suitable for large yards, sport fields and golf courses.

Cutting Style

Mowers may be categorized by their cutting style, consisting of cylindrical mowers and rotary mowers. A cylindrical mower has a blade assembly that rotates around a horizontal axis. The blades move against a fixed plate on the bottom of the mower, slicing the grass like a pair of scissors. This method makes clean cuts, but requires frequent adjustments to ensure the blades align properly with the plate.

A rotary mower uses a single blade mounted to a vertical shaft. The engine turns the blade, causing it to chop the grass blades. The maintenance for the blade on a rotary mower is much less than that required for a cylindrical mower, and generally consists of sharpening the blade periodically. A rotary mower requires a more powerful engine than a cylindrical mower, since the chopping action requires the blade to move at high speed.

Types of Lawnmower Engines

The engines for lawnmowers use gasoline or electricity. Gasoline engines are the most powerful engines, but they also require fuel. However, they also produce exhaust and gasoline can be dangerous to store. Electrical engines produce no emissions, but they require a substantial amount of time to recharge. Electrical engines also make considerably less noise than gasoline engines.

Physical Requirements for the Lawnmower Operator

A push mower requires a significant amount of upper body strength to operate. This is especially true when maneuvering the lawnmower in to tight spaces. A traditional lawnmower engine must be started with a pull cord. The operator pulls a cord quickly and firmly, which requires a good deal of arm strength. Many people are not able to start this type of mower. Modern mowers often have an ignition system, which requires the operator simply to push a button to start the mower.

For reviews of the latest lawn mowers, including the fiskars reel mower as well as other reel mower reviews, visit www.homeandgardenreviewblog.com

One of the tools you can use for landscape planning is landscape design software, and you don’t even have to get your hands dirty! There are many fine software packages available, and some are even free. However, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. A great package you can purchase is Landscape, Deck and Patio Designer™ by Punch Software. This software package is great for homeowners since it provides many great features and is not very expensive.

Features of Landscape, Deck, and Patio Designer

The software helps make your landscape design task easier in many ways.  It gives you the ability to start with a blank design, or to imsert photos of your yard and use those as the basis for your desig.  There is a large database of plants that are included with the software.  The database contains all the information you need including photos, descriptions, and growing zone information. One neat feature is that you can update the database to add your own information for plants that may not already be included.

The software includes some great tools for drawing your landscape design and for adding features suchas pools, retaining walls, walkways, and other items you want to include in your plan. If your yard is on a hillside, or you want to add some raised areas to a flat landscape, the drawing tools have you covered there too.

Once you design your landscape plan, the software will generat a list of materials for you that you cn use when shopping. You can use this list from within the software to help estimate the costs for your landscaping project.

Read More About Landscape, Patio, and Deck Designer

The features listed above are just highlights of what the software can do.  This is a full-featured package and a great tool for helping you design your home landscape.  For all of the details about this software, or to purchase, visit:

For those of you who do their own home landscaping, as with any profession, the right tools are important. To save money on the expenses associated with having an attractive landscape, it is important to have the right tools. By having some of the most common tools used for basic landscaping needs, you can accomplish most of the work required for maintaining your yard and enhancing your landscape.

Shovels and Rakes

These are the most basic of tools needed for landscaping. Every home should be equipped with these basic implements. They make just about every landscaping task possible. Shovels are used to remove sod and turn soil, as well as dig the holes necessary for planting trees and shrubs, Rakes are used to smooth out planting beds and prepare ground for things like sod without packing the dirt. Trowels and hand cultivators allow you to work in small areas that require more attention to detail such as digging small holes when planting a flower bed. The tools in this group are necessary for caring for, and improving any landscape.

Pruners and Hedge Shears

These tools are used to improve the appearance of shrubs and trees.  Their use helps keep plants from encroaching in other areas, and also to promote the overall health of the plants by removing dead material and allowing you to shape the plant as desired. There are hand pruners, tools that enable you to cut the smaller branches and are easier to use, loppers for getting thicker branches that are to large for pruners, and even pruning saws that can help you with the toughest of branches. Hedge shears are essentially large scissors and provide a way for hedges to be trimmed evenly faster than with pruners.

Lawnmower

This is one of the most common, and most obvious, of landscaping tools. It is used to keep the grass at a reasonable height, and to keep the lawn neat and healthy. Since mowing the lawn is something that you do frequently, choose a lawnmower that is easy to operate so that mowing the lawn is less of a chore. Along with owning a lawnmower, you might consider purchasing a weed wacker, which is useful in keeping edges that can’t be cut by a mower nice and neat.

Wheelbarrow

A wheelbarrow is an indispensable tool for the home landscaper. Wheelbarrows are very useful for moving heavy items to their proper places. They enable you to haul dirt and bring in plants. They make it possible to for one person to carry a load that otherwise she or he would not be able to manage. When shopping for a wheelbarrow, look for one with an inflatable tire.  It will be easier to push and handles uneven ground better.

Other Tools

As you work on your landscape plan and maintenance, you will undoubtedly have the need for tools you don’t have.  Other tools that you will commonly need are things like weed pullers, bulb hole diggers, and fertilizer spreaders.  Some tools are inexpensive and worth buying while others such as a post hole digger is something that you may use only once, and renting that might be a better idea. Other tools you will probably use are normal household tools like tape measure and hammer.

Conclusion

Once you have the tools necessary to take care of your landscape, they will make your work easier. Owning the most common tools can also save you money in the long run, as they can be used over and over again. Many of the more common landscape tools are fairly small in size and easy to store in the garage or shed.  Find a way to organize them so they are easy to get to when needed, and easy to find. Proper maintenance of your tools is also important. Keep them from becoming rusty, and make sure your lawnmower and other gas or electric tools are well maintained. Proper care of your tools assures that you will be able to properly care for your landscape.

An unattractive garden won’t usually hinder the sale of an amazing home. However, homes with beautiful gardens usually sell faster. This is the case in the Austin real estate market, and it is the case all over the United States. Japanese inspired gardens are becoming increasingly popular. If you’re interested in giving your house a competitive edge by adding some Japanese touches to your landscaping, here are some simple things you can do.

Japanese Garden Element Tips

Create a small pathway that divides your garden into two parts. There are several different kinds of gravel you can choose from to create your path. “Creek rock,” which is a type of gravel made of smooth stones collected from creek beds, will give your path a more authentic look. “River Run Gravel,” which naturally occurs next to rivers is also a great choice for a Japanese inspired garden.

Plant some traditional Japanese flowers like Japanese Wood Poppy, White Egret Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Cherry Blossom, and Lotus. When selecting the flowers you want to include in your garden, think about what colors naturally match each other. For instance, blues and purples go well together. Try to limit the number of different colors you include in your garden to three or four. A garden that has too many colors tends to be a little less tranquil than one that just has a couple of colors.

Consider planting Japanese Painted Ferns around the flowers in your garden. Each tiny leaflet of this kind of fern is purple, red, silver, and green. The sun reveals the multiple, brilliant hues of these stunning plants. They are most definitely a pleasant addition to any garden or landscaping. If you don’t have the space to plant ferns in addition to flowers, you could plant some very small bonsais.

Strategically place birdbaths, fountains, and statues in and around your garden. You can find many Japanese inspired birdbaths online. Small statues that are shaped like pagodas can be found at stores like Pier One and World Market. Fountains can be found at hardware stores. Sometimes a little bit of flowing water is the perfect finishing touch to any garden.

Make sure your garden does not become cluttered. Space everything you plant at least five inches you apart. When it comes to gardening, sometimes less is more, especially if you’re trying to capture a sense of tranquility and balance. There’s no need to go all out. Just plant some things you like, and have some fun increasing the value of your home with some elements of Japanese gardens!

Conclusion

Consider adding elements of Japanese gardens to your existing garden. When you are trying to sell your home, you want to gain advantages over other homes in your neighborhood.  A nice looking garden space can definitely make your home more appealing to potential buyers.