Leveland Garden

Fall is the official season of complaining about too-early retail holiday displays – I heard ‘doorbuster’ on Labor Day – but if you have trees and you don’t have alawn service, then you have work coming up and need tools to do it.

One of the main tools, and signature sound of autumn in leaf country, is the din of the landscaper’s backpack blower.

A blower isn’t just an autumn, or even purely landscaping tool, and if you’re looking into buying one, here are a few tips.

What to Look for?

The main thing I use my blower for is after mowing the grass. Even mulching mowers leave clippings on walks and driveways and the fastest way to clean surfaces is to blow the grass back into the lawn where they belong.

So, if you’re standing at the mountain of boxes looking at piles of blowers in the Big Box store (or digital pile online), the first thing to look for is the blower’s air volume or CFM (cubic feet per minute). All other things being equal, how much air comes out of the nozzle

Creating your own gutter garden is a great way to re-purpose worn out gutters to create a beautiful garden within a limited amount of space. Gutter gardens have been growing in popularity as city dwellers search for new ways to bring plants into their backyard. The best news is that this DIY project won’t cost you a ton of money and it’s a great way to take advantage of vertical spaces by securing your gutters vertically on a trellis or fence.

Whether you choose to fill your gutters with flowers, or edibles like strawberries and herbs, a gutter garden is sure to be a great addition to your patio, deck or backyard. Let’s get started!

Materials You’ll Need:

• Gutters cut into equal sections
• Gutter end caps (both right and left end caps!)
• PVC glue
• Mounting brackets and screws
• Handsaw
• Electric drill and drill bit, screw
• Potting soil, flowers, and edibles of your choice.

Steps to Take:

1. Clean out your gutters and clear them of any grime, dirt and flaking shingles. If you think that your gutters were painted with lead paint, do not use them as a planter for any edibles.
2. Cut

Living in an urban environment is not the same as living in a house and having a garden yard. While it is true that the urban environment doesn’t quite present the same possibilities, there is one option you can consider and that is designing your very own rooftop garden.

All you need is a roof that can support gardening conditions and the environment and you are good to go. It doesn’t take much to get the project going. In fact, it’s a relatively easy endeavor, which mostly requires motivation and a clear vision of what you want to achieve. Following some basic tips from Handy Gardeners Ltd. on how to get started and easily create your very own green retreat in the middle of the city.

Here is what areas of your rooftop garden you have to work on:

Floor

A garden space is not all about the plants and greenery you have there; it is also about having the right flooring to add accent or to simply look good. Concrete pavers are most commonly found on condos, but those contribute to a

Can cordless lawn care tools really cut it for your lawn care? I tried out DeWalt’s new 40-volt string trimmer and the answer is YES.

It just doesn’t add up that you can get internal combustion, gasoline-powered performance out of a box (battery) with very little noise or smoke or spark plug to change.

So if you’re thinking about replacing some of your landscaping gear that has gone kaput over the summer or are looking for end-of-season deals that might pop up, you may be well served by going cordless on your next trimmer, on sale or not.

But of course, there’s a catch.

DeWalt’s DCST990H1 trimmer promises ‘guaranteed gas performance’ and while it delivers, there should be about 80 asterisks after that claim. The good news is that it is mostly good news.

First on the money you’ll spend on a new energy platform: It delivers. I’ve trimmed and edged healthy, tall grass many weeks past due of a typical maintenance mow and I got awesome results.

While the unit is heavier than my gas models, the balance is good both cutting horizontally

Are you looking for a privacy fence or a fence that will keep your pets where they belong? What about a fence that adds curb appeal to your home? No matter what your fencing needs are, there is a fence style to match.

Consider the following four fencing ideas to help you choose the best option:

1. Wood Fences

If you’re looking for a great, all-purpose fencing material that comes in a variety of styles, wood fences are the perfect choice. Picket fence to split rail to privacy fence all serve a variety of different needs while utilizing the same versatile material. Once installed, you can paint, stain or finish the fence any way you desire. These fences serve a variety of purposes from boundary markers and pet fences to privacy barriers. Wood fencing can also be a budget-friendly option.

Wood fencing can also have a few drawbacks. While they can often be less costly to install, the maintenance costs will add up over time. You may find that over the life of the fence, wood costs more to maintain than other maintenance-free options that don’t require as much care.

The key element to a Mexican-themed garden is a space that offers a relaxed atmosphere to dine and socialize. Southwestern gardens pull influence from Spanish Colonial and Moroccan architecture and style. To stay true to the design, remember to incorporate a vibrant color scheme like bright yellows and warm reds. Another element that should be incorporated in aMexican garden design is water. South westerners use water to symbolize the livelihood of their community. You can add a well for a traditional feel or a water fountain for a modern touch.

Below is a list of other cultural decor ideas that will have your outdoor space looking festive and ready for some awesome barbeque fiestas this summer.

Mexican Plants for Your Garden

Cacti, fruit trees and broad leafed plants—like birch, elm, oak, and maple—are plants typically found in the Southwest. Again, allow your plants to add color to the space. Tropical plants that offer a vibrant hue can add a lot of personality to your garden. When you visit your local plant shop, talk to someone who can educate you

Gardeners wishing to grow beautiful flowers or lush vegetables need helpful creatures burrowing in their soil. Earthworms provide important services as they live beneath the soil surface. Not only do these annelids work to break up the soil and make it lighter, but they also help make soil richer. Enriched soil helps plants grow more energetically. Explore these outdoor home improvement helpers to learn how they benefit growing areas.

All About Earthworms

Earthworms exist in the soil throughout the earth in many different climates. As earthworms live in the soil, they engage in several different beneficial activities that help make soil better for growing plants. Earthworm movements through the soil help to break it up and aerate it. This aeration makes the soil better for plant growth. As earthworms consume dirt and other microorganisms present in the soil, they produce castings, which help make the soil richer.

How Earthworms Work in the Soil

Earthworms make extensive tunnels in the soil as they move. These channels are effective for loosening the soil, which helps plant roots grow and take hold in the ground. The channels also allow

Landscape timbers give every homeowner the ability to turn their eyesore exterior into a landscaping masterpiece. Landscape timbers present a challenging DIY project, but one any determined landscaper can handle.

To simplify, landscape timbers are used to build planter boxes and raised beds for gardening. They are also used to separate plants from other common areas of the yard, to build a retaining wall, reinforce a slope, make garden steps or build a picnic table and landscape paths.

The possibilities are endless, but before you go and purchase landscape timbers, make sure you read all there is to know about this highly attractive landscaping feature.

Landscape Timber Basics

There are certain landscape timber basics all must know before embarking on such a landscaping project. Like many other home materials, landscape timbers come in a variety of colors and materials. They are similar to wood planks in that many of them come in 4-foot or 8-foot lengths. However, the primary difference is that landscape timbers are flat on the bottom and top. As you can imagine, this makes landscape timbers ideal for building or stacking.

There are

Landscaping is supposed to be fun and give you an outlet for a relaxing afternoon alone or a fun activity with the kids. The second landscaping turns into an actual job, much like a career, the passion starts to take a turn for the worse.

It’s not always obvious when your yard or landscaping mentality takes a turn, but there are a few telltale signs that you have become a lazy DIY landscaper. If you notice any of these unpleasant landscape features or habits hitting your yard, then it’s time to step up your game and make sure your yard doesn’t turn into the eyesore of the community.

1. You Water Your Lawn at Night

I understand that watering a lawn at night is probably the easiest time to get it done. After all, we like to enjoy the sunlight, get our errands done or more often than not, work to pay the bills. Sadly, your landscape, grass, bushes and flowers don’t care for evening feedings.

Instead, you should water your lawns during the day, preferably early to mid morning. This lets the grass grow for

We could all use extra space and a great way to add some storage without taking up valuable square footage within the home is by building an outdoor storage shed. Building a shed is a fun DIY project that any DIYer can accomplish. All you need are the steps to construct it yourself. Let’s get to work. 

Get the Permit

Before you begin, you’ll need to get a permit for the storage shed. Details of this can be obtained through a homeowner’s association, if you have one, or your county’s building department. The cost of a permit varies depending on the square footage of your intended project, but small outbuildings or sheds can be permitted for as little as $100.

Decide on Material

Shed materials have come a long way over the years. Steel used to be quite popular, since it’s easier and cheaper to construct. However, over the years, homeowners are moving away from the cold design of steel and migrating towards wood or vinyl. If properly constructed, wood or vinyl can hold up against the most

One of the most evident problems Americans face is storage. Oftentimes, it doesn’t even matter how big or small your house is. One way or the other, storage issues creep up, whether it be in the garage, kitchen, bathroom or living room. It’s time to broaden your horizons and look outside the home for functional and creative storage options.

Outdoor storage sheds are the perfect solution for anyone who needs to clear out space within the home. But that’s not all outdoor storage sheds can do for owners and renters alike. Below are four benefits of outdoor storage sheds, as well as shed basics, including types, costs and designs.

Types of Outdoor Storage Shed

The trick when choosing the right storage shed is figuring out what you need it for. Some homeowners love to garden. It gives them peace of mind, but sadly, when it’s all said and done, there is nowhere to put everything. Others just need to clear out space in the basement or garage and start using both for their original purpose.

There are numerous types of outdoor storage sheds:

Storage (Original)

Often, homeowners decide toremove a tree but leave the stump behind. While there is nothing wrong with this temporary solution, it certainly isn’t a good long-term plan. Not only are tree stumps unattractive, they can also be a hazard on your property. They also attract insects, and they make mowing the lawn more difficult. Here are some tips for removing tree stumps as well as what to expect if you have a tree stump professionally removed.

Drill holes and pack with salt

If you want to remove a tree stump on your property without spending a lot of money or investing a lot of effort, one of the simplest options is to drill holes and pack them with salt. Using a standard drill, you will start by boring 20 or more holes into the top and the sides of the stump. Then, pack each hole with any kind of standard table or rock salt. The chemical makeup of the salt will draw out all of the stump’s moisture, effectively killing it. To speed up the process, you can cover the stump with a sheet of plastic for a