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Fences a Tool for Home Landscape Privacy and Security

Fences, the word often times brings a certain type of fence to your mind, but you might be surprised at the many types of fences that you can put in your landscape and the many uses that fences really have. Fences are available not only in wood and in plastic, but also in iron, aluminum and in faux wood and in all types of fashions as well. Colors have widely increased in the last few years, and it is amazing what you can do with your yard for privacy, for planting and so much more around your lawn area.

When thinking about putting a fence around your lawn area for privacy you want to look at fences that are going to last a long time, and that are not going to rot away at least during your life time. Thicker woods, painted woods, treated woods, and plastics, iron, and woven type of fences are going to last a long time. When installing a fence for privacy you want to look at how sturdy the fence is going to be after installed, how pretty it will be in your yard and of course you need to look at the cost of the fence overall.

When thinking about putting a fence in your yard area for planting of gardens or for protection of your lawn from local pets and children, you might be able to consider a smaller fence, that is a little less secure, but that is still going to last a lifetime. There are chain link fences, plastic rail fences, iron fences, wooden spindle fences, even woven treated lattice types of fencing that is going to be a little less sturdy but that is going to mark the boundaries of where your landscape rock may sit, the plants grow and where you want the pets and children to stay out of.

Considering putting a wood fence around your yard or landscape area is a good idea. You will find that when you need to replace a portion it is going to be easy to replace and most likely less expensive at the same time. Think about the type of wood you are going to use. Treated lumber is known to last a long time. Other types of wood such as cedar, locust poles, chestnut and even redwoods are going to last much longer than your average pine is going to last. Investing in a fence can be a costly investment so you want to make the choice of a long lasting wood.

Think about how you are going to install the fencing of your choice. No matter what type of fencing material you are using, most all fencing has some type of posts that must be put into the ground to support the fencing. Remember, the deeper you put the posts, the most sturdy the rest of your fence is going to be. The higher your fence, the deeper you want the posts that are anchored to be in the ground. Privacy fencing can be some of the heaviest fencing, so you will have posts that are deep in the soil to keep the fencing from blowing over in high winds. Check out your local codes office for more detailed information about how to install fencing and what the local codes are for your area.

June 26 2008 | Landscaping | No Comments »

Gardening Equipment All Gardeners Should Have

Gardening equipment is something every gardener needs. At least that’s what we all say when we rush off to buy that handy new extra-light shovel that just went on sale! However, not every gardener has all the tools, or even the right ones necessary, and most gardeners will just make do with what they have. Most of the time improvisation is the key.

But there are a few basic tools that you will need to grow a garden. A rake, a hoe and a shovel are all pretty important. Pruning scissors are also very helpful and you should get yourself a quality pair.

Over the year, I’ve amassed quite a collection of equipment, to the point of not having room for them all in my shed. But out of all those tools, my favorites are an old pair of comfortable gloves and my trusty kitchen knife.

When I can’t find my pruning scissors, my kitchen knife takes its place and acts as a pruning knife instead. If I can’t be bothered to find my hoe, or shovel, I just use the tip of the knife to accomplish what I want. Then of course there are the times that I just can’t be bothered with even that, and use my nicely gloved hands instead to loosen the soil, or pull up weeds.

It probably sounds a little unorganized, but as you probably know when you’re knee-deep in the garden the last thing you want to do is drop everything to go find a piece of equipment.

However, that said, some jobs are easier with the proper equipment at hand, and it is worth your while to go and fetch it from whatever nook or corner that you stuffed it into. One of my favorite pieces of gardening equipment is the garden claw.

I’ve got two styles – one for standing work and one for kneeling. Stick the claw into the soil, give it a twist and pull out. It does an excellent job of loosening the soil and can really help with pulling weeds.

Really the key thing to remember about gardening equipment is that although we might want it, we don’t always need it. Besides it’s always a good thing not to get too attached to your gardening equipment, it makes life easier if you’re not always trotting back and forth between your work patch and the shed. Ultimately you’d not get too much done, (unless you’re using your handy garden claw!).

June 20 2008 | Gardening | No Comments »