To grow lettuce or any other vegetable, you need to have good soil. For lettuce, keep the nitrogen level high by using 30-10-10 NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) fertilizer. This will provide the lettuce with the nutrition it needs to produce healthy leaves.

Plant the seeds about 1/8-3/8 inch deep, separated by 6-12 inches (2-3.5 m) from the next plant. Romaine does fine at the smaller spacing, but crisp lettuce needs more room. If you plant in rows, keep the rows separated by about 20 inches (6m). Keep in mind that seeds shouldn’t be planted too early, since they’re subject to cold damage.

Keeping the soil moist but not soaked is good. Lettuce doesn’t have very deep roots, so it needs to find moisture near the surface. Still, try to keep the water off the leaves and onto the soil, except for the occasional washing. Wet leaves encourages disease, especially when they’re moist during nighttime temperatures.

Since their roots aren’t very deep you’ll also need to be diligent about weeding around lettuce plants. Many grasses and other plants can compete well because their roots go down to deeper soil. Infrequent but deep watering, letting the top layers dry out, will give most an advantage. But lettuce doesn’t have that advantage, so you’ll need to help them.

Like most vegetables, lettuce plants also have problems with diseases and pests. In their case, the variety is quite large. Many insects find the leaves irresistible and the folds offer many places for fungi to grow.

Aphids, flea beetles and leafhoppers are common problems. Slugs are even more so. Cutworms are often seen. Washing with a high pressure hose can help temporarily, but be sure to do it early to give the leaves time to dry before nightfall. A good insecticide lightly applied will keep them under control for the long term.

Anthracnose (Microdochium panattonianum) is a common fungal disease. It can stay alive in unplanted soil for many years, so don’t assume you’re safe because your garden is new. Bottom rot (Rhizoctonia solani) is another common fungus. It occurs usually in soil that drains poorly. Keeping the foliage dry and planting in good soil will help to reduce the odds of being infected.

Another common problem with lettuce is bolting. Bolting is not a disease or pest but occurs when the plant goes to seed and the leaves stop growing. Bolting happens when the temperatures are consistently too high. To prevent this from happening, plant lettuce in shaded area or plant next to a shading crop such as corn.

With the proper preparation, planting technique and care you can have lettuce several times during a growing season.

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Chances are you don’t use this area as much as you could or should, but adding a patio cover will allow you to spend more time enjoying this area. And if you want it to look great and add value to your home, then you need to look carefully at wood patio covers. We all know wood looks great, but it will add functional benefits as well.

But first let’s talk about why you need a patio cover. The shade it gives will let you sit outside even when the hot summer sun is beating down. And the cover will protect you from other elements as well. Now you can sit outside and enjoy a warm summer rain while not getting wet. You can enjoy a cool shower while staying dry in the evening. And of course we already mentioned it will add value to your property.

If all this sounds good to you, then you simply need to decide on what kind of patio cover to get. We think that although there are many choices, wood is best because it provides flexibility. You can create a cover that is unique. Wood, when treated, will hold up well in all the elements. And of course wood will always look good.

Whatever wood you choose should go well with the look and feel of your home. Do you want to paint it? If so, consider using pinewood because it holds paint really well. But you can’t get pinewood with an anti-rotting treatment. If you’re not painting, you can use treated redwood, cedar or cyprus. And if you want to stain it, go with a long grained wood for a continuous flow and design.

Now let’s get creative. Add decorative accents and designs to your patio cover. It’s a little extra work but well worth it because you’ll be making your patio cover more stylish, and more valuable. You can use arbors and lattice. These are ornate, intricate and beautiful. Use them in combination to make something truly unique.

But be aware that when you start to look around for ways to do this, you’ll come across a lot of pre-made patio covers. Look carefully and you’ll find that most of them are not made from real wood. In fact some of them will require real wood for support. Before you buy something like this, realize that it would be better to use all wood from the start.

You’ll also find the same companies putting out wood patio kits for the do it yourselfer. These kits use wood tiles that interlock, in much the same way they are used for wood floors. They’re good because you can easily take them apart, easily clean them, and even move them somewhere else if that’s something you may need to do.

But if you want to get the best cover for your patio, a solid wood patio cover is certainly a good way to go.

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The first is the climbing vine. These vines can be made to climb up just about anything, but look exceptional when contrasted against the backdrop of the trellis. They’re also ideal for resting up against an area like a brick wall that some vines may have difficulty affixing to. With a trellis there’s very little training of the climbing vine necessary. Just plant it at the base of the trellis and in no time it will climb elegantly up the trellis, wrapping and twisting its way around it.

The decision of which climbing vine to choose still needs to be made though, and this will depend on the soil and lighting conditions that are present in the area you want to place your trellis. You’ll also need to keep an eye on the vine as it’s starting out to ensure it’s growing in the right direction. While it will have no trouble climbing a trellis as opposed to other structures, it may grow in a diagonal or even sideways manner without the proper early guidance, rather than straight up as is probably desired. This can be corrected with a bit of string or twine to help steer it in the right direction.

Climbing vines are not only a beautiful addition to a home, but they also have an insulating quality when placed right near the house. Other placement options for a trellis with climbing vines could be your carport, where the trellis could be set to block off a portion of the open carport, providing shade for your car.

Your next options for trellis use are as a screen or barrier of some kind. You could enclose a small garden area or patio area with trellises for increased privacy and a great look. Many trellises exist that are suited solely for this purpose, with much narrower gaps between the wooden slats. These can be used in a variety of places to give an additional sense of security and privacy to your yard or home. The trellis can also be painted in any number of colors, as you may want a darker tone when using a trellis as a privacy screen as opposed to the traditional white trellis.

Finally, trellises can see use as a means of enhancing any container gardens you have or pool landscape. No matter the size of the container, you can take a suitable sized length of trellis and give that perfect finishing touch to your piece. Trellises are also functionally important for some vegetable gardens, specifically with tomato plants which often struggle under their own weight. Tying them to a trellis is the most logical way to avoid the plant becoming overburdened, while still keeping your yard looking fashionable.

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Container gardening is a great way to make the most of the limited space you have. Lots of people have houses or apartments with limited yard space. But with container gardening, they can enjoy plants virtually anywhere from their porch to inside their homes.

Many people have small container gardens in a sunny windowsill in their kitchen, or in a sunroom or spare bedroom. Some people even grow plants in a closet by using a grow light.

Being able to move your plants around is a real benefit of growing your garden in containers. When bad weather comes, you can move your plants indoors where they’ll be safe. Your plants can be moved with just a little effort if they are getting too much or not enough sunlight, or if you think they’d look better elsewhere.

Plants grown in containers don’t have the same issues with diseases that traditionally-grown plants have. Although some container-grown plants do get diseases, it is far less likely than it would be if those plants were grown directly in the soil. Potting soil is generally free of disease-causing organisms, so your plants will be safer.

Keeping your plants well-fed is also easier when they’re grown in containers. It’s much easier to ensure the fertilizer you use gets to your plants if they’re confined to a small area of soil. When you fertilize plants that are growing directly in the soil, the fertilizer may drain away or be absorbed by other nearby plants. This is not as likely when plants are grown in containers.

Of course, when the soil area is relatively small, there is a chance the fertilizer can be washed out of the soil faster. Because of this, you do need to fertilize more often than you would a traditional garden. But you can rest assured that your plants are probably getting more of the fertilizer before it does wash away than they would if they were in the ground.

You’ll also be able to extend the growing season of your plants when you have them all in containers. You can wrap the pots that your plants are in with blankets or other materials for insulation that will help keep them warm. This way you can easily start plants inside and then move them outside when it gets a bit warmer.

You can also use careful insulation to continue to grow plants after the first frost, and you can even bring plants indoors once it becomes too cold to keep them outside even if insulated.

One of the biggest benefits of growing your plants in containers is the fact that it makes gardening accessible to almost anyone. Handicapped individuals find growing their plants in containers makes it easier to locate plants where they can easily reach them. Many people in wheelchairs like to place their pots on a low table to make them more accessible. Elderly people who can’t work traditional gardens may find container gardening to be an excellent way to once again enjoy their favorite hobby.

Even small children find container gardening to be fun and easy, since they don’t have to have someone till the soil and there isn’t raking, weeding, and hoeing to worry about.

If your space is limited for gardening in a traditional landscape, then using pots instead is a great alternative to allow you to enjoy your plants.

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Its more than just a skill to grow beautiful ongoing Bonsai, its an artform. But need to learn those skills before you can call yourself a master of the art. One of the necessary steps in the process is to use supplies that are of good quality. If your supplies are inferior it wont help your efforts to achieve the results you’re aiming for.

With good supplies on available, whether that be fertiliser, soil mix, tools or whatever you will be able to concentrate on the job at hand without the supplies hampering the outcome. That’s one area of Bonsai growing that is taken care of.

Proper or good supplies means simply Bonsai tools and other supplies that are of good quality and appropriate for the task to be performed. You would not want your tree to suffer because you had soil that did not drain well or shears that are blunt and rusty.

You may think that it is not that important but I bet your plants would disagree with you.

I am not suggesting for a moment that a beautiful result hinges on you having the best of everything on hand and ready to go. It does help, but what is more important is the practising of the techniques over time. If you want to learn then you can learn and over time you will master the art.

You will have failures that will dismay you, but you will have successes that will outweigh those times. Those successes along with the sheer pleasure of nurturing a Bonsai tree from just a tree to a fully fledged Bonsai is what will keep you going.

Your Bonsai supplies will then be just another addition to your library of knowledge on the subject. When someone then asks you about Bonsai, you will have had the experience of success and failure to pass on your knowledge with the authority of one who knows.

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Parsley is a versatile herb that’s good for much more than just a sprig of decoration for sake of appearance. It’s great in dishes from chicken and lamb to cheese, and who hasn’t used a bit when preparing a fish dinner? It’s also a good addition to soups and salads.

One popular herb is thyme, the leaves of a small woody-stemmed plant. Thyme works well in meat sauces, delicate soups, or hearty everyday dishes such as tuna casserole. Whether grilled meats or gourmet cheeses, nearly every imaginable food can benefit from a little added thyme.

When you’re eating Italian food chances are you are enjoying basil. It is added to many dishes for improved flavor.

Looking for something with just a little more zest? Aniseed may be the perfect solution. The oil of anise is actually used in the making of artificial licorice because of it’s licorice-like flavor, and will add a whole new dimension to the most basic dish. The slender leaves of the tarragon plant are great herbs to add to fish or mayonnaise-based dishes because of their spicy flavor.

Growing culinary herbs is so easy that anybody can do it. They are actually one of the easiest plants to grow and need only sunshine, water and soil. They are very resistant to disease and can endure adverse conditions well.

Another popular favorite is coriander seeds, which are derived from the cilantro plant. Porks and curries taste fantastic with a little zing from the citrusy coriander seed. Their mild and sweet zest creates delicious chutney, as well. Another herb with a bit of kick is dill. It lends itself perfectly to dressing up a plain old salad or for use in pickling. Added to chutney in combination with olive oil, it can’t be beat.

Cooking makes heavy use of all the herbs that are derived from mint. Sage is one of the most popularly found in American kitchens, followed by rosemary. Peppermint is also great to add a zesty smell and taste to any dish. Any type of mint is a great complement to veal and potato dishes, soups, and even jellies and jams!

Less commonly used, but highly recommended for those seeking a little culinary adventure, is saffron. Reminiscent of a mildly sweet and pungent honey, it can add flavor to a dish you cannot get from other herbs. It is used to make the traditional Turkish rice pudding, yet can also add amazing flavor to fish or poultry.

No matter what your tastes are, chances are you will love adding herbs to your recipes. Which is why growing culinary herbs is a wonderful way to get the best of gardening and cooking. Try them once and you will use them again and again to transform every day dishes into culinary art.

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If you?re looking for a good do-it-yourself project that you can have done in just a matter of days and you feel like you?re being overcome with clutter in your home, then an outdoor shed project is going to be the project that you need. But if you?re thinking you?re going to need saws, hammers, nails, and other tools, you don?t need to think that at all. In fact, you can simply install a prefab metal storage shed that even the least carpentry inclined individual can install. All you need is the metal storage shed, a plan to put down some flooring if you like, and a few simple tools.

Putting up the shed

Let’s face it. If you were to have someone else do it, it would take a long time. There would be hammering, sawing, drilling, and all sorts of loud noises for who knows how long. You?d have to deal with the anxiety of having your building finished as soon as possible, but such frustrations as slow workers and inclement weather would be working against you. Before you would know it, you would have several weeks behind you and just half of a building.

Purchasing a prefab metal storage shed removes all of these frustrations. As a matter of fact, a metal storage shed will most likely last you longer than a wood storage shed or a shed made out of another type of material. They are also very easy to assemble and are more cost-effective. And believe it or not, you can do the entire project yourself. All you have to do is follow the assembly instructions and you are on your way to having yourself a storage shed in no time. It is a project that you can feel proud of yourself over and it is a project that is going to keep your life neat and organized.

However, you have to make sure that you choose a prefab metal shed that is the right size for the things you want to store. If you don’t have enough room, you’re still going to experience a certain degree of clutter that you do not want to have to deal with. The point of putting up the shed is to remove the clutter from your life, so making sure you have one of ample size is how you’re going to do that.

Neatness and organization

The project isn’t finished until you start organizing your home by placing items within your prefab storage shed. You’ll notice that by storing items in your shed, you’ll free up room in your home for those things that you regularly use. You can also free up room for new things that you need. One reason why some individuals do not buy new things is because they have no room for them. Now that problem is solved and you can enjoy a life that is free of clutter. If you need something, then you can simply go to your storage shed and get it. Once you start organizing one part of your life, you’ll notice that the rest of your life will become organized as well. You can then kick back and enjoy it.

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These days, such handsome attractions are not used by just the upper levels of society. Although they may seem somewhat costly to build, courtyard fountains and ponds are now available at prices that more enthusiasts can afford. As a result, lots of people are beautifying their domiciles with these additions. Happily these enviable showpieces can add value to a home.

Courtyard fountains and ponds can be found in many shapes and sizes. The choices go from the simple to the complex, and a large number of materials are available. Nowadays, cast stone is the material of choice. This derivitive of concrete can form practically any custom shape. Still very popular are courtyard fountains and ponds made out of granite or different kinds of concrete and marble.

Installing Courtyard Fountains and Ponds

It is very possible to install your own courtyard fountains and ponds, but it is recommended that you don’t do this work yourself. Instead, hire a professional for this detailed kind of work. If you should decide that this is a project you wish to attempt on your own, you will find that kits for smaller fountains and ponds are quite easy to install. Also, they are usually available at home improvement stores. To be sure of a quality installation for your own fountain or pond, it is suggested that you do a few basic things.

Before you start installing your own courtyard fountain and pond, call the local electric utility company. This is essential. If you will not be using solar energy, these fountains will require electricity; and, their wires must be safely placed below ground. Since most people are not sure what is buried on every inch of their property, it is best to call and find out.

Next, you will need to clear out the area to be improved. The installation of a courtyard fountain and pond will be most successful if large rocks, plants and any debris is removed. Since the pond liner that you use may be somewhat fragile, you will help to ensure its integrity by getting these possible hazards out of the way ahead of time. You definitely don’t want anything falling into the hole and damaging the liner.

All fountains need to be level for them to function properly. For that reason, you will need to be sure that all holes under your courtyard fountain and pond are level. It is best to avoid positioning sidewall stones until the leveling process has been completed. Your new system will operate best when the water is level. This means that the pump can operate as it was designed to do. Leveling the holes is a very easy operation. Fill each hole with sand. Next, put a board on the sand and then put a level across the board. Keep tamping until you find the board is level at all angles.

Lastly, you will need to read and follow the directions that came with your courtyard fountain and pond kit. By being attentive and meticulous, you will ultimately achieve the spectacle you desire - a lovely courtyard fountain and pond of your very own..

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Many homeowners would like to include landscape lighting around their home, but they are discouraged by the high costs of most landscape lighting kits. Fortunately discount landscape lighting that provides safe and quality lighting is now available.

Two categories of discount landscape lighting that may be suitable your budget framework and the structure of your home include Kichler and Malibu. Kichler discount landscape lighting includes a medley of cuts and colors. These low voltage lights are simple to mount and totally secure to use.

While many landscape lighting kits come with a variety of materials, that need to be dug deep in the earth, the Kichler landscape lighting materials only come with fixtures, low voltage transformers, low voltages cables, and low voltage in-ground mounting stems. The Malibu discount landscape lighting is also a low voltage lighting system that is great for landscape lighting beginners.

These lights come with easy to use programming controls and are simple to install. Even better, the Malibu discount landscape lighting systems creates a soft glow around your home.

Discount landscape lighting is absolutely the best selection for buyers who want an outdoor lighting kit, but do not want to pay the huge prices. These discount landscape options are also easy to use, safe to install, and can be carried to as many locations with no pressure at all.

If you would like the safety and warm look of landscape lighting don’t give up, plenty of discount landscape lighting options can be located through many discount landscape lighting websites. These lights are made from quality materials, can be shipped to your home, and best of all they will not break your budget.

Keep in mind that each discount landscape lighting kits have their own advantages and disadvantages. Do not get caught up with each and every feature. Spend some time with yourself and figure out your needs first. Then try your best to match your needs with the product; not the other way around.

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Gazebo landscaping and a beautiful oasis patio will provide the perfect setting for your next outdoor event. Flagstone landscaping would complete the look and feel of a tropical paradise. Your guest will feel comfortable and relaxed as they sit around an outdoor dining table enjoying the evening.

Designing Gazebo Landscape

By adding a gazebo landscape you will be creating another area, possibly away from the house or maybe near a pool, for entertaining or just relaxing. These sturdily built structures are attractive and also come in easy to assemble kits made of resin but give the look of wood.

A gazebo covering a jacuzzi is also a great way to stay out of the sun while relaxing in the backyard spa. With beautiful climbing plants, hanging flower pots and a few strategically placed candles you will have created the perfect romantic setting.

Long Lasting Flagstone Landscaping

Then, flagstone landscaping is another outstanding way to spruce up your outdoor living space. For a gorgeous garden oasis patio, this is one of the most impressive options. The stone that is used with flagstone landscaping is two inches thick but what makes the appearance so unique and appealing is that each stone is irregular. That way, you end up with a gorgeous surface for the patio, one that will enhance your garden oasis patio.

If you do a lot of entertaining you may want to consider adding an outdoor kitchen or fireplace. This is a great way to visit with your guests while preparing the meal. If the evening becomes cool the outdoor fireplace will warm the garden oasis patio nicely. A gazebo with a fireplace and spa would create the ultimate romantic space.

Consider adding an attractive storage area. When entertaining you do not want to have garden rakes, hoses or tricycles laying about. There are many storage solutions on the market that are attractive as well as easy to install. Find something that fits in with the mood you have created in your outdoor space. You may want something rustic or a more classic looking structure.

Visit your local home improvement center. They will sometimes have gazebos, storage structures, outdoor kitchens or fireplaces assembled so that you can easily visualize the finished product. By looking online you see many photos and find a design for your own garden oasis patio or gazebo landscape. You can even order online and have stone for your flagstone landscape shipped directly to your door.

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