http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com en-us http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com N/A allan@ebookresellerkit.com Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:37:31 EDT 20 http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/494/1/Landscape-Maintenance-Service When you are in search of a landscape service for your home, there are quite a few things that you should keep in mind. After all, not all landscape services are created equal. Care for your yard should be something that you take seriously. After all, it provides enjoyment, beauty, and can even save you money on energy and food costs. If you decide to hire a landscape service, make sure you get the right one for you. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/493/1/Landscape-Design-Software One option for would-be landscapers is to plan out their design on landscape software. Most of the time this software has great features that can help you decide where to put different plants, and how different features would look in a yard. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/492/1/Tree-and-Shrub-Care-Programs There are many benefits associated with having a care program for trees and shrubs. Benefits include catching infestations early and identifying diseases while they are treatable and before they do too much damage. A caterpillar infestation can cause defoliation, and if you move quickly to avoid this, your trees will look much better for longer. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/491/1/Tips-for-Shopping-Smart-for-the-Garden The garden, whether it is a flower garden or a vegetable garden, is an important part of the landscape. And, like all features present on a property, it can be frustrating to do your shopping for the plants you need to make your landscape look great. By following a few tips, you can eliminate much of the frustrations associated with shopping for plants, and you can learn a lot about what you are doing, as well as find great deals and even save a little money. When you shop smarter your entire home environment benefits from the good choices that you make.   Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/490/1/Tips-for-Planning-Your-Landscape The first thing you should do when planning your landscape is to look at what you already have. Use a critical eye to determine what you like and what you dislike about the current landscape design. Also take into account how your home looks during different seasons. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/489/1/Tips-for-Keeping-Costs-Down-When-Landscaping Landscaping can be an expensive proposition. However, it is possible to keep the costs to yourself relatively low by paying attention to a few practices that can save you money. After all, the most beautiful landscape in the world can be a source of vexation if it costs you more than you can afford to put in and upkeep. By remembering a few helpful tips, you can save money on your landscaping needs, and enjoy it all the more. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/488/1/The-Principles-Behind-Japanese-Gardens Japanese gardens are becoming more and more popular as landscaping features. This is because Japanese gardens seem to have an inherent feeling of peace and calm attached to them. Additionally, if properly planned and maintained, they do not need to be expensive, nor do they need to be time consuming to take care of. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/487/1/The-Advantages-of-Edible-Landscaping There are many advantages to participating in the practice of edible landscaping. As one might imagine, edible landscape elements are those that can be used for food, as well as for ornamental beauty. Vegetables, herbs, and fruits can add variety and color to the landscape, and if well maintained, they can also look very attractive and even elegant in many cases. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/486/1/Selecting-Grass-for-Your-Landscape The lawn is the most dominant feature of the American home landscape. Most people have lawns to some degree. The lawn may have a flowerbed located in its middle, or it may be reduced in size by a patio, but it is, for the most part, ever present. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/485/1/Designing-a-Landscape There are quite a few things to take into consideration as you design your landscape. While creating your own design for your yard can be a very rewarding experience, it is important to carefully consider your plans before putting them in action. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/484/1/Pruning Like nearly everything else, it is possible to pay someone else to trim your landscape plants. However, it is much more economical to learn how to properly prune your trees and shrubs yourself. Additionally, the exercise gives some people great enjoyment, as it is an excuse to be outside and enjoy fine weather and fresh air. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/483/1/Protecting-Your-Landscape-from-Insects Insects can cause significant damage to your landscape. This damage can result in costs to treat the damage or replace damaged plants. Managing insect pests is a very important part of landscape maintenance, and requires that you take an active role in protecting your plants and caring for them. Be sure to know what you are dealing with beforehand, and ensure that you are adequately prepared to combat insect pests, whether you use natural methods or synthetic methods. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/482/1/Proper-Mulching Mulch is any type of material placed over the top of the soil to improve the soil. Mulch helps the soil retain moisture and can improve soil conditions. Additionally, mulch reduces weed competition by restricting the number of weeds that grow around your landscape plants. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/481/1/Build-Wooden-Fences While chain link fences are use in some landscapes, most people prefer to make use of wooden fences when building an attractive landscape. This is because wood is a rather versatile material that can be made to look a variety of ways. Installing your own wood fence requires time and energy, but it is often worth it as you can have privacy without detracting from the look of your landscape. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/480/1/Plants-for-all-Types-of-Dry-or-Drought-Prone-Climates Perennials are not only great to grow in a variety of climates, but because they come back year after year, they are easier on the budget over a long period of time. Some of these plants include shrub roses like the Fru Dagmar Hastrup, which is a beautiful rose that is not terribly time-consuming to grow. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/479/1/Planning-and-Laying-Out-a-Flower-Garden A flower garden adds a great deal of variety and beauty to the landscape. Many people find that laying out flower gardens is a very rewarding task. And, while it is possible to create a very attractive flower garden without planning it out first, it is much more efficient, in the way of saving time and money, to make a plan for what you would like in your flower garden, and to have an idea of where you might like some of the different flowers. Then when you are ready to lay the garden out, you have a pretty good idea of what to do, and you are not bothered with having to re-arrange things to account for something that you may not have realized before. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/478/1/Organic-Landscaping Many people are becoming more interested in using landscape tactics that do not harm the earth. In addition to being great for the environment, organic landscaping can also provide benefits for your wallet and for your health. One of the most alarming things to many people is the fact that some pesticides and fertilizers can harm their children. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/477/1/Making-the-Most-of-a-Small-Yard A small yard does not have to be devoid of landscaping elements. There are plenty of things that can be done with a small yard to help it look nice, while not encroaching too much on usable space. The key is to plan well, and to choose plants and designs that are not too over powering. But, even though you may not be able to have large boulders or a sweeping flower garden, or a large pond, it is still possible to have a beautiful landscape that surrounds your home and helps you feel more comfortable in it. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/476/1/Lawn-Care-Basics Lawn care is often the most basic of landscaping chores. Taking care of the yard is practically an American institution. There is much pride in ensuring that you have a healthy and beautiful lawn. Additionally, it is satisfying to know that you can take care of your lawn on your own for much less than paying someone else to do it. Plus, you get that sense of satisfaction knowing that you did a great job on your lawn. But in order to have a great looking home landscape, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding lawn care basics. But once you have the basics down, and if you keep with them, there is no stopping you from having a great looking lawn. Teresa Ryan Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/475/1/Landscaping-with-Low-Maintenance-Plants The first thing to do is choose plants that require very little maintenance. For those who dislike raking leaves or pine needles, trees that frequently shed are not desirable. Plants like spruce and Alberta pine are moderate growers, and they do not drop leaves or needles as often as other trees. Teresa Ryan Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/474/1/Landscaping-to-Attract-Birds Birdfeeders are old staples for those who wish to see birds in their yards. When using feeders, they should be placed conveniently, and they should also be large enough to hold two to three days' worth of food. Placing birdfeeders in various parts of the yard can help attract more birds into your landscape. However, the birdfeeders should serve as supplements to the various plants in your yard that provide food and shelter to encourage birds to think of your yard as home. Teresa Ryan Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/473/1/Landscaping-Kits-to-Build-Your-Own-Pond Putting in a pond requires a great deal of physical labor to complete, even if you are using a kit. A hole still needs to be dug, and the proper components need to be placed. There is no easy way to put in a water feature. But, if you get a kit with step-by-step instructions, and you enlist the help of family and friends, it is possible for you to install your pond with relative ease and at a reasonable cost. Teresa Ryan Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/472/1/Landscaping-for-Energy-Efficiency When you landscape carefully, you can save money by increasing the energy efficiency of your home. This means that you can save money on heating and cooling costs by carefully planting trees, shrubs and even some grasses and vines. Landscaping can not only help decrease the amount of energy you use in both winter and summer, but can also provide an eye-pleasing surrounding for your home. This means that you can have an attractive home environment and save money on energy costs. And that is of interest to just about everyone. Teresa Ryan Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/471/1/Landscaping-During-Times-of-Drought Landscaping in a dry climate may seem to many like a hopeless proposition. After all, there are few plants that can thrive without water. However, it seems especially discouraging during times of drought, as one would expect that at sometime the climate should not be so dry. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/470/1/Landscape-Accessories When choosing your landscape accessories, it is important to focus firstly on how well the accessory fits into your overall landscape design. You want something that blends seamlessly with what is already there, and with what you have planned for the future. While small items such as birdbaths or a piece of driftwood can be incorporated rather easily, there are landscape accessories that should be planned in as part of the design from the beginning. Some of these big details are things like enclosures or stained glass windows, and some larger relief sculptures. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/469/1/Keeping-the-Weeds-Out One of the evils naturally attending any landscape endeavor is the fact that weeds need to be taken care of. There are plenty of ways to keep the weeds out, but chances are that at some point you are going to have to do some weeding. Even the best herbicides and the best-laid plastic liners are not full proof. Inevitably it will be necessary to pull weeds by hands. But by making sure that you remove the offending plants, you will have a better-looking landscape over all, and can maintain a well-groomed yard. Allan Wilson Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/468/1/Landscape-Architect Landscape architects can be very useful when it comes to using space. A square deck may save you money, but it may look out of place, and it may not be as usable as you would like. This is where a landscape architect can help. She or he can look at your available space, and suggest possible uses for it. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/467/1/Hidden-Costs-of-Landscaping Perhaps the most hidden of landscaping costs involves features that require lighting and water. Many people think only of the cost of the equipment, and the cost of putting it in (which is minimal if they put it in themselves). They fail to consider how much money they will spend in the form of paying for increased energy and water usage. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/466/1/Rain-and-snow-in-your-yard-landscaping Rain and snow are going to play a huge part in your yard landscaping decisions. For example you will have to plan for your yard landscaping with care. You should go to the library and take out some books on the subject. These yard landscaping books will help you to learn all of the most important points of yard landscaping so that you do not ruin your yard for good. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/465/1/Pool-landscaping A good pool landscaping design will make your pool the focal attraction and bring out so much more in your yard. If your yard is large you can consider adding gorgeous brick walkways to your yard around the pool. This kind of pool landscaping can lead to other parts of the yard as well. You can have a larger grouping of brick  on which you can place your patio furniture, a table and chairs can look fabulous. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/464/1/Landscaping-tree There is no better way to spruce up a new home, or an old one for that matter, than to use a landscaping tree or two. These trees can add so much to your home, in fact they can even add to the value of your home for when it comes time to sell. There are many different kinds of tree for you to use when you are in need of a landscaping tree and the choice is all yours. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/463/1/Great-landscaping-tip The landscaping tip that everyone can learn from is to always make your yard one that will look great at any time of the year. This can be tricky because in the middle of winter many things do not look so hot. This is why it is so important to learn about the kinds of plants and trees that will still bring beauty to your home in the depth or winter and in the summer heat. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/462/1/Landscaping-Supply Choosing the right landscaping supply store means thinking outside the box. You have to stop thinking like a regular consumer and start thinking like a person about to take on a he job and who wants to save some cash. There are many landscaping supply stores out there but only a few of them are worth visiting and these are not the ones that you see the ads for on TV. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/461/1/Why-use-landscaping-stones There are many reasons why  you should incorporate landscaping stones into your landscaping design. The main one however is for beauty, pure esthetic beauty. For a landscaping design to look perfect it needs to have layer and this can be a hard thing to achieve without the use of landscaping stones. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/460/1/Landscaping-software There are some fantastic landscaping software programs that will help you to design the backyard of your dreams but there are also some landscaping software programs that are a complete waste of money. The trick is to find out which landscaping software programs are good before you purchase them. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/459/1/What-is%A0landscaping-rock%3F You can use landscaping rock to add some depth and texture to your landscaping design. This landscaping rock can come in a couple of different forms, actually there are quite a few. Not only is there a find collection of colors of landscaping rock there is also several different kinds of stone to choose from. Different landscaping designs will require different landscaping rock. You can get small landscaping rock or larger landscaping rock. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/458/1/Finding-the-perfect-landscaping-plant There are many different kinds of landscaping plants for you to choose from and some of the best ones are the ones that you would normally never think of. For example if you want to have a gorgeous border you can use sage plants. This is the perfect landscaping plant for any home especially yours. You can do so much with this great landscaping plant. Not only can you make wonderful borders with it you can also add them to pretty herb gardens. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/457/1/What-does-your-landscaping-plan-need%3F There are a few different things that any good landscaping plan will need to be successful. First you should know what a successful landscaping plan is. To be successful a landscaping plan needs to be well thought out and all issues must be dealt with and accounted for. This means taking into consideration the amount of sun each are of the yard will get as well as how much water it will receive and where the water will sit. Drainage is imperative to any well thought out landscaping plan. You need to have the right kind of irrigation if you want anything to grow and flourish in your landscaping plan. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/456/1/Find-yourself-a-great-landscaping-picture If you can find yourself a wonderful landscaping picture you will be that much closer to designing your yard, just like that. This landscaping picture will give you all of the inspiration that you need to come up with the most gorgeous and eye catching ideas around. It is hard to think of all of the best landscaping ideas on your own, especially if you have never taken on a project like this before. So if you are new, do not worry, use a landscaping picture to help you come up with some fabulous ideas, in fact use a few! Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/455/1/Where-to-find-the-best-landscaping-idea-picture Where can you find a landscaping idea picture you ask? You can get a wonderful landscaping idea picture from many different places. Your best bet is to get as many as you can and take notes about which ideas you liked and which you really didn't like. This way when it comes time to start work you will know exactly what you want. You can even show your landscaper the landscaping idea pictures so that he or she can see exactly what you are talking about. This kind of communication is very important because the landscaping contractor may not know what you are talking about otherwise. This way he will see it for himself. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/454/1/Coming-up-with-your-own-landscaping-idea There are a few places that you can get some fantastic landscaping ideas and probably the best place is the internet. You will find hundreds of sites on the internet that will all have a great landscaping idea or two for you to take and make your own. It is important that you put a lot of though and consideration into the landscaping of your yard in the front and in the back so finding the perfect landscaping idea is essential to your success. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/453/1/What-kind-of-landscaping-equipment-do-you-need Everyone's home could use a little landscaping and if you want to do some landscaping you are going to need to have the proper landscaping equipment around in order to do it. There are a few integral pieces of landscaping equipment that you simply cannot do without. There are other pieces of equipment that are great to have but not absolutely necessary. And some of the landscaping equipment can be quite expensive. If you are going to be doing something that is not one of your regular landscaping jobs then you might want to consider renting some of your landscaping equipment rather than spending too much money to buy it. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/452/1/The-key-to-landscaping-design If you want to incorporate only the best landscaping design then you need to start thinking along the lines of unity. This is key to your landscaping design success and it will need to be applied to your entire yard, all around your home. Your entire properly will need to have a similar feel and look, if you have this your home will have a balanced look of symmetry and this will add all kinds of beauty to your home. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/451/1/Choosing-the-right-landscaping-contractor-for-the-job It is vitally important that you do your best to choose the perfect landscaping contractor to work on your yard or project. You cannot afford to choose randomly from the Yellow Pages when looking for a good landscaping contractor because with this method you have no way of actually knowing if they are any good at all. And you need your landscaping contractor to be good, very good. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/450/1/Choose-the-landscaping-company-that-will-do-the-best-work-for-you In this day of the information age it has never been easier to find out what you need to know in order to hire the right landscaping company for the job. No matter if your job is a small one of a large one you still need to make sure that the landscaping company that you choose is reliable and trustworthy and that they actually know what they are doing. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/449/1/Low-maintenance-landscaping-Chicago If you live in the Chicago area and you are interested in getting some landscaping, Chicago native plants are your best choices. If you choose native plants you will find that your garden or yard will be much easier to take care of as time wears on. At first working in the yard may not seem like a big deal but you may get sick of it when the bloom wears off the rose, no pun intended. This is normal, we start to take our yards for granted and it is not so much fun to work on the landscaping Chicago anymore. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/448/1/Is-home-landscaping-different-than-other-landscaping Home landscaping is no different than any other kind of landscaping. It is natural for people to want their home to look as fab as it possibly can, who does not want the kind of yard that the whole neighborhood is envious of? And he beauty of home landscaping is that it does not have to be hard and much of it can be done by you. All it will take a it a little elbow grease and some time to spare and you can design your own home landscaping design quickly and easily. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/447/1/Layering-garden-landscaping Could your home do with a little more garden landscaping? Probably so, and that is a good thing. In fact you should be very excited about it because there is nothing more fun than garden landscaping, it will get your imagination working overtime and you will have a ball planting and rearranging your plants and flowers. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/446/1/Easy-front-yard-landscaping Having a low maintenance front yard is the goal of many people. You can get easy to manage front yard landscaping done by any of the professional landscapers in your area or you can do it yourself. Either way you can have front yard landscaping done that will take minimal work to keep looking fantastic all year round. If you are going to get a professional in to do your front yard landscaping though, be sure to tell him that this is your over all goal, that you want to have a yard that will not take a lot of work to keep up. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/445/1/Planning-for-desert-landscaping If you live in a dry and arid climate then your desert landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/444/1/concrete-landscaping-can-add-so-much-to-your-yard To hear the word concrete you may not think that it would be something to want in your yard but in fact, concrete landscaping has come along way in the last 10 years or so. Now concrete landscaping is all the rage and it is very pretty too. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/443/1/A-wonderful-backyard-landscaping-idea A good backyard landscaping idea is one that everyone can make use of. There are many different backyard landscaping ideas and most of them are pretty good but to find the one that is right for you and that is just what your yard needs may take some reading. This article will help you to find the perfect backyard landscaping idea for your home. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/442/1/Backyard-landscaping-is-about-many-different-things Your backyard landscaping is going to have to be about many different things but the most important one of these if your well being. Most people get into backyard landscaping because they want to change the look and feel of their home, they want to make it a wonderful place where their family can feel safe and comfortable at all times. Backyard landscaping is a great way to add some more peace to your life whether you are alone or you have a large family and tons of kids. You will be able to create a sanctuary with your backyard landscaping that you have never had before in your life. Troy Cotton Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/440/1/Herb-and-Vegetable-Gardens An herb garden is one of the most common types of edible landscape. This is because they are very easy to grow, very tolerant of a variety of climates and conditions, and because they grow rapidly. Additionally, herbs are more than just tasty. Many of them look very nice, with attractively shaped leaves and different shades of green that can add a subtle beauty to the landscape. Not only that, but herbs often smell nice. They can surround your home with a pleasing perfume that exudes a true sense of "home." Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/439/1/Hardscape-Projects No landscape is all greenspace. In fact, hardscape is as much a part of the landscape as plants (known as softscape). There are many projects that can contribute to you landscape design, and make your home environment more pleasant. Additionally, it is also interesting to note that most hardscape landscape features are actually very useful and serve functions other than simple being nice to look at. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/438/1/Finding-Cheap-Plants-for-Your-Landscape One of the main elements of the landscape is the use of plants. Plants provide interesting places for the eye to dwell, as well as providing soothing scenery and even contributing to the energy efficiency of a home. Unfortunately, the costs associated with purchasing plants for use in your landscape can be rather steep. In order to save money and use you landscape budget wisely, it is important to buy cheap plants. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/437/1/Driveway-Landscaping Landscaping driveways does not necessarily mean the driveway itself, although the design of your driveway can impact the look and feel of your landscape. Rather, many people neglect to landscape their driveways to look attractive. This includes adding landscaping elements to the sides of the driveway, as well as at the bottom and the top of the driveway. There are many softscape and hardscape elements that can be added to make the area surrounding the driveway more attractive. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/436/1/Planting-Trees Trees are a beautiful and desirable part of almost any landscape. They provide comfortable shade, protect against soil erosion, and can even contribute to the energy efficiency of a home. Additionally, trees are beautiful and can make any landscape attractive. Any home with a nice, attractive, well-maintained tree on its property enjoys increased property value. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/435/1/Laying-Sod For many landscapers, the instant gratification felt in having an instant lawn is not to be competed with. After all, when one seeds a lawn, it can take quite a while to grow. But laying sod is an excellent way to get an instantly grassy and lush yard. It is more than possible to lay sod yourself. It is not very difficult to do, although it does require planning and some hard work. But, if you plan wisely and work well, you should be able to save a great deal of money over having someone else lay the sod for you. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/434/1/Do-it-Yourself-Rock-Garden One of the most economical ways to enhance the landscape surrounding your home is to build a rock garden. Rock gardens are most often associated with the British Isles, where the climate is rarely accommodating to delicate plants. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/433/1/Drip-Irrigation-System Installing an irrigation system in your yard can help make maintenance easier. After all, you will not have to hand set sprinklers all day and try to remember where you have already watered. A sprinkler system, however, is not a project for the average do-it-yourselfer. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/432/1/Cute-Ideas-That-Can-Save-You-Money-on-Your-Planting There are many interesting ideas that can help you save money on your planting and landscaping. Most of these ideas involve a little creativity, but you end up with an attractive and distinctive yard. And some of the ideas look nice and can save you money in other areas of your life, like food. At any rate, there are quite a few easy ways to stretch your dollar and still make plants an attractive part of the landscape. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/431/1/Creating-a-Budget-for-Your-Landscape Any landscape project requires planning, especially if money is an object, as it is for most people. Creating your landscape budget will help you figure out how much you can spend on building your landscape, and it will help you make an investment in your home that can yield great returns. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/430/1/Container-Gardening One of the most effective ways to save money in your landscape is to engage in the practice of container gardening. Container gardening is making use of different containers to hold your plants. These work for flowers, herbs, and even for vegetables. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/429/1/Conserve-Water-with-Xeriscape Xeriscaping is the act of landscaping using plants that do not need a great deal of water. It is also the more efficient use of water to take care of your landscape. Xeriscaping is becoming more popular in areas that are naturally dry and areas that are prone to drought. The West is an excellent place for applying xeriscape principles, as much of the land west of the Rocky Mountains is considered semi-arid, and it is especially prone to drought. By applying the principles of landscaping for drier areas, it is possible to enjoy a beautiful landscape without running up the water bill or spending a great deal of time trying to keep your landscape from wilting. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/428/1/-Landscaping-Tools For the avid do-it-yourself landscaper, the right tools are important. After all, if one wishes to save money on the expenses associated with having a well cared for yard, it is best to make sure that he or she has all of the tools necessary to create an attractive landscape. By understanding some of the most common tools used for basic landscaping needs, you can ensure that you have everything you need to keep your lawn in the best possible shape, bringing delight and distinction to your grounds, be they large or small. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/427/1/Common-Landscape-Problems There are plenty of common landscape problems that can really mar the beauty of your yard. These problems range from something aesthetic to things that can actually affect the over all health of your landscape. When you encounter these problems, it is a good idea to fix them as soon as possible. If you have ideas of your own to fix landscape problems, so much the better. If not, here are some suggestions for making simple improvements to the landscape. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/426/1/Common-Landscape-Design-Features If you want to build an attractive landscape, but do not where to begin, there are plenty of common landscape design ideas and features available for you to gain inspiration. You can use the ideas yourself or add a little twist to make the landscape design all your own. There are any number of conventional landscape ideas that can help you get started on your own projects and provide inspiration for future projects. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/425/1/Caring-for-Your-Plants One of the best things you can do to save money on your landscape is to properly care for your plants. This is very important to keeping a healthy yard and an attractive landscape. If you properly care for your plants, you will save money in maintenance costs, and you will save money in having to replace plants that succumb to disease or other problems associated with poor care. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/424/1/Building-an-Arbor It may difficult to believe, but building an arbor for your landscape can actually be quite inexpensive. If you keep the arbor small, to a two-post size, you can have a very attractive landscape feature for a small cost. Even the novice landscaper can build a small arbor without too much trouble in about two days (three at the most). It can be a very rewarding project that provides a sophisticated sense of beauty to your over all landscape design. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/423/1/Building-a-Raised-Garden-Bed You can save money by building your own raised garden bed. These can be used for flowers and even for vegetables. They are gaining in popularity because they are easy and inexpensive to build, making them practical parts of the landscape. Additionally, they are fairy easy to plant and maintain. They are even relatively easy to weed. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/422/1/Building-a-Concrete-Patio A concrete patio can be an attractive part of the landscape, provided it is properly decorated after it is placed. It is also a convenient landscape element, as the patio is usually square and is easy to mow around. Additionally, it is an excellent place to enjoy outdoor cooking and entertaining. Concrete is durable and it can withstand a great deal of wear and tear. Building a concrete patio is something that you can do on your own in about three days. With a little investment of time, you can save money by installing your patio yourself, rather than paying someone else to do it. Allan Wilson Mon, 05 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/421/1/Building-a-Compost-Bin Compost can act as a great fertilizer, enriching the soil with organic materials rather than making use of chemicals that can do more harm than good if used improperly. Composting is a great way to save money as well. Using compost requires that you thoroughly mix it into the soil, reducing compaction and providing oxygenation to the soil. Compost can help plants stay healthier, and that contributes to their ability to repel diseases and survive insect attacks. A healthy landscape can be achieved with a little help from composting. Allan Wilson Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/420/1/Benefits-Associated-with-Attracting-Birds-to-Your-Landscape There are fond memories of find birds' nests in the yard, and watching eggs hatch. Additionally, the sounds of birds chirping in the morning can provide a great natural alarm clock. There are many pleasing benefits associated with birds in the landscape, and with careful planning, it is possible to attract birds to the landscape, providing you with many obvious benefits, and with some that may not seem so easy to see. Mich Dundon Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST http://www.pokingaroundthehome.com/articles/419/1/5-Tips-for-a-Better-Looking-Landscape There is no doubt that when landscaping one wants to save money, as well as have an attractive property. Not only can landscaping help you beautify your home, but it can also provide a source of satisfying exercise in the fresh air. When you take care of your yard on your own, it is possible to save money and to improve your physical conditioning. But if the landscape turns out to look bad, then that is so much time and money wasted. However, it is possible to ensure a better-looking landscape by following a few tips that can help you take better care of your yard. Mich Dundon Sun, 04 Dec 2005 00:00:00 EST