Dirt on Gardening
Text by Nancy Johnston
Starting an Early Garden
Start a garden easily by covering the chosen area with black plastic weighed down with rocks or bricks to hold it in place, for two weeks in early spring. The sun will heat the plastic and bake the vegetation beneath. If you already have an established bed you can use the same method to heat up your soil so you can plant earlier in the season. Raised beds are another way to give you a higher soil temperature earlier in the season and they also make weeding less strenuous. Use the top halves of large plastic pop bottles as mini greenhouses to protect vulnerable seedlings from late spring frosts and allow for earlier planting.
Edge out the Competition – and Define your Yard
Text by Pat Gerbrandt
With warmer weather bound to lure yard and garden enthusiasts outdoors before long, it’s time to plan for projects that just couldn’t be done during snow season. While it’s probably safe to say that all of us want to have attractive yards, it’s also no secret that not everyone wants to spend every outdoor moment working to ‘keep the colour within the lines.’
Tending to flower beds and other plantings, and keeping up with lawn maintenance is time consuming enough. There are options that can help to curb expending unnecessary energy. Concrete curbing is an attractive and practical way of edging driveways, lawns and flowerbeds. With an edging like this, these areas are neatly defined. Gravel from driveways is contained, and the mulch used in flowerbeds or around shrubbery is also kept where it is meant to be so it won’t compete with your lawn. And, to eliminate the use of a trimmer, there’s the option of mower edge curbing which has a lower lip to allow the mower deck to ride right over it without damage.
Jake Reimer of Bijan Curbing and Landscaping suggests that there are no limits to the product choices. “We can provide whatever shape the flowerbed is. It’s precise – we can do sharp curves, slight curves.” The reason production of these curbs is precise, is so that the exact design of existing or future yard features can be followed. Most people prefer free-form curves or even curved shapes, but straight sections can be produced just as easily. The installer can help you to choose the most attractive options for your yard.
Concrete curbing is not boring. Even though the special extruding machine can form parking-lot curbs, it also produces a wide variety of other styles and you aren’t limited to basic white concrete for the curbing on your yard.
It comes in a wide variety of profiles, textures and colours to allow for creativity and individuality. And, the colour is not going to fade or chip away because it is not an exterior coating; the concrete itself is coloured.
As an added touch, a wide range of brick-look patterns can be imprinted upon the product. There’s variety in style too, with six different profiles available, from regular to high profile or sloped borders, lane dividers or car parks, as well as the mower edge.
Consideration of our climactic conditions has also been factored in. The expansion joints, which are placed approximately every three feet, allow the concrete to expand and contract with variations in temperature, yet do not interfere with the contours of the flowerbed or driveway edgings.
Satisfied owners attest to the durability of these forms. Reimer knows of customers who have had their curbing for 10 years, with no evidence of deterioration. “We have special additives we put into the concrete to minimize chipping and cracking,” Reimer assures. However, one should remember that these products are not meant to be driven over. If the homeowner wants to have access to an area adjacent to a curbed part of the yard, for the purpose of storing a recreational vehicle or if snow machines use the area in the winter, care should be taken to allow adequate clearance to prevent damage to the curbs.
Areas prone to flooding or where soil conditions do not allow for good drainage after heavy rain are not ideal for concrete, as extended soaking weakens it.
Developing a new yard or planting area is easy, but even existing features can be curbed with relatively little preparation. A ten-inch strip of sod is removed, just wide enough for the curb to be poured in the channel that is created. Most jobs of average size can be done in one day. Depending on weather conditions, the concrete usually cures in 12-24 hours and it reaches full strength in approximately 28 days.
Unlike plastic edging, which can work itself out of the soil, or individually placed bricks that can be nudged out of line by mowers, people or pets, concrete curbing stays in place. Whether you choose curbing to define a driveway or parking area, to outline plantings or flowerbeds or to retain soil, you can be sure that the options available will enhance your yard and simplify landscaping chores too. That’s definitely a good edge.
Outdoor Decor Feng Shui in your Garden
Text by Lily Sokhi
Our much awaited spring has finally arrived with the promise of a new beginning. Now that the snow has finally left us, all gardening enthusiasts are raring to go out and get started.
The first step is to rid the garden of all clutter, which drags down the energy level. Clear the garden of the dead leaves. Replace the broken pots, pull out the weeds, and tidy up the lawn edges. In designing your outdoor space, be mindful of the basic concepts of Feng Shui: The flow of chi -The life force or chi moves in gentle curve. The path to the front of the house should be curved. A horseshoe shaped driveway or a curved path allows the Chi to arrive gently. The balance of yin (dark, soft, passive) and yang (light, hard, active) is important.
Water is another very important feature in Feng Shui and a very potent conductor of Chi. Water features can bring good energy into a garden as long as it is moving (Yang) and not stagnant. North is ideal for putting up a water feature. Use this area for ponds, fountains, Jacuzzis and birdbaths.
Lights can also energize stagnant areas of your garden. Add to your luck by putting lights around the boundaries of your home. Place a light in the South corner of your garden and switch it on for a few hours in the evening. It will stimulate your fire energy. A light in the Southwest sector will help in making your relationships stable. Looking for romance? Placing a light in the West and you can improve your romantic prospects. South is good direction for barbecues, fire pits, burning leaves, trees and flowers.
The element for West and Northwest is metal. Keep statues of deities, angels, cherubs and animals in the Northwest. West is a good direction for the placement of outdoor entertaining. You should keep metal swings in this direction. Northwest is good direction to put wind chimes.
The element of Northeast and Southwest is earth. Put stone benches in these areas. You can also make rock gardens, or place stones, boulders and statuaries in the Northeast.
East and Southeast areas are good for cultivation and plants. Since east is also for family and health, put the play equipment in this area. Plant fruit trees, herbs, medicinal plants in this area. Do not use cactus or plants that have spikes as they create aggression and tension. Plants with fat succulent leaves are very auspicious.
Try to plant the shrubs and trees in such a way that visitors to the garden will not be able to see everything at once. Mix yin and yang, shade and sun. Let there be a surprise at every turn. Never plant a tree directly in front of your door as it blocks the arriving Chi. Overbearing large trees at the front of the house are not lucky either. Always try and have them no higher than two thirds of your house. Try and keep your garden filled with colorful plants. They will attract good energy and they also look great.
Keep your lawn trimmed, borders clear and patios clean. The front door should be unobstructed and inviting. Any harsh edges should be softened with trailing plants. Hide your rubbish bins behind a screen.
It is not critical to adhere strictly to the rules of Feng Shui though. Start by energizing an area that is important to you. Small additions like a water fountain or wind chimes in the correct place can bring Feng Shui into your garden. The most important changes are the ones that make your surroundings harmonious and create a sense of calm and serenity for you.
A Back Yard Gazebo
Text by D. Evans
Gazebos come in all styles and sizes but from the fanciest to the plainest they all have these elements in common. A roof to keep the rain and sun off, screened walls to defend against our voracious mosquitoes and a floor to deal with the prairie mud. If you check out your friendly neighborhood supply store you should find dozens of plans for gazebos. Most of them are pretty fancy but the structure described below should be well within the skill level of most back yard homesteaders. A cautionary note though, before you build anything check with your local authorities to make sure your plans comply with local building codes and zoning regulations.
If you plan to make your floor from pre-cast cement sidewalk slabs, measure the slabs on order and work out how many slabs wide and how many slabs long you want to make your gazebo. Allow about one-quarter inch spacing between the slabs. If you design your structure so that the inside dimensions work out to an even number of slabs you will save yourself a lot of work.
Now that you have established the inside measurements select a site. Ideally a level bit of ground not too close to other buildings and taking advantage of the best view to be had. Mark out your floor on the ground and remove the turf and dirt down to a depth of three inches or so. If you then fill this excavation with screened sand it will make a fine base for your cement slab floor. The level of the sand should be an inch or so above the grade when it is well tamped down to ensure good drainage. If you lay the slabs at this point you will have a level place to work and will save a lot of wear and tear on the lawn.
A gazebo measuring about ten by sixteen feet will give you lots of room for a generous picnic table and your barbeque, with room to move around.
Be sure that the floor is square and level. Using a post hole auger, drill holes at the four corners of the floor. Holes about eighteen inches deep will be sufficient. Locate the holes so that when four by four cedar fence posts are placed in them the sides of the posts will line up with the sides of the floor. In the holes on one of the sixteen foot sides plant two ten foot posts and tamp them in well with coarse stone chips or better yet, concrete, being careful to keep them even with the floor and vertical. In the two holes on the other sixteen foot side plant two twelve foot poles, tamp them down. Check on the width of screening available and plant additional posts along the sides, enough so that your screening will reach between them.
Measure up eight feet from the floor on the outside of your short posts and ten feet from the floor on the outside of your taller posts. Mark a square line around the posts and cut them off nice and even. On the inward facing side of the taller posts mark a line at the height of the shorter posts. Cut a short piece of two by four and nail it to the inside of the taller post at this line, then add a similar short piece to the inside of the short post even with the top of the post. Rest a two by four on the two short pieces and nail or screw it down solidly. This two by four should just reach the inside edge of the post but not go over it. Do the same at the other end, it is not necessary to do this in the middle.
Make the posts along the long sides all the same height, a laser level is great for this job but a nice tight string will do the trick. Nail a two by four along the tops of the shorter posts. Nail a second layer of two by four on top of the one you just put on the short wall only this time lap over the top of the one that runs along the long wall. Do this at both ends, and then run a second layer of two by four along the long wall on the short side bringing the ends flush to the second layer you just put on the short wall. Run a double layer of two by fours along the top of the higher wall.
At this point it is very important that you ensure that the upper part of the building is square by confirming that the diagonals, as measured from opposite corners are the same. You may have to tack on a length of board or two to hold things in place until the structure starts to take shape.
Measure the distance from the outside of the top of the higher wall to the outside of the top of the lower wall, add two feet to this and buy enough two by sixes to make your rafters. Placing a rafter every twenty four inches will be sufficient. Take one of your rafters and tack it to the outside of the building so that the bottom of it is even with the outside of the high wall and even with the inside of the low wall with a foot projecting at each end. Take a pencil and mark the position of the top of each wall on your rafter and also the position of the vertical line even with the inside of the wall. Voila! You have a template for cutting your rafters and with a little careful sawing they should sit snuggly on the top of the wall. With the building nice and square cover the roof with plywood, allowing an overhang on the short ends. You can apply sheet metal or shingles according to taste but you should use deck screws to fasten the plywood down as it provides some of the structural strength of the gazebo.
Toe nail in some pieces of two by four between the posts on the high side with their bottoms level with the bottoms of the two by fours on the short wall. Build a frame for a door in one of the short ends, how this frame is built will depend on the door you use but if you are not too handy at hanging doors an inexpensive screen door ready hung in a casing is your best bet.
Set a row of cement blocks on the ground between the posts, cut two by fours to fit between the posts, set them on top of the cement blocks and nail them in solidly. This gives you a place to tack on your screen that is up off the ground and will prevent dancing feet from going through the screen. Tack on the screen.
Fill in the two by sixteen foot section just under the roof on the high side and both the wedge shaped areas under the roof on the short ends of the building with plywood. You can cover this with some fancy shingles or slabs later but the plywood will add a lot of strength to the building. Putting the plywood on after the screen means it will cover the top edge of the screen. Cut some pieces of the same plywood to the length and width of the uprights and use this to cover the edges of the screen.
If you are in an area subject to high winds it is a good idea to get some six inch pieces of that perforated metal tape used by plumbers, and make ‘hurricane’ joints to ensure a strong connection between the rafters and the plate that carries them and the plate and the wall posts.
Building a simple gazebo can be fun and rewarding. You will enjoy the whole thing more if you take the time to carefully measure all the items such as screening and roofing you plan to use and adjust your building dimensions to make the best use of them.
Think Spring, Think Maintenance
Text by Doug Wiens
Spring is a season of renewal. Birds are singing and the flowers are beginning to burst into bloom. The days are getting longer and people are getting outdoors again. So not surprisingly, real estate activity begins to swing into high gear. The weather is more cooperative and families are looking to move during summer break.
If you are considering putting your home on the market, now’s a good time to do some spring maintenance to make sure your home is in tip-top shape. Even if you aren’t planning to sell your home, you should still add these chores to your list to help preserve your home’s value and help avoid major repairs later on.
Walk Around the Outside
Check for any damage caused by winter’s cold weather. Look for those sagging or loose gutters, window frames or siding. Is your roof missing any shingles, or is there any water damage under the eaves? Promptly schedule repairs for those items you can’t do yourself.
Over the fall and winter, leaves, mud and debris may have accumulated in your gutters. Check your gutters for clogging and damage and schedule an appointment for cleaning.
Walk around your yard as if you were a first-time visitor. What impressions does your home make? Be sure to clear away fallen branches and leaves. Loosen the soil around perennials, plant annuals or a vegetable garden. Prune shrubs and trees.
If you water supply has been off for the winter, turn it back on. Test your automatic sprinkler system or connect your water hose and check for cracks and leaks. Replace old washers or sprinkler heads.
Don’t forget the backyard! Is it time to condition your deck? Be sure to hammer in any loose nails, or replace them with galvanized deck screws. Replace any broken boards or rails. Consider renting a power washer to clean dirt and mildew from the wood, and then apply an all-weather sealer or stain. Then dust off that patio furniture you kept protected over the winter.
Repair any broken fence boards and paint or seal them as needed. Clean the pool if it has been covered all winter. Wash windows, screens and windowsills; repair any winter damage.
Take A Tour Inside
Start making a list of things to do in each room. Then dive in. Dust walls and ceilings to remove cobwebs and wash any grimy areas. Wash window curtains or remove drapes for dry cleaning. Deep clean rugs and carpets. Dust and polish wood or laminate floors.
Clean fan blades using mild soapy water. Check the central air-conditioning unit for debris and obstructions; vacuum the main condenser coil on top of unit. Check the operating condition of window air-conditioning units; remove and wash filters in mild soapy water.
Make sure all exhaust fans and vents are clean and clear. Don’t forget to remove the lint buildup from the clothes dryer vent.
One often overlooked area is the fireplace. Be sure to sweep ashes carefully into your fireplace ash pit or into a dustpan. Clean and lightly oil fireplace tools. Remember it’s springtime, so you may want to decorate the fireplace or wood stove with a large silk flower arrangement.
Look around for clutter. Are there items you don’t use any longer? If you are planning on moving, what items will you not need? Consider having a garage sale and then either donate or trash the remaining items.
And, lastly, don’t forget to replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Although performing these spring chores may be a dreaded task, they go a long way in maintaining and even enhancing the attractiveness and quality of your home.
