NJ Home Helpers

Landscaping Tips: What Mulch to Use for Trees

kent78 — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:38:03 +0000

One question that comes up this time of year a lot is what is the proper mulch to use for trees. Its easy to grasp the basic premise of mulch, but when people go to their local nursery they see many different kinds. How do you know which one to use? The short answer: wood chips. The very best mulch to use for trees is something that is going to decompose gradually. Mulch made from wood chips fits the bill perfectly, since it rots slowly, and as an added bonus, this mulch is quite low in nutrients so will not encourage weed growth. Composted wood chips are the preferred material; these can be used as durable, low-maintenance mulch, which weathers to a silver-gray color. The bad news is that most wood chip mulch is sold as fresh material, not in a composted or aged state. These chips also decompose slowly, but as they do decompose, microorganisms develop in the mulch and use nutrients from the soil that might otherwise be available for plant growth.

Composted material will not support these microorganisms, which is why it is the preferred material. One solution to this dilemma is to buy un-composted wood chips ahead of time and compost them yourself. Put them in a backyard composter along with some leaves, twigs and bark. Make sure to keep it well aerated and turned to prevent bad smelling mulch.Go OrganicOrganic mulches are advantageous also for their soil-enhancing characteristics, as opposed to inorganic mulch materials like crushed rock, gravel, tarps, and landscape fabrics. As organic mulches decompose over time, they slowly discharge tiny quantities of nutrients and to the soil. Therefore your layer of mulch should be renewed as needed to maintain a 2- to 4-inch depth.For individual trees, your mulched area should cover from 3 to 6 feet out from the trees base. It is best to clear the mulch away 1 to 2 inches from the base of plants to help prevent damage to the tree trunk from insects, excess moisture, and diseases.

In fact, this is the classic mistake that many people make with mulching trees. You shouldnt have a pile of wood chips around your tree that resembles the thing Richard Dreyfuss made in his kitchen in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Rather, it should look more like a flattened donut. This also holds true for mulching shrubs, by the way.Follow these simple tips and your tree should do well and require less watering and fertilizer than an unmulched tree.

Easy Landscaping and Curb Appeal for Florida Homes

kent78 — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:13:01 +0000

The idea that an appealing outside is your best offense for intriguing potential buyers is based on the simple concept that first impressions really count. The great thing about learning some key elements of landscaping is that you can apply them to a home that you are just settling into, as well as one you are about to sell. For those who are selling or buying real estate in Tampa Bay Florida, some extra curb appeal advice will go a long way.Florida is popular for nature-lovers. Instead of trying to keep up with garden hobbyists, present a clean, green impression, rather than a mini-arboretum. The decluttered impression that you want for the inside, should apply to the outside. Imagine a buyer coming to view your Tampa Bay Florida real estate house and all they can think is either, “how will I keep up with all those tropical flower beds?” or “how long will it take me to undo all of this?” Not that you should tear down all your hard work from a spectacular garden; just be sure to have it freshly pruned, trimmed and weeded for buyers, so they don’t feel like they have to have a green thumb if they want to buy your home.

Select your plants according to how much sun and water they need. Then, focus on buying smaller selections (or larger if your budget allows) of some of Florida’s award-winning specimens like the East Indian Holly Fern, which is wonderful for mass ground cover, and the Dwarf Golden Dewdrop for a beautiful border shrub with its yellow-gold leaves. Make up for size with color, with the purple-blooming Princess Flower, or the Yellow Elder, that will grow quickly (up to eight or ten feet tall). The plants you pick should attract the eyes to the house with their complimentary shades. For example, forest green trim on a house is complimented by shrubs with yellow leaves, and homes with neutral features can always use a few splashes of dramatic color in their landscaping. Take a picture of the front of your house with you as you visit nurseries and garden shops. Garden professionals can suggest which colors and varieties will work best for your particular home.

They should also be able to tell you what kind of mulch, pebble or lava stones you should use for each. The colors of these can also add a lovely contrast of color.Plant a few annuals near the mailbox and an odd number of shrubs or hedges in front of the house to create depth. Make your house inviting with colors that compliment, but don’t complicate. If your house is basic in design, plant a few romantic Magnolias or exotic Calathea to break up the lines. Likewise, a house with a modern exterior can be dressed down for the conservative eye with neatly trimmed Serissa Foetida hedges and simple splashes of annuals.If you want something even more simple, try buying big, decorative pots and filling them with a few shades of hardy flowers. This takes care of catching the eyes of the buyer, yet implies the perfect level of impermanence for the more fickle-natured. You can offer to leave the pots, or take them with you if the buyer doesn’t want them.

This can be a quick fix for those who are trying to move, sell and maintain a family and full-time job at the same time. There are plenty of ways to get elaborate with landscaping, but if you need to keep things easy, focus on complimentary colors, hearty specimens and as neat of an exterior as possible, so buyers and visitors will see your house as a breath of fresh, tropical air.

The Endearing Language of Flowers

kent78 — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:57:03 +0000

The fascination with flowers have captivated, and charmed people world wide. They represent a form of life that has endured evolution, and continues to flourish. With a diversity of colors, forms, scents, and uses, flowers have been revered by generations of admirers, and enthusiasts alike. Throughout history flowers have been the perfect form of expression, when words were hard to find. The language of flowers is a language of love, endearment, and respect. The truly popularity of flowers lies in their ability to bring joy, and good cheer.The first flowering plants found were tiny herb-like flower fossils dating back 120 million years. An innumerable number of images of preserved flowers and flower parts have been found in fossils located all over the world. According to scientists, there are over 270,000 species of flowers that have been documented and are living in the twenty-first century.

Scientists continue to marvel over the amazing diversity of species, and the species that have not changed much during evolution. Many flowers have coevolved with their pollination animals.The flower is the reproductive organ of a plant. It is the job of the flower to produce seeds through fertilization, and pollination. Pollination requires animals (bees, hummingbirds, etc.), wind, or water to transfer male pollen to the female ovule. After a flower is fertilized, it develops into a fruit containing seeds. These seeds are the next generation, and serve as the means by which species of plants are dispersed across a field. Cross breeding can occur, and this leads to the enormous diversities seen. The alluring nature of flowers has made them subjects of folklore, and poetry. Their medicinal use has been embraced by the east for centuries. A flowers fragrance is its personality, a beautiful bouquet of scents that permeate even the worst form of pollution.

Flowers have been associated with religious symbolism, the lily signifying purity for example. The diversity of shapes and colors makes them the perfect decoration, and the perfect gift. The likelihood of two people having the same color, shape arrangement is very remote. Edible flowers have been used in the culinary field for flavor and garnish for many years.It is clear that flowers do have a very endearing language. A language that is universal, without borders. A language that contains no negativity, nor prejudice. An unconditional way of expressing a feeling so deep, that words could never convey the true meaning. Regardless of the situation, the sight of a flower will always solicit a smile, and a sense of warmth.

Lawyers That Know Local Law are Key

kent78 — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:14:01 +0000

I am sure you know somebody who has been pulled over for a DUI. You know Driving Under the Influence. The charges can be devastating depending on if it is your first DUI or 2nd, 3rd, etc…

The biggest thing in getting a DUI is knowing your rights and finding a DUI lawyer that knows local law. In Orlando, Florida, duiorlando.org is a site that will have you find the best Orlando dui attorney that knows local law and is suited best for your case. Again local laws are different from state to state so you need a lawyer who has been dealing with not only local law, but knows local judges as well.

If you have been pulled over in Orlando, Florida then you might be surprised to find out the Florida DUI law can be a lot more severe then other states. Again this is why you need an DUI attorney from Orlando that can get your case cleared if the evidence is right.

Getting a DUI is a serious offense and one that should not be taken lightly. These are things to remember the next time you are out drinking and need to drive home. Remember a cab ride home will cost you a lot less then a DUI charge.

Global Prefabricated Housing Industry

kent78 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:46:01 +0000

Global Prefabricated Housing Industry (via PR Newswire)

NEW YORK, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: Global Prefabricated Housing Industry http://www.reportlinker.com/p080426/Global-Prefabricated-Housing-Industry.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=…

Housing market showing signs of turnaround

kent78 — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:45:02 +0000

Housing market showing signs of turnaround (via The Christian Science Monitor)

By Ilana Greene, Contributor posted February 22, 2012 at 1:01 pm EST [Editor's note: This story was updated and changed Feb. 24 because some of the quoted material in the original was wrongly attributed to employees not in a position to speak for their company.] The real estate market is picking up…

In Silicon Valley Real Estate Frenzy, Off-Market Transactions Are Frequent

kent78 — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:04:01 +0000

In Silicon Valley Real Estate Frenzy, Off-Market Transactions Are Frequent (via The Bay Citizen)

Intense competition inspires buyers and sellers to act quickly By Vignesh Ramachandran, Peninsula Press on April 17, 2012 – 11:34 a.m. PDT In a region known in the Bay Area for its high-profile IPOs and high-tech wealth, the competition for real estate is so intense that some homebuyers and sellers…

Animal Advocates Warn Against Leaving Pets in Hot Vehicles

kent78 — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 06:40:02 +0000

Animal Advocates Warn Against Leaving Pets in Hot Vehicles (via The Bay Citizen)

As seasonal temperatures rise around the Bay Area, the SPCA and animal care activists are advising pet owners to be extra careful when leaving dogs or other pets locked inside vehicles. Animals exposed to high temperatures can quickly suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke when left in a vehicle…

petMD.com Lists the Top 5 Dog and Top 5 Cat Breeds for Families with Children

kent78 — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:04:02 +0000

petMD.com Lists the Top 5 Dog and Top 5 Cat Breeds for Families with Children (via PR Newswire)

MIAMI, April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – April 26 is National Kids and Pets Day, a day to celebrate the special bond children have with animals. Choosing to welcome a pet into a home with children can be an overwhelming commitment, but knowing the characteristics that are common to certain cat and dog…

Killer stray dogs put Bulgaria on edge

kent78 — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:50:02 +0000

Killer stray dogs put Bulgaria on edge (via AFP)

Sprawling in the sun or barking and chasing cars, stray dogs have become part of urban life in Bulgaria but after a pack mauled a US university professor to death, the mood of tolerance is over. The 87-year-old man, who chose to spend his retirement in his native Bulgaria, was attacked in a Sofia street…