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Do you want to clean up the debris on your sidewalk or patio in a fast, efficient way? If so, you should consider purchasing a mulcher. Mulchers are tools that will break up materials and debris and convert them into mulch. The following is a guide to purchasing the proper mulcher for your needs.

What will you use your mulcher for?

Before you purchase a mulcher, think about what you will use it for. This will help to determine what size you should get. Mulchers can transform cut grass, leaves, branches and compost into mulch that can be used to feed lawns and gardens. Mulch can also stop the growth of weeds, as it covers the ground where they would otherwise spring up.

Mulchers can be great assistance for composting. Mulchers not only speed up composting, but they enable you to have the mulch collected in a bag. This stops unwanted bugs from swarming around big piles of debris. Many new mulcher models can even reduce about 10 bags of leaves into one single bag.

Shapes and sizes of mulchers

There are several sizes of mulchers. Mulchers that can be mounted on vehicles such as trucks, lawn mowers, and tractors can be very large. Other mulchers are small, and may only weigh 15 pounds.

Some mulchers are plastic, shaped like a cylinder, and have very sharp rotating blades. These mulchers are designed to grind material and spread it evenly over the area you desire to be covered in mulch. Different mulcher adjustments can enable the mulcher to handle a variety of materials. It is important to choose a mulcher with an inner lip. This feature will prevent debris from escaping the mulcher, and causing a mess on the ground nearby.

Where to purchase mulchers

Mulchers can be purchased at local stores that have lawn care departments - such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and K-Mart. If you would rather purchase a mulcher on the Internet, web sites such as www.northerntool.com, www.acehardware.com, and www.amazon.com. Keep in mind this tip: If you can, it is best to wait for early spring and late fall mulcher sales. In the off-season, you can usually get a mulcher at a reduced price.

If you are in the market for purchasing a mulcher, you should also consider purchasing a warranty plan with it. This way, if anything goes wrong, you will be guaranteed to get a new item.

Timothy Anderson writes for PowerfulChecklists.com. Before you spend any money, check out your next mulcher carefully using the free Mulcher Checklist at PowerfulChecklists.com

[tags]mulchers, mowers, lawn, garden, trimmers, mulching[/tags]

Wind chimes are an eclectic addition to any landscape. They add a dynamic element to yards that host flower gardens and water features and can accessorize walkways, herb gardens, and entry ways. There is no limit to how you can use wind chimes to enhance your backyard environment.

If you are one who enjoys sound integrated into your outdoor view, you might want to consider creating a wind chime garden - it will set your view to music. A wind chime garden can cover the entire area of your back yard, or be limited to a small section of your backyard landscape - the choice is up to you. The beauty of a wind chime garden is that you can design it to be uniquely your own - you decide on wind chime placement, tone and style. Following are a few ideas to get you started thinking about how you might implement a wind chime garden into your outdoor scenery.

1) Select spots for your wind chimes throughout your yard, paying close attention to the direction and patterns of the wind. Through proper placement, you could create your own gentle, whimsical outdoor concert.

2) Choose wind chimes that are simple in appearance to void clashes in d

Growing vegetables in a regular garden just didn’t work. It took too much effort to control weeds, pests and a couple of critters called raccoons. So I decided to try growing in containers. At first, I thought that meant going to the store and buying some pretty pots. As inexpensive as they were, I was going to need a lot of them to make up the space I needed. So I started thinking of the things I could use as containers just until I had the money.

I have eight cats, six inside cats and two outdoors. Now these cats go through a lot of cat litter in a month’s time. I have all these 27-35 pound cat litter containers hanging around my garage, most times until I manage to put them out to the garbage dump. I thought I’d try to use a cat litter container as a make-shift planter. I cleaned it out thoroughly with a little soap and water. I knew it had to have holes in the bottom to allow for sufficient drainage. I drilled holes into it with a smaller sized drill bit. I plopped the potting soil and behold! A garden pot was born! My kids think I should have decorated up the sides so that the kitty litter panels wouldn’t show up but it didn’t bother me a bit. I was recycling something that would just end up in the trash anyway.

In that same week, I got my answer to how I was going to plant the squash. I knew the squash would need some significant room to bush out. I was driving down a back country road and came upon a heap of tires. I thought I remember reading somewhere that tires would make excellent planters. I grabbed a few and by the end of the season was very surprised at the results. Not only did my squash go crazy in the tires, we had enough squash for the whole neighborhood.

I lost my first lettuces to the critters called raccoons. But not because they ate them. They tipped them over and spilled out the lettuces. What a huge mess it caused. But I as determined to set it right. I soon learned to plant the lettuces in a garden away from the deck. I came upon some idea of using cinder (concrete) blocks to make a raised bed. Similar to a container garden, a raised bed garden would be better suited to lettuce gardening. So I made my first bed using cinder blocks. They never lined up completely as I planned them but they worked out just fine. The lettuces grew, so did the spinach that I threw in beside the lettuce.

I had two small kids blue swimming pools just wasting space in the yard so I used them as a lettuce garden as well. I cut more holes in the pools and filled them with lettuce and one was filled with onion sets.

With a little thought and creativity, anything can become a planter. Before you throw it out, think. Could I envision something grown in this?

Katina Mooneyham is the contributing editor at Little Gardeners, a site for kid’s gardening. You can check out more ideas for gardening, especially gardening with kids at Little Gardeners http://www.gardenandhearth.com/LittleGardeners.htm

[tags]garden, first year gardens, container gardening, containers[/tags]

Lettuce is an easy to grow spring and autumn vegetable.
It’s two worst enemies are hot temperatures and slugs.

Here are some tips to grow lettuce all summer long, even
when temperatures soar.

*Make sure soil contains a good supply of nitrogen for good
leaf production.

*Make early plantings in full sun.

*Plant the seeds 1/8 inch deep in a wide row, 6 inches apart
in all directions.

*Plant every two weeks for a continuous harvest all summer
long.

*As the weather warms up, start planting in partial shade.
Either on the side of the house that receives morning sun or
in the shade of other taller plants such as corn broccoli
etc.

*Keep weeds under control as lettuce has shallow roots and
can’t compete with deep rooted weeds.

*Keep soil moist but not wet. Water at the base of the
plant and not the leaves wet leaves will encourage disease.

*Aphids, cabbage loopers, flea beetles, leafhoppers and leaf
miners are some of the insects that attack lettuce, but slug
are the most notorious for loving lettuce.

*Avoid pesticides as lettuce leaves are very tender and
delicate, and can absorb many insecticides. An insecticidal
soap or handpicking usually alleviates the majority of
lettuce pests.

*One tip to avoid slugs is to avoid mulching lettuce.

For more tips on how to control slugs on lettuce and in the
entire garden visit:

http://www.apluswriting.net/garden/slugs.htm

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Author: Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the
environment.
Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading.
Website: http://www.apluswriting.net

[tags]lettuce, garden, organic, slug, slugs, leaf, hot, summer, salad,[/tags]

If you are even thinking of selling your house the priority would be to get a higher price. To achieve this you must not think like a seller but like a buyer. This will enable you to optimize conditions such that the value of the house increases substantially. The corner stone is that visibility adds value. However it must be done subtly so that it does raise the appraised value or property tax bill.

Here are a few tips:

1. Pay attention to the exterior first. This is what potential buyers notice. Give priority to home improvements that are visible to the naked eye. Fixing the fa

The mulberry tree belongs to the Morus genus that consists of about 12 species found over Mediterranean and north temperate regions with two being native to North America. The commonly cultivated black mulberry comes from an ancient line which has now been introduced into many countries of the world. It is believed to have been in cultivation for over 5000 years. It has variable leaf forms.

It produces a delicious fruit which is plentiful in summer and that ripens over a period long enough to enjoy the harvest for some weeks as the green berries mature to red or black. It is a notoriously difficult fruit to harvest, as are all the soft berry fruits, so there is ample scope for an enterprising soul to consider a way of developing an easier and efficient harvest and offering a new commercial crop.

In home gardens mulberry picking is enjoyed by children who are capable of exploring to seek to enjoy the sweet rewards as well as picking an amount for common consumption. However, they should be tutored to use the green, inedible fruit to rub away the persistent stains from the ripe fruit.

The White Mulberry, Morus alba is known as Sang Ye in China where it originated. It was introduced into Europe about 1434 from the Levant where it was cultivated mainly for the purpose of providing food for silkworms. It was introduced and is now naturalised in the U.S. providing an important food for wildlife. In Australian gardens it is welcome as a tasty home fruit, sweet and marketable also. The leaves when fed to silkworms produce a light yellow silk.

The tender young leaves are edible in small quantities when fresh or can be cooked as spinach. The leaves are used medicinally for treatment of fever and externally for ringworm. The root skin provides a medicine for bronchitis. The fruits which vary from pink to deep red/black are delicious to eat and in China it is regularly recommended to relieve insomnia, flu, high blood pressure, vertigo and other complaints. Fruit contains vitamins a B1, B2 and C.

Texas Mulberry or Morus microphylla grows as a small tree in the canyons of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona where it was once cultivated by Indians of the area and it is still considered a food source.

White Mulberry is a native of France Morus multicaulis

Black Mulberry, English Mulberry Morus nigra originated in Iran and known in antiquity when it was apparently much appreciated for its large, sweet juicy fruit. This is the species preferred by consumers large succulent fruits are delicious and sweeter, more flavoursome than the white mulberry. The unripe fruit when crushed, removes the stains from the ripe and often messy fruit. The leaves produce a lovely golden silk thread when fed to silkworms.

Red Mulberry, Morus rubra is a native of Nth America found from Vermont to Sth Dakota and south to Florida. Finely toothed leaves are coated with soft down in autumn. Red fruits are of inferior quality.

The Black Mulberry Morus nigra is often known as the English Mulberry for the following reason. In England James I tried to introduce a new silk industry into England. He issued a Royal edict recommending the cultivation of silkworms and urging the Shires to buy and distribute 10,000 mulberry plants of Morus nigra to all who would sow them, only to be advised that it was the wrong species of mulberry and the enterprise was abandoned. That is the reason that there are many ancient Black Mulberry trees still existing in England and very few old White ones. Regrettably, it was later discovered that both species of mulberry were used in the orient for silk.

Shakespeare’s mentions a mulberry - a Black Mulberry - and that it was not suitable for rearing silkworms, so reflecting the general disappointment of the times.

There is one surviving Mulberry tree in the private grounds of Buckingham Palace to this day. It still is bearing but in no way remarkable in size or spread.

Mulberry leaf is an old cottage remedy for ringworm. A very important purpose of the fruit is as a food supplement in the diet of heart patients, with some remarkable beneficial results.

For those who wish to introduce the Australian home hobby for children by keeping a few silkworms it can offer a fascinating and interesting experience for both infants and parents. Unfortunately there is little ultimate pleasure to be had from the silk produced, but it is certainly an exercise in nature studies!

It would be best to be sure of adequate supply of leaves by having planted your own trees in the yard, or at least enquire about a reliable and close alternative source. The leaves are best when fresh but keep for a little time in the fridge. It may be interesting for those unfamiliar with silkworm culture to know that if mulberry leaves for any reason are not available, a temporary diet of beetroot leaves will produce pink tinted silk and lettuce leaves will tend to give lemon coloured thread.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Gardening

[tags]gardening[/tags]

Walking into a nicely decorated home is like meeting a well-coiffed person. Everything is in place, each room is carefully arranged, and the furnishings seem to accent rather than overshadow the home’s design.

Quality furniture should bring out your home’s best features. But attractive furnishings don’t happen by accident. A homeowner or apartment dweller must take time to shop for just the right arrangement of pieces in an effective period style that will suit both the home and its occupants. A single person or a young couple just starting out may not have the luxury of buying matching pieces. They may pick and choose what they need from yard sales or second-hand stores. But those with steadier incomes and discretionary funds to spend may wish to purchase roomfuls of furniture that create an ambience that is soothing and aesthetically appealing.

When you are ready to shop for furniture, you may want to first browse newspaper ads or online websites to get an idea of what’s available. With numerous styles like Mediterranean or early American to choose from, you will want to match the furniture design to your home for a coordinating effect. Contemporary furniture in a Victorian home is not perhaps the blend you want. Shop for a variety of pieces and suits that fit your home’s theme or style. Compare wood grains and hues as well as fabric styles and types in finding the best fit for your living room or bedroom.

Another thing to keep in mind is functionality. Will a white sofa in the family room hold up against three kids and a Dalmatian? You may want to find another piece of the same style in a different color and a sturdy fabric. Find out if you can vacuum or hand-clean certain pieces of furniture, or if they must be dry-cleaned periodically. Either of these cleaning methods can entail cost or time that must be budgeted.

Don’t forget to consider auxiliary pieces, like end tables, coffee tables, lamps, and so on. These should work well with the prevailing theme and furniture design to create a cohesive theme, not a jarring one. You also will want to choose appropriate d

It happened to me when I turned 11. That was the year my father left my mother for another woman and left us to fend for ourselves. It was my mother and myself, alone and living in a small apartment. My mother worked nights for the post office and I had to grow up quickly. I learned to cook, clean, and repair things. Without much income, we couldn’t afford any repair people. So, when something broke, I tried my best, to fix things. I would go to the library, get a book on electricity, plumbing, or whatever was needed. I remember the first major problem I faced: a broken toaster.

I took it to a local appliance shop and they told me it was ten dollars, just to look it over. So, not having that kind of cash in 1959, I went to a Sears store and talked to the salesman. He made a few suggestions about why it wouldn’t toast anymore, and I returned home. I only had two screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, and tape. I followed the man’s idea and unscrewed the bottom plate. After peeking inside for an hour and playing with various parts, I noticed that there was a loose wire. I retightened it on the screw, reassembled the toaster and plugged it in. I was amazed that it now worked perfectly.

I learned some valuable lessons, which I’ll share:

• You can learn a lot from books (or nowadays, the Internet).
• The broken item might be easy to fix.
• If an 11 year old can fix a toaster, you can probably fix almost anything.
• You only need basic tools to do most repairs.
• All it takes is time and patience.
• Most salespeople are happy to share their expertise.

Besides saving money, the ability to repair something is a nice talent to possess. It means that most of the objects in your home will work. It begins with an attitude. Don’t you want everything to work when you need it? From appliances to toilets to cars, broken items are wasteful and annoying. So make a commitment to keep thing going.

Put together a basic toolbox. Head to a hardware store and collect a cheap kit, many of which are sold as a unit. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just complete. Then start with easy repairs. Fix that wall light switch by going online to the free home improvement sites. They will walk you through the process. The same goes for that running toilet or ceiling light.

Over the years, I’ve realized that almost anything made, has a diagram for repair. Often the manufacturer has a site explaining what parts are needed and how they are installed. Of course, they will also sell you those parts. I’ve fixed copiers, faxes, printers, small appliances, door locks, ceiling fans, refrigerators, washing machines, and my car. If you feel overwhelmed, ask an expert. I wouldn’t tackle most audio-visual components, tv’s and complicated electronics. But I troubleshoot my own computers and upgrade them myself. I learned to look at the obvious first.

Many times, replacing a simple, relatively inexpensive part, is the answer. If you have tried everything else, and failed, it’s time to call a repairman. In that event, there’s no shame in admitting defeat. But I have saved my family tens of thousands of dollars over the decades and I’ve averted many hours of wasted productivity. I hate having a useless light or appliance in the house. Become proactive and also do the required maintenance for the larger items, such as lubricating moving parts, cleaning filters, and replacing belts in vacuums, furnaces, refrigerators, and alike.

Not only will you eventually save lots of money and time, but you’ll have the peace of mind that you are in control of your environment. So grab that screwdriver and start repairing your life. Remember: handy is dandy.

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years.
He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master’s Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, “Pursuit of the
Phoenix.” His latest book is, “Inside the Yellow Pages” which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com. Currently, he is the Marketing Director for thenurseschoice.com, a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.

[tags]fix,handy,home,improvement[/tags]

Do you feel tired when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel your neck is stiff and straining when you wake up? Do you snore at night and your wife or husband is starting to get annoyed by it? If the problems above describe you, there is a solution available for you.

A good night’s sleep is important as it recharges our body and revitalizes our energy level during the day. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty sleeping or getting a good night sleep.

One the reasons for it could be your pillow. A pillow that is too soft does not properly support your neck and head and as a result, you will feel your neck becoming stiff in the morning. It could also be because your pillow is too old and lose its shape. A better pillow such as a tempurpedic pillow will do a better job.

A tempurpedic pillow is made of visco-elastic memory foam which allows it to retain its form and shape better. Tests have shown it can hold it’s shape for 10 years.

Tempurpedic pillows will shape itself based on the contours of your neck and head, firmly supporting it when you are sleeping. Tempurpedic materials are also temperature sensitive and will adjust to your body temperature. When you sleep in a tempurpedic pillow or bed, you get that warm, cuddle feeling which can help you sleep better.

Tempurpedic pillows also have orthopedic properties. As a matter of fact, it is used by hospitals for patients who suffers from orthopedic related diseases.

People who have sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea can benefit from a tempurpedic pillow as well. Your partner will be able to sleep better at night as well.

A tempurpedic pillow does cost more than a normal pillow. However, considering you spent one-third of your life sleeping, the extra cost is well worth it if it can help you get a better night’s sleep.

You can also go to your local mattress shop and try a tempurpedic pillow for yourself. You will see the difference and want to buy one home.

Ricky Lim runs a tempurpedic reviews site. Visit his site today for more info on memory foam pillows and tempurpedic pillows

[tags]Tempurpedic, tempurpedic mattress, tempur, memory foam, memory foam mattress, tempurpedic bed, sleep[/tags]

Nothing can rejuvenate the exterior of a home quite like a fresh new coat of paint. A good paint job can make even the oldest home look like new, but it is important to make sure that the color you choose matches not only your sense of style but the surrounding landscape as well.

It is important to pay careful attention to the exterior landscape of your home when choosing the right color. It is also important to assess how you feel about the current color of your home. If you like the color of your home as it is, perhaps all you need to do is brighten it up a bit with a fresh coat of paint or a lighter shade.

If, however, you have always hated the exterior color of your home and wondered what the previous owners were thinking, it may be best to make a radical change. We have all seen those houses where everything is attractive except the color, and a radical departure may be in order. After all, if purple and pink is not your style it may be best to make a complete change, from the paint to the exterior landscape.

As you search for the perfect color for your home, it is a good idea to bring along a picture of your home and its current color scheme. Doing so will help you match your new exterior color to your existing landscape. For instance, if you have a dramatic landscape element like a red rosebush, you may want to accent that feature by using a contrasting color like yellow or white.

Likewise, if the exterior elements of your home are light, you may want to use a dramatic and dark color like brick red when remaking the exterior of your home. Either way, it is important to take the landscape elements of your home into account.

It is also important to shop carefully when buying your paint. It is important to buy the best quality paint you can afford. After all, no one wants to repaint their home every few years. If you skimp on the quality of the paint, you will end up repainting your home more quickly than you want. In addition, the color of poor quality paint will not hold up to sunlight, so your dramatic red house could end up looking somewhat pink in years to come.

Buying the best quality paint you can afford, and taking care to paint well, is the best way to improve both the beauty and the value of your home. Few home repairs are as effective, and as inexpensive, as a fresh new coat of paint.

For more information on home improvement and help with kitchen remodeling, take a look at our comprehensive home improvement guide at http://www.get-home-improvement.com. You can also chat with an expert contractor in our forum at http://www.home-improvement4u.com/forum/.

Brooke Sikula is a freelance writer based in Ventura, CA and maintains her own website at http://www.brookesikula.com. She is also a regular contributor to http://www.homesfix.com.

[tags]home improvement, exterior, house, paint, colors[/tags]