Greenhouses and Gardening

People have been using natural insecticides for many, many years. In the beginning, they used these ways to keep their homes clean of insects, but probably were not able to use the same techniques on their crops.

For example, a large number of flies do not like basil or mint, so if you hang that up in your entrance, you will reduce the number of flies in your house, but doing that in a field is more tricky. The ancients never found a way of dealing with locusts.

Nowadays, rather than repel, we would rather to kill. Not only that though, chemicals that are derivatives of plant life are frequently man-made, because there is more demand for the insecticide than there are plants. Chemical pesticides are more concentrated as well. So, now we have the question, is natural insecticide all that natural?

This question is quite troublesome to those who worry about polluting the planet with too many chemicals. In fact, there is a growing number of people who worry about these problems and there has been since the hippy days of the Seventies and even before. Environmentalists are anxious about the effect mankind is having on our surroundings by the over use of chemicals, particularly, but not only, insecticides.

This is why natural insecticides have seen a resurgence and why so many insecticide manufacturers like to add the words ‘natural’, ‘environmentally friendly’ or ‘eco friendly’ to their products’ containers. In fact, many are just climbing onto the eco friendly band wagon.

Look on the label, if there is a word you cannot read or do not understand or is over ten letters long, it is almost certainly a chemical. Which is not to say that it cannot be eco-friendly, but just to remind you that it is not completely as natural as it may say on the box.

In fact, there are two camps. There are the naturalists who acknowledge that some natural products that are in massive demand, have to be man-made because there is not enough natural product and there are the purists who spurn man-made copies completely. For example, the latter group would not buy anything that comes in a pressurized can, but they would consider using a mixture of ingredients in a plastic plunger-type spray.

There is a very fine line indeed between say, man-made citronella mosquito repellent and citronella essential oil that you have extracted from the citronella plant and mixed with alcohol or water and put into your own plunger-type spray. They are basically the same thing, but not quite are they?

At the end of the day, you are the one with your ethics and so the choice is yours. Fortunately, we have a fabulous resource for study at our finger tips, to wit the Internet. If you have principles and you are free-thinking, check out the ingredients of that ‘all natural cockroach killer’ on the Internet, before you part with your money, because there positively are environmentally friendly solutions available and they can be found in the stores, but they are usually on the bottom shelf because they do not produce so much profit.

Tags: garden, greenhouses

In general, homeowners spend plenty of time and money on beautifying the inside of their homes. But besides some landscaping, the outside rarely gets as much attention. Take for instance, the patio, which is generally a very underutilized area.

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

Think about the advantages of adding a patio cover. It provides shade, which will allow you to enjoy the outdoors on even the hottest summer day. It provides protection from the elements. Think how enjoyable it would be to sit outside during a warm summer rain or a cool rainy evening. It even, as we mentioned, increases the value of your home.

Now that you’ve decided this sound great, you have to decide what kind to get. There are of course many choices, but we believe wood patio covers are best. With wood you can create something uniquely you. And when properly treated, the constant beating of the elements will have minimal effect. And you already know wood just looks fabulous.

Just make sure the wood you choose will go with your home’s look. Pinewood is a great choice if you want to paint it because it holds the paint well. The drawback with pinewood is that you can’t get it with an anti-rotting agent. You can however get treated cedar, cyprus or redwood. If you plan on staining the wood, get one with a long grain. You’ll get a continuous design. Knots in the wood will not hinder it.

And don’t forget to get a little creative with this. Yes it’s more work, but you’ll definitely want to add designs and decorative accents. Your patio cover will look better, and it will add more value also. By decorative accents we mean thinks like arbors and lattice. These are intricate, ornate, and just look great. Combine them to give your patio a unique appearance.

When you begin your project, you may be tempted to buy into one of those pre-made patio kits. Know up front that most are made with artificial wood. They are not durable and in fact, in many cases, you’ll need to add real wood for support. Why not do it right and use real wood for the whole thing.

Some companies are even marketing wood patio kits for people who like to do things themselves. If you’ve ever seen a wood floor being placed down, then you’ll understand how these kits work. They are made from tiles that interlock. The advantage to this is that they are easy to take apart and clean, and they are even easy to move to another location if that’s in your future plans.

Just remember that if you want to get a great cover for your patio, a solid wood patio cover cannot be beat.

Tags: green house, gardening

Items made of wrought iron last for a very long time. Wrought iron features such a low carbon base that is easily molded into all sorts of interesting designs. Wrought iron curtain rods and wrought iron drapery hardware are actually some of the most becoming decorative items you can use to accentuate the atmosphere of your home. With so many attractive patterns in wrought iron curtain rods and wrought iron drapery hardware, you are sure to feel like a King or Queen of your home while you decorate with these items.

The addition of wrought iron curtain rods can add a bit of drama to a classic country home. If contemporary is more your style, wrought iron drapery hardware and rods can make your home more inviting. Regardless of style, wrought iron adds a touch of class.

Most often wrought iron curtain rods and wrought iron drapery hardware is made of brown, black and metallic with complimentary decorative knobs, which are delicately impressed with designs. There are many interesting and decorative designs and styles from which to choose in wrought iron drapery hardware and wrought iron curtain rods, although they come in limited colors. These few colors of wrought iron curtain rods and drapery hardware offer a complimentary contrast to the surface of your walls, as well as the curtain materials. This is because of the way that wrought iron drapery hardware and wrought iron curtain rods are designed, as it permits other colors to show through their complex details.

One of the greatest benefits of wrought iron in design is the beautiful and delicate contrast it provides. Walls are painted or papered and draperies are a textile of some sort. But wrought iron curtain rods are yet another medium that adds interest and beauty to your design. They are also unusually versatile. Wrought iron curtain rods and matching drapery hardware are installed in bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and dinning rooms. In fact, you could match the hardware in each room for even more continuity. Obviously draperies will vary, but the common theme or wrought iron curtain rods will create a relaxing atmosphere.

Wrought iron drapery hardware comes in a wide assortment such as double or standard curtains, swags, curtain shelf brackets, curtain rod brackets, tiebacks and curtain rings, and many other types of wrought iron accessories to fit your lifestyle. You can match and blend all the textures of your home while adding an air of sheer elegance and a distinguished feeling of class to your home, with the use of such wrought iron window treatments.

They offer ease of installment while they are long lasting in their lifespan. Keep in mind that the thicker the wrought iron curtain rod the heavier it is in weight and they will require a strong wall for hanging your window treatment as well as the proper strength in the support brackets and their attachments. While installing them you must also bear in mind the weight of the curtains that will hang from your wrought iron curtain rods, so you must choose wisely.

Once your curtains are hung, maintenance is a breeze. Simply wipe clean with a damp cloth. Now that’s what I call “low maintenance!” If you are installing wrought iron curtain rods in a room other than the typical living and bedroom, look for unique accessories. Towel rings, candle holders, plant stands and other miscellaneous items can all be purchased in wrought iron. Little touches here and there help to blend your wrought iron curtain rods and matching drapery hardware.

Wrought iron candle holders, plants stands and interesting silhouettes add a rustic charm as any accessory or even the use of wrought iron furniture can complete a look in home decor. Edited by Glinda Zuladra

Tags: gardening, green house