Suburban Ecology » cathi

Teak Patio Furniture

cathi — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:52:26 +0000

A deciduous hardwood tree indigenous to Indonesia and Southeast Asia, teak is extremely dense-grained and highly resistant to rot, warping, shrinkage and swelling. Its high natural oil content acts as a natural preservative to the wood, so it can be left outdoors for decades. The first outdoor teak benches were made of recycled decking from old sailing ships. Many public parks in England are furnished with such teak benches, some of which are nearly a century old. Teak is more expensive than other woods, but because of its durability, remains very popular, especially teak patio furniture.

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Post tags: Furniture, Garden, Garden furniture, Home and Garden, Patio, Shopping, Southeast Asia, Teak

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How to Start a Fruit and Vegetable Garden

cathi — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:12:39 +0000

Vegetable gardening can be a very rewarding experience. But if you’ve never had a vegetable garden before, the task can seem overwhelming. Here are several easy ways to start your first fruit or vegetable garden.

First, some vegetable gardening basics. Most vegetables need full sun, well-tilled soil, and the right fertilizers to bear fruit (or vegetables). Using the wrong soil enhancements will cause your plants to produce leaves and flowers, but little fruit. Most vegetables need long and deep water – water the roots, not the leaves. Pick your harvest regularly to encourage more fruit or vegetables. Finally, know when to plant, and when to harvest. This information will be found on the seed packet or the plant container. As you gain more experience, you will be able to rotate crops based on how early they mature.

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Post tags: backyard garden, Organic matter, Vegetable garden

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5 Simple and Easy Ways to Organic Gardening

cathi — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:00:38 +0000

So you want to go organic!

Organic gardening does not just mean no chemicals, fungicides, insecticides, or herbicides, it means creating a natural balance in our gardens. Organic gardening starts with soil and that means recycling; recycling plants, weeds, flowers, vegetables, kitchen waste, newspapers and anything else that will break down into compost. Compost is the heart of organic gardening. What goes into the soil comes out as beautiful vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees. Building and maintaining soil quality is the basis for successful organic gardening.

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Post tags: backyard garden, Compost, Fertilizer, Garden, Mulch, Organic horticulture

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Organic Garden Tools

cathi — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:06:46 +0000

Every gardener needs a standard complement of tools like rakes, shovels, mattocks, trowels, etc. But as an organic gardener you will find there are some specialized tools on the market that, wielded correctly, can make your gardening chores more like gardening pleasures.

Compared to conventional gardening, going organic will bring you more responsibilities like effectively creating, managing and utilizing compost and effective water management.

Some of the tools for organic gardening have a long and storied history while others are technologically advanced wonders of modern science. Unfortunately the plethora of choices can easily overwhelm neophytes and experts alike.

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Post tags: backyard garden, Compost, Fertilizer, gardening tips, Organic farming, Organic horticulture

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Raised Bed Gardening

cathi — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:51:00 +0000

For some people, the space on their lawn isn’t large enough to accommodate a full-fledged garden, flushed with flora and fauna that will make any passersby give a second look. But you shouldn’t despair when that seems out of reach. You can make a raised bed to help the gardener inch closer to the garden of their dreams. And the fact that making one is absolutely easy simply adds more points to consider creating a raised bed for their organic garden.

With all that said, read on to know about the nuts ands bolts behind creating a raised bed for your organic garden.
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