tipsandsolutions : Sheds

Garden Composting

Charly — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:00:00 GMT

Composting is an excellent way to reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Don't throw away your kitchen and garden waste! Composting these organic materials creates a rich, black fertilizer full of nutrients and conditioners for your garden. Why spend money on expensive fertilizers when you already have all the ingredients you need to make a wonderful soil conditioner--ingredients that would otherwise end up in an already overflowing landfill?

Compost heaps may be contained in a homemade bin, a commercial bin, or simply in an open pile near your garden, but bear in mind these materials will rot and will therefore create an odor. For that reason, you may prefer an enclosed bin.Storing the material in an enclosed bin will also create much more heat, which will speed up the decomposition process.

Checklist

Lifetime composter
organic vegetable matter from your kitchen, including coffee grounds and egg shells
manure
grass clippings
dead leaves
sticks and twigs

Starting Your Compost Heap

Keep a plastic bag or container in the kitchen to store your vegetable peelings, fruit rinds, and egg shells for later disposal into your compost heap.
If possible, use a bag on your lawnmower so that grass clippings can be easily dumped into your compost heap.
Rake up those dead leaves and twigs in your lawn and flowerbeds and add them to your compost heap.

Maintaining Your Compost Heap

Regularly mix the materials in your compost heap to distribute the heat that is necessary to decomposition. This can be done with a pitchfork or shovel if you are not using an enclosed commercial bin If you are using a commercial bin, the material can be easily rotated within the tumbler with a few turns of a handle.
It will take a few weeks for your compost material to decompose into a rich, black crumbly loam that is ready to be spread onto your garden.

Important Tips!

Some organic material is not suitable for composting and can actually harm your plants.Do not put the following materials in your compost heap!

Meat (including grease) and dairy products because they create a very strong odor that will attract pests and insects to your garden
Yard vegetation that has been chemically treated with pesticides because that is harmful to the organisms in your compost
Dog or cat *** because they may contain parasites harmful to humans
Black walnut leaves and twigs because they release a substance that may be harmful to plants
Coal or ash because it might contain a substance that is harmful to plants
Diseased vegetation because it may transfer diseases or bugs to your garden plants

Maximize Your Storage Shed

Charly — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:45:00 GMT

Get the most for your money by maximizing the storage capacity of your outdoor shed.

Your home isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about when it comes to spring cleaning. How about that outdoor storage shed? Your yard is ready for a spring makeover and spring plantings, so you’ll be spending a lot of time in your outdoor shed during the coming summer months.

An outdoor shed is a big investment so be sure you’re getting the most for your money by maximizing its storage capacity. Organize your shed with shelving units and peg strips to keep your smaller items on the wall and free up floor space for your larger equipment.

Checklist

The following accessories will have you well on your way to your storage shed’s total spring makeover

Peg Strips - Use peg strips to hang tools and equipment of all shapes and sizes from hammers to hoes.
Shelving Units - Use shelving units to keep smaller items from getting lost and chemical products out of reach of children. You can utilize every little niche of your storage shed by installing corner shelves as well.
Bike Hook – Use a bike hook to suspend your bike from the ceiling so it's not always getting tipped over as you move around inside your shed

If, after you’ve utilized your Lifetime shed to its fullest storage capacity, you still find you have more stuff than space, we offer shed extension kits to expand your Lifetime shed from 2.5 feet to 36 feet, depending on the model of your shed.

Spring Potting and Planting

katie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:42:00 GMT

Bring Spring’s vibrant colors to your house and backyard

Add dimension and color to any area with potted plants! Potted plants will liven up your home whether they sit in your living room, on the porch or patio, or out in the garden. All gardening enthusiasts know that potting expands your growing area and is a great way to make your favorite plants into portable bouquets. Take advantage of Mother Nature’s color palate, and create beautiful, vibrant displays you can enjoy anywhere.

Checklist

6-foot Lifetime table or the Lifetime Workcentre
1 bag of potting soil
Pebbles
Pieces of a broken pot
Desired pots
A garden spade
Variety of plants and flowers

Steps

Pick your plants- Pick plants that have just started to grow; they have roots that can adapt to transplanting. Think about the colors, textures, and themes you’d like to incorporate in your house or yard. If you’re looking to place the potted plants indoors, be sure to find species that can handle shady conditions.
Pick your pots- Find a container that is the right size for your plants. It’s a common temptation to use a large pot your plant can “grow into”. But oversized pots can lead to overwatering and sour soil. Some plants will not produce flowers unless they sense they are bound inside a pot, and will not grow actively when they have too much room.
Keep it clean- If you want to reuse flowerpots, be sure to clean the inside walls thoroughly, removing any old soil. New feeding roots have a difficult time breaking through the caked residue left in old soil. Soak clay pots in water for a few hours before potting, so they don’t leach the water intended for your plant!
Make a drainage Layer- pieces of a broken pot, followed by a layer of pebbles along the bottom of your empty pot. This will prevent the soil from plugging up the drainage holes built into the pot, and keep the soil fresh.
Fill with soil- Fill the container about one quarter full with damp soil. Place the plant’s roots in a natural position, spread over the soil. Fill the pot with potting soil to about an inch of the containers rim, covering the roots. Pat the soil down so that it’s firm, but not so dense that the roots cannot get air through the soil.
Water- Be sure to water well after planting, or if the species of plant is succulent or downy, mist it with water for some extra pampering.
Making an easy adjustment- When a plant is first brought inside, or repotted, keep it in dim light with little sunshine so that it can adjust.

Tips

Plants potted in the spring enjoy taking a dip in the garden. If you don’t mind having them outside, dig appropriate sized holes for each pot, and place some gravel at the bottom. Bury the entire pot in the soil, showing only the pot’s brim. The gravel will serve as additional drainage, and discourage earthworms from entering through the pot’s bottom hole. This is a great way to let yout plants enjoy the refreshing spring season before moving them into the house.
Beware of potting in the winter, roots are dormant and will not grow into new soil. March, April, and May are ideal potting months.
Make it a Party! Set a date and contact friends and family. Invite them to bring pots, plants, and a garden spade. Let them know you’ll provide the dirt and workspace. Or shake it up and invite each person to bring a palate of one type of plant from the nursery, and trade with each other until you have the perfect arrangement. Potting with friends gives you the opportunities to trade ideas, gardening tips, exchange plants and seeds, and use your extra potting soil.