Easy gardening in any space


(ARA) - Gardening is rapidly becoming a popular hobby for many Americans, even with an increase in the number of people living in apartments and condos. Getting your hands dirty may seem challenging when faced with a small space, but all the space necessary to have a successful garden is a window, ledge, patio or balcony.

Bountiful produce crops can be found in all sorts of places aside from farms or the market. Fresh herbs and vine-ripened tomatoes can easily be grown in a home or on a patio. Simply find a sunny spot and get growing.

Getting started on a personal container garden:

Location: The first step to growing fresh produce is evaluating the available space and light. A patio, balcony or porch is an ideal place for containers and hanging baskets. Lacking an outdoor space means more creative solutions. Consider some smaller pots, a window box or hanging baskets placed near a sunny window.

Containers: Choosing a container for a garden is a lot of fun. There are really no conventional ideas of what gardens should look like. A personalized garden is an excellent way to express creativity, and virtually any container with adequate drainage can become a garden. Today it is easy to find an assortment of pots in varying sizes and shapes made from terra cotta, ceramic, concrete, wood or even recycled milk jugs. Additional non-traditional options include mixing bowls, tool boxes, 5 gallon pails, discarded sinks, straw bales and the Miracle-Gro Gro-Bag. This bag is a great new product that features durable packaging which acts as the container. Everything needed to plant a small garden is already in the bag. Just peel off the label and place seeds or plants in the three planting areas provided.

What to grow: Once the perfect space and container for a garden are located, it's time to decide what to grow. Herbs for cooking, tomatoes, salad greens and peppers are great choices for a container garden. Consider eggplants, green onions, cucumbers and strawberries for something new. If produce isn't preferred, try growing annuals, perennials or even citrus in containers for a burst of color and a splash of green.

Seeds or plants: Good options for starting veggies indoors by seed are tomatoes, peppers, celery, cauliflower, head lettuce and eggplant. Produce that can be started either indoors or out are beans, peas, most lettuce and corn. To save time, nurseries and garden centers carry a wide variety of herbs and vegetables for transplanting as well. Make sure to select short, stocky plants that are not in bloom yet. These will be able to devote more energy to root development, ensuring a healthier start.

Planting: Begin with a clean, well-drained container in a location that receives six to eight hours of sun each day. Place a coffee filter, small piece of screen or some loose pebbles over the drainage hole to ensure adequate water drainage, and to prevent soil from washing out the bottom. Next, add a high-quality potting mix that contains plant food such as Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix or Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix. Pop in seedlings or plants, making sure to loosen up any roots that appear to be restricted or curled up around the bottom of the starter container. Dig out a small area in the pot for each plant being sure to leave enough room between to allow for growth. A 24-inch pot can hold one tomato plant in the middle and a few herbs or greens around the edge. To cut down on the amount of watering, hide soil and add organic matter to pots; don't forget to add a 1 to 2 inch layer of mulch to the top of the pots - even indoors. Scotts Nature Scapes Advanced Mulch is an excellent choice because it comes in a variety of colors.

Maintenance: Once a container garden is planted, water thoroughly until some seeps out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Containers dry out more quickly than in-ground gardens, and will require watering daily or even twice a day when it's very warm. Follow up with regular feedings by using Miracle-Gro Watering Can Singles All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food. Just pour one pre-measured packet into a watering can and mix with a gallon of water every one to two weeks to keep plants nourished.

Large spaces are not essential in growing delicious vegetables for dinner or salads. With a minimal investment and some simple steps, spaces like patios, balconies and porches can be transformed into incredible, edible gardens.

Get the most bang for your energy buck

(ARA) - With demand for electricity and natural gas rising along with energy costs, American homeowners can easily spend hundreds of dollars a month on utility bills.

"From air conditioning larger homes to powering today's high-tech electronics, we are using more energy than ever and that is certainly hitting many homeowners in their pocketbooks," says Victor Gonzalez-Maertens, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox Industries - a leading manufacturer of home heating and cooling equipment. "But there are ways to stretch your dollar further by evaluating how you spend money on energy and learning how to control those expenses."

Gonzalez-Maertens explains that there are four key areas of energy consumption for the typical household: heating and air conditioning, appliances, water heating and lighting. Here is his advice for getting the most bang for your energy buck in these areas:

Heating and air conditioning

Heating and cooling accounts for about 46 percent of the average home's utility bill and is typically the largest energy expense. To cut down on climate control costs, be sure to schedule annual routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system to ensure it's running as efficiently as possible.

If the air conditioning system is more than 10 years old or the furnace is more than 15 years old - the average life spans of cooling and heating units - consider replacing them with a new, Energy Star-qualified system that will be more energy efficient and can help lower utility bills. For example, by replacing an old 10 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) cooling system with a Lennox 21 SEER system, which is twice as efficient, homeowners can save more than $1,500 over a five-year period.

Programmable thermostats are another way to maximize energy efficiency. These devices automatically control the temperature to use less energy at certain hours of the day, such as nighttime or when homeowners are away from home.

Household appliances and electronics

Household appliances and electronics, such as refrigerators, clothes washers and computers, are responsible for about 28 percent of a home's energy bill, according to Energy Star. Make sure appliances are clean and free of dust and lint to ensure proper ventilation and to increase their efficiency. In addition, check refrigerator and freezer doors to ensure they are sealed tight to prevent cool air from escaping.

When washing dishes, use the air-dry setting on automatic dishwashers rather than heated drying to conserve energy. Finally, be sure to unplug TVs and other digital devices when not in use, as they consume energy even when they're turned off.

Water heating

Heating water is another major energy expenditure and accounts for about 14 percent of a household's energy bill, according to Energy Star. Consider insulating the water heater with a water heater jacket that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Homeowners also can lower the temperature setting on the water heater to save energy. Some water heaters come from the factory already set at 140 degrees or higher, but a setting of 115 degrees can provide comfortable hot water for most uses. Finally, consider replacing a water heater if the existing one is more than 10 years old, as the average life span of a water heater is 10 to 15 years.

Lighting

Twelve percent of the energy budget for an average household goes to lighting, according to Energy Star. Switching out traditional incandescent lights with more efficient fluorescent lighting is a quick and easy way to save on utility bills. In fact, by replacing 25 percent of lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, the California Energy Commission says homeowners can save about 50 percent on lighting-related energy expenses. Energy Star-qualified fluorescent lamps also last six to 10 times longer. For exterior lighting, be sure to use compact fluorescent or high-pressure sodium fixtures - which are more efficient - and consider motion sensors that operate lights automatically.

For more information about how to stretch your energy dollar further, visit www.itpaystolivesmart.com, www.energystar.gov or www.lennox.com.

Secrets from the pros for a lush, eco-friendly lawn and landscape


(ARA) - Want a thick, green eco-friendly lawn and eye-catching landscape filled with beautiful trees, shrubs and flowerbeds?

It's really a lot easier than you think. Just follow these helpful lawn and garden tips from turf experts and you can grow a healthier green lawn full of abundant plants that are the envy of the neighborhood.

1. Take a test. According to Dr. Tom Samples, Ph.D., turfgrass extension specialist at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, "a pH of 6.5 is considered ideal for turf grass."

Since the pH level of your soil can determine the types of trees, shrubs and plants that will do well in your yard, he recommends that you buy a soil tester from your local retail store or garden center and find out the pH level of your soil and then adjust accordingly.

2. Take a walk and pull. Spotty patches and weeds are, literally, easy to spot. To avoid using harmful chemicals, pull existing weeds. Before you start, soak the soil in the area of the garden you'll be weeding to ensure that all the roots come out to reduce re-growth. And use a claw tool cultivator to make it easy to get at stubborn runners.

3. Lose the spots. If your lawn is blotchy with ugly yellow burn spots where your dog does his business or from winter de-icers, don't tear up the grass and reseed. Instead, the pros use organic SpotGone! from NatraTurf to turn burned-looking patches and high traffic areas into lush green grass again.

The organic, easy-to-sprinkle pellets are chemical free and OMRI-listed by Organic Materials Review Institute and complement any lawn care system, have no foreign grass seed and are safe to use around kids and pets. Just shake on affected spots any time of the year and your lawn will grow back uniformly.

4. Go au natural and reduce water use. A natural soil amendment like gypsum saves water and helps reduce your need for chemical fertilizers. Gypsum-treated soils retain moisture over a longer period of time and decrease evaporation on top of the soil. This reduces water run-off, letting you water your grass and plants less frequently. Plus it's an excellent source of calcium - a necessary plant nutrient - and removes harmful salts from your soil.

"Calcium bonds to the cell walls and improves cell strength," says Samples. "Gypsum supplies additional calcium and sulfur to lawns and plants without changing the pH level and is essential for plant growth."

Look for a high quality pelletized gypsum product like OMRI-listed HydroSave Residential from NatraTurf. It reduces "soil crusting" and loosens soil, making it more porous and a better home for earthworms, nature's aerators.

The pay-off is your grass and plants will develop stronger, more vigorous roots for a thicker, greener lawn, more robust flowers and even tastier vegetables.

5. Just a little off the top. Remember to use an energy efficient mower when you cut your grass and keep your grass at two to three inches high. Keep your mower blades sharpened for less damage to your grass.

With these quick tips your lawn and landscape will look like you left it in the hands of pros. But only you'll be the wiser. For more information visit http://www.natraturf.com/.

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When it's time for a new deck, details count


(ARA) - Backyard decks beckon this time of year. They are the perfect place for spending lazy summer days or for entertaining on blissful summer nights.

Today's decks offer homeowners a comfortable place to spend time. As a home improvement that offers return on investment, a new or upgraded deck ranks near the top of the list, behind only kitchen and bath remodels.

What's the biggest trend in decks this summer? "Homeowners are asking for more add-ons, including different styles of outdoor lighting," says Mick Feduniec of Deckscapes, LLC, in Charlotte, N.C.

Feduniec says requests for deck lighting have skyrocketed in the last few years and that his clients appreciate the wide variety of lighting that is available today. Unique styles, like tiny, recessed LEDs for the edges of decks, LED strips for running underneath a rail, or lights with remote control dimming, tend to get customers excited about the finished product.

"Not every customer is building the elaborate dream deck, but every customer is concerned about value. That translates to quality in the materials and the special touches that make a deck special day and night," Feduniec says.

Deckscapes has found that lighting really sets their decks apart. The company recently received the National Illumination Award from the North American Deck and Railing Association for a deck the company built that featured lantern-style post cap lights by Aurora Deck Lighting and a glowing gas fire pit.

Aurora is one of the nation's leaders in the design and manufacture of deck lighting, and the company says their business has remained steady even during the latest economic downturn, thanks to offerings featuring state-of-the-art LED bulbs.

"Customers want to get the most for their expenditure, and energy efficient lighting is functional and adds value," says Jay Savignac of Aurora.

New styles of LED deck lights are virtually foolproof. Installation is simple and the bulbs last for years, saving both energy and money while remaining maintenance free.

Easy installation means homeowners can add Aurora's deck lights themselves on existing structures. To encourage that trend, the company packages some of its most versatile lighting styles, like the Odyssey LED strip lights and Phoenix Recessed LED lights, in kits designed specifically with the do-it-yourself homeowner in mind.

Savignac says customizing a deck is easy with lighting, because there are so many colors and styles to choose from.  He says homeowners like convenience, so this spring they introduced a dimmer system that works with a remote control to allow you to dim the LED lights when just a little accent light is needed.

Aurora Deck Lighting's website, http://www.auroradecklighting.com/, features dozens of different styles of lights, including low voltage LEDs, solar LEDs, and traditional line voltage systems.

For inspirational ideas for your new deck, visit www.deckscapes.com.

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