By this time of the year when the cold weather starts to peep in, I seem to be a little slower and lazier than normal. I would rather just curl up inside the house and wait for spring to come. I constantly comfort myself of the fact that soon enough, the snow and ice will leave us again and before we even know it, it’s time to get outside and work on the lawn and landscape! With that in mind, why don’t we make a plan?

The first thing to do is to decide on which outdoor maintenance chores can be done by ourselves and which ones might need professional care.

Below are some outdoor tasks which may want to consider:

Lawn Cutting

Cutting your own grass can give you the shear of joy of just being “outdoor.” Nothing can beat the smell of freshly cut green grass on a Saturday morning. For now, you may want to consider checking on your mower and tuning it up. Make sure that you change the oil, sharpen the blade and check on the spark plug.

When buying a rose bush, you may have sometimes thought that the price was pretty high. But suppose YOU were producing them. What would you want for a plant that had gone through these various stages of development and growth?

So join me for some armchair day dreaming. Let’s indulge in some flights of fancy; just suppose that YOU decide to become a rose grower.

You will find rose bushes produced over a wide area: Arizona, California, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Texas, to name some of the leading areas in alphabetical order.

While operations will vary some, here is about what you could expect if you followed your day dreams and became a rose grower.

You will first need substantial acreage of some desirable ground. Deep sandy loam would do, and just in case nature forgets you, it is desirable to have some way of irrigating your crop if necessary.

It’s no secret that spring’s the best time to ‘upgrade’ your landscape beauty factor. Fast growing trees are the best choices such projects. Those of you on the lookout for tall trees should consider planting White Pine seedlings. These hardy perennials are guaranteed to grow fast for the first 100 years. Three year old seedlings, on planting, can be expected to shoot up to 6′ within the next 6-7 years. They can be put to use for ornamentation and landscaping purposes and can also act as wind breakers and privacy screens. These pines have green-blue, 4″ needles, do well under direct sunlight and thrive in wet areas.

Serbian Spruce Trees are another great tree choice. Many tree farms supply these trees. Some also offer them at rates that are below wholesale prices on account of the current economic conditions. One such tree farm is located in Malta, Ohio. Run by a family that’s been in the business for over two decades, this tree farm sells its spruce trees balled and burlap-packed. Most farms include a planting and care guide that assure success if followed. Make sure the farm you buy your trees from provides you with the necessary legal documents such as a copy of the nursery’s license and a Gypsy Moth Compliance certificate which should suffice to meet most state standards.

What could be more tranquil than an underwater world? Murals that create the impression of being under the sea or beneath the surface of a lake or river can be perfect for a peaceful bedroom, a rustic beach cottage or a child’s room. The water theme also goes well in bathrooms and can complement outdoor areas, for example, around a swimming pool. Here are some ideas and tips to stimulate your imagination.

Inspiring Ideas

You can choose amongst a variety of styles if you want to create an underwater mural. Children’s rooms invite particular visual treatments whereas adult living areas demand a more subtle and sophisticated look. For kids’ murals you could think of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, sunken treasure and mermaids, executed in cartoon-style. Whimsy isn’t only for kids though and you could exercise your sense of humor in an underwater mural in a bathroom or swimming pool area.

This is a one stop information place for helpful ideas that will help you stage your home for sale. Home Staging is affordable and fairly simple. With a little effort and moderate expense you can easily get a return on your investment when your house sells swiftly and for a profit.

Most people selling homes in today’s market are not flush with cash and spending a lot of money is not an option. Its a good thing that there are a lot of affordable ways to improve the overall look of your home in ways that are sure to impress potential buyers. Home staging is one of the best answers around for the question of how to sell a house.

Take a look at some important areas in your home. When you begin with removing the clutter from each room, doing some simple repairs and minor improvements you are properly preparing your home to sell with Home Staging.

North February

February is an exceedingly trying month for the home gardener in the north central section of the country. The weather continues to keep him inactive as far as doing any actual gardening is concerned and he knows that there will be many weeks before the earth can be turned, seeds sown and plants set out in garden beds. He must be content to speculate, plan and prepare for the coming season.

February is a good month to get set for the gardening season. Now, rather than when the season begins is the time to check over garden supplies, seeds, tools and equipment. Tools should be examined for needed repairs, sharpening and the possibilities of replacements with new ones.

Power equipment should be gone over to be sure that it is in good working order. Overhauling can be done leisurely and with a certain amount of pleasure which would be absent if it is put off until the time comes when tools and equipment are actually needed to do garden work in spring.

These last few weeks of winter should be devoted to reading and studying plant culture and gardening practices. This can be almost as great a pleasure as active gardening itself.

So you want to save some green? All you have to do is drive smart to save green. It is not just about having an eco friendly car. Common sense tells us that if more people took up the challenge our whole country - even the whole world - would benefit in a

1. It has to be said: the very best thing you can do to help the environment with your car is stop driving it! Well unless you are a college student, you may not have that option any longer. The best alternative then is just to drive slower instead. You see, most cars appear to save gas when driven at speeds of between 50 mph to 60 mph. So drive like Goldie Locks, not too slow and not too fast. This is how to drive smart, save green.

It might be obvious to many that the Hot Tub industry has not really been thought of as a GREEN industry before. The major reason being that most hot tub companies spray fiberglass and resins, use plastics and steel without much regard for the environment, except to follow EPA guidelines and call it a hot tub. Times have changed now and the “The California Energy Commission (CEC)” decided to set the trend. They created some of the most rigid standards in the USA that monitors energy efficiency. CEC recently revised a bill called “title 20″, which sets a standard amount of allowable energy used by a portable spa/hot tub. The amount of allowable energy per the new guidelines, was not met by 65% of hot tub manufacturers. These hot tubs failed an independent study done by California Polytechnic State University. Softub, a 20 year old company, was the only manufacturer to pass these new guidelines without having to make any changes to its manufacturing process.

Interest is reviving in the old shrub roses of our great-grandmothers gardens. To provide beauty with fragrance and nostalgic memories, no other flower has more distinction or appeal.

For all practical purposes, these roses are a necessary tonic for Midwest gardens. They thrive in spite of drought, below zero temperatures, weeds and hot winds. All grow without winter protection except those mentioned otherwise. Care is simplicity itself plant them as you would any other rose.

Feed each spring and water during periods of extreme drought. If blackspot or insects bother, use any good rose dust. Prune away only dead wood, as the new growth continually replenishes the plant. In this manner, the rose can live for 50 years or more.

There are types for all garden needs - tall shrubs for background or hedges, climbers and pillars for trellises, medium to low shrubs for foundation plantings, and ground creepers to hold soil on eroded banks.

These are the best-known groups with outstanding varieties of each: Rosa Centifolia (Cabbage rose) The original Provence rose is pale pink; Rose des Peintres has large deep rose flowers. ‘Vierge de Clery’ is white.

Whether it’s an outside dining table for those Saturday brunches or a reclining relaxer for those hot summer days next to the pool, teak furniture can provide the practical or decorative touch you need to turn your everyday living rooms or entertainment areas into places to be proud of.

Teak wood is also rich in color, making it a perfect material for outdoor furniture that will add style and substance to your outdoor entertainment areas. Outdoor teak furniture is the solution to any of your hard wood needs, be it a dining table on your patio or a garden bench to soak up the scenery.

Owning furniture made from teak wood therefore assures you peace of mind that your home or business will contain quality, durable furniture that will last for many years to come. Whether you are looking to add an executive look to your new offices or simply want some stylish new accessories for your home, you can’t go wrong with teak furniture.

You won’t have to worry about laborious maintenance of your outdoor teak furniture as its natural properties mean it will resist water and extreme weather conditions. Only light care of your furniture is required to ensure long lasting value.