Before spending a small fortune on replacing our tired and worn single glazed units it’s worth asking ourselves why are we going to do it? Double glazing is a large financial investment why should we bother. If your current windows are in disrepair then you really have no choice at all and the decision has been made for you. However, even if your current windows are still serviceable there are still many great reasons why you may wish to change them for double glazed units anyway. Energy efficiency and saving on heating costs has to be one of the main reasons most people finally decide to change.

Because single glazed windows only have a single sheet of glass when they are broken by accident or on purpose they shatter into many pieces some of which are long and very sharp. These sharp pieces can travel at some speed and cover a large distance. If hit by one of these bits injury of some sort is almost inevitable. Double glazed units on the other hand are very strong and much harder to break. They can also be fitted with safety glasses which makes them even safer.

A thief or burglar will have no difficulty in gaining access into your home if you only have single glazed units and frames. The elderly wooden frames are no real deterrent at all. The thief can easily either take out the entire frame or simply smash the single glazing to gain entry into your house. If you have good quality double glazed windows and frames fitted it’s much tougher for the would be thief to gain entry. The double glazed units are almost impossible to break and the frame is much stronger meaning the thief will have to spend much more time in order to gain entry.

One of the worst things about single glazed units particularly in cold climes is the fact they allow a lot of heat from the house to escape into the outside world. These days with energy costs as high as they are it’s like burning your hard made cash. Also large panes of single glazing are a cold spot in your house and are not very comfortable to sit by. Double glazed units can save you up to 40% of this lost heat. Standard double glazing is very efficient but if you pay just a little bit more you can add energy efficient glass which has a special coating to help reflect heat from a room back into the home.

Before deciding whether you should get double glazing consider these additional advantages over single glazing. The style and choice of look is staggering no matter what your neighbourhood or conservation area requirements are you will be able to find a look that will fit in perfectly and not look out of place. The colour of frame can be chosen from a wide variety and will be sure to blend in. If necessary instead of PVCu which requires little or no maintenance you could opt for the conventional timber frame. The advantage of timber frames is that they look great and generally fit in much better than UPVc. Although Aluminium is still available as a choice not many individuals pick it these days.

How I wish I could broadcast this instead of writing so that it would be on-the-breaking-minute news. But even so it would still be too early to know what damage the past winter has done; thats part of the excitement of gardening.

Some of the damage shows up now, more will be caused if we have very heavy late freezes and some wont show up until the hot, dry days of late June or July. That makes it difficult to diagnose winter damage.

Have you discovered the usefulness of sawdust? Although we long felt that it was too acid, if not completely injurious to plants, we now know that it is neither. For a mulch it is better to get the coarse sawdust from outdoor sawmills. The very fine sawdust that you get from the local lumber yard makes an excellent thatch roof that sheds water and consequently is-of no value for a mulch.

However, it can be mixed with the soil to replenish soil. Before the leaves come out this spring hunt through the neighboring countryside for sawdust piles even where the sawmill itself has long since moved on. If you dont have a trailer, get it by the sackful. I keep eight to ten gunny sacks so I can replenish soil in preparation for Spring season. And on those trips when I expect to pick up sawdust I take down the back seat and throw an old sheet out to protect it. The wife hates it!

Although it is of course best to get permission to take the sawdust, I have never yet found an old pile that anybody thought worth saving. You can use this sawdust instead of peat for mixing with the soil; you can use it as a mulch, you can mix it with your compost pile to increase the quantity.

I have even used it along with hardwood shavings as a top dressing for paths through my wild garden. If the sawdust is pretty well weathered so that it is dark brown you dont have to worry about any starving effect as the bacteria decompose it. But if its new and light colored, then it will be necessary to put on an extra amount of fertilizer containing nitrogen to feed the bacteria while decomposing the sawdust.

You get this nitrogen back after the material is decomposed and the bacteria have passed on. Yes, today sawdust is socially and horticulturally okay.

If you are looking for a great addition to your garden, add a water feature! Putting in a water feature is fairly easy and relatively inexpensive, and will add immensely to the pleasantness of your garden while the maintenance level is minimal. There is not much more relaxing than sitting in your garden to read a book while listening to your fountain.

It is usually the natural ambience that a fountain adds that draws people to install a fountain in their garden. Somehow, being around a serene bubbling fountain while doing Thai-Chi or yoga grants one a positive energy, making their meditations much more fulfilling. The constant drone of water is enough to keep one focused on whatever it is they may be doing.

When you first decide to put in a fountain, you need to put great care into picking out one that will go well with the rest of your garden, especially if you have any other decorations, you want to consider if it goes well with your motif. Does the fountain you’re considering stand out in your garden llike a sore thumb, or does it look like it was meant to be there?

Another thing you might want to consider before buying a fountain or other feature is powering it. If your garden is not near your house or other power source, you can find simple solutions, such as an extension cord meant for being underground. A few hours of burying the cord, and you will have a fountain that looks like it was meant to be all along.

So if you’re looking for a way to make your garden a more classy and beautiful place to be, consider installing a fountain. The whole process is surprisingly inexpensive, and I think that you will be very happy with the results. Having a fountain in your garden is not only soothing, but it also adds a lot of character to an otherwise bland garden.

If you happen to notice small circular black spots, your plant probably has what is known as the Black Spot. The spots have fringed edges, and are a sign of a disease. Artificial sprays may be used to treat the spots, but the affected leaves should be removed from the plant, as remaining leaves will allow the disease to spread to the rest of the plant.

If you notice that the canes of your roses seem stunted or malformed, they probably have a fungal disease known as powdery mildew. Evidence of this is seen on the plant in white powder spread by the wind, and the leaves will start to curl and turn purple. It is best to treat the plant with Funginex or Benomyl to treat this fungal disease.

If you start to see orange-red blisters begin to form on leaves that turn black during the fall, you should collect the leaves that come down in the fall, as they are signs of a disease called rust. Removal of the leaves is important as the disease can survive the winter and attack new sprouts in the spring. Spray with Benomyl or Funginex every 7-10 days.

If the leaves or the flowers of the plant appear to be stunted or malformed, you may have spider-mites living on the rose. They are easily found, yellow, red, or green spiders usually found on the undersides of the leaves, where they proceed to suck the juice from leaves. Use Orthene or Isotox to take care of the infestation.

If you notice mottled leaves, or if the leaves have small white webs under them, chances are it was caused by aphids. The brown, green, or red bugs have a soft body, and are often found clustered underneath the leaves and flower buds, and will also suck juices from tender buds. You can treat this with Malathion or Diazinon spray.

If your flowers don’t open, or are deformed when they open, Thrips could be the reason behind the problem. They are slender, brown-yellow bugs with fringed wings that also suck juices from flower buds. Cut and discard the infested flowers. Orthene and malathion may also treat this problem.

Patios are great places to entertain guests outdoors or simply have a relaxing time with friends and family. To maximize the enjoyment patio furniture is an important component of any patio. And to make sure that the furniture is comfortable and relaxing you will need patio cushions.

Not only can outdoor cushions ensure that your patio furniture is snug and cozy, they can also transform the look and style of a patio instantly. With hundreds of different styles, patterns and colors you can use a new set of patio cushions to make your outdoor setting look a thousand times better.

Besides the color and look, probably the most important consideration is the material of the cushions. If you will be leaving the cushions out when the patio is not in use then you will need to choose a set made from a weatherproof material.

One of the most important characteristics of any outdoor fabric is its ability to remain durable under the stress of the harsh sun and heavy rain. They should be easy to clean so that food stains and dirt that will accumulate can be removed quickly. Also, insects and spiders should be unable to nest inside the cushion’s filling.

One of the most common fabrics that outdoor cushions are made from is acrylic. It is not only strong and durable, it is also is easy to clean with a damp cloth. Olefin is another popular fabric and is resistant to both the sun and rain. It is well known to keep its color even under the harshest conditions.

Polyester is also used to make outdoor cushions. It is not only cheap but is also durable and waterproof. However, some people do complain about the fact that it can become hot and may stick to people’s bare skin if they sit against them for an extended period of time.

If you want to use a fabric which isn’t weatherproof then you will probably need a secure cupboard to store the patio cushions away. This cupboard will need to be situated in a dry place and preferably indoors to avoid insects or spiders from taking up residence inside the space.

There are literally thousands of different colors and pattern variations available. Online stores are a great way to browse through the different cushions quickly. However, brick and mortar stores can give you friendly personal service face-to-face.

Try to keep a list of garden jobs on a card to do during March, and hang it where you don’t lose it so you’ll be sure to get the jobs done when time and weather permits in the East.

The bed south of our sun porch is a problem; it is in the heavy shade of a shellbark hickory, also shaded by a huge honeysuckle. It is not only shaded, but it’s dry. I find that even with watering it is rather hard to keep primroses alive in this spot so I am going to use it as a place to try out some of the named varieties of lily turf that I got last fall. I have ‘Majestic,’ ‘Lilac Beauty,’ ‘Monroi White,’ and Silver Ribbon. These are all varieties of liriope. They can take shade, rather dry growing conditions, and also the birds. The planting is just under the hanging bird feeder and the birds, especially sparrows, going after the food they throw out, are rough on tender plants like primroses.

The last of this month is usually, mild enough in Ohio to take the shading off my cold frames so the sun can start warming them up. If you live very much north of Columbus or St; Louis you have to put this off. By the last of February the roses should be blooming in my front yard as well as in a lot of other places around the grounds. The Christmas rose seed that I sowed in the cold frame last November should be starting to germinate.

Taking Pictures

Digital pictures are a good means of checking on your garden, both to see how it grows and changes from year to year as well as to show up places that need attention. To be honest I design and plant my place with pictures in mind. I have decided that next year I would like to have a nice shot down along a path, or across a certain part of the yard.

Consequently I make all of my plantings with this in mind. For instance last fall I had a lot of seedling cardinal flowers coming up in the cold frames and growing beds and I massed a bunch of them in front of the arborvitae hedge back of the pool. That should give me a gorgeous shot next July.

And in a couple of other places around the yard I put in a number of foxglove seedlings. That will give me a nice picture in June. Early last fall I planted all of one side of the path beside the garage with primroses. I have never taken a picture of that part of my yard because I was never proud of it. I hope next spring I will be.

One resolution I made last year, but am having a hard struggle to keep, is never to use a pencil on any plant labels. A Sharpie pen with a fine point is easy to read and will be as permanent as the label itself. Unless you are a memory specialist like Dale Carnegie you are going to find it necessary to label each and every plant including patio ground cover, cutting, seed, and what have you, as soon as you plant it. All too few of us have the time to make a record in our notebooks of each patio ground cover as we plant it” its name, where it came from, where it was planted.

Try making a plot of your yard and giving each bed a number or letter. Then you can have on a separate sheet an enlarged plan of this bed. Once you get this done it doesn’t take too long to jot down a planting plan.

Orchids are very popular plants in Indonesia and easy to find in every island, you do not have to go to the jungle to see them. That is one of the reasons why Indonesia chose Phalaenopsis amabilis as one of our national flowers. Orchids are notoriously lavish blooms that can add glitz and glamour to your walk down the aisle. Simply gorgeous wedding flowers. Orchids dislike sudden change in temperature, however a difference of 10 C - 20 C between day and night temperature is beneficial. The best suitable range is 18 C to 30 C, proper ventilation is must to provide fresh air and also helps in reducing the temperature.

Orchids are found throughout the world from the tropics to the subarctic zone. However, the orchid-richest areas are the tropics and subtropics. Orchids, like tulips , have become a major market throughout the world. Buyers now bid hundreds of dollars on new hybrids or improved ones. Orchids have few insect pests or diseases if properly cared for. It is important to have a problem identified before attempting control. Orchids native to temperate and arctic regions usually grow in soil or leaf litter. They generally have tuberous or bulbous roots which store moisture and nutrients.

Orchids have very low nutrient requirements, and do not tolerate high nutrient fertilizers. The addition of a good leaf or bark compost to the soil mix is sufficient to supply necessary nutrients. Orchids are affected by many of the same pests and diseases as other houseplants. Insects such as mealybugs and aphids can be controlled with the proper insecticide. Orchids are higher level plants that brighten anybodies day!

Orchids are sensitive plants for the most part and fertilizer burn is common for overfed samples. To avoid that problem, fertilize once per month at full strength, then dilute the mixture to one-quarter strength for the other weekly feedings. Orchids like about 50% humidity. To increase the humidity you can do several things.

Orchid roots tend to form at the base of pseudobulbs, or along the rhizome (occasionally however, young plants complete with roots may form high up on the parent stem). The flower spike of sympodial orchids arise from the base of the pseudobulb, the end of the pseudobulb, some point along it, or even from a rhizome.

Epiphytes are the easiest to grow in the most common in orchid collections. Western Australia is home to mostly terrestrial orchids which are well-known for their size, bright color and strange markings. Epiphytes have thick roots (called aerial roots because they’re frequently suspended in the air). These aerial roots are covered with a silvery material called velamen, which can absorb moisture from the air like a sponge.

You can grow flowers you can’t wait to show off. Growing and caring for orchids is a very pleasurable experience for any enthusiast. There is however alternative ways to growing orchids the traditional way and that is with hydroponics.

Orchids have urban amply specialized pollination systems and therefore the odds of being pollinated are regularly scarce. Orchids can grow in just about any environment and the kinds of orchids that you pick determine the type of environment needed. The majority of the various kinds of orchids are going to grow in tropical environments and they span from the beautiful to the unusual. Orchids are also noted for their odorous offerings. Did you know that the sweet-scented smell of vanilla is actually an orchid?