To protect vulnerable plants and vegetables during the cold winter months, a greenhouse is an absolute requirement for the gardener. However, a lack of suitable space can be a problem, especially with today’s new build housing estates where developers have been rather stingy with garden sizes. This article will look at the different types of greenhouse solutions available – there’s sure to be one for your garden.

Why use a greenhouse?

* Protect from frost and wind

* Speed up plant growth

* Extend the vegetable growing season

* Grow more exotic plants such as cacti

Cold Frame

The smallest and simplest form of plant protection is offered by a cold frame. A cold frame is made up of a framework, usually wood, metal or brick, which is covered by panes of glass. A wood or metal frame has the advantage or being portable so you can easily move it into or away from the sun. Only the sun warms a regular cold frame, but you can buy heating cables that warm the soil or air.

Cloches

A more elegant French version of the cold frame, cloches are glass or plastic covers.

Choosing a greenhouse

Buy the biggest you can afford and have space for. The more air circulation you have the better the environment for your plants.

Wooden greenhouses

Although wooden greenhouses look more attractive than plastic or metal ones, they do need a sturdy brick or concrete base and do need more maintenance. The wood will require treating every couple of years and if the wood is varnished or painted, you will first need to sand it down before applying primer and exterior paint.

Choose the site

Always build on level ground in a sheltered but will-lit spot away from the shade of trees or buildings. Orientating north-south along its length will give you maximum light in the summer, while an east-west orientation is best for winter and spring plants.

Lean to

If space is limited, consider a lean-to greenhouse. This has the appearance of a traditional greenhouse cut in half lengthways. The open side butts against an exterior wall. Being closer to an existing building, this does have the advantage of making electricity and water services easier to connect. Some smaller lean-tos will not be large enough to comfortably work in.

Freestanding greenhouses

While there are different shapes of greenhouse such as square or hexagonal, there are really on two general styles:

The “Traditional span” style offers a lot of growing space, although the roof slants fairly steeply so ensure there is sufficient headroom for working or growing tall plants.

The “Dutch light” style provides glass panels right down to ground level so they provide the maximum amount of light and are the best choice for growing tall plants.

Temperature control

To create the perfect growing environment you will need adequate ventilation and shade during the summer when the sun is much stronger. A water supply will make irrigation much easier and an electrical point will allow you to automate irrigation and provide heating during colder spells.

Ventilation

Use hinged roof vents and hinged and louvered side vents to provide the most flexible ventilation.

Shade

During the summer, you will need to shade the greenhouse from the sun. A traditional but rather inelegant method is to whitewash the outside of the glass with a diluted emulsion paint mix (1 part paint to 100 parts water). You should do this in spring and keep on until the end of summer.

A more attractive solution is to use roller blinds, which are also more flexible as you can adjust the light levels according to the weather.

Heating

Fan heaters or tubular heaters are best and should be fitted just above ground level. Ensure they are thermostatically controlled for better economy, and waterproofed if possible. Don’t forget to install a thermometer – a maximum-minimum one is best as you can easily check daytime and night time temperatures.

Insulation

Double-glazing is the best but most expensive option to keep heat in. A cheaper alternative is to use plastic sheeting cut to size and fitted over the glass.

Whenever I think of an outdoor garden fountain, the first image that comes to mind is the title song of the popular TV series “Friends” where they show all the characters drenching themselves under a giant fountain. The whole scene makes me feel like joining them and taking a dip or two. I’m fascinated by outdoor garden fountains. Outdoor garden fountains are the best things to have if you have a garden to boast of.

In this age when space is at a premium, having a garden is a luxury for many people. Independent houses are now giving way to apartments, those cubbyholes that look like pigeon coops and where people pay exorbitant rates to be able to stay. Once upon a time, when the population was less, the sight of those beautiful independent houses with open front gardens was a common sight. And when there were these gardens, there were also these outdoor garden fountains. But these sights are gradually becoming a thing of the past.

When you have a garden, we are sure you spend some time there every day. A garden is like an oasis that refreshes the mind and the body. Modern outdoor designers use a variety of items to beautify gardens. Designer garden furniture, exotic plants and shrubs, play things for kids are some of the items that are commonly seen in a garden. However, there is one thing that really stands out in a garden – an outdoor garden fountain.Having an outdoor garden fountain can be a great experience for you. It not only acts as a showpiece but also serves some other purposes. Outdoor garden fountains, first of all, enhance the look of any garden. They come in various shapes and sizes and in different designs. When you have a harmony between your garden and the fountain, it is a sight to behold. When guests arrive for a party, then your outdoor garden fountain will act as the crowning glory as far as the overall look of your home is concerned.

Other than the aesthetic sense, an outdoor garden fountain can also be used to bathe the kids. And if you are in a naughty mood, you can also take a shower along with your partner. And the best of all – you can spend a romantic and quiet evening beside the fountain over some great food and wine. During summer evenings, you can set up a barbeque and roast some meat beside the fountain. The cool mist of the fountain will offset the heat of the summer and create a beautiful ambience.

Outdoor garden fountains are available in various ranges. If you have a garden, no matter what the size is, you will be able to locate the ideal outdoor garden fountain to beautify it. You can visit a local store or even a website to purchase your outdoor garden fountain.

When you have a garden, you must choose the best outdoor garden fountain from the collection of outdoor garden fountains. When you have a garden, then you must have an outdoor garden fountain. There is no two way to it. Outdoor garden fountains are fantastic – for you and for those who visit you.

Everyone enjoys planting flowers and trees in the summer.  It adds character and spice to our homes and it brightens the place up a bit.  However, when the cooler temperatures begin to arrive, it can bring with it a bare yard and poor landscaping.  Just remember that the fall can be just as exciting when it comes to landscaping. You just need to have some ideas about what to do and how to create a wonderful design.

You can start by following a few of these simple tips and then add some of your own as you go along.1. Consider planting trees that will bloom with bright, attractive leaves in the fall.  A few of these trees include dogwoods and maple trees. These can really add a lot of depth and color to your home when the weather begins to turn a little bit cooler.

2. Start bringing out your hay, cornstalks, gourds and pumpkins before the fall season is over.  You do not need to wait until late October to begin decorating with these things.  I am sure that you know how cute it can be and how much character it can add to a home.  So, why wait.

3. Get out the mums.  These come in a variety of colors so you can really make them work just about anywhere.  They also look great on hay bales, lining sidewalks or even simply placed around the entrance to your home.  You will not go wrong with these beautiful flowers.

The fall season does not need to be boring anymore. You just need to prepare in advance, just as if you would for the spring and fall.

You can buy intruder alarms from big stores or security firms that are experienced in dealing with clients of all kinds. If you are quite rich and have a whole place to yourself that is not attached to any building then you need a high profile alarm system since the risk is higher in this case. One of the benefits for people living in apartment is that the alarm systems are normally portable which means that you do not have to purchase a whole new system in case you shift to another place. An alarm that can make sufficient noise to gain the attention of the guards or the other occupants in the building is required. A wireless system is very popular nowadays since there are no wires that will be easily viewable by the intruders.

Mold Preventative Tips

- Any and all wet materials need to be dried as soon as possible. Typically, mold will grow within about two days. Just think about it this way… Have you ever put a load of laundry in the wash only to forget it until the next morning? If you have, you might have noticed that yucky sour smell. That is just how quick mold can set in.- Take a few minutes to clean, disinfect and dry all surfaces. Pay close attention to areas around any sinks or floors that get wet often.

- Install an exhaust fan in all of the bathrooms of your home. Run the exhaust fan during and after showers. This will help to minimize the moisture level in the bathroom and could help to possibly prevent mold from growing.

- Check all of your pipes for leaks and seepage. Pipes can disintegrate over time, so be sure to inspect them. If need be, replace any old pipes if they show any signs of being dilapidated.

- Before you put your clothing away, make sure that they are completely dry and clean.

- Amp up the airflow in the house. Pull furniture away from the walls and open the closet doors. This will help air to circulate better throughout the house.

- Install storm/thermal pane windows and wall insulation to help keep walls warm while helping to limit condensation.