RAISED BEDS

These landscape helpers are simply aboveground, freestanding beds for any type of plantings. They provide a better growing area by literally lifting up plant roots so they aren't growing in clay, sand, rocks or weeds. Filling the beds with good-quality soil provides a place for plant roots to easily grow, which nets healthy plants, better blooms and a plentiful vegetable harvest. Drainage is better, the area warms up faster in the spring, and soil doesn't get compacted by foot traffic.

You can buy raised beds, but if you build it yourself, material costs can be very low, especially if using repurposed items. All you need is to design, build and then plant.

Designs are easy: a 4-foot square or 8-by-4-foot rectangular wooden box both work well. Height is usually 8 inches to 2 feet or taller. Current research says the use of pressure-treated lumber with copper-based chemicals poses minimal risk to plant or people health. But if you have those concerns, line the inside with heavy plastic or use non-treated lumber (it'll still last many years).

You don't have to use wood. Stone, brick, recycled concrete, metal sheets or cinder blocks will work. Get creative! Match a raised bed style with your landscape style and sun conditions, and locate it away from tree roots. Find more ideas: diyhomedesignideas.com/garden/raised.php

If you're placing the raised bed directly over turf or a weedy area, turn over the soil leaving the roots turned up then tease open the clods with a garden fork to allow drainage. Then fill the frame with garden soil or layered materials. This layering is known as lasagna gardening, or sheet composting. Water the layers as you build it.

Start with 6 to 10 overlapped newspaper sheets, or one sheet of non-coated cardboard, then 2-3 inches of brown materials such as leaves, straw or chopped-up dead plant foliage (nondiseased). Next, add 2 inches of green materials like grass clippings mixed with kitchen vegetable scraps (no meat or fish) and coffee grounds. Top with 3 to 5 inches of finished soil (bagged or your own composted soil). Water it all in place; let it dry for a few days, then you're ready to plant. See more about sheet mulching at blogs.cornell.edu/garden/sheet-mulching/

Larger raised beds will require lots of soil, so consider bringing it in bulk, measured by the cubic yard. Ask about the various mixes and whether they are well-composted or aged.

Once the soil is filled in place, water it several times so any excess fertilizers or salts from the bulk or bagged soil will move down through the soil.

LAWNS

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Colorado Garden to-do list for April 18-24

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Spring is the perfect time of year to start thinking about planting a garden. With a warm, mild climate and plenty of sunshine, the Peninsula is the perfect environment for growing most plants. Certified Edible Landscape and Master Gardener Mike Klein shares an overview of some of the main things to consider before planting. Use Kleins tips and make this year the year you start your dream garden.

Mike Klein is both a Master Gardener and Certified Edible Landscape Gardener with the UCCE Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco County. To become certified, Master Gardeners spend 14 weeks learning about everything from botany and soil science to plant pathology and pruning, and they must also annually volunteer hours sharing their knowledge with other local gardeners. See the UCCE website for planting guides and localized regional gardening tips.

Klein says the number one thing to consider when starting a garden is the geography of the yard. First, analyze where the sun rises and sets. Where does the yard get sun? Does the house face north, south, east or west? It is important to ensure the right plant is selected for the right place. For instance, heat-loving palms shouldnt be placed in a shady north-facing yard, while tender ferns would suffer in the direct sun and heat of a south-facing yard.

It is also important to consider the water and soil of the yard. Consider drainage and the requirements of the plants you want to grow in order to choose the best location for them. It is also important to take note of the yards soil. Is it hard clay or loose sand? A good rule of thumb is always to amend garden soil with some quality organic compost, as it typically contains a well-rounded variety of nutrients that help plants thrive.

Decide on the type of plants to grow. Does your dream garden include vegetables, year-round color, large trees or masses of annual flowers for visual appeal? Also consider theme gardens like a butterfly or hummingbird garden, as well as if the garden will be used for entertaining, relaxation or as a kids play area. All of these can influence appropriate plant choices to maximize a gardens enjoyment.

Dont be afraid to take risks and try something new. If theres something youve always been curious about growing, why not go out on a limb and take a chance on it? Even with gardening failures, there is always a learning experience, whether its how to better care for the plant or perhaps the location of a better planting spot. Always wanted to try growing potatoes or have a bulb garden? Throw some in the ground. What is there to lose besides a few dollars? Klein suggests to keep in mind that gardening is supposed to be fun. Dont worry about making mistakes or failures, and dont be afraid to take risks.

In response to our recent drought conditions in California, many gardeners are looking for ways to still enjoy growing things while also being responsible and conserving water. Klein says water-conscious gardeners can choose water-wise plants such as California natives, or plants that grow in Mediterranean areas, South Africa and Australia and thrive in drier conditions.

Other great ways to reduce water usage in the garden includes lawn removal and making use of drip irrigation systems and mulch. According to Klein, removing a lawn is the number one way to reduce water consumption. He suggests replacing a lawn with an attractive rock or native plant garden, or even a handful of fruit trees which will have the added bonus of delicious fresh fruit in addition to a lower water bill. Drip irrigation system supplies are simple to install, and supplies can be readily located at local Home Depot or Lowes stores. Mulching the ground around plants not only aids in stemming water evaporation, but also reduces weed growth.

Joanna Metheny is a freelance writer covering all things South Bay. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.

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Real estate for sale in Ewa Beach Hawaii - MLS# 201402761
91-1167 Hamana Street Ewa Beach Hawaii 96706 MLS# 201402761 Private corner lot with professional landscape yard includes a beautiful water fall hot tub mango...

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Greg Baartz-Bowman loves living in Milwaukie, and he wants to keep spreading the love. Thats why he founded the Milwaukie Film Festival several years ago and the reason he wants to keep bringing fun, family-friendly activities to the city.

From 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, the Milwaukie Film Festival will present Yard to Table, showing attendees how to dig, plant and harvest during a series of afternoon workshops. That evening will bring Community Film Night to town, featuring a group of short films around the theme of yard to table. All the Saturday activities will take place in the Milwaukie Masonic Lodge, across the street from Milwaukie City Hall.

The fun continues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 20, with Tour de Coops, a tour of Milwaukie-area chicken coops.

This is the town I want to live in, and I want it to have culture and livability. I also want to help the community have an active Main Street. This is the type of event the city deserves, Baartz-Bowman said.

Although the entire days events are free, donations are always welcome, and they will help fund similar activities in the future, he said.

Grow a garden

The first workshop starting at 2 p.m. will feature Donna Smith and Robyn Streeter who own Your Backyard Farmer.

Someone who has not had a garden space or has a current one that is neglected, we will show them how to get one up and running so they can grow their own vegetables, Smith said.

The two women will talk about the differences between growing produce in raised beds vs. in-ground beds.

Baartz-Bowman said that he met Smith on a bike ride for Bike Milwaukie, a group he co-founded with Matt Menely in the summer of 2011.

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Yard to Table event fun, family friendly

The City of Gig Harbor and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department are presenting a fun, free and informative Natural Yard Care workshop series at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St., from 6:30 to 8:30pm, beginning April 29th.

The workshops are free, but space is limited so reservations are recommended.

Instructors will teach how to design and maintain a beautiful landscape the natural way. There will be prizes and snacks offered.

Three workshops will address a variety of yard maintenance issues. Sign up for the entire series or whatever fits your schedule.

No Fear Garden Design with instructor Sue Goetz, April 29.

Goetz, the owner of Creative Gardener shares her passion for gardening and offers a creative approach to designing with easy, do-it-yourself projects. Gardening for Non-Stop Color and Interest with instructor Robin Haglund, May 6.

Award-winning landscape designer Haglund helps bring the Wow-factor to a yard 365 days a year. Intermingle trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, perennials, annuals, and art to create stunning gardening effects.

Right Plant in the Right Place with Scott Vergara, May 13.

Woodland Gardens owner Vergara, with nearly 50 years of horticulture experience, will help you make better initial plant choices to beautify your yard.

Call Walt at 253-798-4708 to reserve your space today, or email wburdsall@tpchd.org.

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Natural Yard Care workshops offered by gardening experts

BRANDON Spring fever may be blamed for feverous efforts to clean as well as landscape the yard.

Gardening club leaders and master gardeners in Hillsborough County are helping people channel their spring giddiness in April and May with plant sales and programs.

They are encouraging individuals to plant butterfly-attracting plants on Earth Day, which is April 22, as well as plant trees on the last Friday of April during National Arbor Day.

Cheri Donohue, president of the Temple Terrace Garden Club, said her club has a work day planned for May 31 when it will plant trees in cooperation with the city of Temple Terrace.

Each year, the club plants a tree or trees in recognition of members who have passed away during the club year, Donohue said. We maintain Woodmont Park in Temple Terrace and have a memorial garden with many of those trees and plants there. Our park is filled with little signs reminding us of each of them.

She said the club also planted three golden trumpet trees, also known as Tabebuia, to honor those who died on 9/11. The trees stand vigil on the first hole of the Temple Terrace Golf Course.

When all three bloom at the same time it is breathtaking, she said. All along the golf course the yellow ones are just spectacular. People comment about them for about three weeks.

Meanwhile, the Brandon Garden Club will host a Naturescaping: Growing a garden from the ground up program with Kelly Liebzeit on April 16 at 7 p.m. at the Senior for Seniors Center, 311 Park Ave East.

On May 24 at 9 a.m., the Brandon club is having a plant sale at 2020 MacGregor Ave. in Brandon.

Nicole Pinson, an extension agent skilled in urban horticulture and master gardener coordinator with the UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County, helps novice gardeners figure out how to attract butterflies to their yards. Her office offers several master gardening plant clinics to help people celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day throughout the year.

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Hillsborough gardening clubs offer cure for spring fever

Chantilly, VA (PRWEB) April 15, 2014

With the calendar turned to April, homeowners across the country are focusing on getting their lawns ready for the warm summer months. In Northern Virginia, however, one problem that many have to deal with is packed clay that makes it tough for plant life to take root and thrive. To help fix that problem, Saunders Landscape Supply is pleased to provide customers with new organic soil that can help improve their yards.

Adding organic soil to a yard is a must for breaking up compacted clay and making sure everything from grass to annual flowers can grow healthily every spring and summer. Installation of new soil and one strong season of growth can relieve the compacted soil and give plants a boost that promotes growth both right away, and in the future.

Saunders Landscape Supply delivers soil directly to customers' homes and has a low delivery requirement of just five cubic yards, which is easy to spread out. Their organic topsoil is made out of 50% leaf compost and 50% topsoil, which makes it a healthy, natural way to grow produce, vegetables, greenery, and everything in between.

The soil that Saunders delivers includes no chemical additivesin addition to providing all the nutrients that plant life will need to grow, it is environmentally friendly. When the rains come or homeowners need to water their gardens, they won't have to worry about chemicals working their way into water sources and contributing to high pollution levels.

Saunders Landscape Supply has served residents of Virginia and Maryland since it was founded in 1994, and provides the materials that homeowners need for any lawn renovation or maintenance plan. The business is located at 14016 Sullyfield Circle in Chantilly, VA. For more information, call 703-764-4831, email marketing (at) saundersls (dot) com or visit saundersls.com.

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With Summer Landscaping on the Horizon, Saunders Landscape Supply is Happy to Offer Organic Soil

15995 Jane Street, King
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Published: Monday, April 14, 2014 at 12:43 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, April 14, 2014 at 12:43 p.m.

Food festivals are nothing new. Historians have found celebrations based around harvest season dating back thousands of years ago. We have more than a few in our own back yard, with tributes to oysters, strawberries, peanuts, yams and more.

But a "culinary arts" festival that's a different beast altogether.

The Wilmington Wine & Food Festival, which returns for its sophomore year May 2-4, joins a much newer tradition of rallying behind the collective creative energies that shape a region's culinary landscape. And, it's doubled in size since its debut last year, moving to the historic Bellamy Mansion Museum to accommodate the growing crowd.

This breed of bash is big business, too. Taste of Cincinnati, founded in 1979, is reported to be the nation's longest running food festival, ballooning from 5,000 to 500,000 attendees. Economic impact numbers from the Charleston Wine + Food Festival held in March were published last week, showing a nearly $10 million boon attributed to the four-day affair.

Chrissy Bonney, president of the non-profit Bacchus's Brood board that stages the Wilmington Wine & Food Festival, has more modest goals as far as numbers go. She said the event would be capped at 400 tickets for the main Saturday and Sunday happenings. Managing festival growth in a way that assures a good time for all is paramount, she said.

"If you grow too quickly, you can't keep ahead of yourself," Bonney said. "We want this to be a permanent fixture in the Wilmington food and wine scene."

The festival was founded with the objective of highlighting the Port City's dining diversity through tastings and wine pairings. About 15 restaurants and 25 wine and beer vendors will be represented, including well-known players like Rx, YoSake and The Basics joined by area newcomers MegaMaki, Canap and others. Lauded vintners Jessica and Ryan Carr of Carr Vineyards in Santa Barbara, Calif., will be among the better-known wine producers offering pours.

The Corks & Forks Grand Tasting on Saturday will be the headlining act, a $45 ticket buying access to bites and sips both inside the mansion and in a tent outside. Sunday's Bubbles, Brews & Street Eats ($10 for five samples) goes more casual, showcasing beers and food trucks in the Bellamy's parking lot.

The weekend launches with the Bourbon & BBQ Derby Cocktail Party sponsored by Trey Herring's Carolina Bourbon. The Kentucky Derby-themed party will feature custom cocktails made with the respected distiller's spirits and a "mix-off" competition between some of the area's top bartenders.

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Bites & Sips - Festival showcases culinary landscape

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