Adding a plant trellis to an area that you have plants growing beautifies the natural landscape of the area, regardless if the the space is simply a small patio or a large and expansive yard. A trellis is stylish and functional and plant trellises are available in a wide variety of size, shapes and materials. Which type you use depends on the kind of plants you have growing and the overall style of your garden area.

A trellis can be placed against a wall to add beauty and to provide climbing plants the opportunity to grow naturally and show off their great looks. A flowering vine can sprawl naturally on a patio when a trellis is placed in a large pot. When choosing a planter trellis, be sure to select one that fits properly in the pot and be sure also to provide enough room for the growth of the plant. There are many types of trellises available and they can be made from many types of material such as wrought iron, copper, wood or plastics. You can select a highly decorative and ornate trellis if you want a dramatic look, or if you wish to be a bit more subtle, choose a trellis that is rather simple in design that will highlight your plant’s beauty.

For something a bit different, you may want to consider using a plant wall in your garden area. Hedges may be preferable to fences as a way to define your property and many home landscapers plant all types of hedges to border and define their yards and gardens. If trimmed hedges do not appeal to you, you can make a living wall of plants that are loosely grouped together to provide a structured look.

What type of landscaping you select for your outdoor living space depends on a few pre-existing factors. For example, if your yard is on a slope you may want to consider putting in ground cover instead of grass to minimize maintenance. If you have a large and open porch or entryway, you may wish to make use of container gardens with trellises to allow your plants to grow and expand. You want to be sure to select plants that display a color scheme that is right for your home. Creeping thyme or a bright flowering hibiscus grouping are both pleasing to the eye and provide a sense of depth to a patio or entrance way.

If you wish to find the widest selection, use the internet to locate the perfect plant trellis for you. There are numerous online retailers who specialize in yard and garden accessories.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Adding a plant trellis to an area that you have plants growing beautifies the natural landscape of the area, regardless if the the space is simply a small patio or a large and expansive yard. For something a bit different, you may want to consider using a plant wall in your garden area.

Recommend : BabyForMom.com

By the time you notice the tiny dark gray or black gnats buzzing around, one generation of these common plant pests has already infested the soil of your herb garden. To find a natural cure for soil gnats in herb gardens you should understand the life cycle of the fungus (soil) gnat or Sciaridae.

The eighth inch long gnat you see is the mature adult and it is in the process of laying approximately 300 eggs on the moist soil surface of your garden for a new generation. These gnats prefer to lay their eggs on damp soil which is rich in organic matter. During the winter, when overwatering is more common, the soil gnats may become a problem.

The entire life cycle of this garden pest is about four weeks in duration from egg to mature adult. The mature fungus gnat will not harm the herbs in your garden, but the larvae will. From four to six days after the eggs are laid, they hatch. The fungus gnat larvae are white and about a quarter inch in length with a black head. Fungus gnat larvae burrow into the moist soil and feed upon the root system of the herb plants. Adult soil gnats live for only about ten days.

One natural cure for soil gnats in herb gardens is to first rid the soil of the infestation of eggs and larvae. Horticulturists agree that you should allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. Dry soil will cause the larvae to dry up. The soil should be dry for up to three inches in depth. Water only until the water comes out through the drainage hole in the bottom of the planter. Remember that seedlings require smaller amounts of water than mature herb plants and may require watering only once a week during the winter months.

For severe infestations, the herb garden plants may need to be repotted in new soil. The old soil should be discarded. Another natural cure for soil gnats in herb gardens is to fool the gnats into believing the soil is not moist. Do this by applying about a quarter inch of sand to the soil surface and then covering the sand with cedar chips. The sand will dry quickly and cedar is a natural insect repellent.

Trap the mature gnats by hanging a sheet of yellow paper which has been coated with petroleum jelly close by the affected herb plant. The yellow paper attracts insects and the petroleum jelly makes them stick to the paper. This coated paper operates much like the flypaper strips you can purchase in hardware stores.

Another method is to place vegetable oil and cider vinegar in a plastic container or jar with the lid perforated with holes. The gnats will find a way to get to the cider vinegar and be trapped by the vegetable oil which floats on the surface. Even if the gnat finds a way to get out of the jar, it will not be able to reproduce.

You can prevent soil gnat infestations in your herb garden by these methods.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about natural cure for soil gnats [http://bestherbgardens.info/natural-cure-for-soil-gnats-in-herb-gardens-easy-gardening-tips/] in herb garden, please visit Best Herb Gardens [http://bestherbgardens.info/] for current articles and discussions.

Price : $29.95

Features

• Four times the gripping surface of conventional tools, with room for both hands
• Unbreakable resin-encased steel shaft
• Unique stainless steel blade design
• Extra-wide raised forward step, offset from shaft for better leverage and comfort
• Professional quality with a lifetime guarantee; Dimensions: 8.0 by 5.0D by 43.5

Product Description

* NRGPRO Mid Length Tools * Four times the gripping surface with room for both hands * Unbreakable resin encased steel shaft * Seamless, extra long socket * Extra wide raised forward step, offset from shaft for better leverage and comfort * 8.7 x 3.8 x 43.5

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-12-15
I really like the design of this tool but my husband used it a few weeks after getting it to dig around a plant (the soil here is clay but it was nothing extraordinary he was digging up) and it got a stress crack in the metal where the spade connects to the handle. We did not buy in on Amazon and have not returned it. We have have continued to use it but the crack is getting bigger and we expect it to fail one day. A bit too much money for a tool that may not last a year. Too bad as I really like the feel of the design.

Review date : 2008-12-03
When I first came across these, I thought they looked neat, and maybe they might not function so bad. The look had additional marketing appeal for my landscaping company, something to set us aside from others.

However, I wasn’t really sure they’d suit a functional purpose, so I tentatively ordered the shovel to give it a trial run and to see if I could live with it.

I’ve since gone out and stocked up on all the NRG-PRO tools, their hand tools, and I’m looking forward to at least some of the NRG-STX series tools as well.

All of the tools have a great balance. They are easier to control and carry materials across distances ~ a simple open hand across the circular handle keeps them from spinning and dropping whatever they’re carrying. I’ve also found the handle design helps keep them from rolling or causing too much trouble when toting them around across the arms of a wheelbarrow.

The nice green does seem to get dulled quickly from the mud and, even when washed clean, still loses that new-tool shine. The business end has no such problems and remains easy to clean even when it has a right not to.

I’m tall ~ over 6′ ~ and I never thought I’d like the short handles on these, however, I’ve found they’re more comfortable even digging down below grade. This is a bit of personal taste, as my son, slightly shorter than I, prefers long handled tools.

The spade ~ and the slightly smaller transplanter ~ have a shape that’s great for cutting into difficult soil. I’ve used this for cultivated soil, thick clay, and more. Although I love the shovel, the spade is what I reach for when I need to take the first cut into soil, whether for transplanting, planting, or for setting natural rock stepping stones into perfectly sized holes. It slices through roots fairly well, both thick root masses from perennials and the wiry woody roots of small trees.

Out of all the NRG-PRO tools I have, this one probably has seen the most usage, and, other than the darkened green bits, it looks and performs like new.