"I don't have a bank account because I don't know my mother's maiden name."Paula Poundstone
|
| |
How To Be A Successful Property Developer
Making money as a property developer can be both lucrative and personally rewarding. However, to be successful, it is important to apply certain specific techniques. In this article we shall share some key tips to help you become a successful property ...
Quality Natural Stones In Interior Design
Natural stones have been used by man throughout centuries primarily due to their beauty, variety and durability. Today as before, their role in interior design cannot be overestimated. Natural stones can enhance traditional and contemporary interiors in ...
Reversible Negatives When Buying A House
So it's time to buy a house. Whether you're shopping on a budget or searching for your dream home no matter what the cost, there are a few things you should keep in mind when you go to view potential properties. The bottom line is this: Every house has ...
|
|
|
| |
(ARA) - Every fall intrepid gardeners ponder their properties and plan for the new year. Or, more likely, every spring property owners drive about and jealously wonder why they did not plan ahead for beautiful spring colors bursting from tulips, daffodils and crocus. Well, now is the time to plan ahead and get your garden in shape.
If you want a high visual impact with early spring colors, then Tim Schipper, a third generation flower bulb merchant, advocates planting 100 tulips as the best way to go. His company, Colorblends, may be one of the best-kept secrets in the gardening world. This family-owned wholesaler has supplied top-quality flower bulbs to the trade for more than 90 years. Now Colorblends accepts orders from private customers, too.
“Planting for mass effect really draws the eye. Tulips in large coordinated combinations put on a great show, ” says Schipper. His company specializes in colorful combinations of tulips and other flowering bulbs for spring displays called “Nature’s Fireworks.” Though Colorblends minimum order quantities -- 100 tulips or 50 daffodils -- may seem intimidating at first, Schipper emphasizes that planting in quantity is both easy and rewarding. “One hundred tulips will fill a 20-square-foot bed perfectly, so we¹re really talking about an area almost anyone can dig up, plant and cover in 30 minutes. Don¹t bother with those little single bulb planters. They’re tiring to use and they don’t give a bulb the best start. You don’t even need to fertilize bulbs the first season. All you need is a garden shovel or spade.” Tim’s method is perfect for planting colorful spring beds that add landscape value to your property or for cut flowers at only 30 cents a stem.
* Getting Ready
“Bulb size matters, says Schipper. “Larger, healthy bulbs simply produce superior plants with more impressive flowers. Why go through the task of planting and spoil the end result by using smaller bulbs? The savings are negligible and the time and effort of digging them in is probably more expensive than the bulbs themselves.” Fall planting begins when soil temperatures start dropping to 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Once you have your bulbs, unpack them immediately and store in a dry, dark and cool place (50 to 65 degrees) until you are ready to plant.
* Choosing Your Site
For best results pick a spot that gets at least six hours of direct sunshine a day and has well drained soil. For 100 bulbs planted at the recommended five per square foot, you’ll need an area of about 20 square feet. Dragging up your old math skills, you may remember that the area of a square or rectangle is length times width. So, for 100 bulbs you’ll need to mark out an area of say four feet by five feet or maybe two feet by ten feet.
* Planting
As a general rule the planting depth (measured from top of bulb to soil level) should be two to three times the greatest diameter of the bulb. If your soil is very sandy, plant a bit deeper, in heavy clay somewhat less deep. Keep in mind that given planting depths are measured to the top of the bulb; thus plan to excavate the area one to two inches deeper. The depth of planting will help to protect the bulbs against frost, animals, and physical damage due to hoeing and light cultivating. For 100 tulips the planting depth will be seven inches to the base of the bulb.
For planting large quantities of bulbs in beds or borders follow these directions (see accompanying photos):
* Dig out an area of 5 feet square, 7 inches deep. Place the soil on a sheet of plywood or cardboard. (15 minutes).
* Place the bulbs evenly and position points up. Some bulbs may end up sideways or upside down when covered. Don’t worry -- they will grow properly thanks to geotropism: plants always grow opposite gravity. (5 minutes).
* Slide half the soil from the plywood onto the bulbs and tamp down lightly. If the soil is dry at the time, water thoroughly. The water will wash the soil in around the bulbs eliminating air pockets and will start the bulbs rooting. Finish covering the bulbs with the remaining soil. (10 minutes)
Wash up and wait for spring! The lush beds of flowers that spring up wherever you’ve planted this way will change the way you feel about tulips and other spring bulbs forever.
You can find Colorblends on the web at www.colorblends.com or call toll free (888) 847-8637.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Former Lee home to be restored - The Chronicle Herald
HONG KONG (AP) — The Hong Kong government has agreed to preserve a former home of late martial arts legend Bruce Lee and turn it into a tourist attraction, an official said Wednesday. The house where Lee lived from 1972 to 1973 is currently used as ...
Dem Lawmakers To Focus On Budget, Flood Recovery - KCCI.com
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Democratic legislative leaders said a budget crunch and demands of funding flood recovery efforts will likely draw most attention during the upcoming legislative session. Speaking Wednesday at a news conference, the Democrats who ...
Malaysia's low-cost airport evacuated due to fire - PR Inside
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's low-cost airport terminal has been evacuated and flights delayed after a fire broke out Friday in a duty-free shop. Airport fire chief Jasni Ali said the blaze caused thick smoke at the terminal and forced the ...
Andhra Pradesh may review Maytas Infra projects - Newstrack India
Chennai, Jan 9 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekara Reddy Friday said the government may take a re-look at projects awarded to Maytas Infra, run by the sons of former Satyam Computer chairman B. Ramalinga Raju. 'The chief secretary is ...
Michael Jackson to sit on throne, back in Bel Air - Times Herald-Record
The King of Pop is back — in town, that is. Michael Jackson has signed a yearlong lease on a mansion in the swanky Bel Air area of the city, a spokesman for the singer said Wednesday. Jackson has been staying in the estate for about a month, said ...
|
