Wednesday 24 May 2017

Five minutes in the green can boost self esteem| Reuters

LONDON Just five minutes of exercise a day in the great outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study released on Saturday, and policymakers should encourage more people to spend time in parks and gardens.

Researchers from the University of Essex found that Sprinklers as little as five minutes of a "green activity" such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming can boost mood and self esteem.



"We believe that there would be a large potential benefit to individuals, society and to t he costs of the health service if all groups of people were to self-medicate more with green exercise," Barton said in a statement about the study, which was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being, but Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, who led Sprinkler System Installation this study, said that until now no one knew how much time needed to be spent on green exercise for the benefits to show.

Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1,252 people of different ages, genders and mental health status taken from 10 existing studies in Britain.



They analyzed activities such as walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming.

They found t hat the greatest health changes occurred in the young and the mentally ill, although people of all ages and social groups benefited. The largest positive effect http://www.fao.org/docrep/s8684e/s8684e06.htm on self-esteem came from a five-minute dose of "green exercise."

All natural environments were beneficial, including parks in towns or cities, they said, but green areas with water appeared to have a more positive effect.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Paul Casciato)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mental-health-green-idUSTRE6401Y620100502

Friday 12 May 2017

Gardening :: How To Care For Perennials In Your Garden

Perennials have long been one of the most popular classifications of flowering plant, and this is likely to continue for some time. There are many advantages to using perennials in the garden, not the least of which is their ability to regenerate year after year. The ability to plant once, and enjoy season after Sprinkler System Installation Mckinney season of beautiful flowers, is one of the https://www.royalparks.org.uk/ things that make perennials so popular with beginning and experienced gardeners alike.



Another great thing about perennials is that they are usually very easy plants to care for and to work with. Most perennials have needs that are quite undemanding, requiring little more than good soil, sufficient water and adequate sunlight. Even so, perennial s also have their own issues, and one of the biggest issues is that perennials, due to their nature, are more prone to insect infestation and disease infection than are annuals, which have a much shorter life span. The very fact that perennials remain in the ground season after season means that infection can gain a foothold, even in the off season.



The best way to combat infection is to stop it from starting in the first place, and one of the best ways to accomplish that goal is to buy only the healthiest most vibrant plants. It is important to pay car eful attention to the plants you buy at your local nursery, and to reject any that show signs of damage, disease or insect infestation. That is because healthy plants are better able to withstand any pathogens that may exist in the soil. A healthy plant will be able to withstand and fight off an infection that would kill a weaker one.

In addition, many perennials have been bred to be resistant to common diseases and pest infestations, so if these disease resistant varieties are available it is a good idea to seek them out. Perennial growers have spent many years using selective breeding to choose those plants that are best able to withstand commonly seen garden problems.

After the plants are in the ground, it is a good idea to check them often for any signs of problems. The best time to examine your plants is often when you are weeding the plants or watering them. This is a great time to look at the plants for any problems. Note any Sprinkler System plants with wilted leaves, holes in the leaves, spots on the leaves or flowers, wounds on the stems or other possible problems. If you notice any problems, be sure to diagnose it accurately, using either a guide book or the eye of a more experienced gardener. Diagnosing the problem accurately is the first step toward curing it.

How you water perennials can have a big impact on their health. Overhead watering encourages water spots to remain on leaves, and these wet spots can be conduits that allow infection to spread from one plant to another. It is best to water deeply, using either drip irrigation or a soaker hose. Not only will this avoid standing water on the flowers and leaves, but it will also allow much needed water to reach the roots.

Of course, proper care for perennials does not end when the growing season is over. It is important to care for these plants the right way after they have finished blooming. It i s important to trim and prune is variety of perennial according to the recommendations for the species. Some perennials need to be radically trimmed back, while other varieties should be trimmed only lightly or not at all. It is important to pay attention to the needs of each variety in your garden.



http://www.articlebiz.com/article/268702-1-how-to-care-for-perennials-in-your-garden/

Wednesday 10 May 2017

Landscaping :: Landscape design | ArticleBiz.com

What is Landscaping?

Landscape design is the art of arranging or modifying the features of a landscape, an urban area etc for aesthetic or practical purposes.

Good landscape design can add to the value of a home, dramatically increase your living space, and contribute greatly to an improved home lifestyle.



Landscaping has been divided into three main fields:

o Lawn care companies

o Landscape maintenance firms

o Landscape design firms

Lawn care companies specialize in mowing, raking, edging, seeding and otherwise ca ring for the grassy areas.

Landscape maintenance firms are primarily concerned with periodic maintenance of shrubs and flowerbeds.

Landscape design firms that handle landscape construction and planting under the direction of a landscape designer or architect. This last group deals with everything from patios to fountains to rock gardens.

A landscape designer or architect knows how to work with the landscape to create larger spaces, shade parts of the house, block wind, and use different shapes, textures, colors, and locations of certain plants to create a more soothing environment.

A good landscape designer can help you integrate all kinds of practical and aesthetic considerations into an overall plan that achieves the effects that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKWCB_3nMJg are most important to you. Whether you want to attract birds, impress the neighbors, or cr eate fanciful outdoor recreation areas for grandchildren, landscape designers can help you pull it together so that it really works.

Landscaping Process:

Landscaping Process has mainly 3 steps:



Planning: Proper planning is essential for any landscaping project just as for any other home improvement project.

Design: Creating a proper design is the most important part of tackling a landscape project.



Implementation: The real implementation of landscaping will be done according to planning and designing.

Landscaping Design:

In Landscape designing, First basic elements that underlie the discipline of landscape design. These fundamental elements will then serve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKWCB_3nMJg as building blocks for learning and implementing the more advanced principles for designing a garden in the backyard.

The basic elements of landscape design are:

o Color, as defined by color theory

o Form Line

o Scale.



o Texture

Landscaping Features:

There are many features you can include in your landscaping besides plants.

? Arbors

? Berms

? Lighting

? Flagstones

? Overhead Structures

? Brick or concr ete Patios

? Stone Walls

? Retaining Walls

? Steps

? Walkways/Paths

? Character Boulders

? Fountains

? Sprinkler System

? Waterfalls, Fish pond and Water features

Advantages of Landscaping:

There are several marked advantages of outsourcing:

? To increase labor productivity

? To help people recover faster

? for air purification

? for energy savings

? to increase property value

? Landscaping can provide privacy and home security

For more information visit: http://blackstonelandscapingdesign.com/



http://www.articlebiz.com/article/540119-1-landscape-design/