Information and Resouces for the Do-it-Yourselfer - Great Lakes Landscaping

~ The Gardener ~

In this Issue:

Publishers Notes

       Diversion
       Q & A
       Computer Tip

~ Publisher's Notes ~

Today's article is a Q & A, with special attention to water gardening. But first:

~ Diversion ~

Speed Trap

A state trooper spied a car puttering along at 22 MPH. So he turned on his lights

and pulled the driver over. Approaching the car, he noticed that five old guys were

inside, and they looked wide-eyed and terribly pale.

The driver pleaded with him, "Officer, I don't understand, I was doing exactly the

speed limit! What seems to be the problem?"

"Sir," the officer replies, "You weren't speeding, but driving slower than the

speed limit can also be dangerous."

"I beg to differ, Officer, I was doing the speed limit exactly: twenty-two miles

an hour!" the old man said.

The trooper, chuckling, explained to him that "22" was the route number, not

the speed limit. A bit embarrassed, the man grinned and thanked the officer

for pointing out his error.

"But before I let you go, Sir, I have to ask... Is everyone in this car ok?

These guys seem awfully shaken."

"Oh, they'll be all right in a minute," the old man said. "We just got off Route 119."

===========================================

Aquascape Designs:

16 x 21 Water Garden - $500. off list-

11 x 16 Water Garden - $300. off list-

Check our our water garden sale here:

http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net/16x21.htm

Ending Soon!

===========================================

~ Q & A ~

Q- What is a spring clean-out of a water garden? Mine looks fine!

A- Great! But you are the exception. Colder climates generally dictate

shutting off a water garden pump for the winter. The result can be a real mess

in the spring. To remedy this: Catch your fish! Put them in a few 5 gal pails

of your pond water. They'll be fine. Next pump out ALL of your water. Using a

good stiff brush, or a rented power washer, scrub all of the large rocks in and

around your pond.

You'll need lots of clean water. Carefully scoop up all of the muck that may be at

the bottom of your pond. It makes great humus when it dries out! Put it on your

compost pile. When you get to that last little bit, just keep hosing water into the

pond and pump it out. Home Depot can sell you a good little sump pump for

relatively cheap, and you can use it every spring. After a few times of spraying and

pumping, your pond should be pretty clean. Make sure you clean your filters

out, too. Hose them pretty good, or if they are really bad, replace them.

Fill it back up, remembering to de-chlorinate your water, if needed. You also

should 'jump-start' your bacteria colony. Add "Aquaclearer" or it's equivalent.

Set the buckets of fish into the water, and let them gradually equalize in

temperature. This job is best done on a warm day, for that reason. Your water

will warm faster. When the waters are nearly the same temp., scoop the fish

into the clean pond. Note: Any cloudiness from the clean water will disappear

in a few days.

Q- What is drip irrigation? My lawn sprinklers hit up on my shrubs, and they seem

to do okay.

A- You only think they are doing okay. Your lawn sprinklers are forcing your

shrubs to send roots UP to the surface, where they can collect moisture. An early

hard freeze will cause them great damage, and they are not happy getting their

leaves wet all the time!

Drip irrigation will drip water down deep into the soil, encouraging deep root

growth. At a new installation we drip every night for 2 hours, then cut it back to 1.

(Using 2 Gal. per hr. emitters.) After a while, certainly by the next year, it should

cut back even farther to every 2 or 3 days. A good watering every few days on

your shrubs will cause even the most finicky ornamental to bloom well. Have you

ever driven by a home that has an absolutely luscious landscaping, deep green and

colorful blooming trees and shrubs? It almost certainly has a drip irrigation

system. Sprinklers on shrubs just keep them alive, and actually the water all over

the leaves all the time is bad for them. Drip is also inexpensive, easy to add,

and uses water much more efficiently.

~ Computer Tip ~

Did you know you can set all kinds of 'mouse' preferences? You can slow down

the action, or speed it up, change the pointer, and all kinds of things. Access is

from your control panel. Go to your control panel from your start menu, and click

on the 'mouse' icon. Look through the various options for your mouse, and you'll

find you can do all kinds of things. A lot of people like to slow their mouse down

a little. I like to make mine move faster. (It makes me feel important). My mom

has her's set at a crawl. Whatever makes your computer run best for you!

Thanks for reading,
Spike

Contact me here ~
http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net/question.htm

Check out flowers, irrigation, fountains, greens, water gardens and more:
Web Site: http://www.greatlakeslandscaping.net

* Water Garden Kits * Vista Outdoor Lighting *
* OASE Fountains * Wholesale Plant Center *
* Hunter * Rainbird * All Pro Putting Greens *