Rrrrrrrr

Outdoor patio heaters may be a luxury that you have only seen at restaurants and other commercial places. But these days, outdoor patio heaters are showing up more and more often at people’s homes. And why should they not?

When you have an outdoor patio heater, you can continue to enjoy the great outdoors (of your backyard) through not just summer, but spring and fall, too. When you have an outdoor patio heater, you can have outdoor parties and BBQs practically all year round!

So, perhaps you have already decided to buy a one, and you really do not need any extra convincing. In that case, let us get directly to what you should be looking for:

An electric starter. Most outdoor patio heaters come with electric starters these days, anyhow. Nonetheless, just be sure that yours does as well. It is much safer to use an electric starter than to have to deal with matches and a pilot light.

Speaking of safety, also be sure that your outdoor patio heater has an automatic emergency shut off, as well. This will ensure that your heater turns off automatically if it is accidentally overturned, etc.

You must decide whether or not you want a table-top heater, a wall-mounted heater, or a free-standing heater. The benefit of a table-top heater is that it is small enough to transport with ease. Also, although it does not produce as much heat as a standing outdoor patio heater, it produces enough to keep those warm who are sitting around it.

You must also decide how much heat you want your heater to produce. An outdoor patio heater generally can produce heat up to 20′ in diameter… of course, these heaters are going to be more expensive than less “hot” ones, and you may very well be just fine with one that has a heating range of 10′.

Most outdoor patio heaters come in stainless steel, but it is also possible to find them with an antique copper finish or painted black, etc.
Most outdoor patio heaters take propane or natural gas. Consider which is best for you.

Also, if you are spending any kind of money on a outdoor patio heater, you might as well fork over a few extra bucks to get a cover to protect it!

Good luck in your search for a great outdoor patio heater. You will more than certainly appreciate the option of staying out-of-doors for longer that a heater will give you.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on patio heaters and garden products, please visit Outdoor Patio Heaters or Outback Patio

Comments Off

My rose is not blooming?

The rose is not getting enough sun. Roses need a minimum 6 hours of direct sun a day to do well.
The rose plant needs more water. Roses like as a minimum 1 inch of water per week during the growing season.
The rose has been given too much fertilizer especially Nitrogen. Too much fertilizer can either damage the rose or cause it to grow additional leaves and stems at the expense of blooms.
The rose is a new plant. Do not expect too much from a plant during its first year.

Rose is a once blooming variety. This means it will bloom once a year in the late spring or early summer.
Soil pH is too low or too high. If the pH is not within the range of 6.0 to 6.8 then nutrient uptake will be less, and the plant won’t be getting the food it must have to produce flowers.
Not enough foliage. If the bush does not have enough foliage, it can not make the food it needs to make new flowers. Inadequate foliage can be result from disease or too little fertilizer.

How much water do roses need?

Roses welcome lots of water. Water kindly, at least 1 inch/week, if possible 2 inches/week during growing season. You should water every 4-7 days during the summer. A rose bush needs about 4-5 gallons/week during the hot summer.

Roses get their food either through the leaves (foliar feeding) or through the roots. The only medium for transporting food is water.
Infrequent deep watering is better than frequent light watering. This will help to promote a deep root system. Deep root systems help the rose to survive droughts and winter freezes. Light and frequent watering causes roots to form very near the soil surface, and that is not good.
When watering late in the day, you should try to avoid getting the leaves wet, because it promotes disease. But on a hot day wetting the foliage can reduce transpiration and relieve heat stress on the rose.

How much sun does a rose need?

Roses prefer a full day of sun. Give roses at least 6 hours of direct sun a day. Morning sun is especially important because it dries the leaves which helps prevent disease.

Can roses be grown in shade?

Generally roses do poorly in shady conditions. They bloom less, are leggy, and get diseases more easy. But Hybrid Musk’s and some Alba’s can tolerate partial shade. The Floribunda “Gruss An Aachen” can be grown in shade.
Some other roses that may grow in partial shade are the Iceberg(FB), Rugosas, Zephirine Drouhin (Bourbon), Madame Plantier and Souvenir du Docteur Jamain(HP)

Much more information about Rose Gardening on this site - check out your self.

Comments Off

There’s a running joke among my friends that the odd jobs never
get done around the house because the man of the house can’t do
it without the right power tools - which he hasn’t bought yet.
Most women, on the other hand, have never met a nail that can’t
be hammered in with the heel of a shoe or a screw that will
stand up to a nail file. I’m no exception - my “tool box”
consists of one Phillips head screwdriver, two flat screwdrivers
and a ‘lady’s hammer’. More often than not, though, if I need to
break into my computer’s case, I’ll send a kid out to the
kitchen to bring me back the butter knife with the flower on the
handle - it’s the only one with a narrow enough tip to get
seated properly in those tiny screws. Even I have to admit,
though, that there are some power tools that make impossible
jobs easy as pie. In fact, there is one power tool that no woman
should be without, especially if she’s living alone.

Essential Power Tool Survival Kit

Number one on the power tool hit parade is a cordless electric
drill. If you’ve ever spent forty minutes trying to hang a towel
bar or curtain rod, you’ll swoon over what an electric drill can
do for you. Sure, given the time and the right nail file, you
can get any screw into any wood - but why spend 20 minutes
twisting your wrist when an electric drill with a screw bit can
have that little sucker in place - tight and flush - in less
than 30 seconds?

Electric drills are also the best - and sometimes only - way to
get a screw that’s gone in wrong UN-stuck. Once you have a power
drill in the house, you won’t know how you ever did all of the
little fix-it jobs without one. It’s easily the handiest of all
the power tools to own. The best drill to own? One with a 3/8″
chuck and variable speeds, including reverse. It will set you
back $25-$50 and be worth every single penny.

More than Power Tools - The essentials you need in your tool kit

1. A claw hammer. While I can drive any nail with the heel of a
shoe, getting nails OUT is a different matter. A 16 ounce claw
hammer is an absolute necessity for all sorts of jobs around the
house.

2. A screwdriver set. There are some screws your trusty nail
file just won’t handle. Pick up a good screwdriver set that
includes flat heads, Phillips heads, star tips and a set of hex
keys. If it also has a set of socket tips for unscrewing nuts,
you’re in great shape.

3. Adjustable pliers, needle nose pliers and wire cutters.

4. Tape measure.

5. Duct tape.

6. An assortment of nails, brads and screws.

Tools aren’t just for men. They can make your life much easier -
and save you money on repairs around the house that you never
thought you could do yourself. If you haven’t made friends with
the power tools aisle at your local hardware store, it’s about
time you did.

Comments Off