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Width of Entrance Walk

The question of how wide the main entrance walk should be often arises. The fact that about 99 out of 100 such walks are 3 feet or less in width does not mean that such a width is ideal, for two people cannot possibly walk side by side on a walk that narrow. The main walk to the front entrance should be at least 4 feet wide. On the landscape plan this may seem excessive, and you may wonder if the added cost of the extra foot of width is worth it.

To convince yourself of how desirable the larger width is, look through your neighborhood until you find one of that width. Then walk along it beside someone, and judge for yourself. You have to decide on the width you prefer. In gardening as in school work copying someone else’s work is not always the smart thing to do as the person you copy from may have the wrong answer.

Independent Judgment

Use your own good judgment when laying out plans for your property, and consider suggestions in this book that may appear new to you as subjects for family discussion. You may find many improvements can be made in the American home landscape if a few old time habits are changed.

For example, in the literature of a century ago the suggested distance between centers of stepping stones on a garden path was 20 inches. But insurance company statistics show that the average height of Americans has increased considerably in the past hundred years. That means that the legs of most present-day Americans are longer than those of the average American of a hundred years ago and that the suggested 20-inch spacing for stepping stones does not necessarily meet modern needs.

To get the proper spacing for yourself, count your steps for a distance of 50 feet and divide 50 by the number of steps taken; that will give the approximate distance between stone centers ideal for your stride. Then consider your height in relation to that of other people who are likely to often use that path and settle on a spacing that might suit the average user.

Small Paths

Of course, there are other materials than stone which can be used for small garden paths surrounded with bromeliads , which meander about a garden, especially in the naturalistic areas. Tanbark, although now very hard to get, is well worth the search if you want a pleasantly soft and quiet garden path leading through a wooded area or an ericaceous planting.

Pine needles will give the same effect but must be replaced every year because of their faster deterioration. Wood chips also have been used with excellent success in natural garden areas.

For your information there is much more on the topic of bromeliads. Drop by today at http://www.plant-care.com/bromeliad-care-air-plant.html.

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You don’t need to have lots of time on your hands to engage in do it yourself lawn care. Whether you live in the suburbs, in the middle of the city or in a rural area, you want to keep your lawn looking its best at all time. Of course, you can hire a lawn service, but this takes all the enjoyment out of looking at the lawn and knowing it is that way because of your work. Lawn care and landscaping add to the appeal and the value of your home if you ever decide to sell.

The one thing you have to consider is mowing the lawn on a regular basis. What most people don’t realize is that there is a right and a wrong way to mow a lawn. You need to lower the blades of the mower so that you get a clean cut, but you don’t want to have the blades too low. If you do, the grass will burn up in times when the weather is hot and there is not much rain. On average the grass should remain three inches high. The blades should also be sharpened on a regular basis and you should never let the grass grow too tall before you decide to cut it. Cutting tall grass can damage the new growth and leave clumps in the middle of the lawn.

You should also frequently water your lawn. How often will depend on the weather in your area, as well as the kind of grass and soil. If you can see your footprints in the grass after walking on it, it is usually time to water. Dont be too stingy when watering your lawn, but dont use too much either as this can cause the grass to rot.

When engaging in lawn care you will have to deal with several problems. One is weeds. Another is brown patches. These are usually a sign that your lawn needs water and fertilizer.

Insects are another problem you will have to deal with. For advice on how to deal with these you may want to visit your local garden center. They will be able to identify the exact infestation you are dealing with and give you lots of advice.

For lots of information on lawn care related topics such as lawn sweepers, lawn drainage and more, visit TheLawnCareGuide.com

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