Landscaping

Gargoyles for Home Protection

The concept of gargoyles for home protection comes from medieval Europe and was designed as statutes looking down from cathedrals and churches. The myth of the gargoyle is it offers protection against evil, even if some of the early ones looked evil. Today they are used as garden statutes giving your garden an ancient look giving your visitors a scare, amusement, or surprise.

You still can buy concrete statutes, however, they come in reinforced fiberglass, making them much cheaper than the concrete counterparts. There are many types of gargoyles with their own history, making them collectible for garden spaces.

I leave the gargoyles out in the garden year-round, giving a look of permanence thru the seasons. The ancient gargoyles give a look of the past and the more modern ones advance it to the present.

Container gardening, Flowers (annual and perennial)

Flowerpots

With flowerpots, bigger is better. They do not dry out as fast and they hold more types of plants for larger root growth making for a dazzling display.

The pot must have a drainage hole, so the roots do not sit in water causing problems. Large plastic and glazed pots do not dry out as fast as clay ones because the water does not evaporate thru the sides. Plastic is lighter and can be moved easier, but they also allow the wind to tip them if not in a protected site.

Some fill the bottom of the pot with those Styrofoam peanuts and empty pop cans (good recycle idea) so less soil is used to save cost on potting soil. I like to fill the pot totally with soil for high root growth and leave in place.

Fill with a good potting soil like Miracle Gro to a couple of inches below the rim. Then moisten the potting soil before placing in plants so the plants do not float up. You can also use a mulch like a colored sphagnum moss or cocoa shells to help the soil from drying out too quickly.

Now decide if you want the pot to be in the sun or shade and select the plants accordingly. Use around 8 plants in a 20-inch planter and more for bigger pots. Do not plant too thickly because you want good airflow. Fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer every other week.

DIY Projects

Designs using Cinder Blocks

Are you like me, that thinks cinder blocks are just used in foundations? Now I have seen they can be used in landscape designs without costing a fortune.

You can create a planting bed design by staggering 3 or more layers of blocks. You may want to paint the blocks a particular color using stone spray paint. A cheap way for creating raised beds.

Create sitting benches by stacking the blocks and placing landscape timbers in the open ends. Place cushions making more of a comfortable place to sit. Cement the blocks together for support. Add an outdoor table to the design.

Cinder blocks make for a great fire pit or outdoor fireplace. If you are handy, create that master bar-b-que.