What to Do in the Garden in June - A Regional Gardening Almanac

June is a month for graduations, weddings and garden pests. As beautiful as June can be, no sooner do your plants peak than the bugs find them. It's a fact of gardening. So the gardener's motto for June should be 'Vigilance'!

June is a month for monitoring, whether it's for stripped cucumber beetles, Japanese beetles, fungus diseases, 4-Line Plant Bug damage or just to stay ahead of deadheading. Keeping up on your garden chores in June will lessen the load for the rest of the summer. Here are some tips from my garden.If you have any advice, we welcome you sharing it with us through the 'Comment' link below.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti

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Three Great Spinach Alternatives

Spinach is a difficult crop for many home gardeners to grow. By the time it's warm enough to plant it, it's warm enough for spinach to bolt. Colleen Vanderlinden, our Organic Gardening Guide, suggests three greens to grow once your spinach gives out. They're slow to bolt and long to harvest. So if you're looking at that blank spot in the vegetable garden, shift your gaze to 3 Great Spinach Alternatives.

Of course, if it's still cool in your area, keep that spinach going.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti.

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Orchid Moss - Using it As a Potting Medium

In my many years of growing orchids, one of the most important lessons I have learned is the use of the right potting medium. This is very important because this is where the orchids will thrive. This is also where it will get most of its nutrients. In ensuring the healthy state of your orchids, you must know what the different potting media are and how each of these will benefit a specific type or variety of orchid.

However, I will only focus on using orchid moss for this particular article. I have learned through my many years of experience that the use of Sphagnum moss is greatly beneficial because it can hold moisture like a sponge. And orchids love moisture; in fact, you can skip watering them for seven to ten days as long as the potting mixture is still moist. I have seen this benefit happen to my orchid collection. But I must warn you though that there will come a time when you will need to change your orchid moss because this will decay just like any living organism.

I have tried using Sphagnum moss two ways: the first was I used it as a lining for my hanging orchids and the second is by making it as a moisture bed in mounting my orchids on the side of a bark slab. Both ways are quite effective. I have my orchids in these two conditions and they are healthy and very much in bloom.

I must caution you though that using a Sphagnum moss might be a little costly than the other potting media. But you don't have to be disheartened if you really want to try using it. You may check out a reputable dealer and ask for the South American variety that specifically comes from Chile. This type is a bit cheaper than the orchid moss found in New Zealand. I specifically prefer the New Zealand variety, but I have also tried using the one from Chile and it gives the same kind of benefit.

An added tip when you are using orchid moss as a potting medium is you have to remove the entire old medium and choose the right size of pot, depending on the size of your orchids. You need to spread the roots over the cone of moss and then wrap some more of the moss around the root ball before placing it into the new pot. You have to see to it that all the roots are covered. When working with orchid moss, you also need to wear gloves in order to avoid getting fungal infection. Sphagnum moss is quite notorious on fungus, so it is best to be careful when handling them.

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Things to Consider Before Starting a Strawberry Farm

It is becoming more and more difficult to run a profitable farm. Gasoline and fertilizer prices are going up, and expensive new equipment seems to be required more and more just to keep up with the farm down the street.

The difficult farming environment has caused some farmers to look for alternative crops and additional ways to generate extra revenue to maintain some semblance of profitability. One such alternative crop that has garnered interest recently is strawberries. If you are a farmer looking to diversify or a newbie looking to make a buck or two farming strawberries, here are the major points you should consider prior to committing time and resources to the endeavor:

1. Ensure you have the right type of acreage. Strawberries need at least 8 good inches of dirt in which to grow (more is better). Many farmers use raised beds, and the modern strawberry farmer uses plasticulture (requires a specialized tractor and planting equipment - neither of which are not cheap). A slope of 2 to 4 percent is needed to ensure adequate drainage, and the soil needs to be slightly acidic (pH 5.5 to 6.5, in general).

2. Research the strawberry cultivars and pick a variety that is suitable for your growing region. Growing a strawberry variety well-suited for Oregon in Florida will be a costly mistake!

3. Understand the business side of farming before buying your first strawberry plant. The number one measure of success or failure of a new strawberry farm is the business acumen of the owner. Good management is essential. Cash flow, financing, and marketing are all crucial to understand. A good budget is an essential component of farming success, as is understanding how to sell the strawberries.

4. Understand that capital will be needed. You will either have to spend your own saved money to get your strawberry operation off the ground, or you will have to borrow from a bank. Either your savings or your credit rating and reputation will be put at risk. It is important to understand this, because the venture is...

5. Realize that strawberry farming is risky business. Your profit can be consumed by mother nature. Severe winter temperatures or late spring frosts can decimate your strawberries. Excessive rains can rot the plants. There are numerous pathogens and parasites that can maim or destroy your fields. And, even if you have a bumper crop, if everyone else does as well, prices may fall and profits may disappear.

In other words, strawberry farming is not a means to a quick, guaranteed jackpot of a payday each spring. Yes, it can be profitable. But, it can also bankrupt a new farmer who does not understand the business, marketing, and management sides of the success equation.

So, if you are still considering strawberry farming, work your way through the above five points and ensure that you are up to the challenge. Set yourself up for success, and failure can often be held at bay. Good luck!

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Growing Tomato Cages - An Important Innovation to Growing Tomatoes

I have been growing tomatoes for years now and one important lesson I learned is that growing tomatoes in cages can actually help preserve the condition of your tomato plant. Because of the heaviness of the tomato plant, especially when it is bearing fruits, a natural support system like a cage is necessary to keep it from falling off the ground where your tomatoes can actually get unhygienic. It also helps the tomatoes get protected from strong winds and heavy downpour as well as it helps the tomatoes become sturdy for better chances of bearing fruits.

The most common tomato cage material that I have used is chicken wire with a little reinforcement of wood for framing. This is what I used to make my own DIY tomato cages and it works quite well. However, I noticed that this type of material is not very sturdy and easily rusts because of the elements. This forced me to look for better ways of growing tomatoes cages.

In my research, I found out that there are a couple of great innovative ideas that can be used to create tomatoes cages. Let's check out some of these ideas and see if any of these can actually be useful for your own purpose.

One idea is a spring type cage that coils up to make use of the tomatoes as the trellis. The best material to use for this is PVC since this has hole in the middle like a hose and is flexible enough to be twirled around the plant. You can even further innovate by using this as feeding system for the plant. You may attach an irrigation system to the hose so that it can transmit the nutrients directly to the plant by acting like a sprinkler.

Another great idea is a folding tomato cage that is made of wood. This is perfect for seasonal use because of easy storage. Visually, you can imagine that it looks like a ladder that is attached to each other. The bottom being the wider part can house the pot where the tomato is actually planted and the top, which is the slim part, will protect the lean part of the plant.

It is also very interesting to note that depending on the type of tomatoes you are growing, a specific growing tomatoes cages is more suitable. In my next article, I will be discussing this kind of specific tomato cage and why it is the more suitable type for each kind.

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Home Vermicomposting

Vermicomposting is simply using worms to make the compost rather than microorganisms. It's well suited to anyone, being most useful for people who don't have the space or aren't allowed to have a compost pile where they live. And it's simple to get started.

Home Vermicomposting

1. Get a worm bin. The easiest way to go is to just buy a commercial worm bin, they're fairly inexpensive and are available in different sizes. You could build one yourself if you want.

2. Find a source of worms. Garden earthworms aren't used in a worm bin, they won't like the conditions.

There's two species of worm used, Eisenia fetida and Lumbricus rubellus, commonly known as redworms or red wigglers. They like the conditions in a worm bin.

3. Get the bedding ready. There's two basic bedding materials used, newspaper and cardboard.

When using newspaper tear it into strips about 1 inch wide. Cardboard can be cut into strips about 1 inch wide and a few inches long.

4. Fill the worm bin half way with bedding.

5. Wet the bedding. The bedding should be wet enough that if you squeeze it a few drops will come out.

6. Add the worms. Give the worms a day or two in just bedding before you start to add anything to be composted.

7. Start adding kitchen scraps and other plant waste. Give the worms time and they'll turn all the plant waste into compost.

8. Remove the finished compost. When the bin is getting full of compost it's time to remove it to use. There's several ways to separate the worms, the simplest is to let them migrate into fresh bedding and organic material on their own, most commercial worm bins have simple ways to do this.

Home vermicomposting is a great way to make compost for your potted plants and your garden. It can also help reduce the waste you throw in the trash.

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Fabulous Foliage Winners of the July 2010 Garden Photo Challenge

Congratulations to the winners of last month's Garden Photo Challenge - Fabulous Foliage. I was so impressed, not just by the diversity of foliage, but by how healthy it all looked. Nice job!

We always judge on two criteria: the photo itself and the love of gardening behind it. Foliage makes you pay close attention in the garden. It's way to easy to be distracted by the flowers. These photos give us a chance to look and ponder.

Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful photos with us. Take a look at the winning photo gallery, as well as all the submissions in the Foliage Challenge thread, on the Forum. You can also get in on the fun this month, with the Vegetable Garden Photo Challenge. If your garden is spilling over with glossy tomatoes or zucchini the size of bats, give us a look.

Photo 1st Place Winner, 'Spanish Moss' Submitted by DanGwrite.

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Gardening Question of the Week: What's 8-1-1 Day?

We all know we're supposed to call our utility companies before we start turning up new soil, but it has always seemed like such a hassle figuring out who to contact. And then there's all that time wasted while being on hold.

Now U.S. residents have no excuse not to check for underground utility lines. 811 is the new federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" number. Everyone in the U.S. calls the same One Call Center - 811 - and operators will route your call to the appropriate utility companies. They'll send a pro out to your property within a couple of days and you can start planting trees or mailboxes or whatever your imagination conjures, knowing you, your family and your home are safe.

Here are all the details about the 811 - "Call Before You Dig" number.

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What's Happening to the Cucumber Leaves?

Several of you have written to ask me what's wrong with your cucumber and squash vines. They have a white cast to them and you're worried it's a sign of a disease. Actually, many plants in the squash family have a natural white shading on the leaves from the fuzzy, scratchy hairs. If it's been there most of the season and the plants look healthy and happy, don't worry about it.

If the white is blotchy and powdery, like the spots on the squash leaf here, and if it's spreading, it could easily be powdery mildew. Some varieties of squash and cucs are resistant, but a lot of the old favorites still succumb in humid weather. Powdery mildew doesn't kill the plant, but it does weaken it and it makes it difficult for the plant to photosynthesize and make food. Once powdery mildew takes hold, it's hard to stop it by organic means, but the old stand-by baking soda recipe can help to keep it from spreading.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti

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Featured Plant of the Week: Helenium

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Fall for Planting

II know fall is a great time for planting trees and shrubs, seeding lawns and planting spring bulbs, but I've never really bought into the "Fall is the best time for planting perennials" line of reasoning. I'm not talking about hot climates, where fall is the main growing season. I mean for those of us with four seasons. I think the nurseries all got together and decided a "Fall is for Planting" campaign was a good way to get rid of inventory, so they could bring out the Christmas decorations.

Planting in the fall takes a certain amount of faith. If winter comes early and hard, those newly planted roots aren't going to have a lot of time to spread out in the ground. And I'm just going to have to be patient and wait until the spring thaw, to see if they survived. On the other hand, if summer drags on, I'll have to water the new plants every day, to get them established. I guess there's just no pleasing me.

In an ideal world, fall planting makes sense. Root growth resumes, after a summer of flowering and seed setting. According to David Salman, at High Country Gardens, "80% of a plant's root growth occurs in late summer and fall, so plants establish better." That means fall planted perennials will have a head start, in spring. There is usually plenty of rain, in the fall, and less humidity. And the leave eaters have moved on.

So I'm re-thinking fall planting. Maybe the problem I have is that I should be planting in late summer, so hedge my bets. That means I have some work to do this week. Salman suggests that gardeners in cold climates, like me, "...stick with the most cold hardy types such as Oriental Poppies (Papaver), Beebalm (Monarda), Beardtongues (Penstemon), Sages (Salvia nemerosa types), and Yarrow (Achillea)." For gardeners in mild climates, the nursery is your oyster.

If your nursery has already made the switch to holiday decorations, don't be afraid to order from catalogs or online. They are less busy at this time of year and should get your order out quickly.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti

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Gardening Question of the Week: What Do You Think of Garden Shows?

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Organic Rose Care

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Featured Plant: Agastache

Most gardeners are familiar with the spiky blue anise hyssop. Lovely as it is, there are a lot more Agastache out there, in a variety of colors and scents, like this incredible 'Licorice Mint Hyssop'. What they all share is a hardy disposition, drought tolerance and a long season of bloom. If you've been having a summer like mine, you can use of the heat lovers you can plant.

Freda Cameron celebrated this months Garden Bloggers Bloom Day with photos of the glorious agastache in her North Carolina garden. And over at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Bob Hyland gives us his Agastache A List. Take a peek at Agastache and then keep an eye out for the different varieties available in your local nurseries. They're beautiful additions to almost any garden.

By the way, it's pronounced ag-ah-STAK-ee.

Photo: � Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc..

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Have You Noticed an Increase in Swallowtails?

I just assumed it was my superior gardening skills (yes, that's sarcasm) that were responsible for so many Eastern Tiger Swallowtails flitting about my flowers, this year. Apparently they've been visiting more than just my garden. Carole Brown, over at Ecosystem Gardening, was asked this question enough to bring it to the butterfly experts. They are still pondering. It could be that the cold winter of 2009/2010 knocked down the numbers of parasitoids that prey on swallowtails. Or, it could be something else. We may never know for sure, but it sure is a pretty sight.

Quick Butterfly Quiz:

Which state claims the Eastern Tent Butterfly has its official state butterfly? What happens when you touch a butterflies wings?

Photo: primpwatch / stock.xchng

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1050130

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The Benefits of a Plastic Greenhouse

Once decided to buy a greenhouse, you will undoubtedly reach a crossroad, where you must decide whether you want a plastic or a glass greenhouse. Whilst a glass greenhouse may be something from your childhood memories, and you may even think that any greenhouse that is not made of glass isn't "the real thing", you should not overlook the wonderful world and selection of plastic greenhouses.

You should remember that the sole function of a greenhouse is to let the sun's warming rays in and to isolate the plants growing inside from the potential cold weather, rain or wind outside. When it comes to greenhouses, however, both glass and plastic serve this purpose more or less the same. In fact, there are no conclusive scientific studies that suggest that either one works better as a greenhouse cladding material. Most greenhouses are structurally very similar, the only variable being the cladding material. Therefore, let's observe some benefits that plastic cladding has over glass.

Firstly, plastic greenhouses are far more cheaper than glass greenhouses. Once you realize that there is no big difference between plastic and glass in practice, the price should become the decisive factor in anyone's eyes. In fact, glass greenhouses can be up to 40 percent more expensive than their glass counterparts.

Also, a study suggests, that a properly sealed and constructed plastic greenhouse offers less uncontrolled energy loss. The study claims that a plastic greenhouse is up to 30% more energy efficient compared to a glass greenhouse. In terms of expenses on the integrated energy system, you can find massive savings here when using a plastic greenhouse.

Plastic cladding is also much more easier to fit, saving you time and frustration once you start setting your greenhouse up. Setting up a glass greenhouse can be tedious work, as every glass panel needs to be carefully attached individually.

Finally, consider the physical properties of glass versus plastic. Glass is brittle and can break under strain. For example, glass is likely to shatter when hit by falling trees, dangerously large hail or other projectiles, whilst plastic is likely to cushion the impact or bend. Glass is also quite sensitive to temperature changes. For example, if it is very cold outside and very warm inside, glass can shatter because of the temperature differences (This is why it is not recommended to drink tea or coffee from a glass).

All in all, both plastic and glass greenhouses have their ups and downs, however the significantly lower cost of plastic greenhouses should be enough of an argument for anyone on a budget.

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Two Common Types of Orchids and Their Well-Known Species

Orchids fall into two common classes or types: terrestrial or epiphyte. Terrestrial means the species grows in the ground. Epiphyte means that the plant grows on another object as on a tree, on a rock or on a pole.

A terrestrial orchid is generally planted in the ground. Similar to common ground plants, some terrestrial orchids can have roots that are beneath the surface of the soil. Some orchids are considered semi-terrestrial, where they have roots both in the ground and roots aerially. The Cymbidium orchid, a terrestrial orchid, has 52 species plus many hybrids. It was probably one of the first orchids to have been cultivated. These orchids are robust in the sense that they can not only grow in the ground, but also on trees and rocks. They do well in decayed leaves or in the loose humus of rotted wood. In their natural habitat they can be found in the range from Southeast Asia to Japan. They can also be found in Australia. They are easy to grow and have become very popular; they are the perfect choice for beginning orchid growers. Given the correct care, they will provide flowers annually.

An epiphytic plant is a plant that grows on another object such as on a tree. Dendrobiums are the best known epiphyte orchids. Although they are generally easy to grow, they need a bit more care than Cymbidiums and do not flower on a regular basis easily. Their natural tropical habitat includes Northern India, Southeast Asia, Australia and Polynesia. Dendrobiums will thrive best in warm, moist and humid conditions because they require tropical conditions. Another well-known epiphyte type is the Phalaenopsis. These orchids are usually easy to grow and can have flowers that last long. They are usually present at weddings and can be found in varying colors including yellows, pinks, and even stripes.

Although epiphytic orchids live on a tree, they do not steal the nutrients and moisture that the tree depends upon. They absorb the nutrients and moisture that surround them in their immediate environment. They grab onto the branches of the bark of the tree with their fleshy roots. The collection of organic matter that forms between their roots and the branches is what they use for nutrients. These roots help to sustain the epiphytic orchids in dry and wet periods. A spongy off-white color covering surrounds their tough, stringy core roots that can easily absorb moisture. When water is available, this covering will absorb the water that it needs. The root will become dark green when it is completely saturated. The roots will hold the water until the plant needs it. When it does, the roots will release it gradually to the plant tissues as needed. Other types of epiphytic orchids grow on rocks. These orchids thrive in locations where the light is filtered and usually where it is airy and open.

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Herb Growing at Its Best

Why do you plan to join other gardeners for the herb growing experience? It is important that you know and understand your reasons for herb gardening, because if you don't then you won't become passionate towards your new hobby and you won't turn out to be successful at it. Believe me - the excitement you'll feel is amazing once you start planting your first herbs and harvest it. If you want to grow a herb garden to add more pizzazz and flavor to your home cooking, then you are in for a great experience.

The following are some reasons why many garden enthusiasts start growing herbs. These might also ignite your passion to become a herb gardener too.

1.Herb plants are best for medicinal purposes - This is one of the best reasons why many people plant herbs in the backyard. Not only can natural, organic herb gardening help relieve your stress; it can also fatten your wallet! Think about all the scrumptious medicines that would be available to you once you start gardening. Herbs can help cure simple pains as well as prevent some risky ailments such as cancer and other illnesses brought about by living an unhealthy lifestyle. Herbs are great for your health. Many boast of anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. How good is that? Growing herbs is a great way to ensure that your foods are nutrient rich and not chemically induced.

2.Herb plants are also best for culinary purposes -The best and most expensive recipes in Italy, China and other countries of the world are made up of culinary herbs. In fact, five star and seven star hotels use food preparations using the best culinary herbs available in their countries. So when you have herbs at home, you can make your family feel as if they are dining in a luxurious hotel or restaurant.
As soon as you learn how to garnish your food with herbs, you'll discover how wonderful your food will taste compared to dishes without it. Zesty and fresh herbs are a must in any kitchen. Cooking with herbs is very much like icing on a cake - it makes any dish complete!

3.Herb plants are easy to find - Herb growing is easy because herbs are simple to find. Herbs are located all over the world and they can grow anywhere. You can even ask some seeds and plants from your neighbors.

4.Space is not a problem - Many people said they cannot plant herbs at home because they don't have a space or are only living in a condo unit. Well, that reason cannot be accepted because space is never really a problem when you really want to plant your herbs. You can use even a very small space in the backyard, your windowsill or even in pots and containers. In Japan, many Japanese and immigrants are maximizing their roofs to plant herbs and other plants.

5.Herb kits are ready for beginners - Herbs kits can give you step-by-step instructions on how and what to do when herb growing. So all you have to do is follow instructions. There are a lot of herb kits available and they are not costly. All you need to do is to choose the best kit available.
So are you to ready to start your herb garden?

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Beginner Hydroponics Gardening Tips

Hydroponics gardening methods involve growing plants without soil and growing them in gravel, sand, water or air, instead. When you are concerned about nutrients for your plants, hydroponics gardening includes using plant foods, nutrients and fertilizer which is added to the water and dissolved before it is fed directly to the roots. Even though the plants will grow smaller roots, they focus more of their energy to plant growth and this is great for growing more vegetables in smaller spaces.

You don't have to worry about the soil space you will need for growing vegetable plants because hydroponics gardening only takes 20% of the space needed for the same amount of vegetables in a soil planted garden. You can use hydroponics gardening without worrying about whether you are over-watering or giving your plants too little water. You also don't have to worry about plant spacing because of proper lighting since plants aren't competing and you can easily rearrange them to get enough light.

When it comes to hydroponics gardening, the type of nutrients you provide the plants is an important part of the success. When you want to grow a vegetable garden using hydroponics gardening, you might find that you can have healthy and vigorous growing plants that yield plenty of vegetables, as long as you are providing sufficient nutrition to the root systems. Because they aren't competing for space with other plants or spending their energy growing large root systems to get necessary moisture and nutrients, you are able to grow larger plants with smaller root systems, leaving them more nutrients to grow vegetables proficiently.

For those that are looking to jump into hydroponic gardens, there are a few things to consider, like if you are going to buy or build your own system. Building a hydroponics growing system is not extremely difficult, but may take some patience. For those that are not interested in building their own, buying a system could cost anywhere from fifty to two thousand dollars.

If you enjoy gardening, you don't have to stop just because it is winter. You can still enjoy your plants during the winter - you will just want to do it indoors. One option that is available is known as forcing bulbs. Basically this is all about making the bulb think that the winter has gone and it's time to start blooming. It doesn't take a lot of time or money to do this type of gardening.

If you want to do this winter indoor gardening with bulbs, there are some great bulb choices to consider. This can include narcissuses, tulips, amaryllis, and hyacinths. Not only will you enjoy growing these bulbs, but during the holiday seasons, they make wonderful decorations as well.

Of course, you can use hydroponics gardening for all types of plants. You can grow houseplants, and fruit vines or just about any kind of plants, including flowering plants and bushes. Growing plants using hydroponics gardening can allow beginners to grow productive plants easily with a lot less space than comparable soil gardens.

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The Benefits of an Automatic Watering System

Right from the top, water conservation, saving money, and convenience are three of the key factors that prompt many people to install a timed irrigation system in their lawns. Aside from these main advantages, there is of course the added benefit of keeping your lawn healthy and green through the spring and summer months.

Watering a lawn or garden is so simple, yet many people get it wrong partly because it is so easy. There are numerous times when you might turn your sprinkler, and intend to come back several minutes later to shut it off or move it to another area, but minutes turn into hours and you suddenly remember after large amounts of water have been wasted at your own expense. Another scenario could be that you forgot which areas of your lawn have already been watered, or which days you watered previously. We're all human, and distractions happen, but with an automated watering system it's one less thing you have to stay on top of aside your busy schedule.

So, is an automatic lawn irrigation system worth the cost? It may be on the expensive side, but it frees you from one of the most aggravating and time-consuming outdoor chores, and can save you a lot of water if you are prone to forgetting your sprinkler when it's running. Clearly one of the key benefits here is water conservation, which translates into savings for you that add up over time. You can manage your irrigation system's timetable, so you can always be sure that the right amount of water is going to the right areas, exactly when you want it. Sprinklers are placed and spaced in a way that will guarantee thorough, even coverage at the right precipitation level. This methodical, exacting automation is what you are paying for. With an automated irrigation system you can fully adjust your water levels. Also, some systems are equipped with rain detectors that will suspend the watering system during rainfall.

An automatic lawn irrigation system consists of multiple sprinkler heads interconnected with tubing, and can be separated into multiple zones. Each zone has its own sprinkler heads and a control valve which regulates the water flow, and these valves are all connected to a central control mechanism, normally placed in the garage, basement, or other protected area of your home. The control panel serves as the brains of the entire system. When the central control panel activates a specific zone, a control valve opens, the system becomes charged and the sprinklers start ticking away. There are many different types of sprinkler heads, each suited to a particular type and size of area requiring watering. There are sprayers which deliver a fine mist uniformly out in all directions, rotary heads which blast water out in a wide circle, and drip type heads for more specific landscape areas. Sprayer heads are normally used when accuracy of coverage is essential, while rotary heads deliver water to a large area and require fewer units. Many sprinkler heads are available in pop-up versions, rising several inches above the ground when water pressure is applied so as not to be obstructed by small plants and shrubs.

Let's review. There are likely only a couple reasons why you are considering an automatic lawn sprinkler system - Simplicity and Savings. These systems may be costly initially, but the water savings, and more importantly the time you will save, are worth every penny. No more grabbing the hose and spraying the lawn while you get wet and cold, no more forgetting the sprinkler was turned on, and no more remembering which areas you have watered and how often. All of these things are removed from your schedule when you operate an automatic watering system.

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