Robotic lawn mowers are great for your budget as well as the environment. This is because they use no gasoline resulting in much fewer emissions. These lawn mowers are powered by rechargeable batteries built into the robot itself. Recharging occurs at a docking station that plugs into an outlet in your garage or outdoor area. A fully charged battery can last anywhere from 3-7 hours depending on the type of robotic lawn mower you buy, and average recharge times are 2-3 hours.

Two of the most popular features of these mowers are its advanced programming abilities and mulching blades. Leaving large clumps of cut grass in your yard can kill the grass underneath and leave it looking less than fresh. All robotic lawn mowers come with mulching blades that cut the grass into smaller pieces. They won’t accumulate in piles on your lawn, and should eventually improve the quality of your grass. Advanced programming in these models allows you to program the unit to run on its own, or control its movements from the comfort of your porch.

How does a robotic lawn mower run on its own? Some models will come with a set of wires for you to place around the perimeter of your property and flower beds or garden areas. The mower recognizes that it cannot pass across the wire, and will efficiently mow all the areas inside of it. The mower completes your yard by using a random cutting pattern, which experts agree is the healthiest for your grass. When the yard is complete, the robot will head back to its docking station to recharge. Most models will also have a rain sensor that tells it to return to its docking station in the event of a rainstorm. You can program your unit to mow every few days, or once a week. The choice is yours!

The Original Post is Located Here: High-Tech Robotic Lawn Mowers

Rain barrels are tubs that collect rain water on your property. They are usually made of plastic, but you will be able to find some made of different metals. The size of a rain barrel can range anywhere from 10 to 100 gallons. The size you choose will depend on your specific needs. The rain barrel is placed near an area of water runoff in your yard. This is typically underneath water spouts. The rain water is collected in the barrel and can be used later for watering and cleaning in your yard. The great part is that this water maintenance supply is free!

What can a rain barrel do for you and your community? First, the rain barrel will allow you to have a free water supply to maintain your lawn. You’ll see that your water bills remain level, or even go down as you utilize that water. Your plants will appreciate your rain barrel too because it keeps too much water from seeping into the soil. Too much water seepage causes the nutrients to be stripped from the soil, which could ultimately affect the beauty of your yard. Finally, rain barrels are great for the environment and local water quality. You’ll be using less, and preventing chemical laced water from seeping into the ground water supply.

Rain barrels come with lots of different features to meet the needs of any yard. One excellent option is rain barrels with screened tops. They keep out critters, bugs and large debris that might get into your supply. Being able to buy mosquito resistance models is also a great option for those living in mosquito heavy areas. If you’re worried about how a rain barrel will look in your yard, go for hidden unit designs. There are options available that have beautiful external designs, and built ins where flowers can be planted to hide its true identity. There’s a rain barrel out there for everyone’s tastes and needs.

The Original Post is Located Here: The Benefits of Rain Barrels

What is a manual push lawn mower? If you are part of the baby boomer generation, then these mowers will be very familiar to you. They were one of the first items used to cut lawns in America. Manual push mowers consist of a set of rotator blades, wheels, and a long handle for the user to push on. As the user pushes the mower forward, the rotator blades turn in a clockwise direction over the grass. The blades are made of steel that makes them durable and resistant to rusting.

It’s true that using a manual push mower requires you to put a bit of an aerobic workout into your lawn maintenance. In the past, manual push mowers required much more force than they do today. There are a variety of models that are comfortable for most people to operate. You will feel great that this mower requires very little set up, and makes little to no impact on the environment. You will also be able to mow your lawn at any time without worrying about disturbing your neighbors.

Finally, manual push mowers offer a better cut for your grass than most powered mowers. The grass is cleanly cut by the blades without the pulling motion that occurs with most powered mowers. This gives the grass an even look and allows it to hold in the moisture it needs. The natural mulch you get from the grass clippings will also give your lawn a healthy and fresh look. If your grass is extra long, you can purchase an accessory called a grass catcher to hold most of the clippings off of your lawn. When your purchasing your manual mower, remember to select one made of quality and long lasting materials.

The Original Post is Located Here: Go Green with a Manual Push Mower

The Nature Zap will rid your yard of weeds without any weed killing liquids, powders, or sprays. How does it do this? With the use of heat technology. The Nature Zap uses thermogenic heat to stop the weeds plant functions and kill it at the root. This ensures that that weed will not return! The Nature Zaps aiming tube and long handle will keep you off your knees and keep the heat away from your other plants.

The Nature Zap can be used on top of mulch, dirt, and grass without the fear of setting your landscape aflame. This is because of the temperature-limiting PCT ceramic stone heating element on the bottom of your unit. It allows the product to heat up enough to kill the weed, but not enough to cause a fire. The Nature Zap also has a 5-circuit breaker and auto-off switch to prevent any electrical accidents.

How do you use the Nature Zap Weed Killer? Simply place the ceramic heating element onto the weed and hold down to activate its heat. Small weeds require about 3 seconds of pressure, while larger weeds require 8 seconds of pressure. This product is primarily for wide leaf weeds, but many reviewers state that they used it successfully on other types of weeds. The lack of chemicals or liquid products will make you feel safe to let kids and pets roam free in your yard!

The Original Post is Located Here: The Nature Zap Weed Killer

There are three basic types of solar landscape lighting. Solar floodlights are a great option for someone looking to light larger areas of their yard for security or a pool area. Theses lights can be affixed to the sides of corners of your house. Step or path solar lights are used to line or define walkways up to your front door, or in areas of your garden. They can be an excellent item for lighting water features or seated areas at night. Finally, hanging solar lights can add some great ambiance to any evening outdoor party. You can light your porch, pool, or tree areas with these soft string lights.

When placing your lights, make sure that you know the amount of sunlight hours and intensity you will get in that spot. This will determine how long your lights stay on at night. Certain models will have longer run times than others depending on their ability to store energy. Another issue that can affect run time is the angle of the solar panel on your lights. Solar landscape lights typically have the option of a flat or 45 degree angle for their solar panels. A flat angle will stand up to wind and other elements, but a 45 degree angle will be more cost-effective because it’s aimed directly at the sun.

Some buyers will be worried about their solar landscape lights lasting throughout the night. You can find many models with great battery powered backup systems to keep your lights on when their solar power runs out. The best part about these lights is that you will be able to easily set them up yourself. The only installation required for most of these lights is to simply anchor them down into your design. You’ll love your yards nighttime look, and its low environmental impact.

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The Original Post is Located Here: Solar Landscape Lighting

The make of an electric powered riding mower will be similar in outside appearance, but internally very different from gas powered riding mowers. This type of mower is powered by 3 batteries placed inside the center of the mower. The location of these batteries is ideal, because it reduces the chance or accidental contact, and keeps the mower balanced. Another difference you will find is the size of the mower. Gasoline powered riding mowers are typically have a 34 inch or greater cutting path. The Recharge electric riding mower has a 27 inch cutting path that makes it easier to maneuver and store.

You may be wondering how you will charge the batteries used to power the Recharge. This product can simply be plugged into an electrical outlet overnight, and will be ready to go the next morning. The Recharge can run for 3 hours on a fully charged set of batteries, and takes about 10-12 to recharge. Some nice features that you may like on the Recharge are its cut settings and safety features. There are 5 settings that allow you to select a specific cutting height for your grass. It’s safety features require the user to be sitting on the mower and engaging a switch to operate the blades. The unit also has a speed cap and will not rotate the blades during reverse driving.

Some may be concerned about using an electric riding mower outdoors because of changes in weather. It’s true that you would not want to use this type of riding mower in the rain, but any riding mower would have some trouble with a wet environment. For most people, the benefits of being eco-friendly and producing little noise, outweighs this issue. Another benefit of the Recharge riding mower is the reduction in maintenance. You will only need to check the quality of the blades after long periods of non use, and replace batteries occasionally over the years. The easiest way to purchase the Recharge riding mower is online as few local stores will carry this type of item.

The Original Post is Located Here: The Recharge Electric Riding Mower

Rubber mulch has recently been a very popular choice for environmentally conscious landscapers. Its initial appeal is that it takes a non-biodegradable item out of the landfill and puts it to a great recycled use. It helps to hold the moisture into your soil and lets any new water or rain seep in freely. Rubber mulch is 100% non-toxic, won’t attract bugs, and will resist break down over time. It’s perfect for your garden, and also not a bad choice for use under your yards playground areas.

In most cases, you will find that mulch made from trees is not considered to be eco-friendly. It’s also prone to rot. However, a product called FloriMulch is an exception. FloriMulch is made from the Melaleuca tree. This tree can be found in the Everglades, and it actually benefits the environment to remove them. It is termite resistant and comes in a variety of woodsy colors. This mulch can give you the wood look you want while still doing something for the environment.

Two other options are synthetic pine straw and pine bark mulch. Synthetic pine straw is made from clean, hypoallergenic, and 100% recycled plastic. It allows your soil to receive and hold in moisture while being resistant to rot and insects. Pine bark mulch is a 100% organic material. If you use a two to three inch cover, it will prevent freeze damage to your plants roots. It will last a long period of time as it is also a rot resistant material. Any of these mulches would be an excellent addition to your green lawn and garden.

The Original Post is Located Here: Going Green with Mulches

When you first research composting, it may seem complicated. There are lists of items that can and can’t be used in composters, and stipulations for how you much compost them. The Green Cone Composting System eliminates the confusion. This system gets its name from its look. The Green Cone Composting system has an underground composting basket, and a cone shaped solar heating area on top. It comes with a filtered kitchen caddy that allows you to collect food scraps throughout the day, and empty once at night. This composter will hold food scraps from a family of four for one year, and only needs to be emptied or cleaned once every 1-2 years.

The Green Cone Composting system works by using composting and solar digesting technology. The underground basket allows for aeration of the food scraps to break them down into compost. The solar digesting technology is important because it allows you to put hard to break down materials in this system. The solar heat promotes oxygen movement inside the cone which in turn promotes micro-organisms and excellent aerobic digestion. The food waste is converted into 90% water and 10% rich compost material.

Installing your Green Cone is simple with the specific instructions provided in each unit. The cone will be buried 18 inches underground in a very sunny area. It is important to make sure that any area you choose has good drainage, and lies above the water table or where water gathers. This composting system comes with accelerating powder that is used in the first week or two to get your compost process going. After that, you can sit back and enjoy the benefits of this great lawn product!

The Original Post is Located Here: The Green Cone Composting System

What is environmentally friendly fencing? Its fencing made with recycled, synthetic, or renewable resources. Traditionally, most fences have been made with common wood materials. This type of wood fencing requires regular maintenance, and even occasional replacement as it wears down. Wood rot and insect infestation are common. Because of this, you are dramatically increasing the number of resources you are using to fence in your yard.

One of the excellent options out there in environmentally friendly yard products is vinyl fencing. Vinyl fencing is a synthetic material that requires very little maintenance and no regular replacements. It can be purchased in a variety of colors that you would normally have to paint on to traditional wooden fencing. Vinyl fencing can be placed anywhere in the yard, even around areas where it will be exposed to moisture. The only maintenance required will be the occasional washing of this durable fencing.

Another excellent option for fencing your yard is using bamboo. Bamboo is one of the most renewable wood resources that we have. It grows very quickly, and harvesting can be done without killing the root system of the bamboo plant. Properly done harvesting does little to no damage to the local ecosystem, and allows the bamboo to grow back on its own without replanting. It also provides a unique and modern look to any landscape design. There are many other excellent recycled and composite fencing materials out there, so explore all of your options before you buy.

The Original Post is Located Here: Environmentally Friendly Fencing Options

One of the biggest issues with keeping your lawn low impact is the amount of water you have to use to keep your plants, flowers, and grass healthy. One of the ways you can cut down on water usage is to simply cut down on the amount of grass in your yard. Look for ways to incorporate grassless designs in your yard areas. You can also change the type of grass you are using. Lately, synthetic turf grass has been a popular consideration for people with small yards. If you have a larger yard or want to maintain that real grass look, consider going with something like eco grass mixes. They require little watering or fertilizer to stay healthy.

Grassless designs in your yard can come in many forms. One idea is to outline tree areas with decorative rocks instead of smaller flower beds or grass. Planting numerous trees with rock surroundings will significantly reduce your watering requirements. This might be a good time to add a patio, step stone path, or seated area in your yard as well. All of these can be surrounded by non-grass items to reduce your grass space. You will notice how much you cut back on watering, and also decreasing amount of time you spend mowing.

Finally, do some research on plant growth in your local area. You may have already guessed that the plants that will survive the best with unaffected environments will be those native to your home area. If you want to throw in some non-native plants to mix up your yards look, consider choosing succulents. These types of plants can go a long time without water, and survive well in drought like situations.

The Original Post is Located Here: Eco-Friendly Landscaping Designs