Pool Covers - Can They Keep Ducks Out of Your Swimming Pool?

The answer is yes, all pool covers will deter ducks from swimming in your pool, but the degree of their effectiveness largely depends on which type of pool cover you choose and how you set it up. When pool owners ask if a pool cover will deter ducks from using their swimming pool, very often this question comes from those who have already tried a wide variety of other "would be" solutions. These will include such things as rubber snakes, paper eagles, blow up crocodiles etc. For the most part, these other solutions will only work for as long as it takes the ducks to realise that they do not represent a threat. After that time, most of those items are largely useless.
A pool cover on the other hand does not rely on scaring the ducks away. It simply denies the ducks what they really want which is access to the water. Once they realise they cannot gain access to the water, they move on as there are plenty of other swimming pools to choose from without pool covers.

Which type of pool cover is most effective in deterring ducks?
The "Leaf and Debris" or "Winter Cover" as they are sometimes known seem to be the most effective type of pool cover for this purpose. This is because they are fastened down at regular intervals around the circumference of the pool so that entry to the water cannot be made. The leaf and debris cover is manufactured slightly larger than the pool surface area so as to create an overlap of the cover onto the pool surrounds which further ensures that no entry to the pool water is possible. It is these two attributes that give a leaf and debris cover an advantage over say a solar bubble type of cover when it comes to keeping out ducks. Solar bubble pool covers lay on top of the water and also cover the entire pool. They are also considered useful in keeping out ducks, however, if rain water happens to collect on top of this type of cover, the ducks will see this as a place to swim.

A tip for setting up a pool cover to deter ducks
The one additional thing to do with a leaf and debris cover is to place something inflatable under the cover to hold the centre of it up out of the water. The idea is to keep the centre of the cover high and dry and away from the pool surface and so deny the ducks access to the water. Placing two or three beach balls, car inner tubes, inflatable pillows etc, under the cover at regular intervals will hold the centre of the cover elevated, and in the process create a pitched roof effect which will accomplish this.

There are other benefits that come with this type of pool cover as well
Ducks can create a great deal of mess both in and around your swimming pool which is both unsightly and unhealthy. Leaf and Debris covers were originally designed to keep leaves and rubbish out of swimming pools, and so you really do get a double benefit when they also deter ducks from taking up residence in your pool as well. The trick with placing some inflatable items under the cover will also keep any leaves and rubbish that fall on the cover dry and will therefore be much easier to remove. This can either be done with a petrol driven garden blower or the action of the wind itself.
So ducks do not need to be the problem that many pool owners see them as, and they do not need to be harmed to be persuaded to stay away from your swimming pool.

Ducks have long been looked upon as a pest when they decide to make your swimming pool their home. Many ideas have been tried in order to persuade ducks to find another place to stay, mostly without success. However, pool covers and in particular a leaf and debris style of pool cover can greatly assist in convincing ducks to move on to somewhere else. It does this by denying the ducks access to the water. Not only that, pool covers will also keep other rubbish out of your pool as well, saving cleaning time and helping to make your pool a healthier place to swim.

Zero Turn Mower - When You Need to Mow an Oversized Lawn With Lots of Tight Turns

If you have a rather sizeable lawn and want to make quick work of your mowing chores, you probably have, or are considering the purchase of, a riding lawn mower. There a number of styles from which to choose. But if you are in the market for a first time purchase or for the replacement of an existing one, it's time to think about a zero turn mower.

Why a zero turn mower as opposed to any number of other options on the market? For high speed lawn maintenance, quick maneuverability, cutting in and out of hard to access areas like trees and shrubs, there are few machines that rival a zero turn mower.

There are mowers of this type that are made strictly for residential use and then others that will make quick work of even the most demanding commercial grounds. These types of mowers, for example, are often used by maintenance crews on golf courses. Their adeptness at cutting close to sand traps and putting greens without treading on or in these delicate elements of the course makes the zero turn mower perfect for this kind of setting. While you are not likely to have landscaping elements like the aforementioned, many residential grounds have their own unique lawn mowing challenges.

If your own grounds are laid out in such a way that cutting close to, and around, various landscaping features is necessary, then one of these mowers will make all the difference in the world. You can greatly cut down on all the time spent using secondary power tools to finish up the work that a less effective mower did not accomplish. Manipulate back and forth, turn on a dime - use the full-circle turn radius to cut up to the edge and then back away and spin off in a different direction. Aside from completing your mowing in a fraction of the time of a conventional mower, you'll have fun doing it.

Some people with landscaped acreage go ahead and purchase a commercially built zero turn mower, bypassing the residential or semi-commercial version. If your grounds are not as complicated or extensive as others, you can still benefit greatly from one of these mowers. Buy one specifically made for residential use and save time while maintaining your lawn in tip-top condition. There is no need to break the bank to save time and stay on top of your lawn care. Many of the residential models are surprisingly affordable and come with extensive manufacture guarantees.

So if you are ready to give yourself a break and reduce your landscaping maintenance workload, go out and get a zero turn mower. Manicure your lawn, have fun doing it, and then enjoy your yard with all the newly-found free time.

The Long Way Around

Sometimes it seems that civilization has arrived too soon. Time
saving devices often don't and quick fix solutions frequently aren't.
The US Government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars
developing a pen that would write in space. The Russians used a
pencil. Recently I bought a fancy leaf blower/vacuum for the
patio. Soon my hands smelled like gasoline, I no longer can fit my
car in the garage and the cat has a permanent noise hang-up. So I
sold it to my neighbor for $50.00 (Orig. $300.) and bought a
broom. It works fine.

The indoor vacuum came with a hard floor attachment that
requires an MIT engineer to hook up. Swirls of foam spewed
forth like a Niagara, mixing with the cat hairs, dust balls and
spilled food. It took me two hours to take it apart, clean it, and
re-install it on the garage shelf where it belongs. Then I put a rag
on a stick and cleaned up in ten minutes. The floor looks great
and I get to use the rag over and over - for free.

One day my wife couldn't resist buying a food chopper for
$29.95. The pictures show mounds of colorful vegetables
chopped and ready for cooking. Trying it out for the first time,

an onion disappeared into its maw, and was quickly reduced
to a mass of gooey sludge with a ragged ball in the middle. Next,
a potato magically turned into liquid followed by an apple laced with
inedible seeds and mangled peel.

After one cut on a finger of each hand ( I swear I only touched the
blade lightly), I somehow got it into the original box and returned
it the same day. Observing this fiasco was my Grandma who snidely
suggested I use the paring knife she gave us twenty years ago.
She was right.

Did you ever succumb to the siren song of the seed catalogs and
the pictures on the seed packets at the store? When you total up
the cost of seed, fertilizer, chicken wire fencing, tools and bribery
money to your kids for weeding, the figure is staggering. On the
other hand, twelve large tomatoes, ten green peppers, ten pounds
of onions and a large bag of green beans cost only $30.00. No
waste, no digging, no bugs, and no garden. I know you can't buy
time, but it certainly is easy to waste it.

One flower packet caught my uneducated eye. It promised dozens of
beautiful pink daisy-like flowers without the hassle of planting the seeds
indoors in March, transplanting them three times in progressively larger
pots and transferring them to the garden in June. Just throw the seeds
on the ground and wait for the flowers. They were called cosmos and
all the information on the packet was true. Just to give them an added
edge, I did plant them in April and transferred the seedlings to small pots
in May. By June, I was giving four plants a week away to friends but no
flowers appeared on the stems. By July, the plants had grown to three feet
tall but no signs of blooms. Some of my victims thought it was a joke and
threw them away, others stuck in there, watering and fertilizing and hoping.
Eventually, some of the plants reached a height of seven feet, taking over
the whole garden with a forest of stalks Jack would have been proud of.
The flowers were magnificent. Next time I'll pay more attention to the back
of the seed packet. In small print it said, "Height four or more feet". Another caution said. "Do not fertilize".

One modern invention used by millions of people is the computer printer.
In five years the price for a top printer has come down from $400. To $60.
What they don't tell you that a week's printing will exhaust the original
ink cartridges. A new set will cost you over $90. Every week. It's like
buying a car for $10,000 and spending $15,000 a week on gas to get to work.

Every car owner is faced daily by ads for magic scratch removers, fancy car
wash formulas and brushes, wheel cleaners, and dash board renewers. None
of these products work as well as a bucket of water with an ounce of dish detergent
and a rag. I have plenty of rags.

Starting a Gutter Cleaning Business

For many homeowners, fall means gutter cleaning season. For those who live close to any tall trees, this is one necessary maintenance item that must be completed before winter. If their rain gutters are clogged with leaves, not only will the water back up, causing damage to the facia board and foundation, but they are also prone to ice damning once the cold weather sets in. A little prevention now can save thousands of dollars in unnecessary repairs.

Although, you can start a gutter cleaning service for next to nothing, the profit potential for this seasonal business is significant. During the fall, it's not unusual for a two-man operation to take in $500-$1000 per day. Most of that will be profit.

Starting your own gutter cleaning business is simple. All you need is a long ladder, a 5 gallon bucket, a couple of hand scoops, some trash bags, and you're set to make some serious money this fall.

When it comes to gutter cleaning, there is more than one way to get the job done. A lot of this depends on the type of house, the landscape, and the type of debris in the gutter.

One of the quickest ways to get the job done is by using a gas-powered leaf blower. If the debris is dry, you can walk along the edge of the roof and blow everything out. A typical house can be finished in under a half an hour, including cleaning up the mess on the ground. It's not unusual to make $100 an hour - plus, using this method. Of course, most gutters are not dry and other methods must be used instead.

If the roof is walkable, you can go around, scoop up debris, and collected it in a 5 gallon pail. If the roof is not walkable, you must use several ladder placements around the house while you scoop leaves, pine needles, compost muck, and shingle grit into your pail. This is the most time-consuming method because you have to keep moving the ladder and climb up and down each time.

Always use standard ladder safety procedures and never walk on a roof without using a fall arrest system.

Gutter cleaning season can be short, depending on where you live. In many parts of the northern US and Canada, it gets dark around 4:30 pm in November. For this reason, you should try to work every hour you can, even if it means working seven days a week. Fortunately, it's not something that you'll have to do for long. However, if you hope to maximize your earning potential, you will need every last available hour of sunlight.

Marketing your gutter cleaning services will be easy. You should deliver flyers or run a newspaper ad at least one month ahead of the gutter cleaning season. You can bet that many people will keep your number and be calling you soon. Failing that, you can wait until most of the leaves have fallen and go door-to-door offering your services. By using this method, you'll be able to give the homeowner an instant quote. Some people even get a crew of two or three together and go door-to-door, doing the jobs on the spot. Many customers will take advantage of this service if you tell them that you will be able to do the work right away. This works well for all the procrastinators out there who will leave it until the last possible minute.

Before you decide to use this method, make sure that you've checked with City Hall to ensure that you're not breaking any bylaws by going door-to-door. Some municipalities require a license. Some won't allow it at all.

It's entirely realistic to expect to make several thousand dollars a week cleaning gutters. Unfortunately, it's very short-lived. Thus, you see very few full-time gutter cleaning companies unless they are located in more temperate climates. That being said, it's not unusual to get a flurry of calls from panicky homeowners in the spring with overflowing gutter problems.

Electric Snow Throwers - Advantages of Getting Electric Snow Throwers

Snow blowers are also termed as snow throwers. They do come in both gas and electric types. Gas blowers are popular as they are often used as compact throwers. Although this may be the case, there are some advantages to owning electric snow blowers. This article lists of the advantages of electric operated blowers. Hopefully, this article will help consumers who are still deciding on what type of snow throwers to purchase.

Portable

Electric snow throwers are more compact and easier to operate. They usually weight up to 25 lbs and are used to throw snows at the depth of one (1) to eight (8) inches. It takes it weight from the fact that they do not have elaborate engine where you store up the fuel unlike gas throwers. Unfortunately, their power is less than gas snow blowers and thus they only work well for loose snow and not the compacted or wet ones. Since they are compact and portable, they can be stored in very small spaces. You can even hang them on the walls if there isn't any room for your storage area anymore.

Cost

The best thing about electric snow blowers is that they are cheaper than gas operated throwers. This is due to the fact that their circuitry is very simple unlike the gas blowers that run on different types of engine. Aside from the cost, they are also environmentally friendly as they do not produce noxious by-products while the fuel is being burnt. Aside from this, they are also quieter than gas snow throwers.

Maintenance

Since this type of blowers do not run on any type of fuel, they require zero maintenance unlike the gas operated one that need to be cleaned every year.

Commercial Lawn Mower For Private Use

It is common for homeowners to purchase a commercial lawn mower when they have a lot of property to cover. This type of lawn mower does not have to specifically be for commercial use. Having a large property, complicated landscape, or lots of hills are several good reasons to use a commercial grade mower.

There are a few different types to choose from. The most common is a riding lawn mower, but there are some walk behind and stand on mowers as well. Some people prefer the zero turn lawn mower because it can get in between trees and bushes much easier. But, all in all, the power of a commercial lawn mower makes it ideal for most homeowners with large plots.

Since they can be very expensive, it's advisable to search around for used riding mowers that are for sale. Sometimes you can buy used ones at a local shop. You can also check the newspaper listings and see if anyone in your area is selling one.

Before making a decision on which mower is right for you, you should do lots of research and read as many customer reviews as you can find. It's best to rely on information from consumers who have used the product than to buy in to all the sales pitches you'll get on any given product.

Reading reviews will also help you to think of issues that you may not have considered. For example, someone may be excited about how well their Snapper or John Deere mower handles hills, or how easy the parts are to attach. This could trigger you to think about how many hills your yard has and if hills are an issue for you. Reading reviews on attachments will also help you to think about situations you might need different attachments. If you think you will need them, you'll want to look into models that have affordable attachments that are easy to use.

10 Tips to Overcome Writer's Block

It happens to all of us. You stare at your keyboard and read the same sentence ten times, trying to fine tune so it strings together fluidly and matches the elaborate scene in your head. In the end, you have tortured the English language, and end up with a blank screen. Here are a few suggestions to get your neurons firing again:

1. Step away from the computer and go get something to eat. You would be surprised at how poorly your brain functions without the right nutrients. It's a nice distraction that you can turn into a character development exercise by imagining what some of your characters might choose to eat.

2. Do some housework. Mindless tasks are extremely therapeutic. Shuffle some laundry around and pick up items that are out of place. Sometimes a disheveled environment sneaks its way into your mind and tangles your thoughts. If your house is clean, then choose a closet to unclutter. Organizational tasks become very subliminal for me, and it's worth a shot. You could also go outside. It might sound insane, but my favorite appliance is a leaf blower. I rather enjoy the immediate satisfaction of blowing away the debris making a mess on my front or back porch. You could parallel it to your cluttered mind... it really works for me and I have calloused both hands from using it so much.

3. Play some music. Music can put you in any number of moods, so choose accordingly. You might consider opting for classical, my preference is piano. The pure sound of the keys have a profound effect on my thought process and I don't get caught up in the lyrics, which can sometimes be distracting.

4. Do some writing exercises. Write in different narrative modes and from different character points of view. If you can't articulate the voice of your novel and its concept, then you'll have difficulty hooking an agent that will ultimately believe in your manuscript the same way that you do (assuming publication is the goal). It's not enough to have a good story.

5. Start over from the beginning, and edit. (assuming you are in the thick of it) Editing is probably the easiest thing you can do to find a way back into your story. The more you read what you've written, the easier it is to find the voice of your story and see what is working, and what isn't. If this doesn't work, then you need to shut down your computer and step away from your manuscript for a few days. Sometimes you get so close to your characters that you can no longer tell your story.

6. Just write. Anything. It certainly needn't be on topic either. The first sentence is usually the hardest, and once you are passed this pivotal milestone, 'it' usually flows out of you (good, bad and ugly). Going back to edit your first draft will no doubt have at least one component that you are able to expound upon. In the end, no writing is wasted writing.

7. Fix something. If you live in a house as old as mine, then there is always something to either renovate or repair. So do it. Taking your mind through a practical troubleshooting exercise can expand into your subconscious mind and allow you to connect dots that you previously could not.

8. Crack open a classic. All writers have been influenced by someone, or some piece of literature. It moved you for a reason, so open that book and remember why.

9. Take your show on the road. With the advent of netbooks and iPads, what's stopping you from a likely needed change of scenery? Inspiration is usually found in the most unsuspecting places, be it a stranger on a subway, or a waitress in a diner. There is a story to be told everywhere you look, finding that story is part of honing your craft. Most of us write, because we have to... we simply don't function otherwise.

10. Engage your peers. Social networking has certainly captivated the 21st century, and for writers, this is absolutely a good thing. There are networks dedicated to uniting kindred souls, and let's face it... this is a lonely profession. Reaching out to others not only gets you writing (who cares if all you are writing about is complaining about having writer's block... you're writing aren't you?) but you may also land a few friendships along the way.

Mulching Lawnmowers At Lawn Care Center

To keep your lawn beautiful all the year round you need the right tools. Right tools range from a spade or shear and reach to lawnmower and sprinkle systems.

Lawn care equipment centers are the best place to search for good advice in what kind of tool you need according to you lawn size and type. All the tools available have a very good relation cost performance ratio and can lend you more than a hand in the lawn care work you are performing.

Mulching Lawnmowers At Lawn Care Center

Mulching lawnmower are friendly with lawns and their owners, maybe you think they too complicated but are very simple to handle.Enjoy using a lawnmower to improve your lawn and save actually lots of time.

Lawn Care Center Equipment:

Consider other equipment like automatic irrigation system:These are very suitable for people with large lawn or shortage of time to keep their lawn frequently watered. Other important advantage is you can save water, so precious to the planet nowadays, and sprinkle efficiently your lawn at the right hours,no one will forget to water you lawn and no waste of water be done. It is a really smart solution for your watering problem.

Irrigation systems must be under constant surveillance and their maintenance needs are high,sprinklers many time are unbalance and waste water being very harmful for your garden or lawn. If you think that a leak or broken piece may blow off a great amount of water, you notice it can not be repair later, it must be repair as soon as possible, lawn care equipment centers sell the part required for replacement and can advice you about the quality of the product.

Leaf Blowers and Vacuums

Leaf blower can double the capacity of snowblowers and sweepers, they can get your lawn get rid of after clean up, fall or spring and let it free of any waste, and they come in a variety of models and powers, but remember the biggest leaf blower are the nosiest and some people won't feel very pleasant around you when the noise, notice that you should determinate the uses of your blower: electric handheld devices are generally small and very easy to handle, suitable for small areas, but dry leaves at large quantity can not manage by this device, larger gas-powered blowers are suitable for a various uses: removing snow, wet leaves and large amount of dry leaves.

Remember that any equipment purchased must have warranty,ask in there are any service provided after the purchase and make sure that is no charge or it is, how much you should pay,equipment generally came out of factory in good condition but a failure may appear, it is you right to know if your money will be refund, the equipment will change for a new one or the repair will included in the warranties, a lawn care equipment center will manage the problem without much difficulty and you will get the answers you look for from the commercial staff.

How to Keep Properly Equipment And Tools

Tools and equipment must be proper cleaned before and after the work, keep them free of rust or dirt, sharp and keep your tools on a dry place they are vital to lawn caring and keep on good fit your landscape edges, and if you don't take the adequate measure they can not perform the required work and ruin the whole work.

Choosing the Right John Deere Lawn Mowers

John Deere is one of the most recognizable brands of lawn mowers and other gardening & farm equipment. Their trademark green and yellow "leaping deer" logo has long been associated with quality and reliability. John Deere lawn mowers continue this grand tradition. Let's look at a few types of mowers that they make, and how to choose the right one for your needs.

There are two main types of mowers that John Deere makes, for home use at least - push mowers and riding mowers. Both types of mower have their advantages and disadvantages, so there is no single best lawn mower for everybody's needs.

The first thing you'll need to determine is how large an area you need to maintain. If you're cutting an acre or more of grass every time you cut the lawn, you might want to consider a riding mower. They will make the job go much quicker, and they're generally heavier duty and will last longer when cutting large areas.

The latest technology in riding mowers is the zero turn mower. John Deere makes several zero turn models, with various sizes of blade and various horsepower ratings. You'll want to ensure you get a model that has enough power to handle any hills or other spots in your yard that will require more power.

Push mowers are also available in zero turn models, but they're still fairly rare. Zero turn push mowers are actually more common in commercial models than homeowner lawnmowers.

If you're dealing with a smaller yard, a push mower is probably the better choice. Riding mowers are actually harder to maneuver in smaller spaces because they can make tighter turns and get into smaller spaces. While the riding mower seems like it would make any job easier, it's not necessarily the case.

John Deere has been around for a long time - since 1827 - so you can be fairly sure that you're going to be able to get service and support for their lawn mowers for years to come. And with the quality and reliability they're known for, you should have a mower that will last you for a long time, so be sure to choose the model that will suit your needs the best.

Stem Cuttings - Many Makes and Models

Simple stem or shoot cuttings are terminals or pieces of stem with the lower pair or pairs of leaves removed. For some types of plants, they may include a heel - a sliver of the main stalk. Mallet cuttings have a section of the parent stem still attached. The heel or mallet is extra insurance for hard-to-root cuttings.

Most simple stem cuttings are cut cleanly just below the node, the swollen joint where leaves or side stems grow from the main stem. But some plants that produce roots up and down the stem may root faster if they are cut just above the joint. When you are in doubt, take one or more cuttings each way.

Types of stem cuttings are also determined by the maturity of the wood and the time of year they are taken.

Softwood cuttings - (slips) are terminals or sections of immature, nonwoody stems, with bottom leaves removed so the joint can be inserted in the' propagating medium. Take crisp, snappy new wood, neither so soft and flabby that it bends without breaking, nor so hard it is really woody.

Summer cuttings - of half-ripened wood are taken just as the stem begins to become woody, and are usually rooted under glass.

Hardwood cuttings - of deciduous vines are taken in fall and winter, when the plant is dormant. They may be tied in bundles, buried in moist sand, and kept cool through the winter while the cut ends callus over. In spring they are set out to root in a protected frame. Sometimes they are placed immediately in rows in a well-built cold frame. For safety's sake, take them with a heel.

Hardwood cuttings of evergreens - are taken after frost, and rooted under glass. They are slow to root, and must be kept moist and humid. Heel and mallet cuttings are surest.

Leaf-bud cuttings - are sections of mature stems with one or two leaves left on, and a budding new leaf at the joint. The piece of stem is buried so that the tip of the bud barely shows. New plants are produced from the bud. Many of these cuttings can be taken from one plant.

Cane cuttings - are leafless sections of thick cane like stems, with one or two joints. Roots will grow from a joint or the end of the cut cane. The new plant comes from a dormant leaf bud at the joint.

Advantages of John Deere Lawn Mowers

The key to lawn care tools is having the right lawn mower. You will find an array of land mowers available in the market. Each of these mowers will offer with various benefits. However, not all mowers are great. While getting a lawn mower it is very much essential to determine the best one for you. Considering the yard size, you can easily purchase the best lawn mower. You can check out the various lawn mover brands available in the market. John Deere is one of the reliable and high quality lawn mowers offering brands.

Origin of the mowers: 1827 was the year that marked the inception of the John Deere Company and its ventures. Be it engine components, tractors or mowers, John Deere had their hand into everything. Forestry and snow removal were the other areas where John Deere specialized. The incorporation of the company took place in 1868 when it became Deere & Company.

John Deere Push Mowers: These are the most basic category of lawn mowers in which the person has to push the mower physically. It is quite economical and the quality surely cuts an edge above the rest. The aluminum deck and the steel deck push mowers are basically the two major categories that are present at John Deere push mowers. These mowers are best suitable to the homeowners.

The riding mowers make excellent mowers for both homeowners as well as the professionals with acreages about 2.5 acres. The LT would depend on the smooth riding mowing, for it to last for a longer period. It is usually recommended for the area up to 3 acres. They expect a superior and a heavier capabilities also a longer life. John Deere has put this unique stamp of standard quality. get a lawn mower today and keep your lawn in great condition.