Thoughtful Savings from CouponClock.com

While it may seem like the prime of gardening season is dying down, there are a number of plants that can grown and flourish in the autumn and winter months. Some even grow better in cooler weather (although most will die in a heavy frost). If you live in an area that has mild winters, autumn and winter gardening can be just as rewarding as gardening in the spring. For gardeners who have colder and harsher winters, the winter months can be an ideal time to plan, create landscaping, prepare beds, and condition soil to get ready for spring gardening. It can also be an excellent time for experimenting with indoor container gardening.

If you are planning on gardening through autumn and winter, one of the first things you will want to do is to check when the average first frost date in your area will be. For plants that are killed by frost, you will want to check your seed packages to see how many days it usually takes for the plants you intend to grow to reach maturity. I usually add about 10 days to this number in case the frost comes a bit early. Count back from the average first frost date the number of days, plus ten to determine the last recommended day to sew seeds for this plant in your garden.

Gardening Coupons at CouponClock

In general, at this time of year you will not want to seed plants that need full sunlight to grow at this time of year. This includes most plants that bear fruit on vine or otherwise, such as cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes, which need heat and sunlight for the fruits to mature. Plants that will thrive in cooler weather will often grow best if planted in late summer, when temperatures are still in the mid-seventies (ºF ) during the day. This will help the seeds germinate successfully. They will continue to grown and thrive through early autumn up until the first frost.

Some of the best plants to sew at the end of summer include root vegetables such as beets, rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, radishes, and carrots. Plants in the cabbage family, such as broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower will also thrive in early autumn, when temperatures are in the sixties to the mid-seventies. There are also a number of greens that will thrive at this time of year, many of which will take less time to reach maturity. Among these are several varieties of lettuce, spinach, collard greens, chard, mustard greens, arugula, and kale. Chives, leeks, endives and severak varieties of onions will also grow well during autumn.

It is even possible to continue growing and harvesting many of these plants beyond the first frost date and through the winter months, provided that you can protect them from sudden changes in temperature by keeping them covered. Several home and gardening centers sell relatively small, portable greenhouses that will enable you to protect plants from frost and cold during the winter. However, these often cost several hundred dollars. If it does not seem worth the price, it is fairly simple to make a durable structure out of PVC pipes, or bamboo, or whatever building materials you have on hand, and cover the structure with a durable, clear plastic to create your own greenhouse. You will want to make sure to weight the bottom of the plastic down with rocks or bricks to prevent the wind from destroying your homemade greenhouse. A greenhouse will keep your plants 10ºF -15 ºF warmer than the air outside.

There are a number of herbs that can grow well in container gardens indoors during the cooler months, provided you have a window that gets enough sunlight where you can place these herbs. Usually a south-facing window will provide the best light during the winter. Oregano, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, chives, and even basil can be grown indoors in containers. Many of them can even be grown in the same container with a higher pH soil, with the exception of sage, which will grow better in acidic soil, and mint, which grows best seperate from other plants. Pinching back the branches and flower buds will help them grow bushier rather than taller. If you suspect the plants are not getting enough sunlight, you can purchase a grow light to help compensate.

Once you’ve made your decision and decided to bring a pet into your family, there are a number of ways you can reduce the costs related to having a pet, from veterinarian bills to food. First and foremost, you will want to consider where your pet will come from. If you are planning on purchasing a pet from a pet shop, carefully research where the pets they sell come from and investigate their ethical standards. The vast majority pet stores sell pets that are bred in puppy mills and other places that put a much higher emphasis on making profits over the health and well-being of the animals they breed. An animal that comes from this sort of background may be more likely to suffer from health problems or behavioral issues. Also consider whether or not you want your money to support this type of organization.

A better option is to look into a local breeder, particularly if you are seeking a purebred dog. It is important, however, to be aware that purebred dogs can suffer from health problems as a result from inbreeding. Any animal can potentially suffer from a genetic disorder, but the likeliness of genetic disorders tends to be much higher in purebred dogs. For example, many purebred dogs suffer from hip displasia, liver disease, autoimmune diseases, and in many cases, temperamental problems that will make certain breeds of dogs difficult to train or socialize. The advantage in getting a pet from a breeder is that these animals are more likely to have been well-cared for and socialized. Continue reading →

Having pets can be an enormously rewarding experience for humans in a number of ways. Pet owners are less likely to be affected by depression and loneliness, and a number of studies have demonstrated that having pets can decrease blood pressure and cholesterol levels and reduce stress. For parents, having family pets can be a way to teach children about responsibility, empathy, and compassion, in addition to being a lot of fun. However, between the cost of food and veterinarian bills, pets can also be a huge financial responsibility.

For those considering getting a pet for the first time, it is important to consider a number of factors before you actually bring a new furry friend home. Animal shelters and pounds across the country are flooded with animals brought in by people who didn’t take the time to fully prepare themselves to be good pet owners, and didn’t examine all of the pros and cons beforehand. The result of this is that a lot of very sweet and loving animals get euthanized because the shelters simply don’t have the resources to provide space and food for all of them.

Continue reading →

With the recent nuclear disaster that recently took place in Japan following there is a great deal of concern relating to the possibility of radioactive contamination. It is still unclear exactly how many people will be affected, and how far-reaching the consequences of the meltdown will be. With all the uncertainty of what these consequences could be and conflicting information, it is prudent to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. It is important to know what to do on a daily basis to protect yourself and your loved ones from the conditions that can be the result of low doses of chronic radiation that can come from contaminated water and food.

A lot of what scientists have learned about exposure to radiation and its impact on health comes from studying populations living in areas contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster that took place in 1986. Some of results of living with exposure to radiation, even low levels, included an increase in chronic health problems such as leukemia, thyroid cancer, cataracts, and nervous system disorders. It is even more important to protect children from contamination, as they will absorb as their exposure to radiation is up to five times higher than that of an adult.

Continue reading →