​Different types of fungus can be found in too many places to name. However, some examples of where they can be located include your landscape, forests, and even you. Scientists were able to estimate that there were approximately 2.2 to 3.8 million species of fungi! Even though that is the case, the majority of those species have not yet been found. 

Fungi are phenomenal organisms. Inhabiting every environment on this earth, Fungi can be microscopic or can be seen with the naked human eye. The structure of fungi usually consists of hyphae which are usually thread-like filaments or roots. A group of hyphae is called a mycelium. They can reproduce sexually or asexually. They can reproduce asexually via spores. Like all organisms, fungi want to survive and reproduce. Fungi astoundingly have existed approximately 35 million years prior to land plants. 

​Fungi have a phenomenal ability to eat a wide viraety of things. They are heterotrophic and saprotrophs. Heterotrophic means that in order for their nutritional and metabolic needs to be fulfilled, all they need is carbon. Saprotrophs are organisms are able to attain all the needed nutrients from non-living organic material. Fungi are able to break down a viraety of different subject matter like dead animals, plants, and even plastic.
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However, there are some fungi that have the ability to be parasitic. When fungi are parasitic they infiltrate and attain nutrients from living organisms. When the fungi is parasitic it has the possibility of causing disease. 

You may be wondering how does or how can it can effect your everyday life? When looking into it, fungi has a lot of economic importance. Yeast is a type of fungi that is used to help raise bread. Mushrooms are also a type of fungi, and some of the mushrooms that exist are used frequently in food dishes. It is also used in drinks such as wine and beer.
Fungi also helps make medicine such as penicillin, mycophenolate, and micafungin. Pest control. It has even helped a greater of understanding of genetics in biochemistry, specifically the restriction enzyme.

​Winter can be described as a season of greetings, joy, and hope. Whenever it comes to dealing with your landscape during this time of year, it can be quite daunting. However, there are ways to achieve a beautiful landscape with effort and a little creativity.

They can add color, liveliness, and accents to your home. Wreathes are versatile because you can choose from so many different types. They can be extremely over the top or simple. There are seasonal wreaths, floral wreaths, Christmas wreaths, and you can even make a wreath yourself. Similarly to fake topiaries, artificial wreathes can be re-used to give that same accent in future years. 

Lights can be wrapped around trees, columns, lamp posts, mailboxes, and bushes. They can be suspended from parts of your home and come in a variety of different colors. You can have hanging lights, simple fairy lights, or colorful Christmas lights. Simple lanterns can also give your porch or landscape a glow and draw attention in. 

Even though most plants may feel the harsh consequences of the colder weather there are some plants that still thrive during the colder months. Some examples include camellias, evergreens, and winter jasmine. 

Faux-plants can be a creative way to liven up your landscape. Since most living plants can be damaged during the harsh cold, fake plants are a perfect idea to add to your home. Additionally, they can be re-used in future winter months, and keep the same appeal. Some topiary types include traditional topiary and trained ivy topiary.

They can be easily made or bought. Like most of the other things that you can add to your home, they are versatile. You could have picket signs depicting snowflakes, pinecones, holiday characters, or sayings. 

While you're adding to your landscape in other ways, why not take another creative liberty like redecorating your mailbox? Some ideas include spray painting the mailbox, adding antlers, adding faux foliage, adding pine cones, adding lights, and adding ribbons. Another idea is to renovate your mailbox to make it look entirely new. 

Birdhouses can add colorful and ornate accents to a drab landscape. Not only that but they can give sustenance and a home for the birds that surround where you live. Bird feeders can be made with strings of fruit, berries, and nuts. That food will bring possible additional wildlife around your home.   

​Winter is right around the corner. With winter comes frost and snow, and that frost and snow can cover your lawn. The cold weather, and its affects can damage your lawn. The good news is that you can fix your lawns problems when it becomes warmer.

​Problems that can occur include diseases, mold, and barren areas. The diseases, that are caused by fungus,  will discolor your lawn and possibly even kill some of your grass. If fungus gets really bad, then it might even eliminate the possibility of plant recovery until you fix it. 

​If you have a day of heavy snow before the landscape freezes, then it could give your landscape the possibility of mold. Mold can cause your yard to develop dead patches of grass, discolor, and leave a matted coat. The color of the matted coat can appear to be white or pink. Another problem that can arise is barren areas. Barren areas usually occur because of damage from snow, frost, cold weather, or damage from snow removal. 

However, there are several ways that you can help your lawn.  You can mow low before the snow, use proper monthly maintenance, and avoid heavy lawn traffic through the year. When ice melts, it can damage your lawn; so it may be a good idea to fertilize before a freeze.
It is important to know that some of these preventions are better to do at certain times. For instance, if you fertilize early In the spring then your landscape may not take the nutrients as well as it should. If you fertilize too early, you may be helping possible winter weeds grow by encouraging shoot growth rather than root growth. 

Additionally, making sure that your soil is not receiving a lot of foot or equipment traffic is important. Whenever a lot of pressure is placed on the lawn, making it compact, the weight can damage and kill the grass. Things that can causing your landscape to be compact is excessive snow, excessive leaves, and foot traffic. 

​Winter is a beautiful season, but it may not be so beautiful for your lawn. In the winter, if it is too cold it is easy for your landscape to become damaged. Because of that it makes fall an important time to prepare your yard for the upcoming season. 

​When cutting your lawn to prepare for the winter season cut it to about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in height.  If your grass is 3 inches or taller then you should cut it down slowly over time. If you cut too much at once then it could stress the grass blades.

Aeration is another thing you can do to help your lawn. You can do this by using a core aerator, manual aerator, and you can even use an aerator attachment for a lawnmower. You should aerate at least four weeks before winter. Also a wonderful time to fertilize your landscape is right after you aerate.

Fertilizing is also important when prepping for the colder months. Keep in mind that the best time to do this is before the grass starts to change color. Fertilizer gives the grass more sustenance which makes it easier for it to survive in the winter, and bounce back in the spring.

Fall is also a good time to overseed your lawn. You should overseed your lawn several weeks ahead of the winter. It will make your lawn more full when spring comes back around. 
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Raking the leaves in your yard will help the grass stay healthy. When leaves pile up they put pressure on the grass below them. That pressure can damage grass blades. The grass also receives less sun when it is covered by leaves. Additionally, be careful of raking your landscape when it is wet. Raking the yard when it is wet will sometimes cause grass to be uprooted. 

Taking the time to prepare your lawn will help it survive the winter, return in the spring, and help it stay as healthy as possible.

​Isn't nature a beautiful thing? Japanese-style gardens can exhibit all different types of environments. They can be simple or extravagant. From dry gardens to ornate gardens with beautiful foliage and water accents, you can find a specific type to fit your aesthetic.

Japanese-styled Gardens can add emphasis on the foliage and landscape that surrounds you. They are often looked upon fondly due to their symbolism and layout. Additionally, the attention to detail draws you in towards the nature. The three main components usually found in Japanese-styled gardens include water, rocks, and of course plants.

Your choice of plants can add to the aesthetic and flow of your garden. Plants often found in Japanese-styled gardens include Japanese maples, Trompenburgs, Rhododendrons, and several other types of beautiful plants.
Evergreens are found throughout the majority of Japanese-styled gardens. Evergreens can make your garden look more full or add to the calm atmosphere. They can also be used to accent dry gardens.

Japanese-styled gardens are very diverse as there are several types that you can choose from. Some types you can choose from including Zen gardens, study gardens, strolling gardens, and tearoom gardens.
Zen gardens are primarily made up of a dry landscape, gravel, rocks, and stone settings.
Strolling gardens are usually seen in larger areas because they are usually placed near a body of water. They are usually less dramatic and ornate than other styled gardens. They usually also have slightly curved bridges.
Tearoom gardens were often used leading up to the tearoom as the name suggests. They usually contain more than one gate or grated designed aspect in the garden. Additionally, stepping stones covered waiting areas, and water basins were often found in the area as well.

Gardens can be used for relaxing, reflection, and many other activities. Let others have their breath taken away and their minds calmed by the beauty of your garden!

​Do you ever wish that you could travel to somewhere like the coast of France, Italy, or Greece? Simple things like bright greens, earth tones, the sound of flowing water, rustic wood, and organized tiles can transport you to a Mediterranean style environment. 

​There is such a large range of different plants you can choose to help create a Mediterranean landscape. Plants that can help you add more texture to your landscape include plants like the anchor plant, canary island foxglove, lizard plant, and cunco rujo.  Plants that can help give you garden a pop of color include plants like bugle lily, kangaroo apple, and the rock purslane.  Mediterranean landscapes can be enhanced by adding wonderful trees such as lemon or olive trees. Additionally, clipped hedges will not only make your landscape look nicer, but it will also add to the aesthetic if done correctly.

Plants found in the Mediterranean mostly consist of plants that can survive long period without water such as succulents, coronillas, or bupleurums. There are some Mediterranean plants that you might have to water more often such as camellias or hydrangeas. It is important to keep in mind that you might want to choose plants that are more suited to your enviorment if you are taking care of them yourself. For instance, if you live in a very dry climate and you are not able to water your plants often, then purchasing plants that are more suited to the hot climate which do not need consistent watering may be a better choice for  your lawn.

Designs found in the Mediterranean usually have a warm and neutral color scheme. Mediterranean landscapes generally consist of features such as statues and columns. Other things that can be included can be rustic features, wood features, fountains, tiles, stones, rocks, and gravel.

Rustic and wood features can be added through furniture. Tile work is often found in Mediterranean style landscapes and can be found on the ground, in fountains, or on stairs. Stones, rocks, and gravel can be added around the landscape beds to contrast with the foliage. You can also add stepping stones in your lawn as well. Statues and fountains can also add a more ornate feature to the landscape that you might have not had before.

​You can find gravel, stones, tiles, and rocks at home improvement department stores. Putting in a fountain or statue might require you to do some research in order to find a style your prefer and a place which sells them. You can find rustic and wooden furniture can be found at department stores, online, and of course local furniture stores. 


Make a Mediterranean style garden of your dreams and bring the vacation to you. 

Deciding on what type of lawn mower to get can sometimes be daunting. With all the choices, one would wonder which one they should choose. Walking or riding? Gas or electric? There are different advantages to each type of mower. However, at the end of the day, it is all about personal choice. That is why in this article, we are going to be explaining wonderful and different types of mowers.

One of the many differences between lawn mowers are the different blades attached to them. Another thing that gives you more variety are the options in how you want to use a mower. Walking and riding mowers are both viable options for your landscape. 

​Additionally, you are given even more options when you decide on what mower you want to use when it comes to the type of fuel it takes. There are electric, push, cordless, and petrol lawn mowers. Electric lawn mowers are usually used for more average sized gardens. They usually run off of cables. Push mowers are powered by movement. Using a push mower might not be the best for you if it is hard for you to move around. Cordless lawnmowers are similar to electric. The difference is that cordless lawnmowers are powered by battery. Petrol lawn mowers run off of gas and are commonly used for larger lawns. They usually cut grass faster but need the oil checked. Additionally, there are also robot lawn mowers which are similar to robot vacuums. 

Mowers also have different types of wheels that can effect the way it operates. Lawnmowers that have front-wheel make it easy to move around corners. Lawnmowers with rear-wheel drive work great if you need some sort of traction. Traction is usually needed when going up or the side of a hill. 

Are you still confused about what you should choose?

Well, maybe looking at all the different features a lawn mower has can help steer you in the right direction. Some lawnmowers offer a grass box feature. Usually mowers will leave the cut grass on the lawn. However, a grass box collects those dead clippings.

There are also self propelled lawn mowers. They push themselves while you just have to guide them on where to go. Certain lawnmowers also have a mulch feature that helps you take care of your lawn. It takes the grass, granulates it, and then deposits it back into the yard.

Ever wonder how some people get a stripped lawn? This is beacause they have a rear roller attached. The rear roller gives you the ability to cut very close to the end of the lawn. Speaking of cutting close, some mowers offer you the chance to change the cutting heights. With that you can leave the lawn longer during colder weather or periods without a lot of rain.

On another hand, there could be some things that you don't want for a lawn mower. For example, petrol mowers cause emissions. Other movers may be hard to start up. Cordless lawnmowers need time to recharge, and usually have a narrow cutting width.

As you can see, there are a variety of  lawn mowers available on the market.  They can come at different prices, different sizes, and with many different features. It is just up to you to choose which one will get the job done! 

Ever wonder why your yard is always muddy? Stepping in a yard that causes muddy shoes and wet socks is never fun. Muddy and messy yards can be caused by multiple things like improper grading, water-retaining soil, and multiple other problems. Another problem that can cause your lawn to retain more water than necessary is a clogged landscape drain.

Landscape drains go by many different names such as catch basins, area drain, or drainage basins. Landscape drains are helpful in areas that retain a lot of water. Landscape drains are the similar to floor drains such as shower drains. They usually look like a metal grate and they are usually located at low points in your landscape. The purpose of a drainage basin is to collect water. Landscape drains can take the water away from your lawn and make your yard less moist.

To clean out a landscape drain you must first retrieve all the tools that would be needed to complete the job. Tools you will need include things such as a screwdriver, a pair of gloves, a shop vacuum, and a garden hose. After that, you should make sure that there is no debris blocking the top of the drain. For the next step, you can remove as much debris with gloves as possible. If you cannot reach the rest of the debris, you can use a shop vacuum to suck out the rest of the debris. After you have cleaned out all that you can, you can wash the rest of the twigs, dirt, and build up out with a hose. Finally once you are done cleaning it, you can put it back on the cover, and you are done.

​Make sure that you regularly clean out your gutters. Keeping your gutters clean will prevent extra leaves, branches, and dirt from clogging your drainage grates or drainage system. Additionally, you should remove any large plants or rocks surrounding the drain so that water may enter.

​Tropical plants are very beautiful to look at. After all they are usually vibrant, extravagant, feathery, glossy, or textured. It makes sense that these plants would bring some life to one's landscape. Louisiana is a very hot with a considerable amount of rain fall. However, that makes an excellent environment for tropical plants. 

All plants of course need water, light, and soil to grow successfully. Additional things such as fertilizer and pest control can also improve your plants health. Tropical plants tend to flourish more when they are constantly moist rather than being overly wet. Overwatering your yard could possibly damage the plant. It is also important to try to give your plant enough sun and water if you do not live in a warm and wet climate like Louisiana. 

There are one of two things that usually happen to tropical plants during the winter. Tropical plants will either wither and die to the weather conditions, or they will be able to sustain the cold temperatures and live to bloom another season. However, there are several precautions you can take to help prevent certain tropical plants from succumbing to the cold temperatures in the winter. 

​Assuming you are able to take some of your tropical plants inside and give them proper conditions, it might be one of the best options to help them survive in the winter. Another thing you can do is cut the foliage down because the leaves will eventually fall by themselves due to the cold weather. Another thing you can do is wash the plants. Washing the plants is important if you want to move them inside, because it will help remove any unwanted dirt and possible pests. Speaking of pests, make sure you rid your plant of bugs before you bring it inside.
In contrast, some tropical plants that are more likely to survive the winter. Hardy ferns and clumping bamboo can be found in colder climates, and plants like these are usually the ones to survive harsher climates. 

​Sod is grass that is held together by roots and a little bit of soil. This easily transportable grass can be rolled out like a carpet when it's time for installation. Sod is a wonderful invention, because it can be placed in areas where it is hard for grass to grow. Sod can also come in the form of artificial turf which is fake sod that is made to look like real grass. 

​There are several different varieties of grass. It is important to choose a grass that is best suitable for your climate. There are grasses that are best suitable for warmer weather and others that are more suitable for cooler weather. There is also transitional grass for areas of both large amounts of heat or cold. Another factor to consider when choosing the correct grass is the amount of shade your grass will be getting. 

Sadly, you cannot place sod on top of existing grass and expect it to work out perfectly. In order to lay sod properly, there is several steps you should take.

First, you should first measure the area and make sure that the soil is in good condition. The soil should be stripped of any remaining weeds or grass that is in the way. You should also make sure that your lawn is properly graded and leveled making sure to balance the soil's pH levels with sulfur or lime as needed. Additionally, layering organic material on the top of the soil can help balance the amount of water that the soil holds. After the soil has been layered, it is ready for the soil to be tilled.

Try to lay the sod in a straight line. Try using the side walk, driveway, or another straight landscape surface to help guide the placement of the sod. As you lay down sod, make sure to water it occasionally so that it does not dry out. When you reach the end of the lawn, you can cut off any overhanging or additional the sod with knife.

After the sod is laid, check to make sure that air has not been trapped underneath. A surplus of air might cause complication or cause your lawn grow improperly. Be careful not to place too much pressure on the sod when trying to remove excess air as this could result in the sod being damaged.  After you have successfully laid the sod and adjusted placement for air trapped underneath, you are now ready to start watering your grass.

For the first the first few weeks, you should water your sod regularly. Maintaining a good amount of moisture in the grass is important to ensure that your lawn grows properly. It is also important not to over watering your lawn. 
After watering your new sod for the first few weeks, then you can go back to watering it on a regular like you would a normal lawn. Make sure that the amount of water is proportionate depending on the weather and other circumstances.