(ARA) - Starry evenings and backyard entertainment go hand-in-hand. When the sun goes down, the right landscape lighting can turn any backyard into a stylish outdoor living space. With so many options, it's easy to fill your nights with light to enhance security, decor and entertainment.

"Lighting your landscape is like working with a canvas with you as the artist," says Jon Carloftis, garden and landscape designer. "Consumers are demanding outdoor lighting solutions that offer great design and conserve energy and money. It's important to choose lighting with an eye toward your home's architectural features and practicality."

Carloftis offers these simple tips to light up your nights:

* Keep your lighting simple. Start with one main lighting source and add accent lighting to highlight garden features. Don't over-light. It wastes energy, is costly and unappealing.

* For illuminating your entryway, deck and patio, use lighting that mimics moonlight, like new solar-powered lighting systems.

* Stagger path lights. Be creative.

* Skip the complicated wiring and costly electric bills by using new solar lights.

* With energy costs rising, people are looking for ways to cut costs. Decorative lights illuminate specific areas but draw on energy, have wires that need to be hidden and need replacement bulbs. Twenty-first-century solutions - like solar energy - harness the power of the sun to illuminate the night.

"Now everyone can get in on the solar revolution," says Marc Jensen, marketing director for Byron Originals, Inc., makers of the new SunLight 180 System. The latest high tech solar-powered outdoor lighting appliances come in styling that's durable and low-maintenance. They harness the sun's power by day, and when provided with enough light energy from the sun, last throughout the night.

"SunLight 180 delivers warm white light equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb, packaged in a sleek design," says Jensen. "Plus consumers can save on costly energy bills with the low-voltage, high-efficiency LED fixture that requires no electrician or special wiring." For more information, visit www.Sunlight180.com.

So whether you want hours of lighting for your entryways or for evening outdoor entertainment, look to the sun to light up your nights.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Somewhere between 5,000 and 3,000 years ago, a fellow hoping to impress his lady love was the first to give a rose as a symbol of love. We can only imagine her response, but it was likely enthusiastic enough to make him think "Hey! Maybe I should cultivate these flowers."

Flash forward to today, and roses remain the enduring emblem of love and romance. Fortunately, however, modern breeding has made it easier than ever to add roses to your garden and landscaping.

Traditional cultivated roses have always required a lot of work - pruning, deadheading, protecting them from disease and drought, and nurturing them in just the right environment to grow. Through careful breeding, easy-to-grow roses were designed to minimize maintenance and effort, and maximize beauty, hardiness and disease resistance.

In fact, the variety that revolutionized the concept of easy-to-grow roses, The Knock Out Rose, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

"I was hooked on roses by one plant in my parents' backyard," says rose hobbyist Bill Radler, developer of The Knock Out Rose. "Through the years, I figured growing roses should be fun with less work, so I looked for ways to eliminate maintenance demands and bred them out."

Radler's brainchild debuted in 2000 and was almost literally an overnight success, earning the year's prestigious All-American Rose Selections Award. Rose hobbyists, designers, landscapers and virtually anyone who loved the look of roses, but not the work, embraced the easy-to-grow concept.

In honor of Knock Out's 10th anniversary, landscape designer Susan Cohan, Association of Professional Landscape Designers, offers 10 easy ways to use roses in the landscape:

1. Add a spot of color to the landscape. Could your yard benefit from some pizzazz of color to create interest? Try groups of roses in a perennial planting, around the foundation or elsewhere to add color and texture. The constant blooms of bright showy colors work as a specimen plant or in groups of three to five plants for a big show of color.

2. Use as a problem solver. Have an unsightly spot to cover such as a garbage can, utility shed or pool pump? Cohan loves to plant a few shrub roses to hide these problems because she know in a matter of months the spot will be transformed into a mass of perky flowers creating a gorgeous focal point.

3. Create a "friendly" fence. Do you have a place in your yard where everyone cuts across, where you don't want them going, or where you need to just keep them out? Colorful rose fences are lovely to look at while simultaneously deterring unwanted pedestrian and animal traffic.

4. Set the mood. Cohan recommends using color to create moods in the garden. For example, red and yellow, and pink and dark blue color combinations have a dramatic effect, while a variety of pink shades such as Pink Knock Out with pink geraniums and pink artemesia can create a soothing mood.

5. Provide a natural habitat. Gardening for nature is all the rage. Use landscape shrub roses to start creating a wildlife habitat garden. Roses provide friendly food and shelter for all wildlife. Thorns keep out predators and rose hips keep animals and birds fed during the harsh winter months.

6. Pot it up for patio or deck. Tired of replanting that container every spring? Pot them up instead with shrub roses and then under plant with vinca vines and ivy. This provides color and subtle fragrance without the work of planting in the garden.

7. Break the rules. Replace annuals with landscape shrub roses. Why plant geraniums or impatiens year after year? For all season, every year, a mass planting of shrub roses is a great alternative. Pick a color that will help showcase your perennials.

8. Paint a colorful backdrop. Too much green in your yard and not enough color? Shrub roses are also the perfect way to create a pleasant border or background in the landscape. Cohan likes to places bright red roses against a stone wall for maximum impact.

9. Pair roses with the right companions. Free your roses from the segregated rose beds and plant them with other shrubs, perennials and even annuals. Here are some great companions: Blue companion plants like lobelia, cornflowers, blue flax, bellflowers, veronica, ageratum and violet companion plants such as heliotrope are good with yellow, pink, and white roses.

10. Use as a tree on patio or deck. When is a rose bush not a rose bush? When it's grown as a small tree. Known as rose standards, these mini-rose trees make a colorful accent in the corner of a deck or patio.

Not all roses grow well in the same environment. All seven Knock Out Roses, however, are heat tolerant throughout the U.S., and will need winter protection in only the coldest regions. They are available at your local garden center, and you can learn more about adding easy-to-grow roses to your garden at www.theknockoutrose.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Starry evenings and backyard entertainment go hand-in-hand. When the sun goes down, the right landscape lighting can turn any backyard into a stylish outdoor living space. With so many options, it's easy to fill your nights with light to enhance security, decor and entertainment.

"Lighting your landscape is like working with a canvas with you as the artist," says Jon Carloftis, garden and landscape designer. "Consumers are demanding outdoor lighting solutions that offer great design and conserve energy and money. It's important to choose lighting with an eye toward your home's architectural features and practicality."

Carloftis offers these simple tips to light up your nights:

* Keep your lighting simple. Start with one main lighting source and add accent lighting to highlight garden features. Don't over-light. It wastes energy, is costly and unappealing.

* For illuminating your entryway, deck and patio, use lighting that mimics moonlight, like new solar-powered lighting systems.

* Stagger path lights. Be creative.

* Skip the complicated wiring and costly electric bills by using new solar lights.

* With energy costs rising, people are looking for ways to cut costs. Decorative lights illuminate specific areas but draw on energy, have wires that need to be hidden and need replacement bulbs. Twenty-first-century solutions - like solar energy - harness the power of the sun to illuminate the night.

"Now everyone can get in on the solar revolution," says Marc Jensen, marketing director for Byron Originals, Inc., makers of the new SunLight 180 System. The latest high tech solar-powered outdoor lighting appliances come in styling that's durable and low-maintenance. They harness the sun's power by day, and when provided with enough light energy from the sun, last throughout the night.

"SunLight 180 delivers warm white light equivalent to a 40-watt incandescent bulb, packaged in a sleek design," says Jensen. "Plus consumers can save on costly energy bills with the low-voltage, high-efficiency LED fixture that requires no electrician or special wiring." For more information, visit www.Sunlight180.com.

So whether you want hours of lighting for your entryways or for evening outdoor entertainment, look to the sun to light up your nights.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - The trend for gardening at home continues to grow - and people are taking a particular interest in raising their flowers and vegetables organically. With such prominent figures as Michelle Obama taking public initiatives in organic gardening, more and more products that cater to the trend are appearing.

Unfortunately, the increased interest in organic gardening has led to some confusion - and some deception - about what it means for a product to be "organic." The labeling of products has become a minefield for consumers who are interested in eco-friendly agriculture. It can be difficult to know exactly what is meant by products labeled "natural," "plant-based" or "organic."

Official organic labeling comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their seal comes in a few forms, denoting whether a product is "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic" ingredients. Unfortunately, anecdotal evidence suggests this multi-tiered labeling system is also contributing to consumer confusion.

For example, for a product to be labeled 100 percent organic, everything in it must be certified organic. If it says just "organic," that means that it must contain 95 percent certified organic ingredients. If a product contains 70 percent organic ingredients, it can be labeled as being "made with organic [ingredients]." Any product with less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot carry the USDA seal.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a product labeled "natural" is not organic. While there might be some naturally occurring ingredients in the product, it doesn't mean that it's safe or earth-friendly - not to mention organic.

Perhaps in an effort to simplify the consumer's "organic" label options, the USDA also directs consumers to other organizations that can help them determine whether or not the products they're buying are 100 percent organic. One of those, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a non-profit, independent organization that gives reviews of products and how they stand up to the National Organic Standards from the USDA.

For concerned consumers, they provide a comprehensive list (available online) of products that pass the test. "OMRI's list is an invaluable tool for gardeners who want to keep their plots organic," says Claude Boisvert, president of Tree World Plant Care Products. "It makes it easier than ever to find gardening supplements that are not harmful to the environment."

If your main concern in planting an organic garden is providing your family with safe-to-eat, healthy food right from your own back yard, you'll want to take the trouble to make sure you're using truly organic gardening products. At the same time, you want your garden to look great and produce well.

One of the biggest challenges to organic gardening is keeping pests away in a way that is humane and safe. For smaller pests, it is increasingly easy to find organic insecticidal soaps that are safe unlike some traditional pesticides. Larger garden plant browsers can really wreak havoc unless you use a rabbit or deer repellent. An OMRI listed solution, developed in eco-conscious Sweden and now made in the United States, is Plantskydd. Its effectiveness and environmental soundness as an organic repellent have made it popular for farming and among gardeners, professional landscapers, nurseries, foresters and state conservation agencies.

It's important to remember that you have the power to influence the products that are available to you. If keeping your organic garden truly organic is important to you, discuss your concerns with local retailers. By asking them to stock products that have been subject to rigorous standards, like those of OMRI, you'll make it easier for everyone in your community to have access to verified organic materials.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Ready to get the lawn in shape, but your mower isn't?

If it's time for a new companion on your lawn maintenance missions, there are a few things to think about before buying. If you choose a new lawn mower wisely, you won't have to worry about hearing a sputter when you pull the cord or turn the key for years to come.

Everyone has a different vision for how their lawn should look and finding a lawn mower is a lot about choosing something that fits the personality of your lawn.

The following are a few things to think about when choosing your most important lawn maintenance tool:

* Walk or ride? If you are physically capable and can mow your yard in less than an hour, it's probably not worth spending the money for a riding mower. Plus mowing your lawn is a good way to get some exercise while getting something accomplished. If your yard is so big that using a walk-behind mower would take all afternoon and most of the evening too, then a riding mower is a good alternative. Also consider storage space for both types of mowers. If you have a big lawn, but don't have the budget or desire to get a riding lawn mower, consider landscaping options like rain gardens or rock gardens that will cut down on the area you'll have to mow.

* Push or coast? When deciding between a self-propelled and push mower, take into account your personal preference, as well as the characteristics of your yard. If you like the feeling of controlling the mower's speed with your own momentum, go with a push mower. If you feel like you need a little extra boost getting up that big hill in your yard, a self-propelled mower will help. Self-propelled mowers will work whether you are using the function or not, but the extra hardware usually makes them heavier than a push mower when you are not using the self-propelled function.

* What to do with clippings? Different mowers out there allow you to do a variety of different things with your lawn clippings. Mulching mowers offer the convenience of processing the clippings and depositing them back on your lawn, which both moisturizes and fertilizes your yard. Other lawn mowers allow you to bag clippings as you mow. If your mower doesn't mulch or collect your clippings, you may have to rake your yard after you are done to collect them.

* Better engine, better mower. Tough starts, stalls, clumping grass, inconsistent cut quality, inability to get through thick grass without bogging down - most likely, at least one of these ailments has prompted your search for a new mower. While it's fun to explore the special options offered by today's mowers, keep in mind an engine is the heart of a lawn mower. As the life force of a mower, the quality and dependability of the engine heavily influences your mower's ability to create a great looking lawn, while making the cutting experience easier for you.

It might be wise to consult your local lawn care expert when selecting a mower, as their staff will be able to give you specifics on a mower's engine quality to help identify a model with the proven reliability and exceptional durability to keep your lawn lush and green for years.. Along with a durable lawn mower engine, you may also want to consider one that runs cleaner and greener. For example, each engine produced by Kohler Engines meets both EPA and the more strict California exhaust emissions standards.

* Scheduled maintenance is key, especially changing the oil, spark plug and air filter. Again, if you're buying a new mower, you don't want to have to make another purchase any time soon. Buying a mower from a retailer that offers continued maintenance could help achieve that end. Also, take a look at resources offered by manufacturers of your mower's parts. Kohler Engines offers extensive lawn mower engine maintenance tips as well as a series of small engine maintenance videos on its website. Additionally, all of their user manuals can be accessed online to ensure by-the-book maintenance.

Keep these tips in mind when selecting your mower and you'll spend years to come enjoying your yard rather than fretting about fixing or replacing your mower. For more information on lawn mower engines, visit www.kohlerengines.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - The trend for gardening at home continues to grow - and people are taking a particular interest in raising their flowers and vegetables organically. With such prominent figures as Michelle Obama taking public initiatives in organic gardening, more and more products that cater to the trend are appearing.

Unfortunately, the increased interest in organic gardening has led to some confusion - and some deception - about what it means for a product to be "organic." The labeling of products has become a minefield for consumers who are interested in eco-friendly agriculture. It can be difficult to know exactly what is meant by products labeled "natural," "plant-based" or "organic."

Official organic labeling comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Their seal comes in a few forms, denoting whether a product is "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic" ingredients. Unfortunately, anecdotal evidence suggests this multi-tiered labeling system is also contributing to consumer confusion.

For example, for a product to be labeled 100 percent organic, everything in it must be certified organic. If it says just "organic," that means that it must contain 95 percent certified organic ingredients. If a product contains 70 percent organic ingredients, it can be labeled as being "made with organic [ingredients]." Any product with less than 70 percent organic ingredients cannot carry the USDA seal.

Another thing to keep in mind is that a product labeled "natural" is not organic. While there might be some naturally occurring ingredients in the product, it doesn't mean that it's safe or earth-friendly - not to mention organic.

Perhaps in an effort to simplify the consumer's "organic" label options, the USDA also directs consumers to other organizations that can help them determine whether or not the products they're buying are 100 percent organic. One of those, the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is a non-profit, independent organization that gives reviews of products and how they stand up to the National Organic Standards from the USDA.

For concerned consumers, they provide a comprehensive list (available online) of products that pass the test. "OMRI's list is an invaluable tool for gardeners who want to keep their plots organic," says Claude Boisvert, president of Tree World Plant Care Products. "It makes it easier than ever to find gardening supplements that are not harmful to the environment."

If your main concern in planting an organic garden is providing your family with safe-to-eat, healthy food right from your own back yard, you'll want to take the trouble to make sure you're using truly organic gardening products. At the same time, you want your garden to look great and produce well.

One of the biggest challenges to organic gardening is keeping pests away in a way that is humane and safe. For smaller pests, it is increasingly easy to find organic insecticidal soaps that are safe unlike some traditional pesticides. Larger garden plant browsers can really wreak havoc unless you use a rabbit or deer repellent. An OMRI listed solution, developed in eco-conscious Sweden and now made in the United States, is Plantskydd. Its effectiveness and environmental soundness as an organic repellent have made it popular for farming and among gardeners, professional landscapers, nurseries, foresters and state conservation agencies.

It's important to remember that you have the power to influence the products that are available to you. If keeping your organic garden truly organic is important to you, discuss your concerns with local retailers. By asking them to stock products that have been subject to rigorous standards, like those of OMRI, you'll make it easier for everyone in your community to have access to verified organic materials.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Tractor rollovers are all too common among both professional operators and rural lifestyle families alike. In fact, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that overturned tractors are the leading cause of occupational agricultural deaths in the United States.

So what can you do to help keep yourself and your family safe? Follow good safety practices and make sure that your tractor is equipped with a Rollover Protection Structure (ROPS) and a seatbelt. As the weather gets warmer, people often head outdoors to finish last year's project or to start a new one. But before firing up the tractor, operators should ensure that it is equipped with a ROPS and seatbelt.

"A ROPS and seatbelt saved my life. I was coming up the highway on my Kubota tractor with a large round bale on the back. One car approached from the front and another from the back, so I moved to the side to avoid the possibility of an accident. The shoulder gave way, and the tractor rolled over," says Jeffrey L. Tucker of Raindance Farms in South Range, Wis. "I always keep the ROPS up and I wore my seatbelt. As the tractor began to roll, the seatbelt locked me in place and made sure I was situated under the roll bar. I'm here today because of that."

All tractor operators should take Tucker's real-life story to heart each time they climb on to drive any moving equipment. Fastened seatbelts and rollover protection structures are a critical combination for safe operation that can save your life.

Should a rollover occur, the combination of a ROPS and a fastened seatbelt are intended to keep the operator within a protective safety zone. In addition, a ROPS also absorbs energy if there is a turnover, helping to limit subsequent rolling. All operators should ensure that their tractors are equipped with this combination of safety features - and fasten their seatbelt each and every time they drive the machine.

Most tractor manufacturers include a ROPS and a seatbelt on new tractors; however, many older tractors did not come with standard ROPS and seatbelt. Tractor owners who have an older tractor model are encouraged to visit their local authorized tractor dealer to get a ROPS retrofit - many dealers or manufacturers run promotions to retrofit older tractors to meet today's safety standards. The NIOSH estimates that fatality rates due to tractor overturns could be reduced by 71 percent if all tractors in the U.S. were equipped with ROPS.

"Safety is a high priority, and we recommend that all tractors are equipped with a ROPS and seatbelt," says Greg Embury, vice president of sales and marketing, Kubota Tractor Corporation. "This combination can help to prevent major injury and could save a life."

Kubota is reinforcing important recommendations and safety rules to help keep tractor operators safe with the following tips:

* If removing a ROPS to store a tractor, always have the structure re-installed before operating.

* A ROPS and fastened seatbelt should always be used together. If doing specialized work, check with your dealer to be sure that the ROPS matches the job functions.

* Never use a homemade ROPS. All ROPS should be manufactured and engineered to performance-match the tractor.

* Don't try to install a ROPS by yourself - always have your ROPS installed at a certified tractor dealership to ensure proper and secure application. An incorrectly installed ROPS could be a hazard.

* An authorized manufacturer's dealer is the best place to find experienced technicians ready to help provide additional safety information and details about a ROPS retrofit for older models.

"When we work together to reinforce safe equipment operating practices, we not only protect ourselves, but also the ones we love in the process," says Embury.

Visit www.kubota.com for additional safety information including the "Ten Commandments of Tractor Safety," a tractor safety coloring book and an informational safety video, "It's a Family Affair."

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - To really impress your guests this summer, give your outdoor soirees a little extra elegance that goes beyond the usual grill-out. The good news is that it's easier than you'd imagine to create an ambiance that is welcoming and sophisticated.

One of the keys to throwing an upscale backyard get together is to plan in advance. Once you have an idea of what you'd like to do, it's time to start letting people know. And we all know how busy summer schedules are, so informing your guests as much as a few weeks ahead of time is a courtesy they'll appreciate.

Here are some of the elements you'll need to create the perfect atmosphere for outdoor entertaining this summer.

* Decor: Having a jumble of mixed and matched chairs can be either charming or a visual distraction. If you have an assortment of old wooden chairs, it gives things a rustic feel; if it's decades-old folding chairs in clashing colors and styles, it looks mismatched. Aim for a consistent look, whether it's shabby chic or modern. If your tables and surfaces don't tie in perfectly, there's an easy fix: simply cover them with a tablecloth that has the same feel as the rest of your decor. Add planters of flowers in colors that coordinate with your theme.

* Comfort: Swatting at insects during a party is almost impossible if you're holding a beverage and a plate of hors d'oeuvres and uncomfortable even if your hands are free. Warm summer evenings often mean bare legs and arms, and the last thing you want your guests to remember is how many bug bites they got. To add beautiful, soft lighting while discouraging bugs, opt for mosquito blocking candles. Place them on tables or around your patio. The Conceal line from Yankee Candle will not only block mosquitoes, it also has a pleasant, garden-fresh scent that will add to your party's ambiance.

* Menu: Food does not need to be elaborate to be both beautiful and delicious. Take a cue from the rustic food traditions of Italy, France and Spain, where simple foods like garden vegetables, artisan breads and grilled meats make a major impact with surprisingly easy preparation. Keep the focus on vegetables and fruits, with one or two meat, poultry or fish options, to create a beautiful, healthy arrangement of dishes.

* Music: Depending on the mood you want to establish, you can choose from an endless supply of music available for download. Try salsa music for liveliness, flamenco guitar for dramatic artistry, Malian kora music for serenity or updated bossa nova for an unmistakably summery, beachy feel.

Outdoor entertaining is one of the best things about summer, whether you're a host or a guest. When you're hosting, the main goal is to create a relaxing, lovely environment during which your guests can forget their every care, whether it's the stress of work or the usual summer annoyances of mosquito bites. For more information about the Conceal line of outdoor mosquito candles from Yankee Candle, go to www.yankeecandle.com. When you provide your guests with a perfect escape for one evening, you've mastered outdoor entertaining.

Courtesy of ARAcontent