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(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) - With its mild temperatures, fall is a great time for outdoor home improvement projects, but it's also supposed to be a time to relax and have fun with family and friends. That makes quick-to-do projects that add to the "family fun factor" appealing to homeowners, who also need to spend their limited home improvement dollars wisely.

"If you are looking for an easy project that will make an immediate difference in your quality of life, add outdoor lights to your deck or patio. Lighting turns your outdoor space into an entertaining place and a favorite new spot for hanging out at night," says Chelsea Gardner, an outdoor living expert from Dallas.

When looking for outdoor lighting products, don't limit yourself to the local home improvement stores. Many manufacturers sell direct to the consumer, and online retailers may offer wider selections. Best of all, buying online means home delivery, saving you a trip to the store and time on your project from the very start.

Jay Savignac of Aurora Deck Lighting in Whitewater, Wis., says outdoor deck lighting offers immediate pay-back in terms of style, comfort and safety. His company is a leading manufacturer of top quality deck, fence and landscape light products that are designed as much for ease of installation as they are for energy efficiency and style.

"Our primary customer has traditionally been the remodeling contractor, deck or fence builder, and the easier a product is to install, the more builders like it. Over the last several years as the home improvement craze has grown, we've seen a large increase in the number of do-it-yourself homeowners who buy direct from us. This has focused us even more on designing products that homeowners can get creative with and easily install," Savignac says.

For the 2010 season, Aurora introduced two new outdoor lighting kits: the Phoenix Recessed Lighting Kit and the Odyssey LED Strip Lights Kit. Both kits come complete with enough lights to create a custom outdoor lighting installation on a standard size deck or porch. The tiny Phoenix Recessed LED Lights come fully wired, 10 to a kit. The kit also contains the transformer/power source, easy to use connectors,100 feet of twisted wire and a convenient remote control.

"Homeowners buy the recessed lights primarily to add safety to the stairs on their deck or porch. They also look great along the edge of a deck, and they are small enough to tuck under a rail. They are easy to install and offer unlimited options for creativity," Savignac says.

The Odyssey LED Strip Lights come in narrow strips of tiny yet bright LED lights in four sizes. Each kit comes with four strips in the designated size, transformer, connectors, wire and remote control. Odyssey lights focus a curtain of LED light downward for dramatic lighting that adds both safety and sophisticated style.

Both kits can be viewed online at www.auroradecklighting.com. Kits can be ordered from an online retailer like www.deckdepot.com.

Nantucket Post Cap Company has also released a new lighting product for the season that offers the perfect lighting solution for homeowners who have a cedar or redwood deck or fence, with installation that couldn't be any easier.

The Nantucket Bar Harbor Solar Light is the first all-wood solar LED post cap light.

As for ease of installation: the only thing needed to install a solar post cap is wood glue or sealant and a screwdriver. The post cap lights are available in a range of sizes, with a light available to fit any size fence or deck post. The Bar Harbor Solar Lights are built with the same craftsmanship as the company's beautiful redwood arbors, gates and trellises. You can order the products direct from the company online at www.nantucketpostcap.com.

Gardner says another benefit to adding landscape lighting, apart from the ease of installation and the ability to enjoy outdoor spaces at night, is the value and style it adds to decks, fences, porches and landscapes.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - It's summer time again and the living is easy - at least it's supposed to be. But when mosquitos invade your yard, it's tough to enjoy fun in the sun.

Lasting summer memories often begin with a pleasant environment in your own backyard. But the first step is keeping the mosquitoes at bay. TV home and garden expert Shirley Bovshow, in partnership with OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent, wants to help make your backyard an ideal place to relax or entertain guests by creating your own personal outdoor oasis this summer.

Bovshow suggests these tips to help you make the most of your outdoor time and space this summer:

Define your space: Use potted plants to identify space and create intimate areas in your patio or yard. Certain plants are perfect for screening an unappealing view, dividing large spaces into smaller ones and directing foot traffic.

Make it private: Hang inexpensive, colorful or patterned rugs between simple wood posts for a fast and cheerful screen.

Repel unwanted guests: Keep mosquitoes from spoiling your time outdoors. OFF! Clip-On Mosquito Repellent provides head-to-toe protection without spraying anything on your skin and lasts for up to 12 hours. It features a quiet, battery-powered fan that circulates repellent and can clip to a belt, purse or chair. More information about helping to keep away mosquitoes can be found at www.off.com.

Be creative: Create a festive focal point with your pool at night by adding floating candles and glass orbs. If you are not swimming, these festive additions will make your pool look magical at night.

Keep it cozy: Create an impromptu side table with a large flower pot capped with a round paver or flagstone. You can add built-in seating by capping your raised vegetable garden beds with stone, wood or tile at a finished height of 14 to 16 inches and add cushions for entertaining guests.

Light up the night: Solar-powered path lights gather energy during the day and can be used as soft, ambient lighting at night. Gather and stick them into potted plants in your patio near sitting areas. Solar lights are safer than candles and require no electricity.

Add flair in unexpected places: Repurpose wine corks, sea shells and marbles as "mulch" or as a finishing touch to container gardens.

Whether you're creating a backyard oasis to amaze guests or looking to build a beautiful retreat for your own enjoyment, keeping pesky mosquitoes from taking a bite out of your summer time is priceless.

"For me, enjoying time outdoors is an essential element to a relaxing and memorable summer," says Bovshow. "With OFF! Clip-On, I can spend time outside enjoying my favorite activities without pesky interferences from bug bites and without having to spray anything on my skin."

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - As summer winds down, heat and drought may have left your grass a little tired. Soccer, picnics and chasing fireflies have likely taken a toll. Luckily, because of cooler temperatures and an increase in precipitation, fall is the best time for lawn rescue.

To many homeowners, early fall yard work may seem overwhelming, but a few 15 minute projects are all it takes to revive the grass you enjoyed this summer. With these simple tips, you can ensure an inviting gathering space for next year.

1. Lush green grass doesn't just feel good between the toes, it also helps crowd out undesirables. Bare and thin spots provide an opportunity for weeds to get a foot-hold on your lawn, but repairing these troubled areas is quick and easy. To fill in bare patches in a smaller area, apply Scotts EZ Seed, an all-in-one seeding mix, fertilizer and mulch, that takes the guess work out of seeding, and visibly shows when to water by lightening in color. For those larger thinning areas, try "over-seeding" by spreading a high quality grass seed over the entire area. This thickens grass ravaged by heat, drought and play. With a little watering or some help from Mother Nature, your new grass will green quickly this fall.

2. Be sure to feed your grass. Use compost, an organic or conventional lawn food - avoid all-purpose fertilizers labeled for gardening on your grass. So-called "all-purpose" 10-10-10 fertilizer is specifically designed for the nutritional needs of flowers and vegetables and will deliver 10 times more phosphorus than your lawn needs. Always use fertilizers labeled for grass; and when doubt, ask the experts at your local garden center or visit www.Scotts.com.

3. Well-fed grass isn't just good-looking, but also vigorous. Compared to undernourished grass, a fed lawn needs less water each year and reduces noise, run-off and erosion. In early fall, feeding is a simple step, which can be repeated about a month to six weeks later. Feeding grass with a lawn food like Organic Choice Lawn Food will yield great results for minimum effort. Be sure to use a starter lawn food if you are growing new grass from seed or sod, have over-seeded or patched bare spots until new grass is well established.

4. Leaves are your lawn's best friend. This fall, use your lawnmower to mulch leaves into dime-sized pieces, then top with winter lawn food made especially to help leaves recycle back into the soil providing food for earthworms and soil microbes.

5. Keep your mower on the highest setting to encourage root growth deep into the soil to lock out weeds. Keep mowing your lawn to its summer height (about 3 or more inches) until it stops growing.

These steps can help give you the lawn you want to relax on with family and friends. Come spring, your grass will be in tip-top shape all thanks to a little know-how this fall.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) - Virtually all of the 7 billion ash trees in the United States are at risk for infestation by the emerald ash borer, also known as EAB. You can save your ash trees by acting now and starting a prevention program.

The EAB is native to eastern Russia, northern China, Japan and Korea. In 2002, it was first discovered in southeast Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, likely a hitch-hiker in ash wood used for stabilizing cargo in ships, or for packing and crating. By May 2010, emerald ash borer infestations occurred in 12 states and two Canadian provinces.

By late spring 2010, the borer is estimated to have killed over 40 million ash trees in the United States and the potential devastation has been compared with the loss of the American elm and the American chestnut.

If you enjoy ash trees, have learned yours are infested, and are trying to save them from the emerald ash borer, it's possible to take action and rescue your trees. Without treatment, it is only a matter of time before the insect attacks and eventually kills your ash trees. There are several options available to protect your trees, including doing it yourself or hiring a landscape specialist. Both options involve using a systemic insecticide that is applied to the soil or tree trunk or injected into the tree.

It is possible to protect ash trees before the borers attack a tree. These protective treatments are usually applied in the spring and should continue each year. Large trees may require two applications per year. Once the borer infests a tree, treatment costs increase, but the tree can be saved as long as the damage isn't too severe or advanced.

The first step to protecting or treating infested trees is diagnosis. Contact a tree service company, a local nursery that offers this service, or a lawn and landscape service, such as Scotts LawnService. To find a service, a simple internet search of "emerald ash borer" within your zip code should give you companies that can provide EAB protection services. Make sure to ask if the technician who would provide the diagnostic and treatment services is licensed in your state.

Treatment options are generally less expensive than the cost of tree removal and replacement. For example, a 25- to 30-foot ash tree will cost about $400 to remove and replanting a similar size tree will cost about $2,000. In comparison, a landscape or tree company will charge about $50- to $75 per year to treat a tree that size, giving you about five to seven years of enjoyment before the cost of treatment equals the cost of tree removal.

"In my own yard, I have ash trees, several of which I value for shade and beauty," says Lee Schaber, vice president of technical services for Scotts LawnService. "There are a few ash trees on the back lot line that are not as significant to me. I've treated the prized ashes for the past two seasons and left the other trees untreated." Schaber continues, "The difference is remarkable: the treated trees look good, but the untreated trees are dying." For more information on the emerald ash borer, go to www.emeraldashborer.info.

Courtesy of ARAcontent