Gardening for Men

Wooden overlap sheds feature what is undoubtedly one of the most popular construction styles for garden buildings, in which the external planking is laid in such a way that each piece of timber overlaps its neighbour; hence the name wooden overlap shed. Apart from giving the building its distinctive rugged appearance, this method of construction enables rainfall to drip off the edge of each individual piece of planking, which does help to give the timber overlap shed enhanced weather protection and therefore a longer life. Even so, it is still a good idea to periodically maintain all timber overlap sheds by applying a new protective coat of paint, sealant or varnish every few years.

The popularity of this construction method means that virtually very manufacturer offers a range of timber overlap sheds so its important when considering the purchase of any wooden overlap sheds that you first undertake a little homework in order to more properly evaluate your actual needs; and to ensure that when you actually purchase your timber overlap shed you will be getting the best possible blend of versatility, practicality and of course, value for money. Construction methods vary amongst different manufacturers but in particular, it pays to look for a robust timber framework upon which the individual cladding planks are firmly fixed. Usually in a modern wooden overlap shed this will be by metal fixings or staples that are inserted with a high pressure tool. In some cases other manufacturers will use screws or nails but overall you need to look for stout, rigid construction of the frame and cladding.

Remember too that with a wooden overlap shed, the overlapping planks mean that the incorporation of doors and windows is more complicated than would be the case with a flat external wall. This is because timber overlap sheds need suitable framing to be built in to the structure in order to ensure proper sealing, a good watertight fit and adequate drainage around any openings. In most other respects however, a wooden overlap shed is broadly similar to a flat walled design so there are no real differences in the construction of the roof or floor. Once installed in your garden, its worth paying attention to careful and regular maintenance by applying a new coat of paint, varnish or sealant in accordance with the manufacturers instructions to ensure that your timber overlap shed enjoys a longer working life.

Another useful tip to remember when choosing a timber overlap shed is that the very nature of the construction technique means that there are effectively no flat interior surfaces. The result of this is that any internal shelving, rails, brackets or other features will need to be secured to the frame itself so stout construction is a must for all wooden overlap sheds because all the weight of items stored on the shelves or hung from the rails or brackets must be carried by the framework of your timber overlap shed.

When it comes to some of the problems we are facing in the world with regards to food production, hydroponic gardening offers some promising solutions. In the poorer countries where the terrain or climate is inhospitable to agriculture, hydroponics offers a means of growing healthy foods easily. Also, in those areas where the soil has lost its nutrients or fertile land is hard to come by, hydroponics can produce healthy foods using minimum space and resources.

As with all things though, it is not all good news. There are many pros and cons any grower should weigh before deciding to commit to hydroponic gardening.

First, the pros. In comparison to traditional farming, hydroponic growing can be more productive in two ways. For one, hydroponic gardening saves space. Plants can be placed much more closely together than in traditional fields because of the way nutrients are provided to them. As many as four times as many plants can be grown in same amount of space using hydroponic techniques! Secondly, hydroponics minimizes many of the problems associated with traditional farming which means less sickly, damaged, or wasted crops.

Because hydroponic growers customize their own nutrients mixes, it takes the guess work out of figuring out which field has the best soil and proper nutrition for which crop. The nutrient mix is the right one for the particular plant, in the right ratios, every time. Also, soil based diseases are virtually eliminated because there is no soil. These two factors alone make hydroponics an extremely efficient method for producing food.

Benefits accrue to the environment as well. The water consumption in hydroponic growing is significantly less than traditional methods. In many cases, hydroponic crops use just one tenth of the water! Also, the water that is used is used more effectively. For example weeds cannot come in and steal part of the crop’s water supply. And because the crops are in a controlled environment and not in a field, there is no pesticide run-off water to contaminate the surrounding ground.

The benefits are not without their costs however. The expense of hydroponic growing is an area where improvements need to be made. The nutrient mixtures and growing mediums used can be expensive.

Hydroponic growing also requires an increase in energy consumption. Much hydroponic growing happens in greenhouses, where significant amounts of electricity are used in order to give the hydroponic plants all the light they need.

While research is happening to try and bring the costs down (such as in the field of aquaponics), hydroponics can be financially prohibitive for those areas where it is most needed.

Research in the field of hydroponics is filled with promise and much research needs to be done. Many of the problems are being addressed however, and many farmers and amateur gardeners are eagerly awaiting new developments in this promising field.