Warm As Toast

To keep warm in winter (and cool in summer) the first thing your house needs is insulation.

Even if you have heaters or air conditioning, the insulation is what keeps the warmth in the house. A cold house and a big heating bill won't give you that nice warm feeling we all like in winter.
 

It has been estimated that savings of up to 50% on heating energy costs can be achieved with insulation. Batts have a thermal rating, the higher the number the better the insulation. The ratings are shown as R2.5, R3.0, R3.5 and R4.0 these numbers don't indicate the thickness of the batts.

When installing traditional fibreglass batts you must be covered from head to toe including a dust mask and goggles because the fibres will stick into your skin and cause itching. Or you can install polyester batts which provide the same insulation properties as fibreglass batts but without the itch. They contain no chemical additives and are very soft and pleasant to handle. Either way, remember to get the packs up into the roof before opening because they expand and become harder to pass around. Also, start laying the batts at the furthest point from the access hole then work back towards it. Give us a call or come in with your measurements and we will work out what you need.

We can all help the fauna that lives on our doorstep by turning our gardens and backyards into natural havens. Visit the Flora for Fauna web site and find out what Flora to select to attract Fauna in your local area. Flora for Fauna is an initiative of the Nursery & Garden Industry and is supported by the Federal Government through its Natural Heritage Trust.

Cabbage Time

Cabbage, caulies, broccoli and brussel sprouts are the most grown vegetables in Autumn and no matter what lengths we all go to (or how far into the bush we were to plant these vegies) the white cabbage moth seems to find our crop to lay their eggs.

There are two products worth checking out. Dipel, whilst not entirely new, is worthy of a mention here. Dipel is a Bacillus thuringiensis naturally occurring bacteria which attacks caterpillars. It is completely safe to spray on vegetables and any plants being attacked by caterpillars.

Success has a similar effect on caterpillars and its ingredient is also a bacteria derived from soil.

With the arrival of Autumn & Winter comes the colourful display of deciduous trees before they shed their leaves.

Many of us head off to gardens in cool climates such as Mt Wilson, Canberra or Bathurst to enjoy this spectacular show and this is because the colours change earlier and are more intense than in warmer regions. Claret and Golden Ash are absolutely stunning in cool areas but the Claret Ash is not nearly as colourful in a warmer climate. The brilliant Autumn colours of a Southern Highlands garden may not be quite as bold in a lower mountains garden. This is not to say they won't look good, it's just that when selecting plants for Autumn colour it's important to view them in your local area as this will give a truer representation of their colour.

Autumn colour is influenced by sunlight, moisture and temperature. Lots of sunny days and cool crisp nights will product better colour than overcast skies and mild nights. This is something we cannot control but just accept that some years will look better than others.

Here are some trees you might consider for Autumn colour in our area. Nyssa Sylvatica (Tupelo), Liquidambar, Sapium Sebiferum (Chinese Tallow) and Pistacia Chinensis (Chinese Pistachio) for red, orange and yellow 'rainbows'. Consider Fraxinus sp. (Golden Ash) and Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree) for yellow colours. For rich burgundy and claret colours Acer Palmatum (Japanese Maple) varieties or Fraxinus sp. (Claret Ash), while perhaps not at their absolute best, will still put on a good show.

Mountain Arks

Mountain Arks is a cottage industry based in Warrimoo amid the beautiful Blue Mountains, West of Sydney. They manufacture tastefully well designed and constructed timber pet enclosures for use as chicken coops, rabbit hutches, guinea pig cages, dog kennels and nesting boxes.

Visit Mountain Arks. website.