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Growing Catnip From Seed

Growing catnip from seed can mean having a supply of the freshest catnip on hand. Home grown catnip will be more fragrant and more potent than the type you buy. Catnip plants can be grown inside the home or outside in the garden. The seeds can be purchased at any nursery supply company. Catnip is a plant that grows aggressively so nothing special is required.

The best growth comes from well drained or sandy soil. Catnip is a full sunlight plant and is more aromatic when grown in full sun. It is possible to grow it in partial shade but full sun will grow larger plants with more flowers. Growing catnip from seed for outdoor planting should begin by starting the seed indoors in pots a few weeks before the last frost. Indoor plants can be started at any time. Be sure to put your pots near a sunny window.

Your indoor pots can be filled with potting soil from a nursery. A potting soil with a neutral pH is best. Begin by filling the pots with soil to within 1/4″ inch of the top. Wet the soil with a little water. Form a little dimple in the soil with your finger. Place a few seeds in the dimple. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil. After the last frost you may then transplant your catnip outdoors.

Take note of the fact that if you have any stray cats in the neighborhood they will begin chewing on the plants. They can even ruin the work you have done.  You can solve this problem by putting your plants in large pots and locate them where cats can not get to them.

Here are a few tips for growing catnip from seed. Watering will be necessary every two weeks if there is little rain. Before winter weather begins be sure to palce some mulch around the base of your plants to protect them. During the growing season you should fertilize your catnip every two weeks. As the plants just begin to flower you can stop fertilizing.  Remove any faded blooms to keep your plants looking nice. After the first frost cut the plants back to ground level. As the plants begin to grow in the spring you can harvest some stems and leaves and dry them. Drying will take about 2-3 weeks.  Place the dry leaves in a closed container and store in a cool place.  You might also be interested in effects of catnip on cats.

What Everyone Should Know About Dog Runs

Though most people are aware that dog runs exist, unless you actually own one you probably won’t fully appreciate how useful they are.  You can use a dog kennel guide to help you decide on the type of dog kennel and run that would most suit your dog and family but before you start your research there are several things that everyone should know about dog runs.

Firstly, the main use of a dog run is to allow your dog to get some exercise in a safe space while you are out.  Of course this should not replace daily walks with you but a large run will allow your dog to pick up a bit of speed and to play with his toys as he wishes.  The advantage over just letting him have the run of the garden is that it prevents your flower beds from being dug up and from dog muck where you might not be expecting it.  The run is also a strong structure which will prevent your dog from escaping the garden and maybe causing harm to himself or others.

The best type to buy is a galvanised dog run.  This is because the steel will have been treated with zinc to prevent corrosion and rust, therefore giving it a much longer life.  It will also prevent a weakening of the metal struts which could be dangerous if they were to break.  Though these runs might be slightly more expensive, they will save you money in the long run as they should never need replacing.

If you have a dog who is good at jumping then you should buy a run with a roof attached while if your dog is an escape artist then some chicken wire nailed around the edges of the pen will stop him digging his way out though you will need to be very careful not to have any stray wires poking out.

How to Best Care for your Goldfish

If you just recently bought a goldfish as your families’ new pet, there is a lot of goldfish facts and information out there to help you make the most of your new purchase.  While these are wonderful pets, especially as a first pet for your child, and while they are relatively easy to take care of and keep alive, there are things you should know as a new owner of these wonderful pets.

While they do not require a lot of time and energy to take care of, goldfish do need to be handled with care if you want to keep them alive for a while.  These types of pets can die rather easily, but if you take a few precautions, they can live for up to five or ten years.  You need to be aware of the various diseases that can cause sickness or even death in your new pet.  If your fish somehow gets injured, it can get an infection under its fin.  Keep a close eye on your fish every day, and if you notice it swimming in a weird way or acting differently than normal, something could be wrong.  Don’t ignore it.  Many times these different infections can be treated simply by emptying and cleaning out the tank of bowl.

That brings us to another aspect of taking care of your new goldfish.  Goldfish bowls are something you will have to consider when getting this new pet.  Buying your pets in pairs is a good idea as then they will have a companion to play with and swim around with. Goldfish like to be around other fish, and they get lonely when they are alone.  Buying a second fish is a good idea, and it will keep your new pet happy.  Just be sure not to buy bigger fish or put your new fish in a big tank with other bigger fish.  Those bigger fish could see your new pet as dinner, and they won’t hesitate to eat it.

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