Tending to Herbs in Your Home or Garden

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Plenty of avid gardeners enjoy nothing more than growing their own herbs and with the comfortable climate that’s present within Melbourne for over half the year – these types of plants can be nurtured well into the future. One of the most appealing things about growing herbs is that you can typically do so in your own home as well as in a soil bed.

The main thing to consider is that herbs thrive in cooler, moist environments. This can be said for well over 80% of herbs – allowing you to occupy a shelf with your favourite species without having to worry too much about whether they will grow or not. This is also one of the main reasons why many people opt to use greenhouses to plant their herb seeds; simply due to the fact that an internal environment can actually be very beneficial to these types of plants.

What will you need to grow a plant indoors?

Generally speaking, you’ll require a pot, fresh soil, the seeds, or the young herb itself and access to natural light. Although the sun’s rays are responsible for encouraging flowers and trees to grow, it’s actually the environment that plays more of a role when it comes to herbs. As a result, direct sunlight isn’t a necessity, allowing gardeners to place their pots on a shelf near a garden or outdoor space and then rest assured that their herb will be receiving the relevant nutrition from reflections and surroundings.

And what about outside?

If you are planning on growing common herbs outdoors including mint and parsley, then shade is a must. These types of herbs will struggle to remain hydrated if left in direct sunlight, so it’s never a good idea to place them anywhere that receives higher volumes of UV rays. Instead, a dedicated soil bed alongside a tree, or near a fence can provide ample coverage. On the other side of the coin, certain species such as lavender can thrive in the sun – as can spring onions (or scallions), chives and basil.

How important is hydration?

One commonality shared between the majority of herbs is their need for fresh hydration – although it’s important to note that too much can result in over-watering and can lead to drowning. To avoid this, always base your watering practices in a manner that’s dependant on the temperature. In hotter climates with low humidity, water will evaporate far more quickly, so watering at least three times a week should be a priority. When higher humidity is present however, this means that there is more water in the air, so soil can be kept damp with just one or two weekly waters.

Business Advice and Tips for Start-ups

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As a start up business, the chances are that you’ll want to do everything that you can to take your small enterprise and turn it into a powerhouse of profitability. Everyone has to start somewhere and even the biggest names in the industry will have begun their lives as a small idea waiting to take the world by storm. So, here’s a little business advice to help you to enhance your productivity whilst reducing your risks in the process.

Secure your funding

Without funding in the form of finance or loans, some companies might struggle to even get off of the ground. Unless your agency has sourced its cash from private investors or your own savings, you may find yourself needing to request support from a third party lender to help you to find your feet. A good loan broker or finance specialist could help with these endeavours.

Minimise your overheads

Overhead costs are a necessary part of business expenditure, but without proper care they could end up taking a huge toll on your finances. Some overheads can be considered expenses which are often tax deductible, but others aren’t – so it might be worth getting in touch with an accountant for clarification, or to help with managing finances in general.

Maximise your expenses

In Australia, it’s entirely legal to submit tax returns that include expenses and as long as they fall into specific categories (such as uniform allowances for instance), these costs can be subtracted from any taxable sums owed. The more business expenses you accrue, the less tax you may have to pay – but it is also worth noting that you will need to ensure your adherence to particular taxation policies to avoid getting into trouble. A good accountant should be able to help with these practices.

Claim your assets

Claiming assets in a digital sense means taking control of any relevant websites, databases and social media pages that can be used to promote your business. If your brand has a name, it should match your website – as well as any dedicated social pages that you own. Not only can this help with brand recognition; it can also make it much easier for your customers to find you. The simpler it is to reach you, the more likely it can be for you to see a return. With a media agency, particularly one that specialises in marketing, you could find yourself being propelled into the public eye and maximising your profitability in the process.

A Layman’s Guide To Buying A Christmas Tree This Year

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For many people, Christmas is just never the same without a real Christmas tree, that is, a real tree that has been freshly cut. While many artificial Christmas trees abound both from regular retail stores and online, these trees are made from plastic. So despite the fact that they can look like a real Christmas tree and in some instances, exude the aroma of a real one–it’s still a fake no matter what.

What Happens When You Buy a Real Christmas Tree

The Nature Conservancy Association promotes the practice of having a real, living Christmas tree on an annual basis. And that is because, for every tree that is cut and sold, local farmers plant at least one new tree every year. Just some popular or most recommended tree species are Scotch pine, Douglas fir, and Balsam fir.

Christmas Tree Sales As an Annual Tradition

To support recycling and tree replanting every Christmas, donating to the organisation that supports the annual tradition can be a great help towards keeping that Christmas spirit alive and well for future generations. You have to shop early. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, hundreds of millions of people buy a freshly cut Christmas tree each year. Online, the figure is close to 50,000.

Essential Christmas Tree Steps You Need to Take

You need to get ahead of the pack if you plan on having the best real Christmas tree this year. Traditionally, the weekend after the Thanksgiving holiday is when the buying spree starts. So if you want to avoid the buying stampede, you will want to do your shopping well before that. Buying online in this manner will be the all-important first step.

Having it delivered fresh to your doorstep will be the second important step that will ensure a really memorable Christmas celebration. Of course, there’s always an extra fee for doing that. However, the earlier you do it, the less the charge can be. Also, you just never know when insect infestation can occur.

So ordering ahead just cannot be beat. For true-blue Christmas lovers, going to the farm annually to shop for that extra special Christmas tree is the way to go. The heavenly aroma of the tree and being able to avoid the chance of buying the PVC material altogether or even BPA content are enough impetus to welcome a real tree to your home each year.

And remember, the older the plastic Christmas tree gets, the more it sheds its plastic contents. You may never notice these tiny green pieces, but they can find their way on beds and the far reaches of your home carpeting. Having a real Christmas tree for this year will require some homework on your part such as making sure that the base is watered.

A real Christmas tree can consume close to a gallon of tap water a day, so make sure someone in the family takes care of that chore. For best results, alternating family members to the task will be keeping that Yuletide spirit alive. And last but not the least, don’t forget to cut a fresh tree at the bottom by a quarter of an inch before you make it stand. This will ensure that the Christmas tree of your choice takes in all the water that it needs to drink for that longer-lasting fresh look.