How To Brown Rice

After Asia, Italy and California are the biggest rice growing regions in the world. No surprise that the most famous dishes in Milanese cooking are based on rice. I took the train to Milan last week, and was as usual impressed by the enormous agricultural...

Fresh parsley, chopped freshly grated Parmesan (optional) Preparation In large pan, saute scallions, garlic and peppers in olive oil until soft. Add rice, stirring to coat. As it was, I had some very good […]

In late spring, flying into Milan gives passengers the impression that it is an island in the middle of a huge lake, because when the fields are all flooded, there is little solid ground left visible for many miles around the metropolis.

After snuggling some pine needle mulch around the tiny plants, we resumed the laborious task of learning about prepositional phrases.As we continued our studies, the little plants grew and filled in the planter.

These recycled bits of treated wood can contain chromates copper arsenate (CCA).Using CCA to treat wood was banned in 2003, but many times this wood is still taken from demolitions or other sources and recycled into dyed mulches.

Should you mulch plants in the fall? Keep reading for fall mulching tips.In a lot of areas, autumn is a time of drier air and more drastic shifts in temperature than in the summer growing season.

One of the best things you can do for your plants is to use tea tree mulch in gardens. What can mulch do? That's because tea tree mulch in gardens dramatically slows evaporation.Another important item on the list of tea tree mulch uses is preventing weeds...

This unique product made of recycled, tumbled glass is used in the landscape much like gravel or pebbles. The ground, tumbled glass, which may display minor flaws common to recycled glass, is available in various shades of amber, blue, and green.

, that is put atop soil in the garden or landscape to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. The same idea works for mulch. Don't pile too much mulch around the trunk or main stem; keep it a couple of inches away and no deeper than 3 inches to guard against...

You will only have to water these established plants on hot, dry days or if they are showing signs of distress. If the area drains too quickly, you'll need to amend the soil with organic material or plant only.

Not only does it increase percolation but it creates a network of needles that help hold down erosion and protect unstable areas.Additionally, it breaks down slower than bark materials, which means its benefits last longer.

The benefits of leaf litter mulch are abundant:Applying leaf mulch buffers soil temperatures to keep soil warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, thereby protecting plants.It improves soil fertility as it decomposes, which reduces the need for...

Even the most beginner gardeners among us know about, but there are so many different options: hay and straw, woodchips, leaves, compost, and even rocks. Farmers use hay to feed livestock.is the stalk that is left over after a grain, like barley, has...

Keep reading to find out how reflective mulch works and other reflective mulch info.Reflective mulches are reflective material such as aluminum or silver polyethylene mulch that reflects light up onto the leaves of plants.

Read on for information about using corn cobs as mulch.Ground corn cobs are highly resistant to compaction, so the mulch remains loose even if your garden gets plenty of foot traffic.Corn cob mulch is fire-resistant, unlike bark mulch that is highly combustible...

If you're curious about soaker hoses stocked alongside regular hoses in the garden store, take a few minutes to investigate their many benefits. As a general rule, it's best to limit lengths to 100 feet or less to provide even water distribution.

Hemlock bark has a high concentration of tannins, which seem to have some pest repellent aspects and mulch made of the wood is attractive and useful in the garden. Its bark has a rich, red to orange or burgundy color, which accents plants in the garden...

Also, a hammer and some nails to secure the rack. There are different types that can be used depending on your needs. To use the rain gauge to measure the output of your sprinkler system, be sure it is in the path of the area being watered.After the sprinkler...

It depends on whom you ask.One camp says, sure, go right ahead, and another says that peanut shells may carry fungal diseases and nematodes that can potentially afflict your plants.

Is one of the primary reasons for applying mulch, yet pesky weeds may persist, even through a carefully applied layer of bark chips or pine needles. They won't, however, do anything for weeds that have already sprouted.To stop weeds in mulch with pre-emergent...

Organic mulches provide an attractive, natural appearance to the home landscape.Most organic mulches are relatively inexpensive and readily available, but the mulch must be replaced as it breaks down.

It provides a brighter look to a garden, reflecting light off the pieces of recycled glass. It gives a garden space a more modern look, so those wanting a more natural look wouldn't want to use the landscape glass mulch.Recycled glass is environmentally...

As long as there have been trees growing in the forest, there has been mulch on the ground beneath the trees.as much as natural forests, and chipped wood makes an excellent mulch. Wood mulch is economical, readily available, and it's easy to apply and...

You can give a dry, wilting plant extra water or skip a plant that prefers to stay on the dryer side. Drip irrigation can be set to give these areas a slow penetrating soak, or can be set to deliver water in bursts that can be soaked in before the next...

It is also available in different colors for an interesting look. When applied thick enough or used with plastic or fabric, they successfully suppress weeds. Using recycled materials is always a plus.

Continue reading to learn about water quality in gardens and testing water for plants.When a plant is watered, it absorbs the water through its roots, then through a vascular system similar to the circulatory system of human bodies.

These include:One of the best benefits of any mulch is its ability to retain moisture in the soil.Organic mulches break down over time and contribute to soil health. This can be very helpful, especially if your soil fertility is poor.Mulch reduces winter...