Mark Wilkinson
Mark is a college lecturer and has a number of hobby sites including www.learntheguitartoday.com and www.low-maintenance-gardening.com
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Displaying Results 1 - 98 (of 98) for All Content
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Collect Baseball Memorabilia: Uniforms to CardsAs American as root beer and apple pie, baseball has been a sporting obsession for over 150 years.
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The Endless Summer Attire, How to Collect Hawaiian ShirtsThe classic Hawaiian shirt remains an individual and highly flamboyant item of casual clothing. It is also valued highly for its beauty and connection to these tropical islands famous for surfing and exotic flora.
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What to Look For When Collecting Surfing MemorabiliaIt is worth investing in any of the 1960's surf culture. The 1960's were a golden era for surf culture, and records by The Beach Boys, Dick Dale and The Safaris were the soundtrack to the Californian teen dream.
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Feng Shui: Using Wind Chimes and Water FeaturesThe human body is essentially made up of water, and the chi of the water inside your body has a similar frequency to the chi of any water nearby, making it possible to create a powerful connection between the two.
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Relaxing Your Body and Releasing Discomfort During MeditationUse this meditation sequence, along with the breathing technique to help you enter a state of relaxed awareness.
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How to Sit When MeditatingTraditional forms of meditation are practised in particular postures, but these can sometimes be uncomfortable and difficult to achieve for the Western body. You don't have to be young and supple to meditate properly, everyone can benefit.
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Discovering Your Imagination and Candle MeditationMeditation encourages us to focus the mind and concentrate our mental energies. If we are constantly dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, we hinder our ability to be fully aware of the present.
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Monitoring Your Thoughts and Overcoming Negative Emotions During MeditationThis exercise will help you to deal with overwhelming or negative emotions that may arise at any time, but especially during meditation.
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Mind-Body Connections in MeditationFar from being isolated, disparate entities, our minds and bodies work together in a relationship of mutual dependency, each drawing support from the other. Only when both are fully nourished can we live balanced and harmonious lives.
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Meeting Your Mind During MeditationTake note of the tactics your mind adopts to pull you away from your chosen path. Your mind may intervene during meditation to tell you that you are wasting your time or that the practise is not working, it could do anything to divert you from your mental goal.
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How to Centre Yourself and Develop Focus During MeditationThis exercise shows you how to develop a still, quiet mind and a firm, steady body, both of which are important prerequisites for effective meditation.
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Watching Your Emotions During MeditationIt is quite common to experience strong emotions during meditation. If you are by nature an emotional person this may not be a problem for you, but if you are an unemotional type, coming face-to-face with your emotions may be a shock.
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Strengthening Your Cross-Country Seat and Riding Turns and CirclesFor a horse and rider to successfully negotiate solid fences and ride across undulating terrain at speed, the rider must first be able to maintain a balanced forward position with the stirrups at jumping length, before even considering approaching a jump
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Using the Weight Aids Correctly When Horse RidingRiding a horse that goes in complete self-carriage more-or-less entirely from your seat weight aids is a feeling you will never forget
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How to Be a Successful Horse RiderIf you ride well and your horse is well schooled, trusts your judgement and, therefore, is co-operative, you are more likely not only to be successful, but also safe because you are in reasonable control and can prevent or minimize mishaps.
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Riding a Perfect Pirouette and Sitting TrotA pirouette is a turn around the horses inside hind leg. Horsemen devised the pirouette because it looks beautiful for display work and also because it gives excellent control of the forehand for quick turns such as getting away from a bull or an enemy.
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Increasing Horse Riding Stability When Cornering & CirclingThe horse's natural technique when cornering at speed or on small circles is to lean in towards the centre and, left to their own devices, to turn their heads to the outside of the circle.
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Horse Riding: Recognizing the Correct Trot DiagonalTrot is a two-time, diagonal gait with a moment of suspension after each step. The legs move in diagonal pairs like this, left hind and right fore together, then right hind and left fore together with the moment of suspension between each pair.
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How to Immediately Improve Your Horse Riding PositionIf you put into practise these vital tips you will significantly be able to improve your riding posture which will be better, not just for you, but also for the horse as you will be more in command.
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Improving Your Horse Riding Position in CanterThe canter is called a diagonal gait and it is the only gait that gives the rider a sensation of rocking vertically up and down and also back and forth.
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Horse Riding: Improving Your Balance and Jumping PositionA jump has 5 phases: approach, take-off, flight, landing and the get-away. The actual jump is not finished until the horse is in the get-away phase. It is therefore important to stay in balance with the horse throughout all phases at every jump you tackle.
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How Reflexology Works and the Basic Pressure TechniquesThere are many different pressure techniques used in reflexology but the traditional and most commonly used are the moving technique of alternating pressure, the stationary technique, and the technique's that work more deeply such as "hooking" and "knuckling".
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How to Prepare for a Reflexology Session and Establish a Therapeutic RelationshipWhether practising reflexology in your own home or at the home of a patient, it is important to create a suitable environment for treatment.
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The History of Reflexology and the Zone ConceptZone Therapy, the system upon which modern reflexology is based, was developed in the early 20th century by an American doctor, William Fitzgerald from Hartford, Connecticut.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine and ReflexologyTraditional Chinese Medicine and reflexology have always been closely associated with each other. Find out why:
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Reflexology: Where to Begin and Precautions to Take when Treating OthersBefore embarking on any reflexology treatment, on yourself or others, there are several factors to consider to enable you to maximise its healing potential.
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How to Create Superior Hanging BasketsHanging baskets are also extremely versatile as the can be enjoyed in many ways. Most people think of them as vehicles for vibrant summer flowers, but you can do so much more.
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How to Decide on the Right Hanging Basket for YouOnce you have decided what you want your hanging baskets to provide, you can begin to explore the many types that are available and decide which best suits your needs and the style of planting you have in mind
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How to Choose the Right Container and Compost for Your Hanging BasketIf you like to experiment, keep a sharp eye out for objects that were intended for quite different purposes but that can be used as hanging baskets.
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How to Create and Care for Beautiful Hanging BasketsAs a general rule, you need to plant up your baskets 6-10 weeks before the main season of interest.
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Crash Diets Do Not Get Rid of Cellulite: it Could Make it Worse!No matter how slim you are, if you discover cellulite on your thighs, the temptation is to embark on a starvation diet immediately. But it is now known that excessive dieting is no deterrent whatsoever to cellulite, and may even give it a boost.
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Did You Inherit Your Cellulite?You might have her smile, her charm and some of her talents, but you might also have inherited much of her body chemistry. 'Look at the mother to learn about the daughter,' as they say. Cellulite can be an unwelcome legacy.
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How Bad is Your Cellulite?You wouldn't admit you had cellulite if anyone asked. But your skin doesn't seem to be as smooth as it used to be. Here and there, you can detect minor changes- your curves and the texture of your skin feel different.
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Cellulite: Facts and What You Can Do About ItWhether you know it as 'orange-peel skin' or 'dimpling', cellulite is an unpleasant reality for 95 per cent of women, slim and plump, young and old.
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Flatten Your Stomach in Just 3 MonthsHaving a flat stomach improves your posture, strengthens your back and makes you less susceptible to injury and illness. It will improve your appearance too. And if you look good, you'll feel great.
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How to Develop Your Own Super MemoryRemember every number, name, date or fascinating fact you have ever heard or read. Here's the inside story on key areas and techniques:
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Improve Your Conversation SkillsMany people are apprehensive about making conversation with groups and individuals they don't know well. This can make them feel anxious and frustrated. Follow these simple tips to learn how to speak effectively in public without embarrassment:
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How to Write Winning Slogans and Tiebreakers for CompetitionsMillions of prizes go unclaimed each year. The reason is, most people don't enter competitions that require slogans or tiebreakers because they're not sure what to write in the part, which says: 'Complete the following sentence in no more than X words'.
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The Secrets of Successful Networking by the Executives Who've Made it to the TopA life changing career move won't come from the job section of your local newspaper. It will come from the people who know and like you, and want you to succeed - friends, family, acquaintances and colleagues
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You Can Be a Sexual MagnetSome men and women have the knack of attracting people to them at parties and other social occasions. They are simply applying the little-known secrets of sexual attraction. If you learn these skills, you'll become equally successful from now on.
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Huge Profits to Be Made by Collecting WristwatchesPart gadget, part fashion accessory, and an essential piece of kit for pilots, divers, adventurers, and racing drivers, the wristwatch is the ideal collectible object.
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Collecting Toy CarsAlthough their motoring manufacturers were no match for the might Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, the British led the field in die-cast miniature replica cars from the 1930s up until the late 1960s.
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Collecting Telephones and Cell PhonesInvented over 130 years ago, Alexander Graham Bell's telephone quickly became an essential business and domestic appliance.
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Collecting Pulp FictionWith their racy Kitsch covers and questionable literary content, pulp novels never pretended to be anything other than a ten-cent throwaway read for the man on the move.
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Making a Profit by Collecting SneakersThe sports sneaker has become the defining item of clothing for a generation. Sneakers are big business today, with customers looking to buy new designs on almost a weekly basis.
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Collecting Space ToysJapan's toy industry produced millions of cheap metal and plastic space toys during the 1950s and 1960s. Today these items are highly collectable and can command serious prices.
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How to Be the World's Greatest GrandparentBeing a grandparent isn't always easy, but if you follow this step-by-step guide, you will soon become the world's greatest Grandparent:
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Your Comprehensive Guide to Conquering Back PainBack pain can come on in a couple of hours, take weeks to subside, and just when you think it is better, it can return, twice as painful as before.
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It's Not Rubbish - Collectors Will Pay You a Fortune for that Candy WrapperPackaging never actually meant to be something that people hold onto or store in an ordered manner, product packaging is becoming an increasingly popular area of collecting.
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Collecting Bar and Cocktail MemorabiliaThe cocktail shaker is a lasting and highly collectible symbol for the Jazz Age, during which no self-respecting high roller or his flapper would consider kicking off an evening with anything other than a dry martini.
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Collecting Movie PostersOriginally intended as a highly disposable method of street advertising, vintage posters have become highly collectable of late. Whether depicting films, art, or politics, they look great when framed and put up around the home.
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Collecting Bikes and Scooter MemorabiliaRare examples can fetch as much as £100,000 and unlike some makes they hold their value extremely well.
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Collecting ComicsComics are no longer just for kids. Prices for 30 and 40 year old examples have reached heights that only the super-heroes inside could appreciate.
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Collecting Electronic Gadgets - You Could Be Sitting on a FortuneThe arrival of VHS video, satellite, and digital services have all changed the way we use our television sets, but there is no stopping our addiction. If you are going to spend time in front of the magic rectangle, do it with a classic.
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Collecting MagazinesOld magazines appeal on many levels, but their design, artwork, and social historical value usually come first.
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Collecting MilitariaMilitary collectors are scouring boot sales and surplus shops for relics from two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf and beyond.
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Laying a Patio or DeckingTo get the best results, planning a patio or decking should be done as carefully as if you were adding another room to your home. Position, size and materials are critical.
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Hanging Internal DoorsThe easiest door to hang is a new one that precisely fits an accompanying new frame. It is much harder to make a door fit an existing frame.
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Choosing the Right Front Drive for Your HomeCreating a front drive from scratch may mean that you need to get planning permission for the new access from the public road, from your local authority.
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Home Renovation and Repairs - BricklayingDon't be bamboozled by the vast array of different bricks available. They can be broken down into a few basic types.
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Choosing the Type of Flooring for Your HomeThe type of flooring for a room must be selected with care. Whatever you choose will be staring you in the face for years, so you want to be sure it's the right thing.
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Create and Control a Budget on Your Property Development ProjectOne of the most common and most serious mistakes made by first-time developers is to underestimate the budget.
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Conducting a Businesslike Approach to Reap Huge Profits from Your PropertyThe very first thing that you must do is to start thinking like a developer. It is vital to always remind yourself that you are running a business, not buying a home for yourself.
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Adding Value to Your Property Project by Keeping Period FeaturesPeriod features, if they were fitted when the property was built, will not only fit it's style but generally add to it's value. Salvaging what you have cannot only save you money but it will also appeal to your market. So think before you rip out any original features.
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A Checklist for Budding Property DevelopersIn a nutshell, developing a property means altering it from the state it's in to a more marketable state and to make a profit from it in the process for all of the hard work and time you invested in the project.
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Assessing Your Skills as a Budding Property DeveloperJust before you start, think your project through and assess your own skills for dealing with each stage. In areas where you do not possess the necessary skills, set enough money aside for getting the professionals in to do the job.
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Planning the Property Development ProjectIt is important to make sure that the basic structure of the building is sound before you start planning to alter the interior spaces. Before purchasing the property you should have assessed the extent of work required to make it perfect for your potential market.
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Finding the Money to Fund Your Property Development ProjectAfter you have done all of your research and you have an idea of the sort of property you feel able to take on, you must then make sure you can finance the project.
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Overcoming Design Issues on Your Property ProjectDesigning a conversion is a complex business. Both wiring and plumbing may have to be completely rethought to fit in with a new layout, for example, and this will be costly.
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Property Development - Buying to SellIf you want to stand a better chance of reaching the maximum profit from your property development project you must remember that this simple rule: The most important thing when buying to sell is to keep the image of your target market in your mind at all times.
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Major Improvements Can Seriously Affect Your ProfitsAltering the layout of a property can be a good idea if you can be sure that the end result will be a more satisfactory home.
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Profit from Property Development - Buying to LetBuying property, renovating it and the selling it on is very expensive out of the league of a lot of people but there are alternatives.
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Horse Riding Tips - Developing a Balanced SeatA rider's lack of balance is akin to the lack of an independent seat, the Holy Grail of horsemanship. Unlike the Holy Grail, though, it is attainable. The first step is to start thinking with your seat, not your head.
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How to Use Low-Maintenance Plants in Your GardenPlants that require little attention through the year and are generally disease and pest resistant are the ones to include in a low-maintenance garden. There is enough choice to ensure interest and plenty of colour at all times.
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Horse Riding - Improving Your Rising TrotThere are variations of opinion on the classical way to ride a rising trot, however I find that the most effective way is for the back to remain flat as the rider brings the upper body forward from the hip joints, carrying the shoulders above the knees.
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How to Enjoy Your Bike - Be Safe, Be Seen, Safety GearSafety should always be the number one priority for any cyclist. Visibility gear is one of the things that really mark you out as a cyclist and keep you safe.
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Top Tips for Feeding a ToddlerToddlers have high daily requirements for energy (calories) and other nutrients, but they cannot eat large amounts of food at a sitting, and their eating habits may be poor. They need three small meals a day, with snacks in between.
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How to Prepare Healthy Food for Growing KidsLike the preschool child, schoolchildren who are still growing need a well balanced diet to supply their energy and other nutrients. Many of the dietary guidelines and healthy snacks suggested for toddlers also apply to them.
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Top Tips for Bottle-feeding Your BabyIf you cannot breastfeed, you can bottle-feed your baby with an infant formula made from modified cow's milk. Ordinary cow's milk, goat's milk, evaporated or condensed milk are not suitable for babies under one year old.
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Essential Equipment that You Must Have When Keeping Tropical FishVisits to local retailers will probably leave you aghast at the sheer quantity and variety of equipment available, and it's cost! Let me re-assure you that you don't need to buy every available gadget and gizmo; no amount of expenditure on hi-tech equipment can buy success.
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How and What to Feed Your Tropical FishAs a beginner you may be tempted to buy only proprietary dried foods, of which there are types to suit almost every variety of fish.
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Keeping Tropical Fish - How to Get StartedIt is easy to decide that owning an aquarium would be a nice idea, but it can be difficult to know just where and how to start. Make sure you know exactly what is involved before you acquire any equipment, let alone fishes.
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Essential Water Management Tips to Keep Your Tropical Fish in Excellent HealthWater is an essential constituent of all life forms; to fishes, however, it is environmental as well as metabolic, the medium in which they live, just as we live in air.
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How to Wean Your BabyThe process of ending a baby's total dependence on breast or formula milk and gradually introducing solid foods into her diet is known as weaning. It is important to start weaning your baby at the right time.
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How to Master the Classical Seat When Horse RidingA good riding position will vary according to the equestrian discipline for which it is used, but all good positions are based on the traditional classical seat.
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Creating a Low Maintenance Garden with Clever Use of Plants and FlowersIf you thought that filling your garden with plants and flowers would create lots of extra work and attention think again. You can create a stunning low maintenance garden simply by following a few simple rules.
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How to Create an Easy-Care GardenSome garden styles lend themselves particularly well to low maintenance gardening. They often rely on a visually pleasing use of hard landscaping elements combined with a minimum of well chosen planting.
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Create a Low Maintenance Garden Using GravelDecorative gravel is an excellent, in-expensive but practical garden surface. It is attractive, trouble-free, easy-to-lay and harmonizes well with plants.
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How to Create a Low Maintenance Wildflower GardenAn established wildflower garden requires much less maintenance than a conventional one. Making one, however, can initially be quite demanding as there is some basic preparation of the soil required and the garden takes time to become established.
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How to Pave a Low Maintenance GardenA paved area needs practically no maintenance, just an occasional brush and every few years a blast with a high-pressure water jet. As well as being labour-saving it should contribute positively to your garden design, linking and complementing other elements of the garden.
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How to Create a Classic Low Maintenance Japanese GardenTrue Japanese gardens require very little maintenance as the components are mainly easy-care features such as gravel, pebbles, stones, wood, water and occasional, carefully-chosen and well-positioned shrubs or small trees.
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How to Create a Hot and Colourful Low Maintenance Mediterranean GardenA Mediterranean garden is ideal for the low-maintenance gardener and it is so easy to create.
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Basic Groundwork for Creating a Low Maintenance GardenWith a little planning and groundwork you can create the perfect low-maintenance garden. Here are my essential tips:
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How to Handle Emergency Repairs in Your HomeYou will be charged a fortune for an emergency call-out. Is the problem really as bad as you think? Look at what has happened calmly and clearly, checking whether you can deal with it yourself or at least limit the damage before calling out an expert
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Essential Fire PreventionTipsAll new building work has to comply with building regulations that include strict fire safety regulations. These are to enable you and your family get out of the house unhurt in the event of a fire.
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Making the Most of Your Space by Building CupboardsThe key to a designer home is a clutter-free space. The only way to achieve that space, apart from throwing everything away, is to have plenty of storage.
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How to Get Rid of Damp and Pests in Your HomeThere are lots of damp and pest problems that can afflict a house but the most common of these are rising damp, wet and dry rot, and woodworm.
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Changing a BathroomThere's nothing more satisfying than replacing a tired old bathroom with a sparkling new one. The good news is that it doesn't have to cost the earth.