Derek Dowell

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Garden Guides uses a knowledgeable team of editors, writers, and experts to create all our content. We dive deep into the ever-evolving conversations surrounding gardening and landscaping, striving to deliver the most current and helpful tips, strengthened by expert insight and tutorials from our talented team.

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Stories By Derek Dowell

  • Structures
    Structures By Derek Dowell November 4th, 2022

    How Much Room Do You Need Around A Swimming Pool?

    How Much Room Do You Need Around a Swimming Pool?. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the dilemma of how much patio space to leave around your swimming pool. The average pool deck incorporates 600 to 900 square feet of space, according to Jason Hughes of River Pools and Spas, who says that, in his experience, the number one complaint by clients' is that they neglected to recognize the importance of adequate space around the pool. At the minimum, you should leave 3 feet around the perimeter to keep grass and yard debris out of the pool, but the chances are you'll want considerably more.

    By Derek Dowell November 4th, 2022 Read More
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    Lawn Care
    Lawn Care By Derek Dowell November 3rd, 2022

    My Lawnmower Revs Up & Down

    My Lawnmower Revs Up & Down. Although it is also an internal combustion engine that works in a similar fashion to an automobile engine, a lawnmower engine is much simpler --- though often just as frustrating. One common problem is when it revs up and down. Simple troubleshooting should allow you to track down the source of the problem. If it's something besides the carburetor, you might be able to fix it yourself. Unless you have experience, tearing into a carburetor can be a major undertaking. Keep in mind that there are only three areas to concern yourself with when it comes to small engine problems: fire, fuel and air.

    By Derek Dowell November 3rd, 2022 Read More
  • Produce
    Produce By Derek Dowell September 6th, 2022

    When To Plant Fall Vegetables In Zone 7

    When to Plant Fall Vegetables in Zone 7. The USDA Planting Zone 7 temperature band begins in earnest in northern Texas, running east through Arkansas, the northern half of Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia, before it takes a turn towards the northeast to incorporate parts of the Carolinas. A sliver of Zone 7 runs also west, but it is very narrow. Plant fall vegetables in Zone 7 beginning in August and harvest fresh produce through November.

    By Derek Dowell September 6th, 2022 Read More