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Garden

Lovely Pathways for a Well-Organised Garden

October 16, 2018
Tracey Clayton
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Your garden can be your retreat spot after a long day of work, but, to make it into the sanctuary you can really enjoy, you will have to add a number of features to make it stand out. Garden pathways might seem like a waste at first, though, they can bring the whole garden together and give it the look you always wanted it to have.

Image source: ognature.com

Go with Simple Gravel

Perhaps the simplest of materials to use for a garden pathway will be gravel. If you look into how you can use it to spruce up your garden, it will be a feature that you will greatly appreciate. Do not think that cheap material cannot add class to your well-organized garden as you will be able to create marvellous designs, once you get the hang of it.

Image source: kibin.biz

Make Use of the Old

You do not have to assume that your next garden pathway will be pricey, especially if you want to get creative. Keep in mind that you can recycle old wooden pallets and give them a new purpose. Furthermore, they will give your garden a unique look that not many will have. On the other hand, it is a great DIY project which will give your garden, even more, value. Nevertheless, understand that natural materials like wood will start to decompose after a while so a change will be in order.

Image source: humideas.com

Get Creative with Your Pathway

Most of the people will usually go with stone or stone-like material to have for their pathway, in the long run, it can be an easier solution maintenance-wise. However, using wooden logs  can be tricky at first, though, when you plan it out, you can end up with a magnificent pathway that will tie the whole ambient together nicely. Be sure to get good tools when working on this design as you will have to do a lot of digging.

Image source: sunset.com

Stick to the Good Ol’ Look

Depending on your garden’s landscape, the polished stone look can be the best solution for your pathway. Be wary that there are many concrete and stone materials to choose from, and depending on their strength, maintenance can be a nightmare. Using designs which come in many colours and shapes, you can create a truly exceptional pathway which will give your garden the boost it needs to look amazing. Once set, your pathways will be built to last with minimal effort to keep them in good condition.

Image source: greendesigns.eu

Make a Brick Pathway

Bricks can be used in more ways than one when it comes to design. Even though it will take a bit of time and expertise to make the perfect design your garden deserves, a brick pathway can look amazing. Be sure to plan ahead, in order to avoid having to take the brick out every time you are not happy with its look.

Garden upkeep might be tricky for most people to deal with, and unless you are ready to sacrifice some of your time, you cannot really expect to have a place where you can relax. Pathways can be used to create unique designs and to take your landscaping to the next step as well. Always make a plan before you start creating your pathways, to avoid unnecessary digging and reorganization.

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How to Create an Eco-Friendly Garden

March 15, 2018
Lana Hawkins
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When we choose to garden, we are usually thinking about the joy of working outside, the pride of growing our very own food and flowers, and the delicious reward of fresh fruits and vegetables picked and eaten the same day. There is really nothing like it!

What most of us gardeners don’t consider is that our gardening efforts can help our environment too! Done right, an eco-friendly garden can go a long way to reducing your environmental footprint. As you may have noticed, there is a greater push towards making your home (including your garden) more energy efficient. Millennials especially are heavily focused on green initiatives. If you are looking to make your life greener, here are seven tips for creating a garden that rewards your home, kitchen, and our planet!

Start with Planting Trees

Often overlooked as a viable option to incorporate in your garden, planting trees creates natural wildlife habitat, helps keep our air clean, and provides shade and wind protection (reducing heating and cooling costs). In addition, when birds live nearby, they can be helpful by eating harmful garden pests. Planting fruits trees can also add more variety to your harvest!

Get Composting!

Prepping your garden for a bounty of produce can start long before you begin planting by starting a compost pile. Compost creates nutrient-rich soil and keeps food and other natural waste from going to a landfill. Just make sure that the waste you add to your garden is organic and will safely decompose. Never add any meat or dairy to your compost pile. Stick to things like coffee grounds, eggshells, leaves, grass clippings (as long as they are chemical free) and left-over fruit and vegetable waste.

Plan Your Yard with Mother Nature in Mind

Work hard to keep your grassy areas small.Use rock gardens, native shrubs, and ornamental grasses such as bamboo to limit both your use of water and your need for mowing (which usually takes either gas or electricity to power). Also, plan the space for your vegetable garden where the ground is flat so water doesn’t drain away before it can be absorbed. Finally, plant any heavily sloped areas with natural grasses so that their roots can prevent soil erosion year around.

Limit Your Water Usage

When it comes to watering your eco-garden, nothing defeats efforts to be environmentally friendly like wasting water. To avoid wasting water where possible, use a drip line or soaker hose that delivers water directly to the roots instead of spraying it in the air where much of it evaporates. Water early in the morning before the sun rises so the water soaks deep into the ground. If your water is on a timer make sure to shut it off on rainy days. Finally, set out buckets to gather rainwater that you can use on sunny days.

Choose Native Plants

Native plants are so important because they not only thrive, they do so with little effort, less water, and few to no pesticides or fertilizers. They save you time, effort, and money! Plus they are much better for the environment and the local ecosystem.

Use Green Equipment and Tools

Much like inefficient watering systems, gas powered tools quickly negate your green gardening efforts. Try using a push mower. If that isn’t practical, choose an electric mower over a gas-powered mower. The same goes for other power tools like tillers. Finally, spend the extra money to buy high-quality shovels and hand tools so that you can use them for decades rather than having to purchase new every year. This helps reduce waste and manufacturing emissions.

Choose and Use Pesticides Carefully

Controlling pests can be one of gardening’s biggest challenges. The problem with most synthetic pesticides is that they kill all the good bugs along with the bad. A healthy flourishing garden needs bees, ladybugs, earthworms, and many other little helpers. If you need a pesticide, look for brands that focus specifically on the pest you have and that degrade quickly. Finally, provide habitat for helpful birds and bats that eat the pesky little insects you’re looking to get rid of.

There are few things on the earth that are as rewarding as growing your own garden. Making sure that your garden is doing more good than harm is well worth the extra effort in planning. Once your eco-garden is established, many of these tips will save you money, time, and effort. Not to mention the pride you get from knowing you are taking care of the planet that takes care of us!

 

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Expand Your Living Space with an Outdoor Kitchen: Design Tips

December 20, 2017
Sara Solomon
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For me, every meal tastes better al fresco. If you agree and love preparing and eating food outside, it’s time for you to expand your living space and invest in an outdoor kitchen. It will allow you and your family and friends to spend time outside while making tasty lunches or hosting fun dinner parties. In case you don’t know where to start with your design, here are some outdoor kitchen design tips for every outdoorsy chef.

Carefully plan the location

One of the first rules of building: location, location, location! Probably the most common mistake people make when designing their outdoor kitchen is not looking at the wind pattern in their yard. You don’t want all the smoke and smells to get sucked into your home every time you’re using your outdoor kitchen, so place the grill and smoker accordingly. Also, people often place their outdoor kitchen too far from the inside kitchen, which makes carrying heavy platters and drinks quite inconvenient. Additionally, if you love the view from the inside of the house, don’t block it with the outdoor kitchen. Instead, place it to the side or pick an angle that will not ruin your view.

Choose the right materials

Your outdoor kitchen needs to be a bit sturdier than your indoor kitchen in order to resist the elements, such as winds, rain, snow and extreme heat. So, during the process of designing your outdoor space, opt for materials that are weather-resistant and easy to clean and maintain. Stainless steel is always a good option for countertops because it’s tough and durable, easy to clean and looks very sleek. If you want something more rustic and warmer, you can opt for tiled countertops. Tiles come in all shapes, sizes and colors, and they require minimal maintenance. Also, pay attention to your floors. Tile and marble floors can get very slippery when wet or greased, so you might want to skip them. Concrete, brick and natural stone, on the other hand, are much safer and they will give your space a stylish look.

Opt for high-quality appliances

No matter how well you’re planning to equip your outdoor kitchen (some only opt for a grill, a sink and a small fridge, while others include beer taps, smokers and even warming drawers), you have to make sure your appliances can take both rain and sun. Stainless steel works great, requires little maintenance and is quite popular nowadays. Additionally, hire a licensed electrician to install your appliances and make sure everything is up to code.

Provide storage

Like every kitchen, your outdoor kitchen also needs storage for cooking tools, gadgets, food, and drink. Also, the outdoor storage should be waterproof and well insulated to endure temperature changes. With some storage, you’ll always have things on hand and your countertops will be clutter-free.

Build shelter from the elements

If you don’t want the weather to stop you from enjoying your outdoor kitchen, you should build a shelter that will keep the elements away from your grill. A tall roof, pergola or even some simple umbrellas will allow you to show off your culinary skills ever in the rain or scorching sun. You can also equip your outdoor kitchen with a fan for the summer and a heat lamp or a fire pit for the winter. Additionally, if you live in an area with pesky mosquitoes and a lot of flies, you can equip your kitchen with repellents and bug zappers that will keep them away from your food.

Install good lighting

Good lighting will allow you to prepare food when natural light is scarce and it will provide your outdoor space with a soft ambience that’s perfect for relaxing. You will need overhead lighting for food prep (hang the light from the roof or install a pole yard light) and add some string lights or tiki torches for ambient lighting.

Add comfort

An outdoor kitchen isn’t just a place where you cook food. It also serves to enjoy those delicious meals you make and for entertainment. So, make sure you put out some chairs, tables and decoration that will make your outdoor kitchen the star of your home. Choose durable pieces and weather-resistant fabrics so you can enjoy them all year round.

Once your outdoor kitchen is finished, get ready to break out your spatula, tongs and fork and prepare the perfect BBQ for all your family and friends.

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5 Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Front Yard

October 24, 2017
Lana Hawkins
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Like clothes and accessories for a human, the different elements that make up a front yard help enhance its appearance. Since this is often the first thing people see when arriving, be it a visitor or the homeowner themselves, it is normal to want to make sure that the front yard looks its best. Luckily, in most cases not much is needed to make this part of the property look good. Here are 5 front yard renovation projects that are budget-friendly and easy to complete.

1) Painting the fence

This job is a perfect weekend DIY project! Fence painting doesn’t require as much skill as other painting projects, unless you are an absolute perfectionist. Of course, not all fence materials can receive paint in their current state. Some will need to be sanded and primed beforehand. However, do know that paint is a great way to add a dash of colour to the front of your home.

White is a classic and timeless colour for fences, as is black. For a more daring look, reds, blues, yellows, greens and other bright shades can be great options, depending on the colour scheme of the rest of the front yard.

2) Installing paver stones

A friendly and welcoming stone path makes for a great way to come home! Paver stones are easy to install, and they add a nice Zen touch to a front yard. These elements come in a variety of shapes, materials, and sizes, adapting to your needs and preferences. The most common stones are travertine, slate, and granite. Concrete and porcelain are other options for paver materials, but they are not as durable as the latter.

 

3) Cleaning the home’s facade

This may seem simple, even trivial, but cleaning the home’s facade can make an enormous difference. Perhaps you bought the house and have never taken the time to remove the accumulated dirt and grime? This means that you may be in for a surprise once you’ve finished with the cleaning process.

For this action, the tools and techniques you employ will depend on the type of cladding material that is installed on your home. A pressure washer will be extremely efficient on plastic-based materials. Other types such as wood paneling need special treatment, and hand-washing may be best to ensure good results. Do proper research regarding the most recommended techniques and go to the effort of doing things properly. In the end, you may realize that your beige facade is actually mustard yellow!

4) Doing minor landscaping

Large-scale landscaping jobs are not accessible to everyone, and thankfully, smaller ones can also have a major impact. Although gardens are usually set up behind a home, flowerbeds and even small herb gardens are a great way to add life to a front yard. It’s all a question of space and personal preferences. Searching for privacy, some will even decide to create an oasis in front of their home, with trees, plants, and flowers. This little corner of heaven can become a nice spot to relax if you set up a few lawn chairs or hang a swing from a tree.

5) Installing or transforming a carport

This last project is the most onerous of those described in this list. If you don’t yet have a carport and are currently parking your car in a yard, with no roof, setting up this structure can be a great option, both for esthetical and practical purposes. In cold and snowy climates, carports can be extremely useful as they protect the car and keep the snow away, ensuring that you save time in the morning. In terms of appearance, are also carports interesting architectural elements, making the home more unique.

If your home is already equipped with a carport but you feel that you aren’t using it to its fullest, consider transforming it into a patio. This area which spills into the front yard can be turned into a wonderful getaway spot or a place to entertain guests under a roof but outdoors at the same time.

Transforming a front yard: endless possibilities

Other, bigger renovation projects are also possible if you have more money and feel that your home’s exterior needs major changes. For example, people often opt to replace the exterior cladding that covers and protects the home. However, as stated in the previous paragraphs, there is often no need to spend a fortune to make a front yard look nice. Simply set aside a weekend, head to the hardware store and let your imagination run wild. Otherwise, if you have no manual skills whatsoever, hire a trustworthy contractor!

Article was written by Léa Noémie Plourde-Archer from Renoquotes.com

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Easy Tips for Taking Care of Your Yard

September 4, 2017
Robert Clayton
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Improving your backyard is one of the best ways to give your property a significant boost in resale value and at the same time, create your own personal oasis. While this is not necessarily an expensive project, it can definitely be a great addition to the overall appeal of your home and give it a much greater resale price. Still, it requires a lot of work, effort and maintenance and here are some tips on this topic

Lawn maintenance

Everyone wants a magnificent garden for themselves and they always seek for beautiful gardening ideas to spruce up their yards. However, the very basis for any good-looking yard is a well-maintained lawn. Unfortunately, a lot of people have no idea what exactly a well-maintained lawn entails. For starters, you need to get proper mowing gear and mow the lawn as often as necessary. This depends on the season, seeing how in summer you should do this at least three times a week, while in the autumn even once or twice per week may suffice. Aside from this, you also need to water the lawn on a regular basis and even feed it with some fertilizer if you deem necessary but keep it organic. All of this isn’t a lot of work, but it does require you to be diligent.
lawn maintenance

Construct a shed

In the introduction, we mentioned that you will have to purchase a lawn mower for your lawn, but you will also need a few more basic tools like a rake, a hoe and a hose. Still, in order to keep all of these tools in good shape, you need to have a place where you can safely store them, which is why it might be a good idea to construct a shed. Seeing how this means adding an additional structure to your property, such a project would also add to the resale value of your property. Furthermore, it should also add to the overall visual appeal of your backyard instead of simply serving its function.
garden shed

Take care of your plants

One of the most important things you need to know about the maintenance of your plants is that this process starts long before you actually start planting. The right selection of companion plants and knowing which plants don’t go together well can make your job a lot easier. For instance, while onions go with beets and carrots, they should never be planted alongside beans and peas. There are similar combinations for flowers as well, should you decide to make a flower-garden. Furthermore, by learning how to prepare a great homemade compost, you can make your garden a lot more lavish, while at the same time getting rid of most of your food leftovers.

Caring for your patio furniture

Finally, one of the most difficult issues in every yard is caring about the outdoor furniture. Sure, during the colder part of the year, it would be best to store all the fabrics and cushions inside while you can cover the rest of your outdoor furniture in order to protect it from the elements. So, say you have a beautiful bench with iron details, it needs special maintenance and a good protection from the rain and harsh sun
patio furniture

When it comes to washing the cushions, what you need is a mild soap solution which you will apply as gently as possible. Keep in mind, however, that there are some cushion types that are mildew-resistant, which can make your life significantly easier. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that they are 100 percent mildew-proof. One last thing, when it comes to the rest of your furniture, the maintenance mostly depends on the material, seeing how plastic, metal and wood all require different approaches.

As you can see, with these several simple tips, you can keep your backyard in top shape. Still, remember that there is always a price to be paid for beauty. This being said, if you want to add a pool or plant several shrubs, you will add more work to your weekly maintenance schedule. The best thing about this is the fact that most people find gardening to be quite relaxing and therefore observe it more as a hobby than an actual chore.

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How To Take Care Of Your Lawn In Autumn

September 1, 2017
Lucas Bergman
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Autumn is actually a great time for the growth of lawn. In the condition of remaining summer warmth and higher rainfall, it will be a perfect chance for your lawns to be well again after experiencing the extreme hot of the summer. Previous brown lawns start to grow again and turn into its original green. Therefore, this time is really appropriate for you to prepare and keep your lawn from the extreme weather of the next season-winter.
If you intend to do this in the coming autumn, let consider our following tips. They will be certainly useful for you.

autumn

              Via: shutterstock.com

Watering

Paying attention to the irritation is one of the most important things when preparing your lawns for the coming autumn. Unlike in the summer, your lawn doesn’t need too much water in autumn time. Despite that, you should also not stop watering suddenly. It will be best to keep the irritation at a minimum level during the winter in case your area doesn’t get a minimum rainfall of 1 inch a week.

Mowing

mowing

Via: shutterstock.com

It is also crucial for you to mow your lawn frequently during the autumn. This will surely keep your lawn in good shape. Nonetheless, remember to adjust your blade height in order not to cut your lawn too short.
Then, in the late autumn, you should mow off the cool-season grasses at 2½ inches and about 1½ to 2 inches for the warm-season ones. It is also quite vital to remain your lawn in autumn.

Seed your lawn

Conventionally, the temperature of soil in autumn will reach around 550F. In fact, autumn and winter are a great time for turf roots thrive; it is really a good time to seed.
The inexpensive seed often has weed seeds, such as hollow husk annual rye-grass seed, which usually dies when the first frost comes. As a result, purchase the high price one will be a great choice because of its good resistance to drought, insects, and disease. After planting your seed, water it properly every day to help it grow.
The usual time for grass seed to grow is about 10-20 days.

Fertilize before the first frost

fertilize

Via: shutterstock.com

Fertilize the lawn is at the top of important things you should do in the autumn; however, avoid using the old fertilizer. You should use the type of mineral one which contains a high amount of phosphorous and potassium instead of the organic one.
There are two elements, which play important roles in your autumn lawn growth:
Phosphorus (P): stimulates the development of grass as well as increases its hardiness in the winter that helps your grass suffer from a stressful environment. With the support of phosphorus, it will minimize the chances of getting disease for the grass.
Potassium (K): reduces the process of transpiring from the blades; therefore, your grass does not need too much water if it gets enough potassium. This element can make the blades stronger helping to recover your grass after suffering from heavy foot. It also helps grass bear the very cold time in the winter.
Supply your lawns with needed nutrients will help them cope well with the frosty condition of winter and remain their green. They can also strongly fight against the usual fungal diseases.

Aerate

Aerate your lawns during the fall is another important thing. There are many kinds of aerator on the market, which include plug and punch varieties. No matter which one will you choose, just use it. The process of aerating can certainly help the lawn roots absorb enough water and air as well as fertilizer.

Keep leaves controlled

It is certain that the leaves from the trees around and in your yard shed down frequently during the autumn. They will fall and remain on the grassed unless you control. You may think that there’s no need to worry about this; however, this is a potential factor killing your grass. In which, mildew and foster mold growth can lead to many lawn diseases. Consequently, rake the fall leaves and keep them away from your grass.

Weed control

weed control

Via: shutterstock.com

It’s time for you to fight against broadleaf weeds such as dandelions if they nearly cover your lawn. Just like other plants, weed can absorb energy strongly throughout the fall. They take up anything coming their way, even weed killers. Let using herbicide now; then weeds will definitely not come back in the upcoming spring.
Before using, read the package label carefully. It’s suggested by most of the herbicide manufacturers that you should apply weed killer in the period of early to mid of autumn. This is the time when the temperature in the daytime remains above 600F.
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Author Bio: Richard Clayton is an owner of a gardening blog. He loves gardening and lawn care. He can spend all of his free time taking care of his garden and discuss gardening experiences with his friends, who have the same hobby as he. His website (My Greenery Life) is a playground for people, where they can discuss everything about lawn care, DIY gardening and critter control topics.

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It’s Never Too Early To Start Planning Your Beautiful New Walkway!

August 16, 2017
Lana Hawkins
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When the time comes for you to choose a finished surface for a walkway, you will almost certainly opt for one that is cost-effective, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. Many homeowners in Toronto, Ontario, for instance, are seeking stamped concrete walkways because it can easily mimic high-end materials such as limestone, flagstone, and other types of stone patterns at a fraction of the cost.

Synergy of Walkways and Plants

Garden walkways beautiful additions to a luscious front lawn or backyard, but they also enable you to freely walk in the garden at any time of the year, without having to worry about tripping on uneven greenery or dirtying your shoes. A beautiful pathway can also boost the aesthetic value of your home, encouraging in a higher resale amount when or if you eventually choose to sell. In addition, they keep garden plants and grass safe, since movement in the yard is guided, protecting the vegetation from extensive foot damage.

Walkway

Ensuring the safety of you and your plants is a lot less complicated than you might assume. While installing stamped concrete driveways, patios, and walkways can seem quite challenging, with the proper preparation and guidance, what was once daunting can become an enlivening project bound to bring new life to your home. To be sure, this is a permanent and costly undertaking, which means that there can be no room for error.

Driveway

When proceeding with the project, the patterns must be properly laid down and installed; in this sense, it’s best to hire professionals who know what they are doing. Additionally, the process is relatively stress-free if you can find a single company with which to work for the entirety of the construction. If you’re living in or near a large metropolitan area, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of companies who will guarantee your satisfaction, but only a few will effectively and efficiently follow through every step of the way, such as Elite Concrete in Toronto  – notorious for their dedicated work ethic, they’ve become one of the city’s top architectural concrete specialists, and, no not only that, they can aid you every step of the way.

Walkway

Choosing The Right Material

Installing a walkway starts with subgrade preparation, something that needs to be properly compacted to prevent drainage and soil erosion. Reliable companies will likely use wood, metal, or plastic forms of preparation to contain the concrete within the desired area. Reinforcements should be made using welded wire mesh or steel bars to boost the capacity of the structure and its impact resistance, which helps prevent cracking. After stamping the walkway, give it time to dry up before having it sealed.

Walkway

If your home experiences extremely cold temperatures, as Toronto frequently does during the winter, you should also consider sealing the concrete to reduce freeze thaw damage. This condition is the main cause of surface flaking and cracks in walkways and driveways found in cold areas. It is brought about by the penetration, expansion, and freezing of water in the pavement, but sealers prevent the penetration of water and should be used on paths that have heavy human traffic. Normally patios, pavements, and walkways are subjected to conditions that may cause stains to form on the surface, but the use of sealers prevents these elements from penetrating the surface. Sealing new walkways – be it in the musky urban center or the sprawling surrounding suburbs – prevents the build-up of white powdery materials on the surface from the concrete.

Walkway

From aesthetics and wear-and-tear, all the way to the unpredictability of climate, there are a lot of factors to consider. One thing that is certain is the right company can and will provide the guidance and care required for such extensive work; all it takes, then, is a little bit of research and you’ll find yourself on the sturdy ground in no time at all.

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How to Clean Teak Wood Outdoor Furniture

August 8, 2017
Emma K Loftus
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Since teak is a dense and oily wood, the natural oil that is present within the wood protects it from termites. This oil keeps the wood from absorbing the water, ensuring significant durability of your outdoor teak furniture.

This type of furniture is capable of lasting for many generations if it is skillfully crafted. When teak wood furniture is new, it has a golden honey color. But with time, it naturally fades into a light gray patina. The good news is this change in color does not affect the strength of the wood.

If you want to stick to the original golden color of your teak wood outdoor furniture, there are a couple of precautions you can take to slow down its aging. A regular cleaning routine is necessary to keep your teak wood furniture looking aesthetically beautiful for a long time. Teak is durable, long-lasting wood and only requires some basic cleaning to prevent external mold growth and remove dirt.

Here are some proven cleaning tips:

  • It is better to clean your teak wood outdoor furniture on a sunny day. This is important as it helps your furniture to dry quickly. Soapy water is generally used for basic cleaning.
  • You can also use a professionally recommended teak cleaner product, which will brighten the wood and clean it at the same time.
  • When you are cleaning, make sure you use a non-metallic brush and scrub in the same direction as the grain. Do not use much force and rinse off your outdoor furniture with a water hose.
  • After you are done with your cleaning, pat the furniture dry using a towel and let the sun dry up any leftover moisture. Allow sufficient time for the wood to dry completely, in case you wish to clean it with a teak sealer application.
  • Stains are never a problem for teak wood furniture if you keep cleaning up spills quickly and stick to a regular cleaning routine. Make sure you are always using a soft-bristled scrub brush and soapy water for removing stains and dirt.
  • In case there are a few tough coffee and red wine stains that might get into the wood, rely on a commercial product to get the job done. When that doesn’t help, you can sand the surface of the wood for removing the stain completely. Start with coarser sandpaper followed by finer-grain sandpaper for a smooth finish.

Your teak wood outdoor furniture, such as your patio furniture, can be left outdoors all year round. It is tough to handle extreme weather conditions. But if you live in an area with a seasonal climate, it helps to bring your patio furniture indoors or cover it during the winters. Make sure the cover you are using does not trap moisture. This is important because you do not want to provide favorable conditions for mold to grow on the exterior of teak wood. Tyvek is ideally used for making covers for protecting outdoor furniture.

Maria, from Distinct Homes, recommends that if you are leaving your teak wood furniture outside in the cold season, give it a good cleaning in the spring season before using it. You can enjoy your teak wood outdoor furniture for years as it remains as good as new throughout the year. Since it lasts a long time, it is the most popular choice for patio furniture items. Clean it often for your children to enjoy it with you for the rest of your life.

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Growing Bonsai: Tips for Beginners

July 20, 2017
cooper klein
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Many people started growing plants to fill an empty corner in their yards. Stores often have a wide variety of trees to choose from. It’s not an easy decision. One option you might want to consider is growing bonsai trees. Bonsais can make a beautiful display. Growing them is also a fun and relaxing hobby. There are no special powers required to make a bonsai, just a bit of knowledge and enough time to care for them. Here are some tips from a bonsai enthusiast to get you started!

Tip 1: How to keep your tree mini

Scissors are the secret weapon to turn a tree into a miniature version of its potential. The trick to keeping the tree small is to continually cut back shoots as they grow. As a general rule, let a shoot grow to four or five sets of leaves and then cut it back to two. Each time you cut back a shoot, there is a good chance it will branch into two. Wait until those two shoots grow out and then cut them back to two sets of leaves. Do that again and again and soon there’ll be lots of little branches. Just keep in mind that to mimic real trees, you should aim for shorter node lengths (the distance between branch off points) the closer you get to the outside of the tree.

old man trimming bonsai

Tip 2: Sunbathe and rotate sides

As tempting as it may be to keep a bonsai inside so it can be shown off to guests, most species flourish with lots of sun.They can be displayed inside for a day or two here and there, but make their home in a sunny spot in the yard. For even growth, rotate the tree every few weeks so that sun gets on all sides. Otherwise, one side may look healthy while the other side looks sparse.

bonsai tree with yellow leaves

Tip 3: Read the soil

Bonsai soil dries up pretty quickly. There’s only so much water a small pot can hold. It may only take a few hot, dry days without water for a bonsai to wither and die, taking with it years of work and a piece of your heart. The key is to water the bonsai after the soil has mostly dried up but before It’s completely dry. Never let the soil completely dry out or it won’t last long. But allowing it to dry out a bit is necessary to prevent root rot, which is fungi growing in the root system. Root rot can occur when the soil is constantly damp. Watering daily is probably a reasonable place to start but try and read the soil rather than sticking to a strict time-based watering schedule.

Tip 4: Repot and trim the roots every year

Roots can quickly outgrow a small pot. If the roots take up too much space, there won’t be enough room for the soil and the tree won’t be able to absorb enough nutrients. To make sure there is enough room for the roots to grow, repot the tree every year and trim off about a third of the root mass during each repot. Mix in some slow release fertiliser into well drained soil and you’re ready for another season. The time to repot deciduous trees is when the leaf buds swell before buds open. For evergreens, research the specific variety to find the recommended time to repot.

Tip 5: Let your bonsai grow in free spirit

The quickest way to an old looking bonsai is to develop a nice thick trunk and to grow lots and lots of little branches at the outside of the tree. Having lots of little branches also helps make the leaves smaller too. The way to thicken the trunk is to let the tree grow. So let the top of the tree or a particular branch you want to thicken grow long. Yeah, it’ll look funny for a while, but you can chop it back after it thickens up.

bonsai tree

Tip 6: Be patient with the growth

After getting a bonsai, you may find yourself racing outside every few hours to see if it looks old yet. It’s going to take a while. Try and enjoy the process. Photo journalling is a great way to see progress over time. It won’t be until looking back over old photos that you realise how much they’ve grown and developed.

Tip 7:Get tooled up

To get started, you’ll probably need bonsai scissors, a branch cutter, some cut paste and some wire (a selection ranging from 1mm to 5mm in thickness). It’s worth going for quality. Japanese manufactured bonsai equipment is highly regarded. Although you can probably get away with using normal scissors for a little while, the benefits of bonsai scissors are the clean cuts especially on the roots during repotting. A clean cut will be more likely to generate new root branches. And a clean branch cut with quality branch cutters will heal over faster and more attractively.

tools for maintaining bonsai tree

Tip 8: Find some buddies

If you want to get into this bonsai thing, why not join a group or attend some classes to learn more? Discussing with others is a great way to learn and get solutions for problems in your area. Also, since bonsais are so needy, it can be hard to leave them on their own for any length of time which means it’s difficult to get away. A bonsai buddy may be willing to care for your bonsais while you tick off those travel goals.

So now you have another option to fill up that vacant patch of yard. If you could imagine yourself crafting some beautiful miniature trees and you have the ability to give them the attention and care they need, why not grow a bonsai? If you are interested in knowing other options for renovating your garden, connect with a local gardener or local arborist for more information.

Author Bio

Andrew works at Oneflare as an Android Developer He loves writing, mountain bike riding, and surfing. Oneflare is Australia’s fastest growing online marketplace connecting consumers with experts within the home improvement and services categories.

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Transform Your Outdoor Area Without Breaking The Bank

July 4, 2017
cooper klein
2 Comments

Australians love the great outdoors, but it’s all too easy to neglect our outdoor spaces when we think about rejuvenating the design of our home. We tell ourselves, it’s too big a job, no one sees the backyard anyway, and besides, it’s too expensive.

But an outdoor renovation can breathe new life into your home like nothing else, so we talked to Steve Jovcevski, property expert at financial comparison site Mozo.com.au, to get some top tips on refreshing your outdoor spaces – without sending you broke. Here’s what he had to say:

Assign the space a purpose

If you’re working to a budget, the first thing to do is sit down and think through what you want to achieve with your outdoor space. Will you be hosting big groups of people? Relaxing on your own? There’s no point spending a bundle on beautiful lawn furniture that you have to pack away every time family comes over because the kids want to play backyard cricket.

Choosing a centre piece for your outdoor area – say a classic BBQ – and then working out from that is a good way to create a cohesive, useful space. Decide what you want to use the space for, then make sure all your effort – and money – is going toward that purpose.

barbecue grill

Keep up with maintenance

Another easy thing that will give your outdoor areas an immediate boost is making sure you keep everything – from lawn, to garden beds, through to outdoor furniture or decks – well maintained. A nice neat lawn that’s mowed and watered regularly looks a thousand times better than one that’s been neglected, and old patio furniture can often be rejuvenated with a good scrub down and a bit of elbow grease.

Make an escape from the weather

One key way to make your outdoor space more useful and versatile is by putting up some kind of cover to keep it safe from the weather. This doesn’t have to be a full-blown pergola – a fabric sail can work just as well to keep the hot Aussie sun off and transform your backyard into an oasis.

It’s important to make sure your design elements all compliment each other and unify the space, and getting this major element right can help you with the design and tone of the rest of your outdoor entertaining area.

man mowing grass

Light up your life

When it comes to fairy lights, I find people either love them or hate them, but there’s a reason they’ve been a hot trend lately – if you often entertain at night, stringing fairy lights above an outdoor seating area is a quick, relatively cheap way to add a touch of magic to your backyard.

It’s a good idea to plan out where you’ll place the lights before you start, and as you do, keep in mind that the more lights you have, the more expensive it will be to buy and then run them. And remember – if you’re leaving them up permanently, make sure they’re not too exposed to the elements. Stringing them up under a pergola is a good way to keep lights dry.

Get creative with outdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture is one aspect of home design that I think you can really afford to get creative with. So instead of heading out to IKEA with a shopping list, think about DIY options, like repurposing old cinder blocks, tree stumps, or barrels as seating and tables.

The beauty of using these objects – aside from giving new life to what might have otherwise ended up as rubbish – is that you really get the chance to put your own style into it. It can be as rustic or luxurious, colourful or elegant, eclectic or streamlined as you want to make it.

old garden chairs

Opt for remnant stone

Hardscaping – putting in features like retaining walls, walkways and edging – can be one of the most expensive parts of sprucing up your outdoor areas. If you like the quaint, cottage-y look, one way to refresh your hardscaping while keeping a handle on your budget is to use stone leftovers that you can get cheap at building supply auctions.

This look isn’t for everyone though – so before you go ahead, make sure remnant stone will suit the overall look of the space. If the rest of your exterior design is ultra-sleek and modern, it’s going to look pretty out of place. A nice, modern alternative that might suit your look better is a green wall.

Look underfoot

The design of a great outdoor space often starts at the bottom. Choosing the right paving material can make a big difference to both the look of your space and your budget. Generally, crushed rock or gravel is a less expensive option than traditional pavers, and with the right styling, can look just as good – just don’t forget to lay weed mat first. Polished concrete is another good, low-cost and low-maintenance option that I personally favour.

If you prefer traditional pavers, think about interspersing them with grassy areas to cut back on the amount of expensive material you’ll need.

Steve is Mozo’s property investment and lending expert. With an extensive knowledge of home loan products and property trends, Steve is full of practical tips to help first homebuyers, refinancers or investors build and get the most out of their property portfolio.

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