Posts Tagged ‘garden’

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Landscape Lighting

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

While maintaining a fantastic looking garden is important you ought to think about means of allowing the beauty of your garden to show through in various sorts of weather conditions. Some people also want to have the option of having their garden lit up at night. For these people, looking at different landscape lighting options will allow you the chance of having your garden looking just the way you want it, no matter what the natural lighting conditions are.

In order to provide the right landscape lighting conditions, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of lighting fixtures. These fixtures can be in the form of lamps, lanterns, spotlights, halogen lights and even solar-powered lights. The price of these lighting fittings differs for each style of light.

If you are planning on using landscape lighting you will have to decide where to put the lighting in order to achieve the best lighting effects. You may also want to consider which lights will provide your garden with a bright lighting. You can look in gardening magazines to obtain an idea of the various ways that landscape lighting fittings can be utilized.

While it is possible to get ideas for placing landscape lighting in your garden from landscape magazines there is another way too. For this method, you should look at your garden in the daytime and in the night time. In the morning you will need to look what places in your garden would be improved by the use of landscape lighting. When night falls look out at your garden again and see what areas would benefit from the use of lighting.

Then, the morning after this nocturnal inspection, you can go out into the garden again and mark out approximately where you feel there is a requirement for landscape lighting. Once you have inspected this area properly, try imagining what kind of lights will be useful. You can then go to the garden store to look for these types of lights.

After you have bought your perfect lights and you have looked at the instructions on setting them up you will need to start fixing the landscape lighting in a way that will make the most out of your garden. You ought to try subtle and strong lighting in order to decide on the best for your garden; a dimmer can help with these tests.

Once you have completed your trials and have installed your final version, you will see what a difference having the right landscape lighting can make to your garden. From now on, when night falls, you will see the beauty of your garden in a different light.

If you thinking about using lighting for your home or garden, please click the previous link or for more landscaping ideas, please go to Stylish Home Decor

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To Landscape Or Not To Landscape?

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

If you have more than a small town garden, then landscaping your garden will probably be one of your considerations. If you have just bought the land, or you think that it is time for a garden make-over, there are methods of going about it. The easiest technique of going about planning a garden, is to first take a good look at the landscape of your garden. This can be difficult if the garden is established and in full flower.

Therefore, it can be better to wait until autumn or winter, so that you can see the true lie of the land. You could make a plan of the garden on graph paper and take a load of photos too. Identify the photos on the back of them and relate them to the grid on your graph paper. There may be bumps and hollows, potholes, rocky areas and even a marsh or a pond to cope with.

These are almost certainly natural features and if you want to change them, you will have to tackle the fundamental cause. The feature is only the symptom. Like freckles or spots! If you look at the state of affairs in this way, it makes planning simpler.

For example, a rocky patch probably means that the Earth is throwing stones up gradually and if you want to clean it up, you will be picking up stones for the rest of your life. Similarly, if your wet area is the result of natural drainage from higher ground, you will have to drain it and put in permanent drainage, because it is not going to stop raining for you.

So, you can either work with nature or you will be working against it for the remainder of your life. Either that or paying someone else to do it for you. Another issue is that the wildlife that uses your locale does so because of how it is. If you change the landscape, your current range of flora and fauna might move on or just die. A lot depends on how much land we are chatting about, but in general, I would say that the larger the area, the more you should leave it alone.

On the other hand, you can put in features more easily than remove them. For example, if you have an area with poor soil, you could enrich it with fertilizer or put a pond there. Shade and existing fences or sheds should also be marked on your graph paper, although being man-made, these are simpler to do away with or alter.

Next you should make up your mind what kind of garden you want, within the constraints of the existing landscape, how much work you are willing to put into it and how much money you want to pay out on it. Enhancing the natural features of the land is the easiest way of landscaping your garden.

If you have a swampy area, why not put a low wall around it and turn it into a pond? If you have a rocky patch, why not gather up the stones and create a rockery? If you have a couple of trees, try growing wisteria, honeysuckle or vines through them.

If you are in the shade, buy flowers that prefer the shade and vice-versa. It is a struggle to go against nature and unless you have a good cause to do it, it is not really worthwhile. Then build a patio or deck and sit outside and enjoy all the landscaping that you have saved yourself in your garden.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with outdoor heat lamp. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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The Workshop Heater

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

If you have converted your garage into a workshop or home office, you are sure to want heating of one form or another. This is because most garages are not built to the same standards of insulation as the main residential building. However, that need not present a difficulty. You may even have the opposite problem during the summer, as garages often do not have windows, or at least large ones, either.

Ventilation could be another matter that you will have to cope with, but we will come to that later. If you have a plentiful supply of dead wood, you could set up a pot-bellied stove, but you will have to vent the flue outside. This is very easily done, since most garage walls are only one brick or block thick. However, if they do not burn correctly, there can be a smell, which you may find disagreeable.

Or you could use a paraffin/kerosene heater. They are cheap to buy and are readily portable. These heaters do not necessarily have to have a flue. They are easy to turn on as many of them have an electric starter. Some also have a thermostat to control the temperature. They can be a hazard if there are children around as they can be tipped over. However, for most people, the problem would be the smell given off.

You could use an electric hot air heater. They are quite cheap to buy, are easily portable and do not require a flue, but they can create a very dry atmosphere and are costly to run.

One of the most popular choices these days is a gas heater. There are many different kinds of gas heater, but most run on butane or propane. Most of the models are fairly inexpensive. The main benefit of a gas heater is that they give consistent heat, are fairly cheap to run and are portable. Or at least many of them are.

You could have one built in, but it is hardly worth it, unless you are using gas that needs to be vented. Propane gas heaters also come with or without thermostatic controls. A propane heater could also double as a patio or deck heater on chilly evenings.

These gas heaters come in two forms: vented and unvented. The unvented models are the portable ones. They use the air from the room and the vented models have a flue that vents straight out of the garage. The slight disadvantage of the unvented model is that you have to keep the room airy at all times.

Therefore, if you choose a portable, unvented propane heater, you must leave a window partly open in order to allow the exchange of air and these heaters can be used as patio or deck heaters during the spring and autumn/fall. However, the vented gas heaters are fixed and have a flue attached, so they cannot be taken outside. Furthermore, if you decide on a vented model, you would be better off getting a professional in to install it for you by the book.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the propane outdoor heater. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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Stone Patios, Wooden Decks And Accessories

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Would it not be lovely, at the end of a hard day’s work or on your day off, to relax outdoors on your patio deck? It is a daydream that many people have. But it does not have to be only a dream.You could be actually doing it within a few of weeks. You can either make the deck or patio yourself, if you are useful with your hands or you can hire someone in.

The best thing to do is talk with your contractor about your plans about size and materials. If you want to have a go at making it yourself, take the dimensions to your local builders’ merchant and get them to give you a price. If you need it, they can normally recommend a contractor to you. This can be a good idea, even if it is only to get an idea about price.

There are also plenty of ’standard’ plans available too. You could get a few gardening magazines, you will be able to tell the ones you want by their titles. You could also look on the Internet. There is also designing software for this sort of project, it just depends what you want your input to be.

You could just hand the whole task over to your builder, if that is what you want. However, I would go for a drink with my wife and take paper and pens. Over a drink or two, I would encourage us both to make a few sketchy plans of what we would like. Then you can chat about and amalgamate the designs.

You also have to decide whether you want a raised deck or one at ground level. A raised, wooden deck might help keep the snakes at bay, but a stone patio puts you right in the middle of your garden and flowers.

A consideration, depending on where you live, could be the use of patio heaters. If you think that you may have to use patio heating at various times of the year because of the weather, you might not want your patio deck made of timber. After spending time and money on your new patio deck, you will want to make use of it whether it is a bit chilly or not, which is where the heaters come in.

Furthermore, patio heaters are not that pricey any more and not that dear to run. If you add a mosquito trap and some lighting, you will have a pleasure to enjoy for the rest of your life.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with commercial patio heaters. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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Choose: Picnic Or Barbecue?

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Are you thinking of throwing a party in the near future, but are not sure whether to have a picnic in the park or a barbecue party at home? People do enjoy both kinds of party, although some may have a first choice. One of the big differences between a picnic and a barbecue is often the food.

After all, you are usually permitted to have a barbecue and cook food in your own backyard, but there may be bylaws on cooking food on an open fire in a park or picnic site for fire safety purposes, so most people take pre-cooked meats and sandwiches.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both types of party, but we will begin by looking at the food aspect, as most parties centre around food. An advantage of having a picnic is that you will be able to muck in with your fellow revellers more, because you will have already cooked the chicken wings and legs and made the sandwiches the night before.

You will have bags of sausage rolls and small cakes and all you will have to do is put them out for people to help themselves. If you run out of sandwiches, people can make their own with the sliced bread that you will have brought just in case.

The disadvantages of a picnic are that you also have to tie your time up the day before making all the food and you will need transport to get there with your hampers, bottles, flasks, plates, beakers, tissues, flannels towels and whatever else you normally take with you. People may not even like your choice of sandwiches and if you let them make their own with what you provide, there could be a terrible mess. Your sandwiches could also curl up overnight of go off in the heat of the day or in the back of the car. This is a particular danger with pork, chicken and eggs.

You may have to erect a tent or rig up a shelter for those who can not stand strong sunlight. You may also have trouble with ants and wasps and the toilet facilities are often dreadful. Also if it begins to rain, you have little option but to pack up and leave for home or a pub

Barbecue food on the other hand is cooked there and then and cannot spoil. The only danger is under cooking, but it is not too difficult to get it right. There is not much likelihood of preparing vast quantities more than you require either as the chef will see when his food is not being taken away.

This is one of the disadvantages of barbecuing though, someone needs to stand there all day and cook, although this can be done in turns and there is usually a string of men willing to show off their expertise as a barbecue chef.

With a barbecue you have the advantage of shelter if it rains and the toilets are better than in the park and if it gets cool later on in the evening, you could use a patio heater to prolong the party.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the outdoor heat lamp. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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Gardening: 6 Gardening By The Yard Tips

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

If you’ve got a small yard and would like an easy but professionally maintained garden, you only need two things - resolution and understanding. These are some pointers about the way to keep your garden by the yard looking sharpened up and glamorous.

Deadheading Keep your border free from shriveled flowers and dried leaves. Deadheading or removing dead flower heads will spur the plants to provide more blooms for longer. Many evergreens like geraniums and dahlias, and some annuals benefit from having spent blooms removed.

Pinch out tops. Certain plants - especially foliage plants like Coleus - respond with a spurt of growth when their tops are pinched out. Pinching out makes the plant much bushier and so more blooms are produced. Fuchsias are prone to becoming leggy unless they are pinched out.

Three. Fertilize gently. A nominal quantity of manure will further augment the expansion of your foliage. If you water your yard often, you’ve got to fertilize it more continually due to nutrient depletion. A bimonthly application of liquid manure is often more favourable than granules as it is more quickly soaked up by the leaves. Container plants will be significantly more fit with a half-strength solution of liquid fertilizer applied continually.

Remove. This is one of the best techniques to save the brilliant thing about your garden by the yard. Remember, weeds say with your plants for both nutrient elements and moisture. If the weeds aren’t close to seeding, leave them on the bed to rot down for mulch. If you have got to employ a weedicide, attempt to get a wick applicator, rather than a spray. This will protect you plants from spray-drift.

Water them well. One good tip when it comes to watering your garden by the yard is to give it a thorough soaking once a week, making sure there is no run-off to cause erosion. Deep watering will encourage the growth of deeper roots that will be able to withstand dry spells weatherwise.

Say no to chemicals. Chemicals are dangerous to humans and often kill the natural predators of the pest in your garden, so avoid them if possible. There are many organic alternatives that work almost as well. With these simple tips, your garden by the yard will soon be the envy of your neighbors.

Want to find out more about Gardening, then visit Bob Andrews’s Blog Now!

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Cool Dog Names

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Fashion seems to dictate everything these days. From what you wear to what you name your dog, everything you do is dictated by the need to be fashionable. Cute dog names are hard to come by and even harder to choose. This is because as soon as something is in fashion, than it is out again.

Who would want to pick a cool dog name that may not be fashionable tomorrow? So, people usually play it safe, which is why the same names have been so popular for so long. To try and break that cycle, five cute dog names are given below with our reasons why you should choose one of them for your dog.

Phoenix: What could be cuter than a bird that goes up in flames and then rises from the ashes? Phoenix is one of the cute dog names that will never go out of fashion because it is located in mythology. It has a timeless quality which has surprisingly failed to boost its popularity.

Star: Star is one of the cute dog names because it has so many meanings that you can have a hard time finding out where to begin. A star in the sky is a phenomenon and a star can refer to someone that outperforms in a certain field. It is indeed a high form of praise and so is definitely a cool dog name.

Lady: Lady is one of the most popular dog names but it is also one of the cool dog names because of the Disney cartoon film, Lady and the Tramp, which was a massive hit. The film made the name popular but also gave it some credibility. In this case, popularity comes second to coolness.

Elvis: The coolest of cool dog names. Elvis Presley was definitely cool and remains cool today even after his death. It is infinitely cool to name your dog after an icon who never goes out of fashion.

Shadow: There is a dark and ethereal quality about Shadow that makes it a cool dog name. It would be best used on a large breed of dog however, because it wouldn’t have the same strong effect with a small one.

Whatever cute dog names you consider for your pooch, it is one sure-fire way to give them an identity of their own and make them memorable in the eyes of others. .

Does your dog need training? If you need further information on dogs in general, then visit our website entitled Successful Dog Training

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DIY Home Improvement

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

It appears that there has been a decline in consumer confidence in the building and construction industry of late. This may be because of the scams highlighted on television or the bribery and corruption endemic in the corporate sector, but it is almost certainly the same motivation why so many are now carrying out home improvements by themselves.

And why shouldn’t they? A little knowledge of the technical aspects combined with an eye for creativity is often enough to complete the home improvement on your own.

Why are people turning to DIY home improvements?

There are many people attempting to pass themselves off as construction workers, although they do not have a lot of experience in construction or home maintenance and they are literally are out there right now practising, learning their trades on homes like yours and mine around the country.

As a result, homeowners are finding that the jobs are not being finished to their liking. Sometimes they are even pre-paying for services that do not get done or were not part of the plan.

You do not have to rely on and pay someone to improve your home. Why not try to do it yourself?

You can enhance your home?s existing concrete surfaces using acid stains, acrylic paints, epoxy paints, and scoring techniques.

If you are tired of looking at dull gray concrete, there are some easy projects if you are serious about having a go at home improvement DIY, you can easily give your patio, driveway or garage a refreshing new look.

Attractive concrete work costs about double that of standard concrete, which is why many people cannot afford it.

However, there are inexpensive methods to beautify concrete after it has cured, without having to pay skilled tradesmen.

Acid-based concrete stains are becoming more and more popular for coloring concrete surfaces. They chemically react with the cement to generate permanent color with a variegated or mottled appearance like that of marble. This results in a natural, stylish looking surface.

Water-based concrete stains are an alternative to acid stains but are much more user friendly because they are so much less toxic. These stains do not chemically react with the concrete; they are absorbed into the porous surface and act like a colorant. The big advantage of water based stains is the wide range of colors on hand.

If you want to venture beyond the basic staining of your concrete, think about using some scoring techniques to create patterns on the surface.

You can make your concrete resemble a tiled floor for instance. It is just up to your imagination. A mini angle grinder with a 4 inch grinding wheel is the ideal tool for this.

The key thing to bear in mind when scoring is to trace out the pattern on the concrete first and ensure you are satisfied with the way it looks because scoring is irreversible.

Epoxy paints make an outstanding coating for garage floors and cellar floors. Many industrial floors have epoxy coatings because of their hardiness and resistance to chemical spills as well as their appearance.

In recent years, however, it has become very popular for domestic use with the availability of an increasing number of different colors. This is not a complicated job, but the key to successful application is surface groundwork.

Epoxy paints have also become obtainable in a water based form making it safe for the DIY’er and perfect for indoor jobs. They cost a little more than stains. For a 400 square foot garage, you’ll pay out about $200 for the materials needed for this venture.

So, you see? You do not have to spend big money to improve your home. You have the ability to do it yourself. With a few instructions and a little bit of work, anyone can turn dull concrete into a work of art of their own.

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on several subjects, but is currently involved with Flowtron Bug Zapper devices. If you would like to know more, please go to our website at Indoor Bug Zapper

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Unusual Uses for the Indoor Bug Zapper

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
by Owen Jones

I don’t know whether you have ever used a handheld, indoor bug zapper, but I think that they are marvelous. I?m talking about the handheld type that looks like a child’s plastic, toy tennis racquet. They come in two basic kinds. I prefer the rechargeable bug zapper, because batteries end up up costing more than the indoor bug zapper itself, although you could always buy rechargeable batteries, but then they are dear as well.

My wife and I like to spend time in the garden. We meet friends there, dine there and in general loaf about outside, as do most folks about here, when they are not working. What’s more, it?s much cooler outside than inside. A comfortable chair, a few snacks, a cool drink and a book or a companion and life does not get much better. In fact, it’s idyllic.

That is until about six or seven o’clock when the first wave of mosquitoes have judged that the sun’s rays have lost enough strength that they will not evaporate and they come out searching for blood. Some evenings are worse than others, of course. Usually, the mosquitoes are pretty tolerable, especially seeing as I have discovered the indoor bug zapper. (I don’t know why it is referred to as an ?indoor bug zapper?, it is just as effective outdoors as in).

It’s not that I want to slaughter things, but I find it hard to have sympathy for mosquitoes. Nevertheless, I do get a definite amount of enjoyment from seeing and hearing mosquitoes and other bugs literally explode with a flash and a zap as they come into contact with the charged and earth wires of the indoor bug zapper. These electric bug zappers can pack quite a charge, especially if the batteries are new or the pack is completely charged.

The other day, I discovered a novel use for my handheld, indoor bug zapper. I’ll tell you how it came about. I was in the garden, as usual, and my bug zapper was close at hand as the first squadron of mosquitoes was due. I had my book in one hand and the bug zapper on my knees, when my wife asked me to go to the shop for her. No problem, so, I set off on the five minute walk.

I was half-way there when I realized that I had the indoor bug zapper in my hand, but it was not worth taking it home and beginning the journey again. Anyway, on my return trip, I had my small bag of groceries in one hand and the indoor bug zapper in the other, when a local tyrant of a dog came running out of a garden right for me. This has occurred often and, although he has never bitten me yet, it is quite intimidating. He stood there glaring at me with teeth bared and his ‘pack’ of sundry neighborhood pals came out to surround me and join in.

I don’t actually know what the best course of action is in this situation. I have tried holding my ground, but the intimidation just continues and I have tried to continue walking, but he gets worryingly close sometimes. This time, I suddenly lashed out with the indoor bug zapper and just hit him on the snout. Well, I’m not sure whether it hurt him, it did not appear to too much, but it gave him a very nasty shock in more ways than one, I can tell you! He leapt about four feet into the air as if he were on a pogo stick and then fled for all he was worth with all his friends behind him. It was very gratifying after six months of persecution from this dog.

Anyway, I don’t take my indoor bug zapper everywhere with me, but I will in future, if any more local dogs bother me. I know it works a treat. I have seen that one since, but he keeps far away from me and doesn’t utter a sound. I think I would take my indoor bug zapper with me, if I were wandering in an unknown part of town or the park nevertheless.

About the Author:
Have you ever used an indoor bug zapper? If you haven’t, or if you want to get an indoor bug zapper, just click one of the hyperlinks to our web site or blog.

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Common Indoor Bugs

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

The common indoor bugs we see anywhere in the world are flies, spiders, fleas and beetles. No-one likes to have a bug indoors, so most people go to just about any extremes to get rid of these common indoor bugs. Less common indoor bugs may be woodlice, earwigs, scorpions and millipedes or centipedes, although they are not less unwelcome.

No matter where you live in the world, it is very hard to keep these common indoor bugs outside, unless you go to the extremes of keeping all your windows and doors closed all of the time, which is quite impossible. I now stay in Thailand and I know for certain that this is not an option.

So, what on Earth can you do? Well, let’s deal with all the flying bugs first, as of all the common indoor bugs, I find them the most obnoxious indoor bug. They are very annoying, buzzing around your head and mosquitoes and other flies can produce irritating sores and besides that, all flies spread disease. I hate to see them walking on food, knowing that they have probably just come off some dung heap somewhere and now they are spitting on my food to taste it with their stinking feet!

My first line of defence is fine-mesh door and widow screens. They are not dear and can be added retrospectively to any window. My window meshes slide, so they will protect only one half of the window at a any one time, but I do not think that’s a problem. You can still create cross-winds, by opening two or more windows at opposite ends of a room. I love to see the flies on the mesh trying to get in by day and the mosquitoes doing the same by night. At night, it is best to switch on as little light indoors as possible so as not to draw these common indoor bugs.

My second line of defence is natural predators - lizards, like Geckos (Jin Jok, in Thai). Some people don’t like them in the house either and I can’t say that I’m all that keen on them indoors myself, but they are hard to keep out and they do consume hundreds, if not thousands, of indoor bugs every day. I particularly like to see them lying in wait on the outside of the mesh, ready to pounce on any bug trying to struggle its way through the wires.

My third line of defence is an indoor bug zapper. You know, the electric, handheld bug zapper that looks like a child’s tennis racquet. The come in two forms: battery and rechargeable kinds. They are fantastic at trapping and destroying any flying indoor bug. The bug literally explodes and vaporizes on contact with the fully-charged wires of the indoor bug zapper. If you haven’t tried using one, you really should. They are most gratifying. These three defences keep our house pretty much free of flies.

The crawling common indoor bugs are less of a problem really. Door screens on springs will keep 95% of them out and the Geckos will help too. Spiders can get in fairly easily, but then, I don’t mind them too much as long as they keep out of my way, as they consume other insects too. They are on our side to be honest. However, for those who can not bear to catch them and put them outside, the handheld indoor bug zapper works well on spiders too.

Fleas can be a problem, if you have cats or dogs, but then if you wash or dust the animal once a month, you should be able to keep those common indoor bugs under control quite easily. However, there are two final methods that we use. Every week, before we go out for the day, we spray every room with fly killer and every six-months we spray any rugs or carpets with an insect killer containing permethrin, which will survive washing and vacuuming for that long without losing its ability to kill common indoor bugs on contact. If you stick with these measures, you should be able to keep your home or office quite free of the most common indoor bugs and any less common indoor bug as well.

Have you ever used an indoor bug zapper? If not, or if you want to get an indoor bug zapper, just click one of the links to our website or blog.

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