Category Archives: ~Gardening/Yard

Cool Ideas for a Family-Friendly Backyard

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As cold and harsh weather gives way to soothing spring temperatures, we feel the magnetic pull of the outside world. The rejuvenating greenery of grass and trees is always there to greet us, but why not go the extra mile? No matter how big or small the yard is there is most likely a way to transform this outdoor space into a family oasis infused with homey comfort. This is an opportunity to achieve an active lifestyle brimming with utter fun and joy.

A central stage

The first thing to consider is how you want to utilize the space. Also, you have to ask yourself how many people will use it and how often. That should give you an idea about the features to be included. They can encompass everything from a fireplace and a dining area to a cocktail patio. Just note that strangely-shaped backyards provide special challenges in design. Hence, it is of the utmost importance to plan ahead of time.

A spacious patio is a must-have. It makes large family gatherings possible and establishes a seamless connection between interior and the backyard. A massive fireplace with a mural is a perfect focal point, making it a spot where one can unwind and melt the stress away after a long day. On the other hand, there is no need to spend a truckload of money on décor. Get your creative juices flowing and take on exciting DIY projects.

Make sure to invest in outdoor furniture sets to provide comfortable seating. Of course, weather-resistant pieces are highly recommended when putting together a durable outdoor area. The weather, though, is not the only natural enemy. I had to rely on professional services to identify potential timber damage as well as the presence of pests such as termites in furniture and decks.

Child’s play

Furthermore, create a space for kids. It might be a good idea to section it off with screens made from lattice fencing attached to posts. A row of brightly-colored plants like sunflowers can play the same role and add playful charm to the space. Likewise, there are many landscaping tricks to separate spaces within the yard. For instance, beds planted with tall plants and evergreen serve as handy natural borders and dividers.

A playhouse or a tree house could be just what the children need. Still, if you opt for plastic playing equipment, try to introduce more of the natural presence around. A sandbox is a nice addition as it can be converted into a raised vegetable garden. Vegetables always bring benefits for the family as they invite them to plant, tend, and harvest together. Oh, and do not forget to plant a plenty of grass for a soft surface for outdoor activities and sports.

Footloose and fancy-free

Once the kids have a place to enjoy their escapades, turn the attention to the set-apart space reserved for adults. A game room or pavilion is a chance to engage in favorite activities while the breeze fondles you. A waterproof pool table is a common sight in many entertainment areas, and curtains can be utilized to protect the players from the elements. A daybed positioned between container planters, on the other hand, is the perfect place to recharge the batteries.

Outdoor lighting allows everyone to stay outdoors even as the night beckons and snuggles the yard. It keeps the party going and ensures the much-needed functionality. What is more, it highlights landscaping and architectural features. Feel free to follow your taste. Lighting is the final piece of the puzzle you’ll need to assemble a backyard family refuge where you can curl up together and spend some quality time.

Make the magic happen

A magical backyard sanctuary brings the family closer together. In order to make the most of it, strive to summon a homelike atmosphere and give everyone something to enjoy. A hangout spot is paramount, but so are secluded areas for a more private chilling out. So, get inspired and roll up your sleeves. Merge prime functionality with swell aesthetics and immerse in the great outdoors with your family members for months to come.

How To Prep Your Garden For Cold Winter Months

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Having a nice and healthy garden requires certain effort on your part, especially when colder months are as good as here. Of course, your outdoor garden has to get proper sleep so that it can flourish during the spring season. With some changes and a little bit of work, you’ll give your lovely garden perfect conditions for quality winter sleep. So, if you’re unsure about the basic needs of your plants and trees during this cold period, keep on reading.

image-5Some cutting is necessary

Take a good look at your plants and bushes. There will undoubtedly be some dry foliage and stems. It’s very important to cut those back so that you can avoid further decomposition. Also, make sure to collect all the seeds that plants have to offer for the following season.

Remove the weeds

Any type of weed and debris should be removed from the plants’ surroundings before the ground gets too hard. This will allow them to get enough nutrients even during the winter months so that they can look healthy in spring. Also, weeds and debris can attract different pests, so your garden will definitely benefit with them gone.

Add organic compost

With dead plant debris, leaves and other organic waste you can make your own effective and protective compost soil that will keep the plants warm and provide them with nutrients. Make sure to add an extra layer of protective soil once the ground hardens completely. Snow will act as a good protective layer from the cold, but you also need this alternative since you cannot count on snow throughout the whole winter.

image-2Protect the trees

Trees also need adequate protection during winter months. Make sure to add tree-guard products. You can make these yourself or purchase the premade ones. This will significantly reduce the possibility of hungry critters munching on the bark. Also, don’t forget to prune the trees properly. Even though snow will act as a protective layer, drier branches can break under its weight which can be very dangerous.

What about Christmas tree?

If you plan on having a live Christmas tree, make sure to tend to it properly beforehand. This includes digging the hole in the ground for the tree before it gets too hard. Also, make sure to keep the soil somewhere safe in order to prevent freezing. Your garage can serve this purpose perfectly.

image-4Turn off all water sources

Removing water from your garden will actually prevent the soil, plants as well as garden props from freezing. Therefore, make sure to turn off your garden pipe and store the hose in the garage. If you have garden sprinkles, don’t forget to turn these off, too. Moreover, drain the fuel from any of your garden machinery such as lawn mowers.

Rake the leaves

Don’t leave the fallen leaves scattered around your garden. Instead, make sure to rake them and gather them on your pile for organic compost. Still, there will always be organic material that’s too decomposed for this purpose. Don’t try to make it work, but get the organic waste removed in JNS skip bins and similar services.

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Some plants will require more specific work compared to others when it comes to prepping for the winter season. In that respect, make sure to do a thorough research so that you know how to deal with every type of plant, herb, vegetable or shrub in your garden. The above-mentioned steps are the ultimate basics for effective winter garden prep, but you still need to pay special attention to tenderer flora that you want to take care of.

2017 Garden Design Trends

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If you think your garden looks outdated and plain, it’s time for a makeover. Garden design trends evolve from year to year, and every time they bring along new possibilities and great ideas. Turn your garden into a fabulous relaxing oasis full of greenery and gorgeous décor. Take your time to research, and make sure you check out some of our ideas which will help you create a wonderful and unique garden.

image-4Furniture

Sturdy and comfortable furniture is essential for gardens. Since you don’t want to think whether it’s going to be damaged by rain or snow, make sure you choose the furniture made of durable materials. Iron and wood are great choices. Zinc, rusty steel and wicker are the top materials for 2017, so make sure to check them out as well when you decide to buy new garden furniture. A large bench, with a couple of chairs and a table would look great in any garden. Add stylish cushions and create the perfect little nook you can relax in.

Day bed, with base cushion and pillows would be an excellent addition to the relaxing area. You’d be able to completely unwind with a good book, and enjoy fresh air laying on the comfortable garden bed. The perfect accent to an entire décor would be a fireplace. Additionally, consider buying a barbeque that you’ll light up once or twice a month, for a great outdoor party with your friends.

Lighting

The technology around lighting has evolved so much that all the different effects a proper set of lights can create will amaze you. Invest in LED lighting to create the perfect setting. They both make a great ambience and save energy. You can buy LED candles, and set their lighting scheme with a remote. In addition, they can change colour so you’ll always have a new kind of lighting available for your mood. Hang a couple of lights on the trees and above the dining area to create a romantic setting during the night.

image-2Plants

Pre-planted tomato pots, herb gardens, and even whole vegetable plots would look perfect in your garden. A touch of different colours would be amazing for the green grass.  Furthermore, plant various roses, azaleas, and other gorgeous flowers that will give your garden a pop of colour. Rose bush, a bonsai tree or peonies, every one of these wonderful flowers would perfectly decorate your garden. Make sure to keep some of the flowers in cobalt blue, metallic and lime green smooth planters. This way the garden will look even better.

If you’d like to start growing your own crops, plant tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce in order to get even more colour into your garden. However, don’t forget to protect your crops against weeds, insects and diseases with a quality boom sprayer.  They’ll grow nicely, and no pests will damage them.

image-3Decorative Items

Fountains, patios and gazebos are a wonderful addition to any garden. If your garden is large enough, make sure to incorporate some of these items into the design. A luscious fountain would be soothing, and help you relax once you lay down to your garden bed. A patio can be the perfect sanctuary for you, and a place where you can relax and enjoy the sunset.

A variety of hedges and planting would look incredible in your garden. Choose those in different shapes and sizes and create the unique garden design. Remember you’ll have to trim them regularly in order to keep them beautiful.

Garden designing has never been easier. All you need to do is be creative, think about the perfect furniture, plants and decorations that will transform your garden into a gorgeous oasis. Check out the previous suggestions and you’ll definitely find something that you can incorporate into your design.

 

 

 

 

Taking Care of Perennial Flowers

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The benefits of perennial flowers are many, and the main advantage is that they bloom each year, unlike annual flowers which need to be planted on a yearly basis. It is true that the flowers of perennial plants do not usually last for the entire season, but their foliage is lasting and remains verdant until late in the autumn.
Taking Care of Perennial Flowers
Perennial flowers include sun loving perennials and shade preferring perennials. The group of the former includes peony, poppy, salvia, black- eyed Susan, geranium, and many more. Shade perennials include plants such as bleeding heard, Solomon’s seal, violet, spiderwort, etc.
Taking care of perennial flowers is essential to maintain them attractive and healthy. For example, when they grow exuberantly, they get too crowded, and they do not flower attractively and efficiently. Then it is time to dig them out and replace them with new plants, or some parts which re well rooted can be planted individually to give the plants a new start.
Taking Care of Perennial Flowers2
In the beginning perennial plants are slow growers, and the reason is that during the first year of their growth they use the time to develop their root system. Then, when it has been fully established, perennial flowers start to grow, and their flowers become more attractive and appealing year in, year out.
The choice of perennial flowers for your Putney garden is difficult, because there are lots of them on offer, in flower shops and garden centres. Shops selling flowers and garden items are replete with perennial plants for sale, both early in the spring and in the autumn. There are both commonly grown perennial flowers and more unusual varieties which can be bought to add a new look to the garden. The abundance of perennial flowers on offer in Internet stores is even more impressive. People can take the time to choose and order the best perennial plants they find online.
Shopping for perennial flowers is advisable in the end of the summer, when they are available at reduced rates.
The care that should be taken of perennials includes providing the sufficient amounts of water and enough feeding. The need for water varies with different plants, and there are moisture loving as well as drought tolerating ones, as well as varieties whose needs are in between. The needs of perennials for water should be taken into account when choosing them for specific garden conditions. But water is a crucial factor for healthy growth, because it the roots to get established and to expand after the plants are inserted in the ground. Feeding is equally important for robust and more exuberant growth and blooming. All purpose garden fertilisers are good feeding agents, but perennial flowers should not be fed when autumn is approaching and the growth of all plants starts to slow down.
Perennial flowers grow for minimum two years, and a decade as the maximum. When good care is taken of them, and they receive enough water and food when they need it, they are certain to delight with their beauty for as long as possible. Perennial plants are definitely a good companion throughout the year.

Does Your Garden Need A Lawn?

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Knowing full well the kind of care and time it takes to create and maintain a lawn of enough quality that it looks good enough to be worth having, you may be wondering as to whether it is the right thing to have in your home. Whilst larger houses will almost always benefit from a big back or front lawn, there is no loss of pride in deciding that the old style of having a well manicured lawn may not suit your home, and it can often be a massive waste of time to try and procure one, if it is only going to turn out as some patchy scraggle of land. It is much better to try and ensure that you are getting the best out of your outdoor areas in terms of size, shape and the style of building. It is also a good idea to ensure that you have a garden that you find easy and time efficient to keep in check. You don’t want the expert garden maintenance to become such a trial that you end up having to call in the gardening experts every week, so ensure that your garden clear up leaves you with an area that you can enjoy and maintain with ease.

For a start, gardens of a strange or unaccommodating shape can be difficult to make work. This is particularly the case with a lawn. A narrow strip of lawn set amongst the high walls of a terraced home’s back yard will often look a bit flat and oppressive. If you have a garden that slopes drastically, then the use of the lawn will often be difficult, in that you can really play games on it, and putting tables and chairs out will lead to uncomfortable seating! Instead, why not build tiers with old railway sleepers, and plant them with interesting plants or vegetables? This will yield a lot more interesting looking surroundings than fastidious lawn care! You should find that there are a number of ways in which you can break up the levels as well as the angles in your garden, to ensure that you are less at risk of missing the idea of a lawn.

In terms of the shape of the outdoor area, you will need to understand the ways in which the eye moves. You may want to have a conversation with a landscape gardener, as they will have an excellent understanding of this, and a brief introduction into landscape gardening can be all that you need to get things going in terms of planning your dream space. They will likely tell you that curves in the plot as well as obstructions for the eye to move around, will break up the space in a less linear way, leading to more interesting spaces, that feel bigger, or at least more interesting. If you have a long and narrow garden, you can break it up with raised decking at the back, or even an overhanging tree in a corner. If your garden turns a corner, making it difficult to enjoy the space properly, why not turn that extra part in to a vegetable patch, and grow yourself some fresh produce? The use of hard decking or paving in conjunction with large terra cotta pots and large plants will give the place a sophisticated yet still verdant feeling. This is prefect if the soil beneath is not of optimum planting condition, or you simply want a more sturdy place to relax! You should find that landscaping with garden design services yields a great number of ideas!

For some more great information about yard care check out this website: https://www.experteasy.com.au/lawn-mowing-and-lawn-care