Archive for May, 2008

Add A Bridge and Pond To Your Landscaping

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

There is no limit to the kinds of landscaping you can do in your backyard. You are limited only by your imagination.

If you have a large back yard, give some thought to installing a water garden, with a bridge crossing over it. Water gardens can provide such a soothing vista to the eye, and the bridge over it will add a charming touch.

It’s quite possible for you to buy a bridge kit from home improvement stores, and even from the internet. Such companies as Garden Bridges offer a wide variety of bridges, constructed of wood or metal, depending on your preferences. These bridges vary in length from 4 feet upwards, and from bridges with no rails to one rail, to a rail on both sides, or simple rails of rope.< www.mastergardenproducts.com> Master Garden Products is another site that offers a variety of bridges – to span masses of sand, or rock, or water.

For a bridge you need water for it to span
If you’d like to add a pond or water garden to your backyard, it’s certainly possible for you to do it yourself. You’ll have to make your plan carefully so that you can build it as efficiently as possible. The best thing to do is purchase a do-it-yourself kit which comes with all the materials you’ll need, all specially shaped so that you won’t have to bother yourself with that part of it. However, be aware that adding a pond is extremely labor intensive.

Clearwater Landscapes is a company that not only offers do-it-yourself pond kits, but also waterfalls! If a backyard pond is a great conversation piece, think of what the addition of a small waterfall would do. Pond Solutions is another company that offers a variety of design kits.

What to know before you start
Before you can start building your pond, you’ll first have to check the electrical and city codes for your area to make sure you can build the pond that you want.

Then determine where you want your pond. You must give this a lot of thought, as once it’s installed it would be extremely inconvenient to move. If you live in a location that gets very cold, or has lots of snow in winter, that will be a consideration as well. Because the water in a pond is always moving, thanks to the pump, it will probably never freeze…but it is important that you maintain the pump properly so that the worst does not happen.

It’s only after you decide on the type of pond you’ll have that you’ll get the bridge to go over it!

But it’s not necessary to have a water garden or pond in order to enjoy the look of a bridge. Japanese gardens, for example, quite often have a bamboo bridge simply leading right up to the edge of a rock garden. You’ll want to surf the web to see all the possibilities, and then take it from there.

Outdoor Storage Planning Tips

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Have you taken a good long look at your yard lately? If you have, chances are you’ve been dreaming about more outdoor storage space. If you’re tired of tripping over yard equipment, looking at unsightly weed whackers and lawn mowers or dodging your kids’ outdoor toys, a storage building may be the solution to all your outdoor storage dilemmas.

The best way to contend with your outdoor overcrowding is to add a storage shed to your property. But how can you best prepare for a storage building while you wait for it to be constructed? Here are some storage planning tips to maximize your storage shed experience.

- Get rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year. Have a yard sale, donate your useless outdoor storage items to charity or auction them off on eBay. The less clutter you have to begin with, the less cluttered your new storage building will be.

- Get organized. Arrange your outdoor storage items by category and/or season. When your storage shed is ready, put the items you won’t need for a while in the back so that those outdoor items you do need are at your ready disposal. Rotate the items in your storage shed each season for optimum efficiency.

- Carefully examine each of your outdoor storage items. Is the starter on your grill failing to ignite? Then replace it. Do your inflatable pool toys have leaks? Then toss them. Are the blades on your lawn mower dull? Then get them sharpened. There’s no point in filling up your new storage building with outdoor storage items that don’t work properly.

With a little advance preparation on your part, a storage shed from Heartland, America’s #1 backyard builder, can change your life for the better. Follow the aforementioned outdoor storage tips and enjoy a backyard transformation.

Tips for Selecting Lawn and Patio Furniture

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

The right furniture can really help you to have a yard that looks how you want it to. Acquiring the right lawn and patio furniture can be the difference between a triumph and a disaster. However, a lot of people commit the mistake of hastily purchasing the cheapest lawn and patio furniture they can find. They think that it does not matter since the furniture will be placed outside. You might as well not sit in your lawn furniture if you share this attitude.

You should take as much pride in your outdoor furniture as you would in the furniture in your living room. If you want to spend some of your time in your lawn chairs or picnic table, then you should get the best ones you can find. The key to having an enjoyable afternoon outside your house is the comfort and attractiveness of your lawn and patio furniture.

There are many factors that you need to consider when you are planning to get lawn and patio furniture. For instance, you need to think about the setting. You can get almost anything that you could get for your living room if you want to get furniture for a glassed in porch.

There are more limits when you want to get furniture for your patio or deck, but they can still be pretty nice. You can use chairs with stained wood, or tables with glass tops for your patio or deck. In contrast, the furniture for your lawn should be even more rugged. You should get something that does not show dirt because it will probably get dirty and be subjected to the elements.

The material is another factor that you should consider for your lawn and patio furniture. Do your best to get the furniture that meshes nicely with your surroundings. In my opinion, nothing looks nicer than a good medium shade wood for deck furniture. Get something that is light and cheery enough to put anyone who is sitting on it into a good mood. It should also be dark enough to look a little bit outdoorsy and rustic, and to not show dirt too much.

You should also consider the shape when you purchase lawn and patio furniture. An outdoor chair should also be uncomfortable to sit in. Choose lawn and patio furniture that are comfortable enough that you might chose to sit on it, even if it were inside. You should not sacrifice comfort when you choose outdoor furniture.