Round Outdoor Area Rugs And Other Outdoor Decorating Ideas

An outdoor living space is really just an extension of your home; when you create an outdoor living room you are essentially adding a room onto your home.  You may use this room for entertaining friends and family, or you may just use it as your personal retreat.  Either way, your outdoor space should be a comfortable, relaxing place.  There are many furniture and accessory choices available that will allow you to decorate this space in any style you choose.  Consider little touches like round outdoor area rugs or colorful throw pillows to make it seem more like an indoor room.

Round rugs are unique. They give a warm and creative feeling that is hard to achieve with the classic rectangle that most area rugs come in. By placing one in your garden or patio sitting area, you’ll make your outdoor environment so much more inviting.

You’ll also want to think about color. Red rugs are a classic choice, and can work beautifully with wrought iron patio furniture. Purple area rugs, while unusual, can look especially striking in a green area, and if you have blue, purple, orange, or yellow flowers in your garden, this can be a choice that you’ll be thrilled with in the long run.

You can further go about decorating your outdoor space by choosing furniture that best suits your needs; think of the amount of space you have and whether that space is protected from the elements.  Outdoor furniture is usually made of weather resistant materials, however, if the area is not covered, you may want to think of storing cushions when they are not in use, so they are not left in the rain.  Arranging the outdoor furniture is another consideration; think about traffic flow and arrange the furniture in a way that will allow easy maneuverability and conversation.  If you have enough space, set them up around your round outdoor area rug for a lovely arrangement. If you already have outdoor furniture, you can update the look with new slipcovers, cushions or just some colorful throw pillows. For inexpensive options, shop at a patio cushions clearance sale.

Lighting and accessories are an important part of an outdoor room; lighting will allow you to use the outdoor space after the sun goes down and accessories can make it more comfortable and cozier.  Consider what the area is going to be used for when choosing lighting; if the space is just for relaxing in the evenings candles or holiday lights can create a tranquil atmosphere.  If you are using the space for outdoor dining or playing family games, you may need more light than candles provide.  There are many choices for outdoor lighting from wall sconces to weather resistant table and floor lamps.  Accessories can make a big difference in an outdoor room, an outdoor rug can make the floor warmer and add color to the décor; warm throws can allow you to snuggle up when cooler weather comes and still enjoy the outdoors.

There are many things you can do to make your outdoor living space comfortable and useful.  Simply rearranging the furniture and adding some accessories may make all the difference in the world.  If you are starting from scratch, some prior planning and research will make your decisions easier; and allow you to have an outdoor area you will enjoy for years to come.

Lawn mowers, regardless of type and power source, are among the most dangerous equipment used in the house. It is therefore important to keep the kids away from the lawn when adults are mowing in order to prevent any untoward incident from happening.

There are thousands of cases of lawn mower injuries which are reported every year and many of the casualties are kids. The effects of these accidents are only physical but can also leave psychological trauma. The simplest way to address safety issues on lawn mowers is to exercise great caution in the use and maintenance of lawn mowers. The following are few safety precautions that are very easy to follow:

• Keep the young children away from the mowing area. You will not want them anywhere near the mowing area because stones and small objects that are fired off by the mower might hit and hurt the young ones.
• Pick up stones and debris and clean the yard before you start mowing to ensure that no objects will hit the mower and be thrown to bystanders. This is a preventive measure just in case the kids wander off to the lawn.
• Entrust the children under the care of another adult because if they are not watched, these kids might not stay away from the yard even if they were told to do so. You do not want to risk their safety and you will feel more at ease if you know that they are secure somewhere else, preferably indoors.
• Children can be very persuasive and might ask you to give them a ride in the mower but do not heed such request. It is very dangerous to carry children while operating the mower because the operator might get distracted. There will be a possibility that the operator will not be able to operate the mower in the right way and complications might arise. The children may also fall from the mower and get seriously hurt after a sudden turn or increased speed.
• Never use the mower as a means to impress the children with your tactics because children listen greatly to adults and tend to follow their activities. It is possible that the children will try to operate the mowers when adults are not around. Also, if you allow children to sit with you on the mower or to operate it even just once, they may come again for more rides.
• Concentrate on the mowing task but be vigilant of the surroundings in case kids suddenly appear in the lawn. If you are not vigilant, you might easily get startled with the sudden presence of the kids and you may do the wrong moves.

The lawn mowers are definitely great gardening tools and one of them is the Bosch Rotak 34 lawn mower. However, their use can lead to untoward incidents if you are not careful in operating them and if you allow the kids to be around while you mow. The well-being of the family especially the safety of the kids is always the foremost priority of all parents. Keep your kids safe and follow the precautions set forth above.

What are Outdoor Clocks Made of?

Garden clocks are made of materials that are weather resistant and sturdy in order to withstand weather conditions and to be able to tell the temperature or humidity. They use specific, weatherproof materials because they need to be able to work for a long period of time while outside. They need to be waterproof, sun proof, and wind proof because even if you live in moderate temperatures, you never know what type of weather conditions you will come across.

Cast Iron Clocks

One of the most popular materials used to make an outdoors clock is cast iron. Cast iron is a heavy, thick, and sturdy material that will last for a long time in the outdoors. It is a popular material to design a clock with because it is not only strong enough to withstand out door conditions, but also it is visually appealing against nature. The look of cast iron is subtle yet dark, and even old-fashioned, depending on how it is styled. This type of look is really nice in a garden next to a matching garden table and chairs, or even outdoor wall decor.

Terracotta Clocks

Another popular material that is often used to make a garden clock is terracotta. This is because terracotta is a common out side material, used to decorate with and to hold plants. It is somewhat sturdy, although it is breakable if it is dropped. However, it does protect against water and sun damage. Clocks made of terracotta do not have much variety; they all look fairly similar with out any unique style. They are round without much design.

The New Clock on the Block

The newest material being introduced to making garden clocks is resin. Resin is a substance that seeps from trees like a sap. It is malleable, so it is used for different purposes ranging from floor tarnish to the chalk used by dancers who need to add traction to their shoes. It is now being used to make garden clocks because it is beneficial for three reasons. One reason is that it is a natural substance that, when in nature, can withstand weather conditions, so it is weatherproof. Another plus is it can be molded to have the appearance and texture of anything, including metals like cast iron. The final reason resin is a great material to make a garden clock with is its cost. It is less expensive than cast iron, so if you get one made of resin, you can have the visual qualities of cast iron without the high price. Another new and popular product is a combination of a garden clocks and thermometer.

Landscaping is a challenging, and fulfilling creative endeavor. Although designing the perfect environmental landscaping for backyards can be tough, looking at garden pond pictures can help you transform your backyard. However, the design for your landscape depends on who you are, what is your style statement, and what kind of impression you want to make with your landscaping.

So what do you want your backyard to be? A Zen-like space where you can relax, with tinkling, flowing water giving the space a meditative aspect? A fairytale paradise with flowers, romantic paths and bowers? Explore the possibilities; use some brightly colored shade plants to light up an otherwise dark empty corner. Bring in a water element, a fountain, a small waterfall or a pond.

Lighting makes all the difference to a personalized landscape. With so many designs of solar lighting now available in multiple metals, plastics and colors, you can add that right touch to the landscape. The designs that you develop will be enhanced and brought forward with the right lighting.

Viewing a variety of pictures of garden ponds can give you many quality suggestions regarding colors, plant height, and textures. How do you want the trees to be landscaped? Do you want to achieve a tropical forest, desert or suburbia looks? Perhaps you look for a small conversational reading area for relaxing, entertaining, or eating with friends and family?  You could look at backyard pond pictures to decide if you want a bit of shade for comfort and privacy or if want a brighter sunnier landscape.

This can play a huge role in deciding the style you choose for your garden, with ideas that are functional and essential to the features you want to display. You can play with ideas on where to place water plants, how to edge paths and what kind of water features you want for your garden. So many themes can be incorporated; lily ponds, arched bridges over waterways, fountains, waterfalls, all of which could be worked well into a formal design. Formal and informal designs can both be explored.

Your landscape can have perfectly shaped paths, groupings, or mass plantings of the same plant or species looks like a manicured lawn or garden. How can you achieve this? By using the space available to create meander paths through the landscape, lined by combinations of different plants dotting the ground. A natural, informal design creates a relaxed atmosphere. Small, re-circulating fountains, a wishing well, a lily pond or a small waterfall to add the soft sound of moving water, all add to a feeling of peace.  You’ll get a lot of ideas from garden ponds pictures, online or from a landscaper.

You need a sizable, level stretch of ground for a pond. In a steep landscape, a pond would not be possible without some major changes to the landscaping. Depending on your landscape outlay, you have to choose the design that best suits your ideas and the practicality of execution. For a smaller space, you could perhaps choose a preformed pond that is supported by landscaping stone or by a small fountain with a re-circulating pump.

One other thing you want to consider is if you want to put fish in your pond.  If you do, koi fish are classic, and you can get some great ideas from koi pond pictures of how to create a relaxing, Oriental feel in your own backyard with some simple landscaping techniques.

Now go ahead.  You can take your dreams and turn them into landscaping reality.

Grow lights have been used for some years now to improve plant growth by mimicking natural sunlight. Over the past couple of years though, LED technology has been getting in on the act and seems to have caused a certain amount of controversy and confusion, with assorted claims and counter claims about how good “LED grow lights really are.

One thing is certain however, and that is the fact that LED lighting is without question the most efficient form of lighting ever invented. Conventional incandescent type lights, such as high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, generate vastly more heat than light per unit of electricity consumed. LED lights lose very little energy as heat and in fact remain only very slightly warm to the touch even during continuous use.

However, what really marks out LED lamps from all other kinds of grow lighting is the ability to very precisely target quite specific wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Conventional grow lights, by contrast, spread light fairly uniformly over the entire spectrum instead.

This means that not only do traditional grow lights waste electricity (and thus also money and precious resources) generating more heat than light, but most of the actual light they do produce also goes to waste. How so? Because plants absorb the vast majority of the light they need for photosynthesis from just two zones – one in the red part of the spectrum and one in the blue. They neither need, nor benefit from, most of the rest.

These specific features – accurately targeting specific wavelengths of light and using/wasting very little power – quite understandably caught many plant growers attention. Improved performance combined with reduced costs is always going to represent the Holy Grail in any field.

But the good news doesn’t end there. An interesting corollary to giving off virtually no heat is that the lights can be placed much nearer to the plants. Why is this a good thing? In a nutshell, because of the Inverse Square Law of light which states that each time the distance from a light source is cut in half, the amount of light received increases by a factor of four. In other words you can wring even more performance from LED grow lights simply by moving them much closer – not something that is possible with HID lamps since the heat would damage the plants.

LED lighting continues to tick boxes when you consider longevity and maintenance. You should expect to get over 50,000 hours useful life from LED lights – that’s about 10 years continuous (18 hours a day) use. HID bulbs will last maybe a year and you also need to be physically replacing two sets – metal halide to create blue light and high pressure sodium for red.

So one has to wonder why there should be any kind of dispute at all. Surely LED grow lights represent a great step forward in this field? Well, yes actually, they do; but that’s not the problem. The issue is one of perception, or put another way, comparing apples with oranges.

All new technologies attract bootleggers and predators capitalizing on the naive. The fact is that modern, well made units using individual LEDs rated above 1w each will match any HID light – such a device using say 100 LEDs and thus with a total consumption of 100 watts is a good replacement for a 600w HID.

Compare this with a typical “low cost” panel using 225 LEDs but drawing just 14 watts. Sounds great doesn’t it – all those LEDs with very low energy consumption. A quick tap on the calculator however tells you that each LED must therefore be rated at 0.06 of a watt. A so-called “LED grow light” such as this will absolutely not work.

So do LED grow lights really work as well as claimed? Yes and no – it depends what you call an LED grow light. Real ones do, cheap imitations don’t.

For lawn aerating, there are three main types of aerators to consider: coring, spike and liquid.
You should think about the following things when choosing which one is right for your lawn.
First, check to see how compacted the lawn is by pushing a screwdriver or soil probe into the
ground. If it is hard to push it into ground or you can’t get it in very deep, the dirt is compressed
together very tightly.
In those conditions, a spike aerator may not do much good because the shallower holes will
close up quickly and will not greatly loosen up the dirt. You probably won’t see much of an
effect from a liquid aerator either, since it will not be able to penetrate through the soil as deeply.

A core aerator will do the best job of decreasing compaction. Core aeration will mechanically remove core and create a longer lasting effect on root development and long term growth.  Since it can be difficult to push a
manual core aerator into tightly compacted dirt, using a mechanical one will probably not only
be easier but do a better job too.
Also, consider if what type of aeration job you are planning on. Most yards should be aerated
annually, but many will benefit from additional attention throughout the year. Sometimes
certain spots are more problematic than others or heavy-use means certain areas become more
compacted quickly.
A mechanical coring aerator will be the fastest to use on a whole lawn, but because of its weight
and bulkiness (plus cost to rent or hire a professional), it is usually not the best choice for smaller
jobs. A manual core or spiked aerator is great for small areas. Spiked garden shoes aerate as you
walk in the yard. While they don’t do as much, having small holes punched in frequently can
help maintain the lawn in-between other care. A liquid aerator periodically applied to the lawn is
great for keeping it healthy and in good condition.
Finally, consider the time of year and weather conditions. Doing lawn aerating with a mechanical
core aerator is too stressful to the grass to be done in summer or when it is hot. If you want
to aerate then, choose a different method and be sure the grass gets plenty of water. Save
mechanical aerating for the spring or fall when temperatures are milder and it frequently rains.

Garden lighting can be awfully addictive. You get started with one light and the next thing you know, you’ve got more garden lights than plants, flowers and shrubs. Get hooked, in other words, and you might just forget to know when to stop. Because let’s face it – isn’t there always another rose bush that needs a little more illumination? Or a garden path that needs a few solar powered ground lights?

And it doesn’t necessarily end with the lighting, either. You start to look at gazing balls. You find yourself purchasing some garden wind spinners. And then you are stringing a dozen Japanese lanterns between the dwarf apple trees.

And then you realize that you have given up on the classy look in favor of something that’s a little more . . . well, let’s just call it busy.

The truth is, when it comes to expanding on or adding to your garden, all those decorative pieces can start to overwhelm your outdoor landscape. Because the truth is, garden lighting and garden design décor often boils down to one key fact. Less is often more.

So when you start getting a hankering to add some more exterior lighting, look hard at your garden space. What is the natural play of light and shadow? Does it look best when the morning sun is on it or the afternoon? Or perhaps you’ve got a garden that is at its best at twilight.

Heck, why not take a look at your garden under the light of a full moon?

When it comes to exterior garden lights, you want to imitate natural lighting. In fact, you may want to aim for nothing more than a subtle enhancement.

You need to pay careful attention to your garden at night. Why? Because that is when your lighting system is going to be working. So look at what you’ve got before the lights go in. Use a flashlight – or several, preferably with beams of varying brightness and hues – and see how they work when played across the garden.

How does everything look?

Be sure that you are aware of other sources of light that might affect your lighting plans. For example, there might be a street light or two nearby. Or maybe your neighbor up the street has a floodlight on the garage that hits your garden.

Isolate and identify every light that’s going to impact the garden lighting scheme.

Finally, you want to remember the basic rule – less is more. Don’t go and drown your garden in lights. Take it slow and easy and try to moderately boost the garden’s natural beauty and presence.

Gardening with flower pots goes back a surprisingly long way. It is believed that the Romans and Egyptians most likely developed the first ceramic flower pots. Also know as container gardening, this method of landscaping began making a resurgence in the 1950s in southern California areas, and ever since it has grown wildly in popularity.

Starting to use outdoor flower pots in your own garden is probably easier than you think. Whether you have your own garden already, or whether you have little room for one at all, container gardens give you many interesting gardening options. There are some simple tips you can follow to make sure that your container gardens thrive.

• A plant in a flower pot tends to dry out really easily, so you should purchase a good gardening soil that drains well and yet holds moisture in so that the roots of the plants always stay damp.

• Do not be afraid to over-water your container garden plants. They actually require more frequent watering, and this is especially true with smaller containers.

• Use a slow release fertilizer to help maintain the soils nutrients. Since you will be frequently watering your potted plants, vital nutrients will be washed away more easily so it is important to make sure that they are regularly replenished.

• Make sure your ceramic or plastic flower pots have a few holes in the bottom for proper drainage. You don’t want too many holes because you don’t want the water to drain too quickly. About 3 to 5 holes should be sufficient.

• Don’t overcrowd the plants in each container. There are a limited about of nutrients and water in the smaller space of a flower pot, so you don’t want too many plants to have to fight for limited resources.

Using terra cotta flower pots is also a great option for homeowners in areas where it is nearly impossible to grow certain plants. If you live in such an and want to include plants in your garden that do not naturally maintain well in the desert heat, you can plant them in ceramic flower pot gardens. You still have to take great care of them, but it will open up a world of opportunity in your garden.

Container gardening also means that you do not necessarily have to consult with a residential landscape designer who might give you tips on plant choices, plant placement, and so on. It is however still recommended that if you are creating a landscape design that includes regularly grown plants, along with container garden plants, that you consult a residential landscape designer and discuss any questions you might have.

Another plus to using garden flower pots is that you can move your plants around easily. This is useful if they need more or less sunlight, for example. You can also use interesting things to pot your plants in. Some people have used old boots, old tires, and old porcelain vases that they didn’t want to throw away but perhaps had no other use for.

This post was kindly provided by our favorite Phoenix landscape design experts, who share their tips and expertise.

Floating pond plants, also known as water pond plants, are essential to any water garden or koi pond because of their ability to reduce algae, to reduce weeds, to provide oxygenated water for the fish and to provide an aesthetically pleasing landscape of blooms. Examples of popular fish pond plants include elodea, water hyacinths, water lilies and lotus.

Elodea

Elodea usually grows about 5 to 6 inches tall with oval leaves, long stems and small white flowers. Theses submerged pond plants prefer full sun, require no soil and are planted at the bottom of the pond to oxygenate the water. Elodeas are perfect for novice gardeners who live in non-tropical climates since the plants require very little care and thrive in cold temperatures.

Water Hyacinths

Water hyacinths can grow 2 to 3 feet tall with beautiful, orchid-like purple flowers and glossy, green leaves. The plant’s fibrous roots grow underneath the water, which help to filter out any impurities, keeping the pond water naturally clean and clear. Water hyacinths thrive in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade and only require fertilizing in the winter when the leaves turn yellow. Water hyacinths have a tendency to overgrow quickly, so the removal of excess plants is necessary to prevent the depletion of oxygen in the water.

Water Lilies

Water lilies are popular due to their bright, colourful blooms that open the beginning of summer and last until the middle of autumn. They are planted in large pots filled with loam soil and placed in shallow water. Planting of the lilies usually occurs in early spring after the last frost, and the plants are fertilized once a month with an organic aquatic fertilizer.

Lotus

The beautiful and fragrant lotus is the most beautiful of fish pond plants and provides a sense of tranquility to any water garden or pond. The lotus is planted in shallow water and requires warm weather and full sun to thrive. Nutrients and fertilizer in the form of fertilizer tablets are given once in the spring and again in the summer. Yellow leaves are pruned in the fall with scissor or pruning shears to help next season’s blooms. The blooming season usually occurs in the beginning of summer until the middle of autumn in warmer areas.

For many garden owners animals can be a real problem. They use the place like a toilet, they eat our vegetables and they dig up the borders. Finding a humane way to deal with this is not always easy.

But with the rise of cheap motion sensor water sprinklers we finally have the answer we were looking for. A wireless motion sensor sprinkler system is about the best possible solution for unwanted visitors in our outdoor spaces and they work amazingly quickly to stop the problem.

They simply detect any movement at all in the garden and this includes small animals as well as large ones like Deer, or even Herons trying to steal our valuable fish from the pond. They usually emit two jets of water, one general spray and one more direct jet that will scare the animals.

We will find that they will get a real shock and after this happening only once or twice the animals will decide that they need to move onto a different area to find their food. It is totally humane and there is no doubt that this is one of the easiest ways to deter pests from our gardens.

No more running around trying to get the animals to leave. We simply set the motion activated sprinkler system up and leave it to work its magic. There is no doubt that this is an extremely effective way to ensure that our outdoor areas stay in perfect condition and are never under attack from animals trying to dig up plants or eat flowers or vegetables.

If pests in the garden are a problem for you then this is definitely the answer that you have been looking for. Very inexpensive and very efficient a motion activated sprinkler system works amazingly well and keeping the garden as it should be, free of unwanted visitors.

Adding outdoor light to your landscape and to the exterior of your home can make a huge impact. Highlighting architectural features of your home or favorite specimens in your landscape make them stand out. By the same token, you can effectively hide things you would rather not see by keeping them in the shadows. Remember though that highlighting a certain feature doesn’t mean trying to replicate sunlight in that particular area. Instead the light should softly accent the area to bring it to attention.

In addition to highlighting special features, outdoor lighting also adds to the security and safety of your property. Outdoor flood lights discourage thieves or others who may be up to no good. Pathway and step lighting will guide your family and friends safely at night.

Using motion detectors or timers are a great way to insure that you don’t have to worry with turning lights on and off and that your home is well lit when needed. Adding outdoor lights can also increase your enjoyment of your outdoor areas and encourages your family to spend more time outdoors. A children’s play area that is well lit at night will allow your children to enjoy their swing set and sand box in the cooler hours after the sun goes down.

Create a outdoor dining area and use some patio umbrella lights so you can enjoy summer meals outdoors. Speaking of meals outdoors, summertime wouldn’t be the same without occasional meals prepared on the grill and adequate lighting makes the cooks job much easier.

The right outdoor light fixtures also allows you to create a resort like feeling in your own backyard. Your patio, deck or pool area can become your own private retreat with the addition of some twinkling string lights, a fun set of patio lights, or a decorative outdoor wall light to light up the night.

Installing lighting to your landscape is a easy project for most homeowners if low voltage or solar lighting is used. However, lighting that must be wired into your home power source should be installed by an electrician. Tips and ideas for lighting up your outdoor areas can be found on a variety of sites online, such as Patio Lights Galore and right here in the “Lighting” category of Timber & Textiles.

a guest post by Lucy Saul

Caring for your lawn is very important. Every homeowner should take pride in their yard and ensure they are taking proper care of it. Not only does this help prevent lawn disease and other problems but it also adds greatly to the curb appeal of your home. If you plan to sell your home, this is one area you need to focus a great deal of your time on.

One issue that homeowners often have difficulty with when it comes to their lawns is the lawn spreader. What is it and what is it used for? How do you choose the right one?

This is a device you use to apply fertilizer to the yard or even grass seed if you plan to over seed. It helps to ensure a more equal, balanced delivery of fertilizer to ensure maximum growth and health of your grass.

You have two basic types of lawn spreaders to choose from and those are the rotary and drop spreaders. The main difference between the two lies in the fact rotary spreaders are typically used for larger yards as they throw the fertilizer a farther distance and therefore are able to get the job done quicker. For a smaller sized yard, a drop spreader is typically the better choice.

To use the device you simply combine your fertilizer mixture and load it into the spreader, then start by going around the perimeter of the yard on one side. It is basically like painting where you do not want to end up painting yourself into a corner, so start at one side and work your way to the next.

Always wash the spreader off with clean water after each use. This keeps it clean and prevents the buildup of rust.

Maintaining a lawn properly does require a bit of time and effort and this device helps you make the most of your time. It saves you from having to apply fertilizer manually, which would take ten times longer.

a guest post by Suzanne Grassham

Are you thinking of buying some grow lights for your indoor garden but are unsure of what type you should choose? Would you like to get the best results for the least amount of money? Are you disappointed with the mediocre results you’ve been getting? Well if the answer to any of these questions is yes or if you are just simply looking for information on why LED grow lights are some of the best lights on the market today check out the rest of this article.

Saving money that is what most people are no matter what the project are always trying to do. This is no different in the indoor gardening world. Just like everywhere else you have, your grow lights that cost you a lot of money and promise big results and then you have your so cheap that they do not even have letters on the box they came in lights, and then you have your middle of the road lights the ones that promise results but also require you to have common sense as well these are the lights that we are going to be talking about today. An LED grow light is by far the most cost efficient type on the market. There are a couple of reasons that this is true.

The first reason out of many is that LED or light emitting diodes save you money is that they only use one watt to power them enough to put off enormous amounts of light, this compared to other types of grow lights such as the HID grow light that uses around four hundred watts to power a single bulb saves you tons of money. It is said that on average people who use LED growing lights save around eighty percent of energy that they would have otherwise spent on their indoor garden lighting, not to mention the cost of the cooling fans used to cool the hot lamps, and the cost of reflectors and ballasts needed to help give the plants the light that they need in order to grow.

The next reason that people should consider using LEDs when growing plants indoors is that they only put off the type of light that plants use to create photosynthesis. What this means is that other types of grow lights such as incandescent, florescent and HID all waste around eighty to ninety percent of the light they put out. It is even said that some of the top LED grow lights on the Market can even be switched to create the maximum results for the stage of maturity that the plant is in. If all of these things are not enough then even consider that these lights are eco friendly in a lot of ways such as they contain no heavy metals such as mercury so they are easily disposed of and they last for over ten years on average which helps the earth not have to use its precious resources.

a guest post by Ezra Makey

Out of the two options for landscape lighting, most people will find themselves choosing between solar garden lights and low voltage lighting. Both have their upsides, as well as their drawbacks, so which do you choose? Let’s take a look at some of the benefits and pitfalls of each, so you can make up your own mind as to which will work best for you.

Solar Lights

Solar garden lighting is best used if you plan on having the lights stay on all night. The main reason for this is that, since it is completely powered by the sun, they don’t cost you any money to run. Although they usually cost a little more than low voltage lighting to purchase, they more than pay for themselves with the savings to your energy bill.

Solar powered garden lights are also a lot easier to install. Most come with the solar panel built right into the fixture, and even those with an external, remote panel will be much easier to install than lights that need to be wired to an external power source. They also have lower maintenance costs since most use LED bulbs, which are manufactured to last much longer than other types of bulbs.

These fixtures do come with their drawbacks, however. The two biggest of which are light output and the fact that they rely on the sun. If you need a fixture that puts out a lot of light, or have issues with lacking enough sunlight to be able to recharge the on-board batteries, solar garden light will likely not be your best alternative.

Low Voltage Lighting

Low voltage lighting has the ability to put out a lot more light than solar lights, due to the fact that they do not have to worry about running the batteries dead. They can also be used in areas that do not have access to a lot of sun. They do, however, have an impact on your electrical bill, and some models can influence your bill significantly. They are also much more difficult to install, since they must be wired to a power source.

If you are looking for accent lighting to add beauty to your garden, or another type of light that does not need to be too bright, AND you get regular sunlight throughout the year, solar lights are probably your best bet. If, however, you need more light than the solar fixtures can create, or don’t get much sunlight, you may have to opt for low voltage lighting.

There are actually hybrid systems available that can offer the best of both worlds, but these systems are in their infancy and still out of reach of your average do-it-yourself homeowner. But once they do come onto the market it will be interesting to see how effective the combination of low voltage and sun-powered solar lights for garden budget lighting will be.

a guest post by Gracie Edgell

There are quite a few erroneous yet widely held beliefs about LED landscape lighting that cause many folk to either shy away from installing any in the first place or to make mistakes when they do try and install outdoor lights. Which is a shame since it’s really neither difficult nor expensive to achieve a great looking result in your garden and/or patio.

So let’s start with the popular idea that LED garden lighting is best left to professional lighting designers and installers. It’s not hard to see why the professionals might prefer not to shatter this particular myth, but the truth is that getting a designer look is really quite easy. Just cheat and copy one you like and think would suit your lifestyle. The world is not short of garden shows, articles and books to adapt ideas from.

Next we have the school of thought that holds that a garden isn’t properly lit unless it’s visible from space. Wrong, wrong, wrong. The point of landscape lighting is to create different aspects at night and enhance key features (water, ornaments, interesting shapes etc), not to light the garden up like a football stadium. Outdoor lighting should complement the natural setting and even around functional area such as the deck you should veer more towards restful than dazzling.

There is also the associated belief that, in addition to being bright, it must also be extensive. But the fact is that if you overdo it and put in too many lights you lose the very thing that gives outdoor lighting its unique quality – the darkness. It’s the contrast and the fact that you can’t actually see those areas that aren’t lit that provides much of the visual appeal. Using low voltage LED landscape lighting with slight restraint allows you to create a different look at night by hiding some parts of the garden and accentuating others.

To finish off, we get to two pervasive myths that relate to specific types of landscape lighting, and first up is the idea that solar lighting is free. Well, it’s true that you don’t need to provide any electricity in order to run those nice solar deck lights that are so popular of late. But that’s not the whole story.

Aside from the initial purchase, solar lights work by recharging batteries and these have a finite number of recharge cycles before they won’t work any more. So there is the cost of the batteries to consider, plus it has to be said that solar garden lights do have a far from exemplary record where longevity is concerned. Put simply, these have to realistically be considered disposable items. They certainly have a valid place in most landscape lighting schemes, but free they aren’t.

Finally there is the outdated notion that LED landscape lighting is not powerful enough. Sure that was a fair criticism a few years back but now? Forget it. LED is very much the way forward for all types of lighting and the garden is no exception.

Outdoor LED landscape lights are these days just as bright as conventional incandescent light bulbs, but with many more advantages. Very low running costs, virtually no heat, very long lasting, extremely robust and endless variety in colors and effects are just five good reasons to consign this particular myth to the same bin as the preceding four.

So to sum up: you don’t need to pay an expensive professional; brightness and quantity are not actually important; solar lighting is not the same as free lighting; LED garden lighting is very much a force to be reckoned with.

by Christian Monterroso

Teak wood is used in many applications, especially in the home.  Home applications for this marvelous wood include hardwood flooring, cabinets, and indoor and outdoor teak furniture.  It is considered one of the best all-around woods to build with because it has a warm feel and look to it, and has a natural durability that can’t be beat.

Using teak for hardwood flooring is a natural choice, because your floors take the worst beating out of anything in your house.  Teak is naturally resilient, and often doesn’t need any additional finishing.  To really make your teak flooring shine though, you might want to finish it with a sealant to ensure its waterproofness, and give it a nice finished shine.

Teak is also used in cabinetry and counter tops.  Besides the natural beauty of the wood, no finish is needed when working with teak cabinets.  This takes out a very tedious step in the cabinet making and finishing process, and in the end you will have cabinets that will look better and last longer than those made of other forms of wood.

Teak is also used for furniture because it is physically strong, looks amazing, and makes for furniture that can be passed down to your children and beyond.  Outdoor teak furniture is coveted due to the aforementioned qualities combined with the fact that teak is extremely weather resistant.  It is the type of furniture than can take a beating from rain, snow, sun and still maintain it’s strength and beauty.  You won’t have to lug the outdoor dining table in and out of the shed every time you want to use it; it can stay right out on the deck year-round.  As a matter of fact, teak decks are just as weather resistant, and you won’t have to re-stain it every few years.  It never needs staining.

Discount teak outdoor furniture is harder to come by in most stores, but easier to find online. Since this wood is so perfect for gardens and patios, and rarer than your average oak or pine, it is generally more expensive. But with a bit of research and perseverance, you should be able to find just what you’re looking for, at prices you can afford.

It’s fairly general knowledge that teak costs quite a bit more up front than other materials, but the additional cost is well worth it.  People build homes to last, and there are few natural materials on the planet that will outlast teak.  If you’re building a home, and furnishing it for life, then consider incorporating teak into your design and remodeling plans.  It is warm, inviting, naturally beautiful, and will outlast most everything else in the home. One thing is certain. If you do invest in some teak outdoor patio furniture, that will be one decision you won’t come to regret.

a guest post by Javier Printz

A garden roller for the most part is a construction made from steel and because of what it is made from it can provide years of quality service. Most garden rollers can be filled up with either sand or water depending on what kind you use. The special features of a garden lawn roller really vary but with such a variety to pick from you should find something that you like

Some of the features that it could have with the roller gardens include things such as some might have a soft handle, a scraper bar, folding handles, and a roller drum. The price of the garden roller varies depending on what might all come with it and what brand you get. The Handy Garden Lawn Roller is one of the newest ones and for now is the only roller that has very soft handles but you can still find many older garden rollers that have high quality with them and might have things with it that this one might not have.

The best thing about these kind of rollers is that they are all very easy to use and usually include a guide book on how to do them. It does not take much to put them together. It is very user friendly and that can help you get the job done in half the time compared to other garden mowers that you might use which could be difficult to put together. Usually you will find that they are very light weight but that could change in accordance to what kind you get. Doing some light research might help you decide on what one might be the best one for you and if you look online you could find one at a decent price that you might not get in stores.

a guest post by Kurt Steinbeck

Do you love gardening, but find yourself frustrated at the lack of success you experience with your plants? Perhaps you’re tired of spending your hard earned money of plants only to see them shrivel up and die on you days later. Whatever the reason, it is possible to grow better plants through the use of a mini greenhouse. In case you aren’t familiar with the benefits of a greenhouse, these structures are meant to provide plants with the perfect conditions for growth and development. Although it’s certainly possible to grow great looking plants completely outdoors, a greenhouse allows you to grow them at a much higher average temperature, which translates into better yields and healthier plant material. Plants thrive on consistency, and as many gardeners know, consistency is hard to achieve when Mother Nature continually changes course.

While many gardeners are aware of the benefits that greenhouses provide, many of them believe that these structures are complex and reserved only for commercial applications. Fortunately, this isn’t the case, as there are a number of different mini greenhouse options to suit just about any home. When choosing a greenhouse for the home environment, one of the biggest concerns has to do with space, or a lack thereof. It’s a simple fact that most people don’t have the luxury of building or installing a large, free-standing greenhouse. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost, since there are a number of small greenhouses available. One of the most popular hobby greenhouses is the 4-tier mini greenhouse.

For those that don’t know, a tiered mini greenhouse is a simple structure that is shaped somewhat like a large bookcase. The structure always features shelves (or tiers) where the plants are placed and grown. A tiered structure offers the following advantages over larger structures –

•    Affordability – tiered greenhouses are the most affordable structures on the market, averaging between $75.00 and $100.00.
•    Easy to Setup – a tiered structure can be unboxed and set up in a matter of minutes, making them highly attractive to people that don’t fancy themselves as extremely crafty.
•    Movable – this type of structure is perfect if you’re looking for something to use for a particular season. When not in use, it can simply be moved into the garage for storage.

As you can see, there are many benefits to owning a small greenhouse structure. Not only are small greenhouses highly affordable, but they can also allow you to supply your plants with the perfect environment.

a guest post by Darcy Erler

Outdoor ceiling lights provide a number of benefits, of which, the two most important ones are beauty and security. Apart from these benefits, such lights give your home a classy and an upscale appearance. These outdoor lights are preferred by several homeowners on account of their style and utility. They are usually fixed on the ceilings outside the home or any covered area to provide sufficient light outdoors. Today, there is a large variety of these lights available in the market.

You can find very attractive outdoor lights for ceilings, either in conventional (traditional) or modern designs. These lights, because they are attractive and displayed outside homes, are designed using materials like high quality brass and other eye-catching finishes. The use of these lighting fixtures is growing in popularity because they are considered to be stylish and fashionable. Surely, they look modish and elegant on outdoor ceilings.

With ceiling lights installed outside, you can entertain your guests more often. If your house inside gets overcrowded when hosting any parties, you can always keep some of the crowd outside. And better still, during summer, when it is hot indoors, your guests would rather be outdoors, enjoying the lovely, fresh air. What’s more, this outside lighting truly enhances the appearance and beauty of the place.

A majority of outdoor lights have protective covers so that they can be protected from any damage or moisture. You can find a whole range of outdoor ceiling lights online, or in the market, too. Therefore, you will not find it difficult to select the most attractive lights for your area outside.

When shopping for your outdoor lighting, make sure to purchase those that will match the ambience and décor of your home and outdoors. With appropriate lighting fixtures, you can make your home warm and welcoming, as well as safe and secure.

You won’t know what the inflatable hot tub you’re considering is really like until you try it out yourself. So, with this said, you should realize that you have all the right in the world to take one for a spin if you are truly interested in making the big purchase. Most portable hot tub dealers are happy to allow a serious customer to try out the product first. Many dealers offer test soaks in private rooms or in their showrooms after normal business hours. In either case, you can call ahead to schedule the test soak. Upon arriving, hopefully you’ll be guided to a comfortable place to change into your swimsuit. Hot tub dealers should make the experience enjoyable and recognize your need for privacy.

In most showrooms the water in the test model will be completely sanitized, balanced, and at a suitable temperature. The inflatable hot tubs will likely have the cover on so you’ll learn how to remove it. A cover lifter may also be attached so you can try it out. A sales representative can do a short demonstration on how to adjust the jets, pumps, temperature, lights, etc. You may then get in and use the controls yourself. Ideally, your salesperson should then leave you to experience the spa privately, but stay close enough so you can continue to ask questions.

During your test soak, pay attention to the types of jets and whether or not their direction and pressure can be adjusted. You should be able to get a good feel for the spa within ten or so minutes. Move around the hot tub to try out all of the seating options. Also, try out all of the accessories. Most dealers add numerous hot tub accessories to the test models so you can try as many as possible, and then pick the options you really need. After getting out and changing, you can meet with your salesperson for any further information or questions. Hopefully the tub you’ve tested is similar to yours.

While most dealers will have only a few models available for testing, they typically choose popular and comparable models so you’ll have a general idea of the seating and jet placement on other models offered. Hopefully your “test drive” will give you the confidence needed to go ahead and make the big purchase. Good luck shopping and enjoy your new inflatable hot tub spa!

by Darren Edgell

No matter what project you are contemplating, there are two ways to do it. You can assume you know what needs to be done, or you can take the time to really plan it out and make sure the job is done right. While the first way might seem faster, it rarely is. There is certainly nothing wrong with going to your local home improvement warehouse or lumber yard with a materials list and just going for it, but you will save yourself a lot of time and effort with the proper planning.  My grandfather used to say, measure twice, cut once.  The way he would get away with this was that he did a lot of careful measuring and before that, designing.  He was a carpenter before there were all sorts of licensing and tests.  He just learned how to do it and spent his lifetime refining his craft.  This is not something that you can learn in a moment’s notice, but you can learn one of the big lessons.

Save yourself time when building your covered patio and get the right patio design in mind first.  You can do this in a variety of ways from browsing through a stack of fine home building magazines or from where you are right now, in front of your computer surfing the web.  Read up on what you like and click around to check out sites and pictures of stuff that catches your eye.  Take some notes, draw some rudimentary sketches.  If you are so inclined, you can even look for patio cover plans online.  Yes, they are available.  Some of them are free and others cost a few bucks.  If you have to spend a little to get your favorite plans, don’t fret, it will all pay off in the end.

Mind you, the end is not far.  Once you get the right patio cover designs figured out, either you or a hired professional can tackle the job in a few weekends.  Depending on the complexity of your designs, of course.  If you have some more simple or classic designs in mind, a pergola, for example, then a few weekends should be plenty of time for construction.  With a small crew, a contractor can make this a completed project in a couple days.  While many of their plans are in their heads, remember, they still made those patio cover plans at some point, saving them countless hours.

by Mathew Pettie

Do you want to really enjoy your garden? Maybe you wish you were able to walk between your plants without damaging them. If you feel that you want to be closer to your garden, then garden decking might be the right choice for you.

Adding decking in your garden is a fairly simple task. Though many people have used cement for this purpose, that doesn’t really add any natural beauty to your garden. So, if you are looking into decking, you might want to consider going with some type of wood. There are lots of appropriate woods to choose from, but you will need to remember to find out what precautions to take if you are putting wood directly on the grass. There are special ways of making sure that the moisture doesn’t harm your wood, destroying all your hard work.

While you are in the planning stage of your decking project, you will need to take lots of measurements, and figure out how you want to lay out your pathways. You will probably want to sketch out your garden and where your walkways will be. Just like you make a blueprint of your home before you build, it is important to have a correct visual of your garden before you begin working on your deck.

Of course, if you don’t have any experience in woodworking, you might want to use a kit for building your deck or hire a professional. There is a lot of information online about how to make your own garden deck, so if you have a little bit of experience with woodworking, you can probably make it yourself. If not, there are others who can help you. Again, an online search will give you ideas where to find these people, or if you have a handy friend, this might be the time to call up and ask for a favor or two.

One important factor to remember is to keep your garden about the plants, not about the deck. The deck should enhance the natural beauty of the garden without detracting from it. Whether you are building simple walkways or a central deck where you can sit and enjoy a nice evening, make the attraction the beauty of nature.

Once you have decided on the wood, taken time to plan out your decking, and determine whether you will build it yourself or with assistance, it is time to begin the work. Make sure you have all your materials and that you know what you are doing, and then get busy. Pretty soon you will have a beautiful new look for your garden, and you will be able to walk around and enjoy it. This new decking can enhance your garden and your home, making it eye-catching to passers-by, and a place of peace and serenity to all who enter. So, what are you doing still reading? Get out there and build your deck!

There’s basically no question about it. If you want to do both yourself and the environment a favor, you have to light your outdoors with solar garden lights. Once upon a time, solar garden lighting was expensive to buy, difficult to install, and a costly hassle to maintain. With the popular use of LED bulbs, however, costs and installation have decreased tremendously, making solar power an option for almost everyone. The initial investment is minimal. The bulbs are rechargeable. They’ll also last up to a decade, or even longer. Colors are become more of a possibility, as well.

So how do you go about choosing the appropriate LED garden lights? Well, there’s no end to the designs to choose from.

Recessed lighting and deck lighting. These solar powered garden lights are perfect for patio walls, floors, pool decks, and steps. You’ll find them round or square, and framed in anything from brass to steel, to copper. Use recessed lighting to cast a glow in trees or line your driveway, as well.

Downlights and hanging lights. If you have a pergola or gazebo, these designs are precisely what you’re looking for. You’ll never feel guilty having the pretty gazebo lit when it’s powered with LED garden lighting; you can simply enjoy the luxury.

Garden spot lights and floodlights. These lights can be positioned to spot on specific plants, shrub border, or other outdoor features. Lighting beneath a large tree is another way to make use of these illuminated beauties.

Spreadlights. If you can’t install or don’t like recessed lighting, then bollard type lights are what you’ll need for the paths, steps, decks, and terraces. The fact that you can get these outdoor garden lights in LED form as well just makes the bargain that much better.

Do remember that even if you can’t or don’t want to take advantage of the solar garden lights idea, make conscious decisions as to how you’ll use your energy. For example, buying low voltage garden lights for wherever possible is a great idea. It’s ecologically responsible. It can also be a subtle and worthy design choice. Some areas, like accents on the shrubbery, only need low voltage lights, and others will actually look better with softer illumination, like delicate flowers or pots. It’s up to you to make your garden look beautiful. It’s also up to you to care for the energy costs. And there’s no reason for contradiction.

It’s virtually undebatable. Swivel bar stools are basically the most fun, convenient, practical, and entertaining seating design ever created. All bar stools are great for their slim fitting, convenient height, and cool style. As soon as you add in the swivel feature, all competition is lost. Aside from, perhaps, the beanbag chair. They function beautifully in almost any room of the house, too. Here’s what you may not have thought of…

The Office: Leather swivel bar stools might be perfect in your home office or at the teenager’s work desk. Many bar stools are height adjustable, so whether that desk is standard table height or a stylish counter height, use a swivel bar stool as an inexpensive rendition of the office chair. It will offer a cool, slim look that your kids can’t resist. Even a leather upholstered one will cost a fraction of a leather office chair.

The Garage: Buy yourself a pair of oak swivel bar stools for the garage workspace. Comfortable and convenient for any handyman work that needs some sit down attention, with the flexibility to turn right or left without having to reach too far. Oak, or any wood, will add a natural crafty flair to that garage décor. If you have garage décor, that is.

The Bathroom Vanity: Some ladies insist on elegantly upholstered wingback chairs for their makeup vanity. Others don’t. Especially if the vanity table and mirror are in a bathroom, fancy fabric recliners simply don’t make sense. Go for metal swivel bar stools instead. It’s a contemporary look that a modern era movie star might find herself in. There’s an inherent taste of youth there. At a high vanity table, the swivel bar design will work perfectly.

And these ideas are all aside from more typical ideas. Backless swivel bar stools in the rec room or in the basement sports bar are obvious choices. Aside from swiveling, the guys can throw their legs over the chair in every direction. Talk about casual. Wicker outdoor swivel bar stools with some floral seat cushions make lounging at a bar table incredibly enjoyable. On wrought iron swivel bar stools, elegant cocktail parties will be a blast. For the kitchen counter, chrome swivel bar stools with black leather seats send you right into a 60’s diner. Some red table accents, and the look will be complete. There really is not a room or space of your home that couldn’t benefit from the fun practicality of such chairs. What are you waiting for?