Landscaping & Outdoor Decorating Blog

As populations grow in urban areas, cities are expanding their boundaries. Areas that were once rural are becoming urban subdivision, which is creating an increased risk of wildfires in these converted rural areas.

Rural areas in most parts of the country have always had to deal with wildfires. The dry season combined with lightning strikes and combustible debris can quickly turn an overgrown landscape into a powder keg. As these areas become more populated due to urban sprawl, fire departments have their hands full with protecting property and lives.

Among the rural homeowner’s options for guarding against wildfire is a consultation with a local professional landscaper. Their work is geared towards creating sensible landscape designs that provide minimum fuel for fires while not sacrificing aesthetics.

The main deterrent against fire is defensible space. Simply put, it gives firefighters room to work. Professional landscaping services excel at creating effective defensible spaces around homes, but they face several issues when working rurally. In states like Colorado for instance where the topography is diverse, unique challenges arise. Among the issues are:

* A resistance to using native plant species over more exotic plants
* Wide variety of terrain that requires unique solutions

Creating defensible space around a rural home involves planning, planting and maintaining. A professional landscaper starts by selecting species native to the area or that are known for their fire-resistant properties. Planning the layout involves avoiding large clumps of vegetation, maintaining plant diversity and keeping trees and shrubs a safe distance from each other and all structures. The use of decorative stones, rocks or gravel judiciously arranged can stop fire in its tracks.

Native plant species vary with each region. Where the risk of wildfire is high, deciduous shrubs are better as they are less flammable than cone-bearing plants. Thick succulents and other low-lying ground covers are both attractive and sensible. All trees should be a minimum of 15 feet from all structures and at least 20 feet apart from each other. Avoid using dry mulches or pine bark.

Proper landscape maintenance helps a defensible space remain effective. Grass should be cropped short close to a home and around all structures. Even away from a home, it should not exceed eight inches in height. Keep tree branches pruned, especially if they begin to touch each other or the house. Wildflowers are attractive but must be contained and cleared when they have died off for the season. Always rake up dried leaves and other debris in a timely manner.

When living either close to rural landscapes or out in the countryside, wildfire may threaten, but it does not have to wreak havoc. With sensibly-designed, region-specific landscaping, homeowners can enjoy their beautiful, spacious vistas while maintaining a safer buffer zone from fire.

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Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed NetBiz SEO 2.0 researcher. If you’re looking for professional landscapers in Colorado to help create the green of your dreams, he recommends Four Seasons Landscaping. This full service landscaping and design firm incorporates your personal style into the environment they create.

During spring and summer, most people like to have a barbecue in their back yard. This usually involves having guests over, as well as the need for an area that is practical for picnics. Luckily, Garden Decking offers a cheap and practical way to transform your yard. One of the best things relates to how you are able to do it yourself.

Therefore, when you do the job yourself, saving money becomes easier. In addition, you have more control on how the project will be completed. In any case, this type of addition to any house makes a nice compliment to the scenery.

Before buying anything, look at the different kinds of decks that are available. Many different choices are available, from buying kits to cutting and measuring your own wood. Additionally, you should consider the materials you want to use in addition to the design you are looking to get.

Before starting any kind of work, assemble and plan all of the things that you are going to need. Some of the things that you will likely need are a hand operated or power driven saw, drill, level, triangle, and screwdriver, spade, and tape measure. In most cases, the materials you will require are things such as ballast, sharp sand, cement, wood joists, ss countersunk screws/galvanized, weed membrane, and timber preservative.

The very first thing to do after collecting all of the things that you will need is evaluate where you are going to place the deck according to the plan that you have drawn out or have. Subsequent to that, any undergrowth should be cleaned out within that spot. Next, you are going to have to level the area and make sure that it is compact so that it is hard.

For the best support of your new deck, use new concrete slabs that you make by digging cubes with the size of 300 mm x 300 mm x 459 mm deep. After you do that, then fill each of the cubes with concrete, while making sure your support pads are not more than 1800 mm apart. When the support posts are set, then you are ready to put the joists on top.

Rest each of the decking boards adjacent to the hoists, so that it gives the appearance of a right angle. In the midst of that time, confirm the joists stability by checking for any kind of sagging or bowing underweight. If the situation seems as if it calls more supports, then add what seems fit. Consequent to a pleasurable feeling with your work, then attach the boards to the joists.

Make certain that the gaps are the same throughout the entire deck, while you are fastening on the boards. Ultimately, its best to stagger the joints so there is no large gaps in the deck. Either two stainless steel countersunk screws or galvanized nails will suffice for fastening the boards. In the case that you are building your deck near the house, then keep in mind while you are Garden Decking that you make sure that the deck is 150 mm below the house DPC.

Throughout the time you are working, check the gaps so they remain the same in between all of the boards. All of the joints should be staggered there is no continuous breaks along the deck. Use two countersunk screws that are stainless steel or galvanized nails in order to hold each of the decking boards in place. Throughout the time, you are doing your Garden Decking project take into account that the deck should be at least 150 mm below the house when it close to the house.

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There are lots of people believe that a tropical landscaping would be the best type of landscaping around their home. There are several things to keep in mind when using a tropical landscaping idea so the plants that are used in the area around the home will grow properly and the idea will become reality. Taking the time to map out the area around the home prior to implementing the tropical landscaping idea will increase the chances that the idea will turn out exactly as the homeowner wanted it to be.

What Type Of Tropical Plants Should Be Used?

There are dozens of plant types that can be used to complete a tropical landscaping idea. The plants and flowers that are chosen should provide beauty and fragrance to the area around the home and will often have vibrant colors and large blooms to give the area a truly tropical feel. The plants used in backyard landscaping should not be hard to care for and should be able to thrive in the environment that they are being placed in. A simple tropical landscaping idea will include plants that are easy to maintain and require little care to grow in the available climate. If you live in a temperate area of the country, you can still use native blooms in an interesting way to create your tropical landscaping idea.

It is important that the climate in the area around the home will support the plants that are planted there so the plants will survive. Different types of flowers have different needs so some of them will thrive in the area around the home while some others will quickly die because they will be unable to adapt to the area. The level of sunshine that shines on the area will be very important because some plants do well with direct sunlight and some do better in shaded areas. The care instructions for the plant will say how much sunlight each type of plant needs to survive.

To make the tropical landscaping idea easy to maintain, plants chosen for the area around the home should require the same level of care so all of them can be cared for in the same way. These types of plants do well when planted near each other and the person can apply the same treatments to the entire area without worrying about killing the plants. Plants from tropical areas of the world are notoriously hard to care for, but the same design can be accomplished using native species that require much less care.

Adding Tropical Dcor Items

Every tropical landscaping idea should include tropical dcor items to provide focal points in the area around the home. Tropical dcor items can be found in any home and garden or nursery store and can be just about any dcor item that the person likes. The tropical landscaping idea should be made unique to the family that owns the home and create a relaxing area that everyone can enjoy.

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Solar garden ornaments are a great way to add light and charm to your garden. These ornaments can be used in a dark corner at night to add security and, because they are solar, there is no need for electrical wiring.

Solar lights make an excellent way to enjoy a garden more than you were able to in the past. Cool dusky hours make the perfect time to get a breath of fresh cool air while moving safely through the garden with the lighting provided by the solar ornaments. You will be able to see each step you take if the ornaments are placed carefully.

While the lights make a great addition to any garden, ornaments add fun. You might choose flowers, garden gnomes or holiday ornaments that can all add light to the garden. The solar cells on these ornaments provide the needed power so that the lights will shine for several hours after darkness overtakes the garden.

When summer arrives you might choose to add birds and insects that have been suspended using fine wires from tree limbs to give a floating light effect. Solar lit flowers on long stems can rise out of flower beds. Frogs and turtles may line a path. A fiber optic light makes a dazzling display.

When fall approaches, you may want to add some scary Halloween ornaments. You could choose ornaments that are sound or motion activated but still depend on solar energy so that you do not have to have the trip and shock hazards of electrical cords running across wet grass. Add enough of the scary ornaments, some fake spider webs and sounds to be the best dressed house for the holiday.

Solar wreaths make it possible to have a lighted Christmas wreath on your door. The solar cell is built into the wreath to provide the needed power. Solar Christmas trees, lights and ornaments are a wonderful way to decorate for the season without increasing your power bill.

Spring is the perfect time to add the pastel colored lights to the garden. The pastels reflect the pinks and yellows of many springtime flowers. They provide light so you can go out and enjoy the fresh air of spring.

There are many designs of solar garden ornaments. These ornaments can be changed seasonally as needed or you may choose a few favorites that will help you to have a great looking garden all year long with solar accents. In addition, you may choose to add solar accent lights to showcase your flowers and other displays.

solar garden ornaments

Looking to find the most comprehensive information on solar garden ornaments?

There are some affordable backyard landscaping ideas to make your yard a place to be proud of. It is possible to hire a landscaper and garden designer but when a project is done with your own hands you save a lot of money. It just requires some planning and some research.

A budget will help to keep costs from getting out of control. Start with a conservative number of how much will be spent. Write it down and make it the rule not an estimate. Everything that will be bought has to be written down to keep on track with the budget. Go online and price the items ahead of time and make changes and adjustments to the plan as needed.

The same store will offer a wealth of information about what flowers and plants are native to the area. They will know which ones will thrive in full or partial shade. If you are in a drought prone area there are plants that can thrive without a lot of water. Pest control should be considered. The local library can help as well. This can all save quite a bit of money and time. Neither will be thrown away on plants that are difficult to maintain or are not suitable for the area you wish to use them.

Graph paper may be used to plot out the backyard as it currently is. On this make note of significant areas. Consistently wet areas, dry or dead areas, hills, trees, shaded or pine needle covered areas all need to be shown on the drawing. Do a new one with all the changes or improvements you would like to make. It helps to visualize the end product. If measurements are taken, it can help the person at the nursery give numbers of plants or flowers necessary to fill an area.

A healthy lawn is a beautiful thing. It also takes time to maintain. If you do not wish to do it yourself then it will cost money. It will need aerating, weeding, fertilizing, and mowing. If possible you may want to consider a smaller lawn or just a small grass area for play.

For something completely unique in the backyard, repurpose some items that are no longer used around the house. Use items that may normally be thrown away. You could use an old bucket or watering can. Soda cans or coffee cans can be used to make an herb garden. An old toy chest can be used as a planter or to hold small garden tools, soil and pots.

Walkways can create a pattern in the yard and connect different areas. They can be made from pavers, slate or stones. Use them to save the grassy areas or to divide a place to play or a place to relax. Lighting does not have to be expensive either. Solar lights can extend the time you have outdoors as well as light a path. This saves electricity.

To create a focal point in the yard, choose one piece you feel is beautiful. Or you may want something that invokes peace and tranquility. This may be a statue, birdbath or fountain. There are many backyard landscaping ideas to make yours beautiful.

Want to find more landscape ideas? Stop by Richard McIntyre’s site where you can find out all about backyard landscaping ideas as well as more articles on landscaping and gardening topics.

You will find lots of options to consider when you’re deciding on how to keep your garden flourishing without putting a lot of time and money into it.

The original watering can may be one of your ideas along with the sprinkler and a hose. You are able to end up wasting water on particular plants that don’t need the extra water if you use these methods of watering.

You have to be aware of every drop of water when you reside in a region that’s in drought. I finished up buying a drip irrigation system. This has been one of the best decision that I have made in relation to my garden.

If you put in a drip irrigation system, you can choose one of two varieties: below ground and aboveground. The drip irrigation system that is above ground will gradually drip out little amounts of water and it’ll absorb into the soil. To make sure that the water comes out in a drip and not a spray or stream, a pressure regulator is attached to the hose.

These pressure regulators are very inexpensive. A garden hose with holes pierced in it can be attached to a pressure regulator and this is all you really need. You can also buy a pipe which is specially designed for this drip irrigation method but the hose technique works equally well.

There is additional work associated with putting in the underground model and also more maintainence. But if you’re really into the visual aspect of your garden and don’t want any obvious watering unit, then you may consider it worth it. This pipe is positioned in a ditch prior to the garden being established.

This gives the water direct access to the roots for the most watering efficiency. What’s more, you can impress your friends by having a lovely garden without ever stepping a foot outside to water it!

To choose between the two methods, you need to take a number of things into consideration. Do you have precisely the same plant layout year round? Burying your hose can be a slight hassle if you’re changing your garden all of the time.

It usually is a chore to dig it up and re-align it with all of your new plants every year or so. Even though your plant format never varies, you need to think about how much you really mind seeing a hose in your garden. This is really a personal preference and it’ll depend on just how much work you are happy to do in your garden. The above ground method is less difficult to change position and also to mend if a pipe becomes damaged, so if you aren’t fussed then the above ground system is simpler.

The main advantages of the drip irrigation system is its efficiency. The drip irrigation method delivers water directly to the roots of the plants, unlike a hose or sprinkler that sprays water anywhere. It can also provide your garden with continuous watering, rather than just having to go thirsty whenever you are not at home to water it.

By choosing to install a drip irrigation system you’re deciding on a more effective way of watering as well as the system is more handy and affordable. Your gardening shop or hardware shop will have all of the materials that you require to set up this unit.

You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to preserve a garden after you have it.

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when planning desert backyard landscaping,there are several basic tips that should be followed. Desert backyard landscaping can ping beauty and order to any type of desert area and provides beautiful colors and fantastic scents to a boring backyard. Following these simple tips when creating a desert backyard landscaping plan will make the backyard lovely and easy to maintain.

Proper Lighting

The first tip that should be followed when planning desert backyard landscaping is to choose plants according to the amount of light that is available in the area. The amount of light that shines on the area during the day is critical for the plants to grow properly. If there is not enough light for the plants to grow, they will quickly die which will disrupt the desert backyard landscaping plan and may make the other plants in the area sick as well.

In order to make sure that the desert backyard landscaping plan will be successful, the person should review the amount of light that each plant needs prior to making a purchase. The amount of light that is needed by the plants in order for them to grow properly will be in the instructions for caring for the plants. If the plants are started from seeds, the amount of light that is needed will be printed on the back of the packet. If the plants are seedlings when purchased, then the instructions will be printed on the plastic insert in the soil of the plants.

The Plants

Another basic tip for creating a beautiful desert backyard landscaping design is to make sure that each plant has room to grow. Most plants have spacing requirements that should be obeyed to make sure that each plant has space to grow. The plants should be placed far enough to avoid interfering with each other but not so far apart that bald spots appear between the plants. Taking the recommended spacing into account for the desert backyard landscaping design will create a design that is easy to maintain and that will last for a long time.

Plants that are commonly used in desert backyard landscaping are typically divided into three levels of care; easy, moderate, and professional. Plants that are easy to care for, like those for backyard landscaping for kids, will typically require little maintenance, weeding, and watering for them to grow properly while plants that need professional care need lots of attention and cannot be neglected or they will die. The plants that are chosen for the desert backyard landscaping design should be chosen according to the homeowner’s ability to care for the plants.

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Most people do not even consider seeing the landscape of the country by train. Train travel was a very popular mode of travel in the past and many people are finding out today that taking vacations by riding the rails can be fun now as well. You will enjoy seeing the country through the windows of a train. No other travel is like it and you can see sites that you would have never imagined seeing. From traveling all over the United States or Europe, you can see the landscape from a perspective that very few people get the enjoy.

Can you see yourself in a comfortable seat on the train, watching the beauty of the landscape of the country going by? You can see the scenery of all different parts of the country, from the farm country to the mountains to the valleys. You will be able to sleep and relax while the train does all of the work getting you to your destination. You can go to anywhere between California to New York or from Alicante to Madrid on the train. From Atlanta to New Orleans to Denver and more, you can visit many different cities while enjoying your trip on the train. The sites that can be found all across the United States will be yours as you visit these cities via a train.

Vacations in Europe will show you that the trains are even more popular in these countries. A Eurorail or Britrail pass is one thing that many people choose to purchase when visiting Europe or Great Britain, especially college kids. They can buy this train travel pass, pack a backpack, and travel all over Europe or Great Britain for very little expense.

Can you imagine traveling all over Europe visiting such sites at the Eiffel Tower, the French Riviera, and St. Tropez with your Eurorail pass? You can visit these sites during the day and sleep on the train at night only to find yourself in a new and exciting location in the morning. This is the one of most memorable vacations that you can ever take in your life. The people that you meet and the cultures that you come into contact with will give you a new perspective on life that will delight and change you.

Train travel will give you an entirely new and exciting vacation that you could never have imagined. Although most people do not think of trains as being a comfortable way to travel, you will be surprised by how comfortable that they are and the meals that you can eat while traveling the rails all over the world.

If you have been searching for a new and exciting way to see new and exciting destinations whether in your country or in Europe, you will find that no other mode of transportation can offer you the same feeling and excitement as a train. If you have been wanting to see the United States or Europe up close and personal, then consider train travel. You will be glad you did.

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As many homeowners know, fall involves a bit more than some light raking, the first indoor fire, and pumpkin carving. It involves getting down and dirty in the yard, preparing it for the cold weather ahead. And whether you attend to everything yourself or hire a professional landscaping service, ensuring a robust lawn and beautiful blossoms next spring depends on some specific fall maintenance.

Keeping the lawn clear of leaves, planting bulbs, cleaning ponds, and planting new trees are just a few of the things that require your attention in the fall. A landscape contractor might be advisable to help keep you on top of everything, but these are the basics you’ll want to consider when the warm days give way to cool nights.

Remember to continue watering and mowing your warm-season grasses until they go dormant. Set the mower to 2 inches, keep mowing until there are few or no clippings afterward. This is the signal that the grass is done growing for the year. Keep in mind, though, certain areas of the yard grow longer than others and must still be cut.

When the leaves fall, continually remove them from the yard and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to control weeds. When the tree tops are bare and the yard is cleared, apply fertilizer over the turf, which will encourage growth and thickness in the spring. In Seattle, for example, it is recommended to fertilize yards with 3 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn each year. Plenty of phosphorus and potassium are equally important, however, and your grass type will ultimately determine the right one to use.

You may also wish to divide perennials in the fall, which is the optimal time to do so. Take notice of bare spots that need replanting and cut back dead growth from any stalk plants such as goldenrods and shasta daisies. It’s also a good time to shop for spring flowering bulbs, which are best planted during the cool days of October. This is also when you should begin planting trees and shrubs. Cooler temperatures place less strain and allow them to establish over the winter. Once all the leaves have fallen, clear off the root systems and protect them with mulch. It is recommended that planting areas be covered with at least two inches of fresh mulch annually.

If you have water lines and in-ground irrigation systems, they must be prepped for a winter freeze, which can rupture pipes and crack heads. To avoid these costly repairs, all water must be cleared out with an air compressor not exceeding 50 lbs. per square inch (psi). Another important consideration is air volume, which will vary depending on the size of your system. For a standard residential system, use something above 60 cubic feet per minute (cfm), but under 175 cfm.

Ponds and water features are another important aspect of winter prep. Whether or not you have fish, it is important to clean pumps and filters. In severe winter freeze areas, if you are going to let your water feature freeze over (not recommended if you have fish), you can take out decorative features like waterfalls or misters that can burst during a freeze. If you have wildlife in your pond, it is important to keep at least a small hole in the ice so it is likely your pond will have to run all winter.

Lastly, it is vital to remove all leaves, debris, and organic materials. Dead and decomposing matter will cause an algae bloom come spring and can become toxic for your fish. Use a pond vacuum or siphon to clean everything out. A good practice is to cover the pond with netting over the winter, which you can find at most nurseries or hardware stores. Not only does this keep debris from getting into the pond, but it also protects against predators.

When in doubt about maintenance required, it is a good idea to contact a professional landscape service for advice and assistance in getting all the required work completed before the first winter freeze sets in.

Reproduction permitted only when all active hyperlinks are included. 2010 All Rights Reserved.

Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed NetBiz SEO 2.0 researcher. If you need a professional landscaper in Seattle, he highly recommends Rick Young Landscaping and Design. They collaborate extensively with the client and offer a range of services to meet any of your landscaping needs, from stone work to drainage.

If you’re wondering what to do with all those leaves that fall onto your lawn from the trees each fall, why not consider turning them into mulch or compost? All you’ll need is some urea and a compost bin. Both of these items are usually available at garden centers or in department stores that have gardening departments.

In the fall, rake up all the leaves you want into a large pile. Make sure the leaves are dry, and shred them. You can use your lawn mower, a leaf shredder or a wood chipper shredder, but you won’t get good results unless the leaves are dry.

Next, layer the collected leaves carefully in the compost bin. Make a layer of leaves 12-18 inches deep, then add urea or glass clippings, if you still have any handy at that time of year. Top it all off with a small amount of water. Leaves should be damp, but not soaking wet.

Continue building up layers in the same manner, first the leaves, then the grass or urea, then some water. When you are done filling the compost bin, cover it with plastic sheeting or a tarp to protect the contents from the elements and to keep animals from getting into the bin.

Just let it sit over the winter months; there’s nothing to do at this time. As the weather starts to warm up in the spring, it’s time to turn the mixture using a pitchfork. This allows the material to mix a bit and exposes the underside of the pile to the air. Then cover the bin again.

By the time you are ready to begin planting in the spring, your mulch should be ready to use. If you desire compost material rather than mulch, simply allow the material to compost in the bin for longer. The only real difference between mulch and compost is the degree of decay of the organic materials. Mulch is still in more of a solid state, while compost is more like nutrient-rich dirt. The choice is up to you and the requirements of your garden or landscaping.

Making compost and mulch from fallen leaves is easy and can be an enjoyable way to fulfill your gardening needs.

In order to shred your leaves for mulch, why not run them through one of those wood chippers shredders that you can buy or rent. Not only will these machines break up the leaves, but you can throw in all those dead branches at the same time for some terrific mulch to keep your garden protected over the winter.