by Contributed | Jul 29, 2022 | Small Spaces |
If you are somebody who loves the outdoors and appreciates being able to relax outside during the summer, then you’ll appreciate the benefits of having a low maintenance yard. Healthy and attractive front or backyard for your home has a lot of time and often money invested into it to make it look good. You don’t have to be a professional gardener to be able to get your yard looking great, as an amateur gardener you can do so much with it. From taking a look into new landscaping for your bushes, trees and flowers, looking at your hardscaping options for a patio and decking, you could make your yard look fantastic and keep as low maintenance as possible which will cost you less time and money over time. This will mean that you can avoid signs your tree is dying or having to deal with issues around the garden. With that in mind, we have got four of the biggest benefits to a low maintenance garden. Image source: Pexels If you don’t have time for upkeep you won’t need it any more. Hello maintenance garden gives you just that, the chance to be low maintenance! If you’re too busy to keep up with current trends or you don’t have time to potter around the garden and make it look great but you don’t have to worry about the regular watering, fertilizing, weed control or power washing a gardener can help. If you’re a serious Gardner and you’ll do all these things yourself, you may be ready to take a step back and let the garden look good on its ownYou are about to save a lot of cash. It’s not just about trimming or pruning your plants. Taking good care of your yard is going to be much easier when you make it a maintenance. Swapping swathes of lawn grass for gravel or stones will help you to cut so much time out of spending on your garden. Low maintenance gardens tend to cost less money because the tasks that have to be performed do most of the work for you. Using a power washer to pressure wash all of the stones in your gardens keeps them clean. It’s so much faster than trying to weed the whole thing.You will have far fewer problems to deal with. Are you currently dealing with pest or bug issues in your plants? By swapping your plants for fake ones or laying stones or decking instead, you can keep your garden low maintenance and read yourself of these issues. You don’t have to worry about pruning the flower beds or cutting the lawn for winter because there is no lawn and there are no flower beds. It doesn’t mean it can’t be bright, but a low maintenance garden means for your problems in the first place.You will increase the value of your home. A low maintenance garden is often so aesthetically pleasing that you’ll be able to increase the value of the house in general. You can stop worrying about whether buyers are going to be put off by the cost of maintaining a huge lawn or a massive field in your backyard, because it’s not going to be there any more. They know that all they need to do is wash down the patio decking with a hose and they are good to...
by Contributed | Jul 24, 2022 | Small Spaces |
If you are like most homeowners, you probably take a lot of pride in your backyard. After all, it is a great place to relax and enjoy the fresh air. A well-maintained garden can enhance your backyard’s look and make it more inviting. If you are looking to create a beautiful garden in your backyard, the following blog will provide some tips that will help you get started! 1) Plan Ahead The first step to creating a beautiful garden is to plan ahead. You must decide what type of garden you want, how large it should be, and what type of plants you would like to include. Once you have a general idea of what you want, you can begin sketching your plan. This will help ensure everything goes smoothly when it comes time to start planting. If you are unsure where to start, plenty of resources are available online and in gardening magazines that can give you some great ideas. You may even want to look into hiring a professional landscape designer if you really want your backyard to stand out from the rest. Photo by Karolina Grabowska 2) Fence Off The Area One of the best ways to keep your garden looking its best is to fence off the area, with some help from Bekaert. This will help keep animals and children out of the garden, so they do not damage the plants. It will also help to keep the weeds out. Fencing off your garden will also give it a more polished look. You can choose from various materials for your fence, such as wood, metal, or even PVC. If you want something that is low maintenance, then you might want to consider using plastic fencing. No matter what type of fence you choose, ensure it is tall enough to deter animals and children from getting into the garden. You should also ensure that the fence is sturdy enough to withstand the elements. 3) Choose The Right Plants Choosing the right plants is one of the most critical aspects of creating a beautiful garden. Not all plants are created equal; some simply won’t do well in your climate or soil type. Do your research to determine which plants will work best in your particular situation. Once you’ve figured that out, you can start planning where each plant will go. Remember to leave some room for growth! Most plants need a little space to spread their roots and grow to their full potential. If you plant them too close together, they’ll compete for resources and look cramped and unhealthy. And don’t forget about color! Consider adding some flowers to your garden for a pop of color. They’ll brighten up the space and attract bees and other pollinators, which can benefit your other plants. In conclusion, following these tips will help you create a beautiful garden in your backyard. Just remember to take your time, do your research, and have fun! With a little effort, you’ll be able to enjoy your own piece of...
by Contributed | Jul 7, 2022 | Edibles |
As a parent, it’s your responsibility to raise your children with a strong set of morals and values. You want them to be able to grow up and be successful, happy adults. One way you can instill important life values in your children is through gardening together. Teaching your kids how to garden can expose them to essential life skills that they may have otherwise just taken for granted. Let’s look at some of the benefits of gardening to children. 1) Scarcity In today’s world, kids are used to having everything they could ever want. Food is plentiful, water is easy to come by, and there is an abundance of toys and material goods to go around. But as soon as they step into the garden, they quickly realize that not everything is always going to be handed to them. Vegetables aren’t immediately available by the end of the day – not even the fastest growing vegetables. They certainly wouldn’t reap the rewards if they abandon their project, either. In other words, they’ll have to work for their reward. And instilling this value early in life helps your kid value hard work and appreciate the things they have more. 2) Patience Gardening is not an instantaneous process. It takes weeks to months for a plant to sprout from a seed, even when you’ve done all the right things to care for them. Even for tasks that are completed more quickly, such as harvesting vegetables or fruits, your kids will need to be patient. After all, they can’t just go and pluck everything off the plant all at once. They’ll have to manually check for ripeness and only take what’s ready. This is an invaluable lesson that will teach your kids the importance of delayed gratification. They’ll learn that they need to be patient to reap the rewards. 3) Cause and Effect What happens when you neglect to water the plants? They wilt and eventually die. Or if you overwater them, they might get moldy or rot. Your kids will quickly learn that there are consequences to their actions when they’re gardening. If they don’t do what’s necessary to care for the plants, then they won’t get the results that they’re hoping for. This reality may seem harsh, but it’s an important lesson for kids to learn. It will teach them that their actions have consequences and that they need to be mindful of what they do. 4) Responsibility When you give your kids the responsibility of caring for a plant, they’re also taking on the weight of that plant’s life. They’ll need to be consistent in their care, which means watering it on a regular basis, making sure it gets enough sunlight, and so on. If they’re not responsible, then the plant will likely die. An experience like this can teach your kids the importance of being responsible and reliable. And in childcare learning centers like Raising Stars, the value of responsibility is not overlooked as it is one of the most fundamental qualities that separate exceptional pupils of life from the rest. 5) Value of Life When your children see a plant wilt and die because they forgot to water it, they may feel a sense of sadness or guilt. And, truth be told, this melancholic experience can come with some valuable life lessons. The main lesson kids can learn from wilting plants is that life is precious and should be valued. They’ll learn that even something as small as a plant needs to be taken care of for it to thrive. But even if they’ve done all the right things, it’s still possible for bad things to happen to the plant. A rodent may wreck it. Perhaps a storm may uproot it. As a parent, it’s important to prepare them for this reality. This will help them understand that nothing on this earth is temporary and that they should make the most out of every day they have with the people they love. 6) Survival Skills Gardening doesn’t only mean watching pretty flowers grow. It can also mean teaching your kids how to identify edible plants in the wild, how to trim twigs, how to find fertile soil, and so on. In other words, it can teach them essential survival skills that they can use if they ever find themselves in a situation where they need to fend for themselves. While modern society has made it easy for us to survive without these skills, it’s still good to have them when they’re out in the great outdoors. 7) Gratitude When your kids see the fruits of their labor, whether it’s a beautiful flower or a delicious vegetable, they’ll likely feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. And that’s a good thing! But it’s also important to teach them the value of gratitude. After all, they didn’t do it all on their own. The sun and rain played a role in helping the plants grow. And you, as the parent, likely gave them some guidance along the way. Help your kids understand that they should be grateful for all the things that contributed to their success. This will teach them to be humble and to appreciate all the good things in their...
by Contributed | May 31, 2022 | Around Our Yard |
Let’s be fair, needles from pine trees can be as much of a nuisance as those fallen leaves! Evergreen trees shed needles all through the fall and can quickly mess up your entire garden or backyard. In this guide, we explain how to rake pine needles properly to avoid wasting time and your physical resources. Just use the tips listed in our straightforward step-by-step instructions and you will do the work much faster and save up time for other important yard and garden chores. Raking Pine Needles: Choose the best pine needle rakeRake the needles into piles Pick the needles up and dispose of them! How to Rake Pine Needles Properly and Easily Here are all the steps to rake the needles away as quickly as possible. Step 1: Get the tools ready Before you start raking, it’s necessary to get the best rake for pine needles that is designed specifically for that purpose. Such rakes simplify the work many times. Other items to prepare include: Trash bagsGardening glovesWaterproof boots (if it’s swampy) Step 2: Prepare the Area Now you need to clear the area covered in needles from any debris, such as pine cones, branches, and twigs. Step 3: Rake Properly Once the area is ready for raking, wear your gear and start dragging the rake toward yourself to gather the needles. You need to move it fast first and then slow down to help the prongs catch all the smaller needles left behind. It’s recommended to rake from the center to the corners. The best way to pick up pine needles afterward is to scoop them into trash bags while wearing your gloves. Congratulations! Your yard is clean now. How to get rid of pine needles? If the only items you have are a rake and gloves, you can simply scoop the needles into trash bags and dispose of them in trash cans. You can also sell bags of needs to landscapers and retailers or use them in your own garden as mulch (but only if you have plants that need or tolerate high acidity). FAQ Ready for several more important facts? Here they are. What type of rake is best for pine needles? All stores offer special pine straw rake models of different configurations. Wide metal rakes offer the highest raking capacity and durability, but you may consider narrower models if you have a small yard with lots of narrow spaces. Can you shred pine straw? Sure! Shredded pine straw makes great mulch for garden and shrub beds. Should I clean up pine needles? It’s necessary to remove pine straw in your garden as it can destroy grass and flowers they fall on due to naturally high acidity levels. Rake That! Now you are ready for a highly productive pine needle clean up! Following our guide, you will avoid any problems during the process. It can be one of the easiest gardening tasks if you know what tools and techniques work the best. If you have any improvements to offer or questions to ask, you are welcome to contact us via the comments, and we will reply as promptly as possible. Don’t hesitate to share our guide with your friends...
by Contributed | May 24, 2022 | Small Spaces |
Backyard privacy isn’t always easy to achieve. Neighbors seem to have a habit of constantly cutting down trees so that they have a better view of what’s going on in your garden. The good news is that there are several ways to fight back. Here’s what you need to do: Add Staggered Wooden Boards Look for a fence company in your area that will install staggered wooden boards between you and your neighbor. Not only are they a great way to add a boho touch to your garden, but you can also make them tall, blocking out any lines of sight that neighbors might be using to spy on you from afar. What’s more, because the boards are staggered, they create less of an eyesore than traditional six- to eight-foot fencing options. Grow A Bigger Hedge Hedges are a great way to achieve privacy because of how subtle they are. Often you can start off with a small, four-foot hedge and patiently grow it to more than eight feet tall, as long as you have the right species. What’s more, because the growth happens slowly over several months, nobody really notices anything is happening, even when the task is complete. Some owners grow their hedges incredibly tall, keeping prying eyes at bay. Layered Plants Another strategy is to use layered plants. You start with low-level shrubs and then build your way up to trees at the back. Staggering everything makes the garden look natural. Evergreens should be in the background to provide the maximum level of privacy possible. Wooden Fence-Topped Stone Walls Stone walls are attractive, but most are only a couple of feet tall and primarily decorative. Fortunately, you can make them more functional by adding a palisade wooden fence on top, so long as the stone can accommodate it. Adding fencing could easily double the height of the wall, without appearing intrusive or aggressive. Ornamental Ironwork For those who have a bigger budget, ornamental ironwork can be extremely effective when adding privacy to your backyard. Typically ironwork sits within masonry walls, making any division between your property and your neighbors’ appear more attractive while, at the same time, blocking line of sight. If you can, look for salvage ironwork. It tends to look less generic than the modern stuff, and has more character. Old ironwork is more common in cities that are more than a century old, though you can import it out of state. Pergolas If neighbors have a view over your backyard from above, say, the second floor of their home, no fence or wall will be high enough to block their line of sight. However, there are still ways to achieve privacy. For instance, building a pergola is a great, low-impact way to shield you from prying eyes looking down on you from above. Staggered wooden sections make it almost impossible to see what you are doing in your outdoor spaces, allowing you to entertain guests without the neighbors seeing who you have over. Pergolas tend to be more attractive than...
