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backyard

OUTDOORS

5 Changes to Make to Your Yard This Spring

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Your yard may be lovely in all seasons, but there may come a time when you glance out your window and see something that’s a little too familiar and even a bit boring. How can you liven up your yard to make it something really special? Here are five changes you can make to your yard this spring.

1. Buy New Outdoor Furniture

You have enjoyed the patio or lawn furniture you inherited from your grandmother for many years, but it’s become a bit long in the tooth. It’s time to buy a new set of outdoor furniture. Make sure that this set bears up well under the weather. This includes its upholstery. Decorating experts also recommend choosing a neutral color palette that can go with any style of architecture. Donate your old furniture or pass it down to a relative who doesn’t care if the chairs, table, and settee have seen better days.

2. Get Rid of Your Lawn

More and more people are replacing their grass lawns with ground covers such as clover or creeping phlox or allowing their lawns to naturally grow into a sort of meadow. According to these people, grass needs too much water and too much work. The toxic nitrates in fertilizer can get into groundwater. Mowing the lawn with gas-powered lawnmowers also wastes energy and pollutes. Lawns made of ground covers, especially those native to the area, don’t need nearly as much pampering.

3. Plant a Vegetable Garden

If only flowers grow in your garden, or if your front or back yards are just great expanses of turf grass, consider growing vegetables. Spring is the perfect time to start vegetables from seed. Plant them in trays in seed starting formula, and if you’re in a cooler climate, you can start them indoors. Start them outdoors in a warmer climate, and bring the trays in on chilly nights. Set up raised beds in a sunny area, and plant the seedlings when you see evidence of “grown-up” leaves that come after the cotyledons, which are the first tiny leaves that appear when the seed sprouts. Start cool-weather crops such as lettuce and kale, followed by warm-weather crops such as tomatoes, zucchini, and peppers.

4. Add Water Features

Water features can be surprisingly easy to add to your yard. They range from solar-powered devices you can set at the bottom of a bird bath or a jug of water to create a bubbler to rain chains and simple waterfalls where water flows from one jug to another and back again. If your budget allows, you can install a traditional manorial fountain, a stream, a pond full of koi and water lilies, a proper waterfall with a pond, a water wall, a swimming pool, or even a moat that encircles your property. Don’t forget to put rain barrels beneath downspouts to catch rainwater.

5. Plant Some More Trees and Shrubs

In most places, trees and shrubs can be planted as soon as the ground thaws. Spring is the best time to plant in cooler climates, for the tree has time to establish itself before temperatures get terribly hot. If you don’t have fruit trees, consider planting a few that thrive in your hardiness zone.
By: Katherine Robinson, a writer for Gabion Supply

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OUTDOORS

Enhancing Outdoor Spaces: 4 Ideas for Picket Fences

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Are you looking to add more to your outdoor spaces?

We all love to spend time outdoors in the summer because of the fresh air and sunshine. But what do you think about all-season outdoor spaces? It can help our homes look better, feel better, and increase durability.

Picket fences are starter outdoor enhancements you can do to your home. There are so many creative ways you can use them.

Read on for four ideas for picket fences you should try out.

1. Painted Picket Perfection

Opt for a classic white picket fence and give it a fresh coat of paint. White pickets create a clean and timeless look that can complement any style of home. It’s both attractive and functional at the same time.

To add a twist, consider painting the pickets in a soft pastel color, a subtle shade that complements your exterior color palette. This approach adds a dash of color without overwhelming the space. Check out this top fence company, they offer a wide variety of customizable picket fences fabricated to meet your needs.

2. Floral Wonderland

Integrate your picket fence into a vibrant garden setting. Plant climbing flowers such as roses, clematis, or morning glories along the fence line. As these plants grow, they’ll intertwine with the pickets, creating a beautiful and romantic floral display.

You can also install small planter boxes or hanging baskets along the fence to further enhance the garden atmosphere. No matter what style you choose, picket fences are an ideal way to create a floral display that is sure to impress.

3. Rustic Reclaimed Pickets

Embrace a rustic or farmhouse aesthetic by using reclaimed wood for your picket fence. Weathered and distressed wood adds character and a sense of history to your outdoor space.

You can even mix and match pickets of varying sizes and colors for a unique and eclectic look. Leave the wood untreated or apply a clear sealant to preserve the natural patina. They can be a great way to separate spaces while adding an element of rustic charm to any outdoor space.

4. Picket Artistry

Turn your picket fence into a canvas for artistic expression. Consider stenciling or hand-painting designs, patterns, or murals onto the pickets. This could range from simple geometric shapes to intricate botanical motifs.

Ensure that the picket fence design complements the overall theme of your outdoor space and home architecture. When you combine picket fences and artistry, the possibilities are truly endless. With just a little creative thinking, you can turn an ordinary picket fence into a work of art!

Creative Ideas for Picket Fences

Enhancing your outdoor space with a picket fence can be an attractive and timeless addition. Try one of these four ideas for picket fences to add visual interest and charm to your outdoor area.

With a little care and consideration, you can create the perfect backyard retreat for your family and friends. Give it a try – you won’t be disappointed!

Check out the rest of our blog if you’re in need of more helpful and informative content like this!

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OUTDOORS

How To Winterize Your Outdoor Water Feature

how-to-winterize-your-outdoor-water-feature

The leaves have fallen and you’ve had the last of your backdoor barbecues. As much as you would like the summer to linger, it is time for the winter to bring its snowy delights.

Yet, there is no time to relax. You need to take care of your outdoor space so that things don’t get ruined over the winter. That means that your outdoor water fixture needs to be winterized. 

If you just leave it to its own devices over the winter, then come spring, you’ll find yourself doing repairs to get it working again.

In this article, I will go over exactly what you need to do to winterize your water fountains for outdoor areas.

Photo credit: 5th and state

Clear it out

You probably have a lot of debris in your fountain or other water feature if you are doing this in the autumn. Leaves falling, branches blown into it and algae growing are all likely.

After you’ve removed the leaves and debris, evaluate how much algae you have there. If it looks light, then using an algaecide is probably going to be enough to take care of it. If it looks like the plumbing, pump and filters are all stained by the algae, then you may need to drain it and scrub everything clean. 

After you’ve scrubbed everything, don’t refill it again until the spring when the weather has warmed up.

Check for growing plants

If you have emptied all the water out of the feature, then this is a good time to check for any roots from plants growing in there. Some plants growing around the perimeter may have gotten their roots all the way into the feature and can destroy the foundation and also the pump and other plumbing.

Make sure to tear out any roots or any sign of plants growing in it.

Photo credit: Trend Decor

Remove the pump

There is no reason to leave the pump out in the elements since it won’t be turned on for the duration of the winter anyway.

Remove the pump so it doesn’t freeze or get cracked from the fluctuating temperatures. Make sure to clean it out, check for any worn parts that may need to be replaced, and frayed electrical wiring.

If it looks all set, then box it up and store it indoors where it will stay dry and not get frozen.

For fish ponds

Fish ponds obviously can’t be drained and you may need to keep your pump running over the winter. This poses a problem potentially. 

If you have to take the pump in because it will get ruined in the deep freeze of the winter, then fish waste can build up and cause a toxic situation in the water. The fish may not survive the winter even if the cold doesn’t kill them.

In this case you’ll need to add some cold water beneficial bacteria to the water to break down that waste which will keep the water clearer and healthy for the fish.


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