Archive for the ‘Garden’ Category

A DIY Guide for Building a Garden Pond With Bridge and Beach



When building a garden pond there are a lot of things to keep in mind. Garden ponds may be created in many different ways and it is up to you to design your pond in the way that you like most. Of course, you may want to include a bridge and a beach in your garden pond and that is a wonderful way to integrate the pond into your yard. You may be using a Scottsdale landscape contractor to help you design your garden pond or you may be designing your garden pond on your own. If that is the case then you will need a few suggestions to help you make your garden pond as beautiful as possible.

The first thing to keep in mind is to think of exactly how you want the pond, bridge, and beach laid out. When you know what you want the pond to look like. Also, keep in mind that the majority of water gardeners look back and say their biggest mistake was making their water garden too small. So, don’t be afraid to make your water garden as big as you like. That way you can really enjoy the fish and plants you place in the pond not to mention if you have a bridge and beach you will need a substantial sized pond in order for it to look good.

Now that you know what you want you need to find a place in your yard for it. If you are putting so much effort and time into your garden pond you will want to make sure it is in a location that you can truly enjoy. Usually close to home is the best place so that you won’t have to go far from the house to enjoy your garden. Also, you may want to consider placing the garden in a location where you can see it from your favorite window all year round. Avoid placing your garden near trees and the like because it will only make your garden dirty and require more work from you when the leaves fall inside! Keep in mind that direct sunlight on the pond is important if you want to grow certain types of water plants like water lilies.

Once you finish with your garden then you can begin building your bridge across it as well as surrounding the garden with sand to make the beach. Save these two steps for last. Also, keep in mind that you don’t want to build a bridge that is too big or else it will shade your view. If this feels like too big a job for you then contact a landscape designer Phoenix to help you make your garden pond a reality.

By: Caitlina Fuller

About the Author:
Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. A bridge and a beach in your garden pond and that is a wonderful way to integrate the pond into your yard. You may be using a Scottsdale landscape contractor to help you design your garden pond or you may be designing your garden pond on your own. If this feels like too big a job for you then contact a landscape designer Phoenix to help you make your garden pond a reality.



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Posted On: September 19th, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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Home Decorating – DIY Garden Style Bathroom



You should think about remodeling your bathroom so it resembles a garden theme if you want to create a more peaceful type of oasis. The neglected space in your bathroom can be filled with a theme. In this article, we will focus specifically on garden style themes.

Depending on the severity of your bathroom remodeling, the project could take only a few hours, or up to a few days. Some individuals choose to remodel the entire bathroom, appliances and all; while others prefer to only accessorize. Keep in mind that accessories go a long way and can really boost your room’s atmosphere.

A bathroom with a garden theme requires several specific colors. Since the theme revolves around flowers, appropriate choices include green, red, yellow, and pink. The decorating process includes many simple options. You can either start by choosing your base color and then purchasing corresponding accessories or the exact opposite. Any way is perfectly fine. When choosing a color, keep in mind that you want the theme to resemble a relaxed environment. Simple borders are an inexpensive, yet great way to do this.

After the walls are painted the color you desire, you can then add some accessories. There are many design options since garden themes are very popular. You can get bath ensembles inexpensively which include a soap dish, tissue holder, and lotion holder. You can also purchase garden theme accessories in solid colors.

Some other choices include a shower curtain, waste basket, towel set, and wall decorations. Bath sets are very convenient and can skyrocket the results of the colors in the room. They also harmonize the bathroom. Also remember to place a plant either somewhere on the vanity or alongside the tub. Photographs and scented candles are also creative touches. If you don’t like these ideas, at least fill the spaces with images of outdoor plants, butterflies, or even – you guessed it, a garden.

By: Noah Glaser

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Posted On: June 9th, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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DIY With Free Garden Shed Plans



The first step of making a shed right for you is picking your layout. What are the dimensions you will need to make a home for all your outdoor items? This will help you in designing the perfect atmosphere for your outdoor products such as bicycles, tents, lawn equipment, garden tools and hoses. After you have these figures outline the design of the shed becomes rather easy. Via the internet you can research many plans. Through this research you can find do it yourself tips and tricks of the trade. Along with the items you have to create the perfect area to meet your outdoor needs.

The specifications and design of the shed should depend solely upon you and your needs. A few things to keep in mind are how much work space are you going to need? What is the main use of the area? Is it primarily going to be used for gardening? If so then you need to place in your plans a work space for potting your plants or transferring them to other pots. You will need a board to hang your tools on, an area for a table and then all of your other lawn care items.

Once you have detailed the extent of your work space finding a plan that suits your needs is right at your fingertips. You can begin creating your space. The best thing about designing your own shed is you will realize any wasted space while you are creating your environment, there is going to be little lost when you discover exactly how easy this project can be. Other things to keep in mind are where your shed will be located, on the side of the house or in the rear of the home.

You’re going to need to make sure you are not putting your space directly over any lines that will need to be accessed by your utility company or Cable Company. Preplanning is the best way to ensure the perfect space for your shed, allowing for little error in your planning process. You should always consult your electric company, Cable Company and natural gas company and have them come out and mark off where your lines are. This way you do not interfere with their performance to offer you excellent service. After this step you can begin the building of your shed, offering a wonderful home to your outdoor equipment!

The greatest accomplishment is the finished product, follow these steps and you will create a space that is right for you and your family.

By: Derek Farley

About the Author:
You can learn more about garden storage sheds, and get much more information, articles and resources about garden sheds by visiting Wooden Garden Sheds.



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Posted On: June 9th, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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A Home DIY Project – Putting in A Garden Pond



It’s spring time and many homeowners are looking for the next big project to improve their own living space and boost the value of their property.

Garden ponds can greatly enhance your home’s property value and bring you to a new level of peace and serenity. Garden ponds have increased in popularity in the last ten years or so. It’s common to add fish such as koi, goldfish, tropical and sub-tropical fish. However, it’s not always just as simple as digging a hole, constructing a garden pond needs careful planning to avoid unwanted expenses that come with repairs and retro-fits. The easiest method is to buy a complete pond kit, or you can assemble the pieces separately including items such as pond liners, water features, pumps and more.

The pond has the ability to change the entire appearance of your yard. Flowers, fountains, pond lights and other garden accessories are a great way to make an ordinary yard look truly unique. Garden ponds can be installed above or below ground with pre-formed pond liners. Small fiberglass ponds with a rock-like finish are perfect for beginners.

Maintenance tasks are minimal and require less time than any other expressions of keeping aquariums or aquatic features. Garden ponds are a great way to attract many different species of wildlife to your home including especially invertebrates such as dragonflies and amphibians. Depending on how rural you are you may attract larger animals such as deer, and certainly birds. Unfortunately some of the creatures may not be welcome additions, including reptiles and raccoons.

By: Alana Tanner

About the Author:
If you feel that a garden pond would be a good addition to your home, please visit our site on preformed pond liners and pond kits to get more information on the materials you will need.



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Posted On: May 3rd, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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Build a Garden Bench



After you labor for hours planting, weeding, watering and waiting you are ready to sit and enjoy the garden you so carefully tended. You can use a few pieces of scrap lumber, a well placed log, or cinderblocks and an old plank for a place to sit, or you could build a bench. If you’re after that “rustic” look, then making a bench out of scraps, logs and old stuff should do just fine. If you’re looking for something a little more polished and eye-catching, then consider building it yourself and tweak the design as you like it. It only takes a few basic tools and a little time. The cost is minimal.

Instead of dragging one of those tacky lawn chairs from the shed or garage or sitting on the ground, consider taking on a weekend project of constructing your own garden bench. There are different varieties to suit your needs. There are also numerous types of wood to choose from. You could choose to stain your bench or add some character with paint or even a mural.

You can build your own garden bench very easily with very little help, unless you want it. If you have a formal garden and a need for something with an “air” about it, you may need to spend a little bit longer on the design and extra features. However, you are less concerned with impressing people and just want a basic bench for functionality, you could build something very classy and simple. You can produce a comfortable area for you and others to sit and enjoy your garden.

By: Deborah M

About the Author:
No matter whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned woodworker, whether you’re building your first wooden bench or you’ve built many, whether you DO or DO NOT have the skills or knowledge for building, or however many instructional books or blueprints you’ve ever bought…you can build your own bench.

These plans have illustrations and easy-to-read language. The process is outlined step-by-step, so virtually anyone can do it. You can also download a simple basic 12′ x 18′ storage shed plan free, so you can see first hand how the plans are laid out.

http://www.woodenshedplans.info



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Posted On: April 9th, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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Create an Inspiring Wine Bottle Garden Fountain



Have you ever known anyone that collects wine bottles? While there are many beautifully shaped and colorful wine bottles, there does not seem to be many uses for them once the alcohol is consumed. People have been known to use the wine bottles as candleholders; the candle wax melting down the sides of the bottles make for a very unique indoor decoration. Often people just collect the bottles and add them to their shelves. In this case the bottles are more like dust collectors.

One great idea for empty wine bottles is to use them to create an outdoor garden fountain. Not only will you be creating an uplifting and almost spiritual design, but also you will be helping Mother Earth by recycling what otherwise would be a dumpster contribution.

The Basics

In order to create a wine bottle garden fountain you must first decide on where you want to dig the hole that will accommodate a minimum of 18 bottles, a spray fountainhead, water pump, a sump, rocks, bricks and some pavers. All of your materials are going to be submerged.

The wine bottles will be turned upside down so that the bottoms are at the top. You want to find traditional wine bottles in a variety of colors, as their bottoms are concave. The dipped bottoms catch the water as it sprays from the fountainhead and create magical, tiny, colorful pools. The reflection from the tiny pools that this creates in the sunlight is spectacular and inspiring.

Your water fountain will be circular as the bottles dictate an automatic circle design when put together. Start with a six-bottle core and then each ring after that will double your need for wine bottles (i.e.: six for the core, 12 for the second ring and if you desire a larger garden fountain you will need 24 bottles for the third ring). The first six bottles will be strapped around the rainwater pipe held together with waterproof tape. Be careful when handling the bottles, as the sheer weight of them will make them difficult to carry. Use goggles or protective eyewear when working with glass.

Basically, you want to cover the hole with plastic sheeting to ensure proper drainage. You will then fill the plastic lined hole with bricks to hold the bottles in place, the submersible water pump, armored piping to channel the wiring under the lawn or pavers and small cobblestones and gravel to arrange around the bottles, serving as more support. The spray nozzle fountainhead will obviously rise above in the center. After you arrange some larger, decorative rocks atop the fountain to hide all the hardware, you will finally add the pavers to hold everything in place and hide the plastic sheeting.

You will want to consult with a home and garden center expert if you have any questions about the specifics on setting up your wine bottle garden fountain. You may also do some research online for specific instructions as well as thumb through any fountain project literature.

Delightful Sight

Indeed, the combination of colorful wine bottles, decorative, smooth, river rock and cement pavers is a magical sight. Wine bottle garden water fountains lend themselves well to many different themed gardens. It is a definitely conversational piece as you can talk about how you were able to collect each wine bottle and how you are proud of your recycling efforts. Wine bottle spray water fountains are beautiful and eco-friendly.

By: Elizabeth Jean

About the Author:
Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and related articles for Garden-Fountains.com, the #1 destination on the internet for wall fountains, garden fountains, and Distinctive Water Features.



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Posted On: March 31st, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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Garden Shed Plans



Garden shed plans are what you are going to need if you want that stunning new shed in your back yard.

The problem comes into play when trying to find the right plans for your project. I mean you can find plans anywhere but the problem comes when trying to find something that is simple enough for the every day guy to use.

You want instructions you can understand and not something you have to hire a University Professor to help you understand.

You will need something with pictures as well as words to help you understand step by step exactly what you are trying to accomplish.

To a seasoned carpenter you may get looked at funny because to them things like this are second nature. However you may be a animal doctor who is just trying to build a shed and you don’t want to feel like a dummy doing it.

By the time all is said and done you will understand what rafters, joists, floor boards, rough openings and so much else are. You wont be able to build the next mansion but with garden shed plans you will have a very neat understanding of everything you are doing.

You will learn why in many cases building yourself and cutting all materials yourself are better than buying the pre fabricated packages.

At the end of the day you want to be having fun and enjoying a sense of accomplishment.

There are plans for every shed imaginable available to you for the taking. Even some that in your wildest dreams you wouldn’t have thought of.

Its all about building the shed in simple step by step plans. kind of like step one, step two and so on. It is also nice if you could be extended the luxury of pictures. How the heck are you going to know what a header spacer is if you cant have a visual on it.

The very neat thing is you could end up getting very good at building these sheds. You could turn it into a little side business where you could earn countless dollars.

once you go through the right plans you will quickly recognize how quickly you could actually build one of these sheds. In a simple weekend once you have things figured out you could easily build 3 or 4 of them.

Whether you want to build it for yourself or for others you still have to get the best plans available. That’s why you should be seriously thinking about looking around for the best garden shed plans.

By: Blair Tyler

About the Author:
Blair has been involved on and off in backyard carpentry for many years. Now he wants to show you exactly how easy it can be to build your shed.

Get a free blueprint and instructions when visiting Garden Shed Plans



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Posted On: January 7th, 2009
Posted In: Garden
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Garden Shed Designs – DIY Plans That Are Easy For Anyone!



A little while back my wife told me she wanted to plant a garden. So I went to the hardware store and bought a tiller, shovel, hoes, bags of mulch, pots, and other garden equipment. Now I just needed to buy a good set of garden shed designs.

I never realized how much went into building a garden shed. One thing you need to think about how much weight the roof can hold when you build it. If you live up north this is really important because snow is really heavy stuff. You really need to make sure that you build a strong roof for your shed.

Also, sheds make perfect targets for prowlers looking to steal from you. You need to invest in a steel door and a heavy lock to protect your lawn and garden equipment. I would also suggest that you get a set of garden shed designs bigger than you think you will need. After you finish building your outdoor shed it will fill up fast.

Now if it gets real hot where you live you need to make sure the plans you purchase comes with a roofing vent because it can get awfully hot inside there in the middle of the summer. Please make sure to buy pressure treated wood and paint and seal it so it will last you a long time. With the right shed designs you will have a beautiful building that will last for years. Just be sure if you are going to build it yourself that you get a good set of plans to save you time and money.

By: Luke Thomas

About the Author:
You don’t need to look any further for Garden Shed Designs. Before you look any further download your free Garden Shed Designs right now!

http://backyardshedbuilder.info



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Posted On: August 23rd, 2008
Posted In: Garden
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Lawn Care DIY



When it comes to lawn care, DIY is the route that most people want to take, Although they can hire people mow the lawn for them, they do take pride in doing this work themselves so they can take credit for having a perfect lawn. Do it yourself also means that you seed and fertilize the lawn and water it. You do have to be cognizant of the needs of the grass because it needs water and nutrients. In addition, if you let the grass grow too high it is not only unsightly, but harder to mow.

Another aspect of caring for a lawn is to keep it free of weeds. The main way of doing this is to identify the weed so that you will know the correct way to get rid of it. This is because the presence of some weeds in your lawn may be a sign of a more serious problem. Ivy is a weed that you will find when there is not enough sunlight or if there is poor drainage in the soil. If you fins a lot of knotweed in your lawn, then this could mean the soil is compacted too much. If you mow your lawn too short or water it too much, the lawn may be susceptible to crabgrass and if you have dandelion, this means that you have a whole range of unsuitable conditions.

In order to have a healthy lawn, you do need to choose the correct grass for the soil and the location. For example, if your lawn is mostly shaded, then fescues are great mixed in with the grass seed. This is because these grasses don’t need a lot of maintenance, water or fertilizer. They do not grow really tall either.

When you do find weeds in your lawn, you can pull them out by hand. You do need to make sure you get the root because if you don’t they will simply grow right back up. There are many weed killing herbicides available at your local garden center so you should be able to find something there.

By: Jim Poniente

About the Author:
For more lawn care tips as well as information on lawn drainage and other lawn care related topics visit TheLawnCareGuide.com



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Posted On: January 26th, 2008
Posted In: Garden
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5 Tips on Building Your DIY Garden Sheds



1 – The Base –
Start off by laying the floor of the garden shed. The actual base for the shed must be firm and level.

We recommend that you fix the floor to the timber bearers.

2 – Next Step – Sides
Next take the gable end and an end panel, sit them onto the floor, Fix these two parts of the shed together to form one corner.
Add more of the side panels one at a time until you have all four sides attached.

3 – Next step – The roof:
Place the two roof panels on top of the garden shed. Note, if you base is not level you will find that the end of the roof purling will not sit flush to each other.

4 – Next Step – Fixing the roof and sides down.
Now you will need to fix the sides and roof down, Note: At this stage it is important to check that the side panels are running straight.

Look down the side of the garden building to make sure there is no “Dog Legging” if there is simply push panels into correct position before fixing down.

Next put the roof truss in place, fix it up to the ridge first then fix the ends up the underside of the top rails of the side panels. One end at a time.
This make take the application some pressure.

5 – Next step – The felting
This is the final stage to completing your DIY garden shed build. Jobs left, Felting the roof, fixing of the fascia Boards, cover lats and Corner Beads.

By: Kris M

About the Author:
Kris

http://www.shedsdirect.net

To see images with the above article please visit my blog. [http://www.shedsdirect.net/blog/2008/09/02/5-tips-on-diy-garden-sheds]



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Posted On: January 16th, 2008
Posted In: Garden
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