Category Archives: Yard & Outdoors

Landscaping Your Summer Garden

December 09, 2023   Matt

Landscaping Your Summer Garden

There are many things that must be considered when planning and planting your summer garden. One of those things is the natural landscape or terrain of your lawn and garden area. It is best, whenever possible to work with the landscape rather than working against it or going to extraordinary efforts to make changes to the natural landscape of your lawn when you could very easily and beautifully plan your summer garden to go with the flow of and work well with the natural terrain of your lawn and garden area.

One way in which this is accomplished is by taking a quick survey of your lawn. This will need to be more than a cursory visual survey. You will need to walk your lawn and the area in which you are planning for your garden space. You will need to measure the terrain and take not of inclines and slopes. While you are at it, you need to study the condition of the soil and any areas that seem particularly inhospitable for planting. If these types of areas are present in your garden you need to decide what you want to do about them. Is it possible to turn this patch into a water feature or some other attractive addition to your garden rather than remaining a bare patch in the midst of your flowers, plants, and/or vegetables?

You should also determine the amount of shade a particular area receive and, if in direct sunlight, how to create shade for those plants, vegetables, or flowers that grow best in indirect sunlight. This can be accomplished by planting them creatively in the shadow of plants, shrubs, or vegetables that grow much taller or by using rocks to create shade or even climbing vines on trellises or fences in order to create an artificial shade.

Once you have a good feel for the terrain and landscape of your summer garden you will need to plan for the vegetables, flowers, or plants that will be used. Vegetable gardens tend to be less aesthetic in nature and are often the easiest to landscape, as it is a matter of need rather than beauty. If you are planting a flowery summer garden however, it is quite likely that you will be planning to achieve some degree of beauty within your garden. Decide now if you want to keep the flowers and plants within a certain color scheme or if you want dramatic blues and greens combined with bright and vivid reds and yellows. This is a personal decision but will greatly affect the appearance of your garden when all is said and done.

You should also landscape your garden according to the amount of time and effort you want to devote to working your garden on any given week. Some plants require more care than others. If you want a garden that is basically sow and go then you need to make sure it is filled with plants and flowers that are suited to that sort of low maintenance. Most vegetable gardens require a good deal of tending in order to flourish and are not acceptable in this sort of situation.

If you are completely lost as to how to landscape your summer garden it may be worth the effort to have a team of professionals come in and do the landscaping for you. When procuring their services be sure to either check into a maintenance program with them in which the upkeep the landscaping or have them provide a low maintenance type of landscaping that you will be able to maintain and duplicate on your own.

Many gardeners find the task of landscaping their summer garden to be the highlight of the summer growing season. If you are not among those, the hope is that the recommendations provided here will provide you with a good start and several helpful tips on getting your garden landscaped and ready to grow.

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Expert Home Improvement Advice You Can Put To Good Use!

December 04, 2023   Matt

Expert Home Improvement Advice You Can Put To Good Use!

Nearly everyone has at least one thing that they would like to see changed about their home. Fortunately, many home improvements are projects that even a novice homeowner can tackle. You can, with a little planning, easily accomplish projects like cabinet refacing, adding decorative molding to walls, windows, doors, or outdoor projects like improving your gutter system. Some things, however, are best left to the pros, especially if they involve electricity or plumbing. This article will help you decide if your home improvement project can be done by yourself, or if you need to call in expert help.

Before you begin to paint the bookshelf in your living room, make sure to sand it down to it’s natural finish. After you sand it down, be sure to read the pros and cons of each paint choice. By doing this, you’ll end up with the bookshelf you imagined.

One of the latest trends for home improvement is painting the ceilings in each room. Instead of a generic white, it is highly beneficial, relaxing, and extremely decorative to paint the ceilings of each room a few shades lighter of the same color as the walls. Doing this brings the room more together and makes for a more relaxing and soothing atmosphere.

When undertaking home improvements that require the services of a contractor, ask your friends and family for recommendations of people they have used in the past. Interview the contractor and only hire a person that you feel you can rely on and trust. This will hopefully avoid you being the victim of bad work or service during your project.

To give your kitchen a facelift without a complete overhaul, consider painting your counter tops. There are specific types of paint meant for covering Formica or other laminate counters; these paints dry to a hard finish that can withstand the demands of a kitchen surface. Painting your counters is a great way to update your decor or hide stains without the expense of replacing them.

Throw your plastic shower curtain in the wash! Add a few clothes so they will swirl around with it and give it a good scrubbing. Even the most inexpensive shower curtains will survive one or two washings. You keep them out of the landfill and at the same time brighten up that tired bathroom!

When it comes to home improvement, be sure to have fun with it. This is important because it should be a rewarding experience for you. You will never fully enjoy your home improvement project if it was a burden and brings back bad memories. Consider hiring help if it is expected that you will run into issues completing the project on your own.

As you have read in this article, with just a little planning and some investigation, you can take on basic home improvement projects and make your home a happy, healthy place for your family. By knowing what projects you can do and what projects you should leave to the experts, you can even save a significant amount of money. So pick up that hammer and those nails, and have fun with your next home improvement project!

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How to Protect Yourself When Purchasing a Home

November 29, 2023   Matt

How to Protect Yourself When Purchasing a Home

When you are purchasing a home, whether it is your first or not, it is important that you protect yourself and your investment. Many people will make sure their appliances have warranties, as well as their vehicles. Most people will not make a big purchase like those without a warranty, so why is it that so many people make the biggest purchase of their lives (a home) and do not get a warranty?

There are many things you can do to protect yourself when you buy a home but probably foremost is ensuring that you have a warranty on that home. A home warranty is not a new product – in fact, home warranties have been around for quite some time. In the past, however, most people thought that home warranties were only offered by builders on new homes, but that is not the case. In fact, you can purchase a home warranty on any home, new or used.

Usually, either the buyer or the seller will purchase a home warranty. A buyer purchases a home warranty on an older home to safeguard themselves from any major repairs that need to be done that can’t be seen on inspection, or foreseen. It’s hard to tell that the water heater or furnace is about ready to kick the bucket and need replacing from looking at it. A home warranty protects from those repairs and replacements for the term of the policy. A seller will purchase a home warranty for the home they are selling as a selling feature. A home warranty helps secure their pricing near where it’s listed at. Also, many homes that come with a home warranty will sell much quicker than one without.

With this, it is important then that when you are purchasing a home that you ensure you have a home warranty. A home warranty will save you a lot of time, money and trouble if something major should go wrong. In most cases, a home warranty will cover:

  • Air conditioning system
  • Built in dishwasher
  • Built in microwave
  • Built in trash compactor
  • Ceiling fans
  • Central heating unit
  • Duct work
  • Electrical systems
  • Garbage disposal unit
  • Plumbing systems
  • Refrigerator
  • The oven or range
  • Washer and dryer
  • Water heater

Here is a list of things that are generally not covered with a home warranty:

  • Outdoor sprinkler systems
  • Outdoor water systems
  • Faucet repairs (unless otherwise stated in the policy)
  • Spas (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Pools (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Hot tubs (you can request/add this coverage in some cases)
  • Permit fees
  • Hauling away debris
  • Hauling away old appliances

There are items that are often not covered by some plans, which are covered by others, including:

  • Washers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
  • Dryers (because they are not built in to the home and are not always included with a home.)
  • Garbage disposals
  • Garage door openers
  • Refrigerators

The best thing to do is to talk to the agent you are dealing with and ask what is and isn’t covered in detail with your policy. Anything you talk about should be put in writing and signed by the agent. If he says the garbage disposal is covered, then ensure it is written in the policy.

It’s best to take some time and do your research if you are purchasing your own home warranty package for a home. The rates, coverage and deductibles vary from company to company, and from state to state. There are many options available to you, so talk to a qualified home warranty agent to discuss what type of home warranty program suits your needs the best.

If you are buying a home that comes with a home warranty, it’s important to remember that this type of warranty is non-renewable; whereas if you purchase your own, it is likely able to be renewed when the initial year-long period is up. Again, it’s important to ask of the seller what is included and not included in the warranty before purchasing the home. Read through the policy to be sure you are clear on what is and is not covered.

Buying a home is an exciting time, but it can also be quite daunting. You never know what you are getting when you purchase an older home, but a home warranty can help dispel any misgivings you have.

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5 Top Model Train Accessories

November 24, 2023   Matt

5 Top Model Train Accessories

Many people’s first introduction to model railroading is with a simple circle or oval on a sheet of plywood. No scenery, no landscaping and maybe not even any buildings or vehicles.

It doesn’t take long, however, to get the urge to start adding accessories to the railroad to make it more realistic. For many people, this become a lifelong endeavor, and can grow to very large proportions.

Every layout is different and everyone has their own favorite accessories, but the following 5 items are some of the most common accessories that add a level of realism and interest to your model railroad.

1. Train Station

This is one of the first buildings most people add to their layout. It gives the railroad a starting and ending point and often serves as the basis for an entire town or city to be built up around it.

2. Lighting

There are many forms of lighting for railroads. There can be background lighting to give a backdrop a degree of realism or street lights to add to the ambiance of a city. These may be strictly for decoration, or they may actually light up at night to give the streets a realistic glow.

3. Rail Cars

The locomotive usually gets the most attention when setting up a model railroad, but there are many choices for railcars as well.

4. People and Animals

A city or rail yard isn’t complete without people as part of the design. And if your layout travels through mountains or countryside, animals add a touch of realism to the design.

5. Landscaping

There are many options for landscaping a railroad. You can add things like grass, trees, lakes or rivers alongside the track. Or you can get a little more in depth and add hills and valleys for your train to travel through, and tunnels through the mountains.

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Small Leak? Tips On How To Know What You Can Do Or When You Need To Call A Plumber (3)

November 19, 2023   Matt

Small Leak? Tips On How To Know What You Can Do Or When You Need To Call A Plumber

Plumbing needs to be done right! It can create more trouble and expense if it is not done properly! Not everyone is a plumber. If you are not up to the job, hire it out! If you can do-it-yourself, that is great! You will need the right tools and know how. Read this article for some handy tips and tricks!

If your lawn has areas where the grass grows very quickly compared to the rest, seems constantly wet or has a noxious odor you may have a sewer line leak. A leak or crack in sewage pipes can be repaired if caught early and save thousands of dollars in failed septic inspection expenses.

To avoid hair from accumulating and clogging pipes. Use fine mesh strainers in every drain where hair is washed. Fine mesh strainers can catch the hair and still allow the shower, tub or sink to drain and are also useful in the kitchen to catch and stop small food debris from going down the drain.

Cover pipes that are outside or in cool areas. Use heat tape to make sure that the pipes are completely covered and insulated. This will prevent frozen pipes in the winter, which can be an expensive problem. Check outdoor pipes for other problems such as leaks and cracks which are better to catch early.

To prepare for the cold weather, properly drain all outside faucet bibs and turn off the water supply to those faucets. A piece of foam taped to the outside bib can provide excellent insulation to prevent any remaining water from freezing or splurge for a specialty cover that comes complete with velcro closures.

If your drain in any device is taking longer to drain water, then you may need to have your pipes professionally cleaned depending on the severity of the circumstances. Before you do this, there are several different products you can try. However, some of them are professional strength and all products should be used with caution.

Never pour grease down the kitchen-sink drain. This will help you avoid clogs in your kitchen sink. Place grease in a can or other receptacles and dispose of in the trash. Grease that has congealed on pots, and pans can be wiped off with paper towels that can be thrown in the trash.

Do not fall for the idea that liquid grease can be easily washed down the drain with hot water. While the grease may flow past the initial drain with the water, it does not take much of a temperature change as it moves through your pipes to alter from liquid to solid. The repeat habit of dumping grease in the sink is a sure-fire way to ensure a hard-to-reach clog forming in the future.

Hopefully, you have found the tips and tricks above to be quite handy! Whether you hire out the job or do-it-yourself, take the necessary time to do it right. It can create more trouble and expense in the future, if it is not done properly!

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How To Deal With Home Improvement Easily

November 14, 2023   Matt

How To Deal With Home Improvement Easily

We see the same scenery every single day in our houses, and that’s why so many homeowners decide that it’s time for a little remodeling. Painting the walls, rearranging the furniture, and going with new molding — these can seem like easy enough tasks from the start. However, many people find that they’re daunting. No matter what your goals are, check out these home- improvement tips.

A simple and effective tool for improving your use of energy and improving the nature of your home dynamic is to install and utilize automated thermostat systems. Although they can be expensive, they will cover their own cost over time in your overall lower energy bills while making your home more green.

Be prepared for the plumbing work to take longer than anticipated. Whether you are installing a shower, a sink or a toilet, have a backup plan in case you and your family have to go without for a while. Make sure everyone showers before beginning the work or arrange with a family member to let you spend the night if need be.

If you are buying tools and equipment for a home improvement project, don’t cheap out on the essentials. For example, a cheaply-built ladder will often fall apart while being used and low-quality paintbrushes may shed bristles into the paint, leaving ugly marks on the walls. Aim for middle-grade equipment if you are on a budget, otherwise, you may be in for some nasty accidents.

Open up the curtains and blinds during a showing to allow natural light into the home. If the outdoor scenery is not desirable, consider keeping the blinds somewhat closed to draw less attention to it. Turn on all of the lights in the home so the home looks bright and cheery instead of dark and dreary.

For the easiest modern touch to the home, consider using wallpaper. Wallpaper these days can offer quite modern and funky designs, which can generate a great update for your home. This can give you a great look for the home with less effort than painting.

Consider the value that you are adding to the home through home improvement projects. You want to make sure that what you add to the home or change in the home is going to present an investment that pays off if you sell the home. You want to add value to the home, not take it away.

Reuse as much as possible during your home improvement to save money and help the environment. If you can paint your cabinets to give them a new look, why not? Replace the knobs or handles on them as well to modernize their look. Consider painting tile instead of replacing it to freshen a room.

Something that seems on the surface to be so simple can end up being incredibly complicated if you’re not aware of how to handle a task. Painting can turn into a nightmare; adding more lights could leave you in the dark. The tips in this article will help you learn about home improvement, so put them to good use.

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