Best of Tips on Home Design

Tips On Home Design

Your abode reflects your lifestyle and personality. Whatever size it is, it is your personal touch and indulgence in your home which makes it warm and unique. To many people, the very thought of home decoration leaves them into frenzy considering the big expenses. Nevertheless, if you use a well-sorted designing plan to decorate your home, surely will you achieve the right look at a much reasonable price. 

 

Here are some home design tips that help you build your dream home.

The right color: Color is one of the most important home design tips that can add spark to the dull appearance of your home. Every room expresses something and the right hues and shades used gives it the right feel. Search what is the latest in terms of textures and colors and choose what best reflects your personality.

 

Home lighting: Your dream home would be incomplete if it looks dull and dark. Use the proper illuminating system for adorning the interiors of your rooms. Another useful home design tip is avoid putting dark items in the corners where lightening is bleak. Similarly, avoid putting bright pieces where light is in abundance.

 

Place the main furniture first: One of the most effective home designing tips to avoid cluttering at your home is to place the main and the most important furnishing first. For example, beds, couches, desks at all should be placed first and at the center of the room so that enough space is left for the placement of the rest of the furniture. Make sure that large pieces of the furniture are evenly placed in the room to strike the right balance. After the placement of the main pieces is done, then place the rest of the sundry furniture to ensure smooth flow of the traffic in the room.

 

Accessorize: After your fixtures have been placed, wall's painted, think of accessorizing your home, only if your budget allows you. Start with your living room as that is the most visited place by your guests. Soft illumination, unique decorating items, colorful drapes, comfy furniture will all make for an appealing living room. You can also select one from a varied range of home decoration accessories like floral decor, glass ware decor and wall decor to add a touch of class in your abode.

 

Best of Backyard Landscaping Ideas - Easy Ideas for Breathtaking Backyard Landscape

Backyard Landscaping Ideas - Easy Ideas For Breathtaking Backyard Landscape

Is your home backyard dull and boring to the eyes? Then it needs some major remodeling. If you are really interested in redeveloping a backyard into a beautiful landscaped garden then there are some easy steps involved that can do this quickly.

Many people think that developing a garden in the backyard is an expensive affair. But it's really not. With a few basic landscaping elements you can have a dull backyard converted into a soothing green area where you can enjoy quality life with your family members.

What you can do is convert the whole backyard area into smaller areas and start visualizing it for redevelopment. If the idea of managing the complete area frightens you then let's deal with this one step at a time. Each individual area can be a grid of simple rectangles or squares running across and along the backyard. The lines forming the grid can become pathways to move into internal areas.

Once the pathways have been finalized you can visit the local nursery store and simply ask for help. Ask the expert their to give you a list of the following types of plants with their costs.

1) Lawn beds

2) Shrubs along the pathways

3) Flowerbed plants

4) Crawlers

5) Trees

Also ask about their specific requirements such as shade loving/non shade loving, the quantity of water they require etc.

The next steps involve locating the positions of these plants in the garden layout. You can use chalk powder to do this you in less than an hour. While finalizing the plant positions make sure to use some creativity and use colorful plants that will create a wonderful display of colors when they bloom. Endless options are available for you to choose from in this planning stage.

Walkways cab be built with a variety of materials such as

1) Gravel

2) Tiles

3) Stone tiles

4) Bricks with interlocking arrangements

5) Plain sand

If you are ready to spend some money even planting a pond or a fountain a good idea as this will greatly enhance the visual quality of your garden. Having statues in you garden with built-in lighting arrangement is another great idea to go for.

Try to cover most of the area with green cover to keep the surrounding cooler. If you don't want to experiment too much on plat types then a simple lawn with flowering plants in the periphery is also a good idea. The lawn can have a central paved area with a coffee table and probably an umbrella to cover it.

This can become a favorite place to have morning tea and some chat with your family members. if space allows a small area with swing set or a seesaw can be installed so that kids are happy too.

Thus simple visualization can easily transform a dull backyard landscaping ideas into beautiful retreat of your own. With careful planning and little professional help this should not be an expensive affair too.

Best of Basic Pool Care

Basic Pool Care

Once you have this down, you're going to be the envy of the neighborhood.

1. Check the levels of your swimming pool chlorine, pH, alkalinity, and hardness. Keep your pH levels between 7.6 and 7.8, not 7.2.  You'll use up too much acid to keep it that low.  Get your alkalinity in check, 80-100, then adjust your pH.

Try to not go over 8.0.   This will help with the water chemical balance and spa maintenance.

2. Test and maintain your chlorine between 1.0-3.0ppm. Most pool techs will tell you to keep your chlorine levels between 1.0-3.0ppm. This will help keep the pool algae away.

I choose to keep the chlorine at this level, 3.0ppm, because I want to have a buffer zone, especially when I'm expecting a large bather load.

Nothing eats up chlorine faster on a bright sunny day than having a large bather load with kids......who stay in the pool......for very long periods of time......and don't come out of the pool......for anything......and I mean ANYTHING.

3. Everyone needs to check their floaters with their chlorine tablets or swimming pool chemical feeders and keep it full at all times. NEVER put pool chlorine tablets in your skimmer.

When your pump turns off the tabs keep dissolving. When the pump turns back on your system will get a highly concentrated dose of acid and chlorinated water that will, over time, wreak havoc on your

If anyone tells you it's alright to put chlorine tablets in the swimming pool skimmer, just nod and smile, then walk away. They either don't know or understand proper swimming pool water maintenance, or they're trying to sell you something, like a new filtration system.

4. Use "No Mor Problems" from United Chemical Corp. I've seen its effectiveness and know how well it works. I like United Chemical's ideas on pool water maintenance and they have some really good swimming pool maintenance tips.

5. Empty the skimmer baskets and, using a wide-mouth and deep pocket leaf rake, remove leaves, insects and other debris from both the pool surface and the bottom. You'll need the right kinds of cleaning parts to pull this off. You may also want to invest in a brush that can easily remove the hard-to-reach debris that collects and sticks to the tile at the water line.

6. Brush the walls and steps weekly and vacuum the bottom when necessary. You may want to vacuum every other week but especially after a windy dust storm. Be sure to backwash your filter after you vacuum or after excessive sweeping of dirt and debris found on the bottom of the pool.

Vacuum as you would vacuum your carpet, beginning at the shallow end and work your way down.

Remember to go slowly as the dirt will seem to "fly up" and you'll get frustrated because more dirt is floating in the water than going into the filter.

7. Backwash once per month or when the pressure is too high, usually about 10-12psi.

8. Only use the water you need to keep your pool at its proper level, about 3" up from the bottom of the skimmer. You may want to invest in a automatic water-filler or just keep an eye on the hose while you're topping off the pool.

9. If you have an automatic pool cleaner, be sure it's in proper working condition. Check with your pool professional if there are signs of wear on your cleaner or it's simply not cleaning properly.

Now the big thing is the pH and alkalinity.  Without going into too much detail, I'll try to explain.

Most pool guys and pool shops will tell you to keep your pH around 7.2 and your alkalinity about 100-120ppm.  This is simply not right.  And here's why...

They get their infomation from an index call the "Langelier Index" which was originally used for public water systems and was introduced to pools in the mid 1950's because there simply was no other system.. 

It's a good system, but just the wrong application. 

The Hamilton Index was specifically designed for pools.  By using the Hamilton Index you will see an decrease in your chemical usage along with an increase in your wallett, and who couldn't use that?

I don't completely agree with the Hamilton Index, but it is closer to how a pool should be balanced than the other index. 

Having a great swimming pool your entire family can enjoy should be easy, once you know and understand basic pool care.  Remember not to over-think or over-complicate swimming pool care by adding this and that and the other thing.  Keep it simple, understand your chemicals, stick to the basics, and you're on your way to being the envy of the neighborhood.

Happy Swimming

Best of Design Your Own Home

Design Your Own Home
You have watched all of the home design shows at home and you think to yourself that it seems pretty easy to do. Well, if you have the time and the money, you can certainly design your own home with a little bit of planning. Especially when you move into a new home, many people tend to hire architects and home designers who lay out the entire home design. The only problem with this is that it might be a great looking home but its not a home with your own personal input. When you design you own home, you will take a lot of pride in what you are doing and you will design your home exactly how you want it to, not what someone else envisions for it.

The first step in getting started on designing your own home is to have some sort of inspiration. Many people want their homes design to flow. One room will take you right into another room. This flow will generally create a larger home in visual appearance and give your guests a sense of space that can be hard to achieve with older style home formats.

You may have your own ideas about what you have always wanted in a home and then you can always look at other homes and magazines to see if those designs are a good starting point for your home. By organising all of this information, over time, it will begin to look more like a cohesive plan as to what you want in your home and how you can achieve this goal of designing your own home.

You will then have to create several different sketches of your home. At the beginning you might just be playing around with ideas. The more of these sketches that you work on, the more you will be able to piece together your home. Once you have the sketches it is time to actually develop the design. Your drawing must go from 2 D to 3D with all of the appropriate dimensions. You will most likely have to work with a professional in order to create this developed design.

Once your design has been developed, you can then begin to have the plans drafted by an architect who will be able to construct your home as you designed it. You can take great pride in this home because it is your vision and dream. However, you cannot assume that this home will go up overnight. Planning to design your own home can take even longer than it takes to build your own home from a pre-drawn design. You should have in mind that this is a lengthy and ongoing project but it is a project that will fill you with joy and pride once it is completed.

Best of Vw Beetle Inspired House and Restaurant Designs

VW Beetle inspired house and restaurant designs

House is not merely a place to stay or to come back after long working hours at the office. People build houses as a means to create happiness and to enjoy a true familial atmosphere. With many people, house also becomes personal identity. Special impressively designed houses can bring fame and pride to the owners. Therefore, architects have continuously thought of unique and even bizarre house designs. People have seen Zen house, Glass Prefab house, Arched Timber Roof House. Creativity of house designers seems unlimited. They can get inspired from everyday items like a leaf, a telephone, a book or a car. Recently, Car.Das Auto restaurant and the house named Auto Residence which is located in the north of Salzburg, Autria has enchanted visitors and even by-passers with the impressive VW Beetle inspired design. The idea of the design was inspired over a decade ago but it was not until 2003 that the construction of house and restaurant was completed. Let’s have a look at the uniquely designed house and restaurant.

 

The outside overview of Car.Das Auto restaurant

 

The owners of the house and restaurant had dreamt of building the buildings in the shape of a bug just like the design of VW Beetle

 

Their dreams were shared with architect Markus Voglreiter and he came up with this crazy idea

 

Auto Residence includes some snazzy details like the headlamp shaped windows and suspension spring-themed columns inside

 

The house is also very environmentally friendly with a special heating center that minimize the consumption of energy

 

It costs over 1.6 million euro to build the restaurant

 

The impressive design of Auto Residence was the inspiration of the construction of Car.Das Auto restaurant

 

The VW Beetle inspired home was a hit in Austria

 

Modern and well designed toilet

 

 

Related links:

Open Houses

Bird Houses from WindowAlert

Concept Houses via Microsoft

Best of 10 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Build a Koi Fish Pond

10 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Build a Koi Fish Pond

Before approaching the task of constructing a Koi Pond, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you prepared to build the Koi Pond yourself or get an expert to build it for you?

There is no substitute for getting quality advice from a professional pond builder. After you have done your preliminary research and have started to gain some idea of what you want, you can really benefit from consulting with a professional. They can discuss your ideas with you and help spell out what is doable and what is not; what is realistic and what is not; and finally, what is affordable and what is not! Following such a discussion, you will be in a far better position to decide whether you want to build yourself or hire a professional builder do the work for you.

Just how much can you afford to spend?

This is the easiest but most critical question of all. Take a guess at what it “might” cost to build the Koi Pond you have in mind and then double it! Is this amount out of your reach? Well, guess what! This is exactly the “scary” question you ought to ask yourself! Now, get yourself an expenses book and list out all predicted itemized expenses as you do your research. You will need to determine a budget for absolutely EVERYTHING before you even think about grabbing that spade! As you finalize your preliminary budget, ask yourself once more if this is affordable or way beyond your means. If it is within range of what you expected, then you can look for ways to reduce spending if needed, along the way. For example, when it comes to stocking your completed pond, you may want to cut back by purchasing smaller or less mature Koi specimens as these are often less expensive. Likewise, you may be able to cut back on pond plant expenditure or ornamentation if necessary.

How much room do you have for a Koi Pond?

Now this is almost as important as the “Money” question! You really need to consider not only the size of the pond that you “want” but what your backyard can “accommodate”. Think in terms of what percentage of the yard would be needed for your ultimate pond - this can help put things in perspective. If your yard is big, then this normally won’t be an issue, but, you do still need to think about the “location” within your yard. When considering how much space, think along the lines of “bigger is better” - meaning Koi can grow quite big and realistically require a lot of room to grow. You may also be tempted to buy “one of every color” when it comes to stocking your pond, so there is a risk of over-crowding! Set yourself a limit on the quantity of Koi you will have long-term (either by purchasing more Koi later on or from breeding) and ensure that your pond size will be sufficient to accommodate them.

How many Koi fish do you want to have? It’s fairly well known that fish will only grow to a size that their environment can sustain. They will also grow faster where there is a smaller population of fish as a result of less competition for food and better water quality resulting from less waste.  It is less well known however, that the growth of Koi can be promoted better by an increase in water surface area. In other words, if you think about 2  ponds of equivalent volume, let’s say 10,000 gallons (just about 38,000 litres) but different depths, the deeper pond will not promote growth as well as the other as a consequence of a smaller water surface area. Consider also, that a pond can support a corresponding total weight or “biomass” of fish. For example, in a small pond, the biomass may support either 2 large fish or 20 smaller fish provided that the total weight is the same in either situation, and provided that it does not exceed the final biomass for that pond. A general guideline  when determining how many fish your pond will take is, about 50 to 100 gallons per small koi (under 12”), and 500 to 1000 gallons per large koi (over 24”) in a properly filtered pond. Some experts say that those new to the Koi hobby are advised to build a pond between 1,000 and 5,000 gallons, however, others advise that the ideal pond is more around the 10,000 gallon mark. Ultimately, your pond size will be influenced by cost, location and space, but aim for the biggest you can manage - it’s very difficult to go back and make your pond larger afterward!

How much time are you happy to spend maintaining your Koi Pond?

This question needs to be answered with the same level of honesty and practicality that the question of “Money” was! Think about how much time you “think” you may have to spend upkeeping your Koi Pond and then double it! Is this more time than you’re happy to put in or not? This is another area that should be discussed with your professional koi pond consultant.

Do you have the right location for a Koi Pond?

Just like Real Estate, it’s all about Location! Location! Location! Your Koi Pond needs to be where it can be admired and enjoyed BUT it also wants to be located with the following considerations in mind. To begin with, your pond needs indirect sunlight where possible so that the water temperature doesn’t undergo huge daily variations. Also try not to place it under a tree where it will collect a lot of leaves and other debris - you don’t want to spend any more time than necessary scooping out leaves. Finally, don’t forget to consider building restrictions from your local council or authority and check for underground pipes and cables before you commence.

Are you prepared to learn about Koi and their needs?

Take the time to do your homework. This will minimize the mistakes that are easily made from guesswork, and could save you a great deal of time, money and effort. There are lots of resources available for you to take advantage of. Try talking to Koi enthusiasts or visit Koi fish club meetings.

Can you dig deep enough for a Koi Pond?

Depth is critical to the success of your Koi Pond. Too deep and it becomes impractical to clean, to catch Koi if necessary, and let’s face it, it becomes too costly to build. Too shallow and your Koi might not have enough shelter from would be predators like cats and birds or shelter from the heat of a summer’s day. If you are excited about the prospect of hand feeding your new pets, then think about having a shallow area that you can stand in while feeding them. You will still need to have the remainder of the pond at a minimum depth of at least 3 or 4 feet, but ideally, if you can manage it, 5 or 6 feet is better. If creating a multi-level pond, be careful not to create static areas where the water does not circulate sufficiently, as this provides places for serious diseases to breed and for debris to collect. This can cause major problems with water quality.

What “Extras” do you want with your Koi Pond?

Would you like “Fries” with that? I mean, would you like Fry in your pond? If you’re thinking about breeding Koi somewhere in the future, you will have to ask about this at the same time you are consulting with the professional pond builder. There are various “extras” that may need to be factored in for the purposes of spawning. Likewise, if you are looking at the aesthetics of the pond itself, you may want to investigate the cost of adding a “Waterfall” which can greatly aid in the oxygenation of the water and consequently affect the size of any filtration unit required. Pond plants can also add to the expense - be sure you do your research here as you can’t put in any plants you like - that’s an entire other subject. There are many other materials that need to be factored into the cost of your pond that come under the heading of “necessities” rather than “extras”. These may include but are not limited to such things as a biological filter, pipes, settlement chambers, a de-chlorinator, bird netting, drains, pumps, skimmers, heating, plus more. Again, these should all be discussed with your consultant at the planning stage.

Are you really, really enthusiastic about having your own Koi Pond?

The answer to this one, even after all of the above, should be a resounding “YES”, otherwise, go and buy yourself a goldfish bowl - it will be a lot less expensive with a lot less work, but ultimately, will be a lot less rewarding (no disrespect to goldfish intended!). If the answer is in fact “YES” then great! You have many years ahead to look forward to as your pets grow in size, personality and beauty!

Best of Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair

For anyone who is a parent or just likes to pass time on the porch, a rocking chair is a must. The swaying back and forth can be so soothing that it will literally put a person to sleep. That’s why many expecting mommies will purchase a rocking chair. During last night feedings or disturbances, rocking the child will calm them and they will eventually fall right to sleep. Within minutes, most children will calm down thanks to the motion of a rocking chair. It is definitely a nursery must.

However, it’s not just nice for the children; it’s a nice chair to have in your home because it is so relaxing. Many people have a rocking chair outside on their deck or they will have a rocking chair on their porch. On restless nights, you could go outside in the hot summer air and have time to think or just relax. For those who suffer from sleepless nights, a rocking chair can calm the nerves and relax the body. Once the body and nerves became relaxed, sleep should come soon.

Although many people own a rocking chair, not everyone owns a rocking chair to sway. Many times people will have a rocking chair in the room to give it a homier feel. It can also be used as part of the décor because many people use the rocking chair in the designs to get the country look. Rather it’s for show or to rock, you can bet a throw will be on the chair. Rocking chair’s are very beautiful and usually handcrafted wood. To give it a more subtle look sometimes a throw will be laid on the back of the rocking chair.

No one really knows how much work goes into making a rocking chair. It may just seem like a regular chair placed on curved wood, but it’s more than that. The back of the chair must be slighted just right or the person will tip. The legs of the “chair” are much shorter and have to be just the right angle. Finally, the slop in the runners and the placement of the legs has to be just right or the chair won’t be stable.

Knowing all of that, it could take months or even a year to make the perfect rocking chair. Their balance of difficulty layouts and simplistic designs is what makes the rocking chair a classic. There is so much hard work that much goes into one and yet it can look like it didn’t take much to even build it. Many people will add their own twist on their rocking chair by carving designs in the wood before putting it all together. The rocking chair is perfect for anyone from six months to 60 years old; everyone loves a rocking chair and they look good too.

Beautiful How Provide the Best Care for Your Koi Fish and Pond

How Provide the Best Care For Your Koi Fish and Pond

As any serious Koi keeper knows, care for Koi is not as simple as purchasing goldfish from a pet store and dumping them in a fish tank.

First of all, that fish tank should be a pond with enough room for Koi to grow in. The minimum recommended stocking rate for any Koi pond is one Koi per 250 gallons of water. However, for those who wish to care for Koi, particularly to ensure their proper body formation and maximum size potential, twice the amount of water per Koi is recommended.

As mentioned in a previous article, it is better to care for more Koi than less as the fish are "happier" in a populous environment. This of course, would require increasing your pond volume.

Depending on where in the world one resides, it is good to keep in mind that Koi construction should keep out predators such as birds and mammals. Shaded trees are thus a good idea to block the view of aerial predators. To keep water clean of leaves and debris, stringing nets or wires above the surface is also important. This is because care for Koi begins with care for its pond water.

Koi can thrive in water temperatures of 15-25 degrees C (59-77 degrees F). The optimal temperatures however are at 23-30 degrees C (73.4-86 degrees F).

Pond water should be cycled once an hour for filtration. It should maintain a pH level of 6.5-9 and measured to keep a 5% salinity at all times. It should be free of waste material and be non-chlorinated. Keeping low ammonia levels (due to fish waste) is also necessary for to care for Koi. An ammonia measurement of one part per million is considered harmful for the fish.

One of many environmental problems which arise in the care for Koi is that of green water caused by algal blooms. The nitrogen wastes and other chemicals in the pond nourish the growth of algae and cause the pond to darken or become green. This is not only toxic for the fish but for humans as well. Hence it is best to regularly test the water for chemicals and install proper mechanical and biological filtration and pump systems.

Care for Koi also includes a healthy Koi diet. Koi have evolved to be omnivorous fish with a high tendency towards the consumption of benthic organisms, such as water insects, worms, larvae and even Molluscs. Koi are also stimulated by the variety of eating fruit, shrimp or fish every so often.

Keeping this in mind, however, there are commercial Koi foods that come in pellets or rods for Koi to chew that make guesswork easy. Koi are known to eat more than necessary for their proper growth so feeding must be controlled. More food also means, more waste in the water. It is better to feed the Koi in short spurts several times a day than to give them one large feeding. For aesthetic purposes and in order to give Koi a physical check-up, it would be good to choose food that floats. When the fish come up to feed at the surface it is much easier to check them then for parasites and ulcers.

In countries where the weather above water drops below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F), it is advisable to slow down the feeding and eliminate protein from their diets. This is because their bodies cannot process food as much or as fast as in the warmth.

Care for Koi may initially seem a complicated task for first-time Koi owners. However, its rewards are found in nurturing the healthiest and happiest of these beautiful ornamental fish!

Best of Landscaping Your Garden

Landscaping Your Garden

Does your garden look a mess? Is it all bits and pieces with no cohesive plan? I f your answers are yes or even if you're just bored with your existing layout, then landscaping is the answer. You may be frightened of embarking on such a large undertaking, but there's nothing to be afraid of, you just need to plan each area carefully then follow your plan through.

Start by looking for ideas in landscaping books where you're sure to find something that you like or something which you can adapt to the practicalities of real life. Often, these books show the gardens of stately homes and very few of us actually have a garden that big, but check out the planting or the hedging or the statues and you will soon get some ideas. More practically, look at books on do it yourself landscaping. These books will show step by step ways to build raised beds, to lay paving or decking and lots of other features which you may fancy in your garden.

If you want some sort of water feature, then you probably should start with that. Choose a place for it; somewhere with dappled shade may be best if you plan to have fish in your water feature. Make sure that it isn't too big or it will dominate the whole garden but in any event, it will be the main point of focus, so create this first.

There are many ways of building a water feature; you can buy pre-formed ponds with built in waterfalls, you can buy a reservoir with a spout, which creates an interesting shape of the water and you can cover the reservoir with attractive rocks or pebbles; or you can use a liner. Alternatively you can use the type of water feature which you attach to a wall with a trough beneath it to catch the water.

Apart from the latter, whichever you choose, you will have to dig a hole and or stream so it will be as well to know whether any main drains cross your garden! Whether you're using a liner or pre-cast pool, you will need attractive rocks or pebbles to surround it and if you plan to have plants surrounding your pool, then the rocks will need to be cemented in place to contain the earth or before long, your rock beds will be empty of soil and it will all be in your pond.

Whether or not you plan to keep fish, you will need a selection of plants to keep the water clear. It's best to go to a specialist water plant supplier as requirements vary depending on the position of the pond. However, water lilies are a good start and look pretty. You may also need to introduce some wildlife, which will also help to keep the water crystal clear.

Now you have your focal point, start to build the rest of the hard landscaping, such as paths, decking, steps, raised beds, etc. While you are doing this, you may want to bury trunking containing electrical cable for lighting (and for the pond pump) as well as hose for a watering system.

Finally, you get to the interesting bit, which is choosing and placing your plants. Don't forget to consider the amount of sun or shade and water each plant needs. Try to choose whatever is suitable for where you live; if your garden has a lot of wind from the sea, you will need quite different plants from an inland location. If you live in semi-desert, don't try to grow hydrangeas and the like or you will be watering them all day long. You also need to consider which type of soil you have as some plants don't like acid and some don't like alkaline. If you use pots, you can, of course, change the structure to suit whatever plants you have chosen, indeed you can do this in flower beds but you will need to carry on adding what you need to change the pH of the soil or it will revert to type.

As well as nutritional requirements, check what height and width your plants will reach. The planting may look sparse to begin with but as plants grow and spread the gaps will be filled but if they start off too close together, they'll end up squashed and the parts not getting light will die. Don't forget to put the tall plants at the back of a bed and graduate the rest towards the front.

When you're happy with the position of your plants, lay out your watering system, with drippers for each plant; one for small to average plants and two or three or more in a ring for larger and thirstier plants.

Soon enough, it will start to look like a professionally landscaped garden and if you can't do all of it in one year, divide it up and do what you can then start again the next year.

Happy landscaping!

Best of Growing Innovative Garden Design Ideas

Growing Innovative Garden Design Ideas

A garden is medicine to the sore eyes and with proper planning the garden design ideas can help create a paradise. An awkward shaped garden can be converted into a most beautifully laid out garden.

Garden design ideas help to hide the weak points by covering them up with ingenuity. The awkward shape can be made to look like its been made that way by cleverly planning the spaces. Some amount of physical labor is needed, but that's the price one has to pay to create something so beautiful and wonderful.

A sloping garden is a perfect example of how to use garden design ideas. Using the garden design ideas broad stone steps can be carved out making it look like its part of the scenery. The steps could lead into a small sit out with a bench or maybe even a play area for the children with a sand pit in one corner.

A lawn can be laid out on the slope to avoid soil erosion. The lawn needs no additional maintenance other than the routine mowing and watering. Some flowering plants can be planted along the steps like a boundary. In case you feel you cannot devout so much time for nurturing flowering plants, then low maintenance green ferns and other such plants can be planted.

The garden design ideas can help give some ideas as to how to place lights to create maximum effect. Such sloping gardens are the perfect place for parties and family gatherings.

Another awkward shape for a garden is the L-shaped garden. This type of garden needs proper planning for optimum utilization of the space available. Using the garden design ideas, the garden can be created.

One side of the L-shape can be used for creating a play area for the children. Maybe even a shed can be made there to store the garden tools and other items. Or the area can even be used to create a small green house. While on the other side of the L-shape, plants can be planted along the boundary. This will give it a neat appearance. A small lawn can also be developed.

For a tapering garden, the garden design ideas have ingenious ideas like using diagonal patterns for creating a flower bed. Towards the narrower side, make the flower bed so that this defect in the shape gets covered up. Or use up the narrow side to make a shed.

Best of Designing Your Patio Area

Designing Your Patio Area

It is the time of year again, when you start to use your patio area more and more. If you are looking for a new design for your outdoor living space, there are a few ideas here that may help you. Adding seating to your space, adding fire and water elements, and using area rugs, can all help you achieve a new and functional look. Below are some tips to help you get started.

Are you someone that likes to entertain dozens of people, or just a couple? Do you have a small or large family? These questions are great to consider when you are deciding what type and how much seating you want or need to add to your patio. There are many options available, from your simple bistro tables to your six seat patio tables and chairs. There are also chaise lounges that are available for you to add, as well as gliders and rocking chairs. The possibilities are endless, once you decide on how much seating to go with.

Adding decorative elements to your patio area can help you make it your own. For example, your outside living area is a great place to add fire and water elements. Elaborate or small water fountains are available for outdoor areas. These can be great if you want to entertain quietly and want a relaxing space. Another element that is great to add is a fire pit. These are becoming more and more popular and are great centerpieces to any outdoor area. This will allow you to have a fire outside, without the mess left behind in your yard. Adding these elements allow you to add your own unique style to an area and they are quite functional as well. If you have children, a fire pit will allow you to have that marshmallow roast they always ask for. If you love to have wine parties, then adding water fountains can provide just the right backdrop for your entertaining needs.

Adding area rugs to an outdoor space helps to make it feel like a living space. There are many indoor/outdoor rug options to choose from. You can shop for these online, and save yourself a trip to the store! The outdoor area rugs don't have to be plain anymore, either. There are very decorative ones available and they are usually very simple to keep clean. Just a simple wash down with a garden hose will almost always do the trick! These rugs can help you add color to the area while being very practical and functional. The size of area rug you will need will depend on the size of your space and how big you want the living area to be.

Whether it is by adding seating, soothing and decorative elements, or area rugs, designing an outdoor living area is sure to be an adventure! This area will become an extension of your home, so be sure to make it your own! Remember to keep it functional and fun, and as stress free as possible and enjoy!

Best of Michelle Obama and Gardening

Michelle Obama and Gardening

This past week I was amazed to see in the Dallas newspaper that Michelle Obama is going to plant a vegetable garden and some herbs. Two thumbs up for her. I was also thrilled to see on TV that the fifth grade class was able to get involved in the planting of this garden. I only now hope that they will continue to oversee the watering, weeding and growth of the garden. This is great for Michelle and stress relief with her busy schedule. For a child it’s educational. There is nothing like watching plants or seeds that you planted grow. (It is more fun for the children while waiting for that first vegetable to grow , they see a small vegetable and then you keep telling them it’s not ready to pick yet.) They are so excited that when the vegetable is ready to pick that they will actually eat the vegetables.

I brought my children up with small vegetable gardens and mostly grown in pots. You will get the same reaction whether the vegetables are in a pot or the ground. I am also so excited that she is bringing up her girls to eat healthy. These days it is so important for the health and well being of our children. Obesity is rampant and there are individuals such as myself that want to change things.

Just imagine if everyone started to grow at least one vegetable in a pot or in a small portion in their yard and then shared vegetables with their neighbors. Or even better yet get schools involved (some are already doing this) taking a small portion of the school yard and planting small gardens and each class taking a turn once a week to weed and water. When the vegetables are grown, because the children have had hands on, they are more apt to at least try if not enjoy what they grew.

Just remember all of you gardeners out there or those who want to start planting don’t forget to stretch afterwards. Gardening is actually working your muscles and that is a good form of exercise, so if you do not stretch afterwards there is a good chance that you will wake up sore and tender the next morning. We all have good intensions but muscles do tighten when they are put to work and they do need to be re -elongated to avoid soreness.

Ellen Miller is a Fitness Practitioner/personal trainer and the originator of the IsoBreathing program. She has been teaching lifestyle changes for almost 30 years. Sign up for her newsletter at www.isobreathing.com. Her email address is Ellen@isobreathing.com and she does answer all emails herself.

 

Best of Cheap Landscaping for Real

Cheap Landscaping For Real

There are things in life which you hope never happen, just like the weeds. It's a problem that you have to deal with carefully because if you do it rashly, you could kill the plants instead. A lot of products in the market claim they can deal with the weeds safely but more often than not, the results are disappointing. This happens because sometimes the weed killers are not compatible with the type of soil, and this they do not really explain in their labels.

This obstacle will be encountered by most who want to create a great-looking garden without spending too much. You can try this trick which worked well for me once. You need to get three simple materials that will help you cut cost. The first thing you have to have are a lot of newspapers, then 'sugar cane mulch' which you can get cheaply in big bags. The last one are some barks which costs a bit more, but you do not have to have much of it.

You are just about ready to wage battle with those pesky weeds. You have to manually pull out all the weeds. Comb it very well with a rake until the soil is set up smoothly and finely. Then cover the entire area which you have weeded and raked with the newspaper.

Cover the soil with at least six sheets of newspaper, which means you have to a lot of it before you start. Next step is to wet it very well using the water host until it is soaking. This will make the newspaper on stay pat top of the soil and flexible enough so it can be molded to the surface of the garden.

The next material that will go on it will be the sugar cane mulch. If you were not able find this, you can use straw instead. Be a hundred percent sure that it is free of seeds. Cover it again with another layer of newspaper then soak it with water one more time. You will see its color change to nice golden shade.

The last material that you need to put there is the bark. Toss everything you got. The objective here is not to conceal the mulch or the straw but to give it some color and an exciting contrast.

Now it is done, with such a small price to pay. Weeds will not bother you anymore. Several kinds such as the nut grass may bravely appear once in a while, but it is nothing you cannot easily manage. Most types of weeds will not be able to go through the layers of materials you just placed. Over time, the nice golden color will fade but in its place will come out the bursting colors of your beautiful flowers sans those bothersome weeds.

Best of Create a Welcoming Porch with Teak Furniture

Create a Welcoming Porch with Teak Furniture

Porch-sitting is a highly regarded activity for some. People love to sit down and gaze out from the front portion of their home. From this perch, homeowners can wave at their neighbors and bring friends over for conversation or entertainment. They can also have a quiet and relaxing time for themselves in this area. It is, therefore, necessary to create a welcoming porch. And, it can be made possible by furnishing it with teak furniture.

Perhaps, you're wondering why teak furniture is highly recommended for the porch. Well, a porch to be considered great relies on the type of patio furniture that it contains. We all know that the porch is mainly used for a relaxing seating area. With teak patio chairs, you'll have a comfortable base to begin with. Their luxurious style is something you will want to sit on every day. You can get teak deep seating sofas and arm chairs and position them to facilitate conversation. Or, you can have exquisitely-contoured teak rocking chairs or gliders which you can share and spend a soothing time with somebody.

Another thing is that the porch furniture should be highly durable. Being exposed to the natural elements outdoors, they should be able to resist these factors well. With teak furniture, such isn't a problem at all. They can withstand a flurry of sun, wind and rain. They have superb natural qualities that surpass any other wooden materials. They don't easily warp, rot or get infested by termites. Even their color needs no repainting or refinishing, that is, if it's alright with you that they turn from a golden color to silver hue over time. These teak pieces can truly be practical investments with no maintenance tasks to trouble you with.

A welcoming porch is easy to achieve. By using teak, you don't only provide a durable and comfortable set of tables and chairs in this area. Their unique style and warm colors can also add vitality to the space. This makes the porch become more cozy and inviting for everybody.

Best of Things Remember when Choosing Koi Fish for Your Pond

Things You Should Remember When Choosing Koi Fish for Your Koi Pond

When you want to start up a Koi pond, you should know what type of Koi fish you would like to take care of. The brilliant colors of a Koi fish and its elegant looking patterns make it very interesting to take care of.

There are various species of Koi to choose from, and you might as well be interested in several of them, which you are more likely acquainted with. The most popular that you probably see in various restaurants and aquariums is the Kohaku species. These species of Koi have those attractive red smudges on its white background. Even if the body has these red smudges, there are no traces of it on the Kohaku's eyes and lip. Although you see this species more often in aquariums, this is a very rare fish, and that is what makes it expensive.

Another species of Koi, which is known for its black color, is called a Showa. These species wear that black color with elegant but have no other patterns unlike the Kohaku. However, even without the patterns, the fish can lose its color year after year. This is what makes the quality of water very important when you choose to take of these Koi species.

View this Wonderful Backyard Koi Pond Design – It’s a Wonderful Life

In your Koi pond, it does not necessarily mean that you have to keep just one species; you may actually mix them together. If you mix the Showa with the Kohaku, you would then be promoting a balance between the different colors and it will create attractive scenery in your pond.

These are only a couple of the most famous species of Koi, there are other species that you may look into and add into your KO pond, like for instance Asagi, Goshiki, Shusui, Ogon, Sanke, Kin Gin Rin and Utsurimono. Various species of Koi shows different colors and have different adaptations on a certain environment. Before you purchase a species of Koi for your pond, it pays to do a research on them first.

Best of How to Cook with Fire Pits

How to Cook With Fire Pits

Fire pits are not merely used to produce warmth but also can be used to cook, keep your dishes warm, roast marshmallows, etc. Along with a fire pit a grate is necessary to cook on your pit.

Fuel also plays an important role in adding extra flavor to your dishes. Wood or charcoal could be the best fuel for using in the firepits as they have the property of adding extra flavor to meat and vegetables which are cooked on it. Barbeques have more advantage and they can easily add a unique flavor when foods are smoked over woodchips. Charcoal is comparatively cheaper with wood and cooks the food including meat and vegetables more quickly than wood. Wood takes more time to cook but it typically what you are burning in your pit anyway so it works just fine.

In addition to charcoal and wood, propane can also be used as fuel in gas fire pits. Propane pits cannot be made by people directly. Propane has little advantage over wood and charcoal, it gets heated up quickly. It is best for grilling and it burns clearer but does not add any flavor to food.

A tripod or rotisserie can be used instead of throwing steak over grill grates. Meats can be cooked more evenly by using a rotisserie while guests relax in the backyard. A chicken or meat made using rotisserie tastes good more than a food cooked over an open flame.

Cooking foods using a firepit grill will be more enjoyable and guests can enjoy the natural environment while tasting the delicious food cooked over an open flame. Carmelization (dark brown or golden crust on meat or chicken) appears on foods that are cooked on fire pit grate that makes the food more appealing and attractive. It also enhances the overall flavor of dish.

Safety comes first when installing or buying a firepit and grill, it is essential to have a fire extinguisher handy. Fire pits can easily fall and hurt people if it is not placed firmly on ground. Also grill and rotisserie equipments must be attached sturdily to hold the food.

By cooking your favorite cuisine you can enjoy the mouthwatering dish with warmth produced by the fire pits on a chill evening.