Posts Tagged ‘garden’
Prepair Your Home For The New Year!
The new year is here and now is the time to start looking at those projects you have been avoiding. Freshening up your home at the beginning of the year is a great way to change things up and keep you energized and motivated.
You should start by tackling those projects that require a lot of hard work, why? Many people make new years resolutions to lose weight, when your working on a very physical project you are really exercising without thinking about it. Add in some normal workouts and you should be off to a great start with both a new looking home and a new looking body.
You should also repaint at least one room in your home that is used a lot. Changing the look of a room can give you a boost in your own life. You may create a new outlook or at least give your self a sense of accomplishment.
The biggest thing to remember about the new year is to get the big projects done as soon as you can. Renovate in the winter and garden in the summer (unless your knocking down outside walls). If you do the project early you won’t be sitting here a year from now wondering why nothing was done.
Enjoy you home this year and make it something for you. Do what you would like and who cares about the trends. It is your home after all.
Get Ironwork For Your Spring Garden
Right now I know it is winter, but soon spring will be on it’s way back and you will want to be prepared for it. One thing that is very hot in design right now is Ironwork. It’s fun, classic and really can accent any type of home from modern to Victorian and more.
Recently I came across Stonebank Ironcraft a company in the UK that makes some wonderful Ironwork pieces. They have gazebos, pergolas and more. They also have some great Ironwork for estates and other large property’s that will tell people where your land starts and someone else’s ends. It’s also really nice to look at and because it’s not big and bulky blends well with the land so it won’t destroy a view.
If your looking to protect those trees you are planning to get this spring you could also take a look at their tree guards, these also look really nice and remind me of the tree guards used in many public parks and other public areas. I really am thinking of getting a few for my mother as my step-dad likes to run over all of our trees, even though he planted a few of them or asked for them to be planted. I think it would be a great investment and a good birthday gift.
Check out Teak
One way to make your garden look very authentic is to use furniture that fits in natural with nature. This usually means using a wood product but you want one that is durable, good looking and fun to use. That is where teak furniture could be the answer.
Teak is a great wood to use for your outdoor furniture, though it can change color on you if you don’t maintain it properly. The color will go from a honey brown to a silver grey. If you don’t mind that then maintenance will be easy for you. If you want to keep the honey color then you want to sand down the furniture every few months. Use Teak Oil to also help maintain the color. During the winter either cover your furniture or store it somewhere dry.
Move outside
The weather is getting nicer every day and I keep thinking about all that wonderful patio sets that are coming out at many local stores. When designing a backyard I think finding a perfect patio set is on of the most important things to do. It will help you to get a feel for your style and what you may want to do with your yard. Have you ever been in a store and seen a patio set that just puts this wonderful picture of summertime in your head?
I do this all the time. That is one reason I loved working in the lawn and garden department when I worked in retail. I could not only check out the new garden furniture, but I got to play with all the plants too. In high school I took floral and greenhouse classes so this was great for me.
One suggestion I have when you are looking for a patio set is to measure the area you are going to want it in. Make sure to include space for a grill or other outdoor accessory you may want in that space too. Then shop from there, if you measure you will know what will fit and what will not.
It’s Almost Time For Spring Cleaning
It’s the end of January and that means spring will be here in about 2 more months for most of the northern hemisphere. People everywhere will start to open windows and clean out all of the junk left in their homes from winter. If your one of these people you may want to start thinking now about getting everything ready for spring cleaning.
My first tip is to create a check list of everything you will need to do. Do you need to clean gutters, windows or sideing? Will doors or windows need to be replaced. What about flowers, herbs and vegetables are you going to start seeds or buy plants from a nursery. I am hopeing to do seeds this year and will be heading out this weekend to get some started.
Next you want to start checking out your cleaning supplies. Make sure your vacuum is in good condition and all filters are clean, this should be done more in the winter anyway to help keep your home as clean as possible. Make sure you have all the cleaning supplies you need. If not you have time now to shop around and make sure you get a good deal.
If your thinking of painting your home this year start takeing bids now. It’s cheaper in the winter and you may be able to get it done pretty early and lock in the price to do it. I would check with local painters and see what they are willing to do for you.
The last tip I have is to start planing any outdoor projects now, things like new landscaping, outdoor areas and pools are easier to tackle when you have a good plan. Doing a plan in the winter will keep you from slacking off when the time comes to actually do the work.
Do you have any tips?
Technorati Tags: garden, spring cleaning