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From the category archives:

Landscape

How to Fix Leaking Lawn Sprinkler Systems

by Stephanie Staszko on February 15

Lawn sprinklers are an essential for anyone who takes pride in their luscious green lawn. Although sprinklers systems are generally very effective, from time-to-time they may spring a leak and require repairing. Whilst major leaks will require a professional to fix them, minor leaks can be easily fixed.

A broken sprinkler system can be problematic for a number of reasons: it can be harder to maintain your lawn as you may end up with dry patches where the sprinkler has failed to reach; or flooded patches where pipe has leaked. Either way, you’re going to end up with some rather unsightly turf! Also, leaking sprinklers can waste a great deal of water, which isn’t very environmentally or pocket friendly. [click to continue…]

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Quick and Easy Beautiful Outdoor Holiday Decorations

by Karen Lawes on October 13

Winter will soon be here and with it, the holiday season. It’s time to pull out those same old holiday decorations and lights. Making the outside of your home festive is easy when you hire a Christmas light installation company, but what if you don’t want to go overboard? Just a few simple touches outside will show off your holiday spirit, but won’t break the bank. Here are some simple decorating ideas that you can do yourself.

Use Your Window Boxes

Most people use their window boxes in the spring and summer only, but there are plenty of hardy plants out there that will survive the winter months. Don’t leave them empty and unsightly. Plant some Ornamental Cabbage and Evergreen Holly branches. Add some pinecones and berries as well as a few white Christmas lights and ornaments for color and you have quickly turned your empty window boxes into a nice holiday display. Solar powered lights work best outdoors.

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You don’t have to use plants in your window boxes. Stop by your local dollar store and pick up some holiday figurines. Arrange them in your boxes with some lights and create a nice scene in your window. You could also hang holiday stockings from the bottom of the boxes.

Another easy idea is to fill your window boxes with “fake” gifts. Wrap different sized boxes with colorful holiday paper. You may want to double or triple wrap them so that they hold up in the winter weather. Add some bows and string and you’re done! Or simply wrap the entire window box. Finish it with a large red bow.

Utilize Your Bird Bath

Bird baths usually stay empty throughout the winter months. Might as well dress them up! Try cutting up some citrus fruit and berries and placing in the bird bath. Next, fill it with water. Make sure that you do this during the colder months when the water is sure to freeze and few animals are roaming. The frozen fruit looks very colorful next to snow.

Place a string of white lights inside glass a cloche and display it on your bird bath. Put some pine cones and berries around it. Makes a great entryway display!

Another display idea is to place glowing spheres in your birdbath. Finish it off with a few ornaments and a sprig or two of greenery.

Borrow Your Kid’s Toys

Check the shed or garage for one of your children’s old bicycles. Lean it against a fence or prop it up next to your mailbox. Then add some holiday decorations. Wrap it with a string of colorful Christmas lights and hang a few ornaments. Or simply wrap it with garland and add a large bow.

Lean an old sled next to the front door. Drape a large wreath over it and it makes a welcoming holiday decoration.

Your children’s basketball hoop can make for a great outdoor holiday centerpiece. Tie the net together at the bottom and fill it with glowing spheres or large tree ornaments. Wrap the pole with lights or garland. You could even hang stockings from the hoop rim.

Karen Lawes is owner of WinterIsHere.com, a site dedicated to helping homeowners feel prepared during the winter months.

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Get Your Patio Ready for Autumn

by Derek Dasher on October 12

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With the winter season upon us, it is time to enjoy the last few warm days and to prepare for the winter freeze. Now is the time to winterize your patio and make usable for the autumn season. Just because the temperature is dropping doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your patio with friends and family!

A Clean and Green Patio

Have you noticed that the summer season has left the patio a little dirty? It is time to power-wash the base of the patio. If you don’t have a power washer, you can still use the hose with an attachment nozzle. Use it at the highest pressure to remove dirt and debris that may have accumulated onto the patio’s surface during the summer. Remember to wash any patio furniture too and remove the buildup of pollen from the summer. This needs to be done before you pack up your patio items since you do not want to be using a hose outside in late November.

This is also the perfect time to replace your faded summer flowers with some new vibrant colors. Use hardy mums, violas, and pansies. Many people also decorate their patio by placing gourds, pumpkins, and other seasonal items to add color for the changing season.

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Rejuvenate the Patio

If you have a concrete patio, patching any cracks in it will prevent them from growing or causing problems in the spring. If you have a wooden patio, or any wooden fences, repainting and resealing them would also be wise.

Add color to the patio with typical fall colors including chocolates, golden yellows, deep reds, oranges, and greens. You can also add patio-lights for additional color accents in the evening. Many models and colors of lights are available and it should be easy to find one to match to your patio design. Colorful lights increase the charm of the evenings, making your late parties last longer.

Importance of Comfort

As is gets later, you may need a patio heater. You can use propane, natural gas, and electric to heat it, but make sure that there is a shut off option for safety. You can also use patio fireplaces to keep warm.

If this isn’t an option for you, keep quilts and blankets nearby. For storing the quilts and blankets outdoors, use furniture that has a hidden storage compartment, just make sure to check for spiders, or other bugs, before using or storing blankets.

All said and done, do not over-stuff your patio. A little bit of space should also be left so you don’t feel cramped. Remember to keep it useful for all members of the family and any time you have company over.

This post was written by Derek Dasher, a regular contributor at YourLocalSecurity.com. He enjoys writing about home improvement, home security, and green topics at In Good Measure.

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HGTV Green Home – Outside Design

by ServiceMagic on July 29

Post image for HGTV Green Home – Outside Design

Welcome back to the last and final blog post for the HGTV Green Home! The parts of the home to tour are the front and back yards, which offer some unexpected design techniques and living spaces.

If you’re just joining this series, we have links at the bottom of the post where you can explore the first and second floors in the HGTV Green Home.

Front Yard

HGTV Green Home Front Yard - HGTV.com

The front yard and porch of the HGTV Home is one-of-a-kind with an angled overhang, oriental and prairie style landscaping and a hidden fireplace sitting area.  The sitting area features contemporary-style recyclable sofas, two industrial-style coffee tables and a unique linear designed gas fireplace. Perfect for a summer night!

Features include: [click to continue…]

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Seed vs. Sod – Pros and Cons

by Nick and Cindy Germann on June 14

Last year we were faced with a blank slate for a backyard. No grass, no flowers, no plants. The possibilities were definitely exciting, but also overwhelming! Our first decision was a big one – plant grass seed or lay sod? Everyone’s situation is unique, and our decision won’t be the best one for everyone, but here are some factors that can help to make the seed vs. sod decision a more simple one.

First – what’s your timeline? If you’re planning on hosting a backyard BBQ in two weeks then sod is probably the way to go. It takes about 3 weeks for most grass seed to start coming in, and even then it’ll probably take a couple over-seeding sessions before you have a nice thick lawn. Realistically, it’s going to take most of the summer to get a lush lawn from seed. But once it’s in it’s absolutely beautiful! Sod, on the other hand, is an instant gratification project. After a couple hours of hard work you have an instantly green lawn!

Second – what’s your budget? Sod is a more expensive option than seed. We recommend making quite a few phone calls to sod farms before you place an order, though, as prices can vary wildly. We were quoted anywhere from $1.50 to $3.49 a roll! Be sure to ask about delivery fees as well. We have a small yard and friends with a big truck, so we were able to pick up the sod ourselves. If that’s not an option for you, definitely be sure to ask what they charge to drop it off. And once you have the sod be ready to move! You want to get it on the ground as quickly as possible, as the sod will start to rot if left on the pallet. You’ll definitely keep the tab down by planting your own seed! Just be sure to grab an extra bag or two to fill in thin areas as the grass grows.

Third – how much traffic will your yard see? When planting seed you want to keep the traffic as low as possible in your yard. If you have a dog (or dogs) that will be running around the yard several times a day you’ll want to keep that in mind, as it could disturb the seed you’re working so hard to grow. Sod will take the abuse more easily.

We were a little impatient for our yard to take shape and with a very active dog running all over we decided sod was the best route for us. Our small yard meant the sod was very reasonable and we decided to install it ourselves. It was a great decision for us, but yours maybe different! Sod is certainly a tempting route to go because of the instant results, but the savings of planting your own seed might be enough to sway your decision.

Whether you go with sod or seed it’ll take a lot of water to get the green lawn you’re looking for. Just set the sprinklers and let ‘em go! Sod and seed will both eventually lead to a beautiful green lawn that your family will enjoy all summer long. Here’s to a summer of barbecues and games of frisbee on an impeccably green lawn!

Nick and Cindy Germann are young DIY-ers living in St. Paul, Minnesota with their two English Springer Spaniels and one feisty rabbit. They blog at The Flipping Couple, where they talk a lot about messy projects and old houses while posting pictures of their four-legged pets. They’re turning their 86-year-old Craftsman into a beautiful home one overdue project and smashed finger at a time, all while dreaming of finished walls and clean floors.

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DIY Landscaping – Sodding, Trees, & Planting

by ServiceMagic on April 5

So you’ve never landscaped a yard before. How hard can that be… right? Have no fear! Sodding, planting trees, and creating flower beds, may seem back breaking, but it’s doable! Reading books, blogs and talking to local hardware stores can give you an edge up on your landscape creations. The good news is, you don’t need to know codes, understand how to calculate soil compaction, or cubic water pressure. Even more, you can follow these next steps to help you get started!

DIY Landscape Projects
Sodding: If there is currently no grass in your yard, sodding is something any homeowner can manage. Be sure to know how much water is needed once the sod has been rolled out and how to maintain it after. The video tutorial from Easy2DIY.com explains how to properly sod your yard with step-by-step instructions. Tip: You can also find a neighbor or friend who has the yard you want and ask them what they did to get it.

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What Consumers Need to Know about Hiring a Landscaper: TRUST

by ServiceMagic on March 24

Dean Granat, ServiceMagic landscaper, describes the importance establishing TRUST between homeowners and landscapers.

Questions that Build Trust
The most important word to use to describe what consumers needs to know about hiring a landscaper is TRUST. Consumers need to build this trust by asking: How long has the company been in business? Have they done work nearby and do they have references that can be checked? Consumers need to ask the appropriate questions in order to feel comfortable and trust the landscaper they hire to not only do the job but to be there when they might need them for warranty work.

Dean Granat (pictured right) and his nephew and partner, Josh Kein

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