Can Robotic Lawnmowers Save the World or at Least You Money?

It is common knowledge that gas powered lawn mowers are serious environmental polluters.  It is estimated that 1 hour of lawn mower use equals driving an SUV 100 miles.  I have read that lawnmowers contribute up to 5% of the nation’s pollution.  Even more alarming comparisons and statistics can be found on the internet.

Even if you are not an environmentalist, the price of gas will definitely make you a conservationist. Gas prices continue to climb.  Personally, going to the gas station with my little gas can is not a trip of leisure, it has always been a chore.

Changing the oil, air filter, and regular maintenance is not what I consider an enjoyable event.  John Deere charged me $129 one year to do all that, so it became a semi-annual day of bonding between me and ol’ JD. 

We hired a lawn service for a year.  He did a good job but his helpers made us uneasy.  They seemed friendly whether they could speak English or not.  One of the problems we had was we travel a good deal and we just didn’t feel comfortable having strangers running around our yard knowing we were gone.  There are enough elements of risk out there without inviting it to our home.

One day on the internet I came across an article for automatic lawnmowers.  We ordered it with a healthy serving of skepticism since our robotic vacuum cleaner needed to be replaced more often that our landscaper’s hired hands.

It has exceeded out expectations.  So much so we decided to start selling them.  They have proven to be very low maintenance and highly reliable.  They do a pretty good job cutting the yard.

Technology has advanced where batteries can now power lawn mowers to do an effective job.   They can mow, go back to the charger by them selves, and go back out again on a schedule without any help all season.

My wife and I can now travel freely without the worry of a self-inflicted burglary.  We no longer have invited strangers running around our yard, yet we have a nicely cut lawn.

Maintenance?  Once a year I change the blades.  For those who live in the north the robotic lawn mower needs to be housed in the garage for the winter.  Since it is all electric it doesn’t burn any gas or oil.  That means no pollutants so we can all breathe easier.

Robotic lawn mowers are also very quiet.  They are so quiet that they can be run at night while every one is asleep.

It costs about $7.00 a year in electricity to mow my yard.   I used to spend more than that in one trip to fill up the gas container.

The biggest problem that we have is with our neighbors.  My goodness they love to come out and watch it work.  For me the excitement has long gone and I consider it no more of a novelty than the dishwasher.  But for some reason our little robotic lawn mower continues to be the neighborhood star attraction day after day.

Robotic lawn mowers aren’t going to put John Deere or the local landscaper out of business anytime soon, but one day the do-it-yourselfers are going to be the ones that will be the neighborhood oddity.

Keywords: automatic lawnmower, robotic lawn mowers, landscap

Lanscaping Ideas - Building a Gazebo Plans

Yard Lanscaping - Are you handy? Think you can build a gazebo from scratch? There are plenty of gazebo plans available free in libraries and online.  There are also blueprints available for fees ranging from $8 to $200. The more expensive gazebo plans are architectural blueprints, which are much more specific and best suited to the experienced contractor. But a talented home improvement buff can make good use of the less expensive options available.

A good free gazebo plan is available from the Build Eazy website. There you will find links to complete plans for 5 basic gazebos of varying sizes and styles to suit most tastes and uses. There plans are free.

There are several things to think about before starting to build a gazebo.  You will need some basic carpentry tools such as a level and a screw gun. You will also need a compound miter saw or sliding compound miter saw. These machines afford the angular cutting abilities you will need when fashioning the various sections of the gazebo. The sliding version is best for larger pieces of wood.

You can either bolt the gazebo to a concrete slab or pre-existing wood floor, or you can create the gazebo with a built-in floor. In the latter case, you will need to pour one concrete pier for each post. Contact your local building department to find out how deep the concrete piers should be, and whether there are any underground cables you should try to avoid.

Three kinds of woods are commonly used to build outdoor structures: pine, cedar, and redwood. Pine is the softest and easiest to work with, but it decomposes the fastest. Cedar and redwood are harder and more expensive, but age well.

Alternatively, you can build a metal or vinyl gazebo. But unless you have all the heavy machinery for fabricating the parts, you’ll need to buy a gazebo kit. These come in sections for you to assemble using the included hardware. A level and a screw gun are usually all that are needed. You might need help from a buddy, especially for the roof sections.

There are lots of options when it comes to building your own gazebo, and you don’t have to be a carpentry star to get really good results.  And just think, when you’re done building your gazebo, you can sit inside it and just enjoy the shade.

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Lanscaping Ideas - Bringing Outdoor Space In For Three-Season Use

Outdoor Lanscaping - Imagine a beautiful spring evening spent outside on your patio. Now picture how quickly a sudden shower can turn that idyllic image into a wet dash for cover. Or consider a summer afternoon picnic out on the deck. The sun and the scenery are great, but what about the bugs?

For many homeowners, patios and decks are a terrific investment toward spending more time outdoors. But those home additions come with something unpredictable: the great outdoors itself, with all its natural wonders-and hazards. But a new concept in construction is helping turn those exterior spaces into something more: all-purpose, three-season rooms that protect against the very things that could otherwise spoil a good time outside.

Porch systems enclose an existing or newly constructed patio or deck using pre-engineered modular wall panels and joining posts. Wooden wall panels help protect against the cool air and damaging sun, and are secured to the floor using a threshhold. Channeled vertical posts join the wall panels together to create a visually appealing facade.

Carpenters and ambitious do-it-yourselfers can assemble Vixen Hill's three-season or open rail porch systems with ease. The products' modular design eliminates the complicated carpentry normally involved in this type of construction. Pre-assembled components (modules) are designed to require the minimum number of fasteners for an uncomplicated, systematic installation.

"Most outdoor space is designed for a specific purpose and satisfies only one particular need," says Christopher Peeples, president and founder of Vixen Hill. "The key benefit of our porch systems is that they have multiple uses. Created to give the feeling of the traditional wooden porch and bring the comfort of the indoors outside, the addition can be an ideal space for entertaining friends and family, dining, reading or just relaxing. Homeowners get the best of outdoor living without leaving the house."

Keywords: Bringing Outdoor Space In For Three-Season Use

Beat the Heat - 7 Tips to Help Your Lawn Survive a Drought

With temperatures rising and rain fall decreasing, summer time is putting a serious strain on your lawn. If you are not careful, your lawn could end up dead. No rain and water restrictions can really take a shot at your ability to take care of your lawn. However, there are some tried and true tips that are sure to beat the summer heat.

When your lawn is suffering from a drought, these tips will help you survive:

1. Raise the blades on your mower. Taller grass provides more protection from sun and grows deeper roots, which makes it more resilient.

2. Resist the temptation to bag your lawn and use a mulching mower instead. The clippings will provide a barrier that keeps moisture in your lawn longer.

3. Aerate your lawn twice a year (fall and spring) to keep out thatch and help the roots grow deeper.

4. Sharpen your lawnmower blade. Dull blades put your grass under lots of undue stress. Stressed grass needs more water.

5. Water early in the morning and when it is not windy to avoid unnecessary evaporation of your rationed water.

6. Use a drip type irrigation system like a soaker hose. It put water in the ground, where it is needed, more efficiently.

7. Do not fertilize in the summer. Experts will tell you that fertilized lawns are more sensitive to heat and require more water.

Green is definitely a color to envy in the heart of the summer. Do yourself a favor and follow these tips to keep a green lawn that makes your neighbors squirm with envy.

Keywords: lawn, drought, lawn care

Lanscaping Ideas - Benefit from the Expertise of a Landscaping Contractor

Lanscaping Design - Busy homeowners who care about the external appearance of their home as much as they do the interior can turn to a landscaping contractor for design ideas and to handle outdoor projects.

A licensed landscape contractor has been specially trained to meet all landscaping needs – whether for service purposes or cosmetic. Everything from driveways, patios, and decks; to grading the yard, and complete landscape design. Garden ponds enhanced by a pond bridge, wooden “playscapes” for children, walkthrough gardens, and placement and selection of trees, shrubs, and other flora to balance the yard and enhance visual appeal.

The Benefits Offered by a Landscaping Contractor
Like other qualified professionals, different landscape contractors will have specific areas of experience and expertise. For instance, hire an experienced landscape lighting contractor to install outdoor lighting features. They are knowledgeable about different types of landscape lighting, and when and how to use each for maximum benefit.

Few homeowners are savvy as to the best way to enhance landscape features using contour lighting, uplighting, grazing, moonlighting, or backlighting techniques. A licensed landscape contractor, however, knows how to exploit the benefits of these type lighting features.

Landscaping Tips
If spare time is a problem, hire a landscaping contractor with experience designing easy-care landscapes, greatly reducing upkeep efforts. Mower-friendly lawns devoid of grass peninsulas and islands that slow down mowing, and require lots of turning and maneuvering.
Opt for a low water landscape design using drought-tolerant plants and ground cover to conserve water and decrease maintenance needs.

Small yards can be made to look larger using the expertise of a landscape contractor designer familiar with the “forcing the perspective” technique. Angling plants toward each other, extending to the rear of the landscape. Making the yard look longer and more spacious, while adding visual interest and enhanced beauty.

The Right Landscaping Contractor for the Right Job
A qualified contractor with a landscaping contractor license can increase the external beauty of a home, correct landscape problems, and bring balance to the yard – increasing real estate market value of the home. Select the right contractor for the right job.

Some are more experienced with correcting landscape flaws and the use of flora enhancements to beautify and balance to the yard. The expertise of another landscaping contractor might be concrete driveways, walkways, and custom edging the landscape perimeter.

A construction contractor landscaping expert might be best for building a raised deck, split-level patio, or a number of other functional outdoor projects.

Word of mount referrals, local licensing authorities, and Internet resources such as www.handycanadian.com are your best resources for finding a qualified landscaping contractor in your area.

Carefully selecting a qualified landscaping contractor ensures outdoor feature success, adding to the appearance and value of your home.

Keywords: Landscaping contractor, landscape contractor, construction contractor landscaping, landscaping contractor license, landscape contractor licenses, landscape contractor designer

Lanscaping Ideas - Backyard Landscaping Ideas

Yard Lanscaping - No matter where you live, there’s nothing better than relaxing outdoors on a warm summer night watching your backyard landscaping ideas come to life.

Unfortunately, re-landscaping your entire backyard during the course of one growing season can be back breaking, expensive and requires major planning.

Here’s a simple solution: Break up your backyard into “rooms” and remodel one room each year. This is especially helpful if you’re on a budget. You’re results will be much better if you spend as much time and money as you can on one project, rather than trying to revamp the entire backyard all at once for the same amount of money. 

Although you’re landscaping only one section of the yard at a time, you still need an overall plan. Using graph paper, sketch out the permanent structures on your property including the house, out buildings, deck and trees.

This is also a good time to consider which existing plants and shrubs won’t be a part of the new landscape.

Make copies of your sketch and experiment with different designs. Incorporate ideas you like from magazines or gardens you’ve visited.

If you host frequent cook outs you’ll probably want to keep the yard open and plant along the borders. If you don’t need the space, you could create real drama with an island bed, walkways, solar lighting and cutouts for comfortable furniture to relax on.

Here are some ideas you’ll dig:

Screening with Plants
If your yard doesn’t have a fence, you might want to consider planting a row of hawthorn, juniper, arborvitae, or a combination of these bushes to create privacy and provide a backdrop for future flower beds. A strategically place evergreen screen will also provide a windbreak from winter winds and drifting snow.

Planning a Border Flower Bed

The hardest part of designing a border is choosing flowers that complement each other both in color and height. The list of perennials I suggest here is for a six foot wide bed in a mainly sunny situation. Wide, in this case, means outward from the plant screen or fence, not the length of the bed.

Use 3 or 5 plants for each kind of flower and allow 16”–18” between each plant. Allow 20”–22” between the different plant groups. Planting an odd number of plants is more visually appealing than an even number.

Allow sufficient space at the rear of the bed for access. This will also prevent choking off necessary air and light from the plants in back.

These are my suggestions for a perennial border. They were chosen to give a long display, with the first flowers appearing in April and the last in October.

Tall plants for the back row: SEDUM ‘Autumn Joy’; RUDBECKIA Goldsturm; PHLOX White; IRIS light blue or yellow; VERONICA Blue; SOLIDAGO ‘Golden Shower’; and HOSTA fortunei ‘Picta’.

Shorter plants for the front row: GERANIUM grandiflorum; POTENTILLA ‘Firedance’; HUECHERA Pink; ASTER Dwarf Blue; SEDUM Dragons Blood; ACHILLEA ‘Moonshine’; and ERIGERON ‘Prosperity’.

Obviously, these plants won’t be the best choice for every climate. A worthwhile book to help you choose plants native to your climate zone is The Comfortable Lazy Garden. It’s also an excellent reference for beginning gardeners.

Island Bed

An island bed, as the name implies, is planted in the middle of the yard surrounded by a sea of grass. It can vary in shape and size according to your imagination and available space. Scale the plants from tallest in the center to shortest at the edges.

Preplanned Gardens

I understand all of this Latin mumbo jumbo can be daunting for first time gardeners, it was for me. If you would like a ready made solution, Direct Gardening offers a wide selection of preplanned gardens designed to take all the guess work out of plant selection and placement.

Water Feature

Imagine the reflective beauty of a pond or the gentle splashing of a man made waterfall. How about a 100 foot high waterslide? Maybe next year.

Do Your Yard a Favor

Before you buy any vegetation, visit a real garden center for advice on drainage and soil preparation. Also, bring a copy of your plan; a soil sample and an extra credit card just in case you can’t wait years to make your backyard landscaping ideas come true.

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Yard Landscaping – An Important Area To Landscape

Lanscaping Ideas - For homeowners around the world, a big part of owning a home is landscaping the yard. Front yard landscaping or backyard landscaping, the work must be done. While the front yard is important because it’s more visible to neighbors and others who drive by, the backyard is no less important. The backyard is where families and friends gather for barbeques and birthday parties and where some families place their swimming pools. Most backyards are landscaped with careful thought and preparation. Special consideration is put into the positioning of every blade of grass, each decorative stone and all of the species of flowers that beautify a backyard.

Flowers, stones and grass are just some of the ways to landscape a backyard. Large shade trees, waterfalls and herbal gardens are some other ways. The theme of your landscape will depend on your hobbies, interests and goals for your backyard. Backyard landscaping can be a lot of fun, especially when you make it personal. Landscape your yard to reflect your personality and your homes personality. If you and your family like to entertain, add a bar to your back patio. Clean up the barbeque grill and don’t forget the citronella candles to keep the bugs away. Maybe you’ll want to build a croquet course, mini golf course, or put in a sand lot for some sand volleyball. Whatever your preference, make backyard landscaping fun for the whole family.

Keep your family in mind too, when it comes time to maintain the backyard landscaping. Large yards will require a lot more maintenance and grooming. Taking care of the yard can be a nice family activity. You can mow the lawn, pull the weeds and get the kids involved in watering the plants. If you have a fruit tree in your backyard, you’ll probably be spending some time picking up the fallen apples or cherries. And of course, you’ll also need to reserve time to tend to your herbal garden. It can be surprisingly rewarding to grow your own herbs and use them in special recipes that you cook when you’re entertaining friends and neighbors.

If you are the type who would rather keep your backyard to yourself, then maybe you don’t need to worry about the huge, green lawn. Perhaps you’d rather have a quaint yard with basic backyard landscaping. You can put in some grass, strategically place some shade trees and plant some of your favorite flowers. You may want to include some bigger bushes, if space allows as they will add some gorgeous green to your colorful backyard. This type of backyard may require the same maintenance as a large backyard, but not nearly the time commitment. No matter what your personality says about your backyard landscaping, one thing’s for sure—homeowners everywhere will tell you to create your backyard just the way you want to.

Keywords: landscaping, backyard, landscape, home, garden, gardening

Backpack Blowers

Backpack blowers are more commonly used by professionals and are mostly powered by 2-stroke gasoline engines. The harness, which has a blower fit into it, is worn on the operator's back. The engine and fan are also placed on the backpack frame with a hand-held hose and spout to direct the airflow. Backpack blowers are powerful, convenient and have larger, more efficient fuel tanks and air filters and therefore, longer duty cycles.

Backpack blowers with more than 40cc engines are the best with a typical blowing power of 400 cfm  (cubic feet per minute) of volume at 190 mph (meter per hour). If you live in a quiet neighborhood, these units are the best choice, because they are specially assembled to control unwanted noise. Also, keep in mind that harness quality and comfort differ from one model to the other.

Performance backpack blowers generally have blowing power of more than 450 cfm of volume at 195 mph, and are named because of their high performance. Though they may be noisier than other blowers, they are fast, fuel efficient, and have a quick throttle response. Most professionals and commercial users prefer this type of units, which also has optional accessories like breathable nylon back pads and padded, adjustable harnesses.

The largest and heaviest backpack blower units available are Big-bore Backpacks, with engine powers starting at 50cc. They are also fast and may decrease cleaning time in half. Since these blowers are very powerful, they are typically used for larger areas, and tough jobs like wet matted leaves. They are most suitable for commercial uses.

Keywords: blowers, backpack blowers, blower fans, blower motors

Are Robotic Lawn Mowers Safe?

You’re standing in your front yard minding your own business when a robot with three razor sharp blades spinning at 5,800 rpm starts racing toward you. What do you do?

Is this some kind of nightmare?  No, you’re awake and this is really happening, so once again, what do you do?

The answer is nothing.  It will just bounce off you and go another direction.  Rather anti-climatic ending wasn’t it?  That is just the way the robotic lawn mower companies want it to be.

The greatest concern most people have about robotic lawn mowers is safety.  ‘Bots with Blades’ just can’t be safe.  According to Ames Tiedeman, National Sales Manager for Systems Trading Corp., the US distributor for the Friendly Robotics Robomower, over 72,000 emergency room visits involved lawn mowers in 2005.  ZERO involved robotic lawn mowers.

These mowers have so many safety features and shut-off triggers that it is amazing that they are actually functional. 

The Friendly Robotics Robomower turns the blades off at 16 degrees, not even high enough to get a hand under.  Even if a small hand could get under, the blades are far back and recessed into a chamber in the body.  It would take creativity, not stupidity, to get to the blades while they are still turning.

Unlike push and riding lawn mower safety devices, robotic lawn mower features are not easily disabled.  The tilt detection devices are soldered on to the main boards.  Even the resistance against the blades and the ability of the software to stop them is measured in thousandths of seconds.

Since these robotic lawn mowers are designed to mulch there is no easy outlet for flying debris.  Pebbles and pine cones do not get tossed very far and at low velocity.

Some robotic lawn mowers have sonar detection systems that if any moving objects get close they’ll slow down and at another point stop the blade before even being touched.  All have some sort of touch sensors that when they lightly bump into a stationary object that they change direction.  So actually getting run over is unlikely.

Another big concern is pets getting chopped to bits, again, no reported accidents involving robotic lawn mowers.  Dogs have a tendency to chase and bark, but not attack.  A dog actually chewing up a robotic lawn mower is more feasible than a robotic lawn mower chewing up a dog.

Robotic lawn mowers move relatively slow, people and animals can easily move out of the way.  Although it takes a lot longer to mow, if everyone used them there would be 72,000 fewer hospital visits this year. 

This article was written to educate people that robotic mowers under intended circumstances are safe.  There has been a great deal of thought and engineering involved to make robotic lawn mowers safe for public use.

Keywords: automatic lawnmower. robotic lawn mowers, Robomower, Lawnbott, Ambrogio, lawn care, landscaper

Are Robotic Lawn Mowers in Your Future?

Robotic lawn mowers are going to be the next life-style changing appliance in America.  Think about it, how many times have you wanted to get away for the weekend or go to some event but yard work kept you tied to the house?  I can’t tell you how many golf outings I have missed.

Robotic lawn mowers can mow the yard, go back to the charger, and go back out again on their own without human intervention.  This is a large step forward from only two or three years ago.

Residential robotic lawn mowers run on batteries, so they don’t use gas or oil.  They are pretty much maintenance free except for the occasional replacement of the blades. They waterproof and they don’t rust.

A perimeter wire, like an invisible dog fence is placed around the yard to define the mowing area.  Gardens, flowerbeds and trees can also be easily protected.  Running the wire is not difficult, you can DIY or have it professionally installed.  The wire can be buried up to 2 inches deep. 

The robotic mowers must sense the presence of the wire around them.  If the mower should somehow go past the boundary it will immediately shutdown, so you don’t have to worry about it running down the street (unlike your dog).

You can set the time for them to mow.  Since they are quiet and don’t need to see the yard, they can be allowed run at night while everyone is in the house or even asleep.

On schedule they will depart from the charger and start to mow.  When they run over the wire or into an object they will turn and go another direction.  Some mowers use a random pattern while others go back and forth.  When the battery gets low they find the perimeter wire and follow it back to the charger.  All robotic mowers on the market today do a very good job covering the yard and not leaving uncut patches.

Ensure that the robotic mower you are interested in goes back to the charger on its own the added expense will be worth it.  A rain sensor is a must-have as well, some robotic mowers are heavy and can get stuck in soft areas. 

Robotic lawn mowers are now useful and practical.  They are still an oddity, so if you get one expect the neighbors to come from blocks around to watch it work.

Keywords: automatic lawnmower. robotic lawn mowers, Robomower, Lawnbott, Ambrogio, lawn care, landscaper

Lanscaping Ideas - Energy Conservation Puts Money in Your Pocket

Lanscaping Home Repair - How can homeowners save money just by sitting on their couch?  It’s simple, by conserving heating and cooling energy just before you sit down.  There are a number of easy and inexpensive things that can be done as do-it-yourself projects that will save hundreds of dollars per year.

The easiest money saving strategy is to weather strip doors and windows with a “V” seal type weather stripping.  The opening of the “V” should face towards the outside of the home.  This will reduce draft in the house and retard heated or cooled air from escaping the house.  And the longer the treated air remains in the house, the less the cost to treat the air.

Caulking around window and door frames and caulking around base boards will also retard the loss of treated air from the house.  This strategy again will reduce the homeowner’s heating and cooling bill.

Both of these techniques can be accomplished as one weekend project.  Do yourself a favor and save money, then grab a refreshment and sit down on your couch.

To ensure that you save energy and money, there are a number of other things that the homeowner can do.  Removing the door and window frames and removing the baseboards will expose small and seriously large gaps in the building fabric.  By holding your hand over these gaps or using a smoke pencil, you will likely feel and see the extent of the draft.  Filling these gaps with fibrous materials and/or caulking will drastically diminish uncomfortable drafts, reduce homeowner heating and cooling costs and therefore save you serious money.
This project will likely take two to three weekends at minimal cost to you.

Window glass is also a significant source of heating and cooling loss to the homeowner.  You could replace your present windows with high efficiency windows at a great cost, or you could cover your windows with commercially available clear plastic sheeting.  This is especially great in the winter; and you will achieve a substantial reduction in heating costs.

With the savings in energy costs attributed to these easy to do strategies, you could probably by a new couch.

Keywords: home repairs,handyman,handiman,home improvement

Lanscaping Ideas - Easy Landscaping and Curb Appeal for Florida Homes

Lanscaping Design - The idea that an appealing outside is your best offense for intriguing potential buyers is based on the simple concept that first impressions really count.  The great thing about learning some key elements of landscaping is that you can apply them to a home that you are just settling into, as well as one you are about to sell.  For those who are selling or buying real estate in Tampa Bay Florida, some extra curb appeal advice will go a long way.

Florida is popular for nature-lovers.  Instead of trying to keep up with garden hobbyists, present a clean, green impression, rather than a mini-arboretum.  The decluttered impression that you want for the inside, should apply to the outside.  Imagine a buyer coming to view your Tampa Bay Florida real estate house and all they can think is either, "how will I keep up with all those tropical flower beds?" or "how long will it take me to undo all of this?"  Not that you should tear down all your hard work from a spectacular garden; just be sure to have it freshly pruned, trimmed and weeded for buyers, so they don't feel like they have to have a green thumb if they want to buy your home. 

Select your plants according to how much sun and water they need.  Then, focus on buying smaller selections (or larger if your budget allows) of some of Florida's award-winning specimens  like the East Indian Holly Fern, which is wonderful for mass ground cover, and the Dwarf Golden Dewdrop for a beautiful border shrub with its yellow-gold leaves.  Make up for size with color, with the purple-blooming Princess Flower, or the Yellow Elder, that will grow quickly (up to eight or ten feet tall).  The plants you pick should attract the eyes to the house with their complimentary shades.  For example, forest green trim on a house is complimented by shrubs with yellow leaves, and homes with neutral features can always use a few splashes of dramatic color in their landscaping. 

Take a picture of the front of your house with you as you visit nurseries and garden shops.  Garden professionals can suggest which colors and varieties will work best for your particular home.  They should also be able to tell you what kind of mulch, pebble or lava stones you should use for each. The colors of these can also add a lovely contrast of color.

Plant a few annuals near the mailbox and an odd number of shrubs or hedges in front of the house to create depth.  Make your house inviting with colors that compliment, but don't complicate.  If your house is basic in design, plant a few romantic Magnolias or exotic Calathea to break up the lines.  Likewise, a house with a modern exterior can be dressed down for the conservative eye with neatly trimmed Serissa Foetida hedges and simple splashes of annuals.

If you want something even more simple, try buying big, decorative pots and filling them with a few shades of hardy flowers.  This takes care of catching the eyes of the buyer, yet implies the perfect level of impermanence for the more fickle-natured.  You can offer to leave the pots, or take them with you if the buyer doesn't want them.  This can be a quick fix for those who are trying to move, sell and maintain a family and full-time job at the same time.  There are plenty of ways to get elaborate with landscaping, but if you need to keep things easy, focus on complimentary colors, hearty specimens and as neat of an exterior as possible, so buyers and visitors will see your house as a breath of fresh, tropical air.

Keywords: florida real estate, buying homes in florida, purchase properties in florida, landscaping

Lanscaping Ideas - Do It Yourself Landscape Design Where To Begin

Landscaping Design - There’s an old saying that states something like - “Getting Started Is Half Finished”. And so many times I find this to be true as I see do it yourself landscapers struggle to find their initial design idea. However, once they establish a framework of necessary design elements, it usually goes pretty smooth from there.

It’s not surprising that the most common landscape design question that I get is -  “where do I begin?” or “how do I start my design?”. I know it can be difficult. And especially if you don’t have a vision for your design.

So where do you begin? How do you start your landscape or garden design? 

While every design is different and every designer follows a set of rules and principles, I find that most do it yourselfers all have the greatest success from using the same starting point. Begin by laying down any paths, driveways, access routes, or walk areas that might be needed.  And also create access to any areas that you may  plan on creating. In many designs, this will help to establish a framework that you can simply design around.

Of course, this won’t be applicable in all designs as many don’t require any access or travel. So take and use this advice where and if you can.

Paths and walkways can accomplish many functions in your landscape or garden. Their main function, of course, is to create a designated space for people to walk on.

However, in design and as an aid to design, their function could be to guide your visitors to, through, or away from some other area in the garden. Also, they're a great way to break up a vast expanse of lawn, meadow, or bed area.

First, let's look at walkways, paths, and such as necessary elements.

Walkways are needed to guide visitors or yourself to and from another area. Observe that almost every home has a walkway leading to the front door, which is, of course, where most folks want to invite guests to come. So walks, whether refined (brick, flagstone, etc.) or primitive (gravel, mulch, etc.), are necessary to "guide" or "lead" visitors to, through, or away from an area.

So where are the necessary areas where you need other walkways or access? Maybe from the back door to the alley where you dump the trash. Or from the house to the pool area. Or from the pool area to the kids play area or the outdoor cooking area. You get the picture.

In a design sense.

Establishing walk, drive, and access areas will in turn help to create borders and boundaries. Once you have your walkways laid out, you can simply design a lot of the landscaping around them. The same goes with driveways and parking areas as well. You can plant beds on either or both sides of a walk or use a walkway as an edge to create borders.

Keep it interesting if you can.

If you were to, for instance,  plan to place a sitting area at the back of the garden. Of course you would need some type of path for you and your guests to get there. However, instead of plotting a straight path, why not create a winding tour through other interesting areas of the garden on the way there?

Curves and winding paths do more than just create interest. They can also create an illusion of more space, distance, and travel. This is especially useful in creating small gardens and landscapes.

Once you lay down walkways, driveways, and access areas, you'll have a good starting framework for the rest of the design. Now, simply design around them.

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Do It Yourself: An Attractive Rock Garden Anyone Would Be Proud Of

One of the most economical ways to enhance the landscape surrounding your home is to build a rock garden. Rock gardens are most often associated with the British Isles, where the climate is rarely accommodating to delicate plants. Rock gardens bring with them the assumption of having very few plants, and those of a very hardy variety, or no plants at all. The arrangement of the rocks in your garden, when properly complemented by attractive plants with coordinating colors, can add to the beauty of the home and provide a low-maintenance landscape feature that should not interfere with your lawn-mowing practices; rather, it will reduce the amount of space that requires mowing.

The first thing to do when starting your rock garden is to carefully look over the proposed site for your garden. You should clear the area of unwanted plants, such as spindly grass varieties and diseased trees and plants. Be sure to dig out the roots as well as the tops, or you may find your rock garden invaded at some later time by an unwanted fern or intrusive perennials.

If you plan to do some planting, make sure you test the soil to determine its level of acidity and its general pH. It is a good idea, even after you have placed your rocks and mapped out where you want to put any plants, to wait a full growing season before you attempt to plant in your rock garden. This will ensure that the soil has settled, and it will give you a chance to make sure that you have got rid of any pesky weeds by hoeing them out, root and all, as soon as they make their appearances above the ground. It is also desirable to mix in such soil enhancements as mulch, compost, and other compounds. If you plan to use plants that like soils with alkali, you should mix in crushed oyster shells or limestone.

After you have improved the soil, then it is time to place your rocks. It is important for aesthetic purposes not to evenly space your rocks, or to choose rocks of the same size and shape. A little variety in the types of rocks used is as desirable as a little variety of plants chosen to place in a more conventional garden. If you wish to have a great deal of plants, then your rocks should be spaced further apart to give more room for the vegetation. If, however, you plan to use plants only sparingly, arrange them closer together, but make sure that you allow some room for plants to grow. Try to make the design look as natural as possible, as it will be more attractive.

When placing the rocks in a garden that is sloped, it is best to start at the low parts of slopes and work up. Try to slope the top of the rock back toward the slope so that water from rain and sprinklers is guided downward. Additionally, try to keep outcroppings from overshadowing rocks and plants below. The goal is to create a feeling of stability. Set each rock so that its widest side serves a base. You can also set a larger rock on top of smaller rocks and then fill in the cracks with soil.

If you are placing the rocks on flat ground, work from the inside toward the outer edges of the garden. If you are planning a circular garden, or a rock garden in some other shape that is surrounded by other landscape features, this can be tricky. Therefore, it is a good idea to mark out which rocks you would like on a map so that you can ensure their proper placement in the garden. It may be necessary, on a flat site, to build up small mounds of dirt in different places to give the rock garden an interesting appearance.

If you plan to use plants in your garden, you should be careful to plant them after everything else is in place, and after you have a chance to make sure the soil is properly settled. Early spring or early autumn are the best times to do any planting, including planting in rock gardens. Make sure you choose plants that are suited for rugged terrain and adapted to your climate. Then, plant them in the spaces you have designated. The end result should be a beautiful garden that requires little upkeep.

Defining The Enduring Elegance Of Teak

It's only natural that homeowners should look for natural materials when choosing furniture for the garden, and durable, beautiful teak is an increasingly popular choice.

It's not just teak's good looks that have made it a favorite choice for outdoor furniture and accessories. Teak is one of the most durable woods known to man. The life span of furniture made from other types of wood such as cedar, redwood and pine pales in comparison to the 75 to 100 years that teak has been reported to last.

Additionally, these types of wood need to be treated with a preservative if you want them to last a few seasons. With high-quality teak furniture, there's no need to worry about varnishing or sanding the furniture to make it look good and hold up. It only needs to be washed annually to remove sap, pollen and mildew.

Those who prefer the look of teak in its original golden brown state rather than the silvery grey that outdoor teak becomes as it ages will need to clean their furniture more rigorously with specialized teak cleaners.

Others may consider oiling, varnishing or sealing their teak furniture if they plan to use it indoors.

It's important to note that there are differences in quality within the family of teak wood. Here are some tips from Jeremy Smith, president of Wood Classics, a New York-based manufacturer of fine teak furnishings:

• Make sure that the furniture you are looking at is genuine teak, not those promoted as "teak-like" or "as good as teak."

• Consider the grade of teak and the construction methods used to produce the product. Is your furniture free of sap, pits, and open knots? Are screw holes recessed and pegged to prevent rust and staining? If so, you have a quality product.

• Next, consider style, which has expanded significantly from the traditional Adirondack style many people associate with teak. You can now get teak couches and chairs and loveseats that recline. Teak furniture can also be customized with matching pillows.

Lanscaping Ideas - Common Landscaping Tools For Every Landscaper

For the avid do-it-yourself landscaper, the right tools are important. After all, if one wishes to save money on the expenses associated with having a well cared for yard, it is best to make sure that he or she has all of the tools necessary to create an attractive landscape. By understanding some of the most common tools used for basic landscaping needs, you can ensure that you have everything you need to keep your lawn in the best possible shape, bringing delight and distinction to your grounds, be they large or small.

Shovels, rakes, trowels, and hand cultivators. These are the most basic of tools when it comes to landscaping. Every home should be supplied with these basic implements. They make just about every landscaping endeavor possible. Shovels to remove sod and turn soil, as well as dig the holes necessary for fixtures like trees and hardscapes, Rakes are essential to smooth out planting beds and prepare ground for things like sod without packing the dirt. Trowels and hand cultivators allow you to perform minute work that requires more attention to detail. All of these tools are necessary to the proper functioning and care of a landscape.

Pruners and shears. These tools are used to improve the appearance of woody plants and trees. They keep plants from encroaching in other areas, and they also promote the overall health of the plants. They help maintain a neat appearance, and if you have topiary concerns, they are indispensable in maintaining a set shape. There are hand pruners, tools that help with the smaller branches and are easier to use, loppers for getting thicker branches that are to large for pruners, and even pruning saws that can help you with the toughest of branches. Hedge shears provide a way for hedges to be trimmed more conscientiously than with electric or gas-run trimmers (although these are widely available and can make maintaining hedges much easier).

Lawnmower. This is perhaps one of the most common and most obvious of landscaping tools. It is meant to keep the grass at a reasonable level, and to keep the lawn neat and healthy. Related to lawnmowers in the trimming department are things like weed wackers, which are very useful in keeping edges that can’t be cut by a mower nice and neat. Additionally, the use of some special machinery, designed to eliminate thick brush is useful to have on hand, even it is only in the form of a machine rented once a year.

Other tools of interest. Of course, there are specialty tools that may be needed depending upon on the features of your landscape. If you have a water fixture, it is important to make sure that you have the proper pumps and filters, and that you have little skimmers that can allow you to remove larger pieces of debris from the water. Automatic sprinklers can make watering the lawn and your other plants much easier, and you should have a garden hose for special watering needs. Regular household tools such as hammer and nails, levels, and drills can be helpful if you have built landscape features like patios, decks, pergolas, and trellises. They can also be useful in building things like containers and creating raised beds.

Wheelbarrow. A wheelbarrow will always be of infinite use for the avid landscaper and improver. Wheelbarrows are very useful for moving debris as well as bringing needed implements to their proper places. They haul dirt and bring in plants. They make it possible to for one person to carry a load that otherwise she or he would not be able to handle. For the serious landscaper, a wheelbarrow is indeed necessary.

When you have all of the tools necessary to take care of your landscape, then you are well rewarded for your hard work. Acquiring the more common tools can also save you money in the long run, as they can be used over and over again. Additionally, many of the more common landscape tools are fairly small in size and easy to store in a garage or a shed. As long as they are kept neatly arranged in place, they are easy to get to when needed, and not hard to find. Proper maintenance of you tools is important: keep them from becoming rusty, and make sure your lawnmower and other gas or electric implements are well oiled and always have plenty of gas. Proper care of your tools ensures that you will be able to properly care for your landscape.

Lanscaping - Commercial Outdoor Lighting

Lanscaping Ideas - Luminous billboards, shop signs and twinkling lights create a fairy tale ambience, luring bargain hunters and casual observers to malls, eating places, gaming centers and commercial establishments. Las Vegas would be a desert town if it did not have glitzy, leering neons in all shapes and designs shining in the night sky. Or imagine a scenario where there is a single commercial outdoor light for a cluster of salons and stores. Outdoor lighting evolved over the years and in process lost its bearing. The abundance of electricity gave place to haphazard placement and usage leading to energy wastage and pollution. It is a health hazard as too much exposure causes eye problems and momentary blindness leading to automobile accidents. Poorly lighted or skewed fixtures have similar effect as in glares or rotating beams inconveniencing neighbors and residents.

Whatever the after effects of too much or too little, commercial outdoor lighting enhances the location and is best possible advertisement for product and premises. Excessive use multiplies the electricity bill of the establishment. The answer to this is an environmentally efficient commercial outdoor lighting fixture powered by solar energy. This is economical and environment friendly as only fixtures responsive to this lighting system are used. Another way to save on electricity bills is usage solar energy or new LED or light-emitting-diode technology to create brighter lights. LED technology is efficient and can be used effectively in commercial areas.

With urban areas expanding and rebuilding, commercial outdoor lighting is much in demand. Streets, schools, colleges, shopping and financial establishments, cultural and sports centers all require appropriate lighting arrangements. One need not invest in old designs but select contemporary and modern designs that are durable and water-resistant. Other contemporary designs in commercial outdoor lighting include bronze fixtures mounted on matching fiberglass poles ideal for parking lots or recreational areas. Another popular design is cobra head fixture perfect for parking lots, highways or city streets.

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Lanscaping Plans - Choosing A Face For Your Home

Lanscaping Ideas - When building or remodeling a home, there are many things to consider, from small details like the style of bathroom tiles and kitchen cabinets to more significant, lasting decisions, such as the exterior façade of your home. In the past, exterior options were limited and one look or profile was used for the entire home. Today's exterior product market offers a wide range of options, from accessories to cover-alls.

Choosing a home's exterior can be one of the most significant decisions in the life of your home. For a one-of-a-kind look, take advantage of your design options:

• Use siding profiles such as board and batten or shake siding to highlight dormers or gables, the triangular portion below the roof peak.

• Accentuate the front of your home by combining siding products such as vinyl, brick, stone, stucco or insulated siding, the latest advancement in maintenance- free siding. This offers the opportunity to highlight your home's unique architecture while hiding imperfections.

• Add accessories such as window trims and decorative corner post systems to create added charm.

• Incorporate multiple color options to bring your home to life...choose a subtle shade as a cover-all with dark trim or a dark cover-all with light trim. For example, an evergreen trim can be the perfect complement for a beige cover-all.

• Select a siding product that offers not only the look you demand, but also the complementary options to create a visible expression and a lasting impression.

Recently, many homeowners have discovered insulated siding or solid core siding as the ideal design option for any home exterior. Available in a range of styles and colors, including a complete line of trim accessories and profiles such as a vertical board and batten and beaded siding, insulated siding supplies the perfect complement or contrast for any home exterior such as brick, stone or stucco.

Made popular by six- or seven-inch profiles, insulated siding offers the wide design and authentic cedar grain texture of real wood, but without the maintenance hassles. Its rigid foam core backing allows for the design of architecturally correct profiles and better energy efficiency for added savings.

Cheap Pond Liners

Installing a garden pond is no longer a distant dream but an easy goal. Concrete ponds have been replaced with artificial, preformed and flexible Pond Liners which make the task of installing a pond easier and cheaper.

When building on a budget, one can settle for a small water garden that holds less than 1,500 gallons of water or is less than 10” X 13” X 19” deep. You may choose a preformed pond that is rigid or a liner which is flexible. You can install a basic 10X16ft pond with a good-quality liner for less than $1,000.

The first alternative is preformed ponds, which are available in different shapes and sizes and cost a fraction of concrete ponds. Using these materials, the amateur gardener can install a pond in less than a day and have it stocked with fish, plants and fountain by the next day.

The simplest pond is the aboveground preformed pond. A bottomless box can be placed above a flat surface, and a cushion material can be placed at the bottom. The Pond Liner can be laid around the bottom and spread around the pond surface, after which it can be filled with water. Later, any excess liner can be trimmed off.

The second type is the in-ground pond. Most people choose the flexibility of a liner because they can build of any shape, size and depth. First, a plastic hose can be used to indicate the shape of the pond on the ground, after which you can start digging. Once the pond is excavated, the Pond Liner can be placed inside and fixed with stones and bricks. Care should be taken to protect the liner from sunlight.

Flexible rubber liners have the same lifetime as preformed fiberglass, but cost half as much. The standard 45 mm EPDM-2 is a popular choice, as it is durable and flexible. Rubber is also superior to other flexible liners like PVC. PVC becomes stiff in cold weather. Rubber decays more slowly than PVC when exposed to sunlight.

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Caring for Grosfillex Resin Patio Furniture

Grosfillex is a great new innovation in residential and commercial patio furniture. The cry for patio furniture that is inexpensive and easy to maintain was heard and answered by patio furniture manufacturers. Grosfillex Resin is a type of material now being used in patio furniture for a patio set that will change the way people use their patio furniture.

What exactly is Grosfillex resin? Grosfillex resin is made of polypropylene resin which is used in a number of industries for its resistance qualities. The polymer in the resin is a resistant chemical solvent, so it resists stains from things like moisture, food stains, salt air and chlorine. This is ideal for any outdoor setting. The materials in this resin are also heat resistant so it can withstand the extreme heat from sun. This polypropylene resin also has a great resistance to fatigue, so it may be used over and over again for seating without succumbing to pressure and breaking. This resin is also much less brittle than a similar material called polyethylene.

Grosfillex resin patio furniture is quite resistant to stains from food or other elements. Its tables are ideal for food service because of their resistance to food stains, burns, scratches, and repeated cleaning. It is ideal for poolside because it will not fade or discolor from the sunlight. The resin contains UV stabilizers to resist discoloration.

How is Grosfillex resin patio furniture cleaned? Grosfillex resin patio furniture is easy to clean and maintain. For most messes a solution of soap and water with a little bleach added will do. Some stains are more persistent than others. There are some resin patio furniture cleaning solvents available including SunBrite and Attax. For truly stubborn stains, it may require professional cleaning.

Grosfillex resin patio furniture is well worth the investment. It is perfect for any patio setting, and will truly stand the test of time. Any consumer will be happy with the ease of maintaining Grosfillex resin patio furniture.

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