photo credit: crabchick

This is a perfect time to make a suet bird feeder. It will attract birds to the yard; add entertainment while watching their antics and will also provide a break in the day.

This was one my favorite things to make when I was a child. And it was always late January or February when we made the suet bird feeders.

How to make a suet bird feeder

First down beef fat (suet) to get liquid. Be very careful at his stage of the project.

Next allow the fat to cool down to a pasty state. You do not want to work with this when it’s too warm. It will cook the seeds. Mix in nuts, seeds or sunflowers. The bags of bird food works well for this project.

Form the mixture into a ball about four to five inches in diameter. Place the ball inside a mesh bag.

To make sure the seed ball has solidified I will place ball into the freezer.

When you feel the seed ball is firm its time to feed your birds. Hang your feeder from a nail on a post, a tree branch close to the trunk or in shrubbery. This placement will allow woodpeckers and other insect- and seed-eating birds to feed.

Make sure that the feeder is high enough that cats cannot torment the birds.

Technorati Tags: backyard, easy backyard project, feeding birds, suet bird feeder

photo credit: JulieFinestone

Here’s how to clean up your backyard and get it back under control.

Clean up the weeds, leaves and shrubs.

Grab your garden tools and a wheelbarrow and start first by cleaning up the fallen leaves. You can also pull out the weeds growing along fences and the sides of your house at the same time. If you have a compost pile add the fresh material into the pile.

Next trim your shrubs with a garden trimmer. For a nice trim its best to step back and take a good look at the shrub. Remove any damaged or diseased branches. After that you can trim the top and sides. It depends on what type of shrub I have on where I dispose of the cuttings. Shrubs with leaves go in the compost pile for the garden areas. Evergreen shrubs are put in a pile to be used for mulching material around shrubs and trees.

Mow the lawn and trim the edges

After the leaves, weeds and shrubs are tidied up, its time to mow the yard and doing any neglected backyard trimming. Mow your lawn on a low height setting to trim down the grass. This will let you get a good look at the lawn area. Get your weed whacker out of storage and edge any fences, sidewalks, drives and shrubs and trees.

This is when I look at the difficult trimming areas and decide if I will be creating mulch layering in these areas.

Clean up the clutter.

Start eliminating the clutter by placing any tools and belongings back into the garage or a storage shed. If you need more storage space, organize your existing space or buy building or small storage shed for your backyard.

If you have an item in your backyard that has sat in one place waiting to be fixed or used one day, wither fix it or move it on. Someone else will appreciate that old doghouse that has not been used in years or the canoe hidden in grass.  And yes, it’s hard to part with those “I’ll do it next week” projects.

Landscape your backyard.

If you feel you backyard needs made over just take a few minutes and sit down and take a look. What would add comfort or ease to the backyard? Is there a certain plant or tree you have always wanted. Do you need more room to entertain or would you like to make the yard easier to maintain?

Install paving stones to make a path or a few new trees and shrubs will give a new look to the yard quickly. Put a bench in your backyard for reading relaxing or to enjoy the garden area.

By adding new landscaping and creating areas in your backyard you will add interest to the yard.  You will also find yourself spending more time enjoying and taking care of backyard projects that will keep the yard clean and tidy.

Technorati Tags: backyard clean-up, backyard landscaping, backyard oasis, backyard projects, clean up backyard

photo credit: steve conry

You may also need to move plants quickly such as I need to do and when that is the case you need a holding bed to put any plants in to keep them healthy until you can plant them.

I had to move all my plants out of my front raised bed area and find perennials that were moved when a hillside garden was washed out in a flood we had this summer. So all told,  I had at least11 perennials varieties to move. The perennial groups were large so its fair to say I had over 175 plants that need to be planted as soon as possible.

Creating a holding bed for plants

So I took two large 10-inch posts measuring 10 foot in length and laid them parallel with a three-foot distance in between. I used two bales of straw on the bottom, 10 buckets of rotted sawdust, 5 bags of rotted leaves (referred to as leaf mold) and about 4 wheel barrels of dirt (yes dirt, not soil). I added a little compost on top and put the plants in.

Once the plants were in I watered them and then covered the mixture with grass clippings to help retain moisture.

This should hold the plants until I can get them in their new home – two weeks at the most. I will water them again tomorrow and then leave them alone for a week.

Tip: The plants will determine the depth of your holding bed. Shallow rooted plants need less depth while shrubs or trees will need more depth.

I set up the temporary holding bed in a semi shady area so the plants should do well and not suffer in direct sun.

To make a quick holding bed any large wood boards or beams should work. Dresser drawers and old crates will also work. And I have seen hay bales used too.

As long as you can create a temporary raised garden bed area anything that will hold soil will work.

photo credit: lepiaf.geo (back on 8th)
All you are doing is creating an area where you can hold plants for a few weeks until you plant them in their new garden location. You need a soil mix that the plants can live in, water and to place them in the ground and not disturb then until you are ready to plant them again.

I have used temporary holding beds many times in the past. It has saved plants and been a big help when I find plants, trade plants or have to move a large amount of plants quickly.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, landscaping, moving plants, perennials, plants, raised beds, temporary holding bed

photo credit: EraPhernalia Vintage (way behind. sorry!)

I have always wanted a deck and this year I found the plans that worked well with the house. I wanted a deck that would replace the 1960’s metal rook over the patio area. The deck is on the second floor and just off the dining area of the house.

By adding a deck I increased the living area by adding a usable area that is 15 foot by 25 foot. And the sliding patio doors add more light in the dining room and help blend the indoor space with the outdoor space. It’s a perfect entertaining area that extends the use of the outdoors area by several months.

I also wrapped the deck around the back of the house as a walkway. This helps me to get to the windows and wash them more easily. Deck porch boxes have been placed along the walkway deck rails for more color and that backyard oasis feel that makes the home more relaxing and inviting.

And being garden addicted I have a small container garden, complete with two small tress and a few trellises for color and shade. I now need to add a small corner water fountain to complete a relaxing atmosphere.
photo credit: ethanmauldin

I also made sure when planning the deck that is pet safe and child safe. I do have pets and may have family that will visit so preventative measures are always best for safety. My deck sets 15 foot off the ground so the deck has rails with a brick brack filler and gates for the stairs leading the to backyard that lock.

Better homes and Gardens has a deck mini course that covers the planning process of making a deck, installation and how to ideas, and how to finish a deck.

Photos are included and there are great ideas on how to personalize the deck to fit you and your families needs.

I read all the topics and each had valuable information for my deck design and ideas.  I enjoyed these following links from the Better Homes and Gardens deck mini course

Deck Building Ideas

Planning a delightful Deck

Deck Planters with Trellis

Design the Perfect Deck or Patio

The deck has added a great place for watching the sun rise in the morning and to entertain. It’s probably one of the best investments I have added to the home in years.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, backyard projects, decisions before adding a deck, deck mini course, deck plans

photo credit: faeryboots

I have an area just off the patio that needs redone and a unique garden gate seemed to be what I needed. After a weekend of sales and a few “salvaging finds,” I found several unique free windows that would be perfect. The windows I chose to use for this garden gate had old wooden panes but no glass.

You could use window with glass, screen, lattice or nothing in them at all. You could also add mirror or weather proof fabric. This is a versatile project that is only limited by your ideas.

This window garden gate took about one hour to assemble from start to finish.

How to Create a Window Garden Gate

• First decide the location for your garden gates. Next measure the width of the windows to figure how big your opening is going to be.
• Dig holes deep enough to install your side poles. For this step a post hole digger would be helpful.
• Place each pole into a hole. Hold the poles up straight and pack the dirt around the pole and tamp in place. Saw off any excess length for the side poles. I prefer to use a quick crete mix for refilling the postholes to ensure that they will stay in place.
• Make sure your poles are level by using a using a leveling tool. If you are going to add cement or quick crete make sure the poles are level and straight first. Once this step is done its time to add the window garden gates.
• Mark each pole at the spot you have decided to place the windows. Make sure the mark on each pole is identical so that the gate will hang even.
• For the size window I am using (about three foot) I Will use two hinges on each window. When deciding where to put the hinges make sure they are even lengths apart on each window to help distribute the weight of the gate evenly.
• Install the hinges on the windows first using a screwdriver. I use an electrical screwdriver; it’s faster and easier.
• Hang each window door at the spot you want them to hang on your poles. It is extremely important to make sure that your windows are hung level or they will not close correctly.
• Add a latch if you want.

This gate is mainly for show in my small patio garden area. I plan to add flowering vines to the poles and let them cross over onto the window gate area. Next year I may decide to fill in the window panes for a different look and use it as more of a garden gate.

Technorati Tags: backyard garden oasis, backyard oasis, backyard projects, create a garden gate, garden art, garden art design ideas, old windows, small patio design