Budget a Swimming Pool into your backyard design projects

 backyard pools  No Responses »
Mar 012010
 

Swimming pools provide hours of enjoyment for the entire family. Besides keeping the children occupied they add to any family event such as parties and get togethers. They turn your backyard into the oasis that you always dreamed of.

Sparrow City Swimming Pool
Creative Commons License photo credit: sflovestory

But a pool is a large investment, takes time and space though, so selection and price is very important. You will also have to consider your property value and landscaping needed for the project.

These are a few points to consider when selecting a pool.

Decide what type of pool you want to buy. Above ground pools are less expensive and can be made nicer looking with a deck and landscaping. They can also be removed relatively easily if needed.

In-ground pools are more expensive and will usually increase your property value. But you must carefully consider where you plan to place it.

Shop for the best-priced pool. Try local pool companies and look online for deals.

Make sure you get several references from the companies you contact. Also check with the check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they’re trustworthy and have a good rating.

Get three quotes to five quotes in writing. Make sure the quotes include all installation costs and any extra costs.

Swimming pools can cost more than you expect. So leave room for unexpected expenses. So when shopping try to buy a swimming pool for $1,000 less than your set budget. This extra money will absorb any unexpected costs.

Natasha
Creative Commons License photo credit: Schantzilla

Budget the extras right into you pool costs and budget. Once you add a pool you will need the area landscaped. Possibly a deck, outdoor kitchen or patio placed near the pool area and safety features. Safety features would include a fence, pool chemicals, equipment, pumps and filters. Pool toys will also be a consideration.

Figure out how much money you’ll have to put away each month or week toward your swimming pool. If you have children they may enjoy putting money toward the pool too. It will give them a feeling of accomplishment.

And you may want to put the money in a higher interest account. It will increase faster if you put the money into a mutual fund or credit union with a higher interest rate.

Once you have the money for the pool be prepared to have a new life and look to your backyard.

Posted by Denise at 8:12 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

The beauty and purpose of a rain garden

 backyard oasis  2 Responses »
Feb 092010
 

I have run off problems from rain if we have a heavy storm. Thankfully it does not happen often, but when it does it causes a lot of damage that can take months to clean up.

Rain gardens can alleviate this problem plus they are beautiful. The following you tube has information of rain gardens. Its a bit long but the information is fantastic.

This you tube also has beautiful flowers and outdoor images. Since its February where I live this was a great pick me up from winter weather.

Rain gardens also serve a purpose for the environment. They recycle rain water, feed small animals and beneficial insects and will help with flooding.

Even a small backyard will benefit from a miniature rain garden if you have drainage problems or want to recycle water. These gardens are often recommended in dry or drought prone areas.

I have one area in my backyard that would really benefit from a rain garden plan. It may have to be added to my backyard summer projects. I know it would definitely add beauty and peace to my backyard oasis area.

Posted by Denise at 10:04 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Plants, plant containers and hanging baskets

 backyard oasis  No Responses »
Jan 262010
 

Indoors or out, plants in pots and containers have certain uses and needs. With proper care both the plant and potting container will last for years and add beauty throughout the entire year.

last leg
Creative Commons License photo credit: hello-julie

Planters: Where to place your plants

Where you place your plant in a room or on patios and balconies create an impact upon the atmosphere and ambience of the area. Your first concern with potted plants is the amount of light or lack of light the plant requires. The plant care tag will help you with this or garden shops and online plant care websites.

Once you know your plant needs it time to place the plant for the best visual effect.

Tall, potted plants will create a quiet reading corner or add privacy to an office space. They can be used as a divider in a room or to hide a problem area in a room.

Hanging plants can provide a screen for a bathroom or bedroom window. They will also create a room barrier and fill bare corner with color. Add an herbal hanging container to you kitchen and harvest fresh herbs for cooking all winter.

An orchid may add tropical appeal to a patio or other living space. To give a more rounded and lush look near the orchid add two or three small potted plants around the orchid planter.

orchid
Creative Commons License photo credit: magic_bee

Avoid placing plants in heavy traffic areas or small spaces. They will add a cluttered feel to these spaces and interfere with traffic flow.

Make sure that plants placed on tables or in other conversation spots are not too large. This will interfere with conversation and give the area an uneasy unbalanced feel.

Potted containers.

Pots and containers are often overlooked when selecting a plant and adding to the atmosphere of a room. Many feel any old pot will do. But selecting pots for color and décor adds to the room and to the beauty of the plant.

Regardless of the decorative appeal, a container with good drainage is a must for an interior plant. Indoor plants have more of a problem for plant disease if the soil cannot drain properly

Place a saucer underneath the container to catch the run off water before it leaves water stains on your tables or reaches your floor. Saucers with pebbles place them will keep excess water away for the plants roots and add humidity around the plants. This humidity is beneficial to the plants and people.

Polystyrene peanuts will keep the container light in weight, increase your drainage, and
decrease the soil needed to fill the pot. This is particularly important in hanging baskets and larger potting containers that can get heavy. Outdoor balcony gardens will also benefit from lighter planters.

Baskets and decorator pots are available at home improvement stores, gardening centers, auction houses and garage sales. You can also paint or redecorate or planter and pots to match your décor. And if you are in a creative mood you can make a hypertyfu one of a kind planter.

Plants and planters add to the atmosphere and health of your home. And with creativity in the choice of plants and planters you can add change to your rooms on a weekly or monthly basis, indoors or out.

Posted by Denise at 11:04 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Clean Up and Update Your Backyard

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Jan 222010
 

With busy schedule most families keep today, it’s easy to let your backyard get that “wild out of Control” look. You don’t seem to notice how bad it looks until you are pulling in the drive or take a look at it from the neighbors yard and wonder who lives there!

Cardinal in Brooklyn
Creative Commons License 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.

Posted by Denise at 9:47 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Five backyard landscaping Design Ideas

 landscaping  No Responses »
Jan 202010
 

When backyard design is mentioned most people expect a time consuming project that will cost a small fortune.

Savannah Garden path
Creative Commons License photo credit: byrdiegyrl

But with the use of mulches, small plants or shrubs and garden art you can redo small sections of your backyard in a day.

If you divide areas of your yard into sections you can work on one section at a time to create mini gardens or garden rooms. Using this system the entire backyard will not be torn up and you can work with a small budget. You will also be able to enjoy the backyard while projects are underway

This you tube will show you five ideas for small backyard landscaping design ideas they used.

These ideas may give you a start for redoing you own backyard oasis or creating one.

I liked the use of mulch and stone in the video to create an easy to take care of patio area. I also like the use of small plants, mulch and less grass.

When planning your new small garden areas decide what is important to you and incorporate those ideas into your plans.  This may be a mini patio, reading room; children’s play area or a work area.

There are two ideas to keep in mind when planning your backyard projects.

1. Design the areas with change in mind. Will your children be growing up or will you be starting a family? Should the recreational area be downsized? Will you be adding a pool or removing one in the future?

2. And the last idea to keep in mind – is to keep it simple. With proper planning you can have a beautiful lush backyard oasis without spending the entire weekend working in it.

Posted by Denise at 10:20 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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