Backyard Landscaping Ideas For Children

 landscaping  No Responses »
Sep 122010
 

Involving children in with landscaping can help give them a sense of pride and prevent boredom in the backyard. There are many landscaping projects that are kid-friendly. Some landscaping can be just for kids and others can simply include kids in routine landscaping care.

You could give kids their own garden or a section of the family garden. If they are young give them a planter on the porch to take care of. Let the kids choose from a variety of easy-to-grow plants. Vegetables such as lettuce, radishes and cherry tomatoes are good options because they require little regular care and produce an end product.

Marigolds, snapdragons, sunflowers or four-o-clocks are good flower selections. Don’t use foliage plants unless a child specifically wants that. Kids like to see some transformation in their garden.

You’ll also want to purchase kid-sized gardening tools, such as trowels and spades, so the child has an even greater sense of ownership over the garden. Encourage them to take care of their tools and pout them away after using them

For a project that is a little more permanent the kids can create stepping-stones. Stepping-stones are a great accent to any garden or flowerbed or as a path from the house to any outdoor location in the yard. Let the kids create their own stone for paths or garden areas.

Craft stores have stepping stone projects to create individualized stones. Kids can write messages on the stone, make handprints; use colored rocks or other decorations to create a stone of their own. Let the children create one or two of their own stones, then use plain stones to make up the rest of the path.

Kids can use sidewalk chalk to temporarily decorate the plain stones. Help the children design the path so it is practical, but also has their own mark on it. Dig into the dirt slightly before placing a stone to secure it.

Simple backyard landscaping projects can give you kids activities to do to make a change in their routine. It can teach them new skills and create interest in nature and the outdoors. And maybe these projects will create less work for you as they learn how to work and do chores in the backyard.

Posted by Denise at 10:17 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

What is hardscaping?

 backyard design  No Responses »
Jul 102010
 

Hardscape is a landscaping term for permanent construction that is added to the landscape and backyard.

Anything cast in concrete or built of stone is hardscaped. Wood structures and built-in waterfalls are also hardscapes. One easy way to determine hardscape is if it is more permanent it’s hardscape and if it can be moved easily, it is probably more likely to be considered décor.

completed wall
Creative Commons License photo credit: mccun934

If it grows and is alive, it is ‘softscape’.

Hardscape adds to a landscpae and you can get stunning effects, but it takes time, planning, space and often is not a possibility if you rent.

You also need to realize that hardscape, being more permanent, should be well thought out before adding to you backyard or lawn.

I have several hardscape plans going to the yard this year. They include a terraced garden and a wood and rock stairway in the front yard area. Raised rock beds that also serve as flood control are under way and dry creeks are in the planning stages.

All these plans have been carefully laid out and all extra considerations have been taken into consideration. Considerations were traffic flow to the house, parking, drainage, runoff, checking any underground lines, and the fact it’s permanent. I also considered cost and how much maintenance it will take for upkeep and general lawn care. I was looking for low installation cost and to make yard work less demanding.

My hardscape plans will take all summer as I am doing them myself. The supplies are mostly free. When completed I should have made my yard easier to care for, less prone to runoff flooding and much prettier. I think the plans will also create more privacy in the yard.

As the projects are worked on links will be provided. These ideas may be something you could add to your yard.

Posted by Denise at 5:36 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

How to repair a terra cotta pot

 Backyard Garden  No Responses »
Mar 212010
 

I have a large beautiful strawberry terra cotta planter that I did not place away from the elements as well as I should have. So it has a small amount of damage. If I repair it now before out gardening season gets underway I may be able to save the planter.

Terra Cotta Pots
Creative Commons License photo credit: SuperFantastic

There are several ways to repair terra cotta. Depending on the pot and its sentiment you may wish to fix it. I myself think terra cotta is great and use these pots more than others.

My terra cotta strawberry pot is 3 foot tall. I have some of the terra cotta flaking off the one side. Here is one way to repair a terra coot pot.

Terra Cotta Repair for Glazed or Unglazed Garden Pots

  • Clean off all dirt thoroughly. This means scrubbing and washing. If the pot is very dirty I use baking soda and a toothbrush. White vinegar will also clean pots. If the dirt is light regular dishwater will do the trick.
  • Once the pot is clean and dry, pry open the crack slightly with a thin shim.
  • Apply waterproof silicone caulk into the crack
  • Next remove the shim and wrap a length of wire or cord around the pot to hold the crack closed.
  • If you used wire twist the ends of the wires together with pliers until the crack is closed and held tight. Cord is a little trickier to get a tight close to the crack and enough pressure. It helps to have help so corner a family member!
  • Let the silicone dry thoroughly. Instructions are on the tube for drying times.
  • Remove the wire or cord when the pot is dry and set.
  • Carefully scrape away any excess silicone.
  • This will work on small to medium cracks

I will try this process if my terra cotta paste does not work.

Terra cotta paste

My problem is the terra cotta is flaking in a 3-inch spot on my pot. If its not fixed it will just get worse and the pot will be ruined. So I plan to take old terra cotta pieces I have from broken pots and grind it up into fine sand. Then I will add glue and make a thick paste I can smooth onto the pot.

I will smooth it into place and let dry for several days. If it works I will then sand it and add a sealer to this section to make sure the patch stays in place.

Hopefully it will work and save this wonderful pot. I’ll let you know how the project turns out.

PS: Terra cotta pots can be fun to decorate to match your patio, gardens or balcony. You can  create people and animals for garden art from them along with fountains and night lights.

Posted by Denise at 4:55 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

How to Select, Grow and Care for Hybrid Tea Roses

 backyard projects  No Responses »
Mar 182010
 

What is a hybrid tea rose?

A hybrid tea rose is a cross between the hybrid perpetuals and old-fashioned tea roses. They are the most popular roses in the world and perhaps the most popular flower, as roses are many gardeners favorite. The hybrid tea rose has all the virtues you look for in a flower: beauty, fragrance and easy care. They also come in so many color variations and will grow in many different climates.

Gift of Life
Creative Commons License photo credit: Jami Dwyer

What makes these roses different from other Roses is that they generally produce only one blossom at the end of the stem, rather than clusters of flowers. They have more of an open form rather than bushy habit. They are repeat bloomers throughout the growing season, particularly if you keep them deadheaded or picked and they offer some degree of fragrance. The fragrance will depend on the variety.

A signature of hybrid teas is the long, pointed bud. The plants will grow anywhere from 3-6 feet tall, depending on the growing conditions.

The long, strong stems make them great as cut flowers.

Choosing the Right Hybrid Tea for You

Hybrid teas are as easy to grow as other rose varieties. For success in growing them choose a variety suited to your climate and zone. So look on the plant tag or research the rose types at a library or online. One other very important key to a successful rose bush is to make sure that it is planted properly.

But your first points to consider when buying the rose bush is:

  • If your summers are humid, look for mildew resistance. Certain ways of planting will also help mildew but get extra help with proper plant selection.
  • Where summers are dry you will want to look for heat tolerance and vigorous root systems. I would also advise to make sure the roses are planted in such a way that you have a mulched area to help hold in moisture.
  • And most of all, check the planting tag and be certain of the growing zone if you live where winters are harsh. You may also want to provide extra protection.  Use a burlap wrap or plant by a wall or hillside for wind protection in colder areas.

Tip: Roses with thick petals are hardier in variable weather locations and last longer as cut flowers.

Backyard Oasis Projects will be having a mini rose garden project using the Hybrid Tea Rose. You will be able to see a rose garden be created from the start. As the season is still cold the first steps will be to select the rose varieties and prepare the rose garden bed area. Check out “The Hybrid Tea Rose Backyard Project.”

Posted by Denise at 8:42 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Small Space Garden Design Time Savers

 Small Space Garden  No Responses »
Feb 152010
 

When working with small spaces in your backyard, patio or balcony design every item counts and should serve two purposes. Another concern to keep in mind with garden design is time savers. After all, you have created an oasis to relax in, why add work?

my little garden
Creative Commons License photo credit: slideshow bob

Keep it simple.

Simple easy to work with designs and ideas will cut your time in half. You might want to mix artificial plants in the back and fresh live plants in front. Window boxes on a top window that is hard to water will do better with artificial plants, and no one will know the difference. I know I have been doing this for years.

Place any gardens near water or add a rain barrel. Lugging buckets of water or winding and unwinding water hoses takes time and energy.

Storage space

Having adequate storage space for tools, kitchen utensils and children’s toys will stop the running back and forth to get these items. A bench that serves as a storage space will add space and shelves on patio wall also add extra storage room. Pegs on the wall will get larger toys off the patio floor. If placed properly they can also decorate the wall space

Use all available space

When you space is limited it doesn’t take much to get a cluttered look that will make your space look smaller. Use trellises to give you extra space going up. Why place plants in containers on the floor when you can continue a lush green wall being the plants. And if these plants are vegetable you will have a mini garden within arms reach from the kitchen.

Hanging baskets will free up floor space and if you have an open rafter that can be used for storage.

Make you gardens work overtime.

  • Combine vegetables with flowers. It’s a great look and will save space.
  • Use more mulch in your gardens and backyard. You will save time mowing and watering the lawn.
  • Drought resistant plants take less time and water. They also seem to have less insect problems.
  • Consider using square foot gardening methods. You use less space and water. And with less space you will have less weeding.
  • Hardscaping takes less time to maintain and will add interest to the backyard.

Each year I find I want more time to enjoy my backyard and take the time in the spring to look around a see how I can simplify my garden and backyard tasks.

Posted by Denise at 6:15 pm  Tagged with: , , ,
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