Relaxing on an outdoor porch swing is the perfect way to spend a summer evening.

photo credit: redtype Whether you do so alone or with a family member or friend, it is exceptionally good way to relax and unwind from a day at work and enjoy the warmth and fresh air.

If you are considering purchasing and outdoor porch swing for your home, you will want to consider Cedar. It is the number one option for quality, durability and above all comfort.

Consider the following five reasons for buying a cedar product.

#1 Durability – Many types of wood, when exposed to the sun, rain, cold and heat they way a porch swing is, cracks and/or rots. These woods must be treated with chemicals in order to preserve them. Cedar, on the other hand does not. It is a wood that contains its own natural protection through natural oils and chemicals that preserve and strengthen the wood. Light weight and durable, a outdoor porch swing made of cedar will outlast any other swing made with another material.

#2 Comfort – Cedar is a wood product that provides exceptional comfort when used for porch or patio swings. It naturally maintains an even, cool temperature even when exposed to the heat of the summer sun. Furthermore, Cedar does not shrink and swell with a change in temperature and stays flat regardless of the weather. You will not see any warping and the seat surface will remain smooth and even.

#3 Natural Insect Repellent – How many times have you decided to sit outside during the summer months only to be bombarded by insects and bugs? If you are seated in an outdoor patio swing made of natural Cedar you will not have that problem. Remember your Grandmother’s Cedar Chest? It was used to protect your clothing from moths. An outdoor cedar swing will protect you from insects too. While the aroma of Cedar may send insects scurrying, most people find it a pleasant smell.

#4 Ecologically Friendly – The chemicals used to treat most outdoor furniture often present a health hazard to those using it. They are needed to help preserve the furniture from the effects of the weather and must be applied regularly. Cedar, on the other hand, does not need to be treated with preservatives and protectorants. It is naturally occurring. An outdoor porch swing made of cedar is a product that protects the environment and the owner.

#5 Naturally Beautiful – Cedar is a wood that is rich in color with a soft red-brown appearance that when used in outdoor furniture adds a richness and quality look to your porch or patio. A cedar porch swing will maintain its natural beauty over time. It is a wood that does not fade or dull. Many people buy Cedar for its looks alone without even being aware of all of its other beneficial properties.

Take advantage of the natural beauty, durability, and comfort and consider Cedar next time you are shopping for outdoor furniture for your home.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, garden, garden furniture, garden oasis, gardening, home and family, outdoor furniture, patio, patio furniture, porch, porch and garden

Many people have limited garden space or want their garden as near to the house as possible. The perfect solution is to create a garden porch.
photo credit: hortulus

Your produce will be within walking distance, watering will be easy and you will have the added benefit of creating a garden oasis on your porch that will be enjoyed by family and friends.

The first step to a successful porch garden is to check the sunlight that your plants will receive. For a vegetable garden you will need 6 to 8 hours or sunlight. Flowers and herbs can live with less light but really prefer sunlight.

If sunlight is a problem and you really want the garden you can add fluorescent lighting to help your plants out.

Next it’s time to select containers. A mix of hanging baskets, window boxes, and larger containers for the floor will add a layering of plants which creates a full lush feeling in your garden area. You can choose plastic wood or ceramic containers. For retaining moisture, ceramic and terra cotta are the best.

My porch garden has two upside down hanging tomato plants, two hanging strawberry plants, two window boxes that have been placed on the porch railing, and 4 floor containers for the porch corner that will add height in planting to the garden.

It’s best to keep your plant containers about 16 inches or more in diameter so that the plants will not dry out as fast. It’s also beneficial to have mulch on the soil to keep the soil cool so it will not need as much water.
photo credit: Hotash

A trellis will work well for vining flowers and vegetables. Mixing a flowering vine with a vegetable will add color and interest to your porch garden.

It’s amazing what you can grow in a small space garden area. With proper planning you can grow enough produce on your porch to save $500 to $1000 on your grocery bill.

And by adding herbs and flowers you will also be able to grow you own spices for the kitchen and flower bouquets for the house and garden oasis area.

Technorati Tags: backyard oasis, container gardening, garden design, garden oasis, gardening, home and garden, porch garden, Small Space Garden

Kitchen gardens were always a part of the backyard plan in the past and with the return of the recession gardens and popularity of the outdoor kitchen area the kitchen garden is again becoming popular.
photo credit: themissiah

A kitchen garden was set up to be small and easy to access from the home and preferably near the kitchen area.

It was also set up to include the favorite vegetables, herbs for cooking and a few fruits.

Basil, oregano, garlic, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, leaf lettuce, rhubarb and strawberries are a few of the items most often selected.

Kitchen gardens can be set up in a very small space or even on the balcony or patio. They are often grown in containers if space is limited.

Here are a few ideas to consider if you plan on creating your own kitchen garden area.

Choose a site that receives full sun during the growing season. This would be at least six to eight hours of lighting. If you live in a cooler climate try to select a site that thaws early. You will be able to work your soil earlier and get in your lettuce and other small vegetables.

Raised beds, using windowsills or container gardening would also help you plant earlier if your climate is cooler

Select a site that will permit access to a storage shed and water so that your gardening supplies will be close by.

The garden area should drain well and have the proper soil mix. Both drainage and soil can quickly be improved if you add compost, peat or fertilizer.

Design your kitchen garden to include the vegetables you use the most but also to be ornamental garden. This way you have the benefits of fresh garden produce but the beauty of a unique garden landscape. This is easy to do with vegetables of different colors, the use of vining plants and including flower, which can be edible, in your garden.
photo credit: tristanf

One other advantage of a kitchen garden is that it is usually is within easy reach which makes weeding and picking the harvest easy. And if it’s close to the house you shouldn’t have to worry about damage to your crops from deer or other small wild animals.

Add a kitchen garden to your backyard or patio area.

It will add color to your garden oasis and fresh produce to you table. And with planning it will take very little room or time to maintain.

Technorati Tags: Backyard Garden, backyard oasis, garden oasis, kitchen garden, landscaping, recession garden, small backyard design, Small Space Garden

Small fruit varieties grow well in limited space garden designs. There are many fruit trees that you can train as espaliers or to grow in containers but strawberries, brambles, and melons will grow well in containers and on patios and balcony gardens with little care.
photo credit: quinn.anya

Raspberries are a good choice for fruit container for the small space garden. There are summer and fall-bearing varieties. Raspberries also cost quite a bit in stores and have been heavily sprayed for insects, so by growing your own you will save money and have a cleaner fruit

The summer bearing raspberry plants will produce fruits in early summer, with the season lasting around five weeks. The fall-bearing varieties, which are known as everbearing, will give you two crops each year – one in early summer and a late crop min fall. In my zone 5 this is late September and into October.

You can choose red, gold, purple or black raspberries for your fruit container garden. Some of the good red and yellow varieties of raspberries are named ‘Anne;’ and ‘Autumn Bliss.” If you want to go in for black or purple varieties, you can choose between ‘Brandywine’, ‘Munger’ and ‘Royalty are great selections in black and purple raspberry varieties.’ These varieties are summer bearing.

Blackberries also do well growing in containers. My suggestion for blackberry plants when selection a variety to grow is to get the thornless variety. The sting of a blackberry thorn seems to be worse than any other bramble bush. Brambles are usually spaced one foot apart when planted.

Another option for blackberries or raspberries is to train them to grow on trellises. You will make better use of the space and I also grow a small crop of lettuce or herbs in front of the berries for better use of space and to add color to the garden area.

Melons are also a nice fruit for the mini garden area, but they will take a large container. Melons will need plenty of water, fertilizer and soil that drains well. The reason for a large container is to ensure that the melon plants have enough fertilizer to produce a good crop.

Peach vine or Vine Peach is also a favorite heirloom fruit that I grow. It has a wide variety of uses and takes very little space. I grow this crop on a trellis and usually mix in a vining flower for color.

There are many fruits that will grow all year long. Strawberries are a perfect example. As long as they have fertilizer and decent lighting you will be able to harvest a crop all season long. I tend to grow most of my strawberries in hanging baskets. They take less space, look great and produce well this way.

Care of you fruit garden

I only use organic insect control on my fruit plants. By checking the plants regularly and making sure the plants have the proper water and fertilizer I rarely have an insect problem. I also check and remove any weak stems or leaves.

Raspberry plants tend to attract Japanese beetles so I grow an okra plant and place it 20 foot away from the berry brambles. It’s a pretty plant and Japanese beetles like the plant but the plant doesn’t agree with them. It’s a natural insect control for the raspberry plant.

Other insect controls are a homemade insect spray.

Most fruit varieties dislike frost and extreme cold and will damage easily if exposed to frost. Keep your fruit container gardening efforts in a cool place, away from the frost. And if they are located outdoors cover the crops during the late fall.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, Backyard Garden, backyard oasis, garden oasis, small fruit container gardening, small space fruit garden, Small Space Garden

How to create a backyard oasis. It takes time and planning to give your backyard that relaxing and comfortable feeling. I would first start by sitting down with a cup of tea or coffee and taking a careful look at your backyard. Is it landscaped? Do you have a patio or outdoor buildings?  Is your yard roomy or limited in space? You also need to take into account your climate and how many months a year you can use it. With proper planning even the coldest climates can have a useful and inviting backyard retreat.
photo credit: popofatticus

Next its time to consider how many people and what ages will use the yard. Do you have young children that would benefit from a play area or older children that would enjoy a pool? How about your pets? Most dogs enjoy their own space and doggie-digging pit. Do you have exotic plants that may not be healthy for pets or small children?

Another area to think about is what will the space be used for. Will it be for sports and family gatherings? Or used as a garden oasis, or a workshop area? It could possibly just be an escape from the noise and pace of work and the world.

Even the renter or urban dweller can find room to create a place to relax even if it’s a very small area, rooftop retreat, window boxes or a sunroom

All these thoughts take time and laying out a backyard design if you have several projects in mind. You will also need to think about what backyard supplies you will need to purchase. But while getting a feeling for the changes you want to make to your backyard you can start in on a few small and inexpensive improvements. This will add to the comfort of your yard and transcend the time it takes for you to get all your plans laid out and completed.

First start by adding a few garden art pieces to your porch or patio. One of these might include small water fountains that sit on tables. A trellis placed along your porch will keep out winds if the temperatures are still cold. Add a few lights that either hang from the ceiling or sit on tables. You have now created a cozy retreat to relax after a busy day. You may even want to add a small heater or outdoor stove.

Next I would add hanging wind chimes on the porch and around the yard. There is something very soothing about the sound of wind chimes. I would suggest Wind chimes that have long metal tubes. They produce low tones that are more relaxing.  I have found that the wind chimes made of silverplate silverware have a lovely relaxing sound.

Depending on your climate you can either plant or make plans to purchase flowers for planters or the yard. Fragrant flowers are more relaxing and soothing. Chocolate cosmos are very fragrant and many herbs have a wonderful aroma and also serve another useful purpose as a kitchen seasoning. The most relaxing herbal scent is lavender but Rosemary and some of the thyme varieties are also very pleasing.

Another idea for a quick improvement to your backyard oasis is adding comfortable furniture. Reclining chairs are a great addition to a porch and a hammock makes your backyard for relaxing, stargazing or reading. Choose a hammock that is made of fabric. They are the most comfortable.  Just make sure the fabric is easy to clean and stain resistant.

One last step for adding pleasure to your backyard oasis is to fill a birdfeeder or two with black oil sunflower seeds. The smaller sunflower seeds attract small birds such as blue jays, cardinals and finches. The sound of the birds and watching their antics add entertainment to the yard.

These are just a few ideas that will brighten your backyard at a very modest cost while you are planning your backyard oasis. Remember that you will save money by creating your own private backyard retreat and staying at home. Stop by the backyard oasis again for more extensive ideas for creating you own backyard oasis.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard oasis, garden oasis, how to create a backyard oasis