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A Safety Guide To Avoid Hazardous Plants For Residential Landscaping

What is Residential Landscaping?
It is the art of decisively changing the natural features close to your residence for the purpose of making them more beautiful and useful. Moreover, residential landscaping is the best way to alter the region adjoining your house into your own individual ecstasy, so you have a soothing place to come home to after a tiring day.

In order to have the beautiful and blossoming landscape, one can either hire a professional landscaping designer if one is unaware of the ways to alter the surroundings as an expert will have the proper knowledge and skill to carry out the activity in a much skilled manner.

While performing the process of residential landscaping, it is important for a gardener to differentiate between the plants that you should grow and avoid. Planting hazardous plants might not only have a bad impact on its other fellow plants but might spoil the land as well. So it is necessary to find and conclude, which plants can prove to be dangerous to grow.

The following few plant, trees, and shrubs should be avoided for a hazardous free residential landscaping. They are explained in brief.

Annuals:

  1. Elephant ear: The botanical name of elephant ear is Colocsia esculenta. The entire plant is poisonous and dangerous.
  2. Easter lily: The botanical name of Easter lily is Zephyranthus spp. Easter lily also is completely toxic and unsafe.
  3. Morning glory: Ipomoea spp. is the botanical name of Morning Glory. The seeds and roots of Morning glory are toxic.
  4. Impatient: Impatiens spp. is the botanical name of Impatient. Its stem, leaves and roots are harmful.

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12 Things to Do Before Moving into Your New Home

Not everyone is highly organised, but when you have to move into a new home, the more organised you are the better you will cope. That said, being organised doesn’t have to be difficult. Just like professional removalists do, if you write down a list of things to do and stick to doing them, you will be organised. The trick may be in knowing exactly what to do, especially if you have never moved before.  Here is a list to help you.

  • Sort through your things and dispose of everything that you don’t want. This will make packing easier. Disposal can take time if you are selling things, so leave enough time to do it. Taking photos of the goods and writing descriptions if you sell online all take time too, which is why starting early is a good idea.
  • Make that phone call to book professional removalists early, making sure they have a truck large enough for your goods, insurance and a good reputation. Another phone call a week or two ahead just to confirm is also a good idea.
  • If you are renting your current home, you will need to start cleaning early in order to reduce stress and get your bond back. It is much easier to clean walls and cupboards well before moving day rather than leaving it all till the last minute. Don’t forget on top of the kitchen cupboards and in the groove of sliding windows and doors. That’s where the estate agents will look.
  • Pack all those things that you don’t need, such as books, decorations and pictures, out of season clothing, crafts/hobbies and some of the children’s toys. Getting these packed toys back after moving will delight the children and keep them out of your hair while you unpack.
  • Pull down the swing/slides/trampoline and pack them away a few weeks ahead of moving date, especially if your children don’t use them much.

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How is Scaffolding Designed-min

How is Scaffolding Designed?

Scaffolding is a temporary structure that allows workers such as painters access to a building enabling them to work on parts that would be out of reach without it. According to common building advice, many different kinds of buildings need scaffolding and it can also be needed for maintenance and cleaning a structure such as a clock tower or large statue that would otherwise be impossible to get to.

There are six main components in most scaffolding: –

  • Standards or uprights – upright posts that support the rest of the structure and transfer the load to the ground or a lower level. The legs stand on base plates that help to spread the load and give stability.
  • Ledgers – connect the standards together. They are fixed in a horizontal position and are often hollow tubing.
  • Transoms – are vertical posts similar to the standards, but shorter. They rest on the ledgers rather than reaching to the ground. The main transoms are fitted close to the standards and hold them in place. They also support the boards that are the deck on each level. The intermediate transoms provide additional support for the boards. Toe boards are used at the outside edge of the deck to prevent tools or materials being accidentally kicked off the deck. This helps to prevent injury to people working below
  • Fittings are as most people know, things such as bolts, nuts, screws and anything else that is used to attach pieces to each other and to the uprights.

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The Best Plants for a Balcony Garden

You take your love of gardening to a whole new level — to the balcony! A balcony garden could be simple or complex, depending on the type of plants and the garden style you choose. Since balconies have a different climate than natural ground soil, the plant choices may vary too from your backyard garden.

However, there are some aspects to keep in mind while planning for a balcony garden:

  • How large the space should be, has to be the fundamental question in your mind when planning planting in your balcony. The choice here has to be specific and has to be noted for the size of plants to choose from.
  • The sunlight your balcony gets every day (for how many hours) has to be noted. Approximations work sometimes, but if plants selected for your balcony garden are sensitive to the scorching heat of the sun, then it is better to have accurate estimates of the sun’s exposure.
  • How much time would you be able to give to your plants out of your busy schedule?
  • Water availability is also an important factor to keep in mind while selecting plants for your balcony garden.
  • The budget has to be the first consideration as further planning is dependent on it.

The windiness and overall temperature has to be monitored for some specific plants. Also, in case of growing edibles, more careful selection and processes would be involved.

The plants grown in your balcony garden are a part of house interior and need to be kept tidy and aesthetically appealing at all times. Following are 4 plants ideal for balcony gardens:

Boston Fern
Also known as the Boston sword fern, this plant grows like a shrub and is ideal for pots. For balcony garden, a dense plant like this makes for a tranquil green background for the more colorful smaller plants to be grown in the fore.

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Benefits of an Office Garden

Office gardens! That sounds green. Who said you need to wait for retirement to enjoy the gardening sessions and aesthetics plants offer? Offices can have gardens too, in the front yard or rooftop, depending on the space available!

As with the practices of corporate social responsibility, companies are increasingly going green inside the office premises too. Firms are realizing the advantages of converting some area of office space into natural space with greenery and beautifully designed landscaping that not only capture the attention of the visitors but also keeps the environment fresh and energetic. They’re often known as Corporate Gardens and are a growing trend nowadays regardless of what the organization has as a business offering.

There are numerous benefits of a garden in office space where employees have access, such as:

1. Teamwork and problem solving
The corporate gardens possess nature’s rejuvenating qualities that inculcate optimism in humans. The greenery allows the brains of employees to relax and focus better on the tasks at hand. Teamwork and problem solving skills are enhanced with healthy brain activity and engagement in gardening tasks in spare time. This allows them to focus on the pressing issues at work and fosters better problem solving.

2. Meditation
No time for yoga after work? Not an issue at all with your corporate garden. These gardens are naturally engaging and some amount of manageable exercise in these gardens help release endorphins that are the stress buster hormones. Meditation is an essential tool to relieve oneself of all the worries and ruminations, and provided a chance at the workplace, your employees are more likely to stick with your organization for long.

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water conservation in gardens

Water Conservation in the Garden

In dry times or when El Nino haunts our thoughts, we tend to save as much water as possible and one of the first things to do is stop watering the garden. Water restrictions usually come in whether we want them too or not and it is painful to see precious plants in the garden droop and die for want of a good soaking. Nevertheless, it is something that all gardeners in dry areas must come to terms with. Here are some ways to conserve water in the garden.

Irrigation

When you install a watering system, go for drip irrigation. This will deliver a small amount of water right to the base of the plant where it is needed, rather than spraying heaps across the whole garden, path, fence, driveway and the wall of the house. You can now get systems that can sense whether the garden even needs watering. DIY guide (Drip Irrigation)

Time of watering is also important. If you water in the morning, there are 8-10 hours of heat that will evaporate your efforts. Watering in the evening means the water will not evaporate to any great extent until the next day. That means your plant roots have all that time to soak it up, thus making the best use of the water you give them. Professional reticulation installers should be used at all times.

Two Kinds of Mulch

Choosing the right plants will reduce the need for water in the garden, but mulching will also help. Using mulch keeps the soil cooler and slows down evaporation. Straw, mushroom waste and sugarcane mulch are all good additions to the garden as they break down slowly and add fertiliser.  You don’t have to buy straw if you have a lawn that needs mowing on a regular basis. All you need to do is save the clippings – and the fallen leaves from trees and shrubs.

How to use Sugar Cane Mulch

However, you can also add the kind of mulch that does not break down and this, too, will help to conserve water in the garden. Pine chips or bark, or even pebbles in a smaller garden help to conserve water.

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Benefits of Installing a Proper Irrigation System

To keep your yard alive, you need to water it on a regular basis as rain water alone, will not be enough for the plants and grass in your garden. However, different plants require different amounts of water to remain healthy; therefore, you need to install a proper source for watering your plants that will make your yard greener, while being economical as well.

To aid them in this purpose, many people use irrigation systems to supply their yard with the water it needs, as frequently as is desired. If you want to make landscaping easier, you can also install such a system, regardless of the size of your yard, and additionally, hiring a professional for the job who will hire the equipment for the project which will make the process even more convenient.

Following are the benefits of installing an irrigation system in your yard.

Better Water Conservation

A study states that 70% of the water consumed by the household is for outdoor upkeep. However, irrigation systems will reduce the excess water usage and make your yard eco-friendly.

Many systems even come equipped with a sensor that can detect soil moisture and shut the system off, on its own, when the required level is met. These devices also have weather sensors which adjust the water setting according to the moisture level in the air, and give water to the plants only when necessary.

Greener Garden

When your plants consume the right amount of water daily, they grow healthier and look beautiful. It is better to spend on an irrigation system than being dependent on a gardener for your yard’s upkeep. Also, since your plants look amazing, any potential buyer will notice your yard, and eventually, the value and demand of your home in the market will increase.

Is Not Time Consuming

A lot of people opt for an irrigation system, mostly because they feel that watering their plants is just another household chore, which takes up a lot of their time. Irrigation systems, however, will save this time, which you can utilize more productively for other tasks.

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Door frame cross section

Premium Security Doors vs. Old Style Grille Doors

These days more than ever, security doors are essential to keep our homes and loved ones safe. Since most thieves try to enter by the door first and foremost, this is the most important place to ensure security. This is usually accomplished by adding a screen security door, but are these as strong as they look? Unfortunately, many of the old style grille doors are not and here is why.

Main Points of Weakness

There are three main points of weakness in a security door; the place where the mesh joins the framed edge, the screws that hold it all together and the hinges. Even though the lock may be strong, if the hinges are weak anyone can easily remove the door on that side to enter the home. In addition, in some of the older style doors the actual mesh could be cut rather easily, so they don’t really do a good job of providing security at all.

The Kick Test

Many of the old style security doors used wedges to join the mesh to the frame. One good kick and these will pop out, allowing the mesh to be easily removed. Premium security doors have screws instead of wedges. The screws go right through the mesh into the other side of the frame, making it kick-resistant. The screws are specially made to fit the mesh and clamp it into place, deep within the frame.  No amount of kicking or pulling will remove the mesh from the frame using this kind of technology. In fact, such doors meet or exceed all the Australian Standards that are now in place for security doors.

Mesh Strength

The strength of the mesh is another important factor in providing good security. Old style doors had mesh that could actually be cut with a sharp knife. Premium doors use new technology to make mesh that can withstand such objects. In addition, they have the horizontal mesh – that takes the most punishment in an attack – over 26% thicker than the old style mesh. And because it  is tensile stainless steel mesh, it is not going to rust out like the mesh in many of the older style doors did. It passes the Shear Test, the Knife Test and the Pull Test to mention just a few. You can be sure that any burglar is likely to give up in despair before ever getting into your home when you install premium security doors.

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Benefits of Installing Elevators

With increasing floors being built in commercial buildings, such as shopping malls, hospitals, or offices; installing elevators has become a prerequisite. However, elevators used for commercial projects often differ from those installed in residential structures. This is because when it comes to commercial buildings, different types of elevators can be installed for different functions.

Since the elevators installed in commercial areas are for the use of the general public, there are also some laws that state the requirements for their proper installation. Hence, any incidents concerning a commercial elevator may lead to a lawsuit against your company. Therefore, it is necessary to meet all the requirements to the letter.

Below mention are some benefits of installing commercial elevators in your official building.

Better Mobility
Hydraulic or electrical elevators are commonly used in commercial buildings as they are better equipped for high speeds and lifting heavier weights. These types can carry up to six thousand pounds of weight. Furthermore, the hydraulic elevator can carry loads at the rate of 200 feet per minute; whereas electric elevators can move with the speed of 500 feet per minute.

Aside from offices, elevators are also quite useful in hospitals; not just for people with physical conditions that do not permit them to use the stairs, but also for moving patients on stretchers to different floors in a lesser amount of time. People on wheelchairs can also commute easily on such elevators as they are usually designed with wider doors and have space and weight capacity for a larger number of people.

Easy to Set Up and Maintain
Setting up and maintaining commercial elevators, is far easier than you think! Even if you did not leave any space for installing an elevator within your architectural design; you can install small commercial elevators whenever the need arises. Different types of commercial elevators such as; porch lifts and LULA (Limited Use Limited Application) are also widely used at workplaces. These are cheaper as well as easy to accommodate in small spaces without needing any changes in the building structure.

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home elevators

4 Advantages of Installing a Home Lift

Many people these days enjoy living in a two or even three storey home. They have more room and can enjoy the view and the upper breezes. But one thing they may not enjoy so much is going up those stairs, especially when they are feeling tired. Home lifts are the obvious choice for homes with staircases.

There are many advantages of installing a home lift; here are 4 of them.

  1. Save carrying heavy weights upstairs – a home lift is a quick and easy way to access the upper storey/s of your home when you have heavy loads to carry up. Groceries, luggage, furniture and home accessories are all too heavy to cart up stairs. Furniture is often too large and awkward to get around the narrow stairs, especially if there is a landing and bend in the middle.
  2. Ease of use – lifts are much easier for older people to use. Anyone with arthritis or other health problems that make them weak will appreciate having a lift instead of using the stairs. Children can learn to use a lift at an early age and it can save them falling on the steps. Using a lift is quieter than those rattling footsteps on stairs that are not carpeted.
  3. Easier to clean – vacuuming stairs is difficult at the best of times, and they seem to get dirty more often than the floor due to the concentration of traffic on them. A lift can be vacuumed in a few minutes compared to the stairs and it takes much less effort.
  4. Safety – it is much safer to use a lift than to use stairs, no matter whether you are young old, strong or weak. There is always the possibility of falling when coming down or even going up a staircase. In a lift, there is no likelihood of falling. You can even have a chair to sit on in the lift if you want to. When you are carrying a baby in your arms, or are pregnant, it is much safer to use a lift than to go up or down stairs.

Having a lift will enable you to stay in your home even when you  become frail with age. It will increase the value of your home and make it suitable for a wider demographic should you decide to sell for any reason. Thus, the house is likely to sell more quickly so you can get on with the rest of your life.  Once you have a lift installed you will not be able to believe the difference it makes in your life, being more convenient and pleasant to access those upper reaches.

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3 Best Types of Security Fencing

Many commercial or industrial properties need to have secure fencing to keep intruders or vandals out. Some need to also keep animals out or in. The kind of security fencing chosen usually depends on the needs of the company, but other factors sometimes have to be taken into consideration. Climate, position and the type of ground – steep or flat – are all important aspects of choosing fencing to secure your site.

Having the right kind of fencing in place will give you peace of mind and reduce the costs of repairing damage. It can even avoid litigation if someone wanders onto your site and is hurt. Even though they were not supposed to be there, they can still sue the company if they get hurt.

Here are three of the best types of security fencing.

Chain link or mesh fencing. While you may think that chain link gaps can provide a toehold, the top being curved makes it very difficult for any athletic intruder to actually complete the climb in. Chain mesh fencing can be of various heights to suit your needs and the gaps can also be larger or smaller. There can be a single or double curved top with barbed wire along it to discourage climbers. It can also have a cement footing so no one can dig under it. It can be used for mining sites, sporting fields or community pools and many other applications due to its versatility. It is also a cost effective option for low security areas.

A higher level of security can be gained by using Garrison fencing. Tubular steel posts are attached to horizontal steel rails between steel posts that are cemented into the ground. Again, this type of fencing can be higher or lower, but the higher option offers better protection. It is often found around commercial properties, sporting fields, government facilities and schools. It can be finished with powder-coating – often chosen where it is important for the fence to look attractive.

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8 Tips for Economically Renovated Kitchens

Hiring a professional for kitchen renovation typically leads to one having to stretch their budget, but did the kitchen need a new look at all in the first place?

Kitchens do not need to be broken down into pieces to form a new one when you’re not investing that much capital in them. Going economical asks for ideas to renovate the most important part of the house with relative ease.  Be your own designer of your kitchen renovation and revamp the look of your kitchen to give it a boost of energy and you more enthusiasm to chop on.

1. Clean it All
You don’t need a kitchen designer to do that anyway. Grab the right tools and start sweeping the floor and cleaning the entire kitchen, the first and foremost step in kitchen renovation.  It requires only a few tools and surface cleaners to give a fresh look to your kitchen. Dust off the ceiling fans and exhaust fan, remove grease if any. Cabinet interior and exterior could be wiped for a clean look inside out. Scrubbing floors and hidden corners makes your kitchen shine out in the end combined with other efforts. It’s better to dismantle light fixtures and give them a fresh look if they’re intact and there isn’t a dire need to change them.

2. Paint Around
Play with colors in your kitchen. If the walls need a fresh coat of paint and the cabinets are just shabby looking from outside, they could be renovated with a fresh paint and some bright colors to light up the place. The colors should be in contrast with the woodwork and the size of kitchen with other considerations.

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Blinds and Shades for Homes

The work space needs ample lightening, and so does your home, but in order to moderate the searing sunlight and create an aesthetically pleasing ambiance for your office or home interiors, blinds are a great option to go for. A wide range of options is available to beautify your humble abode or sophisticated workplace; blinds are also a great option for home based offices as they differentiate the ambiance from that of a house. Pleated sheets, while being the widely used style of sheets used in offices and houses, have other competitors too.

1. Wooden Blinds

Wood works never go out of fashion, not even in blinds for your home or workplace. There is a wide variety of styles when it comes to wooden blinds, from maple to bamboo and more, depending on the produce and prices in area. The wooden blinds look amazing if the furniture is traditional in style and flooring is wooden too and surprisingly it doesn’t look like ‘nauseatingly woody’.  The workplace looks rather elegant and warm with wooden blinds and gives a classy look to the entire ambience with rich wooden office furniture.

2. Sheer Blinds
To hide or not to hide! This style of blinds is a horizontal design with sheer cloth that does not block the entire view but creates a translucent version of it. These shades are good for the areas where the light is needed but privacy has to be kept in mind too, such as bathrooms and kitchens. In case of internal glass partitions in offices, these sheer blinds work well too.

3. Vertical Blinds
The vertical blinds are often seen hung on patio doors but are not limited there. This is one of the most common styles of blinds for home and offices as this allows necessary sunlight to sift through. Also, the vertical blinds are easy to manage as they don’t tangle and very easy to clean frequently.

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How to Take the Heavy Work Out of Landscaping

There is no question about it; landscaping is hard work. Not only is there a great deal of digging to do when you first start to put in those new garden beds, but the upkeep requires constant attention. However, it is getting everything started that is the hardest, especially if you have to flatten areas of ground or install plants that are fully grown. However, you don’t have to have mighty muscles to be a landscaper if you hire equipment to do all that heavy lifting and digging. You can simply use the machine to do all the heavy work and it will be done faster and more professionally than you could ever do it by hand.

Hire a Dingo

Dingos are highly manoeuvrable small machines that are ideal for many applications because of the variety of attachments that are available. If you need to dig trenches, dig a hole for a full sized palm tree or simply move loads of earth from one place to another, the dingo is the machine for you. They are also good for working on construction sites or in areas that are considered dangerous. Some types can even be operated remotely, meaning you don’t have to get close to any source of danger.

Their manoeuvrability means that they can work in areas or situations that other larger or less manoeuvrable machines could not. If you need a hole dug or some soil moved in a suburban property the dingo is the machine for the job. They can usually fit into and work in smaller spaces.

Bobcat Hire

The bobcat is the next in size to the dingo and is different in that it operates with tracks rather than wheels. This has the advantage of spreading the weight out over a larger area of ground so there is less damage, an advantage in many landscaping situations. And if the ground is very wet, they are not so likely to get bogged.

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How to Keep Your Pool Kid Friendly

Having a pool at home for the kids to play and swim in is a great idea. It gets them out of the house and keeps them active in the fresh air, instead of lolling on the sofa with their heads in the latest electronic game.  However, it is essential to keep your pool kid friendly so that they don’t suffer any ill-effects from using it.

Safety First
Learn how to resuscitate a child who has drowned and teach your older children how to do it too. It could well save a life. Drill into children safety measures like not running or pushing on the hard surface, and playing safely in the water. Teach them – or have them taught – how to swim and show them how to save someone who is in trouble in the water. This can be as simple as throwing them the end of a towel and towing them to the side. Once you have put these safety measures into place, you will have peace of mind that your pool is kid friendly.

Pool Safe Educational Video

Sunburn
We all know by now that long exposure to the hot sun can cause cancer. That said, it is also healthy for children to have some exposure as this is how the body makes vitamin D.  But if your kids are water babies, they risk getting painfully sunburned, especially in mid-summer. That is why it is a good idea to erect a shade sail over the pool. At least half their time will be spent under the sail, thus reducing the likelihood of getting burned. Teaching them to apply sunscreen is also important.

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5 Reasons Why You Need an Outdoor Entertainment Area in Your House

When you’re looking for fun, you often head off to a variety of different places. However, what if you could get all the entertainment options that you need, right within your home?

Imagine the amount of money you will save and the number of parties you could throw, and that too, at your own home! It doesn’t matter how old you are, anyone can take advantage of a designated entertainment area within the house. Following are the 5 reasons why you must have an outdoor entertainment area in your home.

1. Visual Appeal
Adding a deck, patio, or a gazebo to your home will enhance the outer beauty of your house and built up an alluring ambiance, which will make your property standout from the rest. You will also feel a sense of pride and happiness by being at home.

2. Family Gatherings
With a separate space for parties, you can easily hangout with your family and connect while having fun at home. By setting up a heater or an air-conditioner, you will also get the chance to enjoy yourself in all kinds of weather indoors.

Moreover, while making changes to the home, if you add swings and slides in your own yard, your kids and their friends can enjoy themselves within the comforts of home. That way, you’ll be able to keep an eye out for them as well.

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Fencing That Is Best For Residential Areas

A fence is not only used to create borders around your property to separate it from the neighboring plot. Rather, it is also ideal for maintaining the security privacy of your home. It also beautifies the exterior of the place and makes it look different from the rest of the structures built in the locality.

There are different types of fencing used for residential and commercial purposes, depending on the requirement of your property. For most people, security is an essential factor that contributes to the buying and building decisions with regard to fencing and they either opt for a house with a pre-installed fence or install one, themselves.

When deciding on the type of fences you need for your residence, you can choose from the following options:

Aluminum Fence
Many households commonly use aluminum fencing. However, it only enhances the exterior of the house and gives it a definite boundary. It is not beneficial if you want to enhance the security of your home. On the plus side, the only maintenance it requires is during the process of installation which includes, painting and decoration, but other than that, it is hassle free.

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Great Ideas for Lawn Design

A great lawn rarely happens by chance. It is the product of careful planning, choosing the right lawn grass, having good soil underneath, careful mowing to the right height, fertilising and of course, watering at the right times. Many Australian lawns don’t get this kind of care and it is not long before they develop bare patches which Mother Nature soon fills in with weeds – often prickly ones.

Good Reticulation Saves Water
As property sizes decrease, lawn sizes shrink with them, but that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your grass. It simply means it is easier to take care of and you will have time to play golf. Another way to have plenty of time for golf is to install an automatic watering system. The correct system for your lawn will not only transform it into a verdant carpet the kids will loving playing on; it will save water.

Modern technology has caught up with things like pumps and sensors, so you can have an automatic reticulation system hidden away under that green carpet and know that it will not automatically water your lawn even though it has recently rained.  Sensors will switch it off even if it is just about to rain.  And you can add specially shaped nozzles that will avoid watering your driveway or the neighbour’s yard.

The Importance of Mowing Techniques
Mowing techniques are important too, to keep your lawn looking good. If you allow it to get too long and then mow it short on a very hot day, there will be numerous brown patches – sunburn due to the soft stems being exposed. Sometimes this will even kill large patches of grass. On the other hand, if you mow constantly at near ground level, the grass will become weaker and soon there will be weeds growing through it.

Mowing regularly about 40mm from the ground will allow your grass to grow those leaf blades that are soft and green, yet strong enough provide a good ground cover that will keep out weeds and shade the soil. It is also important to keep the mower blades really sharp, otherwise the grass will go white in patches due to tearing damage.

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colorbond fencing

Choosing a Fence to Suit Your Home

Choosing a fence to suit your home is not difficult; it just requires a little forethought to ensure  you get the best kind of fence for your needs. And of course, you have to make sure it is of the type that has council approval. Once that is settled you can go ahead and choose from the options that will suit you and your lifestyle. Here are some things to think about to guide you in choosing the best fence for your needs.

Keep Children In and Intruders Out
What is your reason for getting a fence? Is it to keep pets or children in, or to keep intruders out – or both? Many people do not feel the need to keep other people out with their fence; they rely on their security door to do that. However, if you have little children you will need to keep them contained so they don’t wander away. Having a fence you can trust to keep them in will allow them to play outside without you having to watch them every minute – at least, once they get old enough not to fall over.

A fence to keep children safe may also need to be one that keeps intruders out, especially if your home fronts a busy street. It may need to be one that an adult cannot climb over. However, if you feel that would be unattractive, consider having two kinds of fence; one for the backyard where the children will play and one for the front that will look more attractive.

Does it Suit Your Home Design?
Certain homes suit certain types of fencing. A picket fence done with timber palings and painted white will suit Federation style homes and many other older styles of homes. You can also have a picket style fence done with steel posts that have fancy tops that make it difficult or impossible for anyone to climb over. More modern homes will look fine with Colorbond fencing or even steel mesh.

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security options

Should I Invest in Security Doors or Home Alarm – or Both?

In a day when security is essential for the home you may be wondering what kind will give you the peace of mind you need. Many people have more than one type of security, so should you have both security doors and a home alarm installed by an alarm company or a simple solution installed by a handyman or just one? If so, which one?

To decide, you need to think like a burglar. Suppose you were on the point of robbing a home. What would put you off more; a door that was difficult to get open or a shrieking alarm?

Burglars have more than one entry point to a home. If they cannot get in the door, they are likely to try the window. They may even smash down the wall with a stolen vehicle. But once that alarm goes off – an alarm that everyone can hear, they would be out of there as fast as they could go. Even if the alarm system was only heard by the police or security company, the burglar would realise that someone would soon be coming to check up on the property. Or that the people inside would quickly be aroused from sleep.

However, some homes are robbed or vandalised by the opportunistic thief. This is a person who robs on impulse as the opportunity arrives.  They may knock on a door and if they find no answer proceed to break and enter. But if the doors are the premium security type they will go away disappointed because they feel going through window is too difficult or too visible. Of course, if an alarm blared out as they smashed their way in they would run, too.

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Kitchen Design

Why the Kitchen Is The Best Room In The House

Which is your favourite room? Many people would think that the home theatre, living room or bedroom is their favourite room in the house, but in actual fact the kitchen should get a spot up there on the favourite list.  When you think of it, without a kitchen, a home is really not a home at all. This is because we need food and if we have to go out and get it all the time we won’t be home very often.

The kitchen provides food for the family, but it does even more than that. Food sustains us, but it also brings the family unit together for something that is essential but also pleasurable. Most people like eating especially when they are hungry, but when food is cooking in the kitchen the tantalising aromas draw the whole family together in anticipation.

With the help of expert cabinet makers, the fully functioning kitchen that is designed well, the kitchen springs nourishing food to keep the family healthy, birthday cakes that may be unhealthy but are still an integral part of family life and our culture, food and drinks for snacks and so on. All these things are an essential part of life and our lifestyle, and encourage families to get together for social interaction.  When Mum – or Dad – is in the kitchen cooking, the rest of the family know where to find them and often join them to talk about matters that trouble them, or get help with homework and talk about their day in general.

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Plants that Suit Balconies

The balcony is a place where you can sit and relax after a hard day’s work. Having a few plants growing in pots on the balcony will enhance the look of the space and increase your enjoyment of it. However, it is essential to take note of just what the weather conditions are like.

High balconies are often cool, windy places; others may be exposed to hot sun all day long, while still others may be on the shady side of the building and not get much sun at all. Then there are those that have shade for most of the day, but when in sun it is scorching hot. If your balcony is like that, choose shade-lovers and use a screen to shelter them from the sun.

Most plants need a certain amount of sun to grow successfully, but if you have a shady balcony you can still grow shade-loving plants such as ferns. To get colour, use plants that have colourful foliage like coleus and begonia. So what plants are hardy enough to withstand the vagaries of wind and weather on a balcony?

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Tips for Creating the Best Garden

As you sow, so shall you reap — so sow well to reap the benefits beautifully. A home garden is a dream for many, and being given a chance to design and develop your own is a bounty in itself. In the multitude of plants and beautiful landscape, your house would look like a tiny village with lush green meadows surrounding its edges.  Careful planning and projection of different needs is an integral part of creating for yourself an amazing garden, which ensures healthy growth of plants beautifying your garden.

Make a Plan
Outline a plan on paper or different software. If you have played Farmville, you know what that looks like. According to the covered area of the garden, the sections are to be divided to each plant row and the kinds of shrubs and different organic elements are all to be sketched first. It’s easier switching to a different plan if one doesn’t work rather than doing all the hard work another time.  Keeping all aspects in mind, you can plan out the location and design for your garden, type of landscape you’d like to have, which area is dedicated to make a pathway, which one is for vegetables, and much more needs to be planned for in order to maximize effectiveness.

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Great Ideas for Balcony Gardens Design

People who live in apartment complexes with no access to a backyard appreciate their balconies as a place to relax and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. And naturally, they also like to grow some kind of greenery on the balcony – it seems to be an inbuilt need for most people to have something to do with living plants and earth. Many balconies are ideal for growing plants on. Even those that don’t get much sun can be used to grow shade-loving plants.

However, a balcony is a tiny place and care must be taken when creating a garden with pot plants, otherwise it will risk looking crowded or piecemeal instead of attractive. In fact, it is easy to overcrowd such a small space and then you don’t feel comfortable sitting there – if you can even fit your easy chair in.

Here are some ideas to help you with your balcony garden design.

  • Use lightweight pots. Not only will it be easier to move them around, it will reduce the overall weight on the balcony. It’s a good idea to check what weight the balcony can bear as pots filled with moist potting mix and plants can be heavier than you may think.

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Recycled Materials for Landscaping

How to Make Use of Recycled Materials for Landscaping

Landscaping, adds to the outer appeal of your house. However, a lot of people do not like making expensive investments on their house’s exterior after having spent a large sum on a new house.

Luckily, there are many options available for people who want to indulge in landscaping or green living without excessive costs. One of these methods is the use of recycled materials for landscaping without compromising on the exterior of the house. Recycling is also a way to reduce waste, so in a way, you are not only saving your money, but also reducing the waste you produce.

You can achieve a striking garden by utilizing even the simplest of recyclable material. These materials are of three different kinds, which include; salvaged items, garden refuse, and recycled content. Below are a few of the items that are recycled for landscaping purposes.

Broken Dishware
We all have broken a dish or two occasionally, and then have thrown them away no matter how beautiful they were, but now, you can use them in your recycled landscaping project. The broken pieces of dishware can be used as little decorative pieces. You can shape them in any texture you like and paint them with the color of your choice.

Carpet
To create a new garden, cover it with any old carpet for some weeks and you will notice corrosion of the grass under the carpet, which will ease the digging process. You can also create lanes with the help of a woven carpet and then add stones over it.

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Dream Kitchen with Spacious Cabinets

Planning to splurge on a wonderfully glamorous kitchen? Why not go for cabinets even bigger in size? The total kitchen space available is the first and fundamental aspect to keep in consideration. Adding style and lighting up the most important area of the house is easy with conventional techniques, but cabinets bigger than usual could be considered for many reasons too. They could keep all your stuff sorted and give an air of neatness especially in houses with young kids. Spacious cabinets come with various benefits, such as:

More Room for Crockery and Utensils
Naturally, the more spacious the cabinets are, the more there is room for crockery and cooking utensils. With more storage space, you’ll be able to organize the kitchen equipment and everything else in this particular area of the house better. Snacks and other edible items can also be stored in kitchen cabinets along with cooking items. You could even completely skip the food pantry if you have big airy cabinets in your kitchen providing enough room for food items’ storage.

Tidy Space
A tidied space is what a neat freak dreams of, or anyone, actually. If the kitchen cabinets are spacious, they naturally have more room for storage, and that leaves the counter-tops tidy most of the time. These spacious cabinets can also be used for keeping dustbins in one of them and cleaning solutions under the sink; no more having to have these items on display.

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Pros and Cons of Sliding Windows

There are many different styles of windows, but one of the latest is the sliding window. Not that it is exactly new, but many years ago it was not an option at all, as timber was the main building material for windows and was used for holding window glass in the various styles that were available.

Sliding windows depend on aluminium for the tracks to slide them along; if it was timber the material would wear quickly or warp in the weather and make sliding them open or shut impossible. If you are wondering what kind of windows are best for your new home, here are some pros and cons of sliding windows. Note, these are sliding windows with aluminium surrounds.

Pros

  • With sliding windows you can have a much larger window space. This allows more light into the house and more cool breezes when the day is hot. You can also enjoy a wider vista if you have a nice view to admire. This would not be possible with other kinds of windows due to the weight of the glass, but with sliding windows the weight is supported by the aluminium slot – and the building material underneath it.
  • Sliding windows are easy to open and shut as you don’t have to push them up, just slide them along.
  • You can get almost any size window in this style; large, small, wide, high.
  • The locks on the windows are simple to work and secure.
  • They are easy to clean.
  • No maintenance, such as painting, is required for the part surrounding the glass.
  • The aluminium does not warp, so they never stick.
  • They take up no more space than the wall, unlike awning or hopper windows that protrude on the outside.
  • They are cost effective, being cheaper than some other styles.

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chainmesh fencing

4 Different Types of Home Fencing

Fencing is an important part of any home, not only to keep people out, but to keep them safely in, especially children – and pets. It serves to define the space that is yours and can add a great deal to the look of your home when the right kind is chosen.

There are many different kinds of fences that can be used, but before you make a decision, it is wise to find out just what your council will allow as there may be restrictions in some areas.

Here are 4 different kinds of fencing, along with the pros and cons of each.

  • Steel or Colorbond fencing. This is the choice of many homeowners these days because it offers privacy. This is especially so where homes are close together; you don’t want everything you do and say to be open to the neighbours.  It offers the best privacy – but  at the cost of a view. It can be a good windbreak for delicate flowers in the garden and also creates a small amount of shade; important in hot areas. Colorbond comes in several different colours and does not need to be painted. It is durable and strong and may even keep your dog from barking at the neighbour.

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How to Secure the Value of your House through a Beautiful Yard

A yard is often the most undervalued part of the house, but it shouldn’t be. This is because it can make the difference between an ordinary and extraordinary home. It is the first thing that a visitor sees, and it makes an impression on them with regard to the upkeep of the interior.

Hence, spending money to make the yard look appealing will never be a waste, especially when you decide to sell your house later on. The beautiful yard will, in fact, increase the value of your residence and attract potential buyers easily.

According to a research, a garden increases the value of your house up to 20%, so it is necessary to keep your garden groomed if you want to get the right price for your home. Following are the ways you can use to beautify your house and increase its worth.

Irrigation System
Maintaining the garden and watering it every day is time consuming. In order to make the task easier and simpler, reticulation should be installed in the garden. This will help in watering the grass and plants through pipes to boost their healthy growth. The only effort you will then have to make is turning the tap on and off, and the rest of the work will be done automatically through water flowing from the pipe line. This will keep your yard looking greener than ever before.

Colourful Decorations
If you want people to notice your yard, it needs to stand out. For that purpose, add colours to the garden, not just by planting colourful flowers and different kinds of plants, but by installing and painting the fence as well. To make it look more alluring, add decorative pieces such as lanterns and other interesting objects. A lot people also invest in fountains to make their yard look amazing. Fixtures like waterfalls and fountains really boost the atmosphere of the exterior and create a positive impression on potential buyers.

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The Latest in Pools

These days so many homes have pools, not just for the look of things, although that is often a factor. But pools actually keep the children at home having fun where they are safe and can more easily be supervised by a parent, rather than at the beach where they can sometimes get lost in the crowd. And there are no stinging jellyfish in your home pool.

The Shape of Things to Come
These days’ pools don’t have to be rectangular. It is the latest trend to have your pool customised to suit your block of land and your home. They can be any kind of shape and size from a square to a triangle or an octagon. And they don’t have to be down in the backyard any more. In fact, it is better for the pool to be closer to the home so that you can keep an eye on the kids more easily. Being able to dive in from the deck is brilliant, but you still need to have that safety fence, especially if the children are toddlers. In fact, most councils have strict regulations concerning pool fencing and gates.

The Latest in Pool Fences
So when thinking of the latest in pools, we also have to think about the latest in pool fencing and this is cool because clear glass panels are amazing. They allow the pool to be safely enclosed while still maintaining visibility. You can see right through the glass panels even if you are on an angle to the fence. With most other kinds of fencing there is always that blind spot that means you can’t always see what the kids are up to. Having a glass pool fence is like having a glass shower stall. Because the glass is transparent it makes the room look larger. So your backyard will not appear to be cut in two, or appear smaller than it is.

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