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Create An Oasis For Warm Weather Entertaining

June 1, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment
Wood pergola on brick patio

Backyard patio with fireplace and pergola

(ARA) – The warmer months provide numerous opportunities for hosting outdoor events: birthday parties, Father’s Day barbecues, graduation celebrations, backyard campouts, weddings or a gathering for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July – the list is endless. 

Even when just hosting a fun neighborhood picnic or ice cream social, it’s important to get the outdoor living space looking its best for the big day.

The key is planning ahead so the landscaping, patios and porches are ready for any backyard bash – then just a few quick touches will create the party atmosphere. Here are some easy tips you can use on your grass, gardens, balconies and patios this summer to help get them ready for entertaining:

  •  Pruning – Dead branches on trees and bushes can be removed at any time of year. Early in the season, take some time to remove any dead materials, which will not only enhance the look of your landscaping, but also give trees and bushes a chance to grow and fill in around the removed branches. Be careful, and do not prune branches on flowering shrubs. 
  • Planting – Visit a local greenhouse or nursery and select several colorful flower varieties. Many annual flowering plants like pansies, marigolds and impatiens require minimal care and add a beautiful pop of color to the scenery. Outline the fence of an outdoor space with flowerbeds or try hanging flowering boxes off the side of fences and rails. Adorn the porch or walkway with pots overflowing with color. Even if the only outdoor area is a stoop, balcony or patio, think of the area as a mini-entertainment space: Try adding hanging baskets, table top gardens or grouping a few containers together to create mini gardens in a sunny corner. Don’t forget – all plants need to be fed to thrive. Make feeding part of the routine by using Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed. Attach the LiquaFeed Feeder to your garden hose, insert the refill bottle, and spray to instantly feed while you water. Feed every seven to 14 days. This will ensure plants stay looking their best all season long.
  • Mulching – For a nice, finished look, layer your flowerbeds and container gardens with Nature Scapes Advanced Mulch. A 3-inch layer naturally prevents weeds by blocking growth and access to sunlight. Nature Scapes also has a one-year color guarantee, helps prevent water run-off and channels the water evenly to the roots of the plants. Mulch can save time and energy by preventing weeds from growing in your flowerbeds.
  • Feed the grass - No matter how beautiful your trees, bushes and flowerbeds are, if your grass isn’t thick, green and comfortable for bare feet, your outdoor space could use a touch more help. Feed your lawn with Scotts Green Max Lawn Fertilizer which combines iron with fertilizer to give your grass good nutrients and greening power. And it’s guaranteed to not burn your lawn. Apply a couple of weeks early to ensure you have the perfect grass suitable for bare feet dashing through a sprinkler at a birthday party or for a blanket picnic on Fourth of July weekend.
  • Furniture – As you’re planning your party, determine what kind of backyard furniture you may need for your guests. Do you have enough patio and lawn furniture, or will you need to rent chairs? You can also ask your neighbors or friends if they have decorative deck benches you can borrow and mix into your flowerbeds to keep the beauty of your landscaping intact for the party. Your old furniture can be refreshed and repurposed too. A nice coat of paint can perk up the old and make it feel new again. New pillows can add a splash of color to the party scene while increasing the comfort level as well.
  • Light the way - Never underestimate outdoor lighting. No need to spend a lot of money to achieve a well-lit entertaining space either. A great party atmosphere can be easily accomplished by the use of a few candles in jars placed on the tables, some decorative solar lights staked into flower pots or a string of twinkle lights woven into the branches of trees. Lighting sets the mood and can accent your beautiful lawn, garden or balcony with minimal effort creating a memorable experience for guests.

With just a little effort, you can have the backyard your friends and neighbors envy, and your parties will be relished for many years to come. 

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Gardening, How To

How To Restain Outdoor Wood Furniture (Video)

May 23, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

Rain, sun wind and the occasional deck party will wear out your wood deck and patio furniture. Even if it is made out of cedar you will eventually need to resurface and restain it. This last weekend I restained my cedar table and bench. I recorded a video of the steps and also included a list of the steps below.

Steps To Resurface and Restain Your Outdoor Wood Furniture

  1. Power wash your wood furniture to remove dirt, grit and existing stain. Don’t power wash it to hard or you can remove the actual wood
  2. Once it is dry you can do a light sanding. This will remove and remaining dirt and grit and provide a smooth finish. I prefer to use 100 medium grit sand paper
  3. Remove the dust using a tack cloth or damp cloth
  4. Once it is dry you can brush or role on the stain. I like to use Sikkens Cetol 1.
  5. Let it dry and you are done.

If you have any questions on this project or can add a tip or two on your own experience, please leave a comment below.

Filed Under: Blog, How To, Videos

Tips For Buying The Right Grill

May 9, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment
Black barbecue grill

This barbecue grill has everything you need

(ARA) – Firing up the grill has become synonymous with welcoming the summer, and let’s be honest, we usually don’t wait until summer to embark on the outdoor cooking season.

When you decide it’s time to break out the grill, you want to find the best way to cook your burgers or bratwursts. But with all the options out there for outdoor cooking, how do you know what’s the optimal solution for your open-air culinary needs?

“The grill you choose should be versatile, so it meets all your cooking needs,” says Leslie Segrete, home expert and former designer on “Trading Spaces” and “While You Were Out.” There are so many styles and models available these days that you’re sure to find something that will make your weekend meals – and even weekday dinners – everyday special.’”

Here Segrete cooks up some tips to help everyone find their perfect grill.

1. Think about the size of your space.
It’s an obvious factor in purchasing a grill, and should be a primary consideration. If you have a small deck or backyard, it would not only be inconvenient to bring home a massive grill – it could be dangerous. On the other hand, if you have plenty of space, it would be a shame to buy a grill with a cooking capacity of two burgers when you would prefer 40.

2. Consider how you are going to use the grill.
For those who love the smokiness and real outdoorsy feel of cooking with charcoal, there are multiple models from which to choose. If convenience and ease of use are your primary goals, then a gas grill will surely be your best bet. And for those who want the best of both worlds, there are combo grills, which are becoming more popular and are like two grills for the price of one.

For example, if you are making mesquite-rubbed ribs, you can contain the woodsy smoke on the charcoal side and make lamb kebabs or roasted corn on the cob at the same time with the gas section. Or, if you host large barbecues and like to entertain, think about getting a grill with a large cooking surface and multiple burners.

3. Don’t forget added features.
An invaluable feature to consider is a side burner. Side burners are great because they turn your backyard into a variable kitchen. Rather than running back and forth from kitchen to grill and risk burning your food, you can use the side burners like a regular stovetop.

They are ideal for preparing side dishes, from simple options like baked beans or boiled potatoes to more gourmet options like sesame soy green beans or pesto pasta salad. You can also keep side dishes warm on very low heat. If you want ultimate versatility, look for a grill with a steamer for quick and convenient preparation of a whole garden full of fresh veggies.

4. Think beyond black or stainless steel.
Many department stores, like Sears for example, have unique options in colors like copper and red, which can add a brilliant splash of color to your outdoor space. And red and orange tones are spot-on for summer’s hottest hues.

5. Don’t forget the accessories.
You don’t have to spend a ton of money at fancy cooking stores to get the accessories you need. Stores like Sears carry everything from cedar grilling planks and pizza stones to great quality grilling tools fit for any chef.

If you use these tips, you’re sure to find just the right grill so that when you “fire it up” you’ll have everything you need to prepare whole party menus, full family dinners or just a light snack for two.

Filed Under: Blog, Entertaining, How To

Replace Your Old Wood Deck With A Decking Composite Material (Video)

May 4, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

A natural wood deck looks great. But if you live in an area that gets lots of rain and you do not have time to maintain it, you should consider an alternative material. One of the most talked about alternatives is is a composite decking material.

Composite decking is becoming very popular and there are a lot of different products available. Before you purchase something, I recommend you talk to your builder and visit a few building centers to see what is available.

Your builder will have his favorite material and he will be able to give you lots of information on that product. He should also be able to give you references for projects he has worked on. 

Your local building centers should also carry composite material and they might even have a demonstration area where you can see the different products installed. This can be very helpful as you decide what material you want to install. They can also provide good information on the products they carry.

Removing The Old Wood Deck Boards

Once you’ve decided on the building material you will need to remove your old deck and get started on your new deck. If the wood decking is screwed in and in good shape you should be able to remove the screws and then pull up the boards.

If the boards are nailed in and hard to remove you will want to purchase or rent a deckboard removal tool. This tool can really reduce the time it takes to remove your old deck and make a tough job fun. The video at the bottom of this article shows the deckboard removal tool in action. 

Installing The New Decking Composite Material

As you remove your old boards you will be able to determine the integrity of the wood joist and beams. If the wood is looking rotten or unsafe you will want to replace them before you put down your new deck. But hopefully it is fine and you can start putting down your new boards.

One nice thing about the composite boards is that they are the same width as standard wood decking and you can easily replace the composite boards. You can screw the boards into the decking but a better option is to use under deck fasting system. I like this kind of system because it is easy to install and there are no screws to pop up or be seen

  

Filed Under: Blog, Decks, How To, Tools, Videos
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