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A gazebo makes great architecture in your garden. Not only will it be able to provide you some shade, but you can use the area to entertain guests, a place for a wedding ceremony, as a stage, and more. The functions of a gazebo are limitless. They are also very beautiful to look at. There are many types of gazebos; and sometimes our excitement to have one in order to complete the look of our garden or yard can easily confuse us in our decision making. As homeowners, we want to make the best choice. Read this article if you want to learn basic steps in choosing a gazebo that is right for you and your garden.

Step 1. Identify the area in your yard where you want to place the gazebo. Think about the surroundings and the ground. Are you putting it on rocky ground or in soil? The answer to this will determine what kind of materials you want your gazebo made out of. Choose a spot that is far away from structures or trees that may obscure its beauty or pose potential problems to its erection.

Step 2. Decide on how big or small you want your gazebo to be. Think about the kind of function you would like for it. Do you plan to host parties for many guests? Or do you want it to act just as a shade for your afternoon reading? Perhaps you would like it to be your small getaway room?

Step 3. Pick out the kind of design you would like for your gazebo. There are many kinds of designs, but some of them are Oriental, Enclosed, and Monterey. An Oriental gazebo gives off an Asian flavor with its thatched or tiled roof while an Enclosed gazebo may have screens or glass windows. An enclosed gazebo is like an extension of your room but outside. A Monterey design is one that is flexible to suit any garden.

Step 4. Choose the kind of wood you want your gazebo to be. There are different kinds of wood available but you must keep in mind how to maintain them against termites, weather, and rotting. The best wood choice is cedar but there is nothing wrong with using cheaper wood. You just need to understand and know how to maintain it.

Step 5. Although you may have picked out a design as mentioned above, you still have the freedom to choose the shape of your gazebo. You can choose to have it in a rectangle, square, or octagonal. The shape that you choose will also affect how the seating will be arranged.

Step 6. Decide on the color you want for your gazebo. Many gazebos are in natural colors or are white, but the choice is solely yours. You can always change the paint color whenever you want to.

Just keep in mind that each step you take in choosing a gazebo will affect its total design and function. Enjoy each step and give it thought thoroughly so that you will have a gazebo in your yard that you will love visiting.

Rooftop gardens are becoming very popular. The world today has realized all the more the importance of living in an environment of plants and trees. Even cities in other places of the world are making sure that they are incorporating gardens or have room for plants in their skyscrapers or buildings. Anyone can quickly turn a plain old rooftop into something new with dwarf fruit bearing trees, flowers, vegetables or herbs. There’s no better time to start enjoying a beautiful and relaxing natural ambiance than now. Plus, you will also reap the benefits of being able to breathe in cleaner air and perhaps harvest the fruits and vegetables of your labor. You can have your very own rooftop garden just by following these simple steps.

Step 1. Get all the necessary materials needed to start your project. Some of the basic things that you will need include soil, plants, fertilizer or compost, wooden boxes, and water. In addition, you will also need plastic tarp and tents.

Step 2. Check to see if you can start your own rooftop garden. If you are renting, you will need the approval of the landlord. If you are a homeowner, it is also wise to get the advice from a professional whether your roof is stable enough to start a garden. To note, in some communities a special permit is needed for you to have a rooftop garden. It’s always safer and better to create a garden on a flat rooftop compared to ones that are inclined.

Step 3. Identify the area where you would like to put plants and make a design plan. You can always hire a landscape artist, but it is easy enough to make a plan yourself and make your own measurements. Knowing the measurement of the space will allow you to plan out how many plants you need. You will also be able to figure out how much space you will have for the roof to serve other functions. For example, you may want to put out some deck chairs for you to relax in or put a small dining table to use when hosting a few guests.

Step 4. Pick the plants available to you which will grow under direct sunlight. Dwarf fruit bearing trees and vegetables make a great choice. Not all plants will thrive under too much heat. You can set up your tent materials to function as a shade for your plants that might easily wither. To also provide more protection for your plants, use the plastic tarp.

Step 5. Choose what you would like to put your plants in. You can use containers, planters, or wooden boxes. You can even choose to use all three. Each of them has their own positive aspects.

Step 6. Keep up with your garden. For it to grow healthy, take the time each day to water it. Since it is also under direct sunlight, you will need to make sure that you water it frequently enough so that the plants don’t dry up. Trimming and pruning will also be necessary to grow a healthy garden.

Though quite expensive, a sprinkler system is imperative if you are to maintain the health and beauty of your lawn. Having a professional set it up in your home may be the best option but if you are tight on budget, you can get the job done on your own. A sprinkler system is a little bit complicated that’s why it’ essential that you have a little knowledge and experience in working with lawn or garden hardware. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to install one on your own if you follow these steps very carefully:

Step 1. Know your lawn or garden’s need. There are two types of sprinklers you can choose from; one with the sprinkler head extending permanently above the ground and one with pop up heads that are hidden in the ground and only pop up when turned on.

Step 2. Make the preparations needed for the project. The first thing you would want to accomplish is to get permits from authorities to allow you to set up a sprinkler system. This is important so as to prevent unwanted incidents especially if you are not sure of the location of electrical wires, telephone wires, and most especially gas lines that are buried underground.

Step 3. Begin installation by creating a group of control valves, also called a manifold. The manifold is where water from the source will collect first before it is distributed to the different circuit paths in the system. You can either have the manifold mounted above the ground or have it buried.

Step 4. Dig V-shaped trenches that are at least 8 inches deep and make sure they are level with the ground. Tap into your water supply by setting up a tee on a line right after the water meter. You can also install the tee behind a hose bib or connect it a main supply line past the meter. Install an emergency shut-off valve as well.

Step 5. Arrange the pipes inside the trenches and begin setting up the system. Once the pipes are connected and cured, set up the risers next and attach the sprinkler heads. Bury the sprinkler heads just deep enough or a few inches from the ground so that they don’t stick out. You can also put filter screens on the sprinkler heads to avoid impurities from clogging them. You might also want to test the functionality of the sprinkler heads to find out whether the water pressure is too high or too low. Installing pressure regulators will help you correct water pressure problems you may face.

Step 6. Install the controller and connect it to the control valves using electric wires. After connecting the valves, set the controls and test the system to check that each of the circuits are working properly. Walk through the whole system to check for leaks before backfilling the trenches. Finally, refill the trenches by adding soil and water them to make sure they are compact.

When we hear the word “garden”, what comes to our mind is a space outdoors that is filled with green plants and colorful flowers. We also associate it with lush lawns and yards. But do you know that you can have a garden inside your home? This is good news if you don’t have enough space for a garden outside your home or if you are living in an apartment or a condominium where it seems impossible to grow even a single plant. However, with a little planning and preparation, you can actually start your own mini garden inside your own home. Here are steps to show you how:

Step 1. First, find a spot inside your home that would be perfect for an indoor garden. While in the process, consider what kind of plants you want to grow in it. Take into special account the size of the plants especially since you don’t want a single plant to eat up all the space. You should also take note of the amount of natural light that’s coming inside your home because plants need sunlight in order to thrive. To play it safe, find a location where enough sunlight can come in during the day especially if you’re planning to set up your plants inside permanently. If this is not possible, you may have to take your plants outdoors from time to time so that they can receive the proper amount of sunlight that they need. You might also want to consider installing a humidifier inside your home in case you still do not have one. A humidifier is perfect to provide plants the moisture that they need especially if it’s particularly dry inside your home.

Step 2. The second step in planning an indoor garden is selecting the plants you desire to grow. You have to understand that while it’s possible to grow a garden indoors, there are plants that are simply too difficult to maintain when kept inside the house. You can choose blooming plants, non-blooming plants, or a combination of both but make sure you do your research well and study which plants require the utmost care and attention. If you plan to set up a garden that you can leave for long periods of time without care, choose plants that can survive for days with little water and sunlight.

Step 3. After choosing your plants carefully, it’s time to gather the supplies you’re going to need next. To avoid water damage, make sure you set up your pots or containers above trays that will collect the water. In the same manner, choose pots and containers with proper drainage. This is critical because plant roots can easily rot when they are placed in containers with poor drainage. Furthermore, make sure you supply quality soil and fertilizer for your plants to make sure they can get the nutrients essential for their growth.

Setting an indoor garden is not difficult at all, but if you are new to the hobby, it would be wise to start with plants that require very little maintenance. When you have successfully established and maintained your indoor garden, then you can start experimenting with high-maintenance plants.

A sprinkler system is essential in maintaining the lushness of your lawn, and when it goes bad, it can cause a huge problem not only to your beautiful lawn but also to your budget. The basic parts of a sprinkler system are the control fittings, piping, plumbing components. All these parts work together, so when one part gets broken, the entire function of the system is affected. Even a high quality sprinkler system is subject to wear and tear, so it is important that you are prepared in case something goes wrong with either one of the part of the system or the entire system itself. Be sure to study how sprinklers work so that you can diagnose simple problems yourself. This way, it would be easier for you to make quick fixes without the help of a professional.

Step 1. Check the main line. If your system has a leak, the first thing you need to check is the main line. It’s easy to find out if this is where the damage of your system is, because there will be a constant leaking and pooling even when the system is turned off. If the damage is the lateral line though, water leakage will only occur when you turn on the system. To fix the problem, you have to shut down your system completely and dig in the area where the water is pooling. Once you find out which pipe is broken, remove all the soil surrounding it to expose the pipe. Inspect the damage and see whether it needs a major or minor repair. In any case, you will need to cut the damaged pipe with a pipe cutter and replace the coupler. Apply PVC glue to join pipes and allow it to dry for thirty minutes. After thirty minutes, turn the system on to check whether the leakage has stopped or not. If the leakage has stopped, you can cover the pipe.

Step 2. If there are no problems with the main line, check the sprinkler riser instead. Dig around the sprinkle head and unscrew the nuts to remove it. Next, take off the riser using a nipple extractor and mount in a new riser. After fastening the riser, turn the system on to see if it’s working properly.

Step 3. Sometimes, the problem may only be with sprinkler head so there’s no need for you to check the main line. To repair the sprinkler head, dig the soul surrounding it and unscrew the nuts to unfasten it. Leave the riser in place and make sure you don’t allow dirt and debris to get into the head. Fasten the new sprinkler head and turn the system on to check if it’s functioning and cover the hole when you’re done.

A lawn drainage system is important if you want to create and maintain a beautiful lawn. Without it, water can easily take up the spaces near the roots of the plants and prevent them from getting enough oxygen, eventually causing them to rot. With a good lawn drainage system, you can improve the function of plants including photosynthesis, metabolism, and resistance to pest and diseases, resulting to a lawn that’s lush and beautiful.

The two main keys in installing a drainage system for your lawn are creating a soakaway and setting up drainage pipes. Both are considered as the best method to keep water from pooling in your lawn. It’s practically easy to install a lawn drainage system on your own. Here are the steps:

Step 1. The first step in installing a lawn drainage system is creating a soakaway that will serve as collector of water that comes from the drainage pipes. The soakaway should be set up at the lowest point of the lawn and should have an area of 1 square meter and a depth of 5-6 feet. Fill ¾ of the soakaway with large stones and the remaining ¼ with small stones and coarse gravel. After that, cover the soakaway with soil.

Step 2. The next part is installing the drainage pipes. The pipe system basically consists of the main pipe and slit side pipes. In the past, heavy and cumbersome pipes were used as drainage pipes, making the installation a very daunting task. Fortunately, there are lightweight pipes available today that should make your job a lot less difficult.

Step 3. Install the main pipe first by digging up a trench. The trench should be 15 inches deep and should be slightly sloping downward to the soakaway. When creating the slope, make sure that there is at least 1-centimeter downward slope for every 1 meter of pipe you are going to install. Test the trench by pouring water into it. Make sure the water flows freely from the top end to the soakaway without any interruption. If the water flow is good, you can then cover 1 inch of the trench with small stones. Next, lay the drainage pipe on the trench and continue adding small stones until it covers 8 inches of the trench with the pipe in it. Finally, cover the trench with soil you dug out from it earlier.

Step 4. When you’re done placing the main pipe, it’s time to set up the slit pipes next. Drainage channels for the slit pipes are narrower (usually around 4 inches deep) compared to that of the main pipe with one end it stopping above the main drainage pipe. This way, the water can flow out of the side channels into the main drainage pipe and into the soakaway. Lay the slit pipes next and cover the surface with turf and soil.

Step 5. When the installation of the drainage system is complete, you can topdress the lawn regularly to build up the soil quality.

A fence trellis is used mainly for supporting vines and other climbing plants in the garden, but it can also be used to provide privacy and shade to any home. Trellises also make decorative boundaries, unlike regular fences. One advantage of building fence trellises is that it doesn’t require a lot of skills. All you need are some digging and carpentry equipments and you’re ready to go.

You can also decide whether you’re going to buy ready to install trellises or make use of some recyclable materials at home that you can convert into a trellis. When it comes to building fence trellises, you don’t necessarily have to hire a professional to get the job done. Here’s a step-by-step guide into how you can build a simple fence trellis on your own.

In this project you’re going to need: Some trellis panels, quick-setting cement, 8-foot posts, an auger or post hole digger, some gravel, nails and a hammer, some string, and 6-inch wooden stakes.

Step 1. Before anything else, you have to map out the area you’re going to cover with the fence. To do that, drive some wooden stake into the ground at one end and each corner of the area you’re covering. Tie a string from one stake to another until you have mapped out the entire area.

Step 2. Dig a 2-feet hole on one end that you have marked, and from there, dig some more holes 6 feet apart until you reach the other end of the marker. If the ground you’re digging in is soft, try to dig deeper so that you’ll have a strong foundation for the posts.

Step 3 Pour some gravel into each hole you have dug. This will strengthen the foundation and at the same time prevent water from coming into the hole, soften the ground, and rot the base of the wooden posts.

Step 4. This is the time you’re going to mix your quick-setting cement. Don’t mix the cement before you start your work or it will dry and set even before you pour it inside the holes.

Step 5. Set the posts one by one into the holes, each time pouring concrete into the holes to hold the post in place. Use a level to make sure the posts are upright. Pour concrete until it reaches ground level. If necessary, use a trowel to flatten the area and get rid of excess cement.

Step 6. When all the posts are set, it’s time for you to attach the trellis panels. Start by nailing a panel into the first posts, and from there, working until you have installed all the panels. Make sure you set the nails 6 to 8 inches apart for a neat look.

Step 7. When all is done, leave the concrete to dry in place and by the following day, you can start planting your favorite plants and vines near the fence. You can also paint the trellis if you wish to.

Garden tools are among the most-used tools, at least for a person who actually maintains a garden. So it is always a sad day when you discover your trusty tool has gotten its handle broken! Before you think of saying a tearful goodbye to your favorite shovel, hoe, or rake, know that there is a way to fix the wooden handle in an easy way that will seriously cost much less compared to buying a replacement for the entire tool.

Step 1. Check if the handle length is long enough to survive having the broken part cut off. For example, many garden tools come with very long handles, and if the damage is only close to the end, you can simply cut off the damaged portion and round it off. But if you deem the handle totally unusable, it is time to replace the handle.

Step 2. Head over to the local hardware store and buy a replacement handle. In order to be sure you get the correct size, it would be best to bring the whole tool with you. You might be considering actually keeping the broken handle and just repairing it, but the risk of injury is high and it would be better to discard the handle but keep the working end. This is why you need a new handle.

Step 3. Use a bench vise to clamp the tool blade in place.

Step 4. With the tool held in place, try to get the handle out by wriggling it out. If that doesn’t work, you can split the broken wooden handle with an electric drill and pick up the broken pieces. If the handle is held in place with a rivet, file off the head and drive it through with a punch or hammer. If it is wedged in, use a punch, inserted through the hole at the bottom, and pound it with a hammer. If it is held in place with a metal screw, just remove the screw. A little WD-40 usually helps make the removal much easier.

Step 5. Spray some more WD-40 to the inside of the metal housing where you will be sliding the handle in. This protects both the wood and the metal, and it will also make inserting the handle much easier.

Step 6. Put the new handle in. If there is a problem with the fit, you can simply file some of the wood to adjust the size. Hold the tool by the working end and tap the handle on the ground to make it slide into the hasp.

Step 7. If there is a rivet hole, drill through it into the new handle. Use a galvanized wood screw to hold it in place. Pick a screw that is slightly shorter than the hasp diameter.

For plant lovers, it is always a sad scenario when you encounter a broken pot, whether it houses a favorite plant or is just sitting in the corner for when you finally decide what to plant in it. These accidents can happen especially if you have pets or children that can be running all around your yard and send your pots toppling to the ground. In any case, you most likely find it expensive to buy new pots, especially if the “victim” happens to be a very large pot. Thankfully there is a way to repair these pots.

Step 1. If the pot is cracked but not completely broken, get some rustproof wire and wrap it around the pot, just below its rim, and twist the two ends together using a pair of pliers. If the pot is broken to several pieces, brush off all soil from each broken piece, clean the edges, and make sure these edges are dry.

Step 2. Put on protective gloves and be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. Use a waterproof epoxy resin to apply to the broken portions, either the cracked parts or the edges between the two broken pieces. Make sure to follow the directions on the packaging, and find the one that is suited for the material of which your pot is made, whether it is terracotta or any other material. If needed, you can mix the epoxy glue with powdered clay of a color that matches your pot. Alternatively, you can also sprinkle the colored powder after you apply the glue.

Step 3. Press the pieces tightly together and wipe off any epoxy that drips out. If any glue drips out, remove it using acetone. Be sure you are in a well-ventilated area, as acetone has a very strong smell that can affect you negatively when you use it in an enclosed area.

Step 4. Wrap twine around your pot and tighten it by putting newspaper or rags in between the twine and your pot. Follow the directions as to how long to leave the epoxy to dry. Do not add any soil or plants just yet.

Step 5. When you are sure the epoxy has completely dried, you can use very fine sandpaper to sand the pot and enhance the finish of he surface. Alternatively, you can proceed to take off the twine without sanding.

Step 6. Once you are sure the epoxy has put your flowerpot back in shape, you can now put soil and plants in it. Just be sure to give the repaired pots added protection, particularly from freezing. As such, be sure to transfer repaired pots to a covered shelter when wintertime comes. You can even opt to wrap unused pots in bubble wrap or fleece to protect decorative elements from frost during the winter months, too.

Pulling out every weed that every passing bird plants on your garden is a tedious task. As in medicine, prevention indeed is always better than cure! Perhaps you can keep from breaking your back every so often when you use these simple home remedies to help you deal with weeds.

Boiling Water: Check which plants you want to kill, and cut off their tops. Boil some water on your stove, and when it is boiling, pour it right onto the weeds. Be sure to pour it from a low height to keep from splashing the hot water onto other plants you want to keep. The boiling water will burn the weed as well as its seeds, which keeps it from re-growing in your garden.

Vinegar: For weeds that are less than two weeks old, you can use vinegar to snuff them out. Put vinegar into a spray bottle, and mix with some water to make a 20% solution; then coat the weeds evenly. For younger weeds, cider or white vinegar can kill them, but for older ones, find a more acetic vinegar, like pickling vinegar. Just as you need to be careful when pouring boiling water, also be careful that you do not get the vinegar on any of the plants you want to keep, as vinegar is a known as an “equal-opportunity herbicide.” For a more accurate spraying session, you can cut off the large end of a plastic soda bottle and put it over the weed you want to kill; then, spray through the mouth of that bottle.

Rubbing Alcohol: You can also spray the weeds with a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. What happens when they get sprayed with rubbing alcohol is that the alcohol causes them to dehydrate, and then die quickly. Then again, just be careful that you do not get the mixture on all your other plants. You can use the same method in making sure you hit the right plants.

Corn meal: In addition to killing the weeds as they grow using the above home remedies, you actually have ammunition in keeping the area free of possibly sprouting weed seeds. You can sprinkle corn meal on the spaces you want to keep weeds away from, as it hinders the growth of seed. Of course, just make sure you do not sprinkle the corn meal in areas where you have other seeds planted that you hope to grow.

Mulches: Mulches are a great way of keeping weeds from spreading in a garden. Not only do mulches cool the soil and retail moisture, they are also very helpful in weed control. Both organic and synthetic mulches smother weed seeds. Similarly, if you happen to want to grow some of the self-seeding plants in your garden, it would be best to mulch only in the later part of spring. By that time any self-seeding plant would have begun to grow so you can decide which ones you want to keep and which ones you want out.