Category Archives: Guest Post

How to illuminate your outdoor driveway?

Outdoor lighting is very important because not only does it improves aesthetics, it will also improve safety and security of the area your are illuminating. The most popular areas to illuminate are your garden, patio, walkway and your driveway. Placing lights on your driveway is an important thing to do because you want to know where you are going when it is dark. Accidents are prone to happen when it is dark and you can prevent accidents by placing lights on your driveway.

There are quite some different options to use for properly lighting your driveway. Still the most popular way to do it is with string lights. String lights can be installed and connected to a time switch or a simple switch that you can turn on and off whenever you like to. A frequently used method is by connecting it to a motion detector. Whenever a car is approaching the light will turn on, this saves you time and prevents the area from being constantly illuminated, a thing your neighbors will not always appreciate.

Although string lights are still the most popular option, other better options are also available. LED lights for example, are a much more easier way to light your driveway because they are much easier to install. The benefit of them is that you can place them in to the ground so there is always a spot to place them. However, LED lights still have to be connected to a power network and this is a tough nut to crack if you don’t know how to work with string lights or LED lights.

A third option is the use of solar lights. Nowadays there are very useful small lights available which you can also place in to the ground. The only thing you have to consider is placing them faced to the sun because they will need enough sun light to charge their batteries. The big advantage of solar lights is that you don’t have to connect them to a power network which makes installation rather easy.

For more tips, visit out website on outdoorlightinglamps.com

Deer repellent tactics to protect your garden and plants

Spring and summer are characterized by lush leaves and budding flowers. However, they are also the seasons when hungry deer emerge from the woods to snack on delicacies found within the garden. Deer repellent tactics will keep deer out of the yard without causing them any permanent harm.

One way to deter deer is by installing a fence around the garden. The fence will need to be at least eight feet high because hungry deer will not hesitate to jump high in order to get some food. Thorny branches or netting should be interspersed with the fencing to provide further deterrent.

Fencing can be quite expensive, depending on the size of the fence and material used. Many homeowners will not have the necessary skills to install a fence themselves, so they will need to contact a professional. The labor charges in addition to the cost of materials can make this quite an investment. There is also no guarantee that a very hungry deer will not leap over this tall fence.

Try using repellent sprays in the garden as an alternative deterrent method. Sprays can be concocted at home using ingredients like soap or rotten eggs and water. There are many recipes on the Internet so try some of these or ask a local garden expert for recommendations.

The sprays sold online and in stores may contain chemicals or they may be entirely organic. Purchase one to treat the perimeter of the area or select the variety that is sprayed directly on the vegetables and flowers. Since these products are low-cost, test out some different brands to find the one most effective at deterring the deer in the area.

Incorporate deer repellent plants and flowers amongst the other items in the garden. Check online to see what shrubs and flowers will grow best in the garden’s climate. A deer may nibble on some of these but will then get a nauseous feeling in its stomach. The condition is temporary, but it will cause the deer to think twice before chewing on flowers and plants in the garden again.

There is a form of deer repellent for every budget and garden size. Fencing, sprays, and certain flowers and shrubs that deter deer are each effective in their own way. Find out what works best in your garden so you can rest easy that those prize roses will not be a deer’s next snack.

There are many ways you can protect your garden from deer. Visit our site and read about deer repellent recipes, deer resistant plants, studies and surveys about the variety of repellents and what others are doing. You can also post your questions and get answers.

Find the type of outdoor fire pit design that fits your needs

Outdoor fire pits has become a staple in ornamenting the backyard either for its function or aesthetic contributions or both. There are different types of outdoor fire pits one may choose from depending on his taste, lifestyle and financial capability. Gas fire pits are also one of the options to choose from these days.

Wok-shaped tray.  This is the simplest design for outdoor fire pits. It is made of metal, usually copper, and shaped like a wok tray that sits in a metal stand. This is ideal for barbecues, roasting marshmallows and grill parties on a warm summer afternoon.

Chimenea. This is perhaps the most stylish and popular design for outdoor fire pits. Traditionally made from ceramic and looks like an old potbelly stove. It is also a simple design. The fire is made in its round body or belly and the fuel is fed trough an opening in the front. It is small but its recognizable round body makes it attractive to homeowners. Chimeneas, are usually used for decorative purposes and heating up a small room. Today, one can find chimeneas made from cast iron and other metals.

In-ground or Permanent fire pit. This type of out door fire pit is permanently dug hole in the ground. This type of outdoor fire pits is lined with stones or fire bricks or a combination of both which insulate the fire from the soil. The height of in-ground fire pits extends above ground. It can be made stylish to become a centric feature of the patio or used for grilling.

Portable fire pits. A good example of this design is a copper bowl or container that sits on metal supports and provides a dish making an open fire. This type of design is perfect for bringing along in the woods, beach, dessert or the backyard and is suitable for cooking.

The types of designs mentioned above come in different shapes, color, sizes, and design materials. Technology has also made an important contribution in the evolution and advancement of outdoor fire pit designs. Aside from the usual wood and gas fuels, fire pits can now be lit using electricity, glass or gel. Outdoor gas fire pit manufacturers have patented designs to fit the lifestyle of the affluent and pompous.

Whatever design, outdoor fire pits will continue to be part of the household design. They enliven outdoor living, entertain households and bring about a different feel and aura to the place they illuminate.

Creating a playground in your yard

Have you been trying to figure out a way to get your kids out of the house?  Let’s face it—these days kids just aren’t as active as they used to be, and when we are so busy ourselves, it can be hard to get them out of the house and away from the TV, the Xbox, or any other of the gadgets that we’ve bought to distract them.

One way to inspire your children is to start putting together a homemade playground in your backyard.  Look outside and think about it.  A lot of us have nothing more in the yard but a flat, pristine stretch of lawn or some gravel and a broken down car.  Not exactly inspiring for play, so unless you want them wandering off who knows where.  It’s time to make something in the direct vicinity of your home that will drag them outdoors.

Here are some simple things to get you started.

Trampolines

A trampoline is probably the simplest way to immediately make your yard a kid’s heaven, and even if you didn’t add anything else, they will be tempted to run out and use it for years, even far into their teens.  Trampolines are an amazing source of physical activity that have proven to be even more beneficial than a cardio routine, and kids like to do all sorts of stunts on them, making them lot of fun.

Just be sure to consider safety first when choosing the model for your yard.  A lot of the older ones have proven to be quite dangerous, so look for a newer design, like the springless trampoline.

Slides

What kid doesn’t love a slide?  This is a rather cheap addition to your background playground.  If you’ve already got a pool installed, this can be a way to really make it that much more of a blast.

Swing sets

While certainly not as versatile or captivating as a trampoline, swing sets will always hold their allure for children.  A moment in your backyard giving them a push can be the simplest of bonding experiences, and you will likely find yourself sitting in the seat for a little rocking back and forth as well.  If you’ve got a big back yard and some sturdy trees, save some money by putting up a strong rope or tire swing.

Pools

I realize not everyone can afford an Olympic size swimming pool in the backyard, but all you need is something that can hold some water.  There are plenty of above-ground pools that provide plenty of fun for kids who just want to get wet in the heat and splash around a little bit.

Those are just a few simple ideas.  The point is to start thinking about how you can make your backyard more inviting to kids, and then you won’t have to nag on them to get them outside—they’ll go all on their own.  Sure, they’ll still spend some time playing games on the Xbox, but their lives will begin to alternate between the inside and outside world rather than resembling the life of a couch cushion.

Start adding components like these one at a time as money allows—trampoline, swing, pool—and before you know it, your backyard will be the most exciting place in town.

Fireworks pictures–in the sky

Pictures in the night sky made from light have always fascinated people.  The ancients looked at the stars and created pictures that incorporated the different constellations in them.  Now we can use chemicals to create our own ephemeral and beautiful pictures in the night sky.

Not only can we recreate a simulation of the Pleiades meteor shower, we can recreate it in much denser form and in a multitude of colors.  The fun only begins with that image.  There are twinkling star shapes in reds, blues, greens, and yellows.  Umbrella formations grace the night with their flowing images.  Balls of light, which look like we are seeing the creation of the universe in a big bang that expands across the sky.  Puffballs of exotic flowers bloom quickly then fade away, leaving room for the next spectacular fireworks picture.

Palm trees that sparkle in a lovely array of colors grow, expand and disappear before our eyes.  Flowers bud, blossom and fade before our eyes.  A hacky-sac in magenta appears out of the darkness, glowing with a promise of more beauty coming behind it.  A whirling whiz-bang shoots off sparks in every direction.  Rockets pierce the sky, throwing sparkles of colors in every direction.   Colored fountains grow and sparkle, showering beauty on us all.   When the fireworks pictures occur in the sky over a still lake or pond, we get a doubling of the wonderful images that are created.

When there is a backdrop for stationary fireworks, pictures can be built such as a plant growing into a bush, then a rose budding and blossoming.  Surrounding the rose in a semi-circle can be a group of Scottish thistles as was described in one of Louisa May Alcott’s books.  The possibilities are endless.  No matter what you would like to see in a gorgeous array of lights, fireworks pictures can provide it.  The fleeting nature of these wonderful images only makes them more precious.