Thrifty Home Repair Tips » Gardening

Solar Garden Lights – Free Outdoor Illumination

CJ Eason — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:08:04 +0000

The day has arrived when all garden lighting can be accomplished with solar garden lights. Many have dreamed of this day but few have embarked on this new and rewarding trend. Solar fixtures are solely powered by the sun’s energy. Why should you purchase solar garden lighting for your home? Solar energy is abundant and absolutely free to use. It would be silly to neglect that fact and to continue using electrical energy when there is a better and less expensive option available. Solar garden light fixtures are identical in appearance to electrical fixtures. You can find recessed, wall, post, hanging, or sconce solar fixtures. Solar powered garden lights come in similar sizes, styles, and materials as electrical fixtures. The major differences have to do with the power source and the initial investment cost. Of course solar technology is going to cost more but the savings add up over time because solar lights cost nothing to operate.

When determining how many solar power garden lights you should purchase, consider putting the project on paper prior to visiting the store. Having the plan on paper allows you to position lighting fixtures to their full benefit. Solar lights for garden are highly recommended for high traffic areas like driveways, walkways, decks, patios, and the perimeter of a pool. Lighting in these areas greatly reduces the amount of accidents that happen at night because of poor visibility. Illuminating your driveway ensures that cars stay on the paved part of your property. Proper lighting in areas of entertainment like deck, patios, and pools is highly recommended for the safety of your family and guests. Position fixtures so they illuminate without blinding people as they maneuver around in the dark.

The internet is a good resource for novice garden and landscape decorators. Use the internet to see what types of solar fixtures are available. Once you have chosen your fixtures you can then look up information about proper installation and positioning of fixtures so that each fixture is used to its full capacity and benefit.

Finding Home and Garden Decor Products Online

CJ Eason — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:16:35 +0000

Home and garden decor products can be purchased in many ways including the internet. Most home decorating websites carry a wide selection of both indoor and outdoor decorating supplies. If you do choose to use the internet as a place to shop for indoor or lawn and garden decor, keep in mind that some photos you see will be quite misleading. Always look at product descriptions and specifications before making a purchase. Check for things like sizing, color, and contents. Reading the fine print is highly recommended because many times it states something important that may change your mind about buying that particular product. Most consumers of online products can vouch that what you see is not always what you get. Sometimes the vendor is kind enough to say that the pictured item is not necessarily the one you are purchasing but that isn’t always the case. Never purchase products that do not specify a size, material, or color. Vendors do that because most consumers shop by looking only at pictures.

Shopping for garden decorations is different from interior decorations because if the item is too small it will probably never get noticed. Outdoor garden decor consists of plants, structures, lighting, and decorative items. The most difficult to shop for is probably plants because all of the pictures are going to be beautiful and if you are not familiar with plants you won’t know if you are getting a plant, bulb, or seed. Garden decor structures are typically large and will cost tons of money to ship unless you are lucky enough to find a vendor that offers free shipping. Finally, garden decorations are actually fairly easy to find and shop for as long as you pay close attention to both the pictures and the specifics about the product. The material and quality of the item must be durable enough to withstand long-term outdoor exposure to the elements. The finish should also be something that is resistant to fading and erosion over time. The internet is a wonderful tool but you must always shop wisely and patiently in order to get your money’s worth.

Start a Compost Bin Inside or Outside

CJ Eason — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:52:49 +0000

Installing a kitchen compost bin inside of your home is not necessarily a good idea. Some composting bins smell bad if the proper conditions are not met inside of the bin. The best place for a composting bin is the garage or outside near other waste and recycling bins. You can however keep a small composting pail in your kitchen where organic waste can be placed as long as you periodically empty it into your larger garden composter. Composting works best when you mix kitchen, yard trimmings, and certain paper products together. The right internal temperature and airflow must be established in order to speed up the compost process. Most garden compost bins for sale today are specifically designed to speed up the process which can take months if you just throw all of the waste in a pile in your back yard.

When situating your compost bin inside the garage or laundry room, always keep the bin safely secured from small children and pets. Many of the bins for sale on the market have lids that lock for that purpose. A good bin will also have plenty of air vents to allow oxygen into the bin. Oxygen is an essential part of composting and the ample oxygen is required to speed up the process in the bin. An easily accessible bottom door or tray is also important so you can remove the compost for use in your garden or plants. Organic compost can be used to feed plants, flowers, and even grass when necessary.

There are many types of bins and containers on the market. Some are fancy looking and intended more for indoor use while others are more utilitarian in appearance and perfect for backyard use. The Garden Gourmet composter was recently shown on the Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the top choices for an outdoor garden compost container. The Garden Gourmet compost bin is popular because it is made up of mostly recycled materials. It is also one of the easiest bins to assemble and maintain.

How to Make a Compost Bin

CJ Eason — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:50:17 +0000

Compost bin construction is fairly easy especially since a simple heap or pile works just as well but a good composting bin can help you speed up the process and keep things a little more contained. Most do-it-yourself compost bins are intended for the outside of your home. The internet is full of websites designed to teach you how to make a compost bin. Homemade composting bins are typically made out of wooden materials unlike store bought which are increasingly being created from plastic and recycled materials. Wood works just find but it works even better if you keep it outdoors. An indoor bin needs to be smaller and a little more contained than an outdoor bin. Carefully decide which style and type of composter will best fit the amount of waste you plan to compost.

There are many sizes and styles to choose from. When choosing which project to tackle try to stick with simple construction that is effective and durable. Look for testimonials from other people who have already done the project and are happy with the results. A good project will provide you with a step by step plan and with a complete supply and tool list so you know exactly what you will need prior to beginning the project. When shopping for the supplies always stick to the supply list recommend because that will ensure that your project will turn out the way the author intended. If you are simple looking for a kitchen compost bin then you may want to consider a small compost pail for inside of your home which means you will then have to empty the contents of the pail into your outdoor compost heap or bin.

If you find that the online projects are too difficult or too large for your composting needs, then you will definitely need to look into purchasing a compost kit which will contain all of the materials needed and step by step assembly instructions. Most small bins are easy to assemble and very effective but you should definitely compare pricing and customer reviews when possible. Never purchase something unless you have compared the price of that product size and function with other similar products on the market.

Garden Lights Designed to Enhance Outdoor Spaces

CJ Eason — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:10:08 +0000

Most garden lights are designed for the sole purpose of illumination but many more are being created in elegant designs to enhance your property even in the daylight hours. For instance, intricately designed post, hanging, and wall lights are becoming popular garden decorations. Manufacturers are constantly introducing more artistic designs that help improve your daytime landscape as well. Garden fixtures can include various different types of fixtures that include ground, surface, and hanging installations. Ground installations are perfect for walkways, flower beds, and even planter boxes. Surface fixtures are to be installed on structures like a post, deck, building, or fence. Hanging lights also look great on posts but they are mostly installed handing from trees, covered structures, and even trellises.

When deciding which type of garden lighting will best fit your outdoor needs, consider purchasing a combination of a few different types of light fixtures. It is wise to install ground fixtures to illuminate walkways, pathways, and driveways. Hanging fixtures can be used in on well placed posts or within structures like a gazebo, pergola, or covered deck. Wall lights are best for entry points into your home and around the perimeter where illumination is needed. Solar garden lights are a great idea for illuminating areas that only need a small amount of light. Solar garden light fixtures can be installed just about anywhere and they don’t require electrical wiring which will save you tons of money in the long run.

The internet is a great place to start your search. You will quickly find that there is an infinite amount of sizes, styles, and types of solar garden lighting fixtures to choose from. Garden light fixtures fall into the outdoor lighting category which means they are safe for outdoor exposure year round. The internet is a great place to compare pricing from one retailer to another and where you can determine what is available for the type of illumination and function you need. When shopping online always calculate shipping when comparing prices because companies that offer free shipping tend to have steeper prices.

Garden Gourmet Garden Composter

CJ Eason — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:48:54 +0000

The Garden Gourmet composter was recently showcased on the Oprah Winfrey Show as an excellent choice for a backyard garden composter. The bin is attractive in appearance and it contains an efficient garden compost design that is perfect for any backyard location. The Garden Gourmet compost bin can be purchased at around $75 plus the price of shipping. The bin is made of 51% recycled materials with some of those materials being post consumer waste. The bin is easy to assembly with no tools needed. It has an easy to access lid which makes placing waste into the bin a cinch. The bin also contains an easily accessible bottom drawer which allows for simple removal of the compost once the process is complete.

The Garden Gourmet bins are especially effective because of their adjustable air vents which enable you to adjust the amount of air that can penetrate into the bin. Composting happens best when the environment around a bin is right but it happens even faster if just the right condition is reached inside of the bin. Most garden composters are designed to make the composting process as easy as possible for homeowners. The Garden Gourmet bin does exactly that and more. Successful composting is about convenience and good placement of the bin. It is recommended that you place your bin in the same area where other bins are located. For instance, if you have an outdoor trash bin or recycling bin, your garden compost bins should be located in that same area so that kitchen and yard waste can be taken care of in the same manner as other types of waste.

If you decide to purchase a compost bin for your backyard, look for materials that are sturdy, strong, and preferably recycled. Most bin kits come with everything you will need including how composting should be done and what items can be placed into the bins. The Garden Gourmet bin is no exception, it comes with everything you need and directions to get you started on the path to recycling even more waste from your kitchen and yard.

Garden Lighting That Fits Your Budget

CJ Eason — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:47:40 +0000

Garden lighting is not something most people want to spend tons of money on especially when there are other more important things that take higher priority. Most homeowners are looking for good bargains in just about every home improvement project there is. Luckily most retailers are hurting for your business so finding a good deal is very likely. Garden lights typically consist of fixtures that are specifically designed for the purpose of illuminating areas at night but many are also intended to be decorative pieces in your day time landscape. Outdoor lighting is also essential for the safety and security of your family. Well lit walk ways and drive ways will drastically reduce the occurrence of accidents on your property at night. The night time curb appeal of your home will also increase which is important especially if you plan to sell your home in the future.

Many homeowners have trouble figuring out the best place to situate outdoor fixtures. It is very important to determine what areas you wish to illuminate and how much illumination is needed in that area prior to shopping for fixtures. Put you plan on paper and do a little research to determine what is available on the market today. Use the internet as a tool to find the most efficient way to get the illumination you want and need. Some fixtures are efficient because they are inexpensive to purchase while others such as solar lights are considered efficient because they use little or no electricity to operate night after night. Some simple calculating on your part will ensure that you will get a good bargain and ample illumination for the exterior of your home.

Most garden light fixtures can be found both online and at local retailers. If you plan to shop online, use the internet to your full advantage. Compare pricing, shipping costs, and the quality of the fixtures prior to making a purchase. It is likely that you can also find consumer reviews or customer testimonials for many of the products being sold on the internet. Saving money is wise but you don’t want to cut yourself short on quality and functionality when possible. Solar garden lighting is highly recommended if you are in search of easy installation. Solar garden lights are more expensive to purchase but they rely solely on the sun’s energy to operate plus they come on automatically every night which is a welcomed bonus. Solar garden light fixtures are the most energy efficient and environmentally safe type of light fixtures on the market today.