http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/ Articles at The Article Planet en-us http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/balcony-and-rooftop-gardens.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/balcony-and-rooftop-gardens.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:20:00 -0500
Firstly, and of course the most obvious, make sure that the structure can withstand the weight and the rooftop will not be comprised with anyone walking on it, let alone creating extra weight or watering difficulties.

Most apartment and condominium balconies will definitely support gardening in containers and planters. The ones that are built with wood may not support extremely large and heavy pots; however, gardening can still be done with smaller planters. Where you have concrete floors, there is little damage to the surface, however, be sure to avoid using very heavy containers. This is where research into other planter materials is prudent, your resin garden planters do not contribute weight in of themselves and larger containers therefore may be used. Spread the load over a wide area using wooden slats, brackets and hooks to take the weight of hanging pots or baskets.

Secondly, check the microclimate of your balcony or rooftop. Note the direction of the wind and how much sun it gets during the day. Some balconies are very sheltered and receive no direct sunlight; others are fully exposed and take the direct sun all day. Of course, the rooftop garden may be sheltered by service structures or you may place your own trellis to give some protection from the wind and sun. Many balcony plants do not get much rain because they are situated under an awning or protected from the balcony above. In this case, make sure that the containers are kept moist by watering daily.

What to plant. Just like planning your landscape garden, you may wish to consider your balcony and/or rooftop a private place to relax and entertain.

Start with a framework around your space. Create a distinct border to surround your new space. This can be done with plants that spill onto the space like lady's mantle and geraniums or you can create clusters of height with grasses and small shrubs. All of your plants can be in garden planters and containers. They are easy to move around to see what works best and easier to control the intense heat or winds during certain times of the day.

Your planters may be incorporated into wonderful garden benches - the benches can delineate the space and provide additional seating. One simple way is to create a platform for your containers - then the plants can be easily seen and of course it is nice to have scented plants all around. Some of the best scented plants may be roses, heliotrope, jasmine, gardenias and sweet peas. You can be very creative with the placement of the planters and containers - cluster them in different sizes and shapes and filled with a wide variety of plant material.

Privacy on your balcony, rooftop or terrace is easily accomplished using well situated raised planters or by adding a pergola or trellis to block unsightly maintenance or ventilating equipment. Just plant a climbing hydrangea, wisteria, magnolia or jasmine vine and the garden décor is complete.

Linking your home, apartment or condo to your outside space can often be the best of all worlds. There are so many options to have a garden for enjoyment inspired by your own aspirations.

]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/have-you-made-the-decision-yet-to-get-a-rain-water-tank.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/have-you-made-the-decision-yet-to-get-a-rain-water-tank.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:40:12 -0500
Otherwise known as rain barrels, these are used to collect and store rain water. They are installed as a means of making use of rain water at a later date. What this does for you is to aid with your self sufficiency as well as reducing the amount of water you use from the mains, which in itself is great for the economy as well as the environment. This is because instead of using water from the mains to carry out tasks such as watering the garden or flushing the toilet as well as working the washing machine and washing the car you can put to use the water that has been gathered within the tank. In some cases this can even be used for drinking when you make use of the correct filtering system.

Using materials such as plastic concrete, galvanized steel and stainless steel or fiberglass you are gainingrain water tanks that are both rust and chemical resistant. In regards to where these are placed well the most common place is above ground and are generally constructed to be opaque as a means of preventing the stored water to be exposed to sunlight. On top of this they are usually covered and are fitted with screen inlets, both of which act as a means of stopping insects, debris, animals and bird droppings from entering the water that is collected and stored. Some of these products even come with more added protection. A prime example of this can be seen within the steel version, which comes with a plastic inner lining as a means of increasing the life of the tank to prevent leaks as well as protect the water quality.

As I have previously mentioned these tanks collect the rain water that they store from rooftops, but that's not all. In some cases they also collect it from places such as concrete patios and driveways as well as other impervious surfaces. Wherever you are collecting rain from these items are a fantastic way of lowering your consumption of mains water and you are able to choose the size, which ranges from a capacity of around 400 to 100,000 liters.

Many countries are making use of these impressive items for a variety of reasons, one place in which these items are highly used and regarded is Melbourne. The reason for this revolves around the fact the past 10 years have been the driest Melbourne has seen, causing the city to introduce very tight water restrictions. This is however something you don't have to worry about if you have a rainwater tank, with this there are no restrictions to how much water you use or what you use it for, adding another plus point to the list of advantages surrounding the use of a rain water tank.
]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/when-and-how-to-use-a-rain-water-tank.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/when-and-how-to-use-a-rain-water-tank.html Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:14:01 -0500
It is estimated that businesses all across the world waste millions of liters of water everyday but that's not all. Businesses are just one factor that are responsible for doing this, domestic properties are another. It is said that a third of the water that is used by an average family goes on flushing the toilet or washing the car etc, putting it into perspective in this manner demonstrates just how much water we use on a daily basis, which is ironic considering that every time it rains gallons of water run from our roofs and goes straight down the drain, water that is free for us to use if we choose to, which is where rain water tanks can help you.

What these do is collect water that can then go on to be used for aspects such as flushing the toilet, using the washing machine and watering the garden. Depending on the size of the tank that you are using depends on how much use you get out of the water that it collects but even the smallest of these will dramatically reduce the amount of water that you are using from your mains. Also by making use of these you will also be helping the environment, so how exactly do they work? Basically they are installed next to your house or in a spot in your garden so when rainfall occurs it will flow from the roof where it enters the guttering and flows into the drainpipe, these pipes are then diverted away from the drain so the water flows into the tank as oppose to down the drain. Before the rain actually enters into it however it will pass through a mesh filter. This then remains here until it is needed for various tasks. So what happens when it becomes full? In this case the remaining rain is then simply diverted back to the drain thanks to the overflow kicking in.

If you choose to use your rain water tanks on your garden then the contents of it is merely fed into various parts of the garden. If however you use it for aspects within the home this is done by using a pressure pump, making it easy to use the contents for aspects such as flushing your toilet.

In many countries these tanks are used, in some countries they are used that much that new houses are being built with them included, an example of this can be seen in parts of Australia. In cases such as this they not only help your water consumption but they also boost your homes energy rating, which could increase its value.

The advantages of these systems are clear to see and with what they can do for your home as well as your water consumption it comes as no surprise that more and more people are opting to have them installed.
]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/interesting-alternatives-to-ordinary-garden-pots.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/interesting-alternatives-to-ordinary-garden-pots.html Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:43:57 -0500
If you happen to lose a tree that is already in your garden, you can hollow out the stump. Make sure to hollow it out deep enough to sink a pot into. Simply use a boring drill bit and start by drilling out holes that make the outside diameter of the circle. Once you have the circle drilled out, continue boring out the inside. Use a chisel to remove the wood left between the holes. Fill in any gaps around the pot with dirt.

If you break a large garden pot, another trick that a lot of gardeners do is to cut the bottom off at an angle or bury the pot halfway into the ground. This gives the illusion that the pot is more like an artifact that has been unearthed.

For a less permanent but really fun idea, you can take a pair of old boots and fill them with dirt and top with a plant of your choice. You can even paint the boots with spray paint to make them blend in or stand out.

Wood barrels that are cut in half are a common alternative as well. Even though they are made to hold liquids, its still a good idea to coat the inside with a water sealant (they weren't exactly made for dirt).

A simple idea is to lay down a used car tire and fill it with dirt. You can even stack four or five tires to make a very interesting garden feature.

Look around and you will see that there are plenty of objects you can use as containers for your garden. Your only limit is your imagination. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/kick-start-your-outdoor-lighting-project-with-a-low-voltage-outdoor-lighting-kit.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/kick-start-your-outdoor-lighting-project-with-a-low-voltage-outdoor-lighting-kit.html Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:23:18 -0500

A typical low voltage kit for path lighting or other garden lighting uses consists of a transformer, a cable and luminaires or light fixtures including low voltage bulbs. You can find them in plastic or metal with different finishes. The less expensive kits will most likely come with plastic luminaires, but the metal kits don't tend to be terribly expensive anymore.

In low voltage systems, a transformer reduces the voltage of your main electrical source from 110 or 240 volts into 12 or 24 volts, depending on your location. At this level, you are no longer at any risk for getting a fatal electrical shock. The cables are more flexible because of this which makes installing lighting in your garden, around your patio or along a pathway amazingly simple and safe to do.

Low voltage garden lights use LED bulbs or low voltage incandescent or halogen bulbs similar to auto lights. The wattage is low so they produce a nice soft mood light rather than bright glaring lights causing unwanted light pollution. Advantages of these bulbs include a shorter filament creating a focused point of light which in turn is perfect for directing light with reflectors. Their small size makes them just right for accent and path lighting.

You'll reap plenty of advantages with low voltage halogen lamps. They provide excellent color rendering and give off a uniform white light throughout its service life. Their high efficiency means you'll get more usable light at the same wattage and they typically last about 4000 hours. Low voltage halogen lights were originally developed for museum and art gallery lighting and for lighting store displays.

The nice thing about the low voltage outdoor lighting kits is that they come with everything you need to install your lights and get them working. In some cases, if the lights are being used close to the house, you can plug the transformer into an indoor power socket and drill a hole through your outside wall to extend the cabling to the outdoors. The other option is to have a power outlet outside you can use.

The market for these low voltage garden lighting kits has grown rapidly thanks to inexpensive materials making them more affordable. Manufacturers have also build weatherproof transformer boxes and thicker cables to withstand not only temperature and wet conditions year round in just about any climate, but also the heat of the lamp itself.

Since most of the low voltage lights used outdoors are for either paths, gardens and to accent areas of the outside of the home, the kits available for this purpose are perfect. Self-contained with all the parts needed for installing and enjoying your low voltage accent lights is a great way to complete any outdoor project you may decide to do. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/discover-these-amazing-landscaping-ideas.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/discover-these-amazing-landscaping-ideas.html Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:21:13 -0500
Idea #1: Fountains are wonderful - There are so many great little fountains that you can pick up at different outdoor supply stores that are inexpensive yet still wonderful to look at. And, just the sound of the running water is relaxing and will give you a way to enjoy your time out in your garden. Plus, this is one of the few extremely easy garden landscaping ideas that you can do in just an hour or so.

Idea #2: Keep some potted plants around - Potted plants offer you a way to constantly change up your garden landscaping ideas and move color where you want it. From the porch to the yard to the walkway, there are so many great places that you can easily move potted plants each day to give you a fresh garden look every time you step outside.

Idea #3: Simplify the colors that you have in your garden - Most people have at least a few colored plants in their gardens and one of the easiest garden landscaping ideas is to simplify these colors. You don't want a thousand different colors of flowers everywhere. Instead, stick to a few colors that go well together and space them out so that they are all pleasing to the eye, yet still gives you a sense of flow to your garden area.

Idea #4: Climbing plants are awesome - Climbing plants are a super way to create new garden landscaping ideas that will offer you beautiful greenery and color where you want it. You can even place these plants into pots that can be moved if you prefer, so that you can always have beautiful green leaves or flowers any time, any place.

Idea #5: Artwork is always fun to play with - There are so many great ways that you can find new and unique garden landscaping ideas just by looking at what's already at play in your garden. Different garden art pieces can easily be moved around so that you suddenly have a new look and feel to an old area.

And there you have it, five great, easy to use garden landscaping ideas that you can fit into your time and budget. It's so easy to make small changes in your garden that will actually create a big change when you step back and take a look at it. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/keep-your-roofs-clean.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/keep-your-roofs-clean.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:08:02 -0500
The very first thing to keep in mind is that keeping the roof clean is very essential. So, while inspecting the roof, remove all the debris, leaves and other unneeded particles as these can cause damage to the roof. Leaves and debris traps moisture which can give rise to molds and mildew. These can block the flow of water and can clock the gutters as well putting unnecessary weight on the roof. You can use a plastic leaf rake, push broom, or air blower to clean the roof.

Trim overhanging trees to allow sunlight to reach the roof. This will also reduce moisture and mildew problems, and will reduce the amount of debris that builds up.

Check that gutters are not clogged with leaves and debris and that they are draining properly. Look for cracks, open seams, or sags where the gutter has pulled away from the roof.

Always wear gloves for protection while cleaning the roof. Debris may include sharp and pointed particles which can harm you. Collect all the debris into a bucket and then flush the gutter with a hose. Do carry a hammer with you to fix any loose nails and fix the gutter back to it place.

Flashing is used in areas around the chimneys, vents, skylights etc. These are the most prone areas for roof leaks. So check for loose or damaged flashings They are made up of different metals like steel, aluminum, copper etc. Also, look for any missing or worn out shingle and get it repaired as soon as possible.

If you find loose flashing, dont simply nail it back down. Replace the nails with galvanized screws for a longer lasting solution. Then, cover the screw heads with roofing cement. If you have copper flashing, use copper screws. Galvanized metal will cause copper to corrode.

For sloped roofs, cleaning the debris and the gutters twice a year will keep many drainage problems away. For flat roofs, you need a drainage system that handles water, and it should be in working order at all times. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-latest-about-dual-flush-toilets-and-bathroom-vanities.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/the-latest-about-dual-flush-toilets-and-bathroom-vanities.html Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:37:35 -0500
The Dual Flush Toilet system, predominantly, was invented in Australia by the Aussies. The basic idea of fabricating this system is to limit the consumption of water and wash out the waste thoroughly. This Dual Flush Toilet system is operational with the help of two buttons.

One button is used to flush liquid waste (urine) and the other button is used to flush solid waste (excreta). The overall gain of the Dual Flush Toilet system is that it uses small quantity of water and the saving is remarkable.

The Dual Flush Toilet system methodically designed to apply its force of water rather than the quantum of water and with the bigger trap way at the bottom of the bowl unlike in the standard systems wherein both air and water concurrently work. As a result, it consumes a smaller quantity of water.

The dual flush system is designed in such a manner that it utilizes the force of water to do away with wastage, contrasting to the standard systems in which the force of air and water was used to rinse out waste. This is the main reason for less consumption in case of the dual flush system compared to the standard system. Also, in the recent system the trap mode at the bottom of the bowl is larger.

An existing toilet can be renovated into the dual flush system in two ways. Either, by redoing the entire toilet, or using conversion kits available for substituting the inner parts of the flush tank with the help of Dual Flush Toilet valve and the Dual Action Flush Lever. This application is quite reasonable and costs approximately $29 to $30 which ends up saving a lot of money for a family wherein a family consisting of four members can also save up to thirteen gallons of water per day.

Reviewers also claim that installation was not as effortless as declared by the manufacturers. The price of this Dual Flush Toilet system is carefully reserved among $250 to $750. It is claimed by the Dual Flush Toilets manufacturers that it will last a lifetime if carefully used by family of four members as a result of phenomenal saving of approximately 13 gallons of water per day. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/a-guide-in-choosing-the-best-teak-furniture.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/a-guide-in-choosing-the-best-teak-furniture.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:13:36 -0500
There are many teak furniture to choose from such as tables, chairs, benches and planters.

The first thing you should do before you make drastic decisions in buying this and that, you should measure the space that your furniture will occupy. Then go on to the design. What will you patio highlight? This could be anything from the arbor, planter or pergola. Make yours as unique and as creative as you can for you will surely want something impressive. A little bit of creativity will go a long way. If you think that you don't have any ideas of your own, seek help in friend or anyone around you. It is even better if you seek the opinion of someone who's had experience in designing patios.

If you want to have outdoor furniture cushions, you should then buy something durable enough to stay outdoor. It only makes sense if you buy because of quality not beauty. If you just buy them for the sake of beauty without taking into account its durability, you may find that you will have to replace the cushions sooner that you think. Buy ample amount to suit your patio needs and remember, take note of the reinforced seams and zippers and piping.

When you buy the cushions, also check that it is suitable for the style you have already adopted for your patio. Even if it is meant to be something bolder of subtler from your furniture, your cushions should balance the style altogether. Be brave though, because it is entirely up to you how you want your patio to look like.

What about getting outdoor umbrellas for better looks and protection? There are just so many types of outdoor umbrellas available today such as the auto-tilt angle and also market umbrellas that look great placed on tables with holes in the middle to hold them. There are even umbrellas with netting that does a great job in repelling insects.

Umbrella for you patio is something you should have if you plan to be more comfortable while spending time there. Not only are these outdoor umbrellas look provide protection, they look great too. Market umbrellas are very popular one. You'll find them a suitable partner of tables that already have holes in the middle to hold them. You can also find umbrellas that can auto-tilt to desired angle as well as umbrellas with netting to repel insects.

If you have your eyes set for the market umbrella, make sure you take note of the many aspect of the umbrella such as whether it has a freestanding option and a strong pole. You may also want to choose nylon hubs instead of plastic and a stainless steel base instead of aluminum. You should also choose ones that are made from strong and reliable fabric. Other aspect that caters for convenience of storage is also important. For instance umbrellas that can be folded and are light enough to be carried around.

You can also find outdoor umbrellas in varying sizes and shapes as hexagonal and rectangular. As far as additional features go, you can get remote controlled outdoor umbrellas that opens and closes with the touch of a button, or get lights for your umbrella to create the kind of effect that you desire come night-time. Maybe also an umbrella net to repel mosquitoes, as that will so take away the romantic mood that you have otherwise set!

So go ahead, start planning now for your deck furniture. Get your furniture in stages or all at once if your budget permits. Of course, if you have more space, you can really get creative with your furnishings. Don't fret that the task seems monumental; it is not provided you tackle it systematically. Plan for it stage by stage and know what you want so that you can shortlist out of the variety that is available on the market. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/liven-up-your-garden-with-a-fountain-tips-for-choosing-your-water-fountain-pump.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/home-and-family/gardening/liven-up-your-garden-with-a-fountain-tips-for-choosing-your-water-fountain-pump.html Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:23:09 -0500
Water fountains are very appealing in any garden setting. When it's hot outside and you're tired, you'll feel instantly refreshed when you see a lively fountain in a garden. The sound that a water fountain produces is also very soothing.

If you live in an apartment, you might want to choose a small table top fountain for the soothing sounds it will produce. If you have a house with a yard, you can go as large as you want for your water fountain. No matter the size, the water fountain will produce soothing sounds.

We know that at the bottom of every water fountain sits a water fountain pump. This is, of course, the core of the fountain. If you didn't have a water fountain pump you wouldn't have moving water!

There are many different types of water fountain pumps. Most pumps are plugged into an electrical source, while there are also solar powered units available which only need the sun to provide power.

Water fountain pumps basically makes the water pump through a plastic tube and releases it through the fountain nozzle. The water then returns to the bottom where it is again pumped into the tube and spurted out the fountain nozzle.

The water fountain pumps are located at the bottom of the fountain. This allows the water fountain pumps to collect the water that would be spurted through the fountain nozzle. Make sure that you have the right pump. Check on the maximum lift it can give and the gallons per hour it can handle.

Gallons per hour, or GPH, will usually vary from 35 up to 600 gallons per hour, depending on the size of the fountain. The water fountain pump should be appropriate according to the size fountain that you want. It's not always better to have more power.

If you want a peaceful, gurgling fountain, you should choose a lower GPH. A higher GPH will force more water through the fountain nozzle, producing more noise and larger splash. Make sure that you know upfront what type of fountain that you want. Take into consideration the setting of your fountain. ]]>