Light the Way to Garden Grandeur

Lighting can make or break a garden during the evening hours. If you want to create a romantic mood or a party atmosphere, proper lighting in your garden will make it much easier. Plus, outdoor lighting will let you enjoy your garden into the long hours of the summer nights. Here are a few options and ideas:

Solar Lighting

Are you energy-conscious or worried about your electric bill? Consider lighting your garden with solar lamps. These simple lamps require no cables or wiring because they include a small solar panel that collects sunlight during the day in order to power the light fixture when it’s dark. Solar lights can range from common lamp posts to pool lights in all different colors. They function well, they’re beautiful, and they keep your costs down. What a great way to light your garden!

Candles and Torches

As we all know, candles come in a huge variety of sizes, shapes and designs. There’s no better way to provide soft light than to create a centerpiece by filling a clear glass bowl with water and lighting a few floating candles in it.

Tired of swatting away mosquitoes and gnats? Try a citronella torch or candle to keep the insect traffic down. The torches usually stick straight into the ground and, depending on the strength of the citronella, can keep insects away from a very large area. You can even make your own citronella candles or buy them in a variety of colors, sizes and designs.

Outdoor String Lights

A fun way to light an outdoor party is to hang paper or plastic outdoor lights around your deck or garden. They’re usually quite cheap – around $10 to $20 for a single string.

Lamp Posts

Lamp posts are usually made in several styles, including Venetian, Dutch and Victorian. They also come in a variety of materials. European lamp posts are made with one or several lights and start out around $130. But if the post has multiple lights and arms, the price is going to be higher. Some lamp posts may have a planter base in which you can plant some nice flowers under the light. Lamps can run on kerosene or lamp oil, but most of them run on electricity, which means wiring or cables.

Posted on June 23rd 2009 by admin

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What Makes A Beautiful Garden?

Gardens are more than just the flowers and trees that you carefully tend – every garden has a theme and style that make it yours.

Garden decor includes everything from tiny blue flowers to trees, fountains, and benches, as well as statues, figurines, and gnomes. There is a multitude of creative and original structures and items to choose from that can turn your garden into a truly unique paradise.

Gardens aren’t just flowers and trees sitting in your back yard. Every garden has a theme and a style that make it your own. Your garden decor will define your home’s overall appearance. Even if someone never sees the inside of your home, he or she may still determine your style solely based on the decor seen in your garden. It may even inspire them to spruce up their gardens a bit. A well-designed garden will add personality, character, and value to your home.

One of the best things about garden decor is that it can change as much as the garden itself. Styles are always changing, and some of the newest and most creative innovations go unnoticed by garden lovers. However, even the most old-fashioned garden decor has a place in your garden. It’s all about showing off the best features of your home.

You will likely find garden decor at any department store, hardware store, or nursery. Your options are endless for garden art and decor that will enhance the landscape of your home. You can add a little water to your garden to not only cool the air, but also draw birds and other animals.

A lot can be discovered about your personality by looking at the type of garden decor and garden ornaments you choose for your home. In order to have the best garden in the neighborhood, you’ll need a little imagination and the right garden decor. Granted, the price might be somewhat high, but the payoff will be worth it. Remember that gardens are not only great to look at; they’re also a wonderful place to sit and enjoy life. You’ll want to add a bench or garden swing to make your garden a true paradise for relaxing. Create a sense of magic in your garden, and you will always have a place to escape to.

Posted on June 23rd 2009 by admin

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All About Containers

The plants and flowers in your garden don’t always have to be in the ground. Containers are great options for plants and vegetables. However, the soil is critical to the survival of the plants, so you need to be careful when choosing the flower pots you’re going to put the plants in. Containers can be made of a variety of materials. Regardless of whether you’re looking for wholesale flower pots or you’re handling your own pot crafts, you still need to be aware of which materials work the best with which plants.

Types of containers range from plastic flower pots or terracotta pots and saucers, to ornate glazed pots with hand-painted artwork. So how do you pick the right one? Here are five steps that should help you:

  1. Maintenance. Terracotta absorbs moisture very quickly, but it also dries out very quickly. Ceramic containers are usually sealed with a glaze. Wooden planter boxes are unsealed, which means you’ll probably have to seal them year after year in order to prevent fading, rotting, and splintering.
  2. Style. You’ll want to match the style of your containers with the style of your home. Tall pots will probably work well with more modern homes, while more casual, folk-art looking containers will fit well with country-style or ranch homes. Just don’t let the style of the pot detract from the beauty of the plant.
  3. Location. If you have container garden and deck garden pots, they need to be sturdy and be able to hold up to the weather. Make sure you allow for drainage.
  4. Scale. If you want to add an accent to your large porch table, a pot of chrysanthemums might work great. But a smaller table will look better (and you’ll have more room on it) if you adorn it with a bonsai tree.
  5. Growth. This goes along with scale. Many plants do quite well in tight areas, while others require a lot of space to allow for an expansive root system. Ensure that you choose a container according to the plant’s growth pattern. Also, does the plant need direct sunlight, shade, or no light? Ask your local nursery if you’re not sure.

These 5 tips should help you choose the right containers for your garden. For even more advice, visit Garden Decor Help.

Posted on June 23rd 2009 by admin

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