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Why Should You Install A Deck In Your Backyard?

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A big backyard can be like a blank canvas.  Unfortunately, though, you may not feel creative enough to fill that canvas!  If you’re looking for a great way to turn your backyard into a fun, stylish place to be, you need outdoor decking.


Wonderful for Backyard Barbecues

A deck can be the perfect centrepiece for your yard.  Once it’s installed, you can surround it with landscaping or even a garden, so that you can inject all of the various colours and textures that you want.  The area will look great, and it will be practical, too!  After all, everyone loves hanging out in the backyard for a barbecue, and outdoor decking gives you the perfect space to host all of your friends and family.  From it, you’ll be able to enjoy warm afternoons and great sunsets!

Best of all, outdoor decking is so versatile that you can fit it into any decor.  No matter what type of home you have, what type of yard you’ve got, or what type of budget you have to work with, a deck can match it.  Even if you’ve got a ton of hills or uneven patches in your yard, you can make outdoor decking work!

Think you can’t enjoy a deck because your yard isn’t big enough?  Think again!  Sure, you may not have a sprawling area to host giant parties, but you can definitely create a spot that injects a little bit of life into your plain ol’ backyard.  In fact, it could be just the thing you need to add some dimension and some much-needed extra space to your smaller home!

OK, so you want outdoor decking… But does that mean you have to spend a ton of money on a professional builder?

No way!

Outdoor decking is so versatile that you can build it yourself if you want.  If you’ve got some woodworking experience, building your own deck can be a great way to spend your free time.  All you need is a pencil and some paper to draw out some designs.  Once you measure your yard, you’ll be able to figure out how much wood you need to build the deck of your dreams.

What if you’re not that handy?

There are tons of timber decking specialists out there, who can give you the expertise you need, without charging you an arm and a leg.  They can help you figure out which type of wood is right for your deck — soft or hard — along with the perfect level of treatment you need to create a deck for the long haul.

Whether you decide to do the work yourself or call in an expert, you’ll be happy to know that the outdoor decking possibilities are endless.  As long as you plan ahead carefully, you can wind up with the perfect finished product.  In fact, an addition like this can add some serious value to your home — not to mention all of the “style points” you’ll get from it.

Bottom line — a deck can make your house feel like home again!

Sam Nathan is a freelance writer. His interests include sports, travel and health.

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Beginner’s Guide To Organic Gardening: 4 Natural Pest Control Techniques

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Organic gardening can be an excellent way to save money and eat fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables; however, it also comes with a fair share of problems and frustrations. One of the main problems that one might encounter is pest control. There are a lot of things you need to take into consideration, especially if you want to use safe and organic techniques.

Organic pest control may seem like a contradiction, but it is not. This involves combining preventive methods as well as supporting the natural eco-system. If you are interested in organic gardening, it is also important to learn how to control the pests in your yard and garden without using chemical insecticides or pesticides. It is crucial to understand that complete annihilation is not the answer in controlling these unwanted creatures.

Why Should You Use Organic Pest Control Techniques?

As a gardener, you need to understand that a healthy garden also needs to have insects. They are an important part of the ecosystem and must not be completely eradicated. Insects and bugs serve as food for lizards, birds, and wildlife as well as assist in the pollination process. They also help break down the nutrients found in the soil, compost, and become nutrients themselves once they die. With that said, completely eradicating them from your organic garden won’t be such as good idea. It is best to simply control them to avoid a full-blown infestation.

When controlling these insects and bugs, you need to avoid using chemical pesticides since these products can eliminate the nutrients produced by plants and vegetables. Chemical pesticides also eliminate beneficial soil microbes which will result to an unhealthy environment. Lastly, long exposure to these toxic chemicals may lead to health problems, such as cancer, alzeimer’s, and fertility issues. If you want to properly control the insects, bugs, and other pests in your organic garden, you can try a more natural approach.

Natural Pest Control Techniques

Companion Planting: This is a crucial technique in organic gardening. This method involves using plants that have natural properties which help others grow as well as deter pests. The plants’ natural properties will also help increase the production in the garden. Here are a few of the most common companion plants:

  • Basil: This plant can be planted alongside tomatoes to improve its production as well as its flavor. Basil is also a good companion plant for peppers. It is also said to successfully repel mosquitoes due to its scent.
  • Chamomile: This is a wonderful companion for cucumbers, onions and cabbages. It also attracts beneficial insects that can help get rid of harmful pests, insects, and bugs.
  • Catnip: This is an herb which is great for squash and cucumbers. It also helps repel bugs and aphids. You can also use its dried leaves to create your own pest control spray in your organic garden.
  • Dill: This plant can improve the flavor of cucumber lettuce and cabbages. It also repels pests found in the garden.
  • Marigolds: You can plant marigolds throughout your garden to repel mosquitoes, flies, and other stinging insects.
  • Sunflowers: These are another excellent companion plants and can add aesthetic appeal to your organic garden while keeping aphids and other bugs at bay.

Powdered Kelp Solution: Aside from companion planting, you can also create a natural pest control spray, such as creating a solution from powdered Kelp. This solution can repel Japanese beetles and aphids while nourishing the plants in your garden. You can spray the solution once a week or before infestation times.

Lemon Balm Tea: This natural solution can keep squash bugs and aphids away from your garden. You only need to spray your plants with lemon balm tea at least two or three times a week when necessary.

Hot Pepper And Garlic Spray: All you need are 2-3 cloves of garlic, 4 hot cayenne peppers, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, a tablespoon of liquid soap, and 2-3 cups of hot water. You must then blend all the ingredients together for several minutes then let it sit overnight. Doing so will help intensify its effects. The next day, you can then strain the solution with a strainer or towel and store the solution in a glass container or spray bottle. Spray the solution directly onto the plants at least once a week. This solution can successfully repel garden bugs, insects, and wildlife pests.

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Kris Lim is an avid gardener who shares her tips and techniques to her readers. In this article, she aims to help her readers learn more about the natural pest control techniques they can apply to their own organic garden.

Shopping For A Special Someone:

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When you have a special lady in your life one of the first things that you learn is the importance of flowers in the relationship. Many guys will send flowers to their wives or girlfriends only on special occasions, or when they want to apologize for something. This tactic is not a good one to use because that special someone believes they are only getting flowers out of some sense of obligation., meanwhile, flowers that come out of the blue will make that special someone feel more loved than ever. No matter what the reason for the purchase, there are some things that you need to keep in mind when you buy flowers for the woman in your life.

Location

You want to make sure that you are using a florist that is either located close to the person you are sending flowers to, or they have a delivery agreement with a local company. Flowers that have to travel in the back of a delivery van will got hot and wilt before they should, and that special someone in your life will get very little enjoyment form her flowers. The best thing that you can do is use a local vendor, preferably someone who can delivery flowers on the same day that you ordered them. This means the person getting the flowers will get the freshest flowers possible.

Display

Another thing that you need to keep in mind is how the flowers will be displayed. If you are sending a large bouquet to the home, then this is not a real problem, as your lady should have something to hold the flowers readily available. On the other hand, if you are delivering the flowers to her job, she may not have anything to hold the flowers. The longer they sit without water the shorter the lifespan of the flowers will be. You can avoid this problem by having the flowers delivered in a vase of some kind, that way, no matter where she is when she gets them, your lady will have something to hold her flowers. The flowers should also for a cohesive statement, where the flowers all match each other and the arrangement makes sense; you do not want to send flowers that look like they were just jammed together into a vase because they happened to be handy.

Quality

Finally, you want to make sure that your lady is getting flowers of high quality. You do not want to send her flowers that have bent stems or torn petals, because the message that you are sending her is that she is not worth all that much to you. The flowers should be strong, vibrant and smell fresh. Your special lady should feel how much you care about her the second that she sees the flowers, and this only happens when the arrangement makes an impression. Though price may be a consideration, sometimes it is better to splurge a little bit on the woman that you love, instead of counting pennies.

Flowers are one of the oldest ways that men have shown women that they are important, and they continue to be a mainstay of male-female relationships to this day. A flower arrangement, when done correctly, will make your lady feel like she is worth the world to you, and they are a terrific way to express affection.

I am Sammie Shields, woman and relationship counselor. I wrote this article because so many of the couples that I talk to have trouble communicating unless they are fighting. A man that surprises the woman that he loves with flowers will make a stronger statement about how he feels about her than he could in an awkward conversation. In Canada flowers are the way to a woman’s heart, and men need to know how to choose a good florist. For my clients I recommend http://www.allflowersandgifts.com  because of their ease to use website and huge selection of flowers for all occasions.

Tips On Moving House With Pets

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As much as we adore our beloved pets, moving house with them can be stressful. Many people worry about the confusion experienced by pets during the relocation process. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as we might anticipate. There are plenty of ways to make moving house with pets easier, leaving you to focus on packing boxes and communicating with the removalists!

prision break

It is important that your pet is not only micro chipped, but also carries an identification tag, clearly labelled with your new address. Most animals are likely to stay by their owner’s side. However, if a pet does become lost, it is essential that whoever finds him/her is able to contact you easily. While we’re on the subject, don’t forget to change the contact details linked to your pet’s microchip!

Obtain a copy of your pet’s medical record from your current vet, and check that all immunisations are up-to-date. This is especially important in the case of an international relocation, as is checking quarantine laws.

That’s the paper work pretty much taken care of. Now we come to the emotional issues. Some pets might display anxiety as the movers start to visit your home and the relocation date draws near. Animals might not be able to talk with us, but their instincts are well developed when it comes to sensing change. Keep a close eye on your pet’s behaviour. Consider putting him/her in a separate room, where he/she won’t be close to all the hustle and bustle of packing and the lifting and lugging of removalists. Constant reassurance, both verbal and physical, can help to reduce stress.

Try to maintain your pet’s regular routine, particularly in terms of eating and exercise. That might be difficult, considering that your own life will feel as though it is very much out of order, but keeping up expected behaviours can assist in instilling a sense of normality.

When it comes to relocation day, try the following tips:

• Sedatives are useful if your pet is extremely stressed, if the journey is long, and/or if your pet is travelling with the removalist.

• Use comfortable, secure caging and cover it if necessary.

• If relocating by plane, book the most direct route possible, and check on housing and identification requirements for animals.

• If relocating by car, stop as often as possible, to provide your pet with fresh air, exercise, food, water and affection. Don’t let him/her stray too far, though, as he/she might become confused and go for a wander. If you have to stop overnight, ring ahead to find accommodation where pets are accepted and don’t forget to carry a leash.

• Have your pet travel with you, rather than the removalist. If this isn’t an option, book removalists that you trust implicitly, to assure peace of mind.

Once you’ve reached your destination, give your pets a couple of weeks to develop self-confidence. Don’t be too concerned if they’re fretful – that’s to be expected after moving house. Do what you can to reassure them, by providing affection, re-establishing routines, and keeping up food and water schedules. It won’t be long before the movers are gone and you and your pets are starting to feel at home again.

Sam Nathan is a freelance writer. His interests include finance, sports, travel and health.

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5 Tips For Wrapping Fragile Gifts

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You’re not required to provide a gift when attending an event. But if you want to make a celebrant feel extra special, then offering a present is one way to express your appreciation or affection. Gift-giving is truly a wonderful tradition that people do in order to commemorate special occasions or milestones, and nothing could be worse than getting a lovely yet broken gift because it was not wrapped properly. So, whether you are giving a gift for a special someone out of the blue or if you need to bring a present for a person who is celebrating a special event, you might find these wrapping tips useful.

1. Use a gift box. When you have gifts wrapped by professionals, you’ll notice that they often use sturdy boxes. Others, however, forgo the box because they think that it’s an added cost. But remember that it’s better to pay more for gift wrapping supplies. If you skimp on it and if you don’t obtain a secure container for a breakable gift item, like a vase, glasses or dishes, you’ll only be wasting more money if your delicate piece breaks because of improper packaging. In addition, a gift box makes it easier for you to wrap an item, especially one with an irregular shape.

When choosing a box, make sure to measure the thing that you want to wrap first because you need to allot about 1 to 2 inches of space on all sides. The space is for packing materials and it will also help in cushioning the fragile item.

gifts

2. Layer protective material. It is particularly important for you to use packing materials to protect easily broken gift items. You can use Styrofoam peanuts, bubble wrap, or soft tissue or paper. Begin by putting one layer of cushion at the bottom of the gift box. Gently lay the fragile gift on the soft material. Then, put more packing material on and around the item. Make sure that it is snug in the box and not moving around.

If you’re packing dishes or bowls, put a soft cloth or tissue in between each dish. A few coffee filters will also help in protecting bowls from chips or breakage. When packing tall items, such as vases or glasses, wrap each one in bubble wrap and fill the hollow center with packing peanuts or pellets.

3. Give extra care to particularly delicate items. Certain pieces are made up of smaller and more fragile parts. In order to protect these things from cracking or breaking, wrap these in individual boxes before putting them in the bigger gift box. Use packing materials when needed.

4. Properly secure the lid of the box. You can tape the top before covering the entire box with charming wrapping paper. Another way is to secure the lid using a strong ribbon. The latter is advisable if you are already using a very strong and beautifully colored or printed box.

5. Don’t forget the gift tag. Write a short greeting to the person to whom the gift is intended for before securing that tag on the gift. You can tape this on. Or you can cut a small hole on the tag, thread a nice ribbon or decorative thread through it, and then attach the tag on the gift.

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The blog is by Claire Kurt, a freelancer who often tackles issues about home and parenting. With the help of respected businesses, like US Storage Centers, she wants to provide more helpful info about storage, how to get rid of mess, and other concerns that people often encounter.

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