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Three Easy Steps To Prepare Your Backyard For The Warm Summer Months

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Pool parties, barbeques, and sunbathing… Spring actually isn’t as far off as it seems. It’s only a few months away! With Spring approaching shortly, it may be time to start thinking about some Spring-cleaning so that your backyard is ready to go by the time summer rolls around. Get your yard ready for summer by following a few simple steps such as cleaning it up and setting up a patio space… you may even want to consider a home extension if you live in a sunny area in order to beat the heat (and sunburn!) By following the steps below, you can properly prepare your home for the upcoming warm months and make the most out of your backyard this summer.

1.       Clean up

Chances are that your yard is a bit of a mess if you haven’t been keeping up with it throughout the winter. Enlist some helpers (i.e. family members) to help get the yard back in shape. This means picking up any fallen branches, cutting down dead trees, trimming bushes, weed whacking, and raking up any dead leaves that have collected over the past few months.

2.       Set up

It’s time to bring out the old patio furniture out of storage and uncover and fill up the pool. Set up a nice sitting area, as well as a lounge area so you can easily host a barbeque or get-together without having to worry about having enough seats. Place mosquito-repelling candles around as well as some extra lighting so your yard will be useful at nighttime as well – solar powered lanterns will do the trick.

3.       Improve

Think about what you can do to improve your backyard’s appearance, as well as it’s worth. Whether you add a garden with seasonal flowers or a miniature waterfall, your backyard’s aesthetic is just important as your home’s interior. Leave it to a landscaper to plan out your backyard and find plants that work best in your location’s climate and weather conditions. If you live in a primarily sunny area, you may want to consider adding on a home extension to provide shade to you and your guests.

There are a variety of things you can do to improve your yard and perfect it before the summer season arrives. However, the first step is cleaning up your existing yard, setting up with the tools and materials you already have, and then thinking about what you can improve on.

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Jillian Johnson is a professional content marketing writer and blogger with a particular interest in writing about home and garden. To read more writing by Jillian, follow her @MissWritey.

How To Protect Your Garden From Frost Damage

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It is frustrating to nurture plants all year round only to have them destroyed by frost. However, the arrival of frost shouldn’t throw you into a panic as there are measures to protect them from frostbite. This can easily be done using readily available materials so you don’t have to spend money while you cushion your garden from the effects of frost. Before you can employ any protection techniques, you need to know exactly what frost does to plants. The soil upon which the plant is dependent for growth, is frozen making it impossible for water to reach the roots. Plant cells are also ruptured by the freezing cold resulting in a slow death. However, plants are affected differently so you should take time to find out which plants are weak and prone to weather damage.


Having understood the effect of frost, you can start preparing for its arrival by staying alert for weather warnings. This way you can water your plants before frost strikes to help it get enough moisture. Watering needs to be done lightly if you want to avoid the formation of frost.

Wet soil encourages absorption of crucial nutrients by the roots. Covering plants is a simple way to protect them and if done right, your garden will emerge bright and healthy after the danger is gone. Use burlap sacks, sheets or blankets to cover the plants. This helps to lock in the moisture by preventing entry of cold air in the garden. It should be done with extra caution because; heavy covers like blankets can crush plants if draped over without a support. Remember to use stones or wood to block spaces near the ground. You should always remove the covering at daybreak lest all your plants die of suffocation. The way you prepare the garden could also make the difference for your plants at the onset of frost season.

The secret to healthy plants after an episode of frost is the levels of humidity. The lack of moisture in the air during cold days leads to slow death of plants. This is why experts advocate for measures to protect plants form such damage. Moisture is easily preserved through mulching. This is an ancient agricultural practice that employed the use of leaves, bark, straw and grass placed on the soil to prevent moisture form leaving the soil. If there are plants that can be moved, relocate them to a safer spot from the direct touch of frost. Place potted plants in a warm place away from the decapitating cold. Plants with soft leaves are more prone to frost so the gardener should give them first priority and take extra care when handling them. Sturdier plants don’t suffer much but they should not be ignored because excess exposure will leave them vulnerable. Don’t worry if some plants appear dormant when it’s cold because it is only an adaptation method to avoid damage.

Jessica is really passionate about gardening and loves to share her passion with others too. You can have a look at her site on Wall Fountains at Water Fountain Pros if you want to get more information on Logo wall fountains.

How To Detect Infestations In Your Garden

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You will often come across pest infestations in your garden, but mostly when the infestation has become severe. In order to save your garden from severe damage from pests, it is important that you are able to detect the early signs of infestations. It is also important that you are informed about the various pest control methods available to you to control and prevent further pest infestations. This way you will be able to maintain your garden healthily. However, it is essential that you seek professional pest control assistance when you are unable to control the infestation in your garden to avoid the pests from invading your home.

How To Detect Infestations

The only way you can detect early infestations is when you observe your garden regularly. Always visit your garden and inspect all your plants. Be sure to inspect the stems and the undersides of the leaves as this is where pest activity usually occurs and where most of the damages can be found. Here are a few tips for you to understand the different signs of pest infestation:

Wilted Plants

When you find wilted, yellow and warped plants or leaves, this is mostly the sign that aphids have fed on the sap of the plants. You can sometimes still find these insects crawling on the plants along with ants trying to protect the aphids as they harvest the honeydew being produced. However, this type of infestation can also bring about black mold, so you can be sure that they are a problem when you discover your plants covered in black and gray spots. Nevertheless, there is a natural form of pest control to help keep aphids away. All you need to do is grow basil, anise, chives and even garlic surrounding other plants to keep aphids away. Otherwise, you can also soak crushed mint leaves or garlic in water, strain and then have the mixture sprayed on the plants.

Silvery Lines And Damaged Crops

Silvery lines around gardens and damaged lettuce crops indicate that you have slugs and snails living in your garden. These pests are a frustration to any gardener, but since there are various ways to control snails and slugs, all you need is patience and determination. You can locate them hiding under rocks and dispose them, create barriers of copper or eggshells, or have a container buried in the ground filled with beer.

Holes In Plant Leaves

Japanese beetles, caterpillars and cabbage loopers are often the cause of holes in plant leaves. Fortunately, they are easy to detect and control. The beetles tend to feed on plants the entire day without caring about being seen, so all you need to do is pluck them off. Cabbage loopers can be identified by looking out for white eggs that are laid on the top side of leaves. Just like beetles, they can easily be plucked off. If you need to get rid of caterpillars, simply place a potted nasturtium nearby.

Dry Plants

Dry plants are also an indication of mites infestations. Mites are small yellow, red or green spiders that can suck plants just like aphids. Since mites have a preference to infest plants in dry conditions, you can get rid of this pest by soaking the plant with water. You can also combine mild soap and water and mist the plant with the mixture.

Valerie Williams is a freelance writer specializing in natural methods of pest control. She regularly contributes articles to PreventivePestControl.com and other pest control websites.

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