We talked yesterday about preventing backflow from contaminating your drinking water. Here is a video demonstrating how to prevent backflow in irrigation systems.
Wordless Wednesday: Spring Please!
From my front yard…
Landscaping Begins with a Sketch
One of these days I’m going to sit down with my husband and come up with a viable landscaping plan for the front of our house. Right now we have river stone right next to the house and a couple of rose bushes. We’ve cut down our little landscaping cedar trees because they were looking gross and dead.
I’d like to put in a some more bushes and maybe spider grass. Definitely a Japanese Maple! As you can see, we really do need to come up with some design ideas! Theology & Geometry has already started her dream plan,
My idea, if the sketch is truly undecipherable, is this: Push back the perimeter of the front yard a couple of feet, placing a row or two of nice-looking pavers flush with the street so that the parking that will inevitably be done there won’t continue to rip up my grass and create muddy tire tracks. Install a retaining wall (texture, color, material, and pattern are up for debate) and build up the lawn to level off at the top of the wall. That won’t be too tough since there is already a decent slope to the yard, and I’m not necessarily talking about a very tall retaining wall.
That’s a home owner with a plan!
Wordless Wednesday: Snow Beauty
Good Yard Means Good Neighborhood
When deciding if a neighborhood is safe, most people judge based on how well-kept a yard is. A study conducted by Relocation.com showed that the upkeep of a home was important, according to RIS Media,
75% of Americans believe the most important factor in determining a neighborhood’s safety is the up-keep of surrounding homes, especially the conditions of the front lawns, which trumps even Googling neighborhood statistics to get a feel for a community.
Other deciding factors are word-of-mouth, local crime reports, and whether a community is gated.
If you are selling your home, then the condition of your neighbor’s yard can have either a positive or negative impact on your ability to get top dollars. Don’t hesitate to talk (kindly) to them if they need to be better about mowing. You could even offer to mow a neighbor’s yard yourself if it means presenting your own home in a better light.
Wordless Wednesday: Spring in the Neighborhood
Something Romantic About a Lawn
I just love TheoGeo and her new house (and now new lawn). She shares a love letter to her lawn with us,
I sat on the porch and I watched. Red wasps and bumblebees were inspecting the flowering weeds. It took me a minute to stop freaking out about them flying around me, because I am insane. I tried to be all zen about it and not go fetch the Raid. My assumption is — always — that winged stinger-equipped beasts ALWAYS want to sting me, even if it means certain death for them. But I decided to just sit still, even when a hornet buzzed past my head. I cussed at it and then felt silly, like some paranoid Gulliver who thinks he’s under attack by a sprawling tiny army, but actually isn’t.
Magnificent!
Get Your Yard Ready for Spring
I can handle snow, but I’m over it for this year! What’s been even worse for me is the COLD this year. Come on spring!
What can you do around your lawn to get ready for the warmer weather? What will help your grass grow lush and the flowers peak out from their winter snooze-fest?
Perhaps the easiest thing you can do is walk around with a rake and untangle the dead grass that’s knotted up from wind, rain, snow, sleet. By doing this, nutrients can seep down into the root system allowing your grass to thrive.
Another step is to carefully examine your bushes, shrubbery and trees. If you see a branches or limbs that are broken, trim them away – and trim closely to the trunk.
Finally, NOW is the time to do some weeding. They’re dead now so get rid of them before they seed and spread.
Most importantly, enjoy the fresh air that this in-between seasons time brings. Time to clear your lungs, clear your head, and get your hands dirty!
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Yard with a View
I have deer that sometimes run through my yard, but this would be pretty good too. Watch the shuttle launch while sitting on your back deck from Dressage Daily,
I’m impressed!
Rake the Leaves – Or Not
Why are some men so picky about their yards? I’ve heard several talk about how they’d get upset if a neighbor mowed for them. Wha? O.o If someone mowed my lawn for me, I’d be doing cartwheels! I once had a neighbor who lived at the end of the street TERRIBLE about mowing their lawn. It made the whole street look shaggy – except for Mr. Meticulous who lived across from me.
So. One day I took my lawn mower down and did their front yard. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone so angry over a free lawn mowing job. Maybe they were just embarrassed.
All this brings us to The Hunters Wife who talks about how her husband made her promise not to touch the lawn when he went on a four-day trip. Hey no problem, right? Then he came home and decided to put her to work. I guess some people feel they need to supervise anyone who works in their yard! She did manage to evade most of the job. Clever!
“You want hot chocolate? I’ll go make us some. Be right back.” (Yes my way of taking a break.)
Back to raking leaves. I was instructed by Sgt. Narantic not to leave one leaf behind.
Umm what excuse can I use now? Think think think.
Mark: Where you going now?
Jody: Umm … I think that hot chocolate gave me a tummy ache.
That will give me a good 15 minute break without being questioned.
I love this! Go read her whole post – complete with pictures – to delight in her yard work!