Buying Tips: Buying A Gas Grill
Written by bstanley on December 15, 2009 in Home Improvement
Well – first of all, forget anything you’ve heard about gas grills. There are lot of myths out there, and I’d like for you to
A Gas Grill
really think about what I am about to pass on to you. It will make sense when we are done, and hopefully you can make a great gas grill purchasing decision.
First, you need to decide how you like to cook on a gas grill. Do you like putting your meat on the grill and walking away until it is done, or do you like cooking things fast and hot? Do you cook directly over the flame, or indirectly? Once you have figured out what you want out of a grill, you’re ready to go shopping.
A lot of publications out there say to set your price point and then shop. That is not the way you should do it. First of all, you may not have any idea what grills cost these days. Second, you get what you pay for. Click here to read more …
Ceiling Wallpaper: How To Wallpaper The Ceiling
Written by bstanley on December 15, 2009 in DIY & install, Interior Home Improvement
Wallpapering the ceiling is very much the same as wallpapering the walls except of course its a little trickier ! The most important thing before you even start to hang paper on the ceiling is to make sure you have a good, flat, strong platform from which to work. The platform will ideally be just high enough for you to reach the ceiling comfortably. You should not be bent over when working on the ceiling but able to look up normally at the job with enough flex in your elbows to be comfortable and not having to stretch to reach. Click here to read more …
Garden Design: Garden Lighting Designs
Written by bstanley on December 14, 2009 in DIY & install, garden design
To get the most pleasure from your garden, use it not only in the daylight hours but for twilight entertaining or as your hub for evening relaxation. Garden lighting makes this possible. Think of soft, subtle illumination for your flower beds, shrubbery, deck or patio. Plan for plenty of area lighting for poolside safety and use spot lighting for cooking or eating areas. Consider solar lights for efficiency and practicality. Click here to read more …
Growing Blueberries: Planting Garden Blueberries
Written by bstanley on December 14, 2009 in by plant, garden plants, gardening
This fruit is a regular taste sensation and is surprisingly rarely grown in Australia, although we understand it is a lot
Growing Blueberries
more popular with our American gardening cousins. Australians probably don’t grow blueberries because they don’t think they’ll grow well here. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact we’ve successfully grown blueberries here in sunny subtropical Queensland. So if we can grow these scrumptious berries so can you!
Click here to read more …
Carpet Cleaning: How To Clean Your Carpet
Written by bstanley on December 14, 2009 in Interior Home Improvement
Eventually every carpet needs some type of cleaning to remove soil that sticks to the fibers. How often depends on the amount of use the carpet gets; some areas will need cleaning before others.
Methods Of Cleaning Carpets
Basic methods of carpet cleaning are:
- Dry absorbent powder
- Foam
- Shampooing
- Hot water extraction.
Each method has advantages and disadvantages. Costs in dollars, time, and energy vary, as do the skills needed to do a good job. Click here to read more …
There are a number of great veggies that you can grow throughout the winter months. Cold hardy greens like escarole
Fall Squash
are a good pick for the winter garden. Carrots and other root crops also work well. Make sure to talk to your local extension agent for a list of vegetables that will work in your winter garden.
What is feasible to grow can vary widely on where you live. For example, wet and cooler states like Washington may be challenging places to grow vegetables as the wet conditions tend to attract pests and diseases to your plants. Residents of north central states like the Dakotas may be limited to growing vegetables in temperature controlled greenhouses because of the extreme cold.
If you do get a lot of rain in the winter, raised beds are a perfect way to control the soil moisture level. Soils dry out quicker in raised beds and containers. Additionally, diseases and pests are easier to treat. You can always cover your raised beds during the coldest days of the year to protect your plants. Click here to read more …
Planting Beans: Growing Beans In Your Garden
Written by bstanley on December 13, 2009 in garden plants, gardening
The humble bean is a wonderful vegetable – both for you and your garden. Beans are legumes so they draw nitrogen from
Green Beans
the air and fix it into the soil on their roots. This means whatever you grow after your beans will benefit from the extra nitrogen in the soil.
Growing Conditions For Garden Beans
- Beans are susceptible to frosts so they should only be grown in warmer months, unless you live in a subtropical climate where you can grow them all year long.
- They love sunny well drained beds.
- Beans like a soil manured the previous season, you might also add a little lime before sowing.
- In a 4 bed rotation system beans are grown in the same bed after you’ve harvested your winter brassicas (cauliflower and broccoli).
Bamboo Plants: Growing Bamboo In The Home Garden
Written by bstanley on December 12, 2009 in by plant, gardening
Contrary to popular belief, bamboo plants are not limited to forests or commercial growth areas alone. Gardeners can
Bamboo Plants
grow bamboo within their own home gardens. Bamboo plants are some of the fastest growing plants and are well suited for a garden and can be grown by even the most inexperienced gardener.
Another common myth about the bamboo plant is that it is a tree, but it is in fact a type of grass. Like grass, bamboo plants too can get out of control; however, if cared for properly, growing bamboo does not have to be tiresome at all and can add a tropical warmth to your home. Click here to read more …
Building A Deck: How To Build A Deck
Written by bstanley on December 12, 2009 in DIY & install, Exterior Home Improvement
If you are good with your hands and are looking for long term exterior home improvement project, building a deck may be exactly what you are looking for. Irrespective of whether or not you have a pool, an outdoor deck can completely transform your home.
Deck Building Considerations
Before you get start with your deck building project, it is important you find out the basic administrative and logistics details to build a deck. Click here to read more …
Medicinal Plants: Adding Medicinal Herbs To Your Garden
Written by bstanley on December 11, 2009 in Herb gardening, by plant, gardening
The beauty and joy of gardening is that it not only adds beauty to your home but you can use your gardening skills to grow plants that are very useful to you as well. While edible plants such as peppers are great for food purpose, growing herbs such as basil are also useful. However, what is also useful is growing medicinal plants in your garden. Being able to grow your own medicinal herbs means you will have easy access to some handy, curative plants that not only add beauty to your garden but also help you if you are sick. Click here to read more …