What is the best way to approach my neighbours about a new fence?
I have purchased a block of land and one of the fences has fallen down with the high winds What is the best way to approach my neighbours to let them know we must get a new fence.
What is the best way to approach my neighbours about a new fence?
I have purchased a block of land and one of the fences has fallen down with the high winds What is the best way to approach my neighbours to let them know we must get a new fence.
How do I get my dogs comfortable with my new hotwire fence?
I recently had to put a hotwire fence around my yard to keep my dogs from escaping through the chain link fence around my house. They now seem too scared to get move off the porch. How can I get them comfortable with the new setup and back out into the yard?
Thank you for all the real comments concerned readers submitted. I was not looking for a lecture from close minded people. I appreciate the feedback from people who understand I am not cruel, just concerned. I live on a busy highway and the last thing I would ever want to happen is for my dogs to get killed. I take them everywhere with me and they love me to death and I couldn’t do with out them. They are working dogs, not "pets". They serve a purpose and are not like the family pet. They help me work cattle on my ranch. Any dog owner with any concern for their pets knows that this is not "cruel" but is necessary to ensure the saftey of their animal. Discipline and boundaries are bases of a good relationship with your animal. Especially with a working pet that I depend on for many things. For those of you with legitimate answers, thank you very much. For those of you with nothing but contempt and ridicule, please understand the situation before you make a fool of yourself.
Landscaping | Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are a very popular way to landscape your building. They can be used to secure earth so that you can easily create a number of different types of landscape for your garden. They make it easy to prevent erosion, create raised flower beds, and even create slopes. If you’re looking for a landscaped garden then it’s a good idea to learn all you can about retaining walls.
There are a number of different types of retaining walls, including walls that are secured by gravity, pilings, anchors, and even some that are cantilevered. The important thing to ensure is that any retaining wall is built to a high quality. They must be strong enough to support whatever it is they are holding back. Earth can be very heavy, which is why the wall needs to be as strong as possible.
Materials
Retaining walls can be made out of large rocks, stone, wood, concrete, steel, boulders, or bricks. The walls can either be simple, or they can be much more complicated and complex designs. They can also be used to create driveways, walkways, or simply for a swimming pool.
It’s much easier to install certain types of walls including rock walls. These normally provide a barrier between specific areas, for example they are used as a barrier between garden beds, fields and forests and many other types of landscape.
Functions
When deciding on the type of wall to fit it is very important that you first look at the functions you will want the wall to do for you. You might want to be able to get behind it to prune, in which case certain types of walls will not be required. You might also be building different types of features, including new seating areas in which case you will need to decide the height you require, and the amount of space you need. You can choose between permanent structures, or much more flexible structures which can be dismantled and rebuilt somewhere else if required.
Asking an expert
It’s important to ask for help if you need it. A retaining wall is a very important structural part of your garden and even if it’s only purpose is to make your garden look nice it’s important that it will stand the test of time. One great company to talk to is Adelaide paving. They can be reached on the internet at www.adelaidepaving.com.au.
If you ask an experts advice then they will be able to help you use retaining walls in such a way to create a beautiful landscape that you can be proud of. Spend time carefully choosing the right type of material and wall so that you can get the best look and ensure that your garden looks the best it possibly can. Adelaide Paving can assist you with these complicated decisions and make the most out of them.
After working with a construction firm for over 12 years, Daniel Wilson decided to give her childhood passion, writing, a chance. With her insight in the field of construction and home improvement, Daniel Wilson is a popular writer on the internet. Her articles are both comprehensive and interesting. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/landscaping-retaining-walls-1000095.html
Should I offer to split the cost of building a new fence?
Hello! I moved into my current house 3 years ago. My next door neighbor already had a fence up on one end. Now a new family moved in behind my house few months back. And he put up a fence around his house and that took care of the back. Should I offer to split the cost of the fence that adjoins the backyards? If so, am I obligated to pay something to my next door neighbor as well? eventhough the fence was there before I moved in? I may eventually put up a fence on my own… What's the unspoken good neighbor policy? Thanks!
New fence?
When getting a new fence, should you put the smooth side towards your backyard or out? On a fence between two properties?
On the fence between two properties do you just do it and hope the neighbor offers you something?
Of course they don't want a fence lol. They would prefer that their dogs have 2 yards to run in like they did before HUD put the fence up lol.
Sadly, that nasty fence is falling down after a year and I don't want our dogs getting into it. And I don't want their bratty little kids messing with my dogs this summer.
Top 10 Ways to Do Your Own Landscaping and Save Money
Doing your own landscaping is a fun activity. You can choose the different things you want to do with your garden and actually make it happen - and all with your own hands. However, before you can consider doing your own landscaping, you have to consider several aspects of the job. Consider your skills with landscaping, your tastes in design, where you want to attain what kind of look, what your budget is etc. All these factors will help you chart out or plan what you want to do with your yard. Also, while you think about these things, you also need to ensure that your yard design plan is in line with the design of your house. This way, the yard will complement your home and vice versa, other than looking totally out of place within the overall design and look of your home.
Once you have finalized these aspects of the design of your landscape, then you are ready to start on the landscaping of your yard. Here are some things which you might want to consider while doing your own landscaping.
Incorporate a variety of hardscape features like fences and walls into your landscaping design. This way, you will ensure that all the design elements of your landscape mesh well with each other.
Consider planting trees, shrubs, and flowering plants etc which bloom all the year round. You can also consider planting trees and flowering plants that bloom seasonally. And in that case, you may want to plant these shrubs and plants in such a way that your yard looks beautiful all the year round. For example, you can have trees that flower in spring and summer, have fall foliage in autumn and retain good structure during winter.
You can install water features such as fountains and ponds in your yard. These can serve as really beautiful focal points in your landscape design.
You can layer your flower beds in such a manner that the tallest plants are planted in the back row, while the shortest plants are planted in the front row.
Using evergreens can ensure that your yard retains its green color even during the bleak months of winter.
Each and every tree, shrub and plant has its own form and texture - these shapes and colors can add a lot of vitality into the design and form of your landscape. You can study the look and feel of each of these plants, and create a look that is very synchronous and yet adds diversity to your landscape design.
To ensure that you have color on a continuous basis in your yard, you can plant trees and shrubs that are ‘annual’ - that means they bloom all the year round.
Match the types of the flowers you are planting to the space where they will be growing. Consider the light and soil requirements before buying and planting the flowers.
If you are a beginner, then you should consider drought-resistant plants which will not wilt in the summer heat.
Consider a design which does not require much maintenance - this is especially important if you have a busy and hectic lifestyle where you may not have much time for the maintenance and up-keep of the yard.
With these ideas, you should now be able to generate a good idea about what you want to do in your yard landscape.
To know more about NJ Landscaping and NJ Landscaping Service visit http://hillsboroughirrigation.com/landscaping_services.asp Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/top-10-ways-to-do-your-own-landscaping-and-save-money-990682.html
Theme Container Gardens for the Deck and Patio
Creating your own container garden can be so much fun, especially if you think of using themes. Consider showing off your style with a small kitchen garden, or create an outdoor pot designed to attract hummingbirds or to welcome butterflies. Our beings are drawn to beautiful scents, what about a container giving off wonderful fragrances.
Culinary containers or kitchen gardens are especially handy as a source of herbs, leafy lettuce or parsley, or even edible flowers. You may wish to combine many edibles to create your own miniature garden at the door. Combining edibles with your flowering or ornamental plants can be so attractive – imagine Beefsteak Tomatoes surrounded by basil or oregano. For foliage color, use green and purple leaved basils, leaf lettuce and Swiss chard. Parsley is especially great, goes anywhere, and adds attractive texture and rich green color to any container combination. Nasturtiums are grown for their showy, spurred flowers and trailing ones are sensational in your planters – they are edible and give a finished look to the container.
Herbs that work wonderfully well in culinary containers are chives, lemon balm, rosemary, different sages and oregano. Lemongrass is wonderful in soups and adds a nice vertical accent to any planter or outdoor pot.
And then of course there are those peppers, both colorful and hot. Cherry tomatoes should not be forgotten, they look pretty in your arrangements and the spectacular patio tomatoes are there for the picking. Don’t forget arugula and of course golden thyme for another theme.
The best place to use your fragrant plants is in garden pots on your deck or patio. This is where we can enjoy their lovely scents when relaxing in the evening. Mix scented plants with foliage or flowers and see what you can come up with. Some plants, such as heliotrope, can be enjoyed once they begin to bloom and for the rest of the summer. Lilies that have been forced in your pots can be moved to the garden after they bloom. Others such as tuberoses may have to be moved indoors before frost and then brought out again next year. Dahlias and of course geraniums make a great show and a delightful addition to your container gardens.
Hummingbirds will arrive right on your deck or patio if you give them the proper encouragement. Along with your hummingbird feeder, some of the best container plants to attract them are annual sages. They come in so many colors from bright red to shades of mauve and purpose to creamy white and pink. Try out one or more of them in your garden pots. You may also use Nicotiana plant, petunias and dwarf dahlias too.
To keep all of our container plants going all summer, deadhead regularly and of course water and feed on a timely basis. When plants become scrawny or leggy, just cut them back hard in mid-summer and then they will produce more new flowers and foliage within a few weeks. Your containers will be beautiful right into the cool Fall weather.
In summary, create theme container combinations. They can be ones either for the kitchen, to give off wonderful fragrances and of course to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Marion Stewart is an avid gardener. She loves sitting on her deck surrounded by so many varied flower-packed and herb planted containers. Her continued research has found these spectacular fine quality resin planters and garden containers and offers them in numerous colors, sizes and styles. Find your best planter at the GardenPlanterStore.com Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/theme-container-gardens-for-the-deck-and-patio-979532.html
Landscaping Designs with You in Mind
If you’re planning out your own landscape design, you’ve probably already figured out that it’s not as easy as it might seem! Landscape design is a pretty complicated subject, one reason why landscape architects have degrees in the subject. There are many things to consider, from the style of your home and the lay of your land, to what types of plants grow best in your climate and how much care and maintenance they require. In this article, we’ll explain the basics of creating a landscape design that will work for you and meet your specific needs.
The first step in creating your landscape design is to determine your goals. What do you want your landscape to accomplish? What will it say about you? How will your landscape reflect your personal taste and compliment the style of your home?
For most individuals, the first and foremost goal of any landscape design is to beautify your home and increase property value. Any landscaping, as long as it is relatively cohesive and well thought out, will usually accomplish this goal. When you think about increasing property value, remember that most home buyers want a property with at least one or two large shade trees, depending on the size of the lot. Some well placed shrubs in front of the home and a variety of flowers that will bloom in most seasons also go a long way toward beautifying the property.
For some homeowners, especially those of us living in urban or suburban areas, privacy is a major goal. When you live close to your neighbors, it’s nice to have a well placed tree or shrub to afford you a little privacy when barbequing on your deck or sunbathing on the back patio. If privacy is something you are striving for, consider fast growing trees and shrubs, and if you’ll need privacy in the winter as well as the summer, look for evergreen plants that won’t lose their leaves.
Attracting or discouraging wildlife may be another potential goal of your landscape design. For those who enjoy hummingbirds or butterflies, you may wish to plant flowers or shrubs that attract those animals. Gardeners with valuable perennials or vegetables may want to do whatever is possible to discourage wildlife such as rabbits and deer from eating their prized plants. When planning your landscape, be sure to assess the types of wildlife that are common to your area, and then carefully consider whether you want those animals present around your home. To some extent, this may be out of your control, but it never hurts to design with this in mind.
Lastly, consider what types of outdoor activities you and your family will engage in. Do you have young children that like to play outdoors? If so, then don’t plant trees or shrubs with thorns that could scratch or hurt children. Perhaps you and your spouse do a lot of outdoor entertaining. If so, you may want to landscape with a structure such as a patio pergola to provide some shade and privacy to your outdoor eating area. Keeping your potential outdoor activities in mind will lend a specific focus to your design plan.
While planning your own landscape design can be a difficult and daunting task, it is by no means impossible! Any homeowner that takes the time to evaluate their needs can come up with a plan that will be ideal for them and their family. Remember, your landscaping is the first thing visitors will see when they arrive at your home. If you take the time to plan it carefully, you’ll end up with a result you can be proud of for years to come.
Home Products ‘n’ More offers a variety of products to enhance your landscape design. Visit us for free shipping on garden arbors, pergola designs, and more at http://www.homeproductsnmore.com/How_To_Build_A_Pergola_s/628.htm Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/landscaping-designs-with-you-in-mind-980096.html
Ipe Decking the Natural Choice
Ipe (aka Brazilian walnut, Amapa, Cortez) decking known also as ironwood has gained popularity as consumers have become more educated. Not only is Ipe a natural rich looking product but it is an extremely dense hardwood. It is 3x’s as hard as oak with a Class A fire resistance (same rating as concrete and steel). Ipe wood is resistant to mold and fungus. Don’t worry about pesticides as Ipe is rot and insect resistant as well.
Ipe decks are installed all over the world by the most discriminating consumers not only for its aesthetic value but the maintenance free care. High end homes are specifically looking to install ipe decking because it is the gem of hardwoods in all aspects from the deep rich tones to the tight dense grains to the natural beauty only nature can produce. High end clients are familiar with this knowledge, as it has been tested time and again that we can not reproduce what nature has created nor should we continue to try.
Composite decks have tried to reproduce the look and the quality but it still looks like plastic wood with all the downfalls that come with composite products, molding issues, delamination and staining to name a few. There are other woods that are used for decking but the fact remains that the wood for longevity and strength to use for outdoor applications should be ipe. This conclusion is based on research and time. The fact that ipe decking has been specified in projects such as the South Beach boardwalk in Miami Beach, Las Vegas Resort Hotel and the Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco alone lends creditability to its longevity.
The brazilian hardwood color can vary from a yellowish brown to reddish brown in medium tones to almost black shade and slowly patinas to a silver-ish grey tone unless maintained with ipe deck sealer. Ipe decking comes in different width ranging from ¾”to 1.5”average with length from 6-20’ average. Special order sizes are available along with accessories such as handrail system, post caps and plugs.
When considering the longevity of your decking and replacement costs not to mention the down time involved, many consumers realize the value of Ipe. It is the natural choice.
Rosi Lehr works for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co. Inc. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/landscaping-articles/ipe-decking-the-natural-choice-973310.html
Ipe Decking