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Having a shed in the back yard just makes life so much easier. Being able to store and organize all the garden tools, power tools along with mulch, garden soil and fertilizers makes it so much more enjoyable when you are working in the garden. Not to mention the space saver you will be getting by moving all that stuff out of your garage.

Before you set out to build your shed here are some tips.

1. Do you need a permit? This should probably be your first step, after you have decided where to build the shed. Permits can take some time to get approved so get that done in a timely fashion. Could you build without a permit, just hoping no one will know? You could… but it can also get costly. Getting the permit is just the best plan.

2. What is your skill level? Have you built stuff before? Building something above your skill level can be a really frustrating project. If you want to go above your own capabilities, it is certainly possible to hire someone for some specific aspects of the shed building project.

3. What type, and what size should the shed be? We recommend you really thing through the size aspect. You are only going to build this one time, so might as well make it something that will work for you for years to come. Should you build a wooden shed? Get a metal shed? A wooden shed looks more classy, obviously, and may better blend in with your garden and your home. There is also great flexibility when building a wooden shed and it can be painted and designed to match your current theme.

4. Make sure to have a great blueprint. Plans for how to build a shed can be found on the internet. Some can be quite costly, others are so inexpensive it almost make you wonder… Then, according to your skill level, you can get the type of plan suited for you. Do you need a plan that will show you step by step how to lay out the work? Something that has easy, laid out information on the supplies needed? Do you need pictures and videos to guide you? Or maybe you just need the actual blueprint itself? Before purchasing a plan, make sure it fits your needs.

5. Do you have the tools required for the job? Not having the right tools can cause an absolute nightmare. Power tools can be rented from your local hardware store. Usually for very little money. With a bit if planning you can minimize the time you need to rent the tools, but do rent them if you don’t already own them.

Planning your project before you start puts you ahead of the game. Getting all the supplies at once, knowing who you may need to hire, what tools to rent and where from…When your ducks are in a row, your shed building project will be both fun and easy and you will get a useful shed you can be proud of.

Before starting that project make sure you visit us for more info on Garden Shed Plans along with the best Storage Building Plans. to fit your needs.

Looking for some thrifty living tips to get your spring started? Spring is the time of renewal and growth. Everything seems fresh and new. It’s the perfect time to renew your plan to live a more thrifty life. Here are 5 tips to get you started:

Gardening: It’s gardening season - time to prepare your soil. One thrifty gardening tip is to begin working in the compost you have been making all year. Take the rich dark compost soil, put around 2 inches of it on the garden and work it into the top 5 inches of the garden.

Developing your own compost is a huge money savings, so if you don’t already have a compost, get one started. You can purchase a commercial compost bin, or make your own. The size of the bin you will be working with will depend on the space you have available. You can either enclose an area with boards or just decide on an area you want to use, loosen the dirt out at least a foot down, add your kitchen scraps and turn into the dirt on a regular basis. You can also add leaves and lawn clippings from the yard. Be sure to mix the scraps into the dirt well and keep the compost moist.

Planting Another step to thrifty gardening in the spring is getting your seedlings started. A great way to plant your seedlings is in pots made from old newspaper. To do this, get the newspaper moist, using two containers that are the same size, line one with the newspaper and press in with the other container. Remove the second container and let the newspaper dry. Use this to plant your seeds, and when your plants come up and are ready to plant in the garden, you can plant the newspaper pot and all. The newspaper will decompose over time.

Tools, Pots and Planters If you don’t have gardening tools or yours need replaced, start looking at yard sales, thrift stores and secondhand stores. Often you will find near new tools at these venues. For pots and planters, look around to the things you already have. You can use practically anything as a planter, such as an old pair of boots, or an old barrel or metal pail. Use your imagination and use what you already have.

Mulch Old newspaper is a thrifty option for mulch in the garden. Shred a bunch of newspaper and place around the bottom of your plants. This will help hold moisture and heat.

Watering If you are allowed to catch rain water in your area, this is the perfect way to save money on watering your garden and yard. Check your local regulations since catching and using rain water isn’t legal in some areas.

Another thrifty watering trick is to cut the bottom off of liter soda bottles, push the neck of the bottles down into the ground around your plants, then fill with water. The water will soak in slower than just watering with a sprinkler.

Find more thrifty living tips and ideas at Thrifty Living Tips or follow us at Thrifty Linda’s Twitter account.

Landscaping is more complex than it appears, and requires foresight and strategy to be correctly executed. Attempting to coordinate the many elements of landscaping without a professional landscape contractor and a landscape plan can result in delays in services and very costly mistakes that fail to meet expectations. Landscape plans are crucial components to the success of any landscaping project. They itemize clearly what is being brought to the table by the landscaping professional, and they allow the homeowner time to consider the details of the design and request any desired changes prior to the work being undertaken.

Landscape plans also establish the scope of a project by limiting the possibility of delays or major mistakes occurring throughout the course of the project. A landscaping firm such as Exterior Worlds will ultimately bring in a number of artisan subcontractors to handle various details of the project. Specifics such as swimming pools, masonry tiles, and outdoor lighting must be coordinating in advance. Understanding clearly what these elements will be and where they will be positioned along the landscape will help accomplish two very important things. First, it will ensure that all subcontractors who are brought in on a project clearly understand the role they are to play, the scope of their respective projects, and the timeline required for completion of essential components. Secondly, and equally importantly, it will ensure that that all specific elements interconnect to create a comprehensive aesthetic that appropriately compliments the exterior architecture of the home itself.

Landscaping plans also establish the scale of the project by creating a visual piece that all parties can reference. Complex exterior designs rely heavily upon the combined aesthetics of balance, harmony, and proportion. By creating a visual reference point for each and every element in the landscape, designers can show first the homeowner, and second all subcontracted entities, which essential elements are located in relation to one another. This makes it easy for all parties involved to negotiate any necessary changes, and it maintains efficiency in process flow from start to finish by making it clear where every intended element is to be placed, and what distance will lie between the various elements of the completed project.

Landscape plans also allow the homeowner to feel comfortable about what they are buying. Most people have a general idea of how they want their property to ultimately look. Not knowing the specifics of what will be involved, however sometimes make them feel a bit trepidatious about investing in a high-end design that will involve third party entities and a great deal of sophisticated outdoor structural work. Putting these details on paper allows the homeowner to see both the small details and the big picture, so to speak. Things such as decorations and structures placed within gardens, outdoor kitchens, and exterior rooms are drawn to scale so people can have a clear frame of reference to work with during the consultation process.

Normally, we consult with the homeowner first and draft a preliminary proposal based upon the desires they express for an ultimate outcome. These initial landscape plans are then published and further revised as needed. Once we have drafted a final plan, in house landscapers and subcontractors are called in to set things in motion. Our experience has taught us that working with a very detailed plan that functions as a fluid, yet consistent point of reference, ensures both maximum efficiency and superior aesthetic outcomes for our clients at the end of the day.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Landscape Plans Or Landscape Design

Commercial landscaping is an integral part of a commercial property. It makes the initial impression on prospective tenants—and you know what they say about first impressions and the number of chances you get. As for your current tenants, it helps keeps them happy and content and in place by giving them beautiful surroundings. Finally, well-done commercial landscaping preserves and enhances the overall property value.

Commercial Landscaping: The Design Process

The basic components of a commercial landscape design include:

• Design. During the design process, your commercial landscape designers or landscape architects will work to bring together the program elements, your desired aesthetics and all permitting issues. This phase includes landscape layout, plans for plant materials and budget development. In providing design services, a true professional should work creatively, diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your project, assist in the selection of materials, coordinate vendors, determine the scheduling, and adhere to the approved budget.

• Drainage systems. A plan for landscape drainage is essential for commercial properties in the Gulf Coast region due to Houston’s dense soils, low-lying areas and heavy rainfalls. A proper drainage system protects your property from flooding, provides protection for the foundation of building(s), especially from cracking and uneven shrinkage or swelling, and carries water away from roofs, paved areas and landscaping, thereby avoiding standing water where mosquitoes can breed or people can slip and fall. Drainage contractors are particularly valuable in viewing the drainage system as a whole to ensure all the pieces work well together.

• Irrigation systems. Another essential feature of commercial landscaping, irrigation systems save money and provide convenience. They supply appropriate amounts of water to the various plants, thus protecting your landscape investment. They perform this function by separating the lawn, flower beds and planters into different zones that require different watering conditions due to the various plant types, weather and sunlight conditions.

• Landscape lighting. Since lighting has been proven to deter crime, one of the most important services that landscape lighting delivers is safety. This attribute makes it an invaluable benefit to entities that conduct business at night, such as restaurants, hotels, social clubs, country clubs, museums, colleges and schools. Additionally, as part of the commercial landscaping, a well-designed landscape lighting system gives your property round-the-clock visibility. A third purpose of landscape lighting can be to create an ethereal work of art, proving that beauty can be functional.

Commercial Landscaping: Ongoing Maintenance

As owner or manager of a commercial property, your days are filled with time management issues—meetings, budgets, security, tenants’ needs and demands. Therefore, an important partner for you to add to your team is a commercial landscape maintenance provider who can work efficiently and effectively without continual oversight.

The first order of business for this professional is regular maintenance. Duties include turf care—mowing, edging, fertilizing and treating it for any diseases. Hedges, bushes and ground cover need to be trimmed too so that they conform to the original design’s intent. Trees need looking after: deep-root feeding, aeration that promotes healthy roots, and inspection for disease and insect infestations. All plants need to be fertilized on a regular schedule, especially plants of the tropical, acidic and seasonal color variety. Plants also need systematic observation of and treatment for pests and diseases that are detrimental to overall health.

The addition of seasonal color to commercial landscaping is also important as it maintains an updated image of the property. Your landscaping pro should have an extensive and creative expertise with plant choices, color and texture that will bring your property to life.

Finally, your landscape service partner can handle preventive maintenance. Some items on this checklist include tree inspection (for instance, dead limbs need to be taken down for safety reasons; wounds need to be treated quickly to protect trees, which are valuable assets) and the inspection of the irrigation system. Proper maintenance and regular inspections of the irrigation system will detect such problems as broken lines and heads. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “This service is so important for commercial properties. We have saved some of our clients as much as $5,000 to $10,000 per month because we caught problems early.”

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share infomation about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Commercial Landscaping or Commercial Landscape Design

Outdoor deck lights can be lovely and practical additions to your home.? Low voltage and solar deck lights that are attached to (or recessed into) walls, posts, ceilings, floors and steps are among the most exciting new trends in deck lighting.? They will give you all of the hours of lighting you want at the lowest cost, and some are a snap to install.

Deck post lights (aka cap lights) are some of the most popular new styles available in vinyl, wood, plastic, and aluminum.? These light fixtures mount directly onto the top of your deck posts. They come as LED, incandescent or flourescent light fixtures requiring either low voltage or solar power to operate. Each type of bulb produces a different kind of light. LED and flourescent bulbs tend to be cool light, whereas incandescent bulbs have a warm light.

If you like the idea of lighting your deck without any unnecessary wiring or electrical cost you will like the concept of the solar powered deck lights.?Instead of having to be wired to an electrical transformer, they use a photocell. The photocell charges NiCad rechargeable batteries all day to produce light for you at night. The light can last up to 14 hours, in some cases, before they batteries need to be recharged.

Lighting your deck steps can be a challenge. In addition to a large variety of recessed step light fixtures on the market, there is a new idea out there called DecoRiser(TM). This new product consists of an entire riser board with one or several lighting units attached to the back. The riser board comes in a variety of beautifully decorative cutout patterns. These deck stair lights are easy to install using conventional framing methods because they are made from the same material used to make typical deck stair riser boards. And they are low voltage so no need for an electrician.

Another interesting idea for outdoor deck lighting is lighted balusters. You can create any effect you want when you install these balusters to hold up your deck railings. Their LED technology is powered by low voltage wiring so that if you wanted to use lighted balusters for your entire railing that might take some extra effort but the final spectacular and unusual effect might be worth that added effort.

Your beautifully lighted deck can be both a place to have fun and a place to be environmentally friendly. You can install properly angled lights that are designed to reduce light pollution. Many new fixtures that are described as?full cut-off and semi cut-off are accredited with the International Dark-Sky Association. Your deck can be illuminated in a manner that is both beautiful and easy on your eyesight, without extending into areas that you would like to remain dark.

When you choose special lighting for your outdoor space, you will have something that is both individual to you and inviting to your guests and neighbors.? Your deck can be a relaxing place to entertain your friends as well as a private refuge for you, yourself.?With your new outdoor deck lights, you can create a personal space that completely reflects your own unique tastes. Your deck will be the ideal place for you to spend your free time, appreciating the finest qualities of nature in comfort and privacy.

http://www.outdoorlightsandfurniture.com Kate Wilkins lives around Boston, Massachusetts and writes about landscape design and gardening.

If you have fish in your pond, you want to keep them healthy. One thing that can cause your fish to die unexpectedly is stress caused by lack of oxygen. Fish need oxygen, just like we do. But instead of absorbing it from the air, as we do, they absorb it from the water. If the oxygen level in the water is too low, then the fish can get stressed and die.

Algae can cause a lack of oxygen in two ways. Algae produce oxygen during the day. At night, this oxygen is absorbed from the water by the plants in the pond. If there is a large quantity of algae in the water, then plants will quickly deplete the oxygen at night, leaving none for the fish. If the algae dies suddenly, either naturally or through the use of an algaecide, this can cause a loss of oxygen, since the algae are dead, and no longer producing oxygen. The decomposing algae can also further deplete oxygen from the pond.

If you have a lot of fish in your pond, then the oxygen level in the water may be just enough for the fish. If there are any further claims on the oxygen supply, then the delicate balance will be thrown off. When the water starts to warm, it cannot hold as much oxygen as cold weather. If you do not have sufficient aeration of the pond, then things can quickly get critical. When the weather warms up, a small fountain or waterfall may not suffice to keep the water sufficiently oxygenated. As the water warms up, you’ll need to provide more aeration to keep your fish from dying.

The only way that you can measure the oxygen levels accurately is with testing devices. For the average person keeping a pond, these testing devices may not be on hand. The easiest way to ensure that the pond has sufficient oxygen, is to provide generous and continuous aeration. Diffusers and airstones, along with an air pump will bubble air into the water, and help to maintain the oxygen at sufficient levels. Get a small electric air pump, and run some tubing to the airstone, and place it into the pond. If you have a large pond, you may need more than one airstone.

Other ways to get oxygen into the water are through waterfalls and fountains, which churn up the water, adding oxygen. If you plan on having a waterfall flowing into your pond, you should make sure it is large enough to aerate the water. If you already have a waterfall, it may not be feasible for you to enlarge it. In this case, an extra pump and a fountain or two will provide aeration for your pond. You can find fountains in different sizes, with various spray patterns. In addition to providing oxygen for the pond, waterfalls and fountains have the added advantage of providing the soothing sound of falling water. You get to maintain oxygen levels, and relax to the sound of falling water… Sweet!

If you’re going to have fish in your pond, it’s your responsibility to keep them healthy. If you ensure that they have plenty of oxygen, the fish will be happier and healthier, and they’ll be around for you to enjoy for a long time.

Tim is the author and webmaster of Water Gardens & Fountains, where you can find more tips and resources to help you build your own backyard water feature.