This is your complete guide to home improvement and gardening. We are going to give you practical mcdfoofforthoughts, tried and true strategies, and a versatile approach to creating great living spaces all year long, whether you’re into DIY or just beginning your adventure into transforming your home and garden.
Making Beautiful Outdoor Spaces Last
Your garden is an extension of your home and can be as innovative and relaxing as you envision it. The primary direction for garden design, when developing your beautiful new garden, is to understand your space, the climate, and any personal preferences. The challenge is to apply sustainable mcdfoofforthoughts so that your garden stays beautiful and functional over time.
Start by looking at the natural conditions of your outdoor space. Look at how the sun moves through your area during the day. Understand where there is full sun, partial shade, and where there may not be any sun. These simple mcdfoofforthoughts are extremely important when creating a plants list and garden designs. Most flowering plants appreciate a minimum of 6 hours a day of direct sunlight, many vegetables need even more if they are to produce a bountiful harvest.
To recap, soil quality is a basic aspect of any successful garden. You can test the pH level of your soil easily with a cheap pH testing kit from garden centres. Most plants prefer mildly acidic to neutral soil, at about pH 6.0 – 7.0, although certain species will prefer to grow under either more acidic or alkaline conditions. If your soil is poor, then this can be improved by adding organic matter such as compost, well-rotted manure, or leaf mould. Organic matter will improve drainage in clay soils and will improve water retention in sandy soils.
Water management is another important consideration in garden planning and should also receive careful mcdfoofforthoughts. Consider installing drip irrigation systems and/or soaker hoses to output water directly to the roots of the plant and further reduce evaporation issues. Use of mulch near your plants will help retain moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Organic mulches, such as shredded bark, straw or compost, will eventually break down and add nutrients to the soil.
Key Home Improvement Projects That Improve Value:
Smart home improvements can greatly enhance the value of your home, in addition to improving your home for your comfort and enjoyment. There are a number of projects which, if you plan carefully with mcdfoofforthoughts, can give you the most return on investment with respect to useful needs and practical features of your home, while at the same time adding style and enhancing your home operating experience.
Kitchen remodels remain one of the top home upgrades of all time. Small and inexpensive things such as painting cabinets, changing door hardware, or updating countertops will enhance your kitchen. Also consider adding under-cabinet lighting which will allow the space to create ambiance, and improve functionality.
These practical mcdfoofforthoughts about energy efficient appliances may not only save you money on utility bills but may also appeal to eco-conscious homebuyers. Bathroom upgrades also provide great returns on investment. Minor updates such as faucets, decorative vanities, and lighting will give the space a new “spa-like’ feel. Installing low-flow toilets, and water-saving showerheads is not only ecologically friendly, but also helps to lower water bills to homeowners. Upgrades with proper ventilation will alleviate moisture issues that cause mold and support structural integrity.
Lots of exterior improvements will pay off not only with the first impression of your house, but protecting your investment in your home. Every home will stand out from a fresh coat of paint on the siding, trim, and front doors. Choose colors which blend within the neighborhood, while maintaining your unique style. Power washing the deck, driveway, walkways and other surfaces will have them looking as if they have been freshly installed, instead of a dozen years worth of dirt washed away.
Seasonal Gardening Guidelines for Success
Success in gardening requires an understanding of the natural seasonal balances, and working with them. Each season brings its own distinct possibilities and limitations. To take full advantage of any season, the seasonal gardening guidelines outlined above can ensure the best thriving gardens for every season.
In spring the garden is prepared for the entire growing season. Start by cleaning out any winter debris, pruning branches, and prepping beds for planting. The spring mcdfoofforthoughts include indoor seed starts for warm-season crops, like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, and should be conducted 6-8 weeks before your last expected frost date. As soon as the soil becomes workable, you can also directly sow seeds into the garden for cool season vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and peas.
In summer, gardening becomes an all about maintenance mode, but the summer mcdfoofforthoughts will focus on sustained maintenance, and succession planting. You want to water deeply, but you don’t want to water so frequently you lose the positive benefits of extending the rooting time. You also want to dead-head spent flowers because it encourages continuous blooming and reduces the potential of unwanted self-seeding. Most importantly regarding planting, there are very few plants that appreciate unrelenting heat, but there are also a select group of flowering annuals that will tolerate it, like zinnias, marigolds and sunflowers, and heat-tolerant blooming perennials.
Fall is a time of harvest, and also a time to prepare for next year. Fall is the perfect time to plant cool-season annual flowers such as pansies and mums to add color to your fall landscape. It is a time to begin preparing your garden beds for winter. When planted in your vegetable garden, cover crops can provide over winter protection for your soil. Don’t forget that fall is also a great time to plant trees and shrubs, because they have a good root establishment period before going dormant for winter once the temperatures cool and the fall rains begin.
There are plenty of things to do in the winter garden as well. You can plan next year’s garden, continue to care for and maintain tools, or protect your plants from the elements! When the garden goes to sleep, it is the time to look for inspiration or new varieties to grow, so study your seed catalogs and garden magazines. These quiet season items can include anything from cleaning and oiling your garden tools to avoid rust while bringing them out of hibernation for spring.
A Crash Course in Flower Gardening for Garden Newbies
Flower gardening always delivers instant gratification rather than waiting months, or years, to realize, a tree or shrub for example, adds excitement when you sow and see immediate growth. Flower gardening provides endless opportunities for creativity. By understanding some simple fundamentals you will not only maximize your success but also build confidence for whatever new project you want to try next.
Knowing what flowers are appropriate for your climate zone and capable of utilizing your growing conditions is critical. Annual flowers have a complete life cycle within a growing season and will provide however long that growth lasts from spring until frost, but there is cycling color. Popular annual flowers are petunias, impatiens, begonias and marigolds. Perennial flowers return from the previous year and usually will have a shorter display cycle than an annual. There are usually dependable perennials such as coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, and black-eyed Susan’s.
You can set up flower gardens for continuous blooming periods by using flowering varieties that bloom at different times. The first colors of the year come from spring bulbs, like crocuses and daffodils. Next come tulips followed by summer-blooming perennials and annuals. There are late season flowers; asters and chrysanthemums, which add color into the fall.
Also to keep in mind is the height, spread and growth habits of the flower varieties. When designing your beds and borders, plant groups of tall flowers like delphiniums, hollyhocks towards the back, taller flowers in the middle and low growing plants in the front of the bed or border. This will allow all of the plants to receive enough light to grow and will result in depth and interest to the bed or border.
The color of flowers can also alter the overall effect of the flower gardens. Monochromatic schemes using different shades of a single color can create a very elegant, distinctive look, while complementary color combinations, using opposites on the color wheel, produce brighter, more vibrant displays. Analogous color combinations use adjacent colors in a color scheme and generate relaxation in flower gardens.
Smart Storage Solutions for your Home
Efficient storage solution strategies can help you reduce clutter and help you make the most of whatever space is available in every room that you live in. Good organization systems can help you increase the efficiency and enjoyment of your daily life while keeping your home clean and aesthetically pleasing.
Creative solutions for kitchen storage problems need to be functional in limited space. Accessible storage can be improved by adding pull-out drawers in lower cabinets to access items that are stored at the back. Vertical dividers can also be added for storing and organizing baking sheets, cutting boards, and serving trays. Take advantage of wall space and install magnetic strips to hang knives, hooks to hang tools and utensils, and to add open shelving to store items that you need to access regularly.
Bedroom storage cannot solely rely on closets. Bemuse there are great storage possibilities in the space under your bed, behind doors, and the wall surfaces that are not typically utilized. You can buy bed frames with storage drawers built-in or use interior designer approved space saver storage boxes made for under your bed. You can install hooks on the back of bedroom doors to hang robes, bags, or transferring often worn or tried on clothing items.
Garage organization can immensely change a chaotic space to one that is functional for workspace and storage use. You could choose to use a new garage organization system of installing wall-mounted components appropriate for hanging tools, sporting equipment, or some seasonal items higher off the floor and install hooks, baskets, and shelves with things that you access often to keep them organized and out of the way. The best option is to create zones with distinct categories for organization purposes ie: gardening supplies, automotive tools, holiday decorations, cleaning supplies, outdoor equipment, etc.
Energy Efficiency Improvements That Save Money
Stepping into home energy efficient improvements that combind comfort, comfort, and property value can save you money on utilities. The best part is many of the energy saving improvements are often of little in payback but provide long-term benefits.
Upgrades to your insulation give some of the highest returns on energy efficiency money spent. Insulating attics, basements, and crawl spaces decreases heating and cooling use, and therefore costs. Don’t forget to caulk or weatherstrip any air leaks at windows, doors, electric outlets, and plumbing penetrations. These basic upgrades can decrease energy costs anywhere from 10%–20% per year.
Upgrades and retrofits to window treatments give both décor and functional benefits.
Programmable thermostats help homeowners to adjust temperatures, automatically, by using occupancy patterns. Ceiling fans, with their lower energy use, are effective to circulate air. As described in previous chapters, consider planting shade trees on the south and west side of your home or, when replacing or retrofitting existing windows, to shade summer’s high sun while allowing winter’s low sun to enter your home for heating.
Efficiently heating water is another area of energy efficiency improvement. Efficiently heating water can include: insulating your hot water heater tank and pipes, Installing low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators, and hot water heater temperature set to 120°F. Tankless hot water heaters give homeowners on-demand hot water and can eliminate energy loss via standby energy requirements.
Maintenance Tips to Avoid Significant Repair/Replacement Costs
Keeping maintenance regular helps ensure small problems don’t become big issues while extending the life of home systems and components. Establishing a maintenance practice, depending on seasonality, will save you money and help avoid unexpected failures.
HVAC maintenance includes changing the air filters on a monthly basis, cleaning the air vents, ductwork, and associated devices annually, and calling in a professional for a tune-up bi-annually. Clean filters lower energy costs while giving clean air. Professional maintenance will catch potential issues before they become system breakdowns.
Plumbing maintenance includes checking for obvious leaks, cleaning out drains, and insulation of exposed pipes. You should test the water pressure periodically and check for low water pressure and flag it right away. You should know where your main water shutoff valve is and how it operates in case of an emergency.
Roofing and gutter maintenance protects your home structure from water and as raised homes are becoming more popular, you want to maintain your gutter systems. Cleaning your gutters, downspouts, etc. should be done at least twice a year and thoroughly cleaned to allow water to drain away adequately. Check your entire roofing system for missing shingles, flashing problems, and general wear. Address small repairs right away to avoid major water damage.
Frequently Asked Questions
When’s the best time to start planning improvements to gardens?
When winter rolls around, you may have some time to research plant selections, layouts, and ordering seeds or materials. It’s a good idea to plan out in the winter to be ready to make changes as soon as conditions allow when spring arrives.
How can I improve my home’s curb appeal on a budget?
Look for high-impact, low cost improvements such as new mulch, colorful annual flowers, pressure washing surfaces, and new hardware for your front door. These improvements can deliver significant improvements with minimal investment.
What home improvements should I address first?
Start with improvements that address safety, damage, or energy efficiency. Some examples are to correct roofs with leaks, insulate properties, and/or upgrade electrical. These improvements can protect your investment and provide instant value.
How do I choose the right plants for my unique growing conditions?
Start by looking into your USDA hardiness zone, then see how light and moisture patterns change depending on time of day in your garden. Last check for soil pH. Always choose plants that are specifically suited to your conditions rather than trying to make your conditions suitable for certain plants.
What tools will I need to complete basic home improvement and gardening tasks?
The basic construction tools to have on hand are a drill (with bits), level, measuring tape, hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, and safety-related equipment. The basic gardening tools to have are quality pruning shears, hand trowel, garden fork, hose, and watering can.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is intended to be general advice for the purposes of gardening and home improvement type projects and there could be some variability in the outcomes due to things local climate, local soil types, local building codes, and of course, your own particular situation. We would encourage you to seek professional advice, as needed, on any electrical, plumbing, structural, or other specialized work which may require a permit and expertise.
Performance of individual plants, project costs, and results of your improvement work will differ significantly based on your specific location, the resources used, and implementation method. Be sure to investigate local building codes a rules before you start on any home improvement project. The author, and mcdfoofforthoughts.com do not accept any liability for project performance, plant performance, or any outcomes as a result of using any of the information contained in this article.
Above all, be careful working on home improvement projects. Use proper safety equipment, follow the manufacture’s directives, and bring in professionals when you start doing things outside your skill level. When considering home improvement and gardening projects, think of your impact on the environment when selecting resources, and when disposing of materials.
