Sabtu, 28 Februari 2009

Landscape Like A Professional

Koi ponds are in ground water gardens that contain koi fish and are deep enough to support life year round even in colder winter climates. Many homeowners are finding it to be a great addition to their front or backyard. The can add great scenery and a tranquil environment for you to relax in.


There are two different ways to add a koi pond to your home. First of all, you could call a landscaping company to add one for you. Many landscaping companies have added this to their list of services due to its popularity. This would be as simple as looking thru the yellow pages and calling landscaping companies to see if they offer this service and see what the prices are. Once their service is completed all you would have to do is add the fish that you choose.

The second way to add a koi pond to your home would be to install it yourself. This way will require a little more patience and dedication. You would first have to start with digging a hole for the pond. It is recommended that the hole is a least 4 feet deep and 4-5 feet wide. Then you would have to install your pond liner. You must install a liner or else you will risk getting debris into your pond from the ground. Then you need to install your filtration system. Flirtation systems can be tricky, so your best bet would be to go into your local pet shop and let them know your needs and dimensions of your pond. Your next step would be to add plants and vegetation to your pond. Types of plants and vegetation you should use depend on the type of climate you live in and can be researched online. Your final step would be to pick out your koi fish and add them to your pond.

Many people do not want this to be the last step in finishing their koi pond but instead add other decorative elements to their pond. These decorative elements can include decorative rocks, sculptures, and decorative redwood bridges which come in many different shapes and varieties. All of these items can be purchased online rather than fishing around at a local store for each item.

Both of these ways are good methods of adding a koi pond to your backyard. You just have to choose which method is best for you. Either way you do it, once your pond is complete it will be there for you to enjoy for years to come.

By: Robin Calamaio

Enjoy Your Own Fountain

Lots of people are making fountains part of their outdoor décor. And why not? Fountains add a touch of class and when chosen carefully, and really compliment your landscaping. The sound of the running water alone adds an extra dimension to your garden. Even if you don't have a water pond in your backyard, you can still enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a fountain.

The most basic fountain that you can use without a pond is what I call the birdbath style. It looks just like a birdbath, but has a little fountain built into the center. The unit is completely self contained, and easy to set up. If you have a birdbath in your yard now, have a look at it. You might be able to add a small fountain to it. The bowl will act as the fountain's reservoir. But be forewarned, the birds may not like visiting your birdbath anymore.

If you want to go all out, you'll find bunches of larger freestanding fountains. If you're looking for something that can be the focal point of your garden, these are the fountains to look at. They come in a couple of different flavors. Some are multi tired. You see these in a lot of city parks. Basically, they are a series of birdbath fountains placed on top of each other. The top bowl has a larger fountain pumping water into the air. The water collects in the top bowl until it spills onto the next. It does this through two or tree bowls until collecting in the reservoir. These are really nice fountains, but tend to be pretty big.

The waterfall is another type of large fountain for your backyard. Like the name implies, these fountains simulate a waterfall. Instead of shooting water into the air, water is allowed to gently fill the top "pond" until it spills over. On some the water is allowed to gently glide down a slope. On others it spills over like Niagara Falls. You can find these with multiple stages or a single stage.

If you want something larger than a birdbath fountain, but don't want it to dominate your garden, a wall fountain may be for you. Have you seen the fountains in old European cities? The ones mounted on the walls. It's usually a lion or angel with water flowing from its mouth into a basin. That's a wall fountain. They can be placed against your home's exterior wall or if you get creative and can secure it, against a trellis. These also come with their own little reservoir.

There you have it. Fountains for your yard, even if you don't have a pond. Of course, if you have a pond, you'll have lots of other choices. But for those of us who don't want to dig a pond or don't have a large enough backyard, these free standing fountains are a great alternative. And you'll be able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility a fountain offers for years to come.

By: Marge Snow

Choosing and Caring for Teak Outdoor Furniture

When it comes to choosing a material to use for your outdoor furniture, you have many options to choose from: metal, plastic, cedar, oak, and of course teak. Teak is a great choice for outdoor furniture because it can withstand the weather and the wood becomes even more beautiful as it ages season after season.

Teak outdoor furniture is one of the highest quality types of outdoor furniture you can buy. It is strong and durable, as well as stylish and popular. The wood is a tropical hardwood, commonly found in such places as Indonesia and other tropical locales.

Teak grows in very dry and hilly forests. It is best known for being extremely durable no matter what type of weather you have in your neighborhood. Teak outdoor furniture can also fight off rotting, cracking, and warping because of its hardwood nature.

When you first get your teak outdoor furniture, you’ll notice its beautiful honey hue. But teak is actually known for is that gray, handsome weathered look that it gets after a couple seasons in the elements. The beautiful thing about the teak outdoor furniture and its gray color is that this does not in any way impact the strength of the hardwood. Teak is made for the ages, so it can be as durable and strong as any other wood for years to come.

Teak will, however, turn an ugly green or darker gray if you do not take care of it. So be sure to treat your teak outdoor furniture. It needs to be sanded every so often to get back its smooth, brown look. To maintain the gray color, apply the proper teak outdoor furniture treatment.

Another option with teak outdoor furniture is to stain it. This allows you to have whatever color of teak outdoor furniture you want. To do so, you’ll want to sand the teak to get down to the bare tan wood. Before you decide to stain your teak furniture though, keep in mind that the stain will be permanent. You will not get that gray weathered look next season and the color will not go back to that brand new tan color.

If you prefer to keep your teak furniture brown, you can apply teak oil about every three months. Although the oil will not provide added protection to the teak outdoor furniture, it will provide that new brownish color to the wood. As long as you sand and apply oil regularly your teak outdoor furniture will look new for years.

By: Thomas E