DIY, How to, sheds

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How to Build a Storage Shed

outdoor storage shed An overcrowded garage can make it difficult to park the cars your family owns. Moreover, it becomes difficult to locate tools, gardening equipment, and other items all stored together in the garage. Instead, you can build a storage shed that will contain the space to neatly organize gardening equipment and yard tools which will also increase the value of the property.

Constructing the Frame of your Outdoor Storage Shed

The first step to building a garden shed is to construct the frame. For this begin by clearing and leveling the ground where the shed is going to be placed. Now place cinder blocks at the four corners, four feet from each other. Next cut 4×4 pressure treated posts to the desired lengths making sure to cut the ends at a 45° angle. Place the posts over the cinder blocks and ensure that they are level using a 4-foot level or any size of level for that matter.

Construct the Deck of Your DIY Storage Shed

Once the frame is in place you need to construct the deck of your DIY storage shed. This comprises pressure treated 2×6 pieces that are set vertically on the frame. They should be attached to the frame using a framing nailer. Begin by installing the two nine foot side pieces. Now, place the two four foot side pieces next to each other and mark of the joist locations at 16’ intervals. Now you can secure the end pieces. The next step is to cut the 2’ (’) into 6’ joists to the right lengths and nailing them to the frame. After the joists are secured, lay the 5/4’ decking on top and secure the decking to the joists using a screw gun. The first decking edge should overhang the deck frame by half an inch. diy storage shed

Building the Walls of Your Storage Shed

To build the walls of your storage shed, lay the wall pieces – the top plate, bottom plate, and studs and use a nail gun to secure the pieces together. Use this method to construct all the wall panels. Build two narrower wall panels for the wall which will have the door.

Nailing the Walls of your Outdoor Storage Shed

Now nail each wall panel to the decking as well as to the adjacent wall panel. To ensure that the walls form a square, you need to use a framing square. On the side of the shed that will have the door, build two narrower wall panels and strengthen them using 2x4s.

Strengthening the Framing

Once you have installed all the walls, you need to strengthen the framings. For this nail 2x4s across the walls at the top such that they will form a double top plate.

Exterior Siding for Your DIY Storage Shed

Once the wall frames are strengthened, you are ready to hand the exterior siding. Just hang the 4ˈx8ˈ OSB sheets on the outside of the storage shed to form the siding.

How to Build a Shed Roof

The next step is to add the roof to the shed. Cut 2×6 boards for the roof rafters and fix them to the headers. The roof rafters are attached using OSB cleats. Now add 1×6 strips on top of the rafters so that the rafters will be tied together and provide support to the corrugated roof. The roofing sheets should be nailed to the rafters using self sealing nails and washers that have been designed for this use.

Adding Shed Windows

Now that the roof has been fixed, you can cut the walls to locate the shed windows and recessed storage boxes. When cutting the walls you need to make sure that the studs are not damaged. Now you can fix the doors for the windows and the main entrance as well as the storage cubbies you have cut out. You can also add a potting bench to your storage shed to make gardening easier. The doors should be made from 3.4’ plywood, while the doors for the storage cubbies can be made from 1.2’ plywood. Depending on your interest you can paint the interior of the shed in contrasting colors to mark the storage cubbies.

Vinyl Siding for Your Storage Shed

vinyl siding storage shed You are now ready to add vinyl siding to the exterior of the shed. Begin applying the siding from the edges with the decorative trim and work your way to the center.

Adding Ramp to the Outdoor Shed

The final touch for the garden shed can be ramp at the front entrance. This will enable you to easily move mowers and wheelbarrows into the shed.

DIY Storage Shed

A DIY storage shed is a fairly simple project that can help move a lot of essential yard tools and gardening equipment away from or outside of the garage. Apart from freeing up garage space, this shed will help you to properly organize and store all gardening supplies and tools in a single place that is easy to access from the garden. With a cutting saw, nailing gun, and the right types of wood, a diy storage shed should be easy to construct and you will have bragging rights over your neighbors for years.
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Watering Plants While on Vacation

Watering plants while on vacation Spending time outdoors in your garden is a wonderful way to enjoy the warmer months. However, this is when many people also schedule a vacation. While it is possible to leave your pets in special facilities, ensuring that your garden does not wither away when you are on vacation is much more complex. However, with proper planning you can come back to a lush garden after a vacation or even a business trip.

Drought Resistant Plants

As most people go on a vacation each year and sometimes have to travel on work as well, it is better to select drought resistant plants and shrubs as far as possible. This will ensure that the plants survive even if they are not watered for a couple of days as you make a weekend trip to the beach.

Cover the Soil with Mulch

You can also help the soil in the yard retain moisture for a longer period of time by covering the soil around plants with mulch. Mulch will help keep the sun off the soil. This will also benefit you and the garden in the long run, as the mulch will provide vital nutrients to the soil and will reduce the amount of water needed by the plants throughout summer. This will help you reduce the time spent watering and lower your water bills as well. A layer of mulch will also reduce the growth of weeds and inhibit the presence of pests.

Watering System with Timer

You can also install a self-watering system with a timer, and attach it to the faucet. If you flip the switch for this system, ensure that you leave a note close to the tap to make sure no one turns it off when you are away. Plant sitter

Plant Sitter

If you are planning a week long or longer vacation, the best way to help your garden survive is to get a plant sitter. You can either request a neighbor who is a gardening enthusiast to water your plants and return the favor when they go on vacation or hire a teen looking for a summer job (you do not need to find a garden enthusiast!). Either way, you need to make sure that they are aware of the extent of the work and understand what needs to be done. You should write down exactly what they should do and make sure they are reliable.

Move Containers to the Shade

If you have containers of plants as part of your landscaping, move them to the shade so that they do not dry out quickly. You can then install a DIY drip irrigation system or wick irrigation system to ensure that the soil in the containers do not dry out fast. Unlike your yard’s soil, the soil in containers can dry out faster. This is because they do not have the entire ground around them to keep them cool and because water drains much faster in pots than in your yard. However, you can fashion a drip irrigation system by covering the opening of a plastic water bottle with gauze and cutting away the bottom. Now, upturn the bottle and place it nozzle first in the container of soil. Fill the bottle with water using the cut bottom. Also water the container. As the soil dries, the water from the bottle will seep into the soil, keeping the plant watered. If you have a lot of containers that need to be watered, you can place a large bucket of water in their midst and fashion wicks by braiding strips of cotton from old tee shirts. Dip one end of the wick in the bucket of water and insert the other end into the soil in the container. Before you leave, water the container. As the soil dries, the wick will transport water to the soil, keeping your plant saturated with enough water. drip irrigation system

Drip Irrigation Using a Hose

Another way of ensuring that the plants in your yard receive water when you are away is to use a hose and fashion a drip irrigation system. If you have an old hose, punch a few holes along its side and lay it close to the rows of plants. Connect the hose to one that has no holes and connect this to the tap. Open the tap very mildly, so that water just drips out of the faucet. Leave a notice close to the tap to ensure that no one turns it off inadvertently. Over the remaining days, the dripping water will gradually water the plants through the holes in the hose. Any excess water will likely be absorbed by the soil. However, you cannot use this system if your plants will only survive in dry soil.

Cover Plants with a Shade Giving Material

If you have plants directly planted in the yard and want to protect them when you are away you can cover them using a cloth tied to poles. This will provide them with shade and ensure that they do not dry out fast. While plants thrive only when watered regularly, a lush garden does not mean sacrificing your vacation or fun time spent away from home. Instead, you can plan ahead and use a variety of methods to ensure that your plants receive the water they need while you are away on making new memories.
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DIY Outdoor Projects that You Can Complete in Less than One Hour

DIY outdoor projects If you have an outdoor space and you don’t know what to do with it, we may have a few answers that will totally blow your mind. These amazing DIY outdoor projects don’t need a whole lot of time or money to set up, and the best part is that your outdoor space will be completely transformed. Here are ten of the best one-hour long DIY outdoor projects to turn your outdoor space into an area that is sure to impress.

DIY Indoor Vertical Garden

You don’t need acres of land to create a green space for your living area. If you have a bit of sun exposure and a little area to spare, you are good to go. In fact, why not use some everyday items as the starting point for your indoor vertical garden? If you have an old canvas shoe organizer, that will work perfectly to transform itself into a DIY indoor vertical herb garden. Hang it up in a place that receives some sunlight during the day and plant some of your favorite herbs like oregano, chives, rosemary, and so on. You can even add a rustic charm to your garden by installing a hydroponic watering system. A wooden pallet to create your vertical garden and grow plants like citronella, which works well to eliminate those pesky mosquitoes.

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

Speaking of pests, they can truly ruin an evening spent outdoors, especially those annoying mosquitoes we spoke about. If a vertical citronella garden doesn’t do it for you, why not try making your very own citronella candles to get rid of mosquitoes? How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes You could even take an empty wine bottle and transform it into a pest-busting torch. Of course, a simple way to get rid of bugs of all shapes and sizes is to plug in a table fan.

Play Music Outside

Your outdoor space is where you chill out, unwind, and relax. Maybe you have a pool to splash around, a Jacuzzi to laze around in, or a barbecue pit to cook some delicious treats. Either way, entertaining guests in your outdoor space would be incomplete without sterling music. You can choose to build audio components into an outdoor table or use Plex to stream music to your mobile phone. Don’t forget to hook your phone up to a set of outdoor or portable speakers to amplify the sound. And if that is not unique enough for you, you could even make a set of floating waterproof speakers!

DIY Outdoor Movie Theatre

Who needs Dolby Digital when you have a backyard? This DIY project will not take more than an hour to do and costs under $10. All you need is a portable projector screen, which you can use both outdoors and indoors and get ready for a movie experience unlike anything you have ever witnessed before!

Outdoor Yard Games for Adults and Kids

Love Jenga and other such addictive games? Now, you can use your outdoor space to set up life-size versions of some of your favorite games! Is there anything better? Outdoor Yard Games

DIY Outdoor Oven

You don’t have to make do with just your barbecue pit for an authentic outdoor cooking experience. A DIY outdoor oven can be handy and be used to whip up so many amazing treats. All you need is a metal bucket, a few terracotta pots and a little sand, and you have a reasonably priced tandoor, which you can use to make soft, fluffy flatbreads, and delicious naans. Some cardboard can even be used to make a solar oven which works just as well.

DIY Smoker

If you love meats with that wonderful smoky flavor, you don’t have to spend tons of cash to buy it. You can make it yourself! All you need is a few old flower pots. You could even turn your old grill into a cold smoker.

DIY Outdoor Canopy

You don’t need to make a large hole in your pocket to be able to afford a fancy outdoor canopy that is aesthetic and weather-resistant. All you need for your DIY outdoor canopy are four poles, a drop cloth and you are ready to go! The drop cloth is weather-proof and protects your guests from any sudden, unexpected weather. Setting up this canopy is quick, easy, and super cheap.

DIY Mason Jar Outdoor Lights

Nothing looks more beautiful than flickering amber lights in an outdoor area. Again, mood lighting doesn’t have to come to you at a premium. All you need for DIY mason jar outdoor lights are a few old mason jars, some battery-powered LED garden lights and you’re all set!

DIY Mini Fire Pit or Flaming Bowl

There’s nothing that draws attention more than a mini fire pit or a set of flaming rock bowls. These are eye-catching pieces that will invigorate pretty much any deck or patio.
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Planning a Flower Garden

Planning a flower garden Flowers in your garden ensure color especially in the summer and the fall. However, a marvelous flower garden does not develop by just ordering flowering plants and planting them wherever there is space.

Overall Considerations when Planning a Flower Garden

You need to begin with a plan that should include large deciduous trees, evergreen hedges, perennial flowering shrubs, and finally seasonal plants that add color. Following this scheme when planning a flower garden will ensure that your garden has structure as well as color.

Plant the Trees First

If you are starting a garden from scratch, plant the trees first. The deciduous trees will grow to be large and cast a shade over a large section of your garden, so locate them with care. The trees should be located at spots where you would like to place a bench or similar seating and away from where you want a lawn or flower bed that will require plenty of sunlight.

Hedges

Once the trees have been planted, decide on the location of hedges to create paths and alleys. These should be planted next.

Perennials

After you have planted the hedges, decide where you want to locate the perennial flowering plants. These will grow to be tall and need sunlight as well.

Flower Beds

After all of these have been located, make flower beds that can border the lawn or line the paths. Plant these with flowers that will add color to the garden. By planting a mix of flowering plants that bloom in the summer as well as those that bloom in the fall, you will be able to have a colorful garden for a longer period of time.

Different Flower Garden Styles

While the basics of a flower garden design are the same, each garden should be unique and reflect your particular style. Before you begin planting the trees and the hedges, consider what sort of flower garden appeals to you. A flower garden can have curved paths and a profusion of blooms in an informal array, straight alleys and more formal design, easy to grow flowers or a group of exotic orchids or cacti. Additionally, you need to keep in mind the flowers that will grow best in the climate conditions of your locality.

Width of Flower Beds

When planning your flower beds aim for a broader bed that will accommodate multiple layers of flowers. A minimum of five feet width is needed to ensure that the flower bed has at least three layers of flowers, giving it a colorful and lush appearance. If your garden is larger, you can even make the flower bed 10 feet wide and plant multiple layers of flowers of varying heights and colors.

Borders vs Islands

Again, the decision to have flower bed borders or a flower island depends on both your tastes and the space available. Plant flower borders along hedges and close to the fence or wall of the house. If you have a large lawn, you can also include an island flower bed. While border flower beds have the large plants away from the path and toward the house or hedge, island flower beds should have the taller plants at the center and gradually taper off to the shortest plants.

Sunshine, Climate, and Soil Types

When planning a flower garden and choosing the plants for it, you need to take into account the amount of sunshine the garden receives, the climate, and the soil type. Of these the soil type is the easiest to fix. Just get the soil tested and add fertilizer, manure, and compost to the soil to improve its health and ability to sustain various flowering plants. However, your choice of flowering plants should also take into account the sunlight the garden receives and the climate of the locality. Consult with the local horticultural organization to find out which flowering plants grow best in your area and select your plants from them. This is especially a marvelous idea for new gardeners, as local plants are more likely to thrive even under an inexperienced gardener. Some plants require shade, so these can be planted in areas of the garden that receive less sunlight, ensuring that most of the garden has colorful plants that will add vibrancy to the outdoors.

Leave Space for Growing

When planning a flower garden, keep in mind the final size of the plants. This will help you space out the flowering plants at an adequate distance so that they do not crowd each other or leave the flower beds looking sparse. Each plant has its own space needs and you need to learn about them before you begin planting the seeds, seedlings, or cuttings.

Creepers

Apart from flower beds, a garden can also have creepers and climbers that flower. Planting a climber that flowers in the fall close to the trellis will provide a colorful and shady arbor for the summer and the fall.
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How to Prepare the Ground for the New Shed

Congratulations! You have finally bought the DIY garden shed kit and you are ready to prepare the ground for the new shed. The Western Red Cedar panels will last a long time and naturally resist pests. The shed will be functional, but it also can turn into a focal point of your garden, as long as you go about the installation process correctly.

You can use your garden shed to store your gardening implements, but you also can use it as a hobby room, your private escape, game room for kids, or anything else you can think of. This multi-functional space extends your living space outdoors and if you add insulation, you can use it round the year beyond being just a storage place for your gardening tools, grass/plant seed, and implements.

Prepare the Ground for the New Shed

The first thing that you need to do to prepare the ground for the new shed is to level the surface. You can do this by first putting in concrete, timber decking, or a garden slab. If you don’t do this, it could result in the garden shed warping, broken windows and even damage to the wood.

Even if you use the shed base that comes with the DIY garden shed kit, the ground would still have to be levelled and the rubble removed. It is prudent to install a weed-proof membrane before placing the shed’s base to prevent weeds and grass from growing and damaging the floor and walls of the shed.

Putting the Base for Your Garden Shed

There are many ways you can create the base for your garden shed. Some of them are as follows:

  • Concrete Base: If you intend installing a concrete base, make sure it levelled, flat, and dry before you erect the shed. Use string and pegs to mark the area where you want the garden shed. Dig a hole, about 15 cm deep, and place a wooden framework into which you will be pouring the concrete. Place a layer of stone, about 7 cm and then pour in the cement concrete mix. Spread it out evenly, level it, and let it set.
  • Garden Paving Slabs: If you don’t feel like pouring concrete in your garden, go with garden paving slabs. This too requires you to remove about 7 cm of the topsoil. Then add 4 cm of cement and place the garden slabs on the wet cement. Let the cement dry, so that the slabs are firmly fixed and then erect your garden shed.

Mistakes to Avoid When Erecting Your Garden Shed

Some homeowners make mistakes when they prepare the ground for the new shed. This can result in damage to the shed and also be dangerous for you and others. Some mistakes that you should avoid making are:

  • Unstable base: Refrain from laying garden slabs on loosely arranged gravel. This will not create a stable base for your garden shed and can result in the wood warping and getting damaged. Remember, you are using a DIY garden shed kit and hence, it is necessary, you make the base firm and stable for your own safety. Think of your house, would you want your house being on a weak foundation?
  • Not clearing rubble: If you don’t clean the rubble, garden debris, dead leaves, and garden detritus from the ground, you will not have a hard-standing base. It is important you clear the ground completely before you start laying the base for your shed.
  • Not using weed-proof membrane: Timber decking base is often the preferred base, as it gives the shed a more natural appearance. However, if you intend using a timber decking as a hard-standing for your garden shed, make it a point to first clear and level the ground and then place a weed-proof membrane between the ground and the timber base.
  • Using dirt, lawn or gravel for the base: Never attempt to erect your garden shed directly on bare ground, gravel, or lawn. This could damage the wood panels due to moisture from the ground and also lead to warping and subsidence.

DIY garden shed kits come with pre-cut Western Red Cedar wood panels. This means you will not have to spend time cutting the wood and making holes in it. The kit has illustrated instructions along with the necessary hardware. However, you will need another person to help you assemble the pieces and erect the shed. And, all garden shed kits will recommend installing the base. So make sure you educate yourself on the different types of bases that can be used with your shed and then select one that best suits your needs and budget.

Remember without ground preparation, you risk damaging your garden shed and also causing injury to yourself and others, as the shed may not be as sturdy as you think it is. So prepare your garden first before you erect your shed. Choose the location carefully and then prep the surface the right way to enjoy the benefits offered by a garden shed. Don’t be afraid to ask for some help. You do not want your shed slowing falling apart in the years to come. That will just invoke one conversation after another that you do not want to have with anyone who sees it.

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Increase Your Vegetable Garden Yield with Simple Tricks


Whether you are a new gardener or have been gardening for some time now, there are ways by which you can increase your vegetable garden yield. These steps can help you get more vegetables out of your garden this year.

Improve Soil Quality

The most important way in which you can increase your vegetable garden yield is by improving soil quality. This can be done without too much work by covering the vegetable garden plot with compost and hay at the start of winter. By the time you are ready to plant, the compost would have been worked into the soil by the snow and rain as well as insects, ensuring nutrient-rich soil for your vegetables with less effort on your part. The deeper the layer of composted soil, the healthier the plants.

Use Raised Beds

Another way of increasing vegetable garden yields is to use raised beds. This has multiple advantages. The raised beds reduce the amount of space taken by paths. Moreover, the soil can be made more nutrient rich much more easily as compost can be worked into it. Both these benefits will increase the yield of the vegetable garden.

Round Out the Beds

When you use raised beds, you can also round them out. This increases the surface area available for plants. When multiplied by the length of the beds, the amount of additional space is significant enough to increase yields. Plant greens and similar plants at the edges of the raised beds, making them easier to harvest as well.

Stagger the Plants

Another way of saving space when planting vegetables is to stagger them. Instead of planting them in straight rows, plant them in triangles. This will enable you to plant more in the same area while still ensuring that all of the plants get sufficient sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow to their maximum potential.

Use Vertical Space

Fix vertical trellises and poles at the sides of the raised beds and train vines of beans, melons, and similar plants on them. This will help save garden space and ensure healthier plants as well. The vertical plants will escape fungal diseases. Harvesting is also easier as you will be able to spot the crop of vegetables much more easily.

Interplant

You should also interplant or mix up the plants in your vegetable garden to maximize the use of available space. Compatible plants can be grown together to ensure that weeds are kept out and all available space is used by vegetable plants. For instance, if you plant corn, pole beans, and squash together, the corn stalks will support the pole beans and the squash will grow on the ground in the space between them. You can also grow tomatoes, onions, and basil together or plant carrots, radishes, and onions together.

Plant Successive Crops

Another way to make the most out of your vegetable garden is to plant and harvest successive crops. If you select quick growing plants, the first lot can be harvested before a second crop is grown in the same area. Before planting the second crop, ensure that you add more compost to the soil to make it nutrient rich.

Stretch the Growing Season

In order to grow two crops, you will also need to stretch the growing season. This can be done by growing seedlings in your greenhouse or garden shed before the start of spring. Once the weather becomes warmer, transplant the seedlings to the garden. The head start will enable them to mature faster, leaving you with the time to start a second crop. This too should be started in the greenhouse as the first crop starts to mature.

Move Plants Indoors

Toward the end of the growing season, you can prolong the growth period, by simply moving some of the plants indoors to your garden shed or greenhouse. For instance, if the tomatoes have yet to ripen and the weather turns chilly, all you need to do is cut the vines and hang them indoors in a warm area. The tomatoes will continue to mature and ripen, ensuring a bountiful harvest.

Enjoy Your Increased Vegetable Garden Yield

If you love gardening and want to increase the supply of fresh vegetables that your garden yields, you do not have to look for more ground space. Instead, simply improve soil quality, plant quick maturing plants, space the plants properly, and transplant seedlings.

Each of these steps will help increase your vegetable garden yield. Additionally, the labor and materials used is not significantly higher. By spacing the plants closer together, you will be able to spend less time watering, weeding, and harvesting, maximizing the productivity of your garden with ease.

Select the plants that are best suited for the soil and climate around your home, and reduce the amount of labor you need to put into it.

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Spring Gardening Tips

spring gardening tips Spring is the ideal time to start gardening. However, the garden needs to be prepared for planting after the cold winter. Before you start planting flowering plants and working in your vegetable and fruit garden, complete these essential spring gardening chores to ensure that your garden flourishes.

Spring Gardening Essentials

Clear Up Flower Beds and Borders

Before you can plant new seedlings, clear up the flower beds and borders. Remove dried leaves and other debris from all over the garden and pond. This is the time to trim old and dead branches of perennials as well. You can also retain an arborist to trim back trees and shrubs.

Clean the Greenhouse

The next step is to clean the greenhouse completely. Wash the outside and inside and apply a disinfectant on all surfaces after removing any insects, mold, and fungus that have established themselves over the winter. Wash the potting benches and seedling trays, clean and paint pots, and paint the greenhouse if it needs a fresh coat of paint.

Fix Fences, Gates, Trellis

As part of your spring gardening activities, you also need to clean and examine other garden fixtures such as fences, gates, and trellis. If your garden has furniture that was left outdoors in the winter, these need to be cleaned and painted as well. If you have stored the garden furniture indoors, bring them out and place them in the garden. You might need to mend broken fences and paint the trellis if it has been affected by the winter weather. Similarly, if you have a playhouse, tree house, pergola, or arbor in your garden, these need to be cleaned, disinfected, mended, and painted. Check these structures for mold, fungus, and insects and remove them before they take over the structure. Wash the outside and interiors of the structures.

Bird Feeders and Bird Baths

Another set of garden fixtures that bear the brunt of winter weather are bird feeders and baths. These need to be cleaned, disinfected, and painted if necessary. Test the bird bath to ensure that it does not leak. Once the weather turns mild enough for the birds to return, you will be in a position to fill the feeder and bath, adding bird song to your garden.

Eliminate Garden Pests

The time before spring planting is ideal for hunting down and eliminating garden pests. This will save you plenty of time and effort later on as your garden will be relatively pest free during the growing season.

Soil Test

Another must-do activity before spring planting is a soil test that will help you determine the right fertilizers to apply. You should also add mulch to the empty flower beds and bald patches of soil, to enhance the soil quality.

Compost Pit

Build or start a compost pit and use the garden debris and trimmings you have collected to prepare mulch.

Start Seedlings for Long Growing Plants

Even if the weather is still too cold to plant outdoors, you should be preparing the seeding trays for plants that need to grow for a longer period of time. The seedlings will be ready for planting once the weather becomes milder.

Water Butts

If your garden does not already have water butts, now is a salient time to install them. If the water butts were moved indoors during the winter, bring them out and place them in locations where they can catch rain water during spring precipitation. This move will help save the environment, reduce your water bill, and ensure healthier plants thrive on and live off rain water.

Spring Gardening Tools

Once the weather is appropriate for planting you will be busy in the garden, digging, planting, and so on. Before that, clean and inspect all of your gardening tools, sharpen and repair broken tools, and order any new ones that you will need.

Plan Your Garden

You should also take the time to plan your garden, decide which flowers you want in the flower beds and which vegetables and fruits you plan to grow this spring. With this decided, you will be in a position to order the seeds or seedlings you require and ensure that they are on hand the weekend you decide to plant them. While the actual planting of the garden can start only after the weather is conducive, you can begin work on the garden and prepare it for the spring planting just as the weather becomes warmer. This will give you a head start on your spring gardening; giving you time to ensure that the plants thrive by the time summer is on its way. By checking the soil, tools, and garden structures, and preparing seedlings ahead of time, you will soon have a colorful garden that truly heralds spring in your neighborhood. A little bit of planning will help your gardening efforts go more smoothly as you will have the tools and seeds you need when you are ready to plant.
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Essential Gardening Tools and Equipment

gardening tools and equipment If you enjoy spending time outdoors in your garden and love the ability to create a beautiful space in your yard, you need a few essential gardening tools and equipment to make your gardening tasks easier. Just as you order seeds and seedlings for your garden you also need to obtain a set of gardening tools that will be used throughout the years. As gardening tools will be needed year after year, you need to invest in the best quality tools you can.

Essential Gardening Tools and Equipment

Digging Tools

You will need a few digging tools such as spades, round, and square shovels, and post hole diggers first. You will need to dig holes in the ground and in containers to plant the seeds and seedlings. As such you will probably need a couple of spades in varying sizes to ensure that you can work on both the land and smaller containers. Many plants need support in the form of posts – for instance pole beans. So attaining a post hole digger to enable you to plant these is also essential for any first timer gardener.

Pruning Tools

You will also need a set of pruning tools such as pruning shears, hedge clippers, tree pruners, and loppers. While you will need the pruning shears and hedge clippers within a year or two of planting your garden, you can postpone purchasing the tree pruners and loppers until your trees are mature enough to require pruning or lopping. This is unless your garden already has a few trees that need to be maintained.

Rakes

You will need leaf rakes, shrub rakes, and landscaping rakes. If you begin gardening in the spring, plan to purchase the leaf rake by fall. The landscape and shrub rakes need to be purchased sooner.

Wheelbarrows or Carts

If you have a large garden you will need to invest in a wheel barrow or cart. This will help you transport fertilizer and soil or tools to the right spots with ease, and collect leaves and other garden waste for composting in a much easier fashion.

Spreader

Another useful item to own when starting a garden is a spreader. This is of wonderful use if you plan on having a lawn as part of your landscaping. A spreader is used to spread fertilizer quickly and evenly across a lawn. You can choose from a broadcast spreader, drop spreader, or hand spreader depending on the size of your lawn.

Hand Tools

You will also need smaller gardening tools such as weeders and trowels. These are used for smaller tasks and are easier to carry and store. These tools are essential even if you have a very small container garden on your patio or deck. They are also easy to hang in your shed or place in an outdoor closet.

Watering Equipment

For watering your garden you will need hoses. You can also install sprinklers to water your lawn with ease. While setting up the watering system for your garden consider installing a rain water barrel to reduce water consumption and still have a vibrant and lush garden.

Safety Equipment

Apart from the gardening tools and equipment above you will need gardening gloves, boots, and gardening overalls. If you plan to apply chemical pesticides, you will also have to invest in safety goggles and other equipment to keep you safe from inhaling the pesticides.

Lawn Mowers

A lawn will look good only if it is mowed regularly. As such if you have planned a lawn as part of your landscape design you also need a lawn mower. Depending on the size of the lawn you can press the button for one that you ride on or one that you walk behind.

Compost Bin

While those with a large garden can construct their own compost pit and generate compost using garden waste and mulch, if you have a small garden and still want to be eco friendly, you can install a compost bin that looks decorative and occupies less space.

Containers, Potting Bench

Apart from this, most gardens small and large have at least a few containers with plants. For this you need to purchase the containers and a potting bench so that you can easily plant and transplant plants. While a great garden has many different design features and a variety of trees, plants, shrubs, and so on, all gardeners need to start their gardens with the right gardening tools and equipment. This will enable them to plan their gardens properly and also be able to perform the right tasks with ease.
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garden bed, How to

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Vegetable Garden Planning for Beginners

Vegetable garden If you have plenty of open space around your home and want to spend a productive time outdoors, you should start a vegetable garden. This will enable you to enjoy growing your own vegetables and obtain fresh produce for your kitchen, canning purposes, or just by giving them away. The first steps when planning a vegetable garden are locating the site and determining its size. You should start small and expand your vegetable garden over the years.

How to Plan a Vegetable Garden

Size and Location

Choose a level plot about 16 feet by 10 feet in a sunny spot. When deciding on the size of your vegetable plot, error on the side of caution and fix on a smaller plot first. Once you are sure you can manage this and also make use of the vegetables you grow, you can expand it in the future. Vegetables require between six and eight hours of sunlight a day, so make sure the plot you select receives plenty of sun and is away from trees that can cast a shadow or take away vital nutrients. If possible, select a plot that is close to the house since this will discourage garden pests and wild animals.

Soil Quality

Vegetables require plenty of nutrients, so the soil should be loamy. Before you begin planting, get the soil tested and add mulch, compost, and other fertilizers as recommended.

Picking the Plants

Once you have decided on the plot you need to pick the plants you want to grow. Consult with the local horticultural organization about the best vegetables to grow in your area. Also factor in your tastes and requirements and only plant those vegetables that you will use. Some of the easiest plants to grow for beginners are tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, bush beans, cabbage, carrot, beets, lettuce, radishes, and chard. You should also plant marigolds around the vegetable garden to keep out rabbits.

Vegetable Rows

A garden that is 16 feet by 10 feet can accommodate 11 rows each of 10 feet in length. This spacing of the rows will give you sufficient space to walk between them to water, weed, and harvest the crop of vegetables.

Raised Beds or Tilling

Another decision that you need to make regarding the vegetable garden is whether you will be tilling the soil or planting on raised beds. Raised beds are recommended if the soil is of poor quality or if you have a bad back.

Building a Raised Bed

You can build a raised bed using four feet width lumber. The four feet width of the beds is ideal for growing most vegetables and will provide you with space to walk between the raised beds to tend to your plants, whether you are watering them or weeding the beds. When selecting lumber opt for natural woods with oil such as cedar that will not decompose easily even when exposed to soil and moisture. This will ensure that the raised beds last for around ten years. Alternatively, you can use pressure treated wood as long as it is not CCA pressure treated. When selecting lumber for your raised vegetable bed, ensure that it will not leach harmful chemicals into the soil. It is also possible to build raised vegetable beds using concrete blocks. However, this will likely increase the pH of the soil over time and you will need to treat the soil to combat this. When building a raised bed, the depth should be at least 6 inches while 12 inches is ideal. Drive wooden stakes into the ground to support the raised beds. The stakes should be spaced all along the length of the raised bed. Next, the wooden beds can be fixed to the stakes using galvanized screws and the beds filled with a mix of soil, compost, and manure.

Watering

While all vegetable gardens require at least an inch of water a week, raised beds might need to be watered more frequently, especially in summer. To prevent the soil from drying in summer, it can be covered with mulch, hay, or other organic material. It is possible to start a vegetable garden even if you only have a small open space, as long as the plot receives plenty of sunlight. All other aspects of the garden can be controlled. For instance, after getting the soil tested, you can add compost, manure, and fertilizer to improve its quality, build a raised bed, and increase the frequency of water if needed.

Gardening Tools

Once you have decided to start a vegetable garden, you should order the seeds or plants you require as well as a set of gardening tools. The basic gardening tools you need include a garden fork, spade, watering hose, hand weeder, hoe, and bucket or wheel barrow. Just as you need to order quality seeds, consider paying extra for high quality gardening tools since they will last longer―certainly if you take care of them. For instance, leaving tools in the weather, in the sun all day, is not conducive to long tool life.
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How to, playhouse kits, sheds

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How to Stain Your Shed or Playhouse

Stain Your Shed or Playhouse So you have decided to stain your shed or playhouse from Outdoor Living Today.com. Western Red Cedar has a reputation for holding finish exceptionally well, and for good reason too. After all, Western Red Cedar is pitch and resin-free and is usually milled with a rough finish. This means there’s nothing to interfere with the bonding of your finish and stain adherers to the rough fibers of the wood better. Here are a few tips to help your shed or playhouse stay beautiful for many years to come.

Before Your Shed/Playhouse Arrives

Western Red Cedar will actually start to weather to a silvery-grey even 3-4 weeks after being exposed to the sun. If you want to keep your product looking “new” and you can’t assemble your unit for some time after it arrives, make sure you cover the unit and protect it from the elements until you can get at it. If you have enough garage space available, that could be an ideal location – sheltered from the sun and also dry and safe. Consider clearing out additional garage space to store if possible.

After Your Shed/Playhouse Arrives

When your OLT product arrives, it will either be unloaded with a power tailgate to the ground on a contained pallet or off-loaded piece-by-piece by you and some helpers. If power tailgated down and you can’t get at it immediately, request the driver pallet jack the entire unit in that great space you made in the garage. Shipping companies sometimes can’t accommodate you but always ask! If the unit is left on your driveway, try to pick a spot not always in direct sunlight if possible. Either way, remove the protective plastic cover from the unit and cut the plastic banding holding the entire unit together. This will let the unit breathe to reduce moisture from the wood which will be great when you stain later. Consider removing various pieces from the package so they can start to dry and slowly reach the moisture equilibrium in your area. If your unit is hand offloaded from the delivery truck, sort pieces according to assembly section such as floor, walls, roof and trim. This will make it easier to locate pieces later and also get a game plan for what can be stained before and after assembly. If pieces are left outside, be sure to cover if exposed to direct sunlight or moisture for any period of time.

Stain Choice

Walk into any home do-it-yourself paint and supply store and you’re bound to be inundated with finish-stains. These products provide protection and also dress up the wood’s surface, enhancing cedar’s natural colors and textures or changing its face altogether. Three common choices are solid-colour stains, semi-transparent stains, and transparent stains. Solid-colour stains act as a barrier between the elements and the wood, forming a film around the wood. Semi-transparent stains are ideal when you want to maintain western red cedar’s natural finish without weathering. Semi-transparent stains penetrate the wood’s pores, to varying degrees based on product. Transparent stains enhance the wood’s colour and act as an invisible protectant. We here at Outdoor Living Today.com have experimented with many name brands, and in our opinion, a couple have stood out: Cabot Stain and Sikken’s. Both of these companies offer an opaque stain as well if your desire is to ‘color’ your shed. Expert Advice – bring a sample of cedar from the package and test the color so you know exactly what it will look like after you stain your shed or playhouse! The bottom skirting trim supplied with your shed/playhouse is a great piece to try this with. Test various stains and colors on the inside of the skirting. These won’t be seen when the assembly is complete, and will help you decide on your stain choice a lot more definitively than some arbitrary ‘color guide’ on a sample rack.

When to Stain Your Shed or Playhouse – Before or After Assembly?

There are many benefits to staining pieces of your shed or playhouse prior to assembly and some negatives. Staining pieces before assembly allows you to work in a safe, comfortable position. It has the added benefit of allowing you to apply a finish to all sides of your wood before installing it, thus ‘protecting’ every surface of your shed or playhouse. A good example of pieces we recommend staining prior to assembly would be the roof panels, filler shingles and roof ridge caps. The inside roof panels do not need to be stained! These pieces are much easier and safer to stain on saw horses. The entire trim kit can also be done prior to assembly. One negative is you will probably use more stain and it may take longer to complete the job as opposed to staining after you assemble the entire unit.

Brush versus Spraying?

While it may be easier and quicker to stain your shed or playhouse with a paint sprayer on certain components such as the walls and roof panels, we still recommend you brush the stain in after spraying to get an even and penetrating coat. Conditions must also be right (temperature and wind) if using a sprayer so with that said, a brush will most likely be your most effective tool. The brush is also very effective on wall siding and end grains of trim pieces. Using a brush will give you the most control. Brush application (natural bristle) is the preferred method because it works the stain into the wood fibers and cells more effectively. To avoid lap marks, make sure that the leading edge is kept wet and that the wet stain is brushed into the wood. A very good method is to brush the stain over an area, and then follow up with a sponge to catch any puddles or drips. Any stain left to sit on a surface will soak in more than surrounding areas and appear darker. Work in small manageable areas. Try this technique: brush with one hand, and a sponge in the other. Brush an area with the stain, and follow up with the sponge if there are drips and puddles. It won’t take long until you have developed a rhythm and the job will be done in no time. While stain brands recommend a drying time of 12 to 24 hours, allowing the cedar to dry between 24 and 48 hours ensures that it is completely dry before you handle it for assembly. There’s always the low-maintenance option of letting your western red cedar outdoor projects weather to a beautiful silver grey. But if that doesn’t suit your personal palette, follow these tips when you decide to stain your shed or playhouse for a beautiful finish that will last for many years! Enjoy your Shed or Playhouse from Outdoor Living Today.com!
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