DIY Projects

Outdoor deck

Since the outdoor deck plays such a key role for your exterior, it’s very important to give your design ample thought before diving in.When it comes to outdoor deck ideas, your first point of consideration should be the construction materials used. There are four common types, but you’ll want to do some research before deciding which one works best for your family. The options are:

Pressure-Treated Lumber: The most popular and gives that classic hardwood look but requires lots of maintenance and is very susceptible to warping.

Redwood: Other woods like Redwood and Cedar are slightly more durable but are often more expensive.

Composite: Plastic or a composite material requires very little maintenance after installation but can be limited in terms of color and other aesthetic options.

Aluminum: The most durable and the priciest material.

By and large, entertaining is where your deck will really shine. Whether you’re just serving up a casual dinner for your immediate family or you’re planning a big bash with all your friends on the guest list, you’ll want to make sure that your deck is set up to make hosting the event as simple as possible.

Making sure that your deck is outfitted with plenty of lighting and maybe even a few speakers will instantly set a party atmosphere. Also, the addition of an outdoor kitchen or grill and/or wet bar is a great option for those who don’t want to be stuck in a kitchen.

Some ideas to add to an existing deck:

Practicality is key to increasing the use of any patio space. Storage and organization locations, such as a DIY patio beverage station, offer spots for gathering. Customized from an off-the-shelf workbench, special touches to this project include paint on the drawer fronts and an easy-sew curtain to hide supplies.

Many covered patios are wide open to the landscape, which establishes a connection to a yard. But if a little privacy would help enhance the space, consider this DIY idea: Add a trellis or other decorative structure to one of the openings.

Although furniture is a quick fix, a swinging patio bed is a simple, charming DIY solution to relax-worthy seating. Adapt a platform or bench to hold a cushion and a back support. Hooks should be attached to beams, not the ceiling itself.  Also an outdoor area rug makes a great difference in the look of your deck whether stone or wood.

Water is a great draw for lots of reasons: It can hide unwelcome noise and offer soothing ambiance for an outdoor gathering space. Plenty of patio options exist, from tabletop solutions to larger on-ground ideas. Use the proportions of your space and your needs as a guide when selecting the size of your fountain.

DIY Projects

Upgrade Your Doors with Unique Knobs

Choosing a quality door knob is important both aesthetically and to provide adequate security for your home. The term lockset refers to both the door handle and lock, which can be combined in several ways:

Unique handles.

Handle and lock with same or separate deadbolt.

Handle and deadbolt electronically control with your phone.

Door handle styles include a “D” handle, a round handle that you grasp, and a lever handle. It’s important to pick a lock that offers the degree of security you need. Once that is satisfied, take some time to pick the look that will make the best statement on your front door.

You’ll see lots of new finishes available—including satin nickel, hand-rubbed pewter, and hand-rubbed bronze—as well as bright and antique brass. Prices range from less than $50 to $300 and more depending on the security rating of the lock, the quality of the materials, the design, and the finish.

Typically, you can replace a new lock used the holes already drilled in the door but check to make sure the existing holes will work.

Flowers (annual and perennial), Gardening & Landscape, Vegetable and Fruits

Powdery Mildew

If your plants’ leaves have a white or gray dust on them, powdery mildew is probably attacking your garden. It’s a common disease, and different strains of powdery mildew attack a wide range of plants. This problem usually occurs toward the end of the season in August or September. This year (now) powdery mildew is a problem because of the warm humid conditions late in the summer. Factually most of the garden is mature or ripening.

Since these mildews attack several different types of plants, the fungus from a disease plant may infect other types of plants in the garden or flowerbed. As some of you know (myself included)) mildews can spread in a matter of a few days.

The bad news is that there’s no good treatment of powdery mildew. Happily, though, you can control powdery mildew if it happens earlier in the year.

How to Control Powdery Mildew

Keep Your Garden Clean: Powdery mildew spores can overwinter in your garden — so remove all affected fallen leaves from your garden during and at the end of the season. If you see leaves that are just beginning to show the disease, pluck them off the plant and throw them away to help keep powdery mildew from spreading to healthy plants.

Encourage Air Flow: Powdery mildew loves still, humid conditions, so keep spaces between your plants for air to flow through. Divide perennials every few years to keep them loose and open and prune trees and shrubs so they don’t get too thick. Also: Consider airflow when you choose spots for your plants. Avoid planting mildew-prone plants in especially sheltered spots.

Apply Fungicides: Fungicides can effectively control powdery mildew from spreading, but they’re not as good at killing the disease once it’s established. So, use fungicides — either traditional or organic — in wet, humid periods before you see a problem or just as the plants first start to show symptoms especially if you had the fungus this year. Look for these products at your local garden center, nursery, or online.