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yard and garden

4 Ways to Add Instant Curb Appeal

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Curb appeal doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective.  Making your home look inviting makes people want to see the inside of your home.  It’s a great way to help sell your home if that’s your goal, but it’s not the only reason to spruce up the front facade.  It gives your home a polished look that you can take pride in.  Check out these simple, inexpensive ways to freshen up the look of your home.

1. Paint your front door

Painting your front door is an easy way to perk up your home.  Choose a bold color that pops or a muted color for a classic look.  Be sure whichever color you choose works with the siding and roof color.  Take a photo of your siding and your home to a paint store and get the staff to help you select the right shade.  If you have a storm door, paint it the same color to add cohesiveness to the design.

Instant Curb Appeal

How to Install Thumb Latch Gate Hardware

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How to Install Thumb Latch Gate Hardware
How to Install Thumb Latch Gate Hardware

I have an old door that I repurposed as a garden gate that swings into my yard. I love the look of the old door but I wasn’t crazy about the latch hardware I had installed. I couldn’t open the gate from the outside of the yard.  I decided to get a thumb gate latch instead and it was really easy to install. Here’s how to install thumb latch gate hardware!

Materials

  • Gate Latch Kit
  • Drill
  • 1/2″ drill bit
  • Screwdriver bits
  • Chisel

A Brand New Deck Without The High Costs!

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Improve the look of your deck for free

Is your deck flooring looking worn out?  Instead of replacing it, check out how I made my deck look brand new without spending a dime!

Tools Required 

  • Broom
  • Stain or Deck Sealer (optional)
  • New screws or nails, if needed

If deck boards are nailed:

  • Hammer
  • Prybar
  • Crowbar with v-tip
  • Sander – either floor or hand
  • 80 grit sandpaper

If deck boards are screwed:

  • Power drill with screwdriver  bits
  • Sander – either floor or hand
  • 80 grit sandpaper

5 Killer Resources for Beginning Gardeners

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5 great resources for gardeners
With a little research, your plants will flourish.

Within each beginning gardener is a green thumb waiting to burst free. Whether you want to surround yourself with the natural beauty of flowers and bushes or feed your family with fresh fruits and vegetables, starting a garden doesn’t have to be an exercise in frustration.

There are myriad resources for the beginning gardener to utilize in her quest for the perfect outdoor space.

National Gardening Association

If you truly don’t know where to begin, start with the experts. For more than 40 years, the National Garden Association has been providing plant education to beginners and experts alike. Its online reputation is unmatched. Check out the free educational materials, as well as the super-helpful Ask and Share forum, where you can get an answer to your burning plant-based questions, and review the latest gardening research.

They have a sister kids site, too, at KidsGardening.org.

5 Of The Best Plants For A Drought

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A lot of us can’t help going away for long periods during warmer weather and having to leave our gardens without the regular watering or sprinkling they so desire. However, it’s possible plant for the problem and there are a number of great plants that can survive with little or no water and still look fine. These plants generally originate in the Mediterranean area, South America and often South Africa too. The one’s we’re going to suggest are quite versatile and can be grown in most temperate climates with warm summers as they are both hardy and drought resistant. So, let’s take a look at five of the best drought resistant plants for your garden.

Dahlias

5 drought-proof plantsThe dahlia is a fantastic plant and there are a number of variants that really are fantastic if you live in warmer areas. The ‘Hillcrest Royal’, the red ‘Bishop of Llandaff and the darker’ Arabian Night’ are all fantastic plants and can be even left in the soil for the winters. The only real issue with these flowers are slugs, who tend to truly have a soft spot for these flowers – particularly the chocolate leaved versions.

Creative Planters For Your Garden

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Picking out the right flowers, bushes, and trees is hard enough without having to find the right planters. Myself? I usually get lazy and go with a traditional terracotta planter, but the following garden savants have above and beyond to add creativity to their gardens.

Petaling Away

Not sure what to do with that little bike now that your kids are all grown up? Paint it up, add some baskets, and drop in the flowers.

Creative planters for the garden

Source: HauteLook

For touch of extra creativity add some shoes to the pedals for extra planting spots, which is nothing short of genius!

Bicycle upcycled into a flower planter

Source: OrganizedClutterQueen