Jul
5
6 ways smart robotics can give you a better lawn
July 5, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – No one has ever looked at their yard and wished it looked terrible, right? You naturally want your lawn to look as amazing as possible. The problem, of course, is finding the time to make your lawn look exactly as you envision it, and with toda…
Jul
5
6 ways smart robotics can give you a better lawn
July 5, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – No one has ever looked at their yard and wished it looked terrible, right? You naturally want your lawn to look as amazing as possible. The problem, of course, is finding the time to make your lawn look exactly as you envision it, and with toda…
Jul
2
How big of a deck do I need?
July 2, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – As the major outdoor living trend sweeps the nation, decks are getting bigger. But with television shows featuring 3,000-square-foot monster decks, the average homeowner is left to wonder, “Just how big of a deck do I need?”
Atlanta, Georgia-based deck builder Frank Pologruto says it all comes down to how homeowners intend to use their space as each “zone” of the deck will require a general square footage.
“People want somewhere to cook, and then eat, and then have a conversation, and you start adding up these areas and you realize you can’t do all this in a 16-foot by 12-foot deck,” said Pologruto, the owner of Decks & More.
Dining — 320+ square feet
Outdoor kitchens and dining areas are growing in popularity, but do require significant space. A grill with some counter space for cooking and a large table and chairs for dining will take up around 320 square feet of deck.
Seating — 250+ square feet
Adding an additional seating area, whether a quiet morning coffee spot or an after-dinner conversation pit, will require more space. A conversation area for about six people will add another 256 square feet to the deck. Adding a fire element to the seating area, will require not only the space for the actual fireplace or fire pit, but also appropriate distance between the fire and any seating.
Pool or hot tub — 150+ square feet
Homeowners looking to include a water feature like an in-ground pool or hot tub can expect it to require additional deck space. A four-person hot tub could take up as many as 100 square feet of deck, but Pologruto cautions homeowners to build in plenty of room to walk around, and enter and exit the hot tub, bringing the total to between 150 and 200 square feet.
Parties — 15 square feet per person
As a general rule, Pologruto said homeowners should determine how many people they expect to host on their deck and estimate about 15 square feet of deck per person. To comfortably fit around 20 people, the deck will need at least 300 square feet of open space.
“Remember though, if you plan to have 50 people over, they won’t all be out on the deck at the same time, so plan for your deck to hold about 30 people,” he said.
Cost
With the added square footage comes a bigger price tag — $25,000 to $250,000 depending on the size.
The deck material will also affect the final cost. Pologruto uses traditional wood boards and high-end ENVISION composite decking by TAMKO Building Products, and says if homeowners are already preparing to spend the money to build a large deck, they should go the extra step and upgrade to a composite board.
“If you’re smart and have the money, do the composite — it just makes more sense,” he said.
Overall, from his experience, Pologruto said most homeowners don’t need a 3,000-square-foot deck, and should be able to fit a small dining area, arbor, hot tub and separate seating area in about 750 square feet, although some of the decks he builds are more than twice that size.
Planning to include the right amount of space will leave you with the most comfortable outdoor living area to suit your needs.
Jun
20
Bee responsible! How to attract pollinators to your garden and help them thrive
June 20, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – It’s been in the news for years now: the decline of pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies, and how it’s upsetting our world’s healthy ecosystem. We need pollinators for the growth of many of the foods we eat each day – according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, some scientists estimate that one in three bites of food we take result from the work of pollinators. Berries, apples, oranges, almonds and scores of other foods, not to mention flowers, rely on pollinators. If they disappear, those foods will fade along with them.
So, why are pollinators declining? They can’t find enough food because their habitats are disappearing.
Fortunately, we can all help protect pollinators. Ortho, a leading brand in lawn and garden, recently teamed up with the Pollinator Stewardship Council for a consumer education campaign, “Bee Responsible,” aimed at helping home gardeners protect the pollinators in their yards, attract more of them and help them thrive.
In 2016, after evaluating the risk to honeybees and other pollinators, Ortho also announced plans to phase out neonicotinoid-based pesticides from all its outdoor gardening products and is investing in alternative pest control solutions. Ortho’s parent company, Scotts Miracle-Gro, has funded 125 pollinator-friendly gardens throughout the country.
Want to attract pollinators to your yard and help them thrive? Here are some tips.
Make your garden pollinator friendly. Nectar and pollen-packed plants attract honeybees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Choose colorful flowers, such as alyssum, aster, delphinium, flax, lavender, liatris, lupine, phlox or zinnia. Check with your local garden store for native plants and flowers that thrive in your climate and choose a range of plants that bloom in different seasons.
Encourage neighbors to do the same. If one pollinator-friendly garden is good, a network of them dotting your neighborhood is better. This could provide enough habitat and resources to help restore and bolster the pollinator population in your community.
Control pests in your garden. Insects and mites can bring disease and destruction to your garden, undoing all of the good you’re trying to do for pollinators. Ortho’s neonic-alternative 3-in-1 Insect, Mite & Disease control will help banish the bad bugs in your garden. To use responsibly, avoid spraying when it’s windy, apply the product at dusk and dawn when pollinators are less active and avoid using the product on blooms. Another tip: Use native plants whenever possible. They usually require less pesticide than plants from other zones.
Provide shelter. Bees and butterflies need shelter, so make sure your yard has some cozy nesting sites, like leaves, moss, piles of grass or a patch of yard you just let go wild. Also, check out bee houses in your neighborhood garden store. They’re artistic and fun, and they provide bees with shelter for their offspring to thrive.
Don’t forget the water. Your garden will provide the nectar and pollen. But bees, birds and butterflies need water, too. A decorative bird bath, water feature or even a shallow rain catcher will give your buzzing friends the water they need.
Install a hummingbird feeder. Imagine sitting outside with your first cup of coffee in the morning and watching those magical hummingbirds dart around the feeder. You’ll be nourishing your garden and your spirit at the same time.
By providing pollinators with friendly habitats, backyard gardeners can help these vital components in our ecosystem regain a foothold.
Jun
20
Bee responsible! How to attract pollinators to your garden and help them thrive
June 20, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – It’s been in the news for years now: the decline of pollinators such as honeybees and butterflies, and how it’s upsetting our world’s healthy ecosystem. We need pollinators for the growth of many of the foods we eat each day – according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, some scientists estimate that one in three bites of food we take result from the work of pollinators. Berries, apples, oranges, almonds and scores of other foods, not to mention flowers, rely on pollinators. If they disappear, those foods will fade along with them.
So, why are pollinators declining? They can’t find enough food because their habitats are disappearing.
Fortunately, we can all help protect pollinators. Ortho, a leading brand in lawn and garden, recently teamed up with the Pollinator Stewardship Council for a consumer education campaign, “Bee Responsible,” aimed at helping home gardeners protect the pollinators in their yards, attract more of them and help them thrive.
In 2016, after evaluating the risk to honeybees and other pollinators, Ortho also announced plans to phase out neonicotinoid-based pesticides from all its outdoor gardening products and is investing in alternative pest control solutions. Ortho’s parent company, Scotts Miracle-Gro, has funded 125 pollinator-friendly gardens throughout the country.
Want to attract pollinators to your yard and help them thrive? Here are some tips.
Make your garden pollinator friendly. Nectar and pollen-packed plants attract honeybees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators. Choose colorful flowers, such as alyssum, aster, delphinium, flax, lavender, liatris, lupine, phlox or zinnia. Check with your local garden store for native plants and flowers that thrive in your climate and choose a range of plants that bloom in different seasons.
Encourage neighbors to do the same. If one pollinator-friendly garden is good, a network of them dotting your neighborhood is better. This could provide enough habitat and resources to help restore and bolster the pollinator population in your community.
Control pests in your garden. Insects and mites can bring disease and destruction to your garden, undoing all of the good you’re trying to do for pollinators. Ortho’s neonic-alternative 3-in-1 Insect, Mite & Disease control will help banish the bad bugs in your garden. To use responsibly, avoid spraying when it’s windy, apply the product at dusk and dawn when pollinators are less active and avoid using the product on blooms. Another tip: Use native plants whenever possible. They usually require less pesticide than plants from other zones.
Provide shelter. Bees and butterflies need shelter, so make sure your yard has some cozy nesting sites, like leaves, moss, piles of grass or a patch of yard you just let go wild. Also, check out bee houses in your neighborhood garden store. They’re artistic and fun, and they provide bees with shelter for their offspring to thrive.
Don’t forget the water. Your garden will provide the nectar and pollen. But bees, birds and butterflies need water, too. A decorative bird bath, water feature or even a shallow rain catcher will give your buzzing friends the water they need.
Install a hummingbird feeder. Imagine sitting outside with your first cup of coffee in the morning and watching those magical hummingbirds dart around the feeder. You’ll be nourishing your garden and your spirit at the same time.
By providing pollinators with friendly habitats, backyard gardeners can help these vital components in our ecosystem regain a foothold.
Jun
20
6 sure-fire tips that save time and labor on yard work and gardening
June 20, 2018 | Leave a Comment
(BPT) – It’s summertime, and you’ll want to spend many sun-drenched hours in the great outdoors. But while Mother Nature is flourishing, it feels like you’re wasting too many precious summer afternoons and evenings doing chores in the…