Light Up the Night!

As gardeners, we invest a lot of time and money in our landscapes, so why not show them off at night as well as day? Landscape lighting will help illuminate a garden’s beauty while offering many other benefits. It improves your home’s security by deterring potential burglars and makes areas such as paths and sidewalks safer for you and your guests. See how lighting can enhance your landscape with our handy guide.

1. Floodlighting: Designed to illuminate wide areas for security, floodlights are highly versatile. They can be mounted in the ground, on walls, or even in trees. Unfortunately, this type of lighting can often be unsightly, so try to install it in an inconspicuous spot.

2. Surface lighting: The primary benefit of this type of lighting is safety and utility. Lights typically mount on flat surfaces, such as walls or stair risers, creating an attractive evening ambience for outdoor gatherings. Although this lighting often assumes an inconspicuous look, some fixtures can be ornate.

3. Path lighting: The primary purpose of this lighting is safety. Use it when you want to draw attention to steps or obstacles that might be overlooked. Path lighting comes in a wide range of styles, from standard black tier lights to elaborate fixtures.

Remember that many lighting fixtures will be visible by day — especially on a front walk or patio. For round-the-clock appeal, choose fixtures that complement and enhance the style of your home.

Source: bhg.com

Outdoor Spas: Getting Into Hot Water

Whether you incorporate a spa in your deck design or build a gazebo for your hot tub, here are some tips for making sure it will suit your needs.

Outdoor spas can be portable or in-ground. Evaluate the pros and cons before deciding on the better fit.

Portable Pros and Cons
A portable spa consists of a molded fiberglass spa, heater, pump, filter, and bubbler in one assembly. For installation, you’ll need a site, an electric outlet, and a source of water. Costs range from $2,000 to $12,000, depending on size and features.

Pros: Portable spas can be up and running within a few hours. Each all-in-one unit comes with the spa, support equipment, and skirting that hides the equipment. Because shapes and sizes are standard, buying accessories is easy and economical. Also, you can move the units, unless they’re built into decks or patios.

Cons: Portable spas are difficult to disguise — they can become unwanted focal points in landscaping. You are limited to the sizes and shapes offered by manufacturers. Portable spas require a level, solid surface.

In-Ground Pros and Cons
Pros: Teamed with a pool or other features, an in-ground spa can be part of a dramatic landscape. You can customize the shape to integrate one into a deck or patio. It’s also fairly easy to add a spa to an existing pool. A spa connected to a swimming pool can share a filtration unit.

Cons: In-ground spas must be built by professionals. They require excavation, installation of plumbing and electrical lines, and a few months to build. They cost $15,000 to $20,000 and often are most cost-effective when built in conjunction with in-ground pools.

Spas come in a variety of materials. Acrylic spas are available in many pre-formed shapes and sizes. Concrete spas are easy to customize. Tile adds a decorative touch but is labor-intensive and more costly. Gunite is spray-applied concrete. It’s less expensive than poured concrete but offers similar durability and flexibility.

Zoning, Insurance, and Safety

Check local zoning and building regulations. Spas typically receive zoning considerations similar to those for pools. Most communities have guidelines for fencing and enclosures, setbacks to property lines, and proximity to utility lines.

Insurance coverage for spas is part of homeowners’ policies. Some insurance companies increase premiums for owning a spa, so check before you buy or build.

Safety is a primary concern. Make sure guests know how to use the equipment safely. Proper enclosures and supervision are a must to ensure the safety of children, pets, and wildlife that may wander near the pool. Specialty safety products are available.

Special Features

Simple spa features — a cover, seating, and jet fittings — can help you relax more comfortably. A spa cover conserves energy, minimizes water and chemical evaporation, and keeps debris out of the spa. Rigid covers are more expensive than flexible ones but typically provide better insulation. Before you decide on the amount and type of seating to include, take a test soak in a spa to evaluate the possibilities. Consider how many people will use the spa at a time.

Because spas are used for relaxation, therapy, and fitness, specialized jet fittings are available. Most of these fittings are adjustable.

Care and Maintenance

With the appropriate equipment, minimal effort will keep your spa clean and comfortable. Consider the equipment and chemicals you’ll need for upkeep and the regular chores you’ll perform.

Because spas are covered when not in use, debris in the water is minimal. Skim the surface if needed; most large debris such as leaves or twigs will be captured in the skimmer basket. Empty the basket regularly.

Though regular use of chemicals in the spa allows you to keep the water sanitized, it’s best to drain your spa and start fresh about every six months.

Source: outdoorlivingideas.com

Consider adding an awning to your home to help conserve energy. There are a variety of awnings for use at home. Some attach directly on the house and are quick and easy to open and close. Not only do these retractable awnings keep you comfortable and protect you from harmful UV rays, they also help you heat and cool a home more efficiently. During the summer, less sunlight will come into windows under the awning, so the AC doesn't have to run as hard. In the winter, the awning can be stored outside in its closed position to let the natural sunlight in to heat the home. Your energy bills can be lowered throughout the year.

In addition to awnings that attach directly on the house, free-standing options can work great on a patio or by a pool. A free-standing awning does not need to be mounted against the home and helps increase how much time a family spends enjoying their yard.

Hot weather during the summer months can drive people indoors fast, but if you have an awning (freestanding or wall mounted), you can enjoy temperatures up to 20 degrees cooler than those in the sun. Awnings provide a relaxing, comfortable place for you to enjoy your backyard, and because you are spending more time outdoors, you can turn down the air conditioning inside, helping to lower your bills and the pollution you put into the atmosphere.

Courtesy: aracontent.com