Blending Decks into Yards and Landscapes

Outdoor decks connect the interior of a home to the natural world. To avoid an awkward separation between your deck and yard, soften the deck’s perimeter with plantings to create a seamless flow from the house to the landscape. An effective landscape plan should utilize layout, color, natural materials, and hardscape features to create continuity and transition.

Landscaping Decks of All Levels

An on-grade deck, or one that is built at ground level, offers the greatest possibilities. Begin by bringing the same softscape amenities onto the deck bed that you’ve used to accessorize the rest of your property. Use lots of oversized containers for planting everything from perennials to small trees.

Work with a single color palette or flowers from the same family as you build your garden out from the deck perimeter. Focus first on what you love, keeping in mind that more meticulous maintenance is required the closer the garden is to the deck. If insects are a concern, avoid shrubs and flowers that attract bees. On the other hand, some of these varieties attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

Vary the heights of plantings so that they make a smooth transition from deck base to the soil below by planting taller perennials close to the deck and gradually decreasing the height as the garden merges with the grass. This same philosophy works well with a near-grade deck — one that sits just several steps above the adjoining property. Use lattice as a backdrop to close the gap between the deck base and the soil, and plant taller perennials or annuals closest to the lattice. Stagger plantings by blossom time to encourage multi-season color if your climate will allow for it. Creating pockets of color and differing leaf textures distracts the eye from straight lines and vast forms.

Deck Transitions

Decks can also serve as the gateway to a more elaborately designed property. An English garden effect is created by using paths, benches, and bird baths. A Japanese-influenced garden begins on the deck with close attention to scale and the blending of diverse materials. Consider stepping off onto a massive, beautiful slab of granite. From that stone, create a narrower path. Vary accent pieces by height, visual weight, color, and material.

Fountains, goldfish ponds and other hardscape incorporated into the deck structure can serve as the prelude to what lies beyond. The key is in creating a soothing, fluid line rather than an abrupt change. Make subtle changes that move away from a busy life to a more peaceful life.

The View from Below

An above-grade deck benefits most from a graceful descent. Replace narrow tread-and-riser stairs with a wider staircase and landings for a smoother transition to the yard. A standard 8-inch rise can be replaced with a 5-inch and the tread extended to 12 inches. Changing the staircase makes it easier to carry food and beverages from the deck to the yard and visually opens the deck out onto the natural world. A five or six-foot wide step is big enough to incorporate potted flowers or built-in plant boxes along the edges. Landings can hold large container plantings or a potted tree.

The bottom of a story-high deck can be left open and framed with trellises. Climbing plants like clematis or morning glories add beauty and color while softening the angle where the posts meet the deck, giving the allusion of an archway. Add English Ivy to window boxes placed on the deck railings above to drape down and meet the greenery below. Café tables and chairs on grade make an inviting sitting area with a completely different ambiance from that of the deck above.

Source: BobVila.com

Green Cleaning: Outdoors

If you think swapping caustic chemicals for more eco-friendly options means you won't be able to get your outdoors clean, think again! Making the change to greener cleaners will actually benefit your yard, your wallet and your environment.

While using traditional toxic cleaners may seem less harmful because the chemicals aren’t inside your home, the truth is using chemical cleaners outdoors can negatively affect both human and environmental health. Runoff from outdoor cleaning can end up in the sewer system and back into your water supply. Also, because some of these chemicals don’t break down, they can eventually affect marine life when discharged into waterways.

Besides protecting your health and your environment, green cleaning is easy on your wallet. Many of these green cleaning solutions can be made out of inexpensive ingredients you probably already have at home, like baking soda, borax, vinegar and water.

Here are a few ways you can green clean outdoors and still keep everything as clean as you like it.

The patio or deck is an important spot for most households’ outdoor fun. But patio and deck amenities can easily become gritty and grimy after a few dusty days or rough showers. To clean metal lawn chairs, start with a gallon of warm water. Add 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, a squirt of natural dish soap and a scoop of borax. Pump or spray the solution onto the metal chairs and let it stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Scrub with a soft nylon brush and rinse off with a hose.

If you have mold on your cushions, make a mix of tea tree oil and water—one teaspoon of oil for every cup of water—and put it in a spray bottle. Test it on the back side of the cushion first to make sure it doesn’t harm the fabric. Once you know it’s safe, spray it on and don’t worry about rinsing it off. The oil will kill the mold, and both the smell of winter and of the tea tree oil will soon be gone.

Worried about the state of your grill? Try baking soda. A natural cleaner and absorbent, it’s completely non-toxic (you use it in cooking, after all) and the fine granules make a gentle abrasive that works great on tough-to-clean spots. Dampen a grill brush, sprinkle baking soda on it. Scrub your grill, rinse it clean. For tougher stains, try a baking soda paste—three parts baking soda to one part water—and scrub with a wire brush. An all-natural citrus-based cleanser is great for greasy spots.

Keeping your personal property neat and clean using eco-friendly methods is easy, and because most of the ingredients are readily available, it’s also convenient. Plus, there are other advantages to doing the outdoor cleaning yourself. Along with knowing you’re using great, effective alternatives, there’s always the pride of fixing up your home and enjoying some fresh air at the same time.

Source: BobVila.com

A gas grill is an outdoor cooking appliance, fueled by propane or natural gas, for grilling or barbecuing a variety of foods outdoors. A controlled amount of gas passes from the metal tank or household gas lines through fittings and a hose to the burners, where the gas is slowly consumed, creating heat for cooking on the grill top. Gas grills have become more popular than charcoal grills thanks to their ease of use. But before you fire up the grill, make sure it is always in proper working order.

Test the propane tank valve for leaks:

•  Turn the grill control knobs on the front (and, on some models, the side) of the barbecue to the off position.
•  Turn the propane tank valve fully counterclockwise to close it.
•  Mix a test solution of equal parts of dishwashing liquid and water in a small container.
•  To test for leaks, apply the test solution liberally to the connection between the regulator fitting and the tank valve using a small paint brush. Apply the test solution to the valve handle and threads, the length of the hose, and the connection between the hose and the regulator. If bubbles appear at any point, there is a gas leak.
•  Tighten the connections and retest.
•  If you still see bubbles at any of the tested connections, close the tank valve and replace the leaking component.

Test the hose fittings for leaks:

•  With the tank valve open, brush the test solution on the fitting at the other end of the hose, located under the control knobs.
•  Turn the control knob to high and test the hose and fittings leading from the control knob to the grill. Turn the right control knob to off. Repeat the process for the other control knobs.
•  If you see any bubbles during any of these tests, close the tank valve and contact your propane dealer or your local gas utility.
•  Do not use the barbecue until the leak is corrected.

Source: Fix it Club™