Add some style, color, AND mulch with this rock mulch idea. All you need to do is make an inner and outer circle of rocks. Light and dark colored rocks make this idea look really good.
Tag: yard
10 Organic Ways to Rid Your Garden of Slugs
The first thing you can do is switch your watering schedule. Slugs go out at night, and they work best in damp conditions. So if you’re watering in the evening, then you’re creating a perfect environment for slugs. Water in the morning so there’s time for things to dry up.
You could try introducing slug predators to your yard or garden if you really want to deal with the slug problem. Frogs are usually the predator of choice. Of course, you’ll need to provide an environment for the frog to survive, and it also means you’ll have frogs in your yard, so be aware of that trade off.
Slugs like some plants more than others. What you can do is plant a distracter plant so that the slugs stay away from your fruits and veggies and other prized plants. Chamomile is a great example. Plant it near your other plants, and the slugs will eat this instead of the others.
You could also use plants that deter slugs instead of distracting them. For example, fennel and rosemary are highly disliked by slugs. Plant them in your garden, and that should help get rid of the little pests.
Diatomaceous earth is one of the best solutions for lots of insect problems in the garden. The product shreds up the slugs’ underbellies, dehydrating and killing them. Sprinkle this around the edges of the garden and near the bases of the plants.
Lava rocks are another product for your garden that are a natural way to kill slugs. Their rough and scratchy surface also rips up the slugs. It will kill them and also, once they learn, they’ll avoid your garden. Just make sure there aren’t any leaves or dirt on the rocks that will cover the surface.
Break up some egg shells and sprinkle them around your soil. Like the previous ideas, this creates a rough surface that cuts up the slugs’ bellies. However, it also helps add nutrients to the soil as the shells break down, so it’s a win-win.
I bet you didn’t know that seaweed is a great natural slug repellent! Mulch the seaweed around your garden, making sure it doesn’t touch the base of the plants. The seaweed is salty, which slugs hate, and when it dries, it becomes rough and scratchy.
A copper wire can work well to deter slugs. Wrap it around the base of your garden, making sure it’s fully exposed. You can also use a copper mesh to protect your plants. The slugs will avoid crossing over it because they don’t like the copper.
A really drastic solution for getting rid of slugs is the old salt technique. Go out to your garden at night and pour some salt on any slugs you may see. The salt kills them pretty quickly. Just don’t go overboard because you don’t want a bunch of extra salt in your soil.
How to Make Your Foundation Look Like Part of Your Yard
13 Different Ways to Make a Rock Pathway
A pallet pathway is a simple and easy solution. Surround the pieces with rocks, and you have a cute rock pathway. I prefer lighter colors, but this also looks good with dark rocks and wood.
15 Brilliant Tricks Every Gardener Should Know About
Don’t throw your citrus peels away. Instead, use them to start a seedling. The nutrients in the peel will go directly to the soil, meaning your seed grows faster and better.
17 Brilliant Backyard Lighting Ideas
My whole family really loves these glow rocks. It’s nice because in the day they act as great yard decoration, but at night they add light to keep things nice and visible. You can find them for a pretty good price if you look hard enough.
Hang some lights from strings around your whole yard and deck. I love this look. It reminds me of my childhood, long summers, and fun block parties in my hometown. You can get hanging pendant lights from anywhere, really, so find some and get decorating!
Tiki torches are a great way to light things up in the yard. You’ll obviously want to be careful if you use real fire, though, instead of electric lights. But I think they’re worth the trouble because they look so cool and fun.
If you don’t want long tiki torches sticking out of the ground, then try wall-mounted torches. The good thing about these is that you can get mosquito repelling fuel so that your yard is lit and bugs don’t come biting you and your guests. It’s a win-win for everyone!
Take your string lights and wrap them around the trees in your yard. You’ll probably have to play around with the spacing and size of the lights, but this is such an enchanted look. I can’t get enough of it!
Use some Mason jars or similar products to making hanging pendant lights for your yard. The jars add a nice rustic touch that makes your backyard feel even homier and comfortable.
Stick some lights into your flowerbeds to accentuate the edges and border of your yard. You can choose from a ton of different lighting types, just make them big enough to illuminate the path as well as the edges of your yard.
Hanging lanterns around the yard is a fun way to get some lighting. They also act as decorations. The lanterns can be hung form trees, the ceiling, pergolas, or wherever else you feel like they could go.
Small pathway lights are really nice if you have a windy pathway that can be hard for your guests to navigate at night. They’re also just nice to have because they give a crisp outline to your yard while also lighting up the evening.
Take small jars or containers and hang them from your tree branches with rope. This creates a rustic feel that you’ll love. I like to sit underneath this with my kids to just enjoy the long summer nights together.
Make these fantastic sun jars that you can place all around your patio and yard. The jars are so fun and unique, and the lights can be placed on tables, stands, or anywhere else you need them. It’s like a pocket of light you can carry with you.
Make your own chandelier or hang one up in your patio area to really light things up. You can use wire baskets to make the chandelier or find other material that would work well.
Wrap some lights around the trellises in your yard and patio. The soft glow from this lights combined with the shape of the trellises will make you feel like you stepped right into a fairytale! They’re so cozy looking!
If you have an umbrella or parasol on your patio, then try this. Wrap some lights up on the inside of the umbrella for extra-close lighting for your late night parties. It provides all the light you’ll need without it being right in your face.
Put some water in the birdbath and then fill it with floating candles. This is an incredibly intimate type of lighting, but it looks so nice. It’s more for show and not for actual light, since you won’t get much. But it definitely adds to the ambiance.
If you’re having a large gathering in your yard and expect it to go late, then do this lighted tables! They serve as both light for your guests as well as tables for them to put their plates, cups, and other items.
Tin cans can be converted into some pretty fun lighting for your backyard. And the best part is that you can make some of these tin can lights with your kids so they feel a part of the decorating process. Just punch holes into the cans and then place a small candle inside them.
9 Genius Ways to Create a Backyard Paradise
One of my favorite things about my backyard is the amazing water feature we have. It’s a waterfall type feature, and it’s the best. Not only does it bring birds and other gorgeous animals, but the sounds are so relaxing. I could just go back there and fall asleep right next to my water feature.
If you like to entertain guests, then hanging lights are an absolute must for your backyard. There are so many different types and ideas, but they all look good. I love the Edison bulbs because the give your patio or porch a nice rustic look that feels really homey and cozy.
Add some light and get rid of bugs by installing some mosquito-repelling tiki torches. You can make your own or buy them from the store. They easily install to the walls (or you can get tall standing ones), and help repel bugs from biting you and your guests.
One of the biggest kills to having a backyard paradise is the outdoor furniture. If you have those dinky plastic chairs, then you definitely will NOT be in paradise. It’s time to get rid of that furniture and get some nice and comfy stuff. You can still spruce up your backyard without breaking the bank.
A little garden pathway is a great visual element, but it’s also fantastic for getting around more easily. Build those gorgeous curling pathways that make you feel like you’re in an 18th century English manor or something. There are lots of different types and materials you can use to build a pathway in your own backyard.
Make sure you have a relaxing area that you can go to in order to get away from the everyday stresses of life. Mine includes a cute little pillow hammock that I can sit in to just breathe! My kids know not to bother me there, and my husband knows it keeps me sane. 🙂
For those of you who plan on using your outdoor space as much as possible in the warm months, you may want to build an outdoor kitchen. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but a nice little sink, oven/stove area, and maybe even a small fridge can save you a lot of time and hassle. Plus, it’ll stop you from having to go inside all the time, which can help with the AC bill.
Divide out your yard (if it’s big enough) to make cute distinct zones. You can use privacy hedges, picket fences, or any other type of material. This is a great idea if you tend to have adults and kids in the yard at once. Areas can be divided between the two ages while existing together at the same time.
This may seem silly, but place some greenery on your patio and porch to make it feel even more comfortable. I know you probably have greenery in your yard and garden, but if you don’t have any on the porch, it will feel like a stark divide between urban and nature. By adding some potted plants and shrubs to the patio, you help blend the two together.
13 Garden Mosaic Projects That Will Blow Your Mind
One of the most popular ways to add a mosaic to your yard is by making stepping stones. They’re really easy to make yourself, and it’s a fun project to do with the kids. Each stone can be different, or you can create a uniform pattern.
Pathways are a bit more work than stepping stones, but they’re just as gorgeous. The best part about a path is that the entire thing is covered in the mosaic, creating a work of art on the floor of your yard. You just want to have enough tile pieces!
Decorate your yard with mosaic rocks. You can create fun and creative patterns, or you can do things like a ladybug design! These can go between flowers, in bushes, or on your patio. They can be used to decorate anywhere you need them.
Add some color and gardening space by making a mosaic vertical garden. The best way to do this is by using teacups or halved flower pots, since the material looks best with the mosaic tiles. But you can do whatever your heart desires!
Get creative and make some wall or fence art out of mosaic tiles. It can be as big or as small as you want. As colorful as you feel. Get your kids involved for a fun summer project.
The birds deserve to have a cute place to come hang out. Make a mosaic birdbath that they can enjoy. Whether it’s the whole piece or just the dish part, this is a great DIY project to start.
Add mosaic tiles to cinder blocks and you’ll find a whole new slew of ways to design with them. The blocks can be stacked to make a large mosaic, or you can just place them around the yard or garden for dispersed decorations.
Adding mosaic tiles to flower pots and planters is really fun. There’s something about it that feels almost therapeutic. You can coordinate the color of the flowers to match or complement the color of the tiles you choose!
If you do this idea, I would choose something a bit more classy and sophisticated. A window box will go on your house (or near it), so you don’t want something that is too flashy or will draw too much attention. A nice simple design is just what you need.
Whether it’s for the birds or just as a decoration, these mosaic birdhouses are absolutely gorgeous! They catch the light, brighten up any space, and even attract birds to your yard. There’s really nothing better, I’d say!
Using PVC pipe or some other similarly shaped object, you can create these outstanding mosaic pillars to place all around your yard or garden. They’re simple, elegant, and give you more space to place plants and flowers.
If you have the space, consider making a mosaic bench for decoration or for use. Either one works. A mosaic bench is a great addition to any garden that needs a little more personality.
I think this idea is just so cute and clever. Mosaic tiki torches look beautiful and add to the intimate feel of your yard or patio. Choose simple colors and shapes to get the best results.
17 Mind-Blowing Backyard Projects
5 Homemade Products to Use in Your Garden
Seed tape is really nice, and now there’s no need to go out and buy some. You can make your own! Use a roll of (biodegradable) toilet paper as DIY seed tape. Simply place the seeds on the paper, fix them in there, and then roll up. You just have to throw them out on the garden when you’re ready.
