Timber Garden Fencing

Gardeners often find themselves at a loss when it comes to replacing their timber garden fencing. This is because the quality of timber garden fencing is so good that gardeners seldom have to replace them. It can be even trickier if the garden came to them with property that already has the timber garden fencing.

There are three main types of timber garden fencing that gardeners can choose from. The choices that the gardener makes are going to come down to what they want and need for their garden. Perhaps they want something more decorative, or perhaps they want privacy or perhaps they want a little of both. The two are not mutually exclusive, and sometimes hiring fencing services can help the gardener get exactly what they want.

One type of garden fencing that is particularly decorative is picket fencing. This type of fence looks great but does not provide much privacy. In any case, the gardener can construct it themselves, or they can have fencing services build and install it for them. Common picket designs are round top, pointed topped, chisel top and square top. If the fence is glossed white to finish this will look wonderful, but the timber may not hold up well under the finish.

Panel fencing is good for privacy, but may not look as nice. For many gardeners this is not really an issue, for their primary concern is privacy over decoration. What is nice about this style is its ability to be constructed on a tight budget. Plus, it is a style that has been in use in Europe for quite some time. While this style is not necessarily the most decorative, that does not mean that it cannot be made to have decorative aspects. When it is built from quality timber and maybe built a bit high, it can take on a nice, decorative look while also providing the desired privacy.

Finally, close board fencing offers both privacy and decorative style both in equal measures. The style of construction is wedge profile boards perpendicularly overlapped all along the extent of the fence. Heights generally range to as high as 3 metres. Because of the overlapping boards and the height of the fence privacy is virtually ensured. The overlapping boards also offer a wonderful aesthetic that is pleasing to the eyes.

In short, choosing the right timber garden fencing is going to come down to what the person wants and needs. While for many all they want is a nice decorative fence, others see that as unnecessary and opt for something strictly utilitarian. Other still will opt for both, as they fancy a nice aesthetic but also value utility at the same time.

Autumn Garden Decorating

Do you want 2011 to be the year you enjoy the beauty and bounty of your most outstanding garden ever? Are you dreaming of a crop of beautiful, sweet tomatoes or to improve your display of autumn color? If so, now is the time to start planning. That's right, deep winter is when it all starts. Maybe you're snow bound or wiped out from the holiday season and the peace and tranquility of the garden seems light years away - but the seed catalogs have arrived and the stirring in your soul is rising. You have a vision in your mind of all your garden ideas come to life; color, fragrance, flavor and form. All gardeners are artists at heart and whether you plant a pot of petunias on your condo balcony or have an acre of valley bottom soil to cultivate, the stewardship of Mother Natures' beauty lies in your hands. Now is the time to begin the upcoming masterpiece!

As in life, your garden needs a plan. So where to start? The first thing to do is to have a look back at last years' garden and ask yourself a few quality questions - and please, please do this on paper. Don't just let it roam around in your head; get out a notepad and pen, maybe some of last summers' photos and this year's catalogs or magazines, then settle in to get excited! Let's begin:

1) What were the highlights of your garden last year? What were the aspects that you loved? What were the successes and triumphs? Have you identified the "sweet spots"; the beds, plants, groupings and unexpected delights?

2) What were the failures of your garden last year? What were the duds and disappointments? What did you say you were going to do, but never did? What aspects were frustrating for you? Did you have the physical strength and stamina to do what you desired to?

3) What did you learn from these experiences? Have you determined to be rid of the under-performers? Do you have a better feel for what your low and high maintenance plants are? What are the areas where you need to improve your knowledge or skill set?

4) What are your gardening goals for the upcoming year? Write out a list of at least 10 gardening goals for the upcoming seasons and then decide which of these 10 goals are your top 3, and then write out a paragraph or two on why you want to accomplish these goals. What will you get from it? How will it make you feel when your project is finished? The idea here is to get emotionally connected to your goals as this will give you the drive to commit to your goals and follow through until completion.

The next step is to work out your plan. Start with the final outcome you desire for each of your top 3 goals then work backwards to determine what steps and actions will be required for each goal. Will you need to budget finances? Or find a book on deck plans or how to build a compost bin? Will you need a helper or a contractor? Do you have all of the tools, equipment, material and resources necessary?

Once you have your plan outlined, schedule the actions into your calendar when each of these steps needs to be done. And do it in writing - a short pencil is better than a long memory! Now post your calendar where you're going to see it daily and the vision of your goal is going to excite you.

Finally, what can you do right now to get started to achieve your gardening goals for this year? It doesn't have to be big, but do something now to get going and begin building the necessary momentum to carry you through. If you follow these steps, you'll achieve your goals and reap the rewards of watching your visions ripen into fruition for a beautiful and bountiful garden!

Suitable Garden Shed for You

If you know that you really need to have a garden shed but you don't know what kind to get, you may learn a lot by reading this article in the next couple of minutes. It may just get your mind thinking along the right track in order to be able to make a wise decision. In this article we're going to look at some multiple choice questions to clear out the confusion when making the decision of what garden shed will be the perfect solution for your needs, what material the garden building should be made from, and what other particulars you need to know before beginning your project.

Ready to have some fun?

First Question. What do I need a garden shed for?

• I need to start garden equipment and machinery
• I need to store automotive equipment
• I need more space for little and big people's toys
• I need space for my hobby
• I need some space for an additional office

Second Question. What is the best material for my garden shed?

• wood, so I can add on to it and build shelves and cabinets easily
• vinyl, because I live in a wet, damp climate where wood would rot
• metal, because I don't want to worry about termites
• plastic, because I want a shed light enough to be able to move around

Third Question. What preliminary steps should I take before starting my shed?

• decide on the location of my garden shed
• decide on the size required for the storage space I need
• decide on the decor of the shed to best match my landscape
• prepare and organize my layout plans and design
• decide if I will build it or will I hire a contractor to build it

So, how did you do with this test? Did it help you to question yourself as to your needs in order to clear up any confusion or indecision before you even get started with your garden shed project? By going through this little fun quiz, you should now know the purpose that your shed will serve for your needs, you should now know that is the best material for your garden building, and also you should know what you need to do in preparation for the installation or construction of your garden shed.

Choosing Suitable Fence Styles

People love their fences. There's just something so very cozy about the way they screen your home from the world outside. When you decide to build a fence around your home, the effect you wish to achieve will largely determine the fence styles you will end up considering. If you look around, it probably becomes apparent that fences come built in all kinds of materials - wood, stone, concrete, vinyl, plastic, and even fabric. To make your mind up about the style and type of fence that you will build, you probably want to first determine the size of the space you wish to fence off and think about the amount of privacy you wish your new fence to afford you.

Certainly, you will need to check with your local authorities to know about what zoning laws there are that you need to pay heed to before you make your choice among the fence styles that are available to you. In some neighborhoods, zoning laws require that you not construct a fence that is any higher than a prescribed limit. Once you have made certain of what you're allowed, you could try out different kinds of fencing configurations on your own with makeshift materials - you could try using drop cloths of the kind painters use, or use a series of flower pots or something. You see, fences don't need to really hug the borders of your property. It could be a cute way to build a fence to give it curves and design little nooks in them.

Using wood in your design gives you quite a bit of choice. Wood can be layered and stacked in all kinds of ways for different fence styles. Do you remember the fence in the show Home Improvement that Tim and his neighbor Wilson talk over? That fence did a pretty good job making sure no one ever saw anything of Wilson but the top of his head. A fence made of a series of 6 foot planks set close together would make for an admirable barrier for privacy. Sometimes, people don't realize that a fence like that does more than merely offer privacy. It offers itself as a barrier against noise from the outside and strong winds, too. If your zoning laws allow fence styles that are higher than that, you'll probably need to build a fence on top of a block wall at the base.

But these are terribly straightforward and rustic fence styles. If you wish to create something that is a bit more creative-looking, you could try fashioning a fence of thin strips of wood woven together crisscrossed. Another popular design involves using rough hewn posts together with smoothly finished machined planks. The rough hewn posts are placed at six-foot intervals, and the smooth planks go into space between them. Certain fence styles allow climbing plants a lot of support, and allow for a beautiful natural look. For a fence that creeping or climbing plants would love, try using cedar lattice panels. If you enjoy having a breeze come through your fence, using this style would be great for that.

Using other materials can allow you new kinds of fence styles as well. Vinyl for instance, can be really low maintenance. You could try weaving vinyl strips through a chain-link fence for a really pretty effect all around. Perhaps natural plant-based fences are the prettiest kind of all. If you have local zoning laws interfering with how high you want your fence, using trees or flowering hedges are a great workaround.

Installing Landscape Lighting into Your Garden

Installing landscape lighting, luminaries and fire features can transform even the dullest garden into something original, exciting and functional. The investment in landscape lighting for your garden or landscape will amply repay the time, effort and expense involved.

Lighting and fire features outside the house have a positive effect on the interior by integrating the two areas. Flowing seamlessly between inside and out and without abrupt changes in intensity, landscape lighting will harmonize the two spaces and will increase functionality of your garden oasis.

Flood Lighting

Cleverly positioned flood lights can define one area with a wash of light. If positioned high up in a tree or wall, a flood light can create a moon glow effect. Placed upward, a flood light will illuminate a statue or majestic tree. Careful selection of color and position is the key. Lamps with a blue hue are best positioned high up to give the moon glow effect. Remember to carefully select placement while installing flood lights in trees. It is difficult to reposition the lamp once in position. Flood lighting can also act as security lighting. With motion sensors, flood lighting can add extra protection to your home.

Spot Lighting

Spot lights can be used to highlight a particular area or plant. Use spot lights so their narrow beam focuses on the surface of a plant or bush. Often times a spot light can be used to highlight a particular plant, bush or tree at a specific time of year. Japanese Maple trees are an example. When their foliage turns a bright, beautiful red in the fall, a spot light can highlight this unique specimen. Be sure to conceal the source of the spot light so as not to attract attention to the source but to highlight the subject.

Functional Lighting

Functional lighting is designed to identify features such as doorways, walkways, steps and pathways. This type of lighting is fixed permanently in the most effective location. Lighting for a gathering area needs to be set at a low intensity to exude a relaxed atmosphere. Walkway lighting should be positioned to illuminate the path but not distract from the other lighting features. In the same sense, step lighting should focus on the steps and should not distract from the other lighting features of the landscape.

Special Occasion Lighting

Special occasion lighting, which includes luminaries and torches, looks particularly attractive in night setting. They produce a warm, gentle glow when dotted in a gathering area or pathway. Luminaries that use eco-friendly denatured alcohol as a fuel produce a beautiful, warm blue dancing flame. The best part about denatured alcohol burning luminaries is the byproducts of the flame are only heat, water vapor and carbon dioxide. If you are interested in green living, this type of luminary is a good choice.

Fire Features

Fire features (stone fireplaces, fire pits, fire rings and chimineas) have become very popular in landscape settings. Fuel sources for fire features can be a combination of natural gas or propane, wood or glass and rock media. Often times fire features are placed in the landscape as a focal point in a gathering area. Providing warmth, dancing flames and illumination, a fire feature can focus attention on one specific area of the landscape. Careful attention to available horizontal and vertical space is necessary. Size, shape and venting of the fire feature are constrained by these factors. Local building codes may also affect your choice of fire features.

Putting Landscape Lighting All Together

Harmony is the key to a magnificently illuminated garden oasis. Choosing the right elements to illuminate while providing your guests with a warm and inviting spot to enjoy is the trick. Start with the big picture like a gathering spot with a fire feature, or a dining or conversation area. Accent the pathways or walkways between each area. Throw in a couple of unique accents with flood lights or spot lights. Once in place, your illuminated garden oasis becomes a functional space throughout the year.