Camping Tip – Outdoor tips and tricks
When camping, strap a head lamp to a gallon jug of water to fill the entire tent with ambient light.
Perfect bubbles!
12 cups water
1 cup dish soap
1 cup cornstarch
12 tbsp baking powder (not baking soda)
place ingredients in clean bowl or bucket. Stir gently. Do not create bubbles. Let sit for an hour before use.
Super giant bubble recipe.
Natural Tick Deterrent
Put 1 part tea tree oil to 2 parts water into a spray bottle. Spray onto shoes, socks and pants cuffs.
Animal Tracks
What Animal Tracks Are In Your Backyard?
Gardening advice
Not everyone has a green thumb but there are plenty of other ways to create an outdoor area that’s still looks great and complements the house.
There are a variety of reasons why certain plants might not flourish. It might be the climate, the soil or even the local wildlife, so if you do want some greenery, check with your local nursery about fast growing varieties that suit your area.
Clever landscaping can create interest without requiring a huge number of plants. For example, stonework and water features are eye-catching details, which work well with minimal plant dressing.
For front gardens, less is more. You don’t want to hide the façade of your house and an overgrown front yard is never a great look when you are trying to sell. Paths and stepping stones help to break up and expanse of lawn and garden.
Position distinctive features next to your entertaining areas, where they can be enjoyed whilst relaxing and add ambiance. A water feature to cool in summer, or a fire pit to warm in winter. And when you have a superb natural view, all you need is a well-dressed patio area to sit and enjoy nature’s free garden.
Fresh green lawn
There is nothing like the visual impact of a fresh green lawn, when your property is on the market. It immediately makes the entire house and garden sparkle. Turf needs lots of sun, water and really good drainage to work well. Sandy soils with fertilizers are best. Follow this simple process:
1.Turn over existing soil and add new soil, conditioners and fertilizers.
Level it off, allowing for the height of the soil next to paths and pavings.
2.Lay your turf as soon as possible after delivery, especially in summer. Always lay turf onto damp, but not muddy soil. So ideally dampen at least 4 hours earlier.
3.Choose your straightest, longest edge, and start rolling! Press the ends and sides of each roll firmly against each other and stagger the joins.
4.Top dress with top soil to help retain moisture. Now it’s time to water. Fresh turf needs to be soaked and kept damp for up to 3 or 4 weeks, until it has taken root.
**And don’t let your efforts go to waste. Keep watering our established lawn and apply another dose of fertilizer in a couple of months.
Cleaning
Aside from testing and adding chemicals, it’s important to keep the water free from organic matter such as leaves, grass clippings, bugs and a buildup of algae that can occur over time. These routine tasks can help you maintain a clean, healthy pool environment.
Empty skimmer baskets
Every day, check the skimmer baskets for debris and empty them. Pull out the baskets and dump the contents, then rinse them out with pool water or a hose. This will help keep the filter and pump running properly. A clogged skimmer basket will impede the flow of water running through the system. You should also use a pool net on a long handle to skim any debris from the surface of the water. Keep it handy, as you’ll need to do this nearly every day to keep the surface clear. Do not rely on the skimmer baskets to clean the surface. Do this regularly and your pool will be inviting to use at any time.
Vacuuming
If you plan to do the routine tasks yourself rather than hiring a cleaning service to keep your pool clean then you will need to vacuum. Generally, you attach the vacuum to either the skimmer so the filter helps suck the debris through the filter, or to a garden hose that deposits the debris from the bottom into a bag that you empty. Either system works well but only if you vacuum at least once a week so you stay ahead of the job.
Vacuum the entire bottom of the pool and pick up any debris along the way. Your pool professional can help you decide which vacuum is right for you and teach you how to operate it. There are plenty of options for automatic vacuuming systems that travel along the bottom of the pool and do the clean up for you. If you plan to go this route, ask your pool professional for the right model to handle the task for your type and size of pool.
Brush the sides
It’s necessary to brush the liner or tiles on a concrete pool at least every two weeks to keep algae from building up above and just below the waterline. To do this, you’ll need a tile brush and specialized pool tile cleaner that works well on vinyl, tiles and fiberglass pools. Apply the cleaner and brush above the surface of the pool walls until clean. It’s not recommended that you use household detergent for this job, as you don’t want those foreign chemicals in your pool.
