Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Iron Patio Furniture for Extreme Climates

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If you live in a cold climate, or one with any extreme weather, choosing the right patio furniture can be a challenge. You can bring it in during the winter months, but the hassle of doing so may be more than you care to deal with. Choosing a furniture type that is made to stand up to extreme weather is the key! Iron patio furniture is a great option! This furniture has a special powder coated finish for exceptional durability in any kind of weather. It resists chipping, fading, and cracking for years to come, ensuring that your furniture will stay beautiful. Iron is easy to clean and easy to maintain. You will be able to buy an affordable set and make it last!

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Garden Tools & Tips

Don’t Let Autumn Leaves Go to Waste

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Did you know that upwards of 60 percent of the waste generated by the average U.S. household could be recycled or composted? Unfortunately, only 8 percent of American waste is composted, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Did you also know that yard waste, such as fallen autumn leaves, makes up nearly 20% of all garbage created every year? When put into landfills, organic matter like food, leaves, and grass trimmings take up a significant amount of space and play a large role in the creation of methane gas, a greenhouse gas that “remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years…and is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Compost BinComposting food and yard wastes is easy, especially when using a purchased compost bin. Building a compost pile on your own is certainly an option, but compost bins on the market come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and often make the process of composting much simpler. No matter how you choose to compost your organic wastes, the advantages of composting are undeniable. Composting helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gases and other air pollutants that would be generated as a result of simply throwing organic wastes into the local landfill or incinerator. Composting also saves money by providing you with free fertilizer for your garden. Finally, compost puts nutrients back into the soil, making your garden soil richer and plants healthier.

Backyard Fun, Holidays & Gift Ideas

Sandboxes Will Make Your Children Happy for Christmas!

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Sandboxes make an excellent gift for your children or grandchildren, and with only 63 days until Christmas, now is the time to shop! There are some great new options available that will far surpass the basic framed boxes of the past. Here are several options that will appeal to both you and your children!

Covered Sandbox with Adjustable Roof – This sandbox features a truly unique canopy that provides protection when the box is in use AND when it is not in use. While the canopy is raised, it offers shade and UV protection to your children and locks into place for safety. When play time is over, the easy to use crank system lowers the canopy onto the sandbox, forming a cover to keep sand clean and critter free! It also comes with a built-in toy box for holding all of their favorite sand toys!

Rolling Playhouse Covered Sandbox – A playhouse and sandbox in one? What child wouldn’t be thrilled! The playscape offers a place to play, read, and explore creativity. The sandbox can be left out and used or rolled under the playhouse to prevent dirty sand and unwanted animal guests. It will create the perfect place for your little ones to express their creativity and have fun!

Pavilion Covered Sandbox – This classically designed sandbox will add fun for the children and style for the adults. The lattice designed corners support a canopy that provides shade and UV protection all day long. The sandbox resembles a mini-gazebo, making a stylish statement in your yard. It is sturdy and has large sand area for lots of play time.

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

A Hot Idea for Increasing Restaurant Traffic this Season

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Commercial Patio Heater

Restaurant owners and managers would agree that the struggling economy isn’t helping to increase business in their establishments.  Now that colder weather is on the way, restaurants and cafes that rely at least partially on patios and other outdoor spaces for serving hungry customers may see an even more dramatic decrease in business.

Preventing this double whammy to the bottom lines of restaurants all over the country can be as simple as ensuring that outdoor dining spaces remain comfortable for patrons, even when temperatures plummet.  Setting up commercial patio heaters throughout patio dining areas is one easy solution for providing comfortable warmth on frigid days.  By taking this step, restaurant owners and managers can increase the likelihood that patrons who might normally stay home to dine on cold days will decide instead to enjoy their dinner al fresco thanks to the warm glow of a commercial patio heater.

Insect Control, Storage Solutions

Tips for Storing Seasoned Firewood

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Firewood Rack

Storing your seasoned firewood properly is an important consideration, and there are any number of options available. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when deciding how and where to store your seasoned firewood.

Convenience and Insect Deterrence

Seasoned firewood that you plan to use for the upcoming winter should be easy to access, but storing logs against an outside wall of your home is not recommended. Firewood can attract insects, and if logs are stored next to the house, pests can enter your home or cause damage to your home’s exterior. Some of the best, most convenient places to keep seasoned firewood are next to a fence or next to the shed or other outdoor storage building. If you suspect that your firewood may be crawling with critters, do not give into the temptation to spray the firewood with pesticides because burning these logs will create harmful toxic vapors.

Protection From Moisture

So that your firewood burns efficiently, it should stay dry while outdoors. If there is enough room available inside your outdoor shed or storage building, then firewood can be stored easily there. Alternatively, a simple tarp can be used to cover your firewood to prevent it from taking in moisture from rain or snow. Tarps are inexpensive and can be tied down easily to prevent them from blowing away. If your stack of firewood is stored in a place on your property that is not visible to passersby, then choosing to cover the stack with a tarp will not negatively affect your home’s “curb appeal.”

Elevation and Air Circulation

If stored directly on the ground, firewood can soak up moisture and attract insects. Storing your firewood in a sturdy Firewood Rack will keep your logs elevated, promote air circulation, and deter pests and wood rot. A Firewood Rack can be hand made from wood, but a rugged tubular steel-framed Firewood Rack is rot-proof and rust-proof, easy to assemble, and comes in multiple sizes, so you should be able to find one that fits the space in which you plan to store your firewood.

Properly storing your seasoned firewood will ensure that you have easy access to it when it’s needed without also sending an invitation to pests to invade your home. Proper storage will also keep your firewood dry while at the same time encouraging air circulation. By following these simple tips, you will be sure to enjoy long-burning, low emission fires throughout the winter season.