Landscaping Outdoor Decorating

There is an expression that when something creative is remarkable, it is often said to be a ‘work of art’. We associate things not necessarily known definitively as art, as inspired pieces of creativity — suddenly belonging to the category of art or artistic expression. We revere art for its own sake. We value the creative expression that goes into its design and manifestation. We know on a more obscure level that a real person, the artist, created the piece.

Of course, not all art is considered ‘good’. But for gardens that are created in such a way that the artist shows through, we call that a work of art — because the designer’s artistic flair and expression is revealed.
The history of garden evolution and development has produced many garden styles over the years. I cannot resist looking at the contrast between East and West or European vs. Japanese garden history.

Formality vs. informality. Symmetry vs. Asymmetry. In answering my own question in the title, I find that Asian gardens seem to revere the wonder of Nature as opposed to the Western European favor towards the control of Nature through manipulation to honor Man’s so called works of art as in the Garden of Versailles.

A garden that is the expression of the designer is truly a Garden, perhaps inspired by Nature, but nonetheless full of human consciousness. A garden that mimics Nature in all of its inherent beauty, its seemingly random yet cohesive patterns of form is also a true work of art if one cannot see the difference between the natural form or the man made form.

In such a representation of Nature, often the soul of the garden can be felt, expressed through Man’s interpretation or re-creation. Herein lies the essence of what the garden designer attempted to capture and manifest in a covert way so as to not take credit.

Your lawn is a great reflection of the value and care that you, as a homeowner, place with your property. A well cared for lawn says a lot to neighbors, to visitors and to passersby about how well you manage not just your home, but your life. A lawn can either be an ugly, unsightly eye sore, or it can be a lush, beautiful invitation to your home. When installing a sprinkler system into your lawn, there are of course the typical concerns that you need to consider. What kind of sprinkler heads, what size of piping to use, the control valve system, and whether or not to put the sprinkler system on a controlled timer system.

Yet one of the most commonly overlooked things that every residential lawn sprinkler system needs is an adequate sprinkler back flow preventer. In most states, it is required by law that any new lawn sprinkler system include a dedicated flow prevention unit.

What Is Back Flow?

Back flow is when clean water that has already passed through the main water valve into the sprinkler’s control valve, and then out into the sprinkler system grid of pipes, is drawn back through the control valve and back into the main water supply. There are two main methods of flow. There is back flow pressure, and there is flow siphonage. Both are caused by the same physical principles, but are brought about by two separate causes. Back flow siphonage is caused by a loss of pressure in the main water supply, which then draws water from all of the other pipes to bring the system’s pressure into equilibrium.

Back flow pressure is usually the result of a broken or poorly installed sprinkler control valve. If an in line control valve is not installed at least six inches higher than the sprinkler heads in a sprinkler system, there will be major issues with flow pressure.

Why Is A Back Flow Preventer Necessary?

Once water has gone past the sprinkler control valve and out into the sprinkler pipes, it is considered a contaminant. This is because of all of the particles, pesticides, fertilizer and other toxins that are found in ground soil. If this tainted water finds its way back into a potable water supply, it can be very dangerous for you, your family and for all of your neighbors. It is dangerous to drink or bathe in water that has been flowed back into the main water supply.

What Happens If I Do Not Include One With My Lawn Sprinkler Installation?

Chances are, if you cannot provide a valid and approved permit for a new lawn sprinkler system, you will have a very difficult time ever selling your house, without taking care of the problem.

Someone Recommending Installing Anti-Siphon Valves, Is This A Good Substitute?

No. Anti-siphon valves do have an inherent flow prevention feature, but it is only good for preventing flow pressure issues. It is ineffective against flow siphonage. Installing a dedicated back flow preventer will protect you and your neighbors from both types of back flow.

Grass care should really begin with the soil preparation where your new lawn is going to be. Grass likes good conditions for healthy and vigorous growth just the same as you or me. Regrettably for anybody wanting to have a good looking piece of grass to admire, as well as walk and sit on, this means plenty of hard work. The ground we are going to place our lawn on should really be cleared of stones, other hard objects and weeds. It is also necessary to dig in some organic matter to provide good drainage and growing conditions. One must also check through the soil for weeds, insects and grubs that may damage the turf at some point in the future. Once we have made sure that the ground is in the best possible shape, we will need to make sure that it is nice and level so that our lawn mower will not leave longer bits of grass in dips or just plain scalp and humps and bumps left proud of the main surface.

When the earth is ready for the grass and the area to be used is good and level, there is decision to be made. Should we sow seed or get some top quality turf to lay? There are one or two things to think about now. Can I pay for that top quality turf? It really should be the best available all our hard work in properly preparing the soil maybe wasted because low quality turf could have weeds already in it or perhaps the vendor did not dig it up correctly and the root system may be damaged. If one likes the thought of sowing seed, when is the best time of year to sow it? Autumn is generally acknowledged to be the optimum because as we get cooler, and wetter weather there will not be as much need to water the seedlings. There should also be less need for us to tread on our recently sown grass and flatten it. It goes without saying that one must also sow the best quality seed that is suitable for the local climate and conditions of the garden. One should not sow a bowling green type of grass underneath a shady tree for instance.

Having laid the turf or sown and brought on seed, we will eventually need to cut the grass. This should not be done until out new lawn is well established, otherwise we may damage the grass. Do not cut too close to the ground for the first few mowings as this too could cause problems. Once the lawn is well established it may be an idea to not water it. This is because if one waters the grass, the roots may not go deep into the earth. If that happens that there is a drought, one could see a ban on hose pipes that will cause the grass to wither and die. There are many proprietary weed and feed products designed to keep the grass looking fresh and green. Normally only one or perhaps two applications will be required over the summer months. There are also preparations that can be spread on the grass in the autumn. Once summer is over, it is also a good idea to aerate the lawn. This can be done with a specialist machine, or, just using a garden fork and muscle power. Over the course of time pieces of dead grass known as “thatch” will build up. This can be removed with a mechanical rake or by hand. Keeping up with grass care will ensure that your lawn will always look good all through the year.

If you are looking for how to plan, design and create your own gazebo, it is useful to know that there are plenty of instructions out there to help you achieve it in whatever size and shape you want it. Even experienced tradesmen will think about a gazebo kit, primarily due to the angled roof beams involved, which are difficult to measure and cut. And sometimes there are pieces of the gazebo kit that come ready-assembled, such as the floor or the angled roof supports which makes it quicker to assemble.

If you are useful with do-it-yourself, you can find out how to plan, design and create a gazebo in a variety of ways. There are plenty of designs and plans available online that range in price, but you may also be able to get free gazebo designs and plans at other websites. Your local library or garden and outdoor living magazines might offer free instructions too.

One of your priorities should be to determine the location you aim to build on – bear in mind the time of day you will most use the structure and gauge the sunlight it receives in respect of shade needed to create. You may want a garden gazebo or maybe one to cover a spa or hot tub, which may also be part of a deck area. Whichever you do, the gazebo requires secure fixing to a concrete base or timber supports.

Check with your local city authority as to whether you need building or planning permission and your local building department will also be able to offer advice about foundation depths and other legal requirements. You will require tools capable of cutting angles, such as an angle grinder or compound miter saw, plus a level and a screw gun will be needed even if you buy a gazebo kit.

While such multi-sided constructions may need an understanding of joinery and angular cuts, accurate measurements are essential to result with a roof that looks correct. This could be the most difficult part of the project, but you have to prepare the floor properly and have main support timbers in the right position. This is why it is important to get a proper design and plan on how to plan and build a gazebo.