Author: Trey Collier

About Trey Collier

Avid Do-It-Yourself-er. Love's being outdoors. Helped push the shade sail market into one of the fastest growing outdoor shade structures product in North America.

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Solar Lighting for Your Backyard

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Solar lighting is a great way to provide light sources to “off the grid” areas of your home, lawn, and outdoor structures, but it also lowers your environment footprint. Solar lighting is low maintenance and is usually very easy to install, requiring no power lines or additional sources. Your main concern with solar lighting is location! To ensure that the panel receives the most possible sunlight, it should be mounted on a south-facing slope (give or take 30 degrees off of south). The location should be left unshaded by any tree, or other solid structures. There is never any recurring cost (like electricity), no charging, and no use of resources other than the powerful rays of the sun. Below are a few examples of outdoor solar lighting options for your home. Do you use solar lighting? If so, how and where? We are always looking for great ideas to save money AND the environment.

Solar Shed Light

Solar Shed Light

Solar Security Light

Solar Security Light

Solar Lamp

Solar Lamp with Planter

Solar String Lights

Solar Star String Lights

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Unique Infrared Patio Heaters

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Umbrella Infrared Patio Heater
If you are looking for a way to add some warmth to your porch or patio this fall and winter, infrared heating is the way to go. These heaters use infrared heat waves to heat the object or material in the path of the heater. In other words, the object is heated directly by the infrared waves, rather than by the surrounding air. You can find infrared heaters that attach to the wall or are freestanding, but one very cool way to use infrared heat is with your patio umbrella! Umbrella infrared patio heaters attach to any standard umbrella center pole and run off of standard household current. The heater does not create any harmful emissions or toxic residuals, making it safe AND effective. It is a stylish and modern way to extend the time that you can spend outdoors this year.

Garden Tools & Tips, Innovative Solutions

New Gardening and Greenhouse Products

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There are several new products to aid in fall and winter growing seasons available at BackyardCity! Check out the cool products below and keep your gardening going for many more months!

Greenhouse Heater

  • Greenhouse Heater – This heater provides 5,120 BTU’s of fan forced heat throughout your greenhouse to your plants. It has three settings, a safety tip over switch, automatic reset, & thermal cut-out. It comes with a 6 foot cord to make it easy to position anywhere in your greenhouse.

Grow Deck

  • Grow Deck – A grow deck is like a traditional cold frame, but raised off the ground. They provide the perfect ventilation and protection against the elements. It provides comfortable access for all ages and offers storage underneath for making efficient use of small spaces.

  • Grow Station – Even though the Grow Station is not available until late October, you can pre-order now to beat the high demand. The Grow Station offers a unique combination of a cold frame, a workbench and a storage unit. Put plants at a comfortable working height for potting, and use as a cold frame for starting and protecting precious seedlings. Perfect for storing all of your tools and accessories to keep your patio garden tidy. The sturdy galvanized steel shelves are adjustable for ergonomic placement, and both the lid and doors hinge open for accessibility. Crystal clear SnapGlas panels on the lid and doors allow 90% light transmission.
Backyard Fun, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Portable Fun

Folding Picnic Tables: For Tailgating and More!

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Football Folding Picnic Table
Picnic tables are a great way to provide ample seating to your outdoor events. Picnic tables, however, are traditionally stationary.  How can you enjoy the benefits of extra seating and the ease of portability? Folding picnic tables! They are available in many designs, including the football folding picnic table shown above, which is perfect for tailgating. I recently spent a beautiful afternoon at The Grove at Ole Miss, rated the top tailgating school in the country by numerous publications. My friends and I enjoyed tailgating and put our folding picnic table to great use! Our table also recently came in handy when hosting my daughter’s outdoor birthday party (below). It provided a place to open presents, eat, and give the children a place to relax after lots of playing. They are perfect for adults and children and support up to 250 lbs. per seat. They are available in green, red, black, and blue. In addition to the football table top, you can also choose a poker design (perfect for on the go card games), soccer design, and plain table. They are easy to carry, sturdy, and fun!

Backyard Fun, Garden Tools & Tips

A Perfect Space for Your Fall Plants

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Plant Inn
Greenhouses are great for gardeners looking to continue into fall. Traditional greenhouses, however, can be large and expensive, which prohibits some gardeners from exploring this option. A great new alternative is a plant inn. It will provide a beautiful and functional growing space in your garden or backyard. The sloping lid allows maximum sunlight and rain runoff. The plant inn even features an internal drainage system. The hinged frame and latch have four access and ventilation options: completely open, two ventilation levels, and locked in the closed position. The raised growing beds provide comfortable access for all ages and keeps ground level critters out. The lower panels slide up for additional storage and drainage hose access. You will get maximum growing and storage space in a compact area.

Plant Inn OpenInternal DrainagePlant Inn Closed