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.

Insect Control, Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Citronella Lanterns Keep the Bugs Away

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Citronella Patio Lantern

 

If you spend a lot of time outdoors during the summer, especially in the south, you know that mosquitos and other insects can really put a damper on your fun! The perfect solution to pesky night-time insects is to have a source of light that also repels the little pests! Citronella, which comes from the lemon scented leaves of an Asian tropical grass,  has become a popular method of bug repellant and is usually sold in the form of candles, which are a temporary solution and quickly burn away. Why not try a citronella solution that lasts longer and is more visually appealing? Williamsburg Citronella Patio Lanterns are aluminum constructed lanterns that burn citronella liquid paraffin fuel for insect control. Each lamp comes with a fiberglass wick that will last a lifetime and a variety of finishes to choose from. The lanterns also come with planters attached. You can add your favorite flowers or plants and easily make the lanterns a beautiful addition to your garden landscape. You can enjoy beautiful, soft lighting with the added benefit of insect control all year long!

Innovative Solutions

Rock Enclosures Cover Unsightly Items in Your Yard

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Rock Enclosures

Many people spend lots of money maintaining their yards. It is truly a beautiful sight to see a well-maintained landscape. However, often times septic systems, electrical transformers, pool pumps, and similar eyesores are unavoidable and distract from the beauty of the surroundings. Rock enclosures are an excellent way to deal with this problem! Rock enclosures look like they sound. They are covering devices that enclose unsightly objects in your back yard so that the object blends in naturally with its surroundings. Rock enclosures are made with a textured material called RealRock™. The gritty, tough, and variegated rock-like surface is astonishingly realistic and blends in with other natural textures. Their commercial grade construction stands up to the elements, and since the color and texture are part of the material itself and not painted on, they will maintain their beauty for years to come. They are available in multiple sizes and colors so you can find one to hide almost anything in your backyard! They are especially beautiful around pools, ponds, and other natural looking water features!

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Avoid Heating Your Home with Outdoor Cooking

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There is a reason that so many people enjoy cooking outside during the hot summer months. Turning on your oven can instantly add unwanted heat to your house, combating your efforts to keep it cool. In order to keep the temperatures down indoors, grills across the country are being fired up! Other than the typical charcoal grill or gas/electric grill, which have become beloved family classics, there are many other exciting options that you can use to create backyard delicacies.

An outdoor brick oven has become a popular choice for permanent outdoor cooking solutions. These wood-fired ovens are not only beautiful, but they are also perfect for cooking everything from pizza to lobster! They are a perfect way to turn your backyard into a gourmet kitchen. A Turkey Rocket Roaster is a great way to prepare delicious poultry dishes outside of your home. It has a unique roasting chamber that acts like a Dutch Oven and not only cooks a delicious chicken or turkey, but will also cook ribs, pork, seafood, vegetables, and more. It uses charcoal to cook the food, providing that great charcoal flavor while sealing in the juices. The Rocket Roaster costs up to 2/3 less than comparable gas and oil cookers. A grill with a built-in BBQ smoker is also a great way to add variety to your meals. The smoke chamber on these devices can use charcoal or specialized wood chips that smoke meat to give it a unique and mouth-watering flavor!

With any of these cooking methods, you gain the ability to cook without heating up your entire home. The clean up is a breeze, and the food is prepared with ease. Give them a try and you might never want to cook inside again!

Brick Oven Turkey Rocket Roaster Smoker Grill

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

Pool Area Privacy Screens

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Privacy Screen

Having space and open areas around your pool is a good idea – lots of room to run and play and plenty of places to relax. However, all that open space can also leave you open to the public’s prying eyes. Nosey neighbors or passers-by will have a full view of your every move. A privacy screen can give you a sense of security and a place to feel free of wandering eyes. Outdoor privacy screens are weatherproof and mildew, UV ,and fade resistant. They are foldable and lightweight making them easy to move.

In addition to protecting you, privacy screens can also be can be used to hide unsightly areas like garbage cans, compost bins, and air conditioning units. They can save you from having to see busy streets, messy yards next door, or other things that obstruct your view. Whether you are using the screens to shield yourself or block an unsightly view, you can rest assured that you will have a beautiful and useful addition to your back yard.

Teak Privacy ScreenSunburt Privacy ScreenTall Teak Privacy Screen

Beach Accessories

Beach Chairs of All Kinds

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Beach Canopy Chair

Are you and your family going to the beach this summer? If you are like me, you have already spent endless hours day dreaming about your trip. I already have most of my “equipment” ready to go, but I recently decided that we would get new beach chairs to take along with us. After you total the cost of renting a chair everyday, I knew that we would save money in the long run. Also, we can use the chairs year round for other activities.

I quickly discovered that there are some VERY cool chairs available! For example, the Beach Canopy Chair (pictured above) is a low profile, light weight chair perfect for digging your toes into the sand or letting the ocean waves wash over you. It has variable reclining positions and an adjustable canopy to shade you from the sun. It even comes with a carrying case which makes it perfect for beach travel. (There are children’s versions available, too!)

Another great chair is the Folding Sports Couch. This seat is big enough for two adults or three children and holds up to 500 pounds. It has two zippered pockets to store water, keys, sunglasses, etc. It has a strap for easy carrying, and it comes in four different colors. There are several other chairs that I am interested in at backyardcity.com. I am sure that they have the perfect one for you, too!

Folding Sports Couch