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.

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

How to Maintain and Care For Outdoor Furniture

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How to Maintain Outdoor Patio Furniture

Some types of outdoor patio furniture can be quite expensive to buy but if maintained properly can last a lifetime.  Many of the wooden furniture products sold today are already treated with protective oils and stains but alot of people don’t realize that maintenance should take place annually.

Certain kinds of wood furniture such as cedar, redwood, oak, and pine must be treated with a preservative to prevent decay, which can occur rapidly if exposed to harsh weather environments. Protecting this wood furniture with a water-resistant stain, protective oil, or polyurethane is also recommended. Your local home and garden store should be able to assist you.

Outdoor wood furniture should be cleaned once a year. Mix one tablespoon of bleach, five tablespoons of a gentle dishwashing liquid, and a gallon of water, and softly rub the surface of your wood furniture with a soft bristle brush. Wash the solution from the furniture, and allow it to dry completely in the sun. Repainting or re-staining wood furniture could be indicated at this time to cover and protect any worn or damaged areas.

The lifespan for any wooden patio furniture depends greatly on the type of wood used and the weather it is exposed to.  Using waterproof protective covers  when your furniture is not in use is strongly advised to keep your wooden patio furniture in good shape.  Outdoor wood furniture makes a quaint, charming, and nice addition to any backyard, deck, patio, or garden, and with care, it will continue to make a great impression for years to come.

Backyard Fun, Outdoor Living Spaces

I Need A Hammock Break

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Hammock Break

School starts next week and my children are getting ready with new school supplies and books.  Their new shoes will be free of scuff marks for at least a week and their toes will have some wiggle room for a while.

I have been busy planning carpools, grocery lists and everything in between.  The hustle and bustle of every season is actually exciting because change brings an energy of anticipation.

I plan on taking a long hammock break before I dart off in a million different directions next week.  My backyard is a safe haven for me and I am usually energized when I spend time there.  In fact, a hammock nap is on the top of my list.

Environmentally Friendly Ideas, Garden Tools & Tips

Yard Clippings are Going to Waste

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Did you know that nearly 20% of all waste in an average landfill is yard waste?  If you are throwing away your grass clippings, then you are missing out on a valuable resource.

A compost bin decomposes grass clippings and plant material to produce compost in just a few weeks.  This process allows you to reap the benefits of recycling from your own backyard with very little effort.

“Compost” is the rich black soil-like substance created when organic materials like shredded leaves and yard waste are fully decomposed. Mulching with compost prevents weeds, feeds your garden, fights disease and doesn’t starve plants or stain your house with fungal spores like wood mulches.

The rewards from composting are numerous and having access to your own “mulch” is a big one.  Tell your neighbors and friends how easy it is to use a composter.  They will thank you later.

compost bin illustration for your backyard

Garden Tools & Tips, Outdoor Living Spaces

Create the Ultimate Backyard with a Water Feature

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Outdoor Fountain

We purchased a charming house last year right before the economy took a big dive.  I was drawn to this particular house for several reasons, one being the back porch.   This simple small outdoor space was calling my name and I could just see a porch swing, some great outdoor furniture and lots of conversation taking place.  But there was still something missing.  I planted my favorite perennials, filled pots with heat tolerant plants and hung some decorative iron pieces on the walls.

When I added an outdoor fountain, everything came together.  A water feature adds the  magic and brings a new flavor to your space.  I found this to be  an affordable way to really top off and complete my cozy outdoor space.

The downturn in the economy has forced me to look for ways to decorate for less.  That’s not such a bad thing afterall.

Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Compare Landscape Lighting

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Today’s landscape lighting comes in a wide array of shapes, colors and styles and you are sure to find one that fits into your budget.  Pathway or walk lights have been designed for lighting a designated area including the space directly underneath the light and within a few feet of the fixture.  Normally, these are spaced 6 to 10 feet apart for a soft natural look.  More dramatic effects are accomplished with area lights which can be called spot, flood or wash lights.  These lights are designed to illuminate a larger area like a wall, statue, tree, or shrub.

Some of the aspects that professionals use that you might want to keep in mind are:  depth, perspective, focal points, quality and direction, symmetry and balance and cohesion.  What do these aspects entail?

Depth is creating a scene with visual interest by directing the view’s gaze.  Starting with a focal point, you add lighting that guides the viewer’s gaze naturally along a pathway ending at the visual destination which is normally a home or building.

Perspective considers the many points-of-view that surround the property.  Each property should be thought of as a 3 dimensional canvas with many visual entrances.  You want to make the visual experience interesting from all of these points not just from the front.

Focal Points involve a design flowing from one focal point to the next with illumination in the spaces between them.  The viewer will gaze from one point to the next in a stop and go motion; this is how the human brain functions. Keep this in mind so your lighting design uses this in your overall layout.

Quality and Direction is like painting with light.  Use your lights to create the shape and size of the lighting.  Directing the light upward or downward or from one side or the other defines the emphasis of the lighting and overall design of your creation.

Symmetry and Balance is found throughout the natural world.  Animals and plants all have a balance on opposite sides of a dividing line between eyes and ears on an animal or between leaves and branches on a plant.  Symmetry is used to evoke a positive emotional response from the viewer.

Cohesion is the force that connects your focal points into a complete and coherent design.  Each individual yard or property should be looked upon as a stage wherein the life experiences that occur here are played out.  Therefore, the nighttime experience needs to express the whole aspect of the land and not just exhibit a collection of trees, bushes, and stone.  You need to flow from the focal points keeping in mind the security desires and tie these individual elements together using an approach like: moonlighting for wide expanses (or tree lights used 20-30 feet above the ground), lighting the periphery without distracting from the main focal points or using area, path or bullet lights to illuminate landscape features like garden beds.

Installing low voltage lighting is not difficult and many home owners use their own layouts when they install this lighting.  It can create a beautiful and warm environment at night.  Creative use of minimal lighting can give your landscape a dramatic effect that can serve to raise property values in your neighborhood and make you proud of your home or business.