Garden Tools & Tips, Innovative Solutions

New Gardening and Greenhouse Products

Comment

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, Holidays & Gift Ideas

Tips for Celebrating Your Favorite Furry Friend

Comment

Happy Dog, Happy Family

It’s National Dog Week this week, so it’s the perfect time to honor our canine companions and show them how much we appreciate their unconditional love.  Here are four easy ways you can pamper your pooch:

  • Extra Love — Our dogs give us so much love and devotion.  Let them know you love them, too, by offering a few extra kisses or an extended belly rub.
  • Special Goodies — Prepare a tummy-yummy homemade “ice cream” treat (recipe below) for your pooches.  Mine absolutely love their daily dessert.  Special goodies don’t have to be edible, though.  If your pup carries around a few too many pounds, you should consider alternative goodies like squeaky toys or tennis balls that encourage active playtime — preferably with you.
  • Canine Massage — It’s true…professional canine massage is growing in demand, and it’s a fabulous complement to regular veterinary care.   It benefits healthy dogs, anxious dogs, geriatric dogs, canine athletes, and more.  What a perfect time to give this up and coming service a try.  Your dog will thank you.
  • Elevated Dog BedA Comfy Bed — Upgrade your dog’s sleep spot by providing him or her with an elevated, easy to clean dog bed that is tops in comfort.  The elevated bed acts like a hammock, so it’s easy on joints and allows air to circulate, which keeps our furry friends cooler and happier when temperatures are warm.

National Dog Week is a wonderful time to celebrate our beloved canine companions, but there’s no reason why we can’t show them how much we appreciate them at other times of the year, too.  Keep this short list handy to serve as a periodic reminder to thank them for the continued joy, amusement, and devotion they give us tirelessly.

Sid and Smoochie Pooch’s Lip Smackin’, Tail Waggin’ Freezer Treats

  • 32 ounces plain yogurt
  • 1 mashed banana
  • 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
  • 2 Tablespoons honey

Mix all ingredients in a blender.  Pour mixture into ice cube trays and freeze.  Once frozen, pop the treats out of the ice cube trays and store in a freezer bag or other container in the freezer.  Enjoy!

Backyard Fun, Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Portable Fun

Folding Picnic Tables: For Tailgating and More!

Comment

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!

Outdoor Living Spaces

Why Material Matters for Outdoor Furniture Protection

Comment

When you cover up your patio furniture before a storm or a long winter season, what kind of material actually touches the surface of your furniture?  If you skimped when you bought your patio furniture covers, there’s no guarantee that they’ll offer adequate protection, and no guarantee that they’ll last more than a couple of years…tops.  Here’s why.

Poor quality patio furniture covers may last only one or two seasons because they are often made with cheaper vinyl or plastic. These inferior materials are easily damaged by extremes in cold or hot temperatures, and they can even damage your furniture if they stick to the surfaces or develop cracks.

It’s worth it to splurge for higher quality patio furniture covers because better materials really do make a difference in how well your furniture is protected from weather extremes.  Covers can be constructed from a variety of materials, but there are some crucial characteristics you should look for before making a selection.

Outdoor furniture covers should be made of a durable waterproof and UV resistant material that is able to withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions, both hot and cold, without being compromised. Additionally, covers should be lightweight so that they are easy to use and easy to store when not in use. Some covers are backed with a soft cloth material to help prevent anything from scratching delicate furniture surfaces, which is an ideal feature if your patio furniture sits near any trees that may drop small branches or other debris over the course of the winter.

Taking a bit of time in the beginning to find the best material for your outdoor furniture covers will pay off in the long run. By covering your outdoor patio furniture properly, you will extend the life of the furniture for many years. Alternatively, skimping on quality now will most likely result in having to spend more money later to replace poor quality furniture covers that don’t last beyond a season or two.

Backyard Fun, Garden Tools & Tips

A Perfect Space for Your Fall Plants

Comment

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