Good Home Design

Posts Tagged ‘garden’

If you have a dynamic water feature in your garden then at certain times of the year you may have to deal with the problem of fountain algae. Algae love water that is slightly warm, full of nutrients, and stagnant. A garden pond and fountain would be the perfect environment for algae to grow and thrive. To remove the problem temporarily is not that difficult, it is when searching for a permanent solution that a deeper understanding is required.

Before you can bring your pond’s fountain back to its original condition you will need to get hold of the right equipment and supplies. This would include such items as non iodized salt, white vinegar, a bucket, scrubbing brush, protective gloves, as well as a small bottle.

Prior to initiating the cleaning process you will need to drain out the water from the fountain and perhaps the pond itself. Always remember to ensure that any fish are moved to a different water body or temporary storage facility before beginning the cleaning process. The same should be done for any precious plants.

Once you have drained out the water you will notice that a large amount of algae has also been flushed away. Let the waterfall and the pond dry out in full before moving on to the next stage. Take a moment to examine the pond and fountain without any water present. If there are long and dark hair like strands of algae clinging to the pump and sides and bottom of the pond as well as the fountain itself then you have an infestation of filamentous algae, otherwise known as string algae.

Take some non-iodized salt and sprinkle it liberally on any algae that cannot be physically removed easily. Allow it to sit for a few days and it will dry up and fall off any objects that it was attaching itself to. Whilst wearing the protective gloves, remove as much of the algae as physically possible. It is likely that not every strand and stain will disappear so easily.

You will probably need to take a scrubbing brush and dip it into a bucket that contains white vinegar. Then you should scrub any remnants of plankton and algae that was too hard to remove by hand. Make sure you clean every nook and cranny in the fountain and pond as it does not take much for the problem to resurface at a later date.

Before you can restock the pond with fish and turn back on the fountain you should flush both the features out fully with fresh clean water. Do this a few times to ensure that no traces of vinegar or algae will remain.

When placing pumps, filters, and other effects back into the pond keep a close watch for any algae that you may have missed. If any plant pots, rocks, or other objects do have an algal coating, scrub them thoroughly with vinegar in the same way that you did the pond and the fountain.

Difficulties in fountain algae can need a bit of serious treatment in order to completely get rid of them and maintenance must certainly enough to keep the problem from returning.

If you are looking to add a bit of country to your home interior this spring, but don’t have a large budget, you will be happy to know that a few well-placed accents can go a long way. This article looks at the key ways in which you can create your own country home interior with a contemporary twist.

Window Treatments

One of the easiest ways to achieve a cozy cottage feel is to change the window treatments. Try replacing a contemporary curtain with a sheer panel drape with a long, flowing valance on a wrought iron curtain pole. Country cottages bring the beauty of the outdoors inside, so forgo the blinds and heavy draperies to let the sunshine into your living area. Look for inexpensive wrought iron pieces to coordinate with the wrought iron curtain pole. A wrought iron candelabra is a great addition to a country sitting area.

Décor and more

Another quick and easy way to transform a room into a country space is to update the pillows on the settee. If your goal is to create a cozy cottage look, consider bold floral patterns with light colors and coordinating stripes or blocks.

Look for inexpensive artwork at discount stores to replace older pieces that may not fit into the new look. Country framing doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Simple frames made from old wood add a touch of whimsy.

Walls and flooring

Consider repainting walls if you currently have a dark color in place. Using light-colored settee covers can also brighten up the room. Country homes typically have light colors and hues of white scattered throughout the living space.

If you have hardwood flooring covered by a modern rug, consider replacing the rug or doing away with the rug altogether. Browse flea markets or local artisans for area rugs with a shabby chic look.

Bring the Outdoors In

If you have a garden, be sure to bring in a variety of cuttings to scatter around the room in vases. But don’t have to stop there. Bring some outdoor furniture into your living area as well. A worn rocking chair from out back can add country appeal to any room. Consider adding flower boxes to outside windows as well. You will enjoy watching bees and ladybugs work as you lounge inside. Another way to bring nature closer to you is to place a bird feeder near the window.

If you want to give a classic look to your home the solution may be to opt for French furniture. It is an automatic way to transform our rooms and without doubt, have a variety of possibilities.

There are several companies on the market that we offer these options. On the website we can find lighting fixtures, chairs and even furniture for the garden. Through their website you will find a variety of objects that will enrich the look of your home.

The collection is inspired by the apartments of Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764), a famous French courtesan and most famous mistresses of Louis XV.

The moisture meters are devices used to measure the percentage of water in some place or substance. This information is used to determine if something’s ready to go, if it is too wet or too dry, or if some material needs to care more.

At home we use several types of moisture meters, some to the gardens and others to measure how wet is the inside of the house or the woods we have. Or maybe the basement, if you have one. But that’s not something you get used much on this side of America, so I would rather be in gardens and sometimes walls.

The first instrument I mention they are tensiometers and are referred to doctors, also measure the amount of water on earth, but is used in places where the landscape is more professional. The gardeners could use one of these and inform you how much water they use to water the plants, especially if your form is drip irrigation.

Then another is easy and simple hydrometer, device that is placed on the ground when you want to see how much moisture is in a zone. They are the best to avoid excess water, and makes the plants do not feel stifled. These devices are readily available and cheaper, but only tell you if the soil is dry or damp, therefore, the amount of water that you apply to your plants will depend on what it is. For example, a cactus needs almost no water and is usually dry land.

To measure the humidity inside the house there are other tensiometers, which will tell you how much there is and also the temperature. And just stick to the wall. There are other more professional, using services that measure moisture in wood and basements, but are difficult to use, specific and very expensive models.