Backyard Tips

1.  To prevent mold on your patio, don’t water it.

2.   Being green has more to do with knowing how to care for the plants you    like.

3.   Set the BBQ so that the smoke does not blow over the outdoor dinning area.

4.    Dead heading flowers encourages new flowering growth.

5.     Before planting in an attached planter, make sure it is lined with a moisture barrier.

6.      Out door Fireplaces should be 10 feet from any building.

7.      Dead heading does not necessarily mean you are a fan of the Grateful Dead.

8.       Outdoor fireplaces must be a minimum of 5 feet from the property line in most municipalities.

9.        Rain water run off is the #1 cause of settling cracks and other damage.

10.     Over watering near the house is the #2 cause of settling cracks and other damage.

11.      Outdoor fireplaces can be attached to the building as long as the chimney is 2 feet higher than any structure within 10 feet.

12.              Fire pits cannot be constructed on a combustible material, such as a wood deck.

13.       Outdoor fireplaces must be 2 feet higher than any building within a 10′ radius.

14.      Fire pits should be constructed based upon sound masonry principles.

15.      BBQ set conveniently to the Kitchen without attention to the direction the smoke is blowing is a common mistake.

16.     Smokey BBQ’s are not conducive to fun outdoor parties.

17.     Root bound to a plant is the same as very tight shoes on a human.

18.      Set the BBQ so that the smoke does not go into the house.

19.       Going green means doing a better job of maintaining your entire yard, not giving up the plants you love.

20.       An outdoor Fireplace set under a canopy of trees can cause a smoky environment.

21.        When planning an outdoor kitchen, determine the location of gas, water, electricity and drainage before breaking ground.

22.       If you don’t have a lot of dirt use pots.

23.       Outdoor kitchens expand the living area of your home.

24.       Add Ladybugs to the garden to fight white flies and aphids.

25.      Lighten the watering load in pots by filling a 1/3 of the way with packing peanuts, and then add soil and plants.

26.       Water in the evening after the sun goes down to lessen evaporation.

27.     Add heavy mulch to beds to keep soil moist for longer periods between watering.

28.     Take advantage of Southern California’s 9 months of perfect weather, expand your home with an outdoor patio.

29.    Outdoor potted plants may need more water than their friends in the ground.

30.    Take advantage of companion planting to keep pests at bay.  www.companionplanting.net.

Tags: Add new tag | Backyard | BBQ | Fire Pits | outdoor fireplaces

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