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Quality Items For A Patio With Rattan Weave Garden Furniture

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

Rattan is a company in the furniture business that specializes in outdoor furnishings. They have many different products in many different price ranges. If a person is trying to furnish outside areas, patios, conservatories, or sunrooms, Rattan offers the highest quality products. Rattan weave garden furniture is elegant and features comfortable pieces that can enhance any backyard.

The cornerstone of Rattan is designing, manufacturing and selling a wide assortment of items to be placed in outdoor areas. Because of their eventual placement, Rattan makes sure that all items produced by them are of the highest quality. All products manufactured by this company can withstand outdoor environments.

Creating a furniture piece made of wicker materials is the best option for outside furniture designs. This is because the material is found in nature as it is just thin pieces of wood woven together. Wicker when woven together is a very strong and durable material that can take a beating at the hands of the elements and still look good.

The pieces made by this company are very stylish and can be broken down into different groups of fashion. The first is the oriental furniture category. These designs give a Far East feel to the backyard and are important for Feng Shui dcor. This is simply a style of decorating an area by creating balance in the space used.

The other major school of fashion centers around a Caribbean styles. This style consists of furniture and other pieces to feature light, bright colors that are found on the islands of the Caribbean. This is where this collection gets its name as it is called the South Sea Collection. These styles bring a piece of the Caribbean to a homeowner’s backyard.

As much as producing furniture, protecting furniture pieces is also a major concern of the Rattan Company. They produce a variety of covers that ensure a long life of all of their products. Rattan also makes different lamps, dressers, and stools that can add different dimensions and looks to patio, conservatory, and sunroom areas.

Protecting, creating, and manufacturing quality outdoor furniture is the main focus of this company. Adding Rattan weave furniture to a patio area, sunroom, or backyard will give a look of elegance and class to guest entertainment venues. Putting Rattan weave garden furniture in one’s home may be expensive but can highlight the success of a homeowner by owning quality, long lasting products.

Find out more about rattan furniture at Anthony Pinitmontree’s site

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How Synthetic Rattan Garden Furniture Can Transform The Patio

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Summer is just about here and a few short weeks, every weekend will be filled with backyard barbeques and parties on the deck. This is when many people will start searching for the perfect outdoor furniture to entertain their friends and family. For a look that will be completely unique, explore the options in synthetic rattan garden furniture.

Before purchasing new garden furniture, most smart consumers will wonder just what synthetic rattan is. Rattan is a climbing palm found in Asia that is often used to create wickerwork, including beautiful furniture and outdoor accessories. Many furniture designers love working with rattan because it is sturdy and can be easily manipulated.

There are many reasons that homeowners love decorating with rattan products. It creates durable pieces that are available for a very reasonable price. It has a natural look and is lightweight, so it is perfect for an outdoor environment. The problem is that, since it is a natural material, it is very vulnerable to damage from the elements and could rot over time. This is why synthetic rattan furniture, which looks and feels the same, has become increasingly popular.

A patio set of table and chairs made from rattan creates a perfect scene for engaging guests during the summer months. Most pieces feature frames made from aluminum, so they will never rust, but their handmade rattan covers provide a look that is cool and summery. The pieces will have natural tones and can be customized with cushions of any color to match the decorating scheme.

When there are going to be several people hanging out, it may be necessary to bring out some extra seats and a beautiful option is a rattan barstool. The seat, which can be either twenty-four inches or thirty inches, can have in nearly any color so it can match any existing decorating. They will provide a tropical look that will compliment any backyard tiki bar perfectly.

In addition to furniture, there are also many great accessories made of synthetic rattan that can really pull the entire look together. Imagine putting some lovely summer flowers on the patio table in a whimsical rattan vase or tossing empty cups into a rattan wastebasket. Including some of these accessories with the furniture will make stepping onto the patio feel like stepping onto a tropical island.

There are many options for patio furniture but before making a decision consumers should be sure to check out all of the options. Synthetic rattan garden furniture is a great way to get a new look that will impress everyone who stops by. The tropical look and lightweight feel is the perfect thing to kick the summer off.

Find out more about synthetic rattan garden furniture at Anthony Pinitmontree’s site

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Denver Landscape Design: The Three Most Prevalent Errors You’ll Want To Avoid

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

A beautiful garden is one of the few significant investments that truly gives us lasting joy. As with any investment, it’s important to avoid costly missteps, and avoid mistakes that can detract from the desired result: a beautiful garden. I recently interviewed Tom Altgelt, an acclaimed landscape architect in the Denver/Boulder area, about the biggest mistakes he often sees, not only here in Denver, Colorado the Denver/Boulder area but also in Europe and New England where he has worked. Altgelt lists several universal errors including “not designing for the whole cycle of the year, forgetting to master plan and look at the big picture and, perhaps most importantly, neglecting to assemble a great team.”

The first of these common mistakes is having too much focus on how the garden will look in the spring and summer. These are the seasons people visualize when they conceptualize a garden, because in the warm months all the plants are blooming and resplendent with foliage. However, according to Tom Altgelt, “a great garden works all year round, reflecting beautifully the cycle of the seasons. While a really skilled designer will pay equal attention to all four seasons, I have commonly seen even design professionals make the mistake of over-emphasizing spring and summer interest with not enough to keep the garden beautiful and inspiring through the fall and winter.” However, if anything, it’s the cold seasons when we really need inspiration from our garden the most! This is particularly the case in the Denver/Boulder area, because our harsh weather can start early and end late, alternating with many nice days. A garden that is beautiful in any weather will be much appreciated here.

In Altgelt’s experience, the four elements that create a beautiful landscape year-round are “artistic sculpting of the land, creating rock formations that grow out of and accentuate the sculpting of the land, incorporating evergreen plants, and utilizing deciduous plants which retain interesting colors and shapes after the fall of the leaves.” Naturally, it’s important to combine these design elements artistically for a landscape that is beautiful all year round.

Secondly, it is very common for people to design only a piece of the landscape instead of starting with a master plan. Without having a well thought-out master plan, a homeowner may put in one element of landscaping this year that will conflict with another element they want to put in next year. “This mistake can end up being very costly to the homeowner in the long run.”

One example Altgelt relates is that really good lighting fixtures can be expensive, so people often put off that purchase while they make small changes to their landscape. Then, once they have their patio in and trees planted, they want to do the lighting. Well, now it might be really expensive and challenging to put in the wires, whereas if they had thought it through ahead of time, the wires could have been laid down easily and at low cost before other work was completed. Altgelt comments, “There are many, many other really expensive consequences I’ve seen which resulted from fragmentary design rather than having a master plan.”

“Thirdly, for those who are hiring professional help with their landscape design, the most common mistake I see is assembling the wrong team. If you are spending the money for a professionally done landscape, you should get your money’s worth and end up with an extraordinary garden that’s truly an inspired work of art!” In addition to choosing highly skilled professionals, it’s important for your team to have that invisible quality often called “chemistry” so the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts.

One key component to this teamwork is for the professionals to really listen to their client. “Often, a client needs help with articulating his dreams, or even being aware of what would make him the most pleased with his garden.” If the landscape designer excludes the client from the design process, the result is less likely to be a landscape uniquely suited to the client. In addition, explains Altgelt, “the landscape contractor and, for new construction, the architect are also part of the landscape design team, which is ideally put together before the architect makes the first sketch of the house.”

By avoiding these three common pitfalls, a homeowner can save money and create an extraordinary landscape. Altgelt says, “Now, that’s what I call a wise investment!

Don’t make the same common landscape design mistakes most homeowners make! Consult with Tom Altgelt for professional Denver landscape design. Get more FREE Denver landscape design tips here!

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Want A Small Table And Chair Set For Your Patio, Then Look At A Bistro Patio Set

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Buying a bistro patio set for your patio or deck will give you a small table and chair set which will lift the look and style of your outdoor living space.

Designed and used in the French street cafes popular in the late 1800′s these small table and chair sets are still very popular. Providing convenient eating spaces in outdoor eating areas all over the world the fit perfectly on today’s porch, balcony or deck area. Patios every where have a bistro patio set tucked into some tiny corner just waiting to be used.

The bistro set comes in many shapes, sizes and materials and can be customized to fit any living space both outdoors and indoors.

Small and cosy bistro furniture is also elegant and surprisingly modern. Designing your outdoor room to include one or more patio sets will provide great dining for one or more couples and also look fabulously stylish

A bistro table is generally smaller than a regular dining table and usually round. One of the features of the original design; that made the bistro table and chairs so popular; is that they can be folded easily, making it very convenient to store them.

Manufacturers are more intent these days on recreating the look, feel and style of the original furniture and for convenience (theirs) they often leave out the folding part of the original designs. Because of their smaller size the sets are still popluar wherever there are constrains on space.

As an outdoor furniture set a Bistro table and Chairs has spread all over the world and may be found in any well stocked store. But just because they were originally used outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t use them anywhere including inside.

Choice of manufacturing materials range from cast or wrought iron through to modern resin or aluminum forms. Luxury in timber or specially fabricated metal is also available

Bistro sets made of wood and metal are more expensive than other materials while resin is another good option for outdoor use.

Glass is a very popular top for the Bistro Table but you can get yours fitted with marble, granite, mosaic tiles or other materials.

A Bistro Patio Set is a great option for outdoor use. They occupy a smaller space than other forms of table and chairs and if you chose a traditional style can be conveniently folded and kept inside to protect them from bad weather.

A great choice which will add style to any patio, deck, balcony or other living space make the Bistro Patio Set a popular piece of outdoor furniture.

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Prevent Your Christmas Tree From Becoming A Fire Hazard

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

The Christmas tree and its decorations constitute a fire hazard, and the longer the tree is kept inside, the greater the danger becomes. The freshly cut tree does not catch fire easily, as it contains much water, but when the water evaporates, the resinous substances in the tree, particularly in the needles, may flare up quickly and violently from the spark of a defective wire in the string of tree lights.

The U. S. Department of Agriculture recommended years ago a rather simple method of reducing the fire risk of Christmas trees. Best results are obtained with freshly cut trees treated about five days before they are decorated. The longer the treatment is delayed after cutting, the less effective it will be. Trees shipped in from the North Woods will probably not respond very well to the treatment since they have been cut for some time.

Cotton used under trees to simulate snow is another fire hazard that may be reduced by sprinkling the material with a warm solution made by dissolving seven ounces of boric powder and one and one-half ounces of soap powder in two quarts of hot water. Allow the cotton to dry thoroughly before placing it under the tree.

Live evergreens, handled balled and burlapped may be used as Christmas trees, then planted out on the grounds. Set the ball in a tub or other container where it can be kept moist. The container may be camouflaged with evergreen branches and cotton. Do not leave the trees in the warm room for more than a week or ten days. Mulch the spot in the lawn where the tree is to be planted so that the hole can be easily dug even though surrounding soil is frozen hard. Water and mulch the planted evergreen.

Decorate and light your outdoor Christmas tree. It is a cheery way of wishing “Merry Christmas” to the passer-by.

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Grow an Abundant Vegetable Garden with Limited Space

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Growing up, I lived in a 3 bedroom row home in the city. Although we did have a backyard, it wasn’t large enough to have the garden my dad always wanted. But he know how to take advantage of the space he did have using a few techniques that I am about to share with you. None of them were particularly crazy, just some practical, common-sense, easy to follow solutions.

One of the easiest things you can do right now is to pick plants with high yields. By growing plants that produce abundantly, you will need to plant fewer of them. For instance, cherry tomato plants, peas, beans and zucchini all have very high yields. So, simply planting just one or two could produce all that you need.

Do you companion plant? Companion planting is the process of planting vegetables with different needs next to one another. It may mean that they require different nutrients and by planting them together, they do not fight for the same nutrients. Two plants can structurally support one another. For example, Royal Burgundy Beans planted between your corn will allow the beans to use the corn as a trellis. Or, it may mean that one plant provides needed shade for a smaller plant. I love planting lettuce under my tomatoes in the hot summer. You get a high yield of lettuce will into the summer because the tomato?s shade keeps the lettuce from bolting.

Rotating crops from season to season will prevent disease help ensure your garden is abundant. You can also rotate crops within a season by planting your vegetables according to their temperature requirements. Plant cool weather tolerant plants in the early spring when temperatures are cool and then replace them (after they have been harvested) with summer varieties.

Learn how to grow vegetables vertically. You might be limited on the amount of space you have, but the sky is the limit, literally, when you grow your plants vertically. Vegetables such as cucumbers, beans and some squash are great candidates for vertical growing. If you let them grow out horizontally they can take up a tremendous amount of precious space. If they grow up a structure, strong enough to support them, you can use all that vertical space to your advantage. This will allow you to grow more varieties, too.

As you can see, these simple solutions can help you realize an abundant vegetable garden harvest with limited space. Adopt these common-sense ideas and you will be well on your way to harvesting more vegetables from your garden this season.

Looking for inspirational gardening ideas, then visit www.gardendesignnow.com to find the latest on gardening trends.

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Christmas Trees For Christmas Celebration

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Christmas trees are often shipped long distances before they reach their destination. Usually they are cut several weeks before Christmas. Some of these trees travel more than 2,000 miles before they adorn the home of the purchaser. Montana trees may travel as far as Oklahoma. Texas or California. In fact, in 1955, Montana shipped trees to 27 states and Cuba.

I saw spruce from Maine in a market stand in New Orleans. Montana is producing over three million trees annually for the Christmas trade. It is estimated that over 25 million Christmas trees were produced in 1955 in the United States. Douglas fir and Balsam fir far outnumber other species in the numbers of Christmas trees marketed at the present time.

Naturally, persons who can go out and harvest their own can be assured of securing a fresh tree. Many have to purchase their trees from a sales yard. When bringing your tree home, place it in a cool shaded place as soon as possible and plunge the butt or bottom end into a container of water.

Water absorption is improved if an inch or so of the bottom of the end of the tree is removed. In making the cut, the diagonal cut is preferred. One will soon realize that a considerable quantity of water will be taken up by the tree, so one will have to see that the water is replenished daily.

Most species of evergreen contain quantities of pitch and resin in the leaves, branches, and trunks. If the tree used for decoration is very dry it can be an extremely dangerous fire hazard. Everything should be done to keep the tree as fresh and green as possible. Avoid placing trees where there might be an open flame. Use electrical equipment. that is free of wear and fraying and don’t overload electrical circuits. Do not use any kind of flammable decorations on the tree. Many of the chemical fire retardants so far tried have not been too satisfactory. Placing the butt end of the tree in a pail of water still seems to be the best bet.

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Give Roses Thought – Even Though It’s Not Valentine’s Season

Friday, February 19th, 2010

December is a month of many activities for all members of the family. The spirit of the season has been present in all of the stores since before Thanksgiving. Christmas shopping is certainly one of the major activities for this month. Perhaps this is the Christmas when a family gift will be appropriate-such as a small greenhouse for the horticulturally interested family. It would provide countless hours of happy and carefree recreation. Additions to the garden library are also wonderful gifts.

Roses: Make this a “Rosy Christmas.” Even though December is not the best month for planting, rose growers and dealers have attractive gift certificates that you can hang on the tree or send as greetings! You may specify the delivery date for your particular area. In the South of Mid-America, February planting is recommended.

For established roses, very little is to be done this month. Fallen leaves should be raked up, and leaves that remain should now be stripped off the plants. After this the bushes can be given a dormant spray of lime sulfur, which should be repeated in two weeks. This sanitation will be well worth the effort as a preventive measure against black spot in the spring.

Climbers should be securely fastened to their supports to prevent whipping in the wind or breaking down later with loads of winter snow or ice.

If you practice “hilling-up” of your plants, December is a good time to do it. This consists of piling the soil up around the crown of the plant to a height of ten to 12 inches. This will protect the plants from complete killing in cases of severe freezing. Most important of all, do not let the rose garden dry out, but keep watering it regularly and plentifully. Do not prune yet, as it is much too early in the season.

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Christmas Arrangements And Christmas Decorations

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Christmas will soon be here and you will be wanting to make up Christmas arrangements and Christmas decorations. It’s so much more fun for most of us if we can go out into our own gardens and gather these materials. There is no reason why every one of us can’t grow them.

To be sure, some of the more tender broadleafed evergreens such as cherry laurel and Chinese holly can be grown only in the milder parts of this area.

We can all grow (even though you may think you can’t) hardy strains of boxwood, firethorn, wintercreeper (Ettonymus) , Japanese holly, American holly and if you will acidify the soil-rhododendron. And even in the most severe regions it is surprising how many protected spots can be found where allegedly tender plants will prove hardy. It is amazing what a little winter sun protection and wind protection will do to carry through these doubtful plants. Plan to plant them next spring.

This is the time of the year, up until snow comes, when we particularly en joy touches of evergreens around our yard. The evergreen ground covers really pay for themselves for the enjoyment they give us. Japanese spurge (Pachysandra), periwinkle ( Vinca), wintercreeper (Euonymus) and English ivy are all delightful in winter. Although it is too late to risk planting them now you can look out of all the windows of your home and decide where you would like to see them growing next year at this time. Personally I prefer Japanese spurge and English ivy, although in the warmer areas both of these may sun scald if not planted in the shade.

This is a good time to look around your neighborhood at the patches of English ivy growing both as ground covers and on the sides of houses. And then next spring along in April look at them again. Those that still look wonderful are the ones you should try to get starts of. I still feel that we haven’t scratched the surface of possibilities in selecting strains of English ivy that will grow under almost any sort of condition. That patch of Romanian ivy that is taking the hot boiling sun in St. Louis, Missouri is just one example of what tough strains are available.

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Christmas – A Time For Trees And The Environment

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

More and more home owners are buying a choice shrub for use as the Yuletide tree and then planting it in the garden following the holidays. This must be a part of the growing “green revolution” that is sweeping the planet. This is a good way to teach conservation to the children. explaining the process by which a tree grows and the time needed to produce one the size of a Christmas tree, and by encouraging children to help select and plant, one may foster their early appreciation for the conservation of trees and plants.

Many plants lend themselves well for use as a “living tree.” Among the best are pines, especially the Austrian, Scotch and pillion varieties. The pines usually come in containers from the plant store. Colorado blue spruce, Virginiana juniper and the Arizona cypress are also good shrubs in our area and will make good Christmas trees.

If the tree is nursery grown (and not container grown), make sure that the ball of earth is slightly larger than average and very well secured by burlap. It will have to withstand an unusual amount of handling.

A tin tray or pan under the ball to collect excess moisture is necessary. A small tub or half-barrel filled with damp sawdust around the ball of earth is very good insurance against drying out of the plant. Many nurserymen advertise “living Christmas trees,” and are equipped to handle them, even to the extent of spraying them with “Wilt-Pruf,” a compound to prevent dehydration of the plants.

The tree should be planted as soon as possible after Christmas. Leave the burlap around the ball of earth, as it will soon decay. Be sure to water the tree daily for about two weeks. In a few years, your family will have a collection of Christmas tree memories in the form of beautiful plants.

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