Pergolas are a dramatic way to frame an area. Typically used to grow vines around, and above, pergolas display their own beauty, while showcasing the growth of plants around them. It is important to choose a pergola that can withstand the elements, so it will last as long as your gorgeous plants. Place it at the entrance of your garden, or in your front yard for a noticeable entryway into your home.

The Tustin Grand Picket Arbor Pergola is perfect for most outdoor spaces, as it is small in size and comes in an eye catching ivory shade. The Tustin pergola comes complete with a 20-year warranty, and is built with a durable vinyl material, so it is also lightweight. Assembly is simple, so you can enjoy the drama of your pergola sooner. The simple, yet decorative design gives you freedom to choose the vines you wish to grow along your pergola. Choose colorful plants, or keep it simple – it’s all possible with the Tustin Grand Arbor. Add some old world romance and style to your home with a beautiful outdoor pergola.

Tustin Grand Picket Arbor Pergola

Woodbridge 10 x 8 Shed

Gardeners, auto mechanics, and avid landscapers inevitably acquire an array of tools. In order to keep your tools and outdoor equipment safe, as well as free from harsh weather elements, it is important to invest in a plastic garden shed. The Woodbridge 10X8 is a perfect addition to any backyard. This shed is a massive container that can hold a large amount of bulky equipment, even a riding lawn mower. The shed is tall enough for you to walk right in a take what tools you need. This particular shed has been weather tested and can withstand up to 115 mph winds.

The Woodbridge 10X8 plastic garden shed is made of durable vinyl, so you only need to hose it off when it gets dirty. The double door design allows for easy removal of all equipment, and the neutral off-white color is suitable for any outdoor area. Because of the synthetic vinyl material, this outdoor shed will never rust or grow mildew, making it a practical purchase for all your outdoor needs. Take care of your outdoor tools and equipment with a sturdy plastic garden shed like the Woodbridge 10X8.

As gardeners, our first instinct is to eradicate any and all bugs from our gardens to prevent our leaves and vegetables from being eaten by anyone but us. However, it useful to know that some bugs are helpful for your garden, and can improve the amount of fruits and vegetables you yield. For example, ladybugs are very beneficial for your garden, as they eat aphids. Ladybugs will lay eggs in your garden, so as to reproduce and further help your garden grow.

Additionally, the praying mantis is a gardener’s best friend because they eat beetles, grubs and grasshoppers, preventing them from eating your garden. Although scary, many spiders are good for your vegetable garden because they feed on small insects such as aphids. Spiders can “weed out” insects from your garden soil and plants. Many good garden bugs can be purchased at a garden store, and are recommended for release in your garden. Learn what types of bugs are beneficial for your specific plants and climate and keep your garden (bad) bug free this year.

Beautiful Quatrefoil Sundial garden ornament

Garden accents and ornaments make for a beautiful way to express your personal style in your own backyard. Decorating your garden is easy, and design ideas are never ending. With modern technology, garden ornaments are made of materials meant to stand the test of time, and weather any harsh outdoor elements. Try a breathtaking Quatrefoil Sundial for your backyard garden and give your outdoor space some real charm. This particular sundial is made of durable and lightweight aluminum, with a Verdi finish giving it an antiqued look. This classy addition to your garden will maintain its unique look for many years to come.

Sundials were once used to tell time by the position of the sun. The dial would move based on the sun’s position and tell an accurate reading of the current time. While primarily used for decoration now, beautiful garden sundials are a wonderful addition to any garden. Plus, while you’re in your garden all day you will be able to tell time the old fashioned way! Pay homage to an ancient piece of history, while beautifying your garden with an elegant sundial.

Gardening is a relaxing activity that can be enjoyed during the beautiful spring, summer, and fall months when the weather is accommodating. Gardening has been known to reduce stress and relieve tension for many people, making it a soothing activity perfect for after a tough day at the office. After work, come home to a beautiful garden, and tear out some weeds or pick the bounty of vegetables you’ve worked hard to grow. Watch your health improve as you garden your daily cares away.

The act of gardening is relaxing, and the time spent in the sun is also beneficial. The sunshine a gardener gets while tending to their garden has been proven to improve mood and reduce stress. Additionally, the act of connecting with nature is relaxing on the body and the mind. Creating something beautiful (and good for you) has also shown to reduce stress, lighten mood and improve sentiment. Start a garden and reap the benefits of connecting with nature and reduce stress and tension in your life. Live healthier and start gardening today!

I find a lot of my friends who have a garden grow the same things every year and never break out of the ruts they get themselves in. One friend just told me it’s what she has “always grown” so it’s like being on auto pilot when she goes and buys her seeds and plants each year. So this year I went with her and, since she loves tomatoes, we decided to start there and see what she could try. Her standard Better Boy and Beefsteak tomatoes were out and replaced by Celebrity and Roma’s. I also talked her into a Cherokee Purple, one of my favorites, and a Sweet 100, which is a smaller cherry tomato.

Now that the tomatoes are coming in and ready to eat, my friend is all over herself about the different flavors and textures of the new varieties she planted. Now she is asking me for a list of some additional tomatoes for next year and I’ve sent her Auntie Green, Black Krim and Brandywine. If you have some favorites that I have missed, please send those to us as we would love to see what you are planting.

Using a post cap is one of the easiest ways to protect your fence post caps and deck caps as well as update the look of a deck or fence. It’s also one of the most cost affective ways as well when you take a look at some of the other things you could do. The cap sits on top of the post and seals it off from both insects that can easily bore into the exposed wood at the cut and water that gets into the pores and expands and contracts with the climate conditions and, over time, breaks down the fiber of the wood and causes serious cracks and splits. Once this happens, replacement might be your only option.

One of the most popular caps is the cedar post caps because cedar has natural resistant to both water and insects. This is the reason you see so many products made for the out of doors out of cedar. Another wood material is redwood but it can be more expensive than cedar. Another thing to consider is the size and one of the most popular is the 6 x 6 post cap for decks and decorative fences.

One of the best ways to cleanse your system is by eating fruit for 2 to 3 days and let your body re-set itself. No one really knows why this works but it does. Many think it has to do with the high content of water as well as the immense amount of amino acids, vitamins and minerals you get with most fruits but there are also those who warn against the high fructose content. Personally, I have had great results and never worry about the natural sugar or fat in organic, natural foods because these are the foods our bodies naturally know what to do with.

The fact is; I feel better after the first day and never have a hard time eating only fruit for 2 to 3 days. I do eat a large variety of fruit and like doing this in the spring through fall when fruit is plentiful. I know that some people also eat tomatoes as fruit and I find nothing wrong with that since tomatoes are technically fruit. The main thing is to eat a variety from bananas to blueberries, watermelon to apples. Nothing is off base and everything is there to satisfy your taste buds. Just eat natural whole fruits (no juices or juicing – unless you are blending the entire fruit including the pulp, skin, etc, allowed) that are organic if at all possible.

One of the things people start to realize as spring goes into summer is the lack of space to store all the things you end up with once you tend to your new gardens and lawns. Part of the problem is the equipment; even when its small hand tools that you end up with as the season progresses. There is only so much space in the garage and house for these types of items. That’s when a small garden shed may be the answer to your garden storage prayers.

It will be important to know what size shed is right for as well as what shape will be best for your yard. A lot of people choose the side mate shed because it can easily be put up against a house and does not go out in the yard on its own. This type of shed can easily handle all your hand and garden tools as well as most of your lawn equipment. If you have a riding lawn mower or large tiller then you will most likely need a large shed of some kind to accommodate these. The next must is decide if you want to build the shed, but the shed pre-built or purchase a shed kit that you can put together easily over a weekend. Whatever decision you make, be sure it’s one you can grow into over the years. There is nothing like buying a storage shed that is too small!

Duramax makes a series of sheds called YardMates that come in 3 sizes; 5’ x 3’, 5’ x 5’ and 5’ x 8’. These are the perfect sizes for most people who are looking for functional and easy to maintain garden sheds for the limited space in their backyards. These sheds are small enough to fit just about anywhere in your yard but large enough to store most anything you have for a typical lawn or garden including a push mower, weed eater and the many hand tools it takes to keep your lawn and garden looking great.

If you are in need of a large storage shed to hold items such as a riding lawn mower, tiller or other large equipment or just want to have a larger shed for general storage, Duramax makes a series of sheds for this purpose called the Woodbridge series. All of these Duramax sheds are made of vinyl and require very little maintenance. In today’s busy world this is a real plus! No spraying for insects or paining every other year required. You just spray it off with a hose twice a year and you are good to go. These sheds come in shed kits that are delivered to your curb.