Bottle irrigation for tomato plants

Don’t throw away those soda or mineral water bottles post-party. They can be repurposed as a practical irrigation system for your tomato plants. Simply punch some holes on the bottles, bury them (evenly spaced) in the soil next to your plants, and then fill up the bottles with water. The water will be slowly released to keep the roots moist. This is especially useful during summer when the scorching heat can quickly dry out the soil.  

A stump container for succulents

Want to show off your cactus collection outside but don’t want to put them in little pots? Do what Pinterest suggests and plant them in a tree stump, driftwood, or fallen log. Your succulents will look magical and natural at the same time. First, check to see if the your tree stump or log doesn’t have any pests or fungi. Then get some floral glue and use it to attach your sphagnum moss in the tree stump’s hollow or cracks. Arrange your succulents any way you want them on the moss (by color, shape, size, etc.) and then let them take root. Water a couple of days after the arrangement to wet the moss and encourage more root growth.  

Rubber mulch stone walkway

Rubber mulch has gotten the nod of approval in many public and private playgrounds as the ground cover of choice, thanks to its shock-absorbing capacity. You can get the same benefit for your home. Use rubber mulch for your own backyard so that it’s practically slip-proof, come rain or come shine. Pinterest shows plenty of ways to utilize rubber mulch as a lining for pathways, or as an alternative to slippery stone steps or walks. You can even use it as surfacing for an outdoor patio.

Coffee filters to line plant pots

Here’s another creative and practical way to make sure your plants get enough moisture where they need it (at the roots). The problem with many plant pots is that a lot of the water goes out of the little hole near the bottom so that the soil dries up quickly. Rewatering can be a hassle, but you can use coffee filters to line the pot to avoid this. If you’re very busy and tend to water your plants irregularly, it’s good to know that the coffee filter absorbs the water and prevents plants from drying up. It’s also an excellent method for repotting – simply lift the filter carefully and transfer the entire plant – soil and all – into another container without spilling anything.

There is something exhilarating about playing outside when the air is cold and there’s a hint of snow. The nippy air brings about a carefree atmosphere that seems perfect for playtime. However, parents and guardians shouldn’t be carefree about winter playground safety. If you want your kids to have fun outdoors, follow some practical advice so they can play without getting hurt.

Always know the temperature before going outdoors

Frostbite isn’t a walk in the park (or a hop in the playground). It can happen very quickly once the wind chill factor gets below -18ºF. Children are especially susceptible to it because they can’t always tell when they’re being overexposed to extreme cold.

Some ways to check if it’s safe to let young kids play outdoors:

• Tune in to weather forecasts or keep an app at the ready. You can install a thermometer near your door outside so you can decide if it’s a stay-in kind of day.
• If you aren’t sure about the wind chill index, you can either use an online calculator to determine it for you, or consult the National Weather Service. They issue advisories and warnings that are best to heed.
• Keep your kids indoors for playtime, instead. No amount of bundling up with clothes can keep them safe from extreme chill and other dangerous factors.
• Watch out for hypothermic symptoms. Shivering is a recognizable one, but also check for dizziness, nausea, fatigue, fast breathing, confusion, and hunger.

Check the ground for slipperiness

Once you’ve determined that the temperature is suitable for outdoor play, make sure the ground is slip-proof and fall-proof. Falls and slips are already primary playground hazards on nice days, let alone snow days. Let hardened snow melt first, shovel a clear path and area for the kids, and treat icy areas with salt. Cordon off areas that need to be treated long-term so children don’t go wandering in and injuring themselves.   

Ground coverage like soil, sand, wood fiber, and grass can absorb and retain water. With chilly temperature, it’s easy for them to freeze and become slippery. Playground rubber mulch doesn’t absorb water, so it’s safer to play on during winter while providing sufficient fall protection.

Test all outdoor surfaces and playground equipment first

Television shows and movies may be exaggerating with the licking-snow-off-a-steel-pole-and-getting-tongue-stuck scenarios, but the truth is, you can’t really predict the silly things kids will do in the name of play! Playground equipment made of metal can freeze really fast and cause various injuries. Make sure to test them for ice, rust, and other dangers before allowing kids to play on them. If you find the surfaces too slippery, cold, or showing some potential danger, it’s best to let the kids play indoors on rubber and plastic playground equipment.

Avoid scarves, drawstrings, and other articles of clothing that could strangle

As with warm-weather playground safety, always have kids properly attired for play. This means no scarves, drawstrings, belts, ribbons, necklaces, and other clothing details and accessories that could get caught on playground equipment. Tube neck warmers might be a better alternative to keeping kids bundled up outdoors.

Keep a first-aid kit ready

When young children at play are involved, a first-aid kit is a must at all times. However, winter brings with it a unique set of potential safety hazards, so add a few items for cold-day preparedness:

• Instant hot chocolate or chicken broth packs – they can help hypothermic kids warm up their core temperature while providing much-needed calories
• Thick gloves, socks, and leg and arm warmers – arms, legs, hands, and feet are body parts that need to be kept warm for blood to circulate properly. If a child exhibits hypothermia, quickly cover his or her extremities with these items of clothing
• Extra towels and fleecy blankets – they can help maintain proper body heat while keeping kids dry, warm, and comfortable.

Playgrounds aren’t always about fun and games, unfortunately. For a place that’s supposed to encourage enjoyment, camaraderie, sharing and friendship, it’s still attached to a lot of unpleasant memories – even for those who have grown up and lived to tell about them.

How can a parent prevent the playground from becoming a traumatic place? There are no laws set in stone about playground behavior. However, there are practical guidelines on how your kids can improve theirs (and hopefully, encourage others’ in the process).

Coordinate with the school or parks department about adult supervision

An adult has to supervise at the playground at all times, whether it’s at the school, in a public park, or even at home. The presence of one (or several) can ensure safety and also encourage kids to be better behaved. An adult can see to it that all playground equipment and surroundings are functioning properly and well-maintained. Aside from that, they can facilitate conflict resolution should disagreements arise.

Most schools for young kids already have adult staff to supervise playtime, but it’s always a good idea to coordinate with the parent-teacher association about it. As for public parks, visit the parks and recreation department to know about adult supervision during playtime and make suggestions to improve things.   

Establish simple rules

If you’re part of a parent-teacher association, or even a simple group of parents who supervise kids at the playground, come up with your own guidelines to implement. They can be as simple as recognizing what is acceptable and inappropriate behavior among a certain age group of kids, then either encouraging/preventing or putting a stop to them. Establish easy-to-follow rules like no pushing, no shouting at each other, forming a line behind slides, steering clear of swings, and learning to share playground equipment and toys. You can print these rules in clear block letters or illustrate them for younger kids to learn and  understand.  

Encourage team play

Let kids be kids! Playtime is the best time for them to learn how to socialize, share, and become team players (plus make new friends). Come up with games that will encourage them to solve problems together, assign different roles and tasks among themselves, and learn something new.

Create a time-out zone

The bottom line is that there will be kids who will misbehave or act out. So as not to affect the other kids’ playtime, create a time-out zone where they can work out their frustration for a few minutes. An adult can talk to the kids in this zone, hear them out, and help them come up with a solution for what’s bothering them before they re-join the main play area when they are calmer.

Playground Safety

Make sure that the equipment has been properly inspected and there is safe surfacing. Playground rubber mulch has been proven to be far more safe then dirt or other surfacing options. Needless to say, kids will undoubtedly climb where they shouldn’t and fall. Make sure they have somewhere safe to land.

Nearly everybody’s got old tires lying about somewhere. They’re some of the most difficult waste products to dispose, given their volume and that they can’t be incinerated.

Creative re-use is the answer. Thankfully, with recycled rubber turning into useful products for garden, landscape, and horse arena mulching, there’s been an interest in upcycling these previously unusable discards.

Living room accent piece

Forget about ordering that expensive ottoman or side stool from a furniture catalogue. An old rubber tire will make a great accent piece without breaking your decorating budget. Thoroughly clean an old tire and make sure it’s dry. Nail round wooden boards to both sides of the tire so you can attach legs to it. If you don’t want legs, you can stack your tire on top of another to serve as an ottoman.

As for covering it up to match your interiors, the sky’s the limit! Here are some ideas: crochet a cover for it, have it upholstered in leather or a fabric of your choice, wrap it in wicker for a country look, or use a custom sewn seat cover.  

Small pond or wading pool

An old tire is just the right size for a wading pool or a small pond for your garden. Choose a spot in your yard where you want to install it, making sure it is not on a steep or rocky surface. Dig a hole big enough to place the whole tire in it, but with a few centimeters remaining above ground. Put a few inches of sand in the hole and tamp it down to make it flat (use a level to ensure it’s even). Place the tire above the sand, cut out the upper part of the tire so that it resembles a basin, and clean its interior of debris and stones. Wrap the tire snugly with gardening foil before heaping gravel all around it. Lay rocks and stones around its perimeter, or place small potted plants to frame it. Fill up the hole with water.

Planters and pots

The waterproof and weatherproof qualities of rubber tires make them ideal for keeping plant roots moist and nourished. You can weave strips of rubber tires to form pots, planters, and giant urns – or retain its shape and simply hang them on the walls of your garden shed so that leaves and flowers can dangle prettily.  

Welcome mat or ramp runners

Flattened or woven tire strips are perfect as welcome mats. Why? They can withstand dirt, and the tire treads are ideal for scraping mud off the soles of shoes. They are also slip-proof so you can transform them into runners for ramps and treads for stairs.

Garden sculptures and playground pieces

Rubber tires are durable and can withstand many weather changes. If you’re feeling creative and want to take on a sculptural challenge, turn to old tires. You can transform them into a menagerie of rubber animals for kids to enjoy, season after season.

If you want a playground made of recycled materials that’s whimsical but not expensive, make a series of rubber tire obstacles or swings and decorate them with pieces of rubber strips in different shapes and sizes. Kids will love it, and you’ll have done your part in reducing carbon footprint.

Resource:

http://homesthetics.net/45-diy-tire-projects-how-to-creatively-upcycle-and-recycle-old-tires-into-a-new-life/

http://www.handimania.com/diy/recycled-tires-pond.html

There is something exhilarating about playing outside when the air is cold and there’s a hint of snow. The nippy air brings about a carefree atmosphere that seems perfect for playtime. However, parents and guardians shouldn’t be carefree about winter playground safety. If you want your kids to have fun outdoors, follow some practical advice so they can play without getting hurt.

Always know the temperature before going outdoors

Frostbite isn’t a walk in the park (or a hop in the playground). It can happen very quickly once the wind chill factor gets below -18ºF. Children are especially susceptible to it because they can’t always tell when they’re being overexposed to extreme cold.

Some ways to check if it’s safe to let young kids play outdoors:

• Tune in to weather forecasts or keep an app at the ready. You can install a thermometer near your door outside so you can decide if it’s a stay-in kind of day.
• If you aren’t sure about the wind chill index, you can either use an online calculator to determine it for you, or consult the National Weather Service. They issue advisories and warnings that are best to heed.
• Keep your kids indoors for playtime, instead. No amount of bundling up with clothes can keep them safe from extreme chill and other dangerous factors.
• Watch out for hypothermic symptoms. Shivering is a recognizable one, but also check for dizziness, nausea, fatigue, fast breathing, confusion, and hunger.

Check the ground for slipperiness

Once you’ve determined that the temperature is suitable for outdoor play, make sure the ground is slip-proof and fall-proof. Falls and slips are already primary playground hazards on nice days, let alone snow days. Let hardened snow melt first, shovel a clear path and area for the kids, and treat icy areas with salt. Cordon off areas that need to be treated long-term so children don’t go wandering in and injuring themselves.   

Ground coverage like soil, sand, wood fiber, and grass can absorb and retain water. With chilly temperature, it’s easy for them to freeze and become slippery. Rubber mulch doesn’t absorb water, so it’s safer to play on during winter while providing sufficient fall protection.

Test all outdoor surfaces and playground equipment first

Television shows and movies may be exaggerating with the licking-snow-off-a-steel-pole-and-getting-tongue-stuck scenarios, but the truth is, you can’t really predict the silly things kids will do in the name of play! Playground equipment made of metal can freeze really fast and cause various injuries. Make sure to test them for ice, rust, and other dangers before allowing kids to play on them. If you find the surfaces too slippery, cold, or showing some potential danger, it’s best to let the kids play indoors on rubber and plastic playground equipment.

Avoid scarves, drawstrings, and other articles of clothing that could strangle

As with warm-weather playground safety, always have kids properly attired for play. This means no scarves, drawstrings, belts, ribbons, necklaces, and other clothing details and accessories that could get caught on playground equipment. Tube neck warmers might be a better alternative to keeping kids bundled up outdoors.

Keep a first-aid kit ready

When young children at play are involved, a first-aid kit is a must at all times. However, winter brings with it a unique set of potential safety hazards, so add a few items for cold-day preparedness:

• Instant hot chocolate or chicken broth packs – they can help hypothermic kids warm up their core temperature while providing much-needed calories
• Thick gloves, socks, and leg and arm warmers – arms, legs, hands, and feet are body parts that need to be kept warm for blood to circulate properly. If a child exhibits hypothermia, quickly cover his or her extremities with these items of clothing
• Extra towels and fleecy blankets – they can help maintain proper body heat while keeping kids dry, warm, and comfortable.

Nowadays, interior design blogs and magazines insist that plants make good accent pieces for the home. They create organic focal points, and in the case of flowering plants, add color and scent to a room. However, they do an even more important task beyond merely beautifying a space. Some plants can actually help purify the air you breathe at home.

If you want to introduce plants indoors for their aesthetic and health-giving properties, here are five types to consider.

Spider plant

It may sound creepy, but the spider plant actually gets the nod from no less than NASA for its air-cleaning capability. The study on air-purifying plants started in the late 80s to help determine which ones are ideal for space stations. This year, the researchers presented the spider plant as an effective tool to battle allergies caused by formaldehyde. This is a chemical found in common household objects like paper towels, table napkins, paper bags, synthetic fabrics, and even particle board. Constant exposure to formaldehyde fumes can cause nose and throat irritation, plus swelling of the larynx.

Bamboo palm

Beautiful and exotic, the bamboo palm is a favorite to have in many indoor settings because of its slender and elegant form, not to mention its glossy leaves. It’s also ideal to have in garages, painting studios, storage rooms, and workshops because it absorbs the deadly fumes of printing ink, industrial paint, leather tanning chemicals, and rubber fumes.

Snake plant

Another “deadly” sounding plant makes it to the list. The snake plant, however, has proven itself to be one of the most durable plants to have indoors (many go as far as saying even those with the blackest of thumbs will have a hard time killing it). Placing a snake plant near your work or living area can ease the symptoms of regular exposure to ammonia and benzene gases (chemicals found in many cleaning agents). These symptoms include coughing, sore throat, eye irritation, drowsiness, dizziness, and an increased heart rate.

Bromeliad

Recent research from the American Chemical Society in Philadelphia shows that the bromeliad plant is quite effective at battling air pollutants, especially in the confined spaces of a house. This is great news for those who have a hard time breathing or are easily irritated by the smell of chemical fumes. If you or another family member regularly experience asthma, dizziness, nausea, or other breathing problems, get a bromeliad to help. Place them in areas that are especially exposed to the smell of household cleaning supplies, or near open windows that could be letting in exhaust and vehicle fumes.  

Peace lily

It sounds like a calming plant, because it is. Peace lilies are considered some of the best type of indoor plants when it comes to battling sick building syndrome. It helps absorb ammonia and paint fumes, the lingering scent of tobacco, vehicle exhaust, furniture wax fumes, pesticides, and many other air pollutants. This hardy plant not only makes you breathe easier – it’s been known to increase productivity, too.

Hardy vegetables should either make it to your winter meals, or grow with the season. This means you should start planting cool-weather vegetables (autumn) during the right season (summer) so that you can start enjoying a bumper crop in time for winter. Or, you can do it the other way, which is to sow during autumn, let your hardy veggies grow during winter, and enjoy a springtime crop of crisp, delicious produce.

Sounds like a lot of things to remember? Not really. You only need to know that the best vegetables to grow during the winter months are simply the ones that are frost-tolerant. Below are some excellent examples.

What to grow, when

In autumn: it’s best to sow your broad beans so that you can have a bumper crop come spring. The soil stays nutrient-rich, and pests like black flies and slugs aren’t as many as they would be in warmer months.

Asparagus is also a good vegetable to plant in the fall. They are perennial veggies that only require a weed-free bed to thrive. Plus, they’re absolutely delicious eaten on their own, or with your favorite grilled, poached, or fried things.

In winter: garlic is always a tasty addition to just about any dish. Spice up your winter meals by planting individual cloves at least an inch under soil, starting late autumn to early winter.

Onions and spring onions are also best planted around December. If grown correctly, they can already be harvested early the following year.

If you are unsure of the types of vegetables to sow in the cold months in a specific location, it’s best to consult the USDA’s frost-zone map, which is color-coded for easier reference. Or, you can always visit your favorite local gardening center for tips and advice.

What to harvest, when

In autumn and winter: ready for some cabbage soup? Of course you are! Cabbage is a cool-climate vegetable, along with kale and cauliflower. A lot of cabbage varieties are ready to be harvested during autumn and winter, but make sure to wrap them up tightly and store in the fridge so they will keep longer.

Brussels sprouts are another good example of cruciferous veggies that are rich in antioxidants – so they’re kind of like a year-round superfood you can sow and harvest in your own backyard. They’re ready for the picking from early fall to late winter, so keep them cool in the fridge for a hearty cold-weather treat.

If you want a filling and tasty produce that’s also versatile, you can’t go wrong with potatoes. They’re some of the most reliable things to sow because varieties are available for growing all year-round. They also keep well – a cool and dark place is all it takes to keep them from spoiling. And they’re perfect for holiday recipes. You can serve them up mashed, roasted, fried, as soup, or just about any way you like.

The great thing about winter vegetable gardening is that you can have a vitamin and nutrient-rich pantry – a much-needed source to ward off colds and other wintertime illness. You will also have that sense of accomplishment and pride that go with planting and reaping your own produce, even in the most difficult of seasons.

When the sun goes down, does your garden sleep? If you’re a night person, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy an “after hours” garden with all its sights, scents – and yes, even sounds. A night or a moon garden sounds romantic and mysterious by turns, but there’s also a very practical side to it. The light and temperature conditions are different from traditional daytime gardening…and then some.

They only come out at night

Planning a night garden doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy its nuanced beauty in the daytime. However, the plants have to be carefully selected so that they are at their best in the evenings. The best ones to grow are white or light-colored blooms, or plants with silvery stems – these give the impression of luminescence and are perfect for outdoor evening gatherings. Lilies, Solomon’s seal, white roses, crocuses, and moonflowers are great examples of “glow-in-the-dark” blooms because they reflect back the light they catch.    

Get ready for some “sixth scents”

In the stillness of night, the olfactory sense is heightened. If you carefully select the kind of plants in your night garden, you will be rewarded with many fragrant evenings. Stargazer lilies, wisteria blooms, tuberoses, moonflowers, night phlox, and night blooming jasmine are known for perfuming the night-time air with their unique scents. The best location for these plants? Somewhere near your window so that you can always catch a whiff of them especially during warm summer nights.

The mysterious pollinators are out and about

Nocturnal pollinators include moths and bats because pale night-blooming plants typically give off stronger scents than their daytime counterparts. Their aroma guides these night-time pollinators the same way the brightly-colored blooms attract butterflies, bees, and dragonflies in the daytime. The softly beating wings and the squeaks of bats could take some getting used to, but they are sounds that will reassure you that your moon garden is ticking sweetly, and all’s right with the world.  

The garden of earthly delights

A gorgeous moon garden can inspire many gatherings – from nocturnal picnics, star-gazing parties, to simply bonding over flora and fauna. Night gardens are perfect complements to gazebos, porch swings, lawn furniture, and other outdoor seating arrangements meant for quiet contemplation. The scents, sounds, and sights that go with it are precious things to look forward to after a long and tiring day.

Garden gnomes, pink plastic flamingos, ostentatious topiaries – these are just a few examples of kitschy gardening trends that have somehow withstood the test of time (and become outdoor decorating staples). There are, however, some things that shouldn’t have been in vogue all…or at the very least, should make people question a garden owner’s tastes and practices.

“Dyed” blooms

Whoever started the craze of dying perfectly white roses, orchids, and lilies blue and other unnatural colors should be sternly lectured by a Smurf. It’s best to encourage flowers and fruit to bloom as they should, instead of experimenting with their hues as you would your own hair color.  

Volcano mulching

“Volcano” mulching is not technically a gardening craze but more of a bad practice. Anyone who has ever piled mulch thickly at the base of a plant to form a mound should immediately put a halt to it. Not only does it look strange; it also harms the plant because it causes excess heat and doesn’t allow the roots to breathe. Always observe proper mulch thickness and spacing for your plants to thrive.

Fake plants and flowers in real soil

Many homeowners or renters have no plot of land to start a garden, but they manage to create pocket gardens on balconies, tiled patios, and other small outdoor spaces, anyway. The love for nature will always find a way to express itself even in the most urbanized of spaces. Planting fake plants and flowers in real soil, however, doesn’t make any sense (aesthetic or common). If you don’t have enough patience to wait for seeds to blossom into flowers or bear fruit, then maybe you aren’t ready yet for a real garden.

All-season Christmas decor

Nothing spells “lazy” or apathetic more than seasonal decor that have been up way past the reason for celebrating. Be it Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, or any other themed holiday, there simply is no reason for anyone not to put seasonal decor in storage – especially if it’s just gathering dust, snow, or decaying in the rain. They’re eyesores that betray a lack of discipline on a homeowner’s part, so put away that inflatable Santa and reindeer lawn decor as soon as Christmas is over.   

Painted cement borders, statues, and plant boxes

This particular “trend” could have different reasons for being. Perhaps owing to a restricted budget or simply wanting to take advantage of excess supplies meant for another home makeover project, some gardens proudly exhibit cement plant boxes, borders, statues, and other accessories. Cement isn’t exactly the best material for sculpture, so the results are often awkward or downright tacky. A coat of bright paint won’t do anything to improve it, so don’t bother. Instead, curate proper stone statues, ceramic jars and vases, and rock or rubber borders so your garden can have artistic appeal without looking cheap.

Parks and playgrounds are created so people can enjoy more time outdoors and experience nature firsthand. As a result, benches, fountains, statues, and other outdoor furniture and equipment have spawned an industry that increasingly demands creativity, practicality, and lately – environmentally-sound design.

It doesn’t come as a surprise there’s a current trend involving green furniture – not the color, but ones that allow people to actually grow their own outdoor furnishings, or recognize those found in nature.  

Living grass armchairs and couches

Several companies have started crowdfunded campaigns to introduce grow-your-own-furniture kits. These typically involve cardboard frames shaped like armchairs or couches, some soil, and grass seeds that grow to cover the entire chair over time. They’re pretty versatile, too. You can have them either indoors, framed in a patch of soil, or outside as part of your garden. A series of grassy armchairs make an ideal picnic spot, while a lone one can give a bibliophile much-needed solitude and comfort with a favorite book.     

Trellis seats and swings

Sometimes referred to as arbor swings, a trellis seat is the kind of outdoor furniture found in chic country homes. It is romantic to look at and invites relaxation while being surrounded by vines and blooms. It’s made up of a freestanding frame with a trellis or lattice on top, which can accommodate plants like clematis, bougainvillea, wisteria, sweet pea, and morning glory. Below, a swing seat or a regular bench can take pride of place under the canopy of blooms and leaves.

Nature-based play structures

Water, earth, air, grass – these are the elements that make outdoor play so much more exhilarating than any towering indoor play equipment. Playground companies have been adopting nature-based design trends to highlight the importance of being active outdoors, as opposed to being stuck in one place with a video game or app in hand.

Safety and sustainability are two of the main objectives of a nature-based playground design. It recognizes the staggering amount of carbon footprint involved in making traditional playground equipment of plastic, steel, paint, plus the shipping and installation that go with it. So instead of constructing from brand new materials, recycled wood, paper, mulching, and other materials are used to keep waste and production costs at a minimum. The components of a nature-based playground should ideally be found in nature, like sand in a sandbox, stones forming a path, or the branches of a tree that serve as supports for swings and rope climbs.