Because people are spending more time around their homes, there is a renewed emphasis on the health, maintenance and vitality of grass, trees, flowers, shrubs and other plants and natural areas in the yard. Rising sales at garden centers for items like shrubbery, decorative accessories, fertilizers and pesticides show that consumers are creating inviting, usable lawn and landscape environments.

The benefits of healthy lawns and landscapes are numerous. Trees, shrubbery and plants can create a private and tranquil personal retreat. Well-maintained green spaces have been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension related to stress, and reduce feelings of fear, anger and aggression. Lush lawns act as a soft cushion for play areas, remove dust, dirt and allergens from the air, and can significantly decrease carbon dioxide levels. Lawns also act as a filter to help improve water quality by reducing erosion and absorbing runoff so it doesn’t find its way into the gutter and eventually into public drinking water and other sources.

“When healthy and functioning at their best, lawns and natural areas provide a limitless array of benefits for individuals, communities and the environment,” says Allen James, president of RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment) — a national organization representing the manufacturers, formulators and distributors of pesticide and fertilizer products. “To reach their full potential and keep them free from harmful pests, many lawns and landscapes require the judicious and responsible use of fertilizer and pesticide products. Especially as people are spending more time in their yards, using these products as directed to grow healthy plants and protect against potential pest threats is increasingly important.”

While this is the time of year when people can enjoy their lawns and other outdoor settings with pets, family and friends, it is also important to remember that encounters with certain common pests are more frequent during warmer weather. Tick activity and the prevalence of Lyme disease, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is especially high during summer months. According to information from the CDC Web site, approximately 75 percent of all reported cases are acquired from ticks picked up during activities in back yards and around home. Lyme disease is an increasingly common problem, now documented in 49 states as well as parts of Canada, Europe and Asia, and the number of positive cases here in the United States is on the rise. In the 15 year span from 1992 to 2007, CDC reports of Lyme disease across the nation have steadily increased from approximately 10,000 cases per year to more than 27,000 cases nationally.

Though Lyme disease and similar pest-related health risks are a problem, paying attention and taking a few simple, preventative steps can help homeowners and their families reduce the risk of these pest dangers that affect millions of Americans each year.

“Human health conditions like Lyme disease, West Nile virus and others are spread and transmitted through the bites of ticks, mosquitoes and other pests we encounter in our backyards almost every day,” James says. “Taking the time to eliminate high grass, standing water and other potential pest habitats is a very simple, very effective measure for reducing the prevalence of these unwelcome and unhealthy annoyances.

“Also, insecticide sprays can be applied to turf, plantings and natural areas,” he adds. “As for personal protection, applying insect repellents and inspecting ourselves and our children regularly and thoroughly after having been outside are some simple precautions that go a long way toward preventing many of these common, but serious health risks.”

By taking the proper precautions and a few easy steps to maintain a healthy, vibrant and pest-free yard, it is easy to create an enjoyable, usable backyard oasis for outdoor fun all year long.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

For the do-it-yourselfer, experts say the best place to start is with a defined place for gathering. In the trade, it’s known as the hardscape.

“Whether it’s a flagstone patio or a wooden deck, it’s important to have a foundation to anchor your back yard and to serve as the stage both for entertaining and for enjoying the landscape that surrounds you,” says Chelsey Gardner, an outdoor living expert based in Dallas.

Before

Where do-it-yourselfers sometimes err, she says, is in buying “props” before creating the “main stage.”

“You can buy the best patio furniture available and outfit your deck with a grill that costs as much as a car, but when you set it out on a tired old deck, it’s not going to look anything like it did in the showroom,” Gardner says.

But if your existing deck is looking shabby and time-worn, what are your options other than to tear it down and build a new one? Increasingly, smart do-it-yourselfers are giving their old decks makeovers. Companies like Deckorators, founded by St. Louis native Kelly Jones, provide products that make it possible to give an old deck a new look in a single weekend.

Deckorators sells $15 million worth of pre-fabricated, easy-to-install deck balusters and accessories that give homeowners a range of options for updating the look of their deck. They are simple to install and easy to find, available at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores and hundreds of hardware and building products distributors throughout the country.

“The biggest challenge we hear from consumers is that it’s hard to pick their favorite style,” Jones says, noting that the company makes dozens of different balusters in materials ranging from metal to glass. Balusters are available in an array of shapes, styles and colors, each offering its own unique feel.

“Our glass balusters have also exploded in popularity, because people want to sit on their porch or deck and see the view. When you’re sitting, eye level hits the rail. See through glass takes away the obstacle,” Jones says.

Enhancing their outdoor living space at their suburban Chicago home was the goal for Kris and Darrin Haugan, who not only wanted to create an environment they’d be happy to spend time in, but who also wanted to add resale value to their home.

Initially believing they needed to demolish their old deck, the couple was pleasantly surprised to find that their deck was structurally sound. “It was just ugly,” Darrin laughs.

The Haugan’s opted to replace the plain wooden balusters on their deck rails with powder-coated aluminum balusters in a curved, Architectural Baroque style. They also covered their corner and stair rail posts with decorative Postcovers, which slip over the 6-inch by 6-inch posts that anchor the rails.

After

“Personalizing your outdoor living space by maximizing your most basic element is what it’s all about. We can customize our living room with our furniture, fabrics and lighting. In the backyard, we do it with our hardscapes and landscapes. It’s about focusing on the core elements,” Gardner says.

For more information on where to buy deck accessories, visit www.deckorators.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.