Author: Jane Wilson

Having a backyard is a true blessing for every home owner. Having a nice small outdoor space just for yourself is something many people don’t achieve their whole lives. And if they do, they rarely appreciate it completely. These spaces are often neglected, overgrown with weeds and full of dangers. But if you decide to take care of it, you can turn your backyard into a real oasis by only incorporating a few interesting landscape features. Here are a few ideas you can try.

Lawn mowing and care. Many lawns situated in small backyards are poorly maintained and neglected, due to lack of time or will. So, before you do anything, you should just go around the lawn and determine all the possible problems in it. For instance, sometimes there are weeds growing in particular places, or maybe the lawn grass is sick and needs to be treated, you never know what you may encounter. So, once you’re aware of all the issues, you should find some free time and clean up the lawn. If you notice any possible diseases, it’s best to call a specialist. Another issue owners of backyard lawns face, is that sometimes the lawn is so small that getting a lawn mower doesn’t seem as a good idea which will pay off. In these cases you can look for second-hand options or just pay someone to mow your lawn once a week or so.

Make the space personal. One of the biggest downsides of backyards is that they are usually located in urban areas, and peeping neighbours are a common occurrence. And we all want our gardens to be our own, a place where we can just sit by ourselves. Installing a fence can help you achieve that without having to be rude to anybody. Nowadays there are many types of fences you can try, so just choose one which answers to all your needs and the style of your backyard. If you don’t have the means to build a fence, you might consider planting some shrubbery or some trees, which will create a natural fence with time. Greenery not only will increase your privacy, but will also isolate all the unpleasant noises from outside.

Paving and patio maintenance. If you want to make the most of your limited backyard space, instead of a lawn, you can create a nice paved patio, which goes all the way through the garden. On both sides you can locate flowers, vegetables, fruits or whatever else you want to grow in your backyard. Recent studies even show that home owners prefer a patio instead of a lawn in their landscape, because of the better functionality and less maintenance. And if you decide to incorporate both somehow, you will be able to say that you have it all. Just have in mind that the materials used to build the patio are essential – I would recommend to use stone or some kind of tiles. Never use wood, because it’s not practical in the long term.

Create levels. Since space is limited with urban backyards, you will need to look for alternatives, if you want to increase the usefulness of the space. According to experienced landscapers, adding some relief by creating different levels will create more space in your garden. And there are many different ways to create levels in your garden. You can try building a raised patio, installing a deck, plant things in containers located on different heights and a lot more. You can even hang plants in pots on your new fence, if you want. And to keep everybody in your home safe, remember to install railing for your deck or raised patio.

Outdoor furniture. What is a backyard without the proper furniture? A big waste of space, according to some people. The garden furniture is a must though, if you want to create a nice space where you can relax and enjoy your time outside. And if you want to host outdoor parties, you should consider getting an outside couch and some folding chairs, to make it easier for everyone to gather. There are many options to look through.

Plants and planting. Plants are the key to every beautiful garden, so you might consider planting some in your backyard. In order to do that, you will need to have a fertile soil in your garden. You will have to test it before planting anything, because in some big cities the soil contains heavy metals and toxins, which contaminate it and make it unusable. In such cases the container gardening is a good alternative idea.

The conservatory has become a very popular choice for many home owners in the last few years. They are a great addition to the traditional landscape of almost every suburban house. They look perfect as an entryway to the general parts of the house, or as a nice threshold to your backyard. The conservatory is a great option for warmer countries, like Australia. The fact, that the whole space is surrounded by windows opens up the place and brings lots of light inside. But cleaning these windows can be a very unpleasant and tiring job, which can take hours without any visible results. At least this is what most home owners say when I ask them how they deal with the cleaning of their conservatory windows. But when you know what you’ll need and what to do, everything should be a lot easier. This is why I gathered these easy tips on how to clean conservatory windows, which should prove to be useful.

Conservatory window cleaning tools and equipment.

Looking after a conservatory requires a lot more than just a rag and a bucket of soapy water. Cleaning the windows properly and wiping the frame regularly will help you prevent build up of mildew and dirt. But in order to keep your conservatory windows clean all the time, you’ll need some specialist equipment, which will help you take care of the hard-to-reach parts of the place. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A ladder. And not just any ladder. You’ll need a strong and sturdy latter, in order to be able to get this high without any danger for your life. There are special conservatory cleaning ladders, and I would recommend finding one. They are better than the other ones, because they are lightweight, and you can attach them securely to the top of the conservatory with the special cross-bearers, which are also non-marking, so you won’t damage the roof accidentally.

• Telescopic conservatory cleaning brushes. A good telescopic brush can help you extend your reach and allow you to clean those high and hard-to-reach places without endangering your life in the process.

• Power washers. Some of the members of this window cleaning team I met told me, that sometimes the situation with the dirt is so bad, that you can’t remove it without high pressure or lots of soaking, which is impossible with the conservatory. This is why it’s a good idea to get a power washer to clean more stubborn stains. It’s also very effective on the parts, which are not made from glass – the frames, stone floors, concrete, bricks and almost everything else. You can also clean the roof of the conservatory with it.

How to clean your conservatory windows.

1. First you should remove all the debris and plant material from the gutters and the drainage system in general. If your drainage is clogged, the water will start dripping from the gutters and will leave marks and stains on your windows all the time. And you don’t want that.
2. Clean the outside of the windows. The outside part of your conservatory windows is the more problematic one, because our gardens are usually full of dust and particles, which like to get stuck to glass surfaces. This is why you should start the window cleaning from there. You can use the same solution you would use to clean your other windows. Just dip the telescopic brush into the solution and start wiping from the top to the bottom of the conservatory. Than get the squeegee and wipe everything clean. For the corners and the space near the frame, you can use a soft cloth to wipe the leftover solution. And if you notice any cracks or other damage to the windows, call experts to replace the damaged pane right away. The cracked ones can be quite dangerous and unpredictable.
3. Clean the framework. And last, but not least, you’ll have to clean the framework too. You can use some warm soapy water and a soft cloth for this. Don’t use abrasive cleaners, because they can scratch and damage the surface. If you have wooden frames, you can use a brush to remove the excess dirt first, and then the soapy water with the cloth. After you’re done, you should treat the wood with some oil, to protect it from outside influences.