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08 May 2018
Garden-Shed-Ideas-with-Useful-Designs

Garden Storage Ideas

You’ve probably been in this situation before, you have too many belongings that don’t fit anywhere in the house but you don’t want to get rid of them either.Who knows when you will start using them again!

 

Despite what minimalists say, some of us aren’t happy with less, with empty rooms or little to no tools to work with, it’s just that we don’t need most of our belongings all the time.

 

Fortunately, you have a garden where you can store some of the things you no longer find a room for in your home.

 

In this article I will show you a few ways you can take advantage of your garden and store your belongings safely.

 

1.Build or buy a storage cabinet

If you need to store a few pots and gardening tools you can build or buy a storage cabinet that can be attached to the walls of your home, in your garden.

Depending on the indoor design of your home you can go for a wood cabinet or a combination between iron and wood.

Keep in mind, that you can’t buy an ordinary cabinet if you plan to place it outside, the wood needs to sturdy and it has to be treated to stand extreme temperatures and humidity.

Another challenge that a wood storage cabinet presents is the fact that in your garden they are plenty of insects that might be attracted by your cabined.So make sure you buy an antifungal treatment for your storage cabinet.

 

2.A temporary shed

If you aren’t sure you will keep your belongings for a long time and you aren’t willing to invest in a shed, there may be another option for you, a temporary shed that resembles a bigger tent.

If you are redecorating or planning to move and you have furniture or bigger objects that need to be stored yet you don’t want to invest in a shed, a temporary shed might be perfect for you.

Tent-like sheds can be used permanently as well, as long as they are changed every 5 years and they save a lot of money as well.

Bigger sheds are like mine-houses, they require a foundation, a roof, sturdy walls, etc.Which means you will spend a small fortune on your shed if you decide to build one.

 

3.Use a wooden chest

A big wooden chest can be a very stylish choice especially if you place it near a table and a a few chairs in your garden.

This option is suited to you if you live in a warmer climate with not many rainy days, but if you do live in a colder climate you can make the switch from an wooded chest to a metal one.

If you don’t want to spend too much on a piece like this, give antiques stores and garages sales a try.

storage-ideas

4.Patio Benches with storage

Invest in garden furniture with a storage.

Just lift the cushions from those patio benches and you can place inside the belongings that can no longer be deposited in your home.This is a viable solution for the ones with small gardens who don’t want to clutter their gardens even more with sheds, instead they want to use their small space wisely.

 

5.Use an old office table

Before you throw your old office desk away think about giving it a new layer of paint and placing some pots with flowers on top of it.

You can use the drawers to store tools and the whole look of the old office table with greenery on top will give your garden a whimsical air.

Don’t forget to treat the table office wood before you put in the garden with antifungal spray.

 

6.Put your old mailbox to good use

There are so many things around the house that we can recycle and put to good use.

If you have a bunch of gardening tools and you want to store them near your garden, an iron mailbox will protect them from the rain and harsh weather, plus it will keep them organized.You can paint some flowers or use spray paint over a pattern to give the mailbox a makeover.

 

7.Build a wooden shed

If you have some free time and you are excited at the idea of creating your own shed, they are hundreds of blog articles out there and books that teach you how to build a shed from scratch.

You can decorate it and use it for depositing old toys, blankets, tools or use it as a workshop for other diy projects as well.

garden-storage-ideas

What should I do if I still need some extra space?

Fortunately, they are many self-storage services in UK that you can use to get rid of things you aren’t using at the moment even if your things don’t take that much space.

If you never used a storage space before, there is a size guide you can use to determine how much space you need for your belongings.

 

Contributed by: OCI Landscaping and Irrigation, Experts in backyard design and function

26 Apr 2018

5 Ways Lawn Care and Landscaping Pros Can Increase Your Home’s Value

 

Lawn care and landscaping are great for the environment and have been shown to boost your health. What’s more, they are efficient methods of increasing the value of your home

 

Whether you are considering selling your property in the future or you want to keep it in your family, a great-looking yard can boost your kerb appeal and tremendously increase your property’s value. And with the help and insights of a professional lawn care company, a healthy, great-looking lawn and landscape is within reach.

 

Here are five ways that experts in lawn care and landscaping can boost your home’s appeal and value:

1. They use the right tools

Not all yards are easy to work with. Some will require the use of special tools to make them look perfect. While you can rent tools to prune or remove trees and shrubs, it is always less stressful to leave this job in the hands of the experts. By investing in professional hedge trimming and pruning services, the job can be done in no time.

 

Remember that these professionals are equipped to handle various landscaping situations. They will visit your home and assess the situation, taking note of what tools are needed and how much time is required to perform things that are important before installation commences. In turn, this will make the job simpler and faster for property owners.

2. They have years of experience

The knowledge and experience of these professionals are the most valuable assets they bring to your landscaping project. With their years of experience, they can tell you whether you need to change your plan or not.

 

In fact, they may completely disagree with your plan, depending on the location of your home, the amount of sunlight your yard receives daily, and the availability of the land you have. They know exactly what will work and what will not in a particular setting. They also know what type of grass best suits your area and lifestyle.

 

Besides, it is not always about what you want, but about what works best to increase the value and appeal of your home when other people see it for the first time.

adding-curb-appeal-from-landscaping

3. Professional quality work is guaranteed

You would not allow, for example, just anyone to renovate your kitchen or install your digital TV antenna, so why let someone inexperienced work in your yard? Professional quality work must always be superior. Remember that your landscaping will only look best with the experts’ ability to provide high-quality work.

4. They can execute your landscaping design vision

Knowing that you won’t be responsible for the work and maintenance on your yard is what makes it more likely for you to choose a landscaping design that will complement your home rather than one that is easy to care for.

 

Time is a valuable asset. With professional help, you won’t forgo things that are most important to you just to keep your yard well-maintained. This job will be happily accomplished for you by lawn care and landscaping pros so you can enjoy the benefits of perfect kerb appeal without compromising or losing anything in the process.

5. They perform scheduled maintenance

Another way in which lawn care and landscaping pros can boost your curb appeal and home’s value is with scheduled maintenance. It will be a lot easier to maintain a yard when a professional is doing it on your behalf. Remember that these professionals are equipped to deal with any issues and to repair any damage. Also, they know exactly when your yard needs work.

 

It is easy for you to lose track of time and forget to maintain shrubs or water plants. And this can quickly cause your yard to become a bit overgrown or lifeless. Experts in lawn care and landscaping will ensure that none of these will happen.

 

Of all the improvements to increase the value of your property, lawn care and landscaping often come with the best benefits. Also, these offers the highest return on investment. But for this to be done properly and to get the most for your money, you have to hire the best professional lawn care and landscaping company.

14 Nov 2017
Flower bed-planting-kelowna

Plant Your Spring Flowering Bulbs Before Winter

As a lawn and garden enthusiast, you know Winter lawn care like the back of your hand. You’ve applied winterizer to your lawn, raked up all your leaves, and gotten your irrigation blowout done right before the first big freeze of the season. Just another day in the life!

With all these tasks checked off your list, it’s now time to turn your attention towards your flower beds. Depending on where you live in Canada, now is the perfect time to start planting your Spring flowering bulbs before Winter.

It’s no secret that the best compliment to a well-maintained lawn is a beautiful perennial or annual garden. If you want to be the envy of the neighborhood next Spring, make sure to get this task completed before the winds of Winter come to stay.

Here’s why you should plant your Spring flowering bulbs before Winter

Time Your Planting

While planting times may vary depending on your climate, a later date is definitely better when it comes to planting Spring flowers. Fall planting should be done about six weeks before the ground freezes, while Spring planting will require a period of chilling before you plant.

Watching the clock is key when it comes to planting Spring bulbs, as planting too early can lead to fungus or disease problems if not properly monitored. If you plant bulbs while it is still warm, they may also sprout and start to burn up the precious energy they need to save for Spring.

planting-bulbs-early

Add Organic Material

Like adding topdressing to your lawn in late Fall, utilizing organic material like shredded leaves, pine needles, and enriched potting soils at planting time is good for the soil of your flower bed.

Covering your bed in mulch over the winter is also a foolproof way of hiding your bulbs from pesky squirrels and mice.

mulch-leaves-kelowna

Plant At Specific Depths

When preparing your Spring flowering, bulbs should be planted at a depth of 2 to 3 times the height of the bulb. If you don’t think you’ve planted them deep enough, just pile on an inch or more of leaf mulch and soil and create a crafty raised bed.

 

If you’ve ordered your bulbs and they haven’t arrived yet, dig holes where you’ll be planting the bulbs in case an early snowfall occurs. After that, all one has to do is remove the snow from the hole, plant the bulbs, and fill up the hole with soil.

Mark The Area

Make sure to put a stake or marker of some kind in the garden to mark the locations of your bulbs. This will help you avoid accidentally digging up the bulbs while doing future plantings or stepping over them with your bulky Winter boots when working around the house.

Contact us:

OCI Landscaping and Irrigation

928 Arbor View Drive
Kelowna, BC.
V1W-5B5

Phone: 778.214.2352
info@ocilandscaping.com
www.ocilandscaping.com

11 Oct 2017
grass-fertalizing-okanagan

5 Tips to Get Your Best Lawn Next Spring, NOW!

Kelowna-fall-yard-cleanup

 

Having a beautiful lawn is something every homeowner strives for. But did you know, it’s what you do when the leaves start to fall that makes all the difference between having a lawn you can be proud of, or having to press the reset button in the spring.

Fall lawn maintenance is critical to strengthening and repairing your lawn from the wear and tear of the summer. It’s important to go into winter with a strong and healthy lawn, because it’s the ONLY way you’ll come out of it with one. Showing your property some love now will set you up for your best lawn next spring.

Here’s how you can achieve next summer’s lawn goals, starting now, with these 5-key fall lawn maintenance tips!

  1. Keep mowing: Follow normal mowing guidelines throughout the fall. As the season draws to a close, drop mower blades to its lowest setting (without removing more than 1/3 of the leaf) to allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the plant.
  1. Aerate your soil: Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn, It will let oxygen, water and fertilizer reach the grass roots more easily, promoting a healthier lawn.
  1. Rake your leaves: Removing fallen leaves as soon as possible, before they become wet from rain and morning dew, makes the not-so-fun task slightly more bearable. Leaves left on your lawn can suffocate the grass and breed fungal diseases.
  1. Fertilize to winterize: Prepare your lawn to withstand the cold stress of winter and replenish essential nutrients to the soil. Fall fertilizer delivers the nutrients needed to prevent plant stress and kick start growth in the spring. Look for a fall fertilizer high in potassium and with a low nitrogen content. Potassium helps to reduce the risk of winter damage and improves plant recovery from cold weather stress.
  1. Patch and repair: Fall is the best time to overseed your lawn and to patch and repair thin areas. Cool temperatures are conducive to germination as it allows for good moisture with less water loss due to evaporation. Overseeding NOW is a smart investment for your property and your best bet to reinforce your lawn for lasting results.

beautiful backyard with green weed free lawn

Time spent caring for your lawn now will have you spending more time enjoying your lawn sooner this coming spring and summer and less time repairing it.

 

Contributed by: Brent Szotak of OCI Landscaping and Irrigation.

 

OCI Landscaping and Irrigation

928 Arbor View Drive
Kelowna, BC.
V1W-5B5

Phone: 778.214.2352
info@ocilandscaping.com
www.ocilandscaping.com

25 Jun 2017
Lawn-edging-kelowna

Top Tips For A Fabulous Summer Lawn

Kelowna has a rich variety of soil types, so with a little bit of work, homeowners can enjoy luscious green lawns across the region. That said, there are a few (dozen) ways your lawn can become stressed, or struggle with the threat of pests and disease. The experts at OCI Landscaping and Irrigation gathered a few of their favourite tips for getting your lawn looking its best this season.

beautiful backyard with green weed free lawn

Hello Mr. Sun

Most grass varieties love the sun. The more sun the better. If your lawn is struggling, examine how much sun it’s receiving. Are you able to prune back the lower branches of a tree or a lower a hedge to give the lawn more direct sun? A sun-loving grass variety growing in the shade will struggle. If you can’t get more sun on that spot of lawn, consider overseeding with a shade-loving variety of grass or consider turning that portion of the lawn into a shade garden with attractive plants and ground cover.

The Importance Of Oxygen

Did you know grass can drown? Yep. Too much water, persistently, and the roots of a plant will drown. Aeration helps break up compacted soil and promotes good drainage so that roots can breathe. Aeration also helps with thatch problems so that the sun can get to the soil and encourage healthy grass growth. The more your lawn can spread and thicken the better, because this is the best defense against pests and disease.

Mow Well

This is the time of year where grass grows quite a lot in a short amount of time. Resist the urge to mow your lawn very short to increase the time between mowing. Mowing your lawn too short means the plant can’t produce enough nutrients to thrive. A stressed grass plant is vulnerable to heat and drought, pests and disease.

Leaf Spot

Leaf Spot thrives in humid weather in spring. Small purple spots will appear on your grass which will spread to the whole plant and kill it. One common cause is fertilizer applied improperly (not sufficiently watered down). Improper mowing also leaves lawns vulnerable to this disease.

Ring Patch

Ring patch is very difficult to eradicate, so the best cure is to prevent it in the first place. Ring patch leaves light green rings or a crescent pattern on your lawn. The outside of the rings may go brown and die. Eventually the discoloured portions will die also. If your lawn has this problem, call our experts for professional advice.

Rust

Rust is a minor problem, but it can spread from lawn to lawn with a good wind. You might not even realize your lawn has this problem until you walk across your lawn and notice a rust colour on your shoes. Leave your lawn a little longer and use proper mowing techniques. Fertilizer can eradicate this problem and also make it worse if applied incorrectly. Follow the instructions on the fertilizer and if you’re not sure what kind of fertilizer to use, call our experts.

 

If you have any questions about Lawn Care in Kelowna, Call us we can help you to have a great looking lawn.

OCI Landscaping and Irrigation

928 Arbor View Drive
Kelowna, BC.
V1W-5B5

Phone: 778.214.2352
info@ocilandscaping.com
www.ocilandscaping.com