Tips for Achieving the Perfect Summer Yard

The winter is always an interesting time for a homeowner. Your yard looks pretty dead and there's really very little that you can do about it. 'At least the neighbours are all having the same problem,' you think. But when the weather finally warms up, it's your yard's time to shine.  

However, that doesn't mean that it always wants to cooperate. Brown patches in the grass, uneven landscaping, and that poorly designed porch from the 70s (the one you've been meaning to replace for five years now)  can all get in the way of having the yard of your dreams. But this is the year you're going to remedy all of that and here are some simple steps to get you started.

Start with Your Lawn

The first secret to a great yard is a healthy lawn. If you want to achieve a lush, green lawn, you'll need to make sure that you do the following:

• Fertilise using organic materials (healthier all around). 
• Use organic seed to replace any brown or dead patches. 
• Water the lawn regularly, but not too often -- about twice a week in the morning, about 10 to 20 minutes (check with the local government to see if there are any restrictions on this). 
• Mow the lawn regularly, but not too regularly -- about every two weeks, depending on the type of grass and how fast it grows. 
• De-weed the lawn.

Plant some Ornamentals and Edibles 

In order to beautify your yard beyond the green grass, you'll need to plant something that adds some colour and variety of form. There are two good ways to do this and you can opt for either or both, depending on your disposition. By planting some ornamental flowers, plants or trees, you can create a garden that is aesthetically pleasing and will be a great retreat for de-stressing. Imagine your own Eucalypt grove, surrounded by vibrant Day Lilies and Grevillea! By planting some edibles, on the other hand, you can reap the fruits of the effort that you put in (pretty much literally) and end up paying less for groceries, as well.

As it's already summer, here are some edibles that are still very much worth planting:

• Beetroot 
• Broccoli 
• Burdock 
• Cabbage 
• Carrots 
• Chives 
• Kohlrabi (pictured below)

• Leeks 
• Mustard Greens 
• Parsnips 
• Rocket 
• Silverbeet

Decorate your Patio 

Or add one and then decorate it. Pick out some furniture with stylish details in varnished wood or wrought iron and then choose brightly-patterned cushions and covers to complement it. Hanging lanterns will offer illumination with ambience and plants in mosaic pots on stands will lend an air of controlled wildness. This will be a great place to have barbeques and parties, so make sure to leave space for the grill!

Build a Shed

Having a shed for all of the equipment and supplies that you will need to accomplish the above tasks is an absolute necessity. Find a nice corner of the yard and choose a colour that will match or complement your home. Our customisable and cheap sheds will make it easy for you to find a suitable size, shape, and design to meet all of your landscaping needs.

4 Reasons that Sheds are Incredibly Useful to have after the Holidays

The Christmas holiday is an incredibly busy time of year. But once it's all over, it's suddenly the height of the summer season and you're going to need your garage space for other things. After all, those new Holiday lights don't need to be lying around anymore, but you may need room for that new Jet Ski. If the space that you made for those decorations no longer seems like enough, not might be the time to consider getting a shed or garage.

A bit of storage space on your property is always a good idea, in general, but here are some of the many ways that they can help you after Christmastime:

Store Outdoor Decorations

Maybe you're the type who wants to express your holiday spirit by outdoing everyone in the neighbourhood with your extravagant display. If so, you'll need some space to put the icicle lights, the reindeer that went on the roof, and the light-up nutcrackers that lined the drive after they've been taken down. A shed is a great place to store them so that they're easy to find, but out of the way until next year. 

Store Indoor Decorations

Your indoor decorations will need a place to live during the rest of the year, as well. Take down your tree (if it's the re-usable type) and put it back in the box, gather the kangaroo ornaments, the lights, the stockings, and the gift wrap, and place them in a dry, secure place until they are needed again. 

Store Presents Next Year

Perhaps this year, you had a lot of presents for the little ones or a number of items that you were sending to family in Adelaide -- but leaving them in the house became a problem when the dog chewed them up or the kids opened them early. For next year, having a shed is a great way to keep gifts secure until they mysteriously appear under the tree on Christmas morning. If necessary, you can even put a pad lock on it (if your kids are the mischievous, investigative types). 

Create a Workshop

Do you spend a great deal of time before the holidays hand painting ornaments for the tree or making wreaths? If so, garages and sheds are a great place to engage in your hobbies. They provide an easy space for the work, simplified storage for the materials, and a floor that won't be ruined by dripping paint or loose twigs.

Cyclone Season is here -- Is your Shed ShedSafeTM Accredited?

When cyclone season comes, the coasts can be hit hard. From November to April, our country braces for the possibility of these storms and already meteorologists are predicting the first of them. Of course, not all cyclones are devastating, but even the least of them can cause damage to property, so it pays to be prepared.  

If you are in the market for a new garage or shed, you'll want it to have the structural integrity to handle all but the most catastrophic of events -- and it wouldn't hurt if it was able to withstand those, either. But how can you ensure that your shed or garage won't be destroyed when this year's cyclones blow in? One of the best ways is to get a structure that is ShedSafe^TM accredited. 

ShedSafe^TM accreditation is a standard for steel structures that was put in place as a direct result of the devastation caused by Cyclone Larry in 2006. After the storm receded, it became obvious to those in the industry that a great deal of the damage could have been avoided if outbuildings had been up to code. And consumers could hardly be faulted -- as the market stood at the time, there was no simple industry standard of safety. People would have had to parse a complex coding system in order to find a structure that was up to snuff, and not everyone, as it happens, is an engineer. 

By setting a standard of safety for these structures, the Australian Steel Institute made it easier for consumers to find quality products and for companies to have solid guidelines. The ShedSafe^TM designation is granted by a third-party evaluation, so you know that the company that has it is offering quality. 

When you purchase a structure that is not ShedSafe^TM accredited, you are taking an unnecessary risk for what probably amounts to a relatively small difference in cost. Investing in a solid structure saves you money in the long run by helping you avoid the following negative consequences:

• Physical injury and associated healthcare costs 
• Damage to possessions within the structure and replacement costs (car, lawnmower, sport equipment, etc.)
•  Damage to structure and surrounding buildings (the roof might cave in or steel beams fly in different directions during a cyclone) and repair costs

When the cyclone winds blow, it's important to know that your buildings are as structurally sound as possible. Rather than risking damage and injury, it makes sense to invest in a ShedSafe^TM accredited product from the start.

Important Questions to Ask Yourself before Buying a Shed

A shed is just a…shed, right? While a shed may seem like a simple roofed structure used to hold and store various items, you don't want to purchase one without some consideration. You may not see much of a difference between sheds other than their size, colour, and shape, but there are many factors to take into consideration when searching for one. To help you in the decision-making process, here are some important questions that you should ask yourself before buying a shed. 

What is the shed going to be used for?

You may use the shed for business purposes. For example, if you work in agriculture, then a farm shed is more suitable for your needs. If you're looking for a shed to store your gardening equipment, then a garden shed is more appropriate. You may just want somewhere to store extra items that you can't fit in your home. In that case, a garage may be the better alternative. 

How big do you need the shed to be?

This may seem like an easy question to answer, but think long term. What equipment do you need to store in it? Will you be buying more equipment later on? If you have a family, will you let them use some of the space in the shed? Space can disappear quite quickly, so be sure to find a shed that will suit your eventual needs. You don't want to buy small now only to need more space later. You also don't want to buy a shed that's way too big. It's in your best interest to consult with your family and determine your requirements ahead of time. 

What should it be made of?

Take the common weather conditions in your area into account when making this decision. While Australia is pretty sunny in general, it can get pretty extreme when it storms. Choose a shed that is made of material solid enough to withstand the more severe weather. Common materials for sheds include vinyl, polyvinyl, steel and wood. Remember to factor in the cost of the different materials when deciding which to get. 

What colour should you choose?

While it may just be a shed, you want it to complement your home. You may decide to be creative and paint it yourself or opt to buy it pre-painted. Regardless, be sure to colour-coordinate so that you don't end up with a pink house and a green shed. 

Will there be easy access?

 

Don't forget about doors and windows! You have the option to choose how many you would like and where they should be located. Again, what you choose will depend on how you intend to utilise the shed, but don't go overboard and get doors and windows installed if you don't need them. 

A shed is not only a great way to store necessary items -- it can even help increase the value of your home. Consider your unique needs and you will end up with a quality shed that will last you for years to come.

Do I need a Garage or a Carport?

When you move into a new home, your priorities tend to be in-house improvements, such as repainting the walls, replacing the old leaky faucets, and retiling the mouldy bathtub -- the outside of the house can wait. But once you've got the indoors reasonably taken care of, you start looking outside at things like the landscaping and any outbuildings (or lack thereof) on the property. If you find that there isn't space for your car, for instance, you'll need to decide what type of investment you want to make. 

You know you want some kind of protection for your vehicle and are looking at carports and garages. But which should you choose? There are advantages to each kind of structure, and here are the most important of them:

Garage

More Secure Space- Unquestionably, garages provide more secure space. The only question that you have to ask yourself is "is it necessary?" For instance, if you have a Jaguar, a garage might be a smarter move, since it will protect a valuable asset from wind and weather, not to mention burglary. 

Protects Sensitive Items- If you have a lot of items that you need to store that are temperature or moisture sensitive, a garage might be a good choice. For instance, those books that you want to keep, but can't fit into the house, old photos of family members, and that antique chest that was made by your great grandfather are all things that require a dry building. 

Makes for a great workshop- If you have a serious hobby and no extra room in the house, a garage provides a great spot for it. The enclosed space means that when you need to work off some stress by throwing a vase or painting a picture, you can head out to the garage -- even in the winter. 

Carport

Less Expensive- Now, if you don't own a Jag and have to pay some attention to how much you are spending on the project, a carport is a great option. This will allow you to cover your vehicle and make sure that it isn't exposed to the worst weather, avoiding rust and other damage. 

Great Place for Parties- An attractive carport could double as a porch or verandah for barbeques, birthday parties, and other events. Just park the car a bit further down the driveway that day, set up some folding tables, lawn chairs, and decorations, and you are good to go!

Less Effort- When you are setting up your structure, the amount of work that you put in can be a factor, depending on your physical state and the help you will have. While all of our buildings are relatively easy to assemble, the effort involved does vary somewhat, depending on the specific garage or carport designs. Smaller/less complex/less material = less effort and vice versa, so if you are looking for easy, a carport should be your choice.