Home and DIY Projects Archives

In Gardening

Are Mushrooms a Sign of a Healthy Lawn or Possibly Dangerous

9 Mins Read

I have noticed people have a mixed reaction to the emergence of mushrooms on their garden lawn.

There are those whose first reaction is that of elation. Some people just love mushrooms in whatever form.

Then there are those that immediately start to worry.

Will mushrooms ruin the overall health of the garden? Why did they appear in the first place? What does it all mean?

So today, let me try to answer the age-old question – are mushrooms a sign of a healthy lawn or something potentially dangerous?

Are Mushrooms a Sign of a Healthy Lawn

To be honest, there is no simple answer to this question.

Sorry to be boring but I need to repeat what you will read at most places.

Mushroom growth in your garden lawn can be both good news or in some rare cases, possibly risky.

To fully comprehend what presence of mushrooms could mean for your garden, you need to learn the following:

1) Why do mushrooms appear in your garden in the first place?

2) Why mushrooms can indeed be a sign of a healthy lawn?

3) Why mushrooms in some cases can pose a risk to the health of your garden and family members?

Once you understand the above, you will be able to conclude yourself whether the mushrooms growing on your lawn are good or bad.

Why do mushrooms appear on your garden lawn in the first place?

Are mushrooms a sign of a healthy lawn and why do they appear?

Mushrooms are part of the fruiting bodies of fungi.

While I am not going to get into detail on fungal structures for now, presence of fungi in the soil particles in your garden is the main reason for appearance of mushrooms on your lawn.

So what causes fungi to grow in your garden lawn?

Your garden soil will have fungi as a result of any organic material that has been there for a while and has the right conditions to grow quickly.

Organic material can be anything from decomposing twigs, old grass clippings, dead tree roots to animal waste, compost, organic debris, food waste etc.

Fungi thrive in damp conditions. They don’t just grow on the soil surface, they can grow on tree stumps, dead trees or any woody material.

Dampness in garden soil can be due to various reasons. This includes humid weather, excess moisture due to poor drainage or shady conditions, heavy rain, overwatering, excess thatch etc.

Heavy rain can also result in excessive dampness and moisture build-up.

Therefore, organic waste plus damp and humid conditions results in the growth of fungi, which in turn end up causing mushrooms to appear on your garden lawn.

What are fairy rings in lawns and why do they appear?

What are fairy rings and why do they appear in your garden lawn?

You may have noticed that sometimes, mushrooms grow in your garden lawn in a circle.

These circles or arcs of mushrooms on the lawn grass are known as fairy rings.

Fairy rings are a part of several myths, legends and fantasy stories.

This is mainly due to the beauty of these rings and their mystical appearance.

We know mushrooms grow due to the presence of fungi.

Fungi reproduce through microscopic spores. Sometimes, a fungus ends up sprouting multiple threads known as fungal mycelia.

The mycelia, grows under the surface of the soil in a round, circular pattern. In time, they start to reproduce.

Since, mushrooms are a reproductive part of fungi, they start to sprout at regular intervals in a circle forming a fairy ring.

Whether these mushroom fairy rings are healthy for your lawn or not, you cannot argue against the beauty of their sight which is absolutely full of wonder.

Why mushrooms can indeed be a sign of a healthy lawn?

The overall consensus amongst lawn care experts is that appearance of mushrooms can indeed be a good sign.

It indicates a healthy ecosystem in your lawn. Fungi and mushrooms help break organic matter and create healthy soil.

They help release nutrients from organic debris which spreads within the soil leading to thicker and greener grass.

Your garden relies on microbial activity for healthy plant growth. The presence of fungi leading to the growth of mushrooms aids in nourishing microbial activity and is overall a good thing for the wellbeing of the garden.

Think about this. Mushrooms naturally grow in forests. What we see as wild mushrooms are in fact a crucial element in the natural ecosystem that helps forests rejuvenate and recycle on their own without any intervention from human beings.

It is the mushrooms and fungi activity that converts all dead wood, plant and animal waste into nutrients for the regrowth of trees and other forest elements.

They replenish the soil with nourishing nutrients, giving it the boost it needs to continue manage the entire ecosystem of the forest.

These mushrooms appear and even disappear on their own after the job is done.

This is a natural process. It has been developed by nature itself.

Therefore, emergence of mushrooms in your lawn is mainly a sign of nature doing its job.

Why mushrooms in some cases can pose a risk to the health of your garden?

As established already, you do not have to worry about mushrooms growing on your garden lawn.

Typically, new mushrooms appear and fade away on their own. The fungi going through its reproduction process will only enrich your soil and strengthen grass roots.

Their help with decomposing organic matter results in providing an essential food source to plants, necessary for their growth.

However, there are two instances when fungus growth and appearance of mushrooms can pose a risk to the health of your garden or your family members.

Poisonous Mushrooms

In most cases, backyard mushrooms are non-poisonous.

You will usually see varieties such as white mushrooms or shaggy ink cap mushrooms growing on your lawn.

However, in very rare circumstances, given the right conditions and several other factors, you could get toadstools or poisonous mushrooms growing in your garden.

There are no scientific ways to distinguish between a poisonous and non-poisonous mushroom. A simple homeowner or gardener will definitely not be able to tell the difference.

Now, even if the mushroom in your garden was poisonous, it will not pose a risk till you actually try to cook and eat it.

On the other hand, if you have pets who you think might nibble at the mushrooms, that could in fact, be dangerous.

Little children can also get curious and touch these mushrooms. It may become a risk if they in turn put their hands inside their mouth without thoroughly washing them.

Hence, if you are worried about what your pets or little children may end up doing with the garden mushrooms, it may be a good idea to get rid of them.

Another thing to remember, even if the garden mushrooms are not poisonous, they are not edible so please do not try to cook with them.

Lawn Diseases

Mushrooms can actually make your grass healthier, greener and stimulate plant growth.

However, do keep a look out if the opposite is visible.

If you feel that the leaves of your plants have developed yellow spots, they have started to droop, there are signs of pale yellowish green grass or there are other plant health issues, you may be dealing with some type of lawn disease.

There are different species of fungi and they do not always act in a similar manner.

It is possible that the fungi in your garden is causing root rot and other issues.

While this is rare, it does happen from time to time.

If you are indeed dealing with species of fungi that are creating lawn diseases, you need to treat your soil to completely get rid of them. Just removing the mushrooms will not help in this case.

How to get rid of mushrooms and fungi from your garden lawn

How to get rid of mushrooms growing on your garden lawn?

Getting rid of the mushrooms that appear on your lawn is actually quite simple.

1) Wear gloves and simply remove the mushrooms by hand. Pull them from the stalk or cut them with a knife and carefully dispose in a trash bag.

Remember, mushrooms cannot be put in the compost pile. They will only end up feeding on organic matter, release spores and spread further.

2) Use your lawnmower to quickly cut your grass and remove mushrooms all at once.

3) Use nitrogen fertilizer on any decaying organic matter to quicken the process and cut off the food source for fungi or mushrooms.

4) Use homemade organic mushroom removers such as vinegar solution, soap water mixture or other liquids to spray over mushroom affected areas.

Do take care that you spray only on the mushrooms and bit of the surrounding areas as otherwise your healthy grass or plants could die as well.

5) If your lawn has been infected by a disease and you need to get rid of the fungi itself, then it is slightly trickier.

The best way to achieve this is to use fungicide chemicals that are safe for garden use.

First, carefully remove all the mushrooms. Then spray the fungicide all over your plants and grass.

As far as possible, use natural fungicides as I am not convinced if the chemicals used are 100% safe for gardening.

Do keep in mind that fungi will be back if they find ideal growing conditions such as high moisture, humidity, dampness, excess lawn thatch, decaying organic matter etc.

So you need to ensure that you minimize these conditions as much as possible for fungi and mushrooms not to return.

Final summary on mushrooms in your garden

Mushrooms appearing on your garden lawn is quite normal and a natural process.

Even with a new lawn and fresh soil, fungi slowly reproduce and spread resulting in mushrooms.

You will mostly see them grow in shady areas with poor drainage. They can grow on woody material or on your lawn grass.

Mushrooms are a sign of a healthy lawn ecosystem and nothing to be worried about.

The only two instances when they pose a risk is if in very rare conditions, you have poisonous mushrooms or fungi causing lawn diseases.

To get rid of mushrooms completely, you have to not just remove them and the fungi, but also ensure they do not have the right conditions needed to regrow in your garden.

In Home and DIY Projects

Bridal Shower Invitations Showcasing the Bride’s Personality

4 Mins Read

A wedding is a day to celebrate the love and union of two human beings. A bridal shower however, is all about the bride.

It is a celebration of a woman, her essence and who she is going to be in the future without losing her core personality.

It is for that reason that I love bridal showers so much. I can’t think of a better occasion to go all out showcasing the bride-to-be in the midst of ones they love.

Starting with the bridal shower invitations

The bridal shower invitations are the first impression of the special event.

When guests view the invitation for the first time, it evokes emotions, builds excitement and provides an initial glimpse into the bride’s personality.

It also sets expectations of what the day would be like. For most people, it would send their imaginations to overdrive.

Naturally, you need to pay attention to the bridal shower invitations. You need to create something that talks about the bride without actually talking about the bride.

For me, it all starts with the theme. The theme that you choose, will speak volumes about the person you are celebrating.

Choosing the perfect bridal shower invitation theme

Remember, the bridal shower theme does not need to complement the wedding theme. You truly can go all out to bring out the bride’s personality.

The theme that you choose reveals a lot about the bride’s nature. This needs to be reflected in your bridal shower invitations.

For instance, I have seen beautiful tea party bridal shower invitations that have a gorgeous color scheme.

What this tells me, is that the bride is someone who is elegant. They are graceful, stylish and have mannerisms that exude confidence.

On the other hand, for someone who is more outgoing, loves a party or a carnival, I would opt for fiesta bridal shower invitations.

Whichever theme you pick for the bridal shower, just keep in mind that it needs to showcase the bride’s personality.

As the one planning the bridal shower, don’t get overwhelmed by the theme, color choices, food and drink options etc. If you keep the bride in mind, all answers would come to you on their own.

Here are a few more examples of bridal shower invitation themes. While going through them, think which words speak of the bride and you will know the one to pick.

Tea party
Fiesta
Rustic
Greenery
Vintage
Beach
Fairytale
Cocktails
Floral
Nautical
Tropical
Boho
Contemporary

What Next After Picking the Theme?

Once you have narrowed down on the theme, there are a few other considerations from a design perspective.

Colors: I have heard suggestions that colors such as purple or gold go well with bridal shower invitations.

However, as we are talking about creating invitations that showcase the bride’s personality, the colors need to be reflective of this as well.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors that the bride-to-be would love.

If required, order a sample of the bridal shower invitation you have designed online to check how each element looks and feels after printing.

Envelopes: After the card, comes the envelope. It is important you pick an envelope that matches the spirit of the actual bridal shower invitation.

Match the envelope color as closely as possible to the actual invitation.

For convenience, choose a service that provides easy to use peel and seal envelopes. That would make life much simpler when mailing them out.

Photos: If you decide to use a photo of the bride on the invitation, try to get one that matches the theme.

Therefore, using the tea party or fiesta example, try to get hold of a photo that has the bride in an elegant or party pose respectively.

Other content elements: Needless to say, all other elements on the bridal shower invitations such as fonts, text content, graphics etc. should complement the overall idea of showcasing the bride’s personality.

Ideally you should use online tools to create the bridal shower invitations that automatically generate the most appropriate fonts based on the chosen theme.

Final thoughts

A Bridal shower is such a wonderful occasion to show the bride what she means to her loved ones.

It is not just about celebrating the new life she is about to enter, but honoring the person she is deep down inside.

For that reason, a bridal shower that celebrates or showcases the bride’s personality clearly demonstrates that people see her and love her for who she is.

In Home and DIY Projects

Mistakes to Avoid While Choosing the Best Carpet Shampooer

3 Mins Read

Do you want to elevate the room/ living space? Do you want to add comfort to it or make it look luxurious?

You can never go wrong with the best carpet shampooer, regardless of your preference!

While this is a fantastic concept, make sure you choose your cleaners based on their service quality and experience. If you don’t, you’ll regret your decision once the job is completed.

We’ve developed a list of people’s most common mistakes when hiring a carpet shampooer professional.

Mistake #1: Choosing a Professional that Doesn’t Offer Guarantee

Every carpet cleaning business should take full responsibility for its work. And if you aren’t completely satisfied with the job, it should be fixed to your satisfaction.

All carpet cleaners do not offer a guarantee. Alternatively, if they do, the Guarantee could be “limited.” Check with the carpet cleaner to see whether they provide a warranty and ensure he includes it in their written estimate.

Also, choose an insured firm that will be able to reimburse you in the event of an accident or incident while working with you. You will not be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs if your property is harmed.

Mistake #2: Choosing a Company based on price

Carpet shampooing businesses that provide their services for a low price are more likely to employ inferior cleaning procedures and equipment. Rather than low prices, you want your carpet cleaners to give high-quality services that fit your needs.

Also, remember that even the most careful people can have accidents, so having adequate insurance is crucial. Regrettably, all these items are expensive, and something must be lacking if the price is low.

Mistake #3: Choosing a Carpet Shampooer Based on One Phone Call.

While talking to someone on the phone might provide insight into a company’s character and values, you should invite the carpet cleaner into your home for a quote. You can find out exactly what the carpet cleaner suggests for your carpets if you get a quote ahead of time and ask for an accurate, comprehensive quote. It will also ensure that you are not ‘pressured’ into purchasing a slew of other services when the expert arrives to complete the job.

Mistake#4: Enlisting Inexperienced Carpet Cleaners

A reliable company that employs skilled experts who provide high-quality service. When you contact them, you receive a cleaning package or pricing for all the required services. You’ll avoid being “up-sold” by the technician. Also, before approving the service, ensure you understand what is included in the fee.

You can also inquire about your company’s experience, its certifications, and the training its personnel receive before hiring them.

Tip: You can determine whether or not you wish to cooperate with the organisation after reading their testimonials.

Mistake #5: Choosing a Carpet Cleaning without other customers’ Help.

Client testimonials are one of the most effective ways to learn about a carpet cleaning company. If a carpet cleaning company provides excellent service and outcomes, it will have many satisfied customers willing to share their positive experiences. Request testimonials from your service provider; if they are unwilling to share them, there may be a valid reason.

Carpets are expensive, which is why you must clean them correctly. Keep these considerations in mind when selecting the best carpet cleaning professional.

In Home and DIY Projects

Understanding if rooftop solar make sense for your home

6 Mins Read

There are many homeowners who ponder the question, does rooftop solar make sense?

Are solar roofs worth the trouble of installation? Well the answer, can be different based on various factors.

Note that rooftop solar panels have several virtues and they must be considered seriously by all.

However, what we are discussing today is whether installing solar panels on your roof makes sense for your specific situation.

There is no single explanation that fits all. What you need to do is go through each of the points given below, consider them carefully and as per your living conditions, come to an informed conclusion.

Considerations if rooftop solar make sense for your home

1) Total cost of installation

The total cost of installation of rooftop solar panels consist of a few elements.

First there is the actual solar panel cost. Second there is the cost of labor for installation and third, which many forget, is potential cost for repairing your roof.

It is important you as a homeowner understand if your current roof is capable of holding considerable added weight on top of it. If it cannot, there would be a need to reinforce its strength.

If the roof already has some cracks or lose tiles, these would need to be repaired before installing solar panels.

Apart from this, there may be an added cost of wiring or rewiring of your home electric grid.

You have to take into account the entire cost of installing rooftop solar panels and then figure out if this falls under your budget.

2) Weather conditions in your area

One of the drawbacks of the way solar energy works is that currently the technology is not able to store energy in an efficient manner.

Energy is immediately used by your home or sent to the electric grid of your area.

Now there are of course solar panels that do a better job of energy storage and distribution. However, these come at a higher cost.

Hence, you need to consider whether your area gets sufficient sunlight or whether you need to spend extra on solar panels with better storage capacity.

A quick note here, there are solar panels in the market that work even in snowy, cold conditions with low sunlight. You may want to find out about these and how much electricity they can produce on a daily basis.

3) Recurring costs of both roof and solar panel maintenance

This is another point that many homeowners miss out in the beginning.

Rooftop solar panels have an element of recurring costs in them. This is in the form of panel maintenance and also your roof maintenance.

Since solar panels are drilled directly on your roof with nuts and bolts, there can be wear and tear over time.

Some roofs can develop cracks. Therefore, periodically your roof must be checked to ensure it is in good shape and also that your solar panels are working as expected.

4) How much electricity will it generate?

After all said and done about rooftop solar panels, what matters at the end of the day is how much electricity can it generate.

Will it generate enough kilowatts to power your entire home? Will you be able to go off-grip with your solar panels? Would you need a hybrid model where you use solar panels and the energy shortage needs to be filled by your existing electric setup?

These questions are quite specific to each individual house. Please first check how much energy your house is consuming on a monthly basis.

Based on that, calculate whether the energy produced by your rooftop solar panels is enough to run your home as usual.

It could happen your roof can only handle a certain number of solar panels due to its size or weight capacity. In this case, just solar energy will not be enough for your home.

On the other hand, it could happen your solar panels produce more energy than required. Here, you can sell the excess energy to local electric companies who would be happy to purchase it from you.

5) Local laws and legislation

On his show Real Time with Bill Maher, the host revealed how it took over three years for him to get permission to finally start using solar energy for his shed in California.

Now while I do not know the reason why it took that long to get the approval, you should check with your local authorities about the laws and regulations with respect to installing rooftop solar panels in your home.

From getting the required permissions to activating the panels and also supplying excess energy to local companies, there would be laws governing these in each state.

Find out about the laws, ask other homeowners who have installed solar panels to understand how long the entire project would take and what permissions are required before getting started.

6) Is it worth the final cost?

After factoring in the final cost of installation, the recurring costs involved, the laws and regulations, the amount of energy your solar panels will produce and if roof repairs are required, you can then get an idea is rooftop solar panels are worth it.

In some cases, the answer will be an overwhelming yes. In other cases it could be a ‘may be’ and in few cases, it would be an outright no.

Check what would be the case for your specific situation and take a decision if the cost and initial hassle is worth it for you.

7) Home value post installation

In some localities, installing solar panels can increase home value. In other places, it could decrease its valuation.

Some new homeowners prefer buying a house with a clean slate. Some prefer having solar energy preinstalled as it takes the stress of installation out from their hands.

Each area, city, state is different. Please take advise from an expert or a licensed realtor in your area to comprehend the effect on home valuations by rooftop solar panels.

8) Cleaning of solar panels

Bird droppings, dust and other particles can accumulate on your rooftop solar panels over time.

These reduce the efficiency of these panels and could result in low energy generation.

Hence, you need to get your solar panels cleaned with a frequency that is relevant to how dirty they get in your area.

Cleaning of solar panels can add to the recurring costs of maintenance. Also you can check if you need to employ professional services for the cleaning or if you can do it yourself.

While cleaning of solar panels is not a make or break kind of a situation, you do need to keep it in mind before opting for rooftop solar panels.

Final thoughts

In most cases, installing rooftop solar panels are a good idea.

You can convert your residence into an eco-friendly home and perhaps even generate excess energy for a part-time side hustle.

It is only in a few cases that solar panels may not make sense right away and it is better to carefully consider each point and take an informed decision rather than to regret at a later date.

In Home and DIY Projects

Drain Health Hazards and How to Get Rid of Them

5 Mins Read

A healthy home is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle for you and your family. But for a growing number of homeowners, drains don’t tend to rank highly on their list of priorities. By familiarising yourself with a number of common health hazards associated with household drains, you can learn how to tackle them before they worsen. Continue reading to find out what they are.

Damp

If a drain is blocked, water may be leaking and accumulating where it shouldn’t be. As well as saturating the interior of your home, it can be costly and time-consuming to remedy. Over time, this can damage the structural integrity of your property. Rising damp is a particularly hazardous problem that can arise as a result of a blocked drain. It is a relatively rare form of damp that occurs when moisture travels in a vertical fashion from the ground upwards through permeable wall structures. To prevent damp, invest in a dehumidifier and ensure your home is sufficiently ventilated throughout the year. Damp-proof paint may also prevent damp from occurring in the first place or returning with a vengeance.

Pests

Water, and stagnant water, in particular, are a breeding ground for harmful pests to grow and multiply. These creatures can carry dangerous germs and diseases which can have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of you and your family over time. Drain flies are another commonly reported pest found in household drains. Knowing how to get rid of drain flies, however, can be a simple fix. To find out what they are and how to deter them from setting up camp in your drain, this article contains everything you need to know. As well as drain flies, you may also be forced to contend with cockroaches, fruit flies, phorid flies, and centipedes. Inspecting your drains on a regular basis and installing drain covers can prevent pests from laying eggs in your pipes. If you are struggling to get rid of stubborn drain pests, a professional pest control company should be able to help.

Bad odours

A bad odour emanating from a drain can be an indication of a larger problem at hand. This can include a bacteria build-up, trapped food, a full or partial blockage, decaying pipe accessories, or sewage issues. One of the best ways to get rid of a bad odour is to fill your sink with a combination of hot water and bleach before allowing it to drain through your pipes. This can dislodge any trapped dirt or debris and leave your drain smelling sweet again. Alternatively, if you are looking for a natural solution, a mixture of baking soda and vinegar can effectively eliminate any bad odours radiating from your drains. By familiarising yourself with a number of leading causes, you can take steps to prevent your drains from kicking up a stink.

Water contamination

If you ignore a drain problem for a prolonged period of time, excess water can become contaminated. This can present a wide range of health problems for you and your family and invite harmful bacteria responsible for diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, polio, and even hepatitis to flourish. It can also lead to water flowing backwards, picking up additional waste on the way. If this water ends up in your sink or bath, it can negatively impact the health and wellbeing of you and your loved ones.

To prevent water contamination from occurring in the first place, tend to your drain as soon as you become aware of any underlying problems or warning signs. To safely dispose of contaminated water in your drain, contact a professional drain cleaning company in your local area.

Leaks

Drain leaks can materialise as a result of poor upkeep and maintenance or just general wear and tear. Over time, damaged pipes will eventually succumb to the pressure of stagnant water and begin to seep dirty water. Further neglect can force this water to enter your home’s foundations and damage the structural integrity of your property. As well as triggering the onset of a number of health hazards, leaks can also be costly and time-consuming to fix.

Tackling the problem ahead of time is the only way to prevent it from worsening. A drain leak, however, can also be caused by a loose bolt or screw in your piping. By inspecting your drains on a regular basis or enlisting the services of a professional drain cleaning company or plumber, you can get to the root of the problem and find a suitable solution.

Black spot mould

Black spot mould is a particular type of mould that arises due to leaks, poor ventilation, and moisture in the air. As well as its unsightly appearance, it can also permanently damage the interior of your home and lead to a wide range of health hazards for anyone unlucky enough to ingest its spores. It can materialise anywhere in the home with the potential for dampness and is typically found near burst or broken pipes. As with any other airborne spores, black spot mould can exacerbate a number of pre-existing health issues such as asthma, respiratory or pulmonary conditions. To prevent black spot mould from growing, you must fully ventilate each room in your home throughout the year and carry out furniture inspections on a regular basis.

Pay close attention to furniture that has been positioned against internal or external walls as this can be one of the most common sites for excess humidity and poor insulation. Kitchen and bathroom drains, in particular, should be subjected to regular upkeep and maintenance to prevent moisture leakage and to safeguard your home from the health hazards associated with black spot mould.

Poorly maintained drains can trigger a number of dangerous health hazards for you and your family. By knowing which threats to look out for, you can take steps to avoid them from materialising in the first place. Examples include damp, pests, bad odours, water contamination, leaks, and black spot mould.

In Gardening

How to Use Reusable Garden Patio Paving Molds

4 Mins Read

When we wrote about cheap patio paving ideas last month, a lot of you were interested in knowing more about how to use reusable patio paving molds as that was the best option for DIY garden pathways and patio designs.

Hence today, I thought of talking more about these wonderful plastic molds that can be used in a variety of ways in your garden.

What are Reusable Garden Patio Paving Molds?

As the name suggests, these are reusable molds mainly made of Polypropylene Plastic (PP) Resin that can be used to create beautiful garden pathways, patios and designer walkways around your house.

They are extremely easy to use and currently provides the simplest and cheapest DIY option for your garden.

Typically, reusable patio paving molds have a 2 inch depth and come in various patterns.

How to Use Reusable Patio Paving Molds for Garden Pathways

Using reusable patio paving molds in your garden is as easy as it can get.

You will need:

Your garden patio mold (obviously)
Store bought concrete mix or pre-mixed concrete
Water
Flat Trowel
Bucket or wheel barrow or anything else where you can mix the concrete with water and carry easily around your garden.

Steps to Use:

1) First mark the area where you want to create your pathway or base of your patio.

Prepare this area by removing any lose stones or anything else that may come in the way.

2) Mix the concrete with water and get it ready for use.

3) Place the mold where you want to start and carefully start pouring the concrete mix in the gaps ensuring the patterns of the mold get filled properly.

4) Use a trowel to flatten the concrete to your liking.

5) Once the concrete is semi-dry, remove the mold and place it wherever you want to continue next.

Note: Do not wait for the concrete to dry to remove the mold. If you do, you may not be able to remove the mold later on.

6) Keep reusing till your pathway or patio base is complete.

7) Once your pathway or patio design is done and the concrete has dried out, you will notice gaps between the shapes where the mold was placed. You can either fill these gaps with stones, plant grass, add soil or just fill up the gaps with concrete once again if you wish.

For pathways, you may not want to fill the gaps at all as this gives the stepping stones effect.

You get reusable garden molds in the market in a variety of shapes. From abstract patterns to circular, rectangles etc.

Depending upon your usage, you can buy the shape that best suits your needs or even buy multiple molds to create unique patterns.

Where to Buy?

Reusable patio paving molds for your garden, concrete mix and trowel can be bought at any home improvement store.

You can even buy these on Amazon and other online retailers.

Other Uses

Most individuals use reusable plastic garden molds for building patio designs and beautiful pathways.

However, these molds are quite versatile and can be used in other creative ways.

For example, you could use the molds to plant seeds of specific flowers of different colors. With this, you will have flowers blooming in various patterns in your garden.

You could plant may be red flowers on one shape and yellow flowers in the other.

You could also add soil and plant grass in various shapes.

Depending upon the pattern of your mold, you can use them in your garden in a way that gives it a unique aesthetic appeal.

Final thoughts

I just love my reusable garden patio paving mold. It has helped me create a garden the way I wanted it to be without the huge expenses and heavy labor involved.

If you enjoy spending time in your garden, maintaining it yourself, you will enjoy working with these reusable molds for sure.

In Gardening

Cheap Patio Paving Ideas for Any Budget

7 Mins Read

I remember viewing an image of someone’s backyard. It had a beautifully paved stone path from their patio leading to a small gazebo. It was simple, gorgeous and just felt like paradise even though it was just someone’s backyard in the suburbs.

That image stayed with me for a long time and when I had a house with a small backyard, I knew what I wanted. I was going to build a patio with a paved path around the garden. That is all that I wanted and I was already having dreams of all the lovely evenings I would spend on my patio every day.

Unfortunately my dreams soon had to face reality when I learned how much patio stones cost. What was even worse was the labor charges. I realized there is no way I could afford the patio of my dreams with a beautiful stone path across the garden.

Being someone who does not accept defeat too easily, I soon started researching on cheap patio paving ideas. I knew there had to be a way for families like mine to afford a paved path that felt as gorgeous as anything else but did not create a huge dent on our pockets.

My main focus while researching were as follows:

The cost of materials should be affordable.
It should be something that I can do myself to avoid the huge labor costs involved with professional patio paving.
There will be no compromise on quality as well as aesthetics.

It sounded like I was asking for too much but luckily after just a bit of looking around, I found not one but several solutions.

So here are my amazing cheap patio paving ideas without any compromise whatsoever.

Reusable Patio Paving Molds

Say hello to my new best friend.

Reusable patio paving molds are the best thing that happened to me for my beautiful garden patio.

Basically they are molds mainly made of Polypropylene Plastic (PP) Resin. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes from artistic patterns to circles, rectangles, squares to a combination of shapes.

These patio paving molds typically have a depth of 2 inches and have about one inch gap between the shapes where you can fill in premixed concrete. Once the concrete has been poured, you need to smoothen it out and let it get to a semi-dry consistency.

At that time, simply remove the mold and reuse to create the rest of the patio or pathway that you are building. Depending upon the type of mold, thickness and shape, you can remove the mold for reuse almost immediately after wet concrete has been poured and smoothened.

Patio paving molds make your work so much simpler, it is quite unbelievable. They are cheap, makes building your patio or garden pathway a quick and easy job and you can buy concrete to mix with water at any home store.

You can even purchase multiple paving molds of different shapes to create unique patterns around your patio or garden.

Salvaged Stone

If you have your heart set on patio stones but are having budget issues, then maybe you can look for salvaged or reclaimed stone.

Similar to the concept of using reclaimed wood in construction, salvaged stone is that stone that has already been used in a property in the past. This stone is usually salvaged for further use if the property goes into any kind of reconstruction, renovation or is damaged due to any reason.

If you get lucky, you can get excellent stones ranging from granites or limestones that have been salvaged from old constructions such as historic buildings, walls or even railroad projects.

Salvaged stones provide a strong character to your patio and depending upon its previous use, you can have a piece of history in your backyard.

However, you need to remember two things when purchasing salvages stones.

First, they usually come in inconsistent sizes and may be a bit off from its original shape. This is because of the natural wear and tear they have gone through over time and how they were salvaged. The age of the property where they were used previously also plays a role on how salvaged stones look when they are resold in the market.

The other thing you need to remember is while these stones may be cheaper than buying new ones, they still do require a lot of work to properly place on your garden patio or wall. If you are not used to construction or building things, it can get tough to do it yourself.

One clever use of salvaged stone is using them as stepping stones in a pathway around your garden. That way, the uneven sizes of the stones actually end up looking quite artistic and is much less labor intensive.

Overall if you do not mind the work, then salvaged stones are a good way to build beautiful budget friendly patios.

Patio Bricks

If you are not too stuck on using stone for your patio or garden, I strongly suggest to look at patio bricks as an option.

Patio bricks are usually small rectangular shaped bricks that come in various shades. You can choose to have one shade across your patio or mix multiple shades one after the other to give an artistic effect.

Patio bricks can also be placed flat on the ground either horizontally or vertically. Some homeowners prefer to create patterns by alternating between horizontal and vertically laid bricks on their patio.

One key advantage of patio bricks is that they are quite light but at the same time durable. Being light weight, any one can handle them easily.

You do have to bend your back a bit to ensure the bricks are placed firm on the ground with cement and are also even when walking around. Uneven bricks can cause accidents if people trip over them.

However, if you can handle them, then they are a good low cost alternative that is pleasing to look at and provide a robust, long-lasting feel to your patio.

Interlocking Pavers

Interlocking pavers are a great option if you want to make things simpler for yourself. They can be placed quite easily to create a beautiful patio in your garden.

Interlocking pavers have been used extensively in building footpaths, streets and walkways all across the globe.

Just like patio bricks, interlocking pavers are light but sturdy. Since they have an interlocking mechanism between the bricks, they are easy to install even by homeowners.

Interlocking pavers can come in various shapes. From rectangles to cosmic configurations. This means you can create some really interesting, artistic flooring for your patio.

They can come is various colors as well. A red brick type shade to greyish shades, you can opt for whichever goes best with your overall outdoor design.

Final thoughts

Whether you are building a patio or a pathway around your garden, cost should not come in the way of your dreams.

There are various cheap patio paving options available for all budgets and skill levels.

Just take some time initially to go through all the options and choose the one that speaks to you the most. It is also possible to mix and match options such as using patio bricks along with molds and salvaged stones strategically placed around the garden.

The only limitation is your imagination. So go ahead and build the patio that you have always desired.

In Home and DIY Projects

5 Patio Kitchen Must Haves for All Foodies

4 Mins Read

Most people love spending quality time on their patios. A gorgeous evening spent on a well-designed patio with family and friends is all that you need in life.

For foodies like me though, a simple patio is just not enough. I am a patio kitchen type of person. I need my patio to fulfil my gastronomic needs.

I feel you do not need a comprehensive kitchen in your patio to cater to your culinary desires. Just a few items are enough to turn your patio into a foodie’s delight.

So for all kindred spirits out there, here is my list of five absolute must haves for your patio.

1) Woodfire Ovens, Conventional Ovens or Barbecue Grills

Let’s start with the absolute must have. Every patio should have an oven or a barbecue grill.

Some homeowners even prefer to have a woodfire oven in their patio kitchen. Woodfire ovens are obviously amazing to make pizza with the family. Also they lend an artistic value to your patio décor.

However, the number of items you can cook in a woodfire oven is quite limited. In that case, you can simply opt for the regular ovens that you would have in a normal kitchen inside the house.

Regardless of your cooking skills, ovens can help make a whole range of delicacies for the entire family.

Then of course is the ever amazing barbecue grill. Grilling any kind of meat or veggies in your patio garden is a must-do activity for the family.

Between grills and ovens, you can cook a whole plethora of dishes. Budget and space permitting, ideally you should have all three in your patio kitchen. If it is not possible, at least having one between a woodfire oven, conventional oven or a barbecue grill is an absolute must.

2) Air Fryer

An air fryer might sound unusual to some for a patio kitchen. However, air fryers with their versatility, ease of use and health benefits have become a must for any household.

Air fryers are easy to operate. They can be easily stored inside cabinets when not in use and you can then have the option of fried food in your patio without the hassles of handling oil or gas.

The health benefits of air fryers are what made this incredible gadget so popular and now they make the perfect addition to your patio.

The only thing better than enjoying a beautiful evening with delicious food in your patio is enjoying the evening with delicious and healthy food. Air fryers allow that and have a quick cooking time as well.

3) Cooking Table with Storage

As I had mentioned above in the introduction, you do not need a comprehensive kitchen to enjoy cooking in your patio.

However, you do at least need a good cooking table with smart storage options.

Cooking table is necessary for cutting and chopping veggies, meats, fruits etc. You can also store kitchen essentials as that will save you from running inside your house kitchen every time you need something.

Patio furniture are nowadays incomplete without a good well-made cooking table. You absolutely must have one to truly enjoy cooking in your patio kitchen.

4) Patio Refrigerators

There are refrigerators that are made especially for outdoors like a patio.

Having the option to have cool drinks whenever you want in your patio is just awesome. You can also use a patio refrigerator for storing marinated meats.

These refrigerators can also be integrated with cooking tables or stored neatly inside cabinets.

Just make sure when purchasing a patio refrigerator that it is outdoor rated as standard refrigerators will not work regardless of their size.

5) Herb Garden

Finally I believe all patio kitchens must come with their own herb garden.

Growing herbs is actually quite simple and do not take much care. You can easily grow basil, rosemary, thyme etc.

Can you imagine cooking outdoors in your beautiful patio and using fresh herbs from your own garden.

I just can’t think of anything better. Even if you do not want to grow herbs from scratch, just buy potted herbs and take care of them. They will give you an endless supply and not to mention, the aroma in your patio will be simply divine.

Final thoughts

These were my must-haves for a patio kitchen. Do share anything you feel is an essential for you. I’d love to know what fellow foodies are doing with their patios.

Happy cooking!

In Home and DIY Projects

3 Types of Smart Gadgets for Easy Garden Maintenance

5 Mins Read

I think we can all agree that creating a garden is the easy part. Maintaining the garden is the real challenge.

I know so many people who start out enthusiastically and then their initial euphoria starts to fade out with each passing day. Managing plants and everything else that come with a garden is not a simple task.

There is so much more to maintaining a garden effectively than just designing a garden and placing plants and accessories in your backyard.

So for those of you who feel they are falling behind and also for the ones who want to embrace technology when it comes to effective garden management, here are three types of smart gadgets that I recommend.

Note that these are types of gadgets. Meaning they are a category on their own. You can find several different sub-gadgets in each of these categories specializing in specific tasks. However, even the basic gadgets will be a great starting point in growing a beautiful and healthy garden at your home.

1) Smart WiFi Sprinkler Controller Systems

Lets face it, watering the plants regularly is pretty much the number one reason why backyard gardens fail. Most of us just do not have the time to water out plants daily.

A lot of us do not even know how much to water or how to water. How much is enough or too little for our gardens.

For this, I strongly suggest to install a good WiFi sprinkler controller system in your garden.

Essentially, what a WiFi sprinkler control will do is automate your sprinkler operations. However, there are gadgets that take the sprinkler watering task to a whole new level.

You can have the system connected to your home WiFi and Voice Assistant Systems like Alexa. After that, you can choose specific times for watering. You can choose the amount of water to be used as per time, temperature or even the season.

Smart sprinkler systems can even adjust watering based on soil conditions.

Having your watering system automated and regulated exactly as per the needs of your garden is definitely a must have for any modern gardener.

2) Smart Plant Sensors

There are a variety of plant sensors available that are meant for indoors as well as outdoor gardening use. The outdoor ones are waterproof and rainproof for better durability.

One of the biggest headaches for gardeners is plant and soil nutrition. Sometimes, even when we water the plants regularly and do everything right, they still seem to wither away quite quickly.

This is because a good healthy garden needs a lot more than just water or sunlight.

This is where plant sensors come in. Smart plant sensors can have specific tasks like checking for soil nutrition, moisture levels, humidity etc. The more expensive sensors can do it all.

Smart sensors can also connect to your WiFi and automate the reporting and analysis process. You can receive simple reports on the condition of your plants as well as overall garden and what you need to do to improve its health.

You will know exactly when to add boosters or add nutrition to the soil. You will know if your plant is getting sunlight or too much of it. There are a whole plethora of reports you can access to improve the health of your garden. Of course, you can always keep it simple and just get informed of specific issues like nutrition and moisture levels.

Smart plant sensors are a huge category. So it will be good to do some homework before purchasing one. You should know what data you absolutely must know and what is a bonus for you when purchasing a plant sensor.

3) Garden Robots

When I talk about garden robots, know I am not talking about robots that you see on television, movies or video games.

Garden robots can look like small vacuum cleaners or can be circular in shape. They do few odd jobs that are needed to maintain a healthy garden.

For instance, you can purchase a weed eating robot. This tiny robot simply moves around your garden and cuts off weeds that can take over and create a nuisance.

There are small robots for sensor based jobs as well. Some can keep track of critters and simply act as a scarecrow to keep unwanted guests away.

These robots are a fun and useful addition to your garden and most of them can connect to your WiFi system and can be controlled remotely.

Final thoughts

If you are a serious gardener, then it is about time you look into these smart gadgets for garden maintenance. Even for those lazy or always out of time gardeners, smart gadgets can be a real life saver.

We have already embraced technology in most aspects of our lives. It is time to embrace it for garden management tasks as well.

In Home and DIY Projects

The Most Common Issues Faced With Air Conditioners

4 Mins Read

An air conditioner not working is one of the worst things you can face. This is especially true for those living in hot and humid conditions or having an enclosed space that does not receive proper ventilation.

For offices, data centers and other commercial spaces where air conditioners are not just a luxury but an absolute necessity, malfunctioning ACs are a nightmare.

We have spoken before on how to increase the life of your HVAC unit on Thrive. Yet, even with our best efforts, things can go wrong and you are faced with emergency air conditioner repairs.

I am listing below some of the common issues that usually go wrong in air conditioners. This is not just with the intention of you taking care of your essential machine, it is so that you can quickly diagnose and get your air conditioner repaired at the earliest.

You need to keep in mind though that these are the more common issues people face with their ACs. This is by no means an exhaustive list and there are a number of other issues that can easily crop up in an air conditioning system.

Dirty or Clogged Air Filters

This is by far the most common issue people face when it comes to ACs. Overtime, the air filters in your air conditioners starts to accumulate dust and various other kinds of substances.

It is not just the air filters that get clogged due to foreign substances. Your AC pipes, ducts etc. all get clogged with regular usage.

The first thing that the AC annual maintenance contracts cover is regular cleaning of air filters and other parts. This is because, dust and other particles accumulation leads to the most number of AC malfunctions.

Hence if you feel that your air conditioner is not cooling as before or you find droplets of water leaking from the front unit, then it is most probably an air filter issue.

Dirty air filters can actually lead to your HVAC unit causing more harm in your home as well as office.

Gas Leakage

Split air conditioning units have a gas system that needs to maintain a certain pressure for the AC to cool an area effectively.

Overtime, there can be gas leakages that lead to depletion of the optimum levels needed for cooling. It could also be that the gas is simply used up if not refilled in a long time.

Hence, if your air conditioner is working properly and the issue is that it is not cooling properly, it can be a gas issue.

Unlike clogged air filters, if it is indeed a gas issue, then you will find you’re AC does not cool at all or the cooling is rapidly slowing down over a number of days of usage.

Severe gas leakage will lead to you’re AC not cooling at all.

AC Circuit Issues

The entire circuit system inside your air conditioner is essential for proper communication between the outdoor and indoor units of your AC.

It is also necessary for proper inputs from the AC remote or control system to the mechanical units of the machine.

Circuit issues can lead to malfunctions as the AC does not know how to communicate between each of its parts. It will also cause a problem for the AC to understand inputs from the user such as yourself.

Voltage Issues

While most modern day HVAC units do have voltage stabilizers, there are times when issues crop up in your air conditioner.

Voltage fluctuations in your home due to whatever reason can be a cause for your air conditioner and other machines to malfunction

Broken or Faulty Blower

Your air conditioner will have a blower or a fan in the indoor unit that is essential for cool air to blow out of the AC.

There are times when this blower stops rotating or parts of it become non-functional. In this case, even though you’re AC is actually working properly, it is because of the blower fan that your air conditioner does not cool effectively.

Broken or faulty blowers are a common issue faced in ACs and can be diagnosed quickly by any qualified technician.

Final thoughts

Even though I have mentioned it above, it is important to reiterate that the above given list of issues are not an exhaustive list. There are a number of other issues that can occur such as thermostat issues, coils and wiring problems.

If your air conditioner is not cooling effectively, you may first try to clean the air filters or get your gas levels checked. If even after that you find there are problems, it is best to get it diagnosed by qualified professionals.