Why are people interested in landscaping for wildlife? The following report includes some fascinating information you can use.

Everyone is responsible for the environment. Individuals can help by making one’s home friendly to wildlife and animals either big or small.

Plants draw different kinds of wildlife, different species of birds, butterflies and chipmunks to name a few. You must choose what kind of animals you want to attract to your home.

The first thing that the person must realize is that there are four basic things that are needed for wildlife to exist. Trees provide saps or seeds as a source of food for birds. For other creatures that frequent the area, you can accommodate them by having feeders installed in the garden or yard. To know the right type of food to place in the feeder, you should research what the animals eat.

All creatures need water to survive. A pond or fountain in the garden can provide sustenance for those who frequent your garden. Just be sure that the water is clean and safe at all times for the animals to drink.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about landscaping for wildlife, keep reading.

Animals need a good place to serve as a shelter, nesting and breeding ground. You can make a bird house or purchase one. They are available in many shapes and forms which are good for birds and bats. Once this has been made or purchased, it can be installed in the backyard.

Trees planted in the garden can also serve as shelter and housing for creatures that live near your home. A good example is an evergreen tree that serves as protection against predators.

Studies have shown that the use of plants that are not natural to the area destroys plants that are native. Since the creatures that you want around all year are native to the surroundings, it is advisable to use plants that these animals are accustomed to. That way, different creatures will be able to co-exist.

By focusing on these four factors, you will be able to enjoy the diverse wildlife not just visiting but already living in your area.

After the planning and construction phase of the project has been done, you will be able to enjoy the various species of birds, squirrels and other creatures that are native to your geographical area.

Those who only know one or two facts about landscaping for wildlife can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you’re learning here.

A healthy lawn is a huge part of a beautiful landscape and a home’s curb appeal. Whether you have a cool-season lawn or a warm-season lawn, new sod or established turf one thing is certain, with up to 1,000 grass plants per square foot of lawn fertilization is a must!

There are two ways to fertilize and achieve a green healthy lawn and beautiful landscape plants. You can do it yourself or you can hire a professional contractor to prescribe a maintenance program. Regardless of what you choose there are some things you should keep in mind when using fertilizers.

You should start by measuring the square footage of your lawn to determine the amount of fertilizer you will need. You should begin your fertilization program in the fall in order to promote healthy root growth. There are 3 basic ingredients in a well balanced fertilizer. Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium are required to promote thick, dense grass that will resist disease and weeds. The label on the fertilizer bag will tell what percentages of these 3 basic ingredients are in the fertilizer. Example would be 20-10-5 which contains 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphate and 5% potassium, the remaining percentage is carriers such as sand. Your soil contains these nutrients naturally but during construction much of the nutrient rich soils are removed or disturbed and over the years the soil nutrients in landscaping around a home becomes depleted.

Experts recommend fertilizing your lawn two to four times a year depending on your climate, the type of grass you have and your landscape/lawn expectations.

• Early Spring

• Early Summer

• Late Summer

• Late Fall

For established lawns in Colorado, it is best to use the N value to determine what fertilizer to buy. For Blue grass/Ryegrass, a common Colorado grass, a recommended amount is ½ pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn in March and May and 1 pound in August and October. Read the instructions on the fertilizer bag for other types of grass.

The main thing to remember is, over-fertilization or misapplication does not help your lawn or landscape plants and can be very harmful to the surrounding environment. Careless application of fertilizers can cause pollution in streams, lakes, ponds and groundwater.

Other Tips to Remember:

- Nitrogen is what stimulates growth and greens up your lawn. The nitrogen content in your fertilizer will determine how often you will have to mow.

- Mow often with a sharp mower blade at a height of 2 to 3 inches leaving the grass clippings to mulch, providing extra nutrients equivalent to 1 to 2 fertilizer applications per year

- Consider Xeriscape or low maintenance landscape plants to decrease the need for fertilizers and watering

- Sweep over-sprayed fertilizers off sidewalks and driveways back into your yard and clean your spreader and equipment in your yard

- Lightly water your lawn and landscaping directly after fertilizing

- Avoid fertilizing on windy days or when heavy rains are expected, as this will wash away much of your fertilizer

I look around the living room in my retirement home, and, lately, I am a little dismayed by its appearance. I did not calculate all the time I would spend inside my home during retirement working from home. I did not realize I might find something to do inside my home during retirement to create this clutter. You see, I have found a second career from my home requiring a space to work in. I am inside more than outside.

I purchased an apartment-style retirement home because that is what I always wanted in retirement–to downsize. But now, unexpectedly, I have found a new line of work and one out of my home. I wish I had an “office” or extra room and one that I can close off when guests come over. Seniors used to think of retirement as a time for downsizing and having as few rooms to take care of as possible. However, times have changed somewhat. Many seniors still work and many from their home. While downsizing is still a good idea for most, it may not be the solution for everyone. After selling a very large home, I wish I had foreseen the need for an extra room in my new one.

The only place for my desk is in the living room. Various items have become sprinkled on the floor around my small desk. I need a larger desk to hold it all. A little while ago I regret I threw out a perfectly good table that I realize now I should have kept to hold all these extra projects. I have purchased 3 bookcases and they are already filled. I need more. I love artwork but have no more wall space left. I have a computer, wonderful lamp, scanner, printer, copier, shredder, office supplies, baskets to hold things, cute boxes from the container store, all full, files, plants, newspapers, magazines, articles, and it goes on and on–and all in my living room. I certainly cannot put it in the guest room. I would have to move it in and out. So I am stuck on where to put it all.

Every time I have guests, I have to straighten this corner with my desk. I dislike doing that and I do not have the time. I would like a space where I can work and let things be as I please. It is not that I am messy but I realize I have too much stuff for this small space.

So, now I am longing for a separate room that I can put everything in. I need to be able to shut the door. I need a great view. I need a room I can paint the color I love. I want shutters and palm fronds–a room just for me. If someone sees it, I need for them to appreciate it the way it is. My office paraphernalia just does not go well in the living room.

Before you retire, you may not be expecting to need an extra room but give it some thought. Think through to what you may need in the future not just what is needed now. A study, a hobby room, a sunny workshop, an alcove–a room for you. Other retirement design considerations are: having at least one bedroom on the first floor, wider doorways, grab bars in the bathroom, and an entry ramp. If you have a room upstairs, lower the risers for an easier climb.

Retirement is a time of change. You never know what may make your retirement just the way you want it and an extra room might be what’s needed.

Seeing that I have recently finished building our new home I thought I’d share some insights into the design of a new home. There are many new house plans available today and the sky’s the limit on features and styles. The biggest problem with the design process is once we’ve decided that we’d like to build a new home human nature kicks in and we want it to happen over night. The problem with that is we typically don’t spend enough time evaluating and considering the design aspects of the new house. The most important thing to remember is spending extra time in the beginning will prevent you from having second thoughts once the house is done. The following list are ten important things to consider when choosing a new house plan.

1. Style – I think the style of the home is the best place to start. The style of the home will connect with so many of the choices you make so its important to spend some quality time thinking about the style you’d like to live in. Are your preferences more modern or traditional? Do you want a house that is similar to your neighbors? What house style will hold the best value in your neighborhood? What style house will closely match your interior style and existing furnishings? These are all questions that you need to ask yourself and your family. This was a tough question for my wife and I as we grew up on two sides of the country and our styles are very different.

2. Number of Bedrooms – This question may seem simple and easy to answer but it is worth thinking about and discussing. The easiest answer to this question would be based on your current family size and needs. You may need a two bedroom today and need a four bedroom down the road when your family grows. Or maybe you need four bedrooms today yet your kids will be off to college in a few years.

3. Single Level Vs. Multiple Levels – Whether or not your new house has only one level or more is really a personal decision. Some people really enjoy having single level living with no stairs to climb up and down. Some people prefer the more traditional cape and colonial home styles with bedrooms on the second floor. Some land sites are quite small and someone looking for decent square footage may only be able to build a multi-level house. If you think you may retire and live in your house as you get older the single level house may appeal to you.

4. Master Bedroom Suite – Today’s new house plans typically offer a master bedroom suite. These suites often have generous closet space, large private bathrooms with soaker tubs, jetted tubs, large walk-in showers and even walk-in closets. These suites generally increase the value of the home and make the house more marketable if you sell in the future.

5. Bonus Rooms (Laundry, Play) – One of the most popular trends in todays house plans are dedicated laundry rooms and the renewed popularity of pantries. In fact, in my new house we made the mudroom a combination laundry and pantry. Some house plans offer laundry on the second floor of multi-leveal houses. A word of caution if you choose a second floor laundry. Make sure you insist that some type of extensive drain system be installed in the unfortunate case there is a broken washing machine hose.

6. Number of Bathrooms – The average number bathrooms in new houses has steadily increased over the years. The average home in the US has 2 1/2 baths and the average appears to be heading towards 3.

7. Kitchen Style – I could write an entire article on this topic, however, the main point here is that many house plans have just a basic kitchen layout. My suggestion is find a house you like and then modify the kitchen to your liking. Plenty of home supply stores will design you a new kitchen free of charge based on the floor plan so don’t let a simple kitchen layout deter you from a house plan you really like.

8. Floor Plans – When evaluating floor plans try to visualize how you will furnish the house and how you plan on using different rooms in your daily life. Get a tape measure and measure rooms in your current house to get an idea of how big a 12′x15′ room really is. Often people have a hard time visualizing the size of a room and later when the house is done they are not happy with the size. I really suggest spending time on the evaluation.

9. Functionality – The functionality of the new house plan is really one of the most important aspects for your long term comfort and use of the house. If you put the dining room on the other side of the living room so that you have to carry meals through the living room you will soon realize that’s not very functional. The same is true about the proximity of bathrooms to bedrooms. Again, I think its important to compare where you currently live to the house plan and think about your likes and dislikes.

10. House Site – The house site can sometimes play a big part in the style, floor plan and functionality. For instance, if you have a very small site you may need two floors. Or maybe your lot is really hilly and needs a drive under garage. Just make sure that when you pick a couple of plans you evaluate them based on the lot as well.

If you get one thing out of this article remember this, plan, plan, plan and plan some more. The more you plan and evalulate your new house plans the happier you will be when you’re finally living in your new house.

There are some things to consider when creating plans for your home. There are two situations that call for plans or blue prints, either you are building a new home or decorating your present home. The types of plans required for either situation will vary depending on the extent of
your project.

When building a new home, there are several things you will want to consider carefully. The most obvious is where you are going to build your house. The climate will affect where you build. You wouldn’t build an icehouse in the middle of the desert. You will want to determine what material you will want to use. Brick, wood, and cement are popular. In the southern states clay adobe houses are the norm. In the north and other areas brick, wood, and stone are options. The climate will influence this choice as well. In areas where there is cold weather brick and cement are used because they absorb and retain heat. In the south wood frame houses are built. The size of your lot will determine the size and type of house you want. You couldn’t build a mansion on say a quarter of an acre. On the other hand a one bedroom, single floor home would look strange on a lot that is two acres or bigger. Whether your home has a basement could be important and that would depend on where you live.
If you are lucky to have a basement, it can house the laundry room and your gym equipment or be a playroom/guest room.

Now that you know where and what type of climate you will be building in it is time to think about the plans. Blueprints are or have been used to draw a linear picture of the house as you see it. Now however there are computer programs that will allow you to build your house in 3-D. There are also web sites online that will also allow you to build your house and see it in 3-D. Not only that but some sites will allow you to place your furniture. There are several kinds of technical drawings that are used to create plans for a new home. There are site plans that address coding issues, landscaping, location specifics, drainage (land contours), trees, set backs, and property lines. A floor plan is a design plan of the house, the layout of the rooms, and where the windows and doors. Another type of plan is building sections, which is a cross section of the house. It helps determine any issues, visualize your finished house and floor plans using section marks. Wall sections show the construction of one exterior wall where sections are indicated with section marks. Exterior Elevations include such features as porches and decks. They also show furniture, window and door locations, eave heights and roofing. Interior elevations show the lighting layout and ceiling conditions. Porches are another very interesting option; they can be enclosed, go all the way around the house. They can also be half-enclosed and half-open. They can be reminders of times past. A huge porch reminds me of my aunt’s farm years ago. Porches are great for extending family time and conversation while still being protected from the weather.

Decisions to be made are the size of each room, the number of rooms and the number of floors to be built. Will there be a basement or a fireplace, and where is the house going to sit on the lot. You could have a front yard or the house could be in the front of the lot with a yard in the back. You could also put it right in the center and have land all around.
The next consideration is whether you will have a contractor draw up the plans which will be an expense, or you can do them yourself. To do them yourself you will need a pencil or pen, scissors, a measuring tape, and graph paper with 1/4-inch boxes.

You will draw rooms to scale; one box per foot is good. Measure your rooms, doors, windows, heat and air cooling appliances. Draw the outlines of the rooms according to scale.
Measure your furniture (you only need to worry about length and width here) next and take another piece of graph paper. Draw out lines of your furniture, label them and cut them out. Use these pieces to set up the rooms. When you find an arrangement you like, you can make a more permanent drawing. On another sheet of graph paper draw a box for each wall. Scale your windows, doors, built-ins and other features.

Picking a floor plan is a process of answering some very important questions. Will this place be big enough or too big in a few years? Does your design fit in with the houses in the neighborhood? Does the design of the house fit in with the lot size and shape? Will the windows provide the best view and what windows will catch the sunlight in the morning and afternoon? Will changes need to be made or can changes even be considered? Are the rooms that will be used most of the time of adequate size? Expanding your house size could mean you need to sacrifice amenities or storage space. Do you have specialty rooms such as a craft room, an office, or a gym? An office can double as a guestroom. The trend now is toward creating a family area where there is room for each to do his/her own hobby or to be together watching movies or playing games. When all the decisions are made and the plans are all drawn you will be ready to build.

Suppose now, that you are purchasing an already built home or renting an apartment. Plans can be done in these situations as well. Most places will offer a floor plan for you to look at with the measurements of the space in the rooms. If this is not available you can draw your own plan.
You would need the same materials and the plan is fixed, you are limited to what is already there. Draw the outlines of each room according to scale. Take another sheet of graph paper and draw the outlines of your furniture. Label them and cut them out. You can move these pieces around till you find an arrangement you like. You might be limited with your television set because the outside antenna is in a certain spot.

Take another piece of graph paper and draw the wall sections of each room noting the windows, doors, and any heating or cooling appliance might be situated. You will have already ‘placed’ your furniture so you will have a good idea of what your new home will look like. You can now decorate according to your tastes. In a rental home however, you might not be able to change wall colors or in rare cases hang pictures.

Planning for your home can be very exciting. You could be buying new furniture but you might want to consider the color of the carpets or the floors when you are choosing your pieces. A blue couch on a brown carpet does not exactly match. When planning for your home whether you buy or rent should be done carefully. Keep in mind your preferences, your limitations and if you are building, local zoning ordinances.

Are you in the market for a new television set? Are you considering a plasma, LCD or flat-screen model? Have you considered it’s energy efficiency? While most people shop for televisions with specific features already in mind, they rarely consider energy efficiency. Why is energy efficiency important in televisions? According to Energy Star, “today’s TVs, when combined with related products like DVD players and set-top boxes, make up about 10% of a household’s annual electricity bill.”

Powering Your TV and it’s Effect on the Environment

Watching television may seem harmless enough, but it’s important to realize the environmental impact of the electricity you use. Generating electricity is a dirty business – especially in the United States. In 2006, nearly half (49%) of the country’s 4.1 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity generated used coal as its source of energy. Why do we still rely so heavily on coal in today’s more environmentally conscious world? You can find the answer in a recent MIT report titled The Future of Coal where they state, “Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world,” they continue with the following frightening statement, “its use is projected to increase.”

Growing Power Needs

If 10% of your household’s annual electricity bill doesn’t seem outrageous to you then consider the following, according to Keith Jones of Digital CEnergy Australia, “by 2012, it will be safe to say that televisions will use more power than the average refrigerator in an average household.”

Energy Efficiency – A Simple Solution

Thankfully, there is a simple solution – energy efficiency. The more energy efficient your new television is, the less electricity you use and the less pollution you contribute. With the help of Energy Star, finding an energy efficiency television has never been easier. Energy Star rated televisions use about 30% less energy in comparison to standard units. Energy Star also provides ratings on almost every type of television on the market – from standard TVs, to HD-ready TVs, to the largest flat-screen plasma TVs.

To maximize the energy efficiency of your new television, if possible, I recommend holding your purchase until after November 2008. According to Energy Star, “in November 2008, a new, much more stringent ENERGY STAR specification for TVs will be effective.” This new standard will include efficiency improvements for both standby and active modes.

Finding Energy Star Rated Televisions

If you are ready to shop today then you can find Energy Star rated televisions using their free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=TV#FAPSearch

The following stores also carry Energy Star rated “Home Electronics” so you should be able to compare Energy Star models personally.

• Best Buy
• Costco
• Sam’s Club
• Sears
• Wal-Mart

To find the closest store near you, Energy Star provides the following free web-tool:

• http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.store_locator

It’s important to always remember using energy efficient devices is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Not only does energy efficiency help save the environment for future generations, it also saves you money each money by lowering your monthly electricity bill. When you purchase your next television, make the environmentally smart choice and purchase one rated by Energy Star.

With increasing energy costs plaguing the nation and global warming on thoughts of millions across the world, adding residential solar panels to your home would be a wise thing to do. With the low investment to install these solar cells you will benefit greatly from the amount of money you will save in energy costs in the long run. The residential solar cells of today are much better looking and more appeasing to the eye than solar panels of the past.

Solar panels don’t have to be used to heat and power your entire home although it is certainly possible. You can save money and use solar cells in other smaller uses for your household. Use them for smaller rooms only or for your outdoor gardens or greenhouses. Apply them to heat your pool in the winter months or to light up your sidewalk or driveway at night.

Buying new residential solar panels can cost thousands of dollars which may cut deep into the pockets of most low and middle income households. There is a way around this, a small solution per say. One way to do this would be to buy used residential solar panels. Used solar panels only lose about 10% of their efficiency even after 20 years.

You can try to contact large industrial locations or businesses to inquire about using their old solar panels. Large industrial corporations invest in new solar cells often so as not to lose any production from old solar panels. Much of the time these solar panels are hardly used at all and they may still give them to you for free or at least a very low discounted price.

If you choose to buy used solar panels, there are a couple of things to look out for. First of all you need to examine each panel very carefully. Check each one for any cracks or breaks. It’s also important to look for any condensation inside of the panels along with the cracks which are all signs that the solar cells most likely will not work so well. Any repairs you have to make to the panels will be costly and not worth the investment of buying the residential solar panels used.

Besides saving money from energy costs around the house, the government also provides large tax discounts and benefits to those installing residential solar cells. Check into this carefully before you buy used panels because the tax breaks may only be for those who purchase new ones. With this in mind, it only makes sense to do the math and see which type of investment would be the smartest and most efficient way to go. Also keep in mind that buying new residential solar panels will probably come with warranty’s which will cover any breaks along with the tax breaks.

Whichever route you choose residential solar panels new or used will save you money in energy costs and will help save the environment.

There are many affordable ways to stay cool during the hot summer months without running your air conditioner 24 hours a day. Keep reading for 7 alternative tips that are sure to save you money this summer.

1. Get shaded.

Installing sun-blocking blinds and shades will keep your rooms from heating up in the hot afternoon sun. An opaque roller shade will keep out about 80 percent of the heat gain, while standard Venetian blinds can block about 45-50 percent.

2. Use a ceiling fan.

A ceiling fan set to turn counterclockwise will help cool air rise, pushing it up off the floor. Using a fan instead of an air conditioner can save a lot of money. If it’s too hot during the day, try relying just on a fan at night.

3. Don’t cool the house when you’re not at home.

If you’re going to be away from your home for more than a few hours, turn your thermostat back up and close the blinds. You’ll save more energy turning your air conditioner off than the amount it will take to cool the house back down when you get home.

4. Isolate your thermostat from heat sources.

True story – my air conditioner ran constantly and my house was freezing. I couldn’t get it to read the right temperature until I realized the thermostat was on the other side of the wall from my refrigerator. The heat being thrown off by this giant appliance was totally skewing my thermostat readings. Keep heat-releasing devices away from your thermostat.

5. Clean your air conditioner’s condenser.

The condenser unit in your air conditioner is the part that sits outside your house. It needs to be clean to work efficiently. Before you start cleaning, shut off the electricity at the unit’s disconnect switch and on your main switch panel (and inform other home members not to touch it until you turn it back on!). Once the power is off, remove the access panel. With heavy gloves on, clear out any loose debris inside the unit. Finally, use a hose and soft brush to wash the outer fins and coils. Turn the fan with your hand and make sure it rotates smoothly.

6. Close the registers in your basement.

Most basements are naturally cool, being insulated by soil, and often dark and shaded. Closing the registers in your basement vents will make more cool air available to the rest of the house and save you money.

7. Recycle your air conditioner refrigerant.

Having the refrigerant in your air conditioner recharged and recycled at least once every two years can dramatically increase the efficiency of your unit. Always consult an HVAC professional when attempting to do this.

In the changing world of technology, man has achieved everything which would have been a nightmare. With the use of latest technology, it has been made possible to bring the excitement of watching movies at the theaters to your home. Now-a-days, it has become a status symbol to have a home theater at your place. The thought of having your own home theater cheers everyone.

Home Theatre Designs : DIY (Do-It-Yourself)

In the competitive market, there are numerous designs of home theatres offered by different companies. There are infinite options that one can easily get befuddled. While purchasing a home theatre, there are many things that have to be kept in mind. For example, it should suit your decor and possess clarity in terms of picture and sound, etc. Therefore, one of the most significant traits of the home theater is the way in which it has to be designed. The designing of the home theater can be done in the following manner:

1 – The most important thing to be decided while planning the designing of the room theatre is to select the perfect room for it as there are different preferences by different people, some like to go for living room and some for big halls in their homes. The room theatre should always suit the décor of your room wherever it is placed.

2 – The most important thing to be taken into consideration is the availability of the light. The light should be adjusted in such a manner that the movie can be easily seen and viewers are easily able to get to their seats. However, the intensity of the light should be low when the movie gets started. Additonally, the lighting should not be directly into the eye line of the viewers. The availability of light can be controlled by using a dimmer switch which is very easy to install and use.

3 – The set up of the speakers should be apt and appropriate because a better quality sound results in making the movie more real and original. The sound is the most important part of the home theatre that leaves an unforgettable impression over the audience.

4 – The next most important factor that affects the designing of the home theatre is the seating. The seating should not be done in a disorganized manner, rather it should always be done in a very systemic orderly way so that no one should feel congested. You should always get the comfortable chairs with wide armrests, sliding footrests, etc. so that no one should feel uneasy while watching movies.

5 – It is recommended that if you are ready to invest a little bit more on your home theatre system, it is good to get a projector screen in order to have a real and original appearance.

6 – The setting of furniture also plays an important role in the designing of the home theatre.

Home Theatre Designs By Professionals

Though, the designing of home theatres can be done by taking the above-mentioned points into consideration. However, if still you find it a difficult task, then it is suggested to go for “Professional Interior Designers.”

These professionals give rise to superb home theatre designs. For these professionals, the designing of a home theatre is a child’s play and they will be charging for this service of designing that will add to your budget of home theatre system.

Therefore, to get the best for the investment you have made in purchasing the home theatre equipment, you should always go for the appropriate designing in order to enjoy it every time you watch or listen to it.