How to Build a Window Garden

If you have a passion for gardening, building gardens on your window sills is the best way to decorate, refresh, and reap the benefits of your windows. The window box garden can be of herbs, flowering plants, foliage, or any plants you like which will add beauty to your home. For those who live in apartments in urban areas having a mini garden outside their windows will enliven and beautify living space.

Garden windows are growing in popularity and now vinyl garden windows with shelving to place plants in pots are available and these can be constructed outside windows. There are technologically advanced planters available, with arrangements for pumping water that are ready to use or which can be assembled. When you decide on adding window sill gardens to your home it is good to make use of helpful advice and tips that help in creating a beautiful mini garden outside your home windows.

Setting Up a Window Garden

The first step is to select the space for the window garden. This depends on the types of plants that will be grown as some plants need more sunlight and others can get by with less and grow in shaded spots. You can set up the mini garden outside two or more windows depending on your convenience and needs.

Select the Right Planters and Pots  

Next, choose the types of planters, window box, or pots that you would be using. You can use terra cotta, boxes made from concrete, fabricated window garden boxes, plastic, or metal depending on what fits your windows and budget best.

An important point to remember is that there should be room for the plants to grow inside these planters and windows should be able to be opened without any obstruction. The window box should be fastened strongly to the siding or masonary before plants are placed and soil is added. Drainage holes should be provided for excess water to drain out.

There are synthetic coatings that can be added if you are constructing your own planters. There should be enough drainage and adding a bottom layer of crushed stones before the soil is added is helpful to prevent water draining out completely.

Choose Your Plants

You can select the type of plants, vegetables, herbs, or foliage that you wish to grow in your window garden. Flowering and leafy plants look pretty and dress up your windows to advantage. Herbs, fruits or vegetables can be used with health benefits for you and family but you need to select the types that will grow easily in window arrangements.

Some homeowners prefer to start with seeds and others like to plant cuttings or saplings bought from stores. Get all the information on how to grow the particular plants you have planted and follow instructions for growing and watering, for best results. Plants that flourish in a particular season, with similar light and water requirement and growth should be grown together, even if the mini garden is a combination of flowering and leafy variety.

Caring and Getting the Most of Your Mini Garden

Always use top quality potting mix soil and fertilizers so that your garden blooms and grows well. If there is space for pots of different sizes you need to raise the smaller ones to be in line with larger pots by using blocks of wood or other strong material. You can also add fresh new plants when the older seasonal varieties are past their prime. Always keep the soil moist and provide liquid fertilization at regular intervals.

The best aspect of window gardens is that you have a fantastic variety of choice. You can select rare types of foliage, plants that grow throughout the year, bonsai, assortment of flowering types and many others. You can even grow small radishes, peppers, carrots, chives, or cilantro among others, if kitchen garden is your choice.

Your window garden will be a source of beauty and you and the family will view this extended space with pleasure. It adds to the value of your home and you can change plants to match each season for maximum utilization of space.

3 Reasons Why You Should Take Time to Choose an Entry Door

Doors are a significant part of your home and the entry door is a statement in itself and can add value and appeal to your home. Front doors tell the world something about what to expect in the home and can focus attention from outsiders and visitors. It is an expression of the personality of the homeowner and is a major part of the security of the residence. When you return home it is among the first objects that welcome you to your haven and should be chosen and designed with care to provide security and worth.

Make the Right Choice

The front door can be a work of art that provides a sense of safety and aesthetic appeal to homeowners. There are doors and there are doors. When you browse through internet sites or home décor publications the dazzling array of choices for the entrance doors can be quite confusing. There are many designs, colors, shapes, and styles that are available for even the most discerning buyer. You can choose among paneled, glazed and pivot styles among the many design choices. There are additional features such as the door knob, door bells, side lights, decorative glass panels and entryway enhancements that can help in the visual appeal of the main doorway.

So how do you choose the main door to your home? The choice is one that needs time and care so as to add value and security to your property. Which type of door do you select among the incredible choices that are available now? There are 3 reasons that should guide you in your selection of the front door for your home. Time should be invested in considering these 3 reasons as hurried selections based on sales pitch made by sellers should not influence judgments when you choose your main door. It will make the difference of deriving many benefits of the right choice or regretting the selection due to poor quality.

Material

Among the prime considerations to making your choice for the main door is the choice of material from which it is constructed. The material used should be able withstand adverse weather conditions, provide security, and look attractive and welcoming. Contemporary doors are available in a variety of materials including fiberglass, steel, aluminum, wood veneer and wood.

If your home is geographically located in an area where harsh weather conditions prevail, the material you select should be able to withstand the local weather without damage. Durable material such as steel and fiberglass with energy efficiency ratings is a good choice under these conditions which won’t warp or rust in cold or wet weather. Some homeowners prefer classic wood doors which add beauty and aesthetic appeal. It is extremely important that the selected material should provide insulation, have energy efficiency and have warranties.

Choice of Design

The design of your front door is dictated by your personal likes and includes a number of factors. While it grabs attention of visitors practical considerations are important when you choose the design of the entry door. The main door should blend well with the rest of the house and can include useful and decorative features. Design choices should be based on functionality, styles, and aesthetic appeal and should be selected with care. It should be one that you or family members don’t regret and should have flexibility for enhancements such as adding lights on the side or a pathway leading up to the doorway.

Design includes the hardware and security factors, glass inclusions, and color among others. Color choices are based on your personal choices whether bright or sober and should be one that you can live with as time goes by. Glass can be included if your home is situated in a secure area in terms of safety and weather conditions. It is recommended that you choose designs with care and take enough time to consider the various options.

Budgetary Considerations

The expense factor though not complicated should be considered carefully before choosing the entry door from Champion Window to your home. Replacement doors are a good choice since they are energy efficient and available to match different budgets. While you may be tempted to spend a lot on the construction of your front door, it is practical if you select a cost effective and durable door it will add value to your property and enhance its appearance as well.

Finally, it is important that your main door should increase the security of your home, be durable enough not to warp, rust, resist fire and cracking and look beautifully appealing. So go about your selection by taking your time about it and you will be proud of your choice and be able to live with it.