Landscape Edging in Sandy/Beach Areas

Published on: 24 April 2018 Last Updated on: 29 May 2021
Landscape Edging

Landscape edging can further add to the beauty and utility of your beach home. You might think that with a yard made of sand instead of grass you’re stuck with no options. Forget that train of thought because you had a multitude of possibilities with your sandy landscape and plenty of reasons to edge your yard.

Benefits of Landscape Edging :

Regardless of the soil or grasses composition of your yard, landscape edging provides many benefits, including:

  • a crisp, manicured appearance to your yard and home
  • increases curb appeal
  • adds value to your yard and home economically
  • creates a root barrier to stop the spread of invasive grasses and reeds
  • helps prevent erosion
  • provides a contrast to the yard and your home

Edging can help create paths, direct traffic flow in the yard, and set aside yard areas for special uses. You can create planting areas or a patio area with a combination of small hard materials for the main area and larger materials for the edging.

Design Materials :

The main advantage of sand is its neutral color goes with everything. Whether black, cream, or white sand, it works with any color contrast you choose.

That leaves you open to a number of design materials including brick, fencing, glass, pavers, plastic, potted plants, stone, tile, wattle, or wood.

Your choice depends on the look you want to achieve. Separating the yard from beach sand dunes with slat wood fencing provides a traditional look. Most wood edging lasts about ten years before needing touch-ups or replacement.

Concrete comes performed or you can create a custom form and pour your own design. This lets you create a look no other yard has. Creating your own forms lets you add materials to dress up the concrete pavers. Add small river stones, seashells, sand dollars, beads, or small tiles.

You can lay or stack large stone or brick. This forms either a low curb edge or a low wall.

Plastic or resin dividers come in many designs from faux stones to fencing. Choose wisely and in-person to check the plastic’s quality. The cheaper plastic edging looks just that.

To achieve an organic look with sturdy materials, create a wattle fence. Wattle consists of weaving the saplings of pliable trees together. Dogwood and willow make popular choices.

Another choice that mixes organic and inorganic materials, potted plants, delineate lawn areas while adding life to a sand-covered lawn. Try potted seagrasses, potted palms, or potted palmetto trees. Both the pots and plants add color.

You can get numerous other ideas on websites like Pinterest. You’ll also find installation ideas.

Installation Tips :

Set the edging in place firmly. You may need to dig a shallow space for each. Fit it inside the shallow, then re-pack the dirt around it.

Installation varies based on use. Use the following a depth/height guide:

  • lawn or garden divider – use a trenched edge or ditch with a V-shape;
  • mowing strip – use flat, wide materials level with the ground so lawn mower wheels can easily skim over them
  • capture mulch – keep mulch in place using a solid material that extends four inches below ground and two inches above
  • beautification – use any height that provides the desired aesthetic.

You can create an attractive lawn with sandy soil as the base. Create interest and divide space using landscape edging.

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Kylie :

Outside of writing for EverythingBackyard, I love to spend all the time I can outdoors and find every excuse to leave my house. I write about everything from backyard DIY projects to gardening. If you can’t get a hold of me I am probably on a trail or a boat.

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

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Mattress

Five Easy Steps When Cleaning Your Mattress

It is highly important to clean your mattress on a regular basis. This is because mattresses could become a breeding ground for dust mites, stains, and bad odor. None of which we would want in our homes. Since we spend about a third of our lives sleeping, it’s only proper that the mattress we’re sleeping on is clean. But mattress cleaning may prove to be an intimidating task, especially if you do not know what to do. Do you wash it or dry it out? What cleaning agents will you use? Are you using the right cleaning techniques? The questions are endless – and overwhelming, too. After all, no one would want to damage an expensive mattress. To help you out, we have compiled a few tips to make the mattress cleaning experience a lot less daunting. Read on and find out. Suck Up the Dirt : Vacuuming your mattress is perhaps one of the easiest ways available to clean it. It may also be one of the most convenient ways. First remove your pillow top, sheets, pillows, and blankets. After doing so, you may then proceed to vacuum your mattress. This will: Remove any crumbs that may have accumulated from late-night snacking sessions or from movie marathons. Take off any pet hair that may have stuck to the mattress after letting your pet sleep in the same bed as you. Remove any dust that has formed since the last time you took the time to clean your mattress. Nearly every house would have a vacuum cleaner for general cleaning purposes. If yours does not, then consider getting one, as it is quite a good investment. It makes cleaning not only the rooms of your house a breeze, but it is a big help in cleaning your mattress as well, keeping it as comfortable as possible. Easy Spot Cleaning : The next thing you can do to clean your mattress is to spot clean it. The type of stains present on a mattress will vary from person to person. Likewise, the best ways to clean these stains vary as well. Here is a quick list of what you should use when you get an unsightly stain on your mattress: Water: Water is a safe bet. It is cheap and safe to use on absolutely everything. It is good as an immediate treatment to prevent stains from setting. It also lessens the effect of dyes but is not 100% effective. Detergents: These can be used for most situations, especially for grease stains. Commonly, people have detergents for laundry and dishwashing at their disposal. You must be careful with the latter, as it could damage the fabric on the mattress. Salt: This one can be found in almost every household. It is effective in removing sweat or deodorant stains. It is also good in lessening red wine and bloodstains. Vinegar or Lemon Juice: These two are amazing tools for removing coffee and tea stains. People have also found them effective against grass stains as well as tape and glue residue. Bleach: Bleach is effective in removing dyes. This means that it is a good bet for make-up and grass stains. This should be used in moderation, as it can damage more delicate mattresses. People also rely on a combination of hydrogen peroxide, liquid detergent, and baking soda. Simply spray the mixture on a stain and spot clean away. Another easy combination is that of lemon juice and salt. Spread this on a stain and leave it on for at least half an hour. Afterward, just wipe it off. Remove Foul Odors : The third step we suggest for the mattress-cleaning process is deodorizing. There are multiple, easy ways for you to do this. Air Dry: Perhaps the easiest and most convenient way to do when you want to deodorize. Simply leave it in the heat of the sun for a couple of hours. This will remove any foul odors and naturally kill bacteria as well. Baking Soda: Simply sprinkle this stuff on your mattress and leave it be for a couple of hours. It is a natural deodorizer that also kills germs. After it has done its job, just vacuum off the excess on the mattress. Lavender: A bit of an extra step, but has proven to be worth it. It does not only remove unwanted odors from your mattress, it also adds a relaxing scent that will help you get a better night’s sleep every night. While each one of these suggestions is effective in their own right, doing all three would help you achieve better sleep. It may take some more effort on your part, but it will all be worth it. Clean Your Sheets :  Washing your sheets is another important step in this process. It’s not enough that your mattress is clean; your sheets should be, too. It is always a good idea to clean your sheets regularly as this would prevent stains from seeping through to the mattress. This will also remove unsightly stains and foul odors. Together with a clean mattress, this will help you wake up more relaxed and energized. When doing this, it is important to remember the following : The washing machine is your best friend when it comes to washing bulky sheets. A dryer would also help deodorize and kill bacteria with its heat. Read care labels so that you do not cause damage to your sheets especially on sensitive fabrics. Some detergents are very strong and may actually do more harm than good. Some may even make the stain spread instead of removing it. It would not hurt to use a scented detergent to wash sheets. Just know how much and which brand to use. As mentioned before, lavender is a good scent for some more peaceful sleep. It is recommended that sheets be washed at least once a week. If this is not possible, then at least make sure to change them. Protect Your Mattress : Lastly, we would recommend you to protect your mattress. A lot of manufacturers offer mattress covers nowadays. They help prevent future stains from getting on the mattress itself. Not only that, some of them even make the bed more comfortable. As an added bonus, they can easily be thrown in the washing machine with the sheets. And On That Note… While this task may seem like it is too much, it really is not. This also has a lot more benefits than just removing stains. If you haven’t tried doing it and you’re scared of trying, ask someone who can help you out. Additionally, a wealth of information is available on the internet. Sometimes, the answers to your questions are a mere mouse click away. Cleaning your mattress on a regular basis is important. This would help keep germs at bay and remove foul odors. This will also increase your mattress’s longevity. Your mattress will keep you comfortable for as long as possible. All of this would lead to you getting a better night’s sleep in the long run. Take the first step today and you will thank yourself later. You invested quite well on that mattress; make that investment well worth it. Take good care of your mattress and it will take good care of you. Read More : Natural ways to get rid of flea in your lawn. Home Hacks: Stuff You Can Clean in One Hour or Less.

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dining bench

Should You Get A Dining Bench

When it comes to dining seating options, you do not only have to choose individual chairs all the time. A dining bench can be a great choice depending on many factors. Let’s find out more about dining bench seats. What Is A Dining Bench? A bench is a long seat that allows more than one person to sit. It is usually made of wood but may also be made of metal or synthetic materials. Other types of benches also come with cushions and upholstery to make them more comfortable and stylish. In the dining room, a dining bench is a functional piece of furniture that creates a casual, cozy, and intimate dining experience while helping you save some space. Reasons For Getting A Dining Bench If you are hoping to convince yourself to get a dining bench seat, here are reasons why you may need one: 1. It Provides Additional Seating Worried about extra seating space for guests? A dining bench can be a viable solution for accommodating them on the table without squeezing in additional chairs. 2. It Is Well-Suited For Families With Small Kids If you are a big family with little kids, a dining bench can sit them comfortably without taking up much space for individual chairs. Even if you don’t have little kids, this setup is also helpful if your family members have small bodies. 3. It Is Suitable For Starting Families New and starting families can use a dining bench that provides for additional seating in the future. A bench can also make an excellent adult-kid dining arrangement in one seat. 4. It Creates A Cozy And Casual Dining Room Setting If you want a casual and laid-back dining atmosphere, a dining bench can help create this look and feel. You can also choose a dining bench for your patio, garden, or deck, where gatherings, snacks, and other fun things happen. 5.   It Can Help Utilize Unused Spaces In Your Dining Area Thinking about an awkward space by your window or corner in your room? A dining bench can be a perfect solution for utilizing unused spaces in your dining area. For example, you can use a dining bench in your bay window or alcove in your dining area. 6. It Is A Great Space-Saver As long as you choose a dining bench with the correct dimensions, you can have real space-saving furniture. You can push your bench all the way under your table, which gives you a spacious area around the dining table when not in use. There are also built-in bench types, which are effective space-savers too. 7. It Makes Your Home Unique If you want to create a unique home statement, get a dining bench. Most dining sets consist of a dining table and individual chairs. However, you can steer away from this setup and instead do a combination of a dining bench and individual chairs for a more unique look. 8. It Gives You Plenty Of Options Variety is one of the benefits of getting a bench for your dining area. You will find many dining bench types made of different materials, dimensions, and styles to suit your needs. If you want to get more trendy, dining benches are also very easy to style with. How To Choose A Dining Bench If you decide to get a bench for your dining room, below are some tips that will help you choose the right furniture piece. 1. Pick The Correct Dimensions To get the proper dimensions of a bench, measure your dining table first. Then, decide on the height and length of your bench. The usual height is between 18 to 20 inches or 46-51cm. The length would depend on whether you want your seat as long as your dining table or you want to tuck it under your table. 2. Choose The Appropriate Material The material you choose for your bench will depend on factors like homestyle, comfort, and its users. For a traditional homestyle, for instance, a solid wood dining bench would look fitting. On the other hand, if you want more comfort, you can choose a cushioned, upholstered dining bench. Finally, if you have little children around, you can go for a leather-upholstered dining bench to make cleaning easier. 3. Decide On The Bench Type Dining benches come in different types, including the ones compared below. Just go for the one that matches your needs, dining space, style, budget, and the look you want to achieve. Bench with backrest vs. bench with no backrest Banquet or built-in bench vs. detached bench Full-length vs. tucked-in dining bench Wooden vs. upholstered bench A dining bench can combine both functionality and style. If you want a practical solution to a limited dining space, choosing a dining bench is sensible. As an added bonus, it can give your dining room a unique look and casual feel. Read Also: Best House Renovations For 2021 Is Consumer Durables a Good Career Path In 2021? How You Can Manage Your Business with Scheduling Software? 4 Benefits Of Hiring 3D Designers For Remodeling Your Society How To Use A Captive Portal As A Beginner -Be Everything You Need To Know!

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how to harvest cilantro

The Best Time and Method to Harvest Cilantro for Maximum Flavor and Aroma

One of the most used herbs in the world, cilantro, is also referred to as Chinese parsley or Coriandrum sativum. Fresh and zesty, cilantro gives your recipes a flavor boost. Mexican, Middle Eastern, Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, African, and even Scandinavian cuisines use it extensively. Even cilantro microgreens are grown from it! Since cilantro itself doesn't keep well and loses aroma and flavor once dried, most people prefer to use it fresh. To have cilantro on hand, you should also have a few plants in the garden. You can harvest the plant for its flavorful cilantro seeds, also known as coriander, even if you don't use the leaves in your recipes. The leaves of the cilantro plants come throughout the spring and summer. Allow them to go to seed at that time since they grow easily in the garden! You must know how to harvest cilantro properly if you want to have a steady supply. Keep reading to find out all you need to know about harvesting cilantro. Harvesting Cilantro: Overview Most people either love or hate the flavor of cilantro leaves. However, you should still think about cultivating a few coriander plants in your garden and saving the seeds for a range of culinary uses. Most people in the US grow this delicious herb for its leaves. But the tasty coriander seeds are also worth harvesting. They have a distinct flavor from cilantro leaves. This fragrant herb of the cool season, cilantro, quickly goes to seed in the long, sweltering summer months. As the plant reaches higher in the sky, its rounded, lobed leaves become feathery. Pretty clusters of tiny white blossoms quickly emerge. Many pollinators are drawn to these nectar- and pollen-rich blossoms, particularly syrphid flies and honeybees. Little round coriander seeds with a kelly green color emerge as the blossoms start to fade. What To Expect from Cilantro? The distinctive flavor of coriander is citrusy and slightly nutty. It goes incredibly well with rice, beans, lentils, and roasted or grilled veggies. You can pick the seeds while they are still young and vibrant green. Or you can wait until they start to turn brown. Since green coriander seed is only found in gardens, it is better to harvest them when they are still green because of their stronger, more distinct flavor. You will not find them in the farmers’ market or the grocery store. If the seeds are kept in a glass container with a lid, then they can be refrigerated for several weeks and frozen effectively as well. Wait until most of the seed turns brown if you want to harvest the mature brown seed for winter grinding or planting next year. Next, trim off a few inches of stalk and the seed heads, then hang them upside down in a brown paper bag. The seeds will drop out of the heads and land in the bag's bottom once they are completely dry. The dry seed should be kept in a dry, cool place in a glass jar with a lid. For optimal flavor, grind it just before using. The flavor difference between freshly ground coriander seed and the pre-ground variety typically found in stores will astound you. Try adding green coriander seeds to dressings and marinades. Frequently adding an equal amount of ground coriander to recipes that call for cumin makes the flavors of the two go particularly well together. How to Harvest Cilantro? The most exciting aspect of growing plants is undoubtedly harvesting. Pick individual cilantro leaves if you plan to use a small amount. It is best to leave at least 1-2 inches of stem above the soil's surface when harvesting larger quantities of cilantro. It is preferable to leave a few lower leaves on the plant to support the herbs until they grow back. To cut the stems cleanly, use harvesting snips, long reach harvesting snips, or sharp, sterilized garden shears. To guarantee that your herbs regrow, it is best to remove only a small portion of the plant at a time. Furthermore, when the cilantro plant blooms and sets seed, the herb may start to taste bitter. So, when wondering how to harvest cilantro, it is preferable to harvest before the plant bolts because the leaves will be less appetizing at that point. When is The Best Time to Harvest Cilantro? When the morning dew has cleared and the sun hasn't set, it's the ideal time of day to harvest a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including cilantro. This way you can lessen the stress on your cilantro plant and give the fresh stock cuts enough time to dry before dusk, which lowers the risk of illness. Before it bolts, harvest cilantro when it is 6 to 8 inches tall. The flavor of cilantro leaves significantly decreases after they have bolted. The lifespan of the cilantro plants can be increased by careful and routine harvesting. It is crucial, though, to wait for your plant to become established before beginning to harvest. The plant develops numerous long, thin stems as it grows. They are ready to be harvested when the stems are long, and the leaves have a lacy appearance. The cilantro herbs are about ten to twelve inches tall at this point. Gather your cilantro in the spring and into the first part of the summer. Your plants may bolt to seed if summertime full sun conditions prove to be too hot for them. The best time to harvest cilantro is early morning. You can either choose to harvest it once a week or source just individual leaves whenever you need them. Most of the time, it takes about 2-3 weeks for regrowth, so you must harvest accordingly. You must remember that regular cut-and-come-again harvesting is the most ideal while the plant keeps producing foliage. How To Store Fresh Cilantro? Part of knowing how to harvest cilantro is also knowing how to store them. It's best to know how much you should take from the garden before you harvest. You will need to learn how to store cilantro if you do not intend to use the leaves right away to extend its shelf life. There are several approaches to try. Storing Cilantro in Water To keep the cilantro leaves dry, wait to wash them after harvesting. For storage purposes, store the stem ends in a glass or jar with 1 to 1.5 inches of water and refrigerate for a few days. At a minimum, change the water once a day. Use a plastic bag to cover the top loosely to preserve the humidity surrounding the herbs. Storing Cilantro in The Freezer Freezing cilantro is another low-maintenance way to store it. Shake off any extra moisture and rinse the leaves to get rid of any garden soil. Tear the leaves into small pieces and stuff them into ice cube trays, covering the herb with just enough water to barely cover. You can pre-measure if you'd like to ensure that you know precisely how much is in each cube for recipes in the future. After the cubes are completely frozen, place them in a freezer bag. Add as needed to marinade, smoothies, soups, and sauces. You can freeze cilantro for up to six or eight months. Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Harvesting Basil How To Dry Cilantro? There are two methods for drying cilantro. You can use the oven to dry cilantro. Since hot air can greatly affect the flavor of the finished and dried herb, you might want to avoid using heat if you want to enjoy flavorful dried cilantro. Air drying or hanging drying is a better way to dry cilantro. Gather the stems of the herbs into a small bunch and secure them with a string. Place the bunch in a dark, well-ventilated area and hang it upside down. Alternatively, you can wrap the bunch in a brown paper bag to keep the cilantro from getting dusty. After the bunch has been hanging for about a week, begin to check its level of dryness every day or two. It's ready to be crushed or powdered and stored for later use when it crumbles when touched. Cure the cilantro ahead of time to reduce the possibility of mold growth. Put the dried cilantro in a glass mason jar to cure. Open the jar and give it a good shake every day to let fresh air into it and mix the contents. This will assist in achieving moisture content parity. If you'd like, you can also include a moisture-absorbing packet. How To Harvest Cilantro Seeds? You can harvest the coriander seeds even if you don't like cilantro leaves. The plant can grow to 20 inches when it flowers. This requires temperatures above 75 degrees. Pods will form once they have flowered, and the flowers will fade. Before being harvested, these should be green to brown in color. These pods release the mature seed when it's ready. Tie the stems with the seed pods still attached into a bunch. Next, hang them upside down in a paper bag in a cool, dry place to harvest the seeds. With time, the seeds will sprout and drop into the bag. Store your seeds in a dry, cool place in an airtight jar. Unground dried seeds can be kept for three to four years in storage. Before using dried seeds in your recipes, grind them for the best flavor. How To Harvest Cilantro So It Keeps Growing? If you sow cilantro seeds every two weeks from spring until late summer, you can be sure to always have fresh leaves available. We advise chopping them up and firmly packing them into an ice cube tray filled with water. Then, just place the tray in the freezer. These can then be added directly to hot pans when preparing soups or sauces. Or they can be dropped into hot or cold water for cooking or drinking. What To Do If Cilantro Bolts? It's time to collect and preserve your own coriander seeds once your plant produces seeds. Picture each of those tiny white blossoms turning into a flavorful spice for your cooking or seeds for the following year! In addition to being aesthetically pleasing and tasty, cilantro flowers are also excellent pollinators.  There is a short window of time when the growing seasons of cilantro and tomatoes coincide. This proves they go well together. It usually happens that my tomato and pepper plants are just starting to take off when my cilantro plants bolt, sending forth gorgeous white flowers. To maximize the amount of fruit your plants produce for you, beneficial insects that are feeding on your cilantro flowers will collide with your fruiting plants, vibrate their leaves, and assist in pollination. Ladybugs, butterflies, and bees all love cilantro flowers. It truly is a win-win! Choose Slow Bolt Seeds Seek out seed packets labeled "long-standing" or "slow bolt cilantro," as these varieties have been cultivated to endure longer in the garden. You can find your go-to slow bolt seeds that are 100% certified organic from Seeds of Change. Finding a local seed producer is another smart move. Buying local seeds means you'll be growing a climate-adapted variety of cilantro, which increases the likelihood that you'll keep it longer. Harvest Cilantro Regularly Regularly chop your cilantro leaves. This preserves the health of the plant and guarantees that the leaves of this herb are fresh when you use them. Your cilantro will continue to produce new leaves from the center of the plant if you regularly harvest it by chopping off the older outer leaves. Additionally, your chances of cutting off those immature flower stalks increase with the amount of cilantro you harvest. This will aid in postponing any bolting.  Since cilantro is incredibly obstinate, you can delay as long as you can. Cut that thick center stalk as soon as possible. After that, the plant will start to send outside shoots, giving you a little extra cilantro before it eventually bolts completely. For sun protection, surround your cilantro with tall plants. Plant Taller Plants Around Cilantro for Sun Protection Encircle your cilantro with large warm-season plants (like tomato or pepper plants) so that the taller plants can shade your herbs slightly and help keep the soil cooler as the temperatures rise. After all, four to six hours of sun is sufficient for cilantro to grow. To increase the lifespan of your cilantro in the garden, interplant it with larger plants. Wrapping Up You will need to have patience if you want to collect the seeds for your cilantro. Before seeds can be harvested, cilantro needs to blossom. Before harvesting, the resulting seed heads need to be allowed to dry on the plant for a while. Harvesting the seeds is then as simple as shaking them into a paper bag or chopping off the entire seedhead and placing it inside the bag. If you have thoughts to share or questions to ask about how to harvest cilantro, please leave a comment below. We would love to hear from you! Read Also: Asparagus 101: When, How, And How Often To Harvest? Some Facts You Need to Know About Rainwater Harvesting How to Harvest Lettuce: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fresh and Crispy Salads

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