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Making The Most Of Your Small Patio

More and more people are flocking to Canada?s urban centres, making usable yard space (or lack there-of) more of an issue than ever before. Fortunately, there are many innovative ways to make your small patio unique, beautiful, and functional!

Install a Garden

Just because you don?t have a large yard, doesn?t mean you have to go without a garden. There are many ways to incorporate plants into your small patio which will bring an entirely new value to your space.

If you?re looking to get the most out of your dollar, hiring a professional is a must. They?ll be able to create a garden oasis no matter what size area you?re working with. However, if you?re working on a budget, there are still a few small improvements you can create yourself:

  • Mount canning jars on your wall to build an herb garden
  • Use repurposed wooden pallets to house herbs and cascading plants
  • Incorporate vines and cascading plants into the structure of your patio
  • Hang planters to create a vertical garden
  • Use repurposed items like cement blocks, wooden crates, birdcages, pails, and whatever else the flea market has to offer to create unique planters with a vintage vibe
  • Use a small shelving unit to house your potted plants

When building your patio garden, always think vertically to maximize the space. It?s amazing what can be accomplished with a little creativity!

Invest in the Proper Patio Furniture

The amount of patio furniture you can have depends on the size of your patio, and what you?d like to use it for. Benches are a great space saver because they can be built against the wall and create a more open area in the middle.

Here are a few other ideas for compact patio furniture:

  • Multi-tasking furniture:Having a bench or ottoman double as storage for gardening supplies and other small items is a great way economize your space.
  • Collapsible furniture:If your patio is usually used by just one or two people, all you may want is a bench or nook to sit in. However if you have company, you?ll likely need more. Collapsible furniture is useful for those occasions because once you?re done, you can just put it away and still enjoy your space.

Stores that sell patio furniture usually have lots of options for smaller spaces. Do research online and in-store to find what suits your aesthetic, and comfort.

Don?t Forget the D?cor

Don?t sacrifice d?cor just because you have a small space! Like gardens, thinking vertically and using wall space is the key to maximizing your patio?s potential.

  • Repurposed items:Using antiques or other ?junk? items is a great way to recycle and give your space a unique look.
  • Hanging items:If you have any sort of ceiling?perhaps lattice or canopy?items like birdcages or wind chimes will hardly take up any space.
  • Mirrors:Incorporating a mirror into your patio will make the space appear larger.

The key to getting the most out of your small patio is creativity and experimentation. Just because your patio is small, doesn?t mean it can?t be the patio of your dreams! For the best results, consult a professional. Companies like Infinity Gardens are able to make a mountain out of the smallest backyard molehills, giving you a beautiful space in even the smallest areas. Contact our team today to find out more!

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Are There Any Water Saving Irrigation Options?

Water conservation is more important than ever and every little bit can make a large difference to your home owning costs. Depending on the climate you live in, you may have to water your lawn and garden quite often.

To help you save water and lessen your monthly costs, we?re taking a look at the different types of irrigation systems that could be beneficial to your home!

Sprinkler Systems

Sprinklers are designed to cover large areas and can be either manual or automatic. If you choose to use automatic sprinkler systems, make sure you adjust the system as weather conditions change and to turn off your system if you are getting enough water from rainfall.

Hand Watering

This simple method of watering can be done with a garden hose or watering can, although it is extremely time consuming if you have a larger yard. Hand watering also leaves a lot of room for error ? while irrigation and sprinkler systems generally run on a timer that prevents them from using too much water, hand watering forces you to use your judgement, often leaving your lawn over- or under-watered.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is most effective for a small yard or individual plants, and can supply one-to-four gallons of water per hour to the soil. This option creates very little water loss by minimizing runoff and evaporation. It works well on mulched areas because it won?t wash away the mulch.

To conserve water with any of these methods, you will have to do a little research.

  • Be water-wise by always knowing how much water your lawn, and individual plants, need. Have a professional measure your sprinkler output to make sure you are not wasting water or damaging your foliage by overwatering.
  • Make sure you only water when you need to. It?s easy to tell if your lawn needs water: step on it! If the grass doesn?t spring back, then the lawn needs a drink.
  • When watering plants or shrubs, water at the drip line (under the edge of the leaf canopy). Watering the leaves or trunk doesn?t bring water efficiently to the plant?s roots.
  • Set your system to water early in the morning to lower the rate of evaporation.
  • Use a rain barrel (with a well-fitted screen to avoid mosquito larvae) to collect rainwater, to use to water indoor plants.
  • Research low-water use plants, like shrubs and groundcover, and use them to fill larger areas in your garden.
  • Install a rain gauge so you know which days you can skip watering.

Conserving water is all about the little details. By knowing when to water and when not too, you can also save yourself time and effort. Water by hand when you can, as it?s the most effective way to avoid wastage. And last but not least, always be conscious of your water use?water is precious in both monetary value and to the economy, so ensure you?re doing your part to minimize use.