House & Garden Blog

3 Alternatives If Grass Will Not Grow In Your Landscape Garden

For most landscaping projects, whether they be a large project or a small one, the use of grass in some capacity is almost certainly going to be included. However, there may be some circumstances where using grass is not possible or advisable and alternatives need to be considered.

Apart from the person who owns the garden deciding that they do not want grass, the main reason for having to look at alternatives is that the grass simply cannot grow properly. This is best discussed with your landscape designer, landscaping company or horticulturist that you are using to advise you. The main cause of this can normally be attributed to the lack of one of three things which grass needs to grow and to thrive, which are water, nutrients, and sunshine.

This means that in locations that have low levels of rainfall, soil that is dry and lifeless, or where the sunlight is blocked, perhaps from tall buildings, then the grass is at best going to less than healthy, and in the worst cases, not grow at all. This brings us to the alternatives which are available to you, and in most scenarios one of these three choices is the one that the majority of landscape gardeners opt for.

Patio / Decking

Ok, so maybe two alternatives in one, but in effect what you doing here is building a surface or platform where the natural grass would have been. There are several materials that can be used with patios able to be built from gravel, concrete, bricks, limestone blocks or wood. Decking panels can also made from wood, but the most durable and easy to maintain is decking where the panels are made from man-made composite material.

Decks and patios are great for entertaining guests – having a barbecue, a nice shade sail from oneshade.com.au, and relaxing outdoor furniture are easy people pleasers, and the other advantages that they have are that, in the main, they require a lot less maintenance than grass, and they should last for many years.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
A Critical Factor In Landscaping

Why The Direction A Garden Faces Is A Critical Factor In Landscaping

When asked to design landscaped gardens, there are many variables that landscapers must take into account. The list of variables is a long one, and can include:

  • Client’s budget
  • Uses for the garden
  • Size of the garden
  • Lawn or no lawn?
  • Level of garden maintenance
  • Real lawn or artificial lawn?
  • Types of plants such as shrubs, flowers, or trees
  • Decking, pergolas and pathways
  • Fixed features such as seating and retaining walls
  • Water features, pools, ponds
  • Timescale for completion

Doubtless, you will be able to think of several more. However, there is one aspect of the garden being designed that we guarantee many clients do not even think of, and possibly even a few landscapers fail to think of too, and that is the direction the garden is facing. Whether a garden faces north, east, south, or west, can have a significant impact on what and how well plants grow there, as well as several potential features that may be included.

The direction a garden faces will determine how many hours of direct sunlight it gets during daylight hours, and crucially how hot it becomes when the sun is at its peak. Given all this, it is imperative that landscape designs take account of the garden’s direction, and below we have outlined briefly how this design might be influenced based on whether the garden in question faces, north, east, south, or west, respectively.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
10 Ways Homeowners Can Use Commercial Storage Units For Seasonal Items

10 Ways Homeowners Can Use Commercial Storage Units For Seasonal Items

As the seasons change through the year, homeowners will often find themselves struggling to find storage at home to store away seasonal items such as Christmas decorations, patio furniture, and seasonal clothing. The lack of space in their homes can make it difficult to keep these items organised, safe, and out of the way to prevent clutter when they are not in use.

However, with Perth storage units, homeowners can have a convenient, cost-effective and secure solution to store these seasonal items. As for some specific ways they can do so, and which items this might apply to, here are ten suggestions as to how homeowners can use commercial storage units for seasonal items.

Summer Sports And Fitness Equipment

Sports and fitness equipment can be bulky and difficult to store, especially for families with several athletes and fitness fans. A commercial storage unit can provide an ideal space to store sports and fitness equipment only used in the summer months when it is not in use, freeing up space in the garage or cupboards.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago

How Do I Set Up Multi-Room Audio in My Home?

Imagine this: It’s a sunny Sunday in Australia, the smell of BBQ fills the air, and the sweet melodies of your favourite playlist float effortlessly from your patio to your kitchen and even your bathroom. That, my friends, is the power of a multi-room audio system, and it’s easier to achieve than you may think – all you need is an audio-visual installation!

Why Would You Want Multi-Room Audio?

Think back to Jenny and Mark, one of our favourite client couples from Melbourne. They adored their classic rock but always faced the dilemma of whether to blast it in the living room or keep it confined to their patio during gatherings. With multi-room audio, they can now host their epic BBQs with Led Zeppelin greeting you at the door and accompanying you to the grill.

What Do You Need to Get Started?

If you’re interested in turning your home into a multi-room audio oasis, you’ll need a few essential components:

  • Audio Source: Spotify, Apple Music, or your timeless vinyl collection—this is the heart of your setup.
  • Amplifier: To give that audio source the ‘oomph’ it deserves.
  • Speakers: Choose between wired or wireless.
  • Controller: Generally, a smartphone app that acts like a remote control for your system.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago

Your Complete Guide To Cleaning Air Conditioner Filters

One of the tasks relating to air conditioners that those who own them dread most is cleaning the filters. Firstly, not every person realizes that cleaning an air conditioner’s filters is essential for them to operate correctly. Beyond this, some know the filters must be cleaned but are unsure how to do so. Based on advice from the Perth Air Con Experts, we have compiled a guide to help you in the process of cleaning your air conditioner filter.

Why Should You Clean Air Conditioning Filters

There are several reasons why air conditioning filters should be cleaned regularly, and more importantly, several issues that can occur if they are not.

  • Air Quality: Regular cleaning of the filters ensures that the air expelled by your air conditioner is high quality and thus healthier for those who live with you. Dirty filters mean that allergens, dust, and dirt can accumulate, which can tell people with low incomes that contaminated air circulating in the home can trigger or accelerate respiratory ailments and allergies.
  • Improved Comfort: Cleaning filters mean fresh, cool air circulates more easily within the home. A dirty filter can impede this, meaning temperatures are not cooled as they should be, making your home less comfortable.
  • Better Energy Efficiency: Clean filters mean your air conditioning unit works at maximum efficiency, thus lowering your energy bills. Conversely, dirty filters mean air conditioning has to work harder to circulate air, leading to poor efficiency and higher energy bills.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
How To Choose The Right Lighting For Your Home

How To Choose The Right Lighting For Your Home

Whenever you move into a new home or have decided to give a room a new look and atmosphere, you will most likely require the services of an electrician to install your new lighting fixtures. Whilst a light fixture might not seem like the most high-tech and complicated of electrical equipment, to ensure they are safe, you must use a qualified electrician for this work.

When it comes to choosing what type of lighting you are going to have, there is an abundance of choices. Your electrician may provide advice on the technical aspects of lighting fittings, but as for the visual appeal any of them has, this is often down to your own personal preferences. Here are some tips for choosing your ideal lighting for your home and ensuring it is fitted correctly and safely.

Research Images, Videos And Showrooms To Find The Right Mood

You first want to determine the sort of mood and lighting levels you want for the areas and rooms where the lighting is going to be upgraded. This can be established to some extent by looking in brochures relating to home decor and by watching videos in a similar vein, but the best way to see all this for real is by visiting showrooms for ideas.

These could include new homes for sale where an emphasis has been placed on the appeal of the lighting or in showrooms where lighting fittings are sold. Finally, you could garner ideas from the lighting that friends or family have used in their homes.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
7 Benefits That The Glass In And Around Your Home Provides

7 Benefits That The Glass In And Around Your Home Provides

It is almost certain that throughout most days you will see and use glass in one way or another and think nothing of it. Given that glass plays such a huge role in so many aspects of our lives it is easy to take it for granted. However, if you were to pause for a moment and consider just how many ways in which you rely on glass on a daily basis, you would realise that its influence exceeds that of most other materials.

It is also true to say that glass provides many benefits, and it does so in all manner of circumstances including domestic, commercial, industrial, and medical, to name but four. In this article we are going to consider glass in domestic settings, and specifically seven of the benefits of glass in and around the home. Primarily it is the benefits concerning design, construction, and aesthetics that West Perth Glass can provide that we will be highlighting.

Benefit #1 – Glass Increases The Amount Of Natural Light Coming Into Your Home

Possibly the most obvious benefit of having glass in and around your home is that it allows greater amounts of natural light to enter every room. The brightness created makes it easier to work, cook, entertain, and do all those other activities that take place at home, plus the additional light helps keep your home warmer in the winter months.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
Why Frameless Glass Balustrading Is One Of Your Safest Options For Poolside Fencing

Why Frameless Glass Balustrading Is One Of Your Safest Options For Poolside Fencing

There is no denying that adding framelessness around your pool area significantly enhances the appearance of your property outdoors. Still, an even more critical factor to consider is how it augments the safety of your pool area. Hopefully, you have ensured that your pool area is safe and that anyone using it, especially children, knows what precautions should be taken.

Whilst personal responsibility is vital to pool safety, other safety features help, so adding pool fencing in the form of frameless glass balustrading is a huge step forward. If you are unsure why that would be the case, especially if you are considering frameless glass balustrading for your pool, here are some reasons from the pool fencing experts at Clear Az Glass Fencing as to why it is regarded as the best option.

It Creates A Secure Barrier Around The Pool

The most apparent reason frameless glass balustrading enhances pool safety is that it prevents children, especially very young children, from accessing the pool without supervision. There are no gaps or edges for them to squeeze through, which excited children who love playing in the pool will invariably try to do. No gaps also mean there is no risk of them injuring themselves trying to get through the gaps and getting stuck, for example.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago

7 Tips For Allergy-Friendly Gardening Within Landscaping Designs

It is one of Mother Nature’s cruel twists of fate that some of the most beautiful flora and fauna in creation can cause misery for many of us. We are talking about allergies and in particular pollen allergies which makes it extremely difficult for many sufferers to enjoy their garden and that includes those gardens that have been created using a landscaping design.

Thankfully, it is not all bad news as there are many ways in which anyone suffering from pollen allergies can make their landscaping design and activities in their garden less likely to cause them the usual difficulties they suffer from when in an environment with lots of pollen. Some of these tips relate to the landscaping design itself, and others are changes in how the person works in their garden. Here are those seven tips.

Have Someone With No Allergies To Mow Your Lawn: There is nothing wrong with avoiding cutting the grass in your landscaped garden due to your allergies. Hiring garden services to provide professional lawn care is always a readily available option.  Instead, we are sure your friends and family will be willing to take on that task for you occasionally, albeit you might need to bribe them with a beer or some other desirable treat or two.

Work In Your Garden On Windy Days And In The Early Morning: It makes sense that if something harms you, such as pollen, that you limit your exposure to it. As it happens, when it is windy and in the early morning are times when pollen counts are at their lowest, so it follows that these are great opportunities to work in your garden.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago
6 Tips On Using Landscaping To Create A More Energy Efficient Home

6 Tips On Using Landscaping To Create A More Energy Efficient Home

There are many reasons why homeowners might wish the gardens around their property to have landscaping, and many times it will be to improve the appearance. In addition, there can be financial advantages to having gardens landscaped with the most obvious ones being an increase in the value of the property, and increasing the possibility of being able to sell a property quickly.

There is a further financial incentive, which in the vast majority of landscaping projects is often not considered, and that is that landscaping can increase the energy efficiency of the property in question. The savings which can be accrued, as a result, apply to any utility that you would normally expect to pay a bill for, such as water, gas, or electricity. Below are 6 examples that can be incorporated into a landscape design to achieve energy efficiencies.

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By Electronic Housing Code, ago