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Create Your Dream Yard with 4 Simple Landscaping Tips

May 1, 2018 by Kathryn 5 Comments

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of TruGreen. The opinions and text are all mine.

In November of last year, my husband and I moved into our newly built custom dream house with our three boys. The house is stunning, and I still wake up every morning in awe of how perfectly it turned out. But the real appeal of the spot is the six acres of rolling prairie it sits on.

prairie-house-build

Since we moved into the house so late in the fall, we didn’t have a chance to do much landscaping. So, I can’t wait to get outside and do some landscaping this year! We have shelterbelt trees on the way, lilacs and berry bushes for borders, summer bulbs to plant and a deck to build.

With so much to do, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about everything I want in our yard, and how to get it. And I’ve also discovered some landscaping tips for anyone planning their own backyard makeover! Whether you’re doing a minor refresh or a full overhaul, keep these four tips in mind to help you along.

1) Plan (and Draw) It Out

Start the process by making a list of all the elements you want for your yard. For our family, that was a large garden, fruit trees, a fire pit, a place for the kids to play and ample deck seating for entertaining. Next, draw out a rough sketch of the yard and start planning where you’d like each element to be. (Make sure to include any existing features in your drawing!)

boy-on-swing

I used a very simple drawing to start making plans for our yard and since it was a new build, the only obstacles I had were the septic tank and mound. I planned the rest of the yard by walking over the space frequently, noticing where the dips and rolls in the land were. Then I positioned the different areas to work with the flow of the land in the best way possible.

2) Decide On a Focal Point

When I was researching landscaping ideas, one concept kept reappearing again and again: every yard should have a focal point. Its purpose is to draw a person’s eye to the yard, so that they will then notice and admire the rest of the surrounding landscape.

house-focal-point

This was a hard concept for me, because with so much land around us, I feel like our house is the focal point. So, I’ll be accenting that with two Scots pine trees placed on either side of the house and some flowers in front of the deck. For smaller yards, a pretty bench or a birdbath also make beautiful focal points.

3) Learn Your Trees

If you’re new to gardening, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer number of trees, shrubs and even grass seed varieties you have to choose from. And choosing too quickly could be a mistake if you’re not sure about what the plants are like in their maturity. In front of my previous house, for example, was a large Cottonwood Poplar that showered me with sticky seed pods and cottony seeds for most of the spring and summer months.

cherry-tree

Before you spend your hard-earned money, make sure you know how large your trees and shrubs will grow, how much maintenance they will require and what kind of growing pattern they have. There are trees that spread like weeds and trees that look beautiful but need heavy care to stay healthy. Make sure the ones you choose will suit your landscape and your gardening time!

4) Plan Your Maintenance

Depending on whether you love gardening and working outdoors or prefer spending your time lounging on the deck to scrounging in the dirt, planning your yard to suit your commitment level is a must. There are some great low-maintenance choices available for people that want to minimize yard work, from eco-friendly grass varieties that require less mowing to stylish rock gardens that provide zero-maintenance beauty.

trugreen-lawn-care

And if you know you won’t have time to protect trees from insects or spray for weeds, considering hiring a helping hand! TruGreen lawn and yard services offers comprehensive packages for lawn and tree maintenance that includes fertilizing, weed control, insect control, overseeding and more! Get a quote to see how affordable maintaining your dream yard can be.

Once your dream yard has come to fruition, it’s time to have fun with a few pretty and easy finishing touches! Check out the infographic below for some easy ways to upgrade your back yard and patio. Then have fun making your yard an oasis that the whole family will love.

backyard and patio upgrade infographic

Filed Under: Articles, Gardening Tagged With: back yard, beginner gardening, landscaping, lawn, lawn care, tips, tree care, trees, yard care

4 Steps to a More Blissful Laundry Routine

October 10, 2017 by Kathryn 31 Comments

Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and OxiClean and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own.

There are plenty of blissful things about my day-to-day life, from that first sip of coffee in the morning to the sight of fresh flowers on my kitchen table. But if there’s one thing I’ve never found all that blissful, it’s laundry! With a husband that works with trains, two active boys and a baby, laundry is one of those chores that feels never-ending at times!

Luckily, with a few little tricks, even the most endless and exhausting chores can become a little more blissful! And so, I’ve put together four sure-fire ways to make doing the laundry just a little more fun. It may never be your favourite chore, but these tips will make it a lot more tolerable!

1) Sort and Treat Early On

oxiclean-maxforce-stain-remover

Trying to cram all the sorting, stain-treating, washing, drying and folding into one day is overwhelming! Instead, break up the jobs to give yourself a bit of a break. Start by sorting clothes and treating stains with OxiClean™ MaxForce™ Foam Pre-Treater. Not only is no scrubbing required, the foam will keep working for days to tackle even the toughest stains. In other words, leaving those clothes for a day or two before washing will actually result in cleaner clothes! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Reviews, Reviews and Giveaways Tagged With: chores, laundry, laundry bliss, laundry ideas, laundry routine, laundry tips, maxforce, oxiclean, oxiclean challenge, oxiclean foam, oxiclean laundry, oxiclean maxforce, oxicleanchallenge, remove stains, remove tough stains, stain, stain fighter, stain remover, stains, tips

Spring Cleaning Tips For Home Improvement

September 27, 2017 by Kathryn 2 Comments

custom rp

Although it isn’t necessarily springtime, the term “spring cleaning” has become a sort of catch-all for when you’re ready to redo, remodel or renovate your home all at once before the upcoming season.

A dedicated bout of cleaning and remodeling can really lift your family’s collective spirit, as well as give you opportunities to create a more freeing sense of space in the house. As someone that’s notorious for avoiding cleaning when I can, I’ve got some tips (from long experience) that’ll help you achieve that refreshing feeling of cleanliness and openness without tons of effort!

The Bathroom’s A Great Place To Start

bathroom

Not only can a thorough bathroom cleaning give the place a new sheen, but you can add new elements while swapping out old ones at minimal cost. This can include the addition or replacement of shower doors, upgrading the bathroom faucet and installing energy-efficient windows. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: cleaning, cleaning tips, easy, easy cleaning, home, home improvement, housecleaning, spring cleaning, tips

5 Tips for Traveling with a Wheelchair

September 27, 2017 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

Traveling has plenty of perks, but it also requires a lot of preparation. And that’s all the more true if you are in a wheelchair. The unexpected can happen during trips, and some events you may not be prepared for. For wheelchair users, the challenge is even greater, so you always need to think ahead and anticipate.

You deserve to have a great time on your vacation! So, to make the trip more enjoyable for yourself and everyone else that’s coming along on your trip, check out some of the tips for traveling with a wheelchair.

wheelchair on city street [Read more…]

Filed Under: Travel, Travel Tips Tagged With: tips, travel, travel tips

Preventative Home Maintenance Tips You Shouldn’t Ignore

September 25, 2017 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Home maintenance is one of the most crucial tasks for any homeowner. It’s all about maintaining your house, fixtures and fittings to ensure your home stays safe and secure. Of course, there are numerous house maintenance tasks to be done, so the list actually depends on your home.

home maintenance tips

That being said, there are some basic home maintenance jobs most homeowners should be doing regularly. And if you’re wondereding where to start, these are key preventative maintenance tips you shouldn’t ignore: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: home, home care, home care tips, home maintenance, home maintenance tips, home tips, homeowner, homeowner tips, house, house care tips, house restoration, house tips, maintenance, tips

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