Image via Wikipedia

Do you have one or more areas in your yard that hold water after a rainfall? This is a common problem, and sometimes difficult to solve. Over the years I’ve talked with dozens of people trying to battle this problem, and on several occasions have been hired to solve the problem. So what can be done?

Too often people come to me asking what kind of tree, or what kind of shrubs can be planted in a wet area to dry it up. This is the wrong approach. Most plants, and I mean almost all plants are not going to survive in an area where the soil is soggy for extended periods of time. The roots need to breathe, and planting a tree or shrub in a water area will kill it.

Another common approach is to try and fill the area with topsoil. Depending on a variety of variables, this can work, but many times adding extra soil to a wet area will only shift the water to another area just a few feet away.

If you are lucky enough to have some natural fall to your property, or a drainage ditch near by, this problem is easy enough to solve. If you happen to live in an area that was developed over the past few years, there might even be system to remove storm water near by. In many new home developments I’ve seen storm water catch basins already installed in backyards. Trust me, this is a good thing. There is nothing worse than having a soggy yard all the time.

Draining the Flood Water

If you are fortunate to have some fall to your yard, or a storm water system that you can drain water into, this problem is easy to solve. Make sure you check with your local officials before you do anything at all with a storm drain.

All you have to do is go to your local building supply center and buy some 4″ perforated plastic drain pipe. The best kind for this purpose is the flexible kind that comes in 100′ rolls. This type of drain pipe has small slits all around the pipe. These slits allow water to enter the pipe so it can be carried away.

Just dig a trench from the center of the low area you are trying to drain, to the point that you intend to drain it to. Using a simple line level you can set up a string over top of the trench to make sure that your pipe runs down hill all the way. A line level is a very small level that is designed to attach to a string. Any hardware stores sells them for just a couple of dollars. Set the string up so it is level, then measure from the string to the bottom of your trench to make sure you have constant fall. You should have 6″ fall for every 100′ of pipe.

The highest point is going to be the area that you are trying to drain, so you only want your pipe deep enough at this point so it can be covered with soil. Once the trench is dug just lay the pipe in. At the highest end of the pipe you’ll need to insert a strainer into the end of the pipe to keep soil from entering the pipe.

Cover the pipe with some washed stone, and then backfill the trench with soil. The washed stone creates a void around the pipe so that the water can find it’s way into the pipe. Washed stone is usually inexpensive stone that has been washed so it is clean and free of mud. The only part of the pipe that needs to be exposed is the low-end, where the water exits the pipe. Do not put a strainer in that end.

If you do not have anywhere that you can drain the water to, you still might be able to do something. But first consider what is happening, and why the water is standing where it is. Even if you have well-drained soil, water can not soak in fast enough during periods of heavy rain, and it runs across the top of the ground and eventually finds the lowest point, and either leaves the property, or gets trapped. If you have well-drained soil, the trapped water usually soaks in.

For more discussion of this topic, check the link below: flooded, water damage, flood northshore

Related articles

• Install a French Drain to Protect Your Foundation (juliogarden.com)
• Grow tomatoes in pots (juliogarden.com)

Related posts:

1. Organic Gardening Tips To Help You Grow A Pesticide Free Garden Grow A Pesticide Free Garden Growing your own fruits and...
2. Tips for Sustainable Landscaping 10 things to consider for sustainable landscaping  Sustainable Landscapes is the...
3. Best tips for designing the perfect garden Creating the perfect garden doesn’t mean that you have to...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Image via Wikipedia

We all feel the same way about home made coffee. The taste isn’t always great and unless you have a great Espresso machine, you are always tempted to get a hot drink from a coffee shop on your way to work. There are some rigorous rules to brewing the best cup even with instant coffee. Here are a couple of tips that should help you prepare the best home coffee.

• Ideally, try and use filtered water rather than tap water as this can spoil the taste of good coffee.
• The temperature of the water is crucial when brewing coffee. Experts agree on 190 degrees Fahrenheit or 85 degrees Celsius. A high temperature ensures that all the flavour is extracted from the coffee.
• The quantity used should be an oz. or 30 grams of coffee to 20 ounces or 550 ml of water. Using less results in over extraction and a bitter taste. The flavour can be mellowed by adding more milk or hot water to the brewed coffee.
• Choosing the right grind; this should be coarse for a cafetiere, medium for drip filter and fine for expresso. The amount of time the coffee should be in contact with the water also depends on the grind; the finer the grind the less contact time. So 15 seconds for expresso, 1-2 minutes for a drip coffee maker and five minutes in the cafetiere.
• Coffee used should be freshly roasted and ground immediately before brewing. As this is not always convenient, grounds should be kept in an airtight container so should be transferred straight away on opening . Do not allow the grounds to get damp as this will destroy the flavour.
• Serve coffee immediately. Don’t allow it to hang about and do not keep it warm on the stove as again this will affect the flavour.

If you follow the above, then brewing the best tasting cup of coffee for that early morning lift will become a matter of course.

Related articles

• How is expresso coffee different from the plain cofee (wiki.answers.com)
• How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee (freakonomics.com)
• Home Coffee Brewing (moneysupermarket.com)
• Ways of Brewing Coffee (quazen.com)
• Coffee! We’re Lovers Again (grownupmom.wordpress.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Image via Wikipedia

Want to jump start your Spring Cleaning?

• Take a quick peek into your Food Pantry (or food cabinet) and check those expiration dates! Many of us forget that even canned food has its limits…. if it is close to its expiration date, consider donating the item to your local Food Bank.

• Don’t forget your fridge… be brutal. If you are not replenishing condiments at least once per year, maybe they don’t belong taking up valuable space in the first place!

• Now check your bathroom – many OTC products have a short shelf life… and, with the constant changes in temperature, products lose their efficacy quickly.

• While we’re in the bathroom, now is a good time, Ladies, to clean out your makeup case…. clean and wash brushes in warm water with mild detergent; disinfect tweezers, nail clippers and cuticle scissors.

For all of your moving/relocation/home staging and
organizing needs
call Peggy at 415.846.0569

from boxes to dinner parties in 48 hours! PHA wants you to be moved….!

www.peggyhughes.com

peggy@pha415.com •  PHA / Peggy Hughes Associates

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

As you get your home ready for winter, we thought we’d pass on these organizing tips to make your life a little easier . . .

Happy Autumn!

PHA – Affordable, Sophisticated Home Decorating & Staging, Moving & Relocation and  Organizing Services.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Summer is here – a great time to declutter the kitchen!

Since more of us will be cooking outdoors this time of year – why not take a look inside your kitchen and toss or donate items you no longer use. To get you started, here are some ideas:

TOSS: chipped or broken dishes, glasses or mugs; pots & pans that are burnt or rusty; excess plastic containers missing their tops or bottoms; broken appliances; and stained cutting boards.

DONATE: duplicate sets of items – especially glasses & mugs and don’t forget those ugly souvenirs!; appliances or gadgets you no longer use; pantry items you haven’t used in a year; inherited items you don’t use (if there is a great deal of emotional attachment, store these items far away from the kitchen); threadbare dish towels; and ugly serving pieces taking up valuable real estate in your cupboards.

BUT, don’t give away these items that PHA thinks are essential for every kitchen…..

1. Microplane Zester: great for grating Parmesan cheese, chocolate, ginger and nutmeg
2. A Santoku knife, serrated bread/tomato knife, a good and a paring knife – only four knives I ever use
3. Colored cutting boards – a great kitchen tool – red for meat, yellow for poultry, blue for fish and green for veggies, bread and fruit
4. Immersion Blender – an easy way to make ‘faux’ creamy soups without any cream!
5. A good stove-top grill pan – comes in mighty handy on winter or rainy days!

Happy Summer!

PHA – Affordable, Sophisticated Home Decorating & Staging, Moving & Relocation and  Organizing Services.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 12 Kitchen Must-Haves (lifescript.com)
• A Basic Kitchen Equipment List (simplycooking.wordpress.com)
• Increase Kitchen Efficiency by Learning Basic Knife Handling Skills [Kitchen] (lifehacker.com)
• Michael Ruhlman’s Essential Kitchen Tools [Tools] (lifehacker.com)
• Knives Cooks Love Is a Knife Lover’s Bible [Stuff We Like] (lifehacker.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Spring Cleaning Tips

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Joy of Slow Cooking

I love to cook, but sometimes life just gets in the way.

The solution? A slow cooker! I gather the ingredients, toss them in and forget about it for a few hours. And if you get busy, food doesn’t overcook or burn if left longer than required. My particular model switches to a “keeping it warm” mode until I return.

Liquids do not boil away as in conventional methods of cooking. Meats are marinating in their own natural juices and tend to be “fall of the bone” tender.

Here are some tips for easy use –

After a long day working around the cabin, nothing beats the aroma beef stew or chicken noodle soup simmering in the slow cooker.

Sit back, pour a glass of wine and take things slow. You deserve it!

Related articles by Zemanta

• What Are Some of The Top Rated Slow Cookers (mydecorarticles.com)
• 7 Hearty Stew Recipes (lifescript.com)
• Slow cooker recipes: homemade onion soup mix and a venison shoulder roast (thismamacooks.com)
• Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Alfredo (chubbagurl.blogspot.com)
• The Italian Slow Cooker (online.wsj.com)
• Comfort Food: The Best Crockpot I Own (ohmyachesandpains.info)
• 7 Comforting Crock-Pot Recipes (lifescript.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The holidays can be busy and stressful times that can easily overwhelm us all. Here are some tips for coping with stress and depression.

1. Pace yourself – The holidays can be busy and stressful times that can easily overwhelm us all. Setting realistic expectations about how much you can accomplish, how many gifts you can prepare, and how much time you can spend with friends or family can help you keep a sense of balance and control over your life. This is a time to celebrate with loved ones, not a marathon in search of “Tickle Me Elmo.”

2. Pass on the Fruitcake – During the holidays we are surrounded by high fat, high sugar and simple carbohydrate foods and alcohol. Excessive sugar, alcohol and carbohydrates can exacerbate depression and cause blood sugar swings that can cause feelings of anxiety and depression. Make sure you eat regular healthy meals rich in vegetables, healthy sources of protein such as fish and eggs, and whole grains, which will decrease your cravings for sweets and fats and make it less likely for you to overindulge.

3. Give Visa a break – It’s common for people to overspend during the holidays creating significant stress when the bills come in. Set a realistic budget for your gifts to decrease your financial burden. Remember, it’s the thought that counts and thoughtful inexpensive gifts can be well received and appreciated. If the budget is tight, consider gifts from the heart – for example, a certificate for a foot rub or a home cooked meal.

4. Go for a walk – Regular activity helps us manage our blood sugar more effectively, improves energy levels, gives us a sense of well-being and relieves feelings of depression. If you can get some exercise outdoors, such as a brisk walk or a hike, exposure to the sunlight during this dark time of year can be very effective in curing the winter blues.

5. Hydrate – Drink at least eight 8oz. glasses daily. Water reduces our tendency to overeat and over-drink and increases our sense of well-being. Studies have shown that people who drink adequate water report fewer aches and pains, better energy levels, and improved mental function. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a known aggravator of depression. If you tend to overindulge in alcohol, try drinking a glass of water when you first arrive at a party and have another glass of water between each drink of alcohol through the course of the event.

6. It’s about friends and family – Emotional support from friends and loved ones is a known critical factor in preventing suicide in people with severe depression. Connecting with other people is always important for all of us and especially for people with depressive tendencies. And when all that family time gets to be too much remember the immortal words of Ethel Watts Mumford – “God gaves us our relatives; thank God we choose our friends.”

7. Do something nice for yourself – Get a massage or accupuncture treatment. Both of these therapies have been shown to help relieve stress and tension while improving moods. Acupuncture is especially useful for helping people manage mild to moderate depression. It has been shown to stimulate endorphins to improve moods and mental function and create a sense of well-being through its balancing effects. Only 20% of women with depression will receive adequate treatment, and since their role is often the social organizer around holidays, they often need extra counseling, acupuncture or nutritional support.

We hope you and your family take some time during the holidays to relax and look forward to the new year with a renewed sense of spirit. Happy Holidays.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Stress is a burden for many seniors (heraldnet.com)
• 12 Depression Myths – Debunked! (lifescript.com)
• How Food Affects Your Mood (lifescript.com)
• Top 10 Tips to Fight Depression (lifescript.com)
• Overcoming Depression: Hope for the Holidays (lifescript.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Many of us may be changing our decor, updating our color schemes and changing our light fixtures.

Here is a useful lighting tip:

In the dining room, use your room height to determine where to position the fixture above your dining table – For an 8-foot ceiling, the bottom of your fixture should be 27-30″ from the table. For higher ceilings, add three inches for each additional foot of height.

And, the width of your fixture should be no wider than the width of your table minus 12 inches!

For those of us of a “certain age” – regular incandescent bulbs greatly reduce our visual acuity. Using cooler type light sources, such as halogens and fluorescents can be a big help. Increasing the number of light fixtures in the room is really beneficial.

Happy Lighting!

PHA – Affordable, Sophisticated Home Decorating & Staging, Moving & Relocation and  Organizing Services.

Related articles by Zemanta

• A Chandelier Is Still A Chandelier (mydecorarticles.com)
• Efficient Solar Lights add style while saving you money (thehomeadventure.com)
• Chandeliers Lighting a Room: Grace and Elegance (thehomeadventure.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

In this jet age we live in, most of us find it very difficult to get time to prune the roses and very often we skip the process. We do not realize the consequences of avoiding the process. Here are a few points explaining the importance of the practice.

Pruning helps stimulate growth of the rose. There is no hard and fast rule regarding the time of pruning roses. As long as the roses are kept out to receive sunlight is all that matters. Sunlight infuses energy in the plant, and provides the nutrients they need through summer, which are missing. Air moving through the plant helps the plant to bloom and grow successfully.

Pruning protects the plant from diseases and wintering bugs. The rose plant is a common place for bugs and diseases to hide from the cold winter and also helps remove the bugs and the dead wood and decay that are caused by them. The growth of the rose plant is often curbed by the decays of the bugs, which leads to destruction of the plant. With the help of pruning the disease is removed thus helping the plant grow in a healthy environment.

Pruning guarantees excellent quality and quantity of roses. Pruning helps make the thin and weak stems of the rose plant stronger, prevents decay and revitalizes them. Even if the process isn’t done professionally, it helps the plant grow, get stronger and increase the quality of the flowers.

Pruning is a very easy process that can be done effortlessly at home. All you need is a pair of pruning scissors and gloves to protect your hands. You need to find the perfect time to prune your rose. Different varieties of roses have different times to prune. Usually the time before spring is the best for cutting.

You should also give a lot of importance to the way you cut each rose. If cut haphazardly it will be difficult for the rose to grow back. Avoid bad and rough cuts, which damage the stem and tissue of the plant. The cut should always slope towards the bud, not too far away from it. You should make sure that you have removed all the dead wood before cutting the rose. Ensure the use of appropriate tools, dull and rusty tools can be harmful.

Pruning helps the plant gain its nutrition and energy and makes it stronger and healthier. You should never avoid this act of trimming your roses. By cutting away the dead wood and bugs, you ensure a healthy and fast growth. Roses are not nearly as difficult to maintain as many people think they are.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Fear of Pruning (online.wsj.com)
• How to prune in your garden (telegraph.co.uk)
• Pruning jobs for January (telegraph.co.uk)
• Caring for roses (telegraph.co.uk)
• ANN LOVEJOY: Pruning Roses Properly (kitsapsun.com)

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.