Do you lack a green thumb?
The art of lighting your property and landscape
Embellishing your deck, yard or garden with lighting involves more than simply lining your pathways and flowerbeds with light fixtures. Indeed, there are certain rules you should fol- low for your landscape lighting to effecti- vely show off your property come sunset. First, let’s focus on safety. Your steps and pa- thways need to be clearly visible so that you can walk around with ease while staying out
of harm’s way. Wall-mounted sconces and embedded ground lights are extremely use- ful for lighting dark areas with style. Next, think about which elements of your landsca- pe you would like to showcase. A beautiful plant that you’re particularly fond of? The entrance gate? The fountain? The statue? To add a bit of magic, play with the lighting and install your fixtures (lights, lanterns, projec- tors, etc.) at random. All it takes is a well-
focused beam of light to create an illusion of depth and volume in any yard, big or small. Above all, it’s important to note that it isn’t necessary to illuminate the entire garden to create a warm atmosphere. An attractive yard that you’ll enjoy admiring from your patio or upstairs bedroom window is but the result of a careful blend of shadow and light.
With the right advice, anyone can create a beautiful garden bursting with colour. If you think you lack a green thumb, here are seven tricks to help you grow stunning, healthy plants that will make you proud to say, “I planted those.” 1. Use gardening soil specifically intended for planting purposes and add compost to enrich the earth. Avoid buying regular black earth, which is poor in essential minerals. 2. Choose plants that are easy to grow. You can find out which plants are best suited to your region and require little maintenance by speaking to a specialist at your local garden centre. 3. Make sure you plant everything in the right place. Always follow the sunshine recommendations on the label, or else your plants will remain frail and flowerless. 4. To reduce the risk of disease, add a good layer of mulch to keep weeds from invading your flowerbeds, and be careful not to overwater. 5. Water your flowerbeds with lukewarm or cool water either early in the morning or late at night. Do this once or twice every week; it’s better to water less often but in greater quantity. Avoid watering the leaves and flowers directly. Instead, aim the water
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stream at the base of each plant. 6. Get rid of weeds and wilted flowers regularly. 7. Add fertilizer to your flowers and shrubs every 15 days, or according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Successfully creating a beautiful garden is often a question of trial and error, so don’t get discouraged! All it takes is a little confidence. PROMOTIONS de may mai INSTALLATION GRATUITE à l’achat d’un chauffe-eau (d’une valeur de 200$) FREE INSTALLATION with pool heater purchase (a value of $200)
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