Looking to Start a Garden This Spring? Learn Beginner Tips Here!

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

It might be a strange time to start thinking about starting a garden now that it’s officially winter but planning is a crucial first step to gardening. Especially if you’ve never had one before. In order to help you out we found this article with 10 different tips for beginning gardeners. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

The rewards of gardening are great ??? fresh air, exercise, beauty and relaxation, to name a few. But designing and planting your very first garden can feel like an overwhelming task. Luckily, gardens are surprisingly forgiving creations, and the best way to learn is by simply diving in. Here are 10 tips to help get a new garden off on the right foot.

Get to know your site. Take your time to get familiar with your property before beginning a new garden. Here are a few things you may like to try while you???re getting to know your landscape:

– Take a leisurely stroll around your property with a notebook and make a rough sketch of the existing planting areas.
– Add notes to your garden ???map??? about which areas get the most sun and which are shaded.
– A simple soil test from your local garden center will tell you whether your soil is well-balanced in nutrients and pH.
– If you???re thinking of growing edibles (vegetables, fruit or herbs), it???s a good idea to have your soil tested for lead. Most at-home kits aren???t reliable indicators of lead in the soil, but you can send your soil samples to the Lead Safe America Foundation for a free lead test. If you find that your soil has an unsafe level of lead, you can still grow edibles in raised beds or pots with new soil.
– List which existing plants and features (such as fences or paths) you???d like to keep and which need to be replaced or removed.
– Spend time just hanging out in your garden. Let yourself daydream and see if any creative ideas present themselves.

Determine your style and goals. Gather a few images that inspire you and look for a theme. Are you drawn to lush flower-filled gardens or more crisply defined modern outdoor spaces? It helps to pair a few words with the pictures you???ve chosen, so try to come up with something that evokes the sort of garden you want, even if it???s not an ???official??? style term.

For instance, maybe you???ll decide your style is Industrial Zen or Playful Modern or Simplified Cottage. While you???re figuring this out, it helps to keep a photo of the exterior of your home at hand ??? whatever style you choose should be able to work well with the architectural style of your home as well as your personal preferences.

Once you???ve named your style, take a moment to jot down the activities and features you imagine enjoying in your landscape. If you have children, you may need a lot of open space for running around. Or perhaps you dream of relaxing in the middle of a big wildflower meadow ??? whatever it is, write it down.

Make a plan. Even if you???re planting only a single raised vegetable bed or cluster of potted flowers on the patio, having a plan is key. If you???re not sure which plants to buy, take a ???research??? trip to a local nursery (without buying anything!) and snap photos of plants you???d like to consider adding to your garden. Look at the tags and note down when they bloom, as well as sun and water requirements.

Pulling this information together into a sketched-out plan (no artistic skills required) takes extra time initially but will make for a more successful garden in the end. Choose plants that bloom in different seasons for year-round color, and be sure to pick plants with similar sun and water requirements to plant together.

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Looking for more garden ideas? Checkout this article about garden ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/61948110/list/10-tips-for-beginning-gardeners

Have Disorganized Drawers? Learn How to Better Organize Them Here!

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Jeremy Leake

Everyone has a drawer or more in their home that is somewhat dishevelled and could use some help. Whether it’s a junk drawer, kitchen drawer, or a bathroom drawer most drawers could use a little help. In order to help you out we found this article with some drawer organization ideas. We hope they help you!

From the article:

Closets are okay, and cabinets are something we???re willing to work with, but let???s be real. The drawer is the high-rolling storage solution of choice. In case you???ve never used a drawer before, basically, it puts all of its contents on full display with just a pull of the handle 😉 So??? yeah???. how did we ever come to have a junk drawer from hell? While those pullouts do half the job for you, you do need to give them a little guidance for them to reach their full potential. Not sure what we???re talking about. Allow us to lead you toward drawer-organization greatness.

Clear Acrylic Trays:

Transparency leads to clarity, simplicity, and beauty ??? life lessons learned while organizing. You better believe this drawer is deep.

Closet:

It???s a closet. Nope, surprise! It the most efficient use of space you???ve ever seen in your life. Your pantry just got super sized thanks to a couple of roll out drawers.

Under Sink Storage:

Chances are, you have one big cavernous cabinet under your sink which is one gigantic mess of cleaning supplies, garbage, and paper and plastic bags. Trust us, we know: Rummaging around down there is always a big bummer. Turn that frown upside down and make the goods come to you by installing some drawers.

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Looking for garage organization ideas? Checkout this article about garage organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.brit.co/drawer-organization/

Looking to Teach Your Kids Fire Safety? Start Here!

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Accidents happen. It’s how we prepare for them that counts for the long run. For some situations it’s the difference between life and death. Fire is one of those situations. Knowing how to teach your children in a way that they will understand can be difficult though. We found this article on PBS Kids that we hope will help you teach your children how to be safe around fire!

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From the article:

Be Safe

Get out fast! When you hear the loud beep of the smoke alarm, get out of the house. Never hide or take time to grab your belongings or pets.

Follow your escape plan. After all, you’ve been practicing!

Feel a door before you open it. If it is hot, there may be fire on the other side. Try to get out another way.

Stay low to the floor. Since smoke rises, the safest air for breathing is down low.

Call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Be sure to do this after you get out of the house. Remember: Only call 9-1-1 if there is a real emergency.

Stay out! Once you’re out, stay out. Don’t go back for anything!

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Do your kids have a hard time at bedtime? Checkout this article with bedtime ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://pbskids.org/arthur/firesafety/

Is Your Child’s Playroom a Disaster? Checkout These Organization Ideas!

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Jeremy Leake

Playrooms are very hard to keep clean. Kids have a lot of fun in there but they are filled with so much stuff that it can be hard to make it not look like a war zone. We found this article with 41 different organization ideas specifically for playrooms. We hope you’ll find some that will help keep your playroom clean and tidy!

From the article:

Save space by placing puzzles in zippered pouches

You can get rid of those bulky boxes. Just remember to cut off the image from the front of the box and tape it to the front of each pouch.

This wooden zoo pen is an adorable idea for storing stuffed animals.

A wall-mounted desk is easy to put away

Slanted shoe racks are great for displaying collections

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Want to raise and optimistic child? Then checkout this article about raising an optimistic child that could be of interest to you.
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Checkout all of the ideas here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/clever-organizational-ideas-for-your-childs-playroom

Prevent Injury With Fire Safety

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

Preventing injury from fire is very important but it’s even more important if you have kids since they don’t have the common sense that adults have. We found this article that we hope will provide a training tool for you and your children. We also hope that it will help prevent any fire injury in your home.

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If you need Denham Springs townhomes vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Electrical Appliances, Cords, and Outlets

Are your electrical appliances in good condition, without loose or frayed cords or plugs?

Are your outlets overloaded with plugs from the TV, computer, printer, video game system, and stereo?

Are you overusing an extension cord?

Do the light fixtures in your home use bulbs that are the correct wattage?

Does your home contain GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) and/or AFCIs (arc fault circuit interrupters), which prevent electrical shock and fire by shutting off faulty circuits?

Look around your house for potential problems. And unless you’re a trained electrician, be careful about do-it-yourself electrical projects. Studies have shown that many home fires are caused by improper installation of electrical devices.

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Interested in more household safety tips? Checkout this article about household safety for homeowners that could be of interest to you.
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Click here to read all the tips: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/home/fire.html

Learn the Facts About Dryer Vent Safety Here!

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Jeremy Leake

With so much confusing information out there about dryer vent safety we thought it would be important to provide clear information that’s easy to understand.

We found this article that we feel will do just that. Check it out!

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SPONSOR FOCUS: If you need Denham Springs townhomes vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

The Facts About Dryer Vent Fires

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a consumer product safety alert. According to the CPSC, annually there are 15,500 household fires due to dryer exhaust duct fires.

Annual property damage is approximately $88,000,000

There are approximately 400 injuries and 15 deaths each year due to dryer vent fires

Failure to clean the dryer vent is THE leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residences

80% of clothes dryers fires occur in residences

Why it is Critical to Keep Dryer Vents Clean

Moisture- one gallon or more of water must be disposed of for every typical load of laundry. Because of the moisture, exhausting the dryer to the outside is a must. Lack of cleaning can contribute to the growth of mold and retention of lint within the system.

Carbon Monoxide- Proper exhausting is of particular importance with gas dryers. In addition to moisture and lint, gas dryer ducts carry the by-products of combustion, including carbon monoxide.

Clogging- A lot of lint is produced in the drying process, and lint can restrict or block dryer ducts. A poorly exhausting dryer is not only less efficient, it can also be a fire hazard due to extreme flammability of lint.

Who Should Have Their Dryer Vent Cleaned?

Anyone who uses their dryer regularly each week and has not had it cleaned in 2 years.

Anyone who washes several loads of laundry every day should have the dryer vent cleaned annually.

Anyone who can see lint buildup in the exterior duct vent or lint preventing the closure of the exterior flapper.

Anyone who has dryer duct work running up through the roof or out a second story wall should have the dryer duct work cleaned annually.

Anyone noticing that it is taking the dryer longer and longer to dry their clothes.

Everyone who owns and uses a dryer!

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Looking for more tips on dryer vent safety? Checkout this article and learn more important fire safety tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.mikesexteriorhomecare.com/dryer-vent-cleaning/