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During the course of the year, the exterior of your home takes a beating from various environmental factors. While some wear and tear is inevitable, more serious damage can be prevented if you perform a few routine maintenance tasks. These chores may vary depending on the season, though some must be repeated throughout the year. Maintaining a seasonal checklist of these maintenance tasks may help you remember to get them all done and ensure that your home's exterior remains in top shape no matter what Mother Nature dishes out.
If you don't have a lot of time to care for difficult, needy houseplants, but want to liven up your home decor with a little greenery, consider selecting a simple houseplant that requires little care. While some houseplants require regular watering and trimming, others are content to be cared for on a semi-regular basis, making them the ideal candidate for busy gardeners.
The term "evergreen" commonly evokes images of pines, firs or other needle- and cone-bearing trees. Many broad-leaved plants -- including some rhododendrons, hollies, azaleas and magnolias -- are also evergreen. Most evergreens benefit from health-maintaining food.
Time takes a toll on a home, and without proper maintenance it can become run down, inefficient and could result in lost value, wasted money and even safety hazards. Many of the necessary tasks to keep a house in good working order require only a small amount of time and need to be done infrequently, but these important issues need to be tended to regularly to avoid the pitfalls of negligence.
Choose low-maintenance houseplants to grow in your home or office and you won't think of yourself as a "plant killer" any longer. There are a range of houseplants that require only minimal care to grow successfully -- changing your "black thumb" to green.
Brick is a building material that has been used for many years because it is sturdy and energy-efficient. Many homeowners choose brick because of its easy maintenance schedule and the reduced need for repair when compared to wood-frame houses. However, brick does need care on occasion. Knowing what to do and when can prevent more costly home repairs in the future.
Landscape gravel is a low-maintenance option that will complement plantings and the overall style of the house. There are many colors of landscape gravel to choose from, along with different styles. For a rustic look, crushed gravel, which has jagged sides and sharp angles, is a more appropriate choice than washed stone, which is smooth and round from being tumbled and weathered with water by large machines in the quarry. In the end, the color of the gravel is what will show to the average observer and truly tie the landscape together.
