After you have finished buying in your garden patio furniture and you have set it out as you like, it is time to park yourself in one of your new patio chairs with one of your favourite drinks and maybe a pen and paper, and take stock of the situation.

Is your garden patio a bit crowded or do you have plenty of room? Are there other things you would like to have out there? How about plant life? Do you have enough plants and bushes – eye candy? Will you be using it only in the daytime or in the evening or even at night too? Will you need lighting, for instance?

This is where your own personal flair can be added to your shop bought furniture to make the patio truly your patio. So, if you live in a home that only has a small garden, you might want to think about things that hang rather than things that must be placed on the ground, which will take up walking space.

If you do not have much space, but you want to grow plants with edible fruit such as strawberries or tomatoes, you could get some hanging baskets. You can hang them from bushes or standard lamps or fix them to a plain wall. In the same way, you could grow herbs or other small flowers in a window box which has been fixed to a wall or placed on top of it. Or fix shelving up and put boxes and pots on that.

If your patio is too sunny, you could grow sunflowers or put up a trellis or an arbour and grow vines or clematis up it. Bamboo grows quickly too. If it is too shaded, plant plenty of bright yellow and white flowers and maybe paint the walls white or pink, if you are not keen on glare.

If your garden patio is a much larger, you could add garden accessories in order to further your enjoyment. For instance, you could construct a barbecue area out of stone slabs or bricks. You could add a fountain too. A fountain makes the very soothing sound of running and splashing water and fish are a delight to watch.

For the colder months, you could construct a fireplace, if local bylaws permit or get a patio heater. They are very efficient and can keep a fair radius warm, depending on the ambient temperature.

You will probably need some form of lighting too, if you reckon on spending some evenings on your patio. I suggest a few spotlights to highlight your favourite flowers and the fountain and a broader beam light that you can read by. Do not put these lights near where you intend to sit because they will be a magnet for flying insects. However, they make a good distraction from you and will keep all but the blood sucking insects away.

For parasites such as mosquitoes, you should have some form of mosquito trap. Some are very good and promise to keep a quarter or even half an acre clear of mosquitoes and other such nuisances.

For all these extra accessories you will need power points. Therefore, if you plan your garden with pen and paper like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, then you will be able to show the electrician where you want the points and what-not in your new garden patio layout.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with commercial patio heaters. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

The Hayward Wanda the Whale

The Hayward Wanda the Whale above ground pool vacuum is one of the most well-known and highest-selling vacuums available. It is an automatic pool cleaner specifically designed for above ground pools with vinyl liners. It cleans equally as effectively on flat-bottomed and dished-bottom pools. Hayward is a company known for their high quality pool cleaners, and the Wanda The Whale is no exception.

Function & Usage

The Wanda The Whale vacuum maneuvers itself. It uses a patented technology called SmartDrive, which controls its maneuvering. This makes it clean more rapidly and more effectively than just about any other bottom-roving vacuum, because the other cleaners move around in random configurations. While this above ground pool vacuum functions in the same way as the Diver Dave and the AquaBug models, it goes a bit faster than the two others, and therefore cleans the pool in a shorter amount of time.

Safety

One of the most important things about this cleaner is that it keeps the pool clean with its incredibly powerful suction power. It uses no harmful chemical sanitizers. This means that you can maintain a low level of chemicals in your pool. Too many chemicals in the water can cause unwanted health effects. This is especially pertinent when children will be swimming in the pool. Children’s’ immune systems are not as stable and well developed as those of adults. For this reason it is imperative to limit the amount of chemicals in the pool.

Appearance & Looks

Wanda The Whale has an eye-catching color and pattern, which distinguishes it from other automatic above ground pool vacuums. Kids like the fun design, which resembles a friendly blue whale. However don’t be fooled by its fun exterior; this cleaner is one of the best automatic cleaners available.

Performance & Ability

The suction ability on this cleaner is incredibly strong. It can pick up everything from dirt and small particles to fallen leaves and twigs. If you intend to use it to pick up leaves, you might want to invest in a leaf canister. The leaf canister will prevent leaves and twigs from reaching your filter after they are picked up by the vacuum, and therefore, you will extend the life of your filter and pump.

Necessary Equipment

The Hayward Wanda The Whale vacuum works with a standard above ground pool filtration system. No additional booster pump or other equipment is necessary. Included is a 30-foot hose.

To learn more about the Hayward Wanda The Whale and other above ground pool vacuums, or To get more info on the best and worst above ground pool cleaners, visit Bob Washington’s website.

Every spring brings that time: time to open your above ground pool for the swimming season of summer. It has been a cold, long winter, and it feels like so long since your pool was open and the water was gleaming. This easy guide will get your above ground pool open and running in practically no time.

1. Begin by siphoning off any water that may be laying atop the pool’s cover. if you plan to use an electric suck pump, it is a good idea to put a plastic frisbee or similar item between the pump and the cover.

2. Carefully take off any twigs and other debris from the top of the cover.

3. Disconnect and take off the cover cable from the ratchet.

4. Disconnect any cover clips and water tubes.

5. Remove the cover slowly. Be careful not to let any debris that is atop the cover slip into the pool as you pull the cover off.

6. Take off the pillow by detaching its string. Deflate the pillow.

7. Take out any leaves and sticks or other debris from the pool with a skimmer or a leaf net.

8. Expect the water level to be low. This occurs due to ice, evaporation, and water displacement.

9. The water level may be low. Add more. It is imperative that the level of the water be halfway up the skimmer. This will be the correct water level to maintain throughout the swimming season.

10. Check your skimmer, pump, and filter to make sure that they are in correct working condition.

11. Install the pump onto its base. Fasten it with two pump mounting screws.

12. Connect the ground wire to the pump.

13. Put the filter onto the base.

14. Check to be sure that all rubber o-rings are well-lubricated and not worn out.

15. Tightly attach the connector between the filter and the pump.

16. Securely connect the filter hose from the skimmer to the pump.

17. If you will be using a chlorinator, attach the return hose from the filter to the chlorinator. Then, connect the return hose to the outlet.

18. Make sure that all hose clamps are securely attached.

19. Be sure that the lid cover on the pump is secured tightly.

20. Use the removal tool to remove the winter plug from the return fitting. Then take off the aquadoor, or ice-plate, from the skimmer.

21. Be certain that every screw on the skimmer is tightened.

22. Attach the eyeball return piece. Be sure that the fitting parts are all assembled before you install them. Once they are installed, be sure to point the fitting downward.

23. Install the skimmer weir and skimmer basket.

24. If your pool if in or against a deck, insert your ladder into the flanges on the deck’s surface. Otherwise, insert the A-frame ladder. If you plan to use drop-in stairs, first put bags of sand into the stair unit, then put the stairs into the water until they are fully submerged. Attach the handrail into the flange of the deck or stairs.

25. Check to be certain that each electrical connection is grounded.

26. Power on your filter system.

27. If you use a DE filter, insert the required amount of DE. You will ‘bump’ your filter multiple times during the initial 24 hours of operation.

28. If you use a cartridge filter, make sure to install the filter cartridge.

29. If you use a sand filter, be certain that your drain plug is in the tank. Make sure that your filter is properly filled with filter sand. You should replace the filter sand at least every two years.

30. Backwash the filter.

31. Power off the pump.

32. Turn the valve handle to the position marked ‘filter’ and turn the pump on.

33. Don’t vacuum your pool for at least 24 hours.

Now you are done. You may now swim in the pool. Have fun and enjoy the water.

To see more about above ground pools and above ground pool vacuums, visit Bob Washington’s website, where you can see which above ground pool vacuum would be best for your needs you.

Awnings are a great way to extend outdoor space while offering protection from the rain and sun. However, there are a few things to consider before taking the plunge and installing one.

The choice and variety of awnings on the market today is almost endless and it can be quite a task to choose the right one. Probably the most important thing is the style as it should ideally match your house’s exterior. It is no good buying something that clashes only to regret it later and not enjoy your awning as you should.

There are both standard and retractable awnings and you need to consider which meets your needs best. If you use your outdoor space for different purposes, the retractable model offers versatility in that you can extend and retract it at will. The standard awning is a permanent fixture and is not able to move once installed.

The material of an awning is also important and depends on your household and what you will use your outdoor space for. For instance, if you have young children it might be a good idea to invest in an awning with fabric that is UV resistant to protect them as much as possible from the sun. A waterproof material is essential if you live in a rainy area as it will last much longer. If you have a lot of barbecues it’s advisable to have fireproof fabric and it is always better to have an awning that is easy to clean.

Examine the quality of the awning before you buy it. The manufacturer should offer a warranty which covers not only the fabric, but the steel or wooden structure that supports this fabric. If it is a retractable awning, the warranty should extend to the motor as well.

The choosing of an awning is important and so is the installation. A competent DIYer shouldn’t encounter any problems in putting up an awning, but he needs to adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s guidelines. An incorrectly installed awning may invalidate the warranty. An option is to call in a professional, which costs, but peace of mind is priceless and the warranty will be safe in the hands of a professional. Once installed, the awning has to be maintained. It’s wise to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and care for your awning as they suggest. This way it will last longer and any problems will not be your doing.

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