Centipede grass is a warm season grass and should be used mainly in areas with a generally mild climate. The best time for planting is in the late spring or early summer. Soil temperatures should be consistently above 70 degrees, with all danger of frost passed. As a guideline to knowing the soil temperature, wait until daytime high temperatures are consistently over 80 degrees. This grass can be planted in late fall and left to sprout in spring, but it has a much higher risk of failure due to spring freezes and being crowded out by other, early growing plants.

This type of grass adapts well to sandy, acidic soils in mild climates. It does not need much fertilizer; in fact you don’t want to overdo the fertilizer. It only grows three to five inches tall, requiring infrequent mowing and edging, but it spreads quickly in its territory and helps to crowd out weeds. It does best in full sun or slight shade. Its low spreading growth makes it fairly drought-tolerant.

To prepare for planting into an existing lawn, rake your lawn to remove debris. Fertilize with ten pounds of balanced fertilizer or centipede fertilizer per 1000 square feet. For planting a new lawn, rake the soil up 1/4 to 1/2 inches deep, rake in the fertilizer, and then smooth it out with a rake or roller. Lightly mulch in areas where erosion might become an issue.

Use at least one-fourth pound of seed per 1000 square feet. One-half pound in a new lawn produces a good, thick lawn in two to three months of growth. Spread seed with a lawn spreader for even distribution. Water it consistently until seedlings are established. Mow it often to keep weeds down while the grass grows. After the first year, you will have a lovely green, low-maintenance lawn.

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We took the kids out to a mall one time and the little girl was really enthralled by the waterfall fountain fixture in one part of the mall. She kept asking us where is the fish (as the fountain ended in a small man-made pond) and if we can have one at home. While installing one in our home is close to impossible right now, maybe we can have one done when we get our own house. We just need to make sure that we have enough space and the ceiling is high enough for it. Feng Shui experts also claim that the element of water in the house always bring good luck so we will see. I have also been wanting one as work has been piling up and stress is a constant companion these days. They say water fountains are naturally relaxing, and they can help you turn a common yard into a calming oasis.

The sight and sound of rushing water is naturally soothing. The question now is whether to have an indoor or outdoor fountain. There are numerous styles, materials, colors, and sizes to choose from, ensuring that you can find the ideal outdoor waterfall water fountain for any space or area. Having it outdoors would allow you to have a bigger fountain, and you would not need to worry about the possible water spills that may arise.

Having an indoor water fountain might be potentially messier, but you will notice that it makes the nicest decorations. The element of water flowing calms senses too, and I have noticed it cools down a room too, especially if it is large enough. You can opt for a tabletop fountain too.

It looks something like this:

Here are some indoor water fountains that I like:

Most fountains can be installed by a single person and require no advanced tools or skills. You will also discover that maintenance is very simple and that it takes only a small amount of time.

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I have been looking at our old photos (for a scrapbooking project I want to finish) and I saw an photo taken at an old house, maybe that of my grandparents’. It had a door in the middle of the living room which led out to the patio and there were several wind chimes hanging from it. I remember that I used to get scared whenever it would tinkle and make sound at night – it made me imagine ghosts entering the house.

I am not scared now as I actually find wind chimes a great addition to the house, especially outdoors – in the garden, lanai, patio or terrace. It actually is said to attract positive energy so there are people who consult Feng Shui experts on where to specifically put it in the house. The most popular handcrafted bamboo wind chimes make a glorious sound. These kind of wind chimes produce a low natural sound, much like the sounds of the outdoors. Not only are bamboo wind chimes very decorative and relaxing, but they are used when practicing Feng Shui. They are said to calm the fast moving energies. Wind chimes are made to mimic sounds as well. This particular Woodstock  Aloha Wind Chime available at Outdora.com specifically takes you to a Hawaiian paradise.

This particular wind chime is perfect for the outdoors (example: garden) because of its color, it would blend in. Bamboo wind chimes’ sounds are perfect to fall asleep to, because it is soothing and low. Its not high pitched or annoying. You can also have garden bells decorate your lawn or garden shrubs, it would be a perfect accent along flower shrubs or plant trellises. Or you can mix a garden bell with wind chimes and come up with a completely different accent!

Take a look:

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Summer is officially here! Summer vacation is not until next week for my son but he is home earlier than usual as they are just finishing the required number of school days. It is louder than ever with my kids’ constant bickering earlier than usual so my work time is severely compromised. As when before I had at least four hours of quiet time before my son arrives from school and the princess naps, now I do not even get a single hours wherein I can work straight! I need to act as referee every 30 minutes. Usually, what movie to watch is the culprit. Even if we have 2 TVs! (Maybe we need another DVD player!) Not to mention they are always hungry! I am running out of recipe ideas to cook – I might as well get a BBQ grill as the kids love grilled food!

I am looking forward to the summer though, even though I am pretty sure the heat will be a killer. I am already thinking where to get the kids tanned. My kids are fishes, you can leave the whole day in the pool and they would only leave it to eat. I guess a pool with a BBQ grill is necessary. Swimming poolside with grilled food is the best summer experience. It’s too bad the inflatable pool we have won’t fit the small garden we have here, we can just have it in our own backyard. I need to buy barbecue grills but it would still be a great investment. The husband prefers traditional grilled food – cooked by fire has the best taste and I have to agree. This fire pit grill with rotisserie is perfect:

• • Main grill included large handles for easy removal of grate
  • Cooking grate has an adjustment range of over 18 inches
  • Full diameter handle/safety ring
  • Burns wood or charcoal

If you are one who loves to entertain at home (and maybe have a pool, getting these outdoor kitchens is something that will make your lives easier:

You got everything you need to entertain with ease and style!

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When I was still single, all I ever wanted was a house to call my own, with a husband and kids and a stable job. It’s what I’d like to call a picture-perfect life. But when I had kids of my own, I realized that I prefer a movie life compared to a still photo. So I wanted a bigger house. When we moved to where we are right now, I realized that I do not necessarily want a bigger house, but a house big enough for my kids to grow up comfortably in. I have always remembered an article I read that your house needs to grow when your family grows so it must be designed to handle extensions and renovations. So now I appreciate a wide lot – we can build a small house for now and once we grow as a family (and save more money), we can have it extended. The wide expanse of land can be wonderful areas for my kids to run and play with. It can also be beautifully landscaped as well. Landscape Design should be handled by a landscape designer and architect so they can recommend the perfect materials for your project! How can one who has no experience plan walkways, know what stone to use and where to situate flowery shrubs, waterfalls, ponds and lamp posts?

This is a sponsored post.

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If there is a seven-year itch in marriages, I think we can safely say that we are experiencing a very dire house itch. It all started with the husband, on his way to the grocery, saw an open house banner on one of the villages we pass on the highway en route to the grocery store. He went in, was showed a model house, some home plans and their prices. He wasn’t that excited because we are as broke as can be and cannot afford anything right now but the agent explained to him how loans can work – from the monthly Pag-IBIG payments we have been contributing. That’s when he got excited because it can almost cover everything already.

Of course, it would not be the dream home I want – wide open spaces with a sprawling garden and spaces for extension and renovations. But as the husband said, if not now, when? We have been looking over at house plans finding ways to make the floor plan more functional for us. I am actually surprised with the husband’s focus on this one. Between the two of us, it is mostly I who plunge head on and take risks (read: take loans!) and he is the one always saying we need more money, save first, etc. I am still asking for a sign if we should pursue with it or not. The husband is right, we are not getting any younger. We need to start now because we would not want to have our kids grow up without a house to call their own. Maybe when I finally become rich (I don’t see that happening unless I practice what I slaved 8 years for!!!), I can finally use the house plan I really want. Let’s just pray that the lot I want is still there.

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A friend recently went to Shang Bora and we were left feeling jealous and eager to go there after seeing her pictures. It truly is an amazing place – infinity pools at each villa, hammocks everywhere, pools everywhere, L’Occitane products as toiletries and extremely efficient and courteous customer service.

I particularly liked their outdoor furniture. The Adirondack Chairs were very inviting with their matching Outdoor Bench Cushion. It looks to me the chairs were custom-made so I am guessing their cushions were most likely custom made too. The cushions are actually a great idea for these chairs because they can be removed if the guest wants. For example, if the guest wants lie around after swimming, she would not want to get the cushions wet. If she would though, the one thing great about it is employees can just replace them with another cushion and have the wet one washed and cleaned!

Do not worry because these chairs can be in your backyard too! You can get yours at 30% off right at Custom Cushions (www.customcushions.net). They have custom-made cushions too, with size to thickness and color of the fabric completely customizable.

Why don’t you have your own lounging area in your yard right now?

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It is only halfway through last year did we really decide on the changes we want to implement in our rented house. Since we are renting, our options are limited so we decided to buy things we can take with us when we move. Prior to that, we had built-in cabinets built (which was taken off our rent, up until now) but honestly, looking back, it might have been a wrong move as I see a lot of nice stand-alone cabinets (which would be ours still if we move out).

A lot still has to be done, especially with the big brother’s room. At least, I was able to save enough to get us a bed and my workstation (all from my “job”!). Our next target is the kitchen and our laundry area.

It needs a major overhaul, I tell you. The laundry area needs to have new laundry lines installed, and truthfully, I think we need a new (bigger and faster) washing machine. I want to have a pantry closet with an adjoining dish cabinet built for my plates (I invest in Corelle plates, with two kids, they never break, even if they have been dropped to the floor – promise!). My sink (I tell it is mine because I wash the dishes three times a day, seven days a week) is too small and the faucet is too low. Kitchen Faucets are currently on sale at FaucetsonSale.com and I am thinking since they offer huge discounts, I might as well replace our small one – I would just need to let our landlady know so it can deducted from our rent.

I would want one exactly like that!

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