Having an outdoor kitchen in Arizona is about as important as having a swimming pool. It is a feature that can be enjoyed year round and is a great way to gather family and friends together for a meal. But most homeowners begin to lose interest in their grill when it's time for a good cleaning. Either they decide to stop using the grill as often or they decide to use a harsh chemical to try to avoid the effort involved in scrubbing the grill clean by hand. But now there is another option that is simple, does not require harsh chemical and is environmentally friendly.
The Only Items You Need Are Already In Your Kitchen
All you need to easily clean your grill grates are a few items that are already in your kitchen and cost almost nothing. First, you need a lemon and some table salt. Next, carefully slice the lemon in half, from end to end. It is important to cut the lemon from end to end so that you have a larger surface area.
Then, holding the lemon by the rind side, squeeze it gently so that it produces enough juice to moisten the entire cut surface. Next, sprinkle about a tablespoon of salt evenly over each half of the lemon and wait long enough for the juice to moisten the salt to help it adhere to the surface of the lemon. Finally, gently scrub the grilling surface with the salt covered lemon just as you would with a sponge.
The acidity of the lemon and the grit of the salt will break down any grease and loosen any partials which were cooked onto the grates. After scrubbing the entire grilling surface with the lemon, use a damp towel to wipe the grate clean and another towel to dry the grates.
A Tip For A Non-Stick Grilling Surface
To make grill clean-up even easier there is a simple and affordable trick to make the grates non-stick. Simply cut a regular potato in half and after the grill is fully heated, rub the cut side of the potato across the entire grilling surface. This will coat the grate and keep food from sticking. If you do not have a potato a halved onion or a halved lemon will work, but both of those items can leave a small amount of flavored residue on the grilling surface.
Try both of these tips to make grill clean up easier and safer for your grilling surface and the environment.
Sweeten's Founder + CEO Answers Your Renovation Questions
Welcome to #16 in our series, designed to bring clarity to some of the mysteries of renovating! Whether you're a first-time homeowner or a serial renovator, each project brings with it a new set of circumstances and new questions, and Sweeten is here to be a source of knowledge and reassurance.
Feel free to email me at JBrownhill@sweeten.com with any reno questions or dilemmas you'd like addressed.
QUESTION: What's the biggest myth about general contractors?
JEAN: I love this question! One of the biggest myths about general contractors is that they want projects to go on for a long time. We've heard homeowners say things like, "Oh, he's trying to stretch out the project. He wants it to, you know, go on forever." The truth is, general contractors want exactly the opposite. Each day they have workers on your project is another day that they have to incur labor costs. Their ideal project is one that starts and ends exactly on the schedule they laid out so they can take that crew and move them to another project. General contractors do not want your project to go on indefinitely. They want it to be done as quickly as possible-just like you do-and they want to do it well.
Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project's location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Followthe blogfor renovation ideas and inspiration and when you're ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.
Did you learn how to cook anything new this year? Anna Hezel, senior editor at Taste (one of my favorite breakout food publications of the last couple years) asked this on Twitter last week and like a Muppet to the ABCs, I couldn't resist jumping in. I'm glad I did. I always wish I had more time to cook all the things I want to cook (my To Cook list is still thousands deep), wish I could share more recipes more often here, but this caused me to look back at the new recipes here in 2018 and feel a murmur of pride. Look at all we did! I learned to make falafel, and that it's shockingly easy! I got to make Pad Thai I crave the most at home. We got cacio e pepe just about foolproof at home, just when I was convinced I never would. I learned about melting potatoes. We made the sheet pan sandwiches of my dreams and they're vegan too. We had a real talk about the InstantPot and got some delicious short ribs out of it. I learned to make the best apple pie I've ever had. I made a completely bonkers layered mocha cheesecake late in the day on my husband's birthday, and last week we mashed up baklava and babka, just because we could. I look at all of this and I am so excited about the year we've had, many of these things I had barely dreamed up yet this time last year, and I hope next year is even better.
And now, a brief moment of sap: Getting to hang out here, indulging my culinary whims, and having a cheering and encouragement squad had been one of great surprises and delights of my so-called adult life. Who knew what I'd do when I grew up? Certainly not me. I bumbled along, I tried things I hated, I tried things I didn't hate but felt no passion for, and one day I landed here and, to my surprise, am rarely asked to leave. I am so thankful you are here and since I am not tired of cooking, I hope you never get tired of reading.
So tell me: Did you learn how to cook anything new this year?
Meanwhile, here are your Smitten Kitchen favorites from this year: Read more »
And just like that, 2018 has come to a close here on Dream Green DIY! Thank you so much for all of your support and encouragement this year. I can't even begin to describe to you what it has meant to have all of you along for the ride on my eighth year of blogging.
Click back here to see all of the fun projects I worked on throughout 2018, and I hope you'll stop back in bright and early on January 7, 2019, as I kick off a brand new year of DIY crafting, building, and renovating. I've got so many ideas floating around in my head that I can't wait to make good on, so I hope you'll stay tuned. As always, if there's anything in particular that you'd like to see me focus on or try out, by all means, let me know about it in the comments, or you can shoot me a message here.
I'm headed out of the office for the next two weeks to enjoy my annual winter break, and I hope you all are going to have the chance to take some much-deserved time off, too. Whatever you get up to between now and the new year, I hope it's full of creativity and goal-setting. This is the perfect time of year, after all, to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with yourself about all the things you'd like to accomplish in the year ahead. I dare you to think really big! I know I will be.
I'm "officially" out of the office until January 7, but will be posting a special New Years Day message here on DGD like I do every year. Check back on the first day of January for a quick-but-candid post detailing everything I have planned for the blog throughout 2019. I've got a few big changes I can't wait to roll out across this digital space in the new year, and I'll be sharing (big) hints as to what those changes will be first thing on New Years Day.
Oh, and if you're curious to know what my personal resolution is going to be for 2019, make sure you're signed up for the DGD Tribe newsletter, too, because I'm planning to shoot that out to inboxes everywhere on January 2. Sign up here to get on that list. Happy holidays, everyone, and I'll see you next year!
Color trends come and go while a well-coordinated interior color scheme stands the test of time. But, if you love interior design, you're always on the lookout for new trends in fantastic colors. So, to find out what's hot for 2019, let's take a look at some color predictions made for the coming year by some of the top paint companies.
Top Choices for 2019 Color Trends
Sherwin-Williams • Cavern Clay
An earthy hue with boldness, this elemental color is sure to add the feeling of a wind-swept desert or an evening at the beach to your interior. Add other earth elements such as tiles, stones, and pops of green plants to bring out a big warm welcome in your home.
Neutral and understated, this elegant color exudes with sophistication and balance. As a highly adaptable color, it also finishes with a soft matte or a beautiful sheen that shimmers.
Taken from virtual reality, this is one of 12 colors of the year in the Valspar 2019 collection. This illuminated color is almost vibrant enough to be neon yet soft enough for a clean, modern style in your home.
The Behr Blueprint color is a true blue with no hint of green or aqua which is a change from the trends of recent years. Simplicity makes this a good choice for an introduction to your interior without a lot of re-decorating or other color changes.
Soft grassy green with a touch of happiness gives this top rating as a 2019 color of the year from Dutch Boy paints. Moreover, this color will bring out the positivity in your interior design with its inherent comfort level.
Ace Hardware • Clark + Kensington • Pineapple Cream Granita
This exciting shade of yellow is light and airy but that's not all that makes this color special. It is the first color to ever be mixed, created and named solely by an Ace customer during the Color of the Year contest!
These selections are only the beginning of the new 2019 color of the year trends. So, if you don't find something here that sparks your interest, keep searching for the right new shade of paint. Also, I recommend that you subscribe for upcoming posts so you are the first to learn about the trending colors of 2019.
Houseplant care doesn't have to be complicated. Growing plants indoors has been a trend on the rise for a few years and shows no sign of slowing. Even if you don't have a set of green thumbs, you can still grow and healthy houseplants that will thrive for years to come.
Houseplant Care
Houseplant Care
Whether you are into cacti and succulents or tropical vines and flowering orchids, this article will show you how the best houseplant care methods, including how to re-pot and when to fertilize your new plant babies. You will also learn how to propagate your plants so that you can multiply your plant collection for years to come.
What is the easiest houseplant to take care of?
The following is a list of some of the most forgiving houseplantsavailable and are suitable for beginner botanists.
Snake Plant.
Bromeliads
Jade
Pothos
Rubber Plant
Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane
Air plants
Succulents
Cacti
There are many varieties of houseplants available at your local garden center so don't feel like you need to be limited by the list above. Buy a couple plants and take some time to learn about them. After you understand basic houseplant care for those species, buy a few more and keep your collection growing.
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Use watering globes to water your houseplants while you are on vacation.
How often should you water your houseplants?
Over-watering is one of the most common causes of houseplant death. If you're not sure how much to water, it's better to err on the dry side than to give your plants too much moisture. Too much water will cause root rot, which is irreversible.
All houseplants have slightly different watering requirements so it's best to water on an as-needed basis rather than by a set calendar schedule. In general, plants grown in well-drained soil in an appropriate-size container should be watered when the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil feels dry. Most houseplants would prefer being slightly dry than soaking wet. Think about the plant's natural environment and try to recreate it in your home.
Try to water houseplants the way they would get moisture in their natural environments. Some plants need a period of dry soil for days or weeks. Others houseplants need more regular watering, with the soil allowed to dry between each drink. Still others prefer consistently moist soil.
Mist Houseplants
Misting with a spray bottle is also helpful for houseplants. A light misting once or twice a day is usually beneficial. Remember that we're trying to duplicate the natural environment for these plants, and that means humidity and misting for tropical plants. Consider placing these houseplants in your bathroom. These plants will love the extra moisture and humidity from your daily shower.
Placing a tray underneath the potted plant's container is the best way to catch that excess water and prevent a mess.
The natural environment for cacti and succulents is a dry, desert climate, so obviously you shouldn't be watering them as much as you would a tropical plant. Let these types of plants dry out completely between watering and only water as little as necessary. Keep these plants out of the bathroom.
Plants will either require bright or direct light (sunlight from a south-facing window) or indirect or filtered light (sunlight through a curtain or light from a bulb).
When plants don't get the light they need, they won't necessarily die, but they will stop producing new growth.
Grow lights for house plants
If you place your houseplants in a room that doesn't get a lot of natural light or you live in an area that gets dark early in the winter you may need to invest in a few grow lightsto keep your plants happy and healthy.
In order to grow, plants need:
Blue wavelength light for foliage growth.
Red wavelength light for flowering and fruiting.
Plants have little use for green wavelengths and reflect them back, which is why leaves appear green.
You don't need to spend a fortune on expensive grow lights.
Fluorescent lights are by far the most economical and easy choice for houseplants. They come in tubes or compact bulbs (CFL) that screw into regular lamp sockets, and they're cool enough to put close to plant foliage.
Generic fluorescent tubes and bulbs are higher in blue wavelengths, so look for "full-spectrum" or include a mix of "cool" and "warm" bulbs. When in doubt, buy "cool white" products, since white light contains the full spectrum of wavelengths. For maximum effect, position fluorescent bulbs about a foot away from plant foliage.
Try this easy method to add light for plants in a room with low natural light:
Find a standing lamp with three bulbs, ideally one with moveable or goose neck fixtures.
Use one incandescent bulb and two compact fluorescent bulbs of the highest wattage you can within the safe wattage rating for the fixture.
Aim the lights toward your plant table. If each fixture is separately movable, then put the fluorescent bulbs closer than the incandescent to avoid heat damage.
Place a mirror or other reflective surface underneath your plants, to reflect light back up onto the foliage.
Not sure if your houseplants need re-potting? Check the root systems. If the roots are circling the inside of the container, it may be time to re-pot the plant. When the plant has outgrown its pot you can transplant it into a slightly larger container. If you'd like to keep it in the same pot, trim off some of the roots with a sharp knife and replant it into the container using fresh potting soil. When you are putting it into a new pot, only transplant it into a pot that is one size larger.
Spring and summer are the best seasons for re-potting your houseplants. As you re-pot your houseplants, it's also a good time to divide those with multiple stems to get new plants. We will go over different methods of propagation in a moment.
What type of soil should you use to re-pot houseplants?
The best growing media for houseplants is actually soil-less and is a combination of equal parts peat moss, vermiculite/ perlite, and compost.
Orchids are notoriously picky with their potting medium. There aren't as many "one size fits all" options for orchid growing media, but a good combination for orchids is a well-drained mixture with plenty of room for the roots to breathe.
When you go to the garden center to purchase new "soil" (growing media) look at the packaging to find best variety for your particular plant. It should say what plant the soil will work best for, like orchids or cacti.
Repotting cacti
Repotting a cactus can be tricky. Make sure you protect yourself by wearing thick gloves. An easy trick to help avoid getting poked is to wrap the spiky part of the cactus up in newspaper while you move it to a new pot. Cacti are slow growing so you should only need to re-pot it every two or three years.
Propagate some houseplants by rooting the stem cutting in a vase of water.
Houseplant Propagation
There are three main ways to propagate your house plants:
Some houseplants such as spider plant and strawberry begonia reproduce by sending out runners with new plantlets at the end. It's super simple to root these to start new plants.
Other varieties such as bromeliads send up new shoots at the base of the plant or offsets, which you can divide and put into pots.
Climbing houseplants such as philodendron and pothos form new roots where their stems come into contact with soil.
If your plant looks like it has seen better days, don't stress. There are things you can do to help save your beloved houseplant before it is too far gone.
Dead leaves, stems, & branches must go. Use a pair of scissors or shears to trim away any dead leaves from the plant, then trim away all dead branches. Getting rid of anything dead will help the plant focus its energy on new growth.
Check light and humidity conditions. Make sure that sunlight is coming in direct contact with your plant, but not more than it needs.
Make sure you are not over watering or under watering your plant. See the guidelines above for how much water you should be giving your plants. Remember: over watering is the most common cause of plant death.
Houseplants with crochet cozies on the pots
How do you maintain indoor plants?
Almost all houseplants look better with regular grooming. Part of houseplant care is maintaining your plants to keep them lush and healthy. Dust collects on leaves, so wash them with a gentle shower of room-temperature water or dust them with a soft brush if the plants have hairy leaves. This improves the plant's appearance and keeps the leaf pores unobstructed so that the plant gets more light.
The main reason for pruning houseplants is to make them look better. If one of your plants has a branch that's too long, cut it back to a side shoot or main stem. Also remove any dead or diseased leaves and stems to help prevent the problem from spreading.
Rejuvenate overgrown houseplants by cutting them back to 4 to 6 inches tall. This technique is effective in encouraging new growth for trailing plants such as Swedish ivy and pothos that may have become bare at their bases.
Pinching means you remove stem tips, either with your fingernails or pruners. Pinch out the tip of a stem and the topmost leaves to promote growth of side buds. Plants that grow rapidly often look best with frequent pinching to keep them compact and bushy.
Trim faded flowers from your plants to keep the plant blooming and help prevent disease problems. While you're at it, be sure to remove yellow, brown, or withered leaves. Use a narrow-blade hand pruner or sharp scissors to make a clean cut without tearing the plant's stem.
Remove and destroy diseased houseplants or affected leaves or stems as they develop to prevent spread of the disease. Some diseases spread by insects, so keeping the insect population in check helps prevent disease problems.
Pothos Houseplant Care
Fertilizer for houseplants
Like watering, there isn't an easy guideline to know how much to fertilize. It depends on plant's growth rate and age, and the time of year. Avoid feeding houseplants when they're not actively growing or if they are stressed.
Most houseplants put on a growth spurt in spring and summer. This is the best time to fertilize them. During the short days of fall and winter, most houseplants go through a dormant period and need little, if any, fertilizer. Follow label directions to know how much plant food to use.
Fertilizers come in a broad array of formulations, and it's important to avoid over-fertilizing your houseplants. Too much fertilizer can burn their roots and stunt their growth. For flowering varieties, use a fertilizer in which the three numbers on the label (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, respectively) are relatively equal. If the nitrogen content is too high, the plant may grow a lot of leaves, but few flowers.
Houseplant care in the dining room.
Pest Control for Indoor Plants
Several insects commonly attack houseplants. Insecticidal soap is an easy-to-use, effective treatment for most soft-bodied pests such as aphids and spider mites. A forceful spray of water from the hose may knock down the population of these pests, too. Rubbing alcohol is effective on insects with waxy coatings such as scale and mealybugs.
An all-natural way to help prevent and get rid of pests is to use a solution that contains neem oil. Dust and grime can also attract and harbor spider mites and other insect pests. Wash smooth-leaved houseplants with a moist, soft cloth and some insecticidal soap, such as Neem Oil Spray. For plants with many small leaves, use a hand sprayer or sink sprayer to douse them with water.
No matter what treatment you use, be consistent. For fast-reproducing pests such as aphids and spider mites, you may need to treat plants once a week for a month to be rid of the pests.
Fungus gnats are tiny black flies that buzz around the soil; they're often confused with fruit flies. You typically see fungus gnats in large numbers when plants are over-watered. Allow the soil surface to dry between waterings.
Whether you are a beginner plantsman or a more experienced home botanist, collecting houseplants can be a fun and rewarding hobby. Do you have a houseplant collection? Let me know some of your best tips for houseplant care in the comments!
Updated 12/18 to reflect the current cost of landscape design.
When you hire a landscape designer you are paying them to develop a plan for your property. This usually involves drawings that show your landscape from above. You can see placement and relative sizes of proposed elements. Plants are placed, lighting fixtures are specified- the irrigation system layout may even be involved. This design, once in hand, can be given to licensed landscape contractors to bid and install.
But what does it actually cost to get a landscape design completed?
In general, a full landscape design will cost $500 - $5000. (Ross NW Watergardens usually charges between $1500 and $3000.) Some landscape designers charge an initial consultation fee, ranging from $100 - $250. (We have no initial consultation fee.) What factors affect price?
Modern Landscape Design by Ben Bowen of Ross NW Watergardens
The designer's credentials. Landscape designers can become accredited or certified through a number of organizations. These can be an indicator of experience and skill- they are definitely a cost, which probably gets reflected in their price. A landscape designer with a long career, good reputation, established network, and impressive portfolio is certainly going to cost more. And if your designer is actually a landscape architect, then expect to pay towards the high end of the range above.
Your property. Large properties require large amounts of time at the drafting table or computer and will cost more. Properties with a lot of slopes, existing mature landscapes, extra environmental concerns, or other challenges will push the price up.
Your desires. Sometimes clients call looking for a landscape design, but really just need a planting plan. Basic improvements can be easily worked out and are towards the lower end of the cost spectrum. If you want an outdoor kitchen, deck, water feature, lighting, shed, and whatever else? That's a lot of moving parts and the design fee will reflect that.
Landscape style. Purity is one of the most expensive things in design. An authentic English or Japanese garden takes a lot of knowledge, planning, and skill. A design that prioritizes modern lines, native plantings, wildlife, or low water use narrows options and challenges a designer. We enjoy these kinds of challenges- but they come at a cost.
There are obviously a lot of factors that effect what you pay for a landscape design. But, with the knowledge above you at least have an idea of what your design project could cost. The only way to find out for sure is to contact a local landscape designer and ask!
Did you learn how to cook anything new this year? Anna Hezel, senior editor at .jpg)
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