Outdoor Living Archives - Decor At Home

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11 September 2019

Buy a Cast Iron Garden Sundial for Your Garden

posted by Paula Atwell Leave a Comment

A Cast Iron Sundial Makes a Statement

When planning a garden, we always have to think about when the various annuals and perennials will bloom, placement of the various flowers and shrubs, and where to place walkways and resting places in a garden. One of the most beautiful pieces that can highlight your garden plan is the placement of a cast iron sundial in a central location.

A cast iron sundial can be just a sundial which is beautiful in itself, but it can also include a bird bath to attract birds and other animals to watch. Sundials can be a garden’s center, to draw people there to sit and meditate peacefully on the beauty of nature.

Cast iron sundials are meant to withstand weather’s harshness year round, and can be purchased in many styles and finishes. A sundial for your garden is an investment, because your sundial will last many years bringing pleasure to all who see it.

Cast Iron Esschert Zodiac Sundial

This Esschert Cast Iron Sundial costs $39.95 plus shipping. It is 11 x 11 x 14 inches in size, and is both functional and decorative. The sundial has symbols of the zodiac imprinted in the cast iron, and will add style to your garden.

Esschert is a make of all kinds of outdoor products for home and garden.

Dragonfly Sundials

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Turtle Sundial

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Bird Bath/Bird Feeder Sundials

An outdoor cast iron sundial can be a combination bird bath or bird feeder as well as a sundial. Sundials in the traditional sense keep time via the movement of the sun either on a hourly, daily, or monthly basis.

If you want to attract birds to your garden, then a bird bath or bird feeder type of sundial is what you should look for. Many of the bird bath or bird feeder sundials have animal motifs or plant motifs to blend in more with the garden and have a fantasy appeal.

Animals are often picture or sculpted on sundials especially garden animals, birds, butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and squirrels.

Iron Sundial Pedestal

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Butterfly Iron Sundial

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Armillary Sundials

For a more traditional antique looking cast iron sundial, you can choose an armillary sundial. Generally, you will have to buy the pedestal separately from the actual sundial itself which gives you some selection as to the height of the sundial or whether you would like the sundial to perch on a table or shelf instead of the traditional pedestal.

Iron Armillary Sundial

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Unique Sundials

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Garden Sundial

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Other Sundial Choices

Sundials can be made of any metal that will not rust, and therefore you can also find sundials made from aluminum, bronze, copper, and brass. Copper is the most expensive, and therefore less available. Aluminum is the least durable metal, and more lightweight. It is cheaper but not the best choice.

If you are going to leave your sundial out all summer or all year, then you need to make sure to find a heavy durable metal sundial meant to be outside all year. Part of your decision can be based on how the metal oxidizes in the outdoors over time.

Some sundials are painted, but I do not think that painted sundials are a good choice because you will have to continue painting them as the paint wears off. The metals on their own will develop a beautiful patina in the outdoor garden.

Sun Moon Sundial

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Whimsical Sundials

Sundials can be plain and simple, or they can be whimsical. The most whimsical have butterflies, and fairy creatures on them, and these are especially suitable if you are creating a fairy garden. Whimsical sundials appeal to children because it is fun to find the various creatures in the garden. You can also find matching garden statues to go with your cast iron sundial.

There are also funny sundials or hobbyist sundials. One of my favorites is the golfer sundial below. This a favorite of many golfers both men and women, and makes a great gift for Father’s Day.

If you are more traditional, the armillary sundial or calendar sundials are a better choice. Watching the sun move across the sundial is a very peaceful occupation for any garden visitor.

A sundial should be a central point in your garden, so browse the choices available and choose the one that best fits your garden plan, and your budget.

Sun Clocks

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Golfer Sundial

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This post contains affiliate links and I'll earn a small commission if you shop through them. This is how we help to make money so we can continue to bring you amazing content.

2 September 2019

Greenworks 27012 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Cultivator/Tiller Rototiller

posted by Paula Atwell Leave a Comment

Have you been searching for a quality rototiller, that has plenty of power and an affordable price? Finding the right unit can be a challenge, as there are many options on the market today, and not all of them are well-made! In addition, if you prefer to save the environment by going electric, then your available choices dwindle even further. Luckily, the Greenworks 27012 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Cultivator/Tiller is an excellent solution, as it has a variety of different benefits and features to commend it to you.

First of all, it doesn’t produce any harmful emissions, unlike gas tillers which contribute to pollution. This also means you won’t be breathing in fumes while working in your garden, which is a nice added bonus! In addition, you won’t have the hassle of buying fuel or refilling the tank in the middle of your project. Further, getting tune-ups will be a thing of the past, as you won’t have all of the same scheduled maintenance to worry about. Essentially, if you’ve been looking for a rototiller that is stress free and good for the environment, then the Greenworks 27012 Rototiller is the machine for you.

Yet, you may worry about its power capabilities, and if it can tackle your gardening jobs. Many owners of this product are pleasantly surprised to find that its power surpasses that of their old gas-powered rototiller. In fact, it has been known to churn up large rocks, break through sizable dirt clumps with ease, rip through medium-sized roots and even take on hardened clay soil.

The Greenworks 27012 Rototiller features 4 tines that chew up the dirt, which you can remove for easy cleaning. Also, you can adjust the tilling width depending upon your needs, to either 6.25 or 10 inches. You’ll likely enjoy the cord lock as well, which keeps the electrical cord in place during use. Some customers have commented that this isn’t as reliable as they would like, but this is easily fixed with a zip-tie. Finally, the depth of your till is fully adjustable, allowing you to select how far down in the soil you’d like to go.

For the best results the manufacturer suggests that you remove any grass and weeds on the surface, and break up the top soil with a shovel. The Greenworks 27012 Rototiller will handle the job from there, allowing you to plant in freshly tilled soil! Also, with its compact size it is perfect for confined gardening spaces, as it has a smaller turning radius than bigger models.

This rototiller also comes with a 4 year warranty, which is twice the industry standard. Greenworks truly stands behind the quality of their manufacturing, and you can expect your tiller to last for many seasons to come. People also love how a design which is more compact and weighs less than bigger units, can deliver the same level of power. This is perfect if you’ve been having trouble handling a larger machine, or the effort of using a heavier rototiller is becoming a problem.

All in all, the Greenworks 27012 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Cultivator/Tiller is an excellent value, giving you the most for your money. If you have a small to medium-sized garden and you’d like to lower your carbon footprint, then this is an excellent choice. You’ll no longer have to deal with the problems associated with gas-powered units, yet you’ll still enjoy the power and performance that the 27012 delivers.

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Filed Under: Outdoor Living Tagged With: lawn tools, outdoor tools, power tools, rototiller

This post contains affiliate links and I'll earn a small commission if you shop through them. This is how we help to make money so we can continue to bring you amazing content.

21 August 2019

Snow Plow or Electric Snow Shovel

posted by Paula Atwell Leave a Comment

Do You Shovel the Snow in Your Driveway?

If you live in a climate that has all four seasons like I do, or even a climate that just has one and that one is winter, you spend a lot of time shoveling snow from your driveway and sidewalks every winter season. Shoveling snow can be back breaking, exhausting work, and when the snow falls, it can fall for days, sometimes weeks on end, making snow removal very tiresome.

To make the task of shoveling snow easier, you can hire a snow plow service, but that can be expensive. For moderate levels of snow, a snow blower or electric snow shovel are good options to clear your own driveway of snow, especially if your driveway is not too long. Or you can buy a snow plow attachment for your own vehicle and clear your own driveway of snow, and even make some money by plowing the snow for your neighbors.

Whatever you plan to do to shovel snow, take care not to over extend yourself shoveling snow. People die every year because they are not used to the level of exercise that is needed when shoveling a driveway with a manual shovel.

Electric Snow Shovels

Electric snow shovels are a good tool to have on hand for moderate snowfalls. Electric snow shovels throw the snow, allowing you to clear your walkway, sidewalks, and driveway in a much faster amount of time than a manual shovel. Electric snow shovels are small, so they are good for smaller spaces, and areas that you need to turn around quickly to clear the snow out.

Electric snow shovels do not take a lot of storage space, not too much more than a traditional snow shovel making them a good tool for cottages, condominiums, and apartments.

Electric Snow Shovel

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Snow Blowers Move More Snow

Snow blowers clear a wider and larger area more quickly of snow than an electric snow shovel. A snow blower blows the cleared snow through a shoot further than most electric snow shovels, and works better in situations where you have a heavy snowfall.

Snow blowers also handle well in a driveway that already has snow piled up from previous snow plowing or blowing and will continue to clear the area of snow and pile it up on top of the previous piles.

Snow blowers do need more storage space than an electric snow shovel, so they are best if you have a shed or garage to put your show blower in.

Snow Blowers

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Plowing the Snow Yourself

The easiest way to clear your driveway quickly is with a snow plow. Snow plows work best in areas that get regular heavy snowfalls each winter for an extended period of time. You can buy a plow attachment for your vehicle, or you can hire a snow plow service.

If you buy a snow plow attachment for your own truck or vehicle, practice driving it in a parking lot where there is a lot of room before you go in and out of narrow driveways. No need to plow right into your own or neighbor’s house.

Especially if you live on a farm, or in a rural area, a snow plow or a combination snow plow and another shovel are your best bet. Snow plows, snow blowers and snow shovels can be purchased on eBay both new and used from reliable eBay sellers. You can get parts for your snow plow also. eBay sellers are rated by how many sales they have had and their feedback, so you can check other people’s experience before you buy on eBay.

You may find that a seller is right in your local area, and you can pick up the snow plow right from their store.

As to shoveling your own driveway by hand, I recommend saving the manual shovel for small jobs like clearing your front steps, and leaving the big jobs to your electric snow machines.