Home & Garden

Tree stumps can be a real pain. They’re not only an eyesore but a potential safety hazard. If you’re not sure how to remove that annoying ugly stump, then read through. We have a range of solutions here. Some that require less work, but more time to complete, and others need more work, but less time to complete. It’s really up to you how you want to remove your stump. Just remember that for most of these you’ll want to be wearing safety equipment such as protective eyewear, and earmuffs, especially for those requiring tree care equipment and machinery.

1. Dig up the stump

If you want the stump removed cheaply, without any extra special equipment, then dig it up yourself. We’ll recommend a method that doesn’t require too many items. Tree stumps can be notoriously difficult to get out, especially if it was an old, large tree. So, get a helping hand, as it requires a fair bit of work. This may take anywhere from an hour or three, so allow for a decent amount of time to get it done.

All you’ll need is a mattock, a straight crowbar, an axe, a spade, some gloves and a pair of strong hands.

1. Begin by using the mattock to loosen up the soil around the stump.
2. Dig away the loosened soil with your spade. Try to go as deep as you can. If you get to a bit of hard soil or clay, use the straight crowbar to dig away the hard material. If you need to use your hands to get it out, you can do that. Just make sure you have your gloves on, to reduce any risks of scratching yourself.
3. Chop away at the roots with the axe. You’ll want to cut as many as possible. You can also use the crowbar for the deeper roots an axe won’t reach.
4. Keep chopping and digging until you reach the taproot. Sever the taproot, it’ll be the thickest and hardest to get.
5. Now wiggle the tree stump until it comes loose, making sure everyone is helping. Once it feels loose, pull it out.
6. Fill the hole and pack it down to reduce the risk of falling and tripping.

2. Burn the stump

Fire is the oldest tool in humanity’s arsenal, and we’re going to show you how to utilise it. This method, especially in dry areas should be done with the most precaution. The best time to burn anything is in rainy and cold seasons like autumn and winter. Be aware, that even if it is cold, surrounding trees and plants can still be dry, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while. Remove any leaves, branches or potential fire hazards away from the stump. You could even dig away at the grass and surrounding soil, and line it with rocks for a little bonfire. But please remember to act safely and abide with any local fire restrictions or warnings.

3. Let the stump rot

This method, although kinder to the environment, is very slow and may take many weeks or months for the rotting process to complete, so don’t expect any instant results. It may take a few months, but it does mean you don’t have to do too much work. You’ll be using compost to encourage microbes to eat away at the stump.

For this, you’ll need a drill, some compost, a straight crowbar fertiliser and water.

1. Drill some large holes, the more the better.
2. Mix the compost, fertiliser, and water. There’s no real ratio, just eyeball it until it becomes a slurry.
3. Pour it over the stump.
4. You can keep adding your compost to it over the months or chip away at the stump as it softens with your crowbar.

4. Rot the stump with chemicals

Maybe the previous method was a little too slow for you. Well, this one will just be a tad faster. Stump removal chemicals work to accelerate the rotting process of dead wood. This should take a few weeks to work. Keep your children and pets away from the stump, as the chemicals are potentially poisonous.

What you’ll need is a drill, an axe, a spade and a chemical stump removal.

1. Same as before, drill a number of large holes into the stump, the more the better.
2. Pour the stump removal solution all over the stump making sure it soaks into the holes and wood.
3. Wait for a couple of weeks, monitoring the stump.
4. Dig it up or break it down with an axe or spade, or even your boot if it’s soft enough.
5. Now it’s just a matter of cleaning the stump out with your spade, and disposing of it in the green waste bin.

5. Stump grinder

Perhaps the most efficient and easiest way to remove a stump. Stump grinders have a serrated spinning saw that mulches the stump, making it easy to remove. There are options to buy or even hire a stump grinder for a reasonable price. So this is a great solution for those who have a lot of stumps that need excavating.

There are still a few items you need. A chainsaw, and shovel.

1. You’ll want to clear away the majority of the debris so that it doesn’t get caught in the grinder and fly into the air.
2. The stump needs to be almost level with the ground, so use a chainsaw to cut away as much of the stump as you can.
3. Position the grinder above the stump, and start it up.
4. The grinder will want to dig into the wood, and you’ll need to lower it down so it’s able to mulch up the whole stump.

Now you can either dig the debris up with a shovel or just pack it down and lay some topsoil over it, to allow for grass to grow.

Please remember that, like any machinery, stump grinders can pose a risk to personal safety if operated incorrectly. Always refer to and follow the operator instructions for your safety, and those of others.

The best part about general home design is how you don’t have to follow the beat of anyone’s drum to make a difference. The idea is to personalize your home the way you want, which means you won’t necessarily have to pay a significant amount to be happy with the results.

That being said, it’s often better to have a roadmap when it comes to home improvement. That way, you won’t get too overwhelmed by all of the potential routes you can take and instead focus on what you can do best for your home. So, if you’re having trouble considering home improvement due to budget issues, here are a few tips that are sure not to break the bank.

1. Going slow and steady

The first and most crucial tip is not to get too carried away regarding home improvement projects. It’s better to look at it as a long-term project that you can tackle bit by bit, instead of trying to do as much as you can in a single day. The idea is to pace yourself and think about the little things you can accomplish initially.

For example, if you think about the slow and steady route to handle things, the first step is to clean. You can start with one area and spread it out over the rest of the week. The more time you spend cleaning, the clearer the idea for potential improvement, as you get an idea of what needs to be done. There are even Copper Recycling services that can help get rid of various types of junk for a profit.

1. Breathing life into your abode with plants

One of the cheaper ways you can make improvements to a home is through the use of house plants. It’s the kind of thing that can be considered a universal benefit, as just about everyone appreciates house plants. Not only does it feel like a breath of fresh air, but it also has a literal meaning to it due to the fresh air plants provide to indoor spaces.

That said, if you’re worried about maintenance, you might want to go with fake plants that offer the same aesthetic. You have plenty of choices when it comes to plants!

1. Simplicity is the best policy

You’d be surprised how much of an impact a simple design can make when it comes to home improvement. It’s similar to how you might design a website. When you put yourself in the shoes of an online visitor, you’d want to get straight to the point and provide an easy means of navigation. When it comes to home improvement, it’s about organizing your house in a way that makes the most sense.

A mind toward simplicity can help quite a bit, as you can do a bit of organizing and potentially get the look you want without having to make any big purchases.

There are so many tips designed to help those with tight budget restraints that you’re practically spoiled for choice. The most important rule when tackling home improvement is to make sure you have fun!

Most people appreciate scenic views, and this is part of the reason people invest in landscaping. Landscaping refers to customizing yards, parks, and other outdoor spaces to add visual appeal.

 

Some people invest in landscaping to increase their enjoyment of their property. Since homeowners typically recoup all the money they invest in landscaping when they sell their property, many improve their yards before listing their property for sale. Whatever your reason, you can turn to the sources explored here for inspiration when you’re looking for the perfect landscape design.

Check out professionally landscaped yards.

 

Landscape architects are experts with a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture and a license. These experts develop site designs, and they prepare budgets for their clients. They develop design plans for outdoor locations such as yards, parks, playgrounds, and school campuses.

 

Consulting a professional landscape designer in Dallas is a great way to inspire your landscaping project. Hiring an expert ensures they’ll consider the soil at the site and choose foliage suited to the environmental conditions. Reviewing their project gallery is a great way to articulate your preferences, mainly if you aren’t familiar with landscaping terms and plant names. Your landscape designer’s objective is to develop a custom design that fits the way you intend to use your outdoor space, and they’ll draw on their years of experience to satisfy your needs.

Drive around your neighborhood.

 

Spend time driving around your neighborhood or city, pay attention to outdoor spaces that draw your attention, and make notes about what sets them apart from less appealing outdoor spaces. It’s also a good idea to drive by properties for sale to determine which homes have good curb appeal to help you come up with ideas if you plan to list your home.

 

You may discover you’re drawn to specific flowers or trees. Taking photos of foliage you like can help you identify the plants when it comes time to start work on your project.

Build your design plan around the plants you like.

 

Check out online horticultural sites and explore the plants they sell. Houseplants and outdoor plants make great living gifts, and perusing popular options can help you identify plants you find appealing. Also, consider the plants suited to your climate. Some plants need high temperatures while others thrive in cooler temperatures.

 

You can also refer to horticultural sites to learn about each plant’s care needs. You’ll need different plants for areas that receive full sunlight all day and areas with a lot of shade, so you must consider which plants are suited to your outdoor spaces.

Choose a color scheme.

 

You might decide to start your design plan with a color scheme instead of specific plants. Landscapers may prioritize colors if they’re working on a design for public spaces and want to reflect the state’s flag colors or if they want to use a company’s brand colors for public spaces outside their offices.

 

Homeowners may also start with colors because they want to complement their house or other features on their property. It’s also possible you’ll start with colors because you have a strong preference for specific color schemes.

Consider your needs.

 

English ivy is just one of the many poisonous plants for dogs while daffodils are an example of a toxic plant for cats. Eliminate any toxic plants to protect your pets when you’re developing your landscaping plan.

 

Many plants absorb chemicals and other toxins and produce clean air. You may opt to focus on plants that will improve your outdoor air quality. You may also concentrate on selecting plants that produce specific fragrances you enjoy.

 

Landscape architects can help you come up with the perfect landscaping design. Generate ideas by checking out properties in your neighborhood and horticultural sites. You may narrow your choices based on your color preferences or other factors, such as whether the plants are safe for pets.

Lockdown has been tough on us all. For many of us, working remotely from home will continue to be a reality. That’s why it’s important to make sure you have space set aside for your work environment should the need arise. Doing this will allow you to maximise your productivity as you work from home.

Preparing for that next shift can be daunting. But don’t worry. Below, we’ve highlighted some tips and tricks to help you make your space more productive.

The Right Type Of Flooring

Work requires you to be clear-headed and free to make the most out of your hours. That’s why having the right type of flooring is important. Flooring can help one perceive a room as being larger and more open than it originally is. When deciding on a type of flooring for your office, make sure you choose a type of flooring that is easy to keep clean and low maintenance, like wooden flooring from reliable sources such as this wood flooring Bedfordshire supplier

Try to avoid overly warm flooring such as carpet, or overly cold flooring such as tiling, depending on the local climate.

Lighting The Way To Success

Another key ingredient in managing your space is the lighting. A recent article on the effects of light in the workplace shows that it’s an important factor to consider when planning out your work environment. Eye fatigue and strain are common in most household setups when working for long periods.

Try to make the most of natural lighting, set up in rooms that have good natural sunlight from nearby skylights or windows. Avoid using light fixtures with warm tones and try to find ones with good white and blue light tones, to help keep you awake and focused should you make use of them.

Keep Your Area Clear Of Clutter

As Benjamin Franklin once said: “For every minute spent on organizing, an hour is earned”. Keeping a clean working environment is important. The greater space you have to work with, the more effective you will be in your craft. Keeping your space free of clutter and items helps focus your mind on the task at hand and not on the objects in your area. Clutter can make one feel anxious or frustrated for the simple reason of it being there.

Start by removing the basics. Anything in your environment that you simply do not want around you needs to be moved away and out of sight. Next, try to organize your furnishings away from your workstation and keep enough space around yourself to stay open and focused. Use the area to your advantage, make sure to set up elements such as filing cabinets a slight walking distance away. This helps promote movement during your working hours and helps stimulate the mind.

Now that you have prepared your new home office, your desk is ready, and the files are neat, you can comfortably focus on working from your improved workspace with absolute ease.

Cameras and CCTV systems have been gaining popularity over the last few years, with more and more homeowners choosing to install cameras around the house. A CCTV system is the next step up in your home security renovations and it can help to protect your property more effectively.

Although home CCTV systems are useful and a must in many countries, some downsides need to be considered. To understand more about whether you should install a home CCTV system, read these pros and cons first.

Records are Maintained Electronically

When it comes to CCTV systems, the main objective is that you can see everything that is going on around you. Whether you are at home alone or out shopping, you need to know that nothing happened while you were away. You can go back into any recording to watch every minuscule incident and occurrence.

Maintaining records also helps police enforcement and other government agencies. Your cameras may pick up on vital evidence that can be used for a crime that was committed. The records are accessible from any device with an internet connection, and there is no reason to delete any footage because online cloud storage is pretty much unlimited.

Advanced Features and Functionality

The great thing about the technology behind CCTV is that it has advanced to a point where you can see through night-vision lenses, record footage to the cloud, and speak through the system. Most of today’s cameras come with many different features, and the more you are willing to pay, the more functionality you have.

The purpose of CCTV systems is not just to protect your home, but also for you to see what happens around your home and neighbourhood. Many criminals have been caught because a neighbour had a security system with cameras monitoring the street. To buy your very own CCTV system that comes with these features and more, visit powerpointelectrics.co.uk.

Your Privacy and Costs

When you install CCTV cameras, you can choose to set them up either on the outside or inside of the house. You can even place one in every room and along every corner of the house for a full 360-degree view. The issue is that personal privacy is not necessarily guaranteed. Unless the cameras aren’t recording, your every move will be on tape and uploaded to the cloud.

For people who value their privacy indoors, maybe just one or two cameras around the outside of the house will suffice. The cost to install a CCTV system that caters to your needs can also be an expensive experience, especially if your home is relatively large. The thing to remember is that although CCTV systems cannot protect your house from being robbed, they do make criminals stop and rethink their actions.

Installing a home CCTV system is a great way to deter criminals and monitor your home and neighbourhood 24/7. The only real downside is that the initial investment is large and that your privacy is affected. All in all, home CCTV systems offer many more benefits to a home that make it a viable option for home security.