As soon as I saw the title of Garden Rant's post, "Cool Stuff To Do With Weeds," I was hooked. Because, after all, there aren't a lot of productive things you can do with weeds--well, besides kill them, that is.
But now you can add another application to your list. If you find your yard overcome with weeds, give them a good pull and throw them into a lidded barrel. Fill the barrel with water--Elizabeth of Garden Rant recommends rainwater.
Let the mixture sit for a few months--yes, you read that right. After that, you'll have a barrel full of liquid fertilizer. Just be sure to dilute it before you apply it to your plants. This is a great project to tackle in early to mid-fall. You can let the mixture steep over the winter, and then you'll have a large batch of fertilizer in time for spring planting season.
For a multitude of reasons, not everyone can plant a traditional garden. Maybe you live in an apartment or condo where green space is sparse and not really yours to dig up. Perhaps your soil is inhospitable to anything except crabgrass. Or maybe you have impeccable landscaping that even raised boxes would marr. Whatever the reason, we discovered a solution for you: gutter gardening!
Jayme of aHa! Home and Garden has written an awesome tutorial on how to construct, hang, and effectively plant your own hanging gutter garden, complete with spectacular photos!
Painting building roofs white is a movement that's slowly catching on in big cities. A light-colored roof reflects light, rather than absorbing it, a function that can significantly reduce energy costs. And when air conditioning use is decreased, the amount of carbon emissions released by the units falls, too.
White roofs are a trend that's catching on for commercial use, especially in large metropolitan areas like New York City. One of the significant drawbacks is that white roofs show dirt, wear and tear much faster than their dark countertops, meaning that maintenance is required on a more frequent basis.
You may not have noticed many homes with white roofs in your area, but they are available. Some roofing companies offer a white composite roof tile, which has a similar aesthetic to Spanish-style tile.
We're always on the lookout for new products. Or old products done better. Or anything, really, that gets the mind spinning with DIY possibilities. The Liteblok from Cresco Concrete is one of those products that offers environmentally friendly building that's fast, easy and affordable. We know what you're thinking... so what's the catch?
We're looking. Closely.
What is Liteblok?
These large building bricks are made from concrete that has been specially treated with non-toxic foam to create millions of tiny air bubbles. No, it's not a huge marshmallow. And we don't recommend tasting it or trying to roast it over a fire (because they're also fire-resistant, which is just another plus for this product).
