Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

As the weather warms up, some people are eager to get back outside and start doing some serious gardening, while others would rather spend their time relaxing on their patio chairs, porch swings, and hammocks.  There are also those who would love to be able to produce gardens full of gorgeous flowers, but fear that it’s an unattainable goal.

Sometimes, their trepidation stems from the idea that the talent for nurturing plants is innate, and they simply weren’t lucky enough to be born with it.  In other cases, people think that their schedules are just too hectic, and they could never give a garden the time and effort that it needs.  Then, there are many instances in which people living in apartments, townhouses, or condominiums, feel that they don’t have the room to grow anything.

These concerns, however, are generally unfounded, because virtually anybody can raise a garden.  The thing to remember is that there are all types of gardens; and having one does not necessarily mean that you must cultivate a large plot of land, or even one little flower bed.  No-o!  In fact, you can create one in something as small as a single window box or planter; and that’s why container gardening is becoming one of the most popular pastimes in the country.

Actually, container gardening offers many advantages, including giving you more choices, and more freedom, than the traditional kind.  For example, it allows novices to start small, before deciding whether or not to try full-scale gardening.  It’s also a great way for extremely busy people to get all of the pleasure out of growing beautiful flowers, without having to devote a lot of time to them.  On top of that, it solves the problem of having limited space, because even people with very small terraces, balconies, or decks, can have lovely container gardens.

Furthermore, even a huge garden, or a lavishly landscaped lawn, can be enhanced by strategically-placed flowers, and even small trees, in attractive planters.  They can add color, life, and excitement to porches, patios, decks, and gazebos, and extra height, texture, and interest to garden beds.  They can also be used to brighten up trouble spots that are inhospitable to plants, and dull or empty-looking spaces; and they can easily be moved from place to place.

Moreover, besides having endless varieties of flowers and plants from which to select, you’ll find that there are so many more kinds of planters than there used to be, with options extending not only to the different materials that are available, but to the styles, sizes, and colors.  In addition to the standard plastic, terra cotta, and wood planters, there’s a wonderful assortment of metal, polywood, vinyl, and plastic-coated steel planters, as well as planter tubs, planter benches, and planter trellises.

Whether you use just one container, or a combination of several, you can create a garden that will take your breath away, while breathing new life into the scenery.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Hammocks, patio chairs, planter, Planter Benches, planter trellises, planters planter tubs, porch swings

No matter what kind of home you have, whether it’s a grand mansion, a modest ranch, or a small trailer, a colorful, well-kept garden can only improve its looks. Nothing makes an impression – good or bad – as quickly as the state of a home’s exterior, and its grounds. It’s so important that it can make or break a real estate deal. Although nearly everyone strives for a beautiful garden, those of us who are not experts may quickly become discouraged when our efforts don’t produce the spectacular results that we see next door. We point, in envy, grudging admiration, or a combination of the two, to the neighbor’s green thumb, and tell ourselves that, as with any other coveted talent, some of us have it, and some of us don’t. Even if that’s true, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have the garden of your dreams. What’s the exciting solution? Planters!

You may already be using planters when you want to add color, life, and a little pizzazz to dull or empty-looking areas on your porch, patio, deck, or gazebo. So, why shouldn’t you do the same for the sparse, hungry-looking spots in your garden? There’s no better way to give it an instant lift, or to make it immediately look fuller, than with planters. In fact, they’ll perk you up just as fast, too.

Besides simply filling in spaces, planters will add height, structure, and style. Furthermore, it’s easy to make the whole thing look like a grand design, when you mix and match the materials, and the colors of the flowers and planters. For wood planters, a good choice is cedar, which has natural oils that make it resistant to decay and insects, along with dimensional stability that helps to keep it from warping. You may also want to use teak, which, although a bit more expensive, is richly infused with a high concentration of oils and minerals that keep it free from rot, insects, and warping, and make it practically maintenance-free.

For more colorful containers, add some thermo-plastic coated steel planters to your collection. These have high thermal stability, which means that they will not freeze, or be affected at all by temperature extremes. They clean up easily with water, but will not absorb it. Virtually indestructible and maintenance-free, this material is particularly desirable if you live near the ocean, as it will not be corroded by salt spray. Best of all, it comes in a huge variety of vibrant colors.

CedarStore.com has one of the largest selections of planters, made from cedar, cherry, teak, wrought iron, polywood, and thermo-plastic coated steel. In addition, they have planter tubs, planter benches, fern stands, tree boxes, arbors, trellises, pergolas, and scores of other accessories that will brighten up your landscape.

Tags: planter, Planters

One of the best ways to add variety, color, and interest to your garden is to use planters.  These versatile containers offer many advantage, including allowing you to cultivate plants that are not indigenous to your area.  You can display them in your yard during the summer months, and, if you wish, take them indoors when the weather gets cold.  Planters also lend structure and height to dull areas that need a little extra zest.

When selecting your planters, choose durable materials, especially for those that will be left outside during the winter.  Ceramic, stone, and terra cotta can all be susceptible to damage from the cold, so your best choices are planters made from rot-resistant woods, metal, and synthetic materials.  You should always make sure that the planter has adequate drainage as well; and even if it does, just for insurance, cover the bottom with a layer of drainage material, such as broken pottery, stones, or non-biodegradable packing peanuts before you put in your flowers.  Use lighter materials in the planters that you will be moving from place to place.

CedarStore.com has one of the largest selections of planters, planter tubs, planter benches, fern stands, wheel barrows, and tree boxes, all of which are designed to endure harsh weather for years.  Besides decay-resistant cedar, cherry, and teak planters, you’ll also find colorful thermo-plastic coated steel and polywood planters that are immune to temperature extremes, impervious to water, maintenance-free, and virtually indestructible. 

We also have a great collection of arbors, trellises, pergolas, and scores of other accessories that will help to make your garden spectacular.  And, speaking of spectacular, you’ve got to check out our new resin solar-powered planter/cooler, which comes in six bright colors, and has built-in light-emitting diodes that will last up to 20,000 hours; and, yes, it really can be used as a cooler!      

Just remember, when you’re using it for beverages, keep your other planters out of reach, so that tipsy guests won’t accidentally pull your prize flowers out of the soil.  Of course, those plants may not be safe from the sober guests, either – if they’re looking for root beer.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: planter, planter bench, planter tub, Planters, wheel barrow

If there’s one good thing about today’s economy, it’s that it is bringing out the resourcefulness in us.  With nearly everyone having to cut back on expenses, millions of people are discovering new abilities, as they’re forced to do jobs for themselves that they have, heretofore, paid others to do for them.

These undertakings can range from the simplest tasks, such as mowing the lawn, to big projects, such as landscaping.  Certainly, more people than ever are struggling to learn not only how to design garden beds, but to actually make things grow.  While this may not sound like a monumental chore to some, it can really feel like an impossible dream to someone whose lack of a green thumb results in a flower bed so pitiful that it stands out like a sore thumb.   

If you’re in that number, don’t despair, because there are many places where you can go to get professional advice, without paying an expert to do the work for you.  Remember – the lack of ability is not a point of shame; the only thing to be embarrassed about is not seeking help.  Why, that would be as silly as driving around lost for hours, instead of simply stopping and asking for directions.  And nobody would be that foolish, right?  (A-hem!).

Getting the help that you need is as simple as going to a nursery or home gardening center, where the employees are generally pretty knowledgeable, and will be happy to answer your questions.  In many cases, for true amateurs (you know, the ones who are green everywhere except their thumbs), they will recommend honing their skills on a container garden.  This is a great idea, and one that many talented, experienced gardeners and landscaping professionals use every day, for large and small areas, in a variety of designs.

Whether you’re new to gardening, or have been growing beautiful flowers and plants for years, you’ll love the great assortment of planters and planter boxes at CedarStore.com.  We’re not talking about any plain, old flowers pots here; we have planter benches, with or without lattice backs, planter trellises, tubs, stands, window boxes, and wheelbarrows.  They also come in a wide range of materials, including decay-resistant woods, such as red and white cedar, treated pine, and cherry, as well as nearly indestructible polywood and thermo-plastic coated steel, which are available in over a dozen striking colors.

So, stop in and see our fantastic selection.  We’re sure you’ll give it a “thumbs up,” no matter what color your thumb may be!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: planter, planter boxes, Planters, trellis

Planters that are overflowing with colorful flowers can make any outdoor space look full, rich, and inviting.  Luckily, there is a huge variety of plants that can really thrive in containers.  Besides potting annuals, perennials, bulbs, and tubers, you can even plant climbing vines, vegetables, herbs, fruits, and even small shrubs and trees, such as miniature alpines, as long as you use the right containers.

At CedarStore.com, you’ll find a great assortment of planters, including planter benches, with or without lattice backs, planter trellises, tubs, stands, window boxes, and wheelbarrows.  You can choose from red and white cedar, cherry wood, metal, and polywood, which is available in several colors.

So, if you’re planning to do a little container gardening, here are some of the basics you need to get started.  Once you decide what you’d like to cultivate, choose a planter that’s large enough to give them room to bloom, and accommodate their roots as they grow, but small enough so that the plant does not get lost in it.  Usually, one that’s about an inch wider in diameter than the root ball will do nicely.  Make sure that the bottom of the container has at least one hole, or is slatted, to keep the roots from drowning; if it has no holes, cover the bottom with a one-inch layer of gravel, or stone or marble chips.

The standard soil for most plants will be composed of one part perlite, one part peat moss or compost, and two parts sterile potting soil.  If you’re growing azaleas, hydrangeas, or other acid-loving plants, or varieties, such as clematis, that flourish in more alkaline conditions, adjust the soil mixture accordingly. 

Give fruiting plants and perennials an initial feeding of high-nitrogen fertilizer, which will encourage faster growth, followed by a high-potassium liquid tomato fertilizer.  It is also recommended that annuals receive a weekly dose of liquid fertilizer; and the same should be given to potted roses and perennials every two to three weeks.  Because most container plants need more water than those grown in the ground, keep an eye on the soil to make sure that it doesn’t get too dry.

If you have any questions about planters, or any of CedarStore.com’s outdoor furniture, outdoor décor, or home accents, you can always call a design consultant or customer service representative, at 888-293-2339.  If you have questions about growing your plants, you’d better ask at a nursery or garden center.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: planter, Planters, tubs, wheelbarrow

Below is an interesting read that I came across last week.  At the end, there is a savings for you from CedarStore.com.

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In the green: Gardening industry sees boom as families grow own veggies to save on groceries 

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — With the recession in full swing, many Americans are returning to their roots — literally — cultivating vegetables in their backyards to squeeze every penny out of their food budget.

Sunday March 15, 9:28 pm ET

By Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press Writer

Industry surveys show double-digit growth in the number of home gardeners this year and mail-order companies report such a tremendous demand that some have run out of seeds for basic vegetables such as onions, tomatoes and peppers.

 “People’s home grocery budget got absolutely shredded and now we’ve seen just this dramatic increase in the demand for our vegetable seeds. We’re selling out,” said George Ball, CEO of Burpee Seeds, the largest mail-order seed company in the U.S. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Gardening advocates, who have long struggled to get America grubby, have dubbed the newly planted tracts “recession gardens” and hope to shape the interest into a movement similar to the victory gardens of World War II.

Those gardens, modeled after a White House patch planted by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, were intended to inspire self-sufficiency, and at their peak supplied 40 percent of the nation’s fresh produce, said Roger Doiron, founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International.

Doiron and several colleagues are petitioning President Obama to plant a similar garden at the White House as part of his call for a responsible, eco-friendly economic turnaround. Proponents have collected 75,000 signatures on an online petition.

“It’s really part of our history and it’s part of the White House’s history,” Doiron said. “When I found out why it had been done over the course of history and I looked at where we are now, it makes sense again.”

But for many Americans, the appeal of backyard gardening isn’t in its history — it’s in the savings.

The National Gardening Association estimates that a well-maintained vegetable garden yields a $500 average return per year. A study by Burpee Seeds claims that $50 spent on gardening supplies can multiply into $1,250 worth of produce annually.

Doiron spent nine months weighing and recording each vegetable he pulled from his 1,600-square-foot garden outside Portland, Maine. After counting the final winter leaves of Belgian endive, he found he had saved about $2,150 by growing produce for his family of five instead of buying it.

Adriana Martinez, an accountant who reduced her grocery bill to $40 a week by gardening, said there’s peace of mind in knowing where her food comes from. And she said the effort has fostered a sense of community through a neighborhood veggie co-op.

“We’re helping to feed each other and what better time than now?” Martinez said.

A new report by the National Gardening Association predicts a 19 percent increase in home gardening in 2009, based on spring seed sales data and a telephone survey. One-fifth of respondents said they planned to start a food garden this year and more than half said they already were gardening to save on groceries.

Community gardens nationwide are also seeing a surge of interest. The waiting list at the 312-plot Long Beach Community Garden has nearly quadrupled — and no one is leaving, said Lonnie Brundage, who runs the garden’s membership list.

“They’re growing for themselves, but you figure if they can use our community garden year-round they can save $2,000 or $3,000 or $4,000 a year,” she said. “It doesn’t take a lot for it to add up.”

Seed companies say this renaissance has rescued their vegetable business after years of drooping sales. Orders for vegetable seeds have skyrocketed, while orders for ornamental flowers are flat or down, said Richard Chamberlin, president of Harris Seeds in Rochester, N.Y.

Business there has increased 40 percent in the last year, with the most growth among vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and kitchen herbs that can thrive in small urban plots or patio containers, he said. Harris Seeds recently had to reorder pepper and tomato seeds.

“I think if things were fine, you wouldn’t see people doing this. They’re just too busy,” Chamberlin said. “Gardening for most Americans was a dirty word because it meant work and nobody wanted more work — but that’s changed.”

 Harris Seed’s Web site now gets 40,000 hits a day.

Among larger companies, Burpee saw a 20 percent spike in sales in the last year and started marketing a kit for first-time gardeners called “The Money Garden.” It has sold 15,000 in about two months, said Ball.

A Web-based retailer called MasterGardening.com is selling similar packages, and Park Seed of Greenwood, S.C., is marketing a “Garden for Victory Seed Collection.” Slogan: “Win the war in your own backyard against high supermarket prices and nonlocal produce!”

Cultivators with years of experience worry that home gardeners lured by promises of big savings will burn out when they see the amount of labor required to get dollars from their dirt. The average gardener spends nearly five hours a week grubbing in the dirt and often contends with failure early on, said Bruce Butterfield, a spokesman for The National Gardening Association.

“The one thing you don’t factor into it is the cost of your time and your labor,” he said.

“But even if it’s just a couple of tomato plants in a pot, that’s worth the price of admission.”

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At CedarStore.com, now through March 31 2009, we are offering $25 off Planter Purchase of $150 or more.  Enter code “PLANTER” in the shopping cart.

With planters, planter benches and potting benches from CedarStore.com to help you with your gardening efforts, I am sure you will have one of the most fruitful gardens around!

Shari

Tags: Planter Benches, Planters, potting benches

         We spend a lot of time discussing more popular products, such as gazebos, pergolas and picnic tables.  Today, I want to give some love to a few unique products that you may have never seen, much less considered adding to your backyard or garden design.

          Trees may be beautiful, but they can also limit the space of your backyard design.   A quick solution that several public parks and schools have utilized is a Tree Bench.  The bench wraps around the tree, forming a sitting area for several people.  The tree bench can be made of Cedar, Pine and even Teak.

         Planter Benches are the perfect boundary of any garden.  A pair of planter boxes on each side, help support the bench.  The lattice on the back adds a nice back support and looks great.  In fact, we now offer a double planter bench which forms an “L”.  My son described it as “way cool,” and I agree…like totally way cool! 

As a side note, (and very beneficial to you!), now through March 31st, we are offering $25 off any Planter Purchase of $150 or more!  Enter Promotional Code PLANTER in the shopping cart. 

          We’ve also combined the want for garden benches, porch swings and the want for a wooden arbor.  CedarStore.com has an Imperial Arbor with a garden bench and 4’ porch swing already built in.  And, just for a little decorative “icing on the cake”, we’ve created an arched top, too.  The treated pine arbor is a great center piece to a flower garden, or even a stand alone in your back yard.  Sit with the grand kids, or hide from life while inside the Imperial arbor.  Definitely, my favorite of the little known products!

          If you’re looking for deck furniture, I would recommend a few Adirondack chairs, or perhaps a wall mounted pergola!  We get a lot of questions about being able to attach a pergola to the house, and the answer is a simple: yes.  We’ll talk more about wall mounted pergolas in our future blogs. 

          As always, if you’d like us to address a topic in a future blog, just let us know via email (contact@cedarstore.com) or by leaving a comment.  We’re always happy to discuss a project, or offer our advice.  After twenty years in business, and 10 years online, we’ve seen it all!

Have a great day!

Shari

Tags: Arbors, Pergolas, Planter Benches, Planters, Tree Benches

Garden design has come a long way since rabbit fences and gazing balls!  If you’re the serious green thumb sort, you’ve learned how to find enjoyment in weeding and tilling.  For most of us though, the garden is meant as an area of relaxation and tranquility.  Also, there is a coupon code at the bottom for those of you who make it all the way through!

One of my new favorite additions to garden design is the red cedar Marquis Arbor from CedarStore.com.  What better way to relax in your garden than on a cedar porch swing supported by a Cedar Arbor.  Water the tomatoes then sit back with a good book and a glass of wine.  Or, if you really have the time, a trashy novel and two glasses of wine.  It’s all good! 

Another option is the White Cedar Planter Bench w/ Lattice, also available at CedarStore.com.  Extra room for flowers meets relaxing bench in this little gem.  Add your favorite plants to the boxes, and sit in between.  Or, use the boxes as storage!  The white cedar is also a nice touch, as it weathers well, and has a smooth finish.  The unit makes a nice boundary to your garden and is attractive, too. 

Potting benches, Planters and a few really decorative bird feeders can also add much to your design.  They are good ways to break up a monotonous layout and attracting birds is always a nice touch.

A few of our customers who have wanted shaded relaxation near their garden have opted for a small gazebo.  Cedar gazebos start at just $2779, Treated Pine gazebos at $2199, and Vinyl gazebos kick off at $3699.  The added comfort of a roof makes the gazebo a great place to relax, have coffee and chat with friends.  You can view a few of our customer’s finished gazebo projects here!

Garden Design isn’t just for those who have high end gardens.  It’s for everyone who enjoys getting out of the house, feeling the sunshine and doing more than watching Jerry Springer!  Hopefully, a few of the products at CedarStore.com will enhance your experience.  Now, here’s your coupon code: BLOG20.  This discount code will entitle you to $20 off your next purchase of $200 or more.

I hope you have an amazing day!

Shari

Tags: arbor, gazebo, planter