Lifestyle

There are a lot of great things about the living in southeast Texas, like great year around weather. However one of the big problems that we always have are swarms of pesky mosquitos.

In fact, Texas is one of the top states when it comes to being bitten by mosquitoes and acquiring diseases. Spending your days outside in Southeast Texas area is a surefire way to wind up at home with red bumps on your arms and legs, and maybe even dangerous illness like the Zika and West Nile viruses.

Prevent you and your family from being exposed to harmful diseases and painful bites by following these six ways to avoid mosquitos and keep them away from your house.

1. Remove standing water on your property.

Mosquitos tend to cluster around stagnant puddles and pools of water. These pests only need about a half inch of water to lay eggs and multiply. If you can, ensure you standing water get cleaned up after it rains and makes sure that other water features like fountains and water features are turned on and running. This will prevent mosquitos from laying eggs on the water and gathering in the area.

2. Keep a bottle of bug spray in your car and in your house.

You never know when a massive mosquito outbreak will occur, so it is excellent always to be prepared by having bug spray close by. Bug spray with feet tends work best against the pesky bloodsuckers.

3. Wear loose, light-colored clothes while you’re outside.

Mosquitoes, for some reason, are more attracted to dark colors than they are to light colors. Also wearing loose baggy clothing may leave your skin more protected, which adds an additional barrier of protection against the bugs.

4. Turn on a fan

If sitting outside and enjoying the weather is important to you, keep a fan on your patio so that the air is continuously circulating. This could help deter bugs from landing on your skin.

5. Wear long pants and sleeves when walking around at dusk.

Mosquitos are most active when the sun goes down because exposure dehydrates them. 85 different species of mosquitos call Texas home, and almost all of them will bite at dawn, dusk, and during the night. Therefore, when you are walking outside as the sun sets, the mosquitos are likely looking for blood to drink. If you want to reduce your chances of being a bug dinner, be sure to take extra protective measures during the worst parts of the day.

6. Protect your patio cover with screen room.

If you want the ultimate protection from those pesky blood-sucking mosquitos, you might consider a screened patio cover. A screened patio cover will prevent these bugs from biting you, and you don’t have to worry about adding layers of clothes or exposing your skin to chemical bug sprays.

If you need are considering screened patio that you can enjoy year around give Affordable Shade Patio Cover a call at 713-574-4969.

As summer draws to a close (summer officially ends on September 22) it is important to prepare your yard for the next growing season.  Maybe your yard didn’t do so well this last year and you are promising yourself that you will do better next year, in this article we will teach you how to prepare your yard for it’s best year ever (2019)!

Having the lush, green lawn you aspire to have isn’t a matter of having a green thumb: it’s all in the prep work!

Towards the end of the winter months (though it is Houston, so winter means something different than it does in other places that actually get snow and heavy freezes) your grass is likely to look brown and spotty.

Here are 4 things you can do to get your lawn spring ready to ensure maximum green!

Aerating Your Soil

While we don’t get the snow, the cold that we do get in the Houston winter months does compact the soil of your lawn, making it harder for your grass to take in moisture and breathe (yes, grass needs air!).

A grass aerator is a spiky tool that will poke holes in your lawn down to the roots of your grass, which will help to deposit water into the lawn to eventually be reabsorbed.

This gives your grass roots a chance to breathe and absorb water to stay healthier during the mostly dormant months, helping it to revive in the spring and have less brown dead spots to deal with later on.

Keep Old Winter Grass Low

Make sure to mow the grass you have during the winter as low as possible and keep it that way (because given our climate your grass will continue to grow a little bit over time during the fall and even winter months).

The warmer grasses common to Houston become brittle during the colder times of the year, with the tips of fully mature grass turning to a lighter brown, which can be an eyesore.

When you do mow your winter time grass low (½ an inch is a good length) disconnect your clippings bag and leave them on the lawn to be reabsorbed which will act as a natural fertilizer.

Fertilizer and Weed Prevention

When temperatures start to reach around 70 degrees, you will know that is your cue to begin fertilizing and take anti-weed efforts to help your lawn looking perfect when things warm up further during spring.

Note: It is very important to wait until it is warmer to apply fertilizer (we recommend 1 pound of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer per 1,000 square feet of yard), as doing so during colder temperatures can actually damage your grass.

Applying anti-weed herbicide during the January and February months will go a long ways to avoiding a weed battle midsummer.

Reseed, Treat Spotty Areas

 As spring time rolls around you will begin to see area that need a little TLC.

Treat brown spots with a little extra love, reseed areas of your lawn that may have died out completely, and treat tough weed infested areas with high quality herbicide as needed.

Having a green thumb isn’t what it takes to have an amazing spring time yard that continues to be a pleasing sight for months afterwards; proper prep is!

You deserve a beautiful lawn. You’ve got this!

Hey, Do you know what goes great with a lush green yard? A pergola! Contact Affordable Shade Patio Covers for a free design consultation to make your backyard dreams a reality.  Our phone number is 713-574-4969!

With warmer weather (and during the fall, why discriminate?) comes the appeal of grilled foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, marinated steaks, grilled kabobs, and on and on! Especially if it is a under a custom patio cover built by Afforadable Shade.

What is less exciting is the price of that new grill you have been drooling over, making excuses to go to the home improvement store to just spend a few intimate moments in the reflective chrome glow of the one that WILL one day be yours.

But there is good news!

You don’t have to break the bank to get an excellent new gas grill: here is a list of the top 5 gas grills that retail for less than $500 so you can stop drooling and start grilling!

The Broil-King Signet 320

The Broil-King Signet 320 gas grill has plenty of grilling area concerning square inches of cooking surface and boasts a high BTU rating while remaining a compact chrome delight, sure to be a backyard hit with the entire family, the guys, and anyone who loves grilled food!

The BK Signet 320 also includes a burner that is handy when you need to heat up some beans, keep some homemade queso warm for the outdoor party (a personal favorite of the author), or anything else that would fall through the heavy cast iron grates on the grill itself.

Char-Broil Performance 5 Burner Gas Grill

Possibly one of the best, large economic grills on the market today, this Char-Broil model is a beast when space isn’t a concern that will definitely light your fire!

This 45,000 BTU chrome beauty boasts five powerful burners and a 10,000 BTU side burner for side items and is powerful enough to make a windy day a non-issue when it comes to even heating.

This model also has a temperature gauge in the lid for your convenience and ultra-precise cooking, with one of the more reliable electric ignition, triggers to get things heating up without hesitation.

The Weber Genesis E-410 Grill

This genius mid-sized grill from Weber could be the genesis of your next grilling success!

The Weber Genesis E-410 is the four burner middle child of Weber’s more economical line of mid-sized four burner grills that gives you most of the same features of a more massive grill without taking up an entire patio or party area.

This unit also boasts a pretty vast amount of shelf room for food prep and a convenient place to set a cold beverage and your favorite spatula down while you get your grill on!

Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station

Beyond being a gorgeous piece of chrome plated heaven to look at, the Blackstone Outdoor Flat Top Gas Grill Griddle Station is on the larger side when it comes to space it takes up and the flavor it cooks up!

Want to grill a steak, three burgers, and a grilled cheese (see what we did there?) at the same time for an outdoor get-together? This is the one!

Eggs, bacon, and pancakes become outdoor cuisine with this grill griddle station, with cleanup being a breeze that is sure to please!

The Monument Grills Propane Gas Grill

The Monumnet 6 Burner Gas Grill indeed is a monument to cost savvy grill lovers everywhere, boasting a rotisserie and spit to evenly roast meats of all varieties, a ridiculously power 60,000 BTU rating (not a lot of time wasted waiting for things to heat up), and a 513 square inch cooking surface to get everything done at the same time!

This fantastic grill also features porcelain coated cast iron grill plates, a temperature gauge in the lid, and the convenience and style of led backlit control knobs- no need for a flashlight when you need to change the settings!

If you are thinking about adding a porch or patio cover to your property, doing a little brainstorming and research is worth its weight in gold!

Here are four things ideas you can use to create a checklist when it’s time to build an outdoor addition to your property.

The Type of Structure Will You Need

Like many things, answering the question of why you need something will help the project start off right.

If you are looking for something economical and straightforward structure, then an insulated aluminum cover might be the way to go (make sure you check out any deed restrictions first, more on that in a bit).

If you are looking for a more customization option or you want a larger space to entertain, a custom patio cover may be the better choice. Custom patio additions are more common in the Houston area and can add more value to your home.

Deciding what your needs are is the best place to start a new outdoor living project!

Patio Cover Materials

As we just mentioned, custom patio cover additions are the most common in the Houston area, with the most common being a design that matches the current style of the home. Matching the style of your home may require decorative stone or brick columns, and a decorative ceiling can be added to the design.

If you have chosen an aluminum patio cover, you may want to consider a color that complements the current paint color of your home.

No matter what kind of materials you choose for a patio cover, make sure that the cover is built to Texas windstorm certifications to ensure a long lifespan in the often turbulent weather we see here in Houston.

Check Deed Restrictions

While driving around a neighborhood and looking around will give you a good idea of the uniformity expected by a subdivision deed restriction or limitations placed by an HOA (or both), actually doing some research is a must when building a patio cover.

Contacting the right organization and getting a detailed list of what is acceptable and what isn’t can help you to avoid a costly mistake and potentially (depending on what they allow) open your eyes to possibilities you hadn’t thought of.

Taking the time to do this research will also give you info on the kinds of accessories and other things you may have wanted to add to your property as well.

Research Your City for Permits and Guidelines

Again, research before you begin a patio cover project can help to define it and avoid any costly mistakes.

Take the time to get detailed information from your city regarding construction regulations. For example, do you know how far from a property line your patio cover can be based on city guidelines? Doing this research will help you plan the project as well as ensure that you comply with local laws.

In addition to the research, you will need to get a permit actually to build the patio addition when the time comes. If you are using a contractor to build your patio addition, they will often take care of this step for you, but be sure that they agree to do that and give you copies of everything for your records and peace of mind.

About Affordable Shade Patio Covers

Affordable Shade Patio Covers builds patio covers and pergolas in the Houston area. When you choose to work with us, we work with you to design a patio cover to fit your needs. Once you have a design, we handle all the permitting, HOAs, and windstorm certification.  All you have to do is sit back and relax! If you would like a free design consultation, please give us a call at 713-574-4969.

Enjoying your backyard patio and cup of hot tea or your favorite cold beverage is a great way to relax and unwind after a stressful day at work!

And why not add a little greenery to your scenery; maybe a splash of color and fragrance too?

We want to give four examples of hanging plants that style, life, and even lovely aromas to your patio for maximum enjoyment!

Certainly, these are only four examples of the millions you could choose, but we hope to give you an idea an let you run with it!

Hanging Philodendron and the Spider Plant

Hanging Philodendron is a tropical plant perfect for our Houston climate that thrives in warm to hot, humid areas and doesn’t require a lot of watering.

This exotic looking plant is easy to care for, is a natural air purifier (which means great for indoors too), and adds a splash of green that is decor’ neutral and looks great no matter where it hangs!

The spider plant is a common sight among potted and hanging plants, is sturdy and does well in warm, humid climates, and is also easy to care for.

Variegated Wandering Jew Ivy Plant

An Ivy vine with an exciting name, the variegated wandering Jew Ivy plant is a beautiful member of the Ivy family that is an excellent choice to hang on your patio!

This Ivy is characterized by its leaves that boast a classy silvery hued stripe, with some species of the plant missing the stripes but more than making up for it with beautiful three-petaled white flowers.

There is even a species called Tradescantia Pallida that has deep purple leaves and light colored purple-pink flowers!

This beautiful plant does well in Houston weather and is also one that is easy to care for.

Fuchsia ‘Lena’

For a dash of color in your patio try the Fuchsia ‘Lena’ plant as a choice of a hanging plant!

This gorgeous hanging plant is one that is sure to please with its trailing double-flower buds with creamy looking hot pink and purple petals and is a very productive plant, so the plant is always colorful.

Another plant that does well in our warmer climate and does excellent with minimal care and indirect sunlight, the Fuchsia ‘Lena’ plant also makes an outstanding gift for any other patio lovers you may know!

‘Bella’ Lavender

We saved the best for last…the beauty and fragrance of the ‘Bella’ Lavender plant! This lavender plant not only adds the vibrant purple you would expect from a lavender plant but also a warm and delightful and soothing fragrance to your patio.

The Bella does well in warm temperatures but needs to hang a little lower so it can soak up the sun as much as possible, with a minimum of watering necessary to keep it looking healthy and stunningly pretty!

That’s a short list of some our favorite hanging plants that are great for patios to give them color, style, fragrance, and add some green to your scene!

About Affordable Shade Patio Covers

Affordable Shade builds custom patio covers, pergolas, arbors, and palapas in Houston and the surrounding areas. We have completed 1,000s of outdoor living projects all while maintaining an A+ BBB rating. We offer complimentary design consultations to homeowners in our services area. To schedule a time to talk about your outdoor living project give us a call at 713-574-4969.