Hidden Causes Of Allergies In Your Home

Hidden Causes Of Allergies In Your Home

April 30, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Apart from the usual allergens and irritants, your home could be playing host to a whole new range of different kinds of allergy triggers as well. It is a very good idea to constantly keep an eye out for the signs of contaminants in your home. One reason for that would be an ill-maintained or faulty HVAC system. A properly functioning HVAC system has a major role to play in keeping your home free of pollutants and irritants. If your vents and air ducts are not cleaned and maintained properly, then that can cause you to suffer more acutely from allergy attacks than usual. Here are some of the most devious hidden causes of allergies that could be hiding right under your nose.

1. Your furry friends

Pets can be a major source of allergy. Even if nobody in your house is allergic to animal dander, pets tend to go outside and roll about in the mud and the grass. They could be bringing in a whole host of allergens, ranging from pollen to mold. That is why it is so important to clean and groom your pets regularly. If you are experiencing intermittent allergies, then it might be a good idea to start bathing, shampooing and brushing your pooches regularly.

2. Vacuuming with low-efficiency models

Vacuuming can actually be a way of dispersing allergens into your home. Although vacuums aim to pick up dander, dust, etc., low efficiency vacuums can actually act as a medium of dispersal for allergens. Some allergens and contaminant matter are so small that they can pass through the vacuum’s filter and get dispersed through the exhaust. On top of that, if your HVAC vents and air ducts are unclean, then the problem can get largely aggravated. That is why you should always use a vacuum cleaner of good quality if you start experiencing intermittent allergy attacks.

3. Imbalance in humidity levels

You must also keep the humidity level within your home at a proper level. Too much or too little moisture can have major detrimental impacts on you and your loved ones. Too much moisture can lead to the development of major issues such as mold and mildew. Studies have also shown that dust mites thrive in a moisture-laden environment. However, too little moisture can also be bad for you. If the humidity of your home is around 20%, then your body will naturally seek to rehydrate itself. This will cause you to have an allergic reaction and your airways might get plugged up.

4. Faulty HVAC system

A major source of allergens and contaminants is a faulty HVAC system. If your HVAC system isn’t maintained and cleaned regularly, then it can actually exacerbate your allergy problems by spreading contaminants all around the house. Contaminants and allergens have a much more concentrated effect on people indoors if the HVAC system is not functioning properly. If you notice persistent allergy symptoms in yourself or your loved ones, do not hesitate to get professional help immediately.

The best way to keep your home and your loved ones free from contaminants and illnesses is by practising a healthy and careful lifestyle. Being a little careful can keep these hidden issues at bay.

Filed Under: Home, Tips
Decorating a Feng Shui Office

Decorating a Feng Shui Office

April 14, 2020 by · Leave a Comment

Feng Shui is an age old system used by many to promote positive energy via aesthetics. This ancient Chinese system has become increasingly popular in western society as a home decorative theme. Whether at work or at home, an office is where many of us now spend a lot of our time, so the positive attributes of a Feng Shui interior decorative layout is highly suitable for an office environment.

Feng Shui can actually be a highly intricate system of interior decoration. True Feng Shui masters typically use a special tool called a bagua compass alongside their wealth of knowledge to calculate exact placement of items within an office. But it isn’t difficult to begin shifting energy in your office workspace to a more positive one. Performing the changes listed within this guide will definitely get you well on your way to redoing your office with a great Feng Shui interior design!

Feng Shui and Office Productivity

There’s more to this than just intangible vibes and energy, which is why office productivity managers should listen up and tune out their innate bias to be skeptical.

According to Healthline, clutter has been proven to increase stress, which is definitely a productivity killer in the workplace.

Feng Shui is heavily color oriented, and this makes for an easy change to a Feng Shui office décor.

There are five elemental colors embraced by Feng Shui consisting of fire, earth, water, metal, and wood. Believe it or not, you can have a lot of variation to these colors. Wood can be either green or brown. Fire can be either red or yellow of course, but can also be composed of purple, pink, or orange. Earth is made up of light browns and yellows. Water is blue or black. And metal is symbolized by either white or gray, but you can certainly use real metals such as stainless steel which are commonly found in many office furnishings today.

Many Feng Shui decorative items are also perfectly suited for an office. You’ll likely want to consider adding items to your new feng shui office such as a desktop tranquility fountain, Zen candle holders, wishing boxes, Bonsai trees, and even a Japanese tea set.

While you’ll likely be adding some new items, you’ll also want to remove some items as well, or take the opportunity to paint walls and update flooring. Remember the earth tones we discussed? Those can be easily covered by adding sustainable hardwood flooring to give your room a base rooted in tranquility and nature. Walls can compliment this nicely with a water or metal theme.

Create a Tranquil, Distraction-Free Office Environment

One of the most widely regarded aspects to creating a Feng Shui office is to remove unneeded clutter! Tidy up and get rid of old files to make way for new work opportunities. Neatly organize the electrical and computer wires in the office and get them out of view as much as possible in order to rid the office of a look of chaos.

Do not seat people with their backs to each other. And always use the farthest corner of the office from the door to seat yourself as this is considered to be a position of power in Feng Shui.

So hopefully, you’re no longer a skeptic of the productivity benefits of Feng Shui for the workplace. It’s a great way to lift morale and increase productivity, so give it a try when it’s time for your next office remodel.

Filed Under: Home, Tips
It’s Time To Get Serious About Reducing Food Waste

It’s Time To Get Serious About Reducing Food Waste

June 27, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

Environmentally and socially conscious people are beginning to realize just how positive an impact making small changes to one’s lifestyle can have. The amount of food waste created annually is just about enough to feed nearly a billion of the world’s hungriest people, and by reducing the amount of food you throw away each week or each month, you’re making an informed effort to take part in important social change. Some steps people take include only purchasing perishables as they need them, keeping leftovers for future meals, and even repurposing waste as compost for their gardens.

Another option for keeping food fresher longer while still allowing it to breathe and retain its fine taste is breathable food wraps, a concept pioneered by Abeego — a value-based company that has developed an original beeswax wrap designed to make peoples’ fresh produce supplies last. It’s all natural, reusable, requires minimal energy to produce, and is waste-free. If washed properly in cold water, your single piece of wrap can last you over a whole year! In North America, as many as one in four vegetables or pieces of fruit end up in the trash before they can be used. With beeswax wraps, on the other hand, you can help to bring that number down to zero.

While plastic wrap has been popular in the past, this alternative takes into account how the fruit of a plant is designed to thrive by nature. Banana, avocado and orange peels will shield their fruit from the elements without suffocating it, and Abeego’s beeswax wrap does the same – helping to keep food from decomposing after you’ve taken it home from the market. Even once you’ve sliced open that cucumber or avocado, it’ll taste better and smell better than it would if it was kept air tight.

Choosing a more sustainable route for food preservation can also save you money, as you’re purchasing less and throwing less out in the long term. While being part of the sustainability movement can take effort and requires you to do a bit of research, you can start by taking a few tips from the very businesses that make sustainability the cornerstone of their mission. An alternative to plastic wraps is one key to solving the global food waste problem because it extends the life of your food naturally. At Abeego, this new nugget of food wisdom started by studying a lemon peel, talking to communities, and doing kitchen experiments, eventually developing into a product versatile enough to serve a wide variety of preservative purposes.

Some ways you can start reducing the waste you produce include eating older products first, monitoring and recording what you throw out — so you can be more mindful about an item’s shelf life, and storing better. To get the most out of your efforts, choose a natural, breathable storing method that makes minimal impact on the environment. By making regular, informed decisions about food purchasing, consumption, and storage, climate change can be slowed down, and you can feel confident that the time, energy, and money you put into purchasing and cooking your food doesn’t go to waste either.

Filed Under: Home, Tips
Pasta and Wine: Find the Perfect Pair

Pasta and Wine: Find the Perfect Pair

May 25, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

When looking for a great spot to have trendy brunch in NYC, there are two things that I consider – pasta and wine. These are two of my favorite things in the world. With this, in the rest of this post, I will share some of the best wines that could complement pasta dishes, which will give you a complete and satisfying meal.

Before I proceed, let me tell you one thing. The perfect pairing should not depend on the pasta. Rather, it should be based on the sauce that goes with the pasta.

Tomato-based Pasta and Zinfandel

The best spaghetti I’ve tried was at Scarpetta in New York. It is a simple dish with three main ingredients – pasta, tomato, and basil. It has high acid and a powerful flavor, which is why it is perfectly complemented with a medium-bodied red wine, including a Zinfandel. With loads of sweet cherry tomatoes, the Zinfandel will result in a well-balanced flavor in your mouth.

Cream-Based Pasta and California Chardonnay

If you like a pasta that is rich, creamy, and heavy, cream-based is the way to go. Finding the right wine can be a tricky situation. Most of the time, the pasta comes with a bold flavor, which is why the wine might taste a bit watered. With this, I would personally choose to pair it with California Chardonnay. The latter is a strong wine, which is why it will not be overpowered by the sauce of the pasta.

Seafood Pasta and Muscadet

Muscadet is a French white wine, which is bone-dry and light-bodied. It has a high-acidity and citrus-like flavor, which makes it a popular choice of wine for food pairing. It is lean and green with a slight fruity note. It is a crisp dry white wine that will work perfectly for seafood pasta dishes, such as linguini with crab or seafood with mussels. To maximize the flavor of this wine, do not drink this when eating a tomato-based pasta.

Cheese Pasta and Pinot Noir

Wine and cheese are two things that go well together. With this, if you are eating cheese-based pasta, you will have a long list of options for the perfect wine. One of my favorites is Pinot Noir. Actually, the latter is one of the most versatile wines I had, so you can pair it with almost any other pasta dish.

Pesto and Sauvignon Blanc

The assertive flavor of pesto makes it quite tricky to find a wine that it can perfectly complement. When the wine is too weak, you might not notice it at all. Because it is made mostly of basil and garlic, choose a wine that comes with a natural green character. This is why a Sauvignon Blanc can prove to be an unrivalled option. The lively acidity of this wine will go well with the freshness of the dish.

The next time you eat pasta in an Italian restaurant, make the most out of it by complementing it with the right wine!

Filed Under: Cooking, Tips, Wine
Choosing a Wine to Complement your Steak

Choosing a Wine to Complement your Steak

May 20, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

Whenever I eat in a fine dining restaurant, such as the American Cut Steakhouse, there are two things that will complete my visit – steak and wine. I don’t care much about what they serve as an appetizer or what sweet treat they have to finish off a sumptuous meal. As long as I have a delicious steak and an exquisite wine, I am all good.

If you are clueless on what is the best wine to order to match the steak that you will eat in the best restaurants in Atlanta, read on and I will share some tips that you will find helpful.

Pinot Noir and Filet Mignon

Filet mignon is from the smaller end of the tenderloin or beef fillet. This is a cut that is characterized by having less fat content. With this, it will work best if you pair it with a mild wine that comes with a high acidity. This is where pinot noir enters the picture, characterized by its earthy truffle notes. It is a pale wine with subtle flavor. When paired with a steak that has a robust flavor, you will enjoy the perfect balance.

Porter House and Napa Cabernet

The porterhouse if the preferred cut for those who like high marbling and rich flavor. It is from the part of the meat where the top loin meets with tenderloin. It will be perfect when it is paired with a bold red wine that comes with a high tannin. Among others, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon can prove to be the best. It is an elegant and food-friendly wine that is sure to tickle the taste buds.

Sirloin and Merlot

For those who prefer cheaper steak cuts, sirloin is one of the best cuts to eat. This is not as flavorful as the other types, but when you pair it with the right wine, the taste will be more superior. Merlot is one of the best wines that will go along with sirloin. Next to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is the second most popular grape in the United States, which is why this is a wine that you can easily find in many steakhouses. It has a soft and ripe flavor that also goes well with food.  

Rib Eye and Zinfandel

The ribeye is definitely one of the favorites when it comes to steak cuts. It is well-loved by many because it is juicy, flavorful, and tender. Because of the good amount of fat that you can find in this meat, it will be perfect for a wine with high acid and moderate tannin, such as Zinfandel. It is also one of the most popular grapes grown in the United States. Flavor-wise, it has a sweetish taste with spicy hints. You can even use it as a marinade for tough beef cuts.

Do not look like a noob the next time you visit a steakhouse. Take note of the things mentioned above to have the perfect steak and wine pairing for a one-of-a-kind meal.

Filed Under: Tips, Wine
Enjoy a Couple’s Getaway in Carlsbad

Enjoy a Couple’s Getaway in Carlsbad

May 15, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

If you’ve been looking for a good getaway location to sit back and take a break for a while, the California coast is a good place to start. The city of Carlsbad, located in San Diego County, offers a tranquil and laid-back little piece of paradise that is perfect for couples who need a relaxing retreat. Not only can you unwind in a beautiful environment, there are plenty of things explore and do in this coastal town. Here are a few places that you might want to explore as you plan your getaway to Carlsbad.

Acting like a Kid at heart

Grab your rental car and head off to LEGOLAND for some fun! The LEGOLAND California resort is a great place for you and your significant other to have a fun getaway for the day. There are a lot of attractions for couples at LEGOLAND. The area has a variety of Carlsbad hotels and affordable lodging options that range from modest to luxurious—depending on your budget. You can spend as little or as much as you want. During the day, have fun at the LEGOLAND theme park and going on rides and participating in activities that will ignite your childhood spirit. Enjoy part of the day at the aquarium and learn about native California wildlife, as well as creatures found from around the world. Eat and play and finish the day with a romantic stroll through the “Sea at Night” attraction where the water lights up and lights the way for an evening of peace and tranquility.

For the Nature Lovers

There is nothing that can bring two people closer together than getting out and enjoying the great outdoors. For the couple who loves to explore nature and be active, the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation is a great place to spend the day. It’s a coastal tidal wetland that allows you to both explore all of the wonderful nature in the area. Plants, insects, fish and other animals that call the area home are waiting for you to experience their environment. One of the best ways to experience the lagoon is to follow the lagoon trail on foot. Utilize the bridges to take in a gorgeous, romantic view of the inland water area that is home to freshwater wildlife. You can also fish in the Batiquitos Lagoon in designated areas. This brings some diversification to your day and can also create an unforgettable experience. Don’t forget to bring your bike, so you can get around the park easier.

Beach lovers Paradise

If you are the couple that loves the beach, you’ll enjoy a beach that offers an array of adventures for the active pair. Plan your road trip for the beach. At Carlsbad State Beach there are over 40 acres of fun just waiting to be had. Plan a day, pack a lunch and enjoy the views. This is a great place to enjoy all sorts of water sports, beachcombing and exploring the area from the bluff. If you’re a couple that likes to fish, you can also do that here. You’re also not too far from some popular area eateries that let you refresh and recharge. You can even camp at this park. There are plenty of spots that offer that “million dollar” view. This is a great place for the couple that likes to play together—sunbathing by day and enjoying the stars by night.

Floral Favorites

If you happen to be visiting Carlsbad in the spring and early summer months, you’ll be lucky enough to see a lot of spring flowers in bloom. One seasonal treat is a gorgeous site called The Flower Fields. This location offers 50 acres of ranunculus flowers in bloom. The brightly colored area is located on Carlsbad Ranch in Carlsbad. This is a beautiful sight to see, especially when the flowers are in bloom. You and your loved one can stroll through the fields taking in the sights with the sounds of the Pacific Ocean in the background. You can also purchase flowers to take home with you. This is a great retreat to do together and isn’t a typical couple’s getaway location. If you or your loved one enjoy floral gardens and exploring the outdoors, this location is a must-stop.

Whether you fly into Carlsbad or San Diego, Carlsbad, California is a great getaway location for any couple. If you’re looking for that special discovery in your relationship, start by planning a visiting to this Pacific region.

Filed Under: Tips, Travel
Perfect Wine Selections For This Valentine’s Day

Perfect Wine Selections For This Valentine’s Day

February 10, 2018 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

There’s a common misconception no thanks to the way Valentine’s Day is marketed that it’s exclusively for couples, or those with romantic attachments to enjoy. There’s no reason for a single person to be left out though; after all, self-love and self-discovery are journeys that should be equally celebrated. Whether it’s showing some gratitude for how far you’ve come on your own, or appreciating the strength it took to leave something behind that wasn’t working for you anymore – take the evening of February 14th to say cheers to yourself for once.

Light up a scented candle, put on your fuzzy slippers, pick out your favourite book and crack open a bottle of something local to make the Valentine’s Day that you’re single one to rival all others. You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own apartment, or wade through the snow, or feel self-conscious waiting in line at the LCBO on your own in your sweatpants; you can simply purchase your favourite selections through Wine Online and have them delivered right to your door.

If you’re looking for some recommendations, the Triomphe Cabernet Franc VQA by Southbrook Vineyards is a wonderfully sophisticated and creative choice. The 2016 vintage shines of expressive red fruit making for a juicy sipping experience. It also boasts a vanilla-lavender streak, bringing elegance to the bottle. It’s a savoury and complex red with natural sweetness and long finish; draw yourself a lavish bubble bath, pour yourself a glass, and let it take you.

If you want to learn your favourite wines or maybe discover some new ones, consider something a bit spicier to accompany an appetizing meal, like the Shiraz-Cabernet VQA by Creekside Estate, vintage 2015. This selection is decidedly aromatic, with scents of violets, plums, red currant and white pepper. While medium-bodied on the palate, drinkers will welcome the bright fruit flavours of wild raspberry and strawberry, then invite the savoury cedar and white pepper coming back around for the finish.  Pair this selection with an assortment of cured meats if you’re preparing a charcuterie board or with a gorgeous medium-rare steak and roasted vegetables.

The Cabernet Sauvignon by Konzelmann Estate Winery, vintage 2015, is another favourite from the Niagara region. It’s denser than most and offers some spice, complimenting the chilly weather perfectly. With black currant, sweet cinnamon and pomegranate on the nose and palate, accompanied by a firm but smooth tannic structure and a mild smokiness, there is real depth to this bottle. Enjoy while popping in that artsy foreign film your ex would never acquiesce to watching with you.

The idea that only people in partnerships are allowed to reap the benefits of Valentine’s Day is an old and outdated trope. Singles should not hesitate to live this evening up too! With so much personal success to commemorate in realms outside of romance, take the day to yourself. Do something fun or relaxing, and finish the night off with a glass of something smooth and delicious; give yourself credit for all the happiness you’re aspiring to without anyone else’s help.

Filed Under: Tips, Wine
5 Interesting Tips to Make Your New York Experience More Memorable

5 Interesting Tips to Make Your New York Experience More Memorable

October 25, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

 

Everyone has dreamed of going to the Big Apple, whether to visit as a tourist or to gain residence there. We are so flushed with the idea that we don’t know where to start in listing down things and experience that we want bring home, or to the next place we move to.

And then we get there, and have absolutely no idea where to start, and might even start feeling a little bummed about catching up with the New Yorker’s briskly lifestyle.

So how do you make your stay more memorable? What does New York have to offer to make your visit worthwhile? We list down the ways.

Explore the culture

All right, so there may be more than one way to go about this. Culture is multifaceted, and in a city of eight million people, circulating within buildings of art and towers of glorious histories, where to start might be a hard place to find. Here’s one aspect of it that we can agree to prioritize: food.

New York is teeming of cultures manifested by different cuisines. From all continents of the world to different regions of the United States, nothing is ever underrepresented in its various restaurants, food hubs, kiosks, and even food trucks. Then, if you ever get relatively distant in your foodie adventure, restaurants like American Cut Steakhouse reels you back into a fundamental, American style that’s all too familiar.

Go on a bookworm’s retreat

Whether you love to write or you love to write, New York city has the perfect spots for you. Some of the biggest names in publishing industry – Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Hachette – all house their headquarters in Manhattan. The Publishers Weekly as well as the The New York Review of Books also takes root in New York.

In addition, the New York Public Library in New York City contains over 53 million items of reading, making it the fourth largest library in the entire world.

Get to know the people

Despite what you see through movies and TV shows that New Yorkers are always on the go, there still remain some pretty interesting stories and histories about the residents of this city.

To cite, some of the oldest people in the world lives in New York, and the average life expectancy of people living in New York is a little more than 80 years old. That’s a lot of years to hear about and learn from, surely living long and surviving the hard-fought life that is the city makes for a fascinating conversation.

Speaking of conversations, you can have them in any of the eight hundred languages spoken within the state, making it one of the most linguistically diverse places in the world. You can chalk that up to the great amount of immigrants that graced the land.

So strike up a small talk, invited them to lunch and share the best steak in Manhattan, while making good acquaintances. In New York, memories are bound in the people you meet.

See the finer things for cheap

The biggest argument anyone can have staying in New York City is how costly it is. Everything literally has a price. Well, save for a few things that you can still avail and appreciate for cheap, or even for free. For example, you can watch talented comedians at the Comedy Cellar for cheap for once a week, and if you choose the right week as a stroke of luck, you might even see seasoned talents like Jerry Seinfeld, Louis CK, or actors from Saturday Night Live perform onstage.

Cheap becomes free every summer when you go the River to River Festival in Lower Manhattan, where you can watch a variety of theatre, music, and dance without paying even a dime. You can also watch concerts at SummerStage, or the famed performances of Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park, absolutely free of charge.

Consider moving in

Okay, this might be a stretch, but we don’t suggest that you scout for an apartment, pack your luggage, and move to New York right this second. It’s just that, what makes the city that much memorable is the entire experience in itself, both the luxuries as well as the struggles that come with it. The streets are paved with gold, opportunities are abound, and even finding a partner that shares the same passion and drive for success as you are is an adventure – these are the things that would make you want to live in New York. Maybe not the things that would make you stay for good, but the person going out would thank the person who chose to go in the first place.

At the end of the day, it is us who make the memories; it is us who navigate the boroughs of New York in search of a great story to tell. So you better come to and come quick, the city isn’t slowing down for anyone.

Filed Under: Tips
Fantastic Learning App for All!

Fantastic Learning App for All!

September 27, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

 

 

The internet has given us the ability to talk to people on the other side of the world, free and in real time, as well as introducing to the world new ways of watching films and TV shows. Furthermore, with high speed broadband, watching video content is more reliable, as there is none of the buffering that was once the norm, and there is plenty of content to choose from. With handheld devices – smartphones and tablets – being the most popular method of accessing the internet now, there is much to say about apps, which offer a varied amount of different content.

iTunes eLearning App

When it comes to educational content, the internet is a vast resource covering everything from science to languages, through art, travel and more, and there are many apps covering these areas too. We would like to introduce you to a very impressive free iTunes Learning App that offers you unrivalled content of a very high quality, and we think you’re going to like it!

You get access to more than 8000 videos and lectures, and they are structured in an array of courses so you can choose the subject you want to study. Each course comes with a number of videos on different aspects of the subject, the number of videos varying from course to course, and you take the course at your own pace. It’s very easy to follow, and we recommend you choose a tablet as the medium for greater clarity.

Android Version

For users of Android devices, and they are perhaps the most popular of all right now, The Great Courses Plus is available to download, and you get the same features as you do with the iTunes version. It must be among the best free Android eLearning app around, and the range of subjects is absolutely comprehensive in scope. You can choose the courses you want to study and, thanks to Wi-Fi hotspots, can watch them at your leisure, anywhere you may be at the time. Whether you are learning something new, brushing up on languages or enhancing your knowledge of a particular subject, you will find The Great Courses Plus to be the best app around.

The internet has given us a great deal of added benefits in a short time, and in terms of education is now one of the most valuable and versatile tools around. It is not only used by schools and colleges, but in homes around the world for education purposes. All the Great Courses lectures are to a high standard – college level in fact – so you are getting quality learning at a sensible price, so why not check it out now, and take advantage of the free trial to learn what it’s all about.

We recommend you contact The Great Course now to see just how they can help you with all your learning requirements, whether for fun or for professional advancement, so happy learning and remember, it’s all at your own pace!

Filed Under: Tips
The Wonders of a Garden Pond

The Wonders of a Garden Pond

September 4, 2017 by · Leave a Comment

There are many reasons why a pond makes an excellent addition to a garden, no matter how big or small. For example, you can include a variety of features in your pond, as well as fish and plants, and make it into something ornamental. Whether you have seen a pond that you like or simply think your garden could benefit from something such as a pond or small water feature, we think it’s a great idea to read more on what they are all about, as you may find that there are certain designs that take your eye.

These days, you can buy a pre-formed pond that will drop into a hole you make in the ground, and these come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are very impressive, especially in the smaller varieties, and easy to install. You could, however, try the alternative method, which is to design your own pond and use readily available plastic pond liner material, that is durable and affordable. The process is simple – there are many examples online showing you all you need to know – and the results can be very impressive indeed.

Consider Your Space

The first thing you need to do when planning a pond is look at the space you have available. Even if you only have a very small yard, there are still options for the likes of artificial waterfalls and other water features that look great and are not expensive. These do require the use of a pond pump, which we shall talk about in a moment. For larger ponds, you need a spot in the garden that does not feature overhanging trees – these will drop leaves into the water and cause problems – and it is always advisable to ensure there is a little shade for parts of the pond.

Back to the subject of the pump: why do you need one? A natural pond will be party to moving water thanks to being fed by a stream, and this allows the water to be suitably aerated and healthy. Your garden pond needs a way of keeping the water oxygenated, and a pump will go some way towards this. You will also need a filter, which helps keep the water clean and clear, and these work in conjunction with the pump. Check out reviews of different pond pumps here and you will see that they are not expensive.

Enjoying a Pond

What you add to your pond is up to you, but we recommend you visit your local aquatics centre for more information on the various plants, fish and other accessories that may be available. They will be more than happy to help you with all your questions, and to ensure that you get the right equipment for your type and size of pond.

A garden pond is an attractive and surprisingly relaxing addition to any garden, so read more now about the various pumps and filters, and make sure you have the best pond possible.

Filed Under: Tips
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