Interior Design, Exterior Living: Spring Time Spruce Up!

Spring has sprung and if you’re like 90% of the population, your yard is probably not ready for its big reveal just yet. Here are a few inexpensive tips to turn your lawn into an at-home oasis in as little as one weekend.
Step 1 – Lay down new sod. It sounds scary but it’s actually really simple. Make sure to leave room to plant your flowers when laying out your sod. First you need to lightly loosen the soil using a rake or shovel making sure to keep the ground as level as possible. Apply a small amount of organic fertilizer or conditioner to the soil to make sure the sod grows in a nutrient rich environment. Next lay down the sod with the edges flush against each other – overlapping edges will lead to uneven ground. And finally, make sure to water your newly-laid sod immediately and ignore color differences within the sod as those will fade within a few days.
Step 2 – Now you’re ready for some color. Using that area of soil you left unsodded, plant some seasonal flowers in an array of colors and sizes. Space out your flowers to fill in the area of soil left bare without looking too empty or too crowded. Combine plants with similar water and sun needs so they will be easier for you to maintain; if you want to be more eco-friendly, use plants that are native to your area in order to reduce your water usage.
Step 3 – Accessorize. Make your garden day and night friendly with additional lighting without adding to your monthly light bill. Using solar powered LED lawn lamps throughout your newly planted garden will turn your outdoor space into a usable one whether the sun is out or not. You can find inexpensive ones in an array of designs for about $30 bucks. Add a couple of inexpensive outdoor chairs and a table and your new garden oasis is complete.
You can find plants for an eco-friendly garden at your local nursery. Look for drought-tolerant shrubs and disease resistant plants to add to your garden and not your pocketbook. And always remember to use organic lawn care products when you’re done planting and ready to care for your new outdoor space; they’re safer for you, your family, and your pets. Now sit back and enjoy day in and day out.

Oh yeah- I’ll let you in on my self-proclaimed award winning Sangria recipe for the perfect outdoor afternoon refresher!

T’s White Sangria
Bottle of white wine, I prefer using a Savignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
Mix your own simple syrup- about 5 or 6 teaspoons of sugar and ½ cup warm water
1 can of Sprite
Apricot brandy (your call on how much to add!!)

Mix it up, add fresh fruit like peaches, apples, kiwis, and grapes.
My secret tip: Freeze the grapes so that it chills the sangria without watering it down.

ENJOY!!

XO,
Taniya