A Rustic Garden Blog

Most people are very organized and extremely precise when it comes to the way there house looks. This is especially true when you talk about the landscaping of gardens. Themes can play a huge part in the design of the landscaping for a yard. You want to have your yard looking the best that it can.

Country themes are becoming quit the popularity around yards. I find it very inviting and welcoming to see country benches in the front yard. A country décor has a very natural design to it. It gives a little extra touch in the decorating aspect of the yard.

If you’re up for a home repair challenge, then you can attempt to fix your own iron gate. Start by inspecting the gate, looking particularly at hinges, connections, and pickets which are vulnerable to rust. Remove the rusted sections (this may require the use of a cutting torch) and broken hinges.

Re-weld new hinges to the iron gate, using a carpenter’s level to make sure the gate will swing open and shut effectively. Cut out damaged pickets and replace them with new ones, cut to length. Slightly bent pickets can be straightened using a heavy mallet. Finally, lightly sand the new pieces of the gate and apply primer and paint to help blend the new with the old.

Wrought iron fencing is a beautiful way to enclose your yard. Even though the material is tough, it does require some maintenance. Start my rinsing off your iron fence with a garden hose. This will knock off any loose dirt and debris. Rust and chipped paint flakes should be removed with a wire brush.

Rusted areas should also be cleansed with dish detergent and water (dish detergent won’t interact with the rusted material). You can choose to towel dry your iron fencing, or allow it to dry naturally. Oil based primer and rust-proof paint should be applied to touch up rusted areas; make sure the paint color matches the other rails. Finally, fix bent sections of the iron fencing and oil any creaky gate hinges.

A Rustic Garden has decided to take the PLUNGE. We are now offering 6′ tall connecting metal fencing. Our hoop and spear design will now be available in the taller sections to help our customers with their special needs. Wild deer are menace to many, causing so much damage to their tress, scrubs and landscaping. 6′ fencing is a great height for swimming pool surrounds. Keeping your children and animals safe will be easy with our handmade fence.

Our wrought iron fence is make right here in middle Illinois in a machine shop. Our craftsman are busy building a forms to help with the constructing process. Each hoop will be hand bent so 12′ lengths of solid steel are being cut and ready for the process. The parts are then gathered and assembled on the second form to be welded together.

This 6′ tall fence will need more support so a 3rd horizontal bar will be added. The 1.5″ posts will have the coordinating cast iron finial. Watch for more pictures as we complete this new fencing product.

In January I found the best product to line window boxes and wrought iron planters. This heavy green material is slow to absorb water so the moisture will collect near the roots of your planting longer. After soaking up the excess water will drain  away leaving the perfect balance of water and oxygen needed for beautiful flowering plants.

Click on this link to see our video explaining how to use this planter liner. Moisture Mat Planter Liner  

You know it is not perfect… you will still need a good fertilizer. I like using granular time released fertilizers like Osmocote in addition to the boost you get with Miracle Grow type liquid fertilizers. Gardening is so much fun!

I am continuously adding new plants and accessories to my yard. I find that these new additions to the landscape accurately reflect my eclectic taste. One item I try to incorporate wherever I can is garden urns. My collection includes ceramic and cast iron urns.

Ceramic urns are appealing because they can come in all different shapes and sizes. The artists also have more liberty in decorating the exteriors. Unfortunately, ceramic urns don’t hold up well; if they tip over they are likely to shatter. A cast iron urn, on the other hand, is durable and not prone to rusting. Plus, I think that cast iron garden urns have elegance to them.

What part of the holidays is more fun than decorating? A lot of people focus on cheesy inflatables and stringing up colored lights. I like to be a bit more creative in my choice of outdoor decorations. Over the years, I have built up a formidable collection of whimsical lawn ornaments.

For the fall, I have lawn ornaments in the shapes of ghosts, pumpkins, and jack-o-lanterns. I even have a lawn ornament turkey that’s a Thanksgiving favorite. Of course, I have a slew of lawn ornaments for the winter holidays. From wrought iron reindeer to tin Christmas trees to penguin sculptures made from recycled tin- I have it all!

If I could cover every inch of my property with blooming shrubbery and flowers, I would. Of course, this is not practical, but I do have quite a large garden. To add flowers to areas of the exterior that don’t have soil, I like to incorporate garden planters.

For instance, I have two large garden planters made from cast iron that flank either side of my garage. I also have a medium size planter on my front porch. Both are filled to the brim with flowers that spill elegantly over the edges during the spring and summer months. I’m thinking of purchasing a few smaller wrought iron planters to keep indoors in my heated sunroom, so I can enjoy beautiful blooms even when cold weather sets in.

It is essential that yard ornaments that are displayed year round are properly secured. With the help of a shovel and some quick dry cement, you can make sure that your yard ornaments stay put. Start by properly arranging your yard ornaments; it can be difficult to move them once they’ve been secured.

Once the yard ornaments are in place, mark the spots, remove the ornaments, and dig six to eight inch holes large enough to accommodate each ornament. Mix the cement and fill each hole. While the cement is tacky, lower the ornament into place so that the cement can grab hold. Be sure not to lower the ornaments so deep that the bottom halves are covered. When the cement dries your yard ornaments should be quite secure.

The holidays are here and that means it’s time to head out and brave the challenges and frustrations of holiday shopping. From traffic and crowds to long lines and high prices, holiday shopping is something very few of us look forward to. My wife can be particularly challenging to shop for which can only add to that feeling of helplessness when facing a crowded mall and no idea what to buy.

Since my wife likes spending so much time in her garden I think I’m going to spring for a cast iron planter. She’ll appreciate its durability and its uniquely attractive look. And the best part is I don’t have to head out to a huge home improvement store or big-box retailer to get it. With lower shipping costs I can now get great garden décor online. And I can save myself a bundle in the process. So if you’re anything like me and you don’t know what to get the missus for the holidays, take a look at her garden and you’re sure to come up with more than a few good ideas.