Every hour that we spend doing yard work during the summer takes away from the valuable leisure time that could be spent so much more wisely doing things like lazing around on our porch .As we have discussed in previous articles, there is a growing trend toward planting gardens filled with xeric, or drought-tolerant, plants. This practice not only requires less time for gardening, but cuts down on water usage as well. Another benefit of having this type of garden is that it attracts many desirable insects, such as butterflies, and birds, including tons of hummingbirds.Naturally, in order to make it a success, you will have to spend some time in the beginning to get it started right. Having the soil prepared correctly is every bit as important to a xeric garden as it is for other gardens, so make sure that it is drained sufficiently to be able to absorb a half-inch of water each hour, so that the plants will grow at a constant rate. If your soil is too argillaceous or sandy, add some compost, or other organic matter until it crumbles when it's touched.It's also important to remember that, even though your plants will become resistant to drought conditions in time, they still need sufficient water to help their roots to grow, take hold, and adjust to their surroundings. For their first season, water them an average of one inch each week, using a sprinkler, or a drip hose.Mulching is essential, because it helps to save even more water, while it slowly releases nutrients into the soil, and inhibits the growth of weeds. If you wish, you can also use the mulch to cover up your hose to keep things looking tidy (and to give yourself one less thing to trip over!).All of your efforts will be well worth it when your garden begins to bloom with lush, colorful flowers, plants, and shrubs. With all of the extra time that you will have, you'll be able to relax on your porch rocking chair, glider, swing, or another piece of your favorite outdoor furniture; and you'll still have a beautiful garden to admire. You may even want to reward yourself with some new patio furniture from CedarStore.com.With one of the largest selections of outdoor furniture available anywhere, Cedarstore.com has porch, garden, and patio gliders, rockers, swings, benches, chairs, tables, dining sets, bar and bistro sets, end tables, ottomans, lounges, and more. In every style, size, shape, and color, CedarStore.com features an unbeatable line of wood patio furniture in cedar, treated pine, oak, teak, and cherry, as well as synthetic and metal porch furniture, made from vinyl, aluminum, and polywood.To see the entire collection, visit . To contact one of their design consultants or customer service representatives, call 1-888-293-2339, or e-mail .
The Rocking Chair Scary
How To Choose A Rocking Chair
1. Size of the rocker: The first thing that you need to check is that this piece of furniture is the right size for you. When you sit on the rocker, your legs should not dangle off the floor but should reach the floor comfortably. However, make sure that your knees are not up against your chest, which will indicate that the rocking chair is small for you. Also ensure that the sit is big enough so that you are comfortable, but not too big that your arms do not reach the armrests properly. Your head should not rise above the back rest but should just reach the headrest.
2. Intended space: The location where you will be placing your rocking chair directly affects what kind you will eventually buy. For instance, if the location is an indoor one, then a padded rocker is an ideal choice, as is one with multiple cushions. But the same rocking seat would be a disaster for an outdoor location as the cushions and padding would get spoilt due to the natural elements. Thus, for outdoor locations such as gardens, lawns, patios etc, you should choose rockers that are made from water proof materials, are durable, and strong enough to withstand natural weather conditions.
3. Pitch of the rockers: The curved rocker at the bottom of the chair is what makes it so unique. The motion of the chair as well as its safety when using it depends on the pitch of the rockers. To test the pitch, sit in the chair and rock forward and backward. If the motion is not jerky and feel is smooth, the pitch is correct. Another thing to look at is that there should not be any danger of the chair tipping in the front or back. If you feel like you cannot recline completely as the chair will fall backwards, then the chair's pitch is off.
4. Range of motion: Does the rocker have a smooth back and forth motion? Are you able to keep it going for a couple of minutes with a single push, or do you have to push the chair every few seconds? The answers to these questions will determine whether the chair is right or not. Obviously you want to choose a rocker that has a smooth and continuous motion.
5. Personal comfort: A rocking chair may look very comfortable and may come highly recommended by others, but if you do not feel right when using the chair, or if you have even the slightest bit of hesitation as to its comfort factor, then you should look at another chair. What may be comfy for someone else may not necessarily be the same for you. So essentially, go with a rocker which not only look right and is well made, but which also ?feels? like the one.
6. Safety aspects: While rocking chairs are extremely user friendly, there is some danger involved with the curved rockers. If you are not careful, you can have your feet crushed if caught under the rockers. Same goes for little children. Thus, if safety is a concern for you, more so with kids around, then you may choose a different type of rocker known as glider rockers. The base of such chairs is not curved but sits flat on the floor, thereby making them safer options.
7. Your budget: Rockers and gliders can be available for as less as a few hundred dollars and go up to thousands of dollars. Therefore, your budget will be a big factor when choosing a chair. A good way to save some money is to buy used rocking chairs. As long as the main rockers of the chair are in perfect condition, most used gliders and rocking chairs can be restored to look as good as new.
8. Your home d'cor: While safety and comfort are the two main criteria when selecting a rocking chair, you should take care to choose one that fits in with the d'cor in your home. No one will appreciate a monstrosity in the middle of the living room, even if it is a highly comfortable one. Thus, look around to find a rocking chair that fulfills your needs and is attractive looking.
9. Assembling the chair: Some rockers arrive fully assembled, and some have to be put together at home. If you are not good at following instructions and assembling things, you probably want one that is shipped completely assembled.
So, choosing the ideal rocking chair will become a very easy task if you consider the above factors before making your final choice.
Both Kathy Moran & Rob Barnes are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
