CedarWoodFurniture

Who doesn’t love getting together with some friends in the backyard to play a game of corn hole, horseshoes, or hill billy golf?  You see family and friends out every night during the summer.

These backyard games have become very popular over the last couple of years. And for good reason. Fresh air, a few drinks, and some friendly competition, at least most of the time.

It is even fun to just sit in the comfy chair out back, relax, and watch everyone else play.

So if you are going to host the get together, then make sure that you have everything you need. Obviously, you have to have the equipment for the game but that isn’t all. You should have some good furniture, something solid. Hopefully, your party will last all night and you want your guests to be comfortable. A table and chairs on the deck or porch and a few more chairs in the yard for people who want to get a closer view of the action. A stocked mini fridge or coolers, some teekee torches, music, and you should be set.

Invite your family and friends over and let the games begin.

Your backyard cooking is not just a plane, simple grill anymore. It has developed into an extraordinary outdoor kitchen with stylish designs and a wide range of accessories like brick ovens, mini refrigerators, sinks, and much more.

No matter what size space that you have for your outdoor kitchen, there are a few concepts that you should keep in mind when designing your area.

1. Never use combustible materials
2. Always factor in some usable countertop space
3. Include storage space into the design  

Some outdoor kitchens have even included large pull down screens for movie viewing out back. So, go ahead and get creative and enjoy your backyard.

Your outdoor wood furniture will  react to the environmental changes in your area, such as moisture, temperature,  and light.  Obviously, you should be aware of the weather patterns in your geographic location and take the time to protect your outdoor wood furniture. 

For areas where it is mostly sunny outdoors,  the sun can have an extremely negative effect on the wood and the wood finishes. Ultraviolet rays can destroy a piece of furniture in a matter of a few weeks to months. The suns rays penetrate the molecular structure of the wood, the finishes, and the color. This can cause the color to change rapidly. Because of this, it is best to keep your outdoor wood furniture away from direct sunlight if possible.  If this is not an option, try to protect the outdoor wood furniture with an awning or by covering it when you are not using it. 

If you live in an area where there is a lot of humidity and moisture, this can also have adverse effects on your furniture. Wood, whether finished or not, absorbs whatever it comes in contact with.  If your environment is mostly wet or humid, then it is a good idea to use protective waterproof covers or keep them under in the garage or under a roof. If you have outdoor furniture in your garden, avoid standing the wood legs directly on grass. The moisture from the ground may rot untreated wood over time. If you have to, you could place bricks under the legs to protect them from the moisture in the ground.

Also a dry outdoor climate will shrink wood and eventually cause it to split from lack of moisture. In this case, apply a  good finish to the furniture before the dry weather starts to protect it.  Natural oil like teak oil finishes keep your furniture wet from the inside and makes it last in dry weather.

You should wipe down your outdoor wood furniture at least twice a year with a soapy cloth and then make sure that you dry it completely. 

A very good habit to get into is to wipe the furniture down with a dry cloth each time you go outside to use the it.   This way you will remove any pollen or blades of grass that have landed and dried on the furniture instead of blowing off. 

If the furniture is near a pool or spa, use the hose to clean it off once a week.  Chlorine has a very negative effect on most woods. 

If something gets spilled on it, clean it completely and dry it off.  Do not assume that the sun will dry it.  It could take many hours for the sun to dry it completely and this gives airborne pollen and dirt a chance to form a sticky film on the furniture.

At this time in the winter it is hard to imagine a beautiful rich green lawn and vibrant colored flowers in full bloom but thankfully, spring will be here before we know it.

For now, you could plant seeds inside and then transplant them out in your flower bed once it stops freezing in March or April depending on your geographical location. The general rule is to start your seeds about 12 weeks before the last frost. The act of choosing which flowers you want and the anticipation of watching them grow might be enough to help with the cabin fever that you are experiencing during this cold, blistery winter.

Mixing perennials with annuals will create a beautiful mix of colors, shapes, and sizes. Plus it gives you a base to work with since the perennials will come back each year. Some of the easiest growing perennials are:

• Bee Balm
  Coreopsis
  Lambs ears
  Chamomile
  Roses (mature plant from garden center)
  Phlox
  Perennial Hibiscus

There are also many, many different annuals to choose from but some of the easiest growers are:

• Zinnia
  Delphinium
  Marigold
  Portulaca
  Geranium
  Petunias
  Impatiens and Begonias (for shady areas)