Wichita Home and Garden

The Cyberguide to Wichita Business Directory is the largest and most complete business directory and collection of links to Wichita Kansas web sites.

Landscaping

Your yard doesn’t have to be the typical patch of grass, mailbox, and garden flag. With a little creative thinking and an open mind, you can have a yard that everyone in the neighborhood will talk about.

Many landscapers sell the idea of creating outdoor rooms in your yard. Simply assess the size of your yard and look for areas that can be landscaped as a separate little sitting space. Place a bench under a tree. Fill in the surrounding area with different types of flowers and shrubs, and add a few potted plants next to your bench. Having a sitting area in your yard creates a wonderful place to visit with neighbors, observe the daily happenings on your street or even watch your kids while they play.

Make your yard a fun place to be by adding lots of visual stimulating objects. Adding a bird house or birdbath will attract lots of interesting wildlife. Planting shrubs and flowers that attract butterflies is a great way to bring these gorgeous insects to the area around your house. Try to partner your non plant items with compatible foliage and fauna. For example, if you place a birdbath in your yard, plant a colorful array of flowers around the base.

Containers are a fantastic way to add variety to your yard. You can place big tubs or planters of flowers on your front porch, along your driveway, or even on your lawn. The beauty of containers is that when you get tired of them in one place, they are easy to move or replant.

Perennials are one of the easiest ways to landscape your yard. The bloom year after year can be propagated by division, making them an inexpensive way to add to your landscape, and they are relatively maintenance free. Perennials tend to bloom in succession, so you always have something blooming in your yard. Annuals give a continuous burst of color in your front yard, but they only last one season. They aren’t that expensive, so it isn’t hard to plant them each spring. Because they only last one season, they are wonderful for people who like to try new things each year. By having a mix of perennials and annuals in your yard, you get the best of both worlds.

• Brady Nursery
• Countryside Lawn, Tree & Landscape - Serving the Lawn Care, Tree Care and Landscaping needs of Wichita since 1986.
• Johnson's Garden Center - Lawn and Garden Tools, Plants and Flowers
• Michael's Complete Lawn Care - Lanwncare & landscaping solutions
• Sisyphus Stone Works - Hand carved stone sculpture, sculptural furniture and sculptural signage

Home Remodeling & Decorating

Home remodeling can quickly become a major task. Many people that want to remodel their houses look for a contractor for making the changes. But some people prefer to do it by themselves. If you chose to do it yourself, then you need a home remodeling plan. It is a must if you want to make any modifications to your house.

The first step is to consider how much it will change your home. Something as ordinary as the traffic flow inside your house could be compromised. And, if you plan to have more children, you should plan a possible increase on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Many people have found that a software package that shows in 3D how your house is going to look after the remodeling to be helpful.

Once you have a clear idea of what are you going to do and how you plan to do it, you need to consider the materials that you need to use. Visit retail stores like Star Lumber & Supply and ask about any new products like energy saving windows or fireproof walls.

• Kansas General Wire & Supply Co., Inc. - Manufacturer of hot-dipped galvanized and vinyl coated fence fabric.
• Star Lumber & Supply Co., Inc. - Retail & Pro Lumber, Building Materials & Flooring

Hot Tubs & Swimming Pools

Hot tubs are large tubs or small pools full of warm water that people use for relaxation, hydrotherapy or massage. There are simple wooden-staved soaking tubs and plastic tubs, known also as spas. Natural gas, electric or solar heaters are the most popular devices to heat hot tubs.

Wooden tubs are made with wooden staves and steel bands. Cedar, teak and redwood are most commonly used; inside the barrel there is a wooden bench. Spas are made in a large variety of shapes, with a variety of seating arrangements. Some models are equipped with water jets. The water jet can be aerated, with moving and rotating features, to provide a massage effect. Spas are cheaper than wooden hot tubs, easier to install and clean, and less energy consuming. Usually, spas have a circulator pump to heat and filter water and another pump to drive the hydrotherapy jets.

As many small organisms thrive in warm water, sanitization is vital in hot tubs. The hot tubs water composition must be maintained to keep the proper sanitization and prevent any damage to the tub. Water filters are used, also chlorine and bromine, ozone generator are the most common sanitations solutions. People can use also UV sterilization, silver or copper ion generators. Periodically, specialists recommend shocking the hot tub to remove microorganisms, using potassium monopersulfate or granulated chlorine. After the shock treatment, the hot tub should not be used for 9 hours. Total alkalinity and pH must be maintained, to maintain the water chemistry within acceptable limits.

• Mattingly, Inc. - Residential and commercial swimming pool equipment and supplies
• Ultra Modern Pool & Patio - We make pool & spa care easy!

More Home & Garden Resources

• 1st Choice Pest Services - Termite control specialists
• Gardener's Supply Company- We serve millions of gardeners nationwide, offering everything from seedstarting supplies and garden furniture to flower supports and garden carts.
• Westlake Ace Hardware - Your neighborhood hardware store
• The Yard Store - "Aircraft tools at discount prices" is not just a slogan, but our goal everyday. At The Yard, we have been saving customer's money on their tool purchases since the day we opened.