To many people, “tarp” conjures an image of a crumpled canvas in the corner of the garage, or maybe that shiny blue plastic sheet in the hardware store.

But tarps are the beneficiary of some of the best technology Home in textile and chemical treatments. And so they have been adapted to many uses, whether at home, in the garden, on a camping trip, in the workshop, in the industrial yard, or on the construction site.

The workhorse of all tarpaulins, there are more color, material, construction, and size combinations in poly tarps than for any other. They are readily available. And as long as you select the right one for the job, tarps provide good protection for almost anything that needs shelter from the elements.

It’s no wonder that the common tarp is one of the most versatile of all ‘tools’.

Basic Poly Tarps

Blue or green poly tarps are, overall, the least expensive of all tarps. The cheapest ones are little more than a thin sheet of plastic. And like anything else, the cheaper they are, the less durability you’ll have.

Basic(but good quality) poly tarps are made using a weave of nylon chord, with a laminate of polyethylene on both sides. Thread size is typically 700-800 denier, and the fabric weight will be between 2- 4 ounces per square yard.

They are waterproof, as well as resistant to rot and mildew. And they provide a good multi-purpose covering that provides basic protection from the elements.

But don’t make the same mistake that so many people do: Do not use a poly tarp as a cheap way to cover your vehicle. Polyethylene does not breathe, and the resulting condensation under the tarp is guaranteed to cause you problems. On our web site, you can find much better ways to protect your car, boat or RV.

Heavy-Duty Poly Tarps

In addition to the basic version, there are some much tougher, heavy-duty polyethylene tarps. These heavy-duty tarps are less prone to tears and punctures, and do not get brittle as quickly.

Their strength comes from using a heavier denier nylon thread, and usually with a much tighter weave. This makes the tarp thicker – almost twice as thick – and therefore much longer lasting.

One example is the silver tarp, which is often preferred for its’ UV resistance and heat reflective properties. With heavier thread and lamination, these premium silver tarps can be 2-3 times thicker than the standard hardware store variety.

Hems are the greatest point of stress, so the strongest tarps will also have heat-sealed hems, sometimes with a reinforcing rope inside. And there will be more grommets, spaced closer together, to spread the stress more effectively over the entire tarp.

In addition to basic and heavy duty versions, there is a size to meet almost any need. Small 6×8 sheets are available for just a few dollars. At the other end of the spectrum are the over-sized or very large athletic field covers and hay tarps. Need something in between ? Custom sizes are also available.

So the next time you look at that crumpled canvas or shiny blue sheet, you’ll know there is more potential there than meets the eye.

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In this day of ever burgeoning technical machines and the like, people still want to enjoy nature when they have some down time. Even if the family cannot get away to see the full effects of nature, we can still enjoy it by utilizing the garden or backyard to relax and breathe a little. Whenever we want to decorate those backyard gardens, we often look to bird houses or even water fountains to enhance the look and sound of the place and to enable us to get a little taste of nature at its best.

There are many different styles on offer which range from the countrified look to those sleek and modern ones that fit so well in the really high tech home. But for the garden in particular, rustic looking benches or niches offer a lovely way to fit in with nature rather than contrast it.

Springs or cascades help in that they give off a lovely tinkling sound which some people find extremely peaceful. They also attract some smaller forms of wildlife to use the garden too and many an hour can be spent observing their behavior. Squirrels and all forms of winged creatures just love to have their bath on hand whenever they visit the garden and this also offers some great photographic opportunities for those who are interested.

Even within the home, Zen like structures, which can be placed in corners or on tables, offer the same tinkling experience for those who like to meditate or just have a quiet read. Some have living trees incorporated and give the amateur enthusiast a chance to try out Bonsai trimming and such.

Sound seems to play an integral part in the minds of some people when they want to relax and restore their energy. Wind chimes are another way to ensure that the lovely tinkling sound is carried throughout the room or on the deck outside. These come in so many designs from the hollowed out bamboo styles to the glass or metal varieties. All have their own particular sound but some people collect many and have them all over the house for a good effect.

They can also include animals too, like humming birds or dragonflies which really enhance the surroundings that they are set in. Indeed, frogs also have their place in nature and some people are crazy about these little creatures, to the point of having different forms of architecture or knick knacks depicting them all over the place. Of course, it is all down to personal taste since some people just love hedgehogs!

What many families do is to have a common theme running through the home and out into the garden. This produces a lovely cohesive look to the whole place and it becomes a haven for the family to treasure and relax in away from the stresses of the world. A collection of different animal sculptures can be used for the corners of the house or for those hidden places in the garden and children love this since they never know what they are going to see around the next corner.

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There are some practical considerations when deciding how many planters, pots and container to have on your deck or patio. There is first of all, some very practical considerations such as available space, sun exposure and traffic flow. We always seem to have more containers than we had intended, however, do not clutter up the deck or balcony area. Do a little purging each Spring and decide which ones can be relocated or given away. You do want to have enough room to sit and enjoy the flowers. Here are some basic thoughts about location.

The planters, urns and containers should be placed in groups or pairs with similar combinations to mark the location of doors, stairways and transition areas on the deck. This is a formal way to define or call attend to the entrance to the patio, and also creates the “doorway” between the house and deck. Now we have a definite space and a sense or order.

Be sure that you do not crowd doorways. Leave sufficient room for them to open properly and not hit the pots on your way in and out. The same is true for sliding doors, leave enough room for people to enter and exist without tripping over your groupings.

In order to create a very comfortable outdoor living space, your deck should not be so crowded with plants that you don’t have room for visitors – you will not want your visitors to be afraid to move for fear of knocking something over or damaging one of your plants. For two people to walk side by side easily, your walkways will need to be at least four and a half feet wide.

Don’t forget about your Home plants. It always seems that the plants spread and grow more than we anticipate and of course higher than the height of the pots. Plants in two foot tall containers will spread at least three feet.

In Utility Areas, before you think about filling your containers, consider that you may need to get to that hose connection, hot tub, electrical outlet or grill. Leave enough room to get around those areas or you will be the one knocking over or damaging one of your plants.

We will continue our discussion next time on how to protect your plants – or how to make your plants comfortable in their space.

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