I have a garden that is very water efficient, so it looks great in the warmer months, but it can become a little overgrown and wild in the colder months. I might not spend as much time out there in winter, but I still like it to look good. I have been working on the garden design to help it look good all year round, and I have found that with the right plant selection and preparation, the garden can look great throughout the year. This blog has tips for other homeowners who are looking to improve the appearance of their garden when the weather gets wet.
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If you struggle with the hot temperatures in your home but don't want to use your air conditioner so much, you can alter what window treatments you have. Here are some of the best window treatments to have when you live somewhere with hot temperatures.
Blinds
The first type of window treatment you might want to consider for reducing heat in your home is blinds. Blinds are great because it makes it easy to control how much sunlight gets into your home. You can open them in the early mornings and evenings when you want light and fresh air from the open windows, then close them tightly during the hottest part of the day to keep out that heat and light. Some good options are blinds with slats that shut tightly, such as bamboo, faux wood, or hardwood blinds. Avoid aluminum or vinyl blinds, as they don't have good insulation properties.
Shades
If you like the look of shades, they can also help to reduce the interior heat and help you save on your energy bills. The way they are installed is very important when you are getting them to block out the excess heat. You want the shades to be installed as close to the window as possible so that there aren't gaps where heat can get in through the window. If you are having them professionally installed, let the installer know you want to reduce heat in your home, and they will use techniques to get it as close to the wall and window as they can.
Curtains
Believe it or not, you can also keep some heat out when you have curtains. The trick here is to go with the right type of fabric. If you have flowy, sheer curtains made of light fabric, they aren't going to do you much good as they let in plenty of light. You want insulating curtains made of thick fabric that wrap around the entire window. They should be a little bigger than the window's width and length so that no sunlight peeks through when they are closed. Blackout curtains are great and not only block out the light but keep out that unwanted heat as well. Also consider curtains with plastic backing, as these can also keep the heat out.
Awnings
Also consider keeping heat out with window treatments on the outside of the windows instead of inside. For example, you can have awnings installed, which will reduce the heat and keep it nice and cool inside. When the sun comes out, open the outdoor awnings on your west and south-facing windows. These provides enough shade that you won't feel all that heat and you don't need to use your air conditioner quite as much.
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