Solar lights for garden are already widespread, thanks to modern technologies such as solar mini panels and LEDs which made the price of such lighting fixtures decrease dramatically, turning them from luxury items into mass market ones.

Outdoor solar lights are differentiated by their purpose. Thus, we have:

Decorative garden lights:

They don’t play a role in lighting your way through the garden, they are just beautiful and nice to watch from your porch. Such lights come in many shapes, the most popular being the cup shape, the solar rock lights, the bowl shape or the globe lights that can be placed on water as well as on solid ground. Funny shapes like ladybug or red mushrooms are also very sought after. Other solar figurines that are appreciated by many consumers are garden statues such as gnomes, monkeys, dogs or ducks, solar rocks or solar powered flowers.

Path lights:

These lighting fixtures are placed in such a way as to illuminate paths in your garden. The most popular ones are those that look very much like short poles with the lighting bulb at the superior end. One example is the Aspen Solar Accent Light from SolarLightStore.

Hanging lanterns:

This solution is preferred by homeowners who like the classic style. Such lights are very decorative and they can be found in various shapes and finishes, from wrought iron to copper or bronze. Security spot lights: based on the LED technology, these lights are highly efficient, thanks to their special built which incorporates a battery that stores energy from the sun during the day and allow the lights to operate by night when the motion sensors detect movement within their range of action.

Solar holiday decorations:

Items like solar garlands, snowmen or lighting Santas are great for giving a holiday touch to your courtyard or patio. Adding charming glowing effects to a simple garden has never been so easy. Those of you who think to get such lights for the winter holidays could use some good blackout blinds, as they might find it difficult to fall asleep with so much light coming from the garden.

In terms of lighting angle, we have floodlights (which light around doors and windows), spotlights (diffuse lights that can be used to illuminate garden statues or house walls), accent lights (focused on specific elements of decor) or tier lights (which direct light downwards, so you can watch your steps in the dark).

Most solar garden lights are basing their functioning on the same principle of storing daylight energy in a special battery kit and release it at night. LEDs are much better than classic light bulbs because they are more efficient, meaning that at the same power, they generate more light. Moreover, some of them change their color as they heat, therefore making some great chameleon solar garden light decorations such as flowers or cute bugs. The main advantage of solar garden lights is that they don’t need any wiring. Installation is very easy to do, as they come with a sharp end that goes into the ground. When batteries are fully charged, solar garden lights can offer up to eight hours of light starting from dusk, which should be enough even for insomniacs or for evening parties.

Adding an outdoor garden fountain can really enhance the attractiveness of your garden. Fountains and other water features are both pleasing to the eye and soothing. There is no better way to relax, on a warm summer day, than to sit in a lovely garden, surrounded by your favorite plants and flowers and listen to the soothing sounds of running water. Installing an outdoor garden fountain is relatively easy and not too expensive and there is very little maintenance needed.

Before you buy your garden fountain you will need to consider the location and style so that it fits in well your garden design. Would you prefer a modern design of fountain, a rock fountain that looks more natural or a traditional marble fountain with, perhaps, angels or doves? There are a wide variety of fountains to choose from so browse on the net or visit your local garden centre to see all the varieties before you make a decision.

Once you have decided on the style of fountain suitable for your garden you will need to decide if you are going for a solar powered fountain or a wired fountain. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Solar powered fountains are extremely easy to set up and you won't have to bury wires in the garden. They can also be used at a distance from a power source. The disadvantage is that most of them do not store power so they won't work very well on overcast days or during the winter months. In fact, to prevent damage to the pump during icy weather, it is best to turn them off completely. Solar fountains once set up are easy to maintain and have no running costs. However the batteries will need replacing after a few years of use.

Solar powered fountain also come in two types, with solar panels built into the fountains base or with remote panels. If you wish to place your fountain in a shady spot, under trees or an arbour for instance, then buy one with remote panels that can be placed on a wall, tree or on a stake firmly planted in the ground that is in sunshine for most of the day.

A wired fountain, will work throughout the year of course but will take more time to set up. You will also need to carefully bury the wiring so that it is safe for children and pets and make sure you buy a cable that is suitable for being buried. Although fountains take very little electricity to run they are obviously going to have higher running costs than a solar fountain.

An additional advantage of an outdoor garden fountain is that it will attract birds that will not visit birdtables, insect eating birds like wrens for instance. So, not only will you have a lovely water feature to enhance your pleasure in the garden you will also attract a much wider variety of birds. Make sure you place your fountain in a spot that is visible from your window so that you can easily watch the birds bathing in the fountain without disturbing them.

If you're like most homeowners, you take pride in having a nice, lush, green lawn.  However, keeping your grass nice and green isn't always as simple as it seems.  Despite your best efforts, you might find that your grass will be patchy, thin, and otherwise ugly at certain times.  Don't despair, though, with the tips in this article, you will have a better idea of how you can be enjoying green grass as much as possible.

The first step is to make sure your lawn is made up of the right type of grass.  This is of little help if you already have a lawn, but if you're starting one, make sure you choose the proper types of grass for your region.   Most lawns are a blend of "warm season" and "cool season" grasses intended to help keep the grass green for as long as possible.  Do your research and select the right blend of grass for your area.

Obviously, watering your grass is key to keeping it green.  If you're in a naturally rainy climate, this may not be an issue.  The easiest way to keep your lawn watered is with an automatic sprinkler system.  Make sure that your sprinkler system provides good, even coverage of the whole lawn without any "dead zones" where the water doesn't reach.  If you can't eliminate these zones by adjusting your sprinklers, be sure to keep them watered manually.  Otherwise, your lawn will be patchy with the dry spots.

Another thing to watch is lawn thatch.  De-thatch your lawn if the thatch layer exceeds one half of an inch (1.25 cm).  This will help the water reach the roots.

The next aspect to consider is that of fertilizer.  Applying fertilizer is a must if you want to have thick, green grass.  Apply fertilizer appropriate for the time of year at regular intervals.  Use slow release fertilizers for maximum benefit over time.  If you have a problem with weeds, you combine that application of weed killer and fertilizer to ensure that only your grass is getting the extra nutrients from the fertilizer.

Mowing is also key to lawn health.  Mow regularly, but not too often, and you will enjoy greener grass.   A good rule of thumb is to cut your grass when it is about 3 inches (~8 cm) tall, but never cut off more than the top third of the grass.  This optimum height will help ensure healthy grass.  Cut your grass with a sharp mower blade, and don't mow your lawn in the heat of the day or after you water it.  Only cut dry grass.  Alternate which direction you mow each time to prevent ruts from forming in your lawn.

So, this should help get you on your way to having a happy, healthy lawn.  If you follow these tips, it will be your neighbor rather than you commenting about the green grass on the other side.  Good luck, and enjoy your plush green lawn.