Here at DeckTec, we work hard to design, create, and maintain beautiful custom outdoor living environments for you to enjoy with friends and family. Once your deck has been built, stained, and sealed, it’s up to you to turn it in to your ideal space. One of the most beautiful and environmentally friendly ways to perk up your outdoor room is to decorate with various flowers and plants. You’ll be surrounded by colorful blossoms and luscious greenery just in time for spring!

Whether you’re interested in starting out with your first potted plant or have been tending a garden for years, use these tips and tricks to keep your deck as comfortable as possible and your plants looking great.

1. One of the few downsides to springtime in Colorado is that once the weather inches above 70 degrees, mosquitoes come out to wreak havoc on anyone who forgets to light their citronella candles. While these pesky pests are most active between dusk and dawn, planting lemongrass in your garden or placing potted lemongrass around your deck naturally repels mosquitoes around the clock so you can enjoy your outdoor living space without fear of those irritating intruders. Keeping the air moving with a fan is also effective during times when mosquitoes are most active.
2. Do you want to grow potted plants, but worry you’ll forget to water them? Help your plant survive your minor mental lapses by placing a diaper under the soil in the bottom of the pot. The diaper will hold in more moisture than just soil alone, so your plants will have plenty of water even if you skip a day or two of care.
3. Different kinds of plants require different levels of maintenance, so it’s important to keep track of what you planted where. Cute and easy plant markers can be made from supplies you already have at home; use a white-out pen to write the plant name on a clean, smooth stone, seal it with clear nail polish, and place it on the soil or in the pot near where you planted any seeds. You’ll never over-water your cacti or under-water your ferns again!
4. To elongate the life and beauty of your outdoor wooden planters, place plastic trays inside the planter boxes, or line them with heavy plastic to prevent any wet soil or planter’s mix from coming into contact with the finished wood. Even though your wooden planters are bound to come into contact with the elements at some point, preventing that contact where possible will keep your planters looking newer, longer.
5. Many insect repellents for plants use harsh chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets if they are accidentally consumed. Rather than using store-bought repellents to ward off insects, you may already have ingredients for a do-it-yourself repellent that works even better! To make a big enough batch to last all summer, combine two heads of garlic, three cups of mint leaves, two tablespoons of cayenne pepper, and blend in a food processor. Strain out the chunks and mix with two small squirts of biodegradable dishwasher soap and 12 cups of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and you’ve got a plant insect repellent that will keep the bugs away without using any potentially harmful ingredients.