DIY NO SEW Doggie Beds!

If you have a dog or dogs... you probably know by now that dog beds are OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive.  The bigger the dog, the more expensive. We have FOUR medium to large dogs and honestly, as often as you have to wash or replace the beds, I can't afford $50-$100 for a dog bed for EACH dog.  I looked around on Pinterest and found this great tutorial....

http://luigiandme.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/diy-dog-bed-super-easy-no-sew/

I decided to modify it for myself and my dogs (much bigger than this dog).

Bear (and all my dogs) love this bed!

You will need...

1. Scissors
2. Fleece blankets or fleece material bought at your local fabric store.
• I bought my fleece blankets at Fred's for $4.00 each... But I have found a TON of cheap fleece remnants in all colors at Hancock Fabrics.... they also have tons of cute patterns on them.  
• This will allow you to pick out your own style. No more UGLY dog beds!!!
• http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Fleece_stcVVcatId537261VVviewcat.htm
3. Old scrap material, old clothes you can't wear (holey t-shirts, etc.), or I went and bought $3.00 pillows at WalMart... super cheap and easy to use!

That is it... Scissors, Fabric (I used a single $4.00 fleece blanket I bought from Fred's and for another I used an old fleece blanket from WalMart that my dogs had already had smelling like hounds!), and something to stuff them with!

Step 1:   Take the blanket (or material or fleece) and cut it to the size (and shape) that you want.

I just took the $4.00 blanket and folded in half to save myself some cutting!  But it all depends... bigger if your dog spreads out... You know your dog... make it to fit! 

Step 2:   Begin cutting slits around the edge of the material.  About 3 to 4 inches long (long enough to tie together later). 

Cut slits all the way around the material. (if you fold in half, you only have to cut slits on 3 sides.)  

Step 3:   Start tying all the pieces together. You will tie in a knot (easiest method... but there are other methods you can google). You will either have the material folded over and tie together, or you can lay one piece on the other and begin tying the slits together (aka no sew). 

Make sure that you don't tie all sides until we stuff it!

Step 4:  Stuff your bed.  Take your stuffing material (t-shirts, old blankets, stuffing, or cheap pillows) and put it in the place you left open on your bed.  Don't over-stuff!

Step 5:  After you have it stuffed, finish tying your pieces together.

Below are some DIY No Sew dog beds I found online... you can get some ideas!

  

Understanding the Numbers on your Fertilizers

Buying fertilizer can be confusing!  What do those numbers mean on the bag? What should I get? 

There are several ways to interpret, but I will help you understand the world of fertilizers!

First, there are 3 numbers on all bags of commercial fertilizers.

They are always in the SAME order.

N-P-K, which stands for ...

N-Nitrogen
P-Phosphorous
K-Potassium

This should take you back to chemistry class.  Well, gardening is a lot like chemistry!

This is 13-13-13

NITROGEN

The first number is Nitrogen. This promotes healthy growth of the plant.  It also helps create a green color in plants.  

If you want dark green grass, you want a high Nitrogen number.  

PHOSPHOROUS

The second number is Phosphorous. This helps promote flowering in flowering plants, bushes, and trees.  This. also, promotes healthy roots and seed development.

So, if you have new grass or new bulbs, a high phosphorous number on a fertilizer will help establish roots!  If you want your flowering plants to bloom and bloom... use a high in phosphorous fertilizer.

POTASSIUM

The third number is Potassium.  Plants use potassium for overall health.  It helps turn Carbon Dioxide into Oxygen.  This will promote root and stem growth.  

So let's recap! 

For new grass:  13-13-13

For grass that is overrun with weeds: weed killer and 13-13-13

For established lawns:  29-0-5 (just use a high Nitrogen level, low Phosphorous level, and small to medium Potassium level)

All purpose plant food (shrubs, flowers, vegetables): 12-4-8

Roses: 9-18-9

Flower BLOOM BOOSTER: 10-16-10

Tree & Shrub: 15-10-9

Tomatoes: 18-18-21

Fruits & Vegetable (general): 9-4-12

Indoor Plants: 6-12-6

Cacti & Succulents: 2-7-7

Just remember, check the numbers and know what you are going to use it for. Fertilizer is a key to beautiful grass, flowers, and a prosperous garden!

Happy Gardening!

About Me....

This blog is about my adventures in home improvement, DIY, and landscaping.  My mother was a woman who LOVED gardening, using power tools, and being creative.  She loved doing hands-on projects and to this day, I remember being out in the yard or garage watching her work.  I was mesmerized by my mother's ability to do just about anything.  She could wallpaper a house, use a table saw, and paint anything with a steady hand.

When she passed away in January of 2010, I began doing a lot of DIY and gardening.  It made me feel close to her.  Sometimes it is the only time I can picture her face, concentrating on the project at hand.  This blog is, in many ways, a tribute to her.  She always had Southern Style and Grace and did it all on dime.