The Basics of a Healthy Yard and a Healthy Mind
The Basics of a Healthy Yard and a Healthy Mind
Not everyone knows the importance of a well landscaped yard. Good landscaping, plays a bigger role in your mental health. It also helps to facilitate social networking in our neighborhoods. Your home is something to be proud of. When you come home to a beautiful yard, the mind gets uplifted and your happiness increases. Your neighbors will see your yard more than they will see you. This makes your yard an important part of your social image. With a well landscaped yard people will respect you more and have a higher opinion of you. Landscaping the yard gives you reason to be outside. In this time neighbors will talk to you and friendships can be formed.
With all the benefits of a well landscaped yard you many be thinking, “How do I achieve such a yard?” Here are some tips to make this reality.
The first step is to start with a good base. It is important to have rich top soil. This is one of the hardest steps. Rich soil is hard to buy. If you have rich soil to start with you are lucky. Good soil takes time but is worth it in the long run. Focus on key areas first, like the flower beds. Mixing compost into the soil gives the best results. For the lawn, have your local landscaper lime and fertilize once a year. It’s also important to plant with good ground-cover that will not remove nutrients from the soil. Although your plant will still grow in poor soil, it will take much longer for it to thrive and become established. However, good top soil will also help weeds, which will mean you’ll have to control the weeds.
The second tip is to keep weeds under control. It will be worth it because your plant will ultimately grow faster and stronger, thus eliminating the bare areas where weeds grow. Weeds that are left to grow will destroy your grass and make your flower beds look mess and wild. Lawn weeds are unsightly and spread to your neighbors lawn. Your neighbors will quickly lose respect for you, if you create more work for them. If your weeds get out of control, landscapers only have to options. Remove the old lawn and reseed or spend hours removing weeds manually. All this trouble can be avoided by taking a little time each week and remove weeds the show up.
The most important tip is to have a landscaper you can trust. Having someone to help with the big landscaping projects can take your yard to the next level of perfection.…
Great Ideas For Gorgeous Landscaping
Great Ideas For Gorgeous Landscaping
A wonderful landscape will leave all of the homeowner’s neighbors jealous of the rich scenery. In order to make the outward appearance of a home more pleasant, there are a handful of steps someone can take.
When a person first begins living in a new home, oftentimes there is already some basic yard work completed. While the design may not be exactly what the resident has in mind, some of it may be able to be used in his or her design. Usually, some of a previous landscape has the ability to be used as a basis of the new owner’s layout. Because of this, leaving the previous shrubbery in the initial stages may save money in the long run.
For yards with a substantial amount of space, it is a good idea to divide the planting into several different components. The average gardener may feel incredible overcome with the grand amount of area. Taking a project, no matter how large or small, into smaller sections will make the entire undertaking a lot less stressful. Also, larger yards will require more plants, thus taking everything one section at a time will be easier on a budget.
The time of the year in which every plant will bloom is more important than one might think. If Section A has plants which all bloom during fall, and Section B has plants which only bloom in the spring, then the entire yard will be constantly off balance. Providing seasonal continuity throughout the yard will make it much more beautiful.
Hard, stone or concrete foundations, such as walkways and rocks, must always be protected from roots. If these begin to plague surfaces, your garden will quickly become overran. In order to avoid this from happening, keep all trees at far intervals from such places.
Many gardens have an abundance of accessories such as bricks and stones. While these are typically expensive at the store, many demolition sites are overflowing with such things. Oftentimes, the site owners will give these to gardeners without charge.
If the homeowner has enough time on his or her hands, then he or she can do the gardening instead of hiring a landscaper. When working with professionals, everything, including the herbs, are much more expensive. Doing the gardening alone saves money.
The ability to be creative is essential to gorgeous landscaping. A beautiful product can only occur when the planter allows his or her personality to shimmer through the entire estate. With the time a gardener spends in the heat sowing the seeds, a piece of them is left behind which glistens throughout the yard.…
9 Tips You Must Know Before You Start Your Garden Landscaping Project
9 Tips You Must Know Before You Start Your Garden Landscaping Project
Nowadays, everyone wishes to spend his/her precious time with the beauty of nature. For this, most of the individuals love to have garden in their home. Landscaping and gardening are the two key points which must be considered in mind, if you are thinking to enjoy and entertain yourself with the loveliness of nature’s beauty. The attractiveness of garden can be easily enhanced with the help of landscaping.
Garden landscape design is dependent upon the type of garden you are seeking to create taking into account the person for whom it is required and the effect they seek to portray. There are several tips which must be considered before starting landscaping and gardening. The 9 tips to design a beautiful landscape are as follows:
1.Firstly clean the backyard by mowing the long grass, and then add chemicals or pesticides so as to keep it free from harmful bacteria’s and germs.
2.Grease in the cemented area of garden must be removed; it can be done with the help Lestoil or tri sodium phosphate.
3.The wooden deck in garden must also be cleaned with the help of detergent same as done with cemented area.
4. Planning
One of the most important points of garden landscape design is the planning process. Nothing is more frustrating than embarking upon a project without enough thought or deliberation, when realization creeps in that the desired effect has been overlooked.
5. Originality
Originality is shown by copying ideas from others that can be modified to produce a more personal effect. To duplicate the complete design of a neighbor’s garden shows lack of thought and consideration.
6. Spontaneity
Whereas the theme of your garden should have some form of ord er, arranging flowers or shrubs regimentally does not provide an overall serene effect. This is why spontaneity to some extent is required.
7. Color
Color, not only displayed in plants and shrubs, can also be prominent in accompanying features. For instance, dark stained railway sleepers as steps, terracotta pots strategically placed, stained rustic arches and even colored patio slabs can all enhance the overall effect of what you are attempting to achieve.
8. Balance
An element of balance is necessary, to experience the right feel and theme to be illustrated and in doing so, obtains an element of peace and tranquility enabling the daily rigors of life to be overcome. Similarly, there is no better feeling than being close to nature in the environment that has been designed and created by you.
9. Privacy
Although some people may not mind being overlooked, for the majority, privacy is of the utmost importance and is usually one of the most essential features of garden landscape design.…
Outdoor Garden Statues – Yard Decoration 101
Outdoor Garden Statues – Yard Decoration 101
A beautiful garden in the backyard adds so much enjoyment to a home life. You can relax walking leisurely on a soft path, smell the gentle and heady fragrances of various herbs and flowers, see a thousand different shades of green colors of the leaves, or hear the tranquil sound of a water fountain, or watch various birds flying in and out of a birdhouse or around a bird feeder. And of course you can decorate it with outdoor garden statues, which bring art form into a peaceful nature setting.
Statue Themes
Big hardware stores sell outdoor statues in the garden department. The selections may be limited. But they will give you ideas. For example, frog statues blend well in most situations so it’s easy to find a place for them in the garden. Boy or girl statues are popular also. Putting them near a bench will look like the garden has some constant visitors. Gnome statues attract the attention of children endlessly and will add a fairy-tale atmosphere to the garden for them. That is, if the garden is landscaped to have some hidden area like the maze, then it could be an amazing playground for them.
Adding statuary into a garden is an art project, like decorating a room or a house. At first it can be anything that looks interesting. Even a piece of rock can be a statue. You can select a rock that have unusual shape or colors, or just pile several pieces of ordinary rock together to form a pyramid. But it’s hard to make a rock statue look good. In Japan a rock garden is a form of spiritual discipline meant for concentration and reflection.
Start with a few simple and inexpensive outdoor statues and experiment with them. Put them here and there in the garden. Rearrange them. Maybe add a wind chime. Pretty soon you will have a garden with style!…
Want To Increase The Value Of Your Home? Implement A Good Landscape Design
Want To Increase The Value Of Your Home? Implement A Good Landscape Design
It is said that a greatly executed landscape design adds up to around 20% more value to one’s home. That is why a lot of people nowadays are looking into this to maximize the valuation of their home especially when they are thinking of selling it. However, as a homeowner, you should also be discerning when it comes to hiring a landscape design firm who will do the beautification job for you. Because you can never be too sure for some firms are out just to make money for themselves and not really concerned about the welfare of their clients and their homes.
In order to make sure that your landscape contractor is a legitimate one, check with the your local county to see if they have the necessary permits to operate a business in your area. If their papers are in order, then rest assured that you are dealing with a good one. The next thing you can do is to get feedback from their previous clients regarding the quality of their work. You can also research in online forums wherein people freely discuss the merits and demerits of these kinds of services. Also, make sure that you meet with the contractor personally so that you will be able to assess for yourself if this is indeed the kind of firm that you want to work with.
Getting the right contractor to do your landscape design and overhaul of your garden is important so that you will be able to fully maximize the profits given the additional value it imparts to your home when the project is completed. First of all, the items that they use in your yard should be of high quality standards that will last a long time. In the case of installing a sprinkler system, you may end up paying more for what you paid for because of the amount of water that it wastes. Your contractor should be able to get the right balance of the amount of water to put out so as not to lose it to evaporation because of over spraying. It might be best to check first the water plan your contractor plans to put into place in your garden for there are other methods of distributing water all throughout the entire area like the drip method. Those methods may be more economical for you in the long run.
Another pro point with signing up with the right contractor is that they will know which kind of plants to use given the present conditions of your area including the soil and the temperature and the amount of sunshine the place gets. These professionals don’t just place plants just because they look pretty especially when the blooms are in season. They would know how to utilize each kind of plant that will not just beautify your surroundings but also serve a purpose like repelling insects and other animals. This is important especially when you live in an area where your yard tends to become the playground of wild animals. Also you would be able to save on costs, as they would not be placing expensive plants that they know would not survive in environment that your place has.
These are just some pointers of how to go about in choosing the right landscape design contractor. Remember that getting the right one to work with you on this project will mean more savings and bigger profit. Visit the right industry website to point you to the right direction.…
Landscaping Maintenance Tips
Landscaping Maintenance Tips
Landscaping is a creative activity and provides an excellent platform for anyone overflowing with natural artistic juices. It is especially pleasing for those avid gardeners that truly want to display their inner talent and leave friends and family literally green with envy. Filling your garden with your own ideas and preferences can certainly work well after careful consideration and planning.
Magnificent blooms and healthy growth is one of the many rewards that nature provides for the conscientious gardener. A beautiful landscape does require a certain amount of maintenance on a regular basis to keep it looking attractive and inspirational.
The effort put into maintenance work certainly pays off very well. An overgrown garden filled with weeds and grasses is a sight for sore eyes. An unkempt lawn has about the same effect. A garden is in many instances an indication of how well your house is maintained. A lovely, well kept garden can make a visitor feel quite relaxed and at ease.
One of the worst gardening nightmares is to try and remove tough indigenous grass that has firmly established itself in between the flowerbeds, shrubs and groundcovers. Trying to pull them out seems to be a fruitless attempt as they simply grow back. The damage done to the beds in the process can leave one horrified. There is a solution to this problem. By carefully applying weed control solution directly onto the unwanted grass and weeds is the cure. Using rubber gloves dip your fingers into the herbicide and stroke it on to the blades and any other unwanted foliage. It is time consuming but it does work after a few applications done over a short period of time. The added advantage is that none of the good plants will be destroyed in the process and the invaders are well under control.
Lawn maintenance is another area that needs constant attention. One of the most valuable tips on having a luscious lawn is keep the cutting length at around five centimeters. This means that you will have to cut more often but the final outcome will be a healthy, thick stretch. It certainly helps to keep lawnmower blades sharp to prevent disease. Also refrain from cutting during the midday sun as this can do untold damage. Lawns require frequent watering and fertilizer to keep a tip top condition. An appropriate irrigation system complete with timer is a worthwhile investment if you have a large lawn area. It also takes out the guesswork of over or under watering an area.
This also applies to other parts of the garden. As some plants require more moisture than others it would be beneficial to group the thirsty ones together. Water is a valuable commodity and determining and using the required amounts for your garden can contribute to huge savings in the long run.
Using mulch in your beddings during the hot summer months keeps the soil moist. Mulch as well as compost helps the soil to maintain a good organic standard.…
Masonry and Hardscapes – The Path to a Beautiful Yard
Masonry and Hardscapes – The Path to a Beautiful Yard
While the trellis covered with roses is still a beautiful hardscape for the yard, intricate hardscapes now enhance the appearance of your yard and the curb appeal of your home. Hidden gardens with statues, seating and masonry create interest areas but also places for a peaceful retreat.
Stone and masonry add their own dimension to the colorful surroundings of the yard and garden. If you don’t have a flower garden or blooming bushes, the masonry becomes the accent of color in what would otherwise be a drab appearing yard.
Imagine the peace and tranquility, which comes from sitting in your quiet yard and listening to the sounds made by pond with a waterfall. Water features made with combinations of natural stone and brick create a peaceful environment and take you away from all the troubles you experience throughout the day. The addition of brick pathways to this miniature paradise that’s a pleasure to the eyes, the senses and the spirit add continuity to the focal point of this type of hardscaping.
Masonry patios are not only interesting and add to the beauty of the home, they are functional also. The addition of stone and masonry turns unused space of the backyard into a valuable addition to the worth of your home. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is not just a focal point for your yard but provides a place where the family gathers and friends feel comfortable.
Another popular item that many backyard patios include is a gourmet kitchen. Outdoor cooking is far more sophisticated than simply bringing out the charcoal grill. It now includes more modern cookware with stone countertops and built-in refrigerator units. These outdoor cooking areas make trips to the kitchen unnecessary. Imagine putting on your food in the oven and sitting back in a comfortable chair soaking in the beauty of Mother Nature and your back yard. These types of outdoor kitchens are now becoming more popular than ever.
Retaining walls and decorative walls not only enhance the focal points of the land but also bring an air of elegance to the entire landscape. You can highlight small garden areas by raising them above the lawn and enclosing them with a retaining wall.
Adding drama to the front yard with a stone or brick walk way and large bricked entryway gives additional value to your home while providing an area to display gardens, potted plants and statuary. It also ensures that the water drains properly away from the home and helps prevent soil erosion as it does.
If you live in a dry warm area, brick walls and heavy masonry create wonderful sun shelters and help absorb the heat as they radiate coolness back toward your home. You’ll find these types of walls help to keep your home cooler when the weather is unbearably hot.
No matter what your weather or location, you’ll find that adding hardscapes to your home improve not only the value of the house, it improves your enjoyment of it. It helps turn a place to live into your own private retreat.…
Tools of the Trade – The Art of Landscaping
Tools of the Trade – The Art of Landscaping
Tools are important to any artist who is aiming to create a work of art. A painter needs his canvass and paintbrush, and a blacksmith needs a hammer and anvil. In the same way, any landscaper (or enthusiastic amateur aiming to beautify his garden or lawn) needs important tools to be able to make a beautiful lawn. For any landscaper who is serious in his calling, he will need the following tools.
SHOVEL – The shovel is the basic tool in any landscaping job. In order to mold the soil, dig holes to plant flowers and trees in, or to remove rocks and debris from your garden, the shovel is your best friend. Whether it is the shovel (large one) for bigger jobs, such as loosening a large patch of soil or clearing away debris, or a small shovel for digging around planted materials, cleaning away small rocks or any other more refining jobs around the garden, make sure never to attempt any landscaping without it!
WHEELBARROW – If there is salt and pepper, and bacon and eggs, then you can be sure that the perfect landscaping tool partner is the shovel and the wheelbarrow. Use a wheelbarrow to be able to transport tools and planting materials faster and easier around your garden.
CUTTERS/PRUNERS – This wide range of sharp tools (shears, saws, mowers, clippers, etc) is perfect for trimming, pruning and cutting away unwanted plant parts from your garden. They allow for a cleaner look to your garden, and even help plants grow quicker and healthier because they cut away parts that are diseased, dead or not blooming. Usually trimmers and shears are used for smaller jobs, while saws and clippers are used for larger ones.
RAKES – For cleaning up plant debris (loose and dead leaves, uprooted weeds, etc), the rake is your best bet. Not only is it clean and quiet, it allows for easy storage. It can also help in spreading mulch around flowerbeds and vegetable patches. However, the best use for rakes is to allow a person to collect a leaf pile big enough to jump in!
WATERING IMPLEMENTS – If you have a small garden, then it is more practical to use a watering can. You will be able to control the amount and flow of the water that you will be using. However, for larger gardens, you will want to use a watering hose to be able to reach all of the plants with less effort and hassle.
LAWN SEEDERS – While not a very essential tool, it can help you if you want to plant a lot of seeds at one time. The lawn seeder can help save a lot of time and effort when putting in planting materials.
So for those who want to embark on a landscaping project, make sure that you have at least the first five tools mentioned above to make all your moving, digging, cutting and watering work easier. If you have these five tools, you will be able to make your dream garden a reality in no time!…