Timber Products

Timber Products

Someone rightfully noted that the only thing constant in life is change. Whether we are hostile towards it or welcome it with open arms it is inevitable. Even the world we live in and call a ‘global village’ is struggling to transform into a ‘villa’. It has witnessed all happenings right from the beginning -when grueling labor made way for tools. It has beheld the craftsmanship of humans and observed the keen willingness of learning and betterment. Century after century mankind shaped up new methodologies and processing ways and replaced it with older banalities of life and these new philosophies slowly started getting accepted. The basic tools paved way for sophisticated creation – encompassing ideas and products that became a souvenir of ages they represent. Simple needs transformed into cultural legacy like in case of wood artistry.

Over centuries the artists have fashioned extolling wonders in this field and transformed the aesthetics of decades ranging from Renaissance to contemporary craftsmanship. This technique has been refined and perfected according to the demands of time mapping out the expressions for each successive age.

Like everything else much advancement has entered the field of wood artistry. The current times are observing an increase in the diversifying timber products and veneering. Industrial revolution can directly be linked to the increase in production of timber veneers across the world. It started to appear in public and private sector buildings and soon was as lavishly decorated luxury vehicles like ocean liners and railway, with its acceptance widening in the domestic furniture industry. However, today we see veneer paneled walls and doors with complementary furniture. This industry has also gained momentum through public awareness and responsibility towards maximizing the planet’s resources.

The maintenance for timber veneer is not difficult; like natural timber this veneer should be avoided to be used in wet areas or exterior walls. It should always be coated with an apt coating as a final finish and never be used without it. This can drastically reduce the adverse effects of light and discoloration from the surfaces.

Not only is timber being used for furniture, beams and panels but with a little brain storming they can add a whole new dimension to one’s abode. For example one can create terraced flowerbed with the help of landscaping timber. It helps build a raised flowerbed that is easy for maintenance and utilizes relatively lesser area; this makes it suitable for small yards.

Landscaping with the help of timber offers limitless possibilities with both recycled products and natural timber available in different sizes and shapes it helps your canvas of imagination to fill up with ideas. However, planning is extremely crucial for landscaping as depending on the dimensions of the area and purpose one needs to calculate how much timber is required.…

Why You Should Approach a Sports Turf Design Consultant

Why You Should Approach a Sports Turf Design Consultant

Do you want to install sports turf on your athletic field in Texas? Then approaching a Texas sports turf design consultant should be your very first step. By enlisting the services of one of these professionals, you can eliminate any hassle involved in the process. The design consultant will take care of everything; from advising you on the perfect quality turf, to getting it installed in the field, all for a flat fee.

Why not simply go for a turf vendor?

True enough, there are several Austin turf vendors, and you could contact them for getting turf at wholesale prices. But you have to realize that these vendors will not make your work any easier. They can at best provide you with high quality turf and count the price. That’s it. Turf vendors do not bother with installing turfs, leaving you to do the needful, either yourself, or by hiring expensive professional help. This is why you should never go to a vendor when getting sports turf for your field.

What benefits will hiring the services of a sports turf design consultant get me?

Hiring a sports turf design consultant will get you several benefits that turf vendor will never be able to provide. These include:

1.A sports turf design consultant can survey your field and provide suggestions as to what kind of turf would suit it the best. They will provide you with several choices, from which you would be able to select the one that suits your budget.

2.These consultants often have professional installers on their roster who will get the turfs installed in your sports field. They will also provide you with useful suggestions as to how you can take care of the turf in the long run.

3.When you enlist the services of a sports turf design consultant, you get the assurance that if something does go wrong in near future with the turf, the consultant will not leave you in the lurch. They will provide you with support services for a small fee, and restore your field back to the ideal condition once more.

Always approach reputable Texas sports turf design consultants to get this turf installed on your field. You will get excellent services at affordable rates. For starters, check out . They own an 800 acre farm in Tioga, Texas, and have been successfully operating for many years. Contact them today, and you will never have to worry about the condition of your sports field, ever again.…

Tips For DIY [Do-It-Yourself] Landscaping for Your Home

Tips For DIY [Do-It-Yourself] Landscaping for Your Home

Beautifying ones home is always the major concern of home owners mostly for women and housewives. One way of making the house look amazing is through creating landscapes. Contracting somebody to do the landscape is a great option but, it can be too much expensive and impractical.

Landscaping is typically costly when done by professional landscapers. Although, it is true that the work done by the experts really worth the money spent however, economic crisis are continually growing vastly today, forcing us to spend very wisely only for the major necessities only. If you are really eager in making your home attractive and pleasing, simple DIY landscaping methods below can be of help to you.

Creativity. Use your imagination and creativity. Be experimental! Plan the landscape style you have perceived… may it be in the shape of tables and chairs or perhaps, it must be fully endowed with several seats and garden furniture, etc.

Area to be landscaped. This must be considered. Before buying any landscaping materials such as flowers, furniture, and other ornaments, make sure it will fit the location where the landscaping would take place. Choose only those that are simple. Do not over decorate, choose only 2-3 colors and blend them to complement it with your garden and the style of your home in general.

Materials to use. Use broadsheet in making all the flower beds. Use hose or any bendable materials to make any shape of the desired flower beds. Using the water hose, damp the tabloid and the entire area to be landscaped.

Clearing and applying soil. Remove unwanted plants and trees in your prospect area to be landscaped. Eliminate the of placing flowers and cultivate its surroundings which would be needed in the procedure. Buy enough soil and sawdust to cover the area. Do not leave even a small space unattended. The distribution of the soil and saw dust must be consistent to avoid unintentional high and low level land rise-up, unless it’s on your style.

Maintaining. Think of the needed plants and kinds of flowers which will grow in the yard. Use gay colored ornaments. Water your plants using programmed water sprinklers so that are watering the plants will not be a major concern anymore. Hide the pots used in some flowers via the saw dust and soil. Spread the particles evenly. Monitor the grass growth in the area by clipping the grass in the lawn as the need arises to maintain your landscape. Do not just let the unwanted grass ruin the landscape being made. And see for yourself the result of the landscape being made.

Landscaping is not really a tough task to do. In fact it is an enjoyable and now an income generating work to do. It only requires a green thumb and a lot of patience in growing the trees, shrubs and flowers as well as painting the nearby part of the house in relation to the desired landscape outcome. Although it requires the owner some money to purchase different landscape items and tools, the result of the labor is fruitful enough. All the hard work done in making the landscape will be returned a hundred folds once the owner will see the outcome and once he will start to earn through the landscape he has made.…

Avoiding Common Landscaping Misconceptions

Avoiding Common Landscaping Misconceptions

There are many common misconceptions about landscape design, which often compromises the health of the plants and the garden. To avoid this from happening, you can always read on landscaping tips, so that you will not be misled by myths and misconceptions.

If you want to take utmost care of your garden, below are some common landscaping myths and a short explanation for each.

Conserve water by watering the lawn during the evening

This is one myth that is a costly and expensive landscaping mistake. This belief originated from the idea that cooler soil at night can absorb more water than that when the sun is still up. The truth is, watering your garden after the sun goes down will only make the moisture end up staying on the surface thus, making it the perfect environment for disease and fungus to germinate. This will only cause you to replace your lawn if ever the problem becomes uncontrollable. Depending on the weather condition and climate, your lawn can survive by keeping it damp in the middle of the day. If you really want to save on water costs, watering your lawn at night is not the solution instead, get your showers, dishwashers and toilets replaced.

Keeping my grass short will make landscaping easier

Instead of making landscaping easier by mowing your grass short, it will only compromise your lawn’s health since you are cutting off the grass’ ability of producing sugar through photosynthesis. Besides, keeping it short will expose its sensitive roots to excessive sunlight. This will provide more nutrients and sunlight to weeds thus, encouraging its growth. When this happens, the grass will use its sugar reserves in order to keep up with the growth of the weeds. By cutting it too short after allowing it to grow long will shock the system of your lawn thus, removing the essential nutrients from your garden. When this happens, plans are unable to grow more shoots thus, leaving more areas bare and full of brown patches. This leads garden owners to think that they need to water their lawns more, which can only aggravate the situation.

I can do landscaping jobs without the help of professionals

Majority of homeowners nowadays sincerely believe that they can manage landscaping their lawn without the help of a professional contractor. However, this can cause a lot of problems during the process and in the future, especially if they do not possess the needed skills for plumbing and installation of waterworks. While mowing and planting is indeed easy, the end results that professional contractors can provide are simply incomparable.

If you want a high quality landscape design for your lawn, better stock up with contact numbers for professional contractors, so that you will have many options to choose from. Do the necessary research so that you know you are getting the most out of your money. You can always search the World Wide Web for the information that you need, or you can always ask for referrals from friends so that you know you will get the best landscaping job for your lawn.…

Landscaping Ideas for Wildlife Friendly Gardens

Landscaping Ideas for Wildlife Friendly Gardens

Creating wildlife friendly gardens can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. They are generally easier to maintain than traditional gardens because the planting will be suitably adapted to the local climate and soil conditions. Wildlife friendly gardens don’t have to fully replicate a natural one but can be designed and shaped to look modern and contemporary. Wildlife friendly gardens should aim to create food sources, potential shelter and protection for fauna.

To begin you should locate where you would like to build the garden. Investigate the permeability of the soil by digging a few holes and filling with water. If they take a few hours to drain the soil may need some additives like gypsum to break up the clay.

Next research the local plant species that were once located in your area and the type of vegetation communities that existed. Check with your Local Government Authority, National Parks information centres, local native plant nurseries and search online. Creating a wildlife attracting vegetation community, plant species should be selected from the canopy, understorey and ground-cover layers.

Trees will provide shade and habitat for larger animals and birds and provide protected landing and nesting areas for birds flying through your area. Shrubs and ground-covers in the understorey will provide protection to small birds and animals and lizards from the larger birds and animals. These should be planted in dense clumps or swathes as they will provide greater protection this way.

A mix of plants will also help to provide seed at differing times of the year to create food sources all year round. This doesn’t mean that planting design need to completely replicate the existing planting community structure. The garden can be designed to have singular plants massed together providing greater visual impact but maximise different species used to increase food sources.

Additional landscaping ideas for wildlife gardens should provide groupings of rocks and large branches to create habitat for small animals and lizards. Use natural mulches for example leaf litter or forest mulch to provide a more naturalistic setting. Water is another necessity and can be provided through a pond feature or a simple bird bath. A mix of both will provide safe drinking spots for both birds and ground dwellers.

Remember these landscaping ideas won’t attract wildlife over night and it will take a some years for plants to fully develop and then the wildlife to find it. If you are adding some of these ideas to an existing developed native garden then you may experience results sooner.…

Ornamental Grass – A Headache?

Ornamental Grass – A Headache?

For those garden lovers who have little time at hand, grass could be the ultimate bliss in a time twisted world that could keep greenery close to their lifestyle. That may be one of the reasons why ornamental gardening with grass has won a popular stance in the recent past with many households neighboring different types of grass rather than trying to house different kinds of plants.

No offence to tall giants that provides shade and endless relaxation, but grass is easier to maintain once it is being brought up to the full fledge form. However, it is without no doubt involves a lot of hassle in the initial stages to cultivate grass, especially if seeds are used in the process.

To take the easy way out, simply browse through the different types of grasses that is available to be used as ornaments. After discussing with your landscaper about the implications and the picture you’d like to paint in your garden, you could simply allow the expert to worry about how the grass grows, what kind of treatment is needed in the process and what extra care is needed during the infant stages.

This way, you will start appreciating the emerging greenery around your house without having to worry about the hassle and dazzle that is involved in the process. In short, leave the headache up to your landscaper and in a few weeks’ time, you will have a fully nurtured piece of green wonder in your garden.

Ornamental grass gardening is done using a several varieties of grass. The best time of the year to start seeding or division is the spring; however, depending on the area in which you live, the best timings may change. If you decide on settling for division, you will need to have a lot of patience until the job is completed. If not, it is best to leave the job up to a professional. Remember that if you are meaning to have the grass as ornamental, you must never allow it to grow in size. Therefore, proper trimming and division done on spot is a must.

Some people take the easy way out of walking in to a garden center and buying ornamental grass. The ugly truth is that they can be so overwhelmingly expensive that by the time you cover up a big enough proportion of you garden using those, you will near bankruptcy. Not worth the trouble for wanting some grass in your lawn, is it? So be mindful when you wear the ‘carefree shopper’ hat! Spending exuberant amounts on ornamental grass is a big ‘no-no’ to avoid.

If you are keen on doing the division of your own, get yourself a four inch pot or so. Then grab the tools that you need for division and go on dividing the grass as they grow. Before you place them in the garden, check with your landscaper that the soil is in perfect condition. A professional will always have good tips and tricks to add to your practice.…

Improving Your Curb Appeal With Solar

Improving Your Curb Appeal With Solar

I am sure that you have all heard about the tax credits for new home buyers by now. The extended dead line for having a contract signed is April 30th, 2010 with the closings to be held by June. It is recommended that for those who are considering selling their property put it on the market now to take advantage.

With so many homes on the market yours will need to stand out and attract as many buyers as possible to get the best price. You want to make sure people notice your home and that you get this done with as little expense as possible. For starters make sure that the landscaping is trimmed and that the lawn is cut. This costs little but will make a big difference when someone looks at your home. Next make sure you attract as many buyers as possible. Take some solar spotlights and shine them directly on the for sale sign. People who pass by at night buy property too, and you need to make sure they are attracted to your house. You can also put some string lights around deck perimeters, patios and around windows that that don’t have electric handy such as an attic window. This will help night buyers get an idea of the size of the home, and more effectively notice decks and patios often overlooked during the day.

When you put some solar lights on the edge of the pathways, this adds a touch of class day and night. By putting in these guides it will avoid people inadvertently stepping on delicate plants.

A nice touch to the outdoor landscaping display is a simple solar water fountain. The peaceful sound of water moving sets the mood of a peaceful place; something most people want in their prospective new home.

Now you are probably thinking that tall this can be done by tying into grid power and you are right. Solar however has several advantages: The buyer isn’t adding the dollar figure in their head when they see this, as they have no electric bill, they are not tripping over extension cords (not the prettiest things in the world are they?), when the power is out solar lights are still on, and just think of the value that you are giving when you can honestly say that you used a green environmentally friendly source of power. Remember every little bit helps.…

Landscape Lighting – How it Can Change Your Landscape

Landscape Lighting – How it Can Change Your Landscape

When you decide to work on the landscaping around your home, make sure to thing about things other than your lawn.  Functional things such as decks, porches, verandas, and pool areas provide looks and use.  Visual items such as fountains, statues, trees, gardens, and flowerbeds provide a nice appearance.  You can directly work on those areas, but choosing to add some nighttime improvements with landscape lighting will give you a new dimension to your landscape.  Below are a few ways you can use landscape lights to accent your landscape.

1. Use spotlights to highlight the front side of the house.

2. Use path lights to illuminate walkways and paths.

3. Light up high traffic areas with general landscape lighting.

4. Improve the ambiance with specialized lighting.

The first thing you want to do is to use spotlights to highlight the front side of the house.  Spotlights focus light on a small area, which help accentuate their subject.  In the case of your house, it would help to put focus on your house.

The second way is to light up paths with path lights.  Path lights spread light indirectly on the ground, and can help light up pathways with softer light.

The third thing you want to do is to use general lighting sources to illuminate high traffic areas.  Places such as your patio, porch, or deck are good areas for this lighting.  There are several choices for general lighting, such as floodlights, post lights, or wall sconces.

The last way is to improve the ambiance with specialized lighting.  You can create changes in the mood of an area with soft, indirect, and diffused lighting.  Rope lights, for example, can help to create a soft highlight of an area.

The Landscape around a house, whether simplistic or involved, can benefit from some nighttime accents from landscape lighting.  There are so many choices to choose from that you will be sure to find something that works for your taste and needs.…

I Want a Picture Perfect Landscape

I Want a Picture Perfect Landscape

You just moved in to your new home or have an exciting home and you want to add some beauty and value to your home by improving the landscape. Turn your ordinary property into your landscaping dream that others will admire and you will be able to enjoy for years to come. You want your front yard to welcome you home and your backyard to be your favorite get away.

Decide what will be your budget for your landscape project, decide if you are going to do it yourself or do you hire a landscape designer. If you choose to hire a landscape company then you should have several landscape companies give you estimates for the project. The designer should listen to your goals and visions, then add his expertise and experience after he has done an analysis of your property. The great thing about landscaping is that you can do your landscape plan in stages that are spread over several seasons. But landscaping takes time, resources and a lot patience to get that picture perfect landscape.

A landscape designer will always try to preserve all of the best natural resources that are already part of the present landscape. They can suggest plants, flowers, shrubs and trees that are native to your area, so you are not planting items that will not survive and wasting money. There are so many landscaping ideas to consider, but remember of all these options they should blend with your home and your lifestyle. Other options to consider are trellises, trellis, arbors, pergolas, water features, retaining walls, patio, decks, fences and outdoor lighting.

If you want perfect lawn, then you have to understand when is the best time to irrigate so you need to establish a watering schedule that is best for you type of grass, plants and of course weather conditions. Also you may have parts of the yard that retains water so you might have your landscaper discuss with you about having a French drain installed. You definitely do not want to deal with bugs that can make your favorite get away their home because of the standing water puddles.

If your budget allows, hire a professional landscape designer that can design, install and manages all aspects of a landscaping project from conception to completion of your picture perfect landscape.…

Plan a Xeriscape Yard For Water Efficiency

Plan a Xeriscape Yard For Water Efficiency

If you live in an area where water is scarce and summers are dry, a xeriscape garden planted with drought tolerant native plants is the way to go. Xeriscape landscaping does not mean just gravel and rock with a few cacti. Drought tolerant plants can be just as colorful and interesting as plants that thrive in moist conditions. Many will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Most are easy to maintain and quite hardy.

Choose a sunny spot for your xeriscape garden. Good drainage is essential for drought tolerant plants. Some dry regions will have a layer of caliche below the soil. If this impervious and hard layer of sedimented calcium carbonate lies beneath your topsoil, you may need to break it up so water can drain properly. If you are unsure about the drainage, build a raised bed, fill it with soil and compost, and add some crushed granite. This will slowly decompose and add essential minerals to the soil.

Once your chosen plants are in the ground, mulch the area with shredded bark or pine needles. This will act conserve the moisture in the soil in hot weather and help keep roots cool. Mulch will also soak up available water so it acts like a water reservoir. As the mulch slowly decomposes over time, it will contribute to the soil’s texture and add nutrients.

To encourage your new plants to get established, water them thoroughly when you plant them. Then during the first week water them lightly every day. Each week water them less often, and after 6 weeks they will need watering only every second week unless it rains. Look for drooping leaves that indicate your plants need watering. It is always best to water deeply and less often.

Many drought tolerant plants are commonly available in nurseries and garden centers. You can also find seeds and plants by searching on the internet. A few of the best common xeriscape plants are as follows:

Salvia lyciodes: Also known as canyon sage, this perennial grows into a small bush. It has cobalt-blue blossoms in both spring and fall, and silvery green evergreen leaves. Many salvia species are available, with various bloom colors, and all are loved by butterflies.

Echinacea purpurea: The purple coneflower has purple daisy-like blooms with an orange conical center. It grows up to 2 feet tall, blooming from spring through summer.

Lychnis coronaria: Commonly called rose campion, this perennial with vivid magenta blooms can grow to 2 feet. It has fuzzy gray green foliage that deer will not eat.

Armeria maritima: The sea pink is a small perennial with pink ball-like blooms. It has short evergreen foliage, and is very hardy.

Achillea species: Achillea or yarrow is a common wildflower with deeply divided silvery-green scented foliage. Many cultivars have been developed, and blossoms range from white to yellow, orange, pink and deep red.

Ceanothus: An attractive shrub that has small clusters of blue flowers that butterflies love. Species of this can be ground hugging or bushy, and some can be trained as a small tree.…

The Pros and Cons of Using Vinyl or Wood Fencing

The Pros and Cons of Using Vinyl or Wood Fencing

When you have a fence built for your home, the different options and types of fence can be a huge task in itself. Currently, the best choices in the fencing industry are wood and vinyl fences. You may have heard the proverb – “good fences will earn you better neighbors.” When you select which kind of fence to install, you will have to consider many factors such as price, quality, durability, etc. Before making the call to an installation expert you should think about the benefits and disadvantages first.

Vinyl fencing is a wonderful choice for a modern person who desires a new-age look over the natural wood finish. Vinyl fences are graffiti resistant and more versatile than wood fencing. Temperature changes or humidity will not affect them adversely. Vinyl fences are free from rust, termite and corrosion. Scratches and cracks rarely appear. They usually have warranties for many years and it doesn’t require constant upkeep. Vinyl has less weight and cleaning them tends to be an effortless job. Depending on your home and landscape, vinyl fencing is available in a wide range of colors in order to choose appropriate color combination as you visualize the overall layout. If you are content with these features, vinyl fences may be ideal for you.

There are a few disadvantages for vinyl fencing. Its price is the biggest deal killer. They are very costly and initial investment for vinyl fencing is expensive compared with wooden fences. They may be recycled after extended usage, however they are not eco-friendly. If you favor ecological fences for your home, wooden fences may be the appropriate choice for you.

Wooden fencing encompasses many of the benefits of vinyl fencing. Wood fences are inexpensive and the initial cost is much less. They are quite eco-friendly; therefore they will be a good selection for those who love ecological products. They will provide a natural appearance to your home and you can easily decorate your fence with flower pots and bird homes. Painting the fence creatively and giving it an extraordinary touch may add to the appeal. They are easy to repair and you can personalize your fence in numerous designs, colors and styles.

There are just a couple disadvantages regarding wooden fences. They require annual upkeep and repairs to keep it in top condition. Temperature changes and moisture may affect some types of wood while certain heavy woods are hard to work with. Also, insect issues, termites along with fungus could cause long-term issues in your fence. Wood fences are less stable and sturdy compared with vinyl. The possibility of wood rot is also very high.

So, both have their advantages and disadvantages. If you’re looking for something long-term then vinyl may be the way to go. If costs are an issue, then wood may be the best choice for you. Either way, there are many fine choices with either type of fence.…

Landscaping For the Environment

Landscaping For the Environment

Landscaping is an activity that changes the environment. It does not matter how big or small the lawn is, landscaping can make it much more appealing for the homeowner and guests alike.

Because of the impact that changing the landscape can have on the surrounding area, careful planning should go into each project. Things that were not an issue prior to changing the landscape, such as water runoff, could crop up and create some nasty issues that must be dealt with.

Not all of the issues raised by landscaping are immediately obvious. There are some things that can be done to help minimize the impact on the environment and end up with an earth-friendly landscape.

1. Use drought resistant plants

No matter the amount of rainfall in the season that plants are put in, with each new season, there is the threat of drought. Planning ahead and using plants that are tolerant of these conditions means less watering that will need to be done.

In times when water is plentiful, these plants will flourish. In the dry weather, they may become somewhat dormant. Choosing plants that do not demand large amounts of water will make maintaining the landscape an easier job no matter how much moisture the season brings.

2. Use organic fertilizers

Man made fertilizers can have a negative effect on the soil. This is especially true when used by homeowners since most homeowners tend to over apply them. These fertilizers block the amount of nutrients that plants can absorb from the soil.

Over-applying the fertilizers means that the ground may not hold all that is put down. This is when the chemicals are available to leach into the water tables. This is the underground water that flows all over. Wells can become contaminated, causing unsafe drinking water and health issues for anyone consuming it.

Man made fertilizers are also made of chemicals that are not necessarily healthy for humans. Exposure to these chemicals (most commonly bare skin) can cause health issues.

Organic fertilizers contain decomposed natural materials. There is no chemical basis for them. The only exposure issue is that the person applying the compost may get dirty, or not like the smell. The compost is full of ingredients that occur in and support nature. Ground water contamination is no longer a concern, neither is the drinking water from any wells in the area.

3. Use trees to support the landscape

Trees serve several purposes. Not only do they provide shady areas around your lawn, but they can also protect the house from the elements helping to reduce energy costs. Trees have extensive root systems which helps to hold the soil in place.

4. Divert rain water

During seasons when rain is scarce it becomes more obvious to everyone that conserving water is important. When designing your landscape, why not build in a way to divert rain water so that it can be used to support the plants or other parts of the landscape?

Finding ways to use rainwater can be as simple as installing the roll away sprinklers that attach to the bottom of the downspouts on the house. If the landscape includes a pool, the water can be diverted to help refill the water in the pool. Use a rain barrel to catch excess water from the roof and use it to water the plants when the weather is dry.

Thinking about your landscaping and the environment does not have to mean major changes to plans. There are many subtle differences that can have a major impact. The landscape designs of one small yard can help nature improve on the ability to support itself and the area around it.…

How Landscaping Will Increase the Value of Your Home

How Landscaping Will Increase the Value of Your Home

Like with anything the best part about landscaping is the final result and in this case the final result is the increased value of it. If you want to sell your house then I highly suggest starting to landscape your yard using a decent design and a modern layout. The nice part about landscaping is that you can increase the value of your home substantially with very little effort and a small budget.

Do you know what works to increase the value of your home through landscaping? The best way to increase the value of your home is to create a eye popping design and layout that way your home is the centerpiece of a piece of work instead of the centerpiece of a eyesore. Some of the most common things people do to increase the value with their landscape is add trees, plants, grass, and lawn ornaments in order to attract your eye, but that is not all people do. If you want to get the most attention from the people passing by then you need to implement some kind of attraction such as a water feature or a large object.

Things to add to your landscape

Water fountain – The thing I like the most about a water fountain is that you can have them running year round and they will continue to attract peoples attention. If you spend roughly $500 on a water fountain I bet it will add at least $1500 to the value of the home as long as it is placed in a decent spot.

Unique fence – Not all unique fences will help increase the value of your home but there are examples of some that will. I saw a fence that was hand crafted using cedar that had wooden animals carved to the top posts ever 5 feet. It was so unique that I had to ask the owner why he did what he did and he said that he wasn’t too sure but he was glad he did because it increased the value of his home by $5000.

Fake animals – Something that works really well if you live near a mountain is placing fake animals in your yard. The reason this works great is because it will make people stop and take a look. I know this might not increase your value a bunch but it will make people stop and look which is one way that you determine eye candy in a home.

I know this might not be enough ideas for you and if not then take a look at some of these simple landscape ideas.…

Landscape Your Lawn – Reap Comfort and Serenity

Landscape Your Lawn – Reap Comfort and Serenity

Everybody wants to have a good place to stay. People buy their dream houses and make it as beautiful and presentable as they can because of that same reason; they want the place where they are to be like their kingdom or palace. I barely know anybody who does not want to have a good, comfortable, and nice place to live at.

Do you have enough space for a garden? Then why not turn that garden into a beautiful landscape that could as well reflect the personality of the people living there.

Landscape gardening can be compared to painting a picture. It can be treated as another form of art where you can express yourself clearly by what you put around. Like a painting of a picture; your garden should have a main point where you are going to focus the interest and then develop the surrounding area as the background to the picture.

How can you effectively do this? There are just a few things to remember. The lawn is treated like your canvas. As much as possible, leave it as simple as you can and do not put too many things on it. At some points, breaking up the big lawn can be done by putting some bedding on some special points to create the illusion of dividing your canvas. The bedding that you use should not disturb or make it more difficult for you to mow the lawn. Adding a gazebo can be your main point of interest in your lawn then start to develop the picture by putting some focal points like little shrubs on the side and then some flower beds on the other. You can also put in some trees if your lawn is quite big but you should also consider the probable height of the trees first before you do that. You do not want to have overly grown trees placed between or in the midst of some shorter trees. The lawn also needs to have sunlight to grow and flourish well, and you do not want to have overly grown trees casting a big shade over your lawn.

The color of leaves from the trees can also create certain mood and feeling to your landscape garden so try to be creative when it comes to matching and pairing the trees that you put on your lawn. That is landscape gardening!…

Helpful Ideas for Effective Outdoor Decorating

Helpful Ideas for Effective Outdoor Decorating

Just like indoor decorating, outdoor decorating is also important. A beautifully landscaped, relaxing backyard doesn’t only provide you and your entire family a comfortable hang out place but it also invites people to come and visit your amazing home.

Creative outdoor decorating guarantees 100% return on your investment and certainly improves the value of your home. You can enhance your home’s curb appeal with just a few helpful tips. Start with a well-thought plan which includes lighting, landscaping, an outdoor feature, pottery, a focal point and a sitting area. Avoid committing costly mistakes by taking your time to carefully think things out.

Before starting with your outdoor decorating project, take a photo first of your house’s front view. This will give you the chance to look at your front yard in an objective manner. Get the picture form the curb and check if your door stands out or blends with your current outdoor decor. Your front door should stand out since it is your focal point. Your front door leads your visitors where to enter. A fitting color or a pottery placed on its both side can accent your front door.

Landscaping is another great way to improve your home’s overall curb appeal. Make sure to carefully choose your plants as they will certainly reward you by thriving with less care and effort from you. You can also add different heights, textures and colors to improve your outdoor decor. Maintain all the trees in your yard as they provide shade and decrease energy costs by cooling your home in a natural way. Colorful flowers can make a statement and indeed effective in beautifying your front yard. They direct the eye to the front door and make beautiful accents.

Another effective way to decorate the exterior of your home is by coming up with outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting gives light to walkways and adds carriage lights around doorways – definitely a good investment. Outdoor lights’ availability will not be an issue as they even come in a wide range of designs and styles to complement your outdoor decor.

If space permits, a sitting area in your front yard will be a good addition. You can place a nice outdoor bench or maybe a pair of rocking chairs matched with a fitting beverage table. You may also want to add a couple of relaxing fabric pillows in your sitting area for comfort. Another option is to add some hanging plants for a more refreshing ambience.

Remember that outdoor decorating should extend into your backyard so you can maximize your outdoor living area while building functional spaces. Maintain a style or theme that perfectly blends with your home decor. With proper planning and perfect execution, you can have a very nice relaxation area, an outdoor kitchen area or even an entertainment area.

Involving yourself in an outdoor decorating project is indeed very exciting as you want to end up making your front yard an amazing view for everyone.…

The Benefits of Using a Landscaping Contractor

The Benefits of Using a Landscaping Contractor

When you have a garden that needs to be tidied up and if you want to add an entertainment section to your yard the best thing to do would be to hire a landscaping contractor. This job requires the contractor to have an intricate understanding of all aspects of gardening and outdoor entertainment. When you have a project that needs to be completed in your garden, you should look carefully for a landscaping contractor who will provide more than one service and who is fully qualified to manage the project for you.

It can be a tough job overseeing a project like complete landscaping or building, so it is always a weight off your shoulders to get someone who is professional and qualified to do it for you. This is just one of the major benefits of using a landscaping contractor.

Another benefit is that you will get a professionally designed and completed garden in no time. It will take a team of landscapers a much shorter amount of time to finish the project than you would ever take to do it yourself.

There are plenty of landscaping contractors that you can use for your renovation project, but to choose the perfect one who you trust, you will have to do a bit of research and check each contractors testimonials to see which ones are the best in your area.

You can enjoy the many benefits of a landscaping contractor for your next project by looking online or in local directories. If you want to get contractors contacting you and giving you free quotes there are also great websites that you can find that will cater for this.

When you have found someone ideal for your landscaping project you will have to make sure that they are available and be sure to book them well before you need the project started just to make sure that you will have the landscaper that you need.…

Who To Ask About Your Landscaping Problems Now

Who To Ask About Your Landscaping Problems Now

Does your outdoor space frighten away neighborhood birds and squirrels? There are plenty of home owners in the same situation as you, but fortunately, there are a lot of simple landscaping tricks you can use to beautify your property. This article is filled with tips to get your yard looking fantastic.

It can be a challenge to landscape an entire property at one time. Dividing your overall project into phases will make it much easier on both you and your budget. By doing your landscape in phases you will also be able to make any necessary changes along the way.

When landscaping, it is wise to utilize simple design elements. Anchor plants will provide continuity for diverse areas. When many shrubs are continuously planted, your yard will have some unity. To help create balance in the landscape use similar plants in an area or use similar planting patterns. Incorporating plants with different textures and colors will provide you with great variation and interest.

Include several different plant varieties while landscaping. This will protect your yard against both diseases and harmful insects. If you only use one type of plant in your yard, they will most likely all be lost. When you landscape, you want to make sure you have diversity; it’s crucial for plant health.

Try adding some variety among your flower beds or borders with different types of ornamental grass. Adding texture to a flowering bed and breaking up a border that is flowered are easily done by using adorning grasses. They can also be used as borders themselves. With a large selection and a variety of different levels of upkeep, there is sure to be a grass that can be used to fit your needs.

Landscaping is more than planting a tree or laying down sod. To give a professional look to your yard, look into using iron, wood or cement structures. Pergolas, archways and water features create visually striking elements in any landscape design. There are many different elements such as these that will fit your budget.

Create a landscaping design that works on many levels. Terraces, steps and fountains can make an ordinary space more interesting. Though a backhoe can be beneficial for heavy digging, it is not necessary in every yard. You can create gentle slopes and small terraces using just a shovel and some elbow grease.

Consider a variety of resources for landscaping plants and materials besides your local stores or mail-order catalogs. Check out any local botanical garden or arboretum where you can find a variety of native plants and materials for sale. Often, you can’t even get these types of plants elsewhere in your area. As well, neighbors might have plants they need to remove, like extra perennials they can’t use.

Whether your goal is to get the birds to gather out front so you can watch them or to have a backyard barbecue, this article has provided you with useful information. Use the information here and you should find success as long you remain dedicated and are willing to work.…

Landscaping With Rocks – How to Use Rocks Properly in Your Landscape Design

Landscaping With Rocks – How to Use Rocks Properly in Your Landscape Design

Landscaping with rocks can add a certain appeal to the design of your landscape. Which is why stones, boulders and rocks are one of the most common accent used by professional landscaping artists in their design. This is one of the few fixtures you can easily add to your own design as well.

However, there are some things you need to consider if you are going to use these types of accents. Yes, even simple things like rocks need to have their proper placement in a perfect landscape design. You couldn’t just carelessly place them anywhere if you want to make its presence adding appeal to the whole panorama.

Some things you need to look into if you are going to use rocks in landscaping are:

Sizes of Rocks

The size of the rock you are going to use does matter. Sizes alone may make the difference of the rock adding beauty to the whole landscape or being a nuisance to the eye. There will be instances when a boulder would make the perfect addition and some instances when smaller rocks makes the perfect cut.

Key consideration in choosing the right rock size is that it has to look perfectly natural to be placed in its specific spot. An example would placing a protruding rock on an open space with grasses as ground cover. Just make sure though, you have a clear idea on the focal point of the whole landscape.

Depth of the Rock

Another important things you should ensure is that the rock has to be slightly buried. The depth should entirely depend on the size of the rock being used.

Again, having the rock protruding would make its presence more natural. If you compare this to just placing the rock without burying it a bit, it would make a whole lot difference for the whole design. The first would make the rock appear as if it is in its natural place while the next would make it seem as if it was just placed there carelessly and would prove to be more of a nuisance rather than adding appeal to the design.

Blending

Both the sizes as well as the protrusion of the rock works well because it blends well with the entire design. And that’s what exactly you should thoroughly consider in everything else – from rock types to colors and designs. Everything has to work together to achieve the kind of design you want.

Therefore, when you are buying the rocks you are going to use for your landscape, you have to ask yourself if its color and shape is appropriate for the landscape design you have in mind. Each and every fixture has to have the same purpose – adding beauty to the whole. And this includes rocks of every shapes.…

Greening the Corporate Park

Greening the Corporate Park

Global warming is a hotly debated topic with varying opinions and numerous agendas. The general public perception is that industrialization has led to increased greenhouse gasses, in turn the ‘greenhouse effect’ and ultimately an increase in global temperatures.

It is believed that the simplest solution or at least the simplest way to try and prevent further damage is to reduce carbon emissions and to increase the amount of plant matter on the planet (plants use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis).

This has resulted in a trend by many companies to think ‘green’, or at the very least to be seen to be doing the right thing by taking steps to manage any negative effect that they may have on the environment.

Many companies, especially multi-nationals are seeing the benefits of being environmentally pro-active and trying to reduce their carbon footprints. This is something that creates a positive public perception of the company and its brands (and therefore stimulates their marketing efforts), and has a positive environmental impact on the planet, which benefits us all – it’s a win-win situation!

So how do corporate giants, which typically operate from massive concrete and glass office buildings and factories reduce their carbon footprints?

One way, is by using these buildings to create ‘green’ areas. Most of these office buildings are surrounded by gardens and some greenery, which add some welcome aesthetics to the hard, man-made structures and can also provide beautiful surroundings for visitors and staff.

More forward-thinking companies are using spaces that were not traditionally used for planting in order to create something truly special – something that:

• enhance the aesthetics of the buildings

• can assist in reducing contamination which stormwater has the potential to spread

• can reduce their carbon footprint

• can reduce the effect of ultraviolet rays from the sun, resulting in an increase of the life-span of waterproofing products that are used to seal roofs

• can reduce their energy costs by providing additional insulation and reducing air-conditioning requirements.

These non-traditional spaces are essentially the outer shells of the buildings – the roof and walls. Thousands of square meters of surface area that would otherwise be barren are now being used to create soft, natural, environmentally-friendly plant areas.

Although they are only now gaining mainstream popularity, green roofs have been used in Europe as far back as the early nineteen-hundreds. In recent years, they have become more and more popular and can now be found in cities throughout the world.

Living walls or ‘green’ walls are typically created using a modular system using plant trays that are hung vertically on the wall, similar to a picture frame.

These panels are planted, ideally with low-maintenance plants, which will grow to cover the trays and provide a beautiful display and numerous other benefits as discussed above.

Many architects are no longer simply adding small gardens and greenery around the buildings, but are incorporating green roofs and living walls on the structures, even making them focal areas of the building.

Regardless of which side of the global warming debate you find yourself, greening the corporate environment will at the very least provide a more enjoyable, beautiful work environment and this is a trend that is likely to be with us for many years to come.…

Effective Swimming Pool Landscape Design Tips

Effective Swimming Pool Landscape Design Tips

Swimming pool landscape design is something you may have considered to aesthetically improve the look and surrounds of your pool. If it’s a new pool, you will need to bring it in to the existing design of your garden to give a more rounded and comfortable place to spend your time and perhaps host some great pool parties.

Ideally, swimming pool landscape design is something that you should do before you actually have your pool installed as you will need to check any zoning regulations as to what you can and can’t do. If you are just doing your research at present, you are in the best position as not only can you decide on the type and shape of your pool, landscaping options are the most numerous and the advice you can get will be the most useful.

Whatever the shape or size of your pool, if you are hiring someone to install it, they are a great source of information and ideas. Remember, they have seen a lot of pools and landscaping designs! Whether you are installing the pool first, or already have one, then budget is something you will obviously consider. Realistically, when setting a budget, remember to add in at least 10% more for mistakes and unforeseen problems. If you keep to budget, you can always get better poolside furniture!

If you have children they will of course be your first consideration in your pool landscape design. Alarmed and lockable fences are essential, but don’t always look that nice so you may need to consider planting something that will screen eventually screen it, at least from certain parts of your garden.

Be creative in terms of plants and furniture. If you live in a bright sunny climate, palm and citrus trees will look fantastic. Although with trees, be careful. Keep a check on where you put them because of root growth (you don’t want them to break through your pool!), if they are too close to the water, then you will have a lot of leaves to get out and increase cleaning time. Watch out that you do not block out all the sun or you will just end up digging out some plants anyway – so think first.

Get the background planting well organised and planned first and personally, I feel the use of pots for smaller flowers is good as it allows you to move them around when everything else has grown up and you have a clearer picture or just want to move the pool furniture around.

I guess the bottom line here, as with any landscaping designs, is to get a budget, decide what you want to achieve, get your swimming pool landscape design and just get on with it!…

Swimming Pools – Donating Your Pool Water

Swimming Pools – Donating Your Pool Water

Here is a novel idea, when it comes time to renovate or you have decided to remove your pool, do you just dump the water from your pool? NO! What a shame it would be to waste all of that water when everyone in Australia is working so hard to conserve. Don’t be selfish, donate it. That is right, donate it. Donating pool water is a very simple process, one phone call is all it takes. Since the water from your pool is already treated, it will only be suitable for use in another swimming pool. When you get ready to renovate, contact SPASA give them your information (quantity, quality, and location), they will then send out emails to other members. Interested members will then make arraignments for the water to be pumped from your pool, transported and then to be placed in a new pool.

Problem solved, you are not wasting thousands of liters of water and another pool owner will be able to fill their pool without using any mains water. It is a win/win situation. You are being responsible, the new pool owner gets the water that they need to fill their pool and Australia does not loose any more water. Keep in mind that all donated water must be filtered and ready-to-swim. You should allow at least three weeks notice for water pickup. Donating water does not insure that when it comes time to refill your pool, donated water will be available to you. No worries, you have other options, you can hold on to your water. Programs are in place to temporarily store your pool water for you until you are ready to return it to your pool. The water is pumped from your pool and stored in a water bladder on your property. The water bladder makes an excellent storage vessel for a short period of time. When you are finished with your renovations, YOUR water is returned to YOUR pool. Talk about conserving, you will just be recycling what is already yours.

Recycling or donating your pool water goes a long way to show that you are a responsible and conscientious pool owner. No money changes hands when donating water, so there is no added expense to your renovation. You will also be avoiding the need to be approved for pool fill up by the water authority, because you will not be using any mains water. All people enjoy the privilege of being able to spend time with family and friends beside the pool. A responsible pool owner can also relax knowing that you are doing all you can to ensure that everyone in Australia has access to plenty of the precious water that is in such high demand.

Let us all work together to conserve water in Australia…

How The Different Departments In An Organization Benefit From Landscaping Services

How The Different Departments In An Organization Benefit From Landscaping Services

The traditional organization has four major departments. The first of those is the operations department, which concerns itself with the creation of the products (goods or services) that the organization in question trades in. The second of those departments is the human resources department, which concerns itself with issues to do with workers: hiring staff, retaining staff, disciplining staff and so on. The third department would be the finance department, which concerns itself with financial matters; with the fourth department being the marketing department. The latter concerns itself with marketing the product (in case of a for-profit organization), or getting publicity for the organization (in case of a non-profit organization).

We are interested in finding out how landscaping – which is all about improving the aesthetic appeal of the organization’s surroundings – is relevant to all these departments. The need for such exploration is in the fact that there are many line managers who tend to feel that landscaping is not relevant to their departments.

Starting with the operations department, in order to appreciate how landscaping is relevant to this department, you have to take into consideration the fact that workers tend to be most productive when in a ‘conducive’ environment. People working in a well manicured, lush ‘campus’ will tend to do better than people working in a ‘concrete jungle.’ Therefore, the work that goes into landscaping is likely, at its fruition, to have the effect of making the organization’s surrounding more aesthetically attractive, and hence more conducive to optimal worker-productivity.

Turning to the human resource department, we see one of the parameters used to gauge its success being its ability to attract and retain the best staff. Then we need to take cognizance of the fact that people will tend to show preference for working with organizations which look prestigious and friendly. And undeniably, proper landscaping is one of the things that go into making an organization look prestigious and friendly – the sort of an environment anyone will want to work with. You also have to keep it in mind that organizations have to compete for the most talented staff, and if the lush results of properly carried out landscaping is one of the things that can make such talented staff want to work for the organization, it is definitely important for the organization’s bottom-line. With respect to staff retention, you will also notice that a well landscaped organizational campus tends to have the effect of making the workers to (subconsciously) feel at home. This would make them more inclined to stay with the organization, whose environment, even at a physical level, is friendly.

Moving on to the marketing/publicity department, we see properly landscaped grounds having the potential to make the organization look good in the eyes of prospective clients and donors. And this is important, especially when you take into consideration the fact that there are many instances when decisions as to whether to give funding (or business deals) are made on the basis of, among other things, organizational appearances.

Finally we can turn to the finance department. And to the extent that proper landscaping can improve worker productivity and improve the organization’s image to clients or donors, its potential effect on the organization’s bottom-line would be obvious. That effect is also obvious, to the extent that proper landscaping increases the chances for attraction and retention of the best employee talent.…

Ranch Home Remodeling Tips – From Bland To Beautiful

Ranch Home Remodeling Tips – From Bland To Beautiful

One of the biggest complaints about the most commonly built style American home – the ranch – is that it is quite simply rather boring. In their most basic form the single story ranch can be a little dull. Four walls, a roof, rather plain, not many bells and whistles architecturally speaking. Even those with a second story are not always something worth writing home about.

That does not mean you are condemned to living in a nice but plain house. They are plenty of remodeling tweaks – some big, some small – that can add a little of that “wow” factor to your ranch home.

Landscaping

Nothing livens up the exterior of a ho-hum house as well as a departure from the featureless (if well manicured) lawn into a landscaping project that is a little more adventurous. Think winding paths, flower beads, exotic shrubberies, even water features. Enlist the aid and expertise of great landscaping professional and your ranch home could be the breakout star of the block in no time.

Siding

Most ranch homes have vinyl siding and, in many cases, rather boring, drab siding at that. There is nothing wrong with vinyl siding but why not upgrade to give the exterior of your home a lift? Just changing this single design feature can make a huge difference when it comes to remodeling ranch style homes.

Aluminum or concrete siding gives you the opportunity to spice things up a bit with a daring paint job and cedar shingles or faux stone will make it look like a different house altogether. Even the simple addition of small stone or brick accents for chimneys or bump-outs can add a nice texture.

Decks, Porches and Patios

Because ranch homes are generally built to be economical and affordable these outdoor features are often omitted or, if they are there, are very basic. By hiring a skilled deck builder or patio designer to help you create something extraordinary you get more enjoyment out of your home as well as enhance its aesthetic appeal.

Windows

Many homeowners underestimate the impact new windows can have on both the home’s exterior appearance and their energy bills. In general larger windows are better in design terms as they let in more light.

One of the most important things you can do when remodeling a ranch style home is to add texture to the uniform exterior. Bay windows are a great way to do that, but also don’t overlook picture windows which can be equally as attractive and effective.

Radical Remodels

If you have a little bit of money saved up that can be put to good use undertaking a more extensive remodeling job on your ranch home our advice is go for it, so long as you find a good, reliable general contractor to manage and execute the project.

If yours is single story ranch, adding a second level is a possibility well worth considering. Gabled dormers for the newly created upstairs bedrooms add a lot more of that “exterior texture” we were talking about earlier and a nice covered entry way can add a little extra something to your front door area as well.…

Factors to Consider Prior To Starting a Landscape Supply Company

Factors to Consider Prior To Starting a Landscape Supply Company

Irrespective of one’s financial status, starting a company or rather business is not a walk in the park. It gets even harder when it is a landscape supply company. Unlike other supply businesses, a landscape supply business is highly profitable. Suffice to say, it is a very lucrative business that requires one to have necessary resources and ample skills to effectively run it.

Therefore – prior to starting such a business – it is imperative for one to understand what needs to be done, when and how to go about the entire process that is involved in the daily running of a landscape business. Being a self descriptive venture, it provides customers with landscaping supplies for the beautification of their gardens and lawns. Listed are factors to consider prior to setting up a landscape supply company.

For starters, structure your business’ entity. Structuring ones business entity is inevitable and crucial at the same time. To be legally allowed to run a landscape business, one can either form a limited liability company; sole proprietorship or better, a corporation. However, the process of establishing a business entity requires the assistance of an attorney or a certified public accountant. Visiting ones secretary of state website to form a limited liability company can also suffice.

Next, obtain a tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS). This is the second and the most fundamental step to starting a landscape company. In order to carefully plan and manage the running of a landscape business, in regards to hiring employees, expanding and effectively building credible business credit; obtaining a tax ID is necessary, if not very important.

For the records, one can easily obtain a tax identification number by calling an IRS representative over the phone. Or – if detailed processes are your thing – you can gladly print form SS-4 from the Internal Revenue Service’s website then physically put it in the mail. Nonetheless, the simplest and easiest way to apply for one is just by visiting the IRS website, period.

Lastly, acquire a license. While this is necessary, it is noteworthy to check first with the secretary of state or local chamber of commerce to determine if a business license is required for the operation of a landscape supply company in your area. Afterward, determine if you want to operate solely the company through an office or online with just a website. Finding suppliers that can sell landscape supplies to customers, establishing a merchant account and creating marketing materials can also be considered at this stage.…

More Trees in Your Landscaping

More Trees in Your Landscaping

Trees then and now

When I was a boy I was surrounded by trees. One step out my back door and there they were, trees of all sizes and shapes.. But where are those trees now? New homes have so much stone, so much grey, and so little green, they are surrounded by walls, brick fortresses, built to keep us safe. Trees aren’t safe, there fun, they’re beautiful, they don’t tell others to keep out, not like a brick wall does. A tree is welcoming, and that does not seem to be popular these days. They take time to care for, time to water, time to prune. Stone

doesn’t need us to care for it, stone is happy alone.

My father and trees

My father was always so enthusiastic about the trees in our yard, he took special care to explain the different varieties to anyone who would listen. He would tell them about a certain tree and where it came from, when he planted it, and how much fruit it had given to him. I dare say he spoke more about the trees than he did me. Of course I didn’t give him buckets of fresh fruit, and I cost a lot more to raise than the few dollars it took to fertilize a tree. Dad would often arrive home from the office, change out of his stuffy suit, grab his pruning shears, and head outside to give his trees a little trim. He was at his happiest then.

Why plant more trees?

We all know how trees benefit the environment and how they give us clean air to breathe. Did you know that one tree releases enough oxygen into the atmosphere to support two people? Other than clean air, trees supply us with food in the form of fruit. One apple tree in your back yard can supply an apple a day to a family of five. Apples are just the beginning though, depending on your local climate, you can plant plum trees, apricot trees, citrus or pear trees, and a host of others. As well, a fruit tree will feed the local bird population and keep small animals fed and happy. Besides providing fruit, trees give us shade, privacy, and nesting areas for the local bird population. There is so much a tree can offer to you and your family. We need trees to feel something softer than stone, something only a tree can give, a connection to something outside of ourselves. So today I am going to plant a tree, and I hope you’ll do the same.…

How to Build Your Own Fencing Panels

How to Build Your Own Fencing Panels

Building your own fencing panels may seem like a difficult thing to do by yourself, especially if you’re not a professional, but actually it is a very simple and quick task to do if you have the right tools and knowledge such as fence maintenance and safety.

The first major step to take when building fencing panels is to decide the number of pickets your fence will need. To estimate this, you will need to measure the distance across and split the total number of inches by six. The number six is used because it contains the picket width and the space between pickets.

The second step that you will need to take after you have all your measurements down is to brand two marks three inches down from the top of all your pickets. Placing the marks on the outside edges is more convenient, as they are easier to erase this way. After that you will need to make a second mark on the top midpoint of each picket. To create a point the technique that you should use is to mark each wedge in the shape of a point on all the tops of the pickets.

To start to cut the marked areas you will need a circular saw because it leaves sharp pointed tips on the tops of each picket. To shape out the bottom of the picket you need to start by marking the tops of each of the pickets eight inches south of the initial point you have just created. Mark the bottoms eight inches down towards the lower edge, again to ensure an easy removal of the mark. Continue to make the same mark on all the outside edges of your pickets. Creating these lines will give you the ability to line up all your pickets evenly on the rail.

After you have done this you can go ahead and place two on your fence rails on a flat surface and space them about twelve inches away from each other. Make sure that the outside edges are approximately seven inches away from the end of the rail. Use your nails to attach each picket to the railing and use the frame square to assure that each picket is at a 90 degree. Make sure to check that all your measurements are correct. After you have ensured that all your measurements are correct you can mount your fence.

Next, once your picket fence panel is finally mounted, you will need one extra picket on all joints at the end of your panel to hide the joints on your pickets in the rails. Make sure to not complete this step until after the panel has been mounted. Once you have completed this last final step you should be left with a beautiful fence panel that involves easy fence maintenance and upkeep.…

Your Back Yard Influences the Sale of Your House

Your Back Yard Influences the Sale of Your House

If you want to have the best chance of selling your house in this economy, you need to do as much as you can to spruce it up and make it appealing to a buyer. It is a buyer’s market right now and probably will be for some time that means buyers are going to be picky and demanding.

One of the things you should not overlook is your backyard. Many homes have very plain yards and that is OK as long as you make sure it is well groomed. Your backyard is part of the house and how it is taken care of reflects on you and how you view your house. It is best to have a complete product (house and yard) that look equally nice and well kept.

Some people go overboard in their yards and make them very personal. For instance, having a nice Japanese garden in your back yard is great, but it might in fact hurt your ability to sell the house. This is because you would have to find someone who also loves Japanese gardens and is willing to take one on. If you have a nice house and a yard that is elaborate to your exact personal tastes, it will mean the new homeowners much share your passion for that type of yard.

Upgrading your yard to make it presentable for selling your house does not mean you have to spend thousands of dollars. It just means you should have a nice layout that complements the house and also looks comparable to what the other houses have in your area. If all the other houses have nice yards, so should your house.

At the least, you should have a yard that looks like it is taken care of and cared for. Many homeowners get lazy and don’t water their grass and mow the lawn like they should. If you want to have the best chance of selling the house, green grass looks so much better than brown grass that shows you don’t care. The bottom line is that no one wants to buy a house that looks like the previous owners haven’t cared for it and the yard is an extension of the house that helps form an opinion.…

Lawn Sod and Grass Sod

Lawn Sod and Grass Sod

Are you tired of looking at your yard with disgust? Lawn sod and grass sod may be just what you need to give it an overall appearance that is very different from what you see right now. There are many different reasons why your grass may not be growing properly on its own. It can be the environment, the soil, or a combination of factors. It can be expensive and time consuming to make various changes along the way to see if that helps.

You can avoid such costly hassles though with law sod and grass sod. This is a viable solution for any environment. There are several types of sod offered so you can even pick what you would like for it to look like when it is all finished. A professional can install it so that it looks very nice. This is the route to take because installing it on your own can be a headache. It can also be disappointing when you see the way it looks compared to when a professional does the job.

Always take your time to find the right person to do the work for you. That can make a huge impact when it comes to the finished look with lawn sod and grass sod. Compare prices but also compare value. When you get estimates from businesses, ask for a break down of the cost. Then you can see how much they are charging you for supplies and how much of it is for the labor of installing it.

What you will often find is that the cost is quite comparable with lawn sod and grass sod for the materials. Those that are bigger companies may be able to offer a bit less of a price because they can buy it in bulk. The major difference in pricing will be in terms of the cost for the labor.

With lawn sod and grass sod as an option, your lawn problems are a thing of the past. It won’t take long at all to transform your lawn from what it is right now to something you are very happy with. The fact that it is also an affordable option makes it one that many people are highly interested in pursuing. You may have seen lots of different lawns out there you are envious of. However, changes are the majority of them look great due to the application of lawn sod and grass sod.…

Show Off Your Home – Top 3 Landscaping Tips

Show Off Your Home – Top 3 Landscaping Tips

We all know that the value of a home increases when you enhance it both inside and out. One way that you can enhance your home outside is to make it a point to keep your landscaping looking nice. You can do this by maintaining your yard and adding in new elements such as furniture, water elements, lighting and other d?�cor. If you are not skilled, you might call on the help of a landscaper, but that can become quite expensive. If you are willing to do a bit of labor yourself, here are five landscaping tips that will have you on your way to a beautiful yard in no time at all!

Get a Beautiful Yard

Before you can jump right in and start buying items for your yard or garden, you have to understand that planning is essential. It is not as simple as buying and planting, there is much more involved, especially if you do not want to run the risk of wasting money.

Inspect your land- get to know every nook and cranny. This is important because it is known as space planning. You need to know where the sun shines, how long it shines and be familiar with the patterns. This is especially true if you plan to plant flowers. Flowers can be tricky because some varieties require more care and specific locations than others.

Research the Trends – learn what will work with your particular home style and available land. You want your property to look nice – not too sparse and not too crowded. Learn the modern trends in outdoor d?�cor to avoid an outdated look. Color trends tend to change with the seasons, but you can find the newest information in publications at the local gardening store.

Equip Yourself with the Proper Tools – if you have a lot of property you will need to invest in a good lawn mower. If you have one with mulching capabilities, you can create your own mulch for composting purposes which will help fertilize your grass and make it rich. Other such tools you will need include garden rakes, hoes, digging tools as well as sculpting tools if you plan to sculpt your hedges and bushes.

Once you have everything planned out, you are ready to start gardening and landscaping your own yard. Remind yourself to take it slow and do it right – the rewards will be endless!…

DIY Meets Professional: Some Landscaping Design Companies Offer the Best of Both Worlds

DIY Meets Professional: Some Landscaping Design Companies Offer the Best of Both Worlds

You might think hiring a landscape designer is an all-or-nothing proposition. You tell them what you want and watch as your yard becomes the garden, lawn, or oasis of your dreams. But what if you enjoy gardening, and want to get your hands dirty? What if you’ve sketched out plans or purchased the materials, and just need help getting started?

DIY lawn care and landscaping is popular for a reason. For gardening aficionados, it’s soothing to water, trim, and weed, and fulfilling to see something you planted grow. But for amateur gardeners, certain tasks are simply too complicated or time-intensive to take on by yourself. Maybe you need professional help to ensure that stepping stones and retaining walls are installed properly to handle erosion. Maybe you’ve never worked with a certain plant before. Whatever the case, you can find a landscaping design company to help you out without sacrificing the do-it-yourself element.

The staff at a landscape design company bring a variety of skills to the table. They’re trained in architectural design to come up with harmonious, attractive, and functional plant arrangements and hardscape structures for a given property. They may have expert experience and knowledge related to trees and plants that are native to your area, or may specialize in keeping non-native plants alive in your location. Maybe they also provide lawn and tree services to keep your property looking neat and orderly. In many cases, you can hire a landscape designer to function in anywhere from one to all of these capacities.

Scenarios in which you might want to maintain a DIY element in a landscaping design and installation project include:

You’re an avid gardener, but need a professional to design an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of plants, trees, and shrubs for you to plant and maintain.

You’ve personally designed your desired landscape layout in rough or complete form, down to what plants you want and where each footpath will go. However, you don’t have any gardening experience and want to ensure your plants are going to survive long-term.

You want to add a patio, outdoor kitchen, or landscape lighting to the garden or yard you have already begun working on.

You truly want to construct and plant everything yourself, but need advice and guidance on what to purchase and how to complete the job for best results.

If you choose to go the partial or total DIY route to complete your landscaping, it’s still a good idea to solicit and listen to advice from the pros. After all, landscape architects, garden designers, and lawn care professionals plant trees and flowers and install patios for a living. Their experience can be extremely valuable to you as you create a plan of action for your own project. While working on a garden or backyard landscape can be fun and satisfying initially, it can become frustrating quickly if you have to redo work that was done incorrectly or watch your new plants die because you missed some crucial element in their care. Unless you yourself are a trained botanist, arborist, landscape architect, or other expert in the field, you can always benefit from asking for help.…

Best Landscaping Ideas For Your Home

Best Landscaping Ideas For Your Home

Landscaping is one of the most exciting things to do in your home. You can easily turn your empty backyard or front yard into a lovelier and more attractive view. Landscaping varies according to the availability of your vacant space at home. You can actually start landscaping your yard without hiring a contractor. However, if you really wish to have the most outstanding landscape done by a professional then it is best to seek for assistance to facilitate your plan and the construction. To know more about landscaping, here are some useful ideas that will surely help you in developing a beautiful landscape for your home.

Simple landscaping idea is the best since you will not be involving yourself to a very complicated plan including the technicalities, contractors, style, latest trends, etc. Always stick to your budget that is not beyond your capacity. You can still create an attractive landscape even if you will use the simple and affordable style. Flowers with different colors will surely bring a glowing appearance to your yard. You can add some shrubs to enhance the charming look of your yard. Trim them regularly because uniformity in shape will make it more fun and interesting. Front yard landscaping is very popular to homeowners nowadays. It brings tremendous beauty and charm to ones house. The house will be more appealing and lively if it obtains colorful and organized landscaping that can surely be pleasing to visitors and guests.

Make your landscaping more creative by choosing the appropriate lighting system. There are so many light bulbs available in the market that is suitable for landscaping. Different colors of light bulbs can bring dramatic effect. Try focusing the lights to the areas that you want to give emphasis. You will surely see the difference of illuminating some special landscape area. Using your own creativity can already bring big changes to your landscaping as long as every object found in the area complements with each other so that good harmony will be created which is pleasing to the sight of everyone.

Customize your design. If you are having difficulty in deciding and conceptualizing your landscaping ideas, do not hesitate to opt for online research. Internet offers a lot of specific ideas about landscaping that fit to your taste. Personalizing your designs can reflect to your personality. We all know that every person has distinct characteristic. Other people like your visitor who will come to visit your home will surely be able to identify easily the unique look of your landscaping design. To have an attractive yard does not entirely depend on a contractor. Sometimes, you just have to believe in yourself that you can make a difference on your own.

Include some fence, rocks and stones. These materials are commonly used to enhance the beauty of your landscaping project. They are also cost-effective. You can save more if you will use stones then paint them so that they will have brighter color. Landscaping has a great contribution to your outdoor decoration. Therefore, do your best.…

Ingredients For Landscaping the Gold Coast

Ingredients For Landscaping the Gold Coast

Gold Coast, a city in the south-east corner of Queensland in Australia, generally known for its sunny subtropical climate and a rainforest hinterland in the west of the city, envelopes a wide variety of landscaping. Landscaping the Gold Coast brings to light the science, design skills and the art of blending nature with construction required by a landscaper.

Landscaping includes modifying living elements, such as flora and fauna along with the art of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape; man-made elements such as buildings, fences etc; natural elements such as terrain shape, elevation and water bodies, and abstract elements such as weather and lightning conditions.

A landscaped backyard could be all that your luxurious house needs. Instead of spending time and loads of bills on a vacation close to nature, spend a little time along with a few of those loads of bills on landscaping your backyard and what you get in return is a beautiful vacation close to nature yet within the premises of your house. Swimming pools and hot-tubs are the most widely accepted additions to landscaping. Installing swimming pools or hot-tubs in your backyard could bestow on you the facility to loiter under the hot summer sun.

In case, you feel you cannot give in the required amount of time and money your landscape needs, you could go in for patios which need low maintenance. You could also try using brick patios or flagstones that are available in a range of colours, sizes and shapes. A small patch of grass on it would further beautify your patio.

You could also take into account the advise of an expert to landscape your backyard.…

Gardening by the Ocean

Gardening by the Ocean

Maintaining a garden in an ocean front location is not all blooming hibiscus and scented plumeria. Extreme conditions such as high winds and drought can play havoc on the sturdiest landscape. When planning your ocean front garden, you need to do you homework. Here are some flowers that love to bloom in the toughest of environments.

Rugosa Rose: This Siberian native knows all about tough climates. the Rosa rugosa endures extreme temperature shifts, drought, wind and salt spray. Expect scented blooms from string to fall accompanied by colorful rose hips that will attract the birds.

Lavender: A hearty plant in most climates, and tolerates sandy soil well. Position the plant in front of your roses for a fragrant walkway. The bushy shrub also hides the bare rose stems.

South American Verbena: This is a nice complement to your lavender with its showy lavender/purple blooms on stems that can extend up to 6 feet tall. Butterflies love this plant.

Daylily: These do well in most climates and have a variety of colors and patterns to choose from. When not in bloom, their grassy foliage makes a nice border.

Hydrangeas: This delicate looking plant is actually a pretty tough cookie and doesn’t mind wind and salt. It’s wise to plant it in a partially shaded area where it will get the morning sun and afternoon shade. Set up an irrigation drip for this one, hydrangeas don’t tolerate drought very well. To keep it blooming, trim off the old flowers as soon as they start to fade.

Ever wonder why some hydrangeas have bright blue blooms and others are pink? It all has to do with the amount of acidity in the soil – the more acid, the bluer the flower, the less acid, or more alkaline, and the pinker the bloom. Use aluminum sulfate to increase acidity and dolomitic lime to decrease it.

Juniper: This is a hearty evergreen that adds color and texture to your garden year round. Choose from blue, green or gold foliage, and tall or creeping styles of plant. The low growing selections work well in sandy rock gardens or for erosion control on hilly areas.

Wintercreeper: This is a hearty groundcover that still looks great in the winter with its variegated leaf.

Portulaca: This is a popular plant commonly found along walkways at the beach. You can forget to water it, expose it to wind and sea spray and it will respond with colorful blooms. Its trailing flowers make a nice accent in an ocean facing window box. Although it is an annual, it will generally self seed.

Yarrow: Also considered a herb for its medicinal qualities, yarrow will endure, sun, rain, cold, drought and wind. It comes in a variety of colors such as yellow, orange, pink and white. Plant it in a spot where you can keep an eye on it, yarrow loves to spread its roots and wander.

Gaillardia: This colorful flower blooms from summer to early winter, resists drought and doesn’t balk at sandy soil. It’s brightly colored blooms attract butterflies and make perfect cut flowers.

Cuphea: This is the new kid on the block and what an interesting plant it is. It has bright red crinkly petals with purple middles that bloom non-stop in the hottest, dryest, salt and wind blown conditions. Keep it moist and fertilized, and you will be assured of constant color all season.…

Landscape Fountain – Choosing the Best One

Landscape Fountain – Choosing the Best One

The size and design of your fountain will be determined by several things including how big your yard actually is, the style of the yard and how big the pump you are prepared to install.

Landscape fountain styles

It is very important to remember, that since the fountain is the central point of your yard, it should be in the same style as everything else. It often happens that homeowners chose their fountains for their beauty, not thinking about how the fountain will integrate with the trees, plants and the garden theme in general. Even the prettiest fountain if it doesn’t create harmony with the surroundings will not benefit your space, but will make it look unplanned.

Power supply for a fountain pump

Another thing to consider is what source of power your fountain will have. Here you have two options – you can install solar panels to provide your fountain with power, or simply use electricity. If you intend to run electricity from the house, the pump should be connected to the power by a professional electrician.

What is the best place for landscape fountains

The placement of your fountain is just as important as its style. Obviously, if you want it to be the focal point, you should install it somewhere very visible. In formal landscapes the fountain is usually installed in the middle, but if you have a less formal landscape style, the middle is not necessary. One thing to consider, however, is to keep your fountain away from trees, since you don’t want to fish the leaves out of your water all the time.

If your fountain runs from the electricity it makes sense to install it closer to the house. Also keeping the fountain close will give you the opportunity to enjoy it while seating on your patio. On the other hand, you can place the fountain in the opposite side of the yard, if you have a little retreat aria there. Possibly also install a bench there and some cover.

As for the size and shape of your fountain, there are so many available, that it should be really easy to find the one that suits your general landscaping theme. Also, you should not buy the fire first fountain you like, look around. It would be a shame to get a water feature and later discover that the next garden center has a much better deal.…

Using the Right Tools for Your Landscape Work Can Make All the Difference, What Tools Will You Need?

Using the Right Tools for Your Landscape Work Can Make All the Difference, What Tools Will You Need?

There is no doubt that for the do-it-yourself landscaper as well as those in the trade, that good tools are essential, attempting any kind of work in any trade, requires tools, but the importance of knowing what tools you need is also a must, and landscaping is no different.

By you understanding some of the most essential tools used for even your basic landscape needs then you are one step ahead of keeping your landscape garden in the best possible shape, doesn’t matter how big or small your garden may be.

Your tool collection can be split into two categories, general and specialist, your general tools are tools like wheel barrows, shovels, forks, rakes, crow bars, picks and mattocks, hoses etc. These tools are used for a large variety of tasks, and attempting to landscape without owning these would be futile.

However the specialist tools are job specific, and depending on the size of the job and the regularity of that work you might want to consider hiring the equipment necessary rather than buying. But, if it’s a large job like paving a drive and patio for example, then consider buying a brick saw and selling it after the jobs complete, this can still be more economical than hiring one for all the cutting, just way it all up and decide, you may have friends who are attempting the same task you could hire it out to them etc.

Let’s go through the tools you need for your lawn care, apart from the obvious of a decent lawn mower, you might want to think about wiper snippers, or brush cutters and edger’s, these are available both in motor powered and electric, but also for those times once or twice a year hiring an aerator and a fertilizer, although a hand fertilizer is good to have in your collection of tools anyway, but a wheeled one for those larger lawn areas you could hire.

Then there is the garden, now apart from the general tools listed above there are some hand tools you will need as well. Hand trowels, hand forks, watering can, secateurs, hand sheers and pruners etc. There are some more specialist tools like the pole extension pruners/sheers and chainsaws, hedge trimmers and cultivators, these can all be hired when needed.

Building projects is another side to landscaping and will require a whole range of tools, more specialist but necessary if you are going to attempt the structural side of landscaping. There are the carpentry tools needed for the timber projects like decks, pergolas, timber walls and platforms, bridges, Gazebos etc. the minimum tools you will need will be the likes of power or hand saws, screw drivers, hammers, spirit levels, set squares, string line, markers etc.

The paving jobs will require the likes of vibrating plate for the compaction, brick saw, screeding tools, trowels, rubber mallet, marking pens, as well as a variety of the general tools listed above. It’s the same with the concreting, you will need a variety of concrete trowels and floats, screeds, edging trowels, form wood and pegs, most jobs can be done with these but there are some larger ones that may need the pole floats and trowels enabling you to reach into the slab without going in on boards.

So in closing I’d just like to mention here that when you are considering purchasing any tool, the amount you spend and the quality of that tool must be relative to the amount you need to use it, if it’s a tool you need to use very regularly, then you will want to buy a good one, one that is easy to use and is built well, if it’s a tool that is used once or twice a season then the quality is not so important.…

Landscape Gardening in Sussex – History and Beauty Combined

Landscape Gardening in Sussex – History and Beauty Combined

Sussex is located in the south-east of England and boasts an array of beautiful public landscape gardens for anybody who loves the outdoors and horticulture to enjoy. Sussex is home to a number of fine examples of landscape gardening and innovative landscape architecture. Landscape gardening in Sussex has survived the test of time and has managed to preserve and maintain its historical and ancient examples of horticulture and landscaping for all to visit and appreciate. Such gardens are indeed offered to the public audience now to appreciate and enjoy. A lot of inspiration and design derives from these fine landscapes for personal project and home design, which is great for maintaining the feel of the English countryside throughout gardens at home or indeed public parks and recreation areas.

Traditional garden design especially those gardens located in regions such as Sussex summon an image of what everyone considers to be the typical English garden. They are generally designed with a well-maintained lawn and flower beds that are abundant with a mix of flora, colourful and vibrant. Traditional landscape gardening often uses a very simple layout, based on those of the historical gardens typically found in the region. The basic layout is the most important factor and usually time is dedicated to design of suitable locations for flowerbeds, lawns and other elements which one may want to implement. Inspiration is often sought from the historic examples of landscape gardening in Sussex which exist to this very day and set the standard for domestic garden options.

Within Sussex lies the Grade I listed Leonardslee which resides in a valley and boasts 7 meandering lakes and comprises of around 200 acres of land. Many types of flowers including Rhododendrons, Magnolias and Azaleas can be found on display here. It was initially opened up to the public by the Sir Edmund Loder in 1907. It is still run and maintained by the same family and of course like many old estates has volunteers who help to preserve the gardens and house. A garden the size of Leonardslee has evolved over centuries. The mainstay of the garden was created in the early years of the 19th century, but generation after generation of the Loder family since around 1889 have continued to preserve design and development of the valley plantings and landscape gardening to form the remarkable splendour that is seen today in Sussex. Many professional garden designers are lucky enough to visit and take inspiration from such areas and as such have great design ideas when it comes to your personal landscape gardening requirements.…

Gathering Around a Fire Pit

Gathering Around a Fire Pit

With a fire pit in your backyard, you will realize how easy it is to have family gatherings or to entertain guests, even on a fall evening with a chill in the air. Gathering around a crackling fire will easily result in having a great time outdoors in any season. As the orange and yellow flames cast a warm glow over everything and everyone, the festive mood in your yard will be one of friendship and remarkably enjoyable fellowship.

Image the possibilities of using your fire pit as the focal centerpiece of a themed party. Decorating the area to match the theme you have chosen for the gathering adds finishing touches to the occasion. The dancing and darting flames can inspire friends and family to join in and play along with the theme. Without much effort, you can certainly come up with activities which you and your group will enjoy participating in. Keep adding wood and the good times will last as long as the flames brighten the area.

The festival nature of children’s parties can be particularly enhanced by introducing a fire pit. Without fail kids love the big, crackling flames that cause their imaginations will run wild, whether listening to a scary or funny Halloween story, becoming cowboys and cowgirls around the old campfire, or watch a backyard puppet play in the flickering light. With children, though, you must be cautious. Children are naturally curious and may try getting too close of a look at the fire. A responsible adult should always oversee children’s activities around the fire pit.

You can encourage everyone’s participation when bringing people together around the colorful flames. The gathering can be an opportunity for your guests to cook their own kabobs or round up sticks suitable for roasting marshmallows.

These suggestions barely scratch the surface of how to liven up your backyard gatherings. Coming up with additional activities will only be limited by your creativity and willingness to try things.

Before they attend one of your gatherings, people would probably picture a fire pit as a simple structure with fire in it that gives off heat. But, after experiencing an evening in your backyard they would undoubtedly envision the laughter, fellowship, and great times spent with family and friends.…

Incredible Edible Garden Plants

Incredible Edible Garden Plants

There is a resurgence of home vegetable gardens and people interested in growing their own food. A few reasons for this shift are higher food costs, environmental awareness and stewardship, plus the amount of chemicals being used on our food. These factors have contributed to the trend and new innovative way of thinking about landscaping, called Edible Landscaping.

Since the early 1900’s, landscape design has focused on and been limited to hardscaping, trees and shrubs, a few perennials, and a large lawn. Edible landscaping includes fruits, vegetables and herbs in addition to the traditional landscape design. Edible plants are nutritional as well as attractive. Edibles such as cucumber, eggplant, melon, squash and zucchini are covered with showy blossoms that turn to beautiful fruit and vegetables. Other edibles like leaf lettuce, red lettuce, cabbage, carrots and Swiss chard have attractive, colorful stems and foliage. Other suggestions for edibles in the landscape are blueberries and Fig trees. Rabbiteye blueberries are native to the southeast and perform wonderfully with little care.

A person’s lifestyle, available space, interest and family situation are important factors to consider when deciding the amount of edible landscaping to plant and maintain. The edible landscaping possibilities can range from a dedicated vegetable garden, planting edibles in landscape beds, to container gardening, or a combination of all these. Think back to vegetable gardens your family or neighbors had; was it a traditional backyard vegetable garden, with a haphazard look and generally lacking in visual aesthetic? Over the past 20 years, we’ve transformed the vegetable garden into a new art form. There are endless design variations on a garden full of vegetables.

The soil in Huntsville, Alabama is the famous Alabama red clay, and for most homeowners, compacted red clay. To be successful growing vegetables and edibles our red clay needs to be amended by adding compost, soil conditioner, worm castings and organic fertilizers. The key to a beautiful healthy landscape, edible or not, is healthy soil. This may not sound glamorous, but is the most important factor for any plants health.

Raised beds and container gardening are excellent methods to grow vegetables and fruits if you have poor soils. The main benefit is that you can fill raised beds and containers with a blend of soils that maximize your gardening efforts. The soil also warms up faster in the spring in raised beds and containers and this helps seedlings and plants grow sooner. Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable for containers, but many other vegetables grow well in containers.

In my own garden, I struggle with difficult, compacted clay soil. I spent three years trying to amend my vegetable garden soil and raise the soil level so that my traditional row garden would be successful. This year I built and installed raised beds, painted them to be colorful and attractive throughout the year and filled them with a mixture of topsoil, soil conditioner, compost, worm castings and chicken manure. The results are amazing! I credit the successful results to the raised beds and the quality of the soil.

As a landscape designer and garden consultant, I work with clients to help them have a beautiful and successful yard, with or without edibles. Our yards and gardens should make us happy and be a place we can enjoy. Gardening can be fun, interesting and nutritious!…

How to Discover a Business to Help With Landscaping Design in a Graveyard

How to Discover a Business to Help With Landscaping Design in a Graveyard

Being in charge is a blessing and a curse at the same exact time. The hard part though is knowing exactly how to do the landscaping design in cemetery. To do this successfully you might need to consult with a company that does this for the business that they do. Here are some ways to locate these companies.

A great place to look at would be in companies in your area that does this work for private people. They might not specialize in this area that you are in, but you could find that they are going to be able to know what people are looking for since they deal with people on an everyday basis.

You could also utilize the computer that is sitting on your office desk to research various companies that could help you out. The problem with this is you might find that they are going to be nationally based and you might have to research it well to find one in your area.

You could call upon your networking connections with other managers and owners of these types of locations. You could talk to them and see if they are going to be able to refer you to anyone and if not they could be willing to go in with you to hire a company that can design yours and there’s.

Something else to consider would be if you are looking hard enough would be to consider doing this yourself. By doing this yourself you could save money, but you might want to make sure that you do this properly because if it is not the people that over see you could end up letting you go.

The blessing of being in charge is that you are going to be the one making the decisions. The hard part can be that you are going to find is going to come when you have to find a landscaping design in cemetery company to help you make it look beautiful.

It’s hard to find the right store that has the right headstones for your loved one.…

Landscaping Design Ideas For Your New Home

Landscaping Design Ideas For Your New Home

The internet is a great place to go for your landscape design ideas.

Being a homeowner in these hard economic times, you will be looking for ways to save time and money on your yard. There are many ways that you can do this project inexpensive, so you can enjoy your new yard.

Yes you can do this yourself and a great way to start your landscape project is to get design ideas. Look at books and newspapers then gather the ideas. Then you and your family can get some ideas on your yard project for this spring. You may consider buying in bulk to save money. You can have your family and friends help pay when you buy in bulk. This will help when doing some yard projects this year.

Ask around then you may purchase your landscaping supplies in bulk. Mulch is used in most yard projects this is less expensive when buying in bulk. In addition, when your plants have matured such as day lilies and hostas you may divide in to smaller clumps. Then spread into your landscaping garden. Share with your friends and family. My friend did work in a garden center and every spring he would brake up the day lilies and the hostas into smaller pots.

There are many ideas you can look at for your landscaping project. The look of your home may determines the shape and the arrangement of the lawn you can work with. You will need to remember the four seasons of the year, to compliment the types of the plants you plant in your garden; depending were you live.

You can always go to your local garden center and ask for your nearest landscape designer. Here are some ideas, you can put to work. So you and your family can get out and enjoy your new yard.…

Florida Live Oaks and Tabebuia Will Make A Seasonal Impact

Florida Live Oaks and Tabebuia Will Make A Seasonal Impact

Keep your snowbird visitors happy by suggesting Live Oaks and Tabebuia thus providing lush greenery and flowering during their stay this winter.

Let’s face it; everybody in the nursery industry, at some point in time or another, has heard a similar statement from one or more of their seasonal clients. “If I wanted to see a bare tree, I would have stayed up North!” says the client seriously.

To this enduring statement, I have developed a somewhat standard answer. “Live Oak and Tabebuia may be just what you’re looking for.” I say confidently.

Their usual answer is “Oh yes, Live Oaks.” Most also follow with the question “What is a Tabebuia?”

At this point in the conversation I have an excellent opportunity to lay it all out on the proverbial line. I warmly dive straight down to in-depth descriptions of how some of the seasons showiest flowering species, namely the Tabebuia trees, perform as they begin to display their winter colors.

“More commonly known as Trumpet Trees, some Tabebuia cultivars prefer to be pollinated during these colder months, hence the profuse blooming. The less frequent rainfall and cooler weather trigger these charming attributes into action. Some if not all leaves drop as the entire tree bursts into bloom, seemingly all at once…..” I can go on and on.

If you too are wondering which of these may be well suited for your customer’s landscape, try suggesting individual varieties that posses the properties and colors that work best for them. You may want to try the Carib, Chrysotricha and Impetiginosa cultivars, just to name a few.

Live Oaks on the other hand need little introduction. Once the clients are reminded of the beautiful canopy that provides summer shade, wildlife attraction and strength, they practically sell themselves.…

Backyard Landscaping Ideas – Tips For Do it Yourself Landscaping

Backyard Landscaping Ideas – Tips For Do it Yourself Landscaping

Are you just plain tired of seeing your dull and boring backyard? Looking for some backyard landscaping ideas? Ideas that you can do yourself. Look no further. Here are some tips that you can follow to put together a backyard in which you and your family can relax.

1. Divide and conquer

If looking at the whole backyard scares you, split it into smaller areas of squares or rectangles. Each of these areas can be for a little sub-project with pathways separating the areas.

2. Research

Next, do some research on the types of plants that you can have in your backyard. Doing this online is one option. Or go to the local nursery and get help. Check out the kinds of plants that are suitable and also get their prices.

Some of the options are flowerbed plants, shrubs for pathways, crawlers and trees. Check out on the specific needs like shade, amount of water they require and so on.

3. Plan the Layout

You then need to decide on the locations of the plants in the layout. Also, think of the colors of the flowers when you are planning, so that you can get a beautiful display of colors when the flowers bloom.

4. Fix the Walkways

There are a number of materials that can be used for your walkways. You can use tiles, gravel, bricks or plain sand.

5. Add Some Optional Others

If have more money to spend. there are more backyard landscaping ideas. You can have some garden furniture. A pond or fountain if space and budget permit. Statues and figurines with lighting arrangement will look good. These can be part of a theme.

At a general backyard designs level, cover most of the backyard with greenery to keep the space cooler and have natural surroundings. If you are not into too many types of plants, then stick with the lawn and flowering plants around the sides.…

A Gardener’s Shopping Spree

A Gardener’s Shopping Spree

Shopping for plants is one of those highly motivating tasks for a gardener. This is especially true if you have been bored by the same old look of your backyard for weeks or even for months. It is quite customary to see gardeners changing the habitual places of plants from time to time, but is this an ethical thing to do? After all, plants have life too!…

For some gardeners, the eco system in the backyard which they have contributed to put up is one of the most important things. However, for those who get bored quickly, the scenic beauty is the top most priority. If that is the case with you, no doubt you may have already unplugged a few healthy standing plants and migrated them elsewhere making space for a new member in town.

Some experts believe that such migration is healthy in some ways. However, you need to be knowledgeable about what you are doing. It is a known fact that color leafed plants absorb more energy and water than whole green plants and native plants. Therefore, if you were to throw a bunch of colored leaf plants in an area where the whole green fellows are standing strong, the chances are that the green fellows may become malnourished in months to come. So be wise when you chose a home land for those plants that you plan to move from one place to another.

Some people fancy changing plants from the ground to eye catching pots. You could merely here the earth’s cry when you do this. While smaller plants grow well and adjust themselves to pots, medium to larger scale plants will do a good job growing on the ground. So size definitely is a consideration you need to tick in your mind before you move houses for these dear plants.

Getting back to our shopping spree, it is quite usual to lose your mind when you visit those nurseries. If you know what I mean! The type of plants that takes your breathe away may not always be the best to have hanging around in your back yard for many reasons such as the weather, the type of soil and of course, how frequently you could maintain those. Another common consideration is that plant shopping can be an expensive venture if you go all out and buy everything your eye pleases. So why not make an appointment with your landscaper and discuss the implications before hand? If your garden designer or landscaper agrees, you could even visit the nursery with him/her.

Buying plants can be an exciting thing to do. After all, we all need scenic changes and a little bit of spice added up in life (or at the back yard) for that matter, from time to time. But in the process of trying to beautify your scenic landscape, you should never allow risk factors to ruin the already landscaped garden. So there goes! If you don’t know how to do plant migrations properly, keep away! After all, the experts are always on board to assist you.…

Vegetables and Flowers Can Be Friends

Vegetables and Flowers Can Be Friends

I had a friend who grew up on a farm and even now, years later, she refuses to plant anything unless it has some sort of usefulness. To earn a place in her garden, plants require more than pretty petals; they have to deter pests or provide a source of food. Today, more and more people are planting similar useful gardens by combining edible plants with flowers in an effort to introduce more home grown foods in their diet.

This mix of food and flowers is also very practical for those with small yards or even balconies. Years ago, people lived off the food from their gardens, much like my friend with the farmer roots. Commercial food production took over and people transformed their gardens by planting lawns and blooming ornamental plants. Now, however, we’re seeing a merging of the two as home owners are going back to their grass roots. Often, fruit trees are chosen over ornamental varieties. Fences and trellises are now being adorned by grapes, and vegetables are being planted in amongst summer annuals. Even landscapers are noticing the difference, with requests for edible landscape designs becoming more common.

Here are some tips to get you thinking like an edible plant gardener:

Add color by planting red cabbage, yellow peppers, purple eggplants or rainbow chard. Combining these nourishing plants with flowers attracts more useful insects and increases flower production and vegetable yields. Certain plants such as garlic when planted next to roses, provides a natural insecticide by repelling aphids.

Instead of ornamental shrubs, try blueberries for their tasty fruit, fall color and low maintenance. Others include Saskatoon/Juneberry, Gooseberry, or Blue Elderberry. Hazelnuts when trimmed, make wonderful hedges, and strawberries make a tasty ground cover.

For filling in those large areas, try horseradish, or Jerusalem artichoke with its showy yellow flowers.

Shade tolerant veggies include beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, garlic, leaf lettuce, spinach, turnips and radishes. Once you taste the flavor in your homegrown delicacies, you’ll be increasing your crop every year.

Edible flowers are both decorative and tasty when added to salads and soups. Some of my favorites include:

Nasturtiums – Adds a peppery flavor to salsa and gazpacho.

Anise Hyssop – Sweet anise or black licorice flavor.

Basil – Flowers have a similar, milder taste than the leaves.

Bee Balm – Use leaves and flowers to make tea with an Earl Grey flavor.

Borage – Large shrub with purple star-shaped flowers that taste like cucumber are wonderful in soups and salads.

Calendula – The bright orange flowers taste similar to saffron with a peppery taste that adds a golden color to foods.

Carnation – Has a peppery, spicy flavor.

Chamomile – Tastes similar to apple and makes a relaxing tea that’s easy on the stomach.

Chicory – The beautiful bright blue flowers tolerate the worst of growing conditions. The roots can be used to make a coffee substitute, the buds can be pickled similar to a caper, and the young leaves make a nice addition to a salad.

Chives – Flowers have a mild onion flavor and the chopped stems are a nice addition to soups, salads or just about any recipe you would add onions.

Pansy – Flowers have a mild sweet to tart flavor.

Violet – Sweet nectar-like flavor.…

Church Design Tidbits: Balconies and Landscaping

Church Design Tidbits: Balconies and Landscaping

In this article, we will be giving some design tidbits for two unrelated, but important, features of your church project: balcony seating and landscaping.

Balcony Seating

When properly designed, balcony seating has some benefits worth considering. Balconies can solve the problem of future expansion as the congregation grows and can enable a church with limited land to expand “up” rather than “out”. In fan-shaped sanctuaries a balcony can increase the seating by almost 50%. A future balcony should be master-planned from the start with the major structure completed during the sanctuary construction. A removable wall can temporarily hide this unfinished space.

Many people assume that a balcony is always an inexpensive and smart way to expand. However, the floor system, structural framing, riser framing, handrails and multiple stairways are an additional expense not incurred when seating on the main level. The primary problem with balcony seating, however, is often not related to construction costs. Many people complain of feeling like spectators when sitting in a balcony, and balconies often do not provide good visibility of, or easy access to, the altar area. Furthermore, it’s simply difficult to see someone’s face beyond about 65 feet. Since the sight-line is downward, balcony handrails and the person in the row ahead often block the view as well. Problems related to the seats under the balcony may include columns, low ceilings and poor sound or lighting.

Some elements of good design include stairs or stadium seating on the sides with easy access to the main floor, two steps per row for added visibility, high-back pews to alleviate the fear of falling forward, glass or narrow rails in the upper half of balcony walls, and large-screen video monitors or projection screens.

Landscaping

While landscaping can add immensely to the value, beauty and comfort of a church site, most architectural firms do not provide detailed landscaping design in their scope of services unless specifically requested by the owner. Many jurisdictions will require a rudimentary landscaping plan consisting of a site plan indicating the location, type and size of new and existing trees and shrubs, areas of sod and mulch, as well as an erosion control plan. It is now common for permit authorities to require landscaping islands in the parking areas based upon the amount of pavement. These islands are usually located at the ends of parking rows. Landscaping islands, however, can become an impediment to snow removal. In transition yards (a green area separating the church parking lot or buildings from adjoining residential or commercial property) a screen of trees and shrubs is also often required by permit authorities.

Deciduous trees on the south and west of the building will shade and cool the church in summer yet let warming sunlight through the bare branches in winter. The church should select hardy plant types that require little maintenance. Keep in mind that the little shrubs being planted may quickly grow too large for their placement near parking spaces, sidewalks, and buildings.

The church should consider the benefits of good landscaping design. A knowledgeable landscape architect can be hired to develop a master plan for landscaping that can be developed over time as funds become available.…

Sprinkler Systems – Landscaping and Fences Can Provide Challenges Irrigation Installers Can Overcome

Sprinkler Systems – Landscaping and Fences Can Provide Challenges Irrigation Installers Can Overcome

Proper planning is a good start to saving time and money. Preparation and planning a lawn irrigation system and landscape design in the right order can save a lot of headaches. Without a good plan, continuous revising and reworking a layout can increase the costs substantially.

For the home owner considering installing a sprinkler system, installation of all the landscaping elements, plants, and fencing first is strongly recommended. There are several reasons for landscaping being the first step. Often landscapes can alter the drainage, reduce the area requiring irrigation, and actually block certain areas.

One of the first landscaping components to be installed, or at least marked out, is the fencing. While a chain link or wire fence will probably not interfere with any sprinkler spray pattern, the same can not be said of a six foot privacy fence or even a picket fence. Many times a home owner will install a fence after the sprinkler system without being aware that the fence is preventing the lawn from receiving the much needed water.

While one or two sprinkler heads can be relocated with some effort in order to accommodate the above scenario, many times the water coverage will still be insufficient. Depending upon the type of water source, adding several sprinkler heads to an already established layout can reduce the efficiency and water pressure thereby reducing the effectiveness of the entire sprinkler system.

The next order of importance is installing the larger shrubs and bushes. These elements can also block a sprinkler spray pattern, if not at the time of installation then after the plant has matured. A good irrigation designer will take into account the future growth pattern and size of the landscaping. Blocking a sprinkler head with bushes not only prevents the lawn from the necessary water, it can also cause injury to the bush by blasting a stream of water into it.

Some residential and commercial irrigation systems already installed are supplied by municipal water sources. A qualified irrigation installer can usually switch this to a well source almost always allowing the home owner to save money on monthly utilities. The cost of the well can range from $1300 to several thousand depending on the region and the type of ground material. Sandy soils are much easier to drill down into than a granite subsurface and therefore less expensive.

Even though there are various models of pumps with different horsepower ratings available, should the property size be on the larger square footage, more than one pump and well may be necessary. Multiple pumps may be able to run off of a single well, but should drought conditions occur and the water table dip near or below the depth of the well bottom, the well will be useless. Damage may befall the pumps as well.

It is always advisable to obtain multiple estimates from a few different irrigation specialists. Asking a lot of questions to each installer will be able to give the home owner a fair idea of the competency and allow the customer to compare one companies services with another. Just because one company undercuts another by a wide margin on price does not mean better quality. Trust in the idiom “you get what you pay for”.…

Tips to Get a Great Looking Space Using Experts in the Field

Tips to Get a Great Looking Space Using Experts in the Field

Many people these days just love to have a garden that is really an extension of the home environment. Having this outside space will allow them to entertain, sit back and enjoy, or have a great place for the kids to run around in a safe environment. Chelsea landscaping will have all the right ideas to make this space into exactly what is needed and by consulting a Chelsea landscaper, the perfect outdoor space is there for the asking.

Of course, it could just be that the yard has become a boring and uninspired place to sit and the homeowner will be hard pressed to know what to do about this predicament. Having something as simple as a brick patio or wooden deck installed may be all that is needed to make the place useful again.

The experts will certainly listen to the needs and aspirations of the homeowner and work out a way to fit as much of these criteria as possible without it being over the top in price or design. Having the expert look at the place will in fact probably save on costs in the long run since the amateur will not take into account things like lighting, irrigation or suitability of plants and seating.

The first thing to be considered in most cases of course is the budget. No matter how tight this is, the expert will be able to say what is available within this guideline and may also suggest a better way of doing something to save on costs. Getting more ‘bang for the buck’ is probable if the right expert is chosen so finding someone with testimonials to look at is very important indeed.

Once the budget has been worked out, it is now time to get down to the business of design and this is where the expert will show himself. Making the most of existing planting, or moving plants and trees to a better suited place is possible but it does take some very careful planning to do this.

Things like water features and seating also have to be taken into consideration and these may take up a lot of the budget but these may well be worth it in the end. Irrigation systems can also be put in at the same time which will save inordinate amounts of time and trouble if the homeowner does not want to be running around with a garden hose at all hours of the day or night.

If the project looks like it may be a big one, it may be a good idea to phase the different aspects of the project in over some time. It is very important in this case to work closely with an expert in gardens to make sure that he fully understands what is needed. The need for continuity and the need to be able to use the garden throughout the transformation are of utmost importance since there may be some unavoidable but necessary hold ups along the way.…

DIY Aluminum Fence is Fine, But What About the Landscaping?

DIY Aluminum Fence is Fine, But What About the Landscaping?

Home owners everywhere are trying to figure out the best ways to bring up their property values without spending too much money doing it. These are uncertain times and they are going to remain uncertain (particularly in the housing market) for quite some time; smart choices are necessary and a DIY aluminum fence is a very smart choice. For those of you who are not too familiar with Aluminum fence, I’ll explain below.

DIY aluminum fence is inexpensive to ship, easy to install, and incredibly durable. Because of aluminums light weight it is easy to shape and manipulate during the manufacturing process and even easier to load, ship, and deliver. Being a sturdy metal, despite its light weight, aluminum is a naturally long term investment that will not warp, crack, chip, or rust over time. It is an investment for home owners who wish to add security and elegance to their home while adding something valuable to the property as well.

Once you’ve decided on your fence you’re going to want to modify the existing landscaping to suit. This doesn’t really require much, depending on your fence and property type. If you have a lot of cement/gravel around the perimeter, consider terra cotta pots, decorative urns, or pot hangers. These can often be used effectively to add some green to otherwise desolate looking areas. Grassless lawns are also becoming quite the fad and compliment an aluminum fence of almost any color or style very well. Darker fence colors can be taken advantage of by planting particularly bright coloured plants and flowers; this will draw the garden out and the fence will work as a background enhancement to its beauty. Plants with white flowers, bright foliage, and night bloomers are all ideal; and when you go into your lawn in the moonlight, you’ll get a great glowing surprise!…

Landscaping Bark

Landscaping Bark

Fall is the time when it is the most important to prepare your garden and yard for the upcoming spring. The work you do now will have a huge impact on the overall look and function of your garden when the weather finally turns back around. There are many different things that you can do to help give yourself a head start. One of the things that may be a good idea is to lay bark mulch so the soil will be in good condition when you are ready to plant.

There are many different types of bark that should be used for different applications. The first step in determining which type of bark will be best for you is to determine what the space will be used for. Will you be planting flowers or vegetables in the space? Are you just putting down the bark mulch to give a nice finished appearance to an empty planting box? These are a few of the questions that you will have to answer so you don’t find yourself waiting in the nursery waiting for a customer service person to help you with your bark questions.

If you are applying mulch to an area without plants you may want to go with some cheap shredded hardwood mulch. This type of bark is typically used on street plantings and is very cost effective. If you want to go with something that looks a little bit better you can spend a little more money and go with pine mini nuggets or colored bark mulch.

You can also use shredded hardwood bark mulch in an area where you are going to plant vegetation. This type of bark mulch is used widely by landscapers because it is one of the cheapest options and gives very good coverage. It provides a variety of benefits including minimizing weeds, preventing soil erosion and even provides nutrients to the soil.…

What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper

What to Expect When Hiring a Landscaper

Your landscape is an important part of your home. It is the first thing people see, and it greatly affects the overall value of your property. Therefore, it is important to hire a reliable garden landscaper to ensure effective results and quality service.

When choosing a garden landscaper you should be clear about whether you are looking for an update to your existing landscape or you want to remove everything and start from scratch. Like any typical designer, the contractor must be artistic and original with a good eye for design. If you already have a specific design in mind, a good designer will be able to follow your instructions but at the same time suggest other possible alterations that will make your lawn look better. A garden designer is trained for the job and can prevent stressful experiences while using their extensive knowledge about the plants, including what will fit the climate and soil, what will be low maintenance and what will have a long lasting positive effect on your garden, ultimately saving you the costs of having to plant and re-plant every year. A designer can look at your garden and immediately determine how to use the type of soil, light and other integrated elements to create a meaningful design.

It is very important to be comfortable with the contractor you hire. Most should be able to produce references from previous customers, or show you portfolios of previous work.

Be sure to ask questions. Do they have insurance and are they bonded? If something goes wrong, it will be very important that your landscaper is adequately covered to take on the liability of any loss. Is this landscaping contractor a member of any trade associations? This will ensure that they keep to a high level of quality and professionalism. Will the same people be doing the work each time? How much experience do they have? Can you change the type of service at any time without a penalty? Can you cancel the service without penalty if you are not satisfied? Are materials like fertilizer and sod included or do they charge extra?

Always get quotes from several landscaping companies so you can compare services and costs. A quote should include all fees as well as a description of exactly what work will be performed and at what times or intervals. This will give you the best impression of what you can expect to pay, and value for your money.

Make sure to get a written contract. Without a contract you are not protected. Do not have any work done until you are happy with what you can expect and both parties have signed their agreement to the expectations.…