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.…