General

Analyzing a Site for FireWise Landscaping

Especially at this time of the year–late summer and early fall, as well as early spring, the ground tends to be a lot drier and wildland fires can start far more frequently than at any other time.

Landscaping for wildland fire prevention is a great deal more important in some areas than it is in others, but realistically, it is important no matter where you live. Every area has some kind of fire danger. Those homes which are in national forest areas, or lying in the desert areas can be prone to wildland fires that can do amazing damage to your home.

Be smart and check out firewise landscaping. If you don’t know a lot about the firewise landscaping tactics, hire a professional landscaper who can advise you best about what to plant and where to plant it. There is a specific method to the madness of firewise landscaping that makes analyzing a site for firewise landscaping the first thing to accomplish before you even begin a new landscaping job.

Wildland Fire Landscaping Principles

Wildfires can be remarkably destructive. The difference between a wildfire and other kinds of natural disasters is that with the right advice and good choices, you can easily lower the risk of home or property loss and minimize the damage that is done.

Some things that need to be taken into account for your firewise landscaping analysis are:

The kind of home that you have and the way in which it could ignite–many older homes are now being retrofitted to make them far more impervious to ignition from embers, since older homes which do not have this may be at high risk for ignition.

Basic structure and geography of the area in which you live–where the trees lie, how the home lies in contrast to other areas around it. This can’t be changed of course, so far as the area in which you live, but it can be taken into account when it comes to your landscaping and the placement of elements for your outdoor world.

Adjacent buildings and other items that are in close proximity. If your outbuildings and garage are relatively close together then those too need to be taken into account so that there is more green space in between them in order to prevent a fire in one structure from moving to another.

Trees and other items. Which need to be removed, which can be worked with, open areas that run out away from the home, as well as fitting your home with lattice work, fencing and other structures that will keep your home safer. Landscaping is so much more than just the plants and trees that are used near your home.

The lay of the land, making sure that plants are place correctly moving up to the house and other areas, as well as planning for open areas, pruning back trees, removing trees, and even getting gravel and fire resistant fencing are also a part of firewise landscaping. Every aspect of your home needs to be taken into account when analyzing for your firewise landscaping to make sure that you are as safe as possible, and your home is as secure as it can be from a wildland fire.…

Balance Is the Key to a Happy Landscape

Balance is important in all types of art, architecture, decorating, and especially in landscaping. With balance all things become equal in a particular setting. It is not always as simple as I make it out to be, but I will put it into terms that simplify it a bit for the inexperienced and the do-it-yourself types among us.

To achieve a sense of balance gardens, landscapes, and other environments whether natural or unnatural, need to be equally proportioned, otherwise the natural look and feel of balance will not be obtained. The majority of landscapes lack symmetrical form. They are most often asymmetrical and lack the balance that would make them more inviting and comfortable. To landscape properly can many times depend on other aspects to bring balance and harmonize that particular environment by uniting the available elements.

Often, the shortage of balance is a result of a need for repetition, or patterns. A pattern of like elements whether it be shrubs, flowers, or stones throughout a particular landscape can bring together separate areas. It only takes a single repeated patterned plant type, hue, type of decor, or fence to make this happen.

A balance shortage is commonly made by putting too much or all elements that fail to match in a single landscape. This will lead to a mess by the time the plants are mature and make for an uncomfortable habitat. At the outset of your planning, less is more, put only a few matching plants about the landscape, and make sure any other matching is very little. You will always be able to add int the future as you see fit.

Most problems people have with landscaping choices are those of shape. Shape is different in every landscape and the shapes you decide on should fill your wants and desires. But, many shapes even overflowing with positives are still boring, empty, ugly, messy, and without balance. Balance sometimes depends on shape, but not in every situation. I wouldn’t dwell on trying to achieve balance through shape.

Landscaping is subject to all the influencing elements that all other types of art are influenced by. Pattern, togetherness, and balance are an important part of any landscape and work together to make it beautiful.

Building designers and interior decorators utilize pattern. They make entrances, colors, molding, overhangs, and such all similar in shape and size. If everything in your home was different it would look rather ugly. It would be a hard place to live and be happy. The same applies to landscapes and gardens.

To make a landscape appealing and inviting we need repeating patterns. Only one matching element in opposing ends of the landscape can bring it together.

The easiest way to achieve it is by using plants, shrubs and grasses. But paths, fences, and walls can also be used to reach the ultimate goal. Which is Balance. Visit for more great landscaping tips.…

Boca Raton Brick Paver Walkways – Colors and Patterns Galore!

Where Does Your Garden Path Lead

Walkways and pathways in Boca Raton feature both in the front and back yards of many homes in the area. Walkways obviously have a purpose and will lead the walker to someplace; whether for a pleasant meander through the back garden via the patio and swimming pool, or from the driveway to the front door. Brick paver walkways may be built to provide follow through and consistency of design to compliment the home and other outdoor fixed or brick structures, or quite simply because the homeowner feels like installing a garden path during their landscaping exercise. A good landscaping company will not lead you up the garden path, but they certainly can guide you in the right direction.

The Three Basic Patterns

The same aspects of quality and elegance cannot be achieved by using asphalt or concrete and there is virtually no limit on the variation of patterns, colors, and laying techniques which may be used to create decorative and functional brick paver walkways. In the Boca Raton area, there are three basic patterns of brick laying for paths, driveways, patios, pool surrounds, etcetera, and from these basic three patterns it is possible to create small works of art. The cleverest, simplest and oldest designs are also often the most elegant. After-all the Romans were laying brick paver pathways the length and breadth of Europe, the Middle East and the British Isles, over 2,000 years ago.

Design and Pattern Alternatives Can Be Dizzying

Although the best brick paver designs are the classic designs there are still books with hundreds of pages filled with designs, you will find historic pattern styles such as those used during the colonial period in the USA; these include running bond, stacked, herringbone, basket weave, whirling, Spanish, diamond, and more. Your landscaper can obviously be of great help when it comes to making choices regarding design and color; don’t for a moment believe that brick pavers only arrive on your doorstep in a “brick” color. Colors and styles range from brick red, to grey, rose and purples and in antique, colonial, European and more styles.

Patterns are not only achieved by the placement of the bricks, they are also achieved by the use of alternative color and style of brick paver. They are chosen not only because they look good, and are functional they are also used to “lead” the visitor or home owner to a focal point in a garden. In the front yard the focal point could be as simple as the front door, in the back yard this could be something more, such as rose garden, swimming pool, patio, place of sanctuary or peace, water feature or even a piece of sculpture.

Various Boca Raton brick paver designs suit varying degrees of traffic, for example a herringbone pattern is ideal for vehicular traffic as loads are more evenly distributed. As far as other than vehicular purposes, virtually any other pattern may be used. The only thing to bear in mind is that the more elaborate the pattern; cuts and labor are more intensive so it will obviously be more expensive, but it will also be much more exclusive. Are you ready to let a professional landscaping company, lead you up the garden path?…

The Advantages Of Hiring A Landscape Designer

For countless home owners, the yard that surrounds their home is a crucial element of decoration. The yard is often the first element of the home that is noticed from those visiting or simply driving by which often provides an indication of the design of the remainder of the property. As this is often a crucial element of home ownership, one should know the perks of hiring a landscape designer for this specific decorative need.

This field of design is actually very specific in regard to skill set and knowledge. When this professional is hired, they are usually very well versed in transforming any yard into a beautiful haven that is specifically geared toward providing a well planned and laid out piece of property. The perks this professional is able to provide often reach well beyond the aesthetics which should be understood and taken advantage of within landscape design.

Taking the general ideas and visions from the home owner and making them a reality is an immediately noticed perk of this professional. While listening and incorporating these ideas, they are often able to add an increased element of design and beauty. Thus, they are often quite effective in their services. Not only can they incorporate what the home owner is looking for right away, but they have the knowledge to design the property with plants that will last in the environment given. They know what plants need specific types of soil. They also know what plants need more sun and which ones need more shade. This way your home stays looking great every year to follow!

The entire yard design process can be very expensive when purchasing the materials required. In most cases, this professional often has specific discounts and wholesale pricing privileges with many retailers. With their discounts, they are often able to make the process much more affordable.

The weather conditions and overall topography of any yard is also pertinent in any decorative decision. While they are usually specific to each city and even each yard, there is a general knowledge that should be applied to these principles. Fortunately, this professional is usually well versed in them which help with the overall success of ideas that are implemented.

Finally, a landscape designer is also able to help coordinate and implement the necessary maintenance for the yard. Each item that is used in this process will require some type of maintenance and upkeep for longevity purposes. In many cases, they often perform the maintenance on their own.…

Landscaping Lighting Techniques to Prevent Starlight Light-Pollution

Anyone who is a part-time or hobby astronomer will tell you that you often have to go out away from the city to look at the stars. This is because there is far too much light pollution in human societies and civilizations. If you are designing landscaping and lighting for your home, business, or perhaps you are in that sector of our condominium where you do this for a living – then you really should consider some of the landscape lighting techniques to prevent starlight light pollution.

One of the best methods is to point the light downward, and only use the amount of light that is needed, and to use focused light bulb covers that keep the light from becoming a nuisance. After all, it is wonderful at night to look up and see all the stars, but unfortunately in the present period we have so much light that humans no longer realize how wonderful the stars are. People in the country know this, but many people of the city have never seen the stars at night. In fact, when they go into the country and look up they are blown away by how beautiful it is. “Look at all the stars,” is the first thing they say.

It’s too bad that we’ve made so many mistakes with the lighting of our cities; how we use streetlights, and how people that do landscaping do not consider these things, but they should. Each and every landscape designer should help prevent light pollution. There is something wonderful about looking up at the stars, it is very peaceful, and it makes life more enjoyable. And it would be wonderful if everyone could see them, and they would be able to – if the light pollution was kept to a minimum.

Indeed, I hope you will please consider this as it is a topic of interest, and if you have any comments or ideas along this line of thinking, perhaps you wish to me an e-mail. Think on it.…

Foundation Plants – How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home With Foundation Plantings

Foundation plants are shrubs used for planting along homes and building to soften their look, enhance curb appeal and tie it to the surrounding landscape.

Some considerations to keep in mind when choosing these shrubs are:

– Style/Color

– Size

– Scale

– Seasons

The style of your house should be one of the biggest factors in selection foundation shrubs. For example, a colonial house should have different plants compared to a house that is of southwest style or modern style. The colonial would have more traditional, tight growing greenery such as boxwood whereas the southwest style home would have spiky type plants to give a desert feeling and the modern house having open, more free growing plants. Choose shrubs with colors that compliment the color of the house and don’t blend into it. A red brick would absorb shrubs such as the Cistena Plum Shrubs with deep red leaves, yet those same plants would appear striking along side a white frame house. The gorgeous blooms of the Nikko Blue Hydrangea would be wasted planted in front of a blue vinyl sided house.

Typical anchoring bushes are generally smaller growing (under 6) and planted on the corners with somewhat larger growing plants. The length of the windows will usually dictate their height. If the windows on the house start at 3 feet above the ground, then select low growing shrubs that grow no taller than 3 1/2 feet. Placing taller greenery in front of windows is not good for security.

Scale is a consideration most forgotten. Small houses should have smaller growing plants to keep in its scale and not overwhelm the house as these plants mature. Large scale houses can comfortably accommodate larger growing shrubs and trees without the house seeming to disappear.

Anchor plants should offer color and texture for at least 3 seasons if not all 4. This is the reason that evergreens, both conifers and broadleafs, are often used for this purpose. Try to plant at least 50% of the foundation plants in evergreens to keep greenery around the house year around. Planting all deciduous anchor plants creates a bare house over the winter months. Select a few choice flowering shrubs or small trees, perennials and ornamental grasses to further extent color and texture in the other seasons.…

Landscaping With Climbing Vines in Your Garden

Climbing vines are a great option for landscaping as they can serve many purposes. You can grow climbing vines as dividers, privacy screens or just as ornamental plants. Such vines are climbing plants and they grow well with proper support. Their growth pattern makes them an important addition to many landscapes.

Climbing vines are of many varieties. Some have beautiful foliage and some even produce dainty colorful flowers. They can cover the walls with a lively blanket of colors. Apart from walls, they can be trained over trellis, fence, iron or wooden frames and so many other structures that can lend support to the plant. Climbing vines grab hold through their tendrils or petioles and grow fast. They can act as dividers between the garden and the surrounding area. You can even grow them for privacy as their thick and dense foliage acts as a screen.

Most of the climbing vines grow very rapidly and hence you can expect drastic change in the landscape soon after growing them. You can choose the right kind of vine for your garden depending on the climatic conditions and your preferences. Flowering vines usually attract a lot of insects for pollination so if that is not your kind then you can go in for non- flowering ones. They look equally appealing and can transform the garden easily. Bougainvillea and sweet pea vine are suitable for warmer climates. However, if you stay on a higher altitude where the temperature is comparatively cooler then you can consider growing English Ivy or Common Ivy. Climbing roses are great for the balcony or walls. They can give a colonial feel to the landscape.

There are different types of vines to choose from. Some are annual and some are perennial in nature. If you plant the perennial ones then they can add to the landscape for at least three or more years. However, it is important to choose wisely as some of the species are considered to be invasive. They can grow very rapidly spreading to the entire area. Some can even compete with the other plants growing around them. Avoid growing invasive vines as they can be nasty and tricky to control if they get out of hand.

Growing vines is fun and easy. You can even do it yourself to make your garden attractive. Some of vines that you can grow in your home garden are Clematis, Honeysuckle, Trumpet Vine, Dutchman’s Pipe, Climbing Roses, Sweet Pea, Grape Vine, English Ivy, etc.…

Are you sick of the pests at your home?

Were no traps efficient enough to stop them from invading your house?

If you think there is no such homemade bug trap that can actually work, then your belief is going to be changed. Here we are talking about three bug trap homemade that you can easily make with just some readily available household items to wipe out the pests at once.

The pro pest exterminators have tested all of these three homemade bug traps. It has eliminated certain pests efficiently. So now it’s your time to get rid of these pests right away.

Let’s find out the ways to make these bug traps at home.

Bug trap Homemade for Stink Bug

One can make a perfect homemade trap that will keep the stink bugs at arm’s length. You can start by taking a two-liter plastic bottle. And then cut off the top 2 inches of it. Then put it upside down and bind the neck to the opening to ensure that the top sits perfectly inside the bottle. And then you can put any light, preferably battery-powered, into the container.

Keep this in some basement or attics where it would attract the stink bugs with their light and trap them inside. After the trapping, you can dispose of all the bugs with ease.

Bug trap Homemade for Mosquitoes

The first thing that you need to do is to cut off the top part of a two-liter plastic bottle and then use a black spray-paint to color the outside. Then you need to perforate two 3/8 inch holes below the rim.

After all of this done, you need to cover the top and the brim with a mesh. And then wrap a wet cloth around the edge. Immersing in water once a day could work. And then fill the trap with water.

This way, all the eggs laid on the cloth would hatch and fall from the mesh and grow large, making it difficult to escape. With the help of this bug trap, you can get rid of the mosquitoes from your place.

Bug trap Homemade for Fruit flies

All you need to do is to take a quart-size bowl and fill it up with a foamy mixture that contains water and dish soap. And then, you need to take a smaller bowl that can float in the center. Fill this smaller bowl with a quarter cup of red vinegar.

What actually happens when you do this? The vinegar attracts the fruit flies, which in turn get stuck in the suds and helps in the complete elimination of the flies from your place. You can do this for a few days a week and get rid of the fruit flies. This fruit flies bug trap is very useful in keeping pests at bay.

Conclusion

If you have been worried about the bugs at home, then your worry ends here straight away. With the help of these homemade bug traps, you can easily wipe out all the flies and bugs from your home.…

Dress Up and Show Off! Window Boxes for All Seasons

Make the exterior of your home fashionable for spring-dress it up with window boxes full of colorful flowers and foliage. But window boxes are not just spring things, change their contents for each season and you’ll not only be keeping up with the Jones’, you’ll be way ahead of your neighbors in helping to beautify the neighborhood. Tongue- in-cheek jesting aside, do this for yourself and your family. The efforts are few and the rewards are many.

Window Box Styles

You can usually find window boxes in a variety of styles at your local garden center or chain building supply store. These include ready-made wood boxes as well as metal “hayrack” types. Or, if you have a handy-man (or woman) carpenter in the family, they can be custom-made from rot-resistant wood such as pressure-treated pine, cedar, teak or redwood. Just measure the width of your window, allow 8 to 10 inches for the height of the box and 6 to 8 inches for the width (bottom board). Drill holes for drainage in the bottom board. Attach it with heavy-duty hardware.

You can also find plastic or metal liner boxes which sit inside the wooden window boxes. These help protect the bottom board from rot, and they make planting easier. Just remove the liner box, take it to your potting table and fill it with potting soil and plants. It can then be inserted back into the box that is attached to the house.

Look for other unusual items to use as window boxes, such as old sap buckets. Make a grouping of three or four buckets and mount them on a board and attach it to the bottom of your window. Be sure to drill drainage holes in the buckets before attaching to the board. How about old bicycle baskets or other wire baskets, a grouping of old watering cans, even children’s brightly colored plastic buckets-well, maybe for a window at the back of the house or on a fence!

Planting Your Window Boxes

Keep in mind that these boxes will be hanging out there in mid air, so they will get more intense exposure to the sun and will dry out faster than plants in the ground. You can help remedy this by adding water-retaining polymers to the soil. Don’t put them on top of the soil; bury them in the bottom two to three inches of soil in the window box so roots can receive their benefits. Read the directions on the polymer container for calculating the amount to be added. After planting, water gently, but heavily. This allows the polymers to take up water, which they will hold until the soil around them dries out. They will then release their moisture to the roots of your plants.

Choose a good potting mix with fertilizer already added. This will insure that your plants get a good start and stay healthy throughout the season. When you change the plants out for the next season, you can simply work in more time-release fertilizer in the remaining potting mixture. For your wire or hayrack baskets, you will need to purchase cocoa mat liners, which can be fitted to the basket to hold the soil in.

Plants for Your Window Boxes

When selecting plants for your window boxes, think about which color, or colors, will look good against your house. You may choose only one outstanding plant, or a mixture of plants that complement each other. Remember to place the tall plants toward the rear of the box, the shorter ones in the middle and the trailing plants along the edge of the box. With your window box in place, you can enjoy planning and planting each season of the year.…

Landscaping Made Easy

Do you wish you could wave a magic wand and your landscaping would look amazing? There are many people in the same shoes as you but they do know a great way to get what they want. They have found landscaping is made easy with the help of a professional. Depending on the climate and location where you are, it can be virtually impossible to really get your grass looking good on your own.

Most people have gone that route and feel that they failed. What is even more frustrating is that they spent lots of money to get to that point. New lawns though are going to be possible when you know what to do. Why wait for new grass to grow? That is a long process and one that can end up not offering you the results you had in mind.

How do you get it then? With new sod you can have green looking grass and new landscaping within the week. Most of that time will be spent talking to contractors and working out a deal. They are professions and can tell you how much sod you will need, what types they would recommend for your area, and then they can get it installed for you.

Before you say that you simply can’t afford this type of landscaping made easy, you need to find out what the cost will be. Too often people assume that the cost of it is going to be out of the ballpark. However, when you consider how much you will spend for your grass seed, supplies to till the soil, and other materials you are going to be spending money and not be guaranteed and results.

With the use of grass sod you will be able to get the changes you want for your landscaping right now. Summer is right around the corner so you will have plenty of time to be able to enjoy the new look. Don’t put off getting started with it today!

With new lawns you can have a look outdoors that you are really impressed with. You can have something that looks amazing each time you go outside. Other people are going to notice your new grass too. Don’t be surprised if they ask you about it because they too have been going through the same things you have.

The use of new sod is going to end your frustrations with your landscaping. While you won’t have a magic wand to change things, you are going to have the assistance of products and professionals that can help you to make your dream of a gorgeous lawn a reality. They can also help you to do it for an affordable price that fits well for your budget.…