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Cheap Landscaping Ideas For Front and Backyard Designs

April 1, 2014

There are many cheap landscaping ideas that will still create wonderful front and backyard designs. Now when I see “cheap”, that’s not what I really mean. I should have said inexpensive. There isn’t any part of the landscape where you can’t reduce the costs creatively.

Patios and Walkways – Some Cheap Landscaping Ideas

If you have looked at the more expensive hardscape materials such as brick, bluestone and other natural stone, you are considering the more expensive paving stones. Yes, they can be very beautiful, but that’s not to say you can’t still have a beautiful patio or walkway design. Concrete pavers are less expensive than the above choices. Even less costly than pavers is concrete. Consider adding color to the concrete mix for some additional interest.

Retaining Walls

Cheap landscaping ideas retaining walls can get very expensive. Costs are estimated by the square foot of one side, but six inches is added on in height for the part of the wall that is built beneath the ground. As an example, if you have a wall that is twenty feet long and two feet high, the square footage would be fifty feet. If you are considering two materials and there is a twenty dollar price difference, that’s one thousand dollars.

If you are looking to install an inexpensive wall, I would suggest some of the decorative concrete block walls. The plainer they are, the cheaper they will be. You might want to go one step up and choose one of the “mosaic” styles for a bit of a more natural look.

Plantings

Always go for good quality. Where you can save money is in the size of the plants. Some plants, such as perennials, are so fast growing that it hardly matters. Even those plants that grow more slowly will eventually be their mature size. A shrub that will grow to a maximum of four feet will get there no mater what size it starts out at. Of course, we don’t want to be ridiculous here! Start with a size that is smaller than perhaps you would really like but still look attractive.

Outdoor Fencing

Do you have woods on your property? Consider using black chain link fencing in or near the woods as it will just blend into your surroundings. You can also use less expensive fencing anywhere and plant heavily in front of it to camouflage it.

Always remember that a nice cheap landscaping ideas design landscaping ideas is more important than specific hardscape material choices or plant sizes.…

Landscaping Lights Ideas

March 1, 2014

when it comes to illuminating your landscape at night, there are so many different options available that it can be difficult to focus on just the most basic landscaping lights ideas. Indeed, with so many different things that can be lit in the landscape, you may not want to stop with only a few. Here are some landscape lighting ideas that will help you get started on your way towards a beautifully lit landscaping ideas

Landscaping Lights

Most people that are looking to illuminate their landscape are really only thinking in two dimensional directions. You can throw light in any direction in order to enhance the landscaping and to really bring out a lot of dramatic effects in the outdoor environment.

Downlighting

Throwing the light onto the ground from low-voltage landscaping lights is an excellent way to dress up an area, but it is not the only thing that you should really be considering.

Up Lighting

Shining light up onto feature objects in the landscape is an excellent way to really make an impression. For example, arbors, trees or anything else that stands above the general landscaping can usually benefit from a little bit of lighting.

Wall Lighting

Along with that, you might try throwing a splash of light against any architectural features that are in the garden area, including the side of the house. Keep in mind, it is not always necessary for you to stick with white lighting although this is preferred by many people. Various colored light filters can bring out hidden characteristics of lighted object that may not be seen with white light.

Submersible Lighting

Do you have a pool or pond in your landscape area? You should try using some submersible lighting in order to add an interesting feature to this area as well. This is a good place for you to try out different colors and lights, and you can even get rotating lights that will continuously change the look of the underwater environment. It is important for you to make sure that these are installed by a qualified electrician however, and that you have everything hooked up properly to avoid shock hazard.

Focus Your Light

Finally, keep in mind that whenever you are looking for landscape lighting ideas that you do not focus on the source of the light but rather, on what it is illuminating. It is far better if you hide the source of the lighting and do not make it a feature in itself. Simply use it to make the outdoor environment more inviting and to create some dramatic effects by spreading the light around and illuminating feature points within thelandscaping lights area.

Keep light focused on the areas you want to highlight and you will be pleasantly surprised at the result, and at how many other landscape lighting ideas will come to mind.…

Tips for Finding a Landscaping Near Me

December 27, 2013

Landscaping Near Me Landscaping is a popular hobby among all lovers of nature and natural beauty, since it is their outlet into the heart of the Earth within the limits of their homes. But, creating a garden and maintaining it are two completely different things, and one can not survive without the other. Most of the times, people are unable to take of their garden after planting it, and in such scenarios, companies that provide commercial garden landscaping near me service come as lifesavers. Such firms are typically involved with this field for a long time and hold proficiency in rendering quality service at affordable costs.

Landscaping Near Me

Usually, a company engaged in rendering commercial cleaning services offers executes landscaping jobs too. So, finding such an organization is not difficult since they have mushroom across the world. The firms that commission these gardening related services make use of the most environmentally sensitive practices while carrying out the requisite jobs. All industrial garden maintenance, landscaping services are conducted with expertise by the personnel of such organizations landscaping ideas

Professional Landscaping Service

The professionals possess extensive experience in beautifying the gardens of their clients, a feat that the laymen can not achieve. This is the main advantage of hiring a professional landscaping service provider, since the quality of work is always unmatchable in its own respect. Any firm that renders commercial garden maintenance, landscaping services carries out an inspection of the premises of their clients.

This includes checking the area to be covered (in order to determine the time limit), services to be provided and assessing the requirements of the clients. By evaluating all of the above mentioned items in detail, a plan is created for the clients. This plan can be tailor made for the customers or be a part of a standard package, depending upon the practices of the company.

Commercial garden landscape service activities

• Lawn mowing
• Garden maintenance
• Reticulation check & adjustment (weekly in summer, fortnightly in winter)
• Mulching
• Lawn and garden fertilizing
• Regular site inspections
• Monthly site reports
• Replanting upgrade
• Indoor plant maintenance

Industrial Garden Maintenance

The firms, which provide high pressure cleaning services too, furnish site reports on a monthly basis to their customers and provide them with an assessment pertaining to the overall service commissioning process. All procedures followed while conducting the above mentioned services are eco friendly, since all firms rendering industrial garden maintenance, landscaping services understand the need to conserve water and other associated resources. In this regard, the personnel of these organizations are trained thoroughly in executing the requisite services in an environmentally conscious way.

The secret of success for these organizations lies with the attention their employees grant to the gardens they tend to. If the appropriate amount of attention is provided to the area, it can blossom like God’s own Earth or it can wither away. Therefore, anyone looking to avail commercial garden maintenance, landscaping should seek a company that is well known for providing quality services and rectifying problems, if any, at the earliest.…

Landscaping App for Garden Lights

October 27, 2013

A landscaping app is a treat for all your parents. The garden tickles your sense of smell with all of the flowers and fresh greens that surround the place. It is also a feast for the sense of touch as you experience a wide array of textures from the many plants, rocks and accent pieces around every inch of your patch of land. Even if the garden is a sensual overload, it appeals mostly to one major sense and that is the sense of sight landscaping ideas

Landscaping App

A garden is a place of beauty that is characterized by a flurry of color, texture and form. As you feast your eyes during the mid day sun, you can see lush greens, wonderfully bright flowers and even strong lines from the sturdy trunks of the surrounding shrubs. It is a shame that we don’t get to appreciate this beauty during the night. But, maybe we can.
Lighting is a great way to highlight all of the hard work you have put on making your garden beautiful. With a few sockets and spotlights you can make the garden, the focal point your home absolutely deserves.

You can start by creating a basic plan of your garden. If you already have a garden existing, all you need is a representation of the major focal points and pathways of your garden. Remember to put in the trees, shrubs, walkways, accent pieces and any other items of interest that seems important to you. On your working plan, decide which items you would like to highlight. For example, do you want people to notice the old tree on your backyard or do you want them to put their focus on the flower bushes instead.

Garden Lights to Help Put You in the Spotlight

Depending on what you would want to highlight, you need to decide on what fixtures to put in. Each item needs a specific type of fixture to create the best effect. Some types of lighting include up-lighting, down-lighting, highlighting and other special lighting effects.
For example tall focal points like bamboos or trees need up lighting or lights the point upward to highlight the height of the items as well as the sweeping effect of the branches and leaves. Or, you can also maximize the effect of a flowering plant by creating down lighting to create a sophisticated shadow effect.

The other special landscaping app is also important to show the effort you have put in to your garden. Often, a garden is not just a collection of plants planted randomly in a bare piece of land. To make it more interesting, they often add items to it to keep the viewer’s attention. Ponds are a popular item added to gardens because it adds a simultaneous feeling of serenity and movement. It would be lost at the night without the proper pond lighting. It is also important to light up paths because it would be dangerous to walk through a garden without the necessary lighting surrounding the path.

Your garden is a great place to hang out and just relax, but without the proper landscaping app, it would be difficult to appreciate the full potential of the garden. Highlight the best elements of your garden and you won’t be the only one appreciating your garden; just be prepared to accept a ton more compliments from your friends.…

Simple Landscaping Ideas for Curb Appeal

March 25, 2013

Improving and maintaining your front yard is a good place to start when you want to enhance the value and beauty of your home. A few simple landscaping ideas can improve property values, contribute to neighborhood ecology, and put your home on the map.

Simple Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping is part art form and part professional skill. Many states have licensed landscape contractors who work with a variety of other simple landscaping ideas professionals to achieve eye-popping curb appeal. This can be an expensive prospect. But you don’t need to be rich or an expert to achieve great results andscaping ideas

Just keep a few landscape ideas in mind. Start with some easy tasks. Repair any cracks in the driveway, thoroughly wash the front walls and porch, repair and clean windows and lights. Your lawn is probably the most costly and time consuming portion of yard maintenance. Keeping it weeded, mowed and fee of debris can instantly enhance your curb appeal with little expense.

Take it a step further: cut down on the size of your lawn to maximize the appeal of what’s left. Cover a section with evergreen ground cover like ivy, Pachysandra or Periwinkle. Think about adding a stone walkway, plant some heat tolerant shrubs or a tree. Compare other trees in your neighborhood for size and breed for best results.

Natural Focal Point

The front door is a natural focal point. Something as simple as painting it a new color can immediately add accent. Try repainting the trim and shutters also, for another cost effective, easy enhancement. Next add potted plants or shrubs around the door, or flower boxes under the windows.

Adding greenery necessitates a reliable water source. Take a look at your gutters. Are they overstuffed and/or deteriorating? A wonderful way to both enhance the curb appeal of your house and reuse natural rainwater is to take advantage of rain chains. Replacing existing gutters with these artistic downspouts allows you to redistribute rainwater to your flowers and plants.

Rain chains channel water runoff through tumbling waterfalls, and can be combined with rainwater harvesting systems to reuse water. This mitigates the effects of urban runoff and reduces the burden on your water bill. And it all adds up to stunning curb appeal.

Commercial Landscaping Service

January 22, 2013

What to Look For In a Commercial Landscaping Company
Finding a commercial Phoenix landscaping company that can achieve the exact look that you want without compromising quality and environmentally sound practices can be quite tricky. There are landscaping companies out there that focus just a little bit too much on the aesthetics, and not on the equally important groundwork like irrigation and pipeworks, soil testing, bush fire prevention, and greenery maintenance.

Commercial Landscaping

If you’re currently on the search for a good commercial landscaping service that can turn your Phoenix property into a beautiful horticultural haven, there are a couple things you may want to consider aside from their rates. Sure, rates and costs are usually the first things you will look at, but more importantly, you should look at the specific services that the commercial landscaper offers.

Landscape Construction and Maintenance

A good commercial landscaper should be able to coordinate and work with you regarding your desired look, design, and landscape layout. This is also why it helps to have at least a clear idea of how you envision your property to look like after landscaping work has been done on it – so that the main idea or theme will come from you, and the company will talk you through how that specific look can be achieved. The company should also conduct a site visit before they give you a definitive amount for their charges and construction expenses.
A good landscaper will also offer you maintenance services as part of their landscaping package. This means that their work is not and should not end with just the commercial landscaping construction. You should also ask the landscaper about their customer service.

Irrigation Installation

As mentioned, a good landscaping company will also thoroughly construct and examine the necessary pipework and irrigation system of the landscapes they create. The pipes and valves of the water supply system should be in good working order to ensure that the plants and trees in your landscape won’t wither and lessen the beauty of the landscape. For the environmentally conscious, it would also be nice to get a Phoenix landscaping service that follows principles on water conservation and engages in other environment-friendly practices.

If you’re looking for a good commercial Phoenix landscaping company, you should also check if they’re certified by your local business bureau and have the necessary permits to operate in the area. For example, the contractors and employees working with the company should be backed by the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, Arizona Certified Landscape Professionals, and Arizona Municipal Water Users Association, to name a few. If available, you should also check out their portfolio so you can get a glimpse of the work they’ve done in and around the area.…

What to Look For in a Landscaping Companies

November 22, 2012

The first thing you should determine when looking for landscaping companies is whether or not their first concern is to enhance and protect the environment. They should have firm knowledge about “green” methods of design. They can ultimately be responsible for health problems in plants as well as human beings. They should know how to keep your plants healthy, not to be reliant on toxic chemicals and how to use as little water as possible.

Landscaping Companies

Determine whether or not the company builds healthy soil. The company should offer a soil test before starting the design and should then prepare the soil properly by adding compost and other enriching materials. See if the company knows about the latest, most eco-friendly ways to mow lawns. Do they use gas mowers? Or do they opt for mulch or reel mowers that leave the environment cleaner? The company should also “mulch” the garden beds annually with leaves, bark or compost to keep in moisture and to prevent erosion. Ask the company which types of fertilizer they use: “slow release” fertilizers last longer and do not over feed plants landscaping companies near me

Your landscaping companies should be one that considers the existing landscape when planning the design. They should remain aware of natural plants and grass growing in your garden and should utilize these for optimal growth. The company should make use of native plants that will thrive in the environment and should give you plant options that are naturally more resistant to insects and other pests. Determine if the company respects the environment by using “drought-tolerant” plants to save water.

Hands-on Approaches

The company should explain to you what pest control methods they use and these should be organic or environmentally sensitive. They should monitor your yard for pests, but only use measures against them when it is absolutely necessary and these measure should only ward off insects and not harm them. A company that uses minimum pesticides and more hands-on approaches: like mulching and cultivation is a company to trust.

When it comes to water, the company should be modest. They should be able to fit the irrigation to the soil you have and should recommend watering times that will lead to the least evaporation, for example, at night. The company should build the soil to retain moisture and should help you understand irrigation better: they should set the controller to water the plants more in summer and less in other seasons and they should show you how to skip cycles in a heavy rain season. A good company will also check your irrigation regularly for leaks and broken parts.

Ultimately, your landscaping companies should clearly know what they are doing. The specialists should ideally have good educational backgrounds in horticulture or landscape architecture, the company and staff should have hands-on experience as well as references or examples of previous work. The company will also ideally be affiliated with landscaping or ecological associations, such as the South African Nursery Association (SANA) and South African Green Industry Council (SAGIC).…

Pool Landscaping Ideas In Your Home

January 20, 2012

When it comes to landscaping, there are many places to consider. Yards, fields, and around the house often have some in common it comes to the pool, there are a few distinct differences. Often the family pool landscaping ideas will stand out from the rest, and hopefully not clash. This makes the task of pool landscaping a little harder than the rest. There is also the concern of safety and securing the pool area to prevent tragic accidents that can happen when you are not there to keep watch. Securing your pool can have notable impact even on your homeowners insurance rates. When you have a pool, you have extra concerns on a number of fronts.

Pool Landscaping Ideas

With all this in mind you still want to set a great comfortable scene around the pool that might even bring you a great level of privacy. You are not the first, nor are you at all alone in desiring great pool landscaping. Some of the factors that can dramatically effect your pool landscaping include in ground and above ground pools, the terrain around the pool, and how much room you have around it as well. If you are considering your pool, landscaping prior to actually putting the pool in, you may be in the best position of all.

Along with your search for comfort, security, safety, and scenery, you may also want to consult for extra input from your insurance agent, local safety officials, and even the pool manufacturers. You will likely find some restrictions to consider, but you may indeed find many great ideas as well. In the end, this will likely help you avoid a number of problems, and leave you to enjoy your pool more. Of course, you are also considering the scenery you will enjoy when swimming, sunbathing, or otherwise enjoying the benefits of being around your pool, so you will definitely want to consider that setting deeply.
Above ground, pools can be a little simpler for many reasons.

Effective Pool Landscaping

Pool landscaping ideas for these can be cost effective elaborate decks with steps that can be locked up out of reach to secure them. Often these look great if they blend in well with your home and other landscaping, and can still be made large enough for furniture to relax on, as well as the things you need to enjoy your pool to the greatest.

When it comes to in ground pools you will indeed need to put a lot more focus in fencing and probably vegetation that helps conceal things to your liking. At the same time, you can definitely bring about great landscapes to go with them. Just expect more expense in the pool landscaping along with the additional expenses of in ground pools. Often the venders for your pool will have many resources to help you as well on this path.

Other factors you want to consider with pool landscaping are how many people will be there to enjoy the pool, and how comfortable do you want them to be? With the scent that often comes from conditioning the water in your pool, you may also want to put more focus on vegetation that has delightful smells to offset it, and minimizing debris that may land in the pool. In the end, you want a great scene to enjoy at your landscaping ideas

The pool landscaping ideas there should bring you comfort, security, privacy, and delight to your eyes during the many times you relax around it. Focusing on the details ahead of time should help you keep the expenses down, and enjoyment up!…

The Importance of Landscaping Jobs Near Me

July 16, 2011

The Importance of Landscaping Jobs Near Me Making your home visually stimulating is very easy. landscaping jobs near me is an important part in enhancing the total look of your whole property. There are many ways to create a great garden and landscape. However, especially if you are new to a neighborhood, you need to take some guides so that you are sure you are complying with the local area’s rules and/or codes with regards to putting up a landscaping near me

Landscaping Jobs Near Me

First of all, you need to have a plan well prepared ahead of time. You need to familiarize with the plants that could survive the local environment. You need to check the characteristics of the local area’s soil, from content to moisture. This should be done so that you would be guaranteed of a landscaped garden in full bloom. You should also see which type of landscaping the locality’s water supply could provide. It is important that you take note of these initial landscaping jobs near me, as when you did not check any of these, chances are your landscaping goals and efforts would be put to waste.

Whenever you are planning the perfect landscape for your home, knowing which landscape pattern is the right one by simply looking at the neighborhood’s general look of landscaping. Most probably, the most common plants in each garden are the most appropriate ones to plant. You could talk to your neighbors how they organized their own landscape. If you so much admire one of your neighbor’s landscaping, you could also ask him which landscaping jobs near me services company they employed. Ask about the fees involved and the timeframe it took to finish his landscaping job. Through these, you could even have a deeper sense of belongingness in the neighborhood.

Important Guides in Landscaping For the Local Environment

As said above, you need to check the kinds of plants that could survive the local weather and environment. This is to ensure that each plant your landscaped garden has could be expected to fruitfully blossom. You could know about the right kind of plants by asking the local horticulturist about the native plants and/or similar plants that could grow in the local area’s type of soil. If your lot area already has native plants growing, include them in your landscape plans. In addition, if you opt for having native plants as the majority of your garden, you could save time, effort and money in caring for them because they already have adapted with the local soil and weather.

In planning your landscape garden and pattern, you should ask about the methods you could use in maintaining the plants’ health. It would be wiser to list down all the plants, shrubs, grasses and trees and the specific needs you have to provide for them. Some of their needs should be enlisted according to the water amount, watering schedule, nutrients needed, sun exposure (or none needed), supplemental fertilizers and pesticides. However, as for the last two requirements, you need to check with the locality’s codes about these things.

You have to be sure that you are complying with local rules. Check out if there are bans against specific types or brands of fertilizers and pesticides. Another concern may be that the local area prohibits usage of these, or has standards of amounts and schedule of having fertilizers and/or pesticides. It all depends upon the environmental friendliness measures implemented by the local area’s jurisdiction.

When you ensure of these top points, you could be guaranteed that your home and your new landscape would gather much attention and popularity in the neighborhood.

Creating the Perfect Brand Image Through Landscaping Logos Design

June 16, 2011

A landscaping logos is a brand ambassador of your business that will be always there to talk on behalf of your company whether you are present there or not. A perfect corporate identity will provide strength, credibility and sales to your business by expanding the exposure to the millions of people.

Landscaping Logos

I think same goes with a well-designed landscaping logos designs. These brand marks if designed well will do all the wonders to your business. Designing well means that a brand mark is not only unique, distinctive and enthralling but it is totally in accordance with the nature of this business as well. There are certain features that one needs to consider while designing these corporate identities out of which some are:

Colors:

Professional Graphic designers love to play with them as they get a wide variety of options to be used in them. You can include anything to everything in it and so you can use as many colors as you like. Green is the hot favorite when it comes to these business identities because a beauty of nature is often symbolized by this particular shade of color. Other colors that are frequently used are those that can be soothing and relaxing to the eyes landscaping companies

Objects:

When it comes to the objects, beautiful houses, greenery, skies etc are preferred by the professional graphic designers. In short, objects that provide picture perfect beauty that takes a viewer in the world of imagination are mostly preferred in them.

Fonts

Abbreviations are avoided in landscaping logos so fonts are chosen very carefully. This tactic is especially used to emphasize on the name of the company. Fonts can be of any type ranging from bold, italic, contemporary or classic etc. The only thing which you should take care of is that they are clear and readable so that a viewer doesn’t find it difficult to read.

Slogans:

Use of slogans are considered good in these brand marks for they help in recognizing a brand head and shoulder above the rest. Therefore, it is always recommended to use small caption that helps in attracting the visitor’s attention. Slogans can be placed on any side of this brand mark as long as it is visible to the eyes. Make sure the corporate identity is not overshadowing the slogan in any way and try not to use more than three to four words in it.

The preceding four components are very important to create a perfect brand mark identity but make sure you are not trying your hands on it if you are not a trained graphic designer. The only solution to this problem is to hire the services of a professional graphic designer or landscaping logos to help you craft a perfect brand image of your business. Moreover, you need to be very much careful while going for a service as well as there are so many out there claiming them to be the best.

In short, go through the above ideas before you actually go for your business identity.…