About Me

Loving Your Little Landscape

I have never been a natural gardener. For years, I struggled to keep basic houseplants alive, only to kill them at the first opportunity. It was difficult and stressful to buy a home with a yard, but I knew that I might be able to learn what I was doing wrong and correct the problem. To start off, I focused heavily on the lawn, and tried hard to keep it trimmed and well-maintained. Next, I cleaned up the flowerbeds. It was a lot of work, but I knew that it would pay off in the end. When I was done, my front yard was gorgeous, and guess what--it even stayed alive. This blog is all about loving your little landscape.

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Winter Is Almost Here: 4 Reasons To Keep Your Landscaping Service
Winter is almost here. With the weather changes, you might not think you'll need your landscaping service. A lot of people cancel their landscaping contracts as soon as winter arrives. If you plan to do that, it's time to change your plans. You might not realize it, but landscapers can provide an abundance of services during the winter. Read the list below. Here are four services a landscaper can provide you with during the winter months.

Designing a Sustainable Landscape for an Arid Climate
Creating a stunning and sustainable landscape for your home can be quite a challenge, particularly in arid climates. However, it is not impossible to create a lush and thriving outdoor space in a water-scarce environment. By taking into account the unique environmental conditions of your area and following some simple design principles, you can create a landscape that is not only visually appealing but also eco-friendly and low-maintenance. Analyze Your Site

Creating A Brick Seating Area For Your Landscaping
A charming and inviting seating area made entirely of bricks can be an attractive addition to your landscaping. A brick seating area adds aesthetic appeal to your outdoor space and offers numerous benefits. What Are The Benefits Of Having A Brick Seating Area In Your Garden? Brick seating areas exude timeless beauty and charm. The earthy tones and natural textures of bricks create an inviting atmosphere that seamlessly blends with the surrounding landscape.

An Overview Of Commercial Lawn Care Services
Commercial lawn care services offer a comprehensive approach to landscape management, ensuring that your property always looks its best. Here's a look at some of the different types of commercial lawn care services available. Landscape Design and Installation Before you can maintain a lawn, you need to create one. Landscape design and installation services help businesses plan and establish their outdoor spaces.  These services may include drafting design plans, selecting and planting appropriate vegetation, installing irrigation systems, and setting up features like walkways, patios, and lighting.

Landscaping Your Newly Built Home
Building a home is an exciting milestone, but it often comes with a blank canvas for a yard. Transforming this empty space into a lush, inviting landscape requires careful planning and consideration. Choosing The Right Plants Before selecting plants for your new landscape, you need to understand your region's climate zone. This information will help you choose plants that thrive in your area's specific conditions while avoiding those ill-suited to survive in your environment.

Water Accents To Customize Your Yard
Water accents can turn your backyard into a cozy retreat. Use the following suggestions to inspire you. Some projects can be completed on your own. Other water features may require the assistance of a landscaping contractor. A Rustic Water Garden Plan to add a rustic water garden alongside a patio or deck. Choose a section of your yard that has direct access to an electrical outlet. Purchase a wooden barrel to serve as the base of the garden.

Landscape Design Tips For Busy Professionals
Many people design their landscapes to reflect their personal style and taste. These elements are certainly important to consider. However, you also want your landscape to suit your lifestyle. More specifically, if you are a busy professional, you probably want a landscape that does not require much maintenance, is a quiet place to hang out in the evenings, and is always ready for a last-minute gathering. Here are some tips to help you design a landscape that has all of those qualities.

Landscaping Tips For Effective Mosquito Control
Warmer spring weather often brings outdoor gatherings, barbecues, and quality time spent in your yard. However, mosquitoes can quickly put a damper on your outdoor activities. These pesky insects are not only irritating but also pose potential health risks. You can greatly reduce the mosquito population in your outdoor space by implementing smart landscaping techniques. Below are several landscaping tips to help you control mosquitoes and reclaim your yard. Choose Mosquito-Repellent Plants

Approach Yard Work Differently This Year: Why Hire A Lawn Care Service
If you haven't hired a lawn care service yet, now's the time to do that. Once the weather warms up, your lawn will need a lot of attention. If you're not a lawn care expert, you might miss some vital steps. Plus, you can end up spending more time and money than you need to. That's where a lawn care service comes into the picture. Before you tackle lawn care by yourself this spring, read the list below.

Having Artificial Turf Installed? 2 Tips To Keep It Maintained
If you are having artificial turf installed to replace your lawn, this offers you many benefits. One thing you must do, however, is keep the artificial turf maintained so it will last a long time for you. Keep reading for two ways you can do this.  Brush the Turf As people walk over the turf or there are strong winds, the turf can get flattened. Over time this will get much worse.

Benefits Of An Artificial Grass Outdoor Wall
Artificial grass can be a good addition to your yard in many areas. Some homeowners install this material across the entire surface of their backyard, while others use it in select spots. If you're interested in artificial grass, it's important to know that this product doesn't solely have to go on the ground. Another option is to cover a wall with it. A popular choice is to use this material on a wall at the end of your deck or patio, but there are several other locations that may appeal to you.

Features Homeowners Can Incorporate Into Their Property's Landscaping
Landscaping is the art of designing and transforming the outdoor spaces around a property. It is an important aspect of home ownership and can add aesthetic appeal, value, and functionality to a property. Homeowners have a variety of features that they can incorporate into their property's landscaping. Patios and Decks  Patios and decks are great outdoor living spaces that provide a space to entertain guests, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. They can be made from a variety of materials such as concrete, wood, or stone and can be designed to blend seamlessly with the rest of the landscape.

5 Factors That Impact Terrace Landscaping
A common solution in a sloped yard is to install terraces with the help of retaining walls. The amount of terraces necessary to stairstep up the slope depends on the area and steepness, but good landscaping can improve the appearance whether there is one terrace level or several.  1. Moisture Access Irrigation is vital for successful terrace landscaping. Water tends to pass through terraces quickly, so being able to provide regular irrigation is necessary if you plan to put in any type of plant.

Commercial Landscaping Maintenance For Apartments
Whether you're looking to attract new tenants or looking to grow your rental market share, landscaping can give your apartment a distinctive vibe and aesthetic. Commercial landscaping maintenance for apartments involves taking care of the outdoor areas of an apartment complex to ensure that they are attractive, well-maintained, and functional for residents and visitors. Here are some commercial landscaping upgrades to consider for your apartment complex: Creating and Maintaining a Schedule

5 Hardscaping Materials To Install In Your Yard
A lovely yard requires landscaping and hardscaping. Landscaping is all the living components, or plants, in the yard, while hardscaping is the non-living materials that are used for building paths and other durable surfaces. There are many hardscaping materials to choose from for your installation, but these are some of the most popular.   1. Brick Pavers Bricks come in a huge range of shapes, colors, and styles. You can use standard masonry bricks to pave pathways, build patios, or create walls and edging.

5 Landscaping Ideas For Your Front Yard
Backyards often get plenty of attention, but front yards can also be stunning. In fact, working with a lawn care company can help make the front yard of your home look amazing. Whether you're looking for a low-maintenance solution or a lush landscape, lawn care services can help you achieve the look and feel that you want. Here are five ideas for sprucing up your front yard: 1) Add Colorful Plantings

Give Your Business A Boost With The Right Commercial Landscape Design
Appearance matters when it comes to the exterior of your business. If your landscape lacks a great design style it may be turning potential customers away who could benefit from your services. Having your commercial landscape designed by a professional is a worthwhile investment in the future of your company. Convey your message Your landscape design can tell people a lot about your business. For instance, health-related businesses can benefit from having a design that promotes healing and wholesomeness, such as adding Zen-inspired features or elements that evoke feelings of rest and refreshment, like a beautiful fountain.

Utilizing Mulch To Improve Your Landscaping
Mulch is one of the most common materials to use in a landscaping project. While the use of mulch can be used to meet a number of your property's landscaping needs, it is important to make the most of these materials.  Choose A Color Of Mulch That Provides A Strong Contrast One of the strongest benefits of mulch is that it will be able to enrich the aesthetics of your landscaping.

2 Things A Tree Service Can Do For You
Trees can add a lot of property value to your house. However, they can also cause a lot of problems. Seedlings can pop up because the trees drop their seeds. Invasive trees can try to take over your yard, and older trees can be at risk of falling on your house or powerlines. You want to ensure that your trees stay healthy without losing them. If you have sick trees, you want them taken care of before they get so bad that they may fall over.

Improving The Drainage Of Your Landscaping
There are many factors that will influence the quality of your property's landscaping. Issues with poor drainage can be a problem that will have a particularly high risk of contributing to several potential problems that could create major issues for the appearance of your property and the health of the plants that are growing on it.   Poor Drainage Can Cause Substantial Health Problems For Plants If your property has drainage issues, it can create serious health problems for the plants that are growing there.

4 Important Residential Tree Services Offered By Landscaping Companies
A lot of people think that landscaping companies only offer lawn maintenance services, such as mowing, edging, and leaf blowing. While these services are indeed offered by most landscaping businesses, there's so much more that they can do for you, especially when it comes to your trees. In fact, many landscaping companies offer a wide range of residential tree services that can benefit you and your home in a number of ways.

Brick and Stone Landscaping Design Ideas for Your Yard
If you're in the process of handling the landscaping for your backyard, then it is important that you consider using brick and stone. These are two wonderful materials that are durable as well as attractive. They can also be used in a very flexible manner which allows for multiple design choices. Below are three of the main ways you can use brick and stone in your landscaping plans. A Brick Walkway for Your Garden

Design Your Yard With The Right Projects To Suit Children
If you're concerned with updating your yard and want it to appeal to both you and your children, there's a lot to focus on to ensure that it's a safe environment for everyone. Instead of struggling to design an accessible yard, the following projects should be considered to improve safety. With the right plans to design a yard, you can avoid a situation where the yard is dangerous or a bad fit for your children to enjoy.

Buying A New Home With No Landscaping? 2 Tips To Help You Create A Beautiful Yard
If you purchased a new home and it has no landscaping, there are many things you can do to create a beautiful yard. Below is information on two things you should consider so you and your family can enjoy spending time outside in your beautiful yard. Plant Flowers The easiest and most important thing you should do is plant some flowers. Annuals are available at any garden center and are generally inexpensive.

4 Benefits Of Growing New Plants Around Mulch Over Grass
Growing new plants on your landscape is an excellent way to turn an empty or lackluster yard into a beautiful and inspiring one. Fortunately, you can grow plants in various ways. Simply digging up soil and placing seeds underneath is a strategy that can yield okay results. A better option is to get strategic with your planting to maximize the chance of a successful outcome. Growing new plants around mulch instead of grassy areas can provide several advantages.

Landscape Mulch Application: The Basics
As the spring season settles in, one of the things that your landscape contractor might have mentioned is the benefit of mulching around your yard. For homeowners who are new to flower bed, shrub, and plant care, you might wonder what the big deal is about mulch. The truth is that there are some important things to consider if you're going to apply mulch to your landscaping. Here's a look at some of the things that you need to know.

How To Plan Your Fence Project To Avoid Potential Mishaps
A great fence can add beauty to your property and can also offer more security and privacy. You might think that installing a fence will be a fun DIY project, but installing a fence can backfire when it's not done properly.  Buy the Right Type of Fence You will need to begin by purchasing a fence that is right for you. Different types of fences can serve different purposes. For example, you will want to make sure to choose a fence that is durable enough to handle the weather conditions that it will be placed under and you'll also want to choose a fence that gives you an adequate level of privacy.

Professional Lawn Care Services: The Gift That Keeps On Giving
When it comes to looking for the perfect gift for a friend or family member, a lawn care service may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, everyone must maintain their lawns and for some people, this may be difficult due to time constraints or health issues. Purchasing a professional lawn care service for a friend or loved one is a gift that will keep on giving.

Installing Accent Lights In Your Home
Accent lighting can be a feature that can allow you to create the right mood and aesthetic for the interior of your house. While accent lighting can have a major impact on your interior design, it is important to make the most of this upgrade if you are to keep costs manageable and get the lighting results that you are wanting. Choose Accent Lighting That Can Be Adjusted Having accent lighting that can have its brightness or even color adjusted can provide you with a significantly better degree of control over the mood and light level of your interior space.

5 Tips For Patching A Lawn With Sod
Dead spots, weedy areas, and sparse growth can make a lawn look patchy and unhealthy. Overseeding is one way to thicken up bare spots in the lawn, but it can take time and success can be variable. Laying down sod patches provides a nearly instant repair that will establish quickly so your lawn is once again lush and full throughout.  1. Clear Turf Turf, whether it's made up of lawn grasses or weeds, interferes with the establishment of new roots for freshly laid sod.

A Lot Of Droughts Where You Live? 2 Ways To Keep Your Lawn Watered
If you live in an area that has frequent droughts, this can wreak havoc on a lawn. Fortunately, there are many ways you can keep your lawn watered so it will not turn brown and die. Keep reading to learn about two options to help you make a choice on what you would like to use for your yard. Sprinkler System One common way to keep a yard watered is to install a sprinkler system.

Tired Of Your Landscaping? 3 Benefits Of Hiring A Custom Landscaping Company
If you are tired of your landscaping, you should consider hiring a custom landscaping company. There are many benefits of doing this, three of which are listed below. You can then find a custom landscaping company to get started for you. Expert Knowledge About Flowers The custom landscaper knows the best flowers to choose for your landscaping. For example, they know the native flowers for your state that will grow best for you.

Take Your Outdoor Kitchen To New Level By Adding A Stainless-Steel Pizza Oven
As the popularity of outdoor kitchens continues to grow, people are always looking for new elements to enhance their outdoor entertaining options. A stainless-steel pizza oven is one way to take your outdoor kitchen to the next level. Fun for the entire family, pizza ovens are perfect for quiet evenings at home with the kids and are sure to take center stage at your next entertaining endeavor. Suitable for any weather

Places In Your Landscape Where It Makes Sense To Install A Decorative Fence
When you hear the word "fence," you probably picture a rather tall, protective fence made from vinyl, chain link, or even wood. Indeed, these large fences are essential for anyone who wants to keep their yard or land secure or private. But not all fences are so large, and not all fences are intended for security. Decorative fences have a place in many landscapes. Here are some key areas in your landscaping where it makes sense to install a decorative fence.

Recommendations To Keep Your Lawn Healthy And Free Of Disease
Lawn care is a task you need to give attention to throughout the entire year, from early spring after snow melt occurs, and late into fall when leaves pile onto your lawn. Here are some recommendations that you can use to keep your lawn in great health and free of disease. Pay Attention to the Soil One of the best ways that you can take care of your lawn is by protecting the soil and maintaining its health.

Recommendations For Your Lawn's Commercial Care Through Fall
Taking care of your own personal residential lawn is a task that you can easily manage on the weekends and spend your time after work doing. However, when you have a large commercial area of lawn that is under your responsibility, its size can be overwhelming, and it holds a big impact on the commercial building's appearance. Here are some recommendations to help you with your commercial lawn care for the upcoming fall and into winter.

5 Types Of Useful Tree Trimming Services
Scheduling regular tree trimming is a vital landscaping responsibility. Trimming and pruning typically fall within the following five categories.  1. Thinning A tree may look full and healthy, but that fullness could be harboring all sorts of potential issues. An overgrown crown means that there is very little air circulation, which increases the chances of fungal diseases and foliage death. Branches will also rub together if the crown is too dense, a problem that can cause wounds in the bark and branch breakage.

Landscaping Tips And Ideas For Small Yards
Sometimes when homeowners have a small yard, they figure it's not even worth landscaping. But this is not the case at all! If anything, it is more important to have a small yard landscaped so you can make sure you're using the space to the fullest and keeping it more usable. So, with that in mind, here are some landscaping tips and ideas for smaller yards. Put garden beds only on one side.

Erosion Control Ideas For Preventing Soil Loss In Your Yard
If you have a hilly yard, you might be concerned with soil erosion. Rain can wash the soil away and cause it to collect where you don't want it. Fortunately, there are erosion control methods you can implement to keep this from happening. Here are ways to control erosion in the hilly areas of your yard. Plant Grass Or Ground Cover The roots from grass or ground cover hold the soil in place so it won't wash away.

Dealing With Drought Conditions? How to Keep Your Lawn Healthy
Summer is here. If you're dealing with a drought, it's time to make some changes to your lawn care routine. This is especially important if your community is enforcing strict water restrictions right now. When drought restrictions are in place, lawns can suffer, especially if extra precautions aren't taken. If you're worried about your lawn during the current drought, read the information provided below. You'll find four simple tips that will help you give your lawn the care it needs this summer.

FAQ For Homeowners Who Need A Tree Removed
You never quite realize how complicated having a tree removed can be until you need one removed from your own yard. There's a lot more to it than simply having the tree cut down. As you start looking into this project, you're sure to have a few questions. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions from homeowners who need a tree removed. Why does it cost so much?

Safely Removing Leaning Trees
Tree removal can be complicated if the tree in question is leaning in one direction. Certain steps must be taken to ensure the tree comes down safely. Site Plans A site plan is a must when it comes to risk mitigation during tree removal, and it is especially important if the tree is already leaning. Usually during a removal, the tree service can determine the path of fall to the safest area.

Why Hire Landscaping Services To Help You With Your New Yard?
When you have a new home built, you also get a brand-new yard. On the plus side, you get to take that chunk of dirt and turn it into anything you want. On the other side, you have a lot of work ahead of you, and it may be more work than you can handle on your own. This is where your landscaping services company comes in. You can use these services to help your yard turn out beautifully, without the hassle and mess of doing the work all on your own.

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Landscape Design
There are plenty of reasons why you should pay attention to your home's landscaping. An attractive landscape will add value to your home in addition to enhancing the curb appeal of your property. If you are looking to sell your home, landscaping will help you stand out from other homes on the market. Landscape design can also increase privacy and make your property safer. Here are three tips that will help you get the most out of your landscape design.

Troubleshooting A Failed Sprinkler Emitter
A malfunctioning automatic sprinkler system can lead to dead grass and wasted water. If an emitter isn't working, this troubleshooting guide may help. Signs of Failed Emitter Your lawn often provides the first hint that something is wrong, especially if your sprinkler is set to run when you are still in bed or after you have left your house for the day. If an emitter has failed completely so no water comes out, then the grass around the emitter will be dry and brown compared to the rest of the lawn.

Lime Soil Stabilization 101
Unstable soils can make it difficult to complete your paving project, whether it's to put in a private road to your new home or to build a driveway. Lime stabilization can solve the issue. When should lime stabilization methods be utilized? Lime stabilization is predominantly used underneath roads, driveways, and other large paved areas that are built upon unstable clay soils. The benefit of using lime in these areas is that once they are paved, there is no way to access the soil beneath the paving.

The Importance Of Backflow Testing After Prevention Devices Have Failed
The backflow prevention devices installed in your household plumbing system protect you from various problems. They are used to stop the backflow of sewer systems, as well as to prevent contamination of drinking water. Therefore, it is important that they are working correctly to ensure they are protecting your home like they were designed to do. The following backflow testing services may be needed to ensure your systems are working correctly.

Creative Ways Brick Work Can Bring Style and Character to Your Outdoor Living Space
If your outdoor space is boring and lacks design style, using brick work services to bring your living space to life is a wise investment for the beauty of your home. Brick work will enhance nearly any decorating theme and can be used to add durable outdoor elements to your backyard and garden. Whether you choose to have a lovely brick garden path built or opt for a brick accent or privacy wall, you will not regret adding the beauty of brick to your outdoor space.

Land Clearing And Minor Upgrades For A Residential Parcel
A parcel of land that previously had a mobile home set up on it may be the perfect setup for the modular home that you will be purchasing in the spring. Before you invest in the property, learn about the features that the property possesses and plan on the land clearing steps that you will take to make your outdoor property pleasant and accommodating. The Natural And Permanent Features There may be a mix of natural and manmade features on the land including trees, shrubs, flowering plants, or even a shed or a porch.

Five Questions To Ask A Prospective Lawn Service
When outsourcing your lawn maintenance, you don't want to go with the first company you call. Instead, talk with a few different services so you can find the one that best fits your needs. 1. Is the Company and Employees Licensed and Insured? Do not hire a service if they don't have the proper local licensing and insurance for their staff. Doing so puts you at risk, as you will be liable to any damages that occur to your property or any injuries that occur on your property.

Three Places To Plant A Columnar Tree
Hiring a landscaper to plant some trees in your yard can dramatically improve the look of this space. While you might have your heart set on a certain type of tree, your landscaper may warn that it's a poor choice. One reason that certain trees might not work well is that they simply grow too large. For example, one tree may eventually become so tall and thick that it shades your entire yard.

3 Landscaping Projects That Can Improve Backyard Beauty And Functionality
As the owner of a single-family home with a somewhat basic backyard, you may want to work on improving the whole space to get your family to spend more time outside. While you could focus on projects that impact looks alone, you should be able to take on several projects that will provide a boost in appearance and functionality. To make sure these projects go smoothly, you should hire a landscaping company that can help you from start to finish.

3 Landscaping Projects That Will Get Your Family To Go Outside More Often
If you own a home with a decent-sized backyard, you may love the idea of your family going outside on a regular basis to enjoy the sun, fresh air, and landscape features. But, you may know that your backyard does not have what your family wants or needs to go outside often. When a lack of features is the main thing that keeps this from happening, you should work with professional landscapers who can give your yard the boost that it needs with a few projects.

How To Make Your Landscape POP! With Colored Mulch
Mulch serves several functions in the landscape. It helps control weed growth, retains moisture for plants, and regulates soil temperature. But mulch also adds to the aesthetics of the garden or landscape, and with so many choices in colors, you can find one that makes your landscape pop! Colored mulch gets its color from a vegetable base to give it a hue not naturally found in nature. Think of it as jewelry to help dress up your landscape.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Composting Made Easy
Composting is an easy way to economically and environmentally utilize waste. Whether you're looking to spruce up your flower beds, create a sustainable landscaping project, or start a community garden, composting can provide plants, trees, shrubs, and bushes with organic nutrients and keep your waste out of landfills. Composting Supplies Essentially, all organic (carbon-based) materials will biodegrade, which is at the heart of composting. Finding local sources of compost material probably isn't as hard as you might think.

2 Reasons To Use A Temporary Chain-Link Fence While You Are Landscaping
When you are working on your new business site, one of the things that you need to do is to have someone work on the landscaping. Your landscaping will help attract customers because they are going to be more likely to have a positive first impression of your business, which is going to make them feel like they can trust you more. It's not something that people are even necessarily aware of when it happens, but that first impression really makes a difference.

Landscaping For Less: Get Maximal Results With Minimal Effort
When it comes to creating a lovely landscape around your home, you may wonder how you will find the time to maintain your outdoor space when your schedule is already packed. The good news is you don't need to spend a lot of time up-keeping your lawn. It's all about learning ways to get the biggest results with minimal effort. Focus on Perennials Do away with annual flowers and fill your outdoor space with perennials.

Lawn Fertilization Services And Weed Control
When you're considering how best to fertilize your lawn, remember that not only should you find the best fertilizer but also find the best fertilizer that does not hurt the environment. Herbicides are poisonous and this is a subject you can discuss with your licensed lawn care professional. That professional is aware of the trends in lawn care fertilization and can suggest the best product that does not contain weed-killing herbicides.

Looking To Start A Garden? How You Can Ensure Success
A beautiful garden doesn't usually come about by chance. It takes a lot of time and effort to create a lush garden that is full of healthy plants and vegetation. The key to obtaining this kind of garden is not so much knowing how to plant the seeds as it is about understanding what needs to be avoided. If you're ready to grow the type of garden that you can be proud of, the following tips are a great launching pad to help you achieve your goals.

Spring Maintenance Tips To Get Your Yard Ready For The Season
When spring finally arrives, it can seem like there is an overwhelming amount of work to be done to get your yard looking great once again. But once your lawn and vegetation start growing, the remnants of winter disappear and your yard begins to look somewhat better. However, there are still some important things in the management of your yard that you need to tackle because nature's natural growth can't take care of by itself.

3 Reasons To Recycle Rainwater
Investing in a system to recycle rainwater can reduce your monthly water bills while adding to your landscape. Depending on the amount of rainwater you typically collect each month, there are numerous usages for your recycled rainwater. Have A Luscious Garden There are numerous plants you may want to add to your landscape, such as flowers or edible plants. To have the ideal conditions for adding plants, you will need to make sure your plants are watered regularly, especially in the warmer months when plants typically need more hydration.

2 Reasons To Hire Lawn Care Services
Having a yard of your own to enjoy and spend time in is a wonderful thing. However, most people will agree that caring for the yard is definitely not wonderful. It is a big task that takes a lot of time, a lot of effort, and also a lot of knowledge. If you aren't up for the task, but love the idea of having a yard of your own, then you should consider hiring a lawn care service.

Strange Spaces -- 4 Tips To Manage An Oddly-Shaped Yard
While most yards tend to be a nice, normal square or rectangle shape, that's not always the case. If your yard's overall shape can be best described as "unusual" or "vague," it can be hard to know how to turn it into a normal looking outdoor space. If this is your dilemma, here are 4 easy ways to tame its strange dimensions. Focal Point. If there are features you don't like about your yard, draw attention away from them by adding a focal point or two in other areas.

The Importance Of Proper Drainage In Your Retaining Wall
Retaining walls are a powerful tool for landscaping sloped properties and adding visual interest to flat ones, but they need to be able to hold back much more than just dirt. In fact, many if not most retaining wall failures are actually the result of improper drainage, as accumulating water pushes against the wall with nowhere to go. Besides damaging your wall, this can also create an unpleasant environment for any plants or walkways behind it, leading to swampy, saturated soil.

Gone Fishing—What to Know When Adding a Koi Pond to Your Backyard
Water features add charm and vitality to a backyard landscape design. But if a simple water feature—a small pond, a waterfall, or a bubbling fountain—isn't enough for you, you can also add the energy of having living things in your water.  However, a pond with fish in it isn't quite the same as just any other water feature. It has some special needs to understand before deciding where and how you will build your pond.

Three Tips For Caring For Your Landscaping
Ensuring that the yard is kept in the best condition possible is essential for any homeowner that values the appearance of their property. Unfortunately, it can be common for well-meaning homeowners to be poorly informed about the steps needed to care for their yards. As a result, they may benefit from learning a few landscaping tips to help them avoid some routine oversights. Use Gravel To Slow Erosion Erosion can be a particularly problematic issue for your yard.

How To Create An Enchanting Landscape On A Tight Budget
Designing a landscape your neighbors will be awed by while staying within a tight budget is possible and can be a lot of creative fun. You can create a landscape that will look great with a few dollars and a whole lot of creative energy. Follow these tips for learning how you can turn your lawn into an enchanting garden while sticking to your budget. River Rocks And Your Landscape

Minimizing Lawn Water Use
In drought-stricken areas, watering your lawn is a complete no-no. Even if you live in an area that is not currently hard pressed for water, you should be mindful of your water usage, particularly when it comes to watering your lawn. During a drought or the hot dry summer months, you have several options for lawn care: Keeping it green or letting it go dormant. Dormant During times of extreme heat and/or little rainfall, keeping your water green can take a significant amount of water.

Site Prep – Building A Good Foundation Under Landscape Pavers
Stone pavers come in a variety of shapes, colors, and styles. You can use them to build walkways, patios, or other surfaces to enhance your landscape. An important step in the installation of pavers is the foundation. Without a good foundation your pavers can shift out of place, or settle causing you problems. Here are some tips to make sure you prepare a good foundation for whatever type of project you choose using landscape pavers.

How To Work With Your Landscaper To Achieve A Beautiful Backyard
With spring here and summer right around the corner, you are probably already visualizing a beautiful backyard, a place to entertain your friends and family that will also be a place for personal relaxation. If you'll be working with a landscape contractor, you'll want to give the contractor a clear picture of what you want. Then, because of the experience and training your landscaper has, he or she will help you to fine-tune your plans to make them even better than what you envisioned them to be.

Eight Tips For Giving Your New Tree The Best Chance At A Long Life
Unfortunately, by the time most homeowners notice that one of their trees is suffering from a problem, its health is already in a very poor state. Skilled arborists can sometimes correct problems involving a tree's structure or help the tree fight off bacterial infections or pests, but the best way to keep your tree healthy (and avoid the need for removal) is to keep the tree from becoming sick or damaged in the first place.

Important Steps For Having A Beautiful Summer Lawn
Do you own a home with a front or back yard that's seen better days? Do you have patches of dirt showing through, where animals have dug up or otherwise disturbed your lawn? If you've already tried fertilizing and putting down seeds and had no luck, it may seem impossible that your landscaping will ever look good again. But don't despair, there are still things that can be done to make your lawn lush and beautiful for summer.

Three Common Problems With Shrubbery And What Commercial Landscaping Can Do To Help
If you own and/or work out of a commercial building, chances are that there is a lot of shrubbery in the landscaping around the building. If it is kept neat and tidy, shrubbery can make the property look very professional. However, tidiness is not the only problem you may encounter with the shrubs around your commercial building. The following three problems are the most common ones, and here is how a commercial landscaping service can help restore the professional look to the property's exterior appearance.

2 Quick Landscaping Solutions For The Summertime Heat
With the winter months long gone, it may be a good time to start thinking about transforming your outdoor spaces into usable and comfy areas where you can hold parties or call friends for a barbeque. If you live in a summer hot zone, shade is a must if you are to open up your backyard for outdoor living and entertaining. The sweltering summer heat can make staying outdoors unbearable or even cause young plants to wilt under the strain.

4 Signs Of Dutch Elm Disease
If you have a yard full of elm trees, you probably love relaxing in their shade. You also probably know that elm trees are susceptible to dutch elm disease, but you might not know what a tree diseased with dutch elm disease looks like. You should know the signs and symptoms of dutch elm disease in your elm trees. Yellowing Or Wilting Of Leaves Dutch elm disease is a vascular disease, and it prevents the proper nutrients from getting from the leaves to the roots of the tree.

How to Remove Tree Stumps Without Breaking a Sweat
Removing stumps is slow, labor intensive, and often infuriating work. Stump removal by hand involves a variety of tools, such as mattocks and axes. It also involved many hours, and a lot of hard work. Stump-grinders are can reduce the labor involved, but they're often expensive to own or operate. They're also known for being rather unkind to your yard. Just maneuvering a stump-grinder into position often leaves deep tire tracks on your lawn. It can also bust sprinkler heads, if you aren't careful.

Japanese Boxwood And American Holly Are 2 Great Hedge Plants
Hedging can make your landscape much more stylish while also adding definition to the hardscaping of your yard. You can plant hedges that will cover the exposed concrete of your home foundation. Similarly, you can plant a hedge along the pathway to add a little style to a pathway. The best type of hedge plants are those that can be sculpted, require little water and are easy to keep up. This article explains the characteristics of Japanese boxwoods and American holly.

Backyard Got A Slope? Landscaping Tips To Use This Area Effectively
If you have an area of your yard that is sloped, it can make it more difficult to do landscaping. Fortunately, you can use this area to your advantage by following the tips below. Planting Flowers You cannot simply plant flowers on the slope without making any kind of changes. It is not possible to till a slope, because the dirt will loosen and then slide down the slope. A landscape contractor can make some changes so that your flowers will stay in place once you plant them.

A Few Ways A Retaining Wall Can Save Your Home
It is common to think of a retaining wall being used to level the yard for landscaping purposes. Wind, rain, and snow can cause the soil to erode, sloughing off any grass or flowers as it moves down a small hill. The truth is, a retaining wall can also be used to save the foundation of your home. If you notice that the basement or crawlspace stays moist, or that more of the foundation is visible from the outside, you should consider having a retaining wall built.

Three Necessary Steps for Completing a Topographic Survey
Engineers perform a topographic survey before an owner makes changes to a property or before a change in the ownership of a property takes place. A topographic survey maps and identifies the contours of the ground and the existing features on the surface of the earth. After completing a survey, a contour map is created of your property. Read on to find out three steps taken during a topographic survey.

Getting Rid Of Uneven Terrain In Your Lawn Once And For All
One of the most common landscaping issues that homeowners face is an uneven lawn that puddles a lot. Low spots can be formed by natural forces and time, but most can be fixed with a little sun and a free weekend. You may even be able to make an invisible fix. So, how do you do it? Here's a handy guide to leveling your lawn without destroying it.  Look for Uneven Areas

Want To Add Natural Shade To Your Yard? Consider 3 Effective Methods
Shade is a highly desirable feature for a property, especially in the backyard. If you do not have shade, you need to determine where you want shade, how much shade you want, and what methods you prefer. Shade is obtainable in many forms and can be accomplished with just one method, but you should learn about some of the most effective approaches to make a finalized plan with complete confidence.

An Oasis In A Sea Of Green - 4 Steps To Designing An Island Garden Bed
If you have a large lawn and are looking for the perfect focal point to tie the whole thing together, why not create an island garden bed? An island garden is a colorful flower bed that is freestanding and set inside a sea of green grass or other large single yard feature (such as an oversize brick or flagstone hardscape). It is designed to be viewed from all directions and enjoy unrestricted and easy growing.

Pros And Cons Of Planting An Ornamental Chanticleer Pear Tree
Chanticleer pear trees are attractive ornamental trees that are popular both in municipal and residential plantings. The trees have striking white flowers during the spring and summer that make the chanticleer a great addition to nearly any type of landscape design. Pro: Attractive Year-round The white flowers of the chanticleer do shed when the seasons shift towards fall. But the tree does not go boringly barren. Instead, the waxy green leaves change color to a vibrant orange, red, or purple.

Own A Rental Property? How Drip Irrigation Can Impress Your Tenants
The process of finding a tenant for your rental property may be straightforward, but making an excellent impression and keeping an individual impressed over a long period of time is challenging. Building a positive landlord-to-tenant relationship will increase the chances of a lengthy tenancy, which will help you earn more money by minimizing vacancy time and giving you a chance to increase rent over time. A drip irrigation system is a feature that can help you achieve this goal.

Get Your Home's Deck Ready For Spring
Spring is almost here, and it's time to get your home's deck ready for the warmer weather! Over the course of the winter, your deck may have developed problems with mold and rot. Even if the boards on your deck are all sound, your deck may need to be resealed to ensure that it won't become vulnerable to moisture problems during the wet spring weather. The following tips will help you prepare your deck and get it ready for the coming year.

Four Family-Friendly Landscaping Projects
A great way to spend time with your family is having projects that you can do together outside. One place you can start out with is your own backyard. Regardless of what age your children are, teaching them about landscaping and taking pride in one's yard can start early on. Here are four family-friendly landscaping projects you can involve the kids in. 1. Picking Out Greenery Kids can have green thumbs too.

Three Great Benefits Of Hardscaping
Any time that you want your landscape to excel and glow for your property, you will want to get the help of a hardscape services company that can assist you. Hardscaping like retaining walls and stairs allow you reap a host of benefits for your property, increasing the value and the overall efficiency that you can expect. Take these benefits below into consideration so that you can make the most of your landscaping and take your property to the next level.

Tips For Mowing Your Lawn
If you are homeowner, you want your lawn to look great. This means mowing it down so that it looks properly maintained and neat. Here are some tips for mowing your lawn so that it looks great. 1. Leave Clippings on the Lawn First, make sure that you are discharging the clippings so that they stay on the lawn after you are done mowing. If you notice that they are coming out of your lawn mower in chunks or in rows, you will need to take a rake and spread out the clippings so that they cover the lawn evenly.

2 Common Weed Types That May Invade Your Lawn And How To Kill Them
Regardless of how well you take care of your lawn, you are bound to have a few weeds try to invade your turf over time. Here are two common weed types that a homeowner is likely to find in his or her yard and how to eradicate them:  Broadleaf Weeds Broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, should be treated with a broadleaf herbicide. Most home Improvement stores offer weed killers that can be applied to a large area of a lawn using a sprayer that connects to your garden hose.

Create A Unique Path To Your Garden Using Paving Stones
If you are interested in making a garden path from your home to your garden, there are many options available to you. The first thing you need to do is consider the look you want the path to have. The following guide walks you through a few of the options that are available to you when it comes to making a beautiful path to your garden. Create a Rustic Look

Use A Hydroseeder To Assist With Planting A Garden On Your Property
If you enjoy eating fresh fruit and vegetables and wish to plant a garden on your property, learn how to use a hydroseeder to assist you with the project by completing the following steps. A hydroseeding machine will evenly distribute seeds and fertilizer. Mulch can be added to the machine's tank so that the mixture is thicker. The mulch will protect the seeds and fertilizer from blowing away and prevent weed growth around the items that you plant.

Three Cant-Miss Landscaping Tips
Any time that you want to protect your property and the investment that you made when purchasing it, one of the best steps you can take is to stay on top of your landscaping. You will need to learn some valuable guidelines for landscaping your yard so that both the front, back and sides are well kept. Read the guidelines below in order to learn more about getting the most of your landscaping, some mistakes to steer clear of and some cost matters.

Have A Large Property? 4 Tips For Landscaping On A Budget
Some people end up buying a property with a lush landscape, but this is not always the case. If you have a large piece of land with plenty of room in your backyard and front yard, you might not know what to do to turn it into a place that you think is attractive and want to spend time in on a regular basis. It becomes an even larger issue when you do not have much money to work with to make additions or changes.

3 Reasons To Get A Sprinkler System Installed For Your Lawn
If you're like most homeowners, you likely take a lot of pride in maintaining the appearance of your property. Part of that includes not just the house itself but the yard or lawn as well. But if you find yourself struggling to keep up with regular watering on your own, perhaps it's time to consider another option. Plenty of homeowners have found a sprinkler installation can help them keep their lawn great all summer long.

Landscaping Problems: When The City Decides To Trim YOUR Trees
So you got a notice from the city that they going to trim your trees to make way for power lines. What's going on here? How can they just choose to interfere with your landscaping without your approval? And is there anything you can do to protect your trees from excessive trimming? Unfortunately, they have the legal right to trim trees in a certain area of your property, but you can keep your trees from getting too mangled.

Tips For Landscaping Beneath A Black Walnut Tree
A black walnut tree can be a thing of beauty in the yard. This dependable shade tree is prone to good health, and it has a pleasing natural shape that makes it a common choice as a street tree. It is also a toxic tree when it comes to other plants. Black walnuts produce chemicals that kill many plants that try to grow near them. This is an evolutionary tactic that would prevent weeds from encroaching too closely and competing with the tree for nutrients or water.

Before The Blooms -- 5 Steps To Creating Your Perfect Flower Garden
Planning a flower garden for your yard? Before you run out to the nursery and start buying flowers, give some thought to the planning process. By planning well, you can avoid mistakes that could detract from your enjoyment of your flowers. Here are 5 steps to designing a successful flower garden.  Size and Shape The best place to begin designing the garden is to know the general size and shape of the space you plan to use.

Water Conservation Is The Hottest Trend In Landscape Design
According to a survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the feature most customers are asking for is  water storage or water conservation elements in their landscapes. Native and drought tolerant plants came in second and third. What Does the Survey Reveal? The survey reveals a growing awareness across the U.S. of critical water issues. Even in areas not suffering from water shortages, customers are looking to the future and thinking of ways to lessen their water usage.

Four Clever Hillside Landscaping Options
If your home is positioned on a hill, part of your yard might be on a slope either backing into an incline or positioned down a hill. This might seem like a challenge when it come to landscaping, but there are plenty of creative things that you can do to work with hillsides functionally and aesthetically. Here are four landscaping options when it comes to hillsides. 1. Tiered Planter Boxes

Caring For Your Trees During A Drought
Drought conditions are plaguing much of the country, and many homeowners may be wondering what they can do to keep their trees healthy during the hottest months of the year. By following the tips below, by monitoring your trees for disease and pest infestation and hiring a tree service for pruning and trimming, you'll increase their chances of weathering the drought. Warning Signs of Drought It's hard for the untrained eye to see signs of drought.

How To Save Time And Money On Your Landscaping Project
Implementing the right landscape design and finding the most cost effective materials for your home is always a challenge. On top of that, if you're not an expert, you might end up wasting your time on landscape work that simply doesn't function with your space. Thankfully, there are a few tips you can follow to save you money and meet your goals for your specific landscaping job.   One Step at a Time