Posts Tagged ‘landscaping’

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Complement The Architecture and Minimize Maintenance

March 13th, 2010

The more modern a building is in design, the fewer plants are likely to be required for the front foundation planting. Most buildings of this type are attractive in themselves so the only real reason for using any plants at all is to soften the vertical lines. By keeping this in mind you will considerably reduce the cost of your landscaping.

Ground Cover

It is advisable to use plenty of ground cover material under the foundation planting for three reasons: first, it prevents mud from splashing up onto your home; second, it ties one plant to another which may be quite a distance away by providing a green carpet between them; and, third, it adds another long horizontal line to the picture.

A ground cover also makes it unnecessary to cultivate and weed the shrub beds. And when mowing adjacent grass, if you run the mower along the edge of the ground cover, you will not have to trim the grass by hand. This is an age when anything that cuts down the maintenance of a property is in order. And, if you do employ a gardener, he will have to devote much less time to the maintenance work if your garden is designed properly.

Blank Wall Spaces

A common mistake in the past was the attempt to cover all blank wall spaces with plants. Only under the rare circumstance in which a building is admittedly ugly is it necessary to cover all blank walls; and perhaps not always then.

An architect, in designing a home, may use large wall areas to obtain a certain desired effect. If the owner tries to conceal them with plants he not only spoils the intended architectural effect but wastes money as well.

Avoid Plants under Windows

The long practiced but really unnecessary habit of placing plants under windows is also to be frowned upon. We have urged locating plants where vertical house lines meet the ground. But the vertical lines of windows, even picture windows, do not do this. Again, we must train ourselves to refrain from this practice even though we have long been accustomed to seeing it done on many properties.

Instead of copying what others have done, you should use your head when landscaping your property. Originality in carrying out ideas will keep your home from looking exactly like the one next door, even though the same landscaping principles were followed in developing both.

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Landscaping Your Garden

March 13th, 2010

If you have more than a small town garden, then landscaping your garden will probably be one of your considerations. If you have just bought the land, or you think that it is time for a garden make-over, there are methods of going about it. The easiest technique of going about planning a garden, is to first take a good look at the landscape of your garden. This can be difficult if the garden is established and in full flower.

Therefore, it can be better to wait until autumn or winter, so that you can see the true lie of the land. You could make a plan of the garden on graph paper and take a load of photos too. Identify the photos on the back of them and relate them to the grid on your graph paper. There may be bumps and hollows, potholes, rocky areas and even a marsh or a pond to cope with.

These are probably natural features and if you want to alter them, you will have to tackle the fundamental cause. The feature is only the symptom. Like freckles or spots! If you look at the state of affairs in this way, it makes planning simpler.

For example, a rocky patch probably means that the Earth is pushing stones up slowly but surely and if you want to clean it up, you will be picking up stones for the rest of your life. Likewise, if your wet patch is the result of natural drainage from higher ground, you will have to drain it and put in permanent drainage, since it is not going to stop raining for you.

So, you can either work with nature or you will be working against it for the rest of your life. Either that or paying someone else to do it for you. Another issue is that the wildlife that uses your area does so because of how it is. If you alter the landscape, your current range of flora and fauna might move on or just die. A lot depends on how much land we are talking about, but in general, I would say that the larger the area, the more you should leave it alone.

On the other hand, you can add features more easily than remove them. For instance, if you have an area with poor soil, you could improve it with compost or put a pond there. Shade and existing fences or sheds should also be noted on your graph paper, although being man-made, these are simpler to remove or alter.

Next you should make up your mind what kind of garden you want, within the constraints of the existing landscape, how much work you are willing to put into it and how much money you want to pay out on it. Enhancing the natural features of the land is the easiest way of landscaping your garden.

If you have a marshy area, why not put a low wall around it and turn it into a pond? If you have a rocky patch, why not collect up the stones and create a rockery? If you have a couple of trees, try growing wisteria, honeysuckle or vines through them.

If you are in the shade, buy flowers that prefer the shade and vice-versa. It is a struggle to go against nature and unless you have a good reason to do it, it is not really worthwhile. Then build a patio or deck and sit outside and enjoy all the landscaping that you have saved yourself in your garden.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with outdoor heat lamp. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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Learn About Landscaping

March 12th, 2010

In many old homes, or homes that were purchased as such and remodeled in line with modem trends, we find rather awkward architecture. In New England, for example, there are many houses in which the living quarters and certain farm buildings were all included in one unit because of the severe winters experienced there. This resulted in typical step-down construction from a high point at one end to the low point at the far end.

Some people buy such properties, tear off some of the farm sections, and find themselves with a tall, awkward-looking home and the problem of how to improve its appearance. This can be done by various tricks of design, chief among them being the use of horizontal lines in the planting and the concealment of one end of the tall part of the building by the use of large trees, especially evergreens. Vines can also be introduced to make artificial breaks across the tall section, giving strong horizontal lines where they did not exist before. The eye follows horizontal lines more easily and quickly than it does vertical lines. Your head moves easier to look from side to side.

House on a Knoll

A house that appears to be sitting on top of a knoll is, undoubtedly, the most difficult type to landscape. If money, time, and material are available, retaining walls can be constructed to add long horizontal lines extending well beyond the actual building.

The horizontal lines will force attention to themselves, instead of to the high perched house. These retaining walls also permit the development of flat areas for suitable landscape plantings around the house.

If the ground drops away quickly on one or both sides, your objective should be to make long, wide plantings from the corners of the house out as far as possible to each side. Place the usual plants at the outside corners of the house, but as the planting extends farther away from it select plants that grow larger than those close to it. Eventually you will plant small trees, and, if you have enough space, you will finally wind up using large trees at the ends of these wing plantings.

Your goal is to have, when the plants are mature 10 to 15 years hence, a silhouette that will create a funnel effect toward your house. Admittedly it will take quite a few years to realize this, since the plants will have to be rather old before the effect will be seen. However, because you know what you are aiming at, it should not bother you although it may look a little unfinished to the casual observer.

Sometimes we encounter trouble in our landscape planning as a result of worrying about what other people will think while our planting is in its first stages. So we must train ourselves to not be too concerned over their opinions. We must always remember that in working with landscape plans you are dealing with the future, not the immediate present.

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How To Do Landscaping On Your Home Backyard

March 12th, 2010

If you’re thinking of selling your house or you would like to improve the look of your home for greater and more valuable end result, upgrading your home through good landscaping could help a lot. In the current declining condition of property market, you’ve got to ensure you are exhaustive in making preparation to supply the best look of your home to possible purchasers. As there are far more homes for sale than house buyers, you need to make sure that you property get amazing attention and sell fast.

When you talk to most any landscaper they will tell you that, if you are going to use smaller plantings in your landscape design, to space the trees, plants, and shrubs so they are going to look good 5 to 10 years down the line.

This is significant, particularly for trees, because if the trees are planted to close together when small, when they grow bigger they can make your yard look extremely cluttered and overgrown. If your plants become overgrown in time, they can easily be removed and transplanted someplace else. Trees on the other hand can’t be so simply moved.

There are different kinds of evergreen trees and plants available to decorate your backyard like the rhododendron, tall pines and spruces. They are normally very pricey but certainly add beauty to the house throughout the year and that’s why they are known as evergreens.

The pine is said to be the most typical of all evergreen trees. It grows tall and fast reaching a height of sixty to eighty feet. Popular among them is the Red pine. One such tree is the Ponderosa which is used as wind guard and for decoration.

Add umbrellas for additional shade. You might find umbrellas at your local supermarket for better costs than at home improvement warehouses or bargain stores. In our area, our supermarket and drug store has the best buy on umbrellas. Select umbrellas in cool colors ; floral patterns look pretty but regularly have warm colours. Place your umbrellas in big pots or even in the dirt around your garden.

Make your entire yard feel like it works doggedly to offer plenty of entertaining spaces. Set up a table and chairs in the far corner of your back yard. Add a white or green table fabric to the table setting and a vase of white flowers. Fabrics like cotton give a texture which feels cooler than metal or wood.

Also remember that landscaping isn’t a cheap venture. This is especially the case if you hire a pro. Do not accept me? Just see for yourself. Call up a landscaping professional and ask them “How much does landscaping cost?” chances are they are going to want to line up an appointment for an onsite guess. And when they’re done, you should expect figures between $5,000 and $30,000 depending on the scale of your land and your home’s value.

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Use Garden Landscaping For That X-Factor

March 11th, 2010

Home garden landscaping can be very rewarding. It’s actually therapeutic for many. A good landscape can add beauty and worth to your home. If you have time, money, and effort to spare, this worthwhile activity may be just for you.

Before you begin, you need to make sure that you plan the area out thoroughly. Look over the area before you begin. Decide what you want to put in that area. Do you want it to be a fun place to go? Do you want a play area for children or a place to picnic? Or to grow your own food on a mini far? Visualize it first in your mind before you begin.

You need to assess the current condition of the area. Take into consideration what is already there; fences, plants, trees, and sheds or buildings and work them into your plan. You need to bring out what you like most and get rid of what you don’t like or redo it if possible. When considering new plants you want to make your selection very carefully. What you decide on depends on your location and the climate there. You may need to determine what type of soil you have and how much sun and shade your area will have. Some plants do better in the shade while others must have direct sun.

Sketch out how you want your garden to look. Include as much details as possible because you will be using this plan the entire time. If you work in landscaping at all you will know how important these plans are. Determine your entrance to your garden, the paths for walking, how you want the border, do you want a deck, hedges, or pool included in the plan too? You can buy computer software that will help you draw out your plan or you can hire a professional artist to do it for you. If you like to do things on your own, get a piece of paper out and draw the plans up by yourself.

You can create a garden that is elaborate or luxurious as you want it to be. You need to remember that your budget will limit you to what you can buy. In order to stay within your budget rate everything that is on your list and buy according to the most necessary items. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment and think that something is needed when it can really wait. That is why it is a good idea to have the visual of what you want your garden to look like.

With a new landscape comes the task of learning how to care for your greens as well as taking care of the soil. Planting and pruning are very important so you need to learn how to do these things. Search for advice on how to better improve the quality of the soil. When possible use compost that you either purchase or make your self. Making your own compost will save you money. Check special sites, stores, organizations, residents and even demolition areas that offer free bricks, trees, compost, mulch, and stones for hauling them off.

Trade plants with your neighbors and fellow garden hobbyists. As for purchases, scout for sellers that offer discounts and take advantage of inventory sale price cuts as well as closing or moving out sales.

You can hire professionals to landscape your home garden but you can also do the work yourself! Landscapers raise up their prices so buying your own stuff and placing them yourself will be way cheaper. Remember though, your expertise and abilities have limits. Know when you need the assistance of pros. Ask around for affordable rates, checking reputability. Some offer service packages. Check out what options you have and what services you can get at the best possible price.

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Protecting Plant During Spring, Winter And Summer Seasons

March 11th, 2010

The drip line of your roof is an important factor in locating foundation plants even in regions which do not get much or any snow and ice. Falling rain should reach the plants, so, except in unusual cases, they should be placed at least a foot beyond the drip line. At first they may look as though they were sitting out there by themselves, but in time, as the branches spread and the plants get larger, they will gradually reach back to the house and occupy all the space provided for them.

Plants under Eaves

When under unusual circumstances, you have to place plants under the broad eaves of a mod em type house, it is perfectly all right to do so if you make sure of a constant and sufficient supply of water for them. Do not wait until the soil is bone dry before applying water; set up a regular schedule of watering (adjusted to the weather, of course) so that the plants will never be in danger of injury from drought.

Mulch

If you do not choose to maintain a ground cover under the plants, the next best thing is a layer of mulch which will keep the soil cooler in hot months and keep a supply of moisture in the ground over a longer period. This practice is absolutely essential to success in regions where several months of hot, dry weather are the rule.

The temptation to grow flowers in the midst of the foundation planting is widespread. My own view is that theoretically and ideally there should be no flowers in the public area, including the foundation planting. However, the desire for flowers is so strong that it is next to impossible to convince the average home owner that he should not have some annuals or perennials in his front yard.

If you feel that you must do that, one permissible way to do it.

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The Best Way To Buy A Lawn Tractor

March 10th, 2010

Lawn tractors are generally tiny tractors intended for farm work up to 2 acres. There are a number of attachments to the tractor, which can reduce your manual work quite considerably. This may help you employ your available time effectively in working on your garden in trim condition all year round. Lawn tractors are flexible items of kit. They can do a large amount of roles like cutting, ploughing, lawn rolling, lamp post hole digging, and masses of other roles that need to be done around the farm or home.

These roles are made possible through their power take off shaft. This makes lawn tractors one of the gardener’s very best buddies.

Purchasing a lawn tractor is much like purchasing an auto. The price of a used model is much less even if there’s little more wear than being driven out from the show room floor.

Consider the tractor you are purchasing particularly rigorously. It is sometimes counseled that you try the tractor for yourself and get an idea about the time needed in attaching and detaching the various accessories. Test-drive the tractor, and try to get a feel of getting out and in of tractor. Just taking it for a test spin, doesn’t mean you have to purchase it there and then. Resist the pressure, and consider your options carefully.

The basic model available is a Bolen 762F76, and the John Deere Spin-Steer SST-16 is available, albeit at a higher price range. The Poulan Pro PK185H42ST is in between these 2 in both price and quality.

Remember this is just the cost of tractor alone without accessories. Accessories can include lots of different pieces. Just to begin with you can have a cover, a grass collection bag, little and large carts, and much, much more, all of which can add to the price, making it even more vital to get a great price at the start. If you’re going to use your tractor only for lawn cropping, and you have got a tiny farm of one or two acres, you may have a glance at the stand-behind mower rather than going for a full on lawn tractor. All the same, look around and in this economy you should be in a position to find some real bargains if you look around.

Next, author Weldon Duffy discusses much more regarding Used John Deere Tractor for you to review.

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A Happy Landscaped Home

March 9th, 2010

If the door is close to the corner of the house, there may not be room for both a corner group and a door planting. In that case the thing to do is to arrange the corner group so that it will also form half of the entrance planting. The half on the other side of the door would be very low as determined by line drawn to edge of the house.

Low Foundation

Whenever the exposed foundation is 3 feet or less in height, it is desirable to use plants only at the above-mentioned areas. It makes the house look larger and more dignified to have the lawn extend right up to the foundation walls.

But if the foundation is more than 3 feet high, we readjust our thinking and break the rule of not having a solid planting around the house. We maintain the general outline of the mass plantings at the corners and next to the entrance, but add a planting that connects them. In effect, this lifts the straight linerepresented .by the lawn in the case of a house with no foundation or a very low one – up to the point where the foundation ends and the house covering begins.

Directing Attention

The reason for having lower plants beside the door than at the corners is simple enough. If we want to pour a liquid into the top of a bottle or other small opening, we usually use a funnel to help do it. Psychologically the same effect results when we look at a house with high corner plantings and low entrance plantings; our attention is more or less funneled from the high points to the low ones close to the door. This is exactly what we want, namely, the attention of the observer to be directed to and centered on the entrance.

Various Architectural Styles

Although it may not be obvious in all instances, you can usually see in these different architectural styles the same guiding principle behind all of the foundation planting arrangements.

On a house with tall pillars in front, it is not advisable to put a single plant at the base of each pillar in order to break the vertical line. This would make it appear as though the pillar was suspended in mid air. There is little danger of monotony even if everyone who owns a house with tall pillars were to handle it in the same general manner; homes of that type are few and far between, so one will rarely see two that are planted exactly alike.

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Shading and Heater Systems For Protecting The Health And Safety Of Pool Users

March 9th, 2010

There is a strong correlation between skin cancer with excessive sun exposure and sunburn. To reduce such risks for pool-related activities, it’s important to prepare your pool area ahead of time. During the summer, adequate shading must be installed to ensure that pool users are protected from the fierce rays of the sun. Here we will discuss three kinds of shades.

Correspondingly, fall or winter use of the pool is dangerous because cold exposure can bring on opportunistic infections by weakening the immune system. To reduce these safety risks in connection to pool use, in the winter, one should add a heating system to keep the water temperature high enough to be usable. There are approximately two basic types of shades and three types of heaters we will describe below.

In the category of heaters, the most widely used type is gas-based heating. It’s by far the most energy efficient, which should satisfy the green-conscious buyer. It’s also fast acting so it only needs to be turned on when the pool is anticipated to be used. This makes for very low energy costs. The biggest drawback is that gas-based heaters are a bit expensive with only an expected lifespan of 5 years.

The next most popular kind of heater is the so-called heat pump or heat exchanger. Its operating mechanics can be described as a refrigerator running in reverse. A refrigerant gas is compressed in tubes that circulate the pool which causes it to heat up. The heat warms up the pool by conduction. The refrigerant is then pumped to distant tubes where it’s allowed to expansion. The expansion causes the gas to cool down.

The last most widely used kind of heater is solar-based. They are also pricey due to the high costs of solar cells, but once installed they are cheap to maintain. Essentially they are an “off-grid” system that doesn’t rely on the utility company. The components that need to be installed include wires and heat piping, as well as a large number of solar panels necessary for adequate energy intake to fuel the system.

The most common kind of outdoor pool shade is the table umbrella. The design is basic, made up of a center supporting pole that holds the umbrella fabric. Variations on this theme are the side-arm umbrella, which adds an adjustable arm that can orient the overhead shade in different directions. A heavily weighted base holds the umbrella in place against strong winds.

The second kind of shade appropriate for pool use is the cabana. The cabana is similar to a tent or canopy, consisting of a frame over which shade is stretched. The frame is set up near a pool when its needed but should be stored away during times of disuse. A cabana shades not only the top but also to the sides, making it useful for maintaining privacy.

Using heating and shading accessories near the pool helps protect people from sun damage and keeps them warm during the winter. They are an effective way to add value to the pool, increasing its usability as well as increasing the sale price of your home.

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Patios, Decks And Accessories

March 8th, 2010

Would it not be great, at the end of a hard day’s work or on your day off, to relax outdoors on your patio deck? It is a daydream that many people have. But it does not have to be only a dream.You could be really doing it within a few of weeks. You can either make the deck or patio yourself, if you are useful with your hands or you can get someone in.

The best thing to do is speak with your contractor about your plans about size and materials. If you want to have a go at making it yourself, take the measurements to your local builders’ merchant and get them to give you a quote. If you need it, they can usually suggest a contractor to you. This can be a good idea, even if it is only to get an idea about cost.

There are also lots of ’standard’ designs available too. You could get a few gardening magazines, you will be able to tell the ones you want by their titles. You could also look on the Internet. There is also designing software for this sort of project, it just depends what you want your input to be.

You could just pass the whole task over to your builder, if that is what you would like. However, I would go for a drink with my wife and take paper and pens. Over a drink or two, I would encourage us both to make a few sketchy plans of what we would like. Then you can discuss and amalgamate the ideas.

You also have to decide whether you want a raised deck or one at ground level. A raised, wooden deck might help keep the snakes at bay, but a stone patio places you right in the middle of your garden and flowers.

A consideration, depending on where you live, could be the use of patio heaters. If you think that you may have to use patio heating at certain times of the year because of the weather, you might not want your patio deck made of wood. After spending time and money on your new patio deck, you will want to make use of it whether it is a bit chilly or not, which is where the heaters come in.

Furthermore, patio heaters are not that expensive any more and not that expensive to run. If you add a mosquito trap and some lighting, you will have a pleasure to enjoy for the rest of your life.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with commercial patio heaters. If you are interested in patio heaters too, please click through to Residential Patio Heaters.

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