Thursday 24 September 2015

Why Use Synthetic Grass in Your Yard

Many homeowners have grown weary of the endless cycle of mow, fertilize, water, repeat. The new solution to the old problem is turf grass. Turf grass has been used for decades on sports fields and the like, but new trends in residential synthetics are making the rounds. The benefits make the cost very worthwhile in some cases.

Artificial grass is comprised of filaments of polypropylenes or something similar attached to a porous backing material and laid over a bed of gravel or rubber crumbles. Water runs right through to the underlayment and never builds up to create mud holes.

The biggest benefit to turf grass in residential is the upkeep, or rather the lack of upkeep. Unlike regular old living grass, there’s never any need to mow, fertilize, or water. Depending on the cost of services in your area, that can mean savings of more than $1,000 per year, in addition to the cost of your back-breaking labor. That means synthetic grass can pay for itself in a matter of years, depending on your local cost structures. There’s no more time spent weeding and fertilizing and watering, and since time is money, your savings there is twofold.

Artificial grass never looks old or worn. It looks so good, in fact, that some manufacturers have started including patchy spots in their packages, to make your lawn look more realistic. That’s optional for the homeowner – there’s nothing wrong with perfection. To top it off, you can choose the species you prefer, so you get a green that you love.

Synthetics can last more than 20 years, depending on conditions. So that occasional or annualaerating, fertilizing, and reseeding that you’ve been doing, that can all be avoided.You can spend that time and money on something other than your lawn.

If a year round green is important to you, then artificial turf is going to be one of your top options. Bad weather and droughts don’t have their usual impact on you when you go synthetic. You can carry on, worry-free, when all of your neighbors bemoan the weather and its devastating effects on their lawns.

For those in drought-stricken parts of the world, synthetic grass can be particularly useful. Since you never need to water it, not only are you maintaining cost effectiveness, but you’re saving the world with your environmentally friendly lawn option.

Artificial lawns have gained popularity in the U.S. and abroad in the last few years, and it’s easy to see why. For more information about the benefits and where to buy turf grass in Morgan Hill, visit this website.

Wednesday 23 September 2015

Collaborative Landscape Planning: Redington Pass

The mountains surrounding Tucson, Arizona hold a bounty of scenic desert recreation opportunities, from waterfalls to archaeological sites....read more

Use Landscaping Stones to Decorate Your Lawn


 

Landscaping stones add a decorative touch to your lawn. Stones vary by size, shape, color and material and this gives you a wide range of design options. Here are four cool ways of taking your yard to the next level of beauty.

1.    Make a Flower Bed Border

Instead of using plastic tubing or brick, place stones around your flower bed. It’s an eye-catching way of separating the bed dirt from the grass. Small stone pieces work best for creating a wall of separation.

2.    Replace Mulch or Dirt

A flower bed with landscaping stone adds a visual flair because it’s a unique alternative to the traditional use of mulch and dirt. Add interest by using contrasting sizes and colors. In addition, the elimination of weed growth is benefit of using stones.

3.    Create a Walkway or Path

A stepping path from your front door to the driveway or sidewalk amplifies your home’s charm. For safety purposes, avoid stones with slippery textures.

Coexisting


Steel and concrete high-rise buildings peacefully coexist with nature in New York. The landscape of native grasses and plants along with carefully planned rock formations allowed the beautiful landscape of Brooklyn Bridge Park to survive the ravages of hurricane Sandy.

4 Tips to Get Paver Supplies at Low Cost


 

Pavers add beauty and function to your outdoor living space. It’s a low-maintenance way of giving your driveway, walkway, steps, patio or fire pit a touch of elegance. If you’re a weekend warrior who plans on installing pavers yourself, then you’ll need the proper supplies such as gravel, sand, barriers and sealers. Here are four cost-saving approaches for getting what you need for your outdoor space makeover.

1.    Buy in Bulk

Depending on the size of your project, buying in bulk may be the way to go. As a general rule buying in bulk offers a cheaper price per item. Also, you may get a discount when you buy large quantities of supplies.

2.    Pick-up Items Yourself

If your project requires large amounts of pavers, the supplier can deliver them to you – for fee. Instead of an on-site delivery, pickup the pavers yourself. It’s one way of saving a few extra dollars.

3.    Check out Wholesalers

There are paver suppliers who sell these items at wholesale prices, which is less expensive that purchasing them at retail. You can get high quality supplies at a reasonable price because these items may be over runs, discontinued or have minor cosmetic flaws.


The Best Way to Work With the Land at Riverside Lünen

Lünen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, along the Lippe River, which runs....read more

4 Tips for Maintaining Your Grass Lawn


 

There’s no doubt a plush, greenlawn enhances your home’s curb appeal. However, there are common problems that can wreak havoc on your grass such as weed invasions. Luckily, you can take matters into your own hands with a few tips that will help you maintain a healthylawn throughout the year.

1.    Use Deep Watering Techniques

Deep watering stimulates root growth and ensures the root system gets an ample amount of water. An ideal ratio for growing grass is one inch of water per 12 inches of soil. For best results, water the grass early in the morning, every three days.

2.    Tackle Weeds

If weeds are popping up, use a post-emergent herbicide. As a preventive measure for keeping your grass weed-free, treat your lawn with a per-emergent herbicide. This stops the weed seeds from germinating.

3.    Put Down Fertilizer

Fertilizer is like health food for your grass. It gives it a vibrant, robust appearance. Additional benefits include:
  • Thickening the grass which makes the lawn more resistant to weed growth.
  • Protecting new turf and helping it flourish in its new habitat.
  • Strengthening grass roots so water absorbs more quickly. As a result, this prevents the formation of soggy or muddy spots.
In most cases, a lawn needs fertilizer once or twice a year.  However, the climate and grass type are a factor in how often your grass needs feeding.


Backyard Paradise


Even on a smaller scale, this lovely pool surrounded by beautiful flowers and immaculate lawns would be so peaceful. Lying next to the pool and listening to the water flowing from the cherub fountain would be the ultimate in relaxation.


Tuesday 21 July 2015

Use Sand to Create Your Own Backyard Beach

You gently slip off your sandals, and then slowly step on to the soft warm sand, feeling it gently glide between your toes. You instantly feel relaxed and carefree, as images of childhood summers at the beach flood your memory. The soft sound of crashing waves and the warm beating sun has you ready to build sand castles and play Frisbee. Who doesn’t love the beach? But if you live even a matter of 15 – 20 minutes away from the gorgeous coast, you may not have time to enjoy the feel of sand in your toes. If you're a beach lover and want to enjoy it every day, you can get a little creative with your backyard and create your own private beach.

Adding sand to your yard is a simply easy way to create a unique getaway steps from your bed. Sand is easy to purchase from a variety of local stores and can be simply poured wherever you want it. Once you have the sand placed, you only have to adjust it and adapt it with a variety of designs. As an added bonus, you eliminate the annoying on-going maintenance of a grass yard, no more watering or mowing..

There are a variety of ways you can bring the beach to your home. Most easily, you can create dunes of sand to add an authentic feel to the yard. Then add a touch of ocean by painting your fence shades of blue, recreating the beach horizon. These simple small details are the basics of the perfect oasis.

Once you have a basic scape of sand and sea, you can add gorgeous furniture details. By adding some comfortable large cushioned lounge chairs, you will be instantly transported to a Caribbean resort. Just mix up some monitors or maitais and sit back and relax. If you want to turn your entire yard into a beachscape, you can add sleek and sophisticated wooden furniture. Adding a table and chairs will create the perfect space for summer entertainment, and a lounge area with sofa chairs and coffee table can be the perfect addition to any gathering.

Monday 20 July 2015

Understanding the Most Common Types of Sod


 


Sod is a useful tool when needing extra grass after damaging weather exposes soil or when moving into a home with an unhealthy lawn. Before you purchase sod, here is a brief explanation of the most common types.

Adapted Grass

While most sods sold today are not native grasses, they have been adapted to thrive in different climates. For that reason, sod is divided into two categories: cool season and warm season. Cool season sods are best for areas that have cold winters and warm to hot summers. These grasses include:

  • Kentucky Bluegrass
  • Perennial Ryegrass
  • Bent Grass
  • Rough Bluegrass
  • Red Fescue

Warm season grasses are planted in areas that generally are not prone to cold temperatures or winter weather. Sods well suited for this zone include Carpet Grass, Buffalo Grass, Bahia and Bermuda Grass. However, just because these are warmer climates, the grass can be challenging to maintain. Lawn caretakers may need to seed their lawns over the winter months if they want to uphold green grass.

In the Zone

Because not all areas have winter and summer seasons, transitional zone sods have also been developed. These include Tall Fescue, Thermal Blue and Zoysiagrass. These grasses thrive in the states of Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina and the panhandle of Texas.

If you would like more information about the types of sod used in lawn care or where to buy sod in Morgan Hill, please visit this website. You can learn even more about sod grass, how to care for it and what type is best for your yard.

9 Ways to Incorporate Edible Planting into the Urban Landscape

Traditionally, the urban landscape has existed as an isolated, hardened core...read more

The Magic of Mulch in Your Garden



 

Are you a home gardener looking for a way to enhance your garden and keep your plants healthy throughout the growing season? If so, you should consider incorporating mulch. With easy application and advantageous features, mulch is a win for gardeners.

1. Understand the Benefits of Mulching

Mulch is highly beneficial to vegetable and flower gardens. When applied, your garden will retain more moisture, meaning you will not have to water as often. Adding mulch to your soil also hinders the growth of those annoying weeds. Finally, any mulch composed of organic materials will slowly break down, making the dirt highly fertile and healthy for future seasons.

2. Choosing Your Mulch

Before you can apply mulch to your garden, you need to choose which type is best for your garden. Today’s market is full of many options including:

  • Straw mulch
  • Wood chips or shredded bark
  • Cocoa hulls
  • Pine bark nuggets

Straw mulch looks lovely in a garden because of its soft, golden hues and breaks down slowly. Wood chips and shredded bark usually absorb nitrogen from the soil, making it less acidic. Cocoa hulls can be more expensive, but their chocolate scent, soft texture and deep colors add elegance to any garden. Pine bark nuggets do not decompose as fast as shredded bark and work well on flat surfaces with flower plots and vegetable gardens.

To learn more about mulch for sale in Morgan Hill, please visit this website. With the proper mulch for your garden you can grow vibrant flowers and healthy vegetables.

Create A Unique Partition



Use interesting large boulders with jagged edges to create an artistic yard enclosure. Rather than simply surrounding your patio or yard with a fence or rail, create a work of art.


Five Ways to Use Gravel to Accentuate Your Backyard


 

While backyard improvements may recall images of towering trees, cascading flowers and stone pathways, have you ever thought of how gravel can add to your landscape? Here are five simple ways to utilize innovative gravel in your own backyard.

1.  In Lieu of Grass

If you live in a drought prone area or are tired of paying too much for your water bills, gravel can be an easy substitute for grass. Raking in pea gravel or even river rock can create a decorative and low maintenance area free of sprinklers and lawn upkeep.

2.  Crushed Granite

A unique type of gravel landscaping is crushed granite. With a reddish-tan coloring this gravel adds a charming, rustic look. These silt like pieces are perfect for garden pathways and patios.

3.  Rock Edges

Gravel and river rock can also be used to create stunning edges along your flowerbeds or vegetable gardens. If you are feeling artistic, you may even consider creating a dry riverbed that meanders through your yard.

4.  Mix in Ornamental Plants

If you do not want gravel in your entire yard, section off a small garden area with a mix of pea gravel and ornamental grasses or orchids. This will create an elegant outdoor space and the gravel will provide excellent drainage for the plants.

5.  Checkerboard

One final and unique way to incorporate gravel into your landscaping is by creating a checkerboard of plants and gravel. This can be done by installing square wooden frames and filling them with gravel and ground cover plants.

If you would like to learn more about utilizing gravel and where to buy gravel in Gilroy, please visit this website.

The 10 Best Houseplants to Improve Indoor Air Quality [infographic]

According to studies by NASA, certain houseplants filter out harmful compounds....read more

Cinder blocks for Sensational Landscaping


 

One of the easiest ways to spruce up your garden or outdoor area is through the use of cinder blocks. While you may think they are just for bordering gardens, they can also be used to create outdoor furniture or even a fireplace. Here are some DIY projects for incorporating cinder blocks into your outdoor space.

1. Make a Table

Yes, you can create a unique outdoor table by stacking cinder blocks and topping it with a wooden top. Drape an outdoor tablecloth over the wood and you have yourself a sturdy and weatherproof table! You can even eliminate the wood and just cover the blocks with your place mats or tablecloth.

2. Outdoor Shelving

Cinder blocks can also be used to build outdoor shelves for flowerpots and decorations. By combining different sizes and styles of blocks, you can create a colorful wall of flowers and garden decor. You can even let your children paint the blocks with their unique artwork while you place potted flowers atop the cinder blocks.


Backyard Sand Pit

Instead of travelling to the beach for a vacation, installing a sand pit in the backyard makes it feel like the beach has come to you. This sand pit is great for a tropical-themed deck.

Sunday 14 June 2015

How to Choose Landscaping Materials and Supplies

It’s not easy to choose the products that will flank your home’s exterior. Some homeowners do a good job, and others just don’t seem to get it. Here are some tips that, if followed, will help you choose the best accents for your home’s landscaping.

If you are beginning a residential landscaping project, you’ll want to start with design and landscaping materials and supplies that will complement the style of your home. Flowers and plants aren’t the only part to landscaping. Depending on the architecture of your home, you can transform your garden or yard into anything that money can buy.

The landscape design supplies that you select will be based on the style that you are trying to create. Do you want an Asian-inspired, ultra-contemporary, or traditional look? Will it be natural or tropical? Are you trying to incorporate an existing deck, patio, or gazebo? If yes is the answer, materials that complement the look and feel of existing hardscapes will probably be your best bet.

If you like neat lawns with precise borders, you’ll want to select edging products like aluminum or plastic strips that keep unwanted grass or weeds from spreading into unwanted places. Brick pavers and rocks are also great border makers.

Concrete works well when adding a small pad. It also works to anchor posts for permanent fencing or for pergolas or arbors. Stone and tile can easily be installed on top of existing concrete. Tiles can safely be laid along a path and will withstand moisture from the soil. However, to avoid breakage, they need to be installed on a surface that is flat.

Flagstone makes great steppingstones or is beautiful on a patio. Gravel comes in many colors and sizes and works great for rock gardens and ground cover.

Railroad ties are great options for both the natural and traditional landscape designs for residences. The wood needs to be treated with a chemical that’s not harmful to the surrounding plant life or to humans.

Keep the color combination of the materials simple and classic. One can be a solid and the other a pattern. It is not always necessary to introduce a third color. A solid stone and a patterned brick can go well together.

For the best curb appeal, look to your home for inspiration. Please feel free to visit our website for more ideas and information. Designing your home’s exterior can likely be a complicated process, and we’d love to help make it easier.

For more information on landscaping materials in San Jose, visit this website.

Two Sure Steps to Cultured Garden Spaces

Planning your walkable garden area need not be difficult or time consuming. Blending the stability and easy maintenance of sod lawns with the precise installation of stepping stones, you can create romantic pathways, safe wildlife zones, and attractive settings without an enormous investment of time, money, or even space.

1.   Select Your Stones to Design Your Path

The benefits of stepping stones are numerous, but among the most notable are ease of application, use, and design. Available in carefully structured, uniform styles and in more organic styles, stepping stones may be placed to follow already established walking paths or in entirely new ways to open up a yard.  Depending on the type of walkway you choose to construct and the way you decide to direct your steps, your path may be very subtle or extremely stylized.

2.   Create a Lush Landscape with Sod   

The very best reasons for blending stone pathways with sod lawns are ease of maintenance and the ability to create a perfect, green landscape. While there are many types of attractive grasses, none is more easily shaped, grown, or maintained that a well-made sod. The easy-to-install, easy to cut and shape factors make sod ideal for use around flagstones, concrete blocks, and a wide assortment of garden structures or patios.

Stepping stones and sod come together easily for stunning effects. For more information on sod and stepping stones in Morgan Hill, visit this website.

Monday 8 June 2015

Landscape Architecture Magazine

June’s issue of LAM looks at the tough choices that landscape architecture firms, such as Sasaki Associates and OLIN, must face when updating for.....read more

Garden Shaped Like a Peacock

Yellow and lavender flowers have been groomed into the shape of a peacock's feathers. Coupled with a blue sculpture of the peacock's head, they create a beautiful and unique garden.

Step into Your Garden Dream

With natural settings and solitude increasingly hard to come by, more and more people are choosing to create dreamscapes rather than yards for their entertaining, play, and rest activities. Creating a scene that unifies you and immerses you in the things of which your dreams are made is easier than it sounds. 

1.       Take time to visualize perfection.  

The really perfect thing about Nature is that every element is different and changes. Perfection happens on the design level. Commit yourself to having exactly what you want. 

2.       Carefully design structures, views, planting zones, play areas, and pathways. 

Beginning with a concept and then choosing to have exactly what you want and need to make that concept a reality helps to eliminate the danger of losing the original balance. 

3.       Slowly install and implement your elements. 

Many people choose the weekend warrior approach to landscaping, but dreamscapes never come to fruition this way. Slow installation and implementation gives you the room to make educated changes along the way. 

4.       Prepare yourself and your garden for slow growth.

Don’t expect Nature to speed up on your account. Plant hedges, flowers, trees, and grasses appropriate at distances and heights to allow for astounding changes. 

5.       Enjoy Nature in action. 

Of what are dreams made? You’ll answer this question for your friends and neighbors every time they step into your perfect dreamscape.

Today’s homes have dreamscapes when imaginations are sparked. For more ideas on landscaping materials in San Jose, please visit this website.

Friday 5 June 2015

Native Shrubs to Consider for Ecological Landscapes in the Northeast

Now that spring is here and our migrant songbirds have returned to our yards, gardens, and woodlands it is a time to consider giving something back to these......read more

Ancient Turf Maze

This rare turf maze in the United Kingdom has been in place for hundreds of years. Used to play games, for Christian meditation, and as landscape decoration, this is just one unique use of green turf.


Plants Add Color and Texture to Your Retaining Wall

Functional and often quite focal, retaining walls can make or break a lawn or garden effect.  Structured to maintain great force and weight as soil presses against it, a retaining wall must be durable, strong, and well made, but it can also be beautiful.  Adding color and texture to your retaining wall is very simple if you follow a few key rules.

1.   Know your climate and your grow zone.

Trying to keep alive plants that have not adapted to your climate is time consuming and rarely worth the effort, especially when they will be placed outdoors. Considering the layout, light access, and soil composition of your setting is crucial to cultivating a garden that thrives, even when the garden will be largely place in, on, or around a retaining wall.  Becoming aware of the natural elements of your setting will help you to make excellent plant selections.

2.   Layer textures, colors, and heights.

Many find that blending colors, combining various heights, and adding unexpected textures helps to individualize their garden and create an inviting feast for the senses.

3.   Avoid uniformity, but focus on aesthetic design.

Uniformity might seem the easier mode for quick, easy beautification, but considering the design as a whole, effects and all, will help to create a scene you will enjoy for years to come.

More than functional, retaining walls represent an opportunity to layer beauty. For more information on retaining walls in San Jose, please visit this website.

Thursday 4 June 2015

Ecology + Restoration Roundtable, Part 1

For this post, we unveil our new Ecology + Restoration Roundtable series. We posed a hypothetical question.....read more

3 Benefits of Using Gypsum in a Home’s Interior

Gypsum is a mineral known for its many uses, one of the most notable being its utilization in the interior of a home. In panel form, this material, also known as drywall, can be used to line the walls and ceilings and offers many advantages when used in home construction.

1.  Installation is Simple and Quick

Gypsum panels can be installed in entire a system, which means that a very large quantity can be purchased at a time. Buying a whole sheet of gypsum paneling can eliminate repeated buying and allows installation to be completed with ease and haste.

2. Sturdiness and Versatility

Gypsum board is a major component in structurally sound walls and ceilings that can be decorated and customized without compromising their structural integrity. If it does happen to deteriorate, replacement and repair are simple and the walls can adapt and change to one’s desires.

3. Economical and Available

While it is a useful component of many walls, it is not expensive like many other paneling systems. It is also in constant supply, making it simple to find and install without the hassle of ordering or travelling to purchase it.


For anyone who wants an easy alternative to more expensive boarding systems with all of the benefits of a high quality unit, it is recommended that the installation of a gypsum paneling system be considered. To learn more about roof insulation in Santa Cruz, visit this website.