Category: Lawn & Garden Page 2 of 4

Do you dream of a backyard oasis? If you’re looking to make your outdoor living space more inviting, here are three projects that make a big impact.

1. Install Artificial Turf

The look of a beautiful bright green lawn makes your backyard very appealing. However, maintaining a lawn is a lot of work. One alternative is to have artificial grass laid instead. This turf looks good no matter what the season is, and it also holds up well against pets, kids, bugs and weeds. Artificial turf installation near me reduces water usage in your home and frees up your time since you no longer need to spend it mowing the grass. 

2. Build a New Deck

If your yard has large amounts of dirt or empty space, a deck is a good solution. Decks are perfect for adding seating, tables and even a spa for relaxing. They can be made to fit your backyard in any location you desire, and decking material comes in various colors. Both wood and composite decks are easy to clean with a power washer and last for many years. A nice deck is a focal point to any backyard and can often be a selling point for potential buyers. 

3. Add a Water Feature

Water is calming for many people, so adding a feature to your yard makes it more relaxing and inviting to guests. Consider adding a bubbling fountain or a pong to your outdoor oasis. The sounds of splashing water also help drown out any city noise beyond your yard, creating a more peaceful environment. 

Updating your backyard can make it a place you want to spend all your time in. Consider adding artificial turf, a beautiful large deck and a calming water feature to make your backyard a place everyone wants to be. 

Trees provide countless benefits to property owners and communities, but they can also become hazardous if they fall victim to certain diseases or pests. You should get professional tree care Mountain View as soon as you see the following signs and symptoms:

1. Wilting or Yellowing Needles and Leaves

Trees often show signs of illness first in their needles and leaves, so keep an eye out for any symptoms of wilting or yellowing on these appendages. Sometimes wilting and discoloration is simply caused by heat stress or a lack of adequate water. Other times, these signs may indicate that your tree is suffering from root rot, a deadly condition that suffocates the tree from below and prevents oxygen from getting to the leaf tissue. 

2. Dead or Falling Branches

When trees get old, dead or falling branches are a common and normal occurance. Trees that are not particularly old should not regularly drop branches. In these instances, falling or dead branches can indicate one of several tree diseases. Sometimes these conditions can be cured by removing the affected branches with sanitized tools, though by the time there are visible syptoms, many diseases have already infiltrated most of the tree. 

3. Mold on Leaves

On large trees, it can be difficult to tell whehter leaves are sporting mold or fuzzy spots until leaves fall to the ground. If you notice odd growths or powder-like substances on tree leaves, it’s best to call an arborist right away to diagnose and treat the issue. Moldy leaves can indicate many types of diseases, and some are more severe than others. 

If something seems off about a tree on your property, call a certified arborist as soon as possible. When it comes to treating tree diseases, time is often of the essence. Putting it off too long can allow a pest or disease to take over enough to make the tree unsalvagable. 

You don’t have to live with a boring backyard. Making even a few upgrades will transform the space into a place you want to hang out in with your family and friends. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Light it Up

It’s amazing what adding landscape lighting Tyler TX does to give your yard a magical look after dark. Light up pathways or add spotlights to highlight trees, shrubs or a garden.

Install a Patio

A patio gives you your own spot to enjoy the outdoors. Add a grill, few comfortable chairs and a table or two and you create a go-to place for a family barbecue or a night of stargazing. String a few lights around the perimeter to give the space a warm glow when the sun goes down.

Build a Fire Pit

A cozy fire pit creates a great gathering place for chilly nights. You can easily build one out of bricks or stones. Place some chairs or benches around the area so your family can enjoy a round of s’mores or an evening of stargazing.

Add Some Shade

If your yard is sunny, add some shady spots to give you a chill place to hang out with a glass of lemonade. A slotted pergola blocks the heat but still allows filtered sunlight through. For full coverage, install a gazebo or plant a large tree.

Plant a Garden

Give your yard instant appeal by planting a garden full of flowering blooms. The scent alone will entice you to hang around for a bit. If cooking is your hobby, plant a vegetable garden to provide your treasured recipes with fresh organic produce picked from your own backyard.

Making one or more of these changes to your backyard will transform it from a boring space no one uses to the new favorite spot of your home. 

A beautiful outdoor space can enhance your enjoyment of your home and increase its curb appeal. There are many different directions you can go when upgrading your yard. Consider these five.

1. Resurface Your Pool Deck

Depending on how well you take care of it, your pool can either be an attractive focal point of your outdoor space, or an unsightly eyesore. Pool deck resurfacing Boca Raton can revitalize your chipped, cracked, peeling or run-down-looking pool deck. This will not only improve the appearance of your pool area but may also make it safer. 

2. Get Rid of Clutter

Is your yard full of bikes your kids no longer ride, rusted gardening tools, empty planters and other debris? Donate, throw out or sell anything that you aren’t using. Put everything else in an organized storage area, instead of leaving it lying around in your yard. If you don’t have the space for it, consider purchasing a garden shed or storing seasonal items in a rented storage unit. Sheds are available in a variety of modern designs that enhance both your storage space and the look of your yard.

3. Tend To Your Plants

Pull up any dead bushes and remove any dead trees. Trim overgrown shrubs. Get rid of weeds. Remove any dead leaves, limbs or branches. Once you have your existing foliage cleaned up, consider adding a vegetable garden or some flower beds to add color and interest to your landscape. 

4. Install a Path

Adding a backyard path can both make it easier to walk across your yard and provide an attractive dividing point for different areas of your yard. You can use gravel, stones or sand to make a path. Paths can be used to mark areas of your yard, such as the play area, garden or dining area. Consider adding plants to the borders of the path for visual interest.

5. Buy Some Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor furniture can increase both the aesthetic appeal and the comfort of your yard. If you think you are limited to plastic chairs or tacky patio sets, think again. Some outdoor furniture is nearly indistinguishable from indoor furniture. You can make your outdoor seating as lux or as basic as you want. 

Whatever your personal style is, you can find outdoor upgrades that will match it. Get the most out of your living space by creating a yard that you will love. 

With everyone spending more time in their homes, every inch of space is being utilized. This is especially true with outdoor spaces. Having a place to get much needed fresh air is a hot commodity these days. You may have overlooked your terrace in the past. However, this is the time to turn that blank space into a retreat to enjoy. It may look cold and hard right now, but with some special touches, you can turn your terrace into your own private sanctuary. 

Structure

Cement floors and metal railings are not inviting. Although it is tempting to jump right into decorating your terrace with plants and furniture, first address the structure itself. Improving the base of your terrace will go a long way towards making it feel warm and luxurious. Consider updating the floor with a floating rooftop deck. These wooden panels sit on the surface of the floor, which allows you to maintain proper drainage. The warm color of wood floors, along with the visual interest of a geometric design, will vastly upgrade your space. If your terrace has a railing, consider switching to glass panels. This will really open up the space and make it feel larger.

Greenery

Raised flower beds are a great way to disguise ugly HVAC units or other equipment on the terrace. Just make sure they have proper drainage in the base. They can be built with wide edges for some added space to sit a coffee cup or cocktail. If your terrace doesn’t have a good view, then consider planting taller plants to create your own secret garden. Bamboo is a durable option that grows quickly. Another nice touch is to incorporate vines that climb the walls of your terrace. It will maximize the green space of the area. 

Lighting

You want to be able to enjoy your terrace as much as possible, so do not forget about the nighttime. Less is more when it comes to lighting your terrace. You want to be able to see, not feel under a spotlight. String lights are a popular option and are not expensive. For a custom look, consider floor lighting on steps or around the perimeter. If your terrace has any art or an eye-catching tree, then point a soft spotlight at it to give the space a focal point.

Garden terraces can change with the seasons, and evolve over time. Paying attention to these specific design elements will elevate your terrace to the most popular room in your home.

Kids enjoy swimming as much as they enjoy parties. The two go naturally together. If you own a pool or you have access to one at a public facility available for rental, think about centering your child’s next birthday around it. Because of how active the children will be at this event and its water-based location, you do need to plan carefully to pull it off appropriately and safely. To meet those goals, dive into these pool-party suggestions.

Choose the Guests

Creating a birthday party guest list can be fraught with faux pas decisions under the best of circumstances. While inviting the whole class may make the task easier, you may not want such a large group around the pool; that decision will depend on the safety measures you implement. In any case, you may consider inviting parents along if your children are young, which will increase supervision possibilities. Otherwise, work with the birthday child to narrow the list.

Take Care of the Pool

Make certain the pool is prepared for the day. Have water testing Pittsburgh run samples to ensure it is clear of harmful microbes so that no one becomes sick by accidentally swallowing a mouthful. If you are renting space in a pool, check into the procedures the staff uses to clean and maintain it.

Hire Watchful Eyes

If you can, hire a certified and trained lifeguard; a public facility will already have one or more in place for your event. You may know of a teen in your neighborhood who has the skills, or you can ask at the local YMCA for contacts.

Get Your Gear

You can rent larger pool floats that will work to keep everyone engaged. You may also want to purchase extra small pool toys, such as soft balls and Frisbees to supplement any already on hand. Check with the rental facility to see what they can supply if you go that route. You should also have extra swimming and outdoor essentials for those who do not come prepared. These can include sunscreen, swimsuits, goggles and towels. Don’t forget to keep lots of water on hand; children can become dehydrated under the hot sun.

In addition to these extra swimming pool preparations, do not forget the traditional snacks, drinks and the birthday cake, of course. When you put everything together thoughtfully, a pool party does not have to be much work on the day itself; usually, the guests make their own fun and the event goes swimmingly.

No one wants their home to be a blight on the neighborhood. If your front yard is worn and frayed, you may consider it your duty to spruce up these areas so that your neighbors remain happy and property values stay in line. Consider voluntarily undertaking these cost-effective front yard home improvements before a petition is circulated demanding you take action.

Form Beds or Maintain Existing Ones

Flour and shrubbery beds are one of the more distinctive landscaping enhancements you can undertake. If you have yet to carve out groomed borders, plan out at least a few sections to start. If you have some already in place, clean them up: weed fully, clear away debris edge the perimeters and trim overgrown plantings. Finally, order delivery of bulk mulch Cincinnati; the result will be a clean, professional look.

Choose the Right Plantings

Cleaning your beds is just the first step toward an upgraded landscape. After removing dead shrubs and cutting back those that are dying, add classy, colorful flowers and bushes to bare areas. Make certain that your selection is appropriate for your climate zone, and be diligent about amending and preparing the soil beforehand.

Refresh Your Lawn

Lawns get tired over time. Yet, a manicured lawn is necessary for a cohesive front-yard appearance. Unfortunately, decay is a self-perpetuating cycle. Bare spots attract weeds, which then overtake other areas of the thinning lawn; dirt becomes compacted, so water and nutrients have a hard time reaching the grass’ roots; and root-eating insect grubs feast readily, further weaken the whole plant. You may need to call in lawn experts at this point, to aerate the soil, enrich the earth and lay down new sod or spread seeds.

Take Care of Trees and Large Bushes

Lawn trees and shrubs should be shaped to look beautiful in both the winter when their branches are bare and in the summer when they are full of leaves. It is especially important to remove dead branches and twigs that diminish the natural form of the plantings. Tree and landscaping specialists can help you determine what growth needs to be trimmed and how to do so without harming the plant. They will also assess the trees for diseases and advise whether or not any should be removed.

Enhancing your yard is a neighborly undertaking. However, your neighbors will not be the only ones who would delight in this home improvement. By rejuvenating your front green area, you can be sure you too will enjoy the view every time you pull into your driveway at the end of the day.

Some property owners are fortunate enough to have an abundance of water gracing their land. Others simply possess a deep and abiding love for all things related to the water, and they want to incorporate that magical feeling into their home life. If you fall into either category, you likely want to know how to make informed choices in landscaping water features. Luckily, there is no need to become an expert on things like installation, maintenance, and aeration. Your choice of water feature will likely be determined by the type of water (or amount of space) to which you have access, be it large and still, swiftly running, or virtually nonexistent.

1. Lakes and Ponds

These offer the greatest freedom in spatial design, but they can also require the most responsibility. If you’re not the type to shy away from tending to your very own aquatic ecosystem, you might consider a friendly koi pond and a bit of research into the importance of lake aeration. Perhaps you simply want a big, soothing pool to gaze into with nothing looking back at you, or maybe you’re not looking to take big design leaps. The calming sight of a simple spray fountain at the center of a lake or pond is not to be discounted. Many people could stare at those cascading droplets for hours on end.

2. Running Water

The sound of a flowing stream tends to be even more captivating, but it is often paired with visual artistry in aquatic decor. The classic standalone fountain has maintained its dignity for multiple centuries, but modern contenders are no slouches. For a more natural aesthetic, you’ll find a wide variety of options, including simplistic rocks with well-concealed internal springs, pondless waterfalls and stone bowl birdbaths. If you’d like to have more flair, you can browse an impressive array of mosaic waterwalls, ostentatious rain curtains, and various jets and gurglers that can even include LED lighting.

3. Little to No Natural Source

Do you live in an apartment but long for the peace that comes from the sound of a babbling brook? Does the arid climate of your home make outdoor water features untenable? No need to worry. The library of tiny and stunning water features is vast and possibly related to the popularity of cat drinking fountains. You will be able to find exactly what you seek when it comes to your miniature water feature, whether that is a geometric waterfall or a lilypad fountain. If you have the space indoors, you can even implement some of the larger features mentioned above.

Regardless of which water feature calls to you, be sure to do your homework. Water can be a testy mistress if handled carelessly, so it is important to consult an expert before committing. The bigger the project, the more informed you will want to be so you can ultimately enjoy that lovely, relaxing feeling only water can seem to provide.