Posts tagged landscaping

All Around Curb Appeal!

Apr22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by mary.w

/Some homeowners exert tremendous time, effort and money creating a wonderful first impression for buyers to view as they pull up to their home. That is a good thing. What is not so good, is using your entire budget and effort in the front while ignoring the side and back portions of your home. You may draw them in with your beautiful front yard, flowers and swing under your covered front porch BUT if they walk out your back door to a moldy deck, trash cans, overgrown weeds and a yard that looks like the NFL just practiced there; well, the front yard is no longer at the forefront of their minds.

It is important to create all around curb appeal so that no matter where they are looking, they are excited about what they see. You wouldn’t think of just painting the front of your home and leaving the sides and back chipped and revealing rotting wood, would you? (Ok, now I know some of you said yes to this, but that would be the wrong answer so please continue on).

Before you head to the garden center or big box store, develop a plan on paper that includes cleaning, painting and planting needs for all exterior portions of your home. If you are not an avid gardener (as many of us are not) ask questions and learn which plants will offer the longest blooming life, most vibrant colors and require the least maintenance (this is at the top of my list!). If you don’t have a lot of yard, create potted plantings. You often see beautifully detailed flower pots on either side of a home’s front entry. Do the same at your side and back entry doors, too.  A simple thing that will yield great rewards!  See your home as a total exterior package and use your budget to maximize the entire picture.
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The Lowdown on Mowing

Jun19
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

mowing the lawn

We supply you with a plethora of articles with landscaping tips. For most of us, however, a grassy lawn takes up the majority of our yard space. So today, instead of focusing on the gardens in the corner of the yard or the trees scattered throughout the yard, we’re going to focus on the facts about how you can mow your way to a nearly flawless lawn.

Height

First off, mowing height and frequency mostly determine the health of your lawn. Hopefully you already know that the height of your blade can be altered on your mower. Although many homeowners opt to cut the grass as short as possible in order to cut down on how often they must do the chore, the truth is, the grass is much healthier when you keep it longer. This is especially true for grass in hot climate or during a drought period. The height of a blade of grass should never be cut more than one-third of its total height in one mowing. The ideal height depends on the type of grass your yard contains, but typical height averages range between half to two inches long.

Extra perk: By only cutting one-third of the lawn length at a time, you can usually leave the grass clippings on the yard without it looking bad. These grass clippings provide natural organic matter to the lawn, such as nitrogen, when they break down. That means less fertilizer needed and more natural nutrients for your lawn! If you have an open house or a gathering occurring at your house soon, collect the grass clippings in bags and distribute them on the lawn at a later date.

Frequency

How often you mow your lawn depends on the type of grass that your yard contains. If you live up north or in the Midwest, you most likely have a cool-season grass, such as bluegrass or fescue. These types of grasses should be cut to about two inches high, so when the grass is three inches long or more, cut it. If you live down south, you most likely have zoysia, buffalo grass or other types of warm-season grasses. These grasses can be cut to one-inch tall. On average, lawns should be mowed once a week, but obviously the actual frequency will depend on the weather and the health of your grass. When you mow, you should switch up the direction of your lines. This prevents the same grass from getting run over by the mower’s wheels during each mow.

Side note: Be careful around trees and gardens. Constantly nicking a tree trunk can cause damage to the trunk and prevent it from properly maturing. Instead, leave the grass closest to the trunk uncut and go back later with a trimmer. Better yet, surround tree trunks with mulch to prevent the problem in the first place. Also trim around gardens, fire pits, patios and other hard objects that could nick the mower blade and cause damage to the mower and injury to yourself.

Watering

How often should you water your lawn? Currently, numerous locations are dealing with water conservation issues that limit the amount of watering a homeowner can do. Consider installing an irrigation system that allows you to decide exactly how much water your lawn receives, when it receives it and where the water goes to. For more affordable options, purchase a lawn sprinkler, specifically for a lawn. Rotor heads will uniformly water your entire yard at the same time, spray sprinklers are good for when you have one patchy area of brown grass, and drip sprinklers deliver the water directly to the ground without wilting the grass. Watering and/or mowing early in the morning or in the evening is ideal, when the temperature is not at its hottest.

Hopefully this information was helpful. Next time you host an open house or a party gathering, instead of spending hours sprucing up your gardens, spend time bragging about your healthy lawn! This is, after all, what takes up the majority of most yards.

Posted in Home Improvement, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , ,

Top 10 Trees

May14
2010 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

maple tree

If you own a home with a large yard, consider planting new trees. The advantages of having an array of trees in your yard are abundant. They reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air while producing oxygen and clean air, they provide homes for songbirds and other types of wildlife, they cool your home and yard by blocking sun and they warm your home by blocking harsh winds, and according to Management Information Services, mature trees can increase your property value by up to 20 percent! The beauty of it is, even if you don’t want to be digging in dirt, pulling weeds and watering gardens every other day, with trees, you plant and you’re done! Sure, they might need your watering assistance at first and during dry sprouts, but usually the rain will be adequate enough once the tree grows long roots. Therefore, planting trees is pretty much a win-win situation.

The type of tree you choose to grow in your yard will also decide the care it needs, the appearance it’ll display, the maturity level it’ll reach and more. Here are 10 standard types of trees to get you started on choosing the right tree for your yard:

• Maple trees come in huge variety of options, but they all grow fast and are tolerant in most soils. Eventually, the maples will grow 40 to 75 feet high and spread out 40 to 50 feet, making these ideal shade trees. They also spruce up your yard year-round with spring flower buds, lush summer leaves and bright fall colors.

• Oak trees are available in possibly more types than any other tree, but no matter what type you choose, the tree will grow tall and wide and will make an ideal shade tree. These long-lived trees tend to grow slowly, but that depends on the type you choose. Most grow 60 to 70 feet high and 60 to 70 feet wide. They too portray white flower buds in the spring and bright yellow colors in the fall.

• Dogwood trees are either small and rounded, looking more like a bush, or they are skinny and somewhat tall. They provide flowers and glossy-red fruit popular with birds, they grow in most soils, they portray deep fall colors and they only reach 10 to 25 feet in height and width. These trees work well in smaller yards.

• Crabapple trees radiate eye-catching beauty year-round with abundant clusters of spring flowers buds, and dark green, dense foliage with bright red berries in summer. Wildlife loves these trees, which prefer moist soils but will grow in dry soils. These trees grow six to 20 feet high and wide at a medium speed.

• Cherry trees not only provide abundant shade and colorful spring blossoms, but they also supply you with an abundance of ripe cherries to enjoy all summer long! These trees reach 12 to 35 feet high, and 12 to 25 feet wide. The type of cherries you will consume depends on the type of cherry tree you choose. These grow at a medium speed and in various types of soil.

• Apple trees also provide you with an abundance of ripe, juicy fruit in the early or late autumn months. These trees need plentiful sunshine and water, and they grow quickly. They grow from 10 to 25 feet high and wide, depending on the type you choose. When choosing a type, decide what kind of apple is your favorite!

• Cypress trees are ideal for the southern and western regions, because they are very tolerant to high heat and drought. The yearlong, soft gray-green foliage is ideal for stopping wind and erosion, and they can also be decorated at Christmas time because of their pyramidal, evergreen shape.

• Fir trees are also in the evergreen family, which are ideal trees for yearlong color since they never lose their foliage! These pyramid-shaped trees grow up to 100 feet high and 20 feet wide, depending on the type you choose. They portray silvery blue-green foliage and are tolerant to most soils and drought areas.

• Because pine trees come in so many varieties, you could definitely find one ideal for your location! These evergreen trees are more full and oval-shaped than other types of evergreen, and they grow up to 80 feet high and 40 feet wide, depending on the type you choose. These hardy trees will grow in almost any climate or soil.

• Spruce trees grow more quickly than other types of evergreens, and these pyramidal shaped trees show off long, graceful branches full of dark green needles year-round. They mature up to 75 feet high and 25 feet wide, making them great windbreakers. Spruces are also tolerant to most soils and locations.

For more assistance in choosing a tree that is right for your location, your type of soil and your size yard, visit the Arbor Day Foundation website. After you plant your new trees, on special occasions, you can snap photos next to the blossoming buds or the deep fall colors. In the winter, you can decorate your trees for the holidays. Every day, you can admire the seasonal changes and the increased wildlife from your window or from your outdoor patio. Enjoy!

Image source: tiseb

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Your Landscaping Can Make or Break a Sale

May18
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Alicia

landscaping

Now that spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, take advantage of your reborn, transformed yard! Showing off your attractive landscaping is well worth the effort. What you might not realize, however, is that landscaping could turn a homebuyer off as fast as it can turn one on. Depending on your yard’s appearance, it could make or break a sale for you! Follow these rules and you should steer clear from landscaping mishaps.

  • Always keep your lawn mowed, trimmed and attractive. But in the process, don’t overcut it. Set your mower’s blade at three inches for less stress on the grass and less need for water. Though this might mean mowing more in the short-term, it’ll display a healthy lawn in the long-term.
  • Water the lawn early in the morning or late at night. This helps the grass retain the most water, and it won’t turn brown from being singed.
  • No matter how pretty you find the bright yellow hues to appear,
    dandelions are weeds. Get rid of them. Spray the lawn, pull the weeds, and try not to kill the grass in the process. A weed-free lawn appears maintenance-free and appealing.
  • Trees and bushes that line the exterior radiate an all-around curb
    appeal that is noticed at first glance. Keep them looking trimmed and professional by snipping away flyaway branches that interfere with windows, walkways and each other.
  • If your home’s curb appeal comes from the architecture itself,
    foliage that resides too close to the exterior can take away from that appeal. If a window provides a premium view, cut the foliage back so the view is totally visible. If the siding shows off an attractive stone or brick façade, don’t feel the need to hide it!
  • Gardens are a beautiful aspect to the yard, but only if they are
    trimmed of weeds and unwanted underbrush. If the garden isn’t flowering, stick some annuals in it for a short-term appeal (but don’t lie to the potential buyer and say they are part of the garden). If it’s a vegetable garden, make sure none of the veggies are rotting!
  • Wash down everything that will be visible to a home buyer, from the vinyl siding and the aluminum shed, to the brick patio and the concrete driveway.
  • If gardening wasn’t part of your weekend ritual, just purchase some pots of annuals for your walkway. Homebuyers might appreciate the homey appearance, and at the same time, take comfort in knowing that they don’t have to deal with landscaping.
  • Aside from actual greenery, adding charming attributes to your yard
    could help a homebuyer imagine living comfortably in this peaceful retreat: Add a hammock, a birdhouse, a picnic table or a bench underneath a shading tree.

Follow these landscaping tips and your yard should steer toward making a positive sale!

Posted in Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas - Tagged , , , ,

Going Green with Landscaping

Apr23
2009 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

GREEN

Now that we’re in the midst of spring, it’s a great time to talk about green options that extend beyond interiors and to the outdoors. In terms of ownership, this means landscaping.

Truth is, there are a lot of easy steps you can take to make your yard work more eco-friendly. Being knowledgeable of these opportunities is half the battle; the other half is simply putting the steps into place. One of the biggest steps you can take to improve the effect of your landscaping on the environment relates to an issue so simple, you might not even realize how important it is: storm water.

Did You Know?

Storm Water Can Run off and Damage Water Supplies! The biggest threat to today’s quality water supply lies in stormwater runoff! The rain water or melted snow that doesn’t thoroughly soak into the ground can run off of streets, patios and blacktop into sewers, rivers and waterways, transporting undesirable elements (think pesticides, waste, sediment from construction, etc.) that harm the water. The water becomes undrinkable, worsening water shortages. In other cases, the storm water can add to flooding problems and the damages caused by it.

Paver Stones or Bricks are Greener Alternatives to Asphalt/Concrete! Spaces between pavers allow for more water retention, reducing the amount of stormwater runoff. Other alternatives include trenches around problem areas, downspouts redirected from the roof towards foliage rather than sewers and the addition of organic materials to soil. Also note that in terms of water absorption, plants are better than lawns and exposed soil should be covered with materials like wood chips or mulch.

Rain Barrels Conserve Rainwater for Plants! By using a rain barrel, you collect storm water to later use in watering plants. This not only reduces stormwater runoff, but it also makes your plant-watering more efficient!

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The Secrets of Resale Value

Sep17
2008 2 Comments Written by Shanna

Whether you’re currently in the market for a new home, looking to sell the one you live in or very comfortable in your current place, one thing’s for sure: you’ll want to think about resale value.

Resale value, a frequent buzzword in the real estate market, simply refers to the ability of a property to be resold after being purchased. When people discuss this factor, they’re looking at probabilities and future conditions, some of which are predictable and some of which are not. Take, for example, neighborhood. There can be indications of what direction a neighborhood is heading (i.e., lots of new, affluent developments may hint at rising value), but some changes come without expectation: the local school system gets featured as a top district five years from now (value up) or crime/violence increases throughout the area (value down).

So what you want to focus on, in terms of making your home’s resale value its strongest, are the factors within your control. There are some characteristics that will, generally speaking, may a home appeal to a greater pool of buyers. Knowing what these characteristics are can help you know what your home (or your potential new home) has to offer.

+ Bedrooms/baths: It just makes sense: because of the versatility, space and accommodations of larger homes, more buyers are looking for places with at least three to four bedrooms.

+ Views: Surrounding beauty, whether waterfront, woods or something else, can make a property stand out amongst the competition.

+ Landscaping: Well-chosen landscaping can make a huge impact on how buyers view your property, especially because it’s often the first thing they notice. According to Plant-care.com, good landscaping can increase property values by up to 15%!

+ Square footage/storage space: Sometimes buyers look for minimum square footage amounts in their searches, meaning a home with too little space could be ruled out. Often, the more finished living space your home offers, the more potential buyers it will appeal to.

+ Garage: If your property is driving distance from most conveniences, anyone who buys it will probably have a car. And if the buyers have cars, they’ll want a place to put them. That’s why adding a garage can be another smart investment, particularly for homes located in colder climates that are prone to harsh weather.

+ Kitchen: To many buyers, the kitchen is a home’s most important asset. It makes sense to replace outdated appliances and fixtures; just don’t go overboard. If looking to add resale value, choose quality materials that aren’t too taste-specific.

+ Fireplaces: Because of their ability to add warmth and coziness to rooms, fireplaces are definite selling features. Centrally placed in the family room or the great room, a fireplace can make a stunning focal point, too, adding visual interest.

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10 Simple Steps to Go Green This Summer

Jul17
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Shanna

Go Green This SummerSummer is a great time for you and your home to go green! The days are longer, the weather’s warmer and it’s fun to enjoy the outdoors. So, this season, what steps can you take to make a positive impact on the world around you?

Try going green with these eco-friendly summer tips!

  1. Raise your temperature.

Changing your thermostat from 72 to 73 degrees is a simple change that will take you less than a minute. Yet its impact is big: you’ll save approximately 40 pounds of CO2 each month. Bonus? A lower A/C bill.

  1. Make the most of windows.

During the day, when the temperature’s warmer, keep windows tightly shut and draw the shades in order to keep your home naturally cooler. At night, if possible, turn off your air-conditioning, and let the cool outdoor air inside.

  1. Install more fans.

Exhaust fans can pull heat and humidity out of your living spaces, and ceiling fans can help reduce your need to crank up the A/C.

  1. Use a clothes line.

Taking advantage of summer sunshine means not needing to use your dryer. This can save you approximately 60 pounds of CO2 each month. Bonus? Air-drying actually helps clothes last longer.

  1. Plug nearby appliances and/or electronics into a power strip; turn it off when not in use.

Plugged-in appliances emit small amounts of heat, even when not in use. A simple flip of the switch on your power strip will help conserve energy.

  1. Avoid the oven.

Summer barbeques aren’t just fun; they are the greener alternative to cooking indoors. If you must cook inside, consider using a toaster oven or the microwave rather than the main oven.

  1. Control your fridge.

Did you know refrigerators can be responsible for as much as 20% of household energy use? Try setting your fridge temp to 37 degrees and your freezer to 3 degrees for maximized use/savings.

  1. Recycle!

Do you pay your bills online? If all Americans did, millions of trees and countless forests could be preserved. Look for ways to trim your trash, making your home greener in the process.

  1. Create organic compost.

Along the lines of recycling, creating your own organic compost out of scraps and waste is an excellent way to make the most of your garbage. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s website for more tips on what to do.

10. Grow your garden green.

There’s no doubt that outdoor plants add incredible appeal to homes. When choosing plants, you’ll want to look for long-living perennials rather than annuals. Think of it this way: every plant you keep is a plant you don’t have to replace later.

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Green Idea: Xeriscaping

Jul07
2008 3 Comments Written by Allegra

XeriscapeIf you love gardening but always have the current global warming crisis on the back of your mind, you may have a growing concern for the amount of water you’re using to keep your plants alive.

Did you know there’s an alternative that can put your worried mind at ease?

It’s xeriscaping.

What’s xeriscaping? Xeriscaping was invented in Denver, Colorado, by the Colorado WaterWise Council to help people improve their landscapes while using less water. The word comes from the Greek word xeros meaning dry and the Anglo-Saxon word scape meaning view. Xeriscaping uses seven gardening principles that save water while creating a lush garden.

The perks of xeriscaping:

  • Lower water bills
  • Less work because of its low maintenance
  • Little to no lawn mowing, which saves energy
  • Helps conserve water

The seven gardening principles:

  1. Plan and Design
  • Before any xeriscaping can be done, a well laid-out plan needs to be set in place. Create a sketch you’re your backyard or whatever area you plan on putting your garden in. Remember to include existing structures like trees and bushes, if they exist. Consider the costs of your project, the design appearance you’re after, the function of the space and the maintenance it will require. Next, visualize the xeriscape garden you want. Choose the plants, rock beds, etc. having a plan and design will help things run smoothly.
  1. Soil conservation
  • In a water-conserving landscape the soil should both drain quickly and store water at the same time. Healthy soil grows healthy plants. You can analyze the soil to see if its needs improvement.
  1. Create suitable turf areas
  • Turf (grass) areas are necessary for open space and visual interest but keep them to a small, yet usable, size. Plant drought-tolerant turf grass in these areas.
  1. Choose the appropriate plants
  • Plants for xeriscaping should also be drought-resistant. If possible, use plants native to your area. Trees, like gray birch, cedars and elms, help reduce water evaporation by blocking the soil from sunlight. Perennial flowers include baby’s breath, Arizona columbine, succulents and tulips. Annual flowers include cosmos, marigold and zinnias. These are just a few ideas. Don’t forget about drought-resistant plants and bushes such as hydrangea, juniper and potentilla! Plants with silvery, waxy, fuzzy or prickly leaves tend to be xeriscape friendly.
  1. Use mulch
  • Cover the soil with a mulch to help conserve soil moisture and retain temperature. Options for organic mulch include peat moss, manure, sawdust and compost.
  1. Have an efficient irrigation system
  • This helps conserve water. Soaker hoses and drip irrigation systems are the simplest way to water your xeriscape garden and they deliver water to the base of the plants. Never over-water your garden; that counteracts the preservation!
  1. Proper maintenance
  • Xeriscape gardens are low maintenance but still need to be tended to. As with any garden, prune and weed. Add extra mulch when needed.

Once you have successfully followed the seven gardening principles for xeriscaping, you can sit back and enjoy your attractive, water-conserving outdoor oasis.

Image (the xeriscape symbol) Source: Aggie Horticulture

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