Trends in Backyard Water Features

Backyard Water Features

Backyard water features are becoming more popular.  They aren’t really considered a “new” enhancement as they have been around awhile but were not promoted or showcased as they are now.  Most Professional Landscapers can offer you this feature but not all will because it’s a skilled craft with an artistic flair.  The complexity of the water feature you desire will also dictate who you choose to build it.  It’s like anything else; the more complex a situation appears the more experience is required to achieve the end result.  This is not to say that a DIYer can’t take on this project.  Challenge yourself.  Part of being your own grounds keeper means doing projects (or attempting them) that are sometimes out of your comfort zone.  Let your creative juices flow. Nothing ventured nothing gained!

Ideas for Landscape Design

Water fountain

There are five basic elements to landscape design in New Jersey: line, form, color, texture and scale. Virtually every landscape design will incorporate these five elements together no matter how unique or customized the actual design becomes for the homeowner. How those elements are used is left up to the creativity of the homeowner and the NJ landscaping professional. There are lots of ways to achieve a well balanced and aesthetically appealing landscaped yard. The possibilities are limitless but there are many things to consider before even getting started.

Modern Landscape Design Features

Landscape Design

Landscape design in NJ includes many design elements like line, form, color, texture and scale. How these all come into play in actual backyard landscaping is largely up to the preference and taste of the homeowner. In order to create the desired designs, homeowners may incorporate the use of various features that are strategically placed so that they achieve their decorating goals. There are many modern features which are used in today’s modern backyard landscaping design.

What is Modern Exterior Design?

Modern Exterior Design

The exterior portions of a home do not always get as much attention as the interior parts, but it is not any less important. There are many different design plans that can be used to develop the exterior of the NJ home. Modern exterior design is popular because of its space saving qualities. Modern design for the exterior of the home resembles modern interior design in that it uses geometric shapes and lines and takes the minimalist approach to developing the design. This type of home design will help bring in the right balance between aesthetic appearance and functionality. Exterior lighting and landscape designs will be complimentary of other design elements such as residential painting.

Tips for Backyard Landscape Design

Backyard Landscape Design

There are many different factors that must be considered when designing a backyard landscape. Most of the time, homeowners desire to change the overall look and feel of their home by changing their landscape design. Many times, a homeowner has entertaining in mind and wants a landscape design which makes it easier to serve and facilitate an evening with friends. It does not have to be a super involved task and in some cases, landscaping can be a do-it-yourself job. However, more intricate designs and those which require adding irrigation, waterscapes or hardscapes will require the help of a NJ landscaping professional. There are many different elements which must be considered when developing a backyard landscape design. Here are some tips for developing a landscape which can be enjoyed by everyone.

Designing a Backyard Pool

Backyard pool design

While the backyard swimming pool may be the centerpiece, it is not the only feature included. Designing a backyard pool will take planning and contemplation. Of course for most, the swimming pool will offer a social quality and it can offer the family hours of relaxation and fun. Prior to calling a Westchester swimming pool professional, there are three things to consider: the layout, location and types of materials to be used. These three features will determine how successful the installation will be. Landscaping should be considered while designing the pool instead of waiting until the pool is installed to try to figure it out. The swimming pool is a large part, the largest feature included in a backyard landscape design. To develop a functional backyard and pool all of the elements much be considered throughout the preparation and planning process.

How to Increase Curb Appeal

Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a very important aspect of a Phoenix home. The aesthetic appearance of the exterior of the home is the first thing a visitor will see and you only get one chance to make a good first impression. The curb appeal can have a direct influence on whether or not a home is seen as desirable for purchasing. Whether a home is being put back up on the market or a homeowner just wants to improve the look of the home’s exterior some relatively inexpensive home remodeling projects can improve the home’s curb appeal.

How a Pond Adds Life To Your Garden

This is a guest post by Andrew Parker – http://www.electrostoreonline.com

Andrew is copywriter for Electrostore Online who specialize in electrical garden products including blanket weed controllers andsoil meters.

Landscaping is a renowned method of helping blend a building naturally into the surroundings, seemingly causing a ‘natural’ flow from the home into the landscape that subtly suggests that the home almost grew out of the ground rather than being “plonked onto land”.

A fantastic method of achieving this is by adding a pond with a balanced eco-system (with a variety of pond plants, rocks, stones and fish) – which adds a calming and peaceful area of natural beauty to your garden. A pond will bring wildlife into a landscaped area, which captures the essential “natural beauty vibe” that is desired by both landscape gardeners and their client and creates a tranquil area that adds beauty and value to a home.

However, a pond is not something that should be included “at a whim” as they do require effort and lots of care to maintain, especially if the pond contains fish that need feeding every day. Other maintenance that you perhaps wouldn’t have counted on is removing fallen leaves from the pond in Autumn, blanket weed/algae (which can be easily controlled once a blanket weed controller is installed), or protecting your fish from local predators like cats or even foxes.

Of course, now you have decided that you have the time to invest in a pond then you need to decide on the style of pond that will best work in your garden. Old houses will not benefit from having a brand new 2011 pond “clashing” with the house in the garden, while a Mediterranean-style pond with bold pink and purple bougainvillaea and red geraniums planted in bright terracotta pots might look out of place in a drab council estate in Milton Keynes. Special pond features (like waterfalls etc), surrounding plant life and layout should therefore mirror the existing styles on your property. Garden landscapers have plenty of experience in which styles suit different properties, so do ask for guidance and put in some research online.

If you follow the correct landscaping procedures when incorporating a pond, then you might even cause your garden to be a summertime venue hotspot.

Outdoor Lighting Ideas

Outdoor lighting can create an ambiance and is an addition to your home that will make your home a safer place. A dark home can be intimidating to walk up to and can be an unsafe location to walk up to at night. Besides the worry of walking up to a dark home, you can detour intruders from breaking into your home by having it well lit. Who wants to break into a well lit home just to get caught?

If your goal is to set the scenery when it comes to lighting up the outdoors then there are certain options that will better fit your needs. You can mount tree lights to create a moonlight setting. Using waterproof lights for a pond or fountain can make for a peaceful evening watching the wildlife that your pond holds or for watching the water flow from the fountain you posses.

If the reason you desire to add outdoor lights is that of safety reasons then there are several options for you. Using offset path lights would be great to light up a dark walkway. Flood lights are a great addition to brighten up the walkway if you have lots of trees along your path. Cone lights are great not only great to highlight your plants, but they make for a great pathway brightener as well.

Either way, if you’re trying to lighten up your path to create a safer environment or are trying to add to your yards appeal, the best thing to do when it comes to outdoor lighting is to seek advise or to hire a professional electrician to do the dirty work for you. Doing so will help you to add these great additions in a safe manner and will help you to do a proper job which will save you in energy cost. Enjoy your new outdoor addition by doing it the right way.

How to Have a Beautiful Lawn

This is a guest post Written by Monika from Mascus.com. Visit them online to find used lawn mowers and other garden and landscape equipment for sale.

If you dream about a beautiful thick lawn in your garden, there are certain activities that you have to perform: watering, mowing, fertilizing and weeding cannot be forgotten. Caring for the grass won’t take loads of time, but you have to do it on regular basis.

Watering

The best time for watering your lawn is early in the morning (the best time, actually) or in the evening, after sunset. It can and should be watered as well during hot afternoons if you spot the signs of withering. Otherwise, you should avoid it in the middle of a hot day as it is not economical – 30-40% of water will evaporate. The most difficult period and key stage for your lawn is the phase of plant emergence, when you have to remember about regular irrigation. In general, the best idea is to water the lawn rarely but heavily – once a week or every 3-4 days during dry spells. Daily irrigation is unnecessary and leads to developing shallow root system what makes the grass more prone to diseases. The first season is the most difficult; in subsequent years, the grass will be able to survive longer. During first three weeks after sowing, it is best to water manually. Later on you can use portable sprinklers, but it is important to change their setting often, as excessive watering causes leaching of nutrients.

Mowing

The first mowing should be carried out when the grass reaches about 4 inches. It should be reduced to no less than 2 inches. Later you can gradually reduce the height, but keep in mind that you should never cut more than half of the plant. Frequent mowing results in better condition and appearance of the lawn. When the grass is cut regularly, but not too short, the loss of nutrients is limited.

Fertilization

Fertilization contributes to improving lawn color, density, and growth. Properly fertilized grass is more resistant to weeds competition and unfavorable weather conditions. The minerals that are important include: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, magnesium, and iron. The best time to apply fertilizers is when the grass is actively growing, and this is different for warm and cool season types. If you have weed or pest problem, you can buy a mixed combination of fertilizers and the necessary treatments.

Weeding

The best way to fight with weeds is to get rid of them regularly. If there are not many of them, you can do it manually. In many cases simple mowing is enough to prevent undesirable plants grow and seed – for example dandelions or buttercups won’t reproduce if they don’t have a chance to blossom. If the weed problem gets serious you may have to use some chemical weed killers.