Category: <span>General</span>

Landscape Lighting Tips For Beginners

By installing a landscape lighting system to the exterior of your house can enhance the beauty and appeal of your house. But before planning on a landscape lighting you must keep certain things in your mind like know the outer areas of your house you want to light, choose the right lighting techniques and look for the fixtures and accessories to obtain the desired effect.

There are many types of landscape lighting. Some of them are as follows :

• Box shape : These lighting designs directly focus on light beams and cut off the glare in order to save the lamp and socket from moisture.
• Wall bracket : They are designed as to be mounted on the entry doors. Their lantern style design casts the light outward in a direct or diffused manner.
• Post lights : These lights cater to driveways, pools, steps or garden walking areas highlighting that particular area and enhancing the look of it.
• Well light or in – ground : They are used for lighting trees and shrubs and are also used for grazing of textured walls.

Therefore, it is very important to select the right kind of lighting that suits your landscape in order to make it attractive and appealing. Because that will enhance the beauty of your house.

 

Below stated are some landscape lighting tips for beginners:

• Observe the exterior of your house : The first step is to observe the exterior of your house and select which areas need lighting. This will give you a basic idea about your house and will allow you to select the best lighting. Without looking around your house you won’t be able to make out about the areas which need lighting and you won’t be able to judge its look after landscape lighting is installed.
• Decide the subject : You need to decide what basically you want to highlight in your design. Whether it is the landscape of your house, particular trees and shrubs, any fountain or the courtyard, you need to pick a particular subject. Mostly the lighting is done to the exterior of the house in order to enhance its outlook.
• Select the light : It is very important to select the right kind of lighting for your house in order for it to suit the environment. If you end up selecting the wrong lighting then you won’t receive the desired results. The primary choices for landscape lighting are flood lights, spotlights and path lights or even a combination of all three depending upon how you want your exterior house to look. Then after that you have to choose between LED, halogen or fluorescent lighting again depending upon the subject you want to decorate.
• Picking the right company for the job : Another essential decision is to select the right company for this work. Selection should be done on the basis of the company’s reputation, experience, client review and expertise. If you end up picking the wrong company then you won’t receive the results as per your expectations. But the right company will properly study your house and work according to your preferences which will lead to desired results.

Tips to Keep Your Garden Greener

How greener does your garden look? People are fond of having a beautiful backyard or landscaping, but when it comes to taking care of it, they suddenly become lethargic. Even if you are an intrepid landscape designer earnestly shaping topiaries and taking care of shrubs, you can still end up with an unhealthy garden due to lack of knowledge.

We would suggest people to not go harsh on their gardening plans, incorporating minimal things can add a lot to a healthy garden. The simplest jobs may involve using the right fertilizers, planting seasonal flowers, keeping them hydrated by using water irrigation systems and recycling the compost.

Here are some tips that will help you create a greener and healthier garden-

 

1) Keep the things real- 

Mother nature doesn’t need to rely on chemical concoctions of pesticides, weed killers, and chemical fertilizers to keep it healthy. Going for all-natural mixtures and compost can do the most of it and using the beneficial insect reinforcements to fight pesky backyard pests to the ground is all that’s needed.

 

2) Scrutinize plants before buying- 

The easiest way to get rid of disease damaged plants is to avoid introducing them into your space. Therefore, whenever you are plant-shopping, keep a magazine or your smartphone handy to search about it and to examine the areas that reveal whether a plant is disease-free or not?

If due to lack of awareness, you bring a diseased plant in your garden, it will soon damage the other species too, and you will be left with a dead garden.

 

3) Create compost from kitchen scrap-

Instead of throwing the kitchen scrap into the landfills, use it for your kitchen. Compost is known as the “gardener’s gold.” that enriches the soil and elevates the fertility by powering the plant-loving nutrients. Apart from stimulating the healthy root development, it enhances soil texture, aeration, and water retention.

 

4) Use easy watering techniques-

Adopting smart watering habits will help you save water and provide the most to your plants, especially during summers. Installing inground sprinkler systems is one of the efficient ways of watering your plants and saving water. They can sprinkle water, covering every area of the garden. Adding mulch and composite will help retain the water and protect it from evaporation.

 

5) Harvest rainwater-

Tap water contains some percentage of chlorine that affects plants. Therefore, counting on rainwater is another way to water your plants since the rain barrel is an inexpensive and effortless way to gather water full of minerals. By collecting this water, you will not only save tap water, hydrate your plants but can prevent runoffs causing clogs in the downspout and gutters.

 

6) Don’t crowd the garden-

Overcrowding plants can trap moisture and leads to the formation of mildew affecting plants. Improving airflow around your plants can reduce high humid conditions and allows foliage to dry more quickly. Overcrowded plants tend to grow poorly due to lack of soil, sunlight and airflow. Therefore, always choose seasonal plants and flowers to grow in your garden and place them keeping gaps.

 

Weekly Lawn Maintenance: Tips by a Pro

People who have gardens in their home want it to look green and healthy throughout the year. Homeowners wish to have a beautiful and well-maintained lawn that makes them feel relaxed. But because of the hectic schedule, most of the people don’t have enough time to look after their garden. But, it is highly advised to follow a weekly schedule if you want to have a lush green garden. You need to take care of your lawn like a baby if you want it to look fresh, and charming.

 

Before moving towards the tips, let us see why weekly lawn maintenance is recommended by the experts.

 

The major advantages of lawn maintenance are

• You have strong and healthy grass in the lawn.
• The grass and plants recover at a fast pace from diseases.
• Your garden will look like a professionally maintained yard.
• Plants and grass will grow evenly.
• The curb appeal of the exterior of your home will enhance.

 

To keep a check on your lawn, you can perform the following activities as per your convenience, once in a week.

 

1. Fertilizing –For the overall development of plants in your garden, fertilization is extremely important. Learn which type of fertilizer should be used depending upon the season. Make it a habit of checking your plants every weekend. See if they are getting essential nutrients or not and apply manures as and when required.

 

2. Watering – To promote the root growth, it is crucial to ensure that the garden gets required water regularly. You can even install irrigation systems to eliminate manual watering. The built-in sensors in sprinkler systems water the lawn on time and in the right amount. They are extremely advantageous as they save the water from being wasted. Therefore, if you don’t have an irrigation system, get it installed by lawn sprinkler professionals.

 

3. Mowing –It is an important lawn maintenance task to keep the grass in good condition. Mowing depends on the type of grass and season. However, mowing once in a week is enough to keep the garden healthy.

 

4. Edging – This task is done right after mowing, and it is essential to keep the lawn green and healthy. Also, you will require an edge trimmer to get a perfect finish.

 

5. Weed Control – Weed is a common problem of any lawn. Thus, weeds need to be eliminated from the garden before they consume water and all the nutrients from your plants. To avoid weeds, make sure that the lawn is fertilized and watered after regular intervals and once in a week. However, if you find weeds in your garden, get rid of them immediately.

 

6. Damage Repair – If you have kids and pets at home, then your garden must be facing heavy foot traffic. So, repairing the damaged part is crucial if you want your garden to look green. If necessary, sprinkle seeds and fill up the patches formed.

Six Smart Landscaping Tips for Beginners

When it comes to adding a landscape, many homeowners seem interested. And of course, why not; there are some amazing advantages of surrounding your property with those beautiful flowers and green plants. You get to improve the quality of air indoors, regulate the temperature and avail high reselling price for the home.

However, if you are a first-timer and haven’t dealt with landscaping components before, you might feel overwhelmed with the choice you make. You may not know what kind of layout to finalize or the kind of plantings to choose. In such a case, you may require a professional landscaping designer to guide you and some self-help in the form of these tips –

1. Determining Your Landscape Needs and Wants

To design a perfect outdoor space for you, kids, and other family members, you have to be crystal clear on your actual requirements. Whether you need a quiet place for reading, an area to grow vegetables or an entertainment space for your children to play – jot it down on a piece of paper and include it in the rough sketch of your lawn. Fit everything together and then use this blueprint as a starting point.

2. Understanding the Basic Landscape Terms

Whether it is landscaping or any other field, you ought to know the terms related to it. That will make your search and decision process easier and effective. So, spend some time on Google and familiarize yourself with words like ‘deep shade’, ‘afternoon sun’, ‘groundcover’, ‘back of the border’, ‘winter interest’, ‘ornamental tree’, and other similar terms before hitting the ground. We are sure that knowledge will come handy in understanding your kind of landscaping situation.

3. Considering the Local Weather Conditions

While devising a landscape design plan, you need to take into account the sun and wind patterns in and around your property.  Only after that, you can create sufficient sitting areas with the right amount of shrubs blocking the direct winds and have your trees planted at spots having a maximum amount of sunlight.

4. Taking it Slow

It makes no sense to compare yourself with landscaping makeover masters you see in television shows or YouTube videos. These people have a huge crew to support them, but when working alone, you don’t have that back. That is why it is recommended to most of the beginner gardeners to start with a small area first and work on it when you have time and gradually add up more flower beds as you learn.

5. Creating a Focal Point

Every good garden design has a series of focal points to draw the attention of the visitors. They can be antique sculptures, customized seating areas, or a series of colorful flowers and shrubs. You can also create distinct views by planting a few trees for that perfect shade and cooling effect in summers and vibrant feel in winter months.

6. Lighting it Up

Once you lay down your lawn, plant your flower beds, set up a sprinkler system and install a barbecue in the backyard, start highlighting your yard’s best features. Contact your local landscape lighting expert and plan the appropriate outdoor lighting for your project to make your lawn warm and beautiful and your home safe.

6 Amazing Benefits of a Healthy Lawn

Before discussing the benefits of a healthy lawn, let us clear that a healthy lawn is not only about growing grass outside the home. It is far more than that! Just like a baby needs care, love, and dedication to grow into a healthy human, your lawn also demands attention. If taken care of properly, a healthy lawn can provide you with numerous benefits.

 

Living in a home with a healthy lawn is extremely profitable as it keeps you fit and improves the surrounding environment. Waking to a beautiful and healthy front garden in the morning can refresh your mood. The fresh air your lawn gives you can make you feel happy, energetic and positive the whole day. Not only this, a healthy lawn is useful in many other ways. Let us see how you can benefit from a healthy lawn.

 

1. It purifies the air around you and your home – Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. And well-maintained grass also traps dust. Thus, a green, lush garden improves the air quality outside as well as inside your home, and you get fresh air to breathe.

 

2. It can reduce stress – According to studies, it has been found that daily access to greenery can lower your stress, regulates your mood and increases your overall productivity. Just gaze at the beautiful green lawn adorned with landscape lighting every night before going to bed. You will feel calmer and experience sound sleep.

 

3. It helps you in fighting allergies – Some people incur allergies on coming in contact with pollen. The pollen in your lawn is produced by common weeds. And to get rid of the weed problems lawn maintenance is a must. A healthy lawn means less pollen that, in turn, reduces the chances of allergies.

 

4. It controls soil erosion – Soil erosion can make your lawn unattractive and can cause environmental concerns. Whatever the reason for soil erosion is, a healthy grass, especially turf grass, can help in keeping the soil in place, thus reducing the risk of soil erosion. If you want to prevent erosion and want a strong root system for your trees, plants and shrubs, then make sure to keep a check on the health of your lawn.

 

5. It keeps you cooler – Plants are extremely helpful in keeping the outdoor living spaces fresh and cool. Also, a healthy lawn reduces the heating effects of the sun and keep your home cooler than in turn, helps in lowering your energy bills in summers.

 

6. It increases the curb appeal and value of your home – Ahh! What an astounding look that well-maintained and beautiful lawn gives to the exterior of your home. Your home looks more inviting with a garden full of plants, greenery and flowers. Moreover, the value of your home manifolds because of a healthy lawn.

 

Providing numerous benefits, your garden deserves due care and love. And if you are serious about the health of your lawn, then it is highly recommended to invest in an automatic lawn irrigation system. The right irrigation system helps in preserving soil structure, saves water, and prevent your plants from diseases.

 

5 Tips to Design an Amazing Landscape for Your Commercial Property

When you own a commercial property, your concern about the landscape design goes beyond the usual landscape design planned for homes. You have to keep the expenses under control and at the same time create long-lasting experiences for your employees and customers visiting.

Commercial landscape development is a high-stake undertaking that either makes or breaks your property. That is why business owners are required to spend ample time to research what kind of landscape would be best to present their brand.

Designing a landscape isn’t hard. All you need is a substantial investment of time and money to fill your garden with lush greenery. And once the project is completed, you are able to offer an opportunity for your employees to relax and a beautiful sight to your customers to feel good.

If your old commercial building has been lacking a curb appeal, it is time to reinvent its surroundings and bring in something new, fresh, and vibrant. Following are a few helpful tips to help you redesign the landscape of your commercial property:

1. Plan Well

Well-thought planning is essential so as to ensure that every single decision of yours is in alignment with your landscape goals. Whether you choose to perform landscaping yourself or call for professional help, it is always wise to have a detailed and clear-cut plan in hand.

A landscape plan is the same as a floor plan in which a visual representation of the area is presented. It includes all important elements like shrubs, trees, flowers, outdoor furniture, sheds, lighting fixtures, etc. required to give your landscape a complete and attractive look.

2. Match the Design With Building’s Architecture

Standing out is good, but not becoming an odd one out. So, beware of going overboard. Pick a theme that connects your landscape with the building and overall surroundings to make the premises look proportional, not confusing.

Think about the architecture first when you try to mix and match natural and man-made elements together. Remember, your landscape should be a healing space. It should be simple yet attractive and never dominate the architecture.

3. Focus on the Entrance

Your building’s entrance is the first thing the customers or clients visiting would see; thus, it should be as inviting as possible. Vivid flowers, bright grasses, landscape lighting in the springtime – are some of the things that are going to draw everyone’s attention.

To provide a more pleasant experience, highlight the entryway and beautify it using decorative bricks or stones. That way, your clients know exactly where to go and create a nice first impression of your business premises.

4. Install Seating Area for People

Commercial landscapes and people interact in many different ways; so it is vital to design the area with people in mind. Your landscaped environment should be utterly beautiful and appealing in its form and offer a commendable functionality for the precious people of your organization.

Experts recommend placing benches and other seating areas within the landscape – not just as a hangout/resting spot for your employees but also an efficient business area for your valuable clients.

5. Think Low Maintenance

When choosing plants and other features for your commercial premises, you have to consider the amount of time and commitment you can invest in for the maintenance of the final product. Of course, there is no zero-maintenance plan, but you can derive a low-maintenance plan.

By doing that prior to the installation of your landscape plan, you would save yourself from unforeseen maintenance and unexpected expenses arising as a result of over-pruning, die-back, and winter damage.

Common Myths about Landscape Lighting

Many people shoo the idea of installing landscape lighting in their homes because of the misconceptions they have about outdoor lighting. But in reality, outdoor lighting is amazing and beneficial as it enhances the appeal and increases the value of your property.

 

Let us see what are the misconceptions that people hold about landscape lighting and why you should overlook them.

 

Myth #1. Landscape lighting is too costly. 

Most of the times, homeowners believe that the cost of landscape lighting is out of their reach. No doubt, the initial price of outdoor lighting is high, but it costs 1/5th of what traditional lighting or other systems cost. Moreover, they don’t consume much electricity and thus save your money in the long run. Also, the cost benefits are really high when you take into account the longevity of landscape over traditional bulbs. 

 

Myth #2. It takes too much time for installation.

It is one of the most common misconceptions and not at all true. Typically, it takes half to full day to install a functional lighting system completely. Professionals will do everything for you.

 

Myth #3. Landscape lighting has a limited lifespan.

 Many people hold this misconception that landscape lights do not last long. But, in a reality where traditional bulbs last for few months only the modern bulbs last for many years before they need to be replaced. 

 

Myth #4. Landscape lighting is not efficient. 

Don’t trust this myth as it can stop you from installing highly efficient outdoor lighting in your lawn. These lights consume too little power, and according to a research it has been found that the lights used in landscape lighting these days are 15% more efficient than fluorescent lights and six times more efficient than incandescent bulbs. 

 

Myth #5. There are too many hidden costs. 

This is another myth, that should not be believed if you are hiring a professional, reliable company for the installation of landscape lighting. A trustworthy installation company keep everything transparent and tell you about the cost involved in the project before starting it. 

 

Myth #6. Installation in the middle of the winter is not possible.

Outdoor lighting can be installed throughout the year. Only your ground needs to be cooperative and not frozen. Professionals are trained and have enough of the experience to help you in installing the lights and fixtures successfully. 

 

Myth #7. Professional landscape lighting service is not important. 

Many people believe that landscape lighting installers don’t have the technical expertise and required skills, and they don’t need to hire the one. They think that trying hands on a DIY project can be more beneficial to them. However, it is not the case. The maintenance and construction of landscape lighting are quite technical and can lead to several problems in future if not done correctly. You may then have to hire experts to fix the issues. Thus, it is suggested to hire the professionals beforehand. 

 

Moreover, the installation of outdoor lighting by experts is one of the best home improvement projects and increases the overall value of your home. It also increases the curb appeal of the house, making your home more inviting. 

 

Now, what are you waiting for? Free your mind from misconceptions about landscape lighting and enhance the look of your home by getting them installed. A top-rated landscape lighting company will ensure safe, high quality, low voltage components and outstanding lighting design.

Seven Lawn Care Tips for Rainy Season

If you are living in a country that witnesses a high amount of rains every monsoon, the last thing you would want is a damaged lawn. Wet weather and plants is usually a match made in heaven; however, if there is excessive rain, it can lead to plenty of trouble to your fragile plants.

As a homeowner, the daily garden care can get tough when it is constantly raining. You may not be able to mow the grass with the standing water, and the long term exposure to moisture may cause a variety of issues such as leaf spots, yellow leaves, root problems, and southern stem blight that can get extremely tricky to handle.

Heavy downpour accompanied with winds can potentially harm and totally ruin the hard work you put into nourishing the garden throughout spring and summer, with severe consequences such as the death of the plants.

Therefore, to avoid that from happening, here are a few tips to consider:

1. Amputate damaged shoots and limbs. Before the rainstorm hits your region, it is recommended to remove dead shoots and limbs from your plants and try to streamline them as much as possible. That prevents the snapping and tangling of plants.
2. Give enough support to taller plants and trees. Heavy rains and constant drizzles combined with strong winds can put your tall unsecured plants at risk of falling. That is why it is best to dig a wooden or metal support into the ground and tie your vulnerable plants to it and protect all sorts of physical damage.
3. Ensure proper drainage. Rainy days come with the trouble of water accumulation. That drowns the nearby plants and affects your entire garden. So, to restrain any standing water or blockages, construct a runoff that slopes away the water and keep your garden healthy.
4. Cover the plants. Plants, including herbs and vegetables, are pretty delicate when they are young. They may not be able to take the hit of hard rains and winds. That is why it is always best to have them covered under a slanted waterproof tarpaulin.
5. Keep a check on plant roots. Every single time when the rain stops, go and check if they are any exposed plants roots following soil erosion. Cover them at the earliest with the desired amount of soil and compost. Also for small plants that get rooted out by fast-moving water, replant them at the same place or in another pot as soon as possible.
6. Don’t walk on rain-soaked yards. Mowing and moving around your soggy lawn can cause unwanted stress on unstable grassroots and tear them down; which is why you should wait for at least a day or two to use your lawn like normal and walk on it only when it dries up.
7. Install rain sensors. If you are using a lawn irrigation system, you require a rain sensor (wired or wireless) along to shut it off automatically when it rains. It is an inexpensive device that helps conserve water and protect your lawn from getting over-flooded during rainy days.