See Our Blog Posts Below:

Front Yard Landscaping Adds Curb Appeal

Posted by John Tighe on Wed, Aug 28, 2013 @ 09:33 AM
An eye-catching front yard adds considerable curb appeal to a home. It’s not difficult to notice the differences between a landscaped property and a bland or untidy one. Homes with manicured grass, flowering plants, and shade trees are universally more appealing than neglected properties—even the bigger, more expensive properties. So taking care of your front yard landscape should be a priority.

Where should you start? A professional landscape designer is the best resource for a front yard makeover. Experts can tell you which elements will work well and how to install them properly. Here are a few front yard landscaping tips that always add curb appeal:

Say Hello with Flowers
Planting flowers is a guaranteed way to add appeal to your front yard. Incorporate bold, bright colors that complement your home’s exterior. Or choose a single color—for example, all white blooms—for a more modern effect. Whatever your style, crops of hearty flowers show guests that your home is a welcoming space.

Create a Front Yard Patio
Backyard patios are taking a backseat to front yard sitting space—and with good reason. Adding a front patio gives your yard a more inviting feel. Similar to the large, front porches of old, front patios encourage neighborhood interaction. You can relax and chat with neighbors, while sipping an iced tea on a hot summer day. Patios are usually more open than porches, but if you prefer some privacy, try adding a trellis with climbing vines and a few small hedges. 

Give Your Walkway a Lift
Redefine your front walk with tidy rows of green. Plants such as boxwood and variegated hosta work perfectly for walkway borders. Don’t have a front walk? Even better! Adding a quaint and curving path to your front door is one of the single fastest ways to ramp up curb appeal. Ask your landscape designer about the different advantages of pavers, flagstone, bricks, and other options.

Revamp a Slope
Grassy slopes can be a chore to maintain. Quit trying to grow grass on your sloped front yard, and instead turn the hillside into a stunning exhibit of sprawling ferns and ivy. Use mulch or stones to keep the overall area tidy, then dot the terrain with a mix of evergreens, perennials, annuals, and groundcovers. You’ll achieve a curbside bed that remains appealing throughout the year.  

Combine Different Textures
Just like indoor design, outdoor style is improved with contrasting textures. Ask your landscaper to combine spindly plants with flowy, frothy greens. Add large rocks and small pebbles to serve as groundcover. Then use blossoming shrubs, such as pieris, rhododendron, and azalea to soften the look of the stone. Water is another unique “texture.” Choose a small fountain or birdbath to add a touch of tranquility.

Again, it’s a good idea to leave the big projects to the professionals, since you want to ensure that plants and hardscapes are installed correctly the first time around. But you can add your own handiwork with some homemade elements, like ceramics, birdfeeders, or refinished furniture.  Have fun with it!

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Tags: patios, walkways, flower beds, landscape design

3 Secrets of Landscaping That You Need to Know

Posted by John Tighe on Wed, Aug 21, 2013 @ 09:32 AM

Whether you plan to be a DIY landscaper or a professional landscape client, it’s important to recognize that creating and maintaining gorgeous outdoor spaces is no easy feat. In fact, good landscape designers go to college in order to study topics like horticulture, turf management, ecological design, and more. There’s quite a lot of material to cover!

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Tags: landscape installation, landscape design

Put Your Lawn and Garden on Autopilot: 3 Reasons to Install Automated Irrigation

Posted by John Tighe on Wed, Aug 14, 2013 @ 09:32 AM

If you’re like most people, you love having a lush, green lawn. However, you might have noticed that your lawn doesn’t always look quite as lush and green as it could. One reason might be that you don’t have the proper irrigation set up. By simply automating your yard system, you can make sure your lawn gets the water that it needs—while you also save money.

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Tags: lawn irrigation

Retaining walls: How to add a retaining wall to your yard

Posted by John Tighe on Wed, Aug 07, 2013 @ 08:30 AM

A retaining wall can be used for both aesthetic and functional purposes.  The primary reason for a retaining wall is to help keep your yard or garden safe from erosion. Oftentimes erosion happens when land is situated on a slope or a hillside.  The underpinning dirt and soil are susceptible to rain, winds, even burrowing animals. Eventually, the land above begins to collapse.

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Tags: landscape design, retaining walls