Tag Archives: landscaping

What Is Hardscaping?

Here is another home-related question that came across my keyboard the other day. “I keep hearing the term “Hardscaping. What is that? Is it related to Landscaping?” Hardscaping is indeed a landscaping term. It is a division of landscaping that refers to the solid inanimate or non-living elements for landscaping, such as rocks, wood (not living trees), brick, concrete and more. it gets it name from the usually hard materials used in hardscaping projects. Typical hardscaping projects might include a brick walkway, a wooden deck or patio or a stone wall. It also refers to small objects, such as fountain … Continue reading →

Japanese Maple Trees

These beautiful trees offer brilliant color in the fall and come in lots of great shapes and sizes, making them a welcome addition to any landscape. Learn how you can incorporate these trees into your yard. In our old home, we had a very small yard, both front and back, a far cry from the two acres we have now, But one thing that we did have at that old place that I really miss is the Japanese maple tree that stood sentinel before our home, giving us plenty of beauty in the suburban neighborhood. One of the first trees … Continue reading →

Plan Your Garden Now

Fall and winter are great times to plan your garden for next year. The leaves have fallen and the greenery is gone, giving you an almost blank slate on which to plan your garden. It is also a less busy time for outdoor work, as the planting, weeding, trimming, cutting, mowing and harvesting are done for the time being. You can sit back and pour through your books and catalogues, in the comfort of a warm home. Planning a garden in the cool or cold weather also gives you a good perspective on what you really want. You have some … Continue reading →

Creating Outdoor Privacy

When we think of creating outdoor privacy, we often think of fences to keep prying eyes away from us, but there are so many different options here. A private outdoor space should do more than just block out the neighbors. It should be a space in which you will long to spend time. Yes, fences will work for outdoor privacy. But, you can create a quiet and private sanctuary with materials other than fences. Think of outdoor privacy more in terms of creating rooms rather than in terms of building fences. For example, some areas for outdoor privacy could include: … Continue reading →

Landscape Design: Planing Your Zones

A beautifully landscaped outdoor space can look attractive, add value to your home and even make your neighbors jealous. But you also want to make sure that your landscaping is practical as well. If it doesn’t meet your needs as the homeowners, well then it just isn’t practical. Most people start out with their landscape design by looking at the types of plants, trees and features that they are personally drawn to, such as ornamental grass or a babbling fountain. But, the first place we all really need to start is with the zones of the landscaping. That is, we … Continue reading →

Some Things to Consider When Landscaping

Landscaping clearly goes beyond typical yard work, creating visual “scapes” or scenes, but it also includes functional elements. While aesthetics are an important part of creating a design plan, remember that function is every bit as important if not more so. Retaining Wall Retaining walls are used to prevent standing water and to keep overabundant water from ruining the rest of the yard or garden. They also work to give some symmetry to yards that are not level. Often, a tiered design is used to stagger the space between low and high ground, instead of having hills and valleys. Tiered … Continue reading →

Irrigation or a Manual Sprinkler System

There are two basic kinds of sprinkler systems: manual and irrigation. The manual sprinkler system is the method by which you manual place sprinklers around your yard and activate them as desired. With the manual system, you may even use a basic hose to water your lawn and garden. The irrigation system is basically a series of sprinklers that are permanently laid out in your yard through a network of pipes. These sprinklers then come on according to a timer that you set. If you are considering investing in a sprinkler system for your home, then read the tips below … Continue reading →

Firewise Landscaping: Trees

There isn’t much a homeowner can do to reduce their risk of loss caused by earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. When it comes to wildfire however, there are several ways homeowners can protect their homes from fire. Wildfires occur no matter our best efforts and keeping a wildfire away from your home starts with your landscaping. Homeowners may want to talk with their insurance agent or state agricultural college for tips and advice about fire resistant landscaping. In many cases insurance companies will inspect for defensible space and firewise risk management before issuing or renewing a homeowner insurance policy. Trees on … Continue reading →

Me & My Tree

This year I made a strange request for my birthday. Well, it was a strange request for me. I asked my friends and family to throw in together and buy me a tree in lieu of other types of presents. They all gave me a rather odd look as I made my request. You see, if you’ve read some of my other blogs, you’ll know that I’m not the best gardener on the planet. However, I knew exactly what kind of tree I wanted. Five days after my birthday, my tree arrived. It was close to seven and half feet … Continue reading →

Yard and Garden Prep Work

It’s March, and while it may still be a bit chilly, April will be here before we know it. Those April showers will be washing the ground and getting it ready for more than flowers. This is the perfect time to start getting your yard and garden area ready for planting, even if planting doesn’t usually begin in your area until weeks from now. Getting the ground turned over and allowing the rain to soak in and hydrate it with not only moisture, but also nutrients, will give your yard or garden an advantage over your neighbor’s property. This is … Continue reading →