Simple Landscaping Ideas [Infographic]
Want to learn simple landscaping ideas? You may be thinking that it will be difficult to impress anyone with your landscaping skills because you simply do not have enough time during the week to take care of the yard. The good news for anyone who never has time to take care of the lawn is that there are some simple landscaping ideas that you can use to your advantage.
Let’s take a look at a few different simple landscaping ideas that could work for your home.
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How do I prevent crabgrass from growing in my yard?
Many people are interested in the idea of getting rid of crabgrass because this is the kind of problem that can quickly spread to the rest of the yard. The best way to prevent crabgrass from becoming a problem in your own yard is to make sure that you take the steps to prevent it from popping up in the first place. If you plan ahead, you greatly increase the chances that you will never have to face crabgrass in the future. Let’s take a closer look at what crabgrass is and what you can do about it.
What is Crabgrass?
Crabgrass is an annual plant, although most people think it never dies since it always seems to pop up at the worst times. It actually dies off every winter, so that is when you should be planning your attack. If you are unsure if you have crabgrass in your yard right now, you should look for a low plant with very thin leaves that seems to be infecting your yard like a virus. Although there are only two species of crabgrass currently found in the United States, there are actually over 300 different types of crabgrass found in different parts around the world.
How to Prevent Crabgrass from Growing
The best way to prevent crabgrass from taking over your yard is to keep your yard generally healthy. A healthy lawn will takeover the crabgrass if your yard rather quickly if you give it the chance to succeed. If you already have a few crabgrass plants popping up, then it is beyond the right time to take action. The biggest tip to remember when it comes to preventing crabgrass growth is to let your grass grow a bit higher. Over four inches should work during the summer, and you should aim for a little over three inches during the winter and fall seasons.
Putting Together a Sports Field Irrigation and Sprinkler System
When you are looking at various irrigation and sprinkler system designs, it is important to realize that there are different designs available for different types of sports fields. Whether you are looking at a sprinkler system for a football field or a baseball field, it’s important to make sure that you are choosing the right design.
Setting up Irrigation and Sprinkler System
You cannot simply place your sprinklers in random spots across the field because you need to make sure that every aspect of the field gets an equal amount of water when it is time to turn on the sprinklers. By setting up everything correctly at first, you can avoid any issues when it comes to too much water raining down on one spot or another spot not getting any water at all.
Field Maintenance is Important
Whether you are coaching little league or leading a high school football team, you have to remember that field maintenance is sometimes part of the job. Without a proper field to play on, the players will not be able to excel and play the game like it should be played. In some situations, an improperly maintained field can lead to injuries to your players or players on the opposing team. Situations like these need to be avoided at all costs, and it really does not cost that much to properly maintain a field when you have a few people who will be able to do the regular maintenance.
There are In-Ground and Portable Options
If you are part of a team that travels across the country on a regular basis, then you may need to find a portable irrigation system. These are basically sprinkler systems that you will roll out on the field and setup whenever they are needed a few days before a game. On the other hand, teams that actually have a home field will be able to install a proper, in-ground irrigation system. You can control everything from the sprinklers to fertilization without much work after a proper system has been put into place.
Hire the Professionals
If properly maintaining your field is too much for you to handle right now, then you should think about calling in the professionals. This would be a much better option than just simply leaving the field to rot. It’s important for the team to have a proper field to play on if you want to be able to make sure the game goes smoothly.
Looking for more tips and suggestions for your sports field? Contact us For a Free Consultation or call 805-773-5395.
Water Garden: Adding Great Value to your Home
There are many different factors that go into the overall value of your home. But you can definitely increase the general appeal and value of your home with water garden. While the interior of the home is going to be one of the major deciding factors at the end of the day for most people, the reality is that a water garden can add an x-factor to your property. In the same way that a person may choose one home over another because one of them has the added benefit of a backyard pool. You may also find that the same situation applies with a water garden.
Water Garden: Fountain or Pond
The amount of extra value from your water garden will really depend on a few different factors. First of all, you have to take a look at the bigger picture when it comes to your yard. A fountain or pond will not help you out very much if the rest of your yard is a complete mess. The people who are usually able to get the largest value increase from a pond or fountain are the ones who also have a nice patio to go along with the water area.
If you really want to add more value to your home with your backyard, then you may want to look into creating a calming atmosphere. An atmosphere that covers the entire backyard rather than just throwing a random bit of water into the mix. A bridge that runs over the pond would be a best case scenario, and perhaps you could have a walkway that wraps itself around a fountain.
Using Xeriscaping for your water garden
While having a full-fledged water garden is rewarding and enjoyable, lots of people simply don’t have the time that is required to maintain it. Whether you have too much going on at work or too many kids to take care of, you should never try to operate a garden if you don’t think you can handle it. For those people who are just too busy for a normal garden, I would suggest a somewhat recent method of gardening known as Xeriscaping. This minimal yet stylish theory first emerged in Colorado when water levels were at an all-time low. It is a great method of having a great looking yard or water garden, without having to maintain it or water it very often at all.
If your area is undergoing a drought, you should check with the water suppliers and see if they are offering lessons. If you attend those, you will be able to get advice specific to your region (IE types of plants to grow, how much to water them, etc.).
To some, the name Xeriscaping conjures the image of a yard that consists of a giant rock bed. However, this is known as “zero scaping”, and it is a considerably different concept. It focuses on reducing your yard to nothing that requires any maintenance whatsoever. Unfortunately this is usually just rocks. But this shouldn’t be your goal. While keeping maintenance at a minimum, it is still possibly to retain a nice looking yard that won’t attract the negative attention of everyone who passes by.
This might sound like it would be hard to implement without making your yard into a hideous mess, but this is not so at all. The theory basically involves choosing plants which are low maintenance to begin with, then putting them each in environments that are ideal. It is usually applied by figuring out what side of the house to place it on to get the best amount of shade, and figuring out how to group it with plants with similar water needs.
To get started in your Xeriscaping renovation, you first need to pick out all the plants you will be using. They should for the most part require a low amount of water. This doesn’t mean you can only grow cactuses in your yard. Just cut back on the really thirsty plants that you have to water every day to keep alive. You’ll want to stick with local plants for the most part. Don’t go with anything too exotic as these generally require larger amounts of water.
The second most important principle of xeriscaping is placing the plants in ideal areas. Place them all together with plants that require essentially the same amount of water. This way, you will end up saving lots of water. Also place the plants in areas where they will be protected from wind or excessive sun, depending on the needs of the plants. Xeriscaping is almost the same thing as microclimating, just with more of a focus on adaptation to harsh conditions rather than avoiding them. So if it sounds good to you and you’re looking to save time and water by renovating your garden, you should look for xeriscaping lessons.
The size of the pond or fountain for your water garden is also going to have an impact on how it affects your home’s value. If you have a large pond where large fish are stocked on a regular basis, then you could be looking at adding a few extra thousand dollars to your home’s overall value. On the other hand, a small fountain that is placed in the center of your backyard is probably not going to do very much for you. At the end of the day, you need to make sure that your water garden is the main attraction in the backyard. You are really going to be able to get any extra value out of it.
Looking for more water garden tips? Find out more from the experts! Call us today at 805-773-5395.
Best Irrigation Systems for a Home Garden
Are you tired of dragging hoses and sprinklers around in your garden? Sprinklers are labor intensive and the least efficient way to water any garden. Besides their inconvenience, broadcast sprinklers are not watering only the veggies but the weeds too. To save time, effort and water, consider installing a more hands-free and water efficient system.
Best Irrigation Systems
Back to Basics
One of the oldest systems of watering is the use of furrows. Shallow furrows along plant rows allow you to apply water directly to the plant roots. Use a circular furrow for individual plants. There are no materials to buy, but you still must haul a hose or buckets to fill the furrows. Another drawback is that water is lost via evaporation until it soaks into the soil.
Soaker Hoses
Soaker hoses that seep water work in a manner similar to furrows. They can be chained together to reach all the plants in the garden or separate hoses with quick connect fittings are used to water different areas with one hose. There is still some hose wrestling to do, but most of the water goes directly to the plants with minimal evaporation loss.
Above Ground Drip Systems
Kits for building your own custom drip system are found in any home improvement store. The black tubing and fittings in these kits do not require any tools other than a sharp utility knife. Tubing is sealed off by bending and clamping it. Drip fittings are directly screwed into the tubing by hand. Such a system is very water thrifty.
Below Ground Drip Systems
Other drip irrigation kits, similar to the above ground kits, are installed below the soil level. Especially if you have raised beds, this type of irrigation system is very handy. A main tube is installed through the center of the bed frame with a quick connect on one end that protrudes from the frame. Smaller feeder tubes branch off the main tube. Small holes punched through the feeders apply water directly to the plant roots. Tool less barbed tees and unions let you create a pattern customized to the placement of plants in the bed.
Fully Automated Irrigation Systems
Drip systems can be augmented with check valves, filters, timers, and moisture meters and so on in order to build a completely automated system. The trade-off between the simplest and hand-free systems is upfront cost. The cost is paid back by less work for the gardener and a lower water bill.
What’s the Best Time of Day for Drip Irrigation?
When you are using drip irrigation for your irrigation system, such as sprinklers or manually controlled options, you are going to be able to slowly place more water into your system. A manual drip irrigation system allows you to take advantage of the rainfall that takes place before having to do everything on your own.
There are a few varying opinions when it comes to the best time schedule for this kind of irrigation system, and you really have to pay attention to the rain forecast before you decide to set up everything to run automatically. How often you decide to run the irrigation system will really depend on the amount of water that your plants or garden needs on a regular basis.
Start in the Morning
The best start to water your plants is the morning in most cases because that is when there will be the lowest amount of evaporation. This means that the water will be able to set on the plants and in the soil without being removed by the sunlight. The sun is another important factor to look at when making sure that you are giving your plants enough water during the day.
Avoid Watering in the Evening
You will want to avoid watering your plants with your drip irrigation system at night because this kind of schedule will actually increase the probability that some kind of disease will infect your plants. There are mixed opinions when it comes to watering plants around nightfall, but it is usually just better to keep things safe by sticking to an earlier water irrigation schedule whenever possible.
Follow the Directions
When you are dealing with drip irrigation system that was provided by a specific manufacturer or supplier, you may be able to get some tips from the information that came with that particular system. Different irrigation systems are going to have different settings for water pressure and other factors, so it is important to make sure that you actually understand your irrigation system before you begin to water everything on a drip system for the first time. In most cases, you will be able to find some maintenance and proper usage guidelines that come with the materials that you used to create your own drip irrigation system.
Can’t decide which irrigation systems is best for your garden? Contact us For a Free Consultation or call 805-773-5395.
Hardscape: Improving Outdoor Spaces At Home
Garden ponds and decorative fountains are some hardscape examples that were once mainly for the very rich. Today, anyone can have a garden pond, a fountain or waterfall. It can be included almost anyplace–even if your “yard” is limited to a patio or balcony.
What is Hardscape?
Ultimately, hardscape is just what it sounds like– the use of hard materials like concrete, brick, stone, and asphalt to create landscape features that cover the natural earth, or softscape. Hardscape has many advantages, as it makes it possible to create features that you wouldn’t be able to sustain in earth. But it must be carefully planned and properly built in order to compensate for its inability to retain water.
Paths, driveways, and retaining walls are all examples of hardscape. Most decorative fountains, ponds and pools are also hardscape. They use concrete or stone to prevent the water within from draining into the surrounding earth. With hardscape, you can create landscaped areas on slopes, establish sheer vertical walls, and install paths and driveways that are useful and decorative in all weather conditions. Patios and sidewalks are some of the most common hardscape applications.
Patio Ponds
Adding water to your patio can be as simple as setting out a shallow dish of water for use as a birdbath. Any shallow container at least 6 inches wide and a half-inch deep will work. Pie pans, garbage can lids, or flowerpot bases work well in small spaces. Fill the container with clean water and wash it every day or two. The wildlife attracted to the water will depend on where you place the container. Containers set on the ground usually attract the greatest number of wildlife species, from birds and butterflies to squirrels and toads. Hanging birdbaths or ones on pedestals will be restricted to those creatures that can fly or jump high enough to reach the water. It give birds a chance to escape from neighborhood cats and other predators.
If you want to grow water plants–and perhaps a fish or two–you can add a tub garden to your patio or yard. Many products are on the market today. Frequently, half whiskey kegs with plastic liners are used. Numerous plastic tub gardens are available in a variety of sizes. It also have the advantage of being lightweight and inexpensive. Small pumps can be added to any of these containers to allow for fountains or cascades of water. Moving water is pleasant to listen to and attractive to wildlife.
Here are some considerations before adding a small tub pond to your patio or yard.
If you want to grow water plants, choose a container that is at least a foot deep. While some water plants do well in shallow water, other species–including some water lilies–require deeper water.
Consider adding a variety of plant species. Depending on the depth of your tub, place pots of plants either on the bottom or on bricks to achieve the proper depth. Floating plants such as duckweed also can be added. Floating plants reduce the amount of sunlight that enters the water, which helps reduce the growth of algae. When adding potted plants, place a layer of stones on top of the soil, before setting the pots in the water. This will help hold the soil in place and help prevent any fish from “digging” into the pots.
If you live in a cold climate, consider what you will do with the tub garden in the winter. Small tubs can be moved inside if a suitable location is available. Other tubs may need to be drained to prevent damage from freezing.
Caution: Use caution and take security measures if small children have access to your pond. Even small tub gardens can be hazardous. If you intend to have a fountain or waterfall, be sure a grounded electrical outlet is available.
Decorative Fountains
Most people know that adding a fountain to their home or garden can increase the overall value of their property. Most of these same people also do not know that there are actually many different types of fountains to choose from. There are plenty of aesthetic perks to be found with home garden water fountains. They can completely change the vibe that people get when they enter your backyard for the first time.
Different Types of Home Garden Water Fountains
Home fountains used to also serve more practical purposes in the past. Although they can still help you relax at the end of a long day if you place them in the right spot. Let’s take a look at a few of the different fountains that could work well in your home garden.
The Urn Fountain
The urn fountain is the type of fountain that probably pops into your head when you think about generic garden fountains for your backyard. These fountains can be found with more than one tier, and the number of tiers on your fountain depends on how elegant you want your garden to be. You will usually have the option of slate, ceramic, or cement materials for your garden fountain.
Wall Fountains
If you want to choose something a bit more special for your garden, then you may want to look into getting a wall fountain. These are usually a great option when you want to attach a fountain to your deck. They can also be used as a water source if you want to put a small pond in your backyard. These types of fountains are usually comprised of multiple layers of fiberglass.
The Simple, Bubbling Fountain
One last type of fountain that you may want to look into for your backyard or garden is the bubbling fountain. This is the simplest type of fountain on the market. It does not actually shoot water into the air. If you are looking for something simple that will not break the bank, then this is probably going to be your best option. These fountains will not do much when it comes to providing a big splash in your garden. Nevertheless, they will still be able to create that comforting, relaxing sound that everyone expects to get from a fountain in their backyard.
Any random individual could pour a concrete driveway and call it a hardscape, Yet, there is actually a lot of planning that goes into building hardscape properly. The biggest downside of hardscape is drainage. While natural earth has an innate absorptive capacity for rainwater, hardscape allows the water to run off. In cases of heavy rain or storms, the volume of this runoff can become quite high. Large scale hardscaping can also cause the water table beneath the ground to become depleted, influencing the amount of water available for home and other uses.
When planning a hardscape, it’s important to consult with a professional landscaper who has experience planning and installing hardscape. Professionals are ready to help you properly place your hardscape and build it from the most appropriate materials for your property. When placing your hardscape, considering the direction that water will run off is of critical importance. The structure should be placed to direct running water away from any buildings. Your new sidewalk will look a whole lot less attractive if it is funneling water into your basement every time it rains! An appropriate pitch encourages the water to run in such a way that it does not create unsightly or damaging pools without running so fast that it erodes away the soil surrounding the hardscape.
In addition, landscaping professionals can help you choose from a variety of materials for your project. Pervious materials that allow water to filter through to the earth beneath can greatly reduce drainage problems. Often, a mix of materials is advisable, to direct water away from areas where you don’t want it and allow it to drain in more appropriate places.
These are some of the basic factors to take into consideration when installing a hardscape, but to do things right, the project should be tailored to your specific home property. Above all, have fun. Water gardens provide habitat for wildlife, but also can be an enjoyable hobby for you and your family.
To discuss how hardscape can improve your outdoor space, Talk to our Experts!
