The last month of summer vacation is officially looming upon us. And while our other tips include enjoying what nice weather this summer has left to offer us and appreciating all the green before we are faced with a whiter canvas, here are some of our landscape maintenance tips for the month of August:
• Check the moisture level of the landscape plant material, make sure the plants and perennials are not drying out, keep the soil moist. However don’t over water.
• Spot spraying of broadleaf weed control.
• Deadheading perennials to encourage a second growth.
• Your lawn should be allowed to go dormant during the dry season of summer, unless you are willing to keep the lawn WELL watered during the entire dry season. The lawn will come back to life after some good rains.
Vande Hey Design Center
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
DIY edging
Looking for a DIY project that can quickly improve the appearance of your current landscape? Here’s a sure fire idea. Install or improve your landscape edging to give your yard and planting beds a new crisp appearance.
Many products exist which will create that crisp clean appearance. You might choose brick or concrete pavers, fieldstone boulders, plastic edging, curbing or a simple hand spaded edge to give you the appearance you desire. The most popular is plastic edging. When choosing a plastic edging, select the heaviest plastic edging you can find that extends to a minimum of 6” deep. It should have numerous flanges or indentations and come with steel stacks to secure it firmly in place.
To install, begin by creating the bed shape you wish to create. Use a garden hose to visualize and create the shape you desire. When satisfied, spray paint the line on the ground to create a permanent outline to follow. With a garden spade, create a trench to hold the edging making sure that the depth will allow the top bead to be halfway below grade. Now drive the stakes through the bottom of the edging on a 45 degree angle towards the turf. One every ten feet should be adequate. Use more stakes in soft, sandy soils and in tightly curved areas. The most common mistake occurs when joining two sections of edging together. The trick is to cut off a 3-4 inch section of the round bead at the top of one of the edging pieces to be connected. Using the connector plug that should come with the edging, join the two sections overlapping the bottom portions. Finally drive another steel anchor stake on a 45 degree angle through the overlapped sections towards the turf or outside of the bed. Install two more stakes, one on each side of the overlapped section, approximately one foot from the stake. Backfill the trench as you go. If properly installed, you’ll now have a consistent clean edge that will not gap or heave in spring or be chewed up by the lawn mower.
Many products exist which will create that crisp clean appearance. You might choose brick or concrete pavers, fieldstone boulders, plastic edging, curbing or a simple hand spaded edge to give you the appearance you desire. The most popular is plastic edging. When choosing a plastic edging, select the heaviest plastic edging you can find that extends to a minimum of 6” deep. It should have numerous flanges or indentations and come with steel stacks to secure it firmly in place.
To install, begin by creating the bed shape you wish to create. Use a garden hose to visualize and create the shape you desire. When satisfied, spray paint the line on the ground to create a permanent outline to follow. With a garden spade, create a trench to hold the edging making sure that the depth will allow the top bead to be halfway below grade. Now drive the stakes through the bottom of the edging on a 45 degree angle towards the turf. One every ten feet should be adequate. Use more stakes in soft, sandy soils and in tightly curved areas. The most common mistake occurs when joining two sections of edging together. The trick is to cut off a 3-4 inch section of the round bead at the top of one of the edging pieces to be connected. Using the connector plug that should come with the edging, join the two sections overlapping the bottom portions. Finally drive another steel anchor stake on a 45 degree angle through the overlapped sections towards the turf or outside of the bed. Install two more stakes, one on each side of the overlapped section, approximately one foot from the stake. Backfill the trench as you go. If properly installed, you’ll now have a consistent clean edge that will not gap or heave in spring or be chewed up by the lawn mower.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Why design?
Why should I have my Landscape professionally designed, when I can just throw a couple of trees and shrubs in the ground myself? Sound familiar? We hear this question all the time. The fact of the matter is, you can. But remember, Good Landscape Design goes far beyond plants. Professional Landscape Design is an art which deals with the specific arrangement of outdoor space for the enjoyment and satisfaction of the owner. The goals of a good design include: developing the site for maximum function and pleasure, creating an aesthetically pleasing relationship between the house and its surroundings, and keeping the maintenance of the site to a manageable level.
Good landscape design can significantly improve a home’s appearance and value by creating a personality of warmth, livability, and beauty for the site. “Research at Clemson University conducted a study of home sales and compared the results based on varying levels of landscape quality. Not only were type, size, and condition of the plantings considered, but also the overall design. Landscapers were rated “poor”, “good”, or “excellent”. Well-designed landscape homes had faster sales because of first impressions…” –Research Group, Clemson University 2001. Money Magazine had this to say; “Landscaping as a home improvement project has a recovery value of 100-200% if it is well done and harmonizes with the nearby surrounding. This compares to a kitchen overhead of 75-125% or a bathroom redesign of 80-120%.” Without good planning and design a person could waste a lot of time and money.
There are numerous other considerations for a good thorough design. Some of these might include: site accessibility, setback requirements, drainage, placement of paving, placement of buildings, elevation of buildings, safety, snow removal, or visual corridors. It is best to get a landscape designer involved in your project as early as possible in the process. This can save you time, money, and many long-term headaches. Give us a call with any design questions or concerns you may have.
Good landscape design can significantly improve a home’s appearance and value by creating a personality of warmth, livability, and beauty for the site. “Research at Clemson University conducted a study of home sales and compared the results based on varying levels of landscape quality. Not only were type, size, and condition of the plantings considered, but also the overall design. Landscapers were rated “poor”, “good”, or “excellent”. Well-designed landscape homes had faster sales because of first impressions…” –Research Group, Clemson University 2001. Money Magazine had this to say; “Landscaping as a home improvement project has a recovery value of 100-200% if it is well done and harmonizes with the nearby surrounding. This compares to a kitchen overhead of 75-125% or a bathroom redesign of 80-120%.” Without good planning and design a person could waste a lot of time and money.
There are numerous other considerations for a good thorough design. Some of these might include: site accessibility, setback requirements, drainage, placement of paving, placement of buildings, elevation of buildings, safety, snow removal, or visual corridors. It is best to get a landscape designer involved in your project as early as possible in the process. This can save you time, money, and many long-term headaches. Give us a call with any design questions or concerns you may have.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Family fun and fitness: staying in the game
A high performance court occupies the little ones playing hopscotch, four-square, rollerblading or riding tricycles. A basketball court helps Dad pass down his jump shot to the kids and the teens can play volleyball without the sandy shorts plus badminton, kickball and soccer minus the grass stains.
A tennis doubles match with the neighbors, even twenty minutes after some rain lets everyone enjoy activities. For solo practice, add a multi-purpose rebounder for handball, soccer, tennis or a baseball pitch back. When winter comes, convert the game court to a personal ice hockey/skating rink by flooding the court to extend the fun factor year-round! Lights can be added for night play.
With applications from residential homes to cabin getaways, multi-game court owners are excited at the many activities that can be played on these courts! Multi-sport game courts also provide an excellent flooring solution for athletic facilities, churches, schools, professional sports centers and community centers. There are no worries with a court that is low-maintenance, cost effective, moisture-resistant and carries the best warranty in the industry. Vertical suspension provides protection and energy return for competitive play with consistent playability. The patented Lateral Forgiveness™ flooring surface is tested and proven to reduce the risk of injury and fatigue, making it a valuable investment in fitness.
Snap Sport has installed more than 50,000 basketball, tennis, game courts and putting green installations worldwide since 1974. The floors have been chosen by many distinguished athletic organizations such as the FIBA, NCAA, NBA, USA Volleyball, and USA Hockey Inline. Coach Larry Brown is one of over 50 NBA coaches and players who have installed Snap Sport products in their backyard. “The game court has provided a wonderful way for me to share my love of sports with the ones who mean the most to me,” Brown says.
Snap Sport combines state of the art technology with timeless products that provide the world with ongoing quality family time opportunities! A game court can be installed in a matter of days and custom-designed to fit any color or size specification. Whether for a safe haven for your children, development of athletic skills or a healthy diversion from TV and video games, backyard recreation is a great way for families to reconnect.
Friday, July 1, 2011
July maintenance tips & tricks
Can you believe that it is July already?! Neither can we, but here are some July tips from the pros to keep your yard looking great!
• Raise the level of the mower blades, to remove no more than one-third.
• Check on how sharp the blades are on the mower.
• Perennials should be deadheaded to encourage a second growth.
• Spot spraying of broadleaf weed control.
• Lawn should be allowed to go dormant during the dry season of summer, unless you are willing to keep the lawn WELL watered during the entire dry season. The lawn will come back to life after some good rains.
• Raise the level of the mower blades, to remove no more than one-third.
• Check on how sharp the blades are on the mower.
• Perennials should be deadheaded to encourage a second growth.
• Spot spraying of broadleaf weed control.
• Lawn should be allowed to go dormant during the dry season of summer, unless you are willing to keep the lawn WELL watered during the entire dry season. The lawn will come back to life after some good rains.
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