Basic concepts and terms to know Lighting can add so much to your outdoor space. From safety and security, to curb appeal and extended evenings relaxing outside, the benefits truly add value and enjoyment to your home. “When working with a professional installer, knowing a few definitions of common lighting terms can help make the process easier,” says Alexis Deasy, marketing communications manager for Unique Lighting Systems. “When you understand…
Working with a professional installer can make a big difference. Once you’ve made the decision to enhance your landscape with outdoor lighting, the product choices and design options may seem overwhelming. Working with a professional outdoor lighting installer can not only make the process easier, but it can also help ensure you’ll love the results! “Lighting is really an artform,” says Alexis Deasy, senior marketing communications manager for Unique Lighting…
Top five reasons lighting can make your life better Creating an outdoor space that is beautiful, functional, and relaxing is on many homeowners’ must-do lists. Adding outdoor lighting can create opportunities for more enjoyment – from designing a welcoming front door to extending the hours you can spend on your patio. Here is a look at the top five ways professionally installed outdoor lighting can make life at your home…
One of the good things about fall is we get to start planning our lawns and landscapes for next year. Some of us may be thinking about ways to enhance a plain lawn, while others are looking for a way to make it easier to mow around beds, features, and plantings. These design tips will make it easier to mow while giving your yard a more finished, landscaped look. Planning…
When planting a new lawn, take the time to fix any existing grade problems (after removing the old turf and before adding amendments to the soil). For minor grading problems, small versions of earth-moving equipment are often available to rent or buy. You can also use a landscaping rake for working topsoil to the proper grade. To make minor grade adjustments use a landscape rake. Water the area. Later, fill where…
You have put a lot of work into creating a new lawn, so don’t forget the most important step. Plan for watering needs before you plant your lawn. Insufficient water and overwatering are the leading causes of new-lawn failure. Take precautions to prevent damage. Minimize play and foot traffic on new and sodded lawns for at least three weeks. Do not fertilize new lawns for at least six weeks. After…
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) Easily grown from sod, plugs, or sprigs, St. Augustinegrass produces a dense blue-green turf that has good shade and salt tolerance. It is highly popular in coastal areas from Florida to California. Drawbacks: Thick thatch if heavily fertilized and watered. Vulnerable to chinch bugs and grubs. Recommendations: For USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. According to the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP), look for slow-growing Amerishade, cold…
There are two ways to purchase grass seed. One method is to visit the garden section of a retail store and pick out a package labeled with the intended use, such as “Shade Mix.” Alternatively, you can buy the latest cultivars and make up your own mix. Either way, you will still need to know the basics about purchasing seed, beginning with the terms species and cultivar. Species refers to…
Why Overseed? Warm-season grasses have a major drawback for homeowners—their color disappears when winter arrives! To have green grass in winter, some southerners overseed their lawns using cool-season grasses, such as fine fescue, bluegrass, or ryegrass. How Does It Work? These annual cool-season grasses find a hospitable habitat among the dormant southern grasses and then die off with the return of warm weather in the spring. What Are…
(ARA) – What do those guys on the landscaping shows have that you don’t have? (Besides their own TV show, that is.) They have all the right tools to make their job easier, whether they’re building a deck, clearing brush to make way for a new patio or digging a hole for a backyard pond. Fortunately, you don’t need the budget of a television landscaping celebrity or the storage space of…