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Some point to consider when designing your landscape:

• Age, sex and hobbies of all family members.  What will make the family happy?
   

• Plants to be included -- Personal preferences including likes and dislikes.
   

• Who will do the maintenance?  How much time each family will have?
   

• Does your driveway and parking area provide adequate usage. What changes need to be made?
   

• How long do you intend to own the property? Do you need Curb Appeal for near future sale?
   

• Existing patio or deck: Does the present size and shape provide an adequate entertain center for your family party needs.
   

• How many people do you entertain and how often?
   

• Is the back deck or patio connected to the front driveway?  Is there a need to improve the circulation with additional walks or stepping pads.
   

• Do you have a service area for the garbage container, tool shed or a compost pile.
   

• Is a play area for children needed?   If so, for what activities?
   

• Should a swimming pool, hot-tub and or sauna be included in the plans?
   

• What about a outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen or water feature for family enjoyment?
   

• Special accessories: Sculptures, bird feeders and bird houses.
   

• Landscape irrigation system, now or in the future?
   

• Landscape Lighting for family security and night time beauty, now or in the future?

Every Landscape Plan is designed for each individual project.
Just For You to meet your needs and desires for great family enjoyment.

1.  Yours home's landscape should provide curb appeal for the first good impression.

2.  Your backyard should be your family's retreat and entertainment center.

3.   Patios and decks are great Hardscape areas for the family get together and outdoor eating experiences.

4.  Outdoor kitchens can provide great food and the family conversation center.

5. Outdoor fireplaces combined with a patio, pool and or hot tub for longer seasonal
enjoyment.

6. Planting trees to provide summer cooling for your home and cut air conditioning costs.

7.  Young children play area in a separate room in the backyard.

8.  A fenced backyard can provide safety for your children.

9.  Water features can be enjoyed by everyone with a nice sound to smooth the stresses of the long work day. 

10. Landscape Lighting adds atmosphere to you outdoor living area.

11.   Solve all of your properties drainage problems before you plant a single plant.
It is a must for plant survival and proper growth.

12. Driveway and parking design should be consider.

13. Shrubs soften vertical lines of the home and screen unwanted views while providing color and texture in the design.

14. Front walk should curve for the drive to the front door which is your home's focal point.

15. Landscape Irrigation system is a must for good plant growth.

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Know What To Look For When Buying Rural Property

Country living is increasingly popular but rural property buyers must be cautious.

With food and energy prices soaring and population centers exploding; many people who possess a pioneering spirit are exploring outlying rural areas so they can create a new homestead. Many intrepid individuals are buying land to hold for now, and gradually planning to build on it and move there at some later point in their lives.

However, unlike buying a generic house in a typical subdivision, country living involves analyzing various factors before one even plants the first stakes and tomato plants in the ground. With urban properties you there's no urgent need to concern yourself with water rights, boundary lines, property access, utilities, or hard-up bulls. When looking at rural properties there are vital areas that should be considered before making that purchase. Some important factors to consider are:

Climate:

We often take climate for granted when living in an urban area as it involves little more than looking out the window to see whether short sleeves or umbrellas are in order. Is it hot, cold, wet or dry?

In the country it can be a different experience. Sure, the sun glistening off the morning dew can take on a whole new meaning, but so does a torrential downpour of rain that makes the road to your home impassable or transforms your lovely green meadow into a big brown mud pit.

If the area is prone to freezing temperatures, then clearing a long dirt road of three foot snow drifts is a dilemma that needs to be considered.

Forces of nature can also affect the property values and insurance rates. You’ll also want to consider variations in temperature, humidity, rain, hail, snow, drought, floods, lightning, dust storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It pays to be aware of how the area is affected by all four of the seasons.

Water:

Without access to water, even the most beautiful land is a non-starter. If the property does not have access to a sufficient water supply, then it may render the property nearly worthless. After all, just one person can use 50-100 gallons per day, and a robust vegetable garden might use nearly as much.

In rural areas the expense and effort can go much farther than the simple turn of a faucet tap. Simply getting running water can require a generator, pump, pipeline, holding tank, and a well.

You may be informed that everyone has wells in the area but that is no guarantee you’ll find underground water. And drilling wells can be a hit or miss proposition, with large costs involved, only to end up either not finding water, or that it’s been contaminated by pesticides.

Finally, don’t be misled by rushing rivers and surging streams when exploring properties in the spring and early summer, as this is likely the peak flow rate for the year.

Land:

When looking at a site for building your country house you must determine soil conditions, drainage patterns, slopes. For example, surface soils that expand and contract during freezing temperatures or do not drain properly can devastate the house’s foundation.

Of course soil conditions will also impact your gardening or farming plans. Areas with lots of wild vegetation can indicate good top soil conditions. On the other hand, soil that is parched and light in color and the roots of trees and bushes have been exposed indicate that your topsoil is eroding.

Access:

It’s important to know your rights with regards to access to the property. In certain cases, you may need to gain entry to your property by using an easement or right-of-way. This gives you the right to travel across property owned by another person. Use of this entry way could require negotiations and legal papers, so it’s essential to know about this before committing to a property.

Another factor to consider with property access is emergency response times. Larger emergency-response vehicles such as a fire truck may not be capable of traversing over small or poorly maintained roads or an ambulance may not readily find a poorly marked parcel.

Boundary Lines:

In order to minimize boundary line disputes, most states have implemented laws that state you must have a fence to keep roaming animals off your property.

If you do not have an appropriate fence installed per local regulations, and the neighbor's big burly bull wanders onto your property and tramples your tomatoes and dents your Dodge, you’ll have no legal recourse. Most rural property fanciers never conceive of this until after the fact.

In order to avoid litigation, you must perform the legal research to stay abreast of property statutes.

Zoning:

Many states have zoning laws which mandate that rural landowners accept all the activities and operations of neighboring farmers and ranchers, including smelly cow manure and dream-ruining roosters. Urban-escaping property owners must accept these disturbances as long as they are operating within the constraints of the law.

A crucial matter to consider is when your country property is situated in a community undergoing new development, where new roads, drain pipes, power lines, schools and other state-controlled property development is soon to be in the works. In these cases, the state maintains the right of Eminent Domain. In other words, the state may seek possession of your wonderful property and merely compensate you as it deems suitable. Be sure to consult with the local town's planning board to determine if your proposed purchase would be affected.

Knowing The Ins and Outs Of Buying Country Property Will Save You Grief Later.

The hard reality of buying a property out in the country goes far beyond deciphering floor plans, commutes, and school systems. Mother nature and environmental conditions can cause the best laid plans to run afoul. Popular amenities like coffee and fast food are few and far between. And unforeseen expenses can bust the most carefully crafted budget.

Despite all these variables, having your own space surrounded by nature, guarded by privacy, and depending on one’s self-reliance can be a rewarding and enriching experience, far removed form the generic housing and hectic lifestyle so commonly found in an urban dwelling.
 

How to Design and Build the Perfect Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is the perfect complement to any house. Not only are you able to cook delicious meals outside in the warm summer evenings but also you will not have to be stuck in the main kitchen, missing all the fun outside.

In 2005, Americans spent nearly $150 billion remodeling their homes and $50 billion of this was spent on exterior living areas, meaning that outdoor kitchens are a hot trend! You will need at least a few thousand dollars before beginning your outdoor kitchen but consider it an investment. Before you rush out to buy materials and appliances, here are some things you should know about outdoor kitchens and their design.

Outdoor Kitchen Design

There are three basic outdoor kitchen designs, which are a L-shaped island, a basic island, and a U-shaped center. A L-shaped island has space for both cooking and preparation. A basic island features a sink, a grill, and a space for preparation. Basic islands tend to be small so if you are going to be cooking for more than a couple of people, you might want to consider another type. A U-shaped center has a grill in the middle and spaces on either side for preparation and serving. This is a handy design if you want to be able to serve food straight from the grill without leaving it.

Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets

Remember that outdoor kitchens will be exposed to sunlight, water, and cold temperatures, So you need to use durable materials for the countertops and cabinets. Marble, granite, brick and various manmade materials are good to use. Wood rots easily, especially if left untreated. It is also highly flammable. Outdoor kitchens are supposed to last for many years, so you should invest in the best quality cabinets and countertops you can afford.

Outdoor Kitchen Appliances

The centerpiece of all outdoor kitchens are the grills. You can choose a gas grill or a charcoal grill. Gas grills offer better temperature control but charcoal grills give a better flavor to the food. You will need a waterproof cover for your grill, if it is exposed to the elements.

You will also need a kitchen island. These can be bought in one piece or designed yourself. Suitable materials include stone, stainless steel, and stucco. It is handy to have an outdoor sink, which draws from a potable water hose or the house's water supply. An outdoor refrigerator is another possibility but a refrigerator kept outdoors will have a maximum life span of five years because of the fluctuating outdoor temperatures.

How to Build an Outdoor Kitchen

The first thing to do is plan exactly what you want and need. Also, think about what type of cooking you will do and how often, your budget, whether you want the outdoor kitchen to be a fixture or movable arrangement, how many people you will be feeding and whether the food will be eaten outside or brought in.

When you have a firm idea of what is required, you can either build your own outdoor kitchen or hire a contractor to help. Outdoor kitchens should be near the house so you can bring food in and out but not in an area where smoke will blow into the house or into the faces of your guests. Other safety precautions include making sure the grill is a comfortable thirty-six inches high and not using any flammable materials in your outdoor kitchen construction.

Once you have your plans and materials ready, it is time to build the perfect outdoor kitchen, where your family and friends will enjoy making delicious meals for many years!
 

What does your landscaping plan need?

What does your landscaping plan need?

There are a few different things that any good landscaping plan will need to be successful. First you should know what a successful landscaping plan is. To be successful a landscaping plan needs to be well thought out and all issues must be dealt with and accounted for. This means taking into consideration the amount of sun each area of the yard will get as well as how much water it will receive and where the water will sit. Drainage is imperative to any well thought out landscaping plan. You need to have the right kind of irrigation if you want anything to grow and flourish in your landscaping plan.

You should take close stock of what is already around before you start any kind of landscaping plan. All of the best ones will use the natural beauties that are already a part of any yard. Most yards will have something going for them so find this and use it to make your landscaping plan stunning. For example there may be some gorgeous trees or trees, or some great rock formations. Why rip these out only to plant another thing, that is just a waste of living things in some cases and totally unacceptable. Use what is there and your landscaping plan will look that much more natural and gorgeous every single time.

Examine all aspects of the yard to be landscaped. Will you need to level or contour up any areas? Are the angles good as they are or do they need a little help? These kinds of things matter and will have some part of the drainage aspect mentioned above when it comes to your landscaping plan.

Most people do not have a million or so dollars to spend so you will have to take this into consideration when you are coming up with your landscaping plan. You need to know how much you will be able to afford before you go all out designing this amazing, yet expensive landscaping plan. You will probably not be able to afford to change the whole slope of your yard even if you wanted to so try to stay within the scope of your money and your ideas.

Make sure that your landscaping plan has taken everything into consideration and only then should you start putting this plan into motion.

This Landscape Plan was designed around of a large 20' round
planter with a existing 25' Burford Holly.  Existing elements
as mention in  the article above dictated this design pattern.

LANDSCAPE LIGHTING

1. When buying landscape lights buy quality!!!

2. Quality light should provide light without seeing the source. They should not shine on you. They should up light a small tree, down light a flower area, walk or steps or maybe all three.

3. Low voltage lighting will be your choice for residential landscape use.

4. Up lights include different small fixtures that have 35w to 75w bulbs. They have a soil spike included or they may be sold separately to install the fixture at the base of a tree. Adjust the angle of the fixture to light area of the tree that you want. Larger tree may require two fixtures.

5. Flower area lights would include down lights or mushrooms types. They come in different heights and sizes of the fixture top. Select the proper bulb size from 10w to 20w depending on the desired light. Landscape lighting can provide safety around the home as well as a great new dimension to your landscape. Night time beauty that you won’t believe and you will enjoy your home landscaping even more.

                                What is required to light up your landscape?

1. Select the fixtures.

2. Determine the amount of watts your fixtures will be using.

3. Based on the total watts, select the transformer for your job. Transformers come with a electric eye or a clock to turn the lights on and off. The clock type is generally cheaper to buy. The Transformer is most costly item to buy, but you must have it to run the lighting system.

4. Low voltage wire size will depend on the number of fixtures and the length of the wire needed. Your supplier should be able help you select the proper wire size for your project. Use silicone wire nuts to water proof the wire connections.

5. You must have outdoor electric outlet for the hook-up.
 

DESIGNING AND BUILDING A POND

Building a pond is a big undertaking that involves a fair amount of hard work and, as it will be a permanent feature of your garden, it is worthwhile spending some time in the planning stage. So before you rush into the garden with a shovel, pause for a while and think about your fish pond design and the type of pond that you want…

Natural Pond – follows the curves and forms of nature and may include an outcrop of stone or a natural beach. This will often allow planting at the edge of the pool and can create the impression that the pond was there long before the rest of the garden or the house was constructed.

Formal Pond – a geometric design works best when there is a relationship in design and materials with the buildings that are close by. It will usually be symmetrical in design and could be rectangular or square in shape and may have a paved edge. Formal ponds are often planted but usually with artfully chosen plants rather than the wilder plantings of a natural pond.

Raised Pond – a formal pond can also be constructed above ground from bricks, blocks or stone. There will be less waste to carry from the site, however the cost of the construction materials will be higher than an in-ground pond. Once you’ve decided on the type of pond spend some time working out possible locations and mark out the locations with a garden hose or a length or rope. Take into consideration the amount of light in different locations. If you want to grow water lilies you will require four or six hours of direct sunlight on the pond during the day.

Shade is fine for fish-only ponds. Check the overhanging trees as these could also be a source of pond pollution. If you must build a pond under a tree at least try to avoid deciduous trees – the leaves will create a lot of pond waste. When deciding the location of your pond avoid the temptation to locate the pond in the lowest point in the garden. The low point can carry fertilizers and organic debris into the pond. A pond for goldfish or aquatic plants need prevent the pond freezing in winter. If you want to keep koi in your pond it will need to be at least three feet deep or more.

The biggest mistake that water gardeners tend to make is to build a pond that is too small. Your finished pond will appear much smaller than your original layout! If your pond is to be dug out rather than raised consider how you will remove the excavated material. It may be possible to use it in another part of the garden, alternatively you may need to have it removed which can be difficult and expensive.

Assuming you are going to build a sunken pond the next step is to start digging! Dig the pond to the desired shape and dig a shelf around the perimeter of the pond about one foot deep and one or more feet wide. Dig the remainder of the pond. If you are planning a waterfall dig the pond with a slight slope away from the waterfall. Line the excavated pond with underlay. This is to stop the flexible liner from being pierced by sharp stones.

Pond underlay can be made from geo-textile or old carpet, providing it is non-organic and non-rotting this can be used to save money. A butyl rubber pond liner is laid on top of the underlay. Position the liner evenly in the pond and try to minimize the folds and wrinkles.  Leave an overhang of at least six inches. Avoid walking on the newly laid liner as much as possible. If you must walk on it wear socks! Fill the pond and try to ease the wrinkles out of the liner while the pond is filling.

Arrange coping stones around the edge of the pond and fold the liner up behind the stones ensuring the edge of the liner is above the water level. A more natural edge can be created by planting shallow-water plants around the edge of the pond. You may need to consider cementing the coping stones in place if the pond edge will be subjected to much foot traffic.

Now sit back and enjoy your new garden pond!
 

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