Category Archives: Yard & Outdoors

Landscaping in Florida

February 06, 2025   Matt

Landscaping in Florida

Landscaping in Florida is not that different compared to other places in the US. This is because companies who offer their services will still mow the lawn, plant trees and do everything else to keep the garden well maintained.

As a contractor, you should know what plants work best depending on the region and know the best places to put them. Since Florida is prone to hurricanes, you should know how to water them properly and be able to protect it.

You should also be able to attract wildlife to the garden. Some plants that can make this happen include the Gold Lantana and the Dwarf Fire bushes that are known to attract butterflies which add beauty to the surroundings.

Don’t forget to use fertilizers for the garden. In Florida, this is very important because soil is a major problem. Most of the time, you will encounter soil that is too sandy which also lacks the necessary minerals for plant growth.

One tree that will never go out of style in Florida is the Sabal Palm that is native to the area. A lot of people decide to plant one in the front or backyard because this compliments Florida’s landscape which people want a part of even in their homes.

When you plant this, remember that this should be placed a few yards away from the house so that in the event that a super hurricane comes again, it will not cause that much damage to the home.

Since most homes in Florida don’t have walls or a gate, you will also plant palm trees to give the homeowners some privacy. Some say this is more effective than putting up a fence because the leaves provide more coverage.

You can plant shrubs and other smaller plants near the house. These are ideal to hide the air conditioner and other things that may not look very attractive to those who drive by. The general rule of course when planning what flowers to use is to make it go well with the color of the house which shouldn’t be a problem if you use native species that are accustomed to the climate.

For people that like to go organic, you can also make your own vegetable garden. Given that soil is a problem, it is best to build a raise bed and then put a layer of erosion cloth so it can deal better with the water coming from the plants. Some vegetables that are perfect for Florida’s weather include herbs, onions, peppers and tomatoes.

The condition of the soil may be a challenge for contractors who still service clients but those who are able to surpass this will be able to do a lot of business.

Those who are starting out should offer their services first in the neighborhood and then expand this to get more clients. Advertising will be important here so they should post flyers, maybe put an ad in the paper or pay for a print ad.

You will be able to succeed should you decide to open a landscaping business in Florida. Just remember to use the plants and trees native to the area so you don’t have to worry about what other species have to be bought in and wonder if this will be able to withstand the hot climate.

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Decorative Stone Uses For Landscaping

January 22, 2025   Matt

Decorative Stone Uses For Landscaping

One of the benefits resulting from the diminishing rainfall now being experienced Australia wide is the growing realisation by the community that there are alternatives to the vast areas of lawn traditionally found around suburban houses.
The new trend toward smaller property sizes has also caused people to look at more practical uses that could be made of the surrounds to their homes.
One of the fastest growth areas experienced over the past 5 years has been the increased usage of decorative pebbles. Landscapers and homeowners basically have two main sources for these pebbles and stones.
Natural coloured stones can be sourced throughout Australia, under licence, from old river and creek beds where their removal does not harm the ecosystem. These stones are quarried, then tumbled to give a smooth rounded edge which adds a touch of class wherever used. Local decorative pebbles are increasingly being used throughout the landscaping of new display homes to provide a low maintenance, low water requirement home environment. Attractive exterior inorganic mulches like pebbles suppress weeds and retain soil moisture when applied over already moist soil. They don’t break down over time and with the wide range of colours available can look great providing a modern stylish garden appearance.
The alternative source of decorative pebbles is the growing range of colours and sizes available in the imported pebbles. Whilst the initial major source of these was from non enviro-friendly areas of beaches and rivers in India and Indonesia, the recent trend had been to the wide range of natural coloured pebbles which are manufactured particularly in China and Italy. The two types of pebbles sourced are either polished and waxed or are manufactured stone that is tumbled from quarried rock to the desired size.
Polished pebbles are sourced from huge mounds of pebbles produced as a by-product to sand mining operations. Stacks up to 4 metres high and covering areas as large as a football field provide the pebbles that are hand picked for the colour required (usually black). These pebbles are then taken to local villages where they are polished by tumbling, then waxed and bagged.
Imported decorative pebbles are increasingly being used in a wide variety of applications including interior and exterior landscaping, roofscaping and the latest trend in decorative concrete – “seeded exposed aggregate”.
One of the many aspects drawing landscape architects and designers to this finish is the complete versatility in design and colour produced by the product. With over 100 different colour oxides available to select from for the concrete colour the wide range of over 40 different colours pebbles available provide a limitless colour combination to work with.
Apart from colour selections, designers can also incorporate exciting features in the project works. Polystyrene cut-outs which are set in the concrete when the initial pour is done can be subsequently removed and replaced with a contrasting feature concrete/pebble combination. Side borders can vary, from the many decorative pavers and bricks available, to hand laid pebble borders using any of the 100+ colours and sizes available.
A particularly popular range of pebbles are sourced from an Italian marble manufacturer who tumbles marble off-cuts to provide a colourful range of smooth edged marble pebbles. These environment friendly pebbles contain all the variations naturally found in marble providing an exceedingly decorative and appealing appearance.

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Brighten Your Path By Installing Decorative Landscape Lighting

January 17, 2025   Matt

Brighten Your Path By Installing Decorative Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting can add a beautiful quality to any home. There are many choices available to someone who is considering it. Landscape lighting, and any outdoor lighting, can help protect a home as well as keep people from stumbling in the yard. Mainly, people purchase landscape lighting to enhance the appearance of their yard or landscaping.
There are many types of landscape lighting. You can purchase low voltage landscape lighting is recommended if you are interested in conserving energy. Another option to conserving energy is solar landscape lighting. Solar, or from the sun, is powered from the suns rays. It stores energy during the day while the sun is out and then, at night, when it is dark, they are lit using this saved energy. They give off a faint glow that really can light up a little area or large area. These types of outdoor landscape lighting can be great ways to light your yard cost efficiently.
If you are considering doing work on your landscaping, consider landscape lighting design. Designing a beautifully light yard can be tough work, but there are professionals that can help you. For example, something that can be done is light a walkway to the front steps to your home or line the driveway with lights from the street to your garage. Maybe you would prefer to focus your lights on a single bush or tree that is special in some way or to shine on a flag.
When considering landscape lighting, ensure that you think of safety first. Consider speaking with a professional to help you design what you would like your yard to look like. Consider as well using energy efficient landscape lighting such as solar or low voltage. Landscape lighting can add beauty and charm to a home when it is done properly and safely.

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Pool Landscaping 101

January 12, 2025   Matt

Pool Landscaping 101

There are three things to think about when you are planning pool landscaping. It has to offer privacy and safety for those who are there as well as beautify the surroundings.

This can be done by putting plants around the swimming pool because it helps make the pool blend in with the environment. If the plants are tall enough, these are able to block “peeping Toms” from watching whoever is at the pool.

When choosing plants, it is best to select those that require low maintenance so that you don’t have to fish the leaves or petals that are blown into the water. One good option is to use a broadleaf evergreen such as a holly.

Since you want people to relax when they are by the pool, you can also use tropical looking plants like the aspidistra, aucuba, banana tree, caladiums, elephant ears, cyperus, Fatsia japonica and palms.

You must never make the mistake of putting plants with thorns near the pool. It could also injure someone or tear off the fabric of their clothes, swimsuits or towels.

Instead of planting flowers in the grass, you can also do so by putting them in containers. The advantage of doing is that you can move these indoors when it is too cold especially during the winter and then bring them back the following spring.

You should avoid planting fruit trees by the pool because they could dirty the surrounding area and also attract bees. Surely, you do not want any of your guests to get stung. Another reason is that their roots will soon damage the tiles o f your swimming pool.

Homeowners should also avoid evergreens like oaks and pines because they don’t only drop leaves but also acorns, leaves and needles.

But don’t all trees shed their leaves? They all do but there are those that drop their leaves for a short period of time like the forsythia and maples.

Safety for those in the pool can be done by putting up a fence. If the metal bars are an eye sore, grow vines around them. If you have guests that will be swimming in the evening, make sure there are lights around the perimeter and in the water.

Another safety that you can be around the pool is a patio because it has a non-slip surface for which people can walk on even if they have just come out of the pool. You can also create the same effect by using bricks as long as the surface is rough.

So guests do not enter the house with their feet still wet, it will be a good idea to have a closed gazebo nearby so they can change and at the same time relax in the shade. Those who want to sunbathe can sit on a lounge chair or on an Adirondack chair.

Reading about this should already teach you a few do’s and don’ts with regards to pool landscaping. For those who want more information, it is best to read some books, do some research online, talk to someone at the local nursery and get advice from a professional.

All of this input will ensure that your swimming pool will look good all year round so your guests may drop by anytime and take a plunge.

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Great Real Estate Buying Tips That Can Work For You! (3)

December 28, 2024   Matt

Great Real Estate Buying Tips That Can Work For You!

Prior to signing on the dotted line, make sure you are well-versed in the basics with regard to real estate. Reading this advice may be helpful.

If you find a home to purchase and you’ve made an offer that has been accepted, do yourself a favor, and stop looking at homes on the market. Inevitably there may be something that comes along which will make you second guess your decision. Trust yourself enough that you are making the right decision and don’t torture yourself with comparisons.

When looking to purchase a home, do not hire an appraiser who was recommended to you by your agent. Due to a conflict of interest, the appraiser may not be the best person for the job. Instead, find someone with several years of experience and who is state-licensed.

It is vital for you to make an offer quickly if you have found a home you are interested in. You do not want to put it off for too long because someone else can come and buy the house. At the most, take a few days to make a decision.

You should consider hiring a buyer’s broker instead of a real estate agent. A real estate agent is more geared toward the seller, where the buyer’s broker is more familiar with the buyer’s side. They are trained to understand the buyer’s needs and desires more and therefor can find a better home and work out a better deal for you.

Beware of homes that are priced at a premium because of fancy landscaping. Fancy landscaping does not have good resale value, which means you will not recover the premium that you paid for when it comes time for you to resell. Instead, opt for a lower-priced home with moderate landscaping which you can always upgrade at a fraction of the premium price.

When you decide that it is time to buy a home and you want to find a real estate agent to help you through this process, make sure that you do not get confused between a listing agent and a selling agent. Each one represents the two different sides of real estate. You will want to be sure that the person working for you is the selling agent.

You should hire a buying agent if you are looking to buy a home, because it will save you a lot of time. Agents are aware of many listings and will be able to narrow down your selection. Otherwise, if you were doing it yourself, you may be looking at many properties – that are not a good fit.

When you are at a home auction, it is important that you are careful with your money. If you get caught up in an auction for a home, you can end up spending more than you anticipated for a property, causing you to lose a lot of money in the long run.

Buying real estate comes with plenty of potential pitfalls, but these can be avoided if you know what you are doing. As with anything, it’s important to go into the deal with your eyes open. If you remember what you’ve learned from this article, you should be in good shape.

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What You Need To Know When Selling Real Estate

December 13, 2024   Matt

What You Need To Know When Selling Real Estate

Everyone knows that it takes a lot to sell your home. It is a long process that you must have patience for. However, the process can go a lot smoother if you are well-informed about the details of home selling. That is what the following article is going to do, give you information so you are well-informed before selling your home.

A leaky roof is something that needs to be disclosed when you are selling your home. If you do not, you will hear from the buyers’ lawyer. Because of this, it is a good idea to get it fixed so you won’t have to deal with it during the sale process.

If you need to add plants to improve your landscaping for showing your house, do not add trees. Immature trees look scrawny, and they really do not add any appeal to the landscaping. Mature trees are too expensive. Instead, consider planting bushes, which will give your landscaping a fuller, more established look inexpensively.

Make your Open House appealing to potential buyers by baking a batch of cookies. The olfactory senses of your buyers will be pleased, and your home will instantly feel more appealing. Fresh flowers can have the same appeal. Be cautious when using strong air fresheners however, as over scented houses can turn a buyer off.

You can give your home’s front door a nice outside lift by removing your old house numbers and replacing them with new metal ones. Choose elegant numbers with shiny gold or sophisticated black numbers to represent your address. Display them in a diagonal or horizontal fashion for a dramatic look.

Stale odors and disgusting smells can easily turn off potential buyers. Prior to selling your property, make sure to thoroughly clean the property including basements and attics to remove these odors. Additionally, having a pleasant smell can help sell the property. When potential buyers come to inspect your real estate, not only should you get rid of the bad smells, but you should also try to make it smell better by bringing in flowers or baking something delicious.

Improving your home’s curb appeal will help you to sell your residence faster. Your lawn is one of the first things a buyer sees as they pull up to your house, and it is one of the last things they see as they leave. Your yard can make a huge impression on the buyer’s overall feeling about the house. Repair your driveway and tidy your yard to make a good impression.

When selling your home, stage every room so that it has a purpose. Buyers don’t want to be confused by a room that might be an office or might be a playroom. Pick one purpose and stick to it. Use furniture that is appropriate for that purpose and add a few decorative touches as well.

In conclusion, selling our home is a long process, one that you have to try to be patient with. You can help make the process easier if you are educated in the topic of home selling. The goal of the above article is to help you become informed about home selling. Good luck!

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