Deck vs. Patio: Which is Right for You? Carefully planned and installed, a deck or patio can increase the value and enjoyment of your home by expanding your outdoor living space. The trick is to decide which one, and which construction materials, will fit in best with your current surroundings while meeting your goals for outdoor relaxation and entertaining. When deciding between a deck or patio, here are some considerations to keep in mind: Capacity –If you'll be entertaining lots of people, or if you need to hold something heavy like a hot tub, a patio makes a sturdier choice. While decks can be reinforced to hold extra weight, this can take away from their looks. Terrain –If you have a sloping yard, you may want to go with a deck. Though the ground can be built up to provide a level patio surface, this can cost extra. Weather –How much sun, rain and snow does the site get? Too much sun can make deck surfaces painful to walk on in bare feet, while rain and snow runoff can be problematic on patio surfaces. Once you've decided on a deck or patio, you'll need to choose an appropriate construction material: Decks –Synthetic decks made from recycled plastic are appealing due to their minimal maintenance requirements. Plus, they're less susceptible to insect damage, warping and splintering. Wooden decks, on the other hand, are less expensive and provide a more natural look. However, they do require periodic maintenance. Patios –Pavers are a durable, low-maintenance choice for patio construction and come in a wide variety of styles and colors. Or, if you'd rather go with concrete, you'll be happy to know that the days of the dull, gray concrete slab are behind us. You might be surprised by the color and pattern choices available in concrete patios. Remember, the last thing you want in your yard is unused dead space. Think ahead and thoroughly research your options for a deck or patio that you can enjoy for many years to come. ...read more

Make a Splash with a Water Feature Every property can benefit from the addition of a water feature. Not only do they make great conversation pieces, but they can help to create a more tranquil setting in your landscape when you need a place to unwind. Depending on the mood you're after, there are plenty of choices. Consider the following: PondsWith numerous possibilities for adding plants and wildlife, ponds add a whole new level of interest to the landscape. These versatile water features can be simple or spectacular and come in all shapes and sizes. Keep in mind that if plants or wildlife are to be added, you'll need to consider the type of habitat they require. FountainsSituated in a pond or self-contained, fountains can provide a simple spray of water or a complex pattern of dancing streams. You can choose from all sorts of designs, including tiered fountains, cascading fountains incorporating statuary, garden wall fountains and even simple pebble fountains. WaterfallsMoving water is pleasing to both the eye and the ear, and a waterfall can make your property much more conducive to relaxation. Preformed waterfalls are available, or customized versions can be constructed using liner fabric, rocks, concrete and a pump. No matter how big or small your property or your budget, there's a water feature option to suit every taste. Remember…even something as basic as a birdbath can bring added appeal to your landscape! ...read more

6/25/10 Resurrecting a Lifeless Lawn At this point in the growing season, you may notice thinning turf or bare spots in your lawn and wonder what could be causing the trouble. There are plenty of possible reasons for problems like these, including: Compacted soil Excessive thatch Insect or disease damage Hot, dry weather The good news is that your turf can be brought back to life again. Aside from sticking to proper mowing, fertilizing and watering practices, the following steps can make a world of difference. AerationCompacted soil and excessive thatch can starve turf roots of the air, water and nutrients they need to grow deep and strong. Aeration can help. With this process, a machine known as a core aerator punches through your turf and pulls out plugs of soil and thatch, which are left behind to dissolve during rainfall or sprinkling. As the plugs dissolve, decomposition of the thatch layer is promoted. Plus, the holes created during aeration make it easier for air, water and nutrients to reach the roots. Overseeding (with Aeration)This is a great way to thicken up thin turf areas, and involves broadcasting seed evenly over any spots that need to be filled in. Keep in mind that seeding always works better when there's good seed-to-soil contact. By having your lawn aerated prior to overseeding, the seed will have some soil to lodge in and germination rates will be improved. Slice SeedingThis is the most efficient way to seed your lawn. A slice seeder (or slit seeder) makes vertical slits in the soil and deposits grass seed directly into the ground, all in one pass. This encourages high germination rates and thicker growth. Late summer and fall are great times for renovation practices like these, since temperatures are milder and more conducive to new growth. In addition, new grass doesn't have as much weed competition once the growing season starts winding down. If your lawn looks like it's struggling this summer, the above procedures can all help to get it back on track again! ...read more

  MAKING YOUR Best Impression   If you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future, keeping mind that curb appeal can make or break the deal. The majority of potential buyers will decide whether or not they want to look inside your house based on what they see when they drive by. So put yourself in their shoes. Position yourself where you can get a good look at your house and its surroundings, and take note of anything that may be detracting from your property’s curb appeal. Is your lawn mowed with no visible weeds? Have leaves been raked and removed? Are any tree limbs near or touching your home’s roof? Are overgrown trees or shrubs blocking a striking architectural feature from view? You might be surprised at what a difference a little lawn maintenance and pruning can make. And don’t forget that potential buyers may drive by your home during the evening. With low voltage lights that illuminate your driveway, walks and landscape plantings, you can improve your property’s nighttime curb appeal dramatically! Landscape Solutions services all Cranford, , , Union, Short Hills, call 908-687-8028   Landscape Solutions- is located in the New Jersey area. For more information please visit theLandscape Solutionswebsite.www.landscape-solutions.net ...read more

This is one of the most commonly asked questions by those people who are not very familiar withlandscapingor creating their own gardens. For those of you that just felt the urge to create a garden or want to do your ownlandscaping, you may feel overwhelmed when you go to your local home improvement store and see that there are different categories of plants. Annuals and Perennials.Annuals are plants that germinate, flower, and die all within a year (hence the name). These plants must be repotted/replanted every year. Perennials on the other hand only have to be planted one year and continue their life cycle over and over again each year. The difference in the two is this, annuals require more maintenance but are usually the flowers and plants that are more aesthetically appealing. Perennials don’t require as much maintenance and you don’t have to replant them each year. They also are plants that most of the time don’t look as appealing as an annual does.Each has their pros and cons and most of the time when you look at plants in a store they have a tiny tag associated with each one. These tags will allow you to see the care and planting instructions which will then let you make a decision on the types of plants you think that you can maintain in yourlandscape.Never be afraid to ask an employee where you are purchasing your plants any questions that you might have.Landscape Solutions- is located in the New Jersey area. For more information please visit theLandscape Solutionswebsite.http://www.landscape-solutions.net ...read more

When you take a trip to Florida, you may notice that the plants that grow in this location’slandscapeare different from the ones that grow there. The reason for this being that plants have different tolerance levels and need to be cared for differently depending on what plant they are. Taking this concept to a smaller scale your yard has different climate zones as well, with certain plants taking a liking to certain areas.When shopping for plants the little tags that sit in each pot are going to be guidelines for beginning gardeners who need to know where a plant will thrive the best. It’s not always perennials that enjoy the shade, a multitude of annuals as well a bushes and shrubs are fans. Without the proper temperature and shading/or not shading a plant can easily die.Keep in mind whenlandscapingyour yard that the position of the sun changes throughout the day, making areas that you see are shady now, sunny later.The maintenance on your plants will be greatly reduced if you plants in the correct area. For those that aren’t, the struggle to keep them alive will be hard.Another thing to think about when planting is planting zones. The USDA has a list of planting zones that are numbered 1-11 with different species of plants growing in each zone across the nation. Most plants atlandscapingor home improvement stores will be the correct planting zones for the area you are living in; but you can find plants for other planting zones that will work in "microclimates" that you can find in your yard. (Probably not something for the beginninglandscaper).Landscape Solutions- is located in the New Jersey area. For more information please visit theLandscape Solutionswebsite. ...read more

Fall is close by (if not already here) and even though you may think that yourlandscapingandyard maintenancedays are coming to an end you couldn̢۪t be farther from the truth. Depending on the area you live in and if you are living in a suburban community you may not have any trees in your yard. On the other hand, if you are living in an undeveloped neighborhood that is a bit older you may notice that there are quite a few trees around.In any case, the fall is just the start of your days oflandscaping. Not only are you going to have to deal with all of the leaves that fall from the trees on your property (which is a big part of your autumnlandscaping) but there are a few other chores that you may find yourself busy with.There are definitely manylandscapingchores that are overlooked during the fall. These small chores that may seem a bit insignificant can really make the difference during those winter months to keep your lawn and property maintained.In further posts we will talk about the differentlandscapingchores that should be taken care of during those last few months between you and winter.Landscape Solutions- is located in the New Jersey area. For more information please visit theLandscape Solutionswebsite. ...read more