By Nora Santhoeurn Rising Sun Landscaping&Maintenance; Rio Rancho, NM If you’re considering a landscaping project, then you’re bound to have many questions including exactly what the best options are and how much things will cost.  My current and new customers often ask me questions around these topics.  Over time, I developed one approach that may help organize your thoughts and approach to deciding what landscaping makes sense for you.  This approach assumes you’re going to hire a landscape contractor to handle installation of landscaping.  If you’re considering do-it-yourself, then you’ll also have to consider all the issues of hidden costs for permits, storage, delivery, equipment, trash removal, etc. Costs? A first approach is to considercost-benefit, but I always suggest that you avoid focusingfirst on cost.  Why?  Because cost can be confusing before you know what you really wantout of your landscaping project.  If you’re unsure about the benefits you want from yourlandscaping, then the concept of cost will be unsure and confusing.  Start with benefits! A little discussion about cost is useful though.  Remember there are two primary sources ofcost from your landscaping: •Cost to install: o One time cost (per project) oNew landscaping efforts •Maintenance cost: o Recurring cost o Maintaining your landscaping Benefits ? While you may consider many things beneficial in landscaping, let’s start withBeneficial Objectivesto your landscaping.  These are really those high-level motivations that drive you to consider landscaping in the first place.  It’s a good idea to write down what benefits you seek from landscaping.  Why?  Because later on when you have 101 options to consider and you must eliminate some, you can ask yourself “Does this option really contribute to the landscaping objective I want?”  You can also communicate these to your landscape contractor so they know what you want to achieve. Here is a list a of a few beneficial objectives that might be useful in starting to think about landscaping benefits for your project.  You may think of others not listed that are more specific to your situation.  See more detail under each category in my website full blog post. Beneficial Objectives: • Pleasure • Convenience • Health • Financial These benefits continue year-after-year, so consider that costs are really spread over time.   With your objectives made clear, it’s time to add some detail about the actual landscaping  benefits you want to consider.   I group them into three categories to simplify the approach. • Aesthetics, • Function, and • Low-maintenance. These are the real benefits that are added to your yard.  When you consider a particular element, consider how it contributes or detracts from these three categories.  Here is a list of Landscaping Benefits in three categories.  You will want to consider others that do not appear in these lists. See more detail under each category in my website full blog post. • Use • Exposure control • Safety • Privacy • Security Landscaping Benefit: Low-Maintenance Low-maintenance benefit is the avoidance of undue maintenance by choosing what  you want while being mindful of the maintenance in the future.  Balance maintenance with what you can do yourself and what you have time to do.  Balance it with the cost of maintaining landscaping features you install. Also balance this with function and aesthetics.  As an extreme example, paving your entire yard with concrete is relatively low-maintenance but it is not very aesthetic!  See more detail under each category in my website full blog post. • Consider the future growth • Proper irrigation • Upkeep • Water usage You may not care about low-maintenance options if the benefits you’ve chosen outweighmaintenance costs for you. As you review the items above.  Consider making lists that will help you plan andcommunicate with your landscape contractor.  Your contractor may have other ideas thatcan contribute to your planning, including cost of installing and maintaining. •Beneficial objectives important to you •Landscaping benefits important to you: oAesthetics, oFunction, oLow-maintenance When you obtain quotes for various elements of your yard, you’ll start to obtaininstallation and maintenance costs that you can weigh with the benefits you’ve listed.  Youcan then start ordering these with the best cost-benefit at the top.  If you have a limitedbudget, draw a line where you want to stop for this project and save to start on the next! ...read more

Please be aware that there is virtually nothing pest control companies can do about the natural phenomenon of the current moth invasion. The watch word is patience. In about a week to ten days the surviving moths will head to the mountains. If you have been watching the local news channels you will have caught the stories as they have tried to help residents understand this is just a natural occurence influenced by weather conditions. We would be delighted to talk with you if you have concerns. Please call and get $25 off regular service for your home. 505-771-8551. We proudly serve Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Corrales and Bernalilllo. ...read more

Please be aware that there is virtually nothing pest control companies can do about the natural phenomenon of the current moth invasion.  The watch word is patience.  In about a week to ten days the surviving moths will head to the mountains. If you have been watching the local news channels you will have caught the stories as they have tried to help residents understand this is just a natural occurence influenced by weather conditions. ABQ-Rio Rancho Pest Solutions would be delighted to talk with you if you have concerns. Please call with this or other pests concerns and get $25 off regular service for your home. 505-771-8551. We serve Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Corrales and Bernalillo for business and residential. ...read more

Green solutions are a friendly solution to pest management however, there are times when green solutions just cannot control the pest issue as quick or as well as the customer would like.  Give us a call if you wish to discuss the differences.  $25 off Rio Rancho's real pest solutions pest control. 771-8551 or info@rioranchopest.com. ...read more

It is a favorite time of year for people and pests alike.  We want to be in the water, we want to eat outside, we want to have our doors and windows open.....and these are invitations to pests to join in.  Roaches, ants, centipedes and other various pests can be handled by Rio Rancho Pest Solutions and we will give you $25 off your first service with no contracts.  Call today.  Rio Rancho real Pest Solutions pest control.  771-8551 or www.rioranchopest.com ...read more

It is that time of year and the small ants are poppin'!  Before you reach for that store bought can of spray...you will be calling a pest control company at some point...small ants simply will not give up and go away and the spray from the store only repels them to another part of your house. Give us a call and save $25 on an ant treatment for you home.  771-8551  Rio Rancho Pest Solutions...your hometown solutions company. ...read more

Spring has finally arrived and the bugs are showing themselves.  Small ants are extremely active right now.  Save $25 today when you call for service.  505-771-8551. ...read more

It is hard to look outside and see snow and hear howling winds and think about insects.  But a little planning goes a long way to saving time and money.  Review last year.  Were you happy with your pest control company?  Were you pleased with the charge?  Maybe take a few minutes and do a little comparison shopping. Remember pest control is a service.  You don't have to be bound to bad service by an agreement. You want out, you can get out - always read the fine print and know all you have to do is say "I am making a switch".  We are your fix for bad service! Call or click today and Get $25 OFF your initial service. ...read more

Although the nights are still pretty cold, we are now moving toward slightly warmer days.  We are even starting to see small ant actvity.  Before you reach for that over the counter, store bought product think about what a hassle the never ending circle of chasing small ants truly can be.  Give Rio Rancho Pest Solutions a call today and let us handle that small ant problem for you.  505-771-8551 or www.rioranchpest.com or info@rioranchopest.com. ...read more

Seasons Greetings!Have you thought about giving someone a gift certificate for a pest management program for their home.  It is one of the few gifts that truly does keep giving.  Whether you wish to offer a family member or friend that is a new homeowner the gift of comfort and joy for one, two three or twelve months of service, Rio Rancho Pest Solutions can offer that for you.  We will back your gift with a thorough inspection and professional experienced service.  When someone you know has everything...give them our phone number and great service for their home.  Happy Holidays from ABQ-Rio Rancho Pest Solutions your hometown pest control provider. 771-8551. ...read more

Winter and rodents Part 2It is important to remember the damage rodents can cause.  Previously we talked about the unhealthy aspects but we should not forget that rodents chew their way through things including wiring in a building which can start fires. For the sake of safety, on-going inspections by Rio Rancho Pest Solutions helps you identify and address openings to your residence or business and effectively shut the rodents out. Call today - Rio Rancho Pest Solutions and get $30 Off on an initial winter service.  771-8551 ...read more

As Fall approaches and brings changes to the Rio Rancho landscape, Halloween and cooler days; we must get our homes ready for the weather ahead.  It is important to inspect your structure and get any openings repaired. This will save you frustration, inconvenience and money through the colder months.  Rodents are looking to find a warm place to live and those small openings to your home may just be the invitation the rodents are looking for.  So spend some time looking over the exterior of your Rio Rancho home or have a pest professional inspect and speak with you about any exclusion work necessary.  Rodents can cause damage to the home in many ways, among which is chewing through electrical wires which could result in fire.  Enjoy a worry free FALL, and get $25 off your service by calling Rio Rancho Pest Solutions today!!!  505-771-8551 or 891-3934. ...read more

As the summer heat gives way to the cooler days of fall it is time to think about inspecting your home and getting it ready for fall and winter.  Take a walk around and look for problems with the structure and make a "to do list" for getting screens fixed, door sweeps and seals replaced and think about a pest management program. Surprisingly enough it is a good value to have a professional taking care of this important service, not only do you have a trained, second set of eyes that becomes familiar with your important investment (your home) but they can address issues in the most direct way and save you valuable time.  Instead of messy retail products and the when, where and how of it all - let ABQ-Rio Rancho Pest Solutions address your pest questions and issues.  All at an affordable price. Ask us how to save $25! 505-891-3934 or 505-771-8551 or info@rioranchopest.com.  One call takes care of it all!! ...read more

We do inspections for real estate transactions.  Whether your lender is calling for an inspection or if you are doing a cash purchase, it is never a mistake to have your potential home inspected for wood destroying pest issues. We do WDI's in Rio Rancho. ...read more

Save $25 when you mention that you saw this blog on Merchant Circle.  As the economy continues to slowly improve, folks are still watching their nickles and dimes.  It is important to protect your family's home and your investment.  A qualified pest control company can help you watch over that investment by doing regular inspections and keeping pest away from the structure.  Call us today!  891-3934 RioRancho Pest Solutions. ...read more