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Archive for the ‘Landscapers’ Category

Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

Choosing a lawn care service for your lawn’s upkeep can be difficult. There are several lawn care companies possibly in your local area that offer different types of services. To help you choose which company to hire, it is best to decide first what specific services you need done on your landscape.

Also, be aware that lawn care companies may differ in the amount of work they offer. Some contractors may provide as-needed services while others may offer a fixed number of visitations for a particular service, such as pesticide application. Identify the level of service you need so you can choose the company that can best accommodate them.

Do keep in mind, however, that it’s only normal for service costs to increase if you require more work to be done. Typically, lawn care companies provide up to three types of service:

Partial Care

Some lawn care companies provide only partial care or only one type of service. For instance, contractors that do not have the license to apply pesticides will only perform lawn mowing or blowing and possible edging or fertilizer application, but will not offer any pest control services.

Complete Care

Lawn care companies that offer total lawn care services will, in addition to mowing, also take care of lawn irrigation and other necessary cultivation. If necessary, they can also diagnose if you have pest issues and carry out pesticide application.

You should expect these contractors to have well-trained workers who are knowledgeable with identifying pests and safe pest control practices.

Full Management

There are also lawn care companies that offer total management of lawns, which includes taking care of all plant materials in your yard. They offer turf grass mowing, garden edging, and scheduling of lawn irrigation, as well as performing any cultural practices for your lawn.

They are also very knowledgeable about pest control for grass, shrubbery, and even trees. Total management lawn care companies can also handle tree pruning and even implement soil testing and a fertility program for your entire garden.

Find the Best Local Lawn Care Companies

Whether you need simple lawn care or total management of your home’s landscape, TalkLocal can connect you with the right service professionals. Get your landscape job done as soon as possible by letting us match you with local qualified landscapers now. Use our free service today!

Tags: Lawn Care Companies
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How to Build Outdoor Patios

Friday, March 21st, 2014

If you want to add value to your property and create a new appealing outdoor space where you could spend quality time with your loved ones, think about creating your very own patio. This project is far from being challenging on a technical level. On the contrary, it is fun, rewarding, and cost-effective, as long as you use the right materials. Keep reading to learn how to build outdoor patios on your own.

1) Opt for the Best Materials

An outdoor patio is a fantastic amenity that represents a long-term investment. This is precisely why you shouldn’t try to cut corners, when it comes to purchasing the best materials for this job. There are various options that you may want to consider, but stone and brick are the most common alternatives embraced by people who decide to conduct this type of home improvement project.

2) Getting Started

For exceptional results, obtained in record time, follow a few simple steps:

– Determine the ideal size of your patio and start making measurements.

– Dig a 10-inch-deep hole and create a flat base by adding a 6-inch-deep layer of high-quality gravel.

– Distribute all the stones and bricks on a top layer of sand and then apply pressure on the entire area with a shovel, to obtain a smooth, even surface.

– Fill in the potential gaps with sand, cover any other imperfections and tamp the entire surface one last time.

– Plant shrubs or any other type of plants around your new outdoor patio.

3) Asking for Help

Keep in mind that the whole process can take up to three weeks, as long as you count on enthusiastic helpers. It would take you at least 1-2 months to complete this ambitious project on your own.

Don’t know how to build outdoor patios? If you don’t have the most inspiring design ideas or you don’t want to spend a great part of your summer holiday hauling construction materials, take the easy way out.

Use TalkLocal to meet dependable landscapers who live and operate in your area. With TalkLocal, tracking first-class professionals has never been easier.

Tags: How to Build Outdoor Patio
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Slow Release Plant Food

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

We all want to have beautiful gardens with resplendent plants. And we all know that this requires an important ingredient in a plant’s life: the fertilizer, or the plant’s food.

Use Plant Food Intelligently

You should be very careful when buying your plants’ food. Fertilizers usually contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. That is why you will find three numbers on the package. In general, the quantities are equal. Sometimes fertilizers contain more nitrogen.

It always depends on your plants’ needs. Some plants may not need fertilizer at all. That is why you should know all the information related to your plants, in order to give them the food they need.

Slow release plant food is a convenient means of fertilizing your plants, which can allow even the busiest people to enjoy a beautiful natural environment.

What is Slow Release Plant Food?

Slow release plant food can save you time. They are fertilizers that can be released slowly in your plants’ daily meals, so you don’t need to feed them on a regular basis. For instance, if you apply this type of fertilizer once, your garden will be fed for up to three and even six months.

They are quality products, conceived with the help of professionals, bearing the necessary nutrients for your plants. They can help your plants grow twice or three times as big. Therefore, you can benefit from three major advantages if you choose to use slow release plant food:

– more time

– less concern and work

– big and beautiful plants

How to Use Slow Release Plant Food

These fertilizers should be applied directly into the container of the plants. You should apply them using a spoon or the shaker’s top provided for some of the products. They are designed for both outdoor and indoor plants, so you can use them freely for all your plants.

Need Help?

There is a great variety of slow release plant foods on the market, and you may find it difficult to pick up one. Or you may have questions regarding specific plants. Seva Call can assist you with this or any other landscaping needs. We can facilitate your contact with experts in the field; so that you can get the information you need or get going with your landscaping projects.

Tags: Slow Release Plant Food
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Installing Stone Pavers

Monday, March 17th, 2014

Many homeowners choose to boost the resale value of their property by installing stone pavers and creating a beautiful, fully functional outdoor patio. This task is relatively simple, requiring moderate skills and just a basic set of tools, and can be completed even by novices. Here’s some of the most important info that you should know, before giving the green light to this project.

Identify the Right Materials for This Job

Get quality stone pavers from a respectable provider. This material is durable, resistant, and extremely versatile.

Follow a Few Simple Steps to Obtain the Desired Results

1) Visualize your plan by drawing a sketch. Illustrate all the important elements that will be a part of your project (including the drainage system).

2) Contact representatives from your utility companies. It would be ideal to have someone come to your house and supervise the process, to make sure that you don’t accidently damage some pipes or wires in the digging phase.

3) Measure your square footage and order your favorite materials from your local supplier.

4) Mark the area where you plan to install the stone pavers and scope the slope.

5) Excavate the entire surface.

6) Identify and apply the best base material for your project (crushed stone is a marvelous, popular choice).

7) Implement plastic, steel, or aluminum edge restraints to preserve the initial shape of your perimeter for the longest period of time.

8) Apply a top layer of high-quality sand.

9) Start laying your pavers in the correct position; don’t hesitate to cut them if they don’t fit perfectly.

10) Rely on a place compactor to place your pavers in the sand.

11) Use a sealing product to keep the pavers in place.

12) Wipe off any remaining dust or debris with a broom.

Ask for Help

Installing stone pavers can be quite a hassle. After all, you have a lot of measuring to do, and this process can really become tiresome at some point. To save time and effort, consider hiring a competent landscaper. Find the best one with Seva Call, a cost-free service enabling you to spot and meet local specialists in the blink of an eye.

Tags: Installing Stone Pavers
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How to Create Rock Flower Beds

Thursday, March 13th, 2014

Give your landscape a refined look as if it’s done by a pro by simply updating your flowerbeds and adding borders around them. There are several options in material to choose from for your garden edging such as rocks. Creating rock flower beds will create a durable border around your blooms that is beautiful and natural.

You can use stone in your landscape in various ways, and many different types of stones are available as well, so you can be very creative with designing your rock flowerbeds. Here are some ideas:

Planning

Lay out your design for your rock flowerbeds on paper. List all the materials you need, from the decorative stones and rocks to the greenery and plants. Be familiar with all your options so you can choose what will work best together. Plan the amount of materials you will need by measuring the space you’ll be working on.

Cleaning

Clean out the material that your existing flowerbeds are made up of such as wood chips, wood shavings, dead leaves, peat moss, pine straw, or shredded bark. Tidy up the area surrounding the greeneries you want to retain in your rock flowerbeds. If necessary, shovel out weeds and other debris. Take all these unneeded materials to a compost bin.

Planting

Once the flowerbeds are clean, start planting any new plants or greenery you want to add. Shrubs are ideal additions because they require minimal maintenance but you can certainly plant more flowers. You can also add other decorative accents such as clay pots, bird feeders, mini statues and sculptures, lanterns and globes.

At this point, install a weed barrier, or what’s called a landscape fabric, over the flowerbeds. Make the fabric overlap when installing over small areas so the weeds will not creep up the seams. Use small stakes to keep the fabric down in place.

Arranging the Rocks

First, lay decorative border rocks around the edges of the flowerbed. Doing so will help keep small stones to be washed away from the bed and will add more interest and texture to the garden.

As for the actual rock flowerbeds, you can just spill out the rocks in the area and they can be about two-inches deep. Additionally, and this is more fun especially when you have different rock materials, you can arrange the rocks in a particular style or design.

Upgrade Your Home Landscape

Get matched to a professional landscaper in your area with the help of Seva Call. Describe your service needs and we’ll do the search for you – free, convenient, and quick. Try us now.

Tags: Rock Flower Beds
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Fast Growing Fruit Trees

Tuesday, March 11th, 2014

Fruit trees have been planted and grown for centuries in more than 120 countries for their delicious, nutritious fruits offering countless remarkable health benefits to their consumers. If you want to identify the best trees for your backyard that will provide a significant amount of fresh fruit for your dinner table in no time, choose to invest in fast growing fruit trees.

Spot the best fruit trees for your orchard

There are numerous types of fast growing fruit trees that could offer you a more than decent crop in record time. Choose the right type based on important factors, like climate, soil type, growing time, the amount of time you plan to spend taking care of your fruit trees and so on.

You should probably know that you could purchase tiny citrus trees that are already producing fruits as very young potted trees. Bananas can also offer you a more than decent crop in less than one year. If you don’t have what it takes to grow exotic fruit trees in your open area, you could always go for stone fruit trees, like peaches, plums, and apricots, widely appreciated mostly due to the fact that they grow quickly and offer a considerable amount of fruits after 2 or 3 years. Apples and cherries are excellent choices as well, if you plan to plant fast growing fruit trees in your orchard.

The choice is up to you; when in doubt, consult an online chart showing you exactly how long it takes most trees to fruit or better yet, contact a skilled landscaper and discuss your options.

What you should know before purchasing and planting your fruit trees

If you want to enjoy the sweet taste of fresh, organic fruits and harvest as many as possible, make sure to purchase the young trees from a respectable nursery, instead of trying to grow them on your own from cuttings and seeds; this way, you’ll manage to obtain your very own fruits at least one year sooner.

Stone fruits usually offer you a great crop in approximately 2 years, but it all depends on numerous factors, including the size of the tree, weather conditions, soil conditions, potential pest problems, and so on. For instance, climate is a key element influencing the fruiting time of many exotic trees. In a tropical or subtropical climate, they tend to produce fruits faster.

Also, keep in mind that you could easily stimulate the productivity of your fruit trees by using fertilizer spikes; don’t forget to protect them against a long list of threats, including unfriendly temperatures and pests, and prune them on an annual basis.

Contact an Expert

If you know very little about fast growing fruit trees and can’t say for sure which trees would be ideal for your orchard, eliminate all doubts by consulting a landscaper. Find the best one by relying on TalkLocal, a free service designed to put you in contact with reputable professionals who operate in your area.

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How to Plan a Deck with Teak Patio Tiles

Friday, March 7th, 2014

Designing a new deck or outdoor living space can be exciting. Secluded away in your backyard, you could make your own sanctuary that lets you escape the bustle of everyday life and just relax. Teak patio tiles make creating a new deck quick and simple. However, as with any deck-planning job, there are a few steps you need to take to ensure your patio turns out perfect.

Get a Permit

Most likely, your city or county will require a permit to build a deck in your backyard. Check with your local building authority before you start building the deck and obtain the necessary permits and licenses.

Pick Where You’ll Build Your Deck

Plan the size of your new deck and then decide where it will go in the backyard. Will it be directly in the sun? If so, are you going to make a covered deck or use a covered table set somewhere? If you can, measure and mark out the deck in your backyard so you can see how much space your new deck will take up.

Pick Out Your Teak Patio Tiles

Teak tiles come in a variety of styles and finishes. You can choose from a golden-brown to reddish-brown shade depending on what matches the rest of your house. If you already have a deck and you’re adding on, pick a teak tile shade that closely resembles what you already have.

Build Your Base

Teak tiles build the surface of your deck, but you’ll need a sturdy base to put them on. Dig out the footings for your deck deep. Remember that your footings support the weight of your deck. Also, check with your city’s codes for decks to see how deep down your footings need to go. Depending on your climate, you might have to dig deeper than manufacturer specifications.

Follow Teak’s Instructions

Teak patio tiles come with specific instructions for installation. Follow those instructions for your deck. Since they’re pre-designed, you can place them without having to fuss over whether or not your design is straight or in-line with the other pieces.

Need Assistance?

Building a deck is easier with Teak tiles, but sometimes you need the expertise of a professional to build the base. Try contacting TalkLocal today to be put in contact with a landscape professional in your area who can help make your deck extraordinary.

Tags: teak patio tiles
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Miniature Garden Plants

Thursday, March 6th, 2014

Planning and designing the perfect garden is seldom an easy task. Numerous aesthetic requirements and plant characteristics should be taken into consideration. In some cases, less is more, especially if you have a small outdoor area. Miniature garden plants are an amazing alternative at hand, proving that rare essences are usually kept in tiny bottles.

How to Choose the Right Miniature Garden Plants

Miniature garden plants are not hard to find. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of varieties that may enchant your eyes. The question is this: would they manage to flourish in your garden? Do you have what it takes to cultivate and accentuate their beauty? Before making a final call, pay attention to the following important factors:

1) The compatibility between your climate and your favorite miniature garden plants (some can withstand extreme temperatures and some cannot)

2) Your own demands (how often would you like these plants to blossom, what colors and fragrances you like, what kind of plant combos you’d like to create, and so on)

3) Feeding requirements

4) The type of soil that you have

5) The time that you plan to invest in this project (some varieties are extremely pretentious and require extra care)

Contemplating Some of the Most Attractive Alternatives

Ornamental strawberry, Baby tears, Cranesbill Wooly thyme, Brass Buttons, Primroses, and rosemary are only some of the most popular options at hand. You can cultivate all these assortments and more, based on how much space you have and what kind of color combinations you would like to obtain.

Ask an Expert

With so many attractive options at hand, choosing the best miniature garden plants can be quite confusing. To make a smart decision in a timely fashion, consult a talented local landscaper. Find the best one with Seva Call, your best connection to the most reputable, local professionals.

Tags: Miniature Garden Plants
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Cut Patio Stone

Tuesday, March 4th, 2014

A stone patio is always a beautiful feature that adds value to your property and turns outdoor spaces into relaxing, friendly environments. You can create an outdoor patio on your own, or you could rely on professional services provided by a respectable local landscaper.

Either way, you should find out more about some of the most important steps involved by this project. Here is some helpful info on how to cut patio stone.

Cut the Stones Using a Circular Saw

This is, by far, the simplest way to cut patio stone. While multi-purpose saws may be ineffective when it comes to sectioning thick stones, a circular saw would enable you to finish this job in no time, with minimal effort. To obtain the desirable results, follow these simple guidelines

1) Place the stone that you want to cut in the right position, on a flat surface.

2) Use a pencil to mark the trajectory of the cut.

3) Leave the stone in a bucket filled with clean water for a few seconds, to eliminate dust that may bother you during the cutting phase.

4) Remove the stone from the bucket, place it on the ground, activate the circular saw, and start cutting.

5) Turn the stone upside down. Following the trajectory imprinted on the underside of the stone, and run the blade through the stone.

6) Eliminate all imperfections with a maul or a mini-sledgehammer. Once you obtain a perfectly shaped stone that can be installed in your patio, you can consider the job done.

Ask for Help

Need to cut patio stone? Always remember that you have to wear gloves and safety glasses throughout the entire process. If you don’t have the skills, the tools, or the patience to complete this DIY project on your own, hire a competent landscaper to do the heavy lifting. Find the best ones in your area with Seva Call, a free service introduced to help you find great specialists in no time.

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Planting a Vegetable Garden

Friday, February 28th, 2014

Planting a vegetable garden can be a rewarding experience, especially if you know what type of plants to cultivate in your outdoor space. If you have plenty of spare time on your hands, the right tools, and a high dose of imagination, you can complete this assignment on your own without any difficulties. Here are a few steps that you should follow, when it comes to planting your very own veggie garden.

Steps to Follow

1) Decide what type of veggies you would like to grow in your garden.

2) Pick the perfect location for your garden (note that most veggies require up to 8 hours of direct sunlight on a daily basis, excellent soil, and plenty of water).

3) Design your veggie garden based on how much space you have available and also according to your aesthetic requirements; intensive cropping and row cropping are two excellent options at hand.

4) Fix and test your soil, to make sure that it’s 100% suitable for the veggies you plan to grow; you can improve your soil by adding organic matter or commercially available fertilizers.

5) Dig the beds for the seeds.

6) Choose the most appropriate varieties.

7) Learn everything there is to know about planting, feeding, and harvesting.

8) See how you could prevent and solve some of the most common diseases and pest problems without resorting to chemical-rich products that may compromise the results of your work.

Rely on an Expert Opinion

Planting a vegetable garden is an exciting, one-of-a-kind experience. Nonetheless, it can become a real hassle, especially for those who have decided to skip the research and the planning phase. To prevent costly mistakes and make informed decisions, choose to consult a talented landscaper. Find the best ones locally with Seva Call, your #1 connection to the best professionals.

Tags: Planting a Vegetable Garden
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