Archive for the ‘Landscapers’ Category

 

How to Pick the Best Privacy Fencing Ideas

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

How to Pick the Best Privacy Fencing Ideas - Landscapers

Privacy fencing ideas are a great way for keeping your home and garden away from the prying eyes of neighbors. A little privacy is always a good thing. Although it’s always good to have beautiful homes and gardens, it’s always something you want to share with families and friends and not with the general public.

There are several ways to make your garden more appealing, such as garden terraces, gazebos, and beautiful, decorative plants. However, in our private moments, we need our solitude as well.

Fencing ideas are a good way to have this privacy. Not only do you get your own privacy, but you get to keep your guests’ privacy as well when you have your own parties and get-togethers. There are a lot of privacy fencing ideas. Here, we show you how to pick the best privacy fencing ideas for your home and garden.

1. First, you have to consider the cost of your fencing ideas. Determine your budget. Building your own fence brings the cost down substantially, because you don’t have to pay someone else to do it.

However, you have to invest in your own tools and, not to mention, your own time in doing so.

2. Another way of bringing down the cost is by recycling the materials of a neighbor who is tearing down a fence or a building that is up for demolition. Usually, you can get the materials for free.

3. Another factor for cost is also the material you use. Trees, shrubs, and trellises are relatively inexpensive and offer good privacy fencing ideas.

These will give you the best ideas because they will keep the cost down as opposed to buying readily made fences that use materials such as brick, wood, or plastic that, aside from being harder to maintain, will cost you more to install.

Need help landscaping your garden or installing a new fence? Contact TalkLocal today for help on your privacy fencing ideas! We will have you on the phone with the right professional in just minutes.

How to Take Care of Cold Resistant Plants

Friday, September 20th, 2013

How to Take Care of Cold Resistant Plants - Landscapers

Cold Resistant Plants

Cold resistant plants, also called cold-tolerant annuals, add color and variety to gardens. They have the ability to withstand cooler temperatures in the spring and to withstand temperatures that are below freezing in the winter. These plants are different from cool weather annuals, which thrive only when the weather is cold. Once the summer is near, their blooming slows. Some examples of these plants are Calendula and Godetia. Unlike fruit trees, these plants can grow in winter.

Planting Cold Resistant Plants

1. Acclimate the plants to the temperature outdoors. Try to place them outdoors any time the temperature drops below 40⁰F. After several days, they should be able to properly handle cooler temperatures.

2. Pansies and violets can usually tolerate frost. Again, this requires acclimation. Most annuals tolerate frosts, but not necessarily freezing temperatures at first.

3. Location is very important. These plants thrive when planted in plant boxes and window boxes. They can also thrive in flower beds on patios. Patios are perfect because they receive just the right amount of sunlight.

4. Transplant the annuals every so often. They have very fine, fibrous root systems, so be very careful when transplanting them. If needed, you can trim their roots to encourage new growth. Annuals should be planted shallowly. They don’t do well if planted deeper.

5. Frequently water the plants. They need lots of watering, especially after transplanting them, to encourage new root growth.

6. Put fertilizer at least once a year on the plants. Granular types of fertilizer are preferable because they are slow-release types and provide nutrients at controlled levels. These plants will benefit greatly from these types of fertilizers.

Need Professional Help?

Talk Local will connect you with up to three landscaping professionals in your area. You’ll be on the phone, speaking with a qualified professional in just minutes. Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find the right professional near you!

How to Care for Cold Resistant Trees

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

How to Care for Cold Resistant Trees - Landscapers

Cold Resistant Trees

Cold resistant trees are trees you can plant in your garden that you don’t have to fear will die when winter comes. Certain trees stay tropical even through the winter! These trees are sometimes called palm trees, and examples of these are the Needle Palm species. These trees can be grown successfully in Texas, California, and Florida. Palm trees sheltered by other trees or shrubs are more likely to survive better than palm trees that are fully exposed to the harsh weather.

The tree’s height, leaves, and its genetic characteristics will determine how it will survive. Here, we will give you some useful tips on how to plant and care for cold resistant trees for a beautiful garden.

Instructions on Taking Care of Cold Resistant Trees

1)     Plant the trees in soil that is well-drained and unaffected by snow or ice. A location that receives full sunlight or daylight should be chosen for these trees to thrive.

2)     It is a good idea to water the plants every seven days in the summer for up to 10 inches in the soil. In the winter, water only when the soil is dry.

3)     In the spring, fertilize the plants. If the leaves are yellowing, apply an iron-rich fertilizer.

4)     Apply mulch around the plant 3-4 inches in diameter. However, the mulch should not be placed directly against the base of the plant. The mulch helps the plant retain the water in the soil during the winter. Remember to replace the mulch once or twice per year.

Need Gardening Help for Cold Resistant Trees?

Contact TalkLocal today to find gardeners near your area! We will connect you with up to three, high-quality professionals in your area, who will know exactly beautify your garden for you!

Build a Stone Path

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Build a Stone Path - Landscapers

Millions of homeowners choose to design and build a stone path to add value to their property and increase the curb appeal of their homes. This can represent a very simple, cost-effective, fun DIY project that can be started and finalized by most people, as it does not require extraordinary skills, special tools, or expensive materials. After all, you just have to place a few rocks on a sand bed.

How to create a beautiful stone path in a few simple steps

Remember to wear leather or thick rubber gloves at all times to protect your hands. Start by designing the path and carefully delineating the edges of the surface that you plan to cover with sand and rocks by using spray-based marking paint. Don’t worry about cutting and fitting, as these tasks won’t give you a hard time. If you’re good at assembling Jigsaw Puzzles, this project will seem like child’s play to you. However, you will have to rely on solid tools (a wheelbarrow and a shovel, to begin with) to remove the grass layers and place the rocks on the sand bed. When it comes to aligning the rocks, it is advisable to count on a high-quality deadbolt hammer or a highly resistant rubber mallet.

Don’t waste any time trying to obtain a really tight fit. Experts agree on the fact that tiny, irregular spaces make your stone path truly unique, natural looking, and more appealing than a 100% symmetrical one. Modify the height of your rocks by simply adding or removing sand from beneath the rocks that aren’t properly positioned. Fill all joints with soil and add ideal groundcover to finalize your project. After you finally install the rocks, make sure to wipe off all soil fragments by using a garage broom.

Find the best supplies

Contact a landscaper or make the most of your remarkable design skills to build a stone path matching your taste, budget, and personal preferences. These days, you have the chance to check out a generous selection of rocks, available in different shapes, densities, colors, and sizes for all types of custom landscaping projects.

Hire an expert

Want to build a stone path? You have two options at hand: You could complete a DIY project to experience significant savings and enjoy the fruits of your own labor, or you could save time and take pride in flawless results by hiring a landscaper. Choose the most inventive, original, dependable one by simply consulting TalkLocal. We’ll connect you to the right professionals directly, in just minutes.

How to Plant Cold Resistant Fruit Trees

Friday, September 13th, 2013

How to Plant Cold Resistant Fruit Trees - Landscapers

Cold Resistant Fruit Trees

Cold resistant fruit trees are a surprise. Most of the fruits that people love to eat are actually cold-resistant. We are talking about peaches, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, sweet cherries, and apples. These fruit trees thrive in cold weather and are best planted in the cold season. They are hardy in winter and their fruit can be harvested in the summer months. They are the typical fruits that can be thought of when one pictures eating fruits in childhood: succulent, delicious, and sweet. In this article, we discuss how best to make these fruits thrive in the cold winter months. Do not use herbicide on these trees, though.

Birds and Bees

Buy self-pollinating varieties of these fruit trees so that you don’t need to pollinate them by yourself. Or, you can buy two varieties and cross-pollinate them yourself.

Grow Them Organically

These plants have to get full sunlight, less pesticide, and good fertilizer and will thrive better than plants that get less care. It also keeps plants less prone to insects and pests, which will ruin the leaves and the fruits, and that’s something you never want to happen.

Additionally, you want to be sanitary about them. Keep fallen leaves and fruit away from the plants. Rotting leaves and fruit attract insects and pests and will keep your plants from being healthy. Harvest the fruits of your plants as soon as they mature.

If birds become a problem, cover the fruits of your plants with netting, whether plastic or metal, to keep birds from eating them. You wouldn’t want your fruit to go to waste. Keep your fruit protected at all times.

Getting Professional Help

Here at TalkLocal, we are dedicated to giving you the help that you deserve. Call us today so we can help you find an expert near you.

What is a Fire Pit and What Can it Do for A Backyard?

Thursday, September 12th, 2013

What is a Fire Pit and What Can it Do for A Backyard? - Landscapers

Need to spice up your backyard a bit, while enjoying the cooler weather of fall? You could always turn your backyard into your personal relaxation area by building a fire pit. What is a fire pit, you ask? We’ll tell you!

A Fire Pit Has Numerous Benefits When Added to a Landscape

A fire pit is a permanent and attractive looking location to have a relaxing fire in the evening after a long day of work. It can also be a viable way to get rid of yard debris and some garbage, depending on the burn laws in your area.

What is a fire pit? A fire pit can be made of stone, metal, or other materials that aren’t easily set on fire. A patio can attractively surround the pit, or it can be set in the yard as a separate area. A fire pit must have enough distance from the house, other structures, and trees to protect those areas from the heat and the possibility of catching fire.

Help customers understand that there are many answers when they ask, what is a fire pit? The answer has a common area in general answers. Specific details, however, make all the difference for their situation.

Other Options for Adding Appeal to the Backyard

A fire pit does not have to be the only addition to the backyard to make it more appealing to the adult residents. There are additions like a hot tub that can help that as well.

If a hot tub is part of the backyard environment, make sure that you have properly prepared for all weather and all potential issues with the hot tub installation. Things like the location of the tub, the type of skirting used, and the type of cover for when the hot tub is not in use are all considerations that should be handled carefully.

When in Doubt, Call in the Professionals

The features of the backyard are important factors in a makeover for the area to become a fun place for the adults to relax. Remember that it is important for the backyard to look the part as well. One possibility is to plant shrubbery to add to the visual appeal of the backyard.

For help making these determinations, there is one reliable concierge to call first. That is TalkLocal, where you can talk to a professional and have questions answered quickly. The call is free, your information is kept personal, and the pro addresses your specific situation and questions.

Garden Edging Ideas

Tuesday, September 10th, 2013

Garden Edging Ideas - Landscapers

Garden Edges

Garden edges are good ideas because they provide a barrier between your lawn and your neighbor’s space. The simplest garden edging idea is a shallow trench that is dug between your lawn and the adjacent garden of your neighbor. However, this is simply boring. Garden edging ideas are best used with garden fences. There are garden edges that are sold commercially. They can be wood, plastic, or brick, and they make for fantastic decorations that will spice up your garden. All of the garden edges will give your garden the look of a clean edge.

Ideas for Your Garden Edges

There are practical reasons for putting up garden edges. One of these is that grasses spread via stolons that, when left unkempt, will spread around your garden. If you put in garden edges, you can control the spread of grass. You can also use mowing strips around your garden to delineate between your lawn and your neighbor’s. This barrier will prevent mulch from leaving your garden and prevent grass stolons from spreading.

Another garden edging idea is to use interlocking concrete. This will also prevent grass from spreading where you don’t want it. The next of the garden edging ideas is to purchase readily made edges that can easily be installed. Installation can be done by an expert for a minimal fee. Of course, the same can be done using brick and other materials such as wood. However, wood has a shorter life compared to other materials. Plastic, on the other hand, needs more maintenance than most, as algae tends to grow on them as well as on brick. Garden edging ideas can also be taken from your local hardware store.

If You Need More Help…

Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find a professional near you. We will connect you directly with up to three professionals in your area in just minutes.

How to Build Outdoor Fire Pits That Will Last

Friday, September 6th, 2013

How to Build Outdoor Fire Pits That Will Last - Landscapers

The intricacies of how to build outdoor fire pits are not as complex as it may seem when you visit a friend and see their completed masterpiece. With some very important materials and time, you too can have a beautiful and long-lasting outdoor fire pit in your backyard. Meanwhile, when it comes to the cost involved with a stone patio, the materials needed won’t break the bank.

Materials Are Important for Proper Construction

For the proper construction of an outdoor fire pit, gravel, a capstone, a steel campfire ring, wall blocks, an adhesive to hold the blocks together, and a mortar to hold the capstones will complete your shopping list. A shovel to dig a trench will also be necessary, although this may very well already be hiding in your shed or garage.

There are a variety of answers when it comes to how to build an outdoor fire pit. This depends more on the style of the pit than the success rate of previous endeavors by you or others.

Add Other Features to Make Your Backyard Your Favorite Place

Once the fire pit is complete, you may even consider turning to other parts of the yard for a makeover. A garden terrace can be an attractive way to use additional space in the backyard and have another getaway area for the adults in the residence to enjoy.

Need Landscaping Help?

Having professionals complete the work on your fire pit or other attractive additions to your backyard is a great way to get the work done and free yourself up for other things that need completed. It also allows for peace of mind and the reassurance that all aspects of the project will be addressed. Nothing will be forgotten in the process. Call TalkLocal to get in touch with an experienced landscaper who can help you with these projects and get you that much closer to enjoying your outdoor fire pit for years to come.

Mitre Saw Blades

Monday, September 2nd, 2013

Mitre Saw Blades - Landscapers

Mitre saw blades are typically used to make accurate cuts and mitre cuts. The usual version of this blade fixes the blade at a 90ᵒ angle to the vertical. This is a circular blade. The blade that can be adjusted to other angles is the compound mitre saw, while a sliding mitre saw can be adjusted to cut wider pieces. Mitre saw blades usually have 80 teeth and a hook that is negative. They are useful for making smooth glass mitres. The best mitre blades use thick steel that is carefully cut to ensure accurate and smooth cutting.

Choosing a Mitre Saw Blade

Selecting the right mitre saw blade is important if you want accuracy and smooth cuts. There are several factors to consider in choosing a mitre saw blade.

Because mitre saw blades can be used to build several types of landscaping accessories for your garden, including a wooden arbor, you have to know the right way to choose them. You have to select the proper size or diameter of your blade for your saw. Don’t think of saving money by getting a smaller blade, because it won’t cut properly and will lead to other problems.

Next, you have to consider the purpose and material for which you will use the blade.

After this, you have to select the blade that is appropriate for your saw. Metal blades are usually appropriate for all types of saws, including mitre saws. It is best to use the type of blade specifically made for your saw, or else you will run into more problems.

Lastly, you have to consider the tooth count. Generally, you want more tooth count if you are planning to make finer cuts, such as for building birdhouses. For thicker material, however, you want a mitre saw blade that has lower tooth count.

Where to Get Help

Do you need professional help for your landscaping needs? Contact TalkLocal today, and let us help you find the professionals that will help.

Garden Fencing Ideas

Thursday, August 29th, 2013

Garden Fencing Ideas - Landscapers

Garden fences are inexpensive ways to make your landscaping more beautiful. Fences keep your private property private and add a distinctive look to your garden. Compliment them with pretty gazebos and pebbled paths, and you have the recipe for an unforgettable garden. You can also try trellis fencing for a more distinct look.

Ideas for Fencing Your Garden

In the olden days, fences were used as protection from wildlife. Today, however, garden fencing ideas point toward the aesthetic value of fences more than their value in deterring animals and other people. The most common and versatile fences are made of vinyl. These fences are sturdy, with little to no gaps in between. Thus, they are good for keeping your garden private.

Other garden fencing ideas include traditional bamboo faces. Again, these fences have minimal gaps, so you can be sure that your privacy is preserved. Bamboo fences are also inexpensive and stand the test of time. Additionally, they are easily sourced and readily available for use. The assembly of bamboo fences is easy, so you know that labor costs will be kept to a minimum, if at all.

Wooden picket fences are also a good idea to keep your home or compound private. These fences are a beautiful way to add a rustic look to your garden or home. They are also inexpensive and can be made from a variety of materials that do not cost much. They are also easily painted and decorated.

Other, less common fencing ideas include metallic lattice fences and vinyl textured fences. All of these garden fencing ideas will guarantee that your house and garden will look beautiful to yourself and to your visitors.

Need Help Deciding?

Contact TalkLocal today and let us help you find the right landscaper in your area. We are glad to be of service to you, and we guarantee that we can help you with all of your fencing needs.