Happy Halloween

Whenever Halloween falls on the weekend, it seems like the fun gets expanded to include the adults too!

Hope you have a fun and safe weekend!

Time Change on Sunday!

Daylight savings time ends this Sunday so remember to set your clocks back an hour.

We also recommend checking the timer on your lighting system as it is getting darker earlier now and many systems are set for our long summer days.  If you need help setting your timer, please let us know and we can help you.

It is also a good time to check your irrigation system.  If you have an established landscape, you can scale your watering down significantly.

Light up for the Holidays

Since the Christmas decor is now being displayed at most major retailers,  now is the time to start your holiday decor planning.

If you are a do-it-yourself decorator, you should start pulling out last years decorations and checking for damage and determine what needs replacement. When pulling out last year's lights, consider upgrading to LED lighting.  LED has come a long way with color options and it saves a lot of electricity (keeping more money in your wallet)!

If you need help with your holiday decor this year, now is the time to find a company to assist you.  It is important to find a reliable company that you can trust.  While Preferred Holiday Decor focuses on commercial holiday decor this time of year, we do offer some residential services.  Give us a call at 210-657-7737 if we can help.

Turn off your irrigation system!

Now is the time we recommend you turn off your programmed irrigation controller and run it manually as needed.  Now that we have cooler temperatures, the lawn is getting ready to go dormant and doesn't require as much water as it did during the heat of summer.  

Cooler Temps to Garden in!

Now that cooler temperatures have rolled in, it is a great time to get outside and get some gardening done! What type of landscape work does your yard need this time of year?

1.  Mulch, Mulch, Mulch - mulching all landscape plantings and the garden is a standard cold-protection technique.  It helps insulate the root systems of all your plants.  It also traps soil warmth built up during the growing season and preserves any soil moisture.

2.  Plant - Fall is the best time to plant as it gives the plants a few cooler months to establish themselves.  They will be bigger and more drought tolerant when the summer heat comes next year.

3.  Divide Perennials - if you have some perennials that are starting to be over crowded, now is the time to carefully dig them up and transplant the bulbs to a new location.  This not only gets you more blooms but it is healthier for

4.  Compost your lawn - For a healthier lawn next year, adding a fine layer of compost on the top of your lawn is the way to do it.

The first frost is predicted at the end of November in San Antonio so don't delay taking care of your garden!

LED Color Options - Endless Possibilities

Photo courtesty of http://www.colorkinetics.com/showcase/installs/ocres/

We are excited about the Phillips Color Kinetics LED Product!  We have installed many of the systems for our clients with amazing results.

The product is an intelligent color changing LED system.  It is programmable and offers endless possibilities in color options and design.  The system offers saturated, controllable light for exterior architectural applications, dynamic accent lighting and even intricate light shows.

If you are interested in learning more, you can visit their website at http://www.colorkinetics.com or give us a call at 210-657-7737.

All the Colors of the Rainbow

One of the misconceptions of LED lighting is that it has to a bluish color like many lights were when LED was first introduced.  This is NOT true!!  LED is available in just about any color you can imagine with fixtures that can be programmed to change colors.  Today, we wanted to discuss the different colors of white light that are available.

There are three main types of white light which you can see below:
Warm White - has a yellowish undertone.  This is great for uplights on the facade of your home
Pure White - also known as Natural White which is as neutral as you can get
Cool White - has a blue tone.  This tone is great on trees and landscape as it gives it a moonlight glow effect.

Picture courtesy of http://www.kichler.com/professional/landscape-lighting/new-landscape-lighting-products/design-pro-led-with-radiax.aspx

Stay tuned for our next post where we will discuss the other advances in LED lighting that opens up the possibilities.

LED Savings

I know last week we pointed out the cost savings realized when you switch a mercury vapor lighting system over to LED but I found more information I wanted to share.

One of our high end lighting manufacturers that we install on a regular basis, Kichler, has a fabulous feature on their website.  It is a cost savings calculator that you enter in the current wattage of your lamps and your electric cost and it will let you know exactly how much savings you would expect when switching over.  You can find the calculator at 

http://www.kichler.com/professional/landscape-lighting/new-landscape-lighting-products/design-pro-led-with-radiax.aspx

For a general comparison, they offer this chart that shows you the savings you should expect.

If you are interested in learning about switching to an LED system, give us a call at 210-657-7737.

The Importance of Curb Appeal

Whether you are planning on moving or not, curb appeal is an important part of your home.  It sets the tone for all of your visitors and more importantly, it is what greets you every day you return home.

Now that the weather is starting to cool off, it is a great time to increase your curb appeal of your home.  It doesn't have to be a big expensive project but rather focus on the easy, cheaper projects to get an instant improvement.

If you haven't already, it is time to pull out the annuals that have been baking all summer in your pots and replace them with some fresh, cool season annuals.  Even better, if you place a seasonal element near the pot like a pumpkin or two.

Another great way to add curb appeal is to plant a tree in your front yard.  Before buying a tree, take into consideration how big it will get and if it can handle the droughts once it is established.

Replacing your outdoor light fixtures can also make a big difference to the space.  Often the builder will put in a very basic, utilitarian fixture and it doesn't cost much to install one that looks a lot better.  Adding lights to your front yard is also a fabulous way to improve your curb appeal.  You can add path lights up the walkway, uplights on the facade of your home and landscaping lights to highlight your plants and trees.