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.

Are you ready for fall?

With cooler temperatures predicted tomorrow, we will get a preview of the fall weather that is still a few
weeks away.  Almost every landscape needs a fall refresh to give your landscape new life for the fall and prepare for cooler temperatures.
 

Now is the right time to do the following:

• Add mulch to the landscape beds
• Compost on turf
• Replace plants that have died over the summer
• Add seasonal annuals to your beds and pots

If you need any help with getting your landscape ready for fall, give us a call!

Summer Lawn and Garden Checklist

Now that we are in July and the hot weather is definitely here to stay, here are some tips for your lawn and gardening during this month.  With the hot temperatures and little rainfall predicated, your lawn and garden are likely to slow down and conserve energy.  Here is how you can help keep your lawn and garden happy!

Trees and shrubs:

• Stop fertilizing to allow them to reduce growth during the heat of the summer.  
• Water trees infrequently but deeply.  
• Apply extra mulch at the base of the tree to help retain moisture.  
• Prune dead or damaged limbs.

Annuals and Containers:

• Water container plants daily 
• Deadhead faded blooms to increase blooming.
• Pinch back leggy stems to encourage branching.

Lawns:

• Continue to mow as needed but set your mower to the highest setting
• Keep lawn mower blades sharp
• Mulch grass clippings to help shade and feed your lawn

Breathtaking Views!

Our favorite part of our jobs is helping people make their landscape dreams come true.  These Before and After pictures are from a recent project in which the clients wanted to create an outdoor living space that took advantage of the beautiful views they had of the hill country.

Our team of landscape designers, created a plan that included a two tier deck that extended to two sides of their home.  It also included a patio space and stone work as well as a bit of softscape as well.  The clients were thrilled with the end result and the views are even more breathtaking than before!

Holiday Light Feedback

"Thank you so much for the outstanding holiday lights.  The tree was so beautiful that many from all over the neighborhood have stopped by with compliments.  Some neighbors even took pictures!  Of course our camily enjoyed the lights the most.  Bless you, Shirley and Charlie  PS The service for repair was outstanding!  Thanks Again."