19 Apr 2017

April 19, 2017 By admin Lanscaping Tips

6 Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid This Spring

With the days getting bigger and warmer, your garden is starting to require higher maintenance. Spring is the time of the year when your year-long efforts pay off, but it is also the time of the year when your landscape needs your pair of hands the most. While you may not necessarily enjoy all the planning, planting, harvesting, mowing, the heat and the hours spent on landscaping work, you still need to keep up with all your landscaping tasks in order to have the beautiful and healthy yard you want.

As with anything else in life, we all make mistakes and then try to learn our lessons from them. With landscaping, it’s not different at all. Even the most experienced gardeners make some rookie mistakes multiple times, but the important thing is to always learn something from these errors. Benjamin Franklin once said “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care” and it seems like he had exactly landscaping in mind. So before you put your gardening gloves on and get to work, there are a few common landscaping mistakes many landscapers do in spring that you should be well aware of and avoid them. These rookie mistakes could turn out to be fatal both for your health and curb appeal of your garden, so you need to make sure you won’t do any of them.

Mistake 1: Planting Without a Plan

Piecing together a landscape by combining your favorite plants and decorative objects is not the way to build your landscape. It’s easy to lose your head for a bit and start your landscape project without taking your time to prepare a detailed plan. This is the most common mistakes landscapers make, especially in spring when the cold winter days are past and landscapers are eager to add new plants. Although being ambitious and working hard is necessary, the first step is making a plan. Without a plan, you are very likely to run into all sorts of issues with space, colors, design, flow, order and appearance.

Mistake 2: Planting Too Close To Each Other

While planting in the wrong place was once a common landscaping mistake, it seems like landscapers have finally learned that plants’ health and growth depend on getting proper sunlight. But here’s the new problem: planting too close to each other. Planting is delicate stuff and it requires a lot of consideration put into. Each plant requires some space to grow properly. If they are close to each other or crowded by (unnecessary) weeds, their growth may stop and never continue. Make sure they have enough room to spread, regardless of how much space looks unused. In up to three years, you’ll see how that seemingly unused space will burst into big, healthy plants that will add a variety of colors and scents.

Mistake 3: Cutting the Grass Too Short

You’ve probably heard that cutting the grass too short reduces the frequency of mowing. The truth is, it doesn’t. After cold winter days, your grass does indeed need mowing, but not any different sort of mowing than usually. You may be inclined to cut it shorter because it’s longer now, but that’s exactly the mistake you want to avoid. By cutting your lawn too short, you may end up with dead spots of grass all over your yard and we all know how ugly that can look.

Mistake 4: Failing to Fertilize Properly

Whether by adding too little or too much, you can easily go wrong with fertilizing in spring and kill the grass, as both are among the most common landscaping mistakes. Achieving the perfect balance of fertilizers is the key to healthy and beautiful plants. The hard way to finding the right amount of fertilizers for your plants is to become an expert yourself by reading a lot of books on landscaping. But not many would choose the hard over the easy way, which is hiring a landscaping expert. Thanks to their vast of experience, they will know the right fertilizer for your plant by a brief look.

Mistake 5: Adding Too Much of Your Favorite Plants

There are a hundred of subtle ways to suggest what your favorite plant is and adding too much of it in your yard ain’t one. Planting too much of only one plant is a sure way of creating a dull, monotonous, one-colored yard that as soon as the summer ends will turn even duller and more monotonous. Without creating a natural variety, your garden will be dull in all four seasons except the one when your favorite plant blooms (oh, the thrill). To make the most out of your yard, add various colors, sizes and shapes of plants that bloom in different seasons to have a real visual treat all year long.

Mistake 6: Trying to Save on Quality Landscape Materials

Trying to save on quality landscape materials for the yard you’re working so hard on is a rookie mistake, because experienced landscapers have learned the hard way that the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Soil, aggregates, firewood and mulch are some of the most essential landscaping materials, as they are the key elements of a visually attractive and functional yard. The tricky part with landscape materials is calculating the right amount you need for your project. You will either end up with too much of the same material and not knowing where to store it or get back to the store to get more.

Having a well-maintained, stunning garden does not have to be overwhelming. If you can’t seem to find the way to avoid these 6 mistakes, give the professionals at Sunset Landscaping a call and they will make sure all things in your garden are neat, tidy and taken care of. Whether you need quality landscape materials or other landscaping services, call us today for a free estimate of your landscape.

12 Apr 2017

April 12, 2017 By admin Landscaping Materials, Lanscaping Tips landscaping, landscaping materials, landscaping tips, naperville, sunset landscaping

Landscaping Materials to Make Your Yard Work Pay Off

Your time spent in the yard may not necessarily be time well spent, especially if you don’t have the knowledge or the right landscaping materials. You may not have realized it yet, but landscape supplies can be a major cost in building and maintaining a yard. Besides that, landscaping requires a vast of knowledge to make things work. But regardless of the amount of hours you put in yard work, it won’t pay off if you’re trying to save on landscaping materials.

Just as no pizza goes without dough (spare me, cooking experts), no landscaper should ever feature poor-quality materials in their yard. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should go in your local store and buy the most expensive materials. The point is not to get the most expensive materials, but the ones that meet your yard requirements best. To do so, first you need a well-thought plan, with priorities and goals clearly identified.

All the landscaping materials you choose have a direct impact on the appearance of your yard. For that reason, we list the materials you should never try to save on if you want a healthy and visually appealing yard.

Mulch

Although not mandatory, mulching is among the most crucial landscaping products you need. Being one of the best gardening habits you can implement, mulching can do wonders for your garden. Mulch is actually a protective barrier that helps the soil keep off unsuitable temperatures, as well as to hold the moisture to prevent your plants from drying out. It can also prevent soil compaction, which prevents yet another demanding chore (aeration).

There are many different types of mulch you can get, but basically, there are two types: organic and inorganic. Organic are derived from animal manures and plant materials, while inorganic mulch contains pebbles, gravel, and similar materials. Make your selection based on the time of year and climate conditions.

Soil

Good soil quality is also among the most important materials your landscape requires, yet it is often overlooked. The growth of your plants largely depends on the soil quality. If the soil is of poor quality, rest assured your plants won’t grow as big as you expect them to. Also, healthy soil can store and process more water.

When adding soil to your yard, choose soil of the same type you already have or type that will at least complement it. This way, you won’t damage the existing soil, as it will just mix up beautifully. If you want to build a whole new healthy and productive soil for your plants, you need to consider a few things, such as your location, climate conditions, plants requirements, etc.

Compost

Many landscapers underestimate the importance of using compost, while it is in fact the most eco-friendly way of making a yard flourish with beautiful plants. Composting is the process of turning leaves, grass clippings and other decomposed organic material into compost. Since compost is organic, it is a great protection against pests. Also, compost can improve your soil structure so your soil can have the perfect balance of air, water and nutrients. Investing in quality compost can turn out to be one of your smartest investments, as it does not only save you money on chemical fertilizers, but it also decreases the need for watering.

Gravel

Every landscape could use a gravel product, because it is something that can be featured in a variety of settings. Aside from its appearance-boosting ability, gravel is commonly used as a base for driveways. Gravel is mostly known for creating a hard-wearing path without breaking the bank. Regardless of your landscape style, gravel can fit just perfectly, as there are hundreds and thousands of types to choose from. What’s most important is to get gravel that suits your landscape style and the other elements in your yard.

Sand

Like gravel, there are many different types and uses of sand in landscapes. If one of your landscape’s purposes is to provide a playground for your children, you surely do need quality sand. The sand you choose should be mainly based on where you live. Sands come in different particle sizes and different colors, and that’s where you can get creative and mix it up a little. If you need sand to use as a paving base, you should go for coarse washed type.

Making these choices all by yourself can be hard, but that’s where we step in. We, at Sunset Landscaping, are ready to take over your responsibility and get you the landscaping materials to make your yard work pay off.

10 Apr 2017

April 10, 2017 By admin Lanscaping Tips, Snow Removal landscaping, services, snow removal, sunset landscaping

When Mr. Freeze Turns Brutal: Fight Snow with Residential Snow Removal

The entrance to a house is usually a front yard. It’s the first impression guests get of the home’s interior, however it’s often viewed as wasted design opportunity and as nothing more than a means to get from a street to a house. Although a high-traffic area, front yard is the focal point of a dwelling and as such it’s an opportunity to infuse not only visual appeal but also good vibes into a home.

However, when designing front yard landscape, majority of homeowners focus exclusively on design fundamentals – trees, shrubs, plants and hardscape – to ensure year-round interest. But ensuring curb appeal requires more than lawn ornamentation or pretty greenery. Overlooking maintenance is one of the biggest landscaping mistakes. Especially during snow season.

Yes, snow is an excellent insulator which protects trees, shrubs and roots from freezing, however too much of anything can be bad. While it helps preserve moisture in the soil and certain plants flower better after a snowy winter, it can also cause damage to roots and plant cell wall (by causing the water in cells to freeze). And as a Chicagoland resident, you’re too familiar with its chilly climate and have had to deal with snow-heavy trees, ice dams, slick driveway and dead landscape plants problems more than once. Hence removing snow is your best option at protecting plants. Remember, prevention is better than cure.

But toiling outside in cold isn’t really on top of anyone’s list of activities. So the question of the hour is – to hire residential snow removal services or do it yourself? If you plan to use shoveling snow as a way to get exercise during winter (apparently you can burn over 350 calories in one hour), go ahead, get your DIY on. Otherwise you run the risk of pulled back muscle and bruised buttocks due to a slip on the ice. So if you really want to win the war against Jack Frost, it’s best you consider hiring professional residential snow removal services.

After all, fighting winter’s blistery ways requires more than muddy boots and a shovel. From roof rake and snow spear to snowblower, these are just some of the weapons to arm yourself with. A good snowblower (well-designed, easy to handle, built for rugged landscapes, suited for heavy and wet snow and snow build up) costs anywhere between $650 and $1500. Are you ready for this extra cost?

Plus, there’s maintenance. If you fail to routinely inspect the belts, check the shave plate, scraper bar and skid shoes, change the spark plug and tighten the bolts, having a problem starting it will be the least of your worries.

And then there’s the matter of de-icers.

Pouring deicer on driveway may or may not melt ice, depending on its lowest effective temperature. However, certain ice melting agents (if using more than recommended), can cause damage to landscape plants, turf and even concrete.

Take rock salt (sodium chloride) for example. Because it’s readily available and inexpensive, it’s the most commonly used deicer. But rock salt is far from being your plants’ best friend. Plants exposed to sodium chloride are limited in their uptake of soil nutrients what can lead to stunted and scorched leaves, poor root and plant growth and greater susceptibility to pest and diseases.

Salt is not only harmful to plants but concrete driveways as well. Although tough as Hulk, due to its porous structure, when exposed to deicers, concrete is susceptible to spalling.

Therefore, when snow hits, don’t play rough with your landscape or driveway. Hire professional residential snow removal services and you’ll be saying “Bring it on” to winter.

03 Apr 2017

April 3, 2017 By admin Tree Removal garden, landscaping, sunset landscapig, tree removal

When Beauty Becomes a Burden: Removing a Tree from Your Garden

Trees are important natural resources for the city of Chicago and its suburbs (Aurora, Naperville and Oswego, to name a few) but they do much more than absorbing carbon dioxide and providing shade. These living sculptures are key to designing memorable landscapes as they can add beauty and interest to your yard, and value to your home. In a way, trees are much like wedding bouquets – they dictate the style of bride’s attire and are the perfect accessory to make a bold statement.

Sadly, even though tough as the Terminator, trees too are prone to disease. Predisposing factors, such as Chicago’s harsh winters, can make them even more susceptible to pests and disease. Hence even if you’ve done everything right to protect your tree’s vigor – from watering to protecting bark, trunk and roots – it could succumb to disease.

Moreover, because ecosystems have no solid-wall boundaries, meaning air and organisms can move in and out of them, the tree in your yard could easily become infected if nearby park or street trees are diseased. Take ash trees for example. Chicago suburbs Aurora, Naperville and Oswego have been waging a war against the emerald ash borer in the recent years. If your tree has been infested with EAB, caring for it is a bad bet. Even if it could stand for years.

Infested and dying or already dead tree is a safety hazard. Because it’s brittle, limbs can break and cause serious damage to your property or neighbor’s car and even endanger passers-by. Hence, it must not be left standing. The decision to remove a tree is a difficult one, but should not be given a second thought. Since infested tree is dangerous, it’s wise to hire professional tree removal services to do the job. Beside being well-versed in the process, an experienced company has the equipment and tools needed to get the job done safely.

A power chainsaw for example, is useful for cutting up branches or felling small trees, but if not handled properly it could cut not only tree limbs but yours as well. Professionals know how to safely start and operate a chainsaw. Do you? Few YouTube tutorial videos are not enough to develop skills and safe working practice. Hands-on training is required. Hence, by trying to remove a tree yourself without previous experience, you run the risk of being seriously injured. Professionals are trained for such job, plus they wear protective wear and follow tree removal regulations to ensure safety.

Then there’s the issue of the tree itself. Is the tree stable in the ground? Is it leaning heavily to one side? Are there any large branches broken or hanging? Assessing these and similar factors will minimize the risk of the likelihood of someone being harmed. Experience landscapers know how to carry out a risk assessment to identify how removal work will be carried out and to ensure no one is injured.

Postponing tree removal for whichever reason is not a wise idea. You not only risk your safety and the safety of your family, but falling branches may injure and even kill passers-by. This can lead to a lawsuit being filed against you due to negligent property maintenance. Also, the delay could cost you additional thousands of dollars. Certain boroughs have the exclusive right to remove a tree from private property in case it poses a threat to public safety, and bill you for the cost. If you fail to pay, the city can place a lien against your property to recover payment on a debt.

Therefore don’t delay nor DIY – hire qualified professionals.

29 Mar 2017

March 29, 2017 By admin Lawn Maintenance Tips

How Can You Benefit from Professional Lawn Care Services

While we do not say that your finger is brown, sometimes it’s better to let green-thumb-professionals handle the chores you’re not skilled at and help you have and maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn.

Just like you carefully choose your clothing and cut your hair in a way that reflects your personality, the way you treat your lawn and your yard speaks volumes about the person who is responsible for it. But if you want your landscape to truly reflect your personality and say what kind of person you are straight away, well, you will need to put some extra hours of landscaping work out there. And if you’re like most Naperville homeowners, your busy lifestyle probably doesn’t leave you a lot of free time for lawn care and maintenance.

A beautiful yard starts with careful planning and thorough preparation, but proper and regular care and maintenance is what keeps it looking at its finest. Since lawn is one of the biggest and most important features of your landscape and potentially a big source of pride, it requires your attention the most. Patience, ongoing care, love and a pair of skillful hands is all that it takes to achieve a shiny, healthy lawn that will turn your garden into a real place where you can relax.

Since you’re very unlikely to have the time on your side or the knowledge to plant, grow and maintain yawn properly, hiring a lawn service company is the best you can do for the good of your lawn. Aside from regular landscape chores like mowing, watering, fertilizing and aeration, there are some chores you cannot simply complete all by yourself or as successfully as lawn experts, such as steep removal or weed control. Certified lawn specialists are well-trained and experienced in maintaining healthy lawn, as they understand the science behind any type of lawn you may have.

If you’re not sure how can a professional lawn care service provider benefit you and your lawn, we got you covered. Whatever your reason may be for hiring lawn assistance, following are the benefits that are bound to happen to your lawn if you decide to let the professionals handle the task.

Experienced with All Types of Grass

Whether you have Kentucky bluegrass for mowing or Wheatgrass for aeration, the best lawn service providers in Naperville are familiar with all the grass varieties. Maintaining a beautiful and healthy lawn requires a lot more knowledge than one may think. However, lawn pros know how lawn types differ from one region to another along with climate conditions, which means they will treat grass in Aurora completely different than grass in Wheaton. The lawn care service providers know when and how to take a good care of your lawn and ensure it’s insects- and diseases-free for its optimal health.

Save you Time

If you too believe that time is money, you should know that professional lawn care services save you a plenty of valuable time you can use for far more important matters. Lawn maintenance requires a lot of time and serious commitment. But you should not give up on your hobby just so you can keep up to your regular lawn tasks. Not when you can hire professionals at competitive prices and let them handle the chores you haven’t completed or even all of them. Planning and researching on proper lawn maintenance and all the physical work can take up a lot of hours, hours you could devote to your family or your hobby instead. Not to mention that, the time experienced lawn professionals need to complete a single chore is a fraction of the time it would take for you to do the same chore.

Save you Money

In addition to saving you time, hiring professionals to take care of your lawn can save you money too. How? Well, let’s say you’re new in landscaping. What are the odds of buying wrong fertilizers few times in a row until you finally find the right one for your grass type? Or if you forget to water your lawn on schedule, which would eventually turn brown and die? How many tools and equipment that you will need on a daily basis are you required to buy? The odds are definitely not in your favor and you shouldn’t take your chances with your lawn when there’s this cost-effective option of hiring experts. The lawn maintenance service providers have all the resources and the cost of their professional services are definitely lower than purchasing all the resources by yourself.

Bigger Chances of Making Your Lawn a Standout

Due to their vast of experience and knowledgeable hands, experts can give you the perfect lawn you’ve been longing for and make it a standout in your landscape. They not only know how to push a mower, but they know everything that’s best for your exact type of grass. In addition to their experience, lawn care pros are also full of ideas and clear vision for all types of landscapes. Therefore, they can take your lawn a step further than just a healthy and beautiful lawn – they can help make your landscape a little place of heaven on Earth.

27 Mar 2017

March 27, 2017 By admin Lanscaping Tips landscaping, Naperville landscaping, outdoor, service, yard

The Power of Landscape: How to Beat the Blahs of Your Outdoor Space

When it comes to designing a home, landscape seems to be the most overlooked. We focus on picking pretty colors and finding the perfect set of throw pillows, area rugs and accessories to pull together a room. But as Barbara Kingslover puts it, “it’s surprising how much of memory is built around things unnoticed at the time.” And in the home improvement busyness of deciding which furnishings or artwork would turn our homes from blah to fab, we seldom take time to design our outdoor spaces.

But guess what? Landscaping project activities focus on the outdoors meaning no construction debris or having to use just basement bathroom. So why not give your front or back yard a little extra love? By creating an aesthetically appealing and smart landscape, you’ll not only increase your home’s value, but will also provide your loved ones with recreation, privacy, and pleasure.

If you aren’t confident enough of your skills as a planner and depending on the scope of work, you should consider hiring a professional Naperville landscaping firm. Licensed landscapers are well-versed in different plants and techniques to craft a scheme that balances relaxation with ease. But if you have interest in running the project yourself, why not give it a shot? With the right strategy and knowing what you love you can easily give your yard a luxe lift and make each day a bit richer.

Picking Green Life

Choosing greenery requires research and finding out which trees, shrubs, and flowers are ideal for your garden. For example, if your outdoor space isn’t bathing in sunlight, it’s best to pick shade-loving plants. Trilliums, hellebores and gardenias are lovely plants that can thrive in the shade. Planting a flower bed of the same plant or the mixture of different species (shape and color) will create a colorful focal point that grabs attention. It will also highlight your home’s exterior architecture.

Mix Informal Flowers with Formal Hardscape

Aside from green life, your yard will need some hardscape. Although often easy to foretell (suburbs like Naperville are practically bursting with concrete), it does make the space functional. If concrete is too boring for you, mix things up. Naperville landscaping pros recommend installing strips of brick will soften the contemporary style of concrete and add interest to your little patch of paradise. If you prefer something gentle and on the softer side, consider gravel or mulch for your path. Hardscape has the power to add personality to an outdoor area and finish its look, so make sure to select the one that will complement both your landscape and your house.

Add Texture with Pebbles for a Rocking Landscape

Pebbles in the garden lend texture and interest to the space and can create calm soothing look and feel. When used en masse, they add an element of surprise and create a striking stage for your landscape. They meld beautifully with both contemporary, formal concrete hardscape and relaxed greenery. Because of their ability to compliment any garden style, pebbles are great for adding a wow factor to your outdoor space.

The Most Common Landscaping Mistake

When it comes to choosing elements for their landscape design, most newbies tend to buy too many and thus create chaos instead of consistency and harmony. In order to avoid making this common mistake, keep in mind that repeating specific hues, textures and forms is crucial. If all of this intimidates you or you don’t have the time to develop and execute a nice landscape design plan, you can always hire a Naperville landscaping company and let professionals get the job done for you.

22 Mar 2017

March 22, 2017 By admin Landscaping Design home, landscape design, landscaping, yard

Home Landscaping 101: How to Have a Beautiful, Healthy Yard

Whether you’re about to turn your tedious yard into a fun and comfy little space where you can relax or you just moved into a new house and you’re eager to make your dream of designing your very own landscape finally come true, here is where you can find all the information you need to start from scratch: from detailed planning to choosing the right plants.

Average homeowners spend barely 4 hours a week on landscape work. Unless you have a year-round plan you stick to or hire home landscaping Bolingbrook services to take care of the job, there’s no way this amount of time and care is enough for your landscape to be as beautiful and healthy as you want it. If you’re an average homeowner (hopefully you aren’t), you are probably not aware how can your lawn pay you back for all the extra hard work you do. However, you don’t have to slave over your yard to keep it healthy, functional and visually appealing. The key is to know how, when and what to do. With no further ado, let’s get started with learning how to get and maintain the yard of your dreams.

Consider How You’re Going to Use Your Yard

Before you start planning, the first and most important tip of all is to consider how will you be using your yard. Are you planning to host associates from your company? Playing soccer with your kids? Have family Sunday dinners? Get naps during summer? Your personal and your family preferences should be the crucial factor to dictate the design of your landscape.

Get Familiar with Your Yard and Make an Assessment

Chances are that you’re not a professional landscape designer, however, you still need to get familiar with your yard and make an honest assessment of it. Consider the topography of your site, your regional climate, your soil conditions and sun exposure. Look out for best places for specific decorative items and find the ideal spot for your favorite plants you’re planning to add. Also, if you want a driveway, check if you have enough space and if it will fit the overall style of your landscape.

Choose a Style

Speaking of style, that is another important step towards a beautiful and functional yard. Health-wise, it is not very important, but it can definitely provide motivation to spend an extra hour or two every week on landscape work. The more you find yourself into your landscape, the more you want it to be well maintained. Therefore, choose a style that reflects your personality best. Decide whether formal or informal landscape fits you better and start from there. A formal landscape features strong lines, symmetrical plantings and decorative elements and uniform plants. Informal landscape designs, on the other hand, are completely up to your taste and you can add as many asymmetrical elements, plants and decorative items as you wish.

Consider Who Will be Using Your Yard

Once you’ve decided the purpose of your landscape, made an honest assessment and chosen a style that fits your purpose best, it’s time to consider who will be using your yard. Will children play games in your yard? Do you have any pets who will be digging, running and make all sorts of mess? Will you strictly use your yard for dinners and meetings? But why limit yourself when you can create a tiny little space for everyone! By using strategic plantings and hardscapes, you can separate different spaces in one yard. However, it is important to consider your budget and keep up to your landscape style. The more realistic you are, the better the outcome.

Place Your Plants Correctly

Before you randomly plant anything, you need to determine what types of plants will work in your current landscape and regional conditions (sun exposure, temperature, wind, etc.) and how will they function in your landscape. Plants can indeed be used in many different ways, but since the way you arrange them will define your creative hour, give your best. Find what plants work best for you and give your landscape a fresh, colorful look. Also, keep in mind that you can use plants as barriers to define specific areas within your yard. Get an expert advice from home landscaping Bolingbrook services providers or Google well before you plant a single flower.

Pay Attention to the Smallest Details

As you’re slowly completing the process of building or rearranging your landscape, you may be getting really excited and easily overlook some not-so-tiny mistakes. Of course, you’re probably a landscape beginner (for now), but paying attention to detail can spare you from a plenty of trouble in future. Garden ornaments, fence posts, hardscapes, lawn and plants, they all have their own visual details, such as shapes, forms, colors, textures, length, width, etc. Making sure that all of these visual details complement and contrast each other can result in an amazing landscape. Aside from its visual appearance, consider all the scents of the plants you choose, because they too can improve the experience in your yard.

16 Mar 2017

March 16, 2017 By admin Tree Removal garden, landscaping, lawn care, tree removal, trimming, yard

When Tree Removal is the Best Option

Cicero once said “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need”, and I think rarely would one disagree with this. While books are food for the mind, a beautiful yard is definitely the most wonderful food for the senses. Not to mention how a beautiful landscape can add to the value of your home. But tending a lawn that excites with rich scents and fresh colors is a demanding task many have failed at. That’s where landscapers come into play. They use their extensive knowledge in plants and soil to make the lawn a functional space, and their refined design talents to transform it into a living piece of art.

But not always a landscaper will have the role of a creator. Sometimes he will need to step in and do some destruction. When a certain pesky and stubborn tree starts hindering the trimmed, immaculate look of your front lawn, a landscaper can save the day by removing it promptly.

Trees do add a certain forest charm while also creating shade in hot summer days, but sometimes they can be the greatest disturbance factor in a yard’s balance. You can trim them and keep them neat on the outside, but below ground their roots can grow uncontrollably. And roots that run wild can cause serious damage to your home’s foundation. This is where tree removal can prove to be inevitable.

Another dangerous trait of trees is that sometimes their branches can dieback and fall on passers-by or on top of an object in your lawn you hold dearly. This is a sign that the tree is unhealthy and it’s best you ask a landscape professional to make a risk assessment of whether a tree removal is needed.

Having in mind Chicago’s unpredictable weather, there’s always a high chance of a severe storm to occur affecting the likelihood of a tree being struck by lightning. Depending on its age and species, a tree may survive or succumb the damage caused by lightning. The latter is more likely to happen however. Especially if the trunk is split or the bark is torn off. In such case, it would be very difficult for the tree to compartmentalize wounds, heal and eventually recover. Moreover, hanging broken and unsupported branches pose a serious threat to your safety. In such case, tree removal is the best option.

However, not always does a tree have to be a risk factor or damaged beyond repair in order to be considered undesirable in your lawn. If your tree is quite large, it can block the view from your house and take up a considerable amount of space and ruin the functionality of your front yard. Sometimes it can get in the way of the nice little flower bed by destroying the plants’ order with its growing root. Additionally, depending on the species, certain trees naturally “bleed” a large amount of sap damaging grass below. Excessive sap dripping can also lead to the withering away of surrounding plants. Hence it’s best to have the tree removed.

Whatever reason you may have, do not by any means undertake tree removal on your own. It’s risky for anyone without the proper equipment or knowledge. The advantage of hiring professional tree removal services is getting the job done right, and in the most safest and efficient way. Plus, removing an unwanted tree can create a big mess in your yard. Tree care professionals know how and which tools to use to prevent property damage. With their help, the front of your house will soon be the dreamy refuge of flowers and greenery it was before the tree problem.

16 Mar 2017

March 16, 2017 By admin Lanscaping Tips garden, landscaping, lawn care, lawn maintenance, yard

Make a Great First Impression With a Gorgeous Front Yard Landscape

Sometimes to make the home pop, all you need is an entryway display that really packs a punch. So if you want a beautiful front yard landscape that renders relaxed outdoor living, you should treat the grassy area around the house to a little TLC this spring. After all gorgeous lawns don’t create themselves. Plus, your lawn will surely take a beating this summer. The heat and drought along with playing games with your kids or fetch with your dog will most likely take a toll on turf. It’s best you revitalize it now so you’re rewarded with a lush grass.

But DIY-ing your landscape can pose quite a challenge. It requires skills, time, different landscaping materials and knowledge. Even the simplest of tasks like watering can be daunting. This is where landscape professionals can prove to be valuable. They have the resources and landscaping materials that will help you create the swath of green you have in mind. Moreover, professional landscapers are well-versed when it comes to soil type and quality, water usage and more. If however you prefer to give your front yard a makeover yourself, remember, a beautiful lawn starts with strategic planning and right landscaping materials.

The Dirt on Soil

Soil, one of the most important landscaping materials, is the foundation for greenery. The good soil encourages strong root growth, proper drainage and holds nutrients that feed plants. The wrong soil can result in plants failing to grow even if you’re born with a green thumb. Hence it’s best to try to learn more about different types, texture, mineral and nutrient content and acidity to ensure you choose right.

Some of the most fertile types of soil are sand, clay, silt, peat, loam and chalk. Each type is made up of different particles and organic materials which is what determines the texture and whether the soil holds nutrients and moisture well. Also, some types are more alkaline than others.

Why Soil Loves Mulch

Mulch is pretty much a top dressing for soil. It can either be organic (wood products) or inorganic (rock products) and helps reduce soil compaction; protects against soil erosion, prevents weed growth and defines areas. Quality mulch can also help minimize the spread of soil borne diseases and can even serve as an insulator keeping the soil cool during warmer months and warm during winter. Of course if used correctly, therefore, knowing which type to use is important. The most common types of mulch used nowadays are wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings, nutshells, riprap, decomposed granite and even crushed concrete. Depending on whether organic or not, some mulches are permanent while others need to be replaced over time, but all can help create beautiful landscape designs.

Drip Irrigation System: Watering Made Easy

Drip irrigation systems are becoming one of the essential management tools as they provide consistent water to the roots. This not only minimizes water loss but also helps prevent the spread of fungal diseases and weeds from growing. The beauty of drip irrigation system is that it’s designed to complement your lifestyle. It helps ensure your plants thrive in any condition with almost no fuss. If installed properly that is. The right irrigation system (installed right) will help prevent over and under-watering what can encourage fungus and diseases and lead to increased bug activity, respectively. A professional landscaper can set up the most appropriate irrigation system, which can reduce your water bill, and ensure complete coverage for your lawn.

FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY A LITTLE HARD WORK WE CAN ALSO DELIVER MANY LANDSCAPING MATERIALS.

13 Mar 2017

March 13, 2017 By admin Lanscaping Tips landscaping, sunset, sunset lawnservice, yards

Fail-Proof Rules You Must Follow for Your Landscape Tasks

Having your own little heaven outside is surely a tempting idea to many, but how much of a chore landscaping really is? If you are new in landscaping, you must be eager to plant lawn, some flowers and other plants, add a beautiful bench where you can sit and relax after a long, hard day at work. Before you reach the stage of admiring your landscaping mastery, however, there is a lot of work to do.

Although there are no guidelines in landscaping and you have all the freedom you want, you still need a few rules to help you stay up to the landscaping tasks. Mowing, trimming, mulching, planting, watering, fertilizing, feeding, digging and many other chores, landscaping requires a serious commitment, real effort and a lot of time and money. If you can’t do all the landscaping chores yourself, no worries, there are a plenty of options for hiring assistance. But if you’re rather a do-it-yourself kind of person, we got you some fail-proof rules that will help you complete each and every task all by yourself.

Create a Lawn Maintenance Schedule

Since there are so many landscaping tasks, what you need to stay up to them all is a good and regular maintenance schedule. Watering, trimming and mowing are daily, weekly and biweekly chores. Failing to meet your plants’ demands can result in (plants) death. Since you don’t want that to happen, set yourself a lawn maintenance schedule and do your best to stick to it regardless of your conditions. If you’re going on a vacation, make sure to have a person who will check your yard every 2-3 days and do some of the musts, like watering.

Style Your Landscape so It Can Reflect Your Personality

Depending on your desired result, your skill set and your yard condition, your landscape can not only determine if you’re really a do-it-yourself landscaper or not, but it also speaks volumes about your personality. Just like the interior of your home, you can use your yard to reflect your personality via your landscape style. Landscape is all about expressing your attitude and taste and it can provide you with space for outside activities too. For example, if you’re planning to have formal parties with business associates outside, you will need a formal arrangement that features some shrubs, a few beds and a sophisticated table. But if it’s for you and your family only, go for more casual.

Consider Your Landscape’s Functionality

Besides style, your landscape needs to be functional too. To make it as functional as possible while keeping your style, you will need to consider which elements do you really need and which ones should go away as all they do is get in your way. With less unnecessary elements, it will be much easier to maintain your yard. Unless you’re not styling your yard for business meetings, don’t add beds with curves and edges, as they can make your landscaping chores much difficult.

Get a Drip Water Irrigation System

In an age with incredibly advanced technology, it would be only surprising if technology failed to provide a way in every possible field. One way to take advantage of automated systems is to install an automatic drip-watering system. Simply set the time for watering and you’re good. But if you prefer DIY projects over automated, you can do it the old-school way. Put one plastic bottle in each plant. That will be enough water for about 3 days.

Add Mulch for Both Decorative and Maintenance Purposes

By using mulch, you can create a beautiful and healthy landscape that controls weeds, conserves water and reduces labor costs. Depending on the number of plants you have, you will need to invest a reasonable amount of money in mulch every now and then. To save money on mulch, you can chip and shred all the brushes, tree prunings, leaves and grass clippings that you would otherwise throw away as they fall on the ground. This organic mulch will add a beautiful layer that will also protect the soil.

Invest in Quality Soil

Since all of your plants depend on the soil quality, you should never try to save on soil, whether it’s extra work or money. Healthy, quality soil contains mineral materials, biological organisms, organic matter, air and water and is an important asset you need to take a good care of. If the soil doesn’t let water and air to get in touch with the roots of your plants, it means that the soil has become compacted and requires aeration. If you don’t fix your soil on time, it could be too late for your plants. If its quality has become too poor to fix, it’s time for new soil.

Make Sure Your Plants Get Plenty of Sunlight

Not only do you want to enjoy the sun, but your plants too. Regardless of what type of plants you have in your yard, they all share the same need for sunlight. Plants convert air, water and sunlight into energy for themselves and that is the only way they can thrive. If some of your plants lack of natural light, instead of supplementing artificial lighting, it’s better if you simply reorganize your whole landscape so that the sunlight will be smiling at your plants. It’s not an easy task, but it can definitely save you from a lot of trouble in long run.

Allow us to take care of your landscaping projects and save 10% on your next landscaping service over $500. Claim offer here!

630-946-9321

Blog