Ground Effects, LLC

Rocks, or ishi, are foundational items in Japanese gardens. They typically represent mountains, but may also symbolize the figure of Buddha who symbolizes peace and harmony, or a gesture of strength and power.

The mark of a professional is someone who can do top-quality work over and over again. When you rely on a professional lawn care expert, you are ensuring that your lawn and garden will retain its lush, healthy look all year long.

Did you know that the organic chemist Justus von Liebig is known as the Father of the Fertilizer Industry? He pinpointed the mineral elements plants need to grow (such as nitrogen), leading to the development of chemical fertilizer compositions to enhance plant growth.

Organic lawn care professionals provide organically based, toxin-free, and environmentally responsible care for lawns and plants, bushes, and trees. Care is also focused on promoting lush landscapes by use of products beneficial to the foliage and the soil.

We recognize that you may not be interested in keeping your lawn in good condition just because of its aesthetic appeal. If you have specific areas of your lawn where poor condition has caused structural issues with your home, let’s talk about what we can do to alleviate the problem.

Are cacti (plural for cactus), annual or perennial. If you guessed that cacti are overwhelmingly perennial in nature, you're right. That means they grow year after year rather that developing, setting seed and dying within a single season.

Did you know that your lawn helps filter run-off pollutants that could enter the underground layers of earth, gravel, or porous stones?

One of the benefits of bringing in a professional landscaping company lies in the quality results you will see year after year. Landscapers have a strong understanding of plants and grass, and thus will be able to ensure that your yard receives the best possible care.

Do you know how a landscaping project done right can help keep your home from gaining water damage? Proper grading, correctly positioned downspouts and drains, and other factors all change the way water flow through and around your yard. Observing these factors before the project gets started is a very good idea.

Traditionally the tea garden’s meandering path symbolizes the passage from the busy outside world to the inner peaceful world of the teahouse. Stepping stones control the rate at which you walk, with larger stepping stones spread out to encourage you to pause and view a special feature.

Consider a covered seating area. This will allow more use of your outdoor space by protecting you and your guests from rain as well as providing shade from the summer sun.

We recognize that not all homeowners know much about landscaping design and the seasonality of certain plants. If you need to ensure that your yard looks its best all year long, we’re always happy to help you make that happen.

The discovery by German chemist Justus von Liebig that plants need nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium for optimum growth eventually led to the introduction of compound fertilizer. With the advent of this type of fertilizer, harvest yields began to be increased many times over.

Setting up your own landscaping department means equipment, employee salaries, benefits, maintenance, storage facilities, training, and other expenses. Hiring a commercial landscaping company can not only be cheaper, it also gives you a single line item to make accounting easier.

Home lawns trap much of the estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere. Also, a healthy, dense lawn is your best protection from erosion, absorbing rain much better than wheat fields or hay fields.

Early European settlers brought lawns with them to America. As was the practice in Europe, only the wealthy had lawns, as they had the time and money to cultivate and maintain a healthy, manicured lawn.

How can seaweed help my lawn and garden? An extract of concentrated seaweed contains starches that hold onto water droplets. This leads to a more regular and even supply of moisture and is particularly beneficial in times of drought or heat stress.

Any ruts or damage in your landscaping can be easily expanded by the winter wind, cold, rain, and snow. To make sure your commercial building looks its best, fall cleanup will often include patching or repairing the damage, then reseeding where necessary.

Thinking of adding a deck to your landscape design? A good deck can capture a view, create a comfortable outdoor room, and add a feeling of spaciousness to your home by blurring the boundaries between inside and out.

Not every building is an architectural marvel, but that does not mean they must be unappealing. Properly placed trees and shrubs can hide less attractive features, while walkways and driving areas can be lined with flowering plants and greenery to upgrade the look.

KanshÅ? is a type of Japanese garden that is designed to be studied and enjoyed from one specific place. The rock and raked gravel garden at RyÅ?an-ji is the famous example of a kanshÅ? garden.

Landscaping is not just moving dirt and planting flora. It also entails proper use of structures and construction materials. Rocks, statuary, benches, walls, gazebos, ponds and more can be mingled in unique combinations to satisfy any tastes.

Bamboo is a traditional Japanese plant. Its complex root system allows it to proliferate at great speed. So as long as you can keep it in check, its graceful leaves and slender stem make it an attractive addition to any Japanese garden design.

Do you know the difference between hardscape and softscape? Any time of vegetation, from a garden to trees and individual plants, all are softscape additions to a yard. Anything that isn’t living, such as a wall, steps, or a fountain, are examples of hardscape elements.

Organic materials are decomposed by microorganisms in the soil. Application of organic fertilizers helps promote a healthier soil, enabling lawns to become more sustainable over time, eventually requiring less maintenance.

Do you often have to leave town for work and other obligations? Particularly during the summer, it's important to cut your grass weekly and to keep a close eye for any insects or illness in your lawn and garden.

Did you know that business districts that have been professional landscaped do more business overall? Studies show that the “greening” of these districts increases community pride, which draws more customers to their business.

In a Japanese garden, it’s not just the plantings that are a focal point; the non-living elements play a major role as well. Sand and pebbles are often used as paving, and often large rocks and boulders are scattered throughout the space.

Gabion walls are composed of wire mesh cages filled with stone, brick, and other inorganic debris. Similar structures existed in ancient Egypt, and they were later used by Italian Renaissance architects such as Leonardo da Vinci.

When you only feed your pet the highest-quality natural and organic pet food, it doesn’t make sense to let him or her play outside on a carpet of chemical-laden grass. Since the chemicals used on your lawn can impact your pet’s health, it’s always a good idea to stick to organic treatments.