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We all know that landscaping is essential, but do you know why? This article lists four reason. It just makes sense.

Four Reasons Landscaping is Important
Having a well-landscaped yard changes the entire look and feel of your Avon, OH property. From outdoor lighting, to flower beds, to quality lawn care and irrigation systems a good landscaping will have you reaping the benefits. Here are four reasons why landscaping is important:
1. Adds Value
Proper landscaping will add value to your home. Landscaping and lighting can be the difference between selling or not selling your home. It is estimated that professional landscaping can increase the property’s value 10 to 12 percent. And, if you are considering selling your home, a poorly landscaped yard can lower your property’s value significantly.

2. Curb Appeal
A well-landscaped yard makes the property look as put together as a man in a well-tailored suit. But it isn’t just about the flower beds: it’s about the shrubbery, trees and accents as well. Don’t overlook the condition of your lawn either. If you give all of your attention to the flowers beds and accents but neglect the lawn, it still won’t look good. The nicer and more put together your yard looks the better you, and your neighbors, will feel. You might even inspire your neighbors to have their yards landscaped as well.

3. Energy Efficiency
You may not realize it, but professional landscaping can assist in the energy-efficiency of your home. Professional landscaping can plan for shade trees, which allows your home to stay cooler and prevents you from having to run your air conditioner as hard. A properly landscaped yard can provide windbreaks, which reduces heating costs considerably. Landscaping will also help with stormwater management, allowing for proper drainage to prevent flooding during heavy rains or melting snow.

4. Tranquility
A professionally landscaped yard will provide you with a comfortable, beautiful place to sit and relax or invite company over to enjoy. That reason, alone, is worth putting the effort into your yard.

There are several reasons why landscaping is important, these are just a few. Why try to landscape on your own, when you can hire an expert who knows how to get the job done. An expert will have knowledge in areas, such as; when flowers bloom and how big they get, what good soil actually is, how to make your grass grow green and lush, where to put a walkway that won’t hurt stormwater flow and how your flower beds and yard should be graded to prevent flooding.

Lets face facts. You time is very important. To your family, friends and you employer. You don't have to sacrifice any of this. Read this article and see why

The benefits of hiring a landscaper

The benefits of hiring a landscaper
Time saved and a professional job are just two of the reasons homeowners hire lawn care companies.
Time saved and a professional job are just two of the reasons homeowners hire lawn care companies.
The flowers are blooming, and the grass has begun to grow anew, making spring a great time for homeowners to once again turn their attention to landscaping. Those who aren’t looking forward to dusting off their lawnmowers and rethreading their string trimmers may want to hire professional landscapers to tend to their lawns and gardens.

A recent joint study by the National Gardening Association, “Residential Lawn and Landscape Services and the Value of Landscaping” found that homeowners spend roughly $45 billion per year on professional lawn and landscape services, as nearly 30 percent of all households across the United States use at least one type of lawn or landscape service. The rising use of lawn care services is indicative of homeowners’ appreciation of the convenience and craftsmanship professional services can provide. While the impact professional landscapers can have on a property’s aesthetic appeal is considerable, homeowners also benefit from working with professional landscapers in various other ways.

Time savings: One of the biggest benefits of leaving lawn care to the professionals is the amount of time it will save for the average homeowner. Lawns generally need to be mowed once per week during the spring and summer seasons and, depending on the size of the property, that can take an hour or more. Add the time it takes to clean up clippings, mulch landscaping beds and edge the property, and homeowners can expect to devote a significant chunk of their weekends to caring for their lawns. Lawn services employ a few workers who make fast work of the job, leaving homeowners time to enjoy their weekends however they see fit.

Reduced risk for injury: Maintaining a landscape is hard work, and those unaccustomed to this type of activity may find themselves winded or at risk of injury. Improper use of lawn equipment also is a safety hazard. Leaving the work to professionals can help homeowners avoid strained backs, lacerations, pulled muscles, sunburns and any other dangers that can result when tackling landscaping projects.

Financial savings: On the surface, hiring a landscaping service may seem like a costly venture. However, after crunching some numbers, many homeowners realize that doing the work themselves may cost more in the long run than hiring a professional landscaping service. Homeowners who decide to go it alone must purchase expensive equipment, and those lawn tools will require routine maintenance, which costs additional money. Inexperienced homeowners may incur extra fees to “fix” mistakes that occur during the learning process. Each year, new seed, fertilizer, mulch, pesticides and other supplies also must be purchased. But professional lawn care services typically charge a set fee per month, and that fee covers the maintenance of both your property and the equipment needed to keep that property looking great.

Know-how: Many professional landscapers know how to address lawn care issues that may arise throughout the year. They will know how to deal with dry patches of lawn or poorly draining areas, and they also can make recommendations on plants that will thrive under certain conditions.

One-stop shopping: Certain landscaping services provide many different options for prospective customers. Basic lawn cuts may be one package, but there also may be services for seasonal seeding, weeding, leaf cleanup and winterizing.

Consistent maintenance: Homeowners who frequently travel or spend much of their summers away from home often find that lawn care companies are a wise investment. Established weekly schedules ensure the landscape always will look its best whether homeowners are home or out of town.
Spring is a great time for homeowners to decide if hiring professional landscaping services is in their best interests. The time and money saved, as well as the impact professional landscapers can have on a property, makes landscaping services a great investment for many homeowners.

We all want a nice lawn, but doing it yourself can be costly. Hiring a professional means you get the right things, in the right place for your zone.

The Benefits of Landscaping
Nature is good for us. It’s plain and simple. Whether it’s spending quiet time in solitude in a garden, hiking up a mountain for a breathtaking view, or walking through a forest to clear our heads, nature somehow makes us feel better about our lives.

But it’s not just the wilderness, state parks or conservation areas that I’m talking about. I’m also talking about landscaping. And that’s what we do at Plants Creative. It’s what I like to call the “business of nature” — improving and beautifying the natural surroundings of our customers’ homes!

When it comes to the benefits of landscaping, there are three main areas I like to tell people about: physical health benefits, mental health benefits, and economic benefits.

Landscaping is good for your health
On a basic level, landscapes can affect our physical health in many positive ways. Here are just a few…

Air quality — A healthy landscape produces oxygen and eliminates dust, smoke, pollutants, improving the quality of the air we breathe.
Lower blood pressure and lower stress — Studies have shown that looking at plants and trees, even if only through a window, can lower blood pressure and levels of the “stress hormone” cortisol. High levels of cortisol have been linked to issues with learning and memory, weight gain and heart disease.
Reduced inflammation & boosted immune system — Being outdoors can reduce inflammation in the body, which in turn reduces autoimmune disorders, irritable bowel syndrome and even cancer! While the research into cancer prevention is still in the early stages, studies suggest that time spent in nature can stimulate the production of anti-cancer proteins. Another benefit to being outside includes a boost to the immune system, allowing the body to better fight routine illnesses like colds and the flu.
Landscaping is good for your mind
The mental health benefits are just as plentiful. Multiple studies have shown that walking in nature improves short-term memory. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and other mental health issues can all improve with time spent outside. One study that analyzed 10 other studies on “green exercise” notes that exercising outdoors instead of inside improved both self-esteem and mood in study participants.

Additional benefits include an increase in focus for tasks that require intense concentration and a better ability to creatively solve problems. If you ask me, the more greenery around your home, the better.

Landscaping is good for your wallet
Outside of the obvious increased enjoyment of your property that you’ll experience when you have a new landscaping project done on your property, there are economic benefits too!

Curb appeal & increased property value — The Appraisal Institute estimates that a well-landscaped home can add approximately 6 to 13 percent of value compared to a property without any landscaping. Another source claims that it’s 20 to 25 percent. Curb appeal is real — how a home looks from the road will affect whether someone wants to buy it and how much they’re willing to pay.
Energy bill savings — According to a Cornell University study, a well-planned landscape designed for energy efficiency can reduce heating and air conditioning costs by 10 to 30 percent. Certain plants, especially ones that are native to Georgia, require less water to thrive, which means lower water bills.

Nothing beats a nice fire to take the winter chill from a room. Having the right wood is the first step.

Now is the Wrong Time to Buy Firewood
As you transition out of summer and into fall, you’re probably not thinking much yet about keeping your home warm this winter. However, when it comes to firewood, it’s essential to be prepared months in advance. If you haven’t bought green wood yet, it’s probably too late.

Don’t worry – this doesn’t mean you’ll freeze in your home this winter! (Check out Aire Serv, a Neighborly brand, for all things HVAC!) If you want to use firewood to heat your home, you’ll need wood that is properly seasoned and ready to burn efficiently. Learn how to prepare for winter with this Neighborly guide.

stack of firewood
Green vs. Dry
Picture this: You’re ready to fire up your fireplace this winter, so you go and chop up some wood in the yard. Is it ready to be burned? Not quite. Green wood is wood that has been freshly cut and is full of sap. The problem? Green wood is tough to burn and doesn’t give off as much heat as seasoned wood. Wood that is “seasoned” means it’s been properly dried and the sap has evaporated. All firewood should have seasoned for six months, so its moisture content is around 20 percent.

When your wood isn’t dried properly, it doesn’t burn efficiently. This causes your fire to be overly smoky, which will create buildup in your chimney. However, don’t write off the green wood! Green wood is cheap, so stock up ahead of time and season it yourself.

Seasoning Survival Guide
You’ve purchased your green wood – what’s next? The key to seasoning can be found in the word “seasoning” itself: season your wood for a season. The best time to buy your firewood is early spring – that way, it should be ready for winter use by October.

To properly season your wood, place it where the sun can warm it and wind can blow through it. When you stack the wood, place it in a crisscross fashion for better air flow. When your wood has finished seasoning, keep it in a woodshed or cover it with a tarp.

Not sure if you’re done drying? The most accurate gauge is to look for checks and cracks in the end grain. You can also hit two dry pieces together – if they’re dry enough, they’ll make a hollow sound. Dry wood weighs less than wet wood, so pick a few up to compare. Finally, you could split a piece of wood to see for yourself – if it’s damp inside, the piece isn’t dry enough.

Storage Solutions
You’ve got your perfectly-seasoned wood, but you’re not quite ready to burn it. Storing your firewood properly is the only way to ensure your wood is preserved well for the winter. Check out the following firewood storage tips:

Don’t abuse the tarp – A tarp can easily be misused when it comes to storage. Don’t place your tarp on your firewood before it’s perfectly seasoned – the wood needs as much air circulation as possible to try well. Instead, cover the top of seasoned wood with a tarp, but make sure air can still pass through on the sides.
Stack in the shed – Consider investing in an actual structure to store your firewood, especially if it’s for personal use. Stacking wood helps it dry faster, look nicer and take up less space, and giving it a nice home will keep it safe. Need more ideas on outdoor storage solutions? Check out this helpful blog from Mr. Handyman!
Close to home – Regardless of how you choose to store your wood, stack it close to your house. Firewood is heavy – don’t make more work for yourself! Remember not to place it directly on the soil, as the wood will rot from bacteria and bugs. Lay down a tarp or stack it on a surface like concrete

It's sad to say, but cooler weather will soon be upon us. It's time to think about getting your lawns ready for the cold. Hiring a professional can make sure it's done right, at the right time.

The Benefits of Fall & Winter Mulching: Why Mulching is Important
As someone who raises a small flock of backyard chickens, I find myself with wheelbarrows full of chicken manure and straw each fall when I clean out my coop before the onset of winter. Manure is great for your garden, but fresh manure needs time to age, so applying it to your garden in the fall gives it a few months to age and for the high levels of nitrogen to slowly work its way into the soil.

radishes
6 Benefits Fall & Winter Mulching
Straw also serves a valuable purpose for the garden in the form of mulch. Mulching your garden in the fall has several benefits which will facilitate your spring gardening and result in a more bountiful harvest the following summer. Straw is a great type of mulch for the garden, but wood chips or shavings, dried leaves, pine needles or even dried grass clippings make good mulch as well.

W**d Control
Applying mulch to your garden over the winter will help prevent new weeds from growing when the temperatures start to rise in the spring. Mulch in walkways and around plants during the growing season will also reduce the amount of weeding you need to do.

chard
Pest Control
A thick layer of mulch around the base of your plants can help reduce the pests that reach your plants. Many insects live in the soil and climb the stalks of plants to reach the leaves and blossoms, so a layer of mulch can impede their progress.

Moisture Retention
Mulch helps with moisture retention. If you live in a dry area, putting down a layer of mulch in your garden can help keep the ground moist and prevent the water from evaporating as quickly after you water.

greenhouse
Improve Soil Structure
As your mulch breaks down, it will add organic matter and some nutrients to your garden soil as well as improve the soil structure. A 2-in-1 soil could be used as a mulch and placed on top of soil as organic mulch, keeping soil cool and moist. Structure is important for plants trying to establish roots, enhances drainage and allows air and water to pe*****te the ground more easily.

Maintain Soil Temperature
Mulch also moderates the soil temperature, insulating it to a great extent from the outside temperatures. For a winter crop like garlic, this is extremely beneficial to prevent it from freezing over the winter in cold climates. Mulch can also help keep the soil cooler in the summer in warm climates.

Aesthetic Appeal
Straw or pine needles can look better in your garden than dirt. Creating paths or walkways between your rows of vegetables will make your garden more eye-appealing and aesthetically pleasing.

While having a beautiful yard is nice on the eyes, it is good to remember that your homes’ landscaping is not just for looks. It can also play a huge part in increasing or decreasing the value of your home as well as the neighborhood you reside in. Unfortunately, yard work can be a huge job to tackle. Depending on what you are doing, it can take a full day to complete. This is especially true if you are starting a new landscape project like a flowered pathway or even rebuilding an old project like a flower bed. This is where the expertise of a professional landscaper can come in handy.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A LOCAL LANDSCAPER
There are a lot of benefits to hiring a local landscaping company. But, if you need a little more convincing, here are the Top 5 reasons to hire a landscaper.

1. PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING
Landscaping is more than just digging around in the dirt or removing weeds. Landscaping experts are particular about their craft. In fact, all professional landscapers take pride in knowing the ins and outs of yard maintenance. Things that non-landscaping experts would not know of like soil quality, soil pH, and many other factors are studied by professional landscapers.

Lawn Professionals also know which plants are best for your particular local climate. Think about it. If you live in Dallas, you know we don’t get much rainfall, and our spring, summer, and even fall months can be rather hot. This type of environment combined with your yard’s soil composition can prevent some plants from growing properly. By hiring a professional, you are able to get a personal analysis of what your yard needs to make it look great all year round.

2. THE LANDSCAPING COMPANY CAN GET REALLY CREATIVE
There are a lot of creative aspects that go into landscaping. To create the ideal living space, it is important to combine the science and the art of landscaping.

By hiring a landscaping expert, you do just that. An expert will think about the colors that work best with your home’s exterior. They will also be able to take an idea you dreamed up or saw in a magazine and make it come to fruition for your yard.

3. LANDSCAPERS CAN SAVE YOU TIME
After you have worked your full-time job, do you want to go home and do yard work as well? How about spending your entire weekend breaking your back to redo your flower bed?

For most people, this is definitely something they would rather not do. Instead, you could hire a professional and get your time back. Maybe you can spend more time with your family and friends, or even spend time practicing a hobby. The possibilities are endless.

4. A LANDSCAPING COMPANY CAN ACTUALLY HELP YOU SAVE MONEY
Since the experts have experience under their belts, they can avoid landscape mishaps that you might run into if you tried to tackle the job yourself. They understand the characteristics that are needed to allow your yard and plants to flourish.

This will allow you to get the right products the first time around which helps you keep money in your pocket. Also, a professional landscaping company will assign a team that includes more than one person. Since you are charged hourly, this helps speed up the process and gets your landscaping done quickly.

5. PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS CAN GIVE YOU A COMPLETE SERVICE
When you handle your home’s landscaping, you may not think about other yard features that you may also need to make your yard come to life. When you hire a professional company, they will conceptualize and create an entire plan from the start.

This might include water features for your flower bed. Maybe your yard is dark and needs more landscape lighting to create a safer environment. By working with a pro, you will be able to get the end results that you desire.

A landscaped yard doesn't just benefit you. It does so much more. Talk to a professional and see how you can a greenspace that everyone loves.

Why our landscapes are important
Our landscapes are a shared resource for everyone, regardless of ownership, ability or background, and they bring us many benefits.
Landscapes provide a living history of Scotland’s past and inspiration for many aspects of our culture. They underpin our national economy and offer a wide range of social and health benefits.

We must look after our landscapes as a unique and irreplaceable resource for current and future generations.

How we benefit from our landscapes
Pleasant surroundings and amenity
Our quality of life benefits from the attractiveness and amenity of our everyday landscapes.

Permanence and continuity
From a human point of view, many landscape elements are fixed or change only very slowly. They can give us a strong sense of place and reassurance.

Memories and associations
Individuals and communities may link certain landscapes with specific experiences.

Diversity and character
Our landscapes are distinctive and full of character, which helps us to define our sense of place both locally and regionally.’.

Scenic quality, beauty and aesthetics
Rural landscapes are often valued for their natural beauty and attractiveness. Townscapes and individual buildings also have important aesthetic qualities.

Health and well-being
Attractive and accessible landscapes invite and encourage physical activity. They can also provide an escape from the pace of modern life and give us insights into our past and culture. Engaging more closely with landscapes is thus good for our physical and mental health and well-being as individuals.

Community regeneration
Communities can be strengthened by:

restoring degraded landscapes
engaging people in the history and biodiversity of local landscapes
involving people in general decision-making and management around landscape issues
Find out more about communities and landscape.

Enjoyment and recreation
Our wide range of landscapes – from local greenspace and urban parks to remote mountains and coasts – provide many ways to enjoy the outdoors. All offer relaxation, challenges, inspiration and a chance to experience our natural and cultural heritage.

Education
Landscapes provide:

locations to connect with the natural world and built environment
a vital record of our past and insights into our ancestors and the places they lived
varied opportunities for learning about our natural and cultural heritage
settings for formal and informal learning activities
Find out more

When you know what it is that a professional landscape company can do for your lawn, you realize how much you need to hire one.

WHAT DOES A LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR DO?
Landscaping contractors provide services to both commercial and residential customers in private and public areas. They create outdoor spaces by planting gardens or constructing hard landscaping features. They can take on several different roles and involve many stages.

PLANNING
Planning is a step that landscape contractors won’t ever miss. They survey the property to understand the lay of the land. This makes it easier to transfer to paper or a software program so they can begin the design process. Landscape contractors must plan the details of the budget, timeline and materials to thoroughly complete the project.

Often, when working on large projects, landscaping contractors might need to hire subcontractors for specialized tasks like plumbing or electrical work. There might even be regulations or setbacks existing on the property that you weren’t aware of. In this case, the contractor will work out any of the issues by working with the town.

DESIGN
Designing is a collaborative effort between you and the contractor. This step normally takes the longest to complete. Landscape contractors will use all the information to create design concepts with rough budgets for both of you to review.

They will listen to all of your feedback and make any necessary changes, additions or sacrifices. A landscape contractor will help you find all the right pieces to add to your property. This is all to ensure your property’s curb appeal and get the most accurately detailed design as the finished product.

CONSTRUCTION
Landscape construction is permanent to semi-permanent installations and is the foundational work of design projects. It’s a major part of a landscape or hardscape contractor’s job. You should consider it an investment in your home. It includes the hardscape aspects of building large features and softscape aspects that change your property’s overall appearance.

Hardscape features may include outdoor kitchens, wood decks, walkways, firepits or water fountains. Softscape features may include decorative gardens, shrubs, vines, rocks and trees.

ARBOR CARE AND HORTICULTURE
In this stage, landscape contractors help with designing, maintaining and caring for softscape features like trees and shrubs. Replacement and removal contribute to the overall health of those features. This will help shape your property and increase its value and curb appeal.

Landscaping isn't just for your home. Landscaping your business can help make you more attractive to potential clients.

4 Environmental Benefits of Your Commercial Landscape

Tuesday, 05 September 2017
Environmental-Benefits-Commercial-Landscaping
It’s easy to look at a freshly mowed lawn, pruned shrubs, and vibrantly colored flowers and think that commercial landscaping is just about making properties look beautiful. But as Landscape Professionals, we know there’s so much more going on in your landscape than what you can see. Professionally designed, installed, and managed landscapes do so much more than just add beauty to the places where we live, work, and play. In this post, we’ll explore 4 important environmental benefits of commercial landscapes that you may not have considered before.

1. Improved Air Quality
Do you remember that one science fair as a kid, when you did a project on photosynthesis? In case you forgot, photosynthesis is “the process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water…and generates oxygen as a byproduct.” Plants are absolutely essential to carbon sequestration. They capture significant amounts of carbon from the air and release oxygen. In urban areas and places near industrial and manufacturing facilities, trees and plants also capture particulates and other microscopic pollutants, helping to clean the air we breathe.

2. Reducing Soil Erosion
Did you know that the root systems of plants and trees allow for 20 times greater water absorption than tilled soil? That also means that areas with healthy turf, trees and plants are far less likely to experience flash flooding and areas of standing water after a hard rain. Soil erosion isn’t just an aesthetic issue. Area of exposed dirt on a hillside indicate that the soil is weak. If not corrected, this can lead to mudslides after heavy rains. Reducing soil erosion in these areas can involve decorative plantings of shrubs and other groundcovers, meeting the functional and aesthetic needs of the landscape.

3. Reducing Noise Pollution
When most people think about a bustling, urban city, the soundtrack typically includes honking car horns, exhausts of trucks and buses passing by, and maybe even a jackhammer. The constant assault on the ears is part of the reason some city dwellers eventually flee to find peace and quiet in the suburbs. Modern urban developments are increasingly looking to commercial landscape designers and commercial landscape management companies to bring nature back to the city. Turf, plants, and trees are much better at absorbing sound than pavement and concrete walls. Dampening even a small amount the city’s noise makes the environment just a little more pleasant for its residents.

4. Regulating Temperature
In the South, we’re always looking for ways to keep ourselves just a little cooler. Whether adding more trees to create a natural canopy of shade, or installing a hedgerow to block the setting sun from a westward facing window, landscapes can have a big impact on temperature regulation. With more shade from trees, your home or office’s air conditioning system won’t have to work as hard to keep you cool, saving money on your electric bill. Studies have also shown that turf keeps the ground 10-15 degrees cooler in the summer and 10-15 degrees warmer in the winter than a paved surface. Another advantage that grass has over pavement – it doesn’t crack. Pavement expands and contracts as temperatures change, leading to cracks which become safety hazards. Replacing large paved areas with healthy turf reduces the amount of pavement that will need to be repaired or replaced, and better regulates temperature in the area.

These examples are just a few of the many ways that your landscape is working to help make your environment a little healthier and a little safer. The aesthetic appeal of a great commercial landscape project is hard to overlook, but just remember that there’s a functional purpose behind all that beauty, too

Water damage can be expensive. A professional landscape firm can help lessen or even prevent a water emergency. It's definitely worth it.

Reasons Why Your Yard is Flooding
by Sav Maive | Updated: June 15, 2022 | 0 Comments
No one likes stepping into puddles or squishing their feet into soggy grass, let alone dealing with expensive water damage on your property. Get to the root of the problem by finding out why your yard is flooding.

Your home is an investment, and as little as 1 inch of flooding in your house can set you back more than $25,000, and your landscape is at risk, too. Flooded yards also can lead to soil erosion, disease, and increased pests, and cost hundreds to thousands of dollars in damage.

Learn why your lawn might be flooding, how to protect it from floods, and what problems might arise in your lawn after a flood.
Why is my yard flooding?
Flooding can impact you and your community on small and large scales. Soil erosion, landslides, and property damage can occur due to floods.

Flooding is often due to heavy rain, but also can be caused by Mother Nature’s fury, like hurricanes, tsunamis, and rising sea levels. Damage to dams, levees, and other manmade structures can cause flooding, too.

Types of floods
Flash floods: Short floods that happen due to sudden spouts of heavy rainfall.
Inland flooding: Moderate to high levels of rainfall over several days leading to flooding, can be caused by hurricanes.
Storm surges: Unusually high levels of water in coastal regions due to a storm, like a hurricane.
Coastal flooding: Flooding caused by high tides, strong winds, and/or heavy rain.
River flood: Flooding caused by snowmelt or high levels of rainfall that raise the water levels above the river banks.
Apart from natural disasters, here are some other common causes of flooding on your lawn.

Overwatering