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What Is the Difference Between Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance?

As a Bergen County, NJ homeowner, your lawn and landscape are an extension of your home. It’s a welcoming place to entertain, relax, and have fun. Regular lawn care and lawn maintenance keeps your lawn and landscape beautiful and inviting. A lot of time and effort is required to maintain your lawn year-round. As a homeowner, what type of lawn care and lawn maintenance do you need for a healthy lawn? And, what, if any landscape services are required?

What Is Considered Lawn Maintenance?

Lawn maintenance entails keeping your lawn and outdoor property clean and manicured year round, whether it’s preparing your lawn for spring by clearing winter debris, mowing lawns throughout the summer, or yard clean up before winter. A regular lawn maintenance service in Bergen County, NJ includes:

Weekly lawn mowing

Regular watering and weeding

Border edging for driveways, walkways, and patio areas

Cleaning of driveways, walkways, and patio areas

Spring yard cleanup to remove dead winter growth and debris

Summer Pruning of Trees and Shrubs

Fall yard cleanup to remove leaves and debris and prepare for winter

Your lawn will also require additional attention to remain lush and healthy. How does lawn maintenance differ from lawn care and landscaping services?

What Is the Difference Between Lawn Care and Landscaping?

Lawn care generally refers to maintaining the health, color and vitality of existing lawns through the years. Some services that fall under lawn care are pest control, weed control, fertilization, soil testing, aeration, seeding, deep root feeding for trees and shrubs and irrigation. Landscaping services are much more complex, transforming outdoor spaces through design, construction, and planting. Man-made features, along with plants, create peaceful, outdoor environments. After properties are prepared for landscaping, hardscape elements are installed. These include decks, walkways, lighting, patios, stone walls, fire pits, waterfalls, pool areas, and more. Plants provide the finishing touches to landscape construction projects and garden designs. They may include privacy hedges, foundational plantings, perennial gardens, trees, shrubs, and more. As a homeowner, you will need regular lawn care and lawn maintenance in addition to landscaping services.

Does Landscaping Include Mowing?

Because landscaping often deals with creating or transforming new outdoor spaces, a Bergen County, NJ homeowner may wonder if lawn mowing is part of landscaping. The short answer is yes. As part of a larger landscaping project, mowing may be included in the overall lawn care and maintenance of a property. This is particularly important with uniquely designed areas or with commercial properties that must be kept in pristine condition.

What Does Lawn Care Include?

Maintaining a healthy lawn in Bergen County, NJ requires ongoing care and a huge commitment. Many landscape companies offer lawn care services in addition to regular professional lawn maintenance and landscaping services. Borst Landscape’s professional lawn care services include:

Pest Control

Fertilizer Application

Pre-emergent crabgrass control

Broadleaf & creeping weed control

Grub control and chinch bug control

Natural aeration & thatch control

Root stimulants & developers

Soil testing

Mulching

Organic lawn care

Irrigation systems

What Do You Need for Lawn Care?

Whether you take care of your lawn, or hire a professional, there are several tools that you should have on hand for regular lawn care. Because a professional lawn care company generally works on a set schedule, you never know when you may need to do some emergency lawn care work. Keep the following items handy:

Lawn mower for cutting the grass.

Lawn trimmer for cleaning up edges.

Leaf rake for fall cleanup.

Soil rake to remove unwanted material and prepare for seeding.

Spreader to add fertilizer to your lawn.

Hose with a spray nozzle for watering garden beds and flowers.

Additionally, if you plan to maintain shrubs and trees, you should also consider:

Hand pruner to shape shrubs and flowers and remove branches.

Hedge shear to shape and clean up hedges.

Borst Landscape Provides Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance Services in Bergen County, Nj

Borst Landscape, in Bergen County, NJ, can provide consistent quality lawn care, lawn maintenance, and landscaping services throughout the year. By hiring a professional, you can expect regular, reliable lawn care and lawn maintenance services without exerting time and effort on your own. A knowledgeable, skilled crew will be assigned to your home on a weekly basis allowing you and your family the freedom to simply enjoy the benefits of your outdoor living space. Contact Borst Landscape today about the benefits of lawn care and maintenance services for your home.

The post What Is the Difference Between Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance? appeared first on Borst Landscape & Design.

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blackpjensen · 5 years

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Heating Options For A Small Home

While every Australian is aware of our hot summers, how we keep our homes warm during the cooler months is often an afterthought until winter hits. While larger homes usually have all the heating and cooling requirements sorted, for smaller houses getting an effective and affordable heating solution may be a little tough.

On the plus side having a small house puts you at an advantage when it comes to heating options. That’s because there are several options available these days. While larger residences must stick to the conventional systems of air conditioning, smaller houses can explore the latest technology at lower prices.

Here are some options that you can consider for heating up your cosy little home during the winters.

Design

The design of your house itself plays a very important role in its heating or cooling capacity. The building materials used, the orientation of the house, the ventilation, everything contributes in some way to the heating and cooling effects.

Materials that absorb and store heat for longer periods, that is, materials with high thermal mass, are better for homes that require heating. Such materials include concrete bricks or tiles, which are of high density and can store passive heat effectively. These materials have lower conductivity and do not allow passive heating to escape soon. Not affected by extreme weather conditions, steel frames are a popular choice but require additional insulation.

Reverse cycle systems

Reverse cycle air conditioning systems are equally effective in cooling and heating small spaces. A reverse cycle system absorbs heat from the outside air and releases the heat into your home. This heat is absorbed and stored by a refrigerant that passes through an external coil exposed to the outside air. A compressor sends the heated refrigerant inside, and a fan allows the heat to be distributed inside.

These systems are good for moderately cold places, but in extremely cold climates, such systems may not be able to derive enough heat to keep you warm.

Ceiling fans

Ceiling fans are certainly not the first thing that would come to your mind as a heating solution. But these can also be used quite effectively to heat up your little house. Reversing the effect of the ceiling fan can be a great way to heat a space. The idea is to push back down the heated air that has risen up. This can be very effecting in maintaining a constant flow of warm air in the room for the comfort of everyone.

In fact, using ceiling fans with any of the other heating systems can bring down electricity consumption by nearly 10%.

Electric Heaters

Electric heaters are one of the most popular and widely used heating options for small houses across Australia. What makes these heaters so popular is their ease of use and the safety they offer.

Electric heaters also produce no fumes and do not add to the pollution outside. You plug the heater into one of your home’s electrical outlets, and it heats up the room within minutes.

There are a wide variety of electric heaters available in the market, from heaters that radiate heat through a resistance coil to blowers that blow air over a heating element. There are even heaters that look exactly like a fireplace but instead use heating elements.

If you can afford to pay the electricity bills and the charges are not too high in your area, this is the best and cheapest option available. There is very little risk of fire involved as there is no open flame, and it is completely eco-friendly. You have to be careful with using an electric heater though as any contact with water can be extremely dangerous. Also, you must ensure that it is placed away from the reach of children, particularly the ones where the heating elements are exposed.

The post Heating Options For A Small Home appeared first on Kitome.

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blackpjensen · 5 years

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The Doors Recommended By Australia’s Leading Kit Home Supplier (Kitome)

Building a new home can be exciting, but when it comes to making big decisions (like choosing doors, for example) you’ll notice that there are a wide range of options available on the market. With doors, you have to consider the size, colour, frame, glazing, and style for both the internal and external doors of your home, which can be a little overwhelming. So to make it easier for you to choose the right doors for your home, here are Kitome’s top nine door recommendations (all offered by Hume Doors & Timber).

Entrance Doors

The Hume Doors entrance range has a visual design that is not only clean and strong, but also beautiful to look at. The solid entrance doors are the best in the range as they provide strength and stability with their medium density and moisture resistant fibreboard core.

1. Vaucluse

The Vaucluse entrance door is made of high-quality materials and comes in a variety of styles to match any architectural frontage. It has detailed carved patterns on the external side of the door, whereas the internal side is smooth. If you want a simple and sleek design, the Vaucluse is definitely for you.

We use the XV14 Vaucluse as a standard inclusion in our Gable Series kit homes.

2. Vaucluse Premier

The Vaucluse Premier entrance door has deep carved patterns on both sides, along with attractive moulding on the external side, which is great for if you want to make a big statement. There’s also a wide range of glass options available to match any décor.

We use the XVP12 and XVP13 Vaucluse Premier as standard inclusions in our Freedom Series and Prestige Series kit homes.

3. Newington

The Newington entrance door is popular due to its everlasting appeal and unmatched adaptability. There are a number of dazzling designs, glass options, and matching sidelights to choose from to create the exact look you want. If you want a versatile door designed to impress, look no further than the Newington.

We use the XN5 and XN6 Newington as standard inclusions in our Freedom Series kit homes.

Hollow core internal doors

The Hume Doors internal range is visually impactful and designed to inspire. The hollow core internal doors are the best in the range with high-density honeycomb core and pre-primed faces perfect for paint finish.

4. Honeycomb Core Flush and Moulded Panel Smooth

The Honeycomb Core Flush and Moulded Panel Smooth are traditional flush panel doors that you can use to support the theme you want without affecting your home’s visual appeal. There are bi-fold and multifold options available for the Honeycomb Core Flush, as well as made-to-order options in various sizes. As for the Moulded Panel Smooth, pre-cast production ensures every door is consistent and you can choose between non-solid and solid construction.

We use smooth flush panel doors as standard inclusions in our Gable Series and Freedom Series kit homes for an everlasting and refreshing look.

5. Sorrento

The Sorrento internal door will bring a fresh contemporary feel to your home. On both sides are beautifully carved rout designs that are produced on a premium primed door face. It has a non-solid construction with strong six millimetre skins for impact resistance.

We don’t offer Sorrento doors as standard inclusions in our kit homes, however they can be made to order.

6. Strata

The Strata internal door is unique and modern with eye-catching vertical and horizontal textured patterns. You can also add a metallic strip to the door to complement your own personality. It has a non-solid construction and is primed ready for painting.

We don’t offer Strata doors as standard inclusions in our kit homes but they can be made to order.

Door systems

The Hume door system range has technologically advanced solutions for both internal and external doors.

While we don’t offer door systems as standard inclusions in our kit homes, we can create them from scratch if you wish to install one.

7. Frontier Barn Door Sliding System

The Frontier Barn Door Sliding System has wide sliding doors and has become a popular interior decor piece. It’s the perfect room divider for the bedroom, wardrobe, or home office. You can choose between a modern and traditional design that adds real value to your home. What’s more, there are shaker style and inexpensive options across two barn door ranges, as well as plenty of great designs to help you achieve that sought-after authentic barn door look.

8. Pivot Door System

The Pivot Door System is ideal for large entrance doors and if you want to make a bold statement to boost your home’s street appeal. The factory assembled frame incorporates a heavy-duty pivot with quality fittings that allow you to adjust the door during installation. It also comes with perimeter seals and a self-closing mechanism.

9. Multifold Interior

The Multifold Interior Folding System is smooth and quiet. It also saves space as it can turn two rooms into one big room. Moreover, there’s a wide range of styles and sizes to pick from.

10. Alfresco Folding System

The Alfresco Folding System is fully assembled and weather sealed. Use it to double your living space by bringing the outside in and enjoy the relaxing style of true alfresco living.

Choosing the right doors for your kit home

With only the best doors to choose from, you should now be able to pick the right doors for your kit home. Whether you’re building a family home or a holiday home, it’s important that the doors you choose suit both your living needs and the style of your home.

Visit your closest Hume Door distributor to view our range in person.

The post The Doors Recommended By Australia’s Leading Kit Home Supplier (Kitome) appeared first on Kitome.

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blackpjensen · 5 years

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Why Your Coastal Home Needs The Right Cladding

Cladding isn’t used solely for decoration purposes. It also provides thermal insulation and weather resistance for your home. When choosing the right cladding for your coastal home, you not only need to think about weather resistance to water, heat and wind. It is also important to consider erosion from the salt in seawater.

The salt in seawater dissolves, causing the sodium and chloride ions to dissociate. These dissociated ions can move freely through the solution. This allows seawater to carry an electrical charge. Corrosive chemical reactions can take place when materials come into contact with seawater. This is why choosing the right cladding is important for your coastal home.

What cladding is suitable for a coastal home?

Metal

When it comes to metal cladding, the two most common materials are aluminium and steel. Galvanised steel is usually coated with a zinc or copper-nickel alloy to prevent corrosion. Although highly-reactive, aluminium forms an inert, protective layer with oxygen for corrosion resistance. Steel is always preferable over aluminium due to its durability.

Metal cladding is an easy way to add a pop of colour to the exterior of your home. It is considered a cost-effective option for cladding. It is also quick to install and requires little ongoing maintenance.

Brick

Brick gives a classic, traditional feel to your home. It’s another great low-maintenance option. Although the build is time-consuming and costly, it will be easy to maintain for years to come.

Brick is durable, thermally-insulating, fire-resistant and is relatively resistant to moisture absorption. Although all properties are advantageous, the latter is an important feature for cladding in a coastal home. Humid air in coastal conditions can wear away moisture-laden claddings. Choosing a type of cladding with a low rate of moisture absorption should be on the top of your checklist.

Consider adding an outdoor alcove into your outdoor space to further shade from the harsh weather conditions. If you’re low on space consider choosing outdoor furniture that you can pack away easily during the colder months.

Brick veneer is a cheaper and less time-consuming option. However, it is quite susceptible to moisture retention. For this reason, always choose brick over brick veneer for your home by the sea.

Timber

Timber has been a popular choice for many years. This type of cladding has an extensive range of styles so you’ll be sure to find the look you’re after. Although labour can be lengthy due to wall framing, this makes it thermally-efficient.

The biggest downside of timber is its high maintenance. Timber will need to be replaced sooner than other types of cladding. This is due to its moisture-absorbency and lack of extreme durability. For these reasons, timber may not be the best long-lasting choice of cladding for coastal homes.

Vinyl/plastic weatherboard

Man-made materials require very low maintenance. They’re also lightweight, durable and can be made in a wide range of colours.

Like timber, wall framing is required so the construction process may be long in duration. Styrofoam backs the cladding to improve insulation due to thermal inefficiency. Ensure the cladding is joined using regular expansion joints as the material may expand and contract with the weather.

Saltwater has little effect on these materials. However, it is not completely resistant to the sun’s rays. Over time, the colour may fade.

Concrete

Modern finishes aren’t complete without concrete cladding. The possibilities are endless. Create your desired texture, pattern and polish. Labour for concrete cladding will be a higher upfront cost compared to other materials. However, maintenance for concrete cladding is low. Concrete is also a thermally-efficient option.

Over long periods, saltwater can corrode concrete. This can take many years, but over time, your cladding will eventually become weak and unstable.

Ultimately, each choice for coastal home cladding has its advantages and disadvantages. Saltwater is a corrosive substance, so ensure materials are properly treated. Whichever material you choose, be sure to wash your cladding regularly to prevent salt build-up.

Author’s bio:

Maia Fletcher is a New Zealand based freelance writer who has written articles for various blogs and local sites such as Tairawhiti Gisborne. After long hours spent in front of her computer, she always looks forward to ending her day admiring the picturesque view of the sunset from her window.

The post Why Your Coastal Home Needs The Right Cladding appeared first on Kitome.

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blackpjensen · 5 years

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Best Landscape Design Blogs in 2016

A beautiful, well-maintained landscape is every homeowner’s dream, but achieving it requires time, effort and commitment, as well as landscape knowledge and practical skills. If you want to learn more about landscaping and pick up helpful tips on plant care and maintenance, a landscape design blog provides a great way to get started.

A landscape design blog can educate you on various landscaping topics from basic plant knowledge to building a lovely gazebo in your back yard. Many blogs also provide beautiful photographs of gardens and landscapes that will inspire you with new ideas. Whether you’re a beginning or experienced gardener, landscape blogs offer helpful landscaping advice and design tips for your home. Take a look at 25 great landscaping blogs that you’ll enjoy.

1. Ledge and Gardens

Ledge and Gardens won the “Best Garden Blog Award” from Horticulture Magazine in 2012. Their garden design blogs discuss various landscape and garden topics, smart gardening techniques and plants that are to their Rhode Island location. This blog site is loaded with helpful landscape information and great links to horticulture guides, a wildflower directory, a Latin botanical names directory; the Garden Guys Radio Show; and the University of Maryland Plants Diagnostics Guide. You can’t ask for much more educational help than that!

2. Unique Landscapes

Unique landscapes, located in Phoenix, Arizona provides beautiful photography and helpful tips on both landscape and swimming pool design. If you’re interested in unique swimming pools and spas, this landscape design blog will be very inspiring. Blog topics focus on beautiful pools and spas for all types of homes, as well as care and maintenance issues. Unique Landscapes offers great advice on pool amenities like floor cleaners, heaters, underwater lighting, underwater shelves, swim-up bars and outdoor misting systems. You’ll get a lot of inspiring design ideas through this blog. Unique Landscapes was ranked among the top landscape companies in Phoenix from 2010 through 2014, and received the Best of Houzz Design Award in 2015.

3. Avant Gardening & Landscaping

Located in McFarland, WI, Avant Gardening & Landscaping is a full-service landscape company for residential and commercial customers. They provide basic landscape maintenance services, design and build services and commercial snow removal services. Their landscaping blogs are educational, and they offer readers good design ideas and “how to” tips on a wide range of topics. They have a mobile nursery that offers beautiful perennials that are grown locally in the area. They also have an annual Garden Expo that’s held on premises and offers over 150 free seminars and demonstrations to learn the latest in gardening and landscaping trends. What a great educational tool for the community!

4. A Way To Garden

A Way To Garden is one of the best educational blogs you’ll find. With a focus on gardening, you’ll find great articles on all types of plants, flowers, shrubs and trees, annuals, perennials and bulbs, vegetable and edible gardens and landscape design ideas. This landscape design blog contains a large list of “how-to” posts on a wide range of subjects from composting to outdoor pests and diseases. Organic gardening is a popular topic, as well as interesting posts on nature-related subjects and garden FAQs. The blogger, Margaret Roach, is a long-time gardener and former garden editor for Martha Stewart Living.

5. Borst Landscape & Design

Borst Landscape & Design is an award-winning landscape company located in Allendale, NJ. With over 25 years of experience, Borst is one of New Jersey’s most respected landscape companies. As a consecutive winner of the NJLCA Residential and Commercial Landscape Maintenance Award, the Borst landscape design blog offers readers valuable, educational landscape information on a wide range of topics. As a full-service landscape company, Borst has a well-educated and trained staff who can provide a variety of services including lawn care and maintenance, organic lawn care, garden design, outdoor pest control, landscape lighting and design/build services for outdoor landscape features that will add value to your home. Borst Landscape & Design provides residential and commercial landscape services, as well as landscape packages to New Jersey homeowners in Bergen County.

6. Backyard Landscape Ideas

Backyard Landscape Ideas gives you tips, resources, and how-to’s that will help you build the backyard of your dreams. The author updates the blog section regularly with unique and new ideas for backyard design. You can also find advice on topics ranging from patios to landscape lighting and water features to planting ideas. In addition to the great content written for the site, Backyard Landscape Ideas also features a Community section where you can get help from other landscape enthusiasts. You can share your landscaping ideas with other readers of the blog and you can also read ideas proposed by readers like you. There is also a section where you can share pictures of your landscape with other readers.

7. The High Line

The High Line is a public park maintained, operated, and programmed by Friends of the High Line, in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Volunteers and friends of the High Line help to raise 98 percent of the annual budget to maintain the city park. Owned and operated by the City of New York, the High Line serves as a city park to residents in the area. Landscaping blogs feature interesting articles on planting, sustainable design and landscape design ideas for the park. The High Line is an inspirational blog that promotes green landscaping and features the outstanding landscaping results of an involved New York community.

8. Urban Greenery

Urban Greenery is simply an incredible site that shows an inspiring side of urban living. With beautiful photography and interesting articles, you’ll find yourself rather mesmerized by all the landscaping possibilities and creative designs. From rooftop gardens to living walls, this landscape design blog captures the true impact that beautiful landscaping can have on urban city lifestyles. If you weren’t a fan of urban living before, you certainly will be after following these inspiring landscaping blogs.

9. 66 Square Feet

66 Square Feet is a unique, informative blog site that focuses on gardening and landscaping for small outdoor spaces and urban rooftops. You’ll find wonderful landscaping blogs, design tips and photos for rooftop garden ideas in New York City, Brooklyn, the Bronx and various urban areas throughout New York and New Jersey. Although most landscaping blogs are geared to homeowners with great yards, this one focuses on people who choose to live in urban areas where living spaces are small, and there’s no such thing as a back yard. 66 Square Feet is inspiring for all those city dwellers out there!

10. Birds & Blooms

Birds & Blooms offers a landscape design blog that focuses on creating a natural eco-system between birds and flowers in your landscape. If you’re interested in attracting beautiful birds to your landscape and garden, this blog site will teach you how. You can learn about flowers that attract birds, bees and butterflies and create a balanced eco-system that will sustain them. There’s also posts about bird feeding and feeders, birdbaths and natural ponds and specialty plantings that attract various bird species to your landscape. By following this unique landscaping blog, you’ll learn a lot of fun facts about beautiful birds and blooms.

11. Sparrow Landscaping

Sparrow is a landscape design blog with easy-to-read articles and inspiring photography. The focus is on building a harmonious balance between landscaping, nature and wildlife. With the use of native plants and specialty gardens, Sparrow will inspire you to get in touch with nature. You’ll find a variety of educational articles about flowers, butterflies, wildlife and furry little critters who often want to nest in your landscape. Many of the landscape photos show more casual, natural landscapes that promote a more organic link between man and nature.

12. Bonza Landscaping & Hardscaping

Bonza Landscaping, located in Morristown, PA, takes a simple, direct approach to educating their readers and customers with their landscaping blog. Topics cover a wide range of landscaping and hardscaping interests such as preparing your lawn for summer heat, installing a new patio, outdoor landscape features, landscape lighting and holiday decorating ideas for your landscape. Their landscapes, as well as their blog posts, focus on simplicity and a design approach with more traditional appeal for Pennsylvania homeowners and businesses.

13. Dirt Simple

Dirt Simple is the blog of landscape and garden designer, Deborah Silver in Sylvan Lake, Michigan. Although her formal education was in English literature and biology, her passion for landscaping and gardening led her to landscape design. Her love for gardening and her creative eye makes her landscape design blog interesting and inspiring to read. Since 1986, she has become one of the most respected landscape designers and gardeners in the Detroit area. Her blog contains photos and design tips that make you want to run out and plant a garden!

14. Outdoor Home Living

Outdoor Home Living is a Mesquite, Texas based landscaping company that provides lawn care services throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. This company designs, installs, and maintains one-of-a-kind outdoor living spaces. Their outdoor landscape design and installation services can transform your home into a residential paradise. They began as a simple lawn mowing company but later expanded into full-service landscaping, pool landscaping, and outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and much more. Their blog features a great mix of informative professional landscaping advice as well as do-it-yourself tips and tricks for creating and maintaining a beautiful yard.

15. Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens provides landscape and garden design, care and maintenance and specialty nursery care for residential projects. Their landscaping blog and creative designs focus on Japanese gardens, water gardens, courtyard gardens, children’s gardens, as well as swimming pool landscaping. Their blog is creative with important design advice for readers, in addition to colorful images that are inspirational. As a family-owned business, Hanselman Landscape and Gardens has been designing unique landscapes for private and corporate clients in Pennsylvania for more than 25 years.

16. Garden History Girl

Garden History Girl is a wonderful landscape design blog that takes you back through the pages of history with beautiful landscaping and garden facts and photography. You’ll learn about Thomas Edison’s passion for gardening, along with information and photos of French gardens, Russian gardens, European landscapes, native landscapes, courtyard landscapes and beautiful outdoor ornaments and pottery. If you’re a history buff and you love landscaping and gardening, this blog is very inspirational, whether you’re a novice or avid gardener.

17. Pith & Vigor

A stylish looking blog that appeals to beginners and professionals, Pith & Vigor has a layout that’s easy to follow. Managed and written by a Boston-based writer, Rochelle Greayer, these landscaping blogs are full of helpful information, design tips and garden advice. Pith & Vigo blogs were voted the “best garden design blog” by the US Mouse and Trowel Awards in 2013. Posts are well-written, organized and very educational. More like this please!

18. Neave Landscaping

Neave Landscaping, a full-service landscaping contractor in New York, has a separate blog for each of their four divisions: pools, sports, landscaping and décor. All of their posts are light hearted, easy-to-read and take a playful approach to serious landscaping topics. Neave’s landscape design blog covers a variety of topics on for residential, commercial and institutional clients throughout New York areas. With more than 40 years of experience and four New York locations, Neave Landscaping is equipped to handle large projects within New York and Western Connecticut.

19. Picture Perfect Lawn & Landscape

Picture Perfect Lawn & Landscape is a landscape, irrigation, and maintenance company based in Waco, Texas. They are experts in the basics of lawn care and landscaping but also have great ideas for improving a landscape. They are also experts in designing, installing, and repairing sprinkler systems. Their irrigational services also include custom designs, system modifications, tree bubblers, rain and freeze sensors, and french drains. In the Picture Perfect Lawn & Landscape blog, you will find a large variety of topics like actionable landscaping tips, outdoor project ideas, and irrigation tips.

20. The Level Green Landscaping Blog

The Level Green Landscaping Blog is a great landscaping blog site that offers a lot of basic, practical information on lawn care, planting new sod, pruning shrubs and trees, pest control and landscape design ideas. Blog posts are educational and easy-to-read, so they’re great for both beginners and advanced gardeners. You’ll find topics on watering and irrigation techniques, signs of an over watered lawn, lawn damage and diseases, installing sprinklers and best times for planting and watering. The information on The Level Green Landscaping Blog covers a wide range of landscaping topics, but they’re interesting and enjoyable.

21. Farmington Gardens

Farmington Gardens is a retail nursery and grower in Beaverton, Oregon where you can actually purchase plants and trees. Their landscape design blog includes wonderful articles on different types of shrubs and trees, blooming plants, colorful ground covers, beautiful flower beds, whimsical gardens and easy-to-maintain succulents that provide water conservation. You’ll also find practical posts on proper watering and irrigation, pruning, deadheading, garden cleanup and proper plant selection for your landscape. This is a well-written blog that’s easy to follow and enjoyable to read.

22. Black Forest Landscape

Black Forest Landscape offers readers blog topics about landscape design and installation that’s geared to DIY landscapers and gardeners in Colorado. You’ll find a variety of interesting articles on landscape design, hardscaping ideas, creating colorful borders and beds, selecting plants, shrubs and trees and specialty gardens. There are practical posts on irrigation techniques, proper planting and pruning, erosion control and outdoor pests and diseases.

23. Cold Climate Gardening

If you live in a cold climate region like Northern NJ with unpredictable spring and fall temperatures that create shorter growing seasons, you’ll appreciate this landscape design blog. It offers detailed information on choosing plants, shrubs and trees for colder climates. It also covers the basics of extending the growing season through hoop tunnels and floating row covers that protect plants from freezing temperatures. You’ll find lots of interesting articles on planting bulbs, annuals and perennials, blooming plants and shrubs for areas with cold winters.

24. Fine Gardening

If you’re inspired by beautiful photographs of colorful plants and flowers, Fine Gardening should be on your list of landscaping blogs to follow. In addition to gorgeous photography, you’ll find articles on landscaping and gardening that are educational and easy-to-read. Blogs talk about low-maintenance grasses for your yard, succulents for water conservation, shrubs for privacy hedges, garden beds with annuals and perennials and creative landscaping design ideas for your yard and patio. Find Gardening blogs will inspire your visual senses and fill your brain with great landscaping and garden ideas.

25. Seasonal Wisdom

Seasonal Wisdom is a great landscape design blog that offers readers a wealth of information on gardening and landscaping. You’ll find articles on seasonal planting, pruning, mulching, fertilizing and pest control, as well as practical “how to” articles on a variety of landscaping subjects. This blog site provides links to great garden tours, historic gardens and resources for helpful landscaping and gardening books. Seasonal Wisdom was a 2015 finalist in the Gardening Bloggers Hall of Fame for best garden and landscape blog.

26. Landscape + Urbanism

Landscape + Urbanism is an interesting blog written by a landscape architect who combines topics on landscape design with topics on architecture. The landscape design company, based in Portland, Oregon, features contemporary landscape ideas and modern architectural designs. You’ll find this blog interesting and inspiring from a modern point of view.

27. Clean Air Through Green Roofs

If you’re interested in green living and sustainable designs, you’ll find Clean Air Through Green Roofs landscaping blogs very inspiring. Along with promoting green ecosystems and water conservation, this blog site discusses the many benefits of green roofs and features some interesting photos of homes and commercial buildings in the US and other countries that have green roofs.

28. Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

Hanselman Landscape and Gardens provides landscape and garden design, care and maintenance and specialty nursery care for residential projects. Their landscaping blogs and creative designs focus on Japanese gardens, water gardens, courtyard gardens, children’s gardens and swimming pool landscaping. Their blogs bring a unique sense of creativity with important design advice for readers and colorful images that are inspirational.

29. Backyard Blogger

Backyard Blogger is written by a self taught home gardener in Texas who simply has a passion for landscaping and gardening. Landscaping blogs are easy-to-read and follow for beginners and more experienced gardeners. You’ll find wonderful blogs on landscaping and planting, flower gardens, edible gardens and pruning schedules and techniques. There’s a variety of unique and interesting topics like green gardening gift ideas, gardening with kids, garden to table cooking, seasonal garden ideas and water saving tips for hot and humid Texas landscapes. These blogs take a no-frills approach to landscaping and gardening and provide a lot of basic advice.

30. Garden History Girl

Garden History Girl is a wonderful blog that takes you back through the pages of history with beautiful landscaping and garden facts and photography. You’ll learn about Thomas Edison’s passion for gardening, along with information and photos of French gardens, Russian gardens, European landscapes, native landscapes, courtyard landscapes and beautiful outdoor ornaments and pottery. If you’re a history buff and you love landscaping and gardening, this blog is very inspirational, regardless of if you’re a novice or avid gardener.

31. Chaparral Landscaping

Chaparral Landscaping, located in Santa Maria, CA., is a full-service landscape company that focuses on the design and installation of outdoor features and hardscapes. They build and install walkways and pathways, patios, retaining walls, interlocking paver driveways, outdoor water features and landscape lighting. Since they’re located in California, a drought prone area, landscaping blogs often focus on artificial turf and drought-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees that promote water conservation, a popular landscaping option for California homeowners. This blog will inspire you to think about the benefits of beautiful, cost-efficient landscaping.

32. Urban Greenery

Urban Greenery is simply an incredible site that shows an inspiring side of urban living. With beautiful photography and interesting articles, you’ll find yourself rather mesmerized by all the landscaping possibilities and creative designs. From rooftop gardens to living walls, this blog site captures the true impact that beautiful landscaping can have on people’s lifestyles. If you weren’t a fan of urban living before, you certainly will be after following these remarkable landscaping blogs.

33. House Landscaping Ideas

House Landscaping Ideas features landscaping and planting ideas for your front and back yards. You’ll find interesting posts on garden design ideas, pool landscaping ideas, selecting plants for different sun and shade conditions, plant, shrub and tree varieties and some hardscaping ideas. There’s also some posts on new landscaping materials like rocks and sand used in sustainable landscapes and gardens, planters and beds and walkways and pathways. You’ll find links to creative design software for landscape design and gardening.

34. Ledge and Gardens

Ledge and Gardens won the “Best Garden Blog Award” from Horticulture Magazine in 2012. Their garden design blogs discuss various landscape and garden topics, smart gardening techniques and plants that are native to their Rhode Island location. This blog site is loaded with helpful landscape information and great links to horticulture guides, a wildflower directory, a Latin botanical names directory; the Garden Guys Radio Show; and the University of Maryland Plants Diagnostics Guide. You can’t ask for much more educational help than that!

35. Neave Landscaping

Neave Landscaping, a full-service landscaping contractor in New York, is unique because they have a separate blog for each of their four divisions: pools, sports, landscaping and décor. All of their blogs are light-hearted and take a playful approach to serious topics. Although blogs are easy and fun to read, they are quite educational on a variety of topics related to each division. Neave’s landscaping blogs cover a variety of topics on their main landscape services including landscape design, landscape service and maintenance, design/build construction and gardens for residential, commercial and institutional clients through New York areas.

36. Cody Landscape

Cody Landscape blogs focus on landscaping ideas and information on different varieties of plants, flowers, shrubs and trees. You’ll find helpful information on planting schedules, propagating and pruning, water and irrigation, plant selections and care and maintenance. Blog posts feature a lot of information on evergreens, annuals and perennials, container gardens, arbor and trellis gardens, as well as photos of beautiful, colorful blooms for your landscape.

37. Fine Gardening

If you’re inspired by beautiful photographs of colorful plants and flowers, Fine Gardening should be on your list of landscaping blogs to follow. In addition to gorgeous photography, you’ll find articles on landscaping and gardening that are educational and easy-to-read. Blogs talk about low-maintenance grasses for your yard, succulents for water conservation, shrubs for privacy hedges, garden beds with annuals and perennials and creative landscaping design ideas for your yard and patio. Fine Gardening blogs will inspire your visual senses and fill your brain with great landscaping and garden ideas.

38. Sounds Green

Sounds Green is a fun, colorful blog that will keep you reading! You’ll find blog posts on a variety of topics under basic landscaping care and maintenance, garden design, landscape design and green landscaping. Posts also discuss common landscaping problems like standing water and drainage issues, erosion and re-grading issues and landscaping for hillsides and steep slopes. Sounds Green blogs are directed toward the DIY landscaper, so there are helpful “how to” tutorials and videos that make this blog good for beginners.

39. 66 Square Feet

40. Landscaping Videos

Landscaping Videos is a unique blog site with great landscaping articles and videos on a variety of topics. You’ll find interesting landscaping blogs on front yard and back yard landscaping, landscaping design ideas, creating curb appeal, as well as more practical subjects like mulching, pruning and watering. What makes this site different, is the videos on a variety of landscaping subjects that provide visual help and instructions. You can watch a video on building a retaining wall, creating a flagstone pathway, landscaping a hill or slope, how to cut flagstone and how to lay a patio with pavers. The landscaping videos are extremely helpful for beginning gardeners and DIY landscapers.

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Best Landscape Design Blogs in 2016

1. Ledge and Gardens

2. Unique Landscapes

3. Avant Gardening & Landscaping

4. A Way To Garden

5. Borst Landscape & Design

6. Backyard Landscape Ideas

7. The High Line

8. Urban Greenery

9. 66 Square Feet

10. Birds & Blooms

11. Sparrow Landscaping

12. Bonza Landscaping & Hardscaping

13. Dirt Simple

14. Outdoor Home Living

15. Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

16. Garden History Girl

17. Pith & Vigor

18. Neave Landscaping

19. Picture Perfect Lawn & Landscape

20. The Level Green Landscaping Blog

21. Farmington Gardens

22. Black Forest Landscape

23. Cold Climate Gardening

24. Fine Gardening

25. Seasonal Wisdom

26. Landscape + Urbanism

27. Clean Air Through Green Roofs

28. Hanselman Landscape and Gardens

29. Backyard Blogger

30. Garden History Girl

31. Chaparral Landscaping

32. Urban Greenery

Urban Greenery is simply an incredible site that shows an inspiring side of urban living. With beautiful photography and interesting articles, you’ll find yourself rather mesmerized by all the landscaping possibilities and creative designs. From rooftop gardens to living walls, this blog site captures the true impact that beautiful landscaping can have on people’s lifestyles. If you weren’t a fan of urban living before, you certainly will be after following these remarkable landscaping blogs.

33. House Landscaping Ideas

34. Ledge and Gardens

Ledge and Gardens won the “Best Garden Blog Award” from Horticulture Magazine in 2012. Their garden design blogs discuss various landscape and garden topics, smart gardening techniques and plants that are native to their Rhode Island location. This blog site is loaded with helpful landscape information and great links to horticulture guides, a wildflower directory, a Latin botanical names directory; the Garden Guys Radio Show; and the University of Maryland Plants Diagnostics Guide. You can’t ask for much more educational help than that!

35. Neave Landscaping

36. Cody Landscape

37. Fine Gardening

If you’re inspired by beautiful photographs of colorful plants and flowers, Fine Gardening should be on your list of landscaping blogs to follow. In addition to gorgeous photography, you’ll find articles on landscaping and gardening that are educational and easy-to-read. Blogs talk about low-maintenance grasses for your yard, succulents for water conservation, shrubs for privacy hedges, garden beds with annuals and perennials and creative landscaping design ideas for your yard and patio. Fine Gardening blogs will inspire your visual senses and fill your brain with great landscaping and garden ideas.

38. Sounds Green

39. 66 Square Feet

40. Landscaping Videos

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What to Ask When Buying a Block of Land

When buying a block of land, it is important to go in with your eyes wide open. While a block of land may look perfect on the surface, there are a lot of underlying factors to consider. From legalities to the nature of the land, being informed of every piece of information can save a lot of heartbreak down the line. That is why, when purchasing a block of land, it is important to ask the hard questions before signing on the dotted line.

Importance of Location

The location of your home is paramount. That is why it is important to ask a few key questions pertaining to location before you purchase a block of land.

Know your Locations

When buying a property one of the first things you need to consider is location. The block must be situated in a spot that makes sense for you. In order to find this, ask questions such as the proximity to transport, schools and shopping precincts.

The choice of location will largely depend on the lifestyle you’re looking for. If you can work remotely, perhaps look for a rural block with plenty of space and privacy. If you are dreaming of building a property with ocean views, consider the price you are willing to pay for a house with certain accessories in this area.

Look at Planning Controls

Another important aspect of location is looking at planning controls. The last thing buyers want to happen is to purchase a block of land only to find out that the council has plans for major infrastructure works on surrounding blocks.

Therefore it is important to carry out your own due diligence to avoid any surprises later on. If the block you’re looking to purchase is surrounded by other vacant blocks, check zoning and land use to understand if there is any potentially deal breaking works planned for the neighbouring blocks.

Block Breakdown

Before committing to purchasing a block of land, it is important to understand the nature of the block in consideration. For example, does the block of land feature any slopes? It is important to know the dimensions and nature of the slopes now. This will allow you to research the extra costs of slopes to the building phase and determine if your budget can cater for this.

Another thing to consider is the nature of the soil on the block. If the soil grading isn’t perfect, it could have an impact on the cost of building foundations for a house.

Check Orientation

Always check the block of land’s orientation. In the Southern Hemisphere, the northern orientation is most popular. This is due to the fact that northern sun passively heats a home while also offering protection from eastern and western sun. This results in better energy efficiency and therefore significant savings on energy bills.

Utilities

You need to know if key services are available. The availability of key services like power, water, sewerage, gas, internet and telephone should be questioned before purchasing the land. If they are available, it is also best to check their location as well.

By asking the land developer these questions before purchasing the land, you can skip the surprise of finding out that these services aren’t available after you’ve purchased the land. Asking this question early also allows you to determine the connections costs and allow room for these in the budget.

Legal Considerations

When buying a block of land there are some legal considerations to take into account. It is best to be aware of these before purchasing the block of land in case any legalities turn into deal breakers.

1. Approval to Build

Before land owners are allowed to build on a block of land, they need to acquire building or development approval. This approval could prevent you from developing the land the way you intend so it is important to ask about the block of land and its potential before purchasing.

2. Easements

An easement may affect where you can and cannot build on your block of land. This is so third parties such as electricity or water authorities can access your land. If these easements are in place, it is important to know about them as they could play a part in changing your vision for the block of land.

3. Covenants

Sometimes with specific blocks, there are covenants in place. This means there are restrictions on the building materials that are allowed to be used. This could also mean that there are restrictions in place as to how the land can be developed. Therefore, it is important to have this information before making any commitments.

Ready to Build a House?

Once you have done due diligence and worked out if a block of land suits your lifestyle and your needs, the exciting part can begin- building the house.

Looking for your dream home? Kitome offers a wide range of fully customisable homes for you to choose from or you can design your own!Talk to the friendly team at Kitome today.

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Why Kit Homes Are the Cheapest Way to Build a House in Australia

When building a house there are a lot of costs to consider. Virtually every step throughout the construction process comes at a cost. While the price of building a house can be cut down by sourcing cheap locations to build, this is not the only cost cutting option. A kit home allows individuals to buy the land they actually want and build a kit home on top of it without breaking the budget. With kit homes, you can have your dream house on your dream piece of land and still have saved money.

Building a House in Australia

The cost of building a house in Australia is comprised of many underlying factors. From site costs and pre-start costs to variations and finishing costs, building a house in Australia can be costly.

Site costs include expenses relating to preparing the block of land for building upon. These costs pertain to retaining walls, site surveys, soil tests and site clearance.

Pre-start costs start to add up when it comes time to choosing the colours of fittings and materials. Pre-start costs tend to get out of control if you decide to make changes to lighting layouts and other plans that have already been drawn up.

Builders have a mark up of around 20-25% on variations, no matter how big or small. Variations can come in the form of changing the colour of grout tiling or adding another full size room.

It is estimated that the average cost of building a new home in Australia is around $306,885.

A project home with a basic finish costs around $900 per square metre in Adelaide and $1210 in Brisbane. In Melbourne the cost is estimated at $1180 while it is slightly more in Sydney, costing $1190.

Cheapest Locations to Build

It won’t be surprising to most that some of the cheapest locations to build are located several kilometres outside the major capital cities. However, the sheer amount of land on offer for reasonably good value is enough to convince anyone to build their dream home in one of these locations.

The median price for a square metre of vacant land is almost $1000 in the most expensive cities, whereas large blocks in regional areas are on offer for less than $1 per square metre.

Priced at $6000, one of the most affordable locations in Australia is Western Australia. While the land would need earthworks, the 1760 square metres on offer is hard to refuse.

South Australia also offers cheap land by the ocean. A 1085 square metre piece of land close to the water in Port Germein would set you back $15,000. However, the water views are a dream.

Over in Victoria, in the town of Brim, famous for their silo artworks also offers land for value. A 2000 square metre block would set you back $15,000.

Many land owners will note that location is just as important as the house you build. With a block of land in one of these locations and a kit home, you could be well on your way to building one of the cheapest houses in Australia.

Kit Home Prices

The cost of a kit home is affected by a number of things. From permits, materials and labor costs, choosing a kit home doesn’t mean eliminating costs altogether, but rather minimizing them.

With Kitome, the cost of a 3 bedroom kit home starts from just $54,367. A 4 bedroom starts from $67,514 while the cost of a 5 bedroom begins at $91,155.

When compared to a 3 bedroom house in Australia costing anywhere between $160,000 and $195,000, the price of a Kitome kit home speaks for itself. While there are still labour and construction costs to consider, a kit home still works out to be the cheapest way to build a house in Australia.

Start Designing Today

Looking for your dream home? Kitome offers a wide range of fully customisable homes for you to choose from or you can design your own! Talk to the friendly team at Kitome today.

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Small Project, Big Impact

Photoscape LLC of Fort Myers, FL transformed a zero-lot-line property with a landscape design of unique plantings that maximized the 2,600 square foot project. The result? A Silver designation from NALP and five new contracts.

Not every successful landscape project has to be huge – or complex. It just needs the right elements, carefully executed.

Take the project Fort Myers, FL-based Photoscape LLC did for the Jaksichs family in the high-end Grey Oaks subdivision in Naples.

No more than 2,600 square feet was involved in the job, says Photoscape owner and president Vernon “Oliver” Ray, Ph.D., but the careful use of plantings both in front and behind the zero-lot-line home earned it a 2018 Silver designation in design/build from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Ray was contacted by the clients after they’d seen his work on the Houzz website. “They called me,” he says. “They didn’t want me to bid it, they just wanted me to design it and do it. I gave them a bid, as well, but they weren’t taking multiple bids.”

As long-time residents of the Naples area, the Jaksichs wanted a tropical look. However, because of the size of the new home, there wasn’t much space in which to work.

“The front of the house was a whole lot of pavers – or was going to be; we started the install before the pavers went in,” Ray explains. “They knew the abundance of pavers would detract from the beauty of their home, so they wanted an over-the-top landscape package that would pull the eye to the landscape and then the front entrance.” While it’s not unusual for Photoscape to do paver installations, adds Ray, in this case the company was so busy, that part of the work was subbed out.

The situation in the rear of the home was somewhat similar. Although the back of the house features a pool and outdoor kitchen/patio, it was built to the zero-lot-line. “They had no backyard to speak of,” he says. “We had to talk the homeowners’ association out of six or seven feet of common area on the backside of the house.”

Missing Utilities

Still, the job should have been straightforward, except that it wasn’t. After taking a day to tear out the areas to be improved, including some old-growth hardwoods, the company began digging to plant some of the eight palm trees that went into the project – and found information on an important utility was missing.

Finding the location of utilities proved a challenge.

“I have photos of my guys in five-foot holes because we had to dig up the whole yard to find where the gas main was coming through,” Ray says. “We realized there was no gas meter to the house, so the gas company had to come out and it delayed our planting for three days while we had plants on the ground.”

Once that was resolved, Photoscape installed both irrigation and lighting in the planting areas. Ray says he particularly loves lighting because it allows clients to enjoy their installations beyond just daylight hours. “It’s all ground lighting, but we also lit up the front of the house with some wall-washers,” he says. “We didn’t do any downlighting from the trees because we were dealing primarily with palms.”

Ultimately, about 2,400 square feet were planted, with the remaining 200 square feet going to floratam sod.

Right Plant, Right Place

Ray prides himself on his planting beds and designating the right plant for the right place. In this case, some beds received full sun, some were in partial sun, and others received virtually no direct sun. “I… use plants that are unique [and] that you rarely see in other landscapers’ designs,” he says. “I search every week on the east coast…Miami and Homestead, where 90% of the growers in the state are located. I just bring back things that are unique.”

In this case, he’s particularly proud of his use of a false Ashoka or “mast” tree at the home’s front entrance. “It’s very slow growing, but we needed some real height by the front door in a very narrow area,” Ray says. “It gives a very nice look to the front of the home.”

A Japanese blueberry topiary adds height in a small space.

Also, near the entrance is a Japanese Blueberry topiary, with others of the same species going into the small backyard. “The entrance is my favorite feature because it showcases two very unusual trees,” he says. “They bracket the entrance as well as you could with [the] little amounts of dirt as we had to work with. They turned out to be really smashing.”

The planting areas in the front were built up to allow irrigation water to drain off the beds onto the pavers. However, the back offered more of a drainage challenge. “In the back we dug and installed some perforated drains along both sides of the berms,” Ray explains. “The common area was higher than the grade to the house, so we had to put in drains. The plants we put in can take wet feet at times, but not all the time, and we had to find a way to get the water away from the root base of the plants.”

The planting areas in were built up to allow water to drain off the beds onto the pavers.

Boulder Design

While Photoscape didn’t install the aforementioned pavers, it did incorporate some hardscape elements in the design. The planting beds include several boulders in various sizes, some up to several hundred pounds. “They’re moss boulders that I bring in from Tennessee,” Ray explains. “The boulders in Florida are very porous and in this humid climate within six months they’re full of mold and fungus and turn black, so we don’t use them.”

Ray’s other favorite – round river rock – makes an appearance in the back. The client wanted the opportunity to walk in the backyard planting area without muddying her shoes.

“We built a raised area about four inches high from river rock and then put stepping stones on it and banded the area with heavy duty commercial metal edging,” Ray explains. “The river rock and the stepping stone walkway went in at the last minute.”

Ultimately, the project took less than two weeks, with Photoscape putting six men on the tear-out and up to a dozen on the rest of the work.

Another challenge: Transporting palm trees to a backyard of zero-lot-line homes.

Besides the headaches presented by the gas line and missing gas meter, Ray says his greatest challenge was getting the trees to the backyard. “We had an articulated loader to get the palm trees back there, but this home is surrounded by zero-lot-line homes, so it was a real challenge to get into the common area,” he says. “We had to take a section of fence and a gate out in order to get back there, but we left the area better than it was before, so it wasn’t a problem.”

The total project came in at just under $50,000. Not only did the clients have Photoscape back later to add potted plants to the pool area, but the neighbors were impressed as well, says Ray. “We got five other jobs off this one before we’d even finished it,” he says. “That’s the greatest compliment. People were walking by before we were finished with the job and giving us their contact info for other installations. That’s the best.”

Schipper is a writer and editor specializing in B2B publishing. She is a partner in Word Mechanics, based in Palm Springs, CA.

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Building a Tiny House – Why a Kit Home is the Better Option

In recent years the tiny house movement has been growing in momentum. People are flocking to this different way of living as a means to save money and be environmentally friendly. However, what many people don’t realise is that they don’t need to downsize to save money. Especially when it works out that in some cases, a 4 bedroom kit home may cost less than building a tiny house from scratch.

What is a Tiny House

In essence, a tiny house is a living space designed to be as practical as possible. The challenge is striking a balance between remaining small yet also liveable and practical. Tiny houses feature smart designs that maximise utility while minimizing scale and environmental impact.

The tiny house movement appeared from those aspiring to a more fulfilling life without being hampered by debts or a mortgage. As a way to achieve this, many thought that downsizing was the right option.

How Much Does it Cost

Tiny houses can cost as little as $8,000 and as much as $150,000. While they are an effective way to downsize, oftentimes tiny houses can be more expensive per square metre. Along with being more expensive per square metre, there are additional and unexpected costs that pop up when building a tiny house. Things like purchasing a trailer for the house to stand upon and purchasing land or leasing a lot for your tiny house to reside on all cost a lot of money.

The cost of a tiny house is on average more expensive as people look to consolidate everything they own and all their amenities into one place. Once added costs like insulation, electricity and plumbing are added, many find that they could have built a standard 3 bedroom house for the same amount as their tiny house.

Things to Consider

Some people cut the cost of their tiny house by using salvaged materials, however, building a tiny house requires a lifestyle adjustment. When planning the design of a tiny house, owners have to think of every single detail, with emphasis on aspects like storage ongoing costs of home maintenance.

Planning needs to be thorough even down to the trailer you will use as the foundation for your tiny house. Does it have any weight restrictions? Can it withstand the vibrations from transportation? Finally, does it have the capacity to safely tow the tiny house when travelling on a windy day?

The physics of heating and cooling within a tiny house also need to be taken into account. In a small space, air can get trapped and heat up quickly. As we know, heat rises, so is a loft bed that will attract the heat of the home really a good option?

With so much to consider when building a tiny house, would a cheaper option be more comfortable and beneficial to your lifestyle?

What is a Kit Home

Enter a kit home. In essence, a kit home is a home where most of the components are brought to the property where it is assembled. It can be described as putting a huge kit together and even better, the frames can be made from steel or timber- whatever you prefer. The best part of a kit home is how cost effective they are when compared to building your own home, or even building a tiny house.

Benefits of a Kit Home

A huge benefit of kit homes is the fact that they take only a matter of months to build. The nature of tiny homes is that they are intricate. So much planning needs to be undertaken before a hammer is lifted. This all takes up time, resulting in a move in date that exceeds months. Therefore, a key benefit of a kit home is how quickly individuals can move in and find creative ways to use space you can’t get with a tiny home.

As kit homes are built to withstand the journey to the block of land you have purchased, they are a quality build. This means that a kit home is more durable and therefore able to withstand more elements than many other homes or tiny houses.

Finally, the biggest benefit of a kit home is how cost effective it is. A kit home costs less to build per square metre than traditionally built homes. This means that those who are looking to downsize and live without debt have another option to tiny houses.

With 3 bedroom kit homes starting from $54,367, 4 bedrooms from $67,514 and 5 bedrooms from $91,155, you may find that choosing a 5 bedroom kit home works out cheaper than building your own tiny house and downsizing your entire life.

Kitome’s Value

Looking for your dream home? Kitome offers a wide range of fully customisable homes for you to choose from or you can design your own! Talk to the friendly team at Kitome today.

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NaturaLawn Dan Collins Scholarships Awarded

Pictured above: Cole Cerulli, center, during his visit to the NaturaLawn of America Corporate Office in Downtown Frederick, MD. Also pictured from left to right are: Marketing Director Theresa Smith; President Phil Catron; Cole’s parents, Michael and Michelle Cerulli; and Chief Operating Officer Jesse Catron.

NaturaLawn® of America has announced three winners of its Dan Collins Scholarship award. The essay contest, now in its second year, offers high school seniors and college undergraduates a chance to win scholarship money toward higher education.

Originally designed to provide $4,000 to the essay contest winner, NaturaLawn of America instead decided to offer three awards this year due to the outstanding response, as well as the caliber of students. The winners were awarded $4,000, $1,000, and $500 respectively.

The first-place award recipient was Cole Cerulli, of Maryland. This fall, Cerulli will be attending James Madison University to study finance. He is a well-rounded student, accepted into the National Honors Society and Future Farmers of America. Cerulli is also highly regarded by his teachers, mentors, and classmates as selfless and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Cole Madsen attends Des Moines Area Community College and is studying turf management.

Cole Madsen of Iowa, a sophomore at Des Moines Area Community College, was selected as the second recipient of the award. He studies turf management and began operating his own lawn care company, Madsen Mowing, in high school. His knowledge of turf management helped him during internships, where his responsibilities included maintaining Minor League Baseball fields and professional golf greens.

The third recipient chosen was Alex Noble, of North Carolina. Noble will be attending the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to major in biology with a minor in either forensic science or marine biology. Noble said receiving the Dan Collins Scholarship award was an honor. He intends to live out the memory of Dan Collins by helping “change the world in his name.”

Alex Noble will attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

The award was established in 2017 in memory of former franchise owner, Dan Collins, who passed away from cancer in 2005. “Dan Collins was a ‘larger-than-life’ gentleman who always had a funny story to share, an encouraging word for his fellow franchise owners, and a big heart for giving his best to help others,” said Phil Catron, company founder and president. “Dan’s efforts in promoting NaturaLawn of America and his franchise in the Richmond, VA area can be summed up by a simple five-word question he was so fond of asking, ‘Can I get you started?’”

Applications for the scholarship were accepted this year from March to May. Students were encouraged to submit a personal essay, as well as up to three recommendations for consideration. A retired high school principal familiar with scholarship award determinations evaluated each applicant, with identifiers redacted, to identify the top three winners.

NaturaLawn of America hopes these scholarships will help students prepare for their futures with less financial burden. The company also plans to expand the contest in the future to offer more scholarship opportunities.

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Do I Need to File a Permit for a Pool or Fence in My Bergen County, NJ?

Landscaping your yard or property can create the space that you desire, but it can also help to increase your property’s value in the long run. However, it’s important to know exactly what requirements are needed when making any alterations to your property. You will need to inquire into city regulations and find out what kind of building permits are needed in your area. As with any large project, it’s smart to get the assistance of a professional. Advice and support from a full-service landscaping company can help you make the right decision for your property, and they can also assist with the more bureaucratic aspects, such as acquiring permits.

What do I need to Permit for a Pool?

Residents of Bergen County who are contemplating putting in a fence or a pool will want to know what the requirements are for these types of structural changes before beginning any kind of construction. Although you may believe that since you are making changes to your own property you won’t need to file with the county, that’s not necessarily true. Installing a kiddie pool, or any pool that holds less than 24 inches of water, doesn’t require a permit. However, if you are taking on a landscaping project and installing a larger pool, even if it’s an above-ground pool, you will need to apply for a permit in order to begin construction on your property. Keep in mind that your permit only covers the pool. If you want to construct a structure around your pool, such as building a deck around your above-ground swimming pool, a permit for a pool will not extend to cover that and you will need to apply for a separate one. Since permit requirements vary from town to town, hiring a full-service landscaping company is a great way to ensure that you are in full compliance with any and all regulations in your area. Borst Landscape & Design pursues all permit applications on behalf of its clients and is staffed with experts to assist you and answer all your questions.

As with obtaining a permit for a pool, you will also need a permit when constructing a fence on your property. For any type of fencing that you install on your property, a fencing permit is required. You will need to fill out your zoning review and then the government will have to approve it before you can get started building your fence.

The bottom line is that you will need permits or zoning reviews to perform most landscape construction projects, and a professional landscape contractor should apply for any permits on your behalf.

With any construction project, you need to make sure that you are doing your due diligence before you begin. Ensuring that you have the proper building permits is a huge step in the right direction. However, you also want to make sure that you are working with experts who will guide you every step of the way. Hiring a full-service landscaping company will help alleviate the stress of filing for a permit for a pool or fence. Additionally, a landscaping company like Borst Landscaping & Design will help create the landscaping that you have envisioned for your home and you will have the support of professionals!

And always remember that performing any work without the proper permits can lead to projects being shut down, fines issued and may cause difficulties in selling your home in the future.

The post Do I Need to File a Permit for a Pool or Fence in My Bergen County, NJ? appeared first on Borst Landscape & Design.

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blackpjensen · 5 years

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Pedigree Fungicide SC Now Available In CA

PBI-Gordon Corporation has announced that Pedigree Fungicide SC has received registration from the State of California and is now approved for use in California.

Pedigree is formulated to provide control of brown patch, fairy ring, leaf and sheath spot, large patch, red thread, pink patch, yellow patch, southern blight, and gray snow mold.

Labeled for use on golf courses, sports fields, and residential and commercial properties, Pedigree is a flowable suspension concentrate. It has shown safe and consistent performance on creeping bentgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, annual bluegrass, annual and perennial ryegrass, red fescue, tall fescue, Bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and St. Augustinegrass.

Marketed through a partnership with Nichino America, Pedigree features a proprietary formulation and the active ingredient flutolanil.

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National Avocado Day Tree Planting Tips

It’s National Avocado Day! Celebrate by planting an avocado tree at a customer property! While locations in frost zones are restricted to featuring these tropical trees in containers, sites where temperatures rarely drop to freezing–such as the southernmost regions of Florida, Texas, Arizona or California–may find these trees a beneficial and attractive addition to the landscape. After all, clients who haven’t indulged the toothpick- in-the-pit-trick have probably at least gobbled up guacamole! So how do you plant and care for avocado trees?

According to information from the Pennington Seed Inc. website, plant avocados in the spring so the tree becomes established well before cooler winter months arrive. Choose a site with full sun and excellent drainage, protected from winds and frost. Allow plenty of room for the tree’s mature size, since they can grow 40 feet tall or more in the ground. Avocados have shallow roots, so plant them at, or slightly higher than, the level they grew at in their pot and avoid planting too deep.

Once established, avocados are simple to maintain, states the Pennington Seed site. Their large, leathery, green leaves and attractive form make them beautiful landscape trees, even when they’re fruitless. Water the entire area beneath the tree’s canopy deeply and thoroughly, then allow the soil to dry out slightly before watering again. Most avocado roots stay in the top six inches of soil, which can dry out quickly. Newly planted trees may need water two to three times per week their first year, while mature avocado trees need water equal to about two inches of rainfall or irrigation each week during summer.

As to fertilizer, avocados do best with plant foods designed specifically for avocados and citrus, notes the Pennington Seed website. These prefer fertilizers with higher amounts of nitrogen relative to phosphorus and potassium. That means that the first number in the N-P-K ratio on your fertilizer label should be higher than the other two. Pennington UltraGreen Citrus & Avocado Plant Food 10-5-5 provides avocados with an ideal blend of primary nutrients plus added micronutrients, including zinc and iron, which are especially important to avocado health and growth. This premium fertilizer starts feeding immediately, then continues feeding your tree for up to four months.

As a final note, keep in mind that one essential for avocado growing success is patience. Plant a tree, and customers may wait three to four years for fruit. But the result is tasty and nutritious!

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Betting On A Winner

Every year, 20 horses bolt out of the paddocks at the Kentucky Derby, vying for the coveted rose garland. And every year, at least a third of those horses have grazed and galloped on grass mowed and maintained by Hillenmeyer Landscape Services.

“In any given year, up to half of the Derby horses have some connection with a farm we are associated with or take care of,” said Chase Hillenmeyer, president Hillenmeyer Landscape Services. “We’ve had a few winners on farms we’ve maintained.”

Hillenmeyer, a sixth-generation family commercial landscaping operation, received its first contract for equine maintenance in the 90s. “That’s the biggest thing we do today,” said Hillenmeyer. “Our niche is maintaining horse farms in central Kentucky.”

Hillenmeyer Leadership

With properties ranging from 400 acres to a sprawling 2,500 acres, equine maintenance is a constant job during peak season. Hillenmeyer and his crew of 275 provide two types of mowing services for horse farms: common mowing, which is conventional grass cutting with a 60-inch ZTR mower around houses, barns, and roadways; and field mowing, accomplished with a tractor and a 20-foot batwing application for mowing fields and paddocks. They also string trim fence lines, with one contract boasting 85-miles of fencing, and offer services such as mulching, edging and tree trimming.

Keeping Up In Kentucky

Keeping the fields of central Kentucky’s horse farms maintained takes quite a few lawnmowers so Hillenmeyer runs a little more than 100 units. In the past few years, though, the crew started to encounter problems with its engine manufacturer.

“We were seeing a large number of engines blowing prematurely in the 1,000 to 1,500-hour range,” said Hillenmeyer, “This caused us significant production problems, management problems, and customer problems.”

“There was a period of time… when we were constantly dealing with down equipment, retooling crews, and working with two half crews instead of a whole crew because mowers weren’t working,” said Hillenmeyer. The crew wasn’t able to complete jobs on time, and everyone was feeling the burden of unreliable equipment.

On top of the performance issues, Hillenmeyer found a lack of accountability on the engine manufacturer’s part, as well as the mower manufacturer that spec’d the engines. “You can have product failure, but you can’t have service failure — they had both,” said Hillenmeyer. So he decided to make a change.

Finding Harmony

In the past, Hillenmeyer had purchased some units spec’d with Vanguard® engines. “We looked at our fleet and saw that the engines with a Vanguard sticker on them lasted a lot longer than the ones without Vanguard stickers,” said Hillenmeyer. With that in mind and looking for alignment among his engine and mower manufacturer, Hillenmeyer and his team reached out to Briggs & Stratton to see what it could offer.

Hillenmeyer quickly discovered that Vanguard engines not only offered the performance he was looking for, but an opportunity to work with manufacturers already in harmony with one another. “The chain of alignment among the Ferris® mowers and Vanguard engine teams and our local distributor really caught our attention,” he said. “When we spoke with them, they heard our challenges with previous manufacturers who didn’t work well together and showed us how that wouldn’t be a problem if we went with Vanguard engines.”

A factory tour of the engine manufacturing facility in Auburn, AL, solidified that assertion. “We were blown away by watching the Vanguard production team and the quality controls they used. It gave us a lot of confidence,” commented Hillenmeyer.

The final selling point came down to maintenance. The BIG BLOCK

V-Twin engine line he was eyeing to spec on the new Ferris mowers came equipped with Vanguard’s innovative Oil Guard

system. “We saw that Oil Guard would help us reduce our time spent on oil maintenance and therefore maintenance cost,” said Hillenmeyer, “Not to mention the larger oil reservoir that offers a little more margin of error on an engine blowing.”

A New Season

Ultimately, Hillenmeyer and his team replaced 35 units — about a third of its fleet — with Ferris mowers equipped with Vanguard engines. The new engines tackled the 2017-18 season with the reliability Hillenmeyer needed. “If the mowers aren’t working, that causes pain all the way down the line. Uptime is key, and the Vanguard engines have certainly provided that,” he said.

Now, the Hillenmeyer crew is back to cutting the horse pastures of central Kentucky. And while it can’t be known if this service has anything to do with determining Derby winners, Hillenmeyer has a theory. “Let’s just say we do our job so well that the owners can focus… more attention on the horses.”

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