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Make Your Yard POP! Everything you need to know about hardscaping

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 15:07:04 GMT

When it comes to designing outdoor spaces, we often think of shrubs, flowers, and trees, but the perfect landscape is a balanced combination of natural and constructed elements. Hardscaping can define your yard, make outdoor spaces more accessible, and prevent erosion, all of which can boost your property values. Want to know more? We’ve got answers to some of the most common hardscaping questions we get from customers.

What is Hardscaping?

Hardscaping refers to the built, non-living design elements in your yard, as opposed to softscaping, which deals more with the horticulture aspect. These built structures can be practical, as in the case of driveways, fences, and sidewalks, or they can serve a decorative purpose, as with fountains, rock walls, and garden trellises. From outdoor kitchens to winding garden paths, hardscaping defines the purpose of outdoor spaces and expands your functional living areas.

Should I try to hardscape myself?

By its nature, hardscaping usually involves some form of construction. Whether it’s a patio, a sidewalk, or a small gazebo, you may need to call in the experts to get it right the first time. After all, most hardscaping projects require very specific skill sets and calculations, and small errors can have a big impact on safety and durability. In addition to their knowledge of construction materials, measurements, and methods, expert landscapers can identify the ideal layout for your yard. Experienced professionals can easily identify drainage requirements, choose balanced elements, and develop a focal point for the space.

How much does Hardscaping cost?

Costs for hardscaping vary according to the size of the project and materials needed. Small improvements can be made for as little as a couple hundred dollars, while more complex jobs can run into the tens of thousands. Of course, it’s cheaper to Do-it-Yourself, but unlike softscaping, hardscaping often requires complex construction knowledge. If you decide to hire someone to help with your yard, it’s important to get landscaping estimates. But it’s not always the best price you should look for so much as the best value. After all, you want to get years of use from your yard, so don’t settle for wobbly patio bricks or uneven stairs.

Can Hardscaping improve my home value?

Hardscaping can boost your home value by fully utilizing outdoor spaces and adding amenities homebuyers are looking for. Patios and decks, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits create welcoming, functional living spaces outside, while gazebos and water features are popular for their charm. More than just curb appeal though, hardscaping can prevent soil erosion and improve drainage on your property. Investing in the hardscapes is a win-win.

More than perennial flowers and garden beds, quality landscaping requires a balance of hard and soft elements. Professional designers at Vines Gardening can work within your budget to create a beautiful, functional hardscape that fits your needs. Dream big, and design your ideal outdoor space with the help of our professional landscapers, experts in hardscaping and softscaping. Call or click for a custom quote today! 678-725-4452

Reasons to Hire A Experienced Lawn Maintenance Company

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:09:05 GMT

Hiring a Lawn Maintenance company in Dawsonville might sound unnecessary or too expensive, but the price you pay gets you more than you might think. Even if you’re already a Landscape Maintenance expert, you still might benefit from hiring such a company. If you need further convincing, read on to learn 5 Reasons To Hire A Lawn Maintenance Company .

Reason #1: More Free-Time

So this is the first and most obvious reason, but still worth mentioning. After hiring a lawn maintenance company you’ll be able to save the hours of sweat and toil taking care of the home lot yourself.

You’ll be able to spend this time doing other things, like catching up on your reading or getting back in touch with an old hobby or new avenue of creativity! Or you might just want to use that new free-time to catch up on your favorite television show, it’s your choice!

Reason #2: They Can Do It Better, Faster

Lawn Maintenance can be a difficult task to undertake for the average homeowner. It requires skill, patience and the proper tools to do the job right. What’s worse, if you don’t have the aforementioned necessities, you may end up ruining part of your lawn.

Maybe you wanted to add a stone patio that didn’t come out quite right. Perhaps you were trying to solve a drainage problem that ended up taking a lot more time or money that it should have. Regardless of the situation, hiring a Professional Lawn Maintenance company will ensure that you don’t have to view that eye-sore in your once beautiful lawn and will guarantee that the job will be done quickly, with nothing but expert results.

Reason #3: They’ll Provide Design Insight And Consultation

Anyone who has ever undertaken a big project knows that the best results come from the best planning. If you’re thinking about starting a big project, you might be interested in getting an expert’s opinion, or better yet, a blueprint or on-site thumbnail sketches that will show exactly how the project will play out.

This kind of preparation is what separates lawn maintenance failure and success, and it can end up saving your butt later on down when the project gets more complex.

Reason #4: No Need To Install It Yourself

Speaking of projects getting overly complex, when you hire a Lawn Maintenance company you don’t have to worry about messing up the installation. Whether it’s irrigation, soil preparation, hardscapes, drainage, uniloader work, plant and sod installation, nightscaping, mulching, etc.

You’re covered and guaranteed a proper installation without the stress or risk of failure that comes with doing so yourself. These folks do this kind of thing for a professional living, so they’ll be able to do it the right way the first time around.

Reason #5: They’re Experienced In All Forms of Lawn Care and Maintenance

This one is probably the biggest and best reason to hire a Lawn Maintenance company , with all previous reasons leading up to it. These guys are experts . They know what they’re doing and they do it well.

If they foresee an issue with the project or blueprints, they’ll let you know and they’ll likely have a solid workaround. They have the tools required, the experience necessary and the manpower available to get even the biggest projects finished within a timely manner.

Why Winter is the Perfect Time to Build an Outdoor Kitchen

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 19:47:00 GMT

One of the nice things about living in the South is that in general it’s nice weather year-round. This means that unlike the cold and ice of the north, we can have outdoor holiday parties all year around.

Outdoor Kitchens in Winter

While anytime is a good time for grilling out in Georgia, the prime season for doing so is still spring and summer. This means that a lot of companies are able to get the kitchen designed and installed cheaper and relatively quickly.

You can get great prices on grills, on refrigerators, on islands and a number of other features by buying off-season in the winter. The mark-downs on these appliances can sometimes save you a substantial amount of money.

Frequency of Use

In the Atlanta region, people are far more likely to use their backyard kitchen all year round than are people in the northern areas. This frequency of use in the south means that there’s no bad time to take the plunge. Sit down and imagine all the features you’d like to have in your outdoor cooking space and start your research. You’ll be amazed at what you can find!

Choosing the Best Features

Everyone wants different features for their kitchen space, and the winter is the perfect time to consider the best options. In the brutal heat of the Georgia summer, for example, many people might not consider the fun of an outdoor fireplace.

But the cooler temperatures in the winter can make such an addition a homey and fun addition to your backyard oasis. Working on your outdoor kitchen space in the winter opens up options you may not have considered at other times of the year.

Faster Work

Since the winter is the off season for outdoor work, many contractors will be able to devote more time and attention to your project. This means that you’ll likely get the work done faster, which may also save you money on labor.

When you combine the better prices and deals you get in the off months with the greater focus and faster labor you may receive, installing a kitchen outside in the winter months seems like a no-brainer.

There’s no doubt about it — the winter time is the right time for installing backyard kitchens in the South. If you live in the Atlanta, GA, area and are looking for the best contractor to help you get going on your outdoor renovation project, we’re ready to step up and help. Check out the outdoor gardening and landscaping services we offer, and get in touch with Vines Gardening, Inc . for more information or to get started on your renovation project today!

Fall Landscaping and Gardening: Ready for Next Year!

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 16:48:00 GMT

One of the attractions of living in Georgia is the mild winters, but even this far south, we need to prepare our lawns for the winter seasons and get it ready to roll for next spring. What steps can you take to keep your lawn strong and ready for colder temperatures.

Georgia Fall Landscaping Tips

Most people consider fall the harvest season, where plants start to die and it’s time to relax until next spring. In reality, the consummate gardener and landscaper doesn’t let off of their regular lawn and garden care activities. Staying on top of your regular landscaping maintenance and even adding some autumn color to your yard will keep your home bright and cheerful as well as preparing you in advance for next spring.

Last Mowing of the Season

Give your lawn one last mow. You won’t have to worry about cutting the grass throughout the fall and winter as turf growth slows down during these months due to the cooler temperatures. It’s important, however, to cut the grass one last time by the end of October. This will protect it from disease and blight during the winter months.

Fall Annuals

You can plant fall annuals to keep your garden looking outstanding this time of year even as the summer flowers and plants die off for the year. Consider beautiful flowers like chrysanthemums, candy tufts, baby’s breath, cornflower and snapdragons.

Don’t Stop Pruning

Fall isn’t the time to lay off your pruning activities. Your plants will still need to be trimmed and snipped consistently throughout the autumn. Until they go dormant in November or December, keeping your plants pruned will cut back on the amount of spring cleanup work you’ll need to do.

Get a Jump Start on Spring Planting

Fall is a great time to plant spring bulbs. These plants won’t die; rather, the bulbs will lie dormant until the spring growing season, when they’ll sprout bright and beautiful! While you’re in the garden, why not get a great head start on next year and save yourself the effort later? Bulbs like tulips, hyacinth, daffodils, crocus and other flowers are beautiful to watch come up when it’s time for them to say hello!

Cleaning Up the Weeds

Weeding is another activity that should continue into the fall. The more you stay on top of your weeding activities in the fall months, the better off you’ll be later. Weeds and grasses will continue to grow in your flower and garden beds, and being proactive about taking care of them will mean a lot less work in the spring.

If you’re ready for the best local help in your yard maintenance, Vines Gardening is eager to step in.
Check out our year-round services and give us a call for more information today!

How Sprinklers Help Maintain Your Lawn’s Health

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 14:27:00 GMT

With the heat of summer, it’s important to remember to give your lawn all the attention you can. This can be an extremely difficult task for most people to remember as often as they should, however. With all the hustle and bustle of everyday life, on top of work and a never ending to-do list, your lawn can easily become an afterthought.

One of the biggest causes of unhealthy lawns is under watering, and while it may be a relatively simple task, it can become extremely time consuming to try and do by yourself. While the burden of keeping your lawn healthy may seem daunting, making the initiative to use an irrigation system and sprinklers can make the hassle easier than ever.

Installing sprinklers will help ensure that your entire lawn is adequately watered on a regular basis, and with the proper timer, you can set your irrigation system to water your land as often or sparingly as you desire. You can even pick which sprinkler head is most efficient for you based on your yard size, for you are able to look at all the possible options beforehand and can easily change them yourself afterwards. Some difference to consider are whether you want a traditional sprinkler head with swivel motion, a set sprinkler head with no motion, or a full 360 degree rotation head.

There is also a dripping ‘head’ which is more like a hose that drizzles water, which is very useful for gardens and newly planted bushes that can’t handle being sprayed as hard as your lawn.

By using whatever combination of the above sprinkler heads that fit in with your sprinkler system , you can fine tune your lawn health until it becomes fully automatic. This will leave you with a beautiful, healthy lawn to enjoy year after year, with little to no effort on your part. Not only that, but you will have a greater control on how much water you use every month by being able to avoid overwatering the whole yard. This will definitely get your friends and neighbors asking how you managed to keep your lawn looking so wonderful, so consistently.

Now you know almost everything you need to finally have the healthiest lawn possible, and keep your entire neighborhood asking for your advice when their yards don’t match up! For information on irrigation system installation, call 678-725-4452 .

The Joys Of An Outdoor Kitchen

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 14:01:00 GMT

In today’s modern world, trendy additions to kitchens have been s way to show guests just how ‘in’ we are. For your next dinner party, rather than show off your new stainless steel counter tops, why not show off your new outdoor kitchen? Outdoor kitchens are all the rage now, and they seem to be here to stay! Not only is this trendy kitchen style aesthetically pleasing, it provides you with many other benefits to your home and person as well.

With traditional kitchens, you are bound to the kitchen ‘room’ to tenderize, fry, marinate, chop and roast all of your food. With an outdoor kitchen, coupled with a screened in porch, gives you all the room you need to spread out all the ingredients you need that evening while you meal prep. You will finally have the ability to put the steak and seasoning next to the grill, with your kitchen counter set behind you with the baked potatoes and broccoli in the oven This also gives you and your family the chance to spend a good bit more time outdoors, which everyone could use living the new electronic era. Instead of getting their food from the kitchen and heading straight into the living room to eat in front of the television, you and your family could sit down outside and have a nice evening in the ‘ great outdoors ’ without even having to leave the comfort of your yard.

Not only that, but you will be able to impress your friends at dinner parties with the addition on an outdoor kitchen to truly capture the ambiance of nature. In the morning you can hear the birds chirping, or get some well needed vitamin D from the sun. And in the evening, you can hear the sounds of frogs croaking, and see the fireflies dance around the night sky. This change of setting will make you truly feel more in touch with nature, and may even change your outlook on your yard as a whole.

If you need more practical reasons to invest in an outdoor kitchen, there are many of those as well. An outdoor kitchen makes your home more pleasant by eliminating the smell of gas and smoke of the original kitchen from inside the home. It also keeps the house cooler in the summer by expelling the excess heat outside instead of in the house. This, in turn, saves on energy bills, as your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool your home in the heat of the summer. Do yourself a favor, and invest in an outdoor kitchen! Contact Vines Gardening, today!

Winter Landscape Maintenance

Wed, 04 Nov 2015 04:07:00 GMT

Though it doesn’t get as cold in Georgia than it does up north, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to take the proper measures in protecting your yard from the winter elements. Between low temperatures, cold rain and even sleet or snow, your yard is at risk for damage. With the help of your local North Georgia landscape company , yard maintenance in the winter can help you have a healthy and beautiful lawn come springtime.

Protecting Your Lawn

You may think that fertilization for your lawn is only for the spring and summertime , but it can actually benefit your yard in the winter, too. The fertilizer replaces nutrients in the soil that might have gotten lost in the Georgia summer heat. Even when the ground freezes over, your grass will feed off of these nutrients, presenting you with a lush and healthy lawn for the spring.

With a professional landscaper , they will know how to gradually cut down the height of your grass, so that it can stay healthy throughout the colder months. Grass that is too long in the winter can be victim to burrowing mice that are looking for a warm place to sleep. Short grass can prevent this from happening, as well as protect fragile, new growth.

Trimming the Trees

Winter months are actually ideal for trimming trees and shrubbery. Professional landscapers will be able to determine which trees need to be cut back. Dead branches can pose a threat to your home, as heavy snow and strong winter winds can cause them to fall. Trimming these limbs will keep your tree healthy and your yard safe.

Perennial plants can be trimmed in the winter too, to protect them from the cold and prepare them for the spring. Your professional landscaper can do so, while also keeping your yard clean. If debris or leaves are left on a lawn for too long in the winter, it can prevent the sunlight from feeding the grass, thus leaving you with dead spots in the spring.

Preparing for Spring

If you want to have beautiful and colorful flowers bloom in the spring, you should start preparing in the winter. Your landscapers will ready your flower beds by clearing them off, trimming existing shrubbery and edging the perimeter. Bulbs can be buried in a well-drained bed, so that you can enjoy your garden in the spring.

Yard maintenance in the winter can also include protecting these beds from the cold. With mulching, your landscaper can help the soil hold moisture and assist in keeping the beds warmer so that the bulbs don’t freeze. With this additional layer of protection, you can ensure a healthy garden for the spring. Between a lush lawn, trimmed trees and gorgeous gardens, you will have a spectacular-looking yard when the weather warms back up.

Are you worried about the health of your yard in the cold? If so, contact Vines Gardening, your local Atlanta landscape company , today for more information on how we can protect your yard this winter.

Having a Healthy Landscape in the Fall

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 19:33:00 GMT

The seasons are changing, which means that our yard work routines will be changing, too. Here are a few ideas on keeping your landscape healthy throughout the fall season, and how to prepare for the changing Georgia temperatures .

Mowing

Because early fall can bring some warmer days, you should continue to mow as long as your grass is growing. However, when the temperature drops enough, and summer showers are no longer a factor, consider making your final mow of the season. This will better your chances of having a healthy landscape.

It is suggested to mow your grass down to 1 1/4 inches so that disease has a harder time setting in. Leaves will also move more easily across the grass, as they are not getting hung up in the longer blades. However, be sure not to mow your lawn shorter than this, as grass creates most of its food using the upper parts of the blade. And before you store your mower away for the winter, make sure that it is working properly and is clean of any debris or dirt.

Don’t Leave the Leaves

While leaves can look gorgeous, even when on the ground, this can be dangerous for your landscape if you do not rake regularly. When smothered with layers of heavy, wet leaves, lawns don’t have the chance to “breathe.” This can actually prevent your grass from growing or remaining healthy throughout the cooler months.

If leaves are left, mold can set in during the winter, causing a health hazard. Additionally, pathways and sidewalks can become hidden or slippery if leaves are left on them, putting your family and friends at risk of falling. By simply raking or blowing leaves off your landscape on a consistent basis, you can avoid these issues. Be sure to collect leaves in bags or tarps as well, to avoid them from spreading to your neighbors’ yards.

What to Trim Back

Dead limbs and branches on trees should be trimmed during the fall time. Because the weather will get cooler, these limbs can become liabilities during frost and strong winds. To protect your home, cut off any loose, cracked or disease branches, but be sure to not damage the trunk of the tree.

What to Plant

Planting new shrubs in the early fall will allow for the plants to take root before the cooler weather sets in. These shrubs can add color to your home when all the pretty leaves are gone. Also, consider what plants you want to see in the spring, and plant their bulbs accordingly. If you properly maintain your landscape throughout the fall and winter, it is more likely that you will have beautiful flowers blooming come springtime.

Fertilization and aeration are also important to maintaining your lawn during the fall, and maintenance mowing might be needed. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all you need to do to keep your landscape healthy in the fall, contact us here at Vines Gardening. We can provide all of these services and more, to keep your yard healthy and you happy.

New Trends in Hardscapes

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:41:00 GMT

Here at Vines Gardening , we offer a wide range of services, including landscape design consultation, installation and hardscapes . As such, we know that new trends are on the rise when it comes to creating an outdoor space. If you’re looking to update your yard’s hardscape, here is how you can create a trendy and practical space for you and your family to enjoy.

Outdoor Living Rooms

While this sounds almost too luxurious, this new trend is actually an affordable way to create an outdoor space where your friends and family can gather. Generally, these outdoor “living rooms” are open patios that sometimes are covered with a lattice roof to provide shade on a particularly sunny Georgia day.

Many choose to put weather-proof furniture, like couches and chairs, in these spaces. Oftentimes, large, stone fireplaces are the centerpieces for these outdoor living rooms. Or, you can choose to install an above-ground fire pit for your friends to gather around. There are almost endless possibilities when it comes to building an outdoor living room.

Outdoor Kitchens

Serving an even more practical use is the outdoor kitchen. Like the outdoor living room, these outdoor kitchens are usually located on an open patio or deck. Grills typically are the centerpiece for these kitchens, which can be surrounded by counters.

Many choose to use these countertops as bars or seating areas for large cookouts. Sometimes these outdoor kitchens can feature an outdoor dining table, complete with a sun umbrella, which allows for you and your family to enjoy dinner outside in your beautiful outdoor space.

Water Features

Aside from pools and hot tubs, you can include other water features in your yard that are purely for your viewing pleasure. Natural-looking, small ponds and waterfalls are popular new trends. These water features can break up the monotony of green in your landscape and add a new texture to your hardscape.

Around these water features, you can always incorporate small gardens in your Dawsonville l andscaping . By doing so, your yard would be colorful and unique to your personal tastes. Your outdoor space would become your own haven where your friends and family can gather, to escape the busy buzz of everyday life.

Stone Materials

In both the outdoor living rooms and kitchens, stone and masonry materials are used more often than not. Many homeowners like the look of natural looking, light-colored stone, which usually complements the exterior colors of the home. These types of stones also go well with almost any type of plant, flower or shrubbery you may have.

These stone materials can extend beyond the patios, as you could use them to tie in the different aspects in the hardscape of your yard. For instance, you could use the same stone material in your outdoor kitchen as you do on steps, walkways and short walls. Stone materials can also be used in your water features to further create a cohesive aesthetic throughout your outdoor space.

If you are interested in updating your hardscape, contact us here at Vines Garden to see how we can help!

What to Plant in the Fall

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 18:27:00 GMT

Fall is finally upon us, leaving behind those grueling hot Georgia summer days. While this is great for wearing cute fall clothes and enjoying football games on the weekends, what does this mean for your garden?

Gardening in the fall can be tricky, because it’s not cold enough yet to batten down the hatches, but you also have to keep in mind that winter is coming, and your garden will need to be ready. If you’re looking to add some new life to your landscape this fall, consider these tips on what to plant in your garden as the weather changes.

Fall Planting

It can be difficult to find colorful flowers that will withstand the cold temperatures of the winter. Unlike regular pansies, Plentifall pansies are able to survive through below-zero temperatures, so they are sure to live through the Georgia winter. They can act as trailing pansies, spreading up to 18 inches. You can use them to cover flower beds or spill out of flower pots, from fall through spring.

When thinking about your perennials for spring, you can begin preparing them in the fall. You can actually plant new perennials in the fall, as long as they have large root balls. If you’re thinking about replanting your hostas, irises or peonies, fall is a great time to do so. They will have the chance to take root before the colder weather sets in.

Fall is also the ideal time to plant spring bulbs. Consider your terrain and amount of sun when deciding what to plant. These bulbs will require a period of dormancy before they are able to bloom. This way, you can plant your bulbs in the fall and enjoy watching them bloom in the spring.

Shrubbery

Adding shrubs to your landscape is a great way to bring color and life to your yard for the wintertime when nearly everything else loosing its leaves and color. Sometimes, specific species of shrubs can “bronze” in winter, but these colors can range from deep purple to a rustic orange, which can still be beautiful.

Because the temperature is cooler, but the soil is still warm, fall is one of the best times to plant shrubs. Like your perennials, the roots will have the opportunity to grow before the weather makes the ground too cold. Making sure these shrubs are well-watered can help give them a jump-start before they go dormant for the winter.

Vegetables

There are several cool-season vegetables that you can plant in the fall time, as they are able to thrive in cold weather. Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, carrots, cabbage, lettuce and radishes are just a few examples of these vegetables.

The harvesting time for these veggies can vary, so be sure to check your seed packet for more information on each individual plant. For instance, waiting to harvest root crops after frost generally makes them taste that much better.

For more information on gardening in the fall in Georgia , contact us today. We can help you with everything from landscaping to hardscaping , lawn maintenance and more.

Summer Landscape Projects

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 21:23:00 GMT

At Vines Gardening , we offer a list of multiple services that would be provided to you to improve the look of your landscape. One of the many services we offer is hardscapes, which involves any form of stone or masonry work. From a warm fire pit to a luxurious waterfall, any fixture can be put together to make your yard a place of beauty. We can guarantee, we are the Best Atlanta Hardscapes Service provider for you.

Landscape Fun

Here at Vines Gardening, our motto is if you can dream it, you can build it. Anything your imagination can design, our builders will bring into a reality. The time and quality put into the project will amaze you, almost as much as the finished product. Any design, from a beautiful patio, to a fire-pit designed to light the night, to a peaceful waterfall, any design can be built, and in time for any event.

Privacy is an important matter, and it’s a matter we can discuss, and put into action. With our masons, we can build any form of privacy, and with a feel of beauty. Perhaps a stone wall, or maybe a little cove, any design can be turned into a functional separation from neighbors or passerby’s.

Not only is the design important, but the layout as well. A rock here, a rock there, it’s important to make the lawn beautiful in many ways. One of which is placement, stones and boulders can be place to surround any flower bed or tree, to provide a beautiful and pleasant feel. Your lawn will be amazing, and a definite pride factor for when family or friends visit.

At Vines Gardening, we provide quality service at a fair price. If you want a beautiful outdoor space, give us a call. Our landscape architects can make you the talk of the neighborhood! (678)-725-4452

Spring is Here!

Mon, 13 Apr 2015 15:21:00 GMT

How to Prepare your Landscape for Summer

Spring is here ! With summer right around the corner you might be wandering what you can do to prepare your yard and keep it healthy and in shape for the heat of the upcoming summer months. Spring is one of the most important times to perform lawn maintenance and getting your yard off to a good start this season requires nothing more than attention to a few details. Here are a few essential tips to help your yard resist the devastating effects of the sun, pests, weeds, and heavy foot traffic.

Debris Removal is the first step. Remove any debris that has accumulated in the yard and rake up any matted areas in the lawn. Doing so will encourage airflow throughout the lawn and help prevent disease and insect infestation.

Aeration promotes healthy formation of the root system. Roots are the lifeline of your lawn. Aeration allows grass to breathe and also enables water and other nutrients to reach the root system . For warm-season grasses, aerate in early spring and for cool-season grasses, like ryegrass or bluegrass, you can wait until autumn. Aeration should be performed every couple of years, and more frequently for higher traffic areas.

Fertilization

Fertilization is an important part of maintaining a good lawn. Fertilize your yard according to the type of grass you have. Lawns have two peak growing seasons throughout the year, apply fertilizer at these times. Scale back your fertilization about a month before peak summer temperatures. For cool-season grasses you should fertilize your lawn during early spring, after winter dormancy, and early fall. Fertilizer with higher nitrogen concentration is ideal during autumn application. Warm-season grasses flourish during summer months. Nitrogen rich fertilizer should be applied in spring, when the first shows signs of vibrancy. These grasses should be fertilized again in late summer.

Irrigation

Deep irrigation is optimal for root penetration. Brief and frequent watering encourages shallow root penetration . Most grass needs around one inch of irrigation weekly during peak growth. A single deep irrigation once per week is much more helpful in developing deep roots to assist your lawn in withstanding the heat of the summer months. The best times to water our lawn is early morning or at night.

Reseed is most beneficial prior to your grass’ peak season of growth. After tilling the soil, spread your seed as evenly as possible. Use a standard fertilizer along with the over seed, switching to nitrogen-rich fertilizer once the seeds germinate. This will ensure robust growth. Water these reseeded areas as you do normally with the rest of your lawn.

Lawn Maintenance

Regular Lawn Maintenance helps with proper growth and health of your grass. If done improperly, mowing can be detrimental to the life your lawn. Never cut more than one third of the height of your grass in one pass. If it is very tall, make two cuts , spacing the cuts a couple of days apart to avoid leaving large clumps of moist grass clippings on your lawn. Frequent springtime mowing will strengthen the grass roots, making the plants more hardy and resistant to the elements. Raising the cutting height of your mower as summer approaches allows the grass to provide necessary shade to the soil, keeping it moist and primed for perfect lawn growth.

Following these few steps will ensure you have a beautiful, healthy lawn that will last throughout the summer heat and continue to look great. With these simple few steps, you can be the envy of your neighborhood with a lush, inviting lawn that everyone is sure to enjoy. If looking for a lawn maintenance service, visit www.vinesgardening.com .

Tips for DIY Landscape Design

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:16:00 GMT

1. Think Practical Landscape Designs

When trying to create a landscape design for your North Georgia home, consider using natural resources such as rocks, trees and shrubs within your own yard. Here are a few common tricks to help you get the idea.

Use deciduous trees for extra shade around your home which can also help lower your summer cooling bills. You won’t lose out on extra sunlight during the Winter months since these trees will lose their leaves.

Consider utilizing evergreen trees as a windbreaker during Winter months to help lower your overall heating expenses during this part of the year.

You can also use smaller shrubs around the foundation of your home to act as a natural insulation. Fill in the open spaces for an attractive and practical appeal to help beautify your home.

2. Look for Design Inspiration

If landscape isn’t your profession and you lack the creative side or need something to ignite your imagination, consider looking for external inspiration. There are many websites online that cover the latest trends or classic strategies for making any home beautiful.

Here are some ideas to get you started: