Hey everyone,
How are your plans for this summer's party season coming along? I don't know about you, but around here everything really starts popping in May.
Like most people, we want everything to be just right for the weekend that unofficially kicks off summer and the outdoor entertaining season. So, in the weeks before Memorial Day we clean decks and spruce up the landscaping around our house.
In the PowerWashNow.com NEWSLETTER for May we'll be giving you some landscaping and deck cleaning tips to help you get started, too.
May is the perfect month to make preparations for summer's demands on your property. We've been helping our customers get their homes, decks, pools and landscaping ready for summer for close to twenty years now. So if you have any questions or comments please contact us at newsletter@powerwashnow.com. We always enjoy hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Mike
landscaping
A well-designed landscape is a pleasure to the family, enhances a community and adds to the property's resale value. Landscape design involves much more than placing trees, shrubs and other plants on the property. It is an art, which deals with conscious arrangement or organization of outdoor space for human satisfaction and enjoyment. Some of its major goals include:
- Organizing and developing the site for maximum use and pleasure.
- Creating a visual relationship between the house and the site.
- Reducing landscape maintenance to a practical level.
Americans spend tremendous amounts of money "landscaping" their businesses, homes, streets, parks, schools, etc. Much of this money is wasted, however, because of little or no planning. People cannot understand how to landscape until they know why they landscape. There are several reasons why people "landscape": some think it improves the appearance of their place; others like to grow plants; still others just want their place to look pretty. Too often these landscapes dominate rather than serve. Masses of plants or other materials in the landscape may take up a large portion of the space and leave little room for people.
Then how does the designer arrange space so that people will find it useful, beautiful, meaningful and functional? His methods include:
- Observing and analyzing the habits of the people who will be using the space, including their needs, desires and how much space each of their activities requires.
- Studying past methods.
- Surveying available materials to solve design requirements.
- Analyzing the environment of the site including the view in and around the site. The ecology of the site should be carefully analyzed since it is an important design determinant.
Not all landscaping improves the appearance of a building. The work of an insensitive designer can subdue a building, conceal important features or contradict the architect's intent. Good landscape design can significantly improve the building's appearance by adding warmth, livability and personality. It can also relate a building to its site and environment and give it the desired degree of dominance.
Growth and change separate landscape designs from other arts. Most works of art such as architecture, sculpture and painting look their best when new. Landscape designs, however, are at their worst when new and improve with age. A well-designed landscape will seldom look the same any two months of the year.
The temptation to begin planting immediately is almost overwhelming. Whether you are landscaping a newly-built home or redesigning an existing landscape, the results will be much more satisfying if you plan first. Ideally, you should consult a professional landscape architect on planning.
From Planning your Home Landscape by William C. Welch
Landscaping Tips You Can Use Today
First Plan Ahead—Almost every yard can benefit from doing some planning. All too often a home's yard simply evolves over time without any sort of a plan for the finished landscape. A plant is placed somewhere simply because there is room for it in that spot at the time. If your yard just sort of evolved and you have a hodgepodge of plantings but long for a landscape...tere is still hope.
Ideally, it's best to start from scratch, draw a plan for the whole yard, and stick to it. But with many yards that would require a complete renovation. Wow...what a job! Short of that, try to at least sketch a rough plan for one area of your yard, and put all your energy into implementing that plan this year. Next year, plan another space. You'll have the beautifully landscaped yard of your dreams in just a few years.
Next Consider How You'll Use It—Many homeowners assume having a grassy area in the yard designated as "the lawn" is a required part of home landscape design. But historically speaking, the lawn as we know it is a relatively recent introduction to landscaping. For those not attracted to that rather monotonous "green carpet" look or who dislike having to mow grass every week, it's important to know that other acceptable options exist, especially for small spaces. Whose yard is it, anyhow? If you'd love a rock garden, how about replacing some of that grass?
Preventive Maintenance—Spring is a gorgeous time in your yard and garden. We all love a landscape full of blooms and a garden that is beginning to produce. The challenge is often to keep it thriving. Keep your landscape clean to reduce pests and diseases. Pick up and dispose of fallen leaves and dead-head flowers regularly. Take special steps to eliminate mold and mildew from walls, decks and other flat surfaces. Power washing can a make dramatic difference in the overall appeal of your landscape.
Finally Have FUN With It— Plan a picnic or Bar-B-Q and entertain outside. Pick a bouquet of flowers to liven up your dinner table. Decorate all through the house with those 'May Flowers'. Even a single branch or bloom can brighten up a spot in the house...all because you took the time to plan your landscaping.
