Summer in Georgia can be brutal on a landscape. From the intense heat to the not uncommon drought conditions, keeping a lush summer landscape can be difficult. However, there are a number of things you can do to along with such landscape maintenance tips ensure that your Atlanta landscape looks inviting.

Summer Landscape TLC

• Trim : Take a walk around your landscape and note any shrubbery, trees or vines that have become unruly. Then, pull out the garden shears and trimmers and cut back any excessive growth. Not only will this make your yard look better, but it will help the plants be healthier.
• Trellis: Do you have vines near your house? Consider adding a trellis. Trellis come in a variety of sizes and styles, or you might want to have a custom design that suites your style. Either way, a trellis can keep the beauty of vines without risk of your landscape being overtaken or damaging your home’s foundation.
•  Driveway Dress Up: Often, the driveway area gets overlooked. Consider lining it with a colorful flower garden, or shrubbery to add a soft yet finished appearance. Another great way to spruce up your driveway is to install driveway lighting!
•  Water: We all know how quickly a water shortage can occur in Georgia. If you have an irrigation system, be sure that it is set for optimum times such as early morning or late evening. Also, ensure that it won’t turn on, after, or during a rain to prevent overwatering.
• Pay Attention: Because summer sun and harsh weather can be damaging to your plants, be sure to periodically peruse your yard. Bolster struggling plants where needed, while removing those plants that may have died.
•  Weed: It often seems as though the weeds thrive, while the wanted plants can barely survive. Be vigilant in your weeding or let us do it! Proper weeding can get rid of unwanted plants that are pulling nutrients away from the desired plants.
• Fertilize: Give your summer landscape a boost, by spreading a layer of fertilizer. This will help trap in moisture and protect it from the sun’s harsh rays.
• Plant Tropical Bulbs – Consider plants such as caladiums, elephant ears, cannas and gingers. These plants thrive in high heat and provide a beautiful garden area.
• Aquatics: Consider adding in a water feature. This will not only add curb appeal but provides a place for you to unwind. It also gives area wildlife a place to hangout, which means everyone wins.
• Be Personal: Don’t forget to show off your style! Be sure your landscape includes a structure such as a pergola, gazebo, or shaded area. Outdoor entertainment spaces, such as a pool bring, bring fun design elements and seating for staying cool this Summer!

You don’t have to be a master landscaper or have a perpetual green thumb to have a beautiful lawn. Instead, contact our team at Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces. Our landscape experts will work with you to create and maintain a beautiful landscape for summer and beyond!

The post TLC for Your Summer Landscape appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Deciding on the perfect landscape design plan can seem overwhelming. It is even more challenging when you realize your Atlanta yard is a blank canvas that can be improved with features beyond plants. A few examples are custom walkways, fountains, patios and other structures. Additionally, a variety of outdoor lighting can be incorporated.

If just reading this brief list of possibilities makes you stress, then you are not alone! Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces are experts at landscape design projects. Our experts put together some do's and don'ts that should be considered when starting your landscape design project.

What You Should Do During A Landscape Design Project:

• Determine your budget before you begin. You don’t want to be mid-project and need to stop! Creating a clear budget prevents any incomplete projects.
• Think about your yard and how you envision it using it. Do you think you will be doing some outdoor entertaining? An outdoor kitchen or fully functional patio with built-in grill should be included. Need a place for relaxing? Consider a water feature with comfortable seating. Whether it is a place for the kids to play or a quiet spot to relax, be sure to include these features when creating your landscape design plan.
• Take time to sketch out some ideas of what you see your yard looking like. Keep in mind that the best landscape designs don’t always follow a straight line! The sketch doesn’t have to be perfect, just a rough idea to help you include the desired features.
• Remember that you can do landscape design projects in stages. This is where having a basic layout in mind can help you determine priorities and where to spend your money. By doing this, you can plan multiple phases of your project.
• Do keep in mind that it’s better to invest in small sizes of fast-growing plants. This is so you can spend more on larger, slow growing plants with a longer lasting impact.
• Think about how much time you are willing to invest on your landscape maintenance. Once your landscape is in place, you will have to maintain it. Considering the maintenance early on will prevent any future issues with your landscape upkeep.
• Peruse the designs and styles of other neighbor’s yards and note what appears to work (or not). Also, always be sure to check if there are any requirements for your HOA.

Also Read: DIY Landscape Ideas: When to Seek Professional Help

What Not to Do When Starting Your Landscape Design Project:

• Don't forget about each of the different seasons. Be sure to choose plants that will provide color and style for as much of each season as possible.
• Don't be afraid to remove older plants that are dying or overgrown. This will help the ground and soil recover. Old or overgrown plants take nutrients from the soil. As a result, this prevents new or desired plants from thriving.
• Don’t get caught up in trends. Choose design elements that compliment your home, not compete with it.
• Don't chose furniture or other elements requiring an excessive amount of maintenance! The point of landscape design is to help you relax as often as possible. The last thing you want is to spend time constantly cleaning or adjusting furniture.
• Don’t overlook the value of water features, outdoor lighting, and other decorative features. Each of these options help add an atmosphere of relaxation and a piece of character to your home.

By keeping each of these do’s and don’ts in mind, you can ensure a satisfying home landscape project. If you are ready to kick off your landscape design project, contact us today. Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces is a family-owned and -operated landscape design company in Atlanta, GA.

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Landscape Design appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

While it may only be the beginning of the year if one of your 2020 resolutions is to take your current landscape design (or perhaps the lack thereof) to the next level, then now is the time to begin. No, you might not be ready to go to the nursery and purchase the plants and shrubbery, but there are several activities you can take in preparing your landscape for spring. Better yet, contact a consultant from Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces. We can assess your current landscape and craft a design that suits your needs, wants and utilizes your space to its full potential.

However, if you are wanting to do some preliminary work and get some ideas of what you think might be great improvements to your yard, then there are actions you can take. Let’s get started.

Preparing Your Landscape for Spring

Taking time for preparing your landscape for spring is what separates the average landscape from the exceptional ones. And, of course, you want yours to be exceptional. Here's how.

Begin with Cleanup

Fall and winter weather can cause branches to fall, debris to accumulate, and an assortment of items to be deposited in your yard. Grab a pair of thick gloves and remove any of these elements.

Find the Edges

For that perfectly manicured spring landscape, edging is a must! Use an edger to delineate where your grass begins and the gardens and natural areas begin. Edging also keeps grass from taking over your flowerbeds and non-paved walkways and gives your landscape a manicured appearance.

Raking- Not Just for Fall!

It’s probable that you missed some leaves at your last fall raking job, and even more likely that leaves blew into your yard during winter. Grab a rake and get rid of those dead leaves, as well as any pinecones, acorns, twigs, etc. that have accumulated – especially in those areas of your yard where things pile up!

Pruning

When preparing your landscape for spring, don't overlook the importance of pruning! While you don’t need to do this as early as January, sometime in late February take an afternoon to check out the shrubbery and trees. Look for excessively long branches or shoots and trim them back. The pruning will help them be healthier when spring officially arrives.

Mulching

To give your soil an extra boost of nutrients after the cold months, apply mulch. However, be sure to remove the old mulch- another reason to rake! Then add new mulch at the base of shrubbery. It is recommended that you wait to see where flowers begin to peek through so that you don’t cover them in mulch and inhibit their growth.

Add Fertilizer

For a healthy verdant lawn, fertilizer is a must. Ideally, you should apply fertilizer either before or after a light rain. This will help allow the nutrients to better seep into your lawn. For prime results, choose a fertilizer that says 20-5-10, standing for 20% nitrogen, 5% phosphate and 10% potassium. To minimize how often you need to apply fertilizer, choose a slow-release one.

Once these activities have been done, you are ready to begin planting your assorted gardens, trees, and shrubbery.

Of course, if you feel your yard is already for the next level of landscaping and want to do more with your landscape, give the Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces team a call. We understand what it is involved in crafting a beautiful Georgia landscape and help you take your yard from basic to beautiful. Contact us today.

The post Tips to Prepare Your Landscape for Spring appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Read More

The post Turning Your Yard into a Kid-Friendly Landscape appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Hardscaping is a perfect alternative for adding to your outdoor living space and creating an area where you can enjoy entertaining and relaxing throughout the year. It is a great way to make the most of Georgia’s climate as well as utilize your yard to its full potential. As a landscaping option it offers many benefits, which is why so many homeowners have opted to implement it. Unfamiliar with the term hardscaping? No problem. It is a landscaping approach that includes any hard landscaping materials - concrete, wood, stone, brick, metal, gravel, mulch, boulders and even pottery -and structures to cover up soil or grass in your yard. And, while especially popular in more urban areas, it is also a great fit for the homes a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Why Opt for Hardscaping

There are many reasons the Outdoor Makeover and Construction team gets asked to design a hardscaped lawn, but these are some of the benefits of hardscaping you will want to consider:

• Low Maintenance – One the best aspects of hardscaping is that it is very low maintenance. Typically, once the design is chosen and installed you don’t have to do anything but enjoy it. No need for watering, pruning, snipping or trimming.
• Water Efficient – Georgia summers can be long, hot and often include drought-like conditions. Hardscaping means you don’t need to water plants or worry about grass turning brown.
• Property Value – When you have us design a hardscaped landscape, your property value increases because you are adding more useable yardage to your lawn because a hardscape incorporates ways to make your yard more inviting. In fact, features such as patios, porches, gazebos and other elements of a hardscape are listed by 84% of buyers as a reason to choose one home over another.
• Dimension – Hardscaping incorporates not just buildings, but pathways, outside seating areas, fire elements, fences and other features that make a yard visually appeal and inviting. In addition, these elements often add texture and color tom your yard without the need for gardening or painting.
• Less Erosion – Thanks to introduction of barriers in areas of your yard where erosion is an issue, you will keep more of your ground intact.
• Entertainment – Hardscaping makes your yard more inviting and useful which makes throwing parties even easier as you don’t have to keep everyone indoors. Not one to entertain much. Then hardscape your yard to suit your needs for unwinding and relaxing in nature.
• Direct Traffic – Tired of people walking all over your front lawn? Add an elegant walkway that compliments your home – and keep foot traffic off the yard.
• Extra Living Space – Hardscape features such as an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, pergola or patio means you have plenty of room to simply immerse yourself in the great outdoors.

These 8 benefits are great reasons to give the Outdoor Makeover and Construction team a call for best hardscape installation services in Decatur – and now is the season to get started.  We would love to come assess your landscape and help you determine how to improve your landscape with hardscaping features. Contact our team today.

The post The 8 Benefits of Hardscaping Your Atlanta Yard appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

If you have a pool in your backyard, then you know all about the many benefits a pool offers to the family. From its entertainment value to the ease of exercise, having a pool in the backyard is great. However, just because one has a pool, does not mean that the landscaping is done. In fact, if your swimming pool was built with little regard for how its installation would affect the landscape, then your yard can look unbalanced or even unwelcoming. If this sounds familiar, then it is time for some poolside landscaping! Poolside landscaping doesn’t have to be a challenge or takeover an entire backyard. But, there are a number of ways to take a basic backyard swimming pool and turn it into a true oasis. As landscapers who understand how to fully enhance any lawn, the Outdoor Makeover & Construction team has created many poolside landscape designs that turn a status quo pool area into the ideal spot for rest, relaxation and recreation.

Poolside Landscaping Ideas

1. Add in a gazebo or pergola and some comfortable seating. Sure, sitting in the sun might be great if you are wanting to tan, but having a shaded space to recline by the pool makes for a great place to just relax and unwind.
2. Do you have kids? Then elements such as soft grass, kid-friendly plants and smooth stones, pavers or walkways to the deck will help protect them from hurting their feet.
3. Add stone paths to connect other areas of your landscape. Incorporate plants or shrubbery along the paths to give the illusion of meandering paths at a resort.
4. Don’t forget the lighting! There’s something special about swimming after the sun goes down. Be sure to show off your poolside landscape with a variety of light features. From spotlights to twinkling white lights, to a fire pit in a poolside patio area, incorporating lighting makes your pool more versatile.
5. Extend the concrete around the pool with decorative pavers and a patio. This is especially nice if your pool is close to the backdoor of the home.
6. Find out what type of trees will look great around your pool – without leaving behind a leafy mess- and have some planted.
7. Instead of pavers or stone, extend a back deck or porch right up to the poolside.
8. Add more water features. Consider having a nearby fountain or pondless waterfall near your pool as they add height and depth to your poolside landscape.
9. Install some large container gardens to add a splash of color. Go a step further and use colorful containers that work with your landscape or home design.
10. Add a river rock garden. Whether it frames the entire pool or just a portion, a river rock garden adds interest. Even better, choose a few plants that require minimal upkeep, and you won’t have to add time in your schedule for gardening chores.

Do you want to take your poolside landscape to the next level? If so, then contact the Outdoor Makeover & Construction team today to get started. We would love to design a poolside landscape that is fun, functional and perhaps even a bit of a fantasy, to make your poolside activities better than ever! Give us a call today.

The post Poolside Landscaping: 10 Ways to Showcase Your Pool appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

If you have ever walked around your yard and felt like it was missing something, then you are not alone. But if you found yourself struggling to determine what needs to be added, then perhaps it is time to consider adding a water feature. Today, there are many approaches to adding a water element to your landscape. You might choose to go with the basic addition of a swimming pool, or you could choose an even more natural appearance and have a pondless waterfall or pond.

A swimming pool is great and certainly a wonderful addition to any yard, but if you are looking for something that allows you to be more in touch with nature, then the addition of a natural water area is a beautiful choice. However, if you are new to the idea of a water area as part of the landscape, then take a few minutes to consider not just the aesthetic benefits but some of the practical ones as well.

Benefits of Adding a Water Feature to Your Landscape

• Landscaping using water elements are certainly eye-catching but there’s more to them than that. Here are some other benefits of adding a water feature.
• Water features are simple to maintain. Yes, they occasionally need to cleaned out to be cleaned out to prevent the buildup of algae but this is generally a soothing activity.
• You can match the style of the pond with your preferred garden style. Whether you like the feel of an English garden, the look of minimalism, love the classic look or any other design, a pond or waterfall can be created to enhance your landscape.
• You are not restricted to a certain shape for your water element. Yes, you are restricted by the size of your yard, but the curving -or not- of your pond, pondless water fall, or fountain do not have to be a certain shape.
• There is something peaceful about unwinding next to a water feature and watching nature. Be it butterflies, the koi, or the birds, sitting (or maybe reclining in a hammock) by a water feature is the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day at the office.
• A water feature will attract natural wildlife and enhance your local ecosystem. Once your water feature is built, you will start to notice more wildlife on your property. This can provide entertainment as well as the opportunity to educate yourself and your family about the animals in your area.
• Studies have found that simply looking at water for even a few minutes can help restore blood pressure and heart rate levels. After all, watch the water rippling or listening to a waterfall is calming!
• Water helps reduce noise pollution as it absorbs a great deal of the sound waves. Adding a fountain or waterfall will make your pond even more equipped for minimizing sound.
• Having a pond is the equivalent of having a natural humidifier, and thus helps you breathe better.
• Depending on where you install your water feature, you have the opportunity to create a quiet area for entertaining family or friends.
• A house with a water feature has a higher real estate value; in many cases, by as much as 20%.
• A water feature makes your yard look larger – especially when you incorporate a fountain/waterfall to give height and lights to create shadows and depth.

If you are ready to add more style to your landscape, then give our team a call. We would love to create a water feature that brings you tranquility and beauty for years to come. Contact Outdoor Makeover today!

The post Why Should You Add a Water Feature to Your Landscape? appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

The maintenance of your front yard is one of the most important aspects of home ownership. We've done a lot of talking about how your outdoor living space should reflect not only your personality, but should also reflect the care you put into your home and your front yard is no different. It is the first thing people see when they look at your home. You want your front yard to be inviting and engaging yet not cluttered with too many conflicting aesthetics. Here are some ways to bring unique visual qualities to your front yard without going overboard.

1. Use symmetry to your benefit: One of the main rules of aesthetics is symmetry is key. It provides your front yard with balance so everything feels as if it is in the write place. Have your landscape designer come up with a design that seems like each side of your yard is a perfect image of the other.
2. Make sure your front yard has enough color: Color brings a certain vibrance and liveliness to everything especially in nature. You can achieve this by having a colorful porch or flowerbed surrounding your yard.
3. Edging: Odds are you have a concrete walkway to your front door or a concrete driveway. Just having the plain gray concrete in contrast to your grass isn't nearly as appealing as a homeowner would like. Using some thoughtful landscaping as a way to transition from your driveway or sidewalk to the actual yard, i.e. shrubs, mulch, flower beds can add much needed curb appeal to your driveway/walkway.
4. Stonescaping: For those who aren't aware, stonescaping is using various stones to bring a textured and worldly aesthetic to your outdoor landscape. Stonescaping can range from a stone walkway to having a rock wall along the property. It can add a modern spin to your front yard and provide a sharp contrast from the softness of your natural landscape.

The post Tips for Homeowners To Create Harmonious Front Yard appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

There are some landscapes in Georgia where you might feel as though walking outside is the equivalent to hiking a mountain trail. These yards have significant slopes that make the backyard a challenge to comfortably walk, not to mention a serious issue in the event of rain, or the occasional snowfall. So, for many homeowners, the sloping landscape becomes a space that is often bemoaned and met with uncertainty in what to do about the situation. However, there is a feasible approach that is both practical and great looking – the addition of landscape stairs.

And, because the stairs can be made from a wide range of materials, they can complement any architectural style -from the classics to the contemporary. Nearly any yard where unevenness is an issue can be improved with the addition of landscape stairs. They might be made using concrete slabs, by incorporating railroad ties or treated 4x4s, bricks, pavers, tiles, scrap metal or repurposed steel beams, stamped concrete, or even the addition of flat stones. The options are varied so it sure that landscape stairs can be incorporated to make your Atlanta area yard. Better yet, by adding the stairs you make your home more marketable because people can use the yard more fully.

Also making a stairway a practical part of the landscape is that they can be the ideal place to add extra lighting. Inside or outside, a well-lit stairway is important. But in adding more lights – especially those that are motion activated- to your landscape you are adding some extra security to your home. Of course, just because adding stairs to your yard is practical, it doesn’t have to be about function only. The steps can also be a perfect place to add planters, connect one part of your yard to another or even disguise a retaining wall. Depending on the design of your yard, you could even use the landscape stairs as a way to add a water feature to the yard, so that even if the slopes in your yard were man-made they now look cohesive and charming. Beyond simply making the yard easier to navigate, stairs also make more of your accessible, thus making your landscape larger.

Rather than feeling like part of your lawn is unusable, you now can design your lawn to maximize its functionality. That sloping yard doesn’t have to create a challenge – nor should it keep you from purchasing a home that is ideal for your needs. Rather, it means bringing in a team that understands your sloping landscape concerns. The Outdoor Makeover and Construction team has redesigned many Atlanta area yards that have significant sloping so that the yard is not just easier to navigate, but actually takes a feature that can be a negative and turned it into a delightful outdoor area with style and charm. Talk to an Outdoor Makeover and Construction specialist today about implementing landscape stair into your outdoor space.

The post Stepping up Your Landscape Design: Adding Landscape Stairs appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.

Upping the Wow Factor of Your Outdoor Living Space You may feel like your outdoor living space is lacking in that special "wow factor" or maybe you feel like it's missing that certain something extra. This is nothing to be embarrassed about! Every homeowner feels this way at one point or another. In today's world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with so many landscaping trends or gardening ideas thanks to the Internet but really there is no reason to feel overwhelmed. There are some trends that never go out of style and will up the wow factor of your outdoor living space.

1. Outdoor lighting: The best way to enhance any mood in your outdoor living space is to bring new outdoor lighting into the mix. While string lights add a unique spin to your lighting, advancements in technology now allow people to have fully equipped light fixtures (including dimmers) to their patios and outdoor living areas.
2. Parabolas: If you want to add a stand-out aesthetic to your garden area, try installing a parabola. These tall structures are perfect for framing your garden and with careful assembly, they can even be a fixture for your garden to grow around so that it gives off the appearance of being enveloped in natural beauty.
3. Shaded patio: Long gone are the days of patios strictly being an outdoor addition to your home. In today's age, many people are opting for a patio that feels more like a separate living room. Patios can now be shaded and even have such amenities as an outdoor kitchen area or even a television all while allowing homeowners to enjoy the openness of their backyard living area.
4. Outdoor fire feature: Creating memories by the backyard campfire has always been a staple for families. That idea has grown up a bit with the evolution of the outdoor fire feature. Campfires can no be more controlled with man made fire pits or fire places. While being safer than its predecessor, man made fire pits also allow homeowners the opportunity to create bright and happy memories with their friends and family while adding a special aesthetic to your outdoor living space.

The post Upping the Wow Factor of Your Outdoor Living Space appeared first on Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces.