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What’s the difference between a retaining wall and a garden wall?
A number of landscaping elements have similar terms but mean very different things. Getting them mixed up can cost you time and money. We all know what a house’s walls do: they divide rooms and perhaps support the roof and upper floors of the home. Indoor walls receive pressure from above, i.e. vertical pressure. Walls
https://ephenry.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-retaining-wall-and-a-garden-wall/Love the look of natural stone? Here’s why porcelain may be the better choice.
Outdoor flooring has to be hearty. Many homeowners like the look of a natural stone like Travertine (a limestone deposit) but beside the sky-high price tag, they discover it can tend to crack and split from repeated exposure to very high and very low temperatures. Originating from mild-climate Italy, Travertine is a porous rock. Water
https://ephenry.com/love-the-look-of-natural-stone-heres-why-porcelain-may-be-the-better-choice/Cast Veneer Stone: A modern answer to an old problem
Stone surfaces aren’t what they used to be, and that can be a good thing. All along farming hills and valleys are fieldstone walls that were piled by the land workers as they tilled the earth. The low walls would stretch far and wide, sometimes acting to prevent livestock from grazing the crops, other times
https://ephenry.com/cast-veneer-stone-a-modern-answer-to-an-old-problem/Sweet Mid-Atlantic states: potluck desserts from NC to NY
Every family has that one dessert that disappears first from the patio table. The favorites are often eaten before the burgers are served. But what is sweet in one state can be an unknown in another. Here are some interesting desserts from North Carolina to New York. North Carolina Sonker is a rectangular, deep dish
https://ephenry.com/sweet-mid-atlantic-states-potluck-desserts-from-nc-to-ny/Drawing the eye: paver borders bring beauty to your Hardscape
Walkways, steps and garden walls work together to define the purpose of each architectural element in the landscape. Breaking up a swath of color with an accent color creates beauty, interest and purpose. This is where the border paver shines. Professional hardscapers use color, texture, lines, and a combination of materials to bring more function
https://ephenry.com/drawing-the-eye-paver-borders-bring-beauty-to-your-hardscape/Pets on the patio: Summer tips for dogs and cats
We love our pets. We want them to participate in our summer fun on the patio, but sometimes we forget our pets have special needs. For example, did you know that some dogs need sunscreen? Read on for more tips to keep your furry kids happy this summer. Pools Swimming in pools is one of
https://ephenry.com/pets-on-the-patio-summer-tips-for-dogs-and-cats/Points of interest: Draw the eye to these garden and patio focal points
Gardens can tend to be pieced together bit by bit. One year a raised bed may be the new project, the next year vegetable stakes line the back fence. A year-by-year approach is a great way to add on to your landscape and patio, but a few elements can help the space feel more cohesive.
https://ephenry.com/points-of-interest-draw-the-eye-to-these-garden-and-patio-focal-points/Using Walls, Paths and Patios to Reshape Your Backyard
No matter how large or small your backyard is, there are ways you can partition and redesign your space to fit your outdoor living lifestyle. Depending on the complexity of the project and the space you have to cover, you can phase the project to fit your budget and timeline as needed. By using pavers
https://ephenry.com/using-walls-paths-and-patios-to-reshape-your-backyard/Making the Most of Your Fire Pit
Ever since humans mastered the controlled use of fire we have been fascinated by it. The domestication of fire allowed mankind to add light to evening hours, cook plants and animals for food, clear land for planting, and help keep predators at bay. Maintaining a campfire became so important to prehistoric man’s survival that
https://ephenry.com/making-the-most-of-your-fire-pit/DIY concrete planters for the patio
Making your own planters is easier than you think. Serene, modern, and beautiful don’t seem like words that go with “concrete,” but fine concrete mixes are the favorites of artisans across the country. You can make planters for your patio, steps and walkways for just a few dollars, some patience and a bit of creativity.
https://ephenry.com/diy-concrete-planters-for-the-patio/