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landscape

Build another kind of fire in the backyard: a blazing swath of fall leaves.

October is well underway and parts of the country are seeing the colorful goodness of the season. Indeed, fall leaves are a tourist draw for many of the northeastern states. You can have your own bright show every year if you choose the right species of tree. Here are 4 for the northeastern corridor as

Points of interest: Draw the eye to these garden and patio focal points

Walk up to your space as guests would. What is the first thing you see and what is the biggest element? A homeowner’s eye may be drawn to a different object or scene than a guest’s view. People tend to look at the center of things or the biggest thing. If that object is a

No more working on the railroad – a safer alternative to toxic railroad ties

Raised garden beds and tiered garden walls in older home landscapes were often constructed using cast-offs from the railroads. However, the creosote-treated wood was never legal for residential use. According to the website of the US Government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), creosote, a chemical wood treatment and pesticide, is not to be used on any

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Lawn Mower

Lawn mowing season is coming. Do you have the right mower for your lawn? New mowers are quite an investment. Many considerations are involved in choosing the right machine for your landscape. Here are 3 major mistakes to avoid when buying a new lawn mower: 1. Getting the power wrong 2. Estimating the size of

Slopes and steps: Landscaping your hill

In the breathtaking catalog spreads on home and garden sites, page after page display perfectly level yards with expertly installed plantings. If you’re lucky enough to have a magazine-ready, flat area as our outdoor space, you have a great start. But if you are facing the seemingly Sisyphean task of beautifying a hill, it can

3 Important Pond Maintenance Tasks To Do Now

Water elements add a connection to nature in your landscape. The sounds of a babbling brook bring a serene atmosphere to your outdoor room. Here are three things to do now to ensure you can enjoy your pond next spring.      1. Install a thermometer or “temperature sensor” (or test/change the batteries in your

Marathon Season – Plump up on the patio

In the fall season, the heat of summer turns into the heat of the runner as the marathon months begin. Sunny days with crisp air and cooler temperatures are a runner’s dream. You can help support the runners in your life by hosting a “carb load” on your patioAccording to Runner’s World magazine, “carbs” or

Color Your Outdoor World – Inspiring Paver Colors

Think of your outdoor room as a blank canvas. Your outdoor room is an extension of the house, but it is also an expression of you. Just as your indoor decor choices inside reflect your unique style, your outdoor spaces deserve the same careful curation and dedication. Choosing the right colors of paving stones is

Light it up! How to choose outdoor lighting

All the world’s a stage Hollywood and Broadway people know the secret of a scene-stealer is all in the lighting. The impact lies in how everything is illuminated. In his 2002 book Stage Lighting Revealed, lighting designer Glen Cunningham tell us, “An effective lighting design is like a beautiful painting.” He goes on to explain

May flowers after showers – brightening up your hardscape

If you live in the northeast US, you may be still waiting for a break in the rain. It’s been a soggy Spring, and your garden patio may not be as filled with beautiful blooms as you’d like. Early plantings may not have happened, as most perennials probably needed to be planted last month. And