Solar Powered Landscape Lighting: The First Step to a Perfect Summer Evening

Summer is for evening parties and what can be better venue than your backyard lawn for hosting a cozy gathering with your friends? Proper lighting plays a key role in the success of such parties.

 

Now the question is: what do you mean by the term, proper lighting? Here are four main points to consider:

• The light should adequately illuminate the place, so that your guests can sit or move around comfortably. This is the functional side of your landscape lighting scheme.
• On the aesthetic side, the lighting should be such that it rightly accentuates the beauty of the landscape.
• More importantly, the lighting should be power efficient.
• The wireless lighting offers a fuss-free way of installation, and that make them more suitable for outdoor use.  

Solar powered landscape lighting is one that helps you meet with all these criteria in one.

• Solar powered landscape lights offer you the most energy efficient solution. They are virtually free, as they need nothing but clean energy from the sun to run.
• With solar powered landscape lighting, you are not only cut benefit on the personal plain by saving on energy bills, at the same time you are making valuable contribution in conserving precious environmental resources.
• It may sound unbelievable, but you will need as little as twenty seconds to install a solar powered light in your outdoor space. Spare fifteen minutes more and you are done with the task of illuminating the entire outdoor space for enjoyment after sundown.
• With no wiring required, solar powered landscape lighting can be installed even by an inexperienced homeowner. Your task almost ends with locating the proper place of installation of light; after that all you need to do is just plant them in the ground, without needing any cumbersome wiring.
• In case you need some alteration with your original scheme, it is easy to just pick the lighting fixtures up and replace them.
• You don’t have to compromise on the aesthetic side too; these solar powered lights are available in variety of styles starting from decorative lanterns to accent lights.

What makes a basic solar light?

• In a solar powered landscape light, the source of illumination is an LED lamp that is expected to withstand 10,000 hours of usage.
• The solar panels are made of photo cells that charge up the battery from solar power.  
• The solar panels need to receive enough sunlight during the day, so that you can get illumination throughout the evening. The rechargeable batteries provide about 8 hours of light at a stretch.
• These lights come with built-in light sensors that work for automatic turning on and off of the lamp.  

Ideas for creative use of solar powered landscape lights

You have worked hard to give the desired shape to create your dream landscape; now is the time of finishing touch. Add the final polish with a stylish lighting scheme.

• First locate the places in your garden that requires lighting and use different types of lights for different areas.
• If you happen to have a pond in your plot, use floating lantern style lamps for an unusual look.
• In the sitting areas or in the places where foods are served, place the table top solar powered lanterns.
• It is equally important to lit up driveways and pathways; use pole lamps or pedestal style lanterns here.  Pole lamps are also ideal for illuminating the patios and decks.
• The solar powered accent lights are also available to decorate the rock sculptures or other architectural attractions in the garden.
• Use footlights in the corners of edging and fences for a dramatic ambience. For the same effect, you can hide the source of light behind the bushes to bring about a silhouetted view. 

In the end here are some useful facts about solar powered landscape light that may help in your selection.

• Solar lights come both with ornamented outdoor fixtures, and without them. Select the type according to your plan of using them.
• Your local garden store can be a great source of solar powered landscape lighting options. If you want to spark off the imagination a little more, surf the internet; the online stores are the ideal place for finding out the products that you are looking for.

Sprinkler Systems - Keep Your Garden Green!

The growth of vegetables, plants, shrubs and flowers in your garden depends upon the amount of water you supply. And hand watering or moving a lawn sprinkler attached to the hose to supply water to your garden is not an easy task. That is why , plan a layout of proper watering system which can supply desired level of water and also save your time and your money as well.

Installing drip irrigation systems can offer your garden a sufficient level of watering by way of dripping at the root level of plants. The main thing you should consider for selecting a watering system is the requirement of your watering schedule keeping in mind what kind of plants or lawn you wish to grow.

Planning a Lawn Sprinkler System

Planning a watering system for your garden depends upon the climate, the sort of soil. Besides this, it is very essential to keep in mind that the watering system you plan for your garden need to have right sort of pressure and flow of water.

While planning a watering system, first of all measure your yard and estimate how much pipe you will require to buy. Secondly, you should consider which types of sprinkler supplies like valves or sprinkler heads you will need .

Measuring your yard can give you fair idea where your sprinkler systems will go to get the maximum water coverage. Moreover, it will work very well for you if you place the valve boxes at the right place so that your valves can serve each zone satisfactory level of water.

Why Sprinkler Systems are suggested?

There are reasons for recommending lawn sprinkler systems for your garden. This system performs moving water through hose from one place to the other. You see that hand watering and shifting watering pipe from one place to other is painstaking task. Moreover, such water supply by hand watering or by using oscillator is often time consuming and also waste water. This can give your garden either under-water supply or over-water supply. Therefore , installing suitable lawn sprinkler system can give your garden a proper level of water supply which determines its growth.

Choosing suitable tools for your watering task is very important because right level of watering is essential to the growth of your garden lawn.

Landscaping Around a Patio

patio cover kits

If you want your garden to look good, you have to do a little landscaping. The same goes when you landscape around a cast aluminum patio so there is always something new to show to your guests.

Both hard and soft materials will be used. The soft ones are namely the plants, the shrubs and the trees. They can be placed on the exterior perimeter of the patio while you use hard materials such as brick, concrete, rock, stone and tiles inside.

So you have an idea what plants to buy later on, it is best to check the condition of the soil since this will determine what type of flowers will survive these conditions.

As a rule of thumb for landscaping around a patio, start working on the insides of the patio then make your way outwards.

When choosing an area for the patio, make sure that this will be done on a flat area of land. Once you have found it, you must first build forms to be able to add height to the patio perimeter. This is important to achieve the foundational support you will need later on. This work should be completed evenly up to the doorway.

To prevent any incidents of tripping, you should smoothen the edges and make sure that there are no nails sticking out from the sides of the patio.

Once the forms have been completed for the patio, this is the time that you can add curves by using a bender board made from plastic so it can be moved very easily. To keep these in place, you will have to add stakes every 12 to 18 inches.

When it is ready, this is time that you put the stones in. These should be placed one by one so everything will fit nicely into place.

Once the patio is complete, adding flowers, gnomes, or shrubs to make it all look more colorful and eye catching. You may choose to use one color or mix this among several. The important thing is that it looks good.

Those who don’t want to plant flowers around the patio can still add color by using potted plants. You can buy these pots in different colors and designs from the store.  The advantage of using this is that you can move them to different locations and during the winter, they can be placed indoors then brought out again during the spring.

Either way, you can choose plants that bloom during different times of the year so there is always something that stands out all season long. Don’t forget to consider the amount of sun that is required for each of them.

You should also get plants of different heights so there is a smooth transition from the patio all the way up to the house. If you're on a tight budget, it would be adviseable to buy the smaller ones as they are less expensive. It will just some time before they mature unlike the older plants that are almost ready to bloom.

For those who want to decorate, you should look into adding patio cover kits.

Landscaping around the patio is no different than fixing one section of the house. Once you have a plan, it will be very easy to implement. If you are not happy, don’t be afraid to make some changes so it will look better than it did before.

Cedar Fence Massachusetts - How To Choice The Right Fence

There are a lot of different types of wood fence that you may see in the Boston area. For example, you'll see a lot of cedar privacy fencing in suburban yards. However, in the city proper you'll see smaller yards, more distinctive architecture and different types of fencing to mesh with these conditions. In Boston, you'll see a little less fencing than you will in many other cities. Why? Well, while Boston has the fifth highest population density among major U.S. cities, it also is small in terms of land mass ? third smallest, in fact! However, the classic and timeless look which only a wood fence can achieve lends itself perfectly to this, a city with so much history that it's there to be found around every corner.

If you want to put up wood fence on your property, you'll have to decide on a fence design which suits your home and your property. In suburban Boston, you can put up really any kind of fence you want; though the stockade picket fence is the most popular. Also common in suburban areas is 6' cedar privacy fencing. Both of these fences are more commonly seen with newer construction. Older colonial homes, on the other hand, are better suited by more traditional fencing ? as are newer homes which emulate their look.

In Boston, fence decisions are dependent on the opinions of the owner. The brownstones seen in many neighborhoods often have low picket fences to delineate property lines while keeping the feeling of a tight knit community (a trademark of many Boston neighborhoods) intact. In backyard Boston wood fencing, though, you'll see both the low picket fencing common to the front of homes as well as tall basketweave privacy fences which can create a private space even in the most densely populated of urban areas.

Based on homeowners who have located Boston wood fence contractors to build their fencing, we can give you a good idea of how much you'll pay to have a wood fence built. In the Boston area, the cost for most wood fence installation by contractors we work with is somewhere between $1,000 and $4,000, with $2,500 being the average cost with materials and labor. most jobs took about two weeks of the month been the slowest and seven days being the fastest. As you'd imagine, a big job tends to be more pricy.

So what does all of this mean to you as a homeowner in the Grater Boston area? It's pretty good news, as it happens. Boston wood fencing prices are consistent across the board in this area, so if you find a good contractor to build you fence and know what to ask for; you'll get a good value for your money ? and a good wood fence. And what should you ask for? Wood which can stand up to the hot, humid summer and cold, wet winters of New England, with all of its Nor'easters and offshore storms. Cedar is the best wood to use; its natural oils repel moisture, making it a good choice for the tough weather of the Boston area.

If you want a cedar fence to stay looking its best and protected from weather damage, you should treat it every five to ten years; a small price to pay for a wood fence which looks great and will last. If you don't use cedar, pressure treated lumber is the next best option. Be certain to sustain it if you want it to last for a long time however. Lastly, always do your research into any wood fence contractor you're thinking of using and evaluate their track record. It could take a little bit of effort. However, you'll find it well worth it to get offense that will last a long time.

Ready to save a ton on cedar fencing in Massachusetts? Watch my new video review revealing exactly how I saved $1442.17 on a cedar fence with the best-rated Boston fence company.

Low Maintenance Japanese Landscape Design

Beautiful Japanese Landscape Design

For a Japanese landscape design, you will find a list of specific items to consider. Now, some Japanese gardens are simplistic while others include everything that would be found in a traditional Japanese landscape design. Therefore, the first thing you would need to do before shopping for the various types of Japanese garden supplies and materials is to determine the completed look you want.

Plan a strolling garden with beautiful paths taking you past tiny waterfalls and small ponds filled with koi fish. There are so many stonework Japanese art pieces to arrange along the paths to complete the look and feel of an authentic Japanese garden.

A Wooden or Stonework Japanese Garden Bridge

Plantings in the Tea Garden are not showy, for nothing should detract from the calming aspect of the garden. Add a small Japanese garden bridge to create a transition from one part of the garden to another. Each plant, water feature, and stepping stone should be chosen to make the area harmonious and serene.

The Japanese garden bridge is typically constructed from wood or stone with a design that fits with the Japanese style. In Japan, these bridges are used to connect a shore with an island or in some cases, even to connect one island with another island. Of course, in a smaller residential Japanese landscape design, the Japanese garden bridge goes along with a strolling garden, again to go over a pond or stream.

In a traditional dry Japanese garden everything has a meaning and has been specifically placed. There will commonly be a bed of carefully raked sand with several stones strategically arranged.

Locating Japanese Garden Supplies

After you have thoughtfully considered your Japanese garden design and how you would like it to reflect you, make a list of the items necessary to bring it to reality. Many items can be found online with free delivery.

You can be as creative as you like with your design. True to Japanese tradition, it must be simple but at the same time include many features such as the dry garden with the sand base and stones, a pond or other water feature with a waterfall and a Japanese bridge. Japanese Lanterns lining the paths would also be a nice addition.

Find additional information on Japanese landscaping visit Making A Japanese Garden

Redesigning your outdoor living spaces.

With a pressure to provide excellence, and the requirement of maintaining a high level of quality you can be sure that the aim of landscapers Sydney company, Envision Landscapes, will satisfy your desire for a high quality finish

Envision Landscapes will be on the job from start to finish for all clients.

With such a large number of landscapers, Sydney landscaping company Envision, is This is certainly the case, however when it comes to making the decision on which company to employ, usually the choice is made when the client feels comfortable and positive about the people that will be completing the project.

Some of things people think about when dicding which company to use is dependant on several factors. Beginning with how close the landscape designer is to the client’s project and the scope of work offered.

With a enthusiasm to extend the company name all through Sydney, to the proprietor of Envision landscapers, Sydney, landscape design is viewed as a vocation to be pursued to its greatest

Back and front garden projects are the main type of project that Envision works with, transformtions are the main specialty of their landscape design team. Sydney residents that have used the service that Envision offers, are delighted with the resulting makeovers.

For yards that lack any design, designs can start from a simple low maintenance mixture of paths, garden beds and lawn, to leisure areas, water features, illumination, the choices are endless.

The contemporary fashions are being insisted upon by an increasing number of home owners. As this becomes more and more popular, the landscapers Sydney industry is putting out supplies like treated pine timber walls, diminutive clay size paving and an assortment of other materials. Supplies such as natural stone, large format concrete pavers, block retaining walls and wall cladding are becoming increasingly popular. When you look at paving suppliers you will notice this too. Understanding this fashion is what allows Envision Landscapers, Sydney to be at the vanguard of contemporary design trends.

Get more on landscaping go to Backyard Landscape Design

Use Landscape Design Software To Implement You Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

Creative Outdoor Landscaping Ideas

A little creativity can produce beautiful outdoor landscaping ideas to make your home stand out from the rest. You can enlist the help of a professional landscape architect or design it yourself, either way the effort will increase the curb appeal and value of your home.

Using a home computer to pre-plan landscaping ideas with landscape design software is one way to help the do-it-yourself type. With this software inter-changing different layouts can be easily done until finding the best one to suit the individual needs.

If you prefer not to use landscaping software try searching online. The internet is a good resource to search for outdoor landscaping ideas. Using the internet can give you some insight and perspective on other completed projects to use on your own project.

There are likely thousands of different landscaping ideas that you will find to be useful for your yard and well within your budget and there are a lot of sites that focus specifically on home landscaping. These sites will also give you some great ideas as well as practical information. It is important to do extensive research before you begin your project to minimize the mistakes so that the job will not have to be done over again.

What is your Landscape Budget?

Being patient and purchasing smaller trees and shrubs and allowing them to mature over the years can be a huge money saving idea. Try to Cut back on expensive water features, rock and tile. "Less is more" is a great saying and can be a great way to not overspend on unnecessary items.

Before you start your home landscaping project, look into hiring a company to help locate any underground utilities such as gas lines or electric lines that may be running through your project area. This is very important if you plan to do a lot of excavation. It may be much more expensive to repair a broken plumbing or electrical line than properly planning ahead to avoid this situation. It also could become dangerous to hit a live electrical line unexpectedly with a backhoe or shovel.

If hiring a professional they have to check on local city ordinances to see what exactly is allowed. If your are doing it yourself you will have to check on zoning laws before beginning your project. A lot of heartache and inconvenience can be avoided by doing a little research ahead of time with the proper authorities.

Step out of the box, so to speak, and research unusual and unique outdoor landscaping ideas. Take advantage of the online resources available. You may discover new and innovative patio materials and plants. This will increase the value and look of your most valuable asset - your home.

Get more landscaping ideas visit Landscape Designs For The Southwest