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Are Your Houseplants Safe?
There is nothing more attractive and cheerful than a room filled with healthy green houseplants. They offer aesthetics to the interior of our homes, improve indoor air quality, and often provide emotional satisfaction to the caregiver in getting the...
Caring for a Living Christmas Tree
The Christmas season brings with it many decisions to be made. Among them is, "What type of Christmas tree should I put up?" This year, consider a living Christmas tree. Not only will you enjoy it through the holidays, but a living tree can be...
Landscaping Ideas: Using Landscaping Rock for Maximum Effect
Looking to give you yard some something special to set it apart
from those in the rest of your neighborhood? Want to add some
depth and texture to your landscaping design? Landscaping rock
comes in many different forms, is inexpensive, and...
Patio Ponds
Garden ponds and fountains were once mainly for the very rich. Today, anyone can have a garden pond. A fountain or waterfall can be included almost anyplace--even if your "yard" is limited to a patio or balcony. Adding water to your patio can be as...
Starting a Shade Garden
Starting a Shade Garden The shade garden can be exploding with color and texture. No matter how much shade is in your landscape, the right flowers, plants, bushes and bulbs will grow in this area when given a chance. As there are various types of...
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Fall: The Best Time to Plan Next Spring’s Landscape Project
(ARA) - Fall is the smartest time to plan next year’s landscaping project because you can save time, money and headaches.
"By approaching your landscape contractor during the off-season, you can be sure to get their full attention while the back-log is minimal," said Bill Gordon, spokesman for Mid-America Green Industry Council. "By planning ahead, you can get a jump on your landscaping project and have the entire summer to enjoy your new surroundings."
Robert Allan (Bob) Gravier, landscape expert and president of Allan Block Corporation, a national manufacturer of stackable landscape blocks, suggests the following schedule for developing next spring’s landscaping project:
Plan -- Contrary to many homeowners’ habits, fall is the best time to begin planning for upcoming landscaping projects. Homeowners should assess their yards for “needs” such as a retaining wall to help control erosion or “wants” such as an outdoor patio.
Design -- Use fall and winter downtime to contact a landscape designer. During this off-season, landscape specialists generally can draw up plans more quickly and cost-effectively. Or, if you have the skills, use your creativity to design your own landscaping plans.
Build -- Early spring is also the best time to hire a landscape installer, before they become overbooked and begin
increasing bid prices. When spring arrives and the ground thaws, your planning and design work is already done. Because you planned ahead, you’ll be at the top of your contractor’s list and can begin building a new retaining wall, outdoor patio or courtyard.
Ron and Lynn McCormick of Magnolia, Texas, utilized the "Plan, Design, Build" process. The McCormicks conducted their product research and then carefully designed their project with help from design manuals and advice from their Allan Block dealer. With that complete, they installed a retaining wall, three sets of stairs and two terraces all on their own. They undertook the project out of necessity -- to protect the soil around their home from erosion.
“With the literature and technical manuals Allan Block provided, we were able to successfully complete this project,” said Ron McCormick. “It is an addition to our home that we are very proud of and enjoy every day.”
Allan Block has more advice on how homeowners can plan, design and build to enhance their outdoor living experience. For additional information, email info@allanblock.com, call (800) 481-2909 or visit www.allanblock.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
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