Preparing for the growing season during the spring means less work during the warmer months
Spring cleanup is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy and vibrant landscape throughout the year. It involves a thorough assessment and preparation of your outdoor space to ensure it is ready to thrive during the growing season. Here are some key reasons why spring cleanup is essential for the success of your landscape:
Prevents Debris Build Up
Over the winter, leaves, branches, and other debris can accumulate in your yard. Cleaning up debris helps improve the overall appearance of your landscape and prevents potential issues, such as mold or disease, from developing.
Promotes Growth
Spring cleanup involves pruning and trimming trees, shrubs, and perennials. This not only helps shape the plants but also stimulates new growth. Removing dead or damaged branches allows the plant to focus its energy on healthy parts, promoting more robust and vigorous growth. Check out our tips on dormant pruningbefore you start this task.
Weed Control
Weeds start emerging in the spring, competing with desirable plants for nutrients, water, and sunlight. Removing weeds early on prevents them from establishing a foothold and helps keep your landscape looking tidy.
Encourages A Healthy Lawn
Over the winter, soil can become compacted, hindering water and nutrient absorption. Spring lawn maintenance sets you up for a better lawn all summer long. Aeration prepares your lawn for overseed which increases the density of the lawn and fills in patches.
Maintains Soil Moisture
Applying a fresh layer of mulch in the spring helps conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Mulching also enhances the aesthetic appeal of your landscape while providing a protective barrier for plant roots. Check out this post on mulching, to learn more about the benefits .
Provides Time to Plan
Spring cleanup is an excellent time to assess the overall health of your landscape. Take note of any plants that may need to be replaced, consider new additions, and plan for any landscape projects you have in mind for the upcoming season.
Prepares for Irrigation
Check and clean irrigation systems to ensure they are functioning properly. Proper watering is essential for the health of your plants and lawn. Addressing any issues early in the season can prevent stress and damage. Mastering Landscape Irrigation is a great resource for exploring this tool.
By investing time and effort in spring cleanup, you set the stage for a successful and thriving landscape throughout the year. It not only addresses immediate concerns but also establishes a foundation for long-term plant health and beauty. All these tasks can not only be time consuming but require care to ensure they are done right.
Want a good place to start?
Your landscape job doesn’t stop once the crews leave your yard. Your landscape has living, evolving elements and that means you will need regular care to keep it looking as good as the day it is installed. Our team of landscape maintenance professionals is ready to make your life easier and take your garden to the next level. With services ranging from biweekly or weekly maintenance, spring and fall cleanups and property enhancements there is sure to be something that meets your needs. Get in touch with us today to start your maintenance journey >>>
Planning with a clear vision of your budget and needs in mind is essential to the success of your landscaping
Constructing your landscape requires expertise and proper management in order to come in on time and on budget
Your landscape requires attention and care beyond the last day of construction. Expertise is crucial here to project your investment.
Landscaping is a great way to enhance the appearance of your home. However, it’s not uncommon for people to make mistakes when it comes to designing and maintaining their outdoor spaces. These mistakes can not only detract from the beauty of your property but also lead to unnecessary expenses and frustration. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the most common landscaping mistakes and provide guidance on how to avoid them.
Before You Start
Mistake #1: Failing to Plan
One of the most common landscaping mistakes is failing to plan. Many people start a landscaping project without a clear vision of what they want to achieve. As a result, they end up making costly mistakes that could have been avoided or they end up with a bland landscape with no character.
Solution: Before you start any landscaping project, take some time to plan. Determine your budget, identify your goals, and create a detailed plan of the design. Check out one of our latest blogs for help with budget. This plan should include the type of plants, hardscaping features, and other elements you want to incorporate. By having a plan in place, you can ensure you are working in a logical order and prioritizing your needs. A landscape designer is a great resource to help with creating a plan as they possess the skills and expertise to solve problems you may not be aware of. A designer helps translate your vision into a tangible plan of action.
Mistake #2: Forgetting Your Why
When designing your own landscape it is easy to lose track of your priorities and only focus on the aesthetics. Inspiration images and design styles are a great place to start but planning with only aesthetics in mind can leave you with a landscape that doesn’t meet your needs.
Earthscape Project: “Swimming In Style”
Solution: Know your why. Knowing the things that cause you pain and creating solutions targeted at these issues is the best place to start when planning your landscape. Think about what causes you frustration in your space right now. This could be a nosey neighbour or lack of privacy. It could be a safety concern with a set of steps or a dark area of your yard. It could be as simple as you don’t have an area to comfortably sit. Determining your why will help you tailor the design and priortize your budget..
Constructing Your Project
Mistake #3: Underestimating Project Management
Managing your own landscape construction project may seem like a cost-effective endeavor, but it often comes with numerous challenges and pitfalls. Landscape construction involves a myriad of specialized tasks such as grading, irrigation, hardscaping, and plant selection, each requiring a distinct set of skills and knowledge. Attempting to oversee these aspects without the requisite expertise can lead to costly mistakes, delays, and subpar results.
Solution: Professional landscape contractors bring years of experience and a network of reliable suppliers, ensuring access to quality materials and skilled labor. Moreover, managing timelines, obtaining permits, and adhering to local regulations demands a comprehensive understanding of the construction process, something that professionals are well-versed in. Hiring a seasoned landscape contractor not only guarantees a smoother project execution but also frees homeowners from the stress and time-consuming complexities associated with DIY management.
Mistake #4: Choosing the Wrong Materials
Selecting the wrong landscape materials can introduce a host of risks and complications that compromise the aesthetic appeal and longevity of outdoor spaces. Inappropriate choices can lead to issues such as poor drainage, soil erosion, and plant stress. In the case of plantings, selecting species that are not well-suited to the local climate or soil conditions can lead to poor growth, susceptibility to pests, and high maintenance requirements.
Solution: To mitigate the risks associated with choosing the wrong landscape materials, it is essential to adopt a thoughtful and informed approach. Engaging a professional landscape designer or contractor can provide valuable expertise in material selection based on the specific needs and conditions of your outdoor space.
Protecting Your Investment
Mistake #5: Neglecting Maintenance
Earthscape Project: “Hidden Gardens”
Neglecting maintenance is another common mistake in landscaping. People often fail to prune their plants, water them properly, or remove weeds, leading to a messy, unkempt appearance. Often this can damage the health of the plants as well.
Solution: Make sure that you have a maintenance plan in place before starting any landscaping project. Determine how often you will need to water, prune, and fertilize your plants, and set a schedule to ensure that you stay on top of these tasks. Regular maintenance will not only keep your landscape looking beautiful but also prevent costly problems down the road. Consider reaching out to a maintenance company if you don’t have the time or desire to maintain your landscaping. Investing in your landscape maintenance now may save you from costly replacements in the future. Skim our recent blog for more benefits of landscape maintenance.
Mistake #6 Not Understanding the Needs of Your Plants
Even if you aren’t intentionally neglecting your maintenance, another common mistake people make is not understanding the needs of your landscape. Healthy soil is the foundation of a beautiful landscape, but many people overlook this critical aspect of landscaping. Watering requirements are another aspect easily misunderstood.
Solution: Make sure you know what plants you are installing and what each requires. Consider sunlight needs and plant location in accordance with that. Understand how much water your garden needs. This requires a balance as overwatering is just as dangerous as underwater. Your garden is only as healthy as your soil is. Be sure to amend your beds before installing new material to ensure plant success. If you don’t have the time to invest in research, consider hiring a team of maintenance professionals who will know this information so you don’t have to stress.
Landscaping serves as a fantastic means to elevate the visual appeal of your home or business. Avoiding these common mistakes helps ensure that your project ends with a beautiful, healthy, and easy to maintain landscape.
Want a good place to start?
Your landscape job doesn’t stop once the crews leave your yard. Your landscape has living, evolving elements and that means you will need regular care to keep it looking as good as the day it is installed. Our team of landscape maintenance professionals is ready to make your life easier and take your garden to the next level. With services ranging from biweekly or weekly maintenance, spring and fall cleanups and property enhancements there is sure to be something that meets your needs. Get in touch with us today to start your maintenance journey >>>
Homeowners are focused more than ever on reducing stress and cultivating wellness through their landscapes
2. Sustainable practices such as native planting and water conservation are being incorporated into design and maintenance
3. Designers are focusing on human connection and connection to nature to
create the ultimate space for rest and relaxation.
As we step into a new year, the world of landscaping is evolving to reflect a slower pace of life and emphasis is on human connection and sustainable practices that prioritise harmony with nature. In 2024, homeowners and landscapers alike are embracing creative landscaping trends that not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of outdoor spaces but also contribute to environmental and emotional well-being. Let’s explore some of the exciting trends that are set to define the landscape design scene in 2024.
Native Plant Gardens
In 2024, there’s a growing emphasis on sustainability, and one way homeowners are achieving this is by incorporating native plants into their landscapes. Native plant gardens not only require less water and maintenance but also provide a habitat for local wildlife. This is not only better for the environment but also means less work for those trying to simplify their lives. Homeowners are discovering the beauty of indigenous flora, contributing to a healthier ecosystem while adding a unique charm to their outdoor spaces.
Earthscape Project “ Country Gardens”
Smart Landscaping Technology
As technology continues to advance, so does its integration into landscaping practices. In 2024, smart irrigation systems and automated lighting are becoming commonplace. These technologies not only enhance the efficiency of landscape maintenance but also contribute to water conservation and energy efficiency. Audio is also being incorporated further into landscaping with high-fidelity sound systems contributing to an unparalleled outdoor ambiance. Of course, all these elements are made easy with wifi and bluetooth capabilities allowing you to control everything from your smartphone.
Artistic Hardscaping
In the world of landscaping, hardscaping is elevated to an art form. Discerning homeowners are choosing a variety of materials including natural stone that is locally sourced and precast concrete products for pathways, patios, and retaining walls. The practice of combining precast and natural products has been prevalent and lends itself to creating a landscape with balance and depth. Bonus: This combination is a cost effective way to create a high end looking landscape for less.
A product we are excited about: Porcelain. Porcelain is allowing designers to explore new aesthetics while using a hardy product perfectly matched to our north american climate. This product requires minimal maintenance and is able to bear a lot of weight allowing for endless design applications.
Earthscape Project: “Pretty in Porcelain”
Goals with hardscaping this year are to create unique, handcrafted masterpieces that complement the surrounding natural beauty. Cleans lines are paired with flowy, textured plantings that soften edges and patterns are kept minimal to allow the natural landscape to shine.
Wellness & Water
2024 has seen a focus on wellness and self care more than ever. Homeowners are craving a slower pace of life and are prioritising reducing stress. Saunas, hot tubs and cold plunges are becoming increasingly popular with a nod to popular Scandinavian practices. These elements allow us to create a spa-like experience in our own backyards.
Earthscape Project: “Horizontal Haven”
Water features have always been a symbol of peace and tranquillity but in 2024, they are taking centre stage as the practice of wellness and self care continues to be a focus. Infinity pools with stunning city views, elegantly designed fountains, and water bowls are becoming signature elements. Water is not just a component; it’s an integral part of the high-end outdoor experience.
Outdoor Living Spaces
The concept of creating luxurious and functional outdoor living spaces continues to be a prominent trend. Connecting the indoors to the outdoors has become a priority for homeowners allowing them to get more out of their spaces. High-end landscapes feature outdoor kitchens, elaborate seating areas, fire pits, and custom-designed pergolas or three season rooms. This concept can be adapted at any budget whether that be creating places of shade and protection or simply creating a space to pause and connect with nature.
2024 continues to see the rise of secondary living spaces. With housing costs still high and many people still able to work at home, homeowners are finding ways to make their existing spaces meet their needs. Outdoor rooms and office spaces have increased in popularity allowing for separate spaces for fitness, wellness or work.
The landscaping trends of 2024 reflect a growing awareness of the need to create outdoor spaces that not only captivate the eye but also ground us and create connection to the environment and each other. From native plant gardens to smart technology integration and wellness spaces, homeowners are finding creative ways to strike a balance between aesthetics and their personal needs. As we move forward, these creative landscaping trends serve as an inspiring roadmap for a future where landscaping becomes a harmonious extension of our connection with nature and each other.
Want a good place to start?
Your landscape job doesn’t stop once the crews leave your yard. Your landscape has living, evolving elements and that means you will need regular care to keep it looking as good as the day it is installed. Our team of landscape maintenance professionals is ready to make your life easier and take your garden to the next level. With services ranging from biweekly or weekly maintenance, spring and fall cleanups and property enhancements there is sure to be something that meets your needs. Get in touch with us today to start your maintenance journey >>>
A Landscape For Your Budget: 5 Tips To Keep You On Track
Key Takeaways
● Define Your Priorities
● Consider Your Needs
● Patience Is Key
● Play With Materials
● Protect Your Investment
Creating a landscape on a smaller budget requires planning, creativity, and careful consideration of where to allocate resources for maximum impact. Here are some tips to help you design a beautiful landscape without breaking the bank:
1. Define Your Priorities
Identify the key elements you want in your landscape. This could be a focal point, specific plants, or certain features. Knowing your priorities helps you allocate your budget where it matters most.
2. Consider Your Needs
Knowing how you’re going to use your space can help you save money. This allows you to design to a specific size instead of ending up with wasted space that eats up cost. Narrow down your needs before diving too far.
3. Patience Is Key
Instead of trying to complete the entire landscape at once, consider a phased approach. This allows you to spread the costs over time and gives you the opportunity to observe how the landscape evolves. Maybe there are only a couple spaces in your landscape that need a refresh. Learn more on how to determine when it’s time to rejuvenate your landscape.
4. Play With Materials
Rather than filling your space with a large number of inexpensive elements, focus on a few high-quality, impactful features. This can create a more upscale feel without exceeding your budget.
5. Protect Your Investment
Without consistent attention and care your landscape will deteriorate quickly costing you more money and stress in the long run to repair. Consider a professional maintenance team who has the knowledge and experience to care for your investment. Want to know more? Here are 5 Benefits of Regular Professional Landscape Maintenance.
Want a good place to start?
Your landscape job doesn’t stop once the crews leave your yard. Your landscape has living, evolving elements and that means you will need regular care to keep it looking as good as the day it is installed. Our team of landscape maintenance professionals is ready to make your life easier and take your garden to the next level. With services ranging from biweekly or weekly maintenance, spring and fall cleanups and property enhancements there is sure to be something that meets your needs. Get in touch with us today to start your maintenance journey >>>
● Choose a company that can balance aesthetics and functionality with your goals and budget.
● Communication is key. Expect nothing less from the landscaping services you choose.
Choosing a team for your Landscape Design
Choosing a landscape company is hard. You don’t want to trust just anyone to design and build your dream space. Other than a home, your landscape may be one of the largest investments you make, so how do you ensure you make the right choice?
Here are 5 key things to expect from the professional landscaping service you choose.
1. Innovation that Works for You
A good landscape company will provide you with a pretty landscape. A great landscape company will make sure their ideas are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Your landscape company should be able to come up with out of the box ideas to solve your biggest problems.
A good design should balance the function and visual appeal. There is value in the expertise that comes from an experienced and accredited team of landscape professionals.Professionals in the design build space have hands-on experience building and working with landscapes. That makes them a great option to build your space.
Your Goals. Your Budget.
A great landscape firm will also be able to work with your budget. They should see your budget as an opportunity for innovation as opposed to a limitation. This doesn’t mean you will be able to get everything you dream of, depending on your budget, but it does mean that your selected team should be able to work with you to prioritize your needs and find a solution that does work for your budget.
2. Exceptional Customer Service
Another characteristic of a professional landscape company is exceptional customer service. This can take on many different forms but one thing should be clear; Communication.
From clear set timelines to progress updates, a professional company will keep you in the know. Communication is just as important during construction as it is during the design process. It should be consistent throughout your experience.
Open Communication
Exceptional service looks like going the extra mile. A professional landscaping company will be by your side every step of the way, explaining their process and answering any questions you may have.Find a company that is as invested in the success of your project as you are.
3. Integrity and Values
Hand and hand with communication should be the integrity of the company you choose. Anyone can impress when things are going right but when something goes wrong you want a team that can deal with it openly and honestly.
Construction is not a straightforward process and unknowns often arise as you dig further into the project. Companies that have great relationships with their clients make sure to handle these unknowns with integrity, creating a reliable service.
Long-term Relationships
Keep in mind, a large landscape job may last anywhere from six months to a year. You want to pick a company whose values align with your own. Having a good relationship with the company you choose can mean the difference between a fun, exciting experience and a stressful, headache of a process. Professional landscaping services will work hard to create relationships as opposed to just generating customers.
4. Think Long-Term
Professional landscape companies build landscapes that last. Any company can throw together a design but a company that takes the time to suggest ideas to extend the life of your landscape shows they really care about your project. This can look like suggesting tried and true materials, custom building things to fix your specific problems and considering things like drainage to avoid water damage.
While these things can add cost to a project, going with a company that has a good reputation and a track record of long lasting landscapes, means you can trust they have your best interests in mind.
Invested in Their Product
Thinking long term is not just about the materials they use but their philosophy on landscaping. A good landscape company will be just as invested in how your landscape looks on the first day of installation as they are in how it looks 5 years from now.
A good indicator of their investment is the services they provide. A company that designs, builds and maintains is a great example of this as they want to ensure your landscape continues to look its best no matter what growing stage it is at. A company like this has a team of professionals with different areas of expertise to ensure the overall success of your landscape.
5. Organized and Process Driven
Organization is the key to a smooth operation. If your landscape company does not have an organized and clear process there is bound to be things that fall through the cracks. Your landscape team should be able to walk you through next steps and provide checkpoints along the way.
Smooth Hand Off
If your project incorporates subcontractors, your selected team should be the main point of contact so all you have to do is provide input on your preferences. If your project is passed to different members of the team (i.e. designer to project manager) there should be clear communication between those members as well as a clean handoff and introduction to you, the client.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Organization should be clear from the beginning of design creation to the clean up of your outdoor space at the end. This will ensure success and lack of confusion for all parties involved. A professional landscape company will fill you in on their processes from the get go so you start off in the right direction.
Take your landscape to the next level with professional landscape services
While there is a lot to think about when choosing a professional landscape team, keeping in mind these 5 tips will help you make the right choice.Want a good place to start?
If you are ready to start your landscape project or to upgrade your existing landscape, be sure to get in contact with Earthscape. Our team of experts are excited to help you create your dream landscape.
Earthscape is an award-winning landscape design, build and maintenance company. Our goal as a company is to provide the ultimate experience for our colleagues and our clients by striving to be the best contractor our clients have ever worked with. We are by your side every step of the way, ensuring consistent communication during the entire process.
Our professional landscaping services include design, installation, maintenance, and landscape enhancements such as landscape lighting, irrigation and much more.
Located in Elmira,Ontario we look forward to servicing clients from the KW area and beyond.
Our on site teams are ready to make the transition from design to build seamless and headache free regardless of the project value. With open communication and a great track record of successful projects, Earthscape is here to help you!
This project is a great representation of how the built and natural environment can work in harmony to achieve a beautiful landscape. The goal of this project was to integrate a landscape design that complimented the architecture of the home and surrounding landscape as well as provide a functional living space for the client. The client highly valued entertaining so careful attention was paid to creating a seamless connection of spaces that allowed for many areas to sit and visit. This site posed many unique challenges including significant grade change and difficult to work with bedrock. The grade change meant that we had to get creative with the location and placements of all elements. Creating a design that blended well with the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape was also a high priority.
The overall project took around a year and half from design to construction. The result of our design included a careful selection of materials and placement of living spaces blending the natural with the constructed environment. With the use of natural stone and thoughtful placement of stairs and walls through the bedrock, the landscape elements blend into the natural conditions of the site. An outdoor kitchen allowed for even more options for entertaining with features such as large BBQ for cooking. This further blurred the lines of where the home ends and the landscape begins.
The hot tub overlooks a cliff edge allowing for a relaxing escape from everyday life set into the forest. Simple planting with a variety of textures creates a modern palette. Plants are integrated into the site in pockets which soften hardscape elements. The plants chosen provide pops of colour against the stunning forest backdrop. Lighting highlights the unique structure of the trees planted on site and lights the way up stairs and around the property.
This project provided the unique opportunity of a blank slate. Starting fresh with a complete overhaul of the yard, the client desired clean lines and a modern style. Entertainment was a big factor in this space, extending as many elements of the inside outdoors as possible. While space was not an issue on this property, keeping the design feeling private and connected to the house and surrounding area proved to be the main challenge of this design. The solution was to carry the living space out into the yard with crisp lines and a cabana to anchor the pool. The layout and symmetry of these living spaces provides great views whenever you are in the yard. The pool area features natural stone coping and an IPE boardwalk that ties into the wood on the house.
The pool house includes both a covered bathroom and an outdoor shower. Details like oversized slab stepping stones and natural boulders make the space feel modern but natural. The pool house overhang with a finished ceiling is a perfect place to sit around the pool out of the sun. Transitioning from the pool to the deck, a large slab landing leads to a composite deck and structure. Wide stairs and a large structured dining area compliment the scale of the house. With a space for lounging and a place for dining conveniently close to the house, the client has the optimal spot for entertaining. The design is completed with a simple but modern planting palette including boxwood, hydrangea and tall grasses.
The intent with this project was to meld a partially existing landscape with a stately urban brick home to create a timeless feel. The long narrow lot originally featured an existing natural play are and required a bit of balance near the house in both function and aesthetics. We divided up the space by function creating a space for each one of the elements on our clients wish list. We wanted all the areas to be distinct yet feel connected to one another. The kitchen arcs over the dining area, with matching wood against the fence, helping to frame and add thin layers of texture to the space. The opposing forces of the water feature and fire table are held in harmony by old world brick that seemingly extends out from the walls of the house itself.
All in all, we love the way this design successfully weaves together numerous elements into a cohesive, old world tapestry, that would not seem out of place in France, Spain or your own back yard.
The goal of this project was to blend the rustic environment with the client’s modern taste. The challenge was to do this in a way that would look intentional in a rural farmhouse setting. Our design solution focused on selecting materials with the natural environment in mind and implementing them in a modern way. The project featured a square cut flagstone patio that slowly transitions into the surrounding lawn. The Corten fire pit adds a modern shape while still maintaining a rustic appearance. Natural stone steps and mossy boulders continue to blur the lines between the natural and the built environment. The result of this project produces a balanced ‘modern farm’ style
Have you ever wondered what the Earthscape process is like? We interviewed a few of our clients to get their perspective. Discover first hand accounts of what it’s like when you choose Earthscape.
This month we are featuring Brenda’s freshly completed backyard project. See what she has to say about the process and how we worked along side her to accomplish her landscape goals.
Homeowners who value creative design and exceptional craftsmanship, trust Earthscape’s simple step-by-step process to transform an outdated or non-functional landscape into an exceptional outdoor escape.