What is a Poolscape?

A complete backyard experience start with correct and careful planning. You have to think about the shape of your yard, the terrain, the sun exposure and the landscape.

The human considerations is important as well;  what is your life style, entertaining habits, what do you need as far as safety goes and of course the size of the budget.

Then comes the poolscape.

What is poolscape you ask? Poolscape is what transforms your regular average pool into a part of a dream of a backyard. It makes the pool part of the feel of the yard, part of the environment you want to create.

Poolscape is dressing up your pool to make it have a theme, a character, a story to tell.

Using water movement, lighting, accessories and controls, it will add beauty and functionality to your pool.

Water – The sound of falling water is known to be a very soothing sound. Fountains can be added to the backyard, to the pool itself or beside it. Waterfalls add a focal point to the pool and the whole yard. Whether it is spillover from the pool itself, a waterfall from a rock wall, a wall of water falling off the side of a raised Jacuzzi, it is an interesting addition to the swimming pool.

Light – Underwater pool lights add a dimension to the pool and extended the hours you can use it. Fiber optic lighting can accentuate waterfalls, and background lighting can create a mood and extend your swimming hours. Lighting interesting trees and vegetation, adding path lights and spot lights, using solar light to save energy and money are all part of a smart initial design.

Controls – Sometimes, the effect is lost when you have to move from one control point to the other. You get lazy, you are destructed while going around switching everything on and you lose the effect you wanted to create. Controling everything from the comfort of your home and from one location, will prevent that and will make your life simpler. A smartly planned poolscape will have you control all the functions from one center.

To create a whole backyard experience, it is best to turn to expert in your area. If you live in the Long Island area, Long Island Landscape Designs Inc. (http://www.lilandscapedesigns.com/poolscapes.html can do it all for you. From getting the permits to designing and installing, landscaping, fencing and gating – this company does it all. With many years of experience and with pictures to back up their claims, Long Island Landscape Designs has done it all. And they pride themselves with attention to details and figuring out complicated and unusual design challenges.

Custom Patio Doors

Designing a custom patio is a rewarding process for many homeowners. A custom patio provides an area for your family and friends to gather, relax and enjoy the outdoors. One of the most important aspects of any custom patio is the door from the living area of the home to the outdoor patio. The right patio door can decrease energy costs, improve the look of your home and make entertaining a breeze.

The first consideration in installing a patio door is where to place the door. A patio door should be a natural extension of the home and should allow guests to easily pass in and out of the home during a dinner party or other event. If possible, avoid placing the door gathering spots where it will be blocked as people stop to talk. Think of the path that people take to enter and exit the home, and place the door in a natural location to help guide the flow of traffic through the house.

A second consideration for patio doors is inclement weather, which poses a particular challenge to outside doors. All doors leading to outside areas must be properly sealed. Proper sealant ensures, first and foremost, that moisture from rain, snow and sleet cannot enter the living area of the home. It also keeps cool air inside in the summer and keeps heat inside in the winter, which decreases heating and cooling costs. In tough economic times, it pays to ensure that your patio door is properly sealed to avoid future maintenance costs and to decrease utility bills.

When choosing a patio door, you want to ensure that the door provides views out onto your custom patio and backyard landscape and that the door allows plenty of natural light to enter your living area. Using natural light decreases energy costs, because it allows you to turn off lighting throughout the day. Natural light also provides a warm and inviting living space. Consider the movement of the sun and the reflection of the light in your home when designing the patio door, and be sure to ask about custom materials that are pleasing to the eye but absorb sunlight for extra energy efficiency.

To find out which patio door will work best with your home, call your local custom patio and landscaping professional. A professional will be able to assess your budget and your home to design a door that meets the needs of your family.

Ponds to Sooth the Soul

Our relationship with flowing water has been well documented through the ages in verse and prose. The moving river was used in Greek philosophy to explain the concept of time. What you see now is like the drop of water that already passed under the bridge and became the past.

The Eastern culture has a very strong relationship with water as it is one of the elements that combine life. Gods reside in nature, according to Eastern philosophy and the flowing water represents wisdom, health and wealth. It has a part in many rituals and is an important element in Feng Shui – the art of the harmony of the elements that brings harmony to the soul.

Ponds have always played a part in this relationship, and those who admire Japanese gardening, understand its importance.  It is about purity and fluidity. As the water is moving, passing, and falling gently into a pond it touches all of our senses. The water’s feel, its look, its color, its sound and the life it brings with it.

Ponds tend to attract wild life; butterflies, birds, frogs. You can grow life in the pond by planting water loving plants and water lilies. You can grow koi fish in the pond. They live very long lives and grow quite big, and you can enjoy a little piece of the Garden of Eden in your back yard.

One of the biggest pleasures of owning a home is the ability to arrange it the way you see fit (observing the laws and the construction codes of course). Having a pond with a water fall in your back yard is one of the things you can do that will have an added value – it will not only look good, it will sooth your soul.

Although there are many sites and many companies selling do-it-yourself kits, it is not always as simple as it sounds. Many people tried and have been frustrated with the process. Like anything else, achieving your vision is a process that takes time and money.

The better way is to employ a company that has done it many times in the past. A local company, such as Long Island Landscape Designs Inc. (http://lilandscapedesigns.com/index.html), which has been servicing the Long Island area and has the portfolio to show for it. They pride themselves for being able to construct anything their client wishes and are looking forward to new designs and challenges. The company, which is family owned, works individually with every client to ensure the outmost satisfaction.

Custom Patio Doors

Designing a custom patio is a rewarding process for many homeowners. A custom patio provides an area for your family and friends to gather, relax and enjoy the outdoors. One of the most important aspects of any custom patio is the door from the living area of the home to the outdoor patio. The right patio door can decrease energy costs, improve the look of your home and make entertaining a breeze.

The first consideration in installing a patio door is where to place the door. A patio door should be a natural extension of the home and should allow guests to easily pass in and out of the home during a dinner party or other event. If possible, avoid placing the door gathering spots where it will be blocked as people stop to talk. Think of the path that people take to enter and exit the home, and place the door in a natural location to help guide the flow of traffic through the house.

A second consideration for patio doors is inclement weather, which poses a particular challenge to outside doors. All doors leading to outside areas must be properly sealed. Proper sealant ensures, first and foremost, that moisture from rain, snow and sleet cannot enter the living area of the home. It also keeps cool air inside in the summer and keeps heat inside in the winter, which decreases heating and cooling costs. In tough economic times, it pays to ensure that your patio door is properly sealed to avoid future maintenance costs and to decrease utility bills.

When choosing a patio door, you want to ensure that the door provides views out onto your custom patio and backyard landscape and that the door allows plenty of natural light to enter your living area. Using natural light decreases energy costs, because it allows you to turn off lighting throughout the day. Natural light also provides a warm and inviting living space. Consider the movement of the sun and the reflection of the light in your home when designing the patio door, and be sure to ask about custom materials that are pleasing to the eye but absorb sunlight for extra energy efficiency.

To find out which patio door will work best with your home, call your local custom patio and landscaping professional. A professional will be able to assess your budget and your home to design a door that meets the needs of your family.

Landscape Trend: Water Conservation

It seems that everything in today’s world is going green, so it should come as no surprise that one of the hottest trends in landscaping is water conservation.  More and more consumers are searching for ways to decrease water usage to help the environment and to lower monthly water and energy bills.  With proper design and maintenance, any yard can become more eco-friendly.

Just how much water is used in landscape maintenance?  Research shows that up to 50% of water in the home is used on landscaping.  When you consider the fact that 70% of municipal water use comes from residential homes, you quickly realize how big of an impact an efficient landscaping water system can have on the amount of water used every year in America.

The first step to landscape water conservation is good design.  Your landscape company can provide you with an atheistically pleasing landscape plan that also conserves water.  During the design phase, your landscape company will design an irrigation plan that works with your yard and saves water.  There are many different types of irrigation systems, including sprinkler systems, micro-spray systems and soaker hoses.  There are high-flow and low-flow options available depending on your yard’s needs.  The key in the design phase is to ensure that the land has enough water to thrive but that water is being use efficiently.

A second step to water-efficient landscaping is soil preparation.  Loosening and rotating the soil allows water and air to flow through the soil more efficiently.  The better prepared the soil is, the less water that is needed for proper plant growth and maintenance.  Soil preparation can also help limit weed growth, which will reduce the amount of time spent on maintenance.

A final element of water-efficient landscaping is utilizing plants that require less water.  The typical image of a low-water plant is a cactus or other low-bloom flower.  In reality, there are a variety of low-water plants that are beautiful and fragrant.  Many have long blooming seasons to keep your yard looking great throughout the year.  Not only do these plants save water, they also require less maintenance, which saves time.

If you are ready to embrace the water conservation-landscaping trend, call your local landscaping company today.  Water efficiency is a complex task that is best left to landscaping experts.  Remember that a water-friendly yard doesn’t just help the environment; less water use can help you save money on your monthly water and energy bills.

The Secret to Beautiful Roses

“Rose is a rose is a rose” wrote the poet Gertrud Stein. “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” wrote Shakespeare.

So many poems were written about roses that you ask yourself why? What is so special about roses that make so many poets swoon? Is it because roses are one of the more majestic flowers? Is it because they reward you with colors and smells you cannot find anywhere else?

Hundreds of books were written about growing roses and one article would not suffice to cover all the aspects. There are Rose Societies in almost every region, dedicating themselves to the cultivation and preservation of antique roses (yes, antiques. Some of the registered roses date prior to 1867). They are a good source for finding out what grows well in your area before you plant the first bush. Here are some things to think about;

Roses need three basic elements;

1. They need sunlight at least 6 hours a day.            
2. They love water and like food from time to time.
3. They don’t like to be too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

And of course they love to be cared for.

Rose families

There are many families that produce different kind of foliage and flowers;

-Grandiflora which produces large, single stem rose.

-Floribanda which produces many blooms on one stem.

-Old English Rose with up to 100 petals per flower.

-Hybrid Tea is a modern mix of different types.

-Polyanthas, the original rose with its tiny blossoms.

-Miniature Roses, Tree Roses, Climbers and so on and so forth.

Colors and smells

Roses come in white, yellow, orange, red and purple, including a very dark red that appears black (Black Baccarat rose). You can find all the combinations, hues and spots of those colors.

Not all roses have a scent. In some hybrids the strong traits from the parents’ flowers were not their smell and the new plant that was born is completely devoid of it.

The smells vary widely and no two roses smell exactly alike.

Pests and Diseases

Roses attract bees which is a very good thing, but they also attract other pests that are not so beneficial. The aphids use roses as their nurseries, keeping their young feeding on the fresh leaves or buds. Grasshoppers like to eat aphids and damage what’s left of the flower, and so on and so forth

Roses get sick sometimes; they get black spots, rust and mildew. All those drawbacks have been dealt with and solved, many with the help of ecologically safe house products, like Murphy’s Soap and Oil or baking soda.

There’s a lot to learn if you want to understand how to plant and cultivate a healthy and thriving rose garden. Or you can turn to experts in your area, as the guys of Long Island Landscape designs Inc. (http://lilandscapedesigns.com) who can design, place proper irrigation, recommend and plant the kind of roses you would like to have. They will check the system from time to time, take care of diseases and prune the bushes before the cold winter months. 

And you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the rose in your yard and bring it inside your home as cut flowers. You will be dazzled by the smells, the many colors and the different shapes nature has blessed us with in one perfect creation – The Rose.

Your New Eco Garden

These days of economic turmoil, there are some things you can do to make your yard and garden economic and ecologically smart. It will not only save your money, if will also help the environment stay healthy as long as possible.

Rolling greens are a joy to the eye, but keeping the lawn green takes effort. Grass needs at least one inch of water per week, grass needs to be mowed and raked on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule – whether you do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you. Grass needs fertilizers and pesticides, and that needs to be done at least twice a year.

Replacing some of the lawn with native flowers will help you save money and labor because once those plants are established they require no watering and need very little care and maintenance.

Native plants can survive harsh winters and hot summers, they help reduce erosion and they are local, so they save you money when you are first landscaping. You don’t need to import plants from other climates and give them special care so they will thrive.

Composting. Composting helps in maintaining a green garden. Instead of loading the trash cans with grass cutting and leaves, instead of using your garbage disposal ( electric isn’t it?) to grind up all the kitchen scrapes, why not combine them together and leave them be, for a few weeks?

Nature will make sure, if you leave it in a corner of your yard, that warms will make their way to the pile and turn your discards into ‘black gold’, a natural, rich additive to the soil.

There are different methods of composting. If you don’t want to make a huge pile in your garden, you can get composting bins that correspond to the size of your yard. The bins can be as small as a home trash can, or be as big as an oversized oil drum. The big ones usually come elevated from the ground and with a handle so you can rotate the mix once every few days to ensure even distribution of the organic matter. You can also find small, hermetically closed containers to keep in the kitchen, where you can collects fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, coffee, tea bags and many more things to add to your pile once a week.

Solar Lighting – if you want to illuminate your yard, the easiest way to go is with solar lighting. No wiring is needed, no expert advice. All you have to do is stick those lights in the ground and let the sun rays provide the power. The wonderful thing about these lights is that you can mix solar lights with electrical lights, since they are independent from one another.

Vegetable garden – Plant a patch of vegetables and fruit trees. There is no taste like a vegetable you grow yourself. Use other plants in combination with the vegetables as pest and disease retardants.

Use Natural Pesticides -Try to avoid pesticides as much as possible. There are garden problems that can be solve with household products like Epsom Salt, baking powder and baby shampoo. Find those recipes and use them. No need for harsh chemicals in your yard to poison the environment and the underground water.

These are but a few ideas for turning your garden ‘green’ without spending a lot of money. More information on the subject can be found with a company called Long Island Landscape Designs (www.lilandscapedesign.com) which can advise and help you plan, and execute, your new ECO garden.