Architectural Landscape Design Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Minneapolis pools and spas’

Swimming Pools and Spas Require A High Degree of Privacy And Safety

Wednesday, October 10th, 2012

Pools and spas are a good way to add more enjoyment to your property, but these areas demand privacy as well as safety features.  Fences are a good bet for providing both, and are a requirement in many local ordinances.  Container plants and vines are often used to brighten corners of the angular fence enclosures and softening the lines. Screens and fences allow air circulation. They can be built so they are baffled or louvered to allow or stop air currents from going through. This feature can lengthen the amount of time a pool can be used.

Whether it’s a hot tub, spa, or swimming pool, a water feature has a high demand for privacy. It’s nice to be able to relax and enjoy yourself without feeling that you’re on public display.  However, along with a pool or any kind of water spot comes some special problems or constraints when it comes to landscaping them.

If you are going to have a pool, spa, or hot tub, it is a necessity to plant some “neat” trees and shrubs that won’t contribute debris to the water, because it’s not always practical to cover them when they aren’t in use. You also want to stay away from fruit or berry-producing trees around your tub or pools because they can make pool decks slippery as well as produce stains.   Our landscape designers and architects can help you decide what are the right plantings that will enhance safety and privacy without creating clean-up problems. We can also review the local ordinances and keep you safe. Plus, we are able to design the pool, hot tub, or spa and surrounding areas. Particular care must be taken when choosing plantings next to a water source as the constant evaporation of water raises the moisture content of the surrounding air, and not all species thrive in a moist environment.

Let us help you keep your swimming, hot tub, or spa areas clean, neat, and safe by letting us design the pools, and creating the safety fences and plantings with you. Call us on 952-292-7717 today!

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Posted in All, Landscape Design Minnesota, Minneapolis Landscaping, Outdoor Living Spaces, Pools and Spas | No Comments »

Pools and Spas: Predictable or Not?

Thursday, May 31st, 2012

It used to be that a backyard swimming pool was a pretty predictable thing. It was rectangular, had a diving board, a couple of ladders, and a shallow and deep end. Times have changed homeowners can choose from different types of pools, new kinds of surfacing materials, high tech lights, etc.

A pool or spa can be the perfect recreation item in the backyard. They come in a lot of configurations and serve a lot of different purposes now. So careful planning and installation is key in order for you to get what you want.

MN Architectural Landscape Design’s pool designers can help ensure you get exactly what you are looking for in a backyard pool or spa. Making sure your pool suits your taste and needs is what we do.

Children need a wide, shallow are; lap swimmers need a long, straight section. A diving pool will include a board and a deep end that is at least seven feet deep. But if there is no diving, the pool need not be more than four or five feet deep.

Location, location, location! The key to a successful implementation is to locate the pool correctly on your landscape in a private spot with full sun. Also, locate access to a bathroom that can be used as a changing room. And finally a location near your house that is convenient to reach and light during the evening is key.

You can put paving or a concrete pool deck around the pool, or by adding boulders, flagstones, bridges, and other free-form edgings and your pool will double as a garden pond. Another idea is to have water cascading over concrete or boulders can lead to a small pool that is actually the spa.

We offer a free one-hour no commitment meeting at your home or site, please contact us on 952-292-7717 to arrange a meeting so we can review your pool possiblities!

 

 

 

 

 

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Creating Winter Interest in Your Landscape

Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

When it comes to planning winter landscapes the focus is to create winter interest outside. A good start is to locate the places in your yard that are mostly sunny and sheltered from the wind. Next take an inventory of your current plants and trees. What do they look like in the winter? Are they doing well in their current locations?

Take a shortcut here and involve Architectural Landscape Design. Our professional design team will create a winter landscape plan with your input that maximizes all four seasons. We can protect your investments and promote the health of your landscape by recommending trees that are hardy in this climate, aren’t crushed by wet snow, and can survive winter wildlife.

We can help promote winter interest throughout your landscape by clustering plantings of evergreens, red twig dogwoods, and rhododendrons to name a few. Also, we may add plants that have decorative red fruit that holds throughout the winter like crabapples. Some perennials that you may want to leave up for winter interest in the garden are grasses, astilbe, blazing stars, coneflowers, liatris, russian sage, and hydrangeas. Our design process starts with what your personal needs and tastes and incorporates your total property in the design.

If one of the things you identified was that you wanted a gazebo we’ll incorporate that with the full master plan for your property. In addition, our winter landscape design will include a focus on plant textures and their interesting forms and foliage. We can also integrate into your landscape plan our custom designed for your home Holiday Lighting. We design, install, disassemble and store your custom designed holiday lighting.  In addition, we offer a Winter Seasonal  Container Garden. Let us help you tie up your winter landscaping plans today. Minnesota’s Architectural Landscape Design offers professional landscape designs in Lakeville, MN and all of the areas surrounding the metro. Call 952-292-7717 to set up a meeting at your location.

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Free Admission: Apple Valley Chamber Home &Garden Expo ~March 31, 9 am-3 pm

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Come and talk to us about your landscaping dreams at the Apple Valley Home & Garden Show! It’s easy to attend because there is FREE parking and admission. In addition, there are things for children to do as they are featuring Minnesota Zoo animals and free children’s arts and crafts.

ALD is a featured landscape design exhibitor at the show that covers the latest in home, garden, landscaping, remodeling and much more! It’s a great time to plan any landscaping or garden project you have in mind. We are a multi-speciality landscape company. Our licensed and educated landscape designers and architects will be happy to discuss any ideas, dreams or needs that you may have.  We offer a full range of offerings that includes: pools and spas, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, landscape design and installation, low voltage lighting, waterscaping, outdoor living spaces and kitchens, unique garden plantings, children’s recreation areas, landscape design and installation, low voltage lighting, custom boulder/stone work, holiday lighting installation services, and excavation.

We involve our clients in the entire process and project. But the degree you want to be involved is left up to you. We will listen to what you want and create a plan on your specific needs. Our landscape designers and architects work meticulously to create efficient, exceptional landscape work. All of our landscape team members are educated and licensed. Whether your landscape project is small or large we’re interested. We can offer you the very best combination of nature, science and art.

Ask about the Ten Star Guarantee we offer; it is unprecedented in the landscape industry. We’re known as Minnesota landscape design and installation contractor that provides unique plans and a superior experience to our customer. Call us 952-292-7717 today! We bring your dreams to life!

The Expo is being held at:

Apple Valley Western Service Center

14955 Galaxie Avenue

Apple Valley, MN 55124

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Posted in All, Designing Minnesota Gardens, Hardscapes Minnesota, Landscape Design Minnesota, Minneapolis Landscaping, Outdoor Lighting Contractor MN, Outdoor Lighting Minneapolis MN, Outdoor Living Spaces | No Comments »

Good Bones Build Healthy Gardens | Minneapolis and St Paul metro

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

Good “bones” in the garden means healthy structures for the rest of a garden to grow off. The term “bones” refers to something architectural that defines the structure of a garden.

There are two kinds of garden bones; they are constructed and natural. The constructed are the architectural elements, that include stone or retaining walls, fences, gazebos, arbors, swimming pools, pathways, arbors, obelisk, sundials, bird baths, gates, statuary, etc.  Natural architecture includes trees, shrubs, woody plants, natural stone outcroppings, or a pond. A lot of times it is an evergreen tree or a shrub. A woody plant in order to make an impact should be minimally thirty-six inches. Ornamental trees with weeping forms, ornamental bark, or berries are also good choices.

Start by imagining the garden in the winter what you see at that time are the bones of the garden. They are what will support the spring and summer plants, and serve as a backdrop. Take a picture so you have it to work with as you add natural and constructed elements. Architectural Landscape Design can also create a design plant that shows your house, incorporates the existing “bones” and adds whatever architectural structures you may want, such as pathways, obelisks, gates, fences, retaining walls, privacy fences. Even regarding an area to make it possible to use. They have the experience, equipment, designers and crews.

The key to a successful landscape design isn’t the just the flowers, trees, and shrubs that draw your eye. It is the structure that you see on that winter day in the dead of winter that provides the organization of the yard. The constructed, architectural elements really add the definition to outdoor spaces. Architectural Landscape Design can design and build these elements that include pools, patios, gazebos and walkways to name a few. Their trained architects and garden designers can help to build a well-designed garden that provides support and interest year around. They will work with you to create a great plan that also embraces the architecture of your house. Serving the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro and surrounding communities, call 952-292-7717.

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Landscaping is about Making Changes and Choices

Monday, April 18th, 2011

Almost every homeowner knows one change leads to another, whether it’s an inside or outside change. When it comes to landscaping if you buy a new shrub that can mean moving the perennial bed that worked for the last ten years.  The loss of a tree can change a garden from shade to sun. Install a new swimming pool and a privacy fence suddenly becomes necessary.

As your garden and yard ages opportunities for development and reinvention occur. But how do you determine what to do, what’s really needed. If you want some more outdoor seating should it be a brick patio or a wood deck? If you want to enjoy some dappled shade should you plant a locust or a maple? What about that steep slope in your lawn that continues to be a safety risk to mow? Should you put in steps, retaining walls, or change the grade?

Landscaping is about making changes and choices regarding all of the areas of your property: the front lawn and entrance to your home, the private places in the backyard, and the functional areas, your driveway and the sides of the house. It’s important to make sure that all the features of your property are functional and work well meeting your personal needs.

The first big planning decision is determining the need for hard surfaces (hardscapes) and green space. Make sure to allow enough patio areas for comfortable use. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least two-thirds of your property for planting and lawn. Planting the shrub can be done effectively with hard work and a good shovel. The leap from moving perennial beds to changing land slopes and installing swimming pools can be accomplished easiest with a landscape designer. Call the landscape design and horticulturists at Architectural Landscape Design in Minneapolis. They have the necessary equipment, knowledge and experience to help you. If you are considering making some landscaping choices and changes call 952-292-7717. Architectural Landscape Design works in the Minneapolis and St. Paul metro and the surrounding communities. Ask for the free one-hour no obligation meeting to discuss your landscape changes and choices at your location.

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Add a Pool or Spa with Minnesota’s Architectural Landscape Design!

Friday, February 25th, 2011

A stand-alone swimming pool, a spa, or a combination pool/ spa can be a wonderful addition to your outside living space. Who isn’t looking for spaces to exercise, entertain and relax?

Planning a swimming pool can be a simple or complex project. Take the easy route by tapping into the years of installing pools and spas that our Minneapolis Pool and Spa Installation experts offers as we have all the design and build resources in one company.

We will get you into your own pool or spa quickly as we have an experienced staff that will design and install the pools after consulting with you to answer any of the questions you may have. Whether you are interested in a stand-alone pool, an infinity pool, or your interests range to a lagoon style cascading rock pool with waterfalls and a spa we are excited to work with you. We can design your MN pool to be the focal point for your yard, or we can install “outside living rooms”. We know the hardscapes available so we can install your pool on one level using concrete, natural stone, and interlocking pavers for the pool deck. Or we can separate your “outside living room” by designing and installing multiple levels or tiers. We can define them by using retaining walls, boulder outcroppings, walkways, and stairways. In addition to your pool “room” we can explore adding these additional “rooms”: dining, kitchen, gazebo, zip line, sports court, camping, entertaining, fireplace, and firepit rooms. We’ll also build pool structures like gazebos, pergolas, and cabanas if you’d like.

Working with you, we can make your pool whatever you want it to be, and that’s the excitement. We have the experience to make it a simple project for you, and the access to and knowledge about all of the different pool and hardscape materials available. Because we are full service, we cut unnecessary time spent coordinating or waiting for various vendors. We also handle communications with your water, gas, and electric utilities. Architectural Landscape Design works in the Minneapolis, St Paul and the expanded metro area. Let us work with you!!!

We look forward to discussing water elements with you. Take the easy route;  call us today on 952-292-7717 for a free consultation!!!

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