Blog

Category: Outdoor Living

How To Restore and Maintain Stone, Brick and Block Hardscapes

Hardscape surfaces have been part of landscape projects for centuries. Traditional masons worked with clay brick and natural stone to construct durable columns, walls, and patio surfaces. The distinction is that only the most affluent homeowners had direct experience with these architectural landscape features. It wasn’t until the late 90s that these architectural hardscape features became accessible to a wider range of homeowners. In fact, it was this trend that was responsible for the use of the term hardscaping. Before then landscaping was plantings and hardscaping was more accurately referred to as masonry. The methods for maintaining and restoring natural

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Irrigation System Design and Maintenance: What Homeowners Need To Know

Landscape irrigation systems have changed significantly in the last twenty years. More intelligent technology makes them easier to use and customize to save time and money.  Minnesota is blessed with abundant moisture year-round, but conserving water supplies is rapidly becoming a top priority in communities across the country. Homeowners invest in automatic irrigation systems to protect the beauty and long-term vitality of their landscapes. In some regions of Minnesota these systems are only used occasionally, but in those peak watering times it is vital that they work as planned and designed. In addition to the initial investment to install an

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5 Expert Tips For A Lush And Healthy Lawn

Homeowners will do almost anything to have a thick, lush lawn. This is even true for those who seem to care little about the surrounding landscape. They are emphatic about having a lush, green, well-manicured lawn that stands proud. It’s the one landscape element that everyone understands. Lush Lawns Make The Landscape The truth is even the best landscapes appear average if the green space that frames them does not look its best year round. Experts agree it’s easy to have a lush green lawn in the springtime when conditions are ideal. But what about the mid-summer days when you

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5 Fire Feature Ideas For Every Outdoor Living Space

In our modern world, people need ways to unplug from technology and the routines that seem to be intertwined with it. They’ve lost their connection with nature, something that is easily restored with water and fire features. Fire Pits Are Year-Round Features Not everyone has the space or budget for a swimming pool or a reflecting water element, but nearly every backyard can accommodate a fire pit or one of its fire feature cousins. If you have not considered a fire pit, you may not be aware of the options available to suit your budget, space, frequency of use, necessary

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Popular Minnesota Trees That Homeowners Need To Know

Imagine investing in an asset whose value grows steadily over time, only to discover 8-10 years later that its potential was flawed from the beginning. This is what happens when the wrong tree is planted, or when healthy trees are planted on properties not suitable for them. Choosing trees that are right for you and your property requires a little homework. The first step is being realistic about your goals and the performance of the trees you have in mind. We believe nearly every shade, ornamental, and evergreen tree has merit. Some will last for decades or more, becoming majestic

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10 Timeless Landscape Design Ideas

Landscape design is a practice that seldom follows a predictable path. This is true even for those schooled in a traditional landscape architecture program. There are principles that most adhere to, but the real magic is often uniquely personal, distilled from years of life and client experiences. There are designers with backgrounds in science, engineering, and the arts, all of them accomplished. You should take some of this to heart when working with a landscape designer. Your thoughts and ideas, when blended with others, will make it your own, and quite possibly, more than anyone could have imagined. What follows are

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