Hyatt Landscaping, Inc.

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Tips for Keeping Your Yard Healthy During the Winter Months

All of the four seasons that everyone around the world experiences can have an effect to all living things. Humans, animals, and plants al suffer from the changes of weather and temperature. No matter your belief, there is definitely a higher power that knew what they were doing when they created everything that is visible to the naked eye.

Animals have a way to protect themselves from their weather, thus most animals are only placed in selected areas. Polar bears and grizzly bears both hold a different type of threshold for the cold weather. Dogs also have the same form of protection with different types of fur, thus they shed their fur more in the summer than the winter times, to keep their winter coats.

However, unlike them and us, who are able to cover and uncover ourselves as we see fit to the weather around us, plants do not have that capability to be able to protect themselves from the cold or the heat. Also they are self sufficient while they are still planted, plants more often than not, require our assistance to survive. With that being said, here are some tips for keeping your yard healthy during the winter months.

First I would suggest to do a google search into the type of plants and grass that you have in your yard. Unfortunately, not all plant forms are made to last every bit of abuse from mother nature. With new homes being constructed every day, different home building companies are now offering different types of grass for you to pick as an option. In these cases, if you are the original owner, you will have a heads up to what type of grass you are dealing with and what to do. However, if you are not the original owner and the house has been standing for decades, you will not know what to do with your grass. Once again, your best bet would be to look up the type of grass that you may have or contact someone with knowledge of landscaping.

Another one of the ways that we can help plants survive in the winter months is by covering them with a blanket. I know, it seems like a no brainer and like how a child would be treated, but in the end, by treating a plant with love and affection, the plant will actually react and be healthier. It sounds crazy, I know, however if you ever see a retired person treat their plants with conversations of their days as an active member of society, you will see that a plant will appreciate that and grow brightly.

Another way is to actually keep watering your grass. Will the grass freeze? Can the grass die from the excess of cold water? While these are great questions, the truth is that watering grass during the cold will still allow for the grass to get its hydration whether at the moment the water lands, or when it melts.

Come check out different options that we offer our customers for lawn maintenance during winter times. Visit our website at http://www.hyattlandscaping.com for more information.

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The Importance Of Walkways In The Garden

Garden walkways allow us to walk in the yard freely at any time of the year without getting our shoes dirty and at the same time they keep our plants safe. The walkways need to be planned in a way that logically connects different parts of the landscape. They also need to be accessible regardless of the weather conditions which mean that it should be easy to walk on them when it raining, they can’t be frozen and they should be easy to maintain in order to look beautiful all the time. Now let’s analyze few walkways options.

1. Gravel walkways are getting quite popular because they are really easy to create. Many people create this type of walkways on their own. Gravel can be purchased in many different colors, depending on the rocks used in its production and the category or size of the pieces can also affect its appearance. Make sure to check the appearance of gravel in both dry and wet state because it can look very different. Keep in mind that outbreak of weeds is inevitable in gravel walkways. If the walkway is wide, you can save yourself from manual work by applying chemical designed to control weeds, but make sure to use it only on the path because they can damage the plants along the walkway.

2. If most of your land consists of a meadow with grass resistant to trampling then you can leave those less viable paths as areas covered with grass. In areas with high level of precipitation and higher humidity, grassy walkways have proved to be an excellent solution and what is even better is that they don’t require a lot of maintenance, except for occasional cutting and separating the edges to highlight them. Grass walkways are usually used for area where people don’t walk very often. These walkways are not indented to be paths where you walk on a daily basis (around the house for example), but as walkways through large gardens. Of course, since these walkways are rarely used they will look well maintained and neat after a long period of time and for walkways that are frequently used you will have to find another solution.

3. Paved walkways provide us a wide choice of shapes, colors, sizes, types and combinations with different material. A nicely paved walkway can contribute to a nicer appearance of the garden. Depending on whether you want to add a touch of modern, rustic or maybe traditional style choose the appropriate type and method of tiling. Natural stone looks very beautiful, but using tiles made of granite, shale or quartz is very expensive and therefore people usually avoid it. Tiles made of natural layered stone are really easy to handle. When placing the tiles you should pay attention to the excavation, foundation and proper placement in order to provide better water drainage and to avoid frozen areas in the winter period. That’s why it is recommended to use the help of a professional landscaping service.

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Landscaping Design – A Basic Guide

We all dream about our own corner of greenery in the courtyard, where we can enjoy to the maximum and where we can rest and have fun. Even the time spent working on this won’t diminish the joy, so it is no surprise that for many people landscaping has become one of their favorite hobbies. No matter if you want to perform this task without help or you will hire some professional landscaping company it is good to have few things into consideration.
If you already have your own yard and you would like to make it look different, start by observing the landscape on your property during the summer and autumn months. Not the sun exposure, lights and shadows, soil and climate conditions, the needs of different plants for watering and how the yard looks when it’s raining. It is a good idea to write down your ideas in a log.
In this initial period, you can revive your garden by planting summer flowers, placing pots and fast growing vines. The best time to make plans about the way your garden will look or about the way you will implement different landscaping ideas is during the winter. The size of your property and its location (is it located in a plain or on a hill) affect the choice of landscaping ideas. For example, a big property can be arranged in a completely different way than a small yard and a land on the north side of a slope is different than those located on the sunny and warm south side.
It will be much more difficult to find sunny area for vegetables or lush lasting plants in a garden where there are many tall trees. Of course, you should also take care and protect your property from the looks of your neighbors or from the street. In any case, with the right knowledge you can make an attractive courtyard that can make you and your family proud. Try to respect the desires and visions of all family members.
For example, if you have kids you should definitely make a plan for a safe space for a playground which shouldn’t be difficult to maintain. Remember that small children are usually the most frequent users of the yard. In addition to the toys which are usually found in the yards (like swings, climbing structures and sandboxes), it is also a good idea to shape a lathe grassy area and surround it with robust and safe plants. Things like shrubs with thorns or sensitive flowers shouldn’t be placed near this area. In addition, is is best to completely avoid poisonous plants such as yew and Euphorbia cyparissias.
If you love flowers, try to follow every change of season with lavish blossoming. Take into account the time of blooming of certain plants and their color combination when you are planning this task. Flowers should be planted near the terrace, seating space and windows.
We hope that these ideas will help you create your personal greenery space.

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Landscape Lighting In Charlotte

Thanks to the humid subtropical climate, Charlotte is a great place for creating some incredible landscapes. People in Charlotte use all kind of plants, trees and other landscaping items that improve the appearance of their properties. However, this appearance won’t mean much once the night comes and that’s when landscape lighting comes into play.
Creative lighting will allow you to create a completely different look for your garden. The warm summer days and evening in North Carolina are perfect for hangouts with your friends on the patio or in the garden. Why miss the chance to show the beauty of your property without installing a proper lighting? Landscape lighting can significantly brighten up the look of your yard, paths or terrace in the warm evenings. For pleasant socialization in the evening on your terrace or in the garden, you can set up an interesting outdoor lighting which can be fun and glamorous in the same time.
Take your time and decide whether a soft, subtle lighting will fit your flower beds, shrubs, decks or summer houses. Also think about solar lighting which can be very practical and efficient. It is very important to adjust the lighting design to the theme of your garden. Depending on the theme, you can set up lanterns or lamps that provide discreet pr bright light or beautify the appearance of the exterior with their rustic design.
Many house owners in Charlotte have pools or ponds in their backyards. There is a really good landscape lighting solution for them and it comes in the form of an underwater lighting. In case you want to increase the effects of the lighting you can make a beautiful combination with the lighting placed in front of small fountains. Underwater lighting for ponds and small fountains can be solar so proximity to a source of electric energy is not required. A pool illuminated with underwater lighting will look truly spectacular. The lighting of an external swimming pool is a great way to add a piece of futuristic lighting in your yard. Your yard will look more attractive and you can even increase the value of your home. Brightness can be adjusted within the upper inner wall of the pool, on the outer edge of the pool and as additional lights in the grass. In this way you can get three lines of lights. The use of blue light will create a fantastic underwater ambience where you can enjoy swimming during the night.
Besides classical landscape lighting, LED lighting is getting quite popular around the world. Built-in LED lighting can be placed in both transparent and glass furniture and elements that can reflect light and increase the lighting effects. Your yard equipped with modern LED lighting will become a favorite place for hangouts with all your friends. Another interesting accessory is pots that come with LED lighting. Light-emitting pots will make your space more attractive. Make sure that the lighting doesn’t affect the peace of your neighbors. You certainly do not want to have a bright light shining in the windows of your neighbor’s house.

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All About Planting Applications (shade, privacy, accent, foundation, annual color)

So, you have finally decided to decorate the yard with some plants but you are not sure which type of plant is suitable? This is not a problem. The fact is that there is no single answer to that question because the choice of planting applications is determined not only by your personal choice but also on the type of yard you have.

First of all you should look how exposed your garden is (in terms of direct sunlight exposure). In general, this area can be classified in four types – full sun access – the area in which the sun reaches for six or eight hours per day. Most of the plants that can grow in such terms require much water. There are also parts of the yard with partial sun exposure (three to six hours of sun each day), partial shade (indirect sun light throughout the day) and shades (places that receive less than three hours of sun. So, the best idea is to take a look at the amount of light that each part of your yard receives before you make any decisions. Of course, you can replant the flowers or trees later but this process can sometimes be really complicated and in other cases impossible.

Another thing that you should take into consideration is the type of plant you want to use. They can be divided into several groups.

Annuals are plants that last for one or two seasons and they are characterized by flowers in different colors. Some good examples of plants that belong to this group are vinca, petunias and pansies. Perennials on the other hand are plants that return for several years. Almost all of them will die back for some part of the year. Some of the most popular perennial plants include Echinacea, hostas and daylilies. Vines are interesting plants that grow on fences and trellis. They can be used as beautiful decorations on gazebos or on you’re the fence of your property. Clematis is a good example of plants like these. Tropical plants love summer time because they are fond of humidity and heat. Most of them can’t survive the typical winter experienced in the northern hemisphere and this is why they are usually kept in pots which are placed inside the home during the winter period. Some examples of tropical plants include bougainvilles, mandevilla and hibiscus. Shrubs are very practical and they can be used in almost any landscaping project. They last for many years and some of them provide year-round color. Blueberries, hydrangeas and azaleas are good examples of these plants. Finally, you can include trees in the process of landscaping because trees last long and they are very often considered to be the of the landscape. Trees come in different sizes and shapes.

Once you pick a plant you need to get prepared to get your hands a little bit dirty. You will need to dig a hole that is twice the size of the root ball. Don’t forget to use planting compost for better results. Once you return the soil in place, tap it in order to remove air pockets. Follow the instructions and water the plant regularly!