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 >>>
Watering your landscape may seem like a simple task, but doing it correctly is essential for the health and beauty of your plants. Proper landscape irrigation can also save you time, money, and water. Here are some tips on how to water your landscape correctly and the benefits of landscape irrigation.
Water deeply and infrequently: Watering deeply promotes deep root growth, making plants more resilient to drought. Watering infrequently allows the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, preventing root rot and other diseases.
Water in the morning: Watering in the morning allows plants to absorb water before the heat of the day sets in, reducing water loss due to evaporation. It also gives foliage time to dry before nighttime, reducing the risk of fungal diseases.
Use the right amount of water: Different plants have different water needs. Research the water requirements of each plant in your landscape and adjust your irrigation system accordingly. Overwatering can lead to water waste, runoff, and plant stress.
Use an irrigation system: An irrigation system can help you water your landscape more efficiently and effectively. There are several types of irrigation systems, including drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and sprinklers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that suits your landscape’s needs.
Consider using a rain sensor: A rain sensor can detect when it is raining and automatically shut off your irrigation system, saving water and preventing overwatering.
Irrigation system
Benefits of landscape irrigation:
Healthier plants: Proper irrigation can keep your plants healthy and thriving. Underwatering can lead to wilted and stressed plants, while overwatering can lead to root rot and other diseases.
Water conservation: An efficient irrigation system can reduce water waste, saving you money on your water bill and conserving this valuable resource.
Time-saving: An irrigation system can automate your watering routine, saving you time and effort.
Increased property value: A well-maintained landscape can increase the value of your property, and a lush, green lawn can improve curb appeal.
In conclusion, watering your landscape correctly is essential for the health and beauty of your plants. Proper irrigation can also save you time, money, and water. By following these tips and investing in an irrigation system, you can keep your landscape looking beautiful and healthy for years to come.
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 >>>
● Maintenance is essential for your yard’s aesthetic appeal and physical health
● Trusting a landscape professional is the best way to ensure the success and longevity of your landscape
● Regular maintenance saves both time and money in the long term
Why Maintenance Matters
Regular landscape maintenance is essential for the success of your landscape. From aesthetics to plant health, regular service keeps your gardens in peak condition. Here are 5 benefits of regular professional landscape maintenance:
1. Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is more than just what you see, it’s how people perceive your space. Gardens and landscaping can evoke feelings of peace and calm. However, if left to run wild, landscapes can feel overwhelming and even unsafe in some cases.
Your Home is an Expression of You
The exterior of your home is an expression of who you are. In the same way you carefully curate the interior of your space or take care of your cars, your outdoor space should be tended to. The exterior is the first thing people see when they enter your home and often provides the first impression before they even step foot through the door. A team of maintenance specialists will ensure your space allows for positive feelings by keeping things orderly and allowing the true design intent to shine through.
2. Weed Control and Overgrowth
Regular care is not just about aesthetics. Regular services can help ensure the health and wellness of the plants you and your designer carefully selected! If weeds are allowed to run rampant, they can choke out your new plants, not giving them the chance to establish properly and in some cases kill them off.
Your Plants Have a Lifespan
Another thing that constant maintenance takes care of is garden overgrowth. Each of your plants has a different life span. At the end of their life span, they will reach their maximum size and growth potential. Once this happens, those plants will start to either look overgrown or tired. This can leave your whole garden looking underwhelming. A professional team will be able to suggest which plants need to be replaced and what to replace them with. They will also be able to rejuvenate and trim back plants that still have a little more life to live.
3. Control and Manage Disease
Catching disease early can mean the difference between keeping plants alive or not. When you have a team regularly checking on your plant and lawn, they can catch things that you wouldn’t otherwise see such as damage, disease or insects. Any of these obstacles left unattended can be detrimental to the health of any of your trees, shrubs or perennials. Disease can easily spread from plant to plant taking out many along the way.
Catch Disease Early
To stop the spread, the disease needs to be identified as soon as possible to prevent contamination. Damage is also a common garden concern. If a tree or plant is injured, action needs to be taken quickly. A broken limb or branch can easily turn into a larger issue if not pruned properly or promptly on time. Under or over-watering can also lead to disease. Your team will be able to catch and identify disease, damage or improper care with expert perspectives through regular maintenance visits.
4. Saving Time and Money
A lot of time and work go into keeping your gardens in top condition. Many jobs need to be done to have a flourishing garden. Gardens tasks such as deadheading, trimming, weeding, pruning and edging need to be completed. Lawns need mowing and care to maintain their health and colouring. Spring and fall cleaning is required to keep properties tidy and prepare them for the following season. All these tasks pile up and create a lot of work for homeowners. In the long run, regular care doesn’t only save time but it saves you money. It is more cost-effective to regularly maintain your garden than to let it go and have to do a major overhaul.
Garden Maintenance Is For Everyone
It is easy to underestimate the time that goes into maintaining your landscape. It is easy to let your gardens go when the business of life gets in the way. Having a regular team ensures garden care is done with skill so you don’t have to worry about it. Garden maintenance is also great for those who are elderly and may not be physically able to complete these tasks. However, regular maintenance is not just for those who aren’t able, it is also for those who don’t enjoy the jobs or don’t have time to care for their gardens. This allows you to spend more time outdoors relaxing and enjoying your landscape as opposed to caring for it.
5. Experts in Garden and Lawn Care
The best reason to get regular maintenance is the knowledge and expertise your team brings to your garden care. If you choose a reputable company, your team will have a variety of experts on staff that help them make the best care decisions for your garden or grass. These skills will help you save time and money, ensuring the right treatment is applied or the best replacements are recommended. Your team can also help point out improper care such as over or under-watering, and correcting the issue before it becomes a problem. From lawn to plan care, your team of experts will be able to take the guesswork out of gardening.
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 >>>
Ready to Start Landscaping Your Home?
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 is 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.
What We Do Best
Our professional landscaping services include design, installation, maintenance, and landscape enhancements such as landscape lighting, irrigation and much more. With locations in Elmira, Ontario and Toronto, ON we look forward to servicing clients from these areas and beyond. Our on site teams are ready to make the transition from design to construction 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!
● 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!
With the unofficial kick off to summer this weekend and more warm weather on the horizon now is the perfect time to start thinking about your summer planters. If you caught our previous blog post, we talked all about how to design the perfect planter.
Check out our suggestions below for some unique plants to complete your perfect planter:
Sun Planters
Thrillers:
– Palm
– Mandevilla
– Canna
Spillers:
– Marguerite
– Creeping Jenny
– Sweet Potato Vine
Fillers:
– Diamond Frost Euphorbia
– Coleus
– Geranium
– Gerber
Shade Planters
Thrillers:
– Elephant ears
– King Tut
Spillers:
– Silver Falls
– Creeping Jenny
– Sweet Potato Vine
Fillers:
– Impatiens
– Begonia
– Fuchsia
Design Tip:
Most annuals are available in a 4” and 6” size. The larger size is typically double the cost of the smaller size, but are twice as large. We recommend the larger size for more bang for your buck, especially because it’s a relatively short growing season.
Maintenance tip:
Fertilize regularly when watering, at least weekly. When watering, water heavily and allow excess water to drain. This will help pull out any salinity build up and allow for better nutrient uptake.
Skip the work and leave it to us! Our group of professional gardeners would love to create the perfect custom planter for you. Inquire today >>>
As it begins to finally feel like spring, we can look forward to new blooms as gardens come to life. One of the easiest ways to add colour and interest to your garden? Annuals! Here are a few of our favourites. >>>
Annuals for SUN
– Marigolds: Thrives in the sun and comes in many different colours and varieties. We love “Lemon Gem” and “Orange Tangerine”.
– Salvia: Beloved by butterflies and comes in many colours. Try “Red Hot Sally” for a vibrant pop of colour.
– Bidens: Acts as a great, colourful ground cover and are easy to grow. We love the “Campfire” variety for its fire like colours of red, yellow and orange.
Annuals for SHADE
– Coleus: Great for borders and containers. Gets its interest from its colourful leaves.
– Begonias: Fast growing with lots of colour pay off.
– Lobelia: A great addition to a pollinator garden. Most commonly seen in a vibrant blue colour but can also be found in a variety of other colours.
EXOTIC Annuals
– Hibiscus: Provides tropical interest to your beds and containers. Best grown in the sun and comes in many colours.
– Castor Bean: Boasts stunning star shaped foliage that adds texture to your garden.
– Amaranthus: This showy and exotic plant is great for accenting your garden. They love sun and come in many different colours.
Once the risk of frost is gone, go ahead and plant those annuals! In our area, that is typically around the May long weekend.
Planting Annuals
Annuals do best when evenly spaced. Use spacers or string-lines for accuracy. Leave 12-18″ of open soil space between the edge of the garden and the first row to allow for growth and ‘framing’ of the garden
Cultivate to remove weeds and loosen the soil. Rake out the garden so all plants are planted at the same height. You want even distribution and even height (no planting in divots or mounts – even if they are small – you will see it once you’re done). Pack the soil around the plant. This is important! It puts the soil in direct contact with the root ball and gives some structure for the roots to establish into.
Maintenance
Annuals require a lot of water, especially when first planted. Be sure to take extra care early in your watering routine. Adding fertilizer is essential for annuals to get to the flowering growth and vigor we all want. They need fertilizer once a week to every other week. Pinching is helpful to avoid plants getting long and leggy (and then falling over). Annuals should be pinched to encourage thicker stems and compact growth. Once the flower is spent, deadheading is needed as soon as possible to encourage prolific flowering.
A modernist design solution to working with grade change…
After major home renovations, this residence presented a unique design challenge: to deliver a multi-functional yard while navigating challenging site topography. With a clear modernist aesthetic, the outdoor space accommodates a variety of uses including cooking, dining and entertaining.
Previously, the elevated rear property line funnelled surface drainage towards the house. The homeowner wanted a functional patio space, level with the first floor, but the rear of the property needed to be retained at a higher elevation.
The challenge provided a powerful design opportunity to instantly transform the look and feel of the yard with the use of a striking 18” Corten steel retaining wall.
Complimented by low-level planting and built-in moss rocks, the feature wall allowed for the installation of a large concrete patio built with epoxy coated rebar for maximum strength.
It’s the perfect time to think about winter planters. We’ve talked before about how to design the perfect planter.
Check out our suggestions below for some unique plants to complete your winter display.
– Classic Christmas Colours
– Globe Boxwood
– Red Dogwood Twigs
– Pine and Cedar Boughs
– Pine Cone Garland
– Woven Willow Twigs
– White Birch Branches
2022 Winter Trends
– Silver and Gold Accents
– Fern Fronds
– Geometric Topiary
– Hemp or Jute Rope
– Coloured Feathers, Dried Flowers, and Grasses
Solstice Inspirations
– Dwarf Evergreen Holly
– Acorn and Walnut Garland
– Curled Willow Twigs
– Smoke Tree Branches
– Rosemary and Lavender Shrubs
Design Tip:
Many dwarf or miniature evergreens like Boxwood, Yew, and Juniper are available at DIY or department stores. These plants can be transferred to a garden bed in the spring and provide beautiful colour for many years.
Maintenance Tip:
Spray paint in silver or gold can turn a spray of ferns or dried flowers into eye-catching seasonal decor. A coat of paint also protects these delicate materials against wind and moisture.
This month we feature our amazing clients Kris & Katrina and their new backyard entertaining space. Waterfalls, a 3 season structure and lush planting are just a few features of this refined space.
Checkout what our clients have to say about the Earthscape process >>>
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.
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.
