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What Are The Benefits Of Using A Professional Landscaper?

jim2morgan@yahoo.com (James Fuller) — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 14:33:27 GMT

Is DIY Landscaping A Better Choice?

Your landscaping is intrinsic to your home's value and curb appeal. It's critical not just to the visual aesthetics of your house but also to its functionality. When done poorly, landscaping can be an embarrassment. It can devalue your home , lessen your enjoyment of outdoor spaces, and even become a safety hazard. And yet, unlike other critical aspects of home improvement, which we entrust to professionals like paving, painting, plumbing, and electrical work, we are often tempted to undertake DIY landscaping projects ourselves. Please don't do it. DIY landscaping is a big DON'T.

Why DIY Landscaping Is A Bad Idea

Unless you are skilled at landscape design, DIY is a terrible idea. The results you'll achieve are most likely to be subpar in multiple ways, and we've seen those particular homes around the neighborhood, haven't we? You can always tell. A professionally designed landscape looks more cohesive and put together. A big part of the problem is that a lot can go sideways when you try to do it yourself. You might see something you love, but duplicating it outside of your window can be much more difficult than expected. Professional landscaping assistance is the better option.

You Don't Have Professional Design Skills

You might have a great eye for detail, but landscaping involves much more than visuals. The elements are at play, and your landscape needs to work in balance with those elements. Thus, it is unlikely that you'll achieve the look you want. A pro, on the other hand, can adeptly incorporate your ideas and make them work.

You Don't Understand The Materials

If you don't know what you're doing, selecting unsuitable materials for your project is easy. Some materials don't work well with others or in specific environments. If you don't know how certain materials need to be handled, they may not completely complement your home or work. A professional can help you choose the most appropriate options for your home.

You Haven't Got The Right Tools

Landscaping typically requires a wide range of special equipment most homeowners do not have. Using the wrong tools won't work; you could break something or suffer an injury when you try to and use the wrong tool you do have. Or you may need to repeatedly run to the store to buy something you didn't expect. Dig up your landscape yourself, and rest assured, you'll also be digging into your wallet. DIY costs more than you think, and there are no surprises with a pro. They have the right tools and equipment, and you'll know your costs upfront.

You Don't Have A Complete Plan

Most DIY landscapers add elements indiscriminately and without proper advanced planning. As a result, critical things like grading, ground prep, and drainage requirements go unattended, and the final result can also look mismatched.

Oops—You Didn't Get The Permits

Many changes that people make to their landscape require permits. Your local government won't pass up an opportunity to make a buck or fine you if you neglect to fill out and file the proper paperwork. And most of the time, they won't just fine you; they'll order you to remove it. But when you work with a licensed professional, they take care of all those details for you and ensure all work is up to code .

You Don't Have Enough Time

Doing it yourself rarely goes as quickly as you think. Most projects can go very long without professional help. If you don't have the time, your project could drag on or remain unfinished.

You'll Mess It Up

Installing hardscaping and softscaping components can be a complicated process requiring skill and experience. DIY attempts are rarely free of mistakes; sometimes, those mistakes can be very costly. You may have to redo or replace something repeatedly and eventually pay a professional to undo the damage. Amateur installation work can also lead to accidents, and if you accidentally injure someone, the probability of your homeowner's insurance helping you out is close to nil.

How NOT To Mess It Up

For the above reasons and more, we hope we've convinced you to put aside your DIY ambitions and entrust your landscape to Ohio's most reliable landscape professionals, Fullscapes. We've been serving our community for over 40 years, and we have the tools, techniques, and talented team of professionals to bring your landscape to life the way you envision. Contact us today for an estimate.

Must Have Patio Upgrades

jim2morgan@yahoo.com (James Fuller) — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 01:12:43 GMT

Patio Upgrades For The Modern Home

Ask homeowners what hardscape feature they utilize most; more than likely, it's the patio . Patios are a must-have space where we gather to socialize, dine, and relax with our friends and families while enjoying the pleasurable experience of being outdoors. We could say they are trendy, but they've been around since ancient times. We've been elaborating and embellishing them ever since.

For example, the patios of Ancient Greece were incredible feats of artistic stone architecture and were typically part of an enclosed courtyard that included gardens, artwork, and sculpture. The patio as we use it today in America came into being in the 1950s as we became increasingly focused on using our backyards as a recreational extension of our homes.

Since that time, backyard culture itself has evolved. We've had many innovations in materials and designs, and lately, technology has joined the party. Today's patios are more functional, exciting, and creative than ever, with enhancements that add a memorable wow factor to our landscapes. They skillfully weave softscaping vegetation into the hardscaping features in a way that blends, unifies, and elevates those elements. In short, they've become artistically stunning showcases and social hubs, with enough bells and whistles even to blow the socks off Socrates.

If you haven't updated your patio in a while, it's time to look at some of the latest must-have patio upgrades for the modern home.

Fresh, New Landscaping Design Aesthetics And Multiple Levels

Design trends for patios are shifting to sleek, clean lines, uncluttered spaces, and material colors that are no longer drab but monochromatic and subtly nuanced with complementary shades pops of bolder hues and even darker colors like charcoal gray. We're also seeing the use of varied textures and patterns like herringbone and geometric shapes to add interest and directional accents. The addition of raised or recessed features, steps, platforms, partial walls, and even water elements make for eye-catching upgrades. Multiple levels are hot, too.

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting is something that patios need, and if you think you can still flip a switch to turn on that same old boring fixture at the back door, think again. The best patio lighting is layered. Think table lamps, string lights, overhead lanterns, ground accents for highlighting plants, unique decor, patio perimeters, and walkway s .

Consider integrating your lighting into your hardscaping elements, such as atop columns. Lights should be thoughtfully positioned to provide the right touch for the right spot. For example, brighter lights for a favorite reading nook, well-lit cooking areas, and softer lights for a dining table or a cozy, romantic nook. And don't forget to think green, highly-efficient solar lighting options abound now, and the latest technology allows us to control them with the simple tap of an app.

Fire Pits

There is no better light source for a patio than adding an adjoining fire pit . Fire adds a focal point, destination, and unique ambiance to your patio in a way that can take your backyard space from ordinary to sublime.

Rustic, log-burning fire pits are forever in style, but the hottest new trend is gas. Gas fire pits have several advantages. They burn cleaner than wood, are much easier to clean, and are much easier to start. (Tap that app.) Another significant advantage is the exciting new design possibilities they open up. From unique shapes to multiple heights to endless material options, it's the perfect upgrade to accentuate those new aesthetics in vogue right now.

Shade

Nothing is more beneficial to your patio than some shaded areas. Having something overhead to shield you from rain or the excess sun is a must-have, and when that shade option is built-in and artfully integrated with your patio, you've just raised your wow factor up a notch. An awning, pergola , gazebo , or even an ivy-covered arch is a wonderful and thoughtful addition.

Privacy Screens And Walls

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a home far from the prying eyes of neighbors. Some of the most spectacular patios of 2022 now have lounging areas, dining areas, fire pits, and cooking and entertainment areas. Adding walls or screens to your patio can provide you with much-needed privacy and help lessen noise and add definition. Those walls help to divide, direct, and define the space.

Outdoor Kitchens And Entertainment Areas

Outdoor kitchen s aren't new, but they are as hot as ever and the perfect upgrade to your patio. Counter space, running water, built-in burners and grills, pizza ovens, electrical outlets, refrigeration, and perhaps even a bar are incredibly useful and visually impressive features. Additionally, outdoor kitchens are considered one of the best patio upgrades you could make to boost your home's value. And why not add an entertainment area, to boot? Outdoor televisions, stereos, and gaming equipment add to the patio experience in wonderful, engaging ways.

Patio Upgrades And More By Fullscapes

In summary, the best new patio trends and upgrades turn your outdoor area into a multi-faceted destination and bring indoor fun and functionality outside. Are you ready to explore the possibilities waiting just beyond your back door? Contact the friendly, talented professionals at Fullscapes, and let's do that together.

When DIY Landscaping Is A Don't

jim2morgan@yahoo.com (James Fuller) — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 17:26:42 GMT

When A DIY Landscaping Project Is A Bad Idea

D-I-Y is generally not a good idea when it comes to landscaping . No matter how well-intentioned and even skillful a homeowner might be, the results often fall short of the mark in numerous ways. The crux of the problem is that a great deal can go wrong, and it frequently does.

You Don't Have The Same Level Of Design Skills

Putting together a cohesive landscape design with elements that work well together and create a balance can be much more difficult than you might think. It takes talent, experience, and special resources. When homeowners attempt it themselves, they rarely achieve the look they envisioned. Styles can change rapidly, and a professional is on top of the latest design shifts. Too often, a homeowner's choice of materials comes down to availability and cost. This can lead to inappropriate, unsuitable materials that don't work well for the task or poor installation that may require professional removal.

You Don't Have A Complete Plan, Or You Add Elements Haphazardly

Without carefully planning the different aspects of your project, it makes it harder to keep your elements balanced and Complementary. Instead, things might look thrown together and mismatched. Incorrect calculations in the number of materials needed for the project can result in delays, and with today's supply chain issues, it can be a long delay.

You Don't Have The Right Tools For The Job

Using the proper tools is just as important as selecting appropriate materials. When you discover that you lack something critical, chances are it's not hanging in the garage. You can attempt to borrow the missing tool, but you'll often end up purchasing it. This can cost you extra time and money for which you likely did not budget. Some tools require an advanced skill set that you run the risk of injury without. Three percent D-I-Yers requires a hospital visit annually.

You Fail To Do The Necessary Prep Work

Some landscaping projects require special preparations before the actual installation. For example, a pati o typically requires grading, compacting, and base work, such as adding a layer of gravel before beginning work on the patio itself. Skipping steps can cause your new feature to fail or be dangerously unstable. Prepping also includes finding out where your underground utility lines and features are located. If you don't, you could do severe and incredibly costly damage.

You Fail To Obtain The Proper Permits Required By Law

If you install landscaping elements that require a permit but fail to get one, you may be fined and ordered to remove or undo the unauthorized work. This also applies to the preparation when gas utility lines have to be relocated. The work must also comply with your municipality's building codes. No matter how great something looks, if you fail to comply, you can find yourself diving back into your wallet.

You Don't Have The Time

D-I-Y projects rarely go as quickly as you expect them to. If you cannot spare that extra time, you might find yourself stuck with an unfinished project. Even with the time, another common dilemma is you may find yourself way over your head. Landscaping may be more complex than you anticipate, and the internet and YouTube can give homeowners a false sense of "I got this." You might start something and discover too late that you can't finish it.

You Underestimate The Expenses

It is very easy to miscalculate the costs, like miscalculating the amount of time involved. This is so common with D-I-Y endeavors that almost half (44%) go over budget. It can end up costing the homeowner more than they would have spent to obtain the services of a professional in the first place. Also, if your D-I-Y landscaping turns out subpar, it can significantly lower your home's value and negatively impact your ability to sell in the future.

The above list is far from complete, but we hope we've given you enough to convince you to think twice before you attempt landscaping projects on your own. D-I-Y landscaping should be a d-o-n-'t. It's a gamble that is not worth taking and could yield some disastrous consequences. For optimal results, choose the services of an experienced professional like Fullscapes. We are the premier landscaping specialists in Northeast Ohio, and we don't disappoint. Contact us today for your landscaping needs, and let us show you what we can do.