Winter is a challenging time of the year for your yard. The dry, cool weather is not one of the best seasons to work in your garden. But don't give up. In this post, we share eight winter landscaping tips that will help you keep your yard look great throughout the year.
#1. Know Your Plant Hardiness ZonePerhaps the most critical winter landscaping tip is to know your plant hardiness zone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture shares a climatic map that allows you to choose the plants that best grow within your zone. Find out more about your plant hardiness zone here.
#2: Keep Your Plants HydratedMany homeowners assume that your plants don’t need water when the weather gets cold. That’s a mistake because a plant always needs water regardless of the season. Make sure to water your plants regularly throughout the winter season.
#3. Don’t Forget to RakeWhile you may always rake during the fall, it’s always a good idea to continue to rake your lawns and gardens during the winter season as well. By regularly raking your lawn, you can get rid of the plant debris that builds up and may also accumulate with snow as well.
#4. Fertilize Your LawnAs your plant needs water, they also need fertilizer throughout the winter season. Make sure to fertilize your lawn with a fertilizer rich in phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium and put it in the ground before the first freeze of the season. You may not see the results during the winter season, but you can definitely enjoy the greens during the spring season that follows.
#5. Mulch Your Garden and Tree BedsMany homeowners do not know that mulch is an excellent insulator. It helps protect your tree roots against frost. And if you don't want to spend on mulch or are looking for organic mulch, try storing the dry leaves you raked up in the fall and use them as mulch by the winter.
#6. Keep Grass ShortAnother winter landscaping tip that can help you maintain your yard during the winter season is to keep the grass short. When you keep the grass shorter (between 1 and 2 inches), you reduce the risk of snow mold frostbite. Moreover, shorter grass also prevents the risk of mice digging a nest in the grass as winter approaches.
#7. Plant Winter Trees and FlowersWith the USDA plant hardiness map information, find out plants and trees that can thrive in the winter season according to your zone.
#8. Prune TreesLast on the list of winter landscaping tips is pruning your trees. When most trees' leaves are gone during the winter season, you can easily spot the damaged branches and trim them for a healthier and stronger tree in the coming spring.
For more tips on winter landscaping, get in touch with Red Mountain Landscaping.We are a full-service landscape design and maintenance company that can handle all your landscaping needs. Call now at 480-373-9312 or request a free estimate here.

Who doesn’t like a beautiful garden outside their home? Everyone does. For some, investing in a landscape design is all about self-satisfaction, while for others, it’s a way to boost the value of their property. Either way, hiring a professional landscaper is a wise thing to do.
While everyone agrees that a good landscape design adds to the appeal of any property, not many people are willing to invest the amount of money that goes into it. Understandable.
Let’s have a look at the numerous benefits of a good landscape design that make the investment worth it.
Enhances the Usability of Your Outdoor SpaceInvesting in a good landscape design can enhance the usability of your outdoor space. Having a well-design outdoor space can make the time you spend outdoors a lot more relaxing and enjoyable. You can enjoy your evening tea or read a book, or simply let the beauty of the beautiful landscape settle in.
Enhanced Curb AppealOf course, the better your landscape is, the more appealing it’ll look. Your landscape is the first thing anybody sees when they visit your property. With a modern landscape design, you can make your property a lot more attractive and welcoming. Your visitors would be drawn to your landscape and would prefer to spend time outdoors than indoors.
Increased Property ValueAnother reason why you shouldn’t think twice when getting your landscape designed is the significantly positive impact on the value of your property. A well-designed landscape enhances the curb appeal of your property and makes it a catch for home buyers. You can expect to get a good price for your property. Landscape design offers a pretty impressive ROI, making the investment worth it!
Reduced Energy CostsDid you know that a smart landscape design can help you lower your energy costs? If you hire the right landscape design professionals who place the trees just right, the amount of direct sunlight falling on your house is reduced. As a result, the load on your cooling system is reduced too, and that’s reflected in lower energy bills.
A Relaxing SpotBeing close to nature can really help you calm your nerves down and relax. If you invest in your landscape design, you’re actually doing your mental health a favor. A good landscape creates a relaxing spot within your property where you can sit back and relax. The sight of beautiful plants and colorful flowers can really make you feel good.
If you were unsure about whether or not to invest in a landscape design, we’re sure you may have changed your mind by now. Investing in a good landscape design is every bit worth it. Call the best landscape design professionals today and get the landscape transformation to begin.

When you think of landscaping designs, most homeowners think about digging out rocks and discarding them. But do you know you can add back some of the natural stones to your landscaping designs? While rocks may not be the best place for planting your favorite blooms, they can be a great way to enhance your yard’s appeal and bring along several other benefits.
Here are five desirable aspects of natural stones that make them an excellent addition to your landscape design.

Adds More to Impact

Everyone expects a green yard with colorful flowers and freshly mowed grass, but you create a more visual impact when you add natural stones to your landscaping design. Imagine a large stone placed in one corner of your yard surrounded by flower beds. Now think of the impact this simple addition can have on your otherwise forlorn garden. 

Can Be Used to Create Separation

For a good landscaping design, you need separation among various parts of your yard. Otherwise, all your plants, patio, and flower beds will look more like a mash-up of features that lack a basic structure. With natural stones in your landscaping design, you can create separations and give your yard more structure. 

Require Lesser Maintenance

With a busy lifestyle, we all prefer things that require low maintenance. Natural stones in your landscaping are perhaps one feature that would require the least maintenance. Unlike wood, natural stones don’t have to be treated or painted. Unlike grass, you don’t even have to mow or prune it. They don’t need to be watered and are very resistant to external weather conditions. So why not add natural stones to enhance your landscape design without adding to maintenance.

Protects Other Plants

Do you know you can protect your plants by adding natural stones? Yes, that’s right. Natural stones can help keep your plants from undesirable weather conditions. They are particularly helpful during the winter season when your plants are more prone to freezing as the stones’ natural heat can protect your flowers and vegetation.   

Brings Health Benefits

Add natural stones to your landscaping design can bring several health benefits. Do you know how? Simply because natural stones make your yard more appealing for you, and you end up spending more time outdoors. And of course, when you spend time in nature, you feel more relaxed as you get a chance to inhale fresh air. Moreover, you also get exposure to sunlight, which gives your bones Vitamin D and enhances mood.

Adding Natural Stones in Your Landscaping Design

Natural stones can be an excellent addition to your landscaping design. They not only add more to the visual appeal but also brings several other benefits for the homeowners. If you plan to use natural stones in your landscaping design, Red Mountain Landscaping can be your one-stop solution. To find out more about our services, get in touch now.   

With over 100 varieties of grass and several other types of hybrid sod, choosing the best one for your Arizona lawn can be a challenge. If you are new to the region or a novice landscaper, we can help you select the perfect grass for your Arizona lawn.

Seasonal Classification of Grass

Typically, the grass varieties can fall into one of the two categories; warm weather grass and cold weather grass. As the name suggests, warm-weather grasses respond favorably to warm weather and include varieties such as Bermuda grass (such as Midiron and Tifway) and St. Augustine grass. On the other hand, cold weather grasses grow fastest during the fall and spring seasons. The most popular types of cool-season grass are Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue.

3 Best Types of Grass for Your Arizona Lawn

Based on our skilled landscapers' experience with thousands of lawns around the valley, we suggest the following three best types of grass for your Arizona lawns.

Midiron

The attractive and low-maintenance turfgrass is the most widely used type of grass in Arizona lawns. The leaf's medium-coarse texture, along with a bluish-green tinge, makes it a perfect choice for Arizona lawns. Another reason that makes midiron one of Arizona lawns' best grass types is that it transitions smoothly from over-seeding during winter season. Moreover, it also get over from high traffic quickly. It is best to use a reel mower or a sharp rotary mower when mowing this type of grass.

Palmetto St Augustine

Another excellent choice for your Arizona lawn is the Palmetto St. Augustine grass. The semi-dwarf variety of glass is the best performer in shady conditions. Moreover, it can also thrive during the days and seasons with full sunlight. The soft-textured leaves are highly resistant to heat and sunlight and are therefore one of the best types of grass for your Arizona lawn. When mowing turf with Palmetto St. Augustine grass, make sure you always use a sharp rotary mower.

Tifway 419

Tifway is another best type of grass that you can work with for your Arizona lawns. It is highly durable and resistant to natural forces. Moreover, its dark green, medium fine-textured leaves give a great look to your lawn. And while tifway 419 is a popular choice for home lawns, it is an equally great option for golf courses and sports fields. You need to be extra careful when mowing Tifway 419 turf. Make sure you use a reel mower or a sharp rotary motor to give your lawn a perfectly manicured look.

Red Mountain Landscaping

Setting up and maintaining a lawn in Arizona can be a daunting task but not when you choose the right type of grass and work only with the best professionals. Red Mountain Landscaping is a one-stop solution for all your needs. To find out more about what we offer and how, get in touch now. 

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No matter the season, it is never too late to transform your garden. And sod is a great solution for this. But, it is essential to know that you need to take care of sod and maintain it regularly.

If you are the type of person who wants an incredible landscape but are unable to take out time for maintenance because of your schedule, you can look for other alternatives like artificial turf. You can weigh down the pros and cons and then decide which option will work best for you.

As for sod, we have listed all the steps to laying sod so that any questions that you may have in mind can be cleared out before you finalize the decision.

Prepare Soil

The first and fundamental step is definitely to prepare the soil for the sod. Whether you are learning the process of how to lay sod for the first time or you want to brush up your memory, never forget this basic yet significant step of laying sod. You will be using a rototiller to first loosen up a few inches of soil, preferably 6-8 inches for the sod.

Check pH and Add Organic Matter

Even before preparing the soil, you need to check the pH of the soil to make sure that it is optimum for the sod to be placed. A pH between 6.5-7, i.e. towards the acidic side, would be the best rate for placing sod. Once you are done with that, and you have also prepared the soil, you would have to put in some organic matter or soil nutrients so that you can ensure that the soil will be able to provide a healthy environment to the sod that will be placed.

Rake the Soil

Another very essential step is to rake the soil so that it can be made sure that the soil is at the same level. This is very important because if not, the sod will not lay properly on an uneven surface. Hence, you must use a rake to flatten the surface on which the sod can be placed appropriately.

To make sure that there are no uneven surfaces, water the area and see if any damps are being created. If so, fill those areas and flatten the surface well before jumping to the next step!

Lay the Sod

Finally, you can now lay the sod on the surface that is now completely ready for it. The sod will come in a particular size, and so you need to make sure that you place it in straight rows one after another without leaving any gap in between.

Be extra sure about NOT placing small pieces towards the edges as they might dry out and die early if placed on the corners. You can fill in the gaps through the leftover turf in the middle though.

Roll the Sod and Watering Procedure

Once the turf is completely placed, use a roller over the sod to make sure that everything is settled. After which you need to take care of the watering procedure. At the start, make sure to water the sod every day more frequently, eventually shifting to twice a week in your 2nd or 3rd week. Once four weeks have passed, watering once a week either through rain or irrigation should be enough!

We hope that this guide has helped you understand the process better. If you are looking for more creative landscaping ideas, contact Red Mountain Landscaping today, and we will help you build the dream landscaping for your home!

 

If you wish to bring the level of your property’s aesthetics up to the next level, investing in a good landscape design is one of the best ways to go about it. A well-designed and well-maintained landscape can completely transform your property in all the good light, making it a worthy investment.
If you were inspired by a landscape design that you saw somewhere and wish to get a similar one for your property, you should understand that the landscape design depends on various factors. Just because you liked a certain landscape design doesn’t mean you can replicate the same at your property. Many factors come into play when you’re getting your landscape design. Let’s see what these factors are.

1.     The Soil of Your Property

The plant variety forms a critical part of a landscape. And the type of plants that you can grow at your property depends on the type of soil. Not all soil types are suitable for growing all plant varieties. If you want your landscape to breathe life to your property all year long, you should only opt for the plants that can be grown in the soil type of your property. Who knew soil could be one of the factors that influence landscape design?

2.     Purpose

One question that you must ask yourself before getting your landscape revamped is, what are you planning to use the outdoor space for? Is it only for aesthetic purposes, or do you plan on hosting outdoor parties or plan to use for a relaxing time with your family? Depending on what the purpose of the outdoor space will be, the landscape design features will vary. You can’t spend a hefty amount of money on exquisite grass if you know kids will be playing around. Similarly, you’ll have to consider installing appropriate lights and seating if you plan to use your outdoor space for formal and informal gatherings,

3.     Maintenance and Upkeep

You can’t expect your landscape to keep looking as it did on the first day. Like everything else, your landscape needs regular maintenance work. The more attention you give to the maintenance of your landscape, the longer it’ll retain its aesthetic appeal. Some landscape designs may demand more upkeep than others. Your choice of landscape design varies depending on how much time and money you’re willing to invest in your landscape’s maintenance.

4.     Budget

Of course, your budget is one of the biggest factors that influence your landscape design. Every landscape design comes at a different cost. The more money you’re willing to spend, the more features you can add to your landscape design.

Summary

You can get your landscape designed as per your preferences. All you need to keep in mind is that every property is different, and not every landscape design can be implemented everywhere. There are many factors that influence landscape design. Having a professional landscape company do the job for you is the wisest thing to do as they’ll take care of all the physical and mental work for you!

One of the finest ways of keeping your property exterior looking great is installing the artificial turf. Artificial turf, unlike natural grass, stays green and lively all through the year, and that too, with minimal maintenance. Homeowners who’re as conscious about the outdoors as well as the indoors often get artificial turf installed to have the outdoor aesthetics sorted.

Although artificial turf is low-maintenance, it does take some effort on the homeowner’s part to keep it looking great. If you’re concerned about your aesthetics losing its vibrant and attractive appearance, continue reading the artificial turf maintenance tips listed below.

1.     Treatment of Mild Stains

Your artificial turf is prone to getting dirty. From kids and pets playing around to backyard BBQ activities, your artificial grass is exposed to extensive wear and tear and is sure to catch some stains. It would be best if you didn’t let the mild stains stay for long. It would be best if you cleaned them as soon as you see them. Stains like that of pet urine, alcohol, blood, tea, cola, etc. are quite easy to clean. All you’ve to do is clean the stain with a mixture of household detergent and water or 3% ammonia and water solution. What you need to make sure is to treat the stains promptly to have your artificial turf looking good for longer!

2.     Treatment of Stubborn Stains

Your artificial turf may catch stains that are tougher to clean, like that of oil and grease. These stains look unsightly and can greatly affect the appearance of your artificial turf. To maintain the artificial turf in its best condition, you should treat tough stains as soon as your turf gets them. Try cleaning them with household detergent or ammonia solution. Still, if that doesn’t work, you can try using mineral spirits that will help you draw the stain content out and make the cleaning process quicker and easier. Again, the tip for maintaining your artificial turf is to clean the stains at the soonest.

3.     Clean Sticky Stuff

Sticky stuff like chewing gum is much harder to remove, and that shouldn’t be a reason for you not attempting to clean it. Let’s face it – blots of sticky substance on your artificial turf are a complete turn-off. Use aerosol refrigerants or dry ice to freeze the sticky substance and then scrap it off the artificial turf. It is one of the best artificial turf maintenance tips that not many people are aware of.

4.     Invest In Essential Lawn Equipment

If you’re getting artificial turf installed, invest in essential lawn tools as well. Tools like a garden hose and lawn blower are great tools that’ll help you keep your artificial turf looking great. You wouldn’t be very willing to have a professional to simply blow the fallen leaves off, because that’s something you can conveniently do yourself!

Summary

Following the artificial turf maintenance tips will ensure that your landscape is looking great at all times, whether its winter, summer, or autumn. If you’re extremely conscious and wish your artificial turf to look as good as new for days to come, you can always have a professional landscaper come over for the regular maintenance.

The purpose of a landscape project is more or less the same, whether it’s a residential property or a commercial property, that is – to improve the outdoor appearance of the property. While you may think that planting a variety of colorful plants is all it takes to build a breathtakingly beautiful landscape, you’ll be surprised at how much goes into making a landscape one that catches attention.
Not every landscape design looks good. In an attempt to make the landscape attractive, many people end up over-doing it. However, there are certain qualities that make a landscape design good. If you know what contributes to good landscape design, you’ll be able to build a landscape that is truly worth the praise. Let’s see some of the major qualities of good landscape design.

1.     Attractive Appearance

Of course, your landscape has to be attractive. After all, this is why you’re putting in so much money! So, the first and foremost quality of a good landscape design is that it looks attractive. It’s neither over-done nor under-done. It catches attention and makes the visitor go ‘wow!’

2.     Inviting

Good landscape design is the one that makes people want to visit your property. This is specifically important for commercial properties. Apart from looking good, it should be inviting. Some ways to make your landscape more exciting is by including pathways, fountains, seating arrangements, etc. You can choose the number and type of elements as per your preference.

3.     Individuality

Just like your home is a representation of your style and taste, your landscape should be the same. If you have a modern taste in home décor, your landscape should represent that taste. However, if you’re more of a traditional person, people should be able to tell that much just by looking at your landscape. The closer it is to your personality, the better it is.

4.     Functionality

If a landscape design doesn’t offer functionality, it is not good – plain and simple. A landscape design must allow easy navigation around the yard. It should have accessible and neat pathways so that you or your visitors can conveniently roam around. Moreover, if you’ve had your landscape designed to enjoy quality time outdoors, it should have the right outdoor furniture to support the purpose. Good landscape design is the one that offers the highest degree of functionality.

5.     Practical

Good landscape design offers practicality. Get a very fancy, high-maintenance landscape design is great, but if it means that you’re not able to maintain it in the long run, that’s your investment down the drain. Make sure that you get a landscape design that’s easy to maintain in the future.

Summary

Investing in a good landscape design is definitely worth it! However, you should make sure that it has all the qualities of a good landscape. One way to ensure this is to hire a professional landscaper to do the job for you.

What is the first thing that visitors see when they visit you? It’s your front yard, of course. A visitor can tell a lot about you, your personality, and your style sense before entering your home just by looking at your front yard. It is, therefore, important that you pay close attention to how your yard looks.
Hiring a professional landscaper to revamp your yard is a great option, but it comes with a price that not many people are eager to pay. Spending money on getting your front yard revamped is not just a home improvement project but an investment that comes with great returns. We’ve listed down some of the reasons why we say landscaping is a good investment.

1.     Boosts the Value of Your Home

One of the most obvious reasons why you should invest in landscaping is that it increases the value of your property in the market. If you invest in a good landscape, you’re likely to get a return of 100 to 200% of your investment at the time of sale, which is more than what you get from kitchen or bathroom remodels. Buyers are more than willing to pay a higher price for properties that have a beautiful landscape.

2.     Increased Aesthetic Appeal

Another reason why landscaping is a good investment is the increased aesthetic appeal. Your property looks a lot more beautiful when there are colorful flowers and outdoor decoration accessories in the front yard. Landscaping makes your property more attractive and even the talk of the town!

3.     Cuts Down Energy Costs

Did you know that investing in a good landscape can help you save on energy costs? That is entirely true. The presence of trees reduces the amount of sunlight that falls directly on your house and hence, keeps your house cooler. With that, the load on the cooling system is reduced greatly. Similarly, trees also reduce the intensity of cold winds that your house in winters, reducing the load on your heating system. When the load on the cooling and heating systems is reduced, there is a noticeable reduction in your energy bills.

4.     Improved Coordination Between Indoors and Outdoors

Most of the time, people spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on renovating the inside of their homes without realizing that it can create a major disconnect between the indoors and outdoors. What truly improves the value and appeal of your property is when both the indoors and outdoors of your home are equally good looking. The improved coordination between inside and outside of your home is another reason why landscaping is a good investment.

5.     Optimizes the Use of Available Outdoor Space

The front yard of your property is a valuable outdoor space that often goes unutilized. Investing in good landscaping brings this outdoor space in excellent use, which eventually gives you tremendous returns on investment.

Summary

Landscaping is a good investment for all the right reasons. It improves the appeal of your property, increases the value of your property, brings unused outdoor space in good use, and makes the indoors and outdoors of your property highly coordinated. The only thing you should keep in mind is that you can only reap the benefits of landscaping if you hire professional landscapers to do the job.

As a homeowner, your first priority is to make your home look beautiful and attractive. The first and most important part of any property is its yard. Your yard is the first thing that visitors see. If you want to make next-level up-gradation to your property, we suggest you start with adding an artificial landscape to your property.
If you’re convinced with the idea of investing in a landscape, you got to make sure that you hire the right professional to do the job. Below is a list of qualities that you should look for in a professional landscaper before you hire them.

1.     List of Referrals

The most reliable way of knowing whether the landscaper you’re considering is the right one is to evaluate their track record. Request the landscape company for a list of referrals so that you hear from the previous customers about how good the company is at their job. Firsthand experiences will give you an excellent idea of what to expect from the landscape company that you’re planning to hire.

2.     Experienced Staff

Patio design, lawn mowing, pruning, and other landscape-related activities require proper training and equipment. A landscape company that is still new in the field might not be as experienced and trained as a company that has been doing the work for several years. Before you hire a landscape company, make sure to ask them for how long have they been working. It will help you get an idea about how skilled they are at their job.

3.     Customer Service

One of the most important qualities to look for in a professional landscaper is their customer service. The landscaper should be highly committed to satisfying their customers. Before you hire a landscaper, pay close attention to how soon do they respond to your queries and how willing are they to entertain you. Moreover, keep a close eye on their attitude when you ask them simple queries during the process. If a landscape company doesn’t respond to you actively or has no patience to entertain queries that are too simple for them, you should look for other options.

4.     All-Year-Round Services

Your yard needs attention throughout the air. Whether it is spring clean up for preparing the yard for winters, you’ll need services of a professional landscaper. If the landscaper you’re planning to hire is available only during certain months of the year, look around for other companies that operate all-year-round.

5. Transparency

​If a landscape company isn’t transparent in their charges, consider it a red flag. Transparency is one of the qualities that you should look for in a professional landscaper. The quotation they give should have all charges clearly mentioned.

Summary

Hiring the right professional landscaper can be challenging since all of them would claim big, but only a few will be able to live up to their promises. To make sure that the professional landscaper that you’re planning to hire is the choice, ensure that they’ve got a good repute, have experienced staff, provide survives in all seasons, and are transparent in charges.