The lawn is a vital part of your property’s landscape. As much as a well-maintained lawn looks beautiful, it takes a lot of manual effort and time to keep it looking like that. One way you can make your lawn maintenance easier and less time consuming is by installing an irrigation system. The installation of an irrigation system is a major home improvement project that will make your life easier and keep your lawn looking its best every day.
If you’re planning on installing a new irrigation system in your lawn, you might find the list of factors that will help you choose the ideal irrigation system for your lawn quite helpful.

1. The Topography of the Lawn

Considering the topography of your lawn is the most important consideration when you are getting an irrigation system installed.  You need to see if your lawn is situated on a flat piece of land or a slope. Watering plants on a sloped surface is more challenging because the chances of water run-off are higher. In such cases, you will have to adjust the run time; hence, an adjustable irrigation system is what you should consider.

Moreover, parts of your lawn that have native plants need to be watered less as compared to areas where you have planted non-native or vegetable plants. An ideal irrigation system for your lawn will be the one that meets all the watering needs of your lawn.

2. Soil Type

Not all types of soil are the same. The water absorption capacity of every soil type is different. For example, sandy soil absorbs less water as compared to clay soil. Therefore, the type of soil that you have in your lawn needs to be considered before you invest in any lawn irrigation system. There are basically two types of lawn irrigation systems; drip irrigation systems that send water to the roots and sprayers that send water up in the air. The ideal irrigation system for your garden will be the one that ensures the maximum amount of water needs of the soil are met. 

3. Plant Types

Different types of plants have different water needs. Depending on whether you have vegetable beds, hanging baskets, shrubs, trees, containers, annual beds, or seedbeds, the type of irrigation system will vary. An ideal irrigation system would ensure that all the plants get the amount of water that they need to thrive.

4. Weather

Weather is an important consideration when it comes to choosing the best irrigation system for your lawn. If the weather in the area that you live in is hot or windy, most of the water will be lost due to evaporation. In such areas, the ideal irrigation system is the drip type.

Summary

Choosing an ideal irrigation system for your lawn can be tough if you don’t bring into consideration some important factors. To be able to make the right choice, you have to consider the topography of your lawn, type of soil and plants in your lawn, and the weather of your region. 

Building landscapes is a great way of giving your home an organic and a lush feel. As much landscaping can make your property look prettier, you may feel that there is a lack of aesthetics and utility. This can be brought about with the help of human made structures. The art of using low-maintenance and durable materials like stone, concrete, and wood to enhance the value of your property is known as hardscaping.
Hardscaping involves making paved pathways, patios, fountains, and decks in the backyard or garden. If you want to make your outdoor space functional and also highly appealing, hardscaping is probably the best way to achieve it. Hardscaping is associated with numerous benefits, which are as follows:

1.     Low-Maintenance

The most appealing of all benefits is that hardscapes are extremely low-maintenance. Once it is in place, it can stay intact for many years to come with little or no maintenance. Unlike landscapes that require regular watering, trimming, mowing, and pruning, a hardscape is made of durable material that needs no effort from your end.

2.     Water-Efficient

Maintaining your landscape can be a lot of hard work. You have to make sure that your plants and flowers are watered regularly and adequately. This can be particularly difficult in areas where there is a shortage of water. On the contrary, hardscape maintenance requires no watering. One of the benefits of hardscapes is its water efficiency, which is specifically useful for dry and hot regions.

3.     Increased Value of Property

A huge percentage of buyers look for an already-built outdoor space, where they can relax when they are looking for a house to buy. Building a hardscape is an effective way of adding more usable space to your property. This makes your house a catch in the market, which means that potential buyers will be willing to pay more for it.

4.     Entertainment Space

A hardscape is an extension of your living space, which is a bonus. You can use this additional space for entertainment activities like hosting BBQ parties and other outdoor gatherings with your loved ones. This marks one of the most prominent benefits of hardscapes that make them an all more appealing option.

5.     Reduced Erosion

Hardscaping involves covering the area with strong and durable materials like stone and concrete. When your land is covered, the soil underneath is protected from erosion. Reduced erosion means that your ground will stay intact for many years to come.

6.     Adds Dimension

Flat, wide-open backyards have become old-school. Adding hardscapes enables you to add multiple dimensions to your outdoor space with each level having defined edges and visually appealing walkways, followed by fences and pergolas. It allows you to modernize your backyards and gardens, which is also one of the benefits of hardscapes.

Summary

There are many benefits of hardscapes, including little or no maintenance, water-efficiency, the aesthetic appeal, increased value of the property, additional usable space, etc. which makes them quite an appealing option. 

A well-kept lawn can increase the aesthetic appeal of any property by several folds. A lawn with well-trimmed, green grass, and blooming flowers is not just a pleasant sight to look at, but it is a vital part of the landscape of your property. However, if you live in a region where the weather is mostly warm, drought conditions are common, and water scarcity prevails, maintaining a lawn becomes challenging.
Just because the weather conditions of your region do not allow you to have a well-kept garden doesn’t mean you can’t have one. With artificial turf, it is possible to have a blooming garden all year long, without any violations of landscaping guidelines or water restrictions. The numerous benefits of artificial turf are listed down below:

1. Minimal Maintenance

Unlike natural grass, artificial turf needs no maintenance. It does need to be watered or trimmed. Minimal maintenance is one of the biggest benefits of artificial turf. The time that you would have spent in trimming the grass can now be utilized in more productive or fun activities with your family.

2. No Puddles

When the ground is uneven and consists of grooves, water may accumulate and form puddles. However, when artificial turf is being laid down, the ground is first evened and smoothed out so that no water puddles form. Small irrigation channels may also be added to make sure that any excess water is drained out and does not form pools in your garden. Your yard will stay tidy and dry, which is another of the many benefits of artificial turf.

3. No Grass Stains

Grass can leave stains on the clothes when you sit down or the grass or while your kids play around in the yard. One of the many benefits of artificial turf is that you don’t have to worry about unsightly stains on your light-colored clothes.

4. No Bare Spots

As you walk, run, or play around in your garden, bare spots may form on the grass. The formation of these ruts, pathways, or bare spots looks unattractive. However, this isn’t the case with artificial turf. No matter how roughly you use it, it will always stay lush and green. It is extremely resilient and can resist the constant pressure, maintaining its vibrancy.

5. Shade or Sunlight Isn’t an Issue

Real grass can burn when the temperature outside is too hot and can even wither when there is no sunlight. However, one of the most prominent benefits of artificial turf is, shade or no shade, it doesn’t really matter. Your garden will look fresh and alive at all times throughout the year.

6. Safer

Soil and real grass may be loaded with harmful microorganisms. However, artificial turf is mostly treated with an anti-bacterial coating that keeps your kids and pets safe from infections. You can now let your kids play all they want without worrying that they’ll get sick or get bitten by insects.

Summary

​There are many benefits of artificial turf, including aesthetic appeal, minimal maintenance, the safety of the inhabitants of your home, and its long-lasting nature. Therefore, if you’re planning on getting artificial turf installed, do it right away!

A beautiful landscape can make an ordinary house look extraordinary. A well-maintained, carefully designed landscape makes your property a lot more pleasing to look at and increases its value in the market significantly.
When you’re planning on getting landscape remodeling done, the final picture of your landscape comes down to the landscaper you hire for the job. Not all landscapers are good at what they do, and not all of them live up to the commitments they make at the start of the project.  To be sure that you’re choosing the right landscaper for your landscape remodeling project, go through the tips listed below.

1.     Do Your Research

Do thorough research before hiring any landscaper. Explore different local landscaper options that you have and compare them. Ask them for references, as references are a great way of finding out whether a landscaper is good at their job or not. Most importantly, check their pricing plans.

You should not trust the services of a landscaper who quotes an extremely cheap price because, at the end of the day, you get what you paid for. Once you have evaluated these aspects and considered these factors, choose a landscaper that has the best reviews and affordable rates.

2.     Keep Your Options Open

Do not settle for any landscaper for your landscape remodeling all at once. Keep your options open. You will come across many contractors whose packages will vary depending on the task at hand, areas in which they provide services, and their specializations.

As was said in the previous point, do thorough research on the landscapers in your areas, as well as landscaping companies. Landscaping companies are also known as landscape design firms, lawn care companies, and landscape maintenance companies, so don’t be confused by the different names when you’re doing your research.

3.     Have Clear Idea of What You Want

Before you do anything, you should have a clear idea of what exactly you want to achieve. You can start by showing the potential contractor a picture of the model you have in mind. See how well they entertain your wishes and requests. Make a list of all that you want to get done and compare this list with the services they offer to see if they have expertise in that area.

4.     Ask Around

Word of mouth holds a lot of weight. Ask around in your circle of friends, family, and colleagues about a particular landscaper you’re considering, and see what they have to say about them. If the reviews are positive, it’s highly like that the landscaper you’ve chosen will be a good fit for your landscape remodeling project. 

If you come across a negative review, ask the person why they felt that way about the landscaper and their work. You need to do all this to ensure that you’re not disappointed with the final landscape that you get.

5.     Customer Service

No matter how experienced a particular landscaper is, no matter how good their reputation is, or how long they have been in the business, if they don’t provide proper customer service, you should stop considering them immediately. If they don’t know how to engage with you or entertain your requests, they are not the right landscaper for your landscape remodeling project.

Summary

The right landscaper for your landscape remodeling project is one who has considerable experience, a good reputation, and excellent communication skills. 

Landscape design transforms your yard into a beautiful retreat. While most of us prefer spending most of our time indoors, we can’t deny the appeal of a beautiful, attractive, and well-maintained yard. The sight of nature and the fragrance of flowers is enough to lift our spirits like magic.
Landscaping not only makes your property beautiful, it benefits you in ways you may have never thought of before. We have listed down numerous ways in which you can benefit from landscaping, and we’re pretty sure that you’ll be ready to revamp your garden before you’re done reading this blog post!

1. Increased Value of Your Property

Landscaping can increase the resale value of your property by an incredible 14% (Reference: The Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association). No matter how impressive your indoor décor is, a bad landscape can be a massive turn off for anyone who is visiting your property with the intention of buying it.  A good landscape leaves an excellent first impression on potential buyers of your property, making your property a lot more desirable and valuable.

2. Prevents Erosion

Erosion can be quite dangerous. Wind and rain can shift the soil away from garden beds. It can even dislodge rocks if the area is relatively steep. This poses a serious risk to the safety of your property and family. However, a good landscape design, with plenty of plants, will hold the soil back and prevent erosion, while keeping your property attractive. The use of retaining walls in landscaping also keeps the soil in its place and provides a nice framework for the plants.

3. Reduces Air Pollution

Landscaping your property will improve the quality of air around your home. Plants are capable of absorbing harmful chemicals and pollutants, and thus, they serve to purify the air, making the environment healthier.

4. Good for Health

Landscaping can have a number of benefits for your health. Just looking at plants and being close to nature is believed to reduce blood pressure. Walking through an environment that is natural and fresh is said to improve memory and attention. Moreover, people who live in greener communities have been seen to have lower stress levels.

5. Prevents Flooding

Proper drainage plans that are the result of smart landscaping can greatly reduce the runoff of storm water and help in the prevention of flooding. The flooding of the yard can damage the plants and even make the space unusable. However, if you landscape your yard, the rainwater will be diverted towards the designated drainage, keeping your yard and the plants safe.

6. Encourages Quality Family Time

If your yard is well-maintained and pleasant to be in, your family is more likely to spend a lot of time outdoors together. You can enjoy yourself by playing games, having a family barbecue, or even just letting nature soothe you while you relax in the garden. Landscaping definitely encourages quality family time.

Summary

Landscaping your property not only increases the value of your property but also has several benefits for your health and the environment. 

Have you ever considered selling your house at some point? For many people, a house is a stable financial asset that keeps appreciating in value. However, in rare cases, a homeowner fails to get a good deal on their house. If you are worried about whether your house will make the cut for being sold at a higher price, this article is just for you. Here, we will share some helpful tips on boosting your home’s resale value.
You might be familiar with the phrase that a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover. Unfortunately, when it comes to buying or selling a house, its curb appeal matters. This is why it is important to pay attention to the exterior of your house to boost its resale value.

Tips that Could Boost Your House's Value

1. Curb Appeal

Maintaining the exterior of your house may seem like a daunting and expensive task. However, the $2000-3000 spent on updating the paint or doing basic landscaping can significantly increase the market value of your home. If you are planning to sell your house in the near future, do carry out weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly landscape maintenance.

2. Go Green

With the threat of global warming growing at an unprecedented rate, potential homebuyers are more interested in buying homes that are mindful of energy conservation. This means that if you install solar panels on your roof, your house might sell out quickly. Even though you might be worried about the cost of investing in solar panels, these panels will play a big role in reducing your electricity bill. So installing solar panels is not only beneficial for your house sale, but it will also help you save some money.

3. Paint Job

The exterior of your house is the first thing that people notice. If it is not visually appealing, chances are people won't be interested in touring the house. While you can paint any color on your house, if you are concerned about the resale value of your house, avoid bright colors. Bright colors look marvelously beautiful in photos, but they are not liked by many people. Also, bright colors are a personal choice. So, you have to be mindful of the fact that a potential buyer may not like the color of the paint on your walls. In such cases, neutral colors are a safe bet. Colors like white, beige, light grey, or a mix of grey and beige have a good overall appeal.

4. Landscape Architects

Good landscape designs will definitely grab the attention of a large number of people. So, instead of leaving your yard as it is, give it a makeover as doing so will add a couple of $1,000 to the value of your house.

Summary

​If you are planning to resell your house, use these tips effectively to boost the value of your house. Would-be buyers will be more interested in buying a house which is visually appealing. 

Many people loved the look of the beds of green grass in either their yard or on the rooftop. But they get intimidated by the level of maintenance the beautiful lawn required. In addition, at times when water is increasingly becoming scarce, people are now opting for synthetic or artificial turf to give an appealing touch to their house without having to worry about mowing or watering the grass.
But this doesn't mean that after the installation of the artificial turf, you have nothing to do with its maintenance. If you want to ensure the long life of your turf, you have to pay attention to its regular maintenance. In this article, we will discuss how to properly manage the turf in your house.

How Frequently Should You Clean Your Turf

The question regarding the frequency of your cleaning activity highly depends on the extent to which the turf is used. If you have children or pets, walk or sit on the turf regularly, or have plenty of trees and shrub in close proximity of the turf, you will have to clean it regularly - perhaps, weekly. However, if you use the area not so frequently, you can schedule a monthly cleaning of the turf.

How to Remove Pet Waste from the Turf

It doesn't matter how well your pets are trained, they may use any surface as their litterbox. If you find that your pet has treated your beautiful turf as their bathroom, treat the area immediately. Use a scooper or a plastic bag to remove the waste and then hose down the area. If the smell persists, use a turf deodorizer to remove the lingering odor. Since pets love to relieve themselves on specific places, make sure to frequently hose down the area even if there are no visible marks of animal waste.

How to Remove Spills, Chewing Gum, and Other Items from the Turf

You have a small-scale party at your home, allowing your guests to use the area where you have laid down the appealing turf. Once the guests leave and you start cleaning up, you see either spills, mustard or ketchup stains or chewing gum on the turf. Since turfs are stain-resistant, you really don't have to spend hours trying to remove these items. The best thing to do is to rinse the area with water as soon as you spot the stain. If the stain remains, try treating it with the mixture of either natural soap and water or half part vinegar and half part water. In case, you see a stubborn gum on your turf, treat the area with ice cubes first to remove the particles easily.

​How to Remove Bacteria from the Turf

You really don't have to worry about bacteria buildup if your turf is maintained properly. However, if you think that there are bacteria present in your turf, you can treat it by using the mixture of water and vinegar (in the same ratio) to remove bacteria.

Summary

Since the maintenance of artificial turfs is super easy, they are the top choice of many homeowners. Follow this guide to maintain your turf. 

Everyone loves to have a manicured, highly maintained yard in their houses that increases the value of their property. However, this aesthetically appealing part of your property comes with a big responsibility: landscape maintenance.
The small garden in your house will look like a sepia-tinted picture that you can easily find in old photo albums. It is important to keep your garden clean and visually appealing. While it is easy to take care of the yard for the rest of the year, you don't have the energy to pay attention to landscape maintenance during winter. Yeah, we understand. It's the cold that should be blamed.
But, maintaining your yard during winter is important to ensure that you have a green and clean garden in spring. Ah, even the thought of blooming flowers makes us happy! Here are some lawn care tips that you can employ to keep your lawn well-maintained.

1. Clear Your Yard

At this time, your lawn may be covered with autumn leaves. If it looks like a tedious task, you can always call a professional to get rid of piles of leaves. In addition, get rid of all kinds of tools and toys. If these items are left in the garden for too long, they will prevent the growth of grass.

2. Minimize Foot Traffic

You have to make serious efforts to minimize the foot traffic on the grass. If you cut a path across the grass, your lawn will take longer to recover. While your guests - and even you - can easily avoid walking on the lawn during summer when the grass is greener, you have to cautiously avoid treading on the lawn in winter. In this regard, it is also important to keep your pathways clear so that you or your guests are not tempted to walk on the lawn.

3. Don't Use Too Much Salt

Many homeowners use salt to get rid of the mountains of snow in their backyard. While this seems like a harmless home remedy, it actually has damaging side effects. The salt can damage your trees by keeping water away from them. When you are deicing, use products that contain calcium chloride because this compound does not harm your lawn.

4.  Snow Removal

Inspect whether your trees' branches can survive heavy snowload. If there are any weak branches, tie them together so that they don't break during a snowstorm. Also, when you are removing the snow settled on the branches, don't shake the branches as it will break them. Instead, brush the snow off.

5. Use Mulch

A layer of mulch around the trees, which is a good nutrient for your grass, provides winter protection to your landscape. The mulch will also maintain the temperature of the soil around the roots, helping the trees grow at a normal pace.

Summary

​Taking care of your lawn during winter is not as difficult as you think it to be. With the proper steps, you can easily shield your young trees and the lawn against any damage. 

A sports playing field must always be in top-notch condition.
The artificial turf on a field has a huge impact on the outcome of the game and the health and safety of the players. The turf’s condition will affect the players’ speed on the field as well as the aesthetics of the game.
For optimum performance, it’s important to regularly maintain the turf on the field. Quite often due to budget constraints, lack of knowledge, or poor time allocation, synthetic turf maintenance does not receive the attention it requires.
Experts suggest that maintenance of artificial turf be carried out after every 40 hours of use. This procedure entails:

Grooming of Turf

For proper functionality, the infill layer of your turf needs to be kept even. Regular combing ensures that it remains level and upright across the surface. If the fibers are upright, it will ensure proper footing and ball bounce and make your field look great for longer.
To groom synthetic turf properly, purchase a nylon or polypropylene bristle with a comb attachment and brush regularly. Groom on dry days and in different directions. Appoint a maintenance person to inspect the turf regularly and make sure it stays looking good.

Disinfecting the Turf

Due to the nature of sports, synthetic turfs can get pretty nasty very fast. Sweat, blood, spit, rain, mud and spilled drinks can all accumulate and contaminate the turf. Thus, it is important to regularly disinfect the surface.
In order to do this, purchase an industrial synthetic turf disinfectant (which is EPA approved) and follow the instructions on the product labeling. Remember to wear protective clothing, gloves and safety glasses as you go about disinfecting.

Keeping the Turf Clean

Do not allow waste to gather on the turf. Sweep away leaves, waste papers, wrappers, animal droppings, broken equipment and chewing gum as soon as possible after every game. Do not let debris or any petroleum based liquids to seep into the surface otherwise they will damage the infill.
In order to get rid of metal debris from the field, use cleaning equipment that comes with a magnet and gathers all ferrous metal objects as you clean. Spray the field with pesticides and herbicides as and when required. When the field is not in use, consider covering the turf with tarp to keep it clean.

Maintaining Turf Infill

​Infill levels need to be monitored and maintained to prolong the life of the artificial turf. High traffic areas such as goals, sidelines, centerfields, entries and exits may require regular infill top offs. Use an infill depth gauge to measure infill levels. Grooming brushes and rakes can be used to keep infill distributed evenly and maintain surface consistency.
 
Summary:
​
Proper maintenance of artificial turf can really prolong the life and boost the appearance of a playing field. It also minimizes risks of injury to players and ensures smooth game play. Synthetic turfs needs to be cleaned and groomed daily, deep cleaned and disinfected occasionally and have their infill levels monitored. For more questions about artificial turf maintenance and installation, ask your local service providers. 

Owning a home is just not enough. Maintaining and making sure you do periodic upkeep work is also a part of the deal. The exterior of your house is as important as the interior since this is what makes the first impression. Not to forget the fact that having a well-maintained exterior increases the value of your property as well!
Landscaping of the home is a very time-consuming task. If you set out to do it yourself, it may take an entire day or maybe more, depending on what you are trying to achieve. This is where landscaping services enter the picture. The expertise of a professional landscaper comes in handy at this point.
Let’s have a look at the reasons why should you hire a professional landscaper for landscaping services.

Professional Landscaper Knows What They Are Doing
Landscaping does not involve just digging in the soil or pulling out the weed. It is a lot more than that. A professional landscaper knows things that a non-professional landscaper may not know. They know the nitty-gritty of maintenance. They know what plants need what kind of environment. They can analyze the quality of the soil, its pH, and other critical factors. Therefore, with the help of a professional landscaper, you can have a beautiful exterior all year long!

Professional Landscapers are Creative
Professional landscapers are extremely particular about their craft. Landscaping requires utilizing creative skills to create a space that is ideal and aesthetically pleasing, with science and art combined in the right proportions. Your landscaper will make sure the color themes they pick go well with the exterior of your house. They can also achieve a look that you may have seen somewhere in a magazine and have been dreaming of getting it.

Landscapers Can Dave Your Time
After working through the week, most people are not welcoming to the idea of spending their weekends digging into the soil and redoing their flower bed. They don’t want to spend their leisure time in breaking their backs. Professional landscapers can save you from all the trouble and take things in their hands. All you have to do is- communicate your requirements, sit back, relax, and see the landscape of your dreams come to life.

Professional Landscapers Can Help You Save Some Bucks
If you are re-doing the landscape of your house yourself, you may end up bringing home the incorrect things. You may end up selecting the wrong plants. You may even end up with a result that you just did not want! That means a lot of money can go down the drain. Hiring a professional landscape service provider can save you all the money. They will do all the right things the first time only.
​
Professional Landscaper Provide Complete Services
A professional landscaper will take care of the job from beginning till the end. They will take care of the purchasing the right things, revamping your landscape, and even take care of anything that may affect how your landscape looks such as lighting.

Professional Landscaper will Trim around Your Patio Covers
If you own a patio cover or pergola, a professional landscaper will trim around the footings and keep the overall look of your outdoor living space clean and well maintained!

Summary
It is not wrong to say that hiring professional landscaper can make your life easier and your landscaper more attractive. What else does one need?
If you are looking professional landscaping services in Arizona, Red Mountain Landscaping is the one for you.