The ideal location for a landscaping pond is in a part of the yard that gets continuous sunlight. A pond that is completely shaded will have trouble supporting plants that need light to survive. A pond too close to trees may soon become covered in leaves and suffer from stagnation from rotting organic material.
Open areas are therefore much more practical both from the standpoint of aquatic vegetation and practical water management. On an aesthetic level, it works best to have a landscaping pond built in …

By their very nature, luxury gardens lend a sense of order and system to a property. They are distinguished by a clear sense of formality and symmetry and work to create a zone of refined outdoor living space in a yard. Plants have to be continually tended to in order to maintain appropriate size and form. A landscape maintenance contract is necessary to keep these very special gardens in top condition.
Luxury gardens are normally built in a remote part of a lot-typically in the corner. The size …

Planting gardens in your Houston landscape is a critical and fun part of your total landscape design. Critical because gardens, whether a bed of bushes, flowers, trees or combination thereof, add texture, interest, variety and dimensionality to your yards. And fun because planting gardens allow you to show your creativity and preferences.
The best place to start with planting gardens is the base, your planting soil. The most fertile and productive soil is a mixture of fibrous soil, rock particles and minerals, organic matter, oxygen, water and micro-organisms. This combo …

Spring is a beautiful time of year. With the promise of new life in the air and new plants popping out of the ground, spring is a great time to work in the garden.
With the beautiful plants that resurface after winter time also comes the weeds. Every year they return.
Some weeds are easily recognizable and easy to get rid of while other weeds seem to be impossible. Do not let the weeds in your garden spot get you down they are conquerable.
Having a sound understanding …

Weeds are nature’s healing remedy for sites that are in a wounded, plantless state, but weeds and gardeners have different ideas of what makes for a good recovery. Armed with a better understanding of weeds and the strategies outlined here, you can win every future skirmish, giving you more time to enjoy your well-groomed garden.
Sleeping weeds
Kill weeds at their roots but leave the soil-and dormant weed seeds-largely undisturbed. Every square inch of your garden contains weed seeds, but only those in the top inch or two of soil get enough …

Isn’t it quite nice to see weeds shrivel up in the sun after you’ve pulled them out of your beautiful garden? The best place to put them is a compost pile, or bin.
Though weeds you pull usually have seeds and the best way to kill them are by raising the temperature in the heap.
Below are some tips on how to sufficiently compost your weeds.
Keep it hot. Running a hot heap calls for precise mixing and remixing of materials.
Rather than struggle to heat up a heap that wants to run …

Details are everything in small courtyard design. The scaling down of size increases the importance of every single individual element. The ultimate intention of small courtyard design is to make a small yard appear larger than it is.
Professional landscapers must take great care in the creation of every form in order to create a diminutive environment that will so captivate the eyes that it creates an optical illusion of inverted proportion and perspective in relation to the surrounding landscape design.
There is tremendous benefit …

Is your swimming pool area looking dated or rundown? Has the pool area become unsafe? If so, it may be time for a pool deck remodeling project.
First, a quick primer on swimming pool construction terminology and the finishes involved. The interior shell of a pool is covered with plaster. It hardens like concrete which seals the inside of the pool. Popular upgrades include quartz finishes in a wide range of colors and textures.
Next, you have the pool coping, which is the area that immediately surrounds the pool. It locks in …

Channel drains are a good choice for homeowners who want to protect decks, driveways, tennis courts, walkways, and other areas of their property. Placing these drains in the correct location is crucial to ensure that they will function properly, and a drainage contractor will be able to determine where these systems will work best.
What are Channel Drains?
Channel drains are a type of surface drain. They can be made as long as necessary, since drain pieces can easily be joined together with coupling for larger areas. They are typically longer than …

New homes come with barren lots and a miniscule landscaping budget from the builder, perhaps one tree and five bushes. Older homes often could use some freshening up with the landscape. Whether your home is old or brand spanking new here are a few ideas for easy gardening ideas for landscaping.
Annuals to the Rescue
Annuals are plants that live for one season and then die. While they live they grow and flower profusely. Even if your landscaping plans have not been finalized make use of annuals. Soil preparation is important …