Keeping the lawn aerated will ensure that the plants grow properly, and they get the required nutrients. This is because aerating allows water and air to penetrate into  the soil carrying with them nutrients. The following tips should guide on the aeration process.

 When to aerate

The first thing is to know when to aerate the lawn. This largely depends on the type of grass growing there. You should aerate before the active growth period of the grass. For instance, grasses that do well in warm season such as buffalo and St. Augustine grass should be aerated during spring and before summer. For grass such as rye grass or Kentucky grass that do well in the cool season, aerate during summer or the start of fall. This ensures that the grass recovers from aeration quickly. The lawns soil type is also a determining factor of when to aerate. Clay soils require frequent aeration of at least once every year while sandy soils will do with once per two years aeration. If the lawn is walked on, the soil may tend to compact, which means that it should be aerated once every year. Make sure that you give a reseeded lawn time of more than one year before aerating so that the grass can become strong. If you are not sure whether the lawn should be aerated, test it by checking the depth of the roots. A depth of less than two inches means that the soil is compact and it should be aerated.

A lot of landscapers and designers are so used to doing their job that they may find themselves going into a project without any detailed plan. Regardless of their expertise, it is very important for a landscaper to have a plan before they undertake any design job. However, a landscape plan involves much more than simply choosing a plant and where to place it. It should be very detailed as it should be inclusive of all the various landscape ideas involved in a particular project. It should include ideas about any features of the landscape, including decks, patios, hardscapes, swimming pools, ponds and walkways. There should also be detailed information on all the intended gardening additions. This is the best way for the landscaper to create a beautiful design for their client. They will realize that taking the time to develop a plan is well worth the effort. The following are some of the reasons why every landscaper should have a plan for every project.

Consolidate ideas

One of the most important reasons for coming up with a plan for a particular project is that there are so many options and possibilities for a particular task. A homeowner could have a basic idea, but the landscaper should be able to transform it into hundreds of different designs, all of which could be very beautiful. Some of the options available to landscapers include gazebos, flower gardens, ponds, water features, lighting, outdoor furniture, vegetable gardens, patios, decks, pathways irrigation, retaining walls, swimming pools, fencing, trellises and spas. If they do not consolidate their ideas by making a plan, they could become confused or overwhelmed. However, consolidating their ideas will help them to narrow down their options so that they can choose the design that will suit the preferences of their clients.

Individuals who live in warm areas usually prefer a yard that has a water feature so that they can make the most of enjoying the great outdoors. Landscapers have to familiarize themselves with the tips and tricks that will help them to enliven an outdoor setting with the help of a water feature. The water feature that they design should be able to enhance the mood of the space while adding to the overall beauty of the area. The simplicity or complexity of the feature will always depend on what the homeowner wants. The following information will help the exterior designer to come up with the best water features for their client.

Plan your work

Like any project, it is always better to start out with a landscaping plan. The plan should consider the shape as well as the size of the yard. When looking for a location for the water feature, it is important to consider the available source of water and power that will be used by this water feature. It is also vital to listen to the ideas of the client in order to determine what types of rock materials or pumps will best meet their needs. Using a landscaping plan will immensely simplify the installation process for the landscaper. 

For some homeowners, the variety of decorative stones at their disposal is a source of conflict in landscaping. Some of them are not too familiar with what choosing the perfect landscaping stone involves. This is because there are hundreds of different variations of stones. There are also different types within each variation. One can easily get any color or texture they could imagine for their landscaping project. There’s even the option to choose between local stones and exotic stones. Landscapers and exterior designers can step in to fill the information gap for such homeowners. The landscaper will be able to help the homeowner to settle on the best type of stone for their specific yard. The following are some of the stones that they can choose from:

Manufactured stones versus natural stones

One of the major decisions that property owners have to make is whether to choose natural stones or manufactured stones. Both of these types of landscaping stones have their advantages and disadvantages. Natural stones come in a very wide range of colors and textures. Furthermore, their appearance is more dynamic than that of manufactured stones. Also, natural stones are usually heavier, which makes them sturdier, especially for outdoor projects. Manufactured stones, on the other hand, are much lighter. This makes them easier to install and to work with. They are perfect for DIY projects as well as for projects that need a lot of detailing. Their light weight and workability has made them ideal for countertops and tiling. The landscaper should carefully consider the needs of the homeowner when advising them on whether to go natural, or to stick with manufactured stones. 

Concrete has received a very bad reputation in the landscaping world. This is because some designers and customers have written it off as unsightly and ugly. In fact, most people only use concrete for sidewalks and driveways. However, with a little creativity, a landscaper can use concrete to come up with an attractive and very cost-effective landscape design for their client. In fact, concrete could prove to be the best solution for a home that needs a little outdoor improvement. The following are areas where concrete can effectively be used in landscaping.

Use of concrete to create borders

This is one of the most popular uses of concrete in exterior design. Concrete is often used to create stunning borders. It can be utilized to create borders for vegetable gardens as well as flower gardens. It can also be used to line walkways or to create a border that separates shrubs and trees from the rest of the yard. Fortunately, concrete manufacturers have also become very creative in providing landscapers a number of concrete-based options. They can get different colors, styles and textures that will meet their clients’ needs. They will have the option to work with smooth or polished concrete as well as rough stone to help them to create beautiful and unique borders.