Boost Your Home Value with Landscaping

Tangled trees and unkempt bushes can obscure views, darken interiors, promote mold, and block a good look at your home. Many people forget about their trees more than anything when they are putting their home up for sale. Yet, landscaping is one of the top three investments that bring the biggest return. According to a 2007 survey of 2,000 brokers conducted by HomeGain, an online real estate marketing site, an investment of around $400-500 in landscaping can bring a return of four times that.

Nobody likes to spend money, but landscaping might be the most important investment you can make into your home’s value, even if you have kept up with the inside.

Also, if you are someone looking to purchase a home, take a close look at the trees on the property, especially the ones within striking distance of targets. A home inspection may not find the dead or dying tree that could cause major damage to the home or harm your family. If you do notice anything hazardous see if the owner has ever had a professional look at the tree or have us come provide a free estimate then work to negotiate the cost off of the purchase price! Read more about Working with a Tree Removal Pro.

Working with a Tree Removal Pro

CREEEAAK, CREEEAAK, CREEEAAK… The sound of trees swaying in the wind can be pretty ominous, especially if they sometimes come crashing down within inches of your painstakingly renovated home. Here is an article from This Old House where Sandy Herbert, a lawyer who lives in a Colonial Revival home on a heavily wooded lot, describes her tree removal experience.

Questions to Ask Your Tree-Service Pro:

Q: What credentials does a good tree guy have?
A: Some states have licensing programs for arborists, and the International Society of Arboriculture offers certification and training. But when you’re hiring, don’t rely on credentials alone. Get referrals, of course, and ask for before-and-after pictures of their work. Call their former clients and ask if you can visit. And make sure your pro is bonded and licensed in your state.

Q: How do I know if I need to remove a tree?
A: Look for rot or decaying spots on the trunk, like where a branch used to be. Other bad signs include bare, droopy branches and leaves that crinkle at the edges. Deciduous trees that drop leaves in the fall earlier than similar trees could be suffering stress or infection.

Q: Should I ever take down a healthy tree?
A: In some cases, a sun-blocking tree with lots of surface roots should be removed. Certain species, such as sweetgum and silver maple, tend to have surface roots, but most trees can develop them, especially if they’re grown in shallow soil or near water. Such trees topple more easily when there are strong winds, and they’ll choke out other vegetation over time.

Q: If I take down a tree, won’t I get standing water in my yard?
A: It’s highly unlikely. As a general rule, vegetation and grass absorb more water than a tree. So removing a dead tree can actually speed water absorption. Of course, the sinkhole where the stump was removed should be filled in and graded so it won’t collect water.

Q: Can felled wood be cut up for firewood, furniture, or mulch?
A: In many cases, yes—but it depends on the tree’s type and condition. Ask your tree pro for advice, and he’ll give you suggestions about what to do with the wood.

Again, here is the link to the entire article.

My Home Ideas Articles

As we tirelessly work to stay in front of new landscape design trends, we typically run across great articles. We wanted to share three particularly good ones from My Home Ideas, an affiliate of This Old House:

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99 Patio Ideas to Help You Plan an Outdoor Oasis: See stylish ways to create your own open air escape for entertaining, dining, or simply relaxing.

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65 Easy Ways to Bring Dining Outside: Whether you’ve got a patio, porch, yard or just a driveway, we’ll show you how to create outdoor ambiance in a snap.

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Get Your Home Ready for Summer: You’ve been ready for summer since January, but what about your house? Here are 20 reminders from our networks to get your home prepped and ready for warm season—inside and out.

Best Prices of the Year

This historically warm winter has had an interesting impact on the landscaping and tree services industries. If you can say yes to any of the following questions, now is likely the best time of the year to save the most money on your project:

1. Will you need to schedule a spring clean-up?
   • Call us now to schedule your spring clean-up ahead of time to make sure it gets onto our schedule and is done before Easter or by when you were hoping. The easier it is for us to plan and schedule your spring clean-up, the more likely it is we may provide additional discounts.
2. Would you like to have a drain installed to divert water from the foundation of your home?
   • Take care of your drainage needs now, before the April showers, so you may enjoy May flowers instead of May mud and mold. (Read more about drainage.)
3. Would you like to plant any deciduous trees on your property?
   • Nurseries are overstocked with deciduous trees from the fall. Prices for these trees are as low as they will be all year! (Read more about deciduous trees.)
4. Would you like to have patios and hardscapes to enjoy as soon as the weather turns?
   • If you wait until the weather turns to begin your hardscapes project you will be missing out on some of the best opportunities of the year to enjoy them. (Here is a recent hardscape job we finished in January.)
5. Would you like to remove or prune any of your trees?
   • Take advantage of seasonal discounts and prune/shape/balance your trees now, before spring hits and they begin budding! (Here is a recent large tree removal we finished in January.)
6. Would you like to save money on the total cost of your landscape re-design?
   • If you finalize your design now we can pre-order materials and plants in greater quantity then share the savings!

Walkways & Landscaping Job Before & Afters

Here are some before and after photos of a walkway and landscaping job we just completed at a home in Oakton:

Customer Testimonial:

“Just wanted let you know that we are very happy with how the front yard hardscaping and landscaping turned out. We were also very impressed with your work crews and how they left everything at the end of each day and the end of the job. And on a personal note, I appreciate your communication via email. We would definitely recommend you to anyone looking to complete this type of project. We are hoping to do something with the back yard in the future, and will contact you guys again.”

- Theresa Y

Large Tree Removed In Arlington

Here are some before, progress, and after photos of a very large tree we removed from a home in Arlington last week:

Clearing Snow and Ice Can Cause Damage to Your Trees

The winter season often brings heavy snowfall and ice, which makes the clearing of roadways necessary. Salt is great for clearing roads, driveways, and sidewalks of ice and snow, however, a good thing for streets and walkways can be downright rotten for your trees, according to the tree experts at the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

“Excessive exposure to salt can cause widespread damage to your trees, leading to permanent decline and sometimes death,” said Jim Skiera, ISA Executive Director. “The problem with salt damage is that it might not show up on your trees until summer, when deicing salt is the last culprit you would suspect.”

To minimize the damage done to trees by deicing salts, ISA Certified Arborists offer the following tips:

Use less salt. Mix deicing salt with abrasives such as sand, cinders, and ash, or use alternatives such as calcium magnesium acetate and calcium chloride.

Protect your trees from salt trucks on the street. If possible, set up barriers between the street and your trees to keep salt spray from hitting tree trunks.

Plant salt-resistant trees. Trees such as the sycamore maple, white spruce, willow, and birch tend to be more salt-resistant than other species. How well they fare varies from climate to climate across the country.

Improve soil drainage. Add organic matter to your soil to help filter salt deposits.

You can also keep your trees healthy by taking care of their basic needs. Other tips that will help combat damage that deicing salt may otherwise do:

• Irrigate to flush the salts from the soils in spring.

• Mulch sufficiently to reduce water loss.

• Control pest infestations and destructive tree diseases.

For more information on protecting your trees in winter:

Winter Tree Care Program

5 Tips to Protect Your Trees Through Winter

Safeguard Yourself Against Storm Chasers

Dealing with the inconvenience and frustration of a weather-damaged home or property can be trying enough. But a shady storm chaser can make matters worse. To protect yourself, heed these tips:

1. Be wary of door-to-door.
Drifter companies often rush to disaster areas to drum up business, so be wary of door-to-door solicitors. However, it’s common for public insurance adjusters, who are licensed in 44 states, to knock on doors. Be sure to check their local licensing, reviews and references.

2. Make sure you’re there.
Don’t let anyone inspect your property without you present – they might fake damage with hammers or golf balls and drive up repair costs. If you haven’t had a chance to vet a contractor it’s probably best to deny them access to your home.

3. Keep mum on insurance coverage amounts.
When dealing with an insurance claim, it’s best not to tell bidding contractors how much your policy is going to cover. First get a “scope” of loss that outlines materials and work needed, without prices, by a trusted contractor, public adjuster or insurance company.

4. Stay calm.
Don’t panic and rush into a contract or make a down payment. Even in an emergency situation, it’s important to take the time to get three estimates.

5. Verify a company’s contact information.
Before settling on a contractor, get the company’s phone number and address and visit the physical office – but beware that some contractors set up temporary offices to appear local or use a local company’s name to do business. Check for out-of-state license plates on workers’ vehicles.

6. Check the credentials.
Ask to see required state or local licenses. Call the licensing board and the state attorney general to check for complaints and disciplinary actions.

7. Check the insurance and bonding.
Contact the company’s insurance and bonding companies to determine whether their liability and worker’s compensation policies are big enough to cover your job.

8. Don’t pay too much upfront.
It’s not unusual for a contractor to ask for a down payment, but be wary if they demand a large deposit upfront or require cash payment. Many contractors will ask for 30 percent down. Withhold at least 10 percent until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

9. Don’t sign away your settlement.
Never sign over your homeowner’s insurance settlement upfront. Be wary of any contractor who offers to pay or help with your deductible – this practice is insurance fraud.

10. Insist on lien waivers.
Get lien waivers from the contractor or subcontractor at the same time you make a payment for materials and work. A lien waiver constitutes proof of payment and protects you if a general contractor fails to pay subcontractors.

11. Know your rights as a consumer.
Remember that you have a legal right to cancel a contract within three business days if you signed it based on the contractor’s visit to your home. After natural disasters, state or local officials may extend that time frame. Don’t sign a contract with blank spaces. Obtain a signed copy.

12. Check on permits.
Make sure the company pulls necessary building permits before starting any work, and verify the name on the permit matches the company you contracted with.

Credit: Angie’s List: http://magazine.angieslist.com/contractors/articles/safeguard-yourself-against-storm-chasers.aspx?cid=ALD20120111&RefID=EML:998

Planting Deciduous Trees In Winter?

“Deciduous” is a designation indicating a plant sheds its foliage at the end of the growing season. The term, “deciduous” is used primarily in reference to trees and shrubs, in contrast with those that are “evergreen.”

The best-known deciduous trees are the fall foliage trees. The latter attract so-called “leaf peepers” in droves every autumn season, when the color of their leaves changes (usually from green to a brighter color, such as red, yellow or orange). After this brilliant display, many shed their foliage before winter and do not regain it until their buds unfurl in spring.

Deciduous Trees Are Divided Into Four Large Groups Based on Leaf Type and Arrangement

Planting trees when they are dormant is advisable, since that’s when handling them is least disruptive to them. When do they go dormant? In the Northern Hemisphere, they begin to enter dormancy at some point in the autumn and begin to leave it at some point in the spring.

In general, the best time for planting trees is late winter or early spring. Summer’s a bad choice, because the weather’s too hot and the actively growing plants too susceptible to damage.

In a way, the best time to install deciduous types is more obvious than evergreens. The dropping of their leaves in autumn signals that they are entering dormancy. The unfurling of buds in spring signals that they are leaving dormancy.

Prices for deciduous trees are as low now as they will be all year! Please let us know if you would like to schedule a time to meet with one of our landscape designers to pick out a location in your yard for some new trees.

Landscape Lighting Tips – Low Voltage, Solar & Design Basics

Done right, landscape lighting makes the best of what you’ve got by highlighting your home’s architectural features and drawing attention to prized plantings and trees. There’s no limit to the effects they can achieve, from ethereal moonlight beamed down from a tree canopy to a subtle glow that washes over a low garden wall. More than just picking the right hardware, a pleasing lighting scheme is also about artistry.

For Do It Yourselfers, low voltage and solar lighting are your best bets.

• Low Voltage Lighting: Low voltage simply means that the line voltage normally delivered from a home power outlet is reduced by a transformer to 12 volts.  The low voltage transformer plugs into a power source, usually a 110/120v outlet located outside. Inside outlets can work as well as long as the transformer is rated for indoor use and is installed with adequate space around it to dissipate heat. From the transformer, multiple cable runs connect clusters of 3 to 6 light fixtures. Because each light fixture uses a portion of the same 12 volts, you should avoid having all your light fixtures connected to one cable run. If you have too many fixtures, you’ll notice the lights are noticeably dimmer than they should be, especially the last light in the line. The size of transformer depends on the number of light fixtures you have, so a rule of thumb is to make sure you purchase a bigger transformer than you need. That way, you’ll be in good shape to add lights in the future.

• Solar Lighting: Solar lighting is another popular outdoor lighting option considered by some to be even easier than low voltage lighting because it requires no wiring whatsoever. Simply position the fixture in a location that receives direct or indirect sunlight and you’re done. Solar lights consist of an LED bulb (most common), rechargeable battery, and solar panel. Energy from the sun is converted by the solar panel and stored as electrical energy in the battery. At dusk when the light level is low, a photocell timer turns the lights on. Solar landscape lights typically take about eight to ten hours to fully discharge, which is usually more than enough time for an evening get-together outdoors. When purchasing solar lights, pay attention to the number of LEDs per fixture. Unlike incandescent and fluorescent lamps, LEDs emit light and not heat. One LED emits roughly the same brightness as a 2 Watt bulb. If you want lots of light, look for light fixtures with three or more LEDs. These will work great along paths and stairs where safety and security are concerns. Ambient or atmosphere lighting around a deck or patio could do with one LED per fixture.

Now for a few landscape lighting basics:

• Uplighting: By positioning the light source below the object and pointing the beam upwards you can highlight walls, structures, and large plantings, which creates visual interest and dramatic focal points.
• Downlighting: By positioning the light source high above the object and pointing the beam downwards, you can cast light over a wide area like a patio. By locating a downlight close to the ground, you can create softly spreading puddles of light ideal for walkways.
• Grazing: By positioning the light close to an interesting surface, you can bring out its texture. Use grazing to highlight tree bark, stone walls, or an attractive door.
• Silhouetting: By hiding lights behind and below a distinct landscape feature like a tree, you can create a silhouette that is visible against the sky at night.

There are a few things to avoid as well. Too many lights and your property will look like a birthday cake with too many candles. Instead, strive to draw the eye towards specific areas, landscape features or structures. Another common pitfall is to evenly line both sites of a path or walkway with lights, creating something akin to an airport runway. Instead, alternate lights on either side of the path and refer to the manufacturer instructions for the spacing between lights. Finally, experiment! The great thing about low voltage and solar lighting is that you can easily try different things. You may have to adjust the angle, intensity, and position of the light source to achieve the effect you want. If you see that you’ve got a birthday cake or runway effect happening, you can make the changes immediately. Low voltage and solar lighting give you the flexibility to move fixtures around.

With low voltage lighting systems, just remember to leave the wiring runs unburied until you decide on final placement. The bottom line is that a small investment in landscape lighting will provide you ten-fold the returns in terms of your garden enjoyment. With the right lighting solution, your home will look fabulous and dramatic from the street, and intimate and inviting for entertaining on the patio.

Please feel free to contact us to schedule a meeting for more elaborate landscape lighting options or to get advice from a landscape designer’s perspective.