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Landscaping Considerations When You Have a Pool

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Pools are a great water feature for any Long Beach, CA home. They’re an excellent way for kids and adults to have fun during the hot summer days. 

Though if you plan on doing work on your landscape, you must consider your pool before starting work.

Today we’ll review a few items to keep in mind when landscaping when you own a pool.

Safety

Above all else, you must prioritize safety when you have a pool. This includes during landscaping work, when selecting plants, and after completion. Before starting work, your pool should be emptied and sectioned off for safety. Only allow people who are working on the pool to have access to it. 

When selecting plants for your landscape, aim for non-toxic plants and plants without thorns. As many people can get scratched or hurt while in their swimsuits.

Once work is complete, be sure to have highly visible signs of any “pool rules” and, if possible, add a barrier so people can’t accidentally fall into it.

Pick Proper Plants 

As previously stated, you want to avoid prickly or toxic plants to keep you and your guests unharmed. Still, you should do adequate research before buying plants for their looks. Many plants and trees can produce unique flowers and even fruit. However, these can cause severe damage to the mechanisms of a pool. Excess debris from plants can clog up filters and burn out motors. Instead of dealing with an abundance of cleaning and maintenance to keep your pool running correctly, take a few minutes to find trees and plants that are better suited to be planted near a pool. 

Shade

Although this may seem counterproductive to the vision of a fun poolside summer day, providing a few hours of natural shade can be beneficial. Position trees or canopies to provide shade to protect from the sun’s rays. This can give you or your guests additional comfort when relaxing by the pool. The shade can also help prevent excessive water evaporation, meaning you’ll need to fill the pool less often and keep the balance of chemicals for longer.

Privacy

Many people aren’t comfortable with the feeling that a neighbor can watch as they sunbathe, swim laps in your pool, or have a get-together with friends and family. While in the comfort of your backyard, you’ll want some privacy. Some trees and hedges can provide a natural barrier between neighbors and your pool. Trees like the Italian Cypress are ideal for Southern California weather and grow thick and tall. While Boxwood trees produce a dense and compact leaf structure, their slow-growing nature makes them perfect for privacy hedges.

Pool Maintenance

Pools need to be maintained regularly. Consider where the pool’s filters, motors, and electronics will be located when working on your landscape. Make a plan to allow for easy access to the pool equipment.

Be sure to speak with your landscape designer to ensure adequate space for people to do regular maintenance.

How would you feel with a designed yard to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

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Summer Tips to Keep Your Landscaping Fresh in Long Beach

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As we say goodbye to spring and welcome summer, we should remember that your landscape’s needs must be adjusted. While you can still use our spring tips in early summer, like reseeding and fertilizing, they may not be as efficient as in spring. Summer brings with it more daylight as well as more heat. While this is great for plants, the lack of rain means you must be more vigilant about small changes in your Long Beach property. 

Like every season, your landscape will require different care. Today we’ll go over four summer tips to keep your landscaping looking fresh!

Mulching

If you haven’t already, apply a mulch layer around your plants and flower beds. While it’s best to apply mulch during the spring, mulch is incredibly important year-round. Summer mulch can help your soil retain moisture, which can be essential for allowing non-native plants and vegetable gardens to survive Southern California’s heat waves. During said heat waves, mulch helps to regulate soil temperature, which can otherwise cook the roots of some plants. There are many different types of mulch. An organic compost or wood chip mulch works best for Long Beach, CA.

Adjust Watering

As previously stated, summer can be arid and hot in Long Beach. If you’ve installed a native landscape, this shouldn’t be an issue, as these plants are resilient to summer heat. However, other plants, including flowers and vegetables, require you to adjust the watering times and quantities. Programmable and smart irrigation controllers can help to make this job simple. In many cases, you can change the settings on your phone. 

For best results, watering should be done in the morning before 9 a.m. allowing your grass and soil to absorb as much water as it needs before evaporating under the summer sun. While Long Beach may not be dealing with a severe water shortage, you should try only to use water when needed. If there is a particularly bad dry spell, you should try to water deeply at least twice a week.

Weeding

Many plants like to grow during the summer, whether wanted or not. After the spring rains, many unwanted seeds grow wherever they’ve landed. Weeds can grow on many different soils, from healthy and rich to poor and dry. Because they don’t need much water, they regularly outgrow your plants in your landscape. Weeds can be difficult to manage as they can continue to grow if you don’t eliminate them at the root. 

While you can buy weed-killing chemicals, the safest way is to remove them by hand. Best to do this before the sun is out in full force. Do your best to remove the weed altogether, roots and all. Try to relax when removing weeds. Some people find that weeding can calm their minds and enjoy the process. Naturally, this doesn’t occur to everyone. Try to eliminate the weeds before they flower or go to seed. A single plant can spread its seed through your entire landscape if left alone.

Pest Control

Similarly to weeds, many insects and pests are active in the summer. Like weeds, eliminating the pests early on is critical to ensuring they don’t damage your landscape plants or flowers. In southern California, some of the most common problems that can damage your yard 

include:

  • Ants
  • Mosquitoes
  • Mice/Rats
  • Wasps
  • Beetles
  • Aphids

While ants can benefit your landscape by aerating the soil and helping decompose waste, some ant species can be problematic. Carpenter ants make nests in decaying wood which can damage outdoor furniture, decks, and even your home. When any species of ant enters your home, you have to worry about them swarming around anything they can eat. Beetles and aphids can do a number on vegetable gardens. And if not taken care of can soon destroy the plants you’re growing. Mice and rats like to eat whatever they can find, and if you have a healthy garden, they can see it as a buffet. Wasps and mosquitoes don’t necessarily damage the landscape but can be incredibly irritating during outdoor gatherings.

You can take many precautions to minimize the number of pests you have to deal with, such as laying traps, using chemicals, and making it difficult for pests to breed. However, sometimes you may need professional help.

How would you feel with a designed yard to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

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Your Homes Architecture and Your Landscaping Selection

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When you design your ideal landscape many times for the best results, you need to consider the property’s architecture. For many, they first think about their favorite plants and trees, and they disregard if they’ll look good on the property. While it’s ok to choose your favorite plants, you may have to consider changing the architecture of your property to make sure your plants look home on your property.

Today we’ll review some of the critical components you should consider about your home’s architecture when selecting your landscape design.

Lines Matter

Your home’s architectural lines must be considered to produce a desirable result. While we’re not saying to rebuild your home to match your landscape design, we are saying to view your home’s lines to accent your landscape design. As an example, if your home has many straight lines. Straight lines give a sense of order and symmetry but can also be considered stiff and boring. You can either select long straight plants to maintain balance and order, or you can choose lightweight plants to soften the edges of the lines by adding texture and movement. Lines can also be used to produce a  more naturalistic effect. As we know, in nature, lines are rarely straight, and by adding wandering lines and plants with organic bends, you can create a design that contrasts the straight lines and unnatural angles of your home to tone down the appearance.

Lines in the landscape design are not just limited to plants and homes. You can incorporate this design scheme into the rest of the landscape. Pathways, planters, and other hardscapes can amplify the concept you choose based on the theme of your landscape design.

Materials and texture

While not necessary to match the materials exactly from home to landscape, you should always keep it in mind when designing your landscape. The material you choose can make a massive difference in your landscape. Common materials include wood, bricks, and stone. You may also need to keep in mind any outdoor furniture as well.  Like all other design choices, keeping similarities from the home to the landscape can make the property feel whole. For example, if your home uses red brick walls, consider using more red brick on garden beds or walkways. 

Textures are more challenging to incorporate but not impossible. The surface can stay the same in a home, but in a landscape, textures can change depending on the weather and season. Ideally, you want to match a similar consistency of the house to the plants you have selected. For example, a smooth white finish on the home can look great with peace lilies, although they bloom more often during late spring or early summer.

Colors and Lighting

Color can tie together a landscape to the home in many different ways. The hardscape’s color should complement the home and vice-versa. Try to avoid contrasting colors, as they can create unpleasant scenes. Colors combinations like greens and oranges or purples and yellows, although they stand out, don’t look good to the eyes. Something many people fail to consider is lighting. While you have natural light during the day, it can create shadows that change how some colors are viewed. At night, the moon’s natural light can change the shade of some dyes. If you decide to use outdoor lighting for the evenings, you must understand that artificial light has its shades of colors. For example, daylight bulbs, typically labeled “daylight” or 50,000k, will mimic the color of light produced by the sun and can be jarring to look at, at night. Softer colors, such as 35,000k or 40,000k, produce a warmer light, often called yellow. This can be easier on the eyes but can change how other colors are perceived.

How would you feel with a designed yard to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

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The Proportion of Plants vs. The Scale of Your Home

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When designing your ideal landscape, it’s easy for many to simply go for plants they like without understanding how they may look once on the property. Many plants can look out of place when placed next to your home. Understanding the proportion of plants compared to your home’s scale is an essential element in making optimal design choices.

Today we’ll discuss how the scale of your home and the proportion of the selected plants can affect the final design of your landscape.

Consider the Buildings

You’ll need to consider more than the size of the home when designing your landscape. Single-story houses, multiple-story houses, homes with attached vs. detached garages, and even the type of roof of the buildings must be considered when selecting plants for your landscape design.

While the most notable aspect of a building is its size, one-story, two-story, etc., you should also consider the building’s colors, the type of roof used, and the overall size of the outer walls. If repainting the exterior is within the budget, you can better match the species of plants you use to give your property a sense of balance and unity.

Tree Selection

When selecting trees for your landscape design, you’ll want to aim for shorter trees if you have a single-story home. The Western Redbud is a reasonably fast-growing tree that grows approximately 12-20 feet high, making it an excellent option for smaller homes. Acacia aneura can get as tall as 35-50 feet tall.

Tree Location

Although many homes would look amazing with a lovely tree next to them, you need to ensure the location you choose to plant those trees is appropriate. After all, nature can grow however it wishes, and roots can cause issues if a tree is planted too close to the main property. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to plant most trees between 10 and 20 away from your foundation. This isn’t the only placement you need to keep in mind. When planting any tree, do your best to avoid any plumbing. Sprinklers and sewage plumbing are run underground and can easily be damaged by tree roots. If it’s needed to plant near these pipes, you may need to use a growth barrier. These can be made of metal or wood, preventing roots from damaging your sewage pipes. Alternatively, you could select trees and shrubs without invasive root systems.

Outdoor Lighting

Some outdoor lighting will remain the same, such as path and accent lighting. Lighting can be cast differently on two-story homes than on single-story homes. Spotlights can be used to accent features, but their shadows can make them vanish. A two-story home can add additional lights and angles that would be difficult to show with single-story houses. 

Living Walls

A Living wall is a popular design feature for many homeowners. The reason is it’s a feature that can be used effectively in single-story and multiple-story homes. They can help reduce the ambient temperature.

How would you feel with a designed yard to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

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What is Landscape Design?

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When re-imagining your landscape, you want to have a plan. After all, your landscape will grow and change as the years go by. This is where landscape design comes in. 

But what exactly is landscape design?

In short, landscape design is similar to architectural design for homes and buildings. Join me as we go over the seven elements of landscape design and how including them in your design can result in a stunning landscape you’ll enjoy for years.

Scale

When designing a landscape, scale refers to the relative sizes and distances of the plants and other features. While water features such as fountains, ponds, and pools remain the same size. Plants, on the other hand, will grow with time. How a plant grows in the garden can significantly affect how the items around it look. For example, a small bed of flowers can make a neighboring tree look much larger. Remember the growth rate of some plants and trees and their location.

Unity

In landscape design, unity is the overall design theme. Giving your landscape a sense of consistency and unity. Having too many different kinds of plants can make your landscape design seem cluttered or messy. This goes for different features and hardscapes too. As an example, if your landscape theme is meant to be modern, a rustic-style patio furniture set will look out of place.

Balance

Balance in landscaping is the idea of even distribution throughout your design. Balance can have a different outcome for every person. However, it’s typically achieved with some form of symmetry or asymmetry using the rule of thirds. Symmetrical designs are more straightforward, and both sides of a landscape should mirror each other. The rule of thirds in landscape design is similar to photography. Choose a point of view, and separate the design into different sections using rows and columns to form an imaginary grid. Typically important design aspects will take up more space.

Simplicity

Following the less is more concept, simplicity aims to remove elements that either don’t improve the design or impact it meaningfully. All items in the design should be looked over to establish what is needed for the design to resemble a clean, uncluttered, and defined theme.

Variety

Although you want to keep things simple, you’ll still want a variety of elements in your landscape design. Growing odd numbers of the same or similar plants can create mass in your landscape design. Combining different textures, colors, and shapes gives you an interesting landscape while staying within your theme.

Emphasis

In landscaping, emphasis refers to that point of focus—the location or element to which the observer’s eyes are drawn to when first looking at an environment. In the front yard, this can be the main entrance or the porch itself. While in the back, it can be some artwork, a water feature such as a fountain, pond, or hero plant.

Sequence 

In landscape design, sequences refer to how elements of the design shift and change. You can gradually change one component to another using different plant sizes, textures, and lines. This smooth transition appeals to the eyes and feels like a natural progression. One large tree between two flower beds will usually look out of place.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

A person mulching

Spring Tips to Keep Your Landscaping Vibrant in Long Beach

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Spring is finally here!

And with it comes bright new vibrant growth in our yards. To make sure your yard starts the season with the best chances of looking amazing for the rest of the year, there are a few things you need to take care of first. 

Today we will share our top 5 springtime tips to keep your Long Beach landscaping looking great.

Spring Cleaning

With so much rain coming down last season, there is undoubtedly some spring cleaning that needs to be done. Granted, a landscaping company can take care of the cleaning and maintenance for you, but if you have chosen a more “DIY” approach to your landscaping, it’s time to get your hands dirty.

This means eliminating unwanted weeds and plants that can affect your garden. Remove debris from your rain gutters and make sure they’re not leaking. Trim edges from grassy areas that border walkways to better define your landscape. You want to make sure your soil gets warmed up by the sun. This promotes better seed germination and overall landscape health.

Pruning and Clipping

Pruning your trees and shrubs has two main objectives. The first is removing dead or dying branches to allow the plant to grow healthy. The second reason is to maintain the desired shape of the plant. Some trees can benefit from heavier pruning every few years to promote more growth. If you’re unsure if your trees would benefit from more severe pruning, a knowledgeable landscaping company can always help.

Your lawn also needs to be trimmed, likely under 3 inches. Any taller grass stalks can rot due to too much moisture. Mowing low can also remove debris that accumulates during the winter. This exposes the soil to more sunlight which can help germinate grass seeds for the spring. But be weary, as this can also promote the growth of weed seeds.

Adding Nutrients

Spring is a great time to add more nutrients to your soil. This can be done with liquid or granular fertilizers or organic compost. The goal is to replenish nutrients in the soil that the plants need to grow. Though in a vegetable garden, you’ll want to add specific nutrients depending on the crops you plan to grow. 

Replenish the Mulch

This time of the year is an excellent opportunity to check on the mulch in your landscape. Mulch can slowly add nutrients to the soil as it decomposes, reduce water evaporation which helps conserve water, smother unwanted weeds, and can help retain warmth to help seeds germinate and grow. Ideally, you want a  layer that is 2 to 3 inches deep. If your mulch is lower than 2 inches, it’s time to add more.

Dethatching

Because lawns continue to grow yearly, many homeowners don’t realize that the grass eventually builds a barrier of thick organic matter made up of a buildup of interwoven decomposing and living grass shoots, stems, and roots. A thin layer of thatch is healthy for any lawn, but if your layer is over 2 inches thick, it may cause problems. It can make your property more susceptible to disease and environmental stress, making it more difficult to tolerate drought, cold, and heat.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

a person holding an irrigation controller

Choosing an Irrigation Controller; Which One is Right for You?

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Watering your landscape is crucial to keeping your plants healthy, green, and thriving. Ideally, you want to provide the perfect amount of water to each area of your landscape without going over and wasting a single drop. Many irrigation systems have a controller to help with this, though homeowners often need to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible.

Have you checked your irrigation controller recently?

Most water is spent on landscapes through an irrigation system, and having the correct controller can save you both time and money. Join me as we explore the different kinds of irrigation controllers on the market, and help you decide which one is right for you.

Traditional Controllers

Though less efficient, many homes continue to use traditional irrigation controllers due to their simplicity. There is always an adoption curve when it comes to new technology, and irrigation systems are no exception. 

Traditional controllers are often mechanical in nature. They are designed to provide water in increments. The Intermatic T8800 is an example of a conventional controller. It has limited features but is reliable and easy to use.

Programmable Controllers

Programmable controllers are the most commonly used irrigation controllers in homes. They offer more features than traditional controllers without connecting to the wifi. These controllers usually come equipped with LCD screens, buttons, and dials, making it easier to understand how the controller works. They can be set up manually and can control multiple zones. For example, Rain Birds 6-station irrigation timer allows changing the watering amount and frequency to six locations in your landscape.

Many of these styles of controllers are compatible with rain sensors which can automatically shut off your irrigation system when it detects rain. Programmable controllers are in the middle when it comes to features.

Smart Controllers

If your goal is to use water as efficiently as possible, a smart irrigation controller is the way to go. Units such as the RainMachine Touch HD-12, Rachio 3, and Orbit B-hyve are affordable for homeowners and have been shown to save the most amount of water compared to the other kinds of irrigation controllers. Smart controllers can seem overwhelming to some as they often need to connect to wireless internet and your phone’s Bluetooth. However, after the initial setup, these controllers can function independently. Smart controllers can usually control over 10 separate zones to maximize the efficiency of the water being used.

Unlike programmable irrigation controllers that require a separate rain sensor, smart controllers have access to the weather forecast because they are online. They can automatically adjust the amount of water used based on local weather patterns, saving you water and money while keeping plants healthy and green. If any changes need to be made to your watering schedule, there is a free app that you can download onto your smartphone, giving you complete control of the system even if you are out of town.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

a lush garden nursery

Long Beach Lawn to Garden Program

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Are you looking to save money on your water bill while maintaining a beautiful garden?

The Long Beach lawn-to-garden program aims to do just that. You’ll get help paying for a professional landscape design that is part of the Long Beach lawn-to-garden program. All lawn-to-garden projects are eligible to receive money back for removing thirsty lawns.

Lawn-to-garden projects have a few goals in mind to help keep Long Beach looking amazing while being water efficient. Today we’ll go over some of the program’s core elements and why you should consider being a part of it.

Water Conservation

Although this winter has brought plenty of rain, we are still not out of the drought. And because our imported water supplies have become permanently reduced, the water we do have needs to be used more efficiently. The lawn-to-garden program aims to replace water-thirsty lawns with plants native to California or plants that can thrive in California’s current climate. Lawn to garden landscapes aims to reduce water use by about 70% per square foot. Using efficient irrigation systems helps you to keep tabs on how much water is getting used and helps you make sure you’re not wasting water unnecessarily.

Using rainwater more efficiently also is important when trying to conserve water. Installing stormwater retention features allows you to collect and store rainwater during dryer days. This can help keep your landscaping looking beautiful year-round while saving money on that water bill. 

Saving the Local Environment

A major goal of Long Beach’s lawn-to-garden program is to promote the growth and support of the local ecosystems through the use of California native flower plants. These plants are drought-resistant and water efficient, each lawn to garden project will have at least 65% of the landscape covered with plant material, and of that 65%, at least 10% will be covered by the aforementioned California native or flowering plants.

These plants and flowers are perfectly suited for our climate and often require little to no watering once they have become established. Using native plants in your garden brings the classic Californian beauty to your landscape while also helping preserve the local ecosystems. 

Saving Time and Money

Another benefit to Long Beach’s lawn-to-garden program is saving you time and money. Maintaining a healthy lawn is time-consuming. Especially if you do all your maintenance, this means you need to water consistently, reseed, or re-sod whenever there are brown patches. By switching over to a native garden, you’ll reduce your overall water use for your landscape, saving money in the long run.

Lawn-to-garden projects reduce the time you need to maintain your landscape. Many plants will thrive with little to no input from your end. Equipping your landscape with an efficient irrigation controller allows you to enjoy your garden without worrying about watering.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

Nicely placed outdoor furniture

Outdoor Furniture as Part of Your Overall Landscape Design Goals

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With spring right around the corner, people are going to have more outdoor gatherings.

Why not incorporate outdoor furniture when designing your landscape?

Outdoor furniture allows for you to essentially have another room, just outdoors. Just imagine a living room where the walls are outdoors, the roof is the sky, and the light is the sun. Then when the sun sets, a fire pit can be your chimney.

Today we’ll go over how to set up the ideal outdoor living space when designing your landscape.

Eating Areas

When selecting chairs and tables for eating areas you’ll need to select the appropriate material. The reason being is when furniture is outdoors it is subjected to the sun damage, wind, and potential rain. Unless the materials are designed to be outdoors, they won’t last very long. Some of the most common types of materials are aluminum, plastic, wicker and a variety of woods.

Aluminum and plastic furniture will typically last longer than organic materials. Aluminum is an incredibly durable material which does not rust or rot. It’s a light material that is easy to maintain, and when taken care of can look amazing and last for years. However with so many upsides it can be fairly expensive though many consider it well worth it.

If the look and feel of organic materials is preferable, wood is still viable. Though not as durable as aluminum there are some woods that can endure the outdoors. The preferred woods will have one of two properties. Either a soft wood such as cypress, redwood or cedar which have natural moisture-wicking properties allowing them to withstand the rotting from humidity. Alternatively hardwoods such as ipe, mahogany and teak are strong and long lasting due to their density and natural oils. 

For an inexpensive solution, there is also plastic. Though not the first choice for many, the variety, versatility and longevity of plastic cannot be understated.

Fire Pit

Fire pits are an amazing gathering place for late nights under the stars. In addition, a fire pit can be designed to be used as a cooking grill. However, each city and county has different ordinances for building fire pits. Be sure to keep them in mind when designing your landscape.

Cast iron fire pits are some of the most common and affordable fire pits on the market. They often use wood or charcoal as fuel and make a great feature for gathering. Though if you want to avoid the smoke associated with burning wood, you can have a fire pit designed with a natural gas line so you never run out of fuel. Other options for fuel include propane and gel which burn cleaner than wood but need to be refilled when the fuel runs out.

Gathering Areas

Depending on the size of your yard you might incorporate an area for relaxing within your overall landscape such as incorporating adirondack chairs, patio swings or a hammock. If your property is lucky enough to have a good view, take advantage of it and create a space where you can enjoy the surroundings. The idea is to have an area where you or your guests can get away from the noise of the city to sit and relax. Or if you prefer, simply enjoy a drink while reading a good book.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

Excavator digging up tree roots

5 Questions to Ask a Landscaping Company Before You Hire Them

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Turning your landscape into a design of your dream can feel like a daunting task. Especially if you have little to no experience with a project of this size. There can be many unknowns that need to be cleared up before you hire a company.

To assure you’re hiring the correct landscaping company to fit your needs, you should have a few questions on hand. Today we’ll go over 5 questions you should present to a landscaping company when browsing your options. Depending on their answer you can decide to hire them, or go to the next one.

How Much is the Upfront Cost?

The majority of companies that you will deal with, will have an upfront cost. The contractor state licensing board states a contractor can charge no more than 10% down or $1,000 whichever is less. MC Landscaping employs this policy and we recommend you keep it in mind when comparing companies. As it can be a red flag when companies ask for the full amount or a large sum of the total cost to get started.

Is there a Cash Discount?

Asking if there is a discount for paying is cash can bring to light the integrity of the landscaping company in question. Typically a cash deal forgoes the use of a contract which can leave you in a weak position if a dispute arises. Without a contract, resolving said disputes becomes difficult. Although a cash discount may seem alluring at first, you run the risk of losing both precious time and money.

What Experience Do They Have?

When looking for landscaping companies, the old adage is true. A picture is worth a thousand words. Be sure to ask them to supply a portfolio with past projects that can be verified. Some companies may try to show you images from other companies, do your due diligence as these lies tend to fall apart after even the slightest research. You should never take a company at their word, after all this is your home and your project.

What is Their contractor’s license number

A contractor’s license number is for your protection and can be spotted on worker’s uniforms, vehicles and the company website. MC Landscaping’s license is always displayed on the top left of our website. After you’ve gotten a company’s license number you can search for them at cslb.ca.gov where you can use it to review a variety of information including customer complaints, worker’s comp coverage and liability insurance information.

What is the Typical Work Schedule?

This may be difficult for some companies to answer right away, as they may not know the full scope of the project. However a good landscaping company should be able to give you a general work schedule their employees follow. Oftentimes homeowners have a variety of projects being worked on at the same time. Being able to properly schedule material deliveries and area completions can make the project run smoothly.

Do they Provide Other Services?

The majority of companies focus on a single trade, being specialized means you’ll have the best workers of that trade. Landscaping involves plants, lawns, irrigation, hardscape, maintenance and water features. It is a trade that requires multiple skills to do properly. If a landscaping company also claims to do other trades that aren’t involved in landscaping, you run the risk of your projects not being completed safely and efficiently. 

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

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