Houp Landscaping – Enhancing Nature's BeautyFALL IS PRIME TIME FOR PLANTING
While most people wait until spring to start their planting, you can have a great garden in the fall as well. The cooler air provides a nice relief from the summer heat for you and your plants, plus the soil is still warm. With the first frost not coming until late October this year, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, there is still plenty of time to get some gardening in.
If you need help getting ready for the cooler months, we offer a wide range of maintenance options, including fall trimming and pruning services, deadheading perennials, weeding and bed clean up. Leaf removal from your lawn is also important. A heavy layer of leaves left on your lawn can smother the grass, leading to thin or bare spots.
“They are the best at what they do,” said Janelle Paisley. She recently had us do landscaping work in her family’s backyard. “I thought it was great, all of the guys were very professional; they were able to answer my questions and give me peace of mind,” Janelle said.
In her family’s backyard, we took out overgrown foliage, installed new flower beds and arborvitaes, and performed mulch work. We also stacked stone rocks and created a crushed stone pad for her shed. Janelle and her family live in a historic colonial revival home in Berks County. “It was important to us that our home retain a historic feel. They used stones from an old barn we owned, as well as new ones to accomplish just that.” Janelle explained.
We created a natural stone path from Janelle’s main walkway to her mudroom. “The stone path allows us to now use our mudroom as a main entrance and gives us easier access to our driveway in the wet and snowy weather, because there was no walkway before,” Janelle said.
You can take a look for yourself at the before and after pictures:
As we move into the fall, families still want to be able to enjoy outside activities. Janelle plans to have barbecues and play with her family in their new backyard. “Now we have more room to play with our kids while still having our privacy, so they really understood what we wanted and met all of our needs,” Janelle said.
Enhancing nature’s beauty one yard at a time in Berks, Chester, Lehigh & Montgomery Counties, contact us TODAY!
Create a Cozy Outdoor Living Space with a Backyard Fire Pit
The funny thing about summer is that no matter how hot the days get, the nights can be pretty chilly. Incorporating a fire pit into your outdoor living space will provide the perfect place to relax and spend the evening around a fire with the family. This feature can really take your backyard from ordinary to extraordinary!
Fire pit design has evolved in astonishing directions and you can get as simple or as fancy as your budget allows. Fire pit areas can now be designed with permanent built-in seating. The shape around the fire pit created by the seating is in itself a visual statement that can be used to bring originality and character to your outdoor living space. This kind of built-in seating can be constructed using concrete retaining walls and can be installed either above or in ground for a fire pit area with a sunken look. The sky’s the limit when it comes to different, creative styles you can use.
Here are a few of our favorite projects:
There are few things in life more beautiful and relaxing than sitting in front of a crackling fire as the sun goes down. With fall on it’s way, the evenings will be cooler. Those cool, crisp evenings don’t have to mean the end of outdoor fun and entertainment. Incorporating a fire pit feature into your landscape design is a great way to extend the use of your outdoor living space.
If you’re thinking of adding a fire pit to your backyard, contact the experts at HOUP Landscaping TODAY!
PATIO or DECK – Which is BEST?
When it comes to creating an outdoor living space, there are many options, but for the majority of homeowners, it usually comes down to deciding between either a deck or patio. Each option offers an area to gather with friends and family, grill out, and relax under the sun or stars. But the wrong choice can turn your relaxation dreams into a stressful nightmare. So which is the right choice for you and your home?
Enhancing Nature’s Beauty
Do you want to incorporate your landscaping into the overall design of your deck or patio? If so, a patio usually works best, as it is situated directly on the ground, allowing it to seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape. Trees, shrubs and flowers can be incorporated into the design to create an area that is truly “one with nature”.
Endless Design Options
Paver patios provide a beautiful, custom-paving solution that allow for a lot of design creativity and can be used on small or large patios. They come in a variety of colors, styles, textures and shapes, which can be mixed together to create a truly unique design. They can also be designed to include features like fire pits, built in barbecues, and sitting areas, making them the perfect relaxation or socialization space.
Long Lifespan and Low Maintenance
Patios are incredibly durable, standing up to rain and extreme temperature changes better than traditional decking materials. A benefit of a paver patio is that if something does happen to a paver (i.e. it gets chipped or broken, settles, etc.) they can be lifted individually or in small groups and replaced without having to replace the entire patio. Because of this, a properly installed patio has a much longer lifespan than a deck, averaging 25+ years of virtually maintenance free life.
Before investing in a new outdoor space, you want to carefully consider all of your options. With the help of an experienced resource, like the team at Houp Landscaping, a well-planned patio can add a lifetime of enjoyment to your home. Contact us TODAY!
Light Up Your Landscape
Create a stunning landscape that can be enjoyed during the day and night!
You’ve worked hard to make your house and yard look beautiful, so why let that hard work disappear at nightfall? With some strategically placed outdoor lighting, you can put it all on display, create a warm and inviting feel for evening entertaining and add an element of safety and security. There’s no limit to the effects outdoor lighting can achieve.
Add color and texture
Path lights are visual aids in a dark space, but they also add color and texture if you place them near interesting plants. Lights placed in planting beds can be used to highlight structural features of your home and increase curb appeal.
Create shadows and depth
Balance is important when you’re lighting a home’s exterior. Shadow can be just as interesting as light and will add depth to your facade. The spotlights on the front of this house were placed close to the foundation so that the light would catch the edges of the beautiful landscaping and create interesting shadow patterns.
Provide safety in the dark
Parameter lighting can not only prevent a fall but also create an inviting atmosphere. On this patio, the lights are strategically placed on the steps, leading the eye naturally to the parameter of the patio and guiding you safely up or down the steps.
Create a unique look OR Show off your personality
Using different styles of path lights in the same scheme can help provide you with a truly unique look. An increasing number of home-owners prefer low voltage lighting for their outdoor landscapes due to its safety and ability to reduce hefty electricity consumption costs.
More than just picking the right hardware, a pleasing lighting scheme is also about artistry.
Let our experts help put your property in the best light after the sun goes down.
Backyard Trends for 2017
This year, backyard trends reflect the desire to bring the indoors outside, creating comfortable outdoor living spaces that are functional and beautiful. Take a look at our favorite Backyard Trends for 2017.
Outdoor Entertaining
The temperature’s rising, the days are getting longer, and backyard grills are firing up. It’s time to think outside the entertaining box. So take your next party or get-together outdoors. A patio is the perfect place to entertain! It’s important to layout and design your patio to accommodate your entertainment needs. Here are a few things to consider, when planning your new Outdoor Entertaining area.
- How often do you entertain?
- How many people/guests are in attendance on average?
- How will your furniture need to be configured in your new patio area?
Backyard Paver Patios & Walkways
Pavers are becoming a popular choice for backyard patios and walkways. Unlike traditional decking materials, pavers can withstand heavy traffic and require little maintenance. They provide a beautiful, custom-paving solution that allow for a lot of design creativity and can be used on small or large patios. They come in a variety of colors, styles, textures and shapes, which can be mixed together to create a truly unique design.
Outdoor Kitchens
Fire pits, Built-in Grills and/or Full Outdoor Kitchens are features that help you create a comfortable and cozy outdoor living space that you and your family won’t want to leave.
Backyard Water Features
The soft splash of a backyard water feature brings life and motion to your outdoor living space. It attracts birds and its soothing sound transforms your space into a peaceful retreat.
Vibrant and Energetic Colors
Get inspired to add a splash of color to your outdoor living space with these DIY ideas from Better Homes and Gardens. Click HERE
Let US help make YOUR outdoor entertaining dreams a reality. Request and Estimate TODAY
