By ddmg News • Outdoor Kitchen • Renovation • 0 Comments

4 Outdoor Kitchen Trends to Watch in 2017

It’s that time of the year, again. It’s cold, but in less than two months the weather is going to take an expected turn for the better. Instead of below-freezing temperatures, we’ll be greeted with warm weather and the sunshine. If you’re anything like me, you can’t wait.

And what does warm weather bring? Cooking outdoors! There’s never a better time to get out in your Olathe outdoor kitchen and whip up some delicious eats.

Outdoor Kitchen Trends to Watch in 2017

With the excitement of the spring grilling season in mind, let’s look at some changes in cooking outside. Here are four Olathe outdoor kitchen trends to watch in 2017:

  • Fun and Functional

Gone are the days of prepping the food inside and then bringing it outside to grill. These days you can set up your Olathe outdoor kitchen so you can get all of your cooking done with nature. And how can you do it? By adding functional zones to your outdoor kitchen.

Add more counter space. When designing or adding on to your outdoor grilling mecca, make sure you add more counter space than you think you need. Think of a plan that seamlessly flows from the refrigerator to the counters to the grill. If socializing is on the docket, don’t forget to include a bar area around the grill, too.

  • Open-Flames and Ovens

Traditionally, the grill has been the focal point of the outdoor kitchen. Pretty much everyone knows this. However, things are changing in 2017. Outdoor cooking options are becoming more robust, and people want variety. Hot dogs and hamburgers are only tasty so many times in a row.

Enter open-flame barbecues and pizza ovens. Many people who love cooking outdoors have added one of these two options to their outdoor cooking areas. If you’re feeling really crazy, you could even add a wood-fired pizza oven to your outdoor kitchen to up the ante in the neighborhood.

  • Cover Up

Olathe outdoor kitchens have been steadily evolving. At first, you probably had a grill, a few chairs, and an umbrella. Then people started adding counter space and stainless steel appliances. Now, it’s time to take things up a notch.

Some of the best outdoor kitchen designs we’ve seen have been incorporating open-air patio structures to protect their outdoor cooking haven. These covered kitchens feel outside, but still protect the space from rain, sleet, and snow!

  • Entertainment Options

If you’re going to invest into your outdoor haven, then don’t forget about the entertainment options. Beer taps, flat-screen TVs, plush lounge chairs, and wine refrigerators have all been incorporated into modern outdoor kitchen designs.

By ddmg Construction • Design • Do It Yourself • Landscape • Renovation • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

5 Quick New Year Tips From an Olathe Landscaper

As the New Year rolls in, we all make resolutions and focus on improving certain areas of our life. Some of us focus on fitness. Others make our family, friends, and relationships a priority in the coming year. Many focus on finances, too.  Whatever you choose to focus on in the coming year, we want to wish you the best of luck in achieving your resolution.

The Olathe Landscaper in us hopes you make your lawn, landscaping, and garden a priority in the coming year.

If you’re planning to improve your landscaping and lawn in 2017, here are five quick tips from an Olathe Landscaper:

  • Find Inspiration

Motivation is always necessary. No matter what you’re doing, you need to have the motivation to get it done. Landscaping is no different. You don’t need to drive around for hours on end admiring the neighbors’ lawns from the car. Just open a browser and start looking through landscaping ideas from around the world on the web.

  • The Perfect Plan

Once you have a few fun ideas and some inspiration, it’s time to plan your landscaping ideas out. Make a strategy and stick to it. How many days do you need to complete a landscaping project? Do you need to hire a professional Olathe landscaper?

To ensure your plan will work to perfection; you’ll want to map everything out precisely. Make sure everyone will have space to walk around your landscape. You’ll also need to plan for growth because your plants will grow during the year.

  • Stick to the Script

The best way to avoid a landscaping disaster is to stay on schedule and stick to the script. This means you need to plant your garden at the suggest time of the year. Listen to the horticulturalists. You can’t plant a perennial in the dog days of summer and expect great things.

  • Create the Contrast

Some of the best landscapes I’ve ever seen offer a stark contrast to the exterior of the home. For example, if you have a modern designed exterior, then a Zen-like garden could provide a tranquil, yet stunning contrast to your home.

  • Understanding Maintenance

Before you go head over heels on a challenging landscaping project, make sure to pay attention to maintenance. Be honest about the amount of effort you’re willing to spend on maintenance and only plant things that fit within your lifestyle.

Luckily, there are plants for every effort-level. You can find high and low maintenance plants. Just ask your Olathe landscaper to give you some helpful hints when picking plants in the New Year. 

Another interesting aspect of maintenance is pest planning. You’ll want to understand the pest found in your area and take them into account from a maintenance aspect. You may need to add fencing or wire mesh during certain times of the year to ensure your efforts don’t get destroyed.

By ddmg Do It Yourself • Landscape • Management • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

How to Prep Your Landscape For Springtime

Fall isn’t exactly fun, and winter worries us. From a gardening and landscaping perspective, these months aren’t the most fun. So what season is spectacular? Springtime!

If you’re in love with your landscaping and giddy about gardening, then you love when spring has sprung. You know that a little effort on your part before the fresh weather finds its way to Olathe can add a lot of value to your landscaping efforts.

As Olathe Landscapers, we know this, too. We prepared a few quick tips to help you properly prep your landscaping and garden for springtime:

  • Clean It Up

As spring rolls in, you’ll want to clean up your landscaping. Keep the garden beds and the lawn fresh and clean as the weather changes. Make it a habit to pick up branches, debris, and more during the cold months. Once the good weather hits, you’ll be back doing the fun stuff – instead of cleaning up.

  • Prioritize Pruning

You’ll want to focus on primping and pruning right as spring hits. Start by removing any weeds in garden beds. Then give your perennials a good trimming and haircut. Next, focus on lightly pruning trees and shrubs. Make sure to remove any and all dead branches.

  • Maintain the Mower

A huge part of your landscape is your lawn. You may hire a professional Olathe Landscaper to mow your lawn, or you may do it yourself. If you mow your lawn, then make sure you sharpen the mower blades before taking a crack at the lawn for the first time in the spring. If you don’t, you may damage the grass, as unsharpened blades tear the grass instead of cutting it.

P.S: Make sure to mow your lawn a little higher in the spring. The grass is still starting to grow during this time. You can damage it by cutting it too low too soon.

  • Fertilizing Fun

Your plants need proper nutrition to grow. So make sure to feed your plants some fresh compost and fertilizer as the weather changes. Test your soil before you do anything. This can help you find out if the soil is deficient in any nutrients your plants require.

  • Mulching Mania

Don’t forget to get out the mulch as spring comes. You’ll want to add a 4-5 inch layer of the freshest mulch to all your garden beds. This will reduce the amount of weeds you’ll deal with this year.

  • Transplanting Plants

If you want to move plants around or plant some new ones, then the springtime is perfect. The temperatures are comfortable, and your plants will be able to adjust to a new area much easier. Trying to transplant during a drought or high heat just won’t work as well. Trust your favorite Olathe landscaper on this!

By ddmg Do It Yourself • Landscape • Management • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

5 Olathe Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid this Winter

Life is seasonal. In the spring, you invest a lot of time into your yard. This ensures some green grasses and lush landscaping as the winter months turn to warmth.

Over the summer months, you make sure to water your lawn often. This offers an extension to the green, lush landscaping that comes from a properly manicured lawn in the springtime.

In the fall, you’re probably fond of coasting when it comes to lawn care. And the winter? Snow is going to cover it all up anyway. So you throw a few Christmas lights around the house once all the leaves are raked and you call it a day.

Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid this Winter

If you know anything about winter landscaping, you know that ignoring your grass during the holidays isn’t the best idea. With this in mind, here are five Olathe landscaping mistakes to avoid this winter:

  • Keep Watering Your Plants

Sure, some plants die off during the winter months. But not all do! Shrubs, fruit trees, and hedges all need watering during the winter months. Don’t delay watering your plants in the winter, especially when the temperatures are fairly tolerable. You can save more plants during the winter than you’d ever think – with a little water.

  • Rakes On Rakes On Rakes

Nobody likes raking. It’s important to continually rake leaves during the cold months. This will allow your lawn to “breathe” at all times. Plus, fungus and mold that can grow on leaves when it snows won’t make its way to your lawn.

  • No Weed Killer

You should NEVER use pesticides and weed killers in the colder months. The grass already has enough struggles in the cold months. You don’t need to add an external one by continually spraying weed killer. It’s important to stop pesticide use once the temperature gets below 55 degrees.

  • Too Much Manicuring

It’s common for homeowners to focus on their landscape too much as the months turn cold. One of the biggest Olathe landscaping mistakes we see is lawns being cut too short. If you cut your lawn too short once it gets colder, you’ll run the risk of doing extensive damage if snow or sleet arrives. 

  • Find the Right Fertilizer

While you won’t want to manicure your landscape too much as the freeze comes in, you do need to pay a little attention to your lawn. Doing one final fertilizer run in the fall will ensure your grass is green come spring. Just make sure to avoid granular fertilizer during the colder months, as it takes too long to dissolve in cold temperatures.

By ddmg Do It Yourself • Landscape • Management • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Get Excited About Your Garden this Winter! Olathe Landscapers Tell You How

Many things get thrown to the backburner during the wintertime. Snow and sleet can make everyday tasks like getting to work difficult. Plus, certain hobbies are more difficult as times get chilly.

Gardening is often an afterthought during our cold months. As Olathe landscapers, we know most people don’t think too much of their plants and greens as the snow starts to roll in.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With a little planning and creativity – you can still enjoy your gardening in the winter. Sure, you’ll have to wait a little to see stuff bloom, but it will be worth it.

Here are a few winter gardening tips to ensure the cold months don’t leave your garden barren:

Picking the Perfect Plants For Winter

Most plants are simply unable to grow in cold weather. As Olathe landscapers, we know which plants can’t handle the freezing temperatures and which ones can take the cold.

The key is picking the perfect plants during the winter. See, during the cold months, many plants die off or go dormant. However, a few plants tend to flourish in the winter months. If you focus on these plants, your garden will continue to grow while the weather is freezing.

Some plants that do well in the winter include conifers with a lot of foliage, color-twig dogwoods, and Lenten roses. Planting these winter plants will ensure you garden looks lovely as the snow settles in.

Looking for more suggestions from you favorite Olathe landscaper? Other great winter plants include:

  • Mahonias
  • Christmas Roses
  • Winter Jasmine
  • Red River Lily
  • Glory Lily

Attractive Additions

Your garden is made up of more than just plants. There are animals, pots, beds, and more that make up your garden. In the winter months, it’s easy to improve the appeal of your garden by sprucing up your containers.

Adding colorful pots to your garden in the winter is sure to bring extra cheer. You can use them in combination with the perfect winter plants above for bonus points. This will also help to bring color to your garden during the cold months.

Bring the Birds

Not all birds fly south for the winter. Many will stay in cold areas. You want the birds who stay home for the holidays to visit your garden. They’ll add color and life to an otherwise semi-barren landscape.

One easy way to attract more birds in the winter is to add a source of water for them. By keeping a warm water source that doesn’t freeze, you’ll draw a number of thirsty winter birds that’ll cheer and chirp up your garden.

Lights On Lights On Lights

Last, but not least – you can and should add Christmas lights to your home and possibly your garden area. While you cannot recreate springtime in the colder months, you can still spread a lot of cheer with a few lights around your property.

By ddmg Do It Yourself • General Information • Landscape • Tips and Tricks • • 1 Comment

Too Much Snow? Your Olathe Landscape Company Shows You How to Handle It

Winter is here. Whether you love it or hate it, the season of snow is almost upon us. This means snow removal will be needed sooner rather than later. When there’s snow in tow, you may need the help of your favorite Olathe landscape company to help you or show you the way.

Maybe you need professional snow removal services. Maybe you need some tips when you want to do it yourself. Whatever you need, we’re here to help. At Huston Contracting, we offer:

  • Professional snow removal
  • Salting services
  • Sidewalk shoveling
  • Sidewalk de-icing services

…And more!

We strive to make your winter wonderland livable after a big snowfall. We also understand that many just want to get rid of the snow on their driveway after a storm. Many times it will only be an inch or two and you just want to make it go away and get on with your day.

Snow Clean Up Tips & Tricks From Your Olathe Landscape Company

Here are a few tips and tricks to ensure you efficiently clean up your driveway and sidewalk area when a small snow occurs:

  • Be SAFE

First and foremost – be safe! There’s no reason to run around injuring yourself by trying to clean a foot of snow off your driveway, especially if physical fitness isn’t your forte. A large amount of snow gets heavy, and you can hurt yourself trying to move it with just a shovel.

  • Move Snow Once

There’s no reason to shovel snow twice or three times. Don’t move snow into piles in the driveway and then into smaller piles off the driveway. Immediately move the snow off of your driveway. This will allow you to avoid overworking yourself. Just don’t do it – don’t move snow twice.

  • Invest in a Good Shovel

If you’re going to shovel snow, then you need to get a great shovel. You can cut your snow shoveling time and workload if you get the proper shovel. Head over to your local hardware store and have an expert help pick out the perfect shovel for your needs.

  • Never Shovel Into the Wind

If you want to make snow shoveling harder than it already is, then try to shovel snow into the wind. You’ll end up doing double or triple the amount of work. Instead, work with the wind. Start on the side of the driveway the wind is coming from and let the breeze work for you – not against you.

By ddmg Do It Yourself • General Information • Landscape • Tips and Tricks • 0 Comments

7 Winter Landscaping Tips From Your Olathe Landscapers

It’s almost here. Fall is winding down. Leaves have fallen, and it’s almost time to get out the snow shovels and blowers. There’s no telling when a few inches of white powder will cover our lawns. It could be tomorrow, or maybe a month from now.

As Olathe landscapers, we understand that the winter months are not the kindest to your plants, flowers, and landscaping. You need to properly prep in the fall to ensure your lovelies stay lovely throughout the long, harsh winter.

Check out these seven winter landscaping tips from your favorite Olathe landscapers:

  • Clean It All: As the months get colder, debris tends to accumulate on your lawn. Leaves and other debris end up sitting on your lawn and landscaping for far too long. This leads to no sun reaching the grass and plants beneath. This is not what you want. By constantly keeping your lawn clean and free of debris, you give the grass a good shot of staying healthy longer.
  • Mulching Maniac: Right before winter is one of the best times to focus on mulching, as the mulch acts as a shield against harsh winter weather. Add 2 inches of mulch to all your planting beds. It’ll look nice over the cold months and give the plants below a shot at survival.
  • Protect Your Home & Plants: You need to prepare your home and plants. Protection is more important than fixing a disaster. Check your sprinkler system, make sure your pipes, water valves, hoses, and more are all ready for winter.
  • Fertilize Fruits: If you want your fruits to be blooming in the spring, then you need to give the fruit trees and plants on your property some love in the winter. Make sure you fertilize your fruit plants and trees in the late winter – and they’ll be blooming like crazy in the spring.
  • Evergreen Energy: If you have evergreen trees, then you know how stunning they can look in a winter landscape. Evergreens look amazing covered in a little snow. If you plan to do any landscaping over the next few weeks, getting some evergreens on your property could make a huge difference.
  • Pay Attention to Bark: Snow often brings out different textures and colors than we’d normally notice throughout our landscapes. This is especially true with regards to bark. To ensure a stunning snowy texture this winter, check out the health of your tree’s bark before a winter wonderland occurs.
  • Lighten Up: Last, but not least – winter is about lights. Christmas lights often work, but you can do so much more with your landscape lighting in this season. Try shedding a lot of light on your outdoor spaces when the days turn darker. You can use lighting to focus on an evergreen tree or create a pathway to a door.

 

By ddmg Do It Yourself • Landscape • Renovation • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

7 Quick Ideas From Your Olathe Landscape Architect

While fall is here and winter will be arriving soon, it’s still a good idea to give a little love to your landscaping. You can’t afford to ignore your greens and goods before the first frost of the season. If you do, then spring won’t be pretty for your lawn.

Here are a few quick ideas from your Olathe landscape architect:

Flowers in Front

If you’ve ignored the front of your landscaping in order to create an oasis in your backyard, you’re not the only one. However, fall provides the perfect time to turn things around. Planting flowers in front will yield stunning results as spring rolls in. Greeting your guests with an array of flowers in front is a great idea.

Keep Em’ Hidden

Many outdoor structures don’t add much value to a landscape. Items like sheds, garages, hoses, and workspaces can be an eyesore. Hide them! Build a stunning display of plants and flowers around your outdoor structures and you’ll find your landscaping takes a turn for the better.

Plan For Future

Before you undertake a landscaping project, it’s important you consider the future. Plants and flowers grow. You need to anticipate their growth and plant accordingly. Think about future growth around your porch, patio, entryways, and gates. If you don’t, you’ll be forced to trim or cut some of your precious plants.

Focal Point Focus

Whenever you undertake a new landscaping project, the focal point of your yard should come to mind. Often, the focal point is a statue or a large tree. However, flowers, retaining walls, and more can also make stunning focal points in your landscape.

Grab a Tarp

Before you start any large landscaping project in Olathe, make sure you buy a big tarp. You can use the tarp to cover plants while coming home from the nursery. You can also throw debris and shrubs on it while gardening. If digging a hole, throw the dirt on the tarp instead of your grass.

Stay Starter

When planting, you should always use starter fertilizer. You give your new plants a big boost by feeding them with some starter fertilizer. If you combine this fertilizer with great planting technique, your landscape is sure to look stunning.

Buy Quality

Garden tools can be cheap, but they can also be costly. If you plan to have a stunning landscape, you’re better off spending a little more on your tools upfront. If you skimp on garden tools, expect to buy new ones more often than you’d like. Most find they actually save money in the long run by purchasing expensive tools.

By ddmg Landscape • Tips and Tricks • 0 Comments

5 Year Round Lawn Care Tips From Olathe Landscapers

Every lawn is different. Olathe landscapers know this fact. Some lawns have great shading. Others get too much sun. Certain landscapes get just the right amount of rays to ensure the perfect landscape all the time and others don’t.

Sun isn’t the only factor that determines how your lawn looks year around. There are a number of factors that lead to a healthy lawn. Many involve feeding and timing. As the premier Olathe landscapers, we want to help you put together a great program that will ensure your grass stays as green as possible.

Here are five year round lawn care tips from your favorite Olathe Landscapers:

Timing is Everything

You absolutely must feed your lawn. If you don’t, you give your greens little chance to look healthy year round. A lawn that is well-fed will always be healthy and looking good. Also, landscaping that has the nutrients it needs will form a better rooting system. This helps to combat:

  • Drought
  • Cold weather
  • Over heating
  • Foot traffic
  • Mowing

…And more!

Mowing & More

The spring typically is the most important time for your lawn. If you care about your landscaping, then you must start early in the spring. Around the time of your first lawn mowing, you’ll want to also feed your lawn some great nutrients. This will set the proper stage for growth to come.

Continuous Control

Springtime is great for growing your grass as green as possible. The season also lends hand to weed growing galore. Therefore, you’ll need to combat these pests before they get out of hand. The best way to do just that, is to use a weed control in combination with feeding your lawn.

Antsy Insects

As spring turns to summer, you’ll often find more insects in your landscaping. This can be highly problematic for some lawns. If you’re struggling with insect problems, try using a feeding product with insect control during the hottest months of the year.

Don’t Skimp in the Fall

Many Olathe landscapers find fall to be the most important time of the year for your lawn. The grass is coming off the rough summer months and conditions come back to prime growing season. Not only that, you must prep your landscaping for the harsh winter months ahead.

By properly feeding your lawn with a winter food blend, you can ensure the greens are ready to roll once spring is back in session. This will build the roots up and help the plants increase the amount of nitrogen they can store. More nitrogen will ensure bright green grass starts to grow during early spring.

By ddmg Landscape • News • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

7 Olathe Landscaping Mistakes You Need to Avoid This Fall

With fall on its way, there are cooler temperatures, leaves falling, and much more to account for. Olathe landscaping means managing four seasons. So it’s important to note the changes in the season and how this could affect your property.

With this in mind, here are seven Olathe landscaping mistakes you need to avoid this fall:

Always Be Raking

There comes a time every fall where the leaves look beautiful as they fall. Often, the leaves look so stunning, you don’t want to rake them. You must rake them. Not only do leaves not help your greens, but they can also cover up walkways and leave your property ripe for an accident.

Lawn Care Never Ends

As the growth and green of your lawn slow down in the fall, that doesn’t mean you neglect it during this time. You need to be preparing your lawn for winter and the spring. By properly fertilizing your lawn during the fall, you’ll be less likely to suffer significant landscaping damage during the harsh winter.

Plan For Spring

As alluded to earlier, fall is the time to prepare your landscape for spring. One easy way to do so is through planting spring bulbs. When spring rolls around, you’ll find colorful blooms in your garden – if you take advantage of the fall. Just make sure to plant them low enough in the dirt, so they don’t freeze.

Keep the Color

Many see fall as the season where all the colors in your yard die. It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of ignoring colorful options this fall, try adding different mulches in a number of hues around your garden and trees. You can also add strong green hedge plants that will last through the winter during fall.

Prep Your Pool

Once it gets too cold, many pool owners think pool maintenance season is over.  It’s not! Even during the fall and harsh winter months where you wouldn’t dream of entering your pool, you still need to keep chemicals balanced and a weekly cleaning schedule.

Take Care Of Tools

As you wind up the landscaping season this fall, remember to take care of your tools. Clean off all debris and dirt before you properly store them for the winter. If you fail to do so, you’ll find some of your old tools unusable when you’re ready to start using them in the spring.

One Quick Fix

Finally, if you’re looking to improve upon your Olathe landscaping this fall, try adding plant boxes below your windows.