10 Great Fall Decorative Ideas to Enhance Your Landscaping and Curb Appeal
By Lisa Allen Landscape • Tips and Tricks • • • • • • 0 Comments

10 Great Fall Decorative Ideas to Enhance Your Landscaping and Curb Appeal

10 Great Fall Decorative Ideas to Enhance Your Landscaping and Curb Appeal

It’s officially fall —the seasons have changed! Have you noticed the shift in places you frequent? Grocery stores are sporting pumpkins and apples, clothing stores are filled with muted plaid long-sleeved shirts and cozy scarves, and restaurants are featuring new specials—think portobello ravioli or roasted acorn squash.

Just like those places, your landscaping is ready for a change, too! And Fall is the perfect time to not just ready your lawn for winter, but to add special decorative touches that amp up your curb appeal—and just might make you the envy of your neighbors.

You might think that you have to make major changes to improve your fall landscaping, and it’s true that big projects like retaining walls or outdoor kitchens can make a huge difference. But there are more modest, easy to implement ideas that will enhance your landscaping and increase your curb appeal. Here are a ten of our favorites:

1) Start with a Clean Slate

We talk about Spring cleaning, but Fall cleaning matters too! Power wash your hard surfaces, clear out your gutters, and remove debris from your space. This is the first step to making your landscape shine.

2) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Not all mulch is created equally. Sure, mulch is practical: it helps prevent weeds and can make your space look better. But you have a choice when it comes to which mulch you use. Instead of picking up a discount bag, check out shredded hardwood mulch—or try a colored variety.

3) Break Out the Shears

Fall is a good time to prune bushes and trees, but there’s a catch: you have to do it at the right time. Learn more here.

4) Add Color

Mums are the (un)official arbiter of Fall flower beds. Choose from yellow, rust, orange, red, or purple and pair them with ornamental cabbages or peppers for a potted arrangement that screams bonfires and s’mores.

5) Focus on Your Porch

Think of your porch like you would your dining room table and plan a display that reflects your personal or family aesthetic. Love Halloween? Turn your porch into a spooky spot with store-bought decorations. Prefer Thanksgiving? Stack a hay bale or two, strew various sizes of pumpkins, add a bench with a cozy blanket.

6) Short on Space?

Even if you don’t have a porch to decorate, you can spiff up your entryway to welcome the season. You might consider painting your front door an interesting new color. If that’s too much of a commitment, opt for a new wreath.

7) Light it Up

Even if you don’t have substantial installations like a retaining wall, you can add lighting to enhance your curb appeal. Try pathway lights that sink right into the ground or hanging lanterns to add a spooky (or welcoming) glow.

8) Replace Bulbs

While you’re at it, make sure your existing lighting has fresh bulbs. It’s starting to get dark earlier, which means longer hours for porch and other outdoor lights. Be prepped and ready.

9) Keep Raking

As the leaves fall, it’s important to keep your lawn free of debris. Surprise wet or snowy conditions can trap extra leaves and lead to unwanted lawn issues. But don’t worry if you don’t get every single stray leaf; once you mow, you’ll shred any stragglers that might cause problems.

10) Take Note

As you enjoy the chilly air and spend time outdoors, think about what you want for your space next Fall. Wish you had a firepit? Dream about firing up the outdoor oven to prep a pizza? Think having an outdoor dinner party would be fun—but you just don’t have the right set-up? Write it down, then call us. We’ll work with you to make your space perfect for you.

By Lisa Allen Landscape • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Three Ways Professional Landscaping Brings Value to Your Fall Landscaping Projects

Can you feel it? Yes, the air is still hot here in KC, but there’s a tinge of Fall in all these high temperatures. Maybe it’s the back-to-school shopping or the Halloween and pumpkin displays already popping up at local stores. Or maybe it’s because Starbucks is bringing back the much-discussed pumpkin latte earlier than ever this year. Whatever it is, there’s no escaping that Summer is waning and Fall is ready to return to Kansas City.

Before that happens, give some thought to what you can do now and as the temperatures start to chill out to bring the most value to your landscape and your home. In fact, think about how much value the right professional landscaping can add to your home!

Professional Landscaping Increases Home Values

Let’s talk about curb appeal. It’s a buzzword for real estate pros and it’s important for every homeowner to understand. Simply put, curb appeal is how appealing your property is to the average viewer. Think about when you take a walk or a drive: you look at neighborhoods, don’t you? And you look at the houses in those neighborhoods. You can’t see inside, but you can tell something about the property from the curb and what you see makes an impression.

That first impression—that curb appeal—can mean more money in your pocket when it comes time to sell, if planned and executed right.

How Professional Landscaping Can Make You Money

How much value can positive curb appeal put in your pocket? This article says well-landscaped homes sell for 5.5 percent to 12.7 percent more than non-landscaped homes. If your home is worth $300,000, that means quality landscaping can add between $16,500 and $38,100 to the value of your home.

Let’s be clear, though: simply cutting your grass or planting a few flowers won’t make for stunning curb appeal. It takes planning, vision, and commitment to turn a hum-drum lawn to an oh-wow display—and all of that takes time and professional help.

Expert Help Means Added Value

Most buyers want stunning curb appeal. They want sophisticated layouts and mature trees and plants. It’s been proven that large, deciduous, evergreen and annual, colorful plants increase a home’s resale value. Working with a professional landscaping company can not only save you time; it can also ensure that your space is planned in the best possible way.

Now is the perfect time to reassess your landscaping plan with an eye to curb appeal and resale value, and we have great ideas to bring Fall flair to your lawn and garden. Reach out to learn more!

 

By Lisa Allen Do It Yourself • Landscape • Tips and Tricks • • • • 0 Comments

How Adding Lights to Retaining Walls Can Make a Lasting Impression

Retaining walls aren’t always the most glamorous element of landscaping to talk about. They’re not often pretty, like flower beds or gorgeous trees, and they can be valued more for what they do than for how the look.

But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make your retaining wall pull double duty. With inspired vision, a bit of creativity, and the help of a professional landscaper, you can turn your retaining wall into a feature that not only works hard, but also lends a unique design aesthetic to your home.

Think About Your Space

Retaining walls are often installed along driveways or walkways. This makes them the perfect place to also install lighting. Rather than thinking of these two things as opposing projects, why not talk with your landscape designer about how to integrate both elements together?

Adding lights to your retaining wall can improve the safety of your home by providing necessary light to make pathways visible. They can also be security features—we all know that a well-landscaped, well-lit yard is a deterrent to criminals. But adding lighting to a retaining wall can also be a design element.

Let Your Personality Shine!

Think about it: different lights evoke different looks. Inside your home, you might prefer brighter light in the bathroom than you do in the bedroom. You might like overhead light in the garage but prefer cabinet-mounted spotlights in your kitchen. There are logistical concerns to lighting, to be sure, but lighting can also be an interesting design element.

When you think about your outdoor space, think about how you use it. If your retaining wall is in your backyard, for example, and you love to entertain, consider adding lights that set the mood but don’t flood guests with glare. If you need a retaining wall built in your front yard, think about installing lighting that marks a pathway or guides you safely into the garage.

The Choices are Endless

The hardest part of using lighting to enhance a retaining wall is choosing which option you like best. There are so many! The good news is that by working with a professional landscaping company that understands how you use your space and how you want it to look, you have help narrowing down the options to find the best one for you.

Ready to turn your space into one you love? Reach out. We’d love to talk with you.

By Lisa Allen Construction • Design • Landscape • Renovation • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

3 Areas Where Retaining Walls Add Value and Look Great

Retaining walls offer countless benefits. They can be a gorgeous aesthetic element that shows your home design and landscaping personality. More than that, though, they’re functional. Retaining walls help prevent run-off, guard against erosion, and can protect your home’s foundation.

But there are three places in particular that retaining walls can be especially beneficial. Those places are at your driveway and/or stairway, around your flower beds, and when either placed next to, or used as, fencing.

Retaining Wall Around Your Driveway or Stairway

One of the most important things a retaining wall can do for your landscape is provide additional support for architectural and functional features. This is especially true when it comes to your driveway and/or the stairway to your home. It’s all about the slope of your land, here: a retaining wall and help correct less than ideal slopes. This means that a retaining wall at your driveway and/or stairway is less likely to shift. An added bonus is that a retaining wall here can be both attractive and an added safety feature.

Retaining Walls and Flower Beds

Retaining walls are one of the best ways to create the lawn of your dreams. By building retaining walls, you can turn a blank space into an array of raised beds full of color, texture, and height. All of these elements are pleasing to the eye and make the best use of every bit of available space.

Retaining walls that create flower beds don’t just provide an instant home for your favorite flowers and plants. These retaining walls also help do what all other retaining walls do: they help prevent excessive run-off, help control soil erosion, correct slopes, and protect the foundation of your home.

Retaining Walls and Fencing

Let’s face it: replacing a fence isn’t an inexpensive endeavor. Why not consider a retaining wall instead? Doing so means you can maximize not just your budget, but the design potential of your space. This doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision: by working with a professional landscaping company, you can choose to use a retaining wall as a fence, install a fence on top of a retaining wall, or add a fence and/or guardrails around the retaining wall.

No matter where you want to install a retaining wall, there are serious concerns to keep in mind. Knowing the slope of your land and how the water drains is vital. So is having a clear understanding of what your city or town’s regulations are when it comes to building or installing new features.

As an Olathe landscape company that works throughout the Johnson County and greater Kansas City area, we know those requirements and can work with you to find the best option for your space. Reach out when you’re ready to learn more.

By Lisa Allen Landscape • • • • • • 0 Comments

Save Yourself from Heat and Exhaustion: Hire Professional Olathe Landscapers

prevent heat exhaustion by hiring professional landscapers

We talked about snow in our last post but make no mistake: it’s still summer in Kansas! And we all know that that means: it’s hot, sticky, and we’d all rather be inside where the air is cool and there’s something sweet to drink!

There’s an easy way to make that happen. You call us, your local Olathe landscapers. That’s it! We’ll take it from there so you can relax, work on other projects, and still have a gorgeous lawn.

Summer Lawns Need Extra Care…and So Do You

Summer lawns don’t need just water, though that’s an important part of maintenance. Hot weather lawn care requires a balance of the right moisture, the right mowing, and the right fertilizing. There’s a science to all of this that we understand because we are professional landscapers, and experts on Kansas City soil and how to care for it.

We also know that heat exhaustion is real. Trying to soldier through and work on your lawn in the hottest of temperatures can be harmful to your health. There’s sunburn to worry about, bug bites to scratch, and dehydration. All of those conditions can range from mildly annoying to serious. Heat exhaustion, too, is a real concern.

Study Up

Summer is intense, there’s no doubt about it. This means how we treat your lawn has to change with the season. We realize that the clay-packed soil here in the Kansas City area requires a specific watering plan. Our crews know how often to mow (hint: it’s not as often as in the Spring). We are familiar with which seeds and fertilizers will work and which are a waste of money.

We also know that while some things are common (the type of soil we have here, the temperature, etc), your lawn is unique. Letting us tackle the hard, sweaty work of summer lawn care leaves more time for you to dream about—and plan—your perfect space. Ask us how to make that outdoor kitchen a reality or whether or not you need a retaining wall. We’re here to help.

Change is Coming

The good news is that the stifling heat of summer won’t last forever.  Before we know it, we’ll need a sweater once the sun sets and then we’ll be planning for snow. Working with professional landscapers means your lawn will be ready for these changes, too.

Want to put your mind at ease by creating a yearly lawn and landscape plan? Reach out. We’d love to talk with you.

benefits of commercial snow removal
By Lisa Allen Landscape • Management • • • • • • 0 Comments

Benefits of Commercial Snow Removal Services

benefits of commercial snow removal

Let’s talk about snow. Yes, snow! We know it might sound a bit premature to be thinking about the cold, white stuff now, since we’re still knee-deep in summer. But trust us: it’s better to think about—and plan for—snow now, than it is to wait until Mother Nature has covered Kansas City and left us scrambling for shovels.

When you think about it, contracting commercial snow removal services is no different than relying on your Olathe landscaper for summer flower beds. Snow removal can be hard work and, because weather in Kansas City can be unpredictable, dealing with winter storms can require more manpower and expertise than you might have.

The Right Tools Mean a Job Well Done

One of the most important things a commercial snow removal service can do is show up with the right tools. The shovel you use on your driveway won’t clear a parking lot—and trying to clear snow from even a small space can take much more time than one might think.

Whether you have to shovel a driveway and a sidewalk so you can come and go from your home, or a parking lot so your customers can still come to your business to shop or purchase your services, relying on professionals to clear the path means that work will be done quickly.

Using a Commercial Snow Removal Service is Smart Business

If you’re a DYI’er you might think that clearing snow is something you can do easily on your own. That might be true—sometimes. If the snow is more of a dusting that a deluge, you might be right. It might even be fun to suit up and play for awhile (snowball fight and hot chocolate, anyone?)!

But if you own a business, snow removal isn’t about fun. Snow and ice can mean liability issues, and liability issues affect the bottom line. It’s smart to check with your insurance company to make sure that you’re doing everything possible to create a safe, passable path for customers, employees, delivery people, and even strangers who might set foot on your property.

It’s About Time

OK, we’ll admit it: playing in the snow can be fun! A good old fashioned snowball fight, picking the perfect carrot so your snowman has a nose, even forging an igloo in your front yard—many a perfect photo has been snapped with a perfectly white backdrop and cherry red cheeks.

But the thing is, we all have incredibly busy lives. There’s only so much time to get everything done. If you’re shoveling and snow blowing, that’s time taken away from making snow angels with your kids or grandkids. It’s energy expended that could be spent making new memories with the people you love.

We’re not just a landscape company. We’re people who love family and know how precious every moment is. Let us do what we do best—even when it snows—so you can do what matters most to you.

By Lisa Allen Do It Yourself • Landscape • Tips and Tricks • • • • • 0 Comments

3 Olathe Landscaping Tips for Maintaining Your Lawn During the Hot and Dry Summer Season

With summer comes hot, sticky days; and for Olathe landscaping, it could mean trouble. Most sources say temperatures in the Kansas City metro area hover in the 90-degree range. If that makes us sweat, imagine what it does to our lawns! If not properly cared for, lawns can suffer in the summer. Grass can wilt and even burn if the temperatures rise and care isn’t adjusted to beat the heat.

The good news is that there are ways to help keep your Olathe landscaping and lawn healthy and beautiful all summer long—and one of those tactics means you get a break from being outside!

1) Water More When the Temperature Spikes

Just like your body needs more water when the temperatures rise, your lawn requires additional moisture to stay healthy. Believe it or not, there’s science behind how often you should water your lawn. Factors that matter include the type of soil in your lawn, the slope of your property, and the type of grass you’ve planted.

Kansas City’s dirt is clay-packed and absorbs water at a rate of no more than two-tenths of an inch per hour. Slope matters here too: a flat area can take less water than an area that is sloped.

There are different schools on summer watering. You can learn about the soak and cycle method, which is what the K-State Research and Extension Office recommends. Or you can call us, and we’ll help you devise a customized plan to keep your summer lawn lush.

2) Mow Less

That’s right—stay inside and drink something cool, and don’t worry about mowing as often as you do in the Spring. When you do mow, make sure to mow no lower than 3 inches. Doing so alleviates some of the stress lawns experience due to dryness and heat.

Of course, exactly how often a lawn should be mowed will depend on too many variables to account for here. A general rule of thumb, though, is to mow less often than during cooler months. We can help you understand when to cut your grass and when to let it grow. Just ask!

3) Utilize Water Efficient Seeds and Fertilizers

There are countless scientific advances that benefit our lawns and landscapes, especially when temperatures are a concern. In summer months, it’s best to opt for seeds and fertilizers that are optimized to work best with less water.

Doing so doesn’t just make your space prettier, it also conserves water during the summer, which is vital to the community as a whole—and it sure helps with those water bills!

Curious which water-efficient seeds and fertilizers are right for your lawn? We’re here to help.

By Lisa Allen Landscape • • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Take Back Control of Your Yard with Hired Landscapers

4 Advantages to Hiring Professional Landscapers

Sure, there are reasons to DIY your lawn and landscape this summer. But if you look a little deeper, you might realize that hiring landscapers will save you time, money, and frustration.

1) Pro Landscapers Save You Time

It’s a romantic notion that taking the time to work on your yard yourself will save you wheelbarrows of cash, but think about the real economics of this scenario for a second—and then do the math.

The truth is, your time is valuable. Even if you don’t have to take time off of work to get everything done, whatever time you spend tending to your yard takes away time you could be spending doing other things. Some of those things might make you more money. Some of those things might bring you more joy—and if there’s anything we all know for sure, it’s that we cannot put a price on time. There’s no substitute for time spent laughing and making memories with family and friends.

2) Right Products for Your Lawn, Guaranteed

Have you walked into a home improvement store lately and looked at the rows and rows of lawn care products on the shelves? Do you know which ones will work for your lawn? Consulting with professional landscapers to take care of your outdoor space isn’t that different from consulting a pharmacist when you need medication. Chemicals and products interact in ways only trained professionals know. It’s vital to the health and look of your lawn to use the best, most appropriate products. Doing so saves you money. It also ensures that your yard will be gorgeous and healthy, even if you haven’t studied the intricacies of grasses, plants, and landscaping.

3) Maintenance Done the Right Way

Believe it or not, there’s a method to what we do. There are right times to plant, to cut, to mulch….you get the idea. There are also right ways to tend a tree, manicure a lawn, or edge a border wall. And those times and procedures vary from yard to yard, depending on a set of circumstances that are unique to your space. So learning exactly what you need to do and when those things need to be done can be a full-time job.

Sure, you could spend time searching online, watching videos, asking for help from your handy friend at work, or checking out a stack of books at the library to learn how to maintain your yard the right way. Or you could call us and let us do what we do best, so you can have the best looking lawn possible with zero hassle.

4) Ensure Your Yard Boasts a Professional Look and Design

Admit it: there are some yards you drive by and have to slow down to look at because they’re just so beautiful. Chances are, those eye-catching designs were done by a professional that the homeowner trusted to design and maintain the right way. We can do the same for you!

olathe outdoor kitchen
By Lisa Allen Outdoor Kitchen • • • • • • 0 Comments

3 Must-Have Features that Make a Great Outdoor Kitchen Area

olathe outdoor kitchen

When you think of your ideal outdoor kitchen space, which features first come to mind? Comfort, to be sure. Ease of use, aesthetically pleasing, super simple to take care of might be other attributes that we all want in our outdoor cooking space. We think three of the most important elements are the grill, countertops and seating space, and a fire pit.

The Grill: Your Outdoor Kitchen’s Main Attraction

We want it all when it comes to the grill, don’t we? The best grills are those that get the job done and look good doing it—but both of those requirements mean different things to different people.

Think about the bells and whistles when it comes to outdoor grill options: different temperature zones so you can whip up a steak and a batch of hot dogs; an option to slow cook side dishes like beans; and maybe even a rotisserie option for birds that are better than the big box store’s.

All of this translates to a few key components: the size of your cooking surface, how powerful the grill itself is, and how easy it is to use overall. And let’s not kid ourselves: money is an important factor here, too. Want a rotisserie? That ups your budget. Happy to keep things simple? A grill with a burner or two as its only perks will save you cash.

Surfaces: Countertops and Seating for Your Outdoor Kitchen

The surfaces in your outdoor cooking space need just as much attention as those inside your home. Maybe even more so, since the elements can be brutal to outdoor countertops and seating areas.

For this reason, durability should be at the top of your list when selecting both. Think stone, concrete, or tile. You can still make it your own—and even jazz it up with personalized touches—but these details are best when worked out with a professional. We can tell you how the design and material you want will react to temperature fluctuations that come with the seasons.

When you think about seating, think about location: do you want to cozy up close to the grill and other cooking surfaces, or do you want to be a bit removed? Are you someone who loves to crawl onto a barstool and eat with others, or do you like the intimacy of a table? How often will you invite guests—and how many seats will you need to accommodate a typical party?

Fire Pit: The Perfect Centerpiece to Your Outdoor Kitchen

There’s nothing better than gathering around a fire once the sun goes down—and if you look, you’ll see that there are fire pits that fit every budget and every design aesthetic. It’s best, though, to think before you jump.

Consulting with a professional is important, as is checking local ordinances to make sure fire pits are allowed in your area and checking with your insurance company to make sure you’re covered. Peace of mind and safety always have to come first.

Once you’ve taken care of those logistics, think about function first: how big do you want the fire pit to be? What materials will look gorgeous in your space? Do you want seating right around your fire pit and if so, for how many people?

All of these questions—and more—are things professional landscape architects discuss with clients before and during the process of working together. If you’re curious about working with an Olathe landscaper to make your outdoor kitchen dreams a reality, give us a call.

P.S. Ready to fire up your grill and have people over? Check out a few of these recipes for great meal ideas.

By Lisa Allen Landscape • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

Rearrange Your Spring Flower Beds with the Help of a Landscape Architect Designer

Spring is the perfect time to reassess your flower beds—and working with a landscape architect designer can help you make the most of your space, no matter the size.

Quiz Time

Your designer will likely ask you lots of questions before planning. They’ll ask about the light—do your beds fall in full or partial sun, or shade? How much moisture do your beds get (depending on where your beds are in relation to downspouts and runoff, the answer might be different than for the rest of your space)? They’ll ask about which flowers or plants have done well in the past and which ones struggled. They’ll also ask what you’d most like to see in those beds, with details like which colors you love: do you want a monochromatic look, a wildflower look, or a curated look with carefully coordinated shades of various colors?

Plan First

spring flower beds olathe landscape architects

Start with paper and pencil: draw a rough replica in the shape of your available beds, then indicate which flowers you’d like to plant where. Consider size (good rule: tallest in the back, mid-size in the center, shorter plants in the front if the bed will be viewed head-on. If you’ll be looking at your completed bed from multiple angles, start in the center and think in circles: tallest plants in the bullseye, mid-size in the next ring, shortest plants in the most outer ring).

Follow Directions

If you’re going it alone, be sure to read the instructions on seed packets and/or pot stickers and follow those directions when it comes to planting depth and space, feeding, and watering guidelines. You can also check your local extension office for seasonal and planting information.

Better yet, reach out to a landscape architect designer to make the most of your unique space. Working with a pro makes the process easier and opens a world of knowledge that comes only with time and experience.