By Lisa Allen Tips and Tricks • • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

How to Prepare Your Olathe Lawn for Winter

Our cooler nights and earlier sunsets mean one thing: winter is getting closer to Olathe. Soon we’ll be bundling up in layers and switching from AC to heat. Before colder temperatures move in, there are specific things you can do to help prepare your Olathe lawn and your outdoor spaces and protect them from the elements.

Prepare Your Olathe Lawn for Winter Weather

When it comes to your lawn and landscape, it’s important to remember that winter weather preparation comes down to two categories: preparation and preservation.

To prepare your lawn for coming cold and freezing temperatures, you should consider doing these things:

  • Clean up: make sure your outdoor space is free of debris. Rake up any remaining fallen leaves, trim back dead foliage, and generally clean the space. This not only makes your space look nice. It also helps your lawn and landscape elements direct energy to appropriate growth. Fallen leaves might look innocent–and pretty–enough, but can actually smother your lawn if not removed. This doesn’t mean that they can’t serve other purposes, though. Fallen and collected leaves are a fantastic addition to a home compost pile. If you don’t compost, you might check to see if your community does. Some communities, like Olathe, have community gardens that accept compost material. Others have drop-off compost sites like this one. Be sure to check the specifics for each. For example, the community garden compost at the Sunset Administration Building in Olathe accepts some kitchen scraps while the drop-off yard compost site in Olathe accepts only lawn waste. 
  • Aerate: Core aeration is a way to prevent compacted soil, which can lead to an unhealthy and unsightly lawn. Our soil in Johnson County is particularly dense because of the amount of clay it holds. Aerating helps open up that soil so that the roots of grasses and other plants can grow appropriately.
  • Overseed the lawn: Fall is the ideal time to overseed your lawn, particularly with tall fescue and bluegrass. But it’s not as easy as just tossing handfuls of seeds onto your lawn and walking away. You should use proper verticutting and aeration techniques, fertilize properly, and plant the right ratio of seeds to soil. 

If this all sounds confusing, we can help you prepare your lawn and plant the grasses you want. Just give us a call!


How to Preserve Your Lawn Over the Winter

  • Leave your grass shorter for the winter. Think of it as a nice haircut before hibernation sets in. Cutting it shorter than you would in warmer months help keep it pest-free (mice and other pests look for anything that will offer warmth as the temps drop) and keep it as healthy as possible. 
  • You can also fertilize your lawn in the Fall. If you’ve not yet tested your soil to see which fertilizer is best for your lawn, you can do that as well. Getting the right mix of fertilizer elements is key to properly nourishing the soil and the grass seed you will plant.

    One final tip: when it does get icy, try to not walk on your lawn if at all possible. Scott’s says that even the strongest lawns can become weak if walked on too much. 

We’re ready to help you transition from summer to winter! Keep track of what we’re up to on Facebook or send us a note to get started. 

By Lisa Allen General Information • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

How to Spend More Time Outside, Even When It’s Hot

Soak in the shade and actually enjoy these hot Kansas summers with a brand new covered deck or patio!

Summer in Kansas is no joke! With temperatures already topping one-hundred degrees, it might seem like the perfect time to settle into a comfy chair inside and crank the air conditioning up a touch higher.

But if you love being outdoors and want to spend as much time in the sun as possible, we have a few tips for you.

Be Prepared!

There’s an old adage in the hiking community that says: there is no bad weather, there is only poor preparation. While that might be a bit of a generalization, there is truth to it. Being prepared for the challenges super hot days bring can help you enjoy your time outside more.

What should you do to prepare? We have a few ideas:

Tip 1: Plan your time wisely. Maybe you want to get up a little earlier so you can soak up the early morning sun, rather than waiting until the hottest part of the day to venture outside. Maybe consider a sunrise walk or having your morning coffee on the deck, then going inside once the thermostat starts to rise.

Tip #2: Stay hydrated. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to get distracted and not drink enough water. When the temperatures get this hot, it’s vital to drink water—not caffeinated or alcoholic beverages.

Another great way to stay cooler is to use water on the skin. Try misting your face with cool water or splashing cold water on your wrists and hands. If you’re going to be outside for awhile, stock a cooler with ice and water, and throw in a few frozen washcloths (washcloths you wet with water then freeze). When you need a reprieve, place the frozen washcloth around your neck or on your scalp. It might be a temporary reprieve, but it will feel amazing!

Tip #3: When possible, opt for shade. If you can, stay in the shade. This can mean spending time under a tree, on an enclosed deck or patio, or under a wide-brimmed hat.

Be Flexible

As much fun as summer can be, sometimes it’s important to just admit that being outdoors for too long, without the proper equipment, isn’t ideal. Be flexible with your plans. Be willing to move a get-together indoors or reschedule for earlier or later in the day, if necessary. Remember that you can’t enjoy the sun if you’re not feeling well.

Make Plans for Following Years

Since it’s been so hot already this summer, you might be thinking about ways to make future summers more enjoyable. We’re here to work on those projects with you! So pay attention to how you’re using your outdoor space, and which improvements would make it even better. We’ve worked on great options for Johnson County families that have helped them enjoy the outdoors more, even in hot weather. One option is to invest in a covered deck. We can start from scratch, with a custom-built deck. Or we can simply add a covering to your existing deck.

A few covering options include a pergola, a retractable shade or awning, or curtains. These options would also work well for a covered patio. Each has its own distinct advantages and challenges, depending on your budget and your space. We’d love to show you what will work best for your unique situation—so get in touch when you’re ready!

 

 

 

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

Why Investing in Your Olathe Landscaping Just Makes Sense

Investing is a tricky word these days. You’ve got the stock market. You’ve got your home. Maybe you even have some Bitcoin. These are all things people consider investments. Many consider the items listed above to be solid ones, too.

But your landscaping? Most don’t consider landscaping an investment. Some do, but most don’t. For most, landscaping is about planting a few flowers and mowing the grass.

If you’re reading this, you may have different thoughts. You may believe investing in your landscaping is worthwhile. Maybe you find it’s a great way to increase the value of your home.

Why Investing in Your Olathe Landscaping Just Makes Sense

That idea couldn’t be truer. Seriously, investing in landscaping can add huge value to your home. Most people don’t realize it, but landscaping is one of the easiest ways to increase the value of your home.

For example, some have suggested that proper maintenance and upkeep of your landscaping could lead to a 6-13% increase in the value of your home.

Think about those numbers:

You have a home that’s roughly valued around $400,000 right now. You invest a little bit of money each year on landscaping projects and upkeep. When you go to sell the home, you get a 13% increase in value due to your landscaping. Now your home is worth $452,000!

That’s a pretty huge increase in value if you ask me, especially when all you had to do was add a few landscaping projects here and there.

Now, how do you see this increase? Well, here’s a few ideas for the Olathe homeowner looking to add value through landscaping:

  • Monthly Maintenance: Just take care of your lawn. Mow it weekly. Have professionals fertilize the grass quarterly. Install an irrigation system to ensure your landscaping gets ideal amounts of water all year. That’s about it.
  • Outdoor Environments: One of the most valuable ways to increase your home’s value through landscaping is with things like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, porches and more. The addition of these items can send your home’s value skyrocketing.
  • Water Features: Some buyers love water features, others not so much. Ideally, you use small water features to add value. We’ve had great success adding natural creek beds to landscaping lately, as it’s a hot ticket item for new homeowners.

Build Your Olathe Landscape, Add Value to Your Home

By investing in your landscaping, you’re investing in your home. You’re investing in selling your property for a higher value. Plus, you get to enjoy stunning landscaping while you live in your home. A true win-win.

If you need help doing just that, get in touch. The experts here at Huston Contracting, Inc. We love to help Olathe residents build the yard of their dreams – while building their future, too.