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

There’s No Better Time Than Now! 3 Springtime Olathe Landscaping Tips and Trends

Spring has almost sprung for Olathe landscaping. The afternoons are starting to get warm and the sun is creeping out behind grey skies. It’s time to start focusing on the landscape once again. With that in mind, we wanted to talk about some amazing landscaping ideas for the spring.

With 2018 in full swing, we’ve had time to see what landscaping ideas will turn into trends this spring. We believe we’ve pinpointed exactly how to turn your Olathe landscaping from dull to darling in the least amount of time.

There’s No Better Time Than Now! 3 Springtime Olathe Landscaping Tips and Trends

Instead of waiting around, it’s time to take action and make the Olathe landscape of your dreams a reality. It’s time to get in touch with Huston Contracting and take control of your lawn. Here are a few ideas on how to do just that:

  • Climate Focused

Climate matters in 2018, especially in Olathe, Kansas. If you’re making landscaping changes in the spring, you’ll want areas and spaces that you can enjoy through every season. At Huston Contracting, we found a few ways to help you with that.

If you’re building an Olathe outdoor kitchen or a covered porch, you could also consider an outdoor fireplace. The fireplace design and area could be close to the kitchen or porch and provide ideal heating for the space during the cooler months.

  • Water Management

Managing how much water you use on your lawn and landscape is a huge trend coming into this year. You need to focus on low water usage Olathe landscaping trends. Obviously, an outdoor kitchen or patio won’t use much water.

You can also build walkways, incorporate an energy-efficient irrigation system, and add plants that don’t require a lot of watering. Sage and Lavender Cotton are two of our favorites here at Huston Contracting.

  • More Tech, Newer Spaces

Keeping with the theme, eco-friendly innovations are all the rage in the landscaping world these days. Things like low emission lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and more have taken over the market.

The best way to help the environment while still keeping your lawn looking great? Install an irrigation system that use smart technology to keep the lawn watered, but conserve as much of it as possible.

At Huston Contracting, we’ve recently started installing some of these systems and have seen insanely positive results. Many of our customers who have said systems have cut their watering bills in half – while their lawns look better than ever before. Suffice to say, we’ve got a lot of great feedback from these systems.

Let’s Tackle These Trends Together!

With spring upon us, it’s time to start paying attention to your Olathe landscaping. If you’re ready to take your lawn to the next level, then get in touch with our team at Huston Contracting. We look forward to working with you this year!

 

By ddmg Landscape • News • Renovation • Tips and Tricks • • • 0 Comments

Landscaping Without the Lawn! 4 Fun Ways to Spruce Things Up

Your Olathe landscaping is so much more than some grass and a few shrubs. In fact, the greenery is only one part of an amazing landscape. There’s just so much to it once you really dive in.

At Huston Contracting, we get questions all the time about how to make landscaping improvements with bad weather, what changes to make in the winter, and so much more. 

4 Fun Ways to Spruce Things Up – Without the Lawn!

So, we put our landscaping minds together and came up with a short list of ways to improve your landscaping that have absolutely nothing to do with your lawn. Here are four of our favorites:

  • Outdoor Kitchens

One of the best ways to make the most of your landscape? Add an outdoor kitchen to your home. Outdoor kitchens have been all the rage as of late. Why? Because they look absolutely fantastic when done properly and they’re functional.

With a full-scale outdoor kitchen, you’ll be able to cook, clean, and eat meals outdoors while entertaining guests. That’s a huge value to any home and landscape. If you’re looking to make a big landscape change in 2018, an outdoor kitchen might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

  • Water Features

We may be biased here at Huston Contracting, but we’re huge fans of water features. There’s not much that can completely change the face of your landscape without working with green spaces. Water features are one of the few elements that can do that and so much more.

Koi ponds, pondless waterfalls, and natural creek beds are all stunning ways to alter your Olathe landscape without touching the lawn. While these aren’t quick fixes and require professional help, there’s no doubt your landscape will be upgraded once complete.

  • Outdoor Fireplaces

One of the best ways to make your outdoor spaces a place to gather and spend time with family and friends? Add an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. There’s just something about fire that brings people together.

Whether wood burning or gas, your new outdoor fireplace will change your whole landscape. While fire pits look fantastic as a standalone piece, many add outdoor fireplaces to their outdoor kitchen for added benefit.

  • Concrete Structures

Sometimes you need to add some concrete to your landscape. It could be to create a patio or a sitting area. Maybe you want to create a walkway from your outdoor kitchen to your koi pond. It all depends on your needs.

No matter how you utilize it, concrete is another great way to change your landscape without much worry about the lawn.

Your Landscaping Without the Lawn Experts

If you’re looking to make Olathe landscaping improvements before the grass turns green, get in touch with Huston Contracting. Here at Huston, our professionals specialize in creating your dream landscape – no matter what that may be!

By ddmg Landscape • News • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

What’s New in Landscaping For the New Year?

The New Year is finally here and it’s cold as can be! You walk outside and the cold air hits you like a ton of bricks. You shiver and shake as you start the car and wait for it to warm up. While those five minutes in the morning might be miserable, that’s all day, every day for your Olathe landscaping.

Luckily, the cold won’t last forever. Within a few months, the winter weather will be gone and spring will have sprung. The grass will green, again, and soon you’ll be sweating when you step outside.

What’s New in Landscaping For the New Year?

Before the grass gets green, it’s time to prepare your landscaping for the New Year. But, how do you do that? How do you capitalize on landscaping trends in 2018 and create an amazing yard?

Well, that’s where we come in. At Huston Contracting, we work to keep our clients ahead of the landscaping curve. As such, here are a few unique trends we’ve noticed:

  • Embrace Small Spaces

While you may have a ton of Olathe landscaping to work with, don’t neglect the small spaces. With a little attention to detail, you can take any yard and turn it into the amazing landscape you’ve always dreamed of.

One easy way to take a small landscape and make it look incredible? Add Japanese garden elements into your landscape. Japanese gardens focus on nature and completely natural spaces while incorporating streams and flowing water elements.

  • Stick Together

If you’re creating a stunning garden space throughout your landscape, it’s important to not spread yourself or your plants too thin.

What does this mean? Well, a lot of things. In 2018, one of the trends we noticed is planting same species plants in close proximity to create a “social network” within your garden. While plants can talk, that doesn’t mean they don’t communicate in some fashion.

We’re not trying to get too “new age” on you here. Just stating that it’s often beneficial for species to be plants close together. It’s great for the health of the plants, but it can also make your garden pop.

  • Water Features

Each and every year the popularity of water features throughout Olathe landscaping tends to increase. There’s just something soothing about watching water move while sipping a hot cup of coffee on a spring morning.

So, what type of water features are popular these days? Well, we’ve seen a couple trends. Most people are opting for pondless waterfalls or natural creek beds. Both offer a stunning, yet natural addition to landscaping.

Let’s Create Your Ideal Landscape in 2018!

If you’re ready to take your Olathe landscaping to the next level in 2018, then you’ve come to the right place. Get in touch with our landscaping professionals here at Huston Contracting and let’s put together the perfect plan.

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

How to Create Your Winter Wonderland with Unique Olathe Landscaping

How to Create Your Winter Wonderland with Unique Olathe Landscaping

It’s that time of year. While fall has been mild and November has seen a little sunshine, there’s no denying winter is around the corner. With the weather about to cool off, there’s a few fun ways to handle your unique Olathe landscaping.

At Huston Contracting, we know the grass isn’t green and the leaves are gone. That doesn’t mean your home can’t look fantastic in the winter months. With a few tweaks here and there, your yard can still be the talk of the town – even when many a conversation happens around the fireplace inside.

Creating a Winter Wonderland

So, how can you use your Olathe landscaping to create an exciting outdoor space in the winter? That’s easy. Just follow a few of the tips below and watch your space shine in the wintertime:

  • Tight & Tidy

First and foremost, you must keep everything tight and tidy in the winter. While the grass won’t be green and the flowers certainly aren’t blooming, you can still have a yard that looks pleasing to the eye.

How? By cleaning up every little thing. Rake debris and leaves up every month. Clean the gutters out. Trim the shrubbery before the first snow. By handling the little things on a consistent basis, you’ll prep your yard to look lavish come snowfall.

  • Always Evergreen

Speaking of snowfall, there’s no tree that looks better in the winter than an Evergreen. And if you’re concerned about having an amazing looking yard in the winter, you absolutely must have a few Evergreens around your property.

Luckily, it’s not too difficult to plant full-grown Evergreen trees throughout your landscaping before the first snow hits. There’s a little more to it, but the staff at Huston Contracting can certainly help you figure all that out.

  • Lovely Lighting

Of course, lighting is essential in the wintertime. Christmas lights are all around us and they can be quite stunning. However, there’s more to lighting than the bright lights around Christmas. In fact, that’s not even what we’re recommending here.

Strip lighting is what we’re talking about. If you have outdoor structures or walkways, which most of us do, then strip lighting is a great way to add to your Olathe landscaping during the winter months. Strip lighting especially looks great when placed under outdoor stairways.

  • Professional Snow Removal

Last, but not least – snow can look absolutely amazing covering your yard. However, it can be damaging when covering your concrete structures, like a driveway or walkway. Luckily, there’s a simple solution.

The Olathe landscaping pros we have on staff can help you get rid of it. Here at Huston Contracting, we offer professional snow removal services for any type of driveway or walkway. If it snows, we can clear it off.

Olathe Landscaping in the Winter

Don’t work hard all spring, summer, and fall only to let winter ruin your landscaping. Get in touch with us here at Huston Contracting and we’ll help turn your home into the talk of the town as the snow comes down!

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

5 Hot Landscaping Trends to Follow in 2018

It’s happening. 2017 is winding down and 2018 is sure to be here soon. While many assume the winter weather means no landscaping news, that’s simply not true. At Huston Contracting, we truly believe you can improve your lawn at all times – no matter the season.

As such, we wanted to put together a list of all of us with green thumbs. If you’re looking to head into 2018 with a much improved landscape, then you’re in the right place.

Hot Landscaping Trends in 2018

At Huston Contracting, we know Olathe landscaping like the back of our hand. So here are a few unique trends we’ve seen in the area:

  • Adding Technology

From advanced Olathe outdoor kitchens to unique fire features, adding technology to landscaping is a trend that’s growing like crazy. And the craziest part? There’s no end in sight for the growth.

One easy way to add technology to your landscape? Try adding an automated fire pit or fireplace to your outdoor living areas. These unique pieces spark up with the press of a button and look stunning.

  • Lights Galore

Christmas lights aren’t the only type of lighting that can brighten up a landscape, especially in the cooler months. No, you can also incorporate a variety of lighting options into your home’s landscape.

One fun way to add lights to your landscape is to illuminate a walking path. Just add lights every 1-3 yards along the path. Use an autotimer to ensure the lights always turn on when it’s dark and you’re all set.

  • All Natural Everything

Natural materials that mimic the look of real stone or real wood have become all the rage. Why? Because these materials look amazing without any of the added hassle of taking care of the wood or stone.

As these materials are less susceptible to degrading or looking worn down, many homeowners have found the materials last significantly longer than their “real” counterparts.

  • Stained Concrete Patios

Many homeowners have been investing in stained concrete patios for their outdoor living spaces. The unique colorways and long-lasting design that concrete offers ensures an outdoor kitchen or living room looks ideal for years.

  • Drainage Solutions

Many homeowners have suffered from flooding or water pooling on their properties. As such, drainage solutions have become popular.

While each home is different, the experts at Huston Contracting have found simple solutions tend to offer huge benefits for many homeowners. Drains, re-routing, and irrigation systems have all proven beneficial.

The Landscaping You Want & Need!

No matter what landscaping trends you’re into, the professional landscapers at Huston Contracting are here to help. As Olathe landscapers, we’ve helped thousands of families create the landscape of their dreams.

We can’t wait to help you do the same. Get in touch today!

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

What Type of Olathe Winter Landscaping Can Be Done This Winter?

The first frost is right around the corner. The weather has took a turn. It’s getting colder. Fall is in full-swing, and winter isn’t far behind. For most people, this means hot chocolate and a little heat coming from the fireplace.

But you’re not most people. You’re a landscaper. You’re glistening green lawn is always on your mind. You want to have the best Olathe landscaping in the area. So you know that waiting until spring isn’t going to happen.

You need some winter landscaping tips to tide you over. Luckily, we’re Olathe landscaping addicts, too. It’s what we do best here at Huston Contracting.

What Type of Olathe Winter Landscaping Can Be Done This Winter? 5 Tips & Tricks

With that in mind, we’ve detailed a few Olathe landscaping tips and tricks for those with a “green thumb” that don’t mind a little cold weather.

Let’s dive in:

Keep Water Running

Your fountains, ponds, and waterfalls don’t have to go lifeless in the winter months. When the rest of your landscape is lifeless, your water fixtures can provide needed movement.

Just grab a de-icer, an aerator, and water heater. Your ponds and waterfalls will be able to keep running year around. The continuous moving water will be an eye-catcher in the winter months when other landscaping elements don’t draw much attention.

Winter Blooms

You can plant flowers and plants that bloom around the wintertime, too. Not every plant around your landscaping needs to bloom in the spring.

Add some Blue Holly, Winter Hazel, or Camellia to your landscaping. These plants will bloom in the winter months, which ensures a little color around your lawn while it’s cold outside. Certain red berries also bloom in the cold and can look stunning in the snow.

Your “Hardscaping”

What is hardscaping around your lawn? These are items like benches, chairs, garden fixtures, and outdoor kitchens. While plants often don’t grow in the winter, you can make any fixtures upgrades needed during this time.

Another benefit of upgrading fixtures in the winter? You can focus on focal points without all that lush greenery in the way. Many times, this will help homeowners find the ideal focal point for their landscape when the plants come back to life.

Use Lighting

There’s a reason Christmas lights have gained popularity over the years. Because lighting allows us to add beauty and coloring to the landscape in the winter time.

However, there are other ways to add lighting than Christmas lights. Think about using different lights around your lawn to highlight certain aspects of your landscaping. This can add an impressive focal point to your lawn when done properly.

Plan & Prepare

Finally, you can plan and prepare for the spring. There’s only so much you can do in the winter. As spring rolls around, you’ll have more landscaping opportunities. So take some time to think about your lawn and how you want it to look.

Next, get in touch with our team here at Huston Contracting. We’ll listen to your landscaping idea, offer suggestions, and see if we can help you create the Olathe landscape of your dreams in the coming months!

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

7 Fantastic Olathe Landscaping Ideas For Everybody

Landscaping ideas matter. It doesn’t matter what season it is. You want your Olathe landscape to look great whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter. Maybe we want to keep up with the neighbors. Or maybe you take pride in showcasing your stunning home in the best way you can.

No matter why your Olathe landscaping matters to you, we all know it’s important. As such, we wanted to throw together a quick list of simple ways to improve your landscape all year long. Sure, some ideas work better during different times of the year, but we’re going to keep things basic.

  • Front-Facing Flowers

One of the best ways to ensure your home is inviting and welcoming is to greet guests with flowers. A number of annuals and perennials look good nearly all year long. You can also add some flower pots inside your entryway when things get too cold.

  • Utilize Planters and Baskets

One unique way to make your landscape “pop” is to add planters and baskets. These tools ensure your garden grows in height. You bring the plants up to eye-level and create a stunning visual appeal.

  • Outdoor Kitchens Galore

You can grill a thick, juicy steak in your outdoor kitchen in the heart of winter. You just need an amazing outdoor kitchen to cook it in. Luckily, once you have the kitchen created, your landscape will look amazing all year.

  • Retaining Wall WOW

While certain plants and wildlife won’t grow during the winter months, your retaining wall can look ideal all year around. A well-made retaining wall adds a unique layering element to your yard that stands out year around.

  • Create a Surprise Area

One of the coolest ways to create a unique landscape is to add a surprise. This means you build a fun walkway to a “hidden” area, an oasis in your backyard. For some this is a hidden patio or gazebo, but others use the walkway idea to end up at a small pond. Where your path goes is up to you.

  • Timely Trimming

Make no mistake about it – a little timely trimming here and there can ensure your landscaping looks amazing all the time. Keep your trees and bushes in order, especially in the warmer months when evergreens grow like wildfire.

  • Mix and Match

One popular landscaping tip that’s become popular lately is mixing stone with wood. The combination adds an alluring rustic appeal while still staying modern. Try creating a stone path walkway with wood structures along the side for an impressive landscape.

Olathe Landscaping For YOU

If you have any landscaping you need done before the freezing winter months, get in touch. The pros at Huston Contracting are here to help prepare your home for the winter. We look forward to working with you.

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

How to Prepare Your Olathe Landscaping For the Fall

July is here. The dogs days of summer are in full-force, but they won’t last long. July and August will be gone before you know it. Soon, it’ll be mid-September and you’ll be wondering what you could have done to prepare your lawn for fall.

Luckily, that’s where we come in. As the Olathe landscaping experts, Huston Contracting is here to ensure your lawn looks lovely as the weather slowly starts to turn. We know how important it is to keep your landscaping looking good. So, we prepared a few tips.

How to Prepare Your Olathe Landscaping For the Fall

After years of handling Olathe landscaping through hot and cold summers, here are a few ways to prepare your lawn for the coming cold:

  • Summer Issues

Make no mistake about it: a hot, dry summer can be tough on your lawn. You need to assess the damage done to your Olathe landscape before fall rolls in. See what plants died, assess how your lawn looks, pay attention to any plants that have overgrown, and make a general assessment of your lawn.

  • Get to Mulching

Many yards need fresh mulch after the hot summer months. You’ll want to add mulch to any spots lacking or where things have dried up a little too much. This is a quick fix that pays a lot of dividends.

  • Get to Replacing

If you planted a lot of summer annuals, it may be time to replace the old with something new. Head down to a nursery and start searching for cold weather plants that can handle what the fall is about to throw at them.

  • Fine Time to Fertilize

Before fall rolls in is one of the best times to fertilize your lawn. Your grass and plants need adequate nutrition to prepare for the cold weather coming. Fertilizer gives them just that and a lot more.

  • Tend to the Compost

If you have a compost, it’s important to pay a little extra attention at the end of the summer. Make sure no diseased plants made their way into the compost, check to see how the area is doing, and offer a little extra TLC.

  • Irrigation Nation

The end of summer is one of the best times to install a new irrigation system, especially if you may use it during the winter months. You want to install the system when there’s still a little heat in the grass and ground. This ensures a little growth before things get too cold.

The Olathe Landscapers You Need

If you’re truly looking to prepare your landscaping for the fall, get in touch. At Huston Contracting, we can help any and every Olathe landscape when the seasons change. We look forward to working with you.

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

5 BIG Olathe Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid This Summer

Olathe landscaping isn’t rocket science. If you can avoid a few big mistakes, your lawn will look greener than it ever has before.

Take a few precautions, and you’ll be well on your way to having the nicest lawn on the block. Now, before we dive into the details. You need to remember one thing. You must have a plan.

Olathe Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid This Summer

Your landscape is your home’s first impression. Without a solid plan, your home will look sloppy and unprofessional. Before you go planning out a design without the help of a professional Olathe landscape artist, let’s look at a few things you don’t want to do:

  • Tall Trees. Tight Squeeze.

While planting new trees throughout your landscape can add a lot of value to your home, you need to careful. You don’t want to plant the wrong type of tree in the wrong area.

Don’t plant trees too close to your home. Make sure to continually prune the branches. Focus on planting hardwood trees instead of fast-growing trees. These trees will grow and raise the value of your home.

  • Wrong Soil Type

Many rookie landscapers make the mistake of planting a non-native plant or three in the wrong type of soil on their property. This ensures the plants don’t grow properly and often lends a hand to a sluggish looking landscape.

If you’re flexible, always choose native plants for your yard. Olathe landscaping can be simplified with this one step. Native plants will coexist with nature and grow quicker in the native soil. They’ll also require less maintenance.

  • Keep Things Low Key

When selecting maintenance materials for your landscaping efforts, the first thing you should consider is maintenance. While the look is important, you don’t want to be dealing with these items all the time.

Try to use things like gravel, stone, composite blocks, and other durable materials instead of woods.

  • Don’t Overdo It

One thing I see Olathe landscapers doing all the time is cluttering things up. You want to avoid clutter. Be selective. Don’t go overboard. Less is often more. A good Olathe landscape designer can often assist in these manners.

Seasons Matter

You never want to plant things at the wrong time of the year. Certain plants need tons of sun. Others need a lot of rain. Some need both.

The Olathe Landscape Designers You Need

If you’re in Olathe and looking for some assistance on a landscaping project, get in touch. Here at Huston Contracting, we strive to provide residents of this great city the best construction, landscaping, and design services.

By ddmg Landscape • Management • Tips and Tricks • • 0 Comments

8 Innovative Ideas and Tips For Your Olathe Landscape

As spring has sprung, it’s time get outdoors and start a little landscaping here in Olathe, KS. There’s no better time than April, May, and early June to spruce up the grounds around your home.

Innovative Ideas and Tips For Your Olathe Landscape

If you’re ready to upgrade your Olathe landscaping this year, you’ll need a few ideas. While you won’t need to be an expert green thumb, these tips are sure to help you avoid some mistakes.

Here are a few ideas for your Olathe landscape:

  • A Front Yard Fence

One of the favorite Olathe landscaping trends this year is adding a front yard fence. While certain homeowners’ associations won’t allow it, this small change can look stunning. With a variety of designs to choose from, you can add this bit of traditional landscaping styling to your home this spring.

  • Water Feature Mania

One of the easiest ways to add value to your Olathe landscape is through a water feature. You don’t need a full-fledged pond to make your water feature pop. Just adding a little waterfall or fountain can change your whole landscape. Many water features are self-contained these days and easy to manage.

  • Outdoor Kitchen Installation

Why not add an innovative piece to your landscape that’s also useful? Olathe outdoor kitchens are very popular these days. You can add a full-fledged outdoor kitchen or just build some preparation space around your grill.

  • Consider Your Furry Friends

Dogs and gardening don’t always go hand-in-hand. In fact, they rarely do. Still, you don’t want your furry friend digging up your garden. One easy way to keep your dog out of the garden is to build them a dog-friendly area, like a sandbox. Then bury treats, toys, and bones in the sand for your furry friend to dig up.

  • Retaining Wall Wonders

One of the harder, but stunning ways to add value to your landscape is through an Olathe retaining wall installation. Retaining walls can change the whole look of your landscape.

  • Flowers For Days

Make sure you keep a lot of flowers around your landscape this spring. One of our favorite ways to add flowers is to keep them by the front door. You should always have flowers to greet guests in the springtime.

  • Dress the Driveway

Adding plants and landscaping features around your driveway will give your home a professional, resort-style look to it that’s hard to compete with. You’ll be the talk of the town once your dress up your driveway with an array of flowers and plants.

  • Hide the Ugly

If anything on your property isn’t stunning, like a shed or outdoor workspace, consider hiding the space with an array of plants and flowers. A beautiful display of plants or flowers can turn an eyesore into a stunning sight quickly.