outdoor-living-space-olathe
By Lisa Allen Tips and Tricks • • • • • • • • 0 Comments

How to Prepare Your Olathe Outdoor Living Space for Winter

While some outdoor living spaces can be used almost year-round, like an enclosed porch, others need a little extra care as temperatures move from warm to cold. Taking preventive measures now, before the temperatures drop, can save your outdoor living space from unnecessary damage during our cold weather months.

outdoor-living-space-olathePrepare Your Outdoor Living Space for Winter Weather

Your winter preparation checklist will vary depending on which elements you have in your lawn and landscape. Keep reading for tips that pertain to our most popular outdoor living spaces:

Outdoor Fire Elements 

Outdoor fire elements like fire pits and fireplaces are examples of outdoor improvements that you can continue to use even when temperatures make being outdoors difficult. Provided you’ve stocked plenty of firewood and you bundle up to protect yourself from the elements, you can cozy up with friends and family around a fire unless temperatures are severe.

You’ll want to be sure that you keep the area free of debris ( this is a good tip for year-round maintenance) and that you’ve pruned any foliage that encroaches on the area in which you’ll build a fire. 

Outdoor Water Elements

Outdoor water elements like koi ponds and fountains should be winterized. Be sure to clean the area and make sure it’s free of debris. Drain all pumps, heaters, filters, and other pieces of equipment to prevent cracking or breakage. You should also cover water elements to keep unwanted visitors away and to inhibit mold or algae growth. 

Walkways and Stone Work

If you’ve had pavers installed or have created any kind of walkway, you’ll want to ensure that the area is safe even during the coldest of winters. To start, make sure the area is clean. Remove any debris, including fallen leaves or dead foliage. Reseal the area if necessary (or hire a professional to do so). 

Outdoor Lighting Elements

Even if you’re not using your outdoor space as much during cold weather, you’ll still want to make sure that you have proper lighting and that it continues to work well. Before it gets so cold that you don’t enjoy working outdoors, check all outdoor lighting elements and change bulbs where necessary. You might consider switching to high-efficiency options, especially if you use the lighting element year-round.

Outdoor Patio Furniture

Outdoor furniture is built to withstand all weather conditions, but it’s still important to take precautions to help it last as long as possible. Cover furniture with weather-resistant coverings, especially anything soft like cushions or chair pads. Another important thing to do is to check wood and other natural elements. Painting with a waterproof sealer can help keep wear and tear at bay.

Curious about the other projects we’ve really enjoyed lately? Visit us on Facebook or take a look at our website. And, as always, we’re here to help with whatever project you have in mind. 

Benefits of Water Features
By Lisa Allen Landscape • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 Comment

What Makes a Great Landscaping Water Feature?

Benefits of Landscaping Water Features

When we talk about landscaping, so often we focus on what grows in your space. Lush grass, strong trees, colorful flowerbeds: they’re all common elements of a beautiful lawn and garden space.

But there’s another category of landscaping feature that also deserve as much attention, and that’s water features. Not sure what a water feature is? Most commonly this category includes waterfalls, koi ponds, and natural creek beds.

These water features share some common advantages. They can add visual drama and texture to a space. They can be environmentally friendly by helping to conserve water and by providing safe spaces for friendly critters. And they can improve mental health and provide other documented health benefits.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of incorporating one or more of these elements into your landscaping.

Waterfalls

Let’s start with one of the most striking elements you can add to your outdoor space: a waterfall. Not only can a backyard waterfall be a visually stunning focal point of your landscape; it can also help create a calm space that promotes rest and contemplation. Studies have shown that the sound of moving water can help reduce blood pressure and countless people meditate to the sound of waterfalls via phone app and headphones. Adding this feature to your backyard can help you create an oasis that multi-tasks as both beautiful and therapeutic.

Natural Stones

Deciding which materials to use when constructing a water feature for your landscape is an important decision. Natural stones offer unique advantages. One of those advantages is that water flows differently over and through natural stones than it does over other surfaces like soil or synthetic building materials. This could potentially improve drainage in your yard, which both helps your landscape look better and keeps the living elements of your yard healthy and flourishing.

Koi Ponds

Like waterfalls, koi ponds can bring a calm, relaxing aesthetic to an outdoor space. But a koi pond is more than just a pretty addition; a koi pond becomes a home to countless living species, and not just fish! A koi pond provides a place for snails, crustaceans, and insects. In addition to providing a home to other friendly creatures, koi ponds can help reduce mosquitos in your yard.

Underwater Lighting

In nature it’s sometimes difficult to enjoy water features—like a pond or a waterfall—after sunset because it’s impossible to see. The same doesn’t have to be true of your home landscape. With the right underwater lighting, water features can provide around the clock benefits without being intrusive. Working with experienced landscape architects to determine which underwater lighting sources are best for your particular landscape is the best way to ensure the water feature you choose can be enjoyed as often as possible.

Natural Creek Beds

A natural creek bed can be just as dramatic a focal point as a waterfall or a koi pond. It can also serve to add interest to a space, provide sunny and shady areas, and divide space for different purposes.

Ready to explore the idea of adding a unique, stunning water feature to your landscape? If so, we’d love to share our expertise with you. Contact us to learn more.

By ddmg Construction • Design • General Information • Landscape • Renovation • Tips and Tricks • • • 0 Comments

4 Low Water Usage Olathe Landscaping Ideas

Some think your lawn can’t look great unless it’s April through July and the grass is as green as it’s ever been before.

At Huston Contracting, we know that’s just not true. So we wanted to show you a few low water usage Olathe landscaping ideas. Using these unique ideas, you’ll be able to improve your lawn and keep your landscape looking good.

It won’t matter if the rain isn’t falling or you’re looking to cut back on the watering, you can still implement these ideas.

Low Water Usage Olathe Landscaping Ideas

Let’s take a look at these ideas and how you can improve your Olathe landscaping without using much water:

  • Create an Outdoor Environment

This is the easiest way to improve your Olathe landscape without using a ton of water. You can add features like an outdoor kitchen, retaining wall, or a covered porch. These unique features won’t cost any water and will add significant value to your landscaping, especially in the backyard area.

Don’t delay, though! By investing in an outdoor kitchen early in the season, you’ll be able to enjoy it even more this year.

  • Find the Right Plants

Certain plants require water every single day. If you don’t water some species of plants daily, they will look withered and weak. On the other hand, there are some plants that look great year around – whether they get a ton of water or not.

If you plant species like Agave, Sage, Lavender Cotton, and more – you won’t have to water these plants often. These species simply don’t require a lot of water to look great, especially in the spring and summer.

  • Walkways Galore

Walkways are one easy way to change the whole face of your landscaping without using much water or breaking the bank. Using natural stone to create unique walkways to your covered porch, outdoor kitchen, or a sitting area is a great Olathe landscaping idea for the coming months.

  • Maybe a Little Mulch

Ok, this idea might be a little basic. We get that. But there’s really never a bad time to add a little mulch around your landscaping. Fresh mulch looks exactly like it sounds – fresh! You don’t need any water to add a little mulch and this small change will add a lot of life to your landscaping like never before.

Create Your Ideal Landscape…Today!

You don’t need to waste water all the time to keep your lawn looking ideal, especially around this time of the year. Just get in contact with Huston Contracting. As the Olathe Landscaping experts, we’re here to help you create the lawn of your dreams. We look forward to working with you!