Walkways

Walkways

Design the Perfect Pathway To Your Pool

One of the main reasons gardeners and homeowners choose to implement a path or walkway on their lawn or garden is simply to provide better access to hard to reach places, such as gardens and flowerbeds. A walkway can prevent inadvertent damage to flowers, vegetables and other plants by providing a clear-cut path.

Paths and walkways are also perfect for redirecting your family's feet off your manicured lawn. If the best shortcut to the front door happens be straight through the front yard, you might want to create a path to prevent any damage.

Paths and walkways also add a new dynamic to your landscape. Paths and walkways give a calm, welcoming effect to your yard or garden. You have many different options when it comes to constructing your walkway, both simple and complicated. It all depends on how much time, money and effort you are willing to put into it. Below are just a few of the options you have.

For a variation on this method, consider digging out an area in the ground for each stepping stone. Leave approximately one-half inch of the stone above ground. This will allow you to easily mow over the walkway as well as trim the weeds that will inevitably sprout up in the area.

PEBBLES AND GRAVEL: Another thing you might consider, instead of stepping stones, is constructing your walkway entirely of pebbles or gravel. This will eliminate the need for mowing around the walkway area at all. You may also choose to use pebbles or gravel in addition to your stone slabs. Either way, you should definitely consider first putting down a layer of landscaping fabric before you incorporate the gravel or pebbles. This will aid in both drainage and weed prevention.

MULCH: A walkway consisting entirely of mulch, or a combination of mulch and stepping stones, is another solution to this problem. Just remember that mulch can be rather messy, especially on rainy days. However, it remains a good, inexpensive option for your walkway.

If you do decide on using mulch as your walkway, there are a number of ways to accent your path. For instance, wood or plastic edge pieces will give your walkway a more formal look. These inexpensive accents can be purchased at your local garden store and easily installed along the edge of your walkway with the use of a mallet or hammer.

If your walkway is located on a slight slope, you might consider using pine needle mulch, since the needles cling together much better and are more likely to stay in place during a heavy storm.

Bark nuggets are another great alternative for your walkway. Today bark nuggets come in various stains such as red, black and brown and are resistant to fading due to sunlight exposure.

GROUND COVER: Planting ground cover along your walkway is another great way to make your walkway look its very best. Carpet Bugle is very common plant used for ground cover along walkways. It spreads horizontally above stolons and produces crowns. It has foliage that reaches 4 to 6 inches in height as well as stems that grow up to 8 to 10 inches that, in the springtime, produce beautiful, purple-blue flowers.

Trailing Periwinkle is another great plant to use as ground cover along your walkway. It is a fast-growing evergreen that produces dark green foliage and blue flowers in the spring.

Landscape Edging Ideas

Landscape Edging Ideas

Different Takes on Landscape Edging

Landscape edging is functional in retaining gravel and soil in flowerbeds, and in preventing grass and weeds from overflowing and growing onto the paths and driveways. Traditional and conventional options consist of steel, concrete, brick and stone, wood, aluminum and plastic. Though most edging is installed by professional landscapers, you can also do it yourself and save both time and money.

Colors and Tones

Different tones of a same color can be used to visually stimulate textures, and combined with plant height, can add dramatic impact. For instance, hedges are a good option. They can be grown to fit any design and can be trimmed to whatever shape, size or height needed.

Rocks and Recycling

Rocks can also be great for edging. Rocks of different shapes and colors can be used for an informal look and provide a natural edge to flower beds. Square cobbles of granite create a very finite edge and bring an “earthy” touch. Flat stones like flagstone and bluestone can be stacked using two or three levels. Their irregular shapes and thickness also create texture and add to the visual dimension.

Another landscape edging idea is to use mismatched or left over bricks. These can be placed against one another in a straight line with a right or left slant. Bricks can also be planted into the soil to create irregular designs. Other materials, like glass bottles, can be recycled and used as edging when they are planted bottom side up in the soil around a flowerbed.

Decorating and Furnishing

Furnishing Your Pool Area

When the weather warms up, our backyard becomes our refuge. There’s no better place to relax than a well-furnished patio or pool deck. Many people want larger, complete furniture sets to give their outdoor area a finished look rather than single pieces. Typically, they want to outfit their backyards we they would their living rooms – complete with chaise loungers, end tables, etc.

Pool area furnishings can be made of any materials, but cypress and cedar are popular choices. Both cypress and cedar are durable to the elements as well as provide an attractive, matchable color that looks good for a number of years.

Create Shade

To provide shade to the area, umbrellas and awnings are great options. Most patio umbrellas range in size from a standard 7.5 feet to custom-made models that span up to 13 feet in diameter. Awnings can cover a wide gamut: small enough to shade a bathroom window or large enough to cover the entire rear of a home. With this in mind, also consider factors such as fabric, UV protection, durability, size and price in your buying decision. Pay as much attention to the care of your purchase as you would to the quality of your purchase. Manufacturers do what technology and cost permit to make products carefree, but they still will need proper care, like storage in bad weather or an occasional cleaning. Traditional warranties on umbrellas are one year; awning warranties are generally longer, depending on the type that you buy.

Bring the Indoors Out

To add a fresh look to your backyard or poolscape don't worry about tackling the entire outdoor space or spending big bucks. You can make a major impact with just a few changes! These days pretty much everything indoors has worked its way outdoors, and that does mean everything, including lamps, rugs, wall hangings, cushions, draperies and throws.

Woven designs, colored fabrics and innovative textures have been technologically developed and improved through the years. They are extremely durable, weather-resistant and functional, and now come in enough style choices to complement any existing décor.

Lighting can also completely change the look of an area. In addition to traditional lamp styles, attractive lanterns, path lighting, uplights, downlights and appropriately placed spotlights illuminate the way to an updated area.

Decking and Coping

Decking and Coping

Surround Your Pool with Something Beautiful

What are you looking for in your poolside landscape? Depending on your choice of coping and deck materials, you can create a seamless extension of your home’s exterior — or a departure into something stunning and exotic, just steps away from your back door.

If you build an inground pool, you’ll need to add pool coping — the edge or cap you see around the outside perimeter of the pool. Coping is usually made from brick or stone, and has a smoother, rounded or “bullnose” finished edge for comfort and style. You can choose coping that blends in with your decking, or you can opt to accent it. Whichever way you go, you want to make sure that your decking and coping — even your pool tile — are selected to create a cohesive, complementary look.

Your deck gives you even more opportunities to design an inviting environment. Whether you’re building above ground or in, you can create a simple and beautiful space for lounging, or a multi-level, outdoor living area for entertaining. Decking materials come in an exciting array of beautiful textures, designs and styles — wood, tile, concrete, stone, pavers and composite materials are some of the most common. Consider these ideas:

Deck Pavers

are durable, affordable and comfortable to walk on, and can be found in materials to fit any budget — travertine, concrete, natural stone and manufactured aggregates.  Pavers can be sand-set without mortar, grout or an expensive slab, plus, sand installation allows for flexibility between the pavers so they’re less likely to crack and need repairs in the future.

Decorative Concrete

is another option that offers a wide variety of colors and finishes.  Concrete decking can be stamped and stained in your choice of patterns, textures and colors, and can be sealed with a spray-on, slip-resistant finish.

Composite Decking

can give you the look and practicality of a traditional wood deck without all the maintenance that comes with it. Composite decking is available in colors and textures that mimic the look of real wood, yet it’s durable, long-lasting and needs no painting or staining.

Tile

Adds classic beauty and is available in a variety of shapes, sizes, styles and colors — it’s also very durable.

Slate

Provides wonderful texture and rich color and is a beautiful complement to your natural surroundings.

Brick

Is durable, available in a variety of colors, and can be laid out in a number of exciting and dramatic patterns.

Patios and Decks

Create the Perfect Setting

Patios and decks are extensions of the home and can help create the perfect setting for your backyard. As such, patio and deck design requires accessories that will make your backyard as livable as any indoor room. From a fountain or hammock to wicker furniture and wind chimes, a few added accessories can transform your backyard into your new outdoor living space.  In addition, your deck can also help add sophistication to any backyard.

• Wood, tile, concrete, stone, pavers and composite materials are all commonly used for decks.
• Decks can have one or many levels and can be bold or unassuming, depending on your preferred design.
• Consider your own personal space requirements and preferences when selecting a deck surface.

The materials you choose should fit into your lifestyle and budget. Your deck should be strategically placed to enjoy the scenery while minimizing noise both to and from your neighbors.