PRO Landscape Supply » design ideas

Pavers Offer Alternatives For Patios

Ernie Mulch — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:35:45 +0000

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Creating a new patio or refurbishing an already existing one doesn’t have to result in something boring. Pavers offer you a colorful opportunity to create something new that will have all your neighbors and friends waiting for an invite to one of your backyard parties. The concrete pavers available today come in a dizzying array of patterns, styles and colors making it possible to find a design that is perfect for your desires and backyard.

I ran into a well written piece this morning titled Concrete Pavers Offer Deck Alternatives that I think you will find worth the time to read. Below is a small excerpt.

“There are also lots of colors available, especially in the earth tones. You can stick with a single color or you can blend complementary tones. If you want, you can also use contrasting colors to create a pattern within a pattern, such as a big sundial in the middle of the patio. It’s all up to your imagination!

Once you’ve made your decision, the dealer can help you determine the number of pavers needed for your specific area and the pattern you’ve selected, and will arrange delivery to your site.”

And over at the patch I caught sight of an article titled End of Summer Gardening Tips, check it out

Summer Visits New England

Ernie Mulch — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:35:00 +0000

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It’s looking like we are in for an extend period this week where the temperatures will hover in the mid nineties and above during the day. It’s time to make sure that the ice cube trays are filled, gallons of lemonade are chilled and at the ready for every thirsty landscaper and gardener and each and every air conditioner is working at its peak.

I ran across an article this morning from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette that I thought I would share with everyone out there in the landscaping world. The author Paul Rogers writes that for gardeners there are two good times to sit down and read a good gardening book. The two times he sites are the Winter and when the hot weather makes working outside uncomfortable or even dangerous. You can read his recommendations here in the article titled Summer Reading List for Gardeners and leave a comment after you check it out.

At BND.com I ran across an article talking about a demonstration garden in Illinois, “Its purpose is to show people what plants can be easily grown in this area to beautify yards, landscape businesses and attract bees and butterflies.” When it comes to something like landscaping and gardening nothing works like a demonstration of the real thing. The article is titled Taking Care of Creation, Master Gardeners Show How It’s Done.

At PRO Landscape Supply we also believe that showing you how things might look in your landscaping project can be really helpful, that’s why we have a huge garden of pavers installed for you to walk around and look at. Stop on by and take a leisurely stroll to check out many of the designs and colors that we offer.

Planning Your Landscaping Design

Ernie Mulch — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:13:40 +0000

I found this little video and thought it was worth sharing, it is a simple tip that can make a huge difference in getting your design just right.

National Public Gardens Day May 6th

Ernie Mulch — Fri, 06 May 2011 14:29:08 +0000

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Mothers day is on it ways shortly, one nice things to do for that day is to visiting a public garden. Today just happens to be National Public Gardens day across the U.S. and to help celebrate I thought I would share a list of ten public gardens you might want to visit. All these beautiful public gardens are admission free.

Public gardens are not only a great relaxing place to spend the day at they also are wonderful fountains of imagination for ideas for your own landscaping projects. Every planting and design you come across may be the one thing you have been looking for as you have put together your personal expression in your yard.

Originally this list appeared in the Huffington Post.

Sponsor a Paver For Civic Pride

Ernie Mulch — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:07:06 +0000

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I was reading a story in The Republic this morning with a rater larger title. Centennial Circle project allowing Prescott residents to put their mark on the city’s history Well I guess it deservices a large title as it is about how the city of PRESCOTT, Ariz is laying down 1066 pavers and hopes to get each one of them sponsored by someone or some group.

For a tax-deductible donation of $100, sponsors will be able to have a paver engraved with their personal messages. Barbara Gilliss, chair of the local Centennial Committee, said the four-inch-by-eight-inch pavers would have space for three lines — 16 spaces each — for a name or message. “What I’m suggesting is that people can communicate anything they would like to — names, organizations, events, or family names,” Gilliss said. “It’s kind of wide open.”

This is an inventive idea that more cities and town should look into as a way of adding beauty to local downtown and civic areas.

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Mulch Catches Fire? And Other Landscaping Thoughts

Ernie Mulch — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:54:30 +0000

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A Houston woman had her newly laid down mulch catch fire, was it spontaneous combustion or something else. Read the story for yourself – Mulch Fire

The soil in our gardens is warming up and if you have not yet removed the winter mulch and leaves tangled in your bushes now is the time to do it. With a projected sunny weekend it is the perfect time to get all the outside odd jobs taken care of. Have you cleaned out all the debris from your gutter and down spouts yet? What about taking down the last remnants of holiday decorations still dangling on shrubs and in window boxes?

Does garden reduce anxiety? Well I’m sure all those of you who are into gardening already know that the answer is a resounding yes. Spending time in planting, weeding, tilling and trimming will help transform your life into a much more calm outlook. Leigh Barnes writes in The Health Benefits of Gardening

“The very act of walking around in nature or digging in the dirt (which should always be called soil) will boost serotonin levels and make us smarter. How great is that?” Check it out…

Finally today, I came across an article and interview in the L.A. Times that you might find interesting and inspiring. Stephen Orr, Martha Stewart’s garden guru, looks for beauties with brains in ‘Tomorrow’s Garden

Integrating Vegetable Gardens Into Landscape Design

Ernie Mulch — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:04:55 +0000

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From time to time I will pass by a home where they have integrated their vegetable garden into their landscaping design, making it part of the presentation. Over at HGTV they have one example Attractive Vegetable Garden that just might give you some ideas.

I’ve heard of people putting winding raised stone walkways through their vegetable gardens along with benches and water features like small pools or fountains. Adding all the trimmings to your garden can make it a place not only for growing delicious tomatoes but also one for chatting and meditation.

I think the best place to start the process of integrating your vegetable garden into your existing landscaped yard is with pencil and paper and by setting up a white board that you can attach pictures of tomatoes, cucumbers and all the other vegetables you plan on planting, this will help you to visualize the space needed and the look of the flowering veggie plants as well as the mature plants. Pictures of your yard also will help you to visualize where veggie plots might best be located or where Raised Boxes will make the best statement.

I came across an article on Vegetable Garden Design over at the National Gardening Association’s website that will give you lots of great tips and en-genius ways for integrating your vegetable garden into your landscaping

And since we are talking about vegetable gardens I think you might find an article I recently read in the NYT to be interesting, seems there is a battle raging between gardeners who use only Heirloom seeds and those who are on the side of genetically modified seeds. To tell you the truth I didn’t know about this and found the article, which is entitled Heirloom Seeds or Flinty Hybrids to be really interesting and a good read. All I want is a tomato that tastes like summer and brings a smile to my face and corn as sweet as my memories.

Gardening On Slopes

Ernie Mulch — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:45:27 +0000

I ran across a good video about gardening on slopes.. It’s just over five minutes and is produced by the Extension Service in Nebraska…

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A Few Landscaping & Gardening Solutions

Ernie Mulch — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 16:36:42 +0000

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I’ve noticed dealing with the gaps between garden stepping stones or perhaps flagstone pathways to be troubling to many people. You’ve worked hard landscaping your yard but there are nagging gaps that you don’t want to fill with grass that requires constant mowing and attention. Well I came across a great article today that address just this subject and I think you will find it helpful. Check out the article from the California website called the Lompoc Record for tons of great info on Filling In The Gaps.

Most of New England can be considered rural but we do have a few large cities and for those people living the urban life finding a way to express your gardening-jones can be a tough and downright frustrating chore. Check out a new article in the Charlotte Observer entitled Urban Gardens for some tips and ideas to make garden in an urban environment exciting and easier.

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Spring Landscaping to Help Sell Your Home

Ernie Mulch — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:34:51 +0000

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Many Real Estate agents have said that Winter is the worst season of all to try and sell your house, especially in areas with lots of ice and snow like the Northeast. Well guess what? Spring is just around the corner and if you are planning on selling your home this year now is the time to start planning the landscaping improvements you want to make.

Landscaping improvements are some of the most cost effective investments you can make to help sell your property. Some of the first things prospective buyers see are the walkways and plantings surrounding the your home, so think about having your landscaper create one or two signature items that will help seal the deal. A walkway done using some different pavers will add an exclamation point to the property and give your agent an extra something to point to during a showing.

Your landscaper may have a few early spring deals going on so don’t forget to ask and if you need some ideas drop on over to our office and pick up a few brochures.