Dreaming of an Outdoor Living Area for Winter?

Who says being left out in the cold is a bad thing?  The best part of the changing weather is walking in a winter wonderland – especially when you’re in the comfort of your own backyard.  This year, decide to take advantage of the winter chill by expanding your outdoor living area.  Be surrounded by the best New Jersey landscaping in your neighborhood, and take in the beauty all winter long while remaining in comfort.

Here are some ways you, too, can enjoy your outdoor living area all year ‘round:

·       Plant something new – planting in fall/winter eliminates the need to weed, since weeds are usually dead by the time the weather cools.

·       Put in a firepit – the natural stone retaining walls will protect your indoor and outdoor living areas from unexpected flare ups, drifting ash and flyaway sparks.

·       Install an outdoor kitchen – this will keep your kitchen and curtains clean from the build-up of cooking grease that seems to accumulate so easily in winter.

·       Consider an outdoor fireplace – stone fireplaces can be designed to match your already existing décor, and provide a romantic getaway for cuddling – or a family-friendly evening of toasting marshmallows.

·       Update your lighting – lighting can change the ambiance of your entire backyard, while adding an extra measure of security to your home.

This year, there’s no need to look longingly at your lawn – because with the right preparation, you’ll be able to enjoy your outdoor spaces for the entire year!  So put on your mittens and grab a cup of your favorite hot cocoa, and allow yourself to be transformed by the beauty of your own home.  If you’re looking for ideas, Jersey Landscaping is the right place to find them!

Jersey Landscaping : How to Prepare your Landscape for Winter

The weather is changing.  It feels as though we just started fall and already it’s cold enough to be winter on some days.  As I have spent many years trying to beautify my landscape, I dread this time of year due to the amount of work involved – however it makes a difference.  There is so much clean up to be done before the NJ winter sets in and freezes over my property.  I have found that the better I prepare my lawn for winter, the better my spring landscape will look.  In the quest for the best NJ landscaping on my block, I have finally come up with a plan on how to prepare my lawn for winter!

What should I do to prepare my landscape for winter?

• Remove leaves that cover grass or plantings – since leaves can suffocate the underlying areas, they should be removed by blowing or raking away
• Remove plants that did not make it – sometimes weather and  location do not agree with the plant
• Prune overgrown shrubs – enhances the natural growth
• Remove branch limbs that have fallen – limbs coverings can also cause suffocation
• Winterized your sprinklers – with temperatures dropping, water should be drained
• Apply a winter feed fertilizer to your lawn – this provides nutrients that will help growth in the spring

 ALL of these steps are all critical in establishing a healthy and well kept nj landscape for winter and the following seasons.

Now take a look around at your clean outdoor areas - you are ready to consider your options for landscaping winter ideas!  Stay warm inside dreaming of what you will plant in the spring.  Let the fun begin – Jersey Landscaping can provide more ideas and tips on how to prepare your landscape for winter and beyond.

Jersey Landscaping : Outdoor Illumination

Don’t let your beautiful landscape disappear after dark.  As the nights are getting longer, take advantage and consider landscape lighting.  As you gaze out into your yard, your efforts should be highlighted.  Design lighting plans can highlight your landscape designs including gardens, walkways, and fire pits.  If you want to fully enjoy the beauty of your property with your family or friends at night, outdoor illumination should be considered.  There are many available options in design lighting plans.  You can chose to light a small area of maybe a walkway to your entire property.  The professionals at JerseyLandscape will help you select the best outdoor lighting system that will meet your needs and budget.  If you already invested in designing your landscape, you will want to enhance it for nighttime activities with lighting. 

Besides the visualization aspect of outdoor illumination, safety and security should be taken into account.  With landscape lighting, the areas into and surrounding your home can feel safe.  Lighting up your walkway will not only help you find the path to your home, it will let others know they can be seen.  Go to bed feeling secure that those you love inside your house will be safe with the outside areas light up.  Don’t give intruders the opportunity to invade your privacy.  Landscape lighting will not only brighten up your outside property, it will give you peace of mind.

Jersey Landscaping : Light your Yard with a Moonscape

There is a new trend in lighting your landscape - it is called Moonscaping.  There is nothing like the full moon shining over us – it creates a beautiful setting.  The atmosphere created from the natural moon can be duplicated through a custom outdoor lighting.  Landscape illumination can make your property feel almost magical.  Whether you are looking for peaceful surroundings to sit at night with your family or have a large gathering in your outdoor oasis – consider moonscape lighting.  You will be able to expand your living environment from your home out into your garden or backyard.  All of your efforts can be highlighted with custom outdoor lighting.  Nature is wonderful to look at during the day and there is no reason to miss out when it is dark. 

Custom outdoor lighting options are endless.  Jersey Landscaping can create and implement any landscape illumination for your home or business.  The team at Jersey Landscaping has tremendous experience in outdoor lighting.  They will help you not only in landscape design that can be viewed during the day, but will enhance your evening landscape with the best outdoor lighting system.  You will instantly feel tranquil with moonscape lighting – try it!  Don’t miss out - shine the light outside.  You will not have to wait for the full moon each month with moonscape lighting – every night can be a full moon.  Enjoy your property any time of day.

Jersey Landscaping : Light Up Your New Jersey Landscape Design with a Fire Pit

What better way to usher in autumn's chilly weather than by relaxing outdoors huddled around a flickering fire?  Of course for most of us, just piling up wood somewhere in the yard and starting a fire is not exactly the best option. An open fire is hard to control and is a real mess to clean up. You need a place that helps control the fire, and that’s safe and easy to clean up.  Homeowners who want the pleasures of an outside fire have discovered the value of a patio fire pit.

These days, homeowners are increasing the value of their homes and improving the relaxation potential of their backyards with fire pit landscaping. Patio fire pits offer a cozy natural gathering place where friends and family can roast marshmallows, drink nightcaps or simply gaze at the flames in solitary meditation. Patio fire pits, and those installed on your deck or elsewhere in your backyard, make it possible for you to enjoy an outdoor oasis night after night right in your own backyard. And with a wide variety of styles available to choose from, there's sure to be an outdoor fire pit that will suit your taste and complement your overall residential landscape design. 

So, what exactly is a fire pit? It’s basically any structure that contains and controls an exterior fire. Most fire pits are one to two feet high, and can be built in any shape desired by you and your residential landscape design company.  Although circular tends to be the most common shape, square, rectangular or even irregular structures can be attractive in different settings. Some fire pits burn wood and others burn propane or other gas. When you’re deciding which to go with, you’ll discover both types have pros and cons. Gas pits are instant start - instant stop, which is an excellent safety feature.  They’re easier to clean up because there are no ashes to dispose of, and they don’t leave you smelling like smoke after you’ve spent time near it. But the requirement of substantial pipe fitting and professional hookups for safety end up making gas pits quite expensive. Wood pits offer the look and feel of a true campfire. All you need is some fire wood and a spark, and you’re on your way. Of course, wood pits require a lot more nurturing and attention to keep the flames going.

Ultimately, how simple or elaborate the outdoor fire pit is will be determined mostly by your taste and budget. Whether you have your heart set on a simple outdoor fire pit or want to jazz up your outdoor space with enhanced features like an outdoor stone fireplace, statuary, stone wall or complete outdoor kitchen, New Jersey landscape design company Jersey Landscaping will work with you to create the landscape and hardscape you’ve always dreamed of -- and at a cost you can afford.

Jersey Landscaping : Keeping Deer out of Your NJ Landscape

One of the most common challenges any homeowner faces, regardless of where he or she lives, is keeping deer off the yard. A misplaced deer can do a season’s worth of damage, or more, in just a few minutes. Don’t let your New Jerseylandscaping efforts go to waste—following a few rules will go a long way towards keeping these gorgeous but pesky animals away from your plants and gardens!

—Make sure your most valuable plants and gardens are surrounded by a fence at least 10 feet high. There’s no need to build yourself a fortress by erecting a 10-foot high fence around the entire house, but make sure to protect your valuable plants and gardens. The fences need to be sturdy, obviously, and also entrenched in the ground so that the deer can’t burrow in and sneak through small holes.

—Welcome the deer into your backyard—with food that is located far from your favorite plants and gardens. There’s nothing wrong with meeting the deer halfway, so to speak, especially in the more rural areas of New Jersey where deer are plentiful. Place deer-friendly foods such as apples, corn, mushrooms, nuts, peas and sweet potatoes in your yard but far away from the areas you are trying to protect.

—Use a combination of motion sensors and compact discs as a deer deterrent. Sounds like an odd deer prevention team, but the motion sensors will flash a light at the deer after sunset and a compact disc aimed at them during the day will send them running in the other direction.

You’ve worked hard to make your New Jersey landscaping something to be proud of. Don’t let the deer ruin it—protect your plants and flowers with these simple tips today!

Jersey Landscaping : New Jersey Residential Landscaping

The good thing about New Jersey residential landscaping is there is no limit to what you can do to enhance the appearance and value of your property—on either end of the spectrum. If you have enough money and time to hire a NJ landscaper and oversee the progress of a major overhaul of your outdoor spaces, that’s fantastic. Yet New Jersey landscaping design projects can also be tackled with a minimal amount of expense and effort.

In New Jersey, residential landscaping options are available for part or all of your spaces – from backyard gardens to property borders and curb-appeal-oriented entryways. In the front of your property, there are many projects that an experienced NJ landscaper can help you undertake. From something as simple and as uncomplicated as installing a walkway, to something more complex involving re-paving a driveway or adding fences and/or hedges, the scope and scale of the work is all up to you. These “mini-projects” can often be completed in as little as a weekend, yet they will give your home that brand-new feel and, if you choose fences and/or hedges, you’ll also get a little bit of much-wanted privacy and exclusivity.

It doesn’t take much to turn the back or side yard into an oasis free of the hustle and bustle of the busy street in front of your home. A little New Jersey residential landscaping can go a long way—begin your search for a qualified NJ landscaper to help you with your projects today!