Jersey Landscaping: Extend your Nights with an Outdoor Fireplace

The Right Outdoor Fireplace Design Makes All the Difference

Summertime is all about being outside for as long as possible — and the right outdoor fireplace design can add a few more precious hours to the mix. A fire feature like a custom outdoor fireplace not only adds value to your home: it lets you extend your day for as a long as you’d like. And at Jersey landscaping, LLC, we make sure you’ll get to do it in style.

Extend Your Summer Hours in Style with a Custom Outdoor Fireplace

Aesthetics are important to any outdoor living space, of course.  But the functionality of a custom outdoor fireplace is just as important. The best outdoor fireplace designs create cozy nook for you and your loved ones to enjoy during any time of the year.

There are innumerable benefits to adding fire features in your yard. We’ve got a few of them right here;

·         Let there be light. The most obvious benefit to any fireplace is the added light it creates. If you live in an area where the street lights are spaced far apart, or where there is a lot of tree coverage, a fireplace can brighten up the yard. We landscapers in NJ know that the brighter yards means more livable yards, so we’re sure you’ll spend more time in yours if you have a spot that’s more brightly lit.

·         Baby, it’s cold outside. Even summer nights can be a bit nippy. Both portable and built-in outdoor fireplaces will keep you warm as the temperature drops.  Plus, you’ll have the added bonus of spending time outside long after the mosquitos have gone to bed.

·         The sky’s the limit. The backs of homes aren’t always as architecturally exciting as the fronts: it’s a fact. But the right outdoor fireplace design can break up the monotony of a long back wall with the help of a chimney. The elongated chimney adds a nice focal point to any outdoor space design.

·         Blowin’ in the wind. During our many years as landscapers in NJ, we’ve noticed that the one pitfall of fire features is that on windy nights, the smoke can be a bit much. But with a built-in outdoor fireplace, the smoke is directed upwards to the chimney. That means that you can extend your time outside on windy evenings, too, because you can sit closer to the fire without getting smoke in your eyes. (This is especially nice if you wear glasses or contacts.)

The cool thing about outdoor fireplace designs is that they can work for any space — and on any budget.

·         Portable Outdoor Fireplaces. Have a smaller yard? Aren’t sure if you want to commit? Consider a pre-fabricated fireplace. The portability means that you can move it around the yard to find the best spot. Good landscapers in NJ will tell you, though, that’s it’s probably best to keep it on a patio: patios are more even, and you wouldn’t want it to tip over.

·         Built-in Outdoor Fireplaces. Have a larger yard? Looking to create an outdoor living area? These permanent structures are a great place to start. You can build one yourself, of course, but it’s best to let a licensed contractor do it. We can create a wood-burning fireplace or one that hooks into your main gas line.

·         Custom Outdoor Fireplaces. Designed for every budget, a custom fireplace is the perfect choice for new homeowners or those with existing landscaping. By customizing your fire features, you’re guaranteed to get exactly what you want — and guaranteed to be the only person on the block who has it.

The right outdoor fireplace design adds depth to any yard and value to any home. But the best part is that it allows you to keep using your yard long after the sun has gone down. If you want to get the most use out of your yard throughout the year, give us a call. Our landscapers in NJ will help you choose the best fireplace for your needs.

Jersey Landscaping: Landscape Design in Monmouth County, NJ

Starting fresh with your landscape design for your Monmouth County home or business can prove to be a little intimidating at first. With any space you are trying to design, whether inside or outside of your home, envisioning how the end result will turn out can be a bit of a challenge. But at JerseyLandscaping, LLC, one of our central Jersey landscaping designers can help you design your backyard oasis in no time. There are many landscaping ideas you can use in your backyard. Why not consider some of these?

·    Stone Pavers: Not all backyard designs have to require a lot of maintenance. With stonepavers you can design a low maintenance, rustic ambiance for the ideal outdoor living area. One of the best parts of stone pavers, is they fit virtually any budget. If you are trying to watch your outdoor space project’s budget, traditional mason brick is budget friendly and offers a warm touch. And when it’s installed by licensed New Jersey landscape contractors, you have the added protection of knowing they’ll be done right.

·    Fountains and water designs: There is nothing like relaxing after a long day by an outdoor fountain. The gentle trickling of water on river rock will carry you off to a place of serenity and balance. Or to add a little extra nature to your backyard, consider a Koi pond, where you can watch the magnificent multi-colored fish swim for hours and lure you into their world for a little while.

·    Entertaining: The best part about living where we do is the access to all four seasons, If entertaining guests outdoors for a barbeque or a few cocktails is your summer ritual, consider installing a large deck with an outdoor kitchen. Add some energy efficient outdoor lighting for a relaxing vibe when entertaining in the evenings. If you’re a secret snow bunny, think about adding an outdoor pizza oven or fire pit. When it comes to landscape design in Monmouth County, NJ, you can create a yard that’s perfect in every season!

·    Hedges: Hedges, trees, shrubs or bamboo! Oh my! These are all magnificent ideas if you want to fill in large areas or create natural outlining sections to your outdoor living space.  If Central Jersey landscaping is the location in question, hedges and the aforementioned foliage is perfect because it will survive the colder climate.

·    Flowers: Why not add a little color to your yard? While you’re at it, you can plant peony, purple coneflower, petunias and many other that will attract butterflies into your new backyard. Flowers bring a wide array of colors and help increase your mood and overall well-being.  You can also add to the aroma of your backyard living space by planting roses, honeysuckle and many other fragrant flowers.

New Jersey Landscape Contractors Know the Area Best

Because of the unique layout of Monmouth County, you’re better off seeking the professional help of a central Jersey landscaping company, as opposed to one that serves the north or south.  The soil in this part of the state varies from town to town — and sometimes from development to development!  If you live closer to the shore line, a sandy mix in your soil may make certain designs more difficult (or more expensive). And some parts of Monmouth County have rocky soil, which can be tougher to work with if you’re trying to plant larger flora in your yard. 

Your best bet is to always seek the help of professional New Jersey landscape contractors.  We know which towns have the highest water tables, which developments may need more trees to anchor the soil, and which boroughs are best for planting delicate flowers as opposed to hearty bamboos. So if you’re looking for fresh new landscaping in Monmouth County, NJ, turn to the pros.  This way, you’re guaranteed to have an exciting new look that not only works for you, but also works for your home.

Jersey Landscaping: Vacation at Home: Upgrade your Outdoor Landscaping

The ultimate vacation is only as far as your backyard — so it’s time to take a look at your outdoor landscaping. Is it up to par for your “staycation,” or is it missing that something special? If you’re ready to make your backyard pop, we’ve got some terrific ideas for fresh, new outdoor space designs that offer both flair AND function.

The perfect staycation landscape design installation can involve:

·         Building an outdoor kitchen

·         Installing a natural stone patio around the pool

·         Creating a butterfly or bamboo garden

·         Adding a water feature like a pond or fountain

·         Placing footpaths around the yard for leisurely strolls

·         Building a rock wall or a man-made lagoon for the ultimate in luxury

By upgrading your outdoor landscaping to include features that you’ll actually use, you’re making sure your home-based vacation can continue year ‘round.

Your Outdoor Space Design Makes All the Difference

A good outdoor space design is one that can be used easily and fluidly. The very best designs let you utilize your entire yard without making you feel overwhelmed. Any landscape design installation should consider the following:

1.       The size and shape of your yard. You want to create an outdoor living space that fits — not just in terms of acreage, but also in terms of your natural landscape.  If you yard has hills, natural stone walls and pathways can add some structure.  If your yard is a bit small, you may want to scale down a larger idea to fit your space.  Instead of a full-blown outdoor kitchen, consider a brick fire pit with comfortable seating around it, to create a cozy conversational space.

2.       Where your gas and water lines are. Of course any landscape design installation involves marking the lines to avoid breaking them – but it will also influence where your new structures may go.  If your gas line runs next to your home, it could be expensive (and time consuming) to put your new grill on the opposite side of the yard.  If you want to incorporate a lot of trees into your new outdoor landscaping, you’ll need to make sure the roots won’t harm your water lines.

3.       What your favorite outdoor activities involve. If you hate to grill, then an outdoor kitchen might not be a good idea.  Instead, think about adding a pizza oven to your outdoor space design.  Now you can have dinner and a show right in the comfort of your backyard.  If you’re looking to decompress, a garden with comfortable seats can allow you to escape from the everyday without ever leaving your yard.

4.       Who will use the yard the most? Is your staycation a solitary affair, or do you plan on inviting friends and family to stay?  Does your family involve small children, or will there be teenagers lounging out back?  When you create an outdoor living space, it’s important to think about who will benefit from it. If you’re looking for a family-friendly vacation, consider adding features the whole group can use.  If you’re looking to entertain large groups, make sure you have enough space for people to move comfortably. And if you’re looking for time to simply decompress, choose a design that soothes and inspires you.

This year, treat yourself to the ultimate home-based vacation in your very own yard. Your outdoor landscaping should offer you everything a resort would: a fun, friendly place where you can forget about your job and your errands, and relax in any way you want.

Jersey Landscaping: Increasing Home Values with Outdoor Kitchens

Now that the economy is starting to turn around, home owners are giving serious thought to the increasing home values — and what they can do, as sellers, to get in on the action. For homeowners looking to sell during the nicer months, adding custom outdoor kitchens could be the difference between homes that sell quickly, and homes that don’t sell at all. But superior outdoorkitchen construction is best done by the professionals, and finding a contractor who fits your needs should be the most important part of the process.

If increasing your home’s value with an outdoor kitchen is on your mind, then we have some tips and tricks that are bound to help you out.

The Merits of Custom Outdoor Kitchens: What Every Home Seller Should Know

Outdoor kitchen construction isn’t a weekend project – especially if you’re looking to increase the value of your home.  There are some simply outdoor kitchen design ideas that can be done in a few days, but you still want to speak with a licensed and insured contractor about installing one.  The benefits of an outdoor cooking space can’t be denied.

1.       It’s a great spring and summer selling point. New Jersey homeowners are lucky, because we get to enjoy all four seasons. But if you’re selling your home in the winter, an outdoor kitchen might not help you.  If you’re considering an upgrade, think about when you want to put your home on the market first, before starting the project.

2.       It can be cheaper than a new indoor kitchen. Depending on what you’re planning, you may be able to build a new outdoor kitchen for less money than it would costs to redo your entire indoor kitchen.  If you have the budget, consider outdoor kitchen design ideas that involve a pizza oven: it looks great, and watching the cheese bubble up can be pretty entertaining – especially for kids.

3.       It should match your landscaping. If your yard is decorated with bamboo and natural wood, then a brick outdoor kitchen will look out of place. If you’re really concerned about increasing your home value, build a kitchen that blends with your design — although we recommend concrete or stone for the countertops, regardless of what your yard looks like.

4.       It needs the basics. You’ll still need a refrigerator, a sink with running water and a cooking space. But the greatest thing about custom outdoor kitchens is that they’re designed with your needs in mind.  You can add a bar sink, extra grilling spaces – even a dishwasher. You can even direct the run-off water into your flowerbeds, providing that you don’t use detergents in the sink.

5.       It’s supposed to be fun. Remember how much fun barbeques were when you were kids? Our door eating spaces are supposed to be fun! It doesn’t matter if it’s just you and a loved one or a yard filled with people: the best outdoor kitchens are the ones that invite games, storytelling and a well-cooked meal — just like the indoor kitchen you remember from childhood. If your outdoor space has the same amount of warmth and personality as your home, no seller will be able to resist it.

In short, outdoor kitchen construction can do a lot for increasing your home’s worth on the market, provided you plan accordingly.  Hiring the services of a trusted local construction company is the first step in building the outdoor space you want. Consulting with a landscape designer can ensure that your new kitchen not only blends with your yard, but also with your neighborhood. You’ll be on your way to increasing your home’s value in no time!

Jersey Landscaping: Preparing for Spring Landscaping After the Storm

After months of storm damage cleanup, we’re turning our thoughts to how we can best handle people’s spring landscaping needs. We know that as a home or business owner in New Jersey, clean up is probably your first priority – but the weather will be warm before you know it, and prepping for spring takes time. 

Since spring is the season of renewal, we’re offering some ideas for landscaping clean up that can help you feel good about the year to come.

·         Be brush and debris free. Regardless of the amount of damage you may have sustained during the storms this year, great spring landscaping starts with a clean foundation.  Damaged or dying bushes or shrubs should probably be rooted out — both for your protection and for increased space in which to work.

·         Trim those trees. Even if your trees are still swaying majestically, it’s probably time for a trim. Removing dead limbs and branches is an important part of landscaping clean up, because it allows the trees to grown in a healthy fashion — and neatens up your outdoor space nicely.

·         Gather up the leaves. It’s easy to ignore dead leaves in the winter: they’re not really “hurting” anything, right?  But once those leaves get wet and mushy, they can start to do some damage to your lawn.  As part of our landscape clean up services, we’ll remove the leaves from your yard and flowerbeds, ensuring that there won’t be any trouble during the growing season.

·         Don’t forget fertilizer. Depending on the kind of flora you have, you might need to start fertilizing it early.  Your spring landscaping plans should include contacting your maintenance company to see if fertilizer needs to be applied.

·         Think about mulch. Like fertilizer, mulch can be an important part of keeping your yard looking fresh and healthy.  Because of the nature of the materials, a lot of much was swept away during the storm — and by home and business owners in New Jersey doing their own clean up. Make sure to discuss your missing mulch with a landscape designer: you may need more for your spring flowers.

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, it’s okay: Jersey Landscaping, LLC offers full landscape clean up services throughout the state. We’ll take care of everything, from raking leaves to trimming trees to replacing — or adding — new pavers and retaining walls.  And because we’re home-grown, so to speak, you never have to worry about us using the wrong materials. We know the soil, the stones and the flowers that will work best for you and your home.  Together, we’ll rebuild your yard into the paradise you always wanted.

Jersey Landscaping: Terrific Hardscape Designs Make a World of Difference

The holidays are almost here, but spring is never far away — which means it’s never too soon to think about adding some natural looking hardscape designs to your yard. At Jersey Landscaping, LLC, our designers create custom hardscape landscaping for customers who really want their yards to “pop.”

Not sure if a hardscape landscape design will work for you? Let me tell you why it’s a terrific idea for any yard!

1.       It’s a year-long addition. Unlike flowers, hardscape designs don’t slumber through the winter.  So even when it’s cold and grey, your yard will still look beautiful. And because they’re so durable, it doesn’t take much care to keep them looking great season after season.

2.       They add texture to any landscape. Not that I don’t love a rolling green lawn — I do; I really, really do — but after a while, they start to blend together.  With hardscape landscaping, you can break up the monotony of all that green by having adding in some natural stone for color and show.

3.       It really showcases your exiting landscape. Most residential landscaping ideas revolve around flowers or plants.  But a low stone wall or some beautiful Bluestone pavers can really emphasize what you already have. And because natural stone looks, well, natural, a professional hardscape landscape design will look like it belongs there.

4.       Unless, of course, you want to show off. If you’re really looking to make an impression on your neighbors or on passers-by, then hardscaping is the way to go.  Nothing invites people to stare at your yard more than a professionally installed fountain right in the middle of it.

The truth is, hardscape designs can be anything you want them to be.  Even if your yard isn’t as large as you’d like it to be, you can still use hardscapes in the overall designs.  Our most popular residential landscape designs include hardscapes of some kind:

·         Pavers or stone walkways

·         Low walls for showcasing flowers

·         Smaller decks or patios

·         Brick fire pits or grill pits

·         Water features, like ponds or fountains

Still not convinced?  Better give Jersey Landscaping, LLC a call.  We’re bound to find something that works for your yard and your budget.  You can always take a look through the photo gallery, too, to get some ideas before you come in.

For the hottest looks this year, consider hardscape landscaping.  It’s always a sure bet!

Jersey Landscaping: A Landscape Designer from NJ Can Help in Sandy’s Aftermath

You don’t have to be a landscape designer in NJ to understand the level of destruction wrought by Superstorm Sandy. The abject horror on the faces of our own family and friends is enough. Like most Monmouth County landscaping companies, our primary concern for the last few weeks has been (literally) picking up the debris left in her wake, to help alleviate some of the tension and stress associated with the rebuilding process.

But at Jersey Landscaping, LLC we believe in the power of being “Jersey Strong.” Hurricane Sandy may have knocked us down, but we ain’t licked yet.

If you’re ready to start rebuilding your home, we have some ideas that can help reinstate the normality you crave.

·         Fast growing shade trees. The amount of trees that came down in the storm is almost sickening — especially for NJ, the Garden State. Planting fast growing shade trees is an easy way to replace what was lost, and help increase the value of your home to pre-storm conditions.

·         Full submersion flowers. If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, consider flowers that thrive in both wet and dry soil. New England aster thrives in both conditions, and attracts monarch butterflies as an added bonus.

·         Hardy shrubs and grasses. Some flowers and plants are able to withstand high winds and excessive waters because they’re designed to do so, either because of genetics or because of cultivation efforts. Speak with a Monmouth County landscaping company for ideas.

Learn More about Monmouth County Landscaping

One of the many things we’ve learned in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is that how you landscape is just as important as what you landscape.  And while any landscape designer in NJ can speak to the importance of using natural materials and flora, we think that a better way to protect your home comes from the actual design itself.

·       Plant in clusters. There is evidence that planting different species of trees in groups increases their wind resistance. The trees will buffer one another, and in doing so help protect your home.

·       Size always matters. We know that beautiful, sweeping oak trees look great when they line the road.  We also know that they can keep you from leaving your home for three or four days if they crash into the road.  Plant smaller trees with a more flexible makeup (like weeping willows) that won’t affect power lines if they fall over.

·       Stay away from your home. After Hurricane Sandy, we saw a lot of homes where trees came straight down on the roof.  When you plant your fast growing shade trees, make sure there’s ample space between them and your home.  If your yard is a bit smaller, choose smaller trees and plant them farther away.

·       Regularly prune your landscaping. Speak with a local landscape designer in NJ to find out how often you should be pruning your trees and shrubs. Regular maintenance removes dead and dry limbs, and can eliminate diseased plants.  If your landscaping is healthy, it will withstand storms better.

At Jersey Landscaping, LLC we know you might feel a little overwhelmed by the recovery process.  We also know that many of you may be more concerned with fixing your buckled floors than with replanting your landscapes. But as a Monmouth County landscaping company that’s been a part of the recovery from the beginning, we ask that you start thinking about your plants sooner than later.  A brand new landscape design might not seem like a top priority, but it can help save you money in the wake of the next storm.

From all of us to all of you, we wish you a speedy and safe recovery.