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Best Types of Grass for Wisconsin Lawns

July 22, 2018 by

Are you a homeowner? Are you looking to add more value to your property? One way you can increase the value of your home is by having a lush, grassy lawn.

In the U.S., 78 percent of adults have homes with a lawn or some other form of landscaping. So, it’s obvious that the majority of Americans value having a good yard on their property.

Are you wondering how you can get your dream lawn? The answer is simple: grass seed!

Here are some of the best grass seed types for lawns in Wisconsin, so you can find the right grass varieties for your landscape.

hand holding grass seeds

Good Varieties of Lawn Grass for Milwaukee and Waukesha

Kentucky Bluegrass

One of the best winter grass seed types is Kentucky bluegrass. Since it’s winter hardy, it’s easier to revive after a long, hard winter than other grass varieties.

It’s commonly planted in Wisconsin and is known for its ability to withstand cold climates. It’s also good for filling in damaged areas of grass.

To perform at its best, Kentucky bluegrass requires full sunlight, although you can plant it in shady spaces as well.

Fine Fescue

If you’re looking for a grass that works well in shady spaces and in soil with low moisture and/or pH levels, let fine fescue come to your rescue.

Fine fescue is one of the types of lawn grass that people rarely plant on its own. Usually, it’s combined with other cool-season grass types.

Be careful not to overwater this grass, though, or you may end up with a poor quality turf.

Bent Grass

Bent grass, while typically found on golf courses, can produce a dense, uniform grass turf—as long as you care for it properly.

Watering requirements for this type of grass are lighter than some other types, but they are frequent. Shallow root systems mean that the seedbeds must be kept moist on a continuous basis. This means bent grass may require more frequent watering than homeowners are accustomed to.

If you don’t have the time and money to maintain a bent grass lawn, you may benefit from choosing an alternative.

When to Plant

Whether you’re looking for drought-tolerant grass or another variety, it’s best to plant your grass during spring or fall.

If you want to have more time to establish your lawn, planting during the spring months is ideal. However, if you’re worried about the effects heat may have on your new grass seed, you’ll want to plant it during the fall months and allow approximately 6 weeks of consistent 50 to 70-degree weather to do so.

Try One of These Popular Grass Seed Types Today

While these grass seed types are quite popular with homeowners in Wisconsin, they are just the beginning. There are many more to choose from.

If you want to have a successful grass growing endeavor, it’s important to plant a grass type that is the right fit for your environment. Start with one of these seed types, and you’ll be right on your way to a beautiful turf.

Not sure which grass is best for your landscaping?  Contact us today!

Filed Under: Lawn Care Tagged With: ,

How Much Value Does Professional Home Landscaping Add to Your Property?

June 20, 2018 by

There’s a reason the home landscaping company is booming: A whopping 90% of people think it’s crucial to have a well-maintained lawn but 33% don’t know how to do it themselves. But that’s just one reason that the landscaping industry brings in $61 million per year.

If you’re among those who want to have a great lawn but feel like they can just DIY it, put down the mulch. We’re going to break down how professional landscaping is going to add value to your property.

Keep reading to see how it’s worth the initial expense.

home landscaped with rose and blue hydrangeas

Maintain Your Lawn

If there’s one thing that you must absolutely do to add value to your home, you must maintain your lawn. Out of any landscaping that adds value to a home, the lawn is the biggest element. And it’s easy to see why—the lawn is the first thing people see.

Having a professional care and maintain this major area is easier than having to keep track of it yourself.

Pathways and Decorative Rocks

Once you’ve got basic lawn care down, adding a few decorative elements will boost your curb appeal.

Home landscaping professionals can work with you to add things like pathways and decorative rocks on your property. This allows you to add value to your home in a creative and useful way.

Fencing and Boundaries

Lots of potential buyers look for fencing or boundaries when they’re home shopping. And, fencing and decorative boundaries are fairly easy yard improvement projects. That makes them inexpensive ways to boost your home’s value and make your yard space look pretty.

Planting Beds

Lots of people love to go outside and pick their own fresh veggies and fruit. If you’ve ever wanted your own edible garden, this is a great project to take on.

Of course, this home landscaping project can seem a bit intimidating. That’s why it’s best to call in a professional who can guide you through the entire process.

Find a pro who knows their way around an edible garden. They’ll show you what to plant where and how to plant it.

Bushes and Trees

A lush expanse of lawn can’t be beat, but if you want to add a few more living features, bushes and trees are the obvious choices. Having a few of these commonplace plants can add tons of curb appeal to your home and boost the value of your property.

Wondering if bushes and trees would be high-maintenance additions? A good home landscaping company will help you find hardy shrubs that just need a trim here and there. Trees will also need some pruning from time to time, but a shady spot is always a welcome addition to any home.

Call a Home Landscaping Pro Today to Boost Your Curb Appeal

Ready to add these ideas to your own home? Great! We’re ready to take a look at your lawn and help you make the best choices to add value to your home.

Contact us today and we’ll show you how to take your property’s potential to the next level. We provide services throughout the Milwaukee and Waukesha areas.

Filed Under: Landscaping

How to Revive Grass After a Long, Hard Winter

June 6, 2018 by

There are over 40 million acres of lawns across the U.S. That’s because homeowners love their lawns, and for good reason: Having a healthy, vibrant lawn can not only add to your home’s property value but also help cut pollution.

Following a long winter, you may be wondering how to make grass green again or how to revive dead grass fast. Not to worry: Those brown spots can be repaired!

Try these tips for reviving grass after winter and making your grass green again.

damaged, dead grass

Knowing How to Revive Grass

There are several steps you need to follow to bring back dead grass. These include:

Cleaning Up the Yard

The first step is to remove any leaves, dirt, or debris covering your lawn. This makes it easier to revive brown grass and allows you to find any areas which need extra care.

Aerating the Soil

Soil gets packed down with time and can choke off the flow of nutrients to your grass. Loosening up the soil helps the grass get the nutrients your lawn needs to grow. That’s why aerating, which loosens your soil, is great for bringing back dead grass.

Removing Dead Grass

After a long winter, it’s possible that some of the grass in your lawn is dead. You’ll want to dethatch the lawn to help remove any dead grass.

Using a rake to dethatch the lawn allows the soil and living grass to breathe and get the necessary nutrients they need to stay healthy.

Taking Care of Weeds

As your lawn begins to revive, so will the weeds that try to take over your lawn. It is important to quickly remove any emerging weeds before they have time to spread.

Preventative weed treatments can also help stop weeds before they can grow and become a problem for your lawn.

Dealing with Bare Patches

If you find dead spots in your lawn and are unable to bring back dead grass there, you’ll need to regrow the grass. This means either using grass seeds to regrow grass in the dead spots or using sod to quickly cover the bare patches.

With seeds, you’ll need to find grass seed suitable for your soil type and climate. You’ll also need to plant the seeds early in the season. It’s important to regularly water the area to make sure the seeds take root and grow properly.

If you choose to go with sod, you’ll need to select a species of grass that matches your existing lawn. As with seeds, you’ll need to water daily to make sure the sod takes.

Fertilizing

For your lawn to grow properly, it needs the proper nutrients. Using an appropriate lawn fertilizer in the spring helps provide the necessary nutrients. And, depending on the type of fertilizer you use, it may even also kill weeds.

There are many different types of fertilizer to choose from, including nontoxic and organic fertilizers, so it’s important to research before making a choice.

Knowing How to Make Grass Green

Here in Milwaukee, knowing how to revive grass after winter is a must have. Ithelps keep your lawn healthy in the spring. But remember: You’ll still need to take care of your lawn in the spring to get it ready for summer!

Whether you’re interested in learning about how to care for your lawn or deciding between seed and sod, we have the information you need. We can also help you with all your landscaping and grounds maintenance needs. Contact us today to find out more about our services.

Filed Under: Landscape Sodding and Seeding, Lawn Care, Winter Lawn Care

Flooded Backyard in Milwaukee? These Drainage Solutions Can Help

May 23, 2018 by

Puddles in the backyard may be fun for the kids, but for homeowners they can spell foundation nightmares. If your backyard floods every time it rains, it may be time to call in a good landscaper.

Professional landscapers do a lot more than plant flowers and mow grass. They can assess water drainage issues and install drainage solutions. They’ll have to take it on a case to case basis, though, because what’s right for your Milwaukee yard flooding issue might not be right for anyone else.

Before you find a landscaper to assess your personalized solution, however, read the quick fixes below.

happy girl playing in puddle in backyard

Curtain Drain

What’s the first solution that comes to mind when you think of draining water? A pipe.

That’s exactly what the curtain drain method uses. This method consists of setting a pipe into the ground and running water from your property to the main drain (like a street storm drain). Because the pipe is perforated, it helps collect water from the soil. It then uses gravity and your yard’s natural grade to run the water off.

There’s one caveat though: To use this method, your property needs to be higher than the surrounding lots or the closest road.

A Dry Well

If you’re on low land but don’t want to spend sump pump money, try this solution.

A dry well is an in-yard well that stays dry until excess rain fills it up. A dry well is usually dug in the lowest part of the yard for maximum impact and doesn’t take much (if any) hardware.

Once the well is dug, a landscaper will fill it with gravel to mimic a natural draining system. As the water fills the well, the rocks keep things from getting muddy. The well then empties into the surrounding soil, dispersing the moisture into deeper soil levels than a regular drain.

A Sump Pump

If you have a couple of hundred dollars to spare and extra electricity, invest in a sump pump. These machines collect excess runoff and pump it away. And, the runoff plumbing can deposit excess water wherever you want, even uphill.

Since sump pumps are an investment, talk to a professional landscaper before you take the plunge. They’ll be able to assess the intensity of the problem and give you ideas on the where and how of installation.

Most landscapers will even install it for you! The best way to see if any landscapers in your area do so is to ask for a free quote and let them know what you’re thinking.

Community-Wide Action

If you’re having an unusually wet season or have a low-lying yard, drainage issues are typical. But if they seem to persist or you hear other neighbors talking about them, it may be a bigger deal.

Talk to your landscaper and ask if they see any large-scale problems in the area. If they do, ask for their advice and take your concerns to the HOA.

If you don’t have an HOA or they can’t do anything about it, contact your local government. If municipal engineers are to blame for drainage problems, it may be your city’s legal duty to fix it.

Picking Drainage Solutions

Knowing which yard drainage solution is right for your home is difficult. It takes many small details into consideration than you’ve probably considered.

If you need assistance, one of our landscapers can find the perfect fit for you. Get in contact today and change your back-swamp into your backyard!

Filed Under: Drainage Solutions

5 Backyard Pest Control Tips Just in Time for Spring

May 9, 2018 by

Spring brings warmer weather, blooming flowers, and a desire to spend time outside. Whether it’s for a backyard barbecue or a baseball game, spring is the time to be outside.

Unfortunately, we aren’t the only creatures enjoying the new weather. Countless types of insects thrive when warmer weather comes around.

If you want to enjoy your outdoor space without worrying about creepy crawlies, keep reading for five backyard pest control tips everyone needs to know.

landscaper spraying pesticide in the lawn to control pests

1. Keep Your Grass Cut

Certain types of insects like tall grass, so one of the best ways to get rid of bugs outside is to consistently trim your lawn. As a general rule of thumb, you should keep your grass around three inches tall.  This will cut down on the number of bugs taking up residence in your yard and also help keep your lawn healthy all season.

Be sure to property prune any trees or shrubs, as well.

2. Remove Breeding Areas

One of the most important steps to limit outdoor bugs is to remove their areas of breeding. Mosquitoes, for example, breed in standing pools of water. This includes swimming pools, ponds, and areas with poor drainage.

If you have areas in your yard that don’t drain and you don’t know how to fix them, be sure to contact professional landscapers. And, if you have a pond or pool, make sure you have a strong pump to circulate the water to discourage breeding.

Taking these steps will leave you with a bug-free yard.

3. Maintain Grassy Areas

In addition to regular trimmings, keeping your yard maintained in other ways will help limit outdoor bugs. Our maintenance suggestions:

  • Water your yard properly and aerate the lawn once a year.
  • Using fertilizer is also a good idea if you want to achieve luscious, green grass.
  • If you struggle to keep your lawn looking vibrant and green, consider sodding or seeding to get that perfect outdoor area.

4. Limited Scents and Fragrances

Insects like wasps and yellowjackets love fragrances, including perfume, candles, and food items. If you want to limit the chance of these insects making nests on your property, avoid using scented shampoo and perfume before an outdoor event.

If you are hosting, always provide clear glasses for your guests. Soda and beer cans—or even just plastic bottles—are often perfect spots for stinging insects to hide.

Furthermore, keep any food sealed, and always keep your garbage as far away from the party area as possible.

5. Chemical Backyard Pest Control

One final tip to handle backyard insects is to use environmentally safe chemical pesticides. Although some options will kill many different types of bugs, they can also be harmful to pets and other wild animals. That’s why it’s important to look for a pesticide that will handle your problem insect without harming the environment or any furry creatures.

Finding ways to safely deal with insects in your yard isn’t always easy, but it’s always possible with the help of a professional.

Handle Your Backyard Insects Now

Have some additional questions about backyard pest control? Want to chat with the experts about other ways to maintain your outdoor space? Contact us to learn more!

Filed Under: Mosquito and Tick Control

6 Tips for an Enchanting Milwaukee Summer Garden

April 22, 2018 by

What does your backyard look like? Is it the type of place that makes you want to go outside to enjoy a summer evening? Is it not yet, but you want to make it that type of place?

You’re not alone. Americans spend around $36 billion a year on garden and lawn care. Why? Well, they might not have time to vacation at the beach or in the mountains, but many do have time to enjoy their backyard gardens.

a pretty summer garden scene with purple flowers and wooden chairs

Want to join them? Here are a few tips to make your summer garden a delightful place to spend an afternoon.

1. Choose Vibrant Colors

The best way to add lots of color to your summer garden is to plant vibrant flowers. Pick hardy varieties that will bloom all summer long. Our tips:

  • Choose them in every color of the rainbow to add lots of variety to your garden.
  • Don’t forget the plants that don’t bloom.
  • Pick a few with leaves in different colors and textures for longer lasting effects.

2. Fertilize and Water

Don’t forget to fertilize and water.

Of course, we all know that plants need water to flourish. But the right fertilizer is often overlooked and is also important. Give your plants the right nutrients and they will become lush centerpieces in no time.

3. Slow Down the Weeds

To keep your garden looking kept up, you have to keep the weeds down. To give yourself a hand with this, slow them down.

Do this by laying a thick (2-3 inch) layer of compost or straw around your plants. This has a double effect: It holds in moisture and nutrients for your plants while not giving weeds room to breathe.

4. Add an Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen is a more intensive home improvement project, but it is a fantastic idea if you want to spend lots of time in your garden.

It makes entertaining easier. Plus, with the right accents, it can make your space so much more inviting and homey. Just be sure to set up a comfortable area for eating.

5. Add Some Lanterns

For added effect, add some mood lighting. Lanterns or strings of fairy lights are a fantastic way to add ambiance. Choose warm yellow light to cast a romantic glow around your garden.

You can hang them from the trees if you have them. This is the most enchanting effect. But if there are no trees, you can hang them from the eaves or an arbor or lattice. If you don’t have any of these structures, you can put up a few poles and hang a string of lights.

6. Light up a Water Feature

Another fantastic way to use light to enhance your garden is by lighting up a water feature. You can submerge lights under a stream or pond, or put them behind a waterfall.

If you have a fountain, you can add some uplighting to enhance the water streams. Consider installing a light that changes colors for added effect.

Create Your Summer Garden

It may take some work to get your backyard from where it is now to where you want it to be. Luckily, even if you don’t have the time or energy to do it yourself, you can still get the effect you want with the help of a professional landscaper!

If you want the garden but not the work, contact us for help with everything. We do landscape design, installation, and maintenance, so you can have an enchanting summer garden just by picking up the phone!

Filed Under: Landscape Design

9 Ways to Add a Vintage Touch to Your Garden in 2018

April 8, 2018 by

Are you a lover of vintage gardens?

If you’re a Waukesha or Milwaukee resident, you may want a trendy new look for your garden for spring. Or, you could have wondered just how easy it is to do a vintage decor theme for your garden. Well, it could be easier than you think.

The informal nature of this type of garden means that planting is more relaxed and borders are mixed. And, you probably already have the furniture and other items you need to get started.

So, with just a few small touches, you could be on the way to giving your garden a quaint and relaxing new look.

pretty vintage garden with gazebo

Keep reading for nine ways that you can get started on creating a vintage garden today.

1. Repurpose a Cart or Wheelbarrow

Both wheelbarrows and goat carts are perfect planters for your garden. An exterior that is distressed or worn gives the vintage look. So, find a nice old one and use it as a centerpiece in your new garden.

2. Create a Vintage Piano Garden

An antique piano is another object that adds a vintage look to your garden. All you have to do is plant wildflowers in the piano’s body for an effortless, unique design.

3. Repurpose a Door as a Planter

Another great way to reuse old items is to use a recycled door as a place to hang potted flowers and plants. The spaces where the door’s glass would be are a perfect frame for the plant pots.

4. Create a Vintage Seating Area

Ever wanted a relaxing corner of your garden where you can sit and enjoy the sunshine? Why not create a vintage nook that doubles as a charming hideaway? Try these two tips:

  • Use a wooden bench or worn love seat as a focal point.
  • Put it somewhere surrounded by herbs or flowers, or a place with a good view of the garden.

5. Decorate with Books

Another great idea is to make your little garden nook useful and charming with gardening books or novels. Adding metal flower pots as bookends adds a functional vintage touch as well.

6. Vintage China as a Plant Border

For a whimsical look, use vintage china plates as a garden border. Or, you can try decorative stones in a variety of colors and textures.

7. Mix up the Furniture

Nothing says “vintage” quite like cane furniture. Our tips:

  • Add some cane chairs and mix them with shabby chic metal ones for an artistic touch.
  • The more mismatched the furniture, the better.

8. An Old Bike

A vintage bicycle can be a good vintage decor piece. It’s versatile enough to be used in a number of ways. For instance:

  • Baskets and handlebars can be used to hold pots or planters.
  • Decorate the pots with chalk signs or handwritten quotes on wooden boards.
  • For maximum sturdiness, secure the bike to a tree with a chain. You can also plant a vining plant close by so that it grows along the chain.

9. Decorated Plant Pots

A great vintage garden idea is to beautify your plant pots with decorative fabric. Try using a variety of fabrics, and fix them to the pot using twine.

Starting Your Vintage Garden

Hopefully you now have some good ideas to get started on your garden. Whether you want to beautify your property for your own enjoyment or because you’re getting ready to sell, it’s good to know how much creativity and a good landscape design can improve the value and curb appeal of your property.

Check out our site for more ideas on beautifying both your garden and your home, or contact us for more information.

Filed Under: Landscape Design

5 Unique Plants for Your Garden This Year

March 31, 2018 by

Spring is just around the corner, so many of us are starting seeds indoors for our vegetable gardens, making plans for new ornamental flowers and shrubs, and consulting landscaping experts.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and lettuce are all staples on anyone’s list, but why not throw in some unique plants and tasty new treats? Your rose bushes may still be the pride of your garden, but you could spark the curiosity of your neighbors with some unusual and exotic varieties.

Beautiful pink sunflowers blooming in the field

Want to learn more? Read on to discover five unique plants to show off in 2018.

1. Rainbow Carrots

The kids might do a double take when you put these unique plants on their plates. And if you get them involved in the planting, your children will giggle with delight when they pull these festively colored carrots out of the ground.

If you ever wanted to cure picky eating, these carrots might do the trick. And every newly grown carrot (Imagine them now,  in purple, red, orange, pink, white, and yellow!) will bring new joy to your kids.

2. Purple Cauliflower

Cauliflower is all the rage. It can replace rice or pizza crust in gluten-free recipes, and it can also be used to make vegan buffalo wings. Purple cauliflower not only tastes delightful, but it also brings a brilliant color to the garden.

The purple heads are sweet to eat, and they turn a bright green when cooked. Rumor has it that they’re actually easier to grow than the white variety too.

If you have extra space in your garden, purple cauliflower might be a wonderful edition. But, be aware that the heads can grow as big as 15 inches in diameter!

3. Cucamelon

These adorable fruits from Mexico and Central America look like mini-watermelons but taste like lime-infused cucumbers. Their citrus-y flavor makes them a great addition to salads. If you bring these to a potluck, everyone is sure to ask you about them.

Cucamelon vines grow quickly and are plentiful when matured. You can eat them right off the vine, and they taste great when pickled, too. And, if those options don’t appeal to you, you can always throw one in a citrus cocktail.

4. Pink Sunflower

You might not think of sunflowers as unique plants, but the myriad sizes, colors, and varieties in which they are available do make them unusual.

And nothing says summer more than driving by fields of them on the way to the farmer’s market. The golden color of giant sunflowers is so cheerful, and that joy can be doubled by integrating pink ones into your garden.

These gorgeous sunflowers stand 20 to 30 inches tall and come in nearly every shade of pink, such as pale fuchsia, burgundy, and light purple. Imagine how they could look towering over your garden!

5. Voodoo Lily

If you want to go for something all-out strange and mysterious, try your hand at adding a voodoo lily to your garden.

This bizarre plant will bloom out of a dormant bulb, even if you forget about it all winter. But when it blooms it smells like rotting flesh, so you might want to not have it in a pot in the house at that point.

Should you decide to grow a voodoo lily, here are some interesting facts you can share about these interesting plants:

  • Voodoo lilies are a type of corpse flower, which acquired their name due to their repulsive odor.
  • The bulb continues to grow underground, even when the plant is in dormancy. Each year, the bulb grows larger, and the plant gets bigger every time it emerges.
  • They’re easy to grow in pots or in the garden. But, if you live in a colder climate, don’t forget to bring your plants inside for the winter.

Unique Plants for Inspiration

Hopefully, this list inspires you to have fun with your garden. It’s always a good time to bring in some unique and interesting varieties.

But, this list is just a sample. There are dozens more vegetables and flowering plants to choose from that can make your garden the talk of the town. Who knows, your plant selection could be the start of a garden wonderland!

If you’d like to find other ways to make your garden stand out, our landscape design team can certainly turn your vision into a reality. Contact us today for a consultation!

Filed Under: Landscaping Tagged With:

7 Beautiful Garden Lighting Ideas to Consider for Your Landscaped Milwaukee Garden

March 25, 2018 by

A garden can go a long way in giving a property a unique and inviting atmosphere. Perhaps you regularly cultivate a garden in your yard, but you are looking for a way to make it stand out even more than it already does? If so, you might consider providing it with some lighting.

A bit of lighting can transform your garden, making it visible all throughout the day and night. Here are seven beautiful garden lighting ideas to consider for your landscaped Milwaukee garden.

villa garden with lighting hanging from tree

1. Lighting Within Water

Does your garden contain any decorative waterfalls? If so, you might consider installing lights within these falls.

By shining light through the water from the inside out, you provide your garden with an elegant and atmospheric aesthetic.

2. Indirect Lighting

A way to give a unique look to your garden is by distributing abstract light. This type of light is created by making use of indirect lighting. Instead of shining light directly onto plants, shine it so that it only partially makes contact with the plants.

3. Cool Lighting

Artificial lighting comes in a bevy of different colors. Whereas yellow artificial lighting typical possesses around 2,000 kelvins, blue artificial light typically contains around 5,500 kelvins.

Using 5,500-kelvin bulbs will give your garden a cool, bluish appearance.

4. Edge Lighting

A great way to make your garden stand out in the dark of the night is by lighting up its edges. By placing lamps along the edges of your garden, you can not only light up a walking path, but draw attention to the plants that line the outside of your garden. Not to mention, it will provide your garden with a clean and tidy look.

5. Mixed Lighting

While you could conceivably place a number of uniform lamps throughout your garden, you might want to mix it up a bit by making use of several different types of lamps. Lamps of different shapes and sizes will bring some much-needed variety to your garden.

6. Lighting from Trees

Wouldn’t it be nice to produce the look of moonlight cascading down onto your garden all throughout the night? Well, you can do so by placing lights in your trees.

When you emit light from your trees, you create an ethereal atmosphere which seems to engulf your entire garden.

7. Direct Lighting

If you want to draw maximum attention to your garden, you’d be best served by direct lighting. Shining a lamp directly onto your plants presents them in all of their glory. This will create a bold, but inviting aesthetic which can be experienced by any and all passersby.

Ready to Enhance Your Garden Lighting?

Are you looking to add a little more atmosphere to your garden? Ready to enhance your garden lighting? If so, and if you live in the Milwaukee area, we here at Central Services can help you.

Our team of landscaping design specialists is well-versed in the light installation process, and we can give you the exact look that you’re looking for.

Contact us today to discuss your needs!

Filed Under: Landscaping Tagged With:

Top 3 Ways Decorative Stones Improve Your Waukesha Property

February 24, 2018 by

Are you a Waukesha homeowner looking to spruce up your property? Then don’t underestimate the value of remodeling your home or garden using decorative stones.

A study has shown their use can get you a 75% return on your investment if you sell. What’s more, the benefits don’t just include being stylish. You can actually save money by using them. Even the simplest rock and stone features can make a big difference.

decorative stone used in a retaining wall

Curious about how? Then read on to find out three ways decorative stones can improve your property.

1. More Curb Appeal Equals Added Value

Think about the first thing a potential buyer will see if they view your house. Curb appeal measures how appealing your exterior is when viewed from the street. This first impression can make or break a sale.

Experts agree that you’ll see a much better return on smaller improvements like these compared to pricey larger jobs like a kitchen or bathroom renovation.

Paving your walkway can add a warm and inviting feel to your home. It’s the difference between a cold concrete path and a curving one made of multicolored stones. The burbling sounds of a water feature surrounded by a stone border can also make a soothing, peaceful exterior.

2. They Make Better Mulch

If your home has a garden, you can use decorative stones as rock mulch. This versatile material has a number of advantages over bark mulch. Some of these include that it:

  • Does not need replacing as often
  • Does not decompose
  • Comes in a wide range of colors

Pea gravel is an inexpensive stone that’s perfect for mulch since it suppresses weeds. You can use the mulch as a design tactic. Just about any style and color of stone can be used to match your garden perfectly.

3. They Are Low Maintenance

Even if you enjoy beautifying your home, who wants to spend more time on it than necessary?

Decorative stones don’t require much maintenance. Unlike other materials, they are strong, sturdy, and resistant to weather and bugs. Also, you don’t have to mow it, pluck weeds, or put down harmful pesticides.

A material like crushed granite is one of the best low-maintenance stones. It drains well, so you won’t get puddles in your yard. It is also easy to remove if you want to switch things up by putting in a new flower bed or garden feature.

Get a professional to do the initial installation. This ensures it’s done right and the materials will be top-notch. After that, the maintenance needed is virtually zero.

Using Decorative Stones Around Your Home

The most popular spots Waukesha homeowners use stones are in pathways, driveways, and as edging for plants. If you’re stuck for ideas, a border around a pool or water feature is always a good choice. The only limit is your imagination!

Want some inspiration? Keep up with landscape and design trends by reading our blog. And if you’re ready to make a change to your home today, get in touch with us to see how we can help!

Filed Under: Decorative Stone
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