Juli 15, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Best Ways to Save Money Today

Gardening

People have uniques ways of making money. A lot of them sometimes get a lot of money and become very successful. But the problem that everyone always has is how to save it. When you have money, everything is just so tempting to buy. Here are our recommendations on the best ways to save your money today.

You will need to learn how to control your want and keep your head to the needs first because the demand is crucial for you to survive and make more money. But wants, you can get it some other time when you have more money. That’s the mindset that you should have in order to start saving.

So now that you are ready to start savings, here are the ways to save your money. This way is the best way to save money effectively.

1. Spend Less Time on Useless Things Like Television

This may not make any sense, but this step is important. Television has been proved to provide many advertisements. Either you buy it or not, you have to admit it is very tempting. You will need to put that away to keep you focused on savings. Watch useful programs if you must, but try to avoid ads, especially commercial programs.

Believe it or not, it is actually really helpful. You will need to be committed if you want to start saving. Building up your commitment by doing this step is a good start. It is hard to adapt at first, especially for TV programs lovers. But like I said before, turning off the TV doesn’t simply mean that you don’t watch your favorite television program ever. You just asked to reduce the amount of your usual watching TV time.

2. Reduce your time in social media

Not just your favorite televisions, but your social media is also important. Yes, it is important for you to make money, but it can also distract you in savings. Simply, you need to manage your time using your social media also. Stories, feed, and everything can be a distraction for you in savings. Television is not the only place where ads are roaming around. You can still upload your stories and take a good break at your social media, but not that much.

If you are forced to use social media because it is part of your job, then you will have to stay motivated. Remember why you are saving your money. Always aim for the top to have bigger results. Don’t get distracted by one simple tempting ads.

3. Avoid getting sick

Talking about this world, none of it is free, even your health. You will need to pay for your treatment if you are getting sick. That is a need caused by either an accident or a lack of self-control. We can’t control accidents or natural causes, but we can control and manage ourselves. You need to drink more water and eat healthy food also. Doing simple exercises to make you healthy is also recommended.

You also need to be careful so you won’t catch illnesses. If you know that you have an allergy or any disorder, you need to control yourself better. Sometimes paying for your health costs a fortune for you to pay. It will cost you more and can make you lost your motivation in savings. Stay healthy as much as possible is crucial.

4. Use Your Credit Card Wisely

If you have a credit card, remember to use it wisely. Or even better, don’t use it. Because the credit card doesn’t technically means that it is your money. When you are using a credit card, you are in debt to the bank and have several consequences if you can’t repay it back. What’s worse is the fact that the bank is taking an interest rate.

The interest rate is a term of finance that shows the profits for the bank. The interest rate percentage is different in each bank. Usually, they increased by 5% or 10% as an interest rate. This number may small, but when you borrow a lot of money, it will be a headache. Especially when you don’t have any plan at all to repay that debt. The consequences will be that the bank will take your assets to sell it. For example, they will take away your furniture, house, cars, and everything to repay your debt if you don’t have the money. You would suffer a lot if that happened

5. Save it to the bank instead of cash

To keep you stay focused on savings, it is better if you save it to the bank. Not only because it is more secure, but also that you will most likely not going to spend it all. If you have it in your wallet or in your hand, it will be very easy for you to spend it. But if you save it in the bank and when you see that nominal, you will be more careful.

Your money may get cut to pay the bank, but it is more convenient. If you have needs and you can’t leave your house, you can link it to e-bank on your mobile devices. It is proven more convenient and more effective than paying in cash. But also that doesn’t simply mean that you don’t need cash. You will need cash for an urgent situation. Like for example, if something happened to your mobile devices or your bank card. Cash will be the only hope you got left. Also, it is needed to buy something cheaper, like snacks or maybe foods for you to eat.

6. Live minimalist

Living in minimalist doesn’t mean that you use something very low quality. What it means that start decreasing your electricity bills. Turning off unused electronic assets will be a good example to start. Lamps, television, air conditioner, and else will be in charge when you pay your electrical bills. It is better if you turn it off when you are not in your house or not using it.

Not only electronic assets, your clothes too. Instead of going to the laundry to wash your clothes, you can try to wash it by yourself. It is fine if you don’t have time, but try to do it once or twice a week to save your money. You also won’t need to buy new clothes but instead, use the old ones as long as it fits and good to wear because the clothes cost a lot these days.

The same goes for your basics needs, such as food and water. Drink a lot of water is a good way to save up your money and to stay healthy. It is cheaper and doesn’t have any chemicals that could harm your body. For food, it is better if you buy the materials and cook it by yourself instead of buying junk food. Junk food will cost higher than making it yourself. The taste may not as good as the famous McDonalds, but at least it keeps your stomach happy. Vitamins are also crucial, so try to find good and cheap vitamins to boost your energy.

And that is how you save your money. Always remember why you are trying to save in the first place. Just a tip, investing it first will be a lot better than spending it on assets. It can be time – consuming, but it will be worth it in the long term. What you need is good patience and outstanding commitment.

Also read about: Options For Swimming Pool Landscaping

Juli 15, 2020Juli 15, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Options For Swimming Pool Landscaping

Gardening

Having a swimming pool is one of the nicest luxuries any home can have. Pools are entertaining and refreshing additions to just about any home type. The one potential downside is that landscaping around a swimming pool landscaping can be difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Homeowners have to consider that they can’t have too much soil or even mulch in the area, or the landscape will end up getting dragged into the pool. Even potted plants are likely toget splashed with the pool water that contains potentially unsafe agents.pool2

The Downside of Landscaping Near a Pool

Messy Land Areas. Landscaping can be a fun ordeal but can also be very tiring. Additional work piles up when you create a landscape near a pool. The splashing water can cause a messy landscape area.

Extra Fencing for Safety. A swimming pool landscaping contains cleansing agents such as chlorine. This can be harmful to plants making you stretch out your pockets to purchase fencing materials. These will be used to fence your plants from possible water splashes every time someone dives into the pool.

The Advantages of Having Pool Landscaping

Finding the right landscaping options for a yard with a pool shouldn’t be dreaded or avoided. With the proper planning you can come up with some excellent ideas. Which will help further bring out the beauty of your property.

Pool Additions.Using items for your pool to make your landscape more attractive is a good idea. Adding a slide into the pool is one great example. You can have the color of the slide compliment the plants and other decorations well.

Most pools have large filters and even heaters that can be an eyesore. This is if you don’t put some thought into it. You can hide these using large bushes and other plants to block their view. You can do this if you want to keep them out of sight.

Adding decking or other non-living options around your pool is also a great way. Not only to add beautification items to your landscape but also for functionality. A nice set of patio furniture is perfect for those who like spending time outside near the pool. This could even be for outdoor meals.

Great Looking Plants. Having plants placed in the area around your pool is another great option for many people. Some plants are strong enough to survive quite close to the pool even if they get splashed with water. Other plants should be placed further away to keep them safe.

Palm Trees

Many people will choose large plants which look like palms from palm trees to give the whole area a more tropical feeling.There are many different types of plants available so take your time and learn about them. You caneven add vines and other plants which will grow up on the fencing to add beauty and privacy to your pool.

This is an excellent option because most people enjoy swimming pool landscaping in their pool without having to worry about neighbors looking on. A thick vine or large bush along the fence can really help eliminate any unwanted look. It also adds a feeling of luxury and seclusion which is great when swimming or just relaxing in the sun.

Also read about: Causes for Pine Trees Losing Their Needles

Juli 13, 2020Juli 13, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Vines As Landscaping Plants You Need Today

Gardening

People will go through all the different types of plants they might want to use when working on any type of landscaping project. There are hundreds of different options to choose from so make sure that you take your time to check each one out. So consider using vines as landscaping plants today.

Vines as landscaping plants is a commonly overlooked type of plant. Vines are excellent for covering fences and other objects in your yard which you might need, but don’t really like the look of. They can climb up the sides of houses, trees, fences and just about anything else, making them one of the many unique plants available.

There are many different types of vines to choose from. A great example are regular climbing vines that offer a little more than green covering to crawlers like morning glorythat have brilliant flowers on them each morning throughout the summer months. Most people would rather have an option with attractive flowers and leaves.

Here are some considerations that you can take prior to planting vines on your landscaping project:

Planting Vines

A great benefit of using vines as landscaping plants is that they are quite easy to plant. In fact, they really require just a few seeds to be planted in shallow soil. You can also take a piece from other vines and have it planted.

Vines are quite hearty and can survive in most areas whether they get a lot of sunlight or not. If you just plant one vine it will grow not only up a fence or other object, but also out to the left and right. Since most vines drop seeds they will spread out over the years so make sure you are ready for it.

Vine Maintenance

Vines typically require very little maintenance to keep them growing healthy. They do best when they have something to climb on but beyond that you can simply sit back and watch them grow.

If the area where you’re placing them has a lot of other plants or weeds, you might want to pull those out to give the vine room to grow for the first month or so, but after that most vines can really fend for themselves and will do quite well.

Vine Problems

While vines are simple to plant, hearty and require very little maintenance, there are some issues associated with them if you’re not careful. Vines will keep spreading out more and more each year if you let them.

Vines can be used as a good covering for the walls that serve as your house fence. However, if they are not well-maintained, they will creep to other areas of the house that is not within your landscape design plan. This will result to getting the beauty of the landscape destroyed and a difficult time getting rid of the excess vines.

These plants can also climb trees and cover other plants. You will have a difficult time cutting them down if they are left to crawl and thrive. That is why you have to maintain these fast crawlers regularly to ensure that they stay in that specific area you planted them. Now, would you consider vines as landscaping plants too?

Also read about: How to Save Money While Travelling

Juli 10, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Xeriscaping: Conserving Water as Much as Possible

Gardening

Another landscaping practice that is popular for many gardeners is xeriscaping. This type of landscaping requires low maintenance and makes you conserve water. It is mostly used in the Western part of the United States where water shortage and drought are very common

You can make use of shrubs, plants, and trees in order to make your own xeriscaping. While some may perceive this landscaping as dull since it called ‘”desert landscaping’, it can still bring you appealing and beautiful results.

Importance of Xeriscaping

As mentioned, this type of gardening can make you conserve water. About half of the water resources in many towns are used for garden and landscape maintenance.

However in this landscape, you can cut down your water usage by sixty percent by using vegetation and irrigation methods that save water and other techniques that can conserve water. You can surely save money from low water bills, save the environment by conserving water and you don’t need to spend too much time maintaining this landscape.

Planning your Garden

So to incorporate this to your garden, you need to plan and prepare for this project. It would be ideal if you work with a landscape designer who has the knowledge on how this works. You can also do it by yourself if you plan to save money. Here are some things that you need to take note of for this landscaping project.

Select your Plants

For this dry landscaping, you need to find plants that can tolerate too much heat and drought. You need to choose plants that need less water but it doesn’t mean you only have to plant yucca and cactus. Although these are good choices, there are turfs, shrubs and flowers which you can use that are drought resistant, so your flowering plants can still bloom even in extreme heat.

Make sure to make use of plants that are mature enough and can survive the extreme heat. Also make sure that when you place your vegetations, group them together so all can receive water in the right amount.

Attend to all other needs of your plants like the condition and the type of the soil, and the temperature and climate of your area. Make sure to place the garden in a spot where it receives fair amount of sunlight.

Conserving the Water

This could be achieved in several ways. You can have plants that need less water and you can have your own irrigation system. A sprinkler system can also be your answer by using pipes throughout your lawn and then water are sprinkled in your vegetation.

It is like the morning dew or rain. It also avoids water being evaporated quickly. However, if you prefer the traditional method then make sure to water your plant enough for its needs.

Conserving the Soil

You can use mulching for your soil. It can maintain the moisture and temperature of the soil and reduces your maintenance and energy bills.

Another method is to re-construct the composition of the soil so it can hold water for a long period of time. It might be difficult and expensive but once you see the result, all your efforts are paid off.

Xeriscaping is also a good investment for your garden especially if you are trying to sell your house. A well-landscaped yard is definitely a huge plus for buyers. However, if you are not interested, then you can still benefit because it reduced the time you are in the garden and most importantly, it lowers your water bills.

This is one of the most favorite choices of landscaping across the country because of its benefits. It is really possible to attain a beautiful garden and conserve water since it is perfectly designed to withstand the intense heat. This is also an eco-friendly landscape which can improve your overall yard and the surrounding environment.

Also read about: Causes for Pine Trees Losing Their Needles

Juli 8, 2020Juli 8, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Winter Landscaping in Texas You Must Try

Seasons change incessantly. In a non-tropical country or state like Amarillo, Texas, putting up with the shifting condition is to be expected. Landscapers and gardeners are not spared from the ever-changing climate. Winter landscaping in the state can be a tricky season for homeowners. Especially when it comes to keeping your beautiful gardens intact.

Having an all-year-round winter landscaping is challenging yet rewarding. Ample planning and suitable strategy must be practiced in order to preserve your landscapes and gardens.

You can use a lot of preparation in order to preserve what you have started before this season hits Texas. It would be ideal if you have a contingency plan every winter to counter the possible effects of the climate change to your landscapes.

You don’t have to feel burdened although out the process. You just have to take some measures one step at a time. Remember, winter in Amarillo and the rest of Texas is a yearly event, thus you can always make a strategy beforehand.

If you’re unsure of the weather or climate condition, you can always check the forecast. There’s no harm in being cautious about your landscaping move.

Salvaging Your Winter Landscaping Design

You must start initializing your plan before winter freezes everything. You have enough time plan out, and you can always ask help from landscape design experts. Acting upon your winter landscaping earlier and with right timing is necessary. You can take note of the following strategies in avoiding the wrath of the winter god.

Transfer your plants – You must avoid exposing your plants in open spaces. If they are transportable, move them in a secured place where the wind can’t go in or reach them directly. If you have a large space in your house, it will be beneficial if you make a storage area. It must be equipped with the necessary alternative elements for the continuous growth of the plants. Don’t forget to include the proper amount of lighting and water.

However, if you don’t have available space, you can make use of plant containers, vases or holders. These will enable plants to be mobilized easily. You can arrange them around your garage or covered shed. You just have to maximize the use of your minimal space.

Taking Care by Watering Plants

Water your plants – You must keep on supplying the right amount of water for your plants. Despite the weather or climate, always remember that water is still a vital need for your winter andscaping plants. However, during winter, the plants that are non-native or not prone to seasonal changes must be taken into consideration.

You must have a good water system and equipment that can withstand any season. Choosing the right material can be helpful in prolonging the lifespan of your landscape and its elements. You can also use improvised tools if you are not equipped with such devices. Just make sure that the water is distributed with the appropriate amount.

Choose your plants – You can always go for plants that are not too climate sensitive. There are species of plants in Texas that can thrive regardless the cold temperature. You can ask help from botanists or horticulture experts in selecting the best all-year-round plants for your landscapes.

Popular choices can come from the very own native plants of Texas. Since they are region-based plants, they have stronger resistance to heat or cold compared to other species. They can flourish and stand different environmental conditions.

Don’t over fertilize – You can avoid putting too much fertilizer before winter comes. During the last period of fall, you must carefully plan out the amount that you’re going to mix with the soil. If you don’t know the appropriate amount combination, then you can always ask the right authorities.

Taking Advantage of Winter

Winter also brings the opportunity for you to be resourceful and artistic. Just because it’s freezing and snowing in Amarillo, doesn’t mean you should embrace the coldness and limit your landscaping creativity.

Amarillo’s ground can be extremely covered by snow but, it can’t totally empty your landscapes and gardens. You can take this chance to modify the themes based on the season and upcoming holiday celebrations.

Decorating your immovable garden plants – Having immovable plants or those plants that can’t be transferred easily during winter is inevitable. You can only transfer plants that are handy. Those with larger frame and harder roots can’t be uprooted and stored easily. Although it’s heartbreaking to see their leaves fall and there branches covered by snow, you can still innovate them into your own landscape decorations.

You can’t prevent your trees and shrubs from being naked because of the temperature but, you can always enhance their bareness. You can make use of different kinds of lighting materials as accessories. If you want, you can also make your own oversize money tree or Christmas tree. The ornaments don’t have to be grand. They just have to be pleasing to the eyes.

Keeping Plants Creative

Keeping a colorful lawn – Even if it’s going to be winter, you can still have a green lawn. You can choose species of grass that are best for your garden in between fall and winter. There are also flowers such as roses that can be planted to match the color of the grasses.

You just have to be knowledgeable of the alternative plants that you can incorporate into your landscape area or garden plot. By doing so, you can still preserve the image of having a green garden or landscape. You can also continue to have a spectacular view regardless the chilly weather. These plants will give you a sign of life regardless the lowering of temperature in Texas.

Although the winter is coming, you can still have additional plants and nourish your winter landscaping areas. You can still continue in creating your ideal all-year-round design without all the frills. Just take note that you can always be resourceful and innovative. It is also important that you know your native plants, your weather temperature and other essential facts about your location in Amarillo or other parts of Texas.

Also read our article about: Landscaping Near Your Home Today

Juli 7, 2020Juli 7, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Landscaping Near Your Home Today

The area right next to your house is one of the most difficult spots to plan for your next landscaping project. This is because you need to make sure it looks great and doesn’t disrupt the view you’ll see out of your windows. In addition, the colors of the plants should compliment the overall look of your home.

is a lot to think about when landscaping near your home. However, if this is done properly, you can really help improve the look of your home and entire property. Here are some of the things you need to consider when landscaping near your home.

Root Systems in Landscaping

Being close to the foundation of your home is critical so you really need to choose plants that don’t have strong or large root systems. Planting a tree, for example, can cause a lot of damage to your home once the roots start to really grow and expand. The roots from trees may take years to fully develop, but if they are growing toward your house they can add constant pressure to the foundation which can eventually lead to cracks or even a full collapse of the home.

Bushes

There are many bushes that will do quite well and don’t have extremely large root systems. These make them excellent choices. Bushes also look great in front of houses because they can be trimmed up to be very neat and clean looking.

Depending on the type of bush and the skill of the trimmer you can do anything from perfectly square bushes to bushes that look just like animals. Popular choices of turning your bush into a piece of art are widely available.

Landscaping flowers

Another very popular option is to plant flowers around the edges of your home. You can choose flowers which stay low to the ground or you can choose larger ones. However, a downside to planting flowers is that they can only last for a few months and leave your area bare in the next seasons. Choosing a flowering bush might be a better idea if you want to make sure you have some sort of decoration all year long.

Artificial Decorations

You can add statues and other artificial decorations near your home as well. Since these types of things don’t grow, you won’t have to worry about the possible damage it can cause. However, your landscape can look odd if artificial decors are all you have.

Most people like to add these types of things in between plants to give the whole area a little bit of depth and a more customized look and feel. Choosing which types of decorations can be a very personal thing so make sure to choose the one that suits your home and personal taste.

The bottom line when it comes to landscaping near your home is to make sure you have something you’ll enjoy looking at every day. A landscape will not only relieve stress from your life and add beauty to your home, it can also enthrall passersby, making them appreciate and compliment your home. The most important thing to consider is to make sure that creating a landscape won’t cause any damage to your home.

Also read our article about: Causes for Pine Trees Losing Their Needles

Juli 4, 2020Juli 4, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Tips on Landscaping Near Your Home

Tips On Landscaping: Root Systems

Bushes

Flowers

Artificial Decorations

The bottom line when it comes to landscaping near your home is to make sure you have something you’ll enjoy looking at every day. A landscape will not only relieve stress from your life and add beauty to your home, but it can also enthrall passersby, making them appreciate and compliment your home. The most important thing to consider is to make sure that creating a landscape won’t cause any damage to your home. Here are some tips on landscaping you can start doing today.

Also read our article about: Landscaping style: What’s Your Favorite?

Juli 1, 2020Juli 1, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Landscaping style: What’s Your Favorite?

Landscapes and gardens serve as mirrors of the owners. You try to channel your personality through your choice of plants, landscape designs and garden accessories. During the planning stage, point out your own landscaping style.

Just because you’re old doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to be hip. Or just because you’re young, it doesn’t mean you don’t have what it takes to be a vintage lover. Age or culture is not an issue in choosing the design that best fits you. There are various schemes that you may want to consider:

Traditional Design Landscaping Style

If you’re a fan of century-old homes and suburbs, then you can try traditional designs. These are the ones you often see in old movies. Traditional designs are best for houses with large lawns and classic infrastructure. They are simple yet can be very classy with dominating statues and other figures that symbolize power and wealth.

Nowadays, traditional design may usually include a flower garden, a patio, outside coffee tables, and even a fountain. You may consider using classic materials such as bricks, stones, and woods. This will bring a more classic landscaping style to your designs.

You can also combine different plants, but make sure they don’t harm each other. If you have extra space, you can create a maze to add the classic effect. Traditional designs don’t need many garden accessories since the garden serves as the main accessory itself

Modern Designs Landscaping Style

If you’re obsessed with order and patterns, you can opt for modern designs. These are inspired by geometric rules and organized aesthetics. Unlike traditional design, you can have the pavements, the decorations and structures as your center of attraction.

With these designs, you can utilize pavements, metals and concrete materials for pathways or flooring. The usage of flowers is controlled and limited. Plants serve as the secondary ornaments of the garden.

The result of the landscape is often very organized and well-defined. You may have these designs for your front yard and lawns.

If you have extra space, you can have elaborated designs that complement your house’s structure. You can also have green plants dominating your garden to emphasize on the pavements and other decorations. This will surely be a fantastic landscaping style design.

Make sure to have your sense of balance in assigning flowers or ornaments in your garden. There should be harmony despite the contrasting properties of the landscape design.

Eclectic Designs Landscaping Style

If you’ve got the artist in you, then you can try experimenting. Eclectic designs may appeal to your landscaping plans since it follows no system. You don’t have to worry about the rules of gardening designs. You can be the exception.

With these designs, you can mix and match different materials and decorations. You can also combine your own ideas with the conventional landscaping platforms. Unlike traditional and modern, you can get rid of being organized.

Your garden can become a hodgepodge, but it’s your duty to make sure that it’s going to be a good one. Remember, you’re given the freedom in creating your masterpiece. However, you should not exploit plants and other components of your landscape into an unlikely sight.

Keep in mind that plants are your accessories. They bring color, life and beauty to your garden. Your garden is right next to your home. Your home determines what kind of person you are. So, if you don’t want your neighbors to be suspicious, better plan your landscape thoroughly.

Eclectic designs need various decorations of living and non-living things. You may need to upgrade and invest on flower containers or pots to mix them well. You can also opt for a flower garden with your favorite flowers or ornaments.

Eclectic designs give room for your imagination. Just don’t overdo things so that aesthetics will be preserved. You can combine wooden materials, stones, bricks and even metals. You can have a mini maze, statue, pond or a Zen garden in every corner.

Themed Designs

If you’re into traveling or multicultural appreciation, themed designs are for you. One of the most highly adaptable garden designs is the Japanese style. It’s not space consuming and demanding.

It makes use of oriental decorations, wooden and brick materials, and plants that can be trimmed. If you’re into this design, you can add a tea garden or table for tea ceremonies.

There are other themes that you can try as well. It’s like choosing your second home through your garden. Just think of a particular country or place, take note their salient features, find alternative materials and assemble your own garden.

Nowadays, there are Spanish, French, Tuscan, English and other garden designs inspired by various cultures. Choose the closest to your heart. Gardens and landscapes don’t care about racism, so you’re definitely free.

In choosing your desired landscape or garden design, make sure that you’re ready. You have to consider many factors in order to successfully build your own artwork. The variations of your designs depend on the size of your garden, your budget and location.

You can always improvised or adjust if the space is too limited or too big for your gardening essentials. A beautiful landscape does not have to be expensive. You can still achieve any design that you want with proper planning and budgeting.

In landscaping, you call all the shots. It’s for your own satisfaction and happiness. In case you’re still lost or confused about what to do, you can always ask help from the experts. You can reach them anytime through their websites.

For instance, you can try Amarillo Landscaping style. It’s a Texas-based company that can assist you with your landscaping needs. They are a team of dynamic people that specializes in creating world-class landscapes.

Also read our article about: Landscaping Plants Contractors Use in Las Vegas, NV

Juni 30, 2020Juni 30, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Landscaping Plants Contractors Use in Las Vegas, NV

Gardening

So many of the landscaping plants here in Vegas have such a short bloom cycle, that’s not the case with the Iceberg Rose. For over 50 years gardeners have been using Iceberg roses in their gardens and enjoying the almost year-round floral effect.

This rose looks best when kept at about 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. The rose is available in white, pink or burgundy. Some care is needed occasionally to keep them in bloom. For the most part they are disease resistant.

Iceberg roses are a perfect fit for just about any style of landscaping plants.

You can plant them with rosemary and Italian cypress to create an old world Tuscan look, or try using them in urns next to Mediterranean fan palm and an Olive tree (pictured left) in the background for a Mediterranean feel.

For tropical landscapes try planting them in masses with royal blue cape plumbagos and Tropicana cannas. Iceberg roses will also feel right at home in a cottage style garden mixed with garlic and salvia.

Mexican Feather Grass for Landscaping Plants

Feather-grasses are delicate and graceful leaves make it the perfect plant for softening around boulders and less graceful plants such as Agave and Cacti. This is one of the most beautiful landscaping plants to use anywhere.

Just the slightest breeze will put them into motion. Mexican feather grass also works well in modern or contemporary landscapes. Use them in groups next to the straight lines of a concrete patio or walkway. Because of their petite size, you can also use them in decorative pots.

Unlike many of the grasses here in Las Vegas, Mexican feather grass needs very little maintenance or water once established. Occasionally clean out the clumps of seeds and old leaves that form on the top.

Parryi Agave

parryi-agaveThere are many varieties of agave that do well in Las Vegas, but most need a lot of room to grow, that’s one of the reasons I love the small Parryi Agave Truncata.

The Parryi Agave is a very slow growing agave to about 2 feet wide.

Because of its compact size and low water use, it’s a perfect fit for Las Vegas landscaping.

It has a very cool greenish-blue color with dark black tips.

sago-palmsI love planting them in small groupings in either desert or tropical landscapes.

Try pairing them with sago palms (pictured left) for a unique look. They also make the perfect container plant in my contemporary designs.

Parryi agave are also very hardy and can withstand even the coldest Vegas nights.

Oleander

The oleander is available in red, pink, salmon and white. They are also available in dwarf sizes as well as tree form. So no matter the size of your yard, you will be able to add this beautiful plant to your landscape.

A lot of people tell me they are scarred of using oleanders because they are poisonous. While this may be true, but so are most plants in your landscape. Oleanders have a “toxic taste” to them so most animals won’t eat them and hopefully your pets and kids are not eating your plants and trees in the first place.

Another worry is pollen, but actually the pollen from oleanders are heavy and really stay trapped within the plant itself. Unless you are truly allergic to oleander then don’t let this stop you from using oleanders in some fashion.

In my opinion, there is not a better shrub in Las Vegas; from the wide range of colors and sizes, the rapid growth rate and hardiness–you can’t go wrong.

Oleanders are perfect for screening off from neighbors and adding a little privacy around your pool or patio. They fit right in just about any style of landscape. Try using them with Pygmy date palms and sago palms for a tropical oasis feel or use them as small patio trees in a Mediterranean landscape.

Palms

Born and raised in Southern California, Palms have been always been part of my personal landscapes… it’s a shame that some of Las Vegas neighborhoods are no longer allowing them to be a part of their landscapes.

I love every palm tree, from the large Canary Island date palms to the small shade loving lady finger palm (pictured below). For the most part palms are clean, low maintenance and stay green all year.

Lady-finger-palm

For large scale landscapes, you can use any of these large palms for landscaping plant:

California Fan palm
Mexican Fan palm
Canary Island Date palm
Queen palm
Date palm

There are some great small to mid-sized palms as well:

windmill-palms
Mediterranean fan palm
Windmill palm (pictured right)
Sago palm (not actually a palm but on my list anyway)
Lady finger palm
Pygmy date palm

The pygmy date palms and queen palms do need protection from frost when the temperature gets down under 40 degrees.

I wrap mine in burlap the weekend after Thanksgiving every year and keep them wrapped till March 10th. So make sure you try this landscaping plants today.

It’s so worth the effort.

Palms are all heavy feeders. If you do not have a fertilizer system hooked to your irrigation, get one! You will love it. I install about 100 systems a year to keep my landscape projects looking great.

Xylosma

Pronounced “zy-los-ma”. This great evergreen shrub is mostly overlooked in nurseries. What starts off as a sparse, straggly green plant, Xylosma turns into one of the healthiest looking green shrubs in Las Vegas.

I have used Xylosma in quite a few of my landscapes.

They start off kind of wild but after a couple of years they turn into a great hedge, or small patio tree (I have one that is a 12′ tall umbrella-shaped tree over my Koi pond).

Xylosma can take heavy pruning to create just about any shape desired. They make perfect screens to hide pool pumps, A/C Units and block walls. Their glossy leaves look as if they were just wet down with the hose.

Great for a backdrop plant… planting Tropicana canna lily in front of them will show off great contrasting colors throughout summer.

Also read our articles about: Landscaping Practices Should Stop Doing Today

Juni 28, 2020Juni 28, 2020 by Dennis Mitchel

Lawn Care Guide: Tips to Lawn Mowing

Lately, have you taken the time to have a glimpse of your lawn or yard? How was it? Are you satisfied with how it appears as of this moment? If you do, then no worries, you certainly did your job in maintaining your lawn. On the other hand, if you think that it doesn’t look presentable or you somehow think that it needs a little touch of lawn care, then you must do it right now.

This fall season is the time of year when most of us stay at home and simply relax especially that the weather has already changed. By that, I mean that we all could already feel the chill in the air and see the nostalgic foliage everywhere.

Just like the rest of the cities, Reno is also experiencing these changes in the weather and it’s all the more reason people love to just relish in the comfort of their own homes. Plus, there are 252 sunny days per year in Reno, Nevada and certainly you can plan on doing a lot of activities.

Moreover, it’s the ideal time of year to start growing plants that will flourish in fall, withstand winter and bloom perfectly in spring. Some have even started their landscaping project and it doesn’t have to be expensive.

One of the tasks being done in lawn maintenance as well as landscaping projects is lawn mowing. In connection with this, lawn mowing should be done properly or else, your lawn will be an utter failure. To avoid any unpleasant pitfalls, you can hire experienced Reno landscaping company to do the job or you can opt for Do-It-Yourself. Either way, here are the do’s and don’ts of lawn mowing you should observe for proper lawn care.

1. Lawn Care: Sharpen Blades Regularly

Before you start mowing your lawn, make sure to sharpen its blades regularly. This will ensure that the grass will be cut cleanly and properly. Using dull blades can cause discoloration at the tips because ragged grass blades lose moisture easily and it also shed grass which is very unhealthy for your lawn.

Sharpening mower blades at least once a year can help avoid ragged brown edges on grass blades.

You can have the option whether to remove the blades from the mower or not whenever you sharpen it. There are different types of a lawn mower and each of them has different sharpening requirements. For example, reel type mowers usually only require sharpening once a year, but adjust them to ensure they cut cleanly. Check the video above for proper blade sharpening.

2. Lawn Care: Don’t Scalp Your Lawn

Who would want a bald lawn? I guess, no one. Even just a bald spot on the lawn is not appealing, hence, it’s important that when you mow your lawn, don’t scalp it. If you’re not aware, scalping is the removal of more than 1/3 of the dormant, straw-colored turf. This is unhealthy and could cause damage to your lawn especially this fall. Scalping should only be done once a year and it should be in spring.

Moreover, a lush and healthy lawn is perfect for the arid weather in Reno, hence, scalping is a big NO!

Scalping stimulates weed growth and reduces the amount of energy the roots receive, and this makes for a weak lawn that is more susceptible to stress, insects, and disease. This is the main reason why a lot of lawn care experts are against it. On the other hand, it’s also beneficial in a way where it exposes the soil to sunlight especially in spring and summer.

3. Utilize Grass Clippings

Don’t think that grass clippings are useless, in fact, it can be used in so many ways you may not think of. Hence, you can pile them up and use it. Here are some of its uses:

• Grass clippings can nourish the grass and turn it a perfect shade of green since it breaks down quickly. It also encourages healthy soil because microorganisms and earthworms feed on it. So, after mowing, leave the grass clippings on the lawn.

• It could also be used as compost. Pile up grass clippings, treat it in the right manner and you’ll be able to recycle the nutrients from the grass in other areas of your garden. In making compost, you can mix grass clippings with dry leaves, branches, or twigs for balance.

• It can be used as mulch. Grass clippings can either be fresh or dried, either way, it makes an incredible organic mulch which is great for your garden. It is rich in nitrogen which stimulates plant growth. All you have to do is spread a quarter-inch thick layer of fresh clippings around flower and plant beds.

Soil in Nevada, specifically in Reno is highly variable, geologically very young, and lacking in organic matter. Given this, it’s highly important that you give the soil nutrients that come from fertilizer or compost. Your soil will need all the organic matter possible, so don’t let your grass clippings go to waste.

4. Determine When To Mow

Another important thing you should know is when the right time to mow your lawn is. To do this, you have to closely monitor the growth of your grass. If it grows fast, then you have to mow as often as possible and if otherwise, lessen the number of times you mow. This is one important key to lawn care.

When you mow, keep in mind that you have to cut less than one-third of the grass blade. In connection with this, it’s important that you determine the type of grass growing on your lawn. Moreover, you have to be cautious of the grass’ height. If it gets too tall during some periods, your lawn may require mowing as frequently as every three to four days. Also, you may have to reset the mower to its highest cutting level.

Now, there are three types of grass that grow well in Reno especially in this cool season, namely: Perennial Rye Grass (excellent choice for Reno soil), Kentucky Bluegrass, Fine Fescue – each of these grass has their own growth pace and you have to determine how fast it is so that you can keep track on when to mow them.

During warm season, Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass are the best to grow and during fall you can reseed your lawn with perennial rye grass to keep up with the bald spots.

5. Avoid Cutting Wet Grass

You might think that it’s ok to cut wet grass – you’re wrong! It’s not recommended because clippings will clump or the grass will be limp. Cutting grass when it’s wet could damage your lawn and it will not be tidy.

If you do it, then the grass will not be in an optimum mowing state which will be challenging to finish. One more thing, always remember that a wet grass is a sticky grass. Meaning, it sticks to the underside of your mower or clog the motor and certainly, you wouldn’t want that to happen.

Way To Sum It Up

Lawn mowing is as important as any other tasks involve in any landscaping projects or lawn maintenance, which is why you have to pay attention to it and practice safety. Remembering these quick and easy steps we’ve mentioned above will certainly lead to successful results. However, if you’re busy or if you think that you’re not capable of doing it, the best thing that you can do is hire a local landscaping company.

You just have to pick the right one for your lawn or garden needs and avoid any contractor scams that may surface during your time of urgency – be wise and think smart. Once you have achieved a green, luscious and healthy lawn, you can move forward and continue your landscaping project.

Read more about gardening: Group Gardening and Landscaping