Latest Articles by schleng

Landscape Trees - Which Kind You Should Choose and Why

Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

I always felt that landscape trees are one of the most important aspects of a landscape designs.
That's because they have so many outstanding features. They have height, mass and they also provide screening. And let's not forget about spring and fall color.

There are basically three types of landscape trees.

Shade Trees

Ornamental Trees

Evergreen Trees

Shade Trees

Shade trees are typically very large and their canopies offer much needed shade in hot and sunny areas. There are many different shapes form columnar to those with wide canopies. Those with wide canopies will provide the most shade. Picture the stately Elm trees on estates in our American landscapes from years ago.
Andrew Jackson Downing used these in his designs. Many old black and white photos portray these graceful trees out in large open lawn areas.
Due to their size, however, they must be used with care in areas that they have room to grow. Large open areas are perfect.

The Red Maple is one of my favorites. It has dazzling red color. October Glory and Red Sunset have flaming red and orange foliage in the fall. Red Maples are also a native tree and very hardy.

Ornamental Trees

These trees are usually smaller in size, although some can get quite large. They have outstanding features, such as leaf color, flowers, outstanding bark or interesting shapes and branching structures. Ornamental trees can be used at house corners, near a front door, or out in the open lawn. They also look nice if you have a privacy screening of evergreens. They can be placed in front of the evergreen trees so their features really stand out.

One of my favorite ornamental trees is the Flowering Dogwood Tree. It is a true all season plant. In the Spring, it produces lovely white or pink flowers. It has a lovely shape. Although not a true multi stemmed tree, its branching structure is wide. The leaf has a nice shape too. In the fall it gets red berries which creates not only fall color but also an attraction for the birds.

Evergreen Trees

As their name implies, they are evergreen and retain their leaves all year lawn. Evergreen trees may be have needle type leaves or broadleaf ones. Needle type varieties are such trees as Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, or Hemlock. Broadleaf evergreen trees are such as the Southern Magnolia with it's large leaves.

Evergreen trees often have a specific purpose for being used. They are used as a screen to block unwanted views or create privacy from an adjacent neighbor or road. Because of their form and mass, they at times can look nice at house corners, as long as enough room is left for their mature size.They can get quite large. There are however, varieties that stay smaller, such as Hybrids of the American Holly. Foster Holly is one that comes to mind and can easily be used in the landscape.

Consider adding trees to your landscape. They add a sense of scale and beauty that no other plant type can. Just be sure to select the right tree for the right place. Size, texture, and sun/shade conditions should all play a part in your decisions.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Please visit Landscape Trees

to learn more about trees in your landscape. You might also enjoy visiting Evergreen Trees for some suggestions.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Paver Patio Designs - Some Exciting Features To Add For That Wow Factor

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Many people decide to have a paver patio. There are many interesting pavers available, particularly those that are tumbled. These pavers give a stone-like, rustic look to the patio.

However, apart from selecting a great paver that looks well with your house and other landscape elements, how do you make it into a patio that really says "wow"?

There are a few design elements that you can include as part of the design that will create just that.

Seat Walls

Consider adding on a seat wall as part of the patio. Visually, a seat wall provides an interesting vertical focal point. At the same time, it functions by providing a conversation area. A curved seat wall adjacent to the perimeter of a curvilinear patio can be beautiful. If the patio is rectilinear, try designing the seat walls so that they are positioned at right angles for comfortable sitting and chatting.

Seat walls should be 18 to 24" high and a minimum of 12" deep. The wall themselves can be made out of many different materials. However, the top, or wall cap, should be s mooth surface for sitting and resting food or drinks.

Paver Circles Kits

This is a circular paver design, where the pavers radiate out. It creates a break and focal point within the paver design. The circle can be the same color or a different one that blends well with the rest of the patio.

Paver Borders

Consider putting a soldier course of pavers along the perimeter of the patio. This creates a border and actually frames the patio. This course can be made out of one of the sizes in the patio design. You can also have a double row, if the patio is large. Once again, the border can be a contrasting color if you like. Sometimes, however, just the difference in pattern is enough to be interesting.

Landscape Structures

You might also add such things as an outdoor pergola or gazebo to the patio. These can add interest ans also provide shade. The pergola can be attached to the house, or it can be pulled out slightly. The gazebo should be placed at one of the edges as a focal point. Another idea, although not a structure, is to plant an ornamental or shade tree right in the patio. Allow 4 to 5' in diameter or width as a cutout.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about Paver Patio Designs or the Concrete Pavers at her website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

How To Use Driveway Pavers Creatively

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You don't just want a mass of driveway pavers do you? You are after that special design, right? Put some extra thought into the design so that your driveway stands out from the crowd.

Here are five design elements to add to make your driveway exciting.

Create a border of driveway pavers along the driveway.

The border can be single, double or even triple. Use a paver shape that goes well with the rest of the paver design. Consider using the same color which will be very nice. For some more drama, you might want to change the border color. If changing colors, the key is to have both colors look great together.

Add a circle design within the pavers.

This is known as a circle kit. It usually comes in a minimum size and can be made much larger. Try to keep the circle size in scale with the driveway. You don't want it to be small and get lost. At the same time, it should feel like the area around it is spacious. The change in geometry is striking.

Create an area that stands out near the front door if the driveway is a circular or courtyard design.

Perhaps the main part of the driveway is simple with no border, and the front entry area is defined with an edging. This will make the area look like a courtyard, even if it is not and will emphasize its importance. A circle design can also be included, or even used alone.

Design the driveway with a paver apron, while the balance of the driveway is a more simple material such as asphalt or loose stone.

This will mark the importance of the entry. It will also be elegant. In addition, it will keep the costs down.

Edge the driveway with pavers, creating a border, while the rest of the drive is asphalt.

The entire driveway dos not have to be pavers. You can choose to just use them as an edging. This concept looks very nice and frames the drive. You might also consider using belgian block curbing either alone or with the driveway pavers.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about Driveway Pavers or learn about other types of Driveway Paving at her website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Eight Ideas To Consider For Outdoor Living Rooms

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Outdoor living rooms have become quite popular in recent years. Outdoor kitchen islands, outdoor pergolas and even wide screen tvs can all be part of the design. Magazine photos show how beautiful they can be and what they can possibly look like.

So, where do you start? Here are some ideas and features you might consider including in this type of outdoor living space.

How large of a room do you need or want?
If you decide it is just for immediate family, a smaller size will do. This does not mean, however, that you still can't have all or most of all the features that make outdoor living rooms exciting. It will just be more of a compact or intimate design.

An outdoor kitchen island is a great addition to a usable outdoor space. There are many outdoor appliances to choose from that can be part of the island. As an alternative, you might consider one of the fabulous gas outdoor grills that you can buy, and these would be less costly than an entire kitchen island.

Outdoor furniture should be considered. Look for weather resistance in both the frames and fabrics. Sofas, club chairs and chaise lounges all help to create a living room atmosphere.

The area may be open aired or covered. If covered, an actual roof may be built over the entire area, or you may opt for a slightly more open pergola.

Consider creating shady areas if the space is hot and sunny. Large shade trees, pergolas and gazebos all work well.

Who doesn't enjoy a water feature? Whether it be more of a formal pool or a naturalistic pond with a waterfall, the sight and sound of running water is always enjoyable.

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits both function for warmth and cooking and also add to the ambiance. Either of these may run on gas or be the more rustic wood burning types.

There are many choices of paving materials. Natural bluestone, travertine pavers and concrete pavers all create beautiful flooring and are easy to care for.

Keep your budget in mind as you choose your outdoor living space amenities. However, by being creative, regardless of budget, beautiful spaces can be had.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about outdoor living rooms and the outdoor kitchen island at her website.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Using Concrete Pavers - Advantages and Disadvantages

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Concrete pavers are a paving material that is often considered on a project. But are they right for you? They do have their pros and cons.

Here are some of the advantages of concrete pavers and they apply to most any project, whether it be a driveway, walk, patio or even swimming pool decking.

Pavers come in many different colors. They are available in tan, beige, carmel, red, brown, gray. Many are offered as a mix of colors. Colors might be mixed right in each paver to give a more stone-like appearance, or they may come assorted.

There are many different patterns and sizes to choose from. You can use all one size or select a random pattern with mixed sizes. This presents a cobblestone look. Pavers come in a multitude of sizes. They can be as small as 3 inches by 6 inches or as large as 24 inch squares...sometimes even more.

You can select from different kinds of pavers. There is the more traditional pavers or the stone-like ones. The latter are known as tumbled pavers and create a more natural look. The fit is not as tight and the edges are uneven to mimic stone.

Pavers last for many, many years and do not deteriorate.

They are moderately priced. They are more than concrete, but less than brick or stone.

Many paver companies offer coordinating circle kits. This is a nice design element. It is actually a circle, with the paver pattern radiating outward. This can offer a nice break to a large areas of pavers.

Since they are dry laid, if there is ever a problem with the installation, a paver or pavers can be easily replaced.

Here are some disadvantages of pavers.

Pavers can be hot on your feet, particularly the darker colors. This is something to consider if you are thinking about using them for swimming pool decking.

They are a man made material. They are made from concrete. This is not necessarily bad. It is just a matter of the look you want for your project. Material such as bluestone or travertine pavers are natural stone products and offer a different kind of look.

Pavers can fade over time, so the original color that you select won't be there in years to come.

To summarize, concrete pavers are definitely something to consider, particularly if natural stone is too costly. I have used them on projects that have turned out very, very nice. For pool paving, another option, such as less expensive concrete or more expensive travertine pavers would be cool on your feet and better choices.

You can read more about concrete pavers at my website, where I discuss more detailed design considerations and installation procedures.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Read more about Concrete Pavers at her website. You might also be interested in learning more about Travertine Pavers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Eight Considerations For Gas Outdoor Grills

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500

What are patios or swimming pool areas with gas outdoor grills? They have become an important element in backyard landscaping. When planning, an area must be created for the grill, leaving comfortable access to and from the kitchen and for people to walk around. There are many things to think about when buying outdoor gas grills. Size, quality, accessories and knowledge of materials should all go into the decision-making. Here are some considerations:

Are you going to use natural gas or propane gas?
Consider the grade of the stainless steel and know that all grills are not created equally. (But you knew that.)
Grate quality is another thing to be aware of. There is porcelain covered steel, stainless steel and porcelain coated cast iron. The last two are of the highest quality, last longer, and cook more evenly.
Btu’s – this only refers to how much gas is being used, not how hot the grill gets. Surprised?
There are different priced outdoor bbq grills – low priced, mid priced and high end. As you add more qualities, features and better warranties, you move into the higher end models.
Decide on what features are important to you. Some gas outdoor grills come with helpful features.

Side Burners are great for additional cooking while grilling.
Rotisseries allow you to cook chickens, roasts and other foods on a split for even browning.
Side Shelves are practical for some functional counter space.
Fuel Gauges will let you see when you are getting low on propane gas.
Electronic Starters are useful for quick starting of the grill.

Think about adding shade if your grill is situated in the sun. Shade can be added in a couple of different ways.

An outdoor pergola will keep out the sun, but the lattice at the top must be fairly tight. In addition, pergolas can be very costly. Another solution is to add some large shade trees. Granted, they won’t provide full sun at the start, but if you plant large enough ones, it should not take too long.

Consider an outdoor kitchen island, which is a lot of fun. You can get very creative with this and have a complete outdoor living room. This is assuming your budget allows for this, as it can be expensive. Gas grill features as mentioned above would be similar, except that you many other choices, such as refrigerators, bars, ice makers, and even built in fireplaces. There are too many options to list here. Give a lot of thought to your grill, features you would like, and what you can afford. Whatever you decide, I am sure you will enjoy!

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Please visit her website to read more about Gas Outdoor Grills or the Outdoor Kitchen Island.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Concrete Pavers - Pros and Cons of Using This Paving Material

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

It's sometimes difficult to decide which paving material to use on a project. There are so many choices; they all have pros and cons. Sooner or later you will probably consider concrete pavers. Read on to find out all you need to know about them to make the decision if they are right for you.

Here are the Pros of why they are a good choice, whether you are considering them for a driveway design, walkway, patio or pool paving:

* Pavers come in many different colors. Bluestone is pretty much limited to the blue/gray color. Concrete can be colored, but it can be a challenge getting the right color mixed into the mortar. Brick is ...well, brick colored.

* There are many different patterns and sizes to choose from. You can use all one size or select a random pattern with mixed sizes. This presents a cobblestone look. Available sizes range from the very small to the very large.

* You can select from different kinds of pavers. There is the more simple, structured paver or the stone-like ones. The latter are known as tumbled pavers and create a more natural look. The fit is not as tight and the edges are uneven to mimic stone.

* They last a long time and do not deteriorate.

* Pavers are moderately priced. They are more than concrete, but less than brick or stone.

* Many paver companies offer coordinating circle kits. This is a nice design element. It is actually a circle, with the paver pattern radiating outward. This can offer a nice break to a large areas of pavers.

* Since they are dry laid, if there is ever a problem with the installation, a paver or pavers can be easily replaced.

Here are the Cons of why they might not be right for your project:

* Pavers can be hot on your feet. If you walk barefoot a lot or if they are to be used in a pool area, this is something to think about.

* They are not a natural material. They are made from concrete. This is not necessarily bad. It is just a matter of the look you want for your project. Material such as bluestone or travertine pavers are natural stone products and offer a different kind of look.

* They can fade over time. This probably will not effect the look that much, but the original color won't be completely retained.

Conclusion: Concrete pavers are definitely something to consider, particularly if natural stone is too costly. I have used them on projects that have turned out very, very nice. For pool paving, another option, such as less expensive concrete or more expensive travertine pavers would be cool on your feet and better choices.

You can read more about concrete pavers at my website, where I discuss more detailed design considerations and installation procedures.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Read more about Concrete Pavers at her website. You might also be interested in learning more about Travertine Pavers.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

A Guide to the Outdoor Gas Light - How To Get Old World Charm and Romance in the Landscape

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

With all the different types of outdoor lighting available, one kind that is thought about less often is the outdoor gas light. However, if you would like a romantic, old world atmosphere, you surely should consider it! The outdoor gas light has a lovely flickering flame with a soft glow. How charming. The soft light it gives off is beautiful and so are the fixtures.

Although the fixtures can be made of various materials, I would recommend copper gas lights for the following reasons:

* Copper ages and looks attractive after many years. It develops its own lovely patina, which is different in color than the original copper.

* There are copper fixtures that are still around from the last century.

* It will not rust, rot or deteriorate.

* It can be re-cycled and re-used; it is renewable.

By the way the flickering flame does not attract insects, an added benefit.

The outdoor gas light operates on either natural gas or LP gas and can be adjusted manually. Therefore, there is no need for electricity. However, you can incorporate an electric starter. Here, the lights can be switched on and off from your home, but an electric line is needed.

There are some other operating options also. You can choose to use a timer to have the lights go on and off at certain times. This is, of course, is a practical solution to manually doing it yourself. You may also install a photocell. This causes the lights to work like solar lighting, although the photocell itself needs electricity.

These lights can be used in many places in the landscape. A nice place is at the beginning of your walkway, in place of the traditional post light. Just using one can give the nice look. They can be used around pools. An especially lovely use for them would be along a driveway.

When using them in this way, the actual placement depends on the length of the driveway. For example, if the driveway is a long one, they could be located every fifty feet or so. This would be just for effect, as the light they give off is less than other types. Supplement them with some low voltage fixtures for extra lighting. What a nice picture...driving along, approaching the house, with welcoming, soft, flickering lights along the way.

Gas lights began in the early to mid 1800's. Why not bring back that old fashioned atmosphere and consider using them? They really are beautiful.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Visit her website to learn more about the Outdoor Gas Light.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Paving Costs - How To Save Money With a Beautiful Paver Patio Design

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0600

Paving costs can vary greatly and can have a tremendous effect on the cost of your landscape project. Creating a paver patio design with nice tumbled pavers can save you a lot of money in comparison to using natural stone.

When providing landscape designs for Clients, often patio designs are part of the agenda. Budget is often a concern. However, a patio can be designed and then priced with different materials.

I recently did a design for Clients that included a patio, walkway, grading, and plantings. There was also a seat wall at the patio. They wanted to use dry laid patterned bluestone for the patio and walkway. The wall was to be brick with a bluestone cap, since there was brick on the house. Bluestone and brick work well together.

After pricing the project, it turned out that it was way over my Clients' budget. There were many things factored in by the landscape contractor that caused high pricing.

The landscape contractor had to allow for extra travel time. This was the contractor I highly recommended for the project since his work was excellent, but he was a distance away. In addition, his pricing reflected the time it would take to make proper cuts in the stone to make sure that each piece was completely square, which means straight. This is necessary so that the joints are the same width throughout and not skewed. If joints are uneven, I feel the project looks unprofessional.

The patio also required fill, as the grade sloped away from the house and the land had to be made level. The retaining wall was curved, which indicated more labor time.

I specified the bluestone cap at the top of the seat wall to be in sections no shorter than two feet. In addition, each piece was to be cut to follow the radius of the wall so the bluestone cap would be curved also.

All of the above situations and design details led to a higher costs. I offered options to my Clients. We could eliminate the seat wall. We could also reduce the size of the patio. Substituting tumbled pavers for bluestone was another choice, as this would reduce the paving costs.

They chose to use concrete pavers for the material, since they loved the design and did not want to give up any patio space or the seat wall. I presented some paver patio design ideas. Decorative concrete block was now to be used for the seat wall. The wall and paver colors were nicely coordinated and also went well with the brick on the house. The various colors in many bricks often fight the tumbled pavers which also have various colors in them. However, I selected a Belgard paver that worked extremely well.

After all was said and done, the price of the project was reduced from $52,000 to $35,000. It goes to show that materials can make a tremendous difference in landscape costs. My feeling is that if it is a good design, it won't really matter. Although bluestone is beautiful, it is the design of the landscape in its entirety which will make for a nice project.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can visit her website to read more about paving costs or paver suppliers and choices.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Value of Trees in the Home Landscape

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0600

I happen to love landscape trees. They provide a sense of scale in the landscape. They offer shade on a hot summer day. Trees also can provide beautiful flowers, pretty leaves and great fall color. The vibrancy of October Glory or Red Sunset Red Maples is breathtaking at this time of year.

However, there are many other reasons to include trees in your landscape. Ornamental, evergreen and shade trees all enhance the environment and provide cost savings in various ways.

According to the American Public Power Association, air conditioning costs can be reduced by 50% by the use of trees. This is due to trees shading the windows and walls of a home. Large shrubs can also provide shade, but not to the extent that landscape trees do.

The Environmental Protection Agency determined that trees shading homes can help cool attics tremendously. Actually attic temperatures can be reduced as much as 40 degrees. Anyone who has been in a hot attic can appreciate this fact.

While trees can offer shade in the hot months, they also allow the sun in during the winter, due to the loss of their leaves at this time. So not only do they cool the home, but also provide warmth.

Evergreen trees, if placed correctly, can be used as windbreaks, protecting homes and reducing heat loss. Less fuel for heat is then needed. Homes sheltered by evergreens are warmer in the winter months than those that are not. Typically, evergreen trees should be placed so as to block the winter northwest winds. Evergreen trees are also a way to provide noise reduction on your property. By utilizing them as a screen along a noisy street, they serve as a noise buffer.

Trees also help with both water quality and drainage issues. Tree roots absorbs undesirable elements from leaching into our water supplies. They also absorb water runoff on properties. Landscape trees can also prevent soil erosion on slopes. In addition, flooding is often reduced.

And if these weren't enough reason to use trees in the home landscape, consider the fact that they also serve as a shelter for wildlife, particularly birds.

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Susan Schlenger is a Landscape Designer with a degree in Landscape Architecture. You can read more about landscaping with trees at http://www.landscape-design-advice.com/landscape-trees.html

Source: http://www.articletrader.com