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Summer is the best time of year in the Pacific Northwest. For many homeowners, this means family get-togethers, backyard barbecues, and naps in comfy patio chairs. If you’re planning on hosting a lot this summer and want to make sure that your summer landscaping is on point, here are several summer landscaping tips and ideas so that you can have fun at gatherings and impress your guests with your outdoor space. Don’t Assume Your Grass is Getting Enough Water All too often, Washington homeowners make the mistake of thinking that because the climate is mild and rain is frequent

As a homeowner, one of the landscape topics that you hear discussed often is the question of retaining walls. Are they important? Should you have one installed? Understanding the purpose of a retaining wall and whether or not one would be beneficial to your home and landscape is more nuanced than it may at first appear. This article will help you understand the purpose of retaining walls, possible pros and cons to having one, and whether or not you should have a retaining wall installed at your home. What’s the Purpose of a Retaining Wall Retaining walls serve several

As a home or business owner, you might have started to notice that the beautiful retaining wall you had installed on your property recently is already starting to tilt, sink, crack, or bulge. This is not normal and is a sign that your retaining wall is failing. This could be for one of many reasons, but to avoid future retaining wall mistakes, here are some things you should know about retaining wall contractors and retaining wall failure. What Happens When a Retaining Wall Fails? There are a host of unpleasant scenarios and consequences of retaining wall failure. These failures can have

If you’re new to the landscaping scene and want to use your extra downtime to start improving your knowledge of landscaping and work on an outdoor project or two, here’s some helpful information for individuals learning about the different types of gravel. Different Types of Gravel Explained There are various types of gravel each with a different look, set of capabilities, and purpose. Here’s a brief overview of three of the most common types of gravel. Types of Pea Gravel Available in numerous colors, pea gravel is ideal for pathways, playgrounds, patio fill, and for drainage. Pea gravel has a smooth

Many homeowners are finding that they have extra time on their hands this spring and want to use it to DIY a drystack retaining wall. If this is you, this article will give you a step by step tutorial for how to build a drystack retaining wall for your home. What is a Drystack Retaining Wall? Drystack retaining walls differ from others in that they are built without mortar to fill in the gaps. Stones are stacked on top of each other, creating a natural stone retaining wall that functions optimally for natural draining. How to DIY a Drystack Stone Retaining Wall

Outdoor landscaping is such a creative hobby. It lets you take items that you have access to, like railroad ties, wooden pallets, and more and gives you the chance to turn them into something that adds beauty to your yard. If you want to DIY a retaining wall built from railroad ties, this article will act as your guide to building a railroad tie retaining wall for your yard. Step 1: Level the Location First things first. Start building your diy railroad tie retaining wall by leveling and tamping the location site. A sturdy, hard foundation will ensure that there is a

Washington is well known for being a rainy state. This means that delicate landscapes can become soggy, with excess rainwater puddling in every area that even remotely resembles a slope. For homeowners looking for a practical yet beautiful solution to Washington’s insistence on rain, a rain garden will suit your home and needs perfectly. This article details how to build a practical, aesthetically pleasing rain garden for your Washington landscape. What is a Rain Garden? Building a rain garden is like creating your yard’s own little ecosystem. You benefit from the rainfall and use it to feed your garden. Rain gardens

When it comes to DIY landscape projects, it’s important to understand how to complete a project both effectively and safely. Moving boulders or large rocks isn’t something that many homeowners consider getting help for. While it’s fine to move them on your own, it’s important to understand different techniques for moving boulders and rocks to avoid hurting oneself in the process. There are superior methods for moving boulders large rocks that will ensure that you don’t hurt your back while doing it. Here are 5 of the most effective methods for moving boulders and rocks to avoid injuring yourself. How to

Are you getting your landscape all ready for this spring? Many PNW homeowners are starting to brainstorm ways to make their landscapes pop this year and have come up with a repertoire of ideas, many of which include flagstone or other yard rockeries. Flagstone is a gorgeous material that is comprised of quartz, silica, and feldspar. It comes in all shapes and sizes as well as thick and thin pieces and makes for an ideal stone in PNW landscapes. If you are preparing for your next home project and you want to implement flagstone into your landscape, this helpful guide

Poor drainage in a landscape can cause all kinds of functional and aesthetic issues. If you have puddles forming throughout your yard or issues whenever it rains (which happens quite often in Washington), you have a drainage issue. Drainage issues in a yard can cause problems for the foundation of your house and ruin your lawn with sogginess. If you are struggling with drainage issues that you want to fix immediately, consider having a retaining wall installed to promote drainage. A retaining wall in your yard can make all the difference in the world when it comes to adequate drainage. Why

Building a rock garden on a slope requires a special set of skills. While building a rock garden might be a DIY task for some, building a rock garden on a slope definitely requires some landscaping help.While many homeowners might feel some level of despair when surveying their sloped yard, we are here to let you know that a sloped yard can lead to an incredibly beautiful landscape. A Sloped Yard Is The Perfect Place For A Rock Garden. Having a slight hill in your yard gives you so many creative options for building a rock garden on a

Why Is Curb Appeal So Important In 2019? Whether you plan on listing your home soon or just want a new look, improving your curb appeal will increase the value of your home. By improving the curb appeal of your home, the value of your property will rise. After all, the exterior of your home is the first thing that people see when they arrive and gives the first impression of your house. This is why improving your curb appeal is critical if you’re planning to sell your house. One of the quickest ways to make potential buyers fall