Outdoor Living Design Tips

Outdoor living is becoming more popular as the temperatures rise. The smell of backyard barbecues and blooming flowers lure us to the patio or porch with our friends and families. These 12 tips will help you create the perfect outdoor living space.

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

Scope

• Plan accordingly by thinking about how you will use the outdoor space.
• Are you a host of dinner parties or barbecues?
• How many guests are you most likely to entertain?
• Do you want a peaceful space to unwind and relax?
• Is your space suitable for pets or children?

Layout

David Pfeiffer, a landscaping architect, suggests that you design an outdoor space with the same care and consideration as when designing a house’s floor plan. Every outdoor space should be logically and functionally connected to the interior of the house. For example, the outdoor dining area should be located near the kitchen.

Surroundings

You can make the most of the beautiful views on your property by setting up a small area for coffee and watching the sunrise, or setting up a table with chairs to serve hors-d’oeuvres or cocktails at sunset. You can also use screens or hedges to hide unsightly eyesores. Matthew Cunningham, a landscape architect, recommends looking beyond the property’s boundaries to see how it fits in with its surroundings.

CONSIDER NATURE

Exposure

The orientation of your outdoor space can determine its functionality. Kelley Weston (landscape ecologist, designer) was forced to face the reality that east-facing spaces can be too cold in summer and winter in the mountains of Central Idaho.

Wind patterns

Pay attention to the wind direction and time of day. Some areas might be quiet in the morning, but may experience a steady evening breeze. You don’t want to create a firepit area with the seating facing downwind or create a lovely outdoor dining area under a wind tunnel.

Comfort

Shade is important if your outdoor space receives a lot of sun in the afternoon and early evening. Shade can be provided by pergolas, umbrellas, covered patios or trees that provide shade from the sun and heat.

THE FOUNDATION

Hardscape

Weston recommends a mixture of surfaces. A portion of the ground should be soft and inviting while leaving enough hard material for furniture and chairs. He favors natural elements, including wood decking, large boulders, decomposed Granite, and flagstone.

CHOOSING PLANTS

Although avid gardeners need a place to unwind. For a low-maintenance outdoor space, choose easy-care greenery. Shirley Watts is a designer and builder. She prefers nice, round shrubs that can grow to about 4 inches per year. See more easy-care shrubs. Her favorite way to create privacy is to use vertical surfaces for green walls. She likes to leave the overhead space open for views of the sky. Keep in mind that although plants that attract pollinators and bees are good for your garden, they might not be the best choice for your dining space. See Planting Ideas For Your Garden for more information on plant selection.

Furnishings

The intended use of your outdoor space, such as dining, relaxing, entertaining, or a combination of both, will determine the right furniture. Choose furniture that can be used outdoors, is weather-resistant and washable. Pfeiffer suggests small, portable tables for drinks and snacks. To bring your interior design outside, use colors and patterns.

CREATE AMBIENCE

Water

A water feature can be a relaxing and refreshing addition to any space and Charleston SC patio installation. You don’t have to create a waterfall or a fountain. According to Weston, the mere suggestion of water can make a difference. Studies have shown that the sound and sight of water flowing can increase relaxation and lower blood pressure. You might be able to design an outdoor living space that makes the most of nature’s natural resources, such as a lake, ocean or babbling stream.

Fire

Even though it is cool outside, keep the party going indoors when it is. You can extend your outdoor entertaining season with a fireplace or fire pit that has comfortable seating. In milder climates, enjoy warm evenings by the fire all year. You can also include storage spaces for marshmallow-roasting and blankets. Fire Features offers more ideas to heat your outdoor space.

Lighting

Lighting can make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your home. Outdoor cooking areas can be lit to make it easier to prepare meals outside. Up-lighting trees and fencing further out can add visual interest to the space. Decorative lighting can be used to enhance safety and brightness steps and paths.

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now if you want the help of landscaping experts for outdoor living space projects.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC
Charleston, SC 29419
(843) 532-3270
http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

Do you need fall landscaping tips?

Fall is one of nature’s most beautiful seasons. Your landscaping Charleston SC will be glowing after the heat of summer has passed. Your work doesn’t end just because it is cooler.

These are simple tasks that every professional landscaper should be doing this fall. These tasks can be completed before winter so your garden and lawn are ready for spring.

Landscaping Charleston SC Tips

Do a soil test

The most important lawn care tool to ensure healthy lawns and plants is soil, but it’s often overlooked. Soil pH and nutrient levels should be checked now to ensure that you have enough time to amend soil before spring. Find out more about soil pH, soil tests and how to test it.

Rake and recycle leaves

Take control of your leaves as part of your yard maintenance routine. Your yard’s leaves can be used as a mulch to protect your plants during winter. To encourage decomposition, you will need to shred the leaves.

This is how to make mulch out of leaves:

Make a pile of leaves.

Before moving on to the next step, make sure you follow all safety instructions and use gloves and eye protection.

To grind leaves, use a leaf shredder. Once the leaves are shredded, place them in a bag or large container.

Rake the leaves to a few inches in height. You can pass the leaves several times with a lawn mower, and then chop them into smaller pieces. Then, bag the pieces and place them in a large container.

Place the shredded leaves around the plants two to four inches high. The mulch should be kept one inch from the crowns of your plants. Do not pile mulch on top of the plants’ stems so that it looks like a volcano. It can harm your plants or even cause death.

Mow the grass one last time

Your lawn should be cut one more time before winter. To prevent rodent damage, matting and disease, trim it as short as you can. Prep your mower for winter. Turn the mower on until it runs out of gas. Learn how to winterize your lawnmower and other maintenance tips.

Fall is the best season to reseed stressed and tired summer lawns. For every 1,000 square feet, you’ll need three pounds of seed. Learn how to grow grass.

Turn and add Mulch

Mulch is usually needed every three years for garden beds. The act of “fluffing” mulch gives garden beds a new look and allows water to reach roots better. It also reduces insect and disease problems. When adding mulch to your garden, make sure it is at least two- and three-inch thick.

Hardscapes Need Some TLC

The driveway, patios, and walkways are all important parts of your landscape’s curb appeal. Fall is the best season to fill in cracks, and to apply sealant to prevent freezing and thawing damage. You can also pressure wash surfaces. Find out more about renting a pressure washer.

For the Birds

Watching birds at feeders is one of the best ways you can enjoy winter wildlife. It will be amazing to see the variety of birds that visit your feeder throughout the year. You should place feeders where they can be seen. Choose the best bird feeder for you.

Place the Landscape Tools to Sleep

Properly cleaning and storing lawn and garden tools and sprinklers, hoses and nozzles will extend their lives and make it easier to use in spring. Make sure to drain and clean the irrigation lines, so that they don’t freeze or cause damage.

No Clean-Up Fall Clean-Up

Fall can be a busy season, so you might not have time to complete every chore. Weekends can quickly become crowded with activities, sports, and errands. Beautiful fall weather also means that you can take road trips to go leaf-peeping. The No Clean Up Fall Clean Up is a great option if you can’t seem to get to the chores. For landscape maintenance, it is often better to wait until the spring or late winter.

Don’t rush to cut down the stalks of perennials that have lost their leaves. Decomposing brush creates perch areas for birds and places for beneficial insects to lay eggs. Keep your tools clean and organized, be respectful of the homeowners association, and consider other ways to make your landscape more appealing for winter wildlife.

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now if you need the help of landscaping experts.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC
Charleston, SC 29419
(843) 532-3270
http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

Hardscape Vs. Softscape

Our world lives on balance. Dark and light. Sadness and happiness. Winter and summer. This also applies to your landscaping. It won’t be truly complete if it doesn’t have these two crucial elements – hardscape and softscape.

Charleston homeowners who want their properties to look their best should incorporate both into their landscaping. But what exactly is the difference between softscape and hardscape?

Hardscaping

Hardscaping includes everything that’s hard like gazebos, fountains, decks, outdoor kitchens, walkways, driveways, patios, garden walls, retaining walls, flagstone, brickpavers, gravel, and stone.

These are unchanging and unmovable aspects of your yards. It is where a landscaping company like Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC will start once they layout the property’s shape.

It’s because hardscaping is generally added right to the ground, typically changing the landscaping, whether it involves removing soil to build a swimming pool or taking out the dirt to create a retaining wall.

Softscaping

When the hardscaping work is done, it is time to add softscaping, which you could consider as the living aspect of your landscaping. Some areas of it may be temporary like vegetables and flowers, while others like shrubs, soil, trees, and grass, are far more permanent.

They are always evolving and changing. Shrubs and trees always grow, flowers will bloom and then wither. That is one of the joys when it comes to softscaping. You can make changes to it so it’ll fit the season or so that it would fulfil your vision of exactly how you would like your house to look like.

Softscaping will also serve a purpose that is more practical. Hardscaping aspects do not absorb rainwater that could result into drainage problems. If you add softscaping such as grass as well as other plants, you could balance the low absorption that is caused by the hardscapes.

Why do you need hardscaping and softscaping?

You may have seen houses with excessive hardscape. You will find landscaping in Charleston whose owners added too much hardscaping, which leads to a house that looks way too impersonal. It doesn’t look like a home anymore but a commercial properties.

Aside from that, adding excessive softscaping to your house will make your home look too chaotic and wild. It would look like nobody has done yardwork for several weeks.

Your property requires softscaping to feel welcoming and warm while hardscaping helps prevent things from becoming too unruly. The climate will also affect the balance. In the parts of the country where it is dry, you don’t want to water too much so you should lean more on having more hardscape. If you are located in areas with wetter climate then softscaping can take care of the run off from the landscaping. If not, then your property needs more drainage.

Are your Charleston softscape and hardscape out of balance? Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC is here to help. We are an experienced, reliable, and trustworthy company that has spent years working with homeowners to enhance their property.

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now and learn how our team can help your softscaping and landscaping work together.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC
Charleston, SC 29419
(843) 532-3270
http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

Irrigation Methods For Your Landscaping Project

A properly watered yard is a healthy yard. Nevertheless, there are several ways to water a yard that conserves more than your time, effort– it saves more water. Below is a list of various irrigation techniques, ranked in order of effectiveness and a brief introduction to each type.

Irrigation Methods According to Landscaping Professionals

There are three major irrigation Charleston methods which are: hand watering, deep soak method and sprinkle.

Hand Watering

Hand watering provides different advantages such as it permits you to water straight at the lower part of your plants as opposed to wastefully watering where you do not need to. Typically, this inefficient method simply motivates weeds to grow. Nonetheless, hand watering demands labor and time as you water.

• Water Wand

It is a tube attachment prolonging as a solid pipeline a couple of feet from the tube with a breaker, which is a sieve-style nozzle, at its end. They give a soft, rain-like stream of water which is extra mild on the soil. Furthermore, its stretched neck permits you to water straight at the base of plants without flexing over.

• Watering Can

The can have several of the exact same advantages as the wand because it permits direct-point watering and a rain-like stream of water. Nonetheless, a complete watering can be bulky to lug and difficult to water to the base of plants.

Deep Soak Techniques

Deep soak method uses only 50 percent water with the same efficiency as a few other watering methods. They help maintain moisture down the roots and stay clear of damp vegetation.

• Trickle Tape/Drip Line

Drip lines take time to set up and cost a little more for equipment, once they are outlined they are one of the most reliable when it comes to water usage and time spent in landscaping maintenance. They normally just have to be switched on one or two times a week at least an hour or two at once and can also be set up with a timer. They could likewise be hidden underground if aesthetic appeals are a problem.

• Soaker Hose

These are permeable hose pipelines. They are different from drip lines because while a drip line has uniformly spaced sprinkling factors, a soaker pipe is entirely permeable to ensure that water sweats out of all of it along the size of the hose pipe. Like with a drip line, the slow-soaking avoids evaporation as well as overflow. A soaker tube is easier to remove compared to a drip line. Generally, this is a really effective technique of watering.

Lawn sprinklers

Lawn sprinklers are practical for relaying water over a large location, like a yard. Yet they are the least reliable technique in the yard.

The portable lawn sprinkler is the least effective of all the formerly discussed sprinkling approaches. Water is spread to locations that do not require it, in addition to the added water distributed via evaporation. Because they relay water on plant leaves, they likewise have the tendency to promote plant health on some vegetables.

 

When it comes to effective landscaping techniques and irrigation method, you can count on Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC to provide quality landscaping and hardscaping service.

 

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC
Charleston, SC 29419
(843) 532-3270
http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

Great Summer Landscaping Ideas

Have you always wanted to create beautiful summer landscaping for your backyard but don’t know where to start? Summer offers all kinds of opportunities to have fun with your friends and family in the comfort of your own backyard, so why not have some fun with your backyard landscaping too? Whether you love sitting under the stars or curling up on a hammock with a good book, let us help you turn your backyard into your own personal oasis. Keep reading for some great summer landscaping Charleston ideas!

5 Summer Landscaping Ideas To Get You Started

Splash Of Fun. If you love to watch sprinklers dancing around the yard, then get a few special ones that will shoot water in different designs and shapes. Not only will your lawn get watered, but it also provides some relief from the heat for anyone playing outside. For the kids, let them put a little plastic lawn chair under the sprinklers for some added fun. At night, you could even set lights up so that the water is colored. The Romantic Backyard. If you love a good romantic night under the stars with your honey, then try getting some little votive candles to hang from the trees or small gas lanterns. You can also use white twinkle lights like you would use at Christmas and string them in the trees, creating a romantic spot to spread a blanket and do some star gazing. The Backyard Blaze. If you love a blazing fire, consider adding a fire pit to your backyard. They are not expensive and can be bought in any home improvement store. All you need for some cozy evenings by the fire are some comfy cushions or chairs, some marshmallows for roasting and maybe a s’more or two! Fragrant Summer Nights. One way to add drama and romance to your backyard landscaping design is by adding fragrant plants and flowers. Try jasmine, lemon verbena, or many other herbs like basil and rosemary to add a beautiful fragrance. You can also use fragrance-giving flowers like roses or honeysuckle. Some of these plants would do great planted at the bottom of an arch so they can climb the arch as they grow. All you need now is a garden mattress to lie on with a good book and a cup of tea! The Relaxing Siesta Backyard. For this idea, all you have to do is close your eyes and take a deep breath and imagine yourself relaxing…try hanging a hammock for some lazy afternoon naps. If you don’t have trees to hang it from, then you can buy them with a stand that it can hang on. Make it super comfy with overstuffed cushions or pillows and a waterproof container nearby to hold blankets for curling up with. Add a good book and life doesn’t get any sweeter! These are just a few tips to get you started, but the ideas are limitless. Think about the things you love to do most and transfer that to your backyard summer landscaping. If you love entertaining, then create a cozy party atmosphere and remember that lighting is everything! Visit your local home and garden center and get inspired. The Internet is a wealth of ideas, and you might be surprised at how affordable having a beautiful backyard really is.

Don’t settle for a boring backyard this summer—call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC and let us help you create your landscaping vision!

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/great-summer-landscaping-ideas/

Your Landscaping Guide to Softscape and Hardscape

Are you planning to develop a beautiful lawn? But first, it is essential for you to understand several aspects of lawn care and landscaping design. Landscape style has two fundamental parts known as hardscape and softscape. When used together, they create a lawn that looks wonderful, is functional and is also comfortable for your family members to take pleasure in. Ultimately, you have to know the difference between hardscape and softscape.

Hardscape or Softscape?

Hardscape is the aspect of landscape design that deals with the tough, irreversible facet of your lawn. It is human-made and uses sturdy products like timber, rock, block, ceramic tile, or concrete. Hardscape plays an essential function in your landscape style because it levels the soil, restricts disintegration, as well as specifies numerous areas for all your outdoor tasks. On the other hand, softscape describes the softer side of your yard landscape design. In short, it consists of the soil and also all kind of plants– from little blades of grass to high trees:.

Popular Hardscape Features For Your Landscape

Here are some popular hardscape features for your landscaping Charleston activity

1. Fencing primarily functions to specify borders. As an example, it could keep kids or pets from a veggie yard, or secure your personal privacy outdoors. If your hardscape layout consists of a pool, the security fence is called for by regulation.
2. A patio area is a suitable area for relaxation and also entertainment, particularly when it uses a selection of sunlight or color. It likewise gives a secure, fire resistant surface area for your grill, fire pit, or outdoor kitchen area.
3. Planters are best for extra efficient horticulture. Plant pots could be transferred to capture the brightest sunrays, upright containers take advantage of your growing area, and also elevated beds can be good to your knees.
4. An outdoor sanctuary might be called a “mini-building.” A pergola, gazebo, or arbor mixes its pretty look with a down-and-dirty sensible side, shielding from sunlight as well as sustaining climbing up plants.

Beautiful Softscape Ideas For You Lawn

1. Perhaps the classiest kind of personal privacy fencing is growing a hedge. It can also function as a display against the summer sun and protection in the winter months. This way you decrease your air conditioning and heating expenses.
2. A flower garden provides pleasure to two senses: sight and smell.Plant vibrant flowerbeds to enhance your house and provide immediate aesthetic charm. When it comes to pleasing the sense of smell, think about planting fragrant flowers and herbs if you often use your deck for night entertainment, when blossoms are less noticeable.
3. There is absolutely nothing better than fresh natural, home-grown, freshly picked vegetable form your own garden.Maintaining your own vegetable garden can also be good for your kids as a weekend activity.
4. Although several house owners are worried primarily about the appearance of their grass. Having a lawn or ground cover has the important function of decreasing dirt disintegration. Besides, it really looks good when you know special lawn care methods have been applied.

Whether softscape or hardscape, your landscape design should be well suited to your needs. Why not call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC to help you with your landscaping projects.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/landscaping-softscape-hardscape/

Overview on Great Landscape Design

Getting into a landscape design project is enjoyable and also valuable. Other people think that getting into landscaping requires technical skills and expertise. Any person could landscape if they are equipped with the ideal knowledge and equipment. What you need to start is basic landscaping knowledge so you can make use of the concepts in this item in order to develop an effective house landscape style. Landscape design in Charleston could appear to be incredibly hard, yet it truly is not as tough as it could appear. Landscape design is extremely simple when you spend some time to discover with education and learning. Have a look at this short article and also obtain a concept of just what landscape design is everything about with the adhering to pointers.

Basic Landscaping Guide

1. Speak To a Specialist Before Beginning On a Landscape Design Task.

While you could not have to employ them to finish the whole work, you will certainly discover that the percentage you spend for an examination will go a long way. Having a Charleston landscaping professional look at your yard will help you stay clear of errors and also get going in the right direction. Especially if you do not have much experience in landscape design, this action is a crucial one.

1. Take Into Consideration a Watering System

A good water system is one that drips rather than flowing directly to your plants. This type of water supply is easy to mount and can help you supply your yard with just the right water quantity. This is likewise a far better method to effectively sprinkle your plants properly.

1. Try Compost in Your Flower Beds

If you are doing your personal landscape style, it would certainly be a smart idea to include compost to your flowerbeds. Compost maintains wetness in the dirt to ensure that warmth, as well as completely dry air, are not eliminated in your plants. They will simply have enough amount of water they require on a daily basis.

1. Leave GrassTrimmings On Your Yard After You Cut It.

This will certainly provide your yard essential nutrients it will certainly require when the yard starts to disintegrate and you will not have to use as much plant fertilizer.

1. When Hiring Professional Landscaping Service

If you’re aiming to landscape your premises, it is not constantly essential to have an expert landscaping company get the job done for you. This simply winds up costing you whole lots and also great deals of cash. Yet, you might wish to seek advice from an expert that could supply some helpful guidance. Quote the expense of your job prior to starting and discuss the checklist for the tasks to be done.After that, find out where you will certainly be acquiring your products. Landscaping companies usually know where to source out materials. Identify just how you could best locate great products at less costly costs. In this way, you will certainly have the ability to adjust your style to match unforeseen demands or adjustments in the landscape style you choose.

Backyard Landscape Design Made Easy

There is a big difference on the functionality of your Charleston front yard and your backyard landscape design. The function of your front yard landscaping is to create a complimentary appearance with respect to the overall look of the house,; while your backyard focuses more on your enjoyment, recreation, and privacy. Hence, the huge difference between your Charleston landscape design as well as the landscape layout your Myrtle home and front yard.

In order to shed light on your decision making, here are a few guides to making your backyard landscape design easier.

Backyard Functionality The first thing to consider about your backyard landscape design is its functionality.

• Why do you need a backyard in the first place?
• What is its main purpose?

These are some of the questions you should ask yourself if you plan to design your landscape. These questions will also give light on what design idea you should carry out. The solution to these inquiries will additionally yield more clear suggestions on the following thoughts. Backyard Layout Basically, the landscape layout and floor plan should be based more on necessity and less on appearance or charm. You must list down your purposes before drawing floor plans. This way, you will have a perspective on the components of your backyard landscape layout. Once you have this out, it’s time to draw your floor plan where you enhance and make the most out of your available backyard space. Backyard Wall Surface One essential element of a landscape design is the wall. This is the boundary that isolates your property from the rest of the community. Walls function as a defense and a personal privacy provider, therefore, it is often a fence with a considerable elevation. Given that you need to already have a concrete fence, all you have to include are living plants or various other key landscape components such as trees and also shrubs. Once again, using a wall must remain in line with the question of objective. Are you putting a wall for privacy? Are you seeking for sound barrier? The answers to these inquiries will certainly offer you clear suggestion about just what kind of wall surface you ought to make use of. Backyard Ceiling This part is optional, whether you plan to include a canopy or a roof covering in your backyard layout plan. Find out exactly what sort of ceiling you must use, whether it is a tree, a canopy, or a roof covering. The ceiling gives a good sense of seclusion, peace, and also privacy. Choosing Plants Choosing your backyard plants do not have to match those in your front yard. Once more, your backyard landscape style serves a different purpose from your front yard landscape which is why variety is key. In your front yard, plants are typically utilized to accent the house. The backyard plants, on the other hand, are built in specific locations to hide unsightly areas, provide solitude, and also emphasize hardscape. Other important considerations Your landscape will not be complete without including non-life elements such as rocks, marbles, dirt, concrete frameworks, as well as fences. These, nevertheless, should not take over the whole yard given that they are simply there to emphasize other components of the landscape. Each of these needs to mix with the genuine objective of the yard landscape, which is “function”.

Form and functionality matter most in planning your backyard layout and the Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC will definitely make sure you have both and more!

  Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/overview-great-landscape-design/

Protect Against Natural Disasters Through Smart Landscaping

Changing landscaping can do more than improve your curb appeal and make your lawn more attractive. With the following tips and information, you can also be able to protect your home from the dire effects of natural disasters like the one we recently experienced here in Charleston. Fires, storms, and floods are inevitable calamities no one can specifically predict. This is why preventing it has been extremely difficult. Only those who are really committed to their prevention routines could minimize the effects of these types of natural disasters. Aside from these exhausting prevention routines, you can easily protect your home from fires, storms, and floods through smart landscaping.

Protect against fires

To help protect your home from fires, there are a couple of things you might like to change in your lawn. Set up fire defense zones – There are two zones you can create as your fire defense zones. One is a 30-foot zone where you can put flagstone, gravel and pavers to allow firefighters easy and quick access to your house in case of fire emergencies. If you want to add plants, choose shrubs like azaleas, which are low growing and have less dense foundation. The other fire defense zone is a 100-foot zone where you should always keep trees and shrubs thinned out and maintain clear wide paths that will serve as fire breaks. Regularly maintain your lawn and garden – Your basic maintenance tasks actually help in protecting your home from fires. When cleaning up your garden, keep an eye out for any debris that can serve as fuel to flames. These include dried leaves, long grass, dead plants, weeds, and dead tree branches. It’s important that you remove these fire hazards every time you clean your garden. Add fire-resistant plants – These are plants that are slower to burn like azaleas, boxwoods, hydrangeas, and burning bushes. You might also want to consider planting succulents like sedums as these have high water content and are, therefore, less flammable.

Protect against wind storms

The best and most effective way to help reduce the effects of wind storms is landscaping Charleston windbreaks. This is the use of specific trees and shrubs and planting them in strategic places to reduce the storm’s wind speed and serve as buffer against the gusts. Choose trees and shrubs that have low crowns and grows closer to the ground. These include Arizona cypress, redbud, sycamore, and Chinese elm.

Protect against flooding

Your primary focus in organizing your garden to protect against floods is to slow down the flow of water and prevent it from reaching the soils near your foundation. To achieve this, choose trees and shrubs that are considered as rain barriers because of their roots that grow deep into the ground. The best trees to consider are those that can grow more than 40 feet high as their trunks help block running water, their roots create drip lines, their big leaves can intercept rainwater, and they can quickly transpire groundwater for as much as 100 gallons per day.

Find out what you can do with your landscaping to make it your first line of defense against natural disasters. Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/protect-landscape-disasters/

Landscaping and Other Trends In Outdoor Living

Summer has officially arrived and it is time to dream about outdoor fun and parties.  If you are dreaming too, you may want to see what some of the trends are in landscaping that can make your outdoor living more enjoyable. The Outdoor Patio In the Myrtle Beach area, decks are often extended living spaces for your home.  Decks form a transition from the interior of your home to the exterior.  A deck can hold many of the interior conveniences such as a kitchen or a spa or hot tub for entertaining. Outdoor kitchens are becoming the rage.  Whether we are talking about a traditional barbecue or a built-in stainless steel multi-burner grill with ovens and side mount burners, you can turn your deck into an outdoor kitchen where friends will love to congregate.  Some of these outdoor areas even include a bar refrigerator, dishwasher and microwave. During the spring and fall of the year it is great to have an outdoor fireplace to extend the enjoyment of your deck.  You will find small round burners to full scale fireplaces for use outside.  This is really great if you have a hot tub where people can relax and watch the fire.  Be sure and invite me over! New lines of over-stuffed furniture have replaced the traditional folding chairs and chase lounges.  You will also want to look at your outdoor lighting and upgrade to the new LED designs that are energy efficient. You will want your landscaping Charleston to compliment your new outdoor living area with plants and shrubs that are easy to maintain. Landscaping Water Features There is a new trend toward water features in your outdoor living area.  From a simple fish pond to jungle waterfalls that empty into your pool.  The sound of rushing water is relaxing and adds freshness to your pool.  You can also add underwater lights to transform the night into a land of mystic.  There are rainwater storage water features that will help keep your garden watered in the dryer areas and help to conserve water usage. Using Native Plants in Landscaping Many plants and flowers that are native to your area have an inbred resistance to local insects and disease.  Local plants have also adapted to the weather conditions in your local area.  In the Myrtle Beach area, we have many folks that move from the north eastern part of the United States and try to plant their favorite shrub or plant only to see it die in the summer heat.  You will want to consult with your local landscaping professional to determine what plants are best suited to your area.  Many times there is a local alternative to your favorite “northern” shrub. Landscaping and The New Garden With the rising cost of food and gasoline, many home owners are opting to grow their own vegetables.  Now is the time to plan your garden and lay it out for best production.  There are some plants you can start as early as April in this area and have them producing in May.  Do your online research on your favorite vegetables to see when the best time to plant is. With a new outdoor living space and garden to enjoy, you don’t have time to worry about maintaining our lawn.  Give Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC a call today for a quote.

Keys To A Successful Landscape Design

This spring we’ve been receiving many calls regarding the re-designing of existing beds. Why are we getting a lot of calls for this? Well, there are many factors that influence the success and/or failure of a landscape design. One is that many home building contractors provide the bare minimum when it comes to landscaping, with no thought given to the soil quality, location, future size, watering needs, sunlight or shade tolerance of what they plant. We recommend asking your builder what the budget is for your landscape and find out exactly what you are getting. Find out if they will use sod on the entire lawn or if some will be seeded. Find out what type of plants and how many, you are paying for it after all. You get to choose your lighting, carpet and paint colors, why not the plants? When we approach a re-design job, we find out what the homeowner’s wants and needs are for those areas. To do this we ASK QUESTIONS. Once wants and needs are determined we look at all the variable factors that affect plant selection:

• Soil condition- is it too wet?
• Wind? Many plants do not do well out in the open in windy conditions
• Shade or Sun?
• Are deer a problem? If so we would choose plants that deer don’t like to eat
• Zone Hardiness? We are in Zone 8, if plant is not listed as hardy for Zone 8 then it will not thrive

Knowing a garden’s variables is key to an effective design. With some basic knowledge and trial-and-error, it will all come together! Aside from bed re-design calls, we’ve been getting a lot of calls about what to do with lawns at this time. We suggest the pre-emergent weed control be applied during colder months, then we wait for the lawns completely come out of dormancy. Once this happens, we advise aeration to relieve compaction of soil and to aid in water and fertilizer absorption. Once the lawn has been green for approximately 3 weeks a post-emergent herbicide can be applied. We know that spring is an exciting time and you can’t wait to get your gardens started. Even though many of the nurseries are get¬ting in plants, it’s better to wait until our evening temperatures are consistently warm, and besides, the variety of material will get broader as the weather gets warmer. Of course, for you “black thumb” people, we are always available to do it for you! Here’s to a successful growing season!

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC and let our team help you with your landscaping needs. 

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/landscaping-trends-outdoor-living/

6 Landscape Projects To Improve Your Home

During the stay at home order, many homeowners have spent time gardening and landscaping. It’s safe to say that it has become a tradition during challenging periods. Take for example during the World War II, Victory gardens took on a crucial role for the home front effort. Americans managed to plant as many as 20 million Victory Gardens, which were responsible for about 40% of the vegetables during this period. If you are looking for the best way to get outdoors and remain physically active, then yard work should be your top choice. You will be lifting things, building, and shoveling. You will keep on moving even if you are in your home. However, you don’t have to spend the entire weekend landscaping your yard. It is better to break down your effort into smaller projects. You should play the long game and it is better to search for short term and simple gains.

Projects That Can Improve Your Landscaping

Walkways A brick or stone walkway is a perfect addition to any house. A walkway will connect various elements of your yard and enhance its overall look and feel. If you are planning a walkway, you have to consider the elevation loss or gain first, the walkway’s distance, and the decoration in the area of the yard. These things will help you in determining the kind of walkway for your yard. It starts with digging out the route and then building the gravel base. Then sand will be added so that the pathway will be levelled out. The next thing to do is to design the pattern and then you can set the stone for its base. You may have to cut the bricks or tiles so it would fit the smaller sections but this would depend on the pattern. Once everything is done, you can now add the polymeric sand that would fill in the cracks and further stabilize the walkway.

Landscape Edging

Grass tend to creep out when it grows and then takes over the flowerbeds. Landscape edging is the best way to boost landscaping and add a few decorative elements. You could edge the lawn using a motorized edge or a shovel. Both methods work and they create a solid and nice edge. When you make the edge, you could add bricks, rocks and wood to create a physical barrier between the grass and the flowerbeds. This will keep the place tidy and boost the appeal. The physical border will prevent the grass from spreading and then taking over the flowerbed. The kind of border that you select will depend on the length of the edge spots and the landscaping design. Raised Planter Bed One of the best ways to fill a space is to build planter beds. You can buy kids or design and then install the planter beds on your own. You can simply fasten a few pieces of wood together in order to create a planter bed. It’s the best project to improve your landscaping Charleston. Fill the planter bed that you’ve built with soil. Use a mixture of organic material as well as topsoil. The planter box could be used to grow many things like vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You must be able to find a lot of seeds at a garden center. Rose Bushes If you want to add some color to your landscape then you should consider planting roses. They come in different colors like white, purple, orange, yellow, red, and pink. Rose are available in different styles, too. You can choose between ground cover roses and climbing roses. Some varieties blooms during summer while others bloom throughout the year. Although you always have the option to buy seeds, a lot of homeowners go for grafted plants instead. Since they are already established, you can just plant them to your yard or grow them in pots. Start with one kind of rose first. Your yard will look cluttered if you have different kinds of roses intermingled together. You should also consult your landscaper for expert assistance.

Landscape Lighting

You can add decorative features to your property and that includes installing landscape lighting. It illuminates your landscape and make your property much safer. It’s quite simple. You will find lights that are solar powered and do not require electricity. In case a line is needed, you can simply lay a 120-volt line from your home to a part of the landscape lighting. You should consider hiring a landscaping expert to help you with this task. Plant A Tree If you move into a new house or celebrate a significant milestone in life, you can mark this time of your life with a tree. Trees can add natural habitat, texture and beauty to your landscape. When you choose a tree, you have to select between evergreen and deciduous. You can buy a larger tree or a small seedling. It is easy to plant a tree. You can do it during fall season. Dig a hole, add organic material, and some sand, too. Plant the tree and then bury it. Just be sure to water it while the roots are trying to establish themselves and then leave it to rest during the winter season.

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC if you are looking for an expert landscaper in Myrtle Beach.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/  

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/landscape-projects-improve-home/

Finding The Best Landscaping Charleston Professional

Admit it or not, your lawn requires extra love and care compared to what you could directly provide today and that you need more help. You have actually attempted searching for  "landscaping Charleston." However, there are numerous landscape maintenance around.So exactly how do you pick top quality landscaping service for your backyard? What you need to do is simply have a look at this listing developed to help you locate the most landscaping specialist for the job.

How To Find The Best Landscaping Myrtle Beach Professional

First, you need to find out what sort of landscape maintenance and solution you require. The best landscaping professional should have most of the following landscape skills. If your yard remains in good condition, maybe that you require is basic mower solution. This could be either short-term or long-term. The majority of grass cutting firms use both short and also long-term agreements. A short-term setup is a lot more adaptable, yet a longer term will typically be a far better deal when it pertains to cost.

• Repairing

When you see that your yard is looking much less alive compared to its ideal state, it might be patchy or discolored. It is time to employ an excellent landscaper to repair the condition. Landscaping experts are educated to recognize the troubles underlying unhealthy-looking turf, by procedures such as dirt screening.

• Solution

Based on their analysis of your lawn's demands, professional landscapers should have the ability to supply a customized removal strategy, which could consist of several of aeration, fertilizing service, overseeding lawn and pest control among other.

Just how do I pick the best landscaping professional in Charleston?

1. Look for landscaping Charleston service with excellent, realistic neighborhood referrals and also positive online reviews on their website. You could also talk to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see whether the business is
2. The yard professional you work with must be accredited in any state-based on regulation. On top of that, seek present subscription in a landscape professional organization.
3. Any person working with your house should be guaranteed with updated service liability/property and also employees comp protection-- for your security as well as their own.
4. Try to find a firm that agrees to send an associate for an in-person proposal. In this way, you are less likely to be confronted with service charges when the landscape maintenance program is Ideally, obtain three quotes from different companies then contrast the rates as well as solutions used.
5. Have the professional sign an agreement describing the yard upkeep solutions to be given, price, regularity, repayment information, as well as warranty.
6. Lastly, backyard garbage disposal. Your yard upkeep firm might suggest leaving turf trimmings on the lawn as compost. Otherwise, see to it that they will deal with any kind of backyard waste in accordance with your neighborhood policies.

Your landscape deserves nothing but the best landscaping professionals, this is why you can rely on Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC for Landscaping Charleston professionals.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/find-best-landscaping-professional/

3 Cost Control Landscaping Measures For Your Outdoor Project

Landscaping projects should not be costly and expensive. You could improve how your yard looks as well as increase your curb appeal without breaking the bank or your wallet. This, however, focuses on getting the most out of your money rather than generating savings from your outdoor project. Keep in mind that there is a fine line between having savings and being satisfied and receiving all the benefits and features that you paid for. Even if you weren’t able to save money or spend less on your yard improvements but you were satisfied with everything that you bought, you still generate savings as you wouldn’t be doing another upgrade or improvement soon.

And to help you ensure the most cost-effective landscaping Charleston project, here are 4 measures to observe.

1. Construct a plan and stick to it You probably already have a plan in place, but do you plan on sticking to it? Is it complete enough that you have covered all possible and unexpected outcomes? What will happen if a part of the plan goes amiss? What will you do if you unintentionally strayed away from your plan? One thing you should bear in mind when planning for an outdoor project  is to include your desired outcome and the budget you are allotting for the project. You need to be concise with every single thing you will have to purchase. This includes mulch, soil, flowers, sod and many others. Avoid guessing on the amounts and the outcome of every step in the process as this defeats the entire purpose of planning. Remember, you should always stay focused and stick to your plans. 2. Spend time looking for appropriate deals These deals will not only help you save money but will also ensure that you are getting the most out of your dollars. You’ll best find good deals for your landscaping project at the start and end of every season. You’ll find lots of sales in many garden stores before and during the first weeks of a new season. And there will surely be clearance sales at the end of every season. 3. Always go for quality rather than affordability When buying supplies for your yard, landscaping specialists say you should think about thins like the plants you choose and how much attention they might need. So, aside from choosing and buying plants, you would also have to invest in the necessary tools, supplies and equipment to take care of your plants, nurture them and help them thrive. Be sure that you are buying high value tools and supplies in the highest quality. If possible, resist buying cheaper alternatives as they would only cost you more in the long run, particularly since you will have to replace them a number of times and they would most likely cause damage to your yard.

An ultimately cost effective landscaping project is not difficult to plan and achieve. Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now for professional assistance in planning your next outdoor project.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/cost-control-landscaping-measures/

4 Landscaping Tactics To Avoid To Preserve Your Curb Appeal

Landscaping does not always work to improve and maintain an impressive curb appeal. There are some things you can do to your yard that may actually cause the opposite effect. It does make your lawn the first to be noticed when people visit you or pass by your neighborhood; but it’s all for the wrong reasons. People notice your lawn because it has become an eye sore. To prevent these from happening, it is important that you learn which landscaping tactics to avoid. 1. Choosing plants based on their beauty and appeal. Because you want your lawn to appear attractive, you’ll be naturally inclined to choose beautiful and appealing plants. Now, this won’t be a problem if you consider other factors as well. However, if you choose based on the plants’ beauty alone, you’re in for more difficult and time-consuming maintenance. You should also consider other factors when choosing plants. These other factors include your hardiness zone, the local weather, and the required maintenance and upkeep to properly take care of the plants. Even if you’re choosing from a wide selection of plants that grow and thrive locally, you still need to consider these other factors to ensure you won’t be spending lots of time in maintaining your lawn as is necessary. Keep in mind that failure to properly and regularly maintain your yard may result to dying plants and browning lawn. 2. Letting already dead or dying plants rot on your lawn. Already dead or dying plants on your lawn not only make your lawn appear ignored and disregarded, but they can also cause other plants to wither and die. This is why it is important that you allot time to remove these plants and shrubs as soon as you notice the telltale signs of dying or being spent. Dispose of them properly. You can add them to your compost pile. They decompose much faster if you grind them before dumping to the pile. If these plants died due to infestation or disease, put them in a plastic bag and properly dispose of them. 3. Letting weeds grow. These weeds are an eye sore to your ethereal lawn. Plus, they also compete with your plants, taking away more than half of the nutrients and minerals that your plants need to fully grow and develop. Remove those weeds from your lawn as soon as you see them. Do not give them an opportunity to take over your landscaping Charleston. Prevent them from growing and developing on your lawn by using a pre-emergent at least 3 weeks before their germination period. 4. Setting up secured protection and privacy. Your lawn should always be secured to keep pests from coming inside your property and snacking on your plants and lawns. These pests may cause damage to your plants, eventually causing them to die and wither. To prevent pests from entering your lawn, you can use a critter repellent on the plants. You can also add an electric fence for additional security to your fence.

Learn more about the proper way of landscaping by speaking with a Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC professional.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/4-landscaping-tactics-to-avoid/

Summer Landscaping Tips

Have you thought about your summer landscaping yet? It’s not as hard as you might think to have a beautiful yard with just a little patience and planning. Landscaping can be lots of fun with these tips and advice. You can even take it to the next level by using technology to plan your design!

Ways To Plan Your Summer Landscaping

 1.   Use Your Tablet. Nowadays there are lots of apps you can download to your tablet or other device that will help you plan your landscaping ideas. These apps can tell you the best plants for your climate, what thrives best during summer and what can be planted with them. They also help you choose the plants and flowers that will work best with the way you live. You might not be able to have landscaping that requires lots of maintenance, for instance. Great apps for your smartphone or tablet will give you the pointers and landscaping expert advice you need. 2.   Use A Calendar. Find out which plants and flowers bloom during specific parts of the year so you can toggle them in your summer landscaping design. This will help you always have some plants that are blooming no matter which season it is. 3.   Fill In The Gaps With Annuals. Use some annuals to create lots of color all summer long. They are great when perennials are between blooming cycles, and they can be planted quickly and pulled up easily once the season ends 4.   Create Focal Points That Don’t Require Lots Of Maintenance. Keep in mind that while there are beautiful ways to have focal points, you need to make sure you choose ones that will fit your lifestyle. If you don’t want to have high maintenance features, consider using water designs, ponds, small waterfalls, etc. They look beautiful all year long and you can add or remove other plants as you see fit. 5.   Don’t Forget The Hardscaping. Summer landscaping Charleston needs more than just evergreens and colorful, blooming flowers. Hardscaping includes things like fencing, decks, walkways or raised beds to create a layered effect. Hardscaping provides a constant beauty and interest no matter what is blooming.

Summer landscaping is not only very enjoyable, but it adds great value to your property, as well as your home. So, remember to choose flowers with different blooming cycles, create low-maintenance focal features, and work in hardscaping for interest and function. Landscaping should fit your lifestyle and be a source of joy and serenity. Enjoy your summer landscaping with these easy tips!

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/summer-landscaping-tips/

Hardscape Versus Softscape

Softscape and hardscape are the two main elements that make up your outdoor living space. Softscape and hardscape are opposites of one another. However, both of them are needed to make a landscape fully functional. Hardscape basically refers to the hard stuff in your landscaping like stone, bricks, and concrete. Meanwhile, softscape involve soft and growing stuf like trees, succulents, shrubs, and perennial flowers. Softscape involve living things while hardscape does not. A landscape that’s designed well maintains a balance between these two elements. You’ve probably seen properties in your neighbourhood have too much softcape or hardscape. For example a landscape that is filled with hardscape will look like the driveway of a hotel. Meanwhile, a yard that is overfilled with softscape will make it look like a jungle. Having too much hardscape or landscape will negatively affect the curb appeal of your home. It may even decrease the value of your property. As for your backyard, having too much hardscape won’t make the atmosphere relaxing. Meanwhile, having too much softscape can make your property look like it’s unkempt. It simply means you need to find the balance between softscape and hardscape. Elements of Hardscapes If you know the difference, the characteristics of a hardscape will make more sense.

1. Hardscape are hard yet movable parts of your landscape like stones, paving, and gravel.
2. They are inanimate items.
3. Unchanging and solid
4. Other great examples are pavers, retaining walls, gazebos, driveways, decks, water features, outdoor kitchens, and patios.
5. It could be natural elements like stone or manmade like an outdoor structure.
6. The materials used for hardscape will have varying effects on nature. Pavement is a hardscape. It stops water from getting into the soil, which could increase runoff and carry contaminants into the stream.
7. A shrub is a softscape not a hardscape.

Features of Softscape You’ll find different kinds of plants with varying shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. When choosing softscape, here are few things to consider:

1. Take into account the soft horticultural features of the landscape like the trees, flowers, ground covers, shrubs, and etc.
2. Change and evolution should be constant as they adapt and grow to climate as well as other conditions.
3. Softscape is softer to the touch. It’s like touching blades of grass or leaves of a tree.
4. A brick wall is a hardscape not a softscape.

Landscaping For Properties With Small Spaces

Even if you have a small yard, your landscaping Charleston will still look great and maintain a balance between softscape and hardscape if you plan smart. Think about vertical space. You can economize space by having raised planters as well as pedestals with container gardens. Carefully choose hardscape features. For example, a retaining wall could also serve as a holder for your planter of herbs. Also, having ground covers that can take foot traffic will add softscape between retaining walls and pavers, which creates a great balance.

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC if you need help in creating a beautiful landscape for your home.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/hardscape-versus-softscape/

Landscaping Tips for Dog Owners

Landscaping Tips for Dog Owners

Is your lawn riddled with doggie poop and urine? Don’t worry about it. You’re not alone and there are relatively simple landscaping solutions that you can follow to avoid stumbling on a messy situation. However, you do have to keep in mind that you’ll be adding in the fact that your landscaping design will need to be associated with pets. A good landscaping plan would begin with ditching the regular concept of landscaping. With dogs in mind, effective landscaping Charleston will be far different from that of your average approach. If you will be letting your dog run free in your yard, you’ll have to consider some adjustments, particularly on how to maintain it. If you don’t make these changes, your dogs will continue to drag dirt in the house, make a mess everywhere, and do their business wherever they want. Here are a few tips for you to follow:

Make use hardscaping to avoid urine spots

Dogs have favorite spots where they urinate and grass is among them. You can switch over to a hardscape instead of grass. Since hardscape requires little maintenance and no grass, you won’t have to worry about lawn care. You’ll have less grass to maintain, which of course, translates to the lesser time needed for maintenance. Stone masonry also prevents dogs from digging a hole in your yard and messing up the grass.

Get to know different types of grasses

If you don’t like the added costs of a hardscape, you can go green with grass. But before anything else, you need to get to know your grass. Some variants of grass are more resilient against foot traffic. That means even if your pooch runs over them quite frequently, damage sustained is minimal.

Considering grass alternatives

When you have dogs, the main thing that you are going to worry about is the wear and tear on your grass. Dogs will bring in a lot of foot traffic on your grass. They poop and urinate on them too and that will leave your grass with stains and uneven spots. Some are just unsightly. However, you can rid yourself of grass problems entirely with clover lawns. The fact that clover does not stain even after repetitive exposure to urine makes it a good candidate for replacing grass.

Diluting dog urine

If you still want to stick with grass, that’s not an issue. You can lessen, if not rid, the problem altogether. Constant flushing will do the trick. If you spot your dog urinating in a particular area, be sure to wash it over with water. This will dilute the urine and let it seep into the ground in a less harmful manner to your grass.

Putting up fences

If you want to have a beautiful lawn and have your dogs out at the same time, you could simply install fences around your precious plants. Not only will this keep your dogs out, but this also makes lawn care a lot easier since you won’t have to worry about your plants.

Summing up all considerations

Having a good looking lawn and having dogs doesn’t have to be a huge burden anymore. You can have the best of both worlds with a few simple solutions. You do have to make some drastic changes to your lawn, but the end results will let you and your pooches enjoy your lawn without it getting severely damaged.

Want to give your lawn an entirely new look? Give Porter Hayes Landscaping a call today!

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC Charleston, SC 29419 (843) 532-3270 http://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/

https://www.porterhayeslandscaping.com/landscaping-tips-for-dog-owners/