Which landscape lighting is right for you?

Some fixtures light up driveways and walkways while others highlight fountains and plants. Landscape lighting will cover different outdoor lighting fixtures, that if used together, could bring your home to life at night.

Here you’ll learn how to purchase landscape lighting including the design as well as how to link your lighting system outside your house.

What are the different types of outdoor lighting?

Landscaping Charleston SC lighting could boost the curb appeal of your property by giving it a layered and inviting look with the use of different lights.

Path lights – commonly used in driveways and walkways.

Landscape flood lights and spotlights – it helps highlight fountains, trees, plants, as well as other focal points in your property. Spotlights come with a focused light beam; floodlights will light up a wide area.

Well lights – these are added in the ground and they shine upwards to accent plantings and trees.

Deck and Step Lights – boost the safety with the deck and step lights as well as along the railings and stairs.

Post cap lights – added on the end railings and could add more lighting to porches and decks.

What are the three types of lighting systems?

Low voltage landscape lighting – they use a transformer that changes or steps down the house’s volt current to a much lower voltage, which is usually 12 volts. It’s better to use low voltage systems to prevent the risk of shock and encourages easier installation because the electrical cable could be placed on the ground without any conduit.

Line voltage – these systems are hard-wired into the standard 110-120 voltage feed of your home.

Solar-powered landscape lights – these are self-contained lights that are recommended to be used during bright day locations and in places with sunny climates.

Customize your Outdoor Lighting System

You could make a system that will satisfy your unique requirements with this basic combination of these parts.

Lights – you should use a mix of pot, path, and flood lights to meet your needs.

Cable – you should use the low voltage wires that can be used outdoors. Be sure to keep an additional cable on hand if ever you decide to change the layout.

Connectors – waterproof and corrosion-proof gel-filled connectors could make connecting cables and lights even more simple. There are connectors included when you purchase landscape lights.

Landscape transformers – a transformer is needed for low voltage systems as it helps lower the line voltage in your home. Both plug-in and hard wire versions are offered.

There are transformers that come with built in photocells or timers for automatic on or off operations. If you’re looking for easy and out-of-the-box locations, you should find a complete landscape light kids in the market.

Why Choose LED Landscape Lights?

If you are looking for energy efficient lights, then you should consider LED landscape lighting. They last 25 times longer compared to the conventional incandescent lighting. So why is it an excellent option for landscaping lighting?

You could switch on the lights in the evening for a much cheaper cost. You can bid farewell to the hassle brought on by changing outdoor lights. LED lighting can last for years. Since it uses little watts of energy, you can use a lot of them with any transformer that’s provided.

 

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC if you’re looking for experts who can help you with your landscape lighting needs.

 

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

5 Reasons Your Business Needs Landscaping Charleston SC

Landscaping Charleston SC should be considered as a necessity instead of a luxury. For a business with physical locations, landscaping is what clients see first, experience, and judge. If your outdoor space is poorly maintained, it will send a negative message to your prospective clients and to the general public, too.

Landscaping Charleston SC Adds Value To Your Business

Consider landscaping as a form of indirect marketing. A properly maintained exterior can be seen as a direct reflection of your company. You should treat your landscape as an aspect of branding that lets you say what your tagline and logo can’t. If you’re wondering about the return on investment of your landscaping, you should think about this. A well-maintained and groomed landscaping can boost the value of your property by up to 15%.

Attract More People

It is not surprising that people will respond much better to sets that have a good amount of green footprint. One survey discovered that 74% of the public prefer to gather in stores and common areas of commercial establishments with more plants, trees, and fresh greenery.

Improve Your Employee’s Well-Being

Landscaping maintenance is a proactive way of promoting wellness in your workplace. A study conducted by the University of Exeter discovered that workers who are surrounded by nature and natural landscapes suffer stress less. Aside from that, it found that participants saw a 40% increase in their environmental satisfaction.

Looks are Important

Contrary to common belief, looks matter a lot. Making the outside of your establishment look pretty may involve a basic clean up but the overall objective must be to have it complement the building where your business is.

In case your facility needs to improve its curb appeal, you have to do something with it like work with a landscape designer right away to prevent it from negatively impacting your business. The public may assume that your business isn’t updated or worse, they may think that as a business owner, you’re not proud of your work. Furthermore, a study revealed that curb appeal accounts for 70% of first-time sales.

Save Money and Time

Is there anything that’s much better than time and money? Hire landscaping experts if your outdoors need proper maintenance. If you think you’re better off hiring in-house landscapers, you need to remember that you have to handle the training of your staff, purchasing the equipment, and maintaining them, too. You’re also responsible for reordering the needed landscaping supplies and making sure that your landscaping team is safe.

Although you can save some cash if you rake the leaves and pick weeks yourself. But the question is, are you doing a good job? What about the types of jobs that you’re not familiar with? Do you expect your employees or yourself to spend all your spare time googling what needs to be done? Why don’t you hire a professional instead?

 

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now and let our team handle the landscaping work needed to improve your commercial establishment’s curb appeal.

 

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

Landscaping Maintenance For Dry Climates

Landscaping during dry seasons could be difficult because of too much heat and lack of water. Limiting the lawn size and selecting plants that can withstand drought are some of the ways to have a good looking yard. Aside from that, adding extra hardscaping elements could add more style. Finally, ensuring that landscaping makes the most of the runoff and integrates water conservation methods will help make sure that a successful landscaping in dry climates.

Planning Your Landscaping Maintenance

Sine grass needs water, if you need to have grass, limit the lawn size by adding more hardscaping elements and plants into your entire landscaping plan. You could also utilize your yard’s layout to your advantage. You should plant at the bottom of the slope to use the water runoff and think of using containers for plants that need more water.

Choosing The Right Plants

The kind of plant that you select is also crucial. Choosing plants that are tolerant to drought and native to drier weather conditions is a good place to begin. A few ornamental grasses have a tendency to be more water hardy, too. Other plants that are water hardy include goat’s beard, catmint, lavender, as well as the lady’s mantle.

Grouping the plants that have similar needs will help conserve water. Planting them while they’re still small will give them greater opportunities to adapt to the weather condition. Aside from that, raised beds can prevent the loss of water and much less mulch is required by dense flower beds.

Edging

If your landscaping Charleston SC needs much, you can use gravel to keep the soil moist while still preventing the growth of weeds. You could also make use of landscaping edging to stop weeds as well as other undesired vegetation that might consume more water from your yard. In case you have pavers as paths, you can leave gaps between them so that water will be encouraged to soak down into the ground. Adding elements like trees as well as big bushes would provide shade so that plants are protected from the heat of the sun. Using landscaping edging to assist in the separation of specific parts of your landscape will help in controlling water movement, too.

Hardscaping

Landscaping experts said that hardscaping is a perfect way to add more visual interest without the need for additional plants. Big boulders and rocks could be utilized to direct the flow of water as well as runoff while still presenting visual interest. Decorative elements such as sculptures could also be included for more class and personality. Landscape edging that are strategically positioned could help prevent or encourage the movement of water throughout your landscaping.

Water Conservation

Landscapes in drier climates require water conservation because it’s crucial to use methods that will help save water. These include the utilization of drip irrigation systems, water runoff, as well as the collection of rainwater in barrels, soil furrows, as well as terracing. Water early in the evening or morning could help minimize the loss of water from evaporation during the hot water season. You can still have a lovely yard even if it’s dry season as long as you follow these methods.

Call now and let our team of landscaping experts help maintain your lawn not only during dry season but throughout the entire year.

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

Hardscaping Guide To Outdoor Pavers

Prior to starting your hardscaping outdoor pavers project, make sure that you choose the best paver stone to match your style. Pavers provide an all-natural elegance and style to your outdoor space, yet they are likewise the most resilient choice to concrete. Interlocking paver stones are created to secure with one other in order to protect anything from growing between. It is also a way to prevent the ground from cracks.

One hardscaping Charleston method that most homeowners prefer is pavers. Pavers are produced and can be found in a range of forms, dimensions and even colors. Homeowners have a range of options too, depending on their budget, style, and preference. So before you continue with you outdoor paver project, get to know the types of pavers best for you.

Type of Outdoor Pavers

1. Textured pavers

These pavers are not smooth, however, they have a distinctive look for a more personalized and expensive appearance. This is normally the most effective pavers for bordering swimming pool locations as the structure could protect against anybody from falling or slipping.

1. Tumbled Pavers

Tumbled pavers are generally the typical pavers you find when looking around. These types of pavers undergo a detailed procedure that wears down sharp edges and also provides a type of all-natural, antique appearance.

After the procedure is finished, the sides seem damaged or cracked, providing a distinct vintage feeling. If you want to have that castle vibe in your home, tumbled pavers are best for you.

1. Smooth pavers.

A smooth, strong surface area makes these pavers a very easy solution for any person that desires a natural look for their outdoor space. You could utilize the very same smooth pavers on your driveway, sidewalk as well as an outdoor patio to maintain your landscape looking great. Smooth pavers are the easiest way to attain an elegant look that can last for a long time.

When making a decision which pavers are ideal for you, you have to know the look you want to achieve. If you have a specific budget in mind, you could find bargains and also discount rates that will certainly assist you to save on cash. This is particularly helpful when doing a big pavers project. It is also recommended to hire landscaping experts such as Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC who can do the job.

Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC in Charleston can provide you with the best landscape and hardscape professionals at a reasonable price.

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

Landscaper Charleston SC: Planning and Installing Lawn Sprinkler Systems

If you’re tired of becoming a human sprinkler system by moving your portable sprinklers from one spot in your yard to another, then you need to hire a landscaper Charleston SC to install a lawn sprinkler system. Based on the size of the project as well as the selected system, the process of installation can take one whole weekend or perhaps several weekends more. To get the job done correctly, be ready to do a bit of planning and work. But, with the right parts and prep work, your home lawn sprinkler system installation will be done in no time.

DIY Installation Vs. Landscaper Charleston SC Lawn Sprinkler System Installation

Just like any kind of major home improvement project, there are benefits and drawbacks of doing the job on your own and hiring a landscaper to get the job done. Aside from the job done by irrigation professionals when you hire a landscaping expert to get the job done, the system will be covered by warranty. This implies that in case something goes wrong with the system, the firm will return to your place and fix it with no additional charge. Of course, this is not the case if you install the sprinkler system on your own. Because you will be responsible for repairing any problem and deal with the associated costs as well.

Among the biggest reasons a person may take on the installation of an irrigation system is to cut back on the cost. The average price of an expert sprinkler system installation range from $2,900 to $4,500, according to the size of the lawn, the company, and the materials to be used. Whereas, buying the parts as well as doing the work on your own average about $1,500 or less. But, you should also know that doing the job on your own means spending time and effort.

Planning for the sprinkler system

Before you can begin digging the holes and laying down the pipes for the installation of your sprinkler system, you have to so some planning ahead of time. Get in touch with your local utility firms and let them visit your company and mark the underground lines. The final thing that you have to do is chop the utility to lines and lose internet, cable, telephone, or electrical connection.

The next thing you need to do is check the local county offices and determine if you have to secure a permit for the installation of your sprinkler system. You can check if you could install the unit yourself or if you need to hire a landscaper, per local and state regulations. Apart from that, you have to research your local rules and regulations on water usage on the lawn. The rules may vary from one location to another.

 

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now if you want to avoid the hassle of having to install the sprinkler system on your own. With our team of expert landscapers, we can install your irrigation system properly and quickly at a price you can afford.

 

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

Landscaping and Lawn Care: 4 Fertilizing Tips To Know

Landscaping and lawn care involves regular fertilizing is important in helping your lawn maintain its appearance and health. Grasses need to survive in harsh environments. Most evolved on prairies and ranges, and now they’re placed under extremely stressful situations including poor mowing and urban soils. They need to compete with other shrubs, grasses, and trees for nutrients and water. And grass clippings, which provides them with nitrogen, is often removed.

If you want to be a well versed weekend fertilizer, here are some effective tips from landscaping Charleston experts that you need to know.

Landscaping and Fertilizing Tips From The Pros

Use appropriate fertilizer

There different types of fertilizers in the market today. Find the one that has slow release nitrogen. You can search for it on the bag’s label, in the section where it says “Guaranteed Minimum Analysis.” Generally speaking, the more slow release nitrogen it contains, the better. This will help them feed the grass equally, cut back on the growth flushes that could make moving more difficult, and also minimizes the possibility of nutrients leaving the lawn prematurely.

Apply the fertilizer at the appropriate rate

Follow the instructions on the label regarding the process of application. Keep in mind that more does not necessarily mean that it’s better. Adding too much fertilizer will cause your grass to excessively fast. And when you apply more fertilizer than what the plants can use, that will increase the likelihood of negative environmental effects. If you’re using the weed and feed products, too much herbicides may harm your grass as well as the other plants you have in your yard. On the other hand, if you add too little fertilizer, it won’t provide your grass with the nutrients it needs to be healthy. The appropriate amount of fertilizer will help your grass be healthy and will prepare it to fight against diseases, insects, and weeds.

Fertilize at the correct time

Spring and fall are the best time to apply fertilizer. During the summer season, when the temperatures are high, grasses grow slower. You may need to apply fertilizer but only minimal. Slow release fertilizer can help offer slow yet steady nutrition through the summer. In some areas, the best time to fertilize is late spring through mid summer. It’s the time when the grass is growing fast and requires a lot of fertilizer. Most fertilizers are created for specific regions and specific times of the year.

Add fertilizer at the correct place

Add as much fertilizer on your lawn as you can. Fertilizers tend to wind up on streets, sidewalks, walks, and driveways. Sweep up the fertilizer and return it to the bag or sweep it up and return it into your lawn. Fertilizer that remains on hard surfaces could be washed in water bodies such as streams or storm drains. You can protect water by making sure that the fertilizer stays where it should. In case your fertilizer doesn’t contain insecticides or herbicides, you can fertilize the shrubs and the other plants you have in your lawn when applying fertilizer.

Use science as your guide. Think of getting a soil test that will identify the nutrient status of the soil, especially if you have an unhealthy lawn. A landscaping company can perform this test and offer recommendations on how you can improve your lawn’s health.

 

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now and let our team of experts help you with your landscaping and lawn care needs.

 

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

Designing and Installing A Patio Paver

A patio paver is a valuable asset to any home. Nothing could be much better than enjoying your beautiful landscaping and the fresh air that comes with it. But you need to have a well hardscaped place for the magic to begin.

Grass and dirt are a poor surface for tables and chairs. Landscaping rock as well as pea gravel are simple and economical to install, however, they have a tendency to scatter. Concrete slabs are expensive and labor intensive. However, there’s a compromise and these are patio pavers installed together with a product referred to as polymeric sand.

Materials and Tools Needed To Install Patio Paver

The materials you need are spikes, plastic edging, landscaping fabric, polymeric sand, paver sand, paver base or crushed stone, as well as pavers.

The tools you require are broom, tape measure, bubble level, hand tamper, wheelbarrow, shovel or spade, wood stakes, twine or string, PVC pipe, lumber, utility knife, dust mask, landscaping edging tool, leaf blower, hammer, masonry chisel, and rubber mallet.

A patio paver Charleston is excellent DIY projects. The best solution to managing the seams between the pavers is polymeric sand. It pours like sand but it will solidify like mortar. The idea behind polymeric sand is you have to install the pavers on the gravel and sand base then sweep it across the top so that you can force the sand right into the seams. All of the polymeric sand should be removed from the paver surface well before you wet the patio pavers with water. The water will react with the polymeric sand and it will form a cohesive and tight joint.

Design an Appealing Patio

Patio pavers rely on their base. You must have a layer of paver base and crushed gravel that’s about five inches. And then add a one inch layer of paver sand on top. The pavers will then reset on the sand and then the polymeric sand will be swept in the seams in between the pavers. The length and width of the patio will be multiplied by the needed material depths would let you know how much sand and gravel base you need.

Add a stake at every corner of your desired patio site and the run the string around the stakes so you can form a rectangle or square. You should then dig the patio perimeter area. Once that’s done, you can remove the string but still leave the stake in place.

The next thing you should do is to dig the inner patio area and then add the landscape fabric. The next step is to add the gravel base and the sand base layer before you screed it. You should lay the patio pavers and the cut the patio pavers before you add the plastic edging. Once these are done, you can add polymeric sand.

 

Call Porter Hayes Landscaping LLC now if you need professional help in installing patio pavers.

 

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