New Hampshire Landscaping Blog

Retaining wall design-retaining wall construction

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:11:30 -0600

Retaining wall design

What do you think of when you think of "The Look that Defines New Hampshire�? Does your mind�s eye bring up images of driving along a road lined with old stone walls? You�re not alone. New Hampshire stone walls are often thought of as the �quintessential� look of New Hampshire. Stone walls were quite practical in the old days. When the farmer cleared a field, stones were everywhere. After all, this is the "Granite State�. The stacked stone walls served a dual purpose in that it was a handy place to stack the removed field stone from the fields as well as mark the boundaries of the land. These stone walls are beautiful, and to look at one gives you a little taste of the history of that place. Today, we build stone walls for many reasons. Often times, we just need a retaining wall design. When there are a lot of choices out there for retaining wall construction materials that you could make your wall out of, which choice would you make? Sometimes people choose one of the many styles of manufactured concrete block system walls, or even go with a timber wall, but most people that we talk to around this part of the country want to own one of their very own "New Hampshire Stone Walls�. Stone is a beautiful and durable choice for retaining wall constructions. Stone walls can vary in appearance too. The walls can have as many looks as the mind can imagine. They can have interesting shapes, terraces, stone steps going through them, and even be used along a shoreline. The walls can be built out of rounded shaped stones or blocky shape stones. The list of possibilities goes on and on. When a retaining wall design is not needed, another reason to build a "New Hampshire Stone Wall� would be just for the looks. Stone walls are beautiful when built as a "freestanding� feature. In other words, they don�t need to be retaining any soil on one side. The wall may even include a "cap stone�. One of the most fun ways to design a freestanding wall is to make it a "bench � height� wall, and have a capstone on it. The cap can be used as additional seating space if this wall is built next to a patio. This same wall could also have pillars at the ends which really makes a visual statement. The pillars are a great place to incorporate some outdoor lighting. The old stone walls that were at one time built at the edges of the farmers fields are a type of freestanding wall. Maybe you want one that looks like these. Nothing says "we�ve finally arrived� at our New Hampshire home like driving past your very own New Hampshire stone wall and turning into your driveway at last.

Walk way design-Landscaping walkways

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:11:22 -0600

Walk way design

(Landscapesbytom)

Walkways. What can we say? Everybody uses them. So, how are New Hampshire walkways different? Easy � they�re in New Hampshire! Seriously though; Walkways are an important feature in our landscapes. We want them to be both functional and beautiful. Landscaping walkways also need to be safe and easy to traverse. New Hampshire, just by the mere fact that we have so many hilly grades and rough terrains, provides a designer with the best walk way design opportunities ever! Designers love to see opportunities where a surprise can await you around the next bend. Also, designers love to see places where we can create beautiful steps, go around big boulder outcroppings, and come around a bend just to see the next view! All of these are ways in which New Hampshire walkways are unique. What kind of opportunities does your yard present for an interesting walkway? Just having a walk from the driveway to the front door isn�t enough. We want to enjoy ALL of our property. Walking through our property on a path is better than just going over grass or through brush. Perhaps you have a wooded area where there is a river down the bank. How about creating a woods path, with wood mulch as the walking surface, and flat stones as steps? You can create your own �hiking� path. All along this path, you may want to plant woodland flowers such as trillium. Or, maybe your yard has several buildings on it. You can create a path to these buildings where you normally would walk. This creates the "bones� for even more landscape design opportunities. Maybe your walks could incorporate a �hub� type junction where several paths converge, and this could create an opportunity to make a planting bed, or even a small water feature in the center island of these walks. New Hampshire landscaping walkways often have to be winter maintained. If you need to maintain a particular walk in the winter, make sure you keep in mind snow removal. Some walk surfaces are easier to shovel than others. Some New Hampshire landscaping walkways are walked on barefoot all summer long because they go from the beach area, up a slope, to the house. If you like to go barefoot, then choose your path surface accordingly. Whatever kind of walk you need or want, we suggest that you always consider a walkway to be a �design opportunity�. Why settle for just getting from one place to another when you can also enjoy that walk? Why not walk past beauty, and frame your views? Landscaping walkways truly are one of the backbones in good landscape design.

Backyard Landscaping Ideas

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:11:03 -0600

Backyard landscaping ideas

(Landscaped by tom)

Need some really fresh ideas for your back yard landscaping? Want something more than just a patio with a few shrubs? Here are some great ideas that will put some life into your back yard. These ideas could make your back yard landscaping the best gathering place in the neighborhood! If you want activities for all of your family and friends, let us suggest that you think about 1) Outdoor fireplace designs 2) Outdoor kitchen ideas and 3) pool landscaping ideas. These ideas will give you something to do from sun-up until far past sun-down. You can go for a morning dip in the pool, have an afternoon meal prepared in your outdoor kitchen, and then have a gathering in the evening around the fireplace.

Outdoor fireplace designs can range from a simple ring of rocks in the grass to an elegant fireplace next to your patio that rivals the most beautiful fireplace you�ve ever seen in an indoor �great room�� complete with stone facing, a mantle, a hearth, and a built-in log storage area. Let�s start by discussing a more simple �fire ring�. Typically, a �fire ring� will be 4 or more feet in diameter, and have a fire-safe base (to protect tree roots, etc). The ring can be made of natural fieldstone, or large blocky type boulders, or even be a raised ring of pre-cast concrete blocks with a cap-block. These raised concrete block fire rings should have a liner that protects these blocks from heat, and two commonly used liners are either �fire brick� or a section of a large metal culvert. Fire rings can be circular or square; large or small; naturalistic or formal. Whatever the style, they all will provide hours of enjoyment, and add that special touch to your backyard. Next, let�s discuss an outdoor fireplace. Yes, you can build a fireplace that looks just as beautiful and elegant as one that you�ve always admired indoors. There are kits made that get put together for the basic structure. They are made of concrete sections and come in many styles. They are to be faced with stone or brick and have many possible design features such as a semi-circular raised hearth, or a granite mantle, or even an inset area for logs with an arc shape. The facing on one of these fireplaces should look good with whatever type of patio surface you have. Just imagine sitting in front of one of these impressive fireplaces on your stone patio on a cool spring evening. The fire crackles, the moon shines above, the fragrance from the lilacs wafts by, and you are relaxed just loving life. Outdoor fireplace designs are one of the most popular of backyard landscaping ideas. Everybody loves sitting near a warm fire with friends and family in their own back yard.

Outdoor kitchens are another exciting idea for your back yard. Kits are made for these features, and just like the fireplace kits, outdoor kitchens come in many kit sizes, styles and options. They are typically constructed out of pre-formed concrete blocks and can also have facing of stone or brick if you like. Features that are available are many; Set-in gas grills, countertops, built-in mini refrigerators, cupboards, eating counters for pub style seats, etc. Outdoor kitchens definitely add beauty and value to your home. It is wonderful to be able to look out of your patio windows and see a gorgeous, permanent, built-in outdoor kitchen on one end of your patio with a fireplace and seating area nearby.

Last, but not least, in this discussion of great backyard landscaping ideas is landscaping around a pool. Have you always dreamed of having a pool? Do you already have a pool, and it is currently pretty bare, with nothing more than some surrounding concrete and perhaps a few plantings and a fence? Why not incorporate a fire place and an outdoor kitchen into your pool landscaping ideas? Then, make it complete by adding beautiful shrub and flower beds. You will want to make sure that you have patio space enough for lounge chairs for sunbathing. Try considering an overhead structure such as a pergola for some shade. A Pergola is a great option for shade near a pool instead of a shade tree, because it avoids the problem of leaves falling into the pool in the fall. Then don�t forget about concealing the pool utilities. A pretty storage building that matches the style of your home could provide a place to store the pool toys and put the furniture in the winter. Pool landscaping ideas can tie it all together. You could incorporate a pool, patio, fireplace, outdoor kitchen, pergola, and the other ideas mentioned to make the best backyard you could ever imagine!

With all of these backyard landscaping ideas, you can let your wildest landscaping dreams come to life. Beauty and functionality are words that will describe your new backyard. You will say "WOW!� every time you step into your new back yard.

Landscaping as an Investment

Mon, 02 May 2011 07:21:51 -0500

Is your home missing that special 'something'?Would it look 'So much better' if it had some really fun gardens at the front of the home, just beckoning you to come take a look? Gardens that really say "Welcome to our home"? These kind of emotional responses to the first look at your home are often referred to in the real estate profession as "Curb Appeal". The nicer the first impression that your home exudes, the better the overall reaction to your home. There is really no way to accurately compute the return on your investment when it comes to landscaping as an investment, but 'curb appeal' is one of the most obvious things to consider improving if you want to sell your home. A nicely landscaped home can have a significant price and selling advantage over a home with no landscaping.

There is much more to landscaping than just an afterthought of a few shrubs. Buyers will not be impressed with a boring, unmanicured bed. Well thought out designs, along with maturity of plant sizes and a clean appearance are things that will give a positive emotional response from a potential buyer. Make sure that your landscaping has good planting design, and keep the plants well trimmed and deadheaded. Keep the edges of the bed neat by doing things such as 'hand trenching', adding curbing, or other edging materials. Keep the beds well weeded and fertilized to give the bed the maximum effect. Doing small investments of money by edging, weeding, mulching, and fertilizing can pay you back quite handsomely.

Good landscaping is actually one of the only property improvements that you can do that will actually increase in value over time. Think about it; paint chips, rugs get stained, decor goes out of style over time. Landscaping, however, just grows and gets better with age. By just doing the things mentioned above - like regular weeding - your beds have the potential to increase in value over time. You would do well to consider landscaping as an investment.

Earliest Spring Blooming Flowers

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:39:58 -0500

After a long winter, if you are like me, you could use some of the earliest spring blooming flowers to brighten your yard and your spirits. Many plants like lilacs and peonies are spring blooming plants but they bloom a little later on in the spring. Why not incorporate some of the earliest spring blooming flowers into your landscape? By doing this, you can get a jump on the growing season, and enjoy color as early as possible. Seeing the very first blossoms always gives me a lift. Our top ten picks for the earliest spring blooming flowers are these: 1) Magnolia 2) Forsythia 3) Flowering Quince 4) Pussy Willow 5) Crocus 6) Daffodils 7) Pasque Flower 8) Creeping Phlox 9) Grape Hyacinth 10) Trillium. The first 4 plants in our top ten picks of the earliest spring blooming flowers fall into the category of 'trees and shrubs', and the rest would fall into the category of 'perennials and bulbs'. If you plant a combination of these, not only will you be able to acheive a difference in heights, but also in colors. For example, the Forsythia blooms even before the leaves burst forth with an intense yellow. Quince gives a beautiful display of orange, and creeping phlox comes in a variety of colors ranging from white to pink to purple.

This photo of a crocus poking it's brave little head out of the snow clearly shows that it is in a bed area that needs some "spring cleanup". Doing spring cleanup in your yard will also help to get you into the swing of the season, and lift your spirits as well. Just like it is nicer to come home to a clean house, the same goes for a clean bed. We, at Landscapes by Tom, can give your yard a good spring cleanup for you. We can edge your beds, clean out any dead foliage, weed, prune, and top dress your mulch areas. Getting your yard beautified early in the spring will help you to enjoy your landscaping to it's fullest for the entire season.

Think Spring !

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:17:18 -0500

Can you believe it? This photo was taken on April 5th ! But spring is just around the corner, whether it looks like it or not. The load limits are still on the roads, and dirt roads are more like mud traps in places. I actually saw a Robin just before I snapped this photo. I wish it would've posed for the picture. Your yard is probably a little more snow - free than this site, since it was taken at a higher elevation. Have you begun to "think spring"?! The "Early Bird" catches the worm! Now is a good time to start planning for your spring projects. Keep Landscapes by Tom at the top of your spring "to-do" list. Give us a call today to set up your free initial consultation. We'd love to help you get the ball rolling, and start planning for your spring landscaping needs. Perhaps all you need is a spring clean-up, inclluding bed clean-up, a little pruning, edging the bed and adding some fresh mulch. Spring clean ups are essential to starting your yard off on the right foot. Whatever your needs, we are here to help!

Spring gardening journal

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:08:53 -0500

Ideas for Spring-time entries into your �GARDENING JOURNAL�

Landscapesbytom

For those that follow our writings this is another set of ideas for your "Gardening Journal�. If your a new reader please begin here. You might find that keeping a gardening journal will prove to be a rewarding experience. Once you�ve really started being good at keeping a gardening journal, you may wonder how you ever did without it! It can be one of the best property management tools ever. A journal can help tremendously with keeping track of and caring for your property, gardens, tools, budget, and all sorts of things that you never even considered. This article is intended to give you some ideas on things that you may want to consider when doing entries into your journal in the Spring-time months. Your journal should have a calendar and a drawn out scaled diagram of your property included in its pages. Make entries and notes on these items when it applies to what you are doing. Keep in mind that our gardening schedules here in New Hampshire depend more on the weather than on what date it is, so be flexible with timing when needed. Certain chores will be done on a regular or weekly basis, and some chores will be done only during a certain season. There are certain plants that need to be cared for during the proper stage of their growth. When your property is cared for properly and regularly, you will be rewarded with plants that have not been allowed to become ragged-looking, and your landscaping will contain all of the good ideas that you have implemented over the years. Enjoy your gardens to their fullest.

Enter these chores or notes into your Journal:

Take a careful look at the gardens and list all plants that have been winter damaged. Inspect trees for bark problems such as �sun scald� or rodent damage and shrubs for damage such as snow fall from roofs. If you need a professional landscaping company who does design / build projects, call them now to set up a consultation. Put these ideas into a �notes� area or a �to do� list, and then enter them on the calendar when you actually did them. When your notes and entries end up consolidated, then, over time you will have a detailed �log� of �what to do� when. Perhaps you have decided that you would like a brick walk going from the rear garage door extending up to your patio. Now would be a good time to put this on your scaled diagram. This will allow you to figure out the costs accurately. Then, you can move any plants now that will be in the way of this new area. Plan out what plants you would like to have here, and don�t plant anything that will be in the way of your new walk. Take into consideration when designing your new walk things such as the roof drip line, orientation to the sun, and how to make it more interesting than just a straight line. This may be a good place to call in the professionals for proper walk installation and design help.

Chores that are best done in the spring:

Divide overgrown perennials and plant them in their new locations (note locations on your scaled diagram). Clean up all of your bed areas to be free of leaves and last years� dead growth, and then top-dress mulch areas with some fresh mulch. Applications of fertilizers are typical spring chores as well as pre-emergent crabgrass treatments (be sure to follow label directions). Prune deciduous trees while they are still dormant. Most non-flowering shrubs can be pruned in early spring before growth appears. Begin weeding, and if you use pre-emergent herbicides apply them early before new weed seeds can germinate and sprout. Place out supports early for tall, heavy perennials to prevent them from flopping on the ground (such as peony). Keep an eye out for early signs of diseases and pests in order to treat any potential problems as soon as possible. Prune lilacs and other spring-flowering shrubs only as soon as they are done blossoming (such as lilac). Plant or set out any annual flowers and hanging baskets after the danger of frost is gone. Get your irrigation system up and running and make sure it has the proper settings.

If you didn�t do these last fall, do them now:

You would be surprised how much time you�ll waste if you don�t keep your tools and gardening supplies well organized. If you didn�t already take care of these kinds of chores last fall, do them now. Get the lawn mower ready with an overall checkup and then clean and sharpen the blades. Put all of your gardening supplies in a cabinet or tool shed. You may want to lock it if you have children that shouldn�t be allowed access to chemicals. If you create "a place for everything with everything in its place�, you won�t waste time trying to find that watering wand when you need it. If you put even these type things into your journal, you can record costs, time spent, ideas on what tools you still need to buy, and perhaps an idea for a future garden shed may come into mind.

There are endless possibilities on what may end up in your journal in the spring: perhaps some inspiring magazine clippings for future reference, or when you sighted your first robin. Perhaps you will note that you need to remember to plant daffodil bulbs in the fall in that certain place that you have in mind. Your gardens are unique. Your ideas and plans are unique. Keeping a gardening journal may be one of the best property management tools ever. It doesn�t really cost anything, and may save you a bundle. But more than that, your journal can help you to enjoy your gardens to their fullest. Happy Gardening!

NH Gardening

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:38:38 -0600

GARDENS START WITH PLANNING

If you live here, you already know that New Hampshire Gardening can be a challenge. There are so many different environments in this state! Do you live on the seacoast, in the lakes region or in the mountains? All of these different areas will have different plant hardiness zones and special conditions to be aware of before you do anything! Any good garden starts with good planning, and NH gardening is no exception!

NH Landscapers are very aware of what grows well where you live, and have designers that specialize in customizing your landscaping to your own individual tastes, needs, and site requirements, so why not give one a call? They can help you with questions, or design your landscaping for you, as well as install it with professionalism.

Have you ever attempted to do your landscaping yourself, only to end up with a �hodge-podge� looking mess? Have you ever tried to install a patio, only to have it heave up on you the first winter? Or did your bed just end up being boring? NH Landscapers know the tricks to good garden planning. Sometimes, however, people enjoy trying their hand at their own garden planning. If you want to work on your own plan � if for nothing more than to have it be a great communication tool to your landscape designer, then try considering these thoughts. The first thing to do is make a complete assessment of what already exists on your property, and put it to scale on graph paper ( 1/8� or 1/10� scale usually works best). This assessment will include such things as the following; The house (include windows with heights from ground, hot vents, areas of heavy snow fall from roof, etc), existing trees and shrubs (which ones to keep, move, or transplant), slopes, views (to keep or to block), prevailing winds, sun and shade conditions, wildlife visitors, foot traffic patterns, plus many other considerations. The next thing to do is make a complete list of things that you�d like to accomplish with your finished landscape design. This list can be very long. You may not end up doing all the things on your list, but you may be surprised at how you can solve more than one thing at a time with good design. The first diagram you make on a copy of the scaled base map should be a �bubble diagram�. This would include deciding on general use areas and how they connect. For example; Draw �bubbles� or, in other words, outline areas such as �service / utility area�, �entry garden area�, �outdoor living area�, �recreation area�, �border areas�, etc. Then, start your designing. Put all of the details on the paper; every plants location, layout of walks, etc. Sometimes, it helps to visualize what the design may end up looking like in real life if you put out a garden hose where the bed edge is planned, and put stakes out where the major plants will go. Try taking a photo of your house and adding what the plantings will look like in that view on a print of that photo. Here is where the NH Landscapers that you have chosen to work with can really help you out. Your landscape designer can help you understand all the aspects of how your plan will work and help you change anything that you may not have thought about. Then, last but certainly not least, a materials list and a proposal of costs should be done so that you will know exactly what you are going to need to spend on your project. If your �dream design� ends up being over your budget it�s better to find out at this point than later!

With all of this good planning, you will be sure to be able to accomplish the gardens of your dreams within a budget that you can afford. PLAN�.PLANT�.ENJOY!

Belknap landscaping

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:15:51 -0600

Belknap county landscaping

("Landscapes by Tom�)

"Landscapes by Tom� is located in the heart of Belknap County. We are proud to serve all of our friends and neighbors. If you live in Belknap and are interested in landscaping, we invite you to give the professionals on our staff the opportunity to help you with your next project. We strive to maintain a vision for our home area � one of maintaining a beauty which is unique to our part of the state. Belknap landscaping requires different types of design due to the many types of terrain in the county. There are steep slopes, lakeshores, residential neighborhoods, wide open areas, wooded areas, granite outcroppings, and a wide variety of other challenging situations that make beautiful, unique and interesting landscapes. Landscaping in Belknap offers many opportunities to have beautiful rock walls, beaches, and other features such as rock and paver steps leading up a slope to your front door. Belknap County is home to the residents of Meredith, Gilford, Alton, Center Harbor, New Hampton and Laconia. We like to think of Meredith as the �jewel� of Lake Winnipesaukee, and it is a privilege to be part of this community.

Meredith is truly a beautiful town. It is proud to boast beautiful landscaping everywhere you look. This town has flower displays throughout the summer, earning it nationwide recognition. With this kind of reputation, it is no wonder that landscaping in Belknap County is important to its residents. Belknap County goes along the entire eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, so naturally, there are countless summer homes and summer attractions in our area. This is a popular vacation spot, so we like to think of Belknap County landscaping as being typically vacation � oriented.

We specialize in �custom � fitting� your property to your lifestyle. We would like to encourage you to think of your property as your next "Vacation � Destination�. Think of all of the activities that you enjoy, and make a list of them on paper. You may be surprised at how many of these activities can be suited to your property, making your home more enjoyable for lazy summer days, fun summer parties, and easy maintenance. Your list might read like this: Boating, volleyball, barbeques, beach fun, gardening, cooking, hiking, bird watching, horseshoes, and camp fires. Just think of it! You are having a get-together on a beautiful weekend. The gorgeous new patio has ample room for all of your guests, and there is an outdoor kitchen area near the kitchen door. The burgers are ready on the grill. Your gardens are providing you with the blueberries for desert. After lunch, you could enjoy a game of volleyball on your perched beach, and descend down your stone stairs to the dock and go boating. When you come back, the kids can make sand castles on the beach while you enjoy watching the birds in the nearby trees. You can hike along a nature trail in your own patch of woods and come back to a game of horseshoes in your back yard. Then the evening could be topped off with a campfire in your fire pit overlooking the lake. Why go to a resort when you can have it all? Not to worry!... We can design your landscaping to be low maintenance too! If you don�t want to spend much time pruning or mowing, just let us know. There are ideas that we can show you to help reduce your maintenance.

We believe in making sound investments. Invest in your property � increase its value. Invest in your time � make the best use of your time by not having to travel far. Invest in your peace of mind - love your life and love your property. It�s worth it.

Patio design

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:48:40 -0600

New Hampshire Patio Design

(Landscapes by Tom)

Patios are one of the most desired landscape features that homeowners want. No wonder � patios are the most used feature (other than an entry walk) in our yards. We get hours of enjoyment on our patios. Many types of activities take place on patios. We barbecue, have dinners, have parties, have bonfires, do crafts with the kids, sunbathe, and the list goes on. Therefore, designing our patios is an important thing to consider before actually having a patio installed. Think about the following things when considering patio designs in New Hampshire.

First of all, make a list of all of the activities that you can think of that you will want to be able to do on your patio. Your list may include the things listed above in addition to things such as an outdoor shower, an outdoor kitchen complete with a refrigerator and counter-top, a place to store wood for the bonfire, extra seating space for all of the grand-kids, outdoor lighting, fragrant flowers planted nearby, a water feature next to your seating area, a shade tree if there is too much direct sun, etc. Many homeowners in New Hampshire are fortunate enough to have fantastic views of lakes and mountains. If you have a great view, of course you will want to place the patio where you can enjoy that too. The next thing to do with your New Hampshire patio design is to lay your desired patio area out on graph paper. Our designers will be happy to help you with this process. The patio can be designed to properly lay out living room space, dining space, kitchen space as well as always keeping in mind maintaining a good traffic flow. When the patio is laid out onto graph paper and you like how the space works, you also will need to be thinking about what kind of surface you want on the patio. Do you want a natural bluestone patio? Natural stone is a �local� product and is a very fitting material to use in New Hampshire patio design. Natural stone can be done in both irregular shaped stone or more geometrically shaped stones which have been cut into squares or rectangles. Other products are available to use in the category of bricks. There is a huge selection of bricks to choose from which will give you some very interesting looks. Stone or brick; whatever you choose � you will have a patio that will endure for many years of use.

There may be other considerations for your New Hampshire patio design as well as what we�ve already discussed. For example; 1) does your property fall under any of the DES rules for shore land protection? If so, the impervious areas on your yard will be looked at and your patio size can not exceed what the DES will allow. You may also look into using "permeable pavers�. 2) Is your patio going to be located where there will be any grading required? 3) Where is the drainage pattern for the patio area?

If you are interested in having a patio installed on your property, let one of our designers help you with the design. You will be sure to enjoy the process of seeing your patio develop!