Property Creations, Inc. Tips & Information

Rainwater harvesting allows you to keep a green lawn even in a drought!

2009-01-05T06:37:00.000-08:00

Everyone who went through this past summer knows how hard a drought can hit your lawn, especially when a water ban is enforced. But for many of our clients, the water ban wasn't an issue, because when it did rain, their lawns got roughly triple the benefit of other lawns because they installed a rainwater harvesting system.

For most people, when it rains, it's a brief respite from the slow death of their lawn. But with a harvesting system, you can capture water that would normally end up as runoff, and use it at your discretion by re-introducing it into your watering system. This means that you are free to water your lawn even at the height of a drought, ban or no ban, keeping your lawn lush, green and the envy of the neighborhood.

The Best Defense – A little work now can prevent major hassles in the spring

2008-12-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

1. Water your lawn – this not only keeps your grass healthy, but can give it the head start it needs to keep the weeds at bay in the spring.
2. Clear out and replace debris – Fall has come and gone, and if all that debris is left alone, it can cause rot and attract a whole host of tiny evildoers to your lawn and landscaping.
3. Pre-treat with weed killers – The weeds are germinating right now, just waiting for spring to explode into full glory. Put a stop to that now.
4. Plant for Spring – November and December are the ideal time to plant bulbs for spring color, as deep cold actually activates the germination process.

The Importance of Insulating Plants for Cool Weather

2008-11-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

When you or your kids leave the house when it gets cool, you make sure they're bundled up, right? And it's not just for comfort, it's for their health. Well, your plants are no different. Cold can have adverse effects on your landscaping, just as it can on pets and family.

Of course, they don't make mittens and mufflers for shrubbery. Instead, you want to make sure you insulate your plants against the cold with pinestraw or some other plant bedding that will hold in air and keep the frigid air from freezing the ground around the root systems.

With just a little attention, you can keep your lawn happy and healthy year round, and ready to spring back to life when the weather warms up again.

Rainwater Harvesting Lowers Your Water Bill

2008-11-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

We're not sure why rain is associated with the blues. For many of our clients, rain brings smiles to their faces...and a sigh of relief to their pocketbooks, because their rainwater harvesting systems save them as much as 60% on their water bill.

A rainwater harvesting system lets nature help save you money by taking the water it gives you and putting it to work around your house. Lawncare, flushing toilets, doing laundry---all of these tasks can be handled just as well by collected rainwater, filtered by your system. Studies show that only 40% of your household water use requires the sort of potable water delivered by your local water works. By harvesting rainwater, you could end up paying only for that 40%!

Planting Late in the Year

2008-10-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

Planting late in the year? Don't worry! Fall is one of the best times to plant and transplant many perennials, shrubs, and trees.

These plants tend to have a hardy root system that can withstand cooler temperatures and aren’t focused on providing nutrients to new growth or blooming flowers at this time of year. I’ve seen a number of people waste good money on expensive plants in the spring only to find they are dead by mid-summer due to improper care. But in most cases, if you start with a healthy plant come fall and put it into the ground, it will become well-established by spring and have a good chance at survival.

A good rule of thumb is to try and get the plants in the ground about 6 weeks before the first frost, so don’t wait too long!

How to Prepare your Lawn/Plants for Fall

2008-10-06T11:04:00.000-07:00

Caring for your lawn in the fall is as important as in spring and summer. Regular care is the key to an attractive and healthy lawn through the fall and winter months.

Fall fertilization is the key to prolonging fall color and promoting early spring recovery of the lawn. It helps produce a dense turf that resists winter weeds. Fertilizer used in the fall should be higher in nitrogen and potassium and lower in phosphorus. Grasses fertilized this way have shown greater survival during winter months than those fertilized with high phosphorous.

Also, when your lawn goes dormant during winter months, it is important to remember the grass is living and needs moisture for survival. During the winter, if it doesn't rain for several weeks, then the lawn should be irrigated. Irrigation before a hard freeze is helpful in reducing freeze injury to the grass. It takes much colder air temperatures to lower the temperature of a moist soil than that of a dry soil.

Rainwater Harvesting Conserves/Reuses Water

2008-09-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

This summer was a particularly hot, dry one. And here in the south, it was especially rough. But some good came out of it in the end. Many people learned that they could conserve water by harvesting rainwater and reusing it. Today those benefits mean that even if the drought is over, you can take your lawn to the next level and not worry about the environmental impact of your efforts.

A rainwater harvesting system takes the rain that falls on your roof and stores it all in a collection cistern. It then filters the water and re-introduces water into those systems that don't necessarily require potable water: lawncare, running your toilets, even washing clothes. That means for up to 60% of your water usage, you're not drawing from the local water table. You're simply putting the rain to work for you.

The Importance of Landscape Design

2008-05-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

Landscape design involves more than just making a yard "pretty." While we do take great pains to make a landscape project look attractive, that is just barely scratching the surface.

The layout of your lawn must take into consideration many factors. One of those is, of course, visual composition: what plants go where, what colors to use, etc. Another is drainage. Your home's site is designed so that rainwater is shuttled away from your house and into the area's gutter or sewer system, so that your home doesn't get flooded. Attention must be given to placement of elements so that this flow isn't disrupted. At the same time, elements need to be placed you you aren't losing water from your irrigation system to runoff.

You must also ensure you aren't blocking access to water, gas, phone or electrical lines, and that root systems won't interfere with these in the future. And finally, it helps to understand traffic patterns when laying down hardscapes or other elements that could either facilitate or disrupt access to different areas of the yard (if say there is a pool or storage shed, maybe even a playhouse for the kids).

Landscape Design encompasses all of these concerns and more to ensure that your landscaping is not only attractive and enjoyable, but works with the overall design of your home and it's site.

3 Reasons to Add Islands to Your Landscaping Mix

2008-04-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Islands are a fast, easy way to add that extra touch to your lawn. And they're not only decorative, but have practical value as well. Here are a few reasons why you should consider creating islands in your landscape design.

1. An Island is a distinctive element that adds visual interest.
Islands break up the monotony of an endless green plain that most lawns entail. They create focal points that give the eye something to hone in on, and make your yard a more interesting subject to look at.

2. An Island provides a place to add color to your yard.
An island is the perfect backdrop for planting beds of colorful flowers, or other bright, attention-getting plants, in an arrangement that is more intriguing than simply planting a bed on the border of your yard, or up against the house, so your yard looks more like a natural feature of the land, and not quite so contrived.

3. You don't mow an island
Simply put, creating islands reduces the amount of lawn you have to maintain. You can just as easily choose not to plant flowers, and simply fill the island with stone, bark or mulch, and you won't even need to water the area, much less mow, fertilize or otherwise care for it.

A River Runs Through It: Increasing the Value and Enjoyment of Your Home With a Custom Water Feature

2008-04-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

There is one thing you can do right now that will turn even the most well-manicured lawn into a unique, eye-catching masterpiece: install a water feature, such as a pond or waterfall. Here are a few reasons to consider it.

Character
There just aren't that many homes out there with their own waterfalls, ponds or private streams running through them. If you were to try and sell your home, especially in today's market, you need every advantage you can get, and a water feature is a great way to ensure your home makes a lasting impression.

Water Conservation
Aside from the water it takes to fill it initially, a custom water feature is entirely self-contained, requiring no outside water source. A filtration pump recycles the same water over and over, so that the water runs freely, even under the tightest water restrictions.

Aesthetics & Natural beauty
A well-installed waterfall or pond blends in seamlessly with the rest of your landscaping, and looks like a natural part of the surroundings even under close scrutiny. Plus, the sound of bubbling water makes for a relaxing soundtrack to time spent in the yard.

Less yard to maintain.
And speaking of spending time in the yard, the more area dedicated to the water feature, the less lawn there is to take care of. To really take advantage of this, you can increase the square footage occupied by creating beds of natural looking foliage to enhance the natural feel of the water feature (and reduce the amount of grass you need to cut, water and fertilize).

There are many benefits to including a pond or waterfall in your landscaping plan---or even installing one after the fact. From creating a serene environment for your own enjoyment to increasing the value of your home, it's an investment that will enhance your home several times over.

Eat Your Heart Out: The benefits of your own home garden

2008-04-02T11:40:00.000-07:00

A well-landscaped yard can increase the value of your home and be a source of pride to homeowners. But your yard's value doesn't have to be strictly ornamental. You can put it to work to help make a happier, healthier family, and save you some money at the same time, with a well-tended garden.

Gardening has many benefits, not the least of which is free food. As gas prices rise, so do the prices of fresh produce at the supermarket. Having your own fruit, vegetables and herbs right in your own back yard is not only convenient, but can end up saving you a lot of money.

Gardening also has another benefit in composting. Composting lets you make use of grass clippings, food waste & leftovers and even the remnants of last year's garden to create your own nutrient-rich fertilizer.

And, of course, whatever square footage is designated for your garden is square footage you don't have to mow. And the maintenance you do have to do, like watering and weeding, more than pays for itself come harvest time.

Finally, there are the health considerations. Nutritious, healthy food, being the first and foremost. You know where it comes from and what, if any, chemicals are used on it. Many people swear food from their own gardens tastes better, possibly because it doesn't come from land that had been over-farmed and depleted of nutrients.

And the act of gardening itself has been shown to have both strength-training and endurance building exercise benefits. Digging, squatting, walking, carrying...gardening is very much an active process.

So the next time you look at your yard, maybe start thinking about the best place for YOUR garden, and how you can put your yard to work for you.

Link: A follow up on the subject of mulching

2008-03-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out this link about mulching:
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1604.htm

Mulch Ado About Nothing: 6 Reasons to Maintain Ground Cover Year Round

2008-03-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Choosing the right ground cover can make the difference between a "nice" yard and one that makes you sit up and say "Wow!" The right mulch can keep your lawn healthy, protect against the elements and provide a little visual polish to any landscaping. Here are six benefits of paying attention to your ground cover:

1. Conserve Moisture
Mulch fills in and covers the exposed soil areas of your yard, where you lose most water to evaporation. By holding the moisture in, you save money by reducing the need to water as frequently.

2. Control Weeds
Weeds are tenacious once they sprout, mixing in with the root systems of your bedded plants, making them nearly impossible to eradicate. Your best bet at controlling them is to rob them of the sunlight they need to grow those first few crucial inches. A nice, thick, healthy layer of mulch will do just that, keeping your beds and the bases of your trees clean and clear.

3. Reduce Erosion
Those exposed areas where you lose a lot of moisture are also the places where erosion first sets in, chipping away at your lawn and beds inch by inch. Keeping them covered acts to hold the soil in place and dissipates rainwater so it doesn't form gullies in the middle of your well-manicured lawn.

4. Keep roots cool
When you go outside in the spring and summer, you know that it's a good idea to wear sunscreen, right? Ground cover serves the same purpose, shielding root systems from excessive heat that can send them into crisis mode, and keeping them calm and cool.

5. Winter Protection
And the same thing that keeps them cool in the summer will keep them warm in the winter, protecting the roots from the cold, even when it snows or ices over. And good, thick mulch produces head as it decomposes, providing an extra layer of protection in frigid temperatures.

6. Aesthetic Touch
Finally, the right ground cover keeps exposed earth out of sight, and provides a unifying accent that ties your whole yard together, similar to the trim on your home's exterior. And you can actually get ground cover elements tailored to fit the feel of your home's exterior.

So keep an eye on your mulch, and make sure you replace it when it starts looking worn, thin or uneven. It will pay off with a happy, healthy lawn you'll be proud of.

The Value of a Healthy Lawn is More than Just Aesthetic

2008-03-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

A well-kept, healthy lawn is something to be proud of, especially in drought conditions. But a recent Michigan State University study estimates that good landscaping adds 5 to 11 percent to a home’s value. Other studies place that figure as high as 20 percent, making maintenance of your existing landscapes during a drought even more critical.

A thorough water audit can help you identify simple ways to keep your yard lush and green, even under the harshest conditions, like tweaking your irrigation schedule and installing root irrigation systems to reduce water-loss to evaporation. Rainwater harvesting, water features and even hardscaping are other options that can increase your lawn’s appeal and your home’s value.

Ecoscaping: the next generation in landscape and irrigation design

2008-03-11T10:59:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the record drought that has Georgia and the entire southeast in its clutches, there are homes out there with lush, green lawns, and bubbling water features that make the rest of us green with envy. To make matters worse...they're water bills are lower, too! It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Well, it is. And it's all thanks to the latest shift in the landscaping industry: something known as "ecoscaping." The whole idea behind ecoscaping is to take the best, most innovative solutions available, and use them to improve the look of a property while making the smallest possible impact on the surrounding environment.

Here are the top 5 ways you can make the transition from Lanscaping to Ecoscaping in your own yard.

1. Rainwater Harvesting - Studies reveal that as much as 60 percent of a homes water use doesn't need the stringent treatment undergone by most water treatment facilities. Rainwater harvesting provides a great alternative source of water you can use for these tasks: things like laundry, irrigation, and washing the car, potentially reducing your use of city water (and thereby, your water bill) by up to 60%.

2. Water Features - Self contained water features can be surprisingly sophisticated, blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment to look like a natural feature. And it can be anything from a small koi pond to a bubbling brook running the full length of your yard. But, since it recycles the same water over and over, there is not constant draw on the local water supply.

3. Hardscapes - Using decorative tiles and pavers to create attractive and elegant patios, paths and even expanded drives can not only bring extra elements of architecturally interest to your home, but it can effectively reduce the amount of landscaping that needs caring for. This can reduce both the amount of water needed to maintain a healthy lawn, but also the amount of fertilizer and pesticides needed, saving you money on your water bill AND reducing the harmful impact of those chemicals reaching the environment via run-off.

4. Retaining Walls - Speaking of run-off, retaining walls add another element of structure to your landscape while helping to reduce the amount of run-off, which can not only carry household chemicals into the environment, but can also facilitate erosion within your yard.

5. WaterSense Partnerships - The best way to take advantage of this ecoscaping trend is to hire an EPA Certified WaterSense Professional. This Certification means that your provider has trained extensively in many cutting-edge techniques for helping you do more with less water. Through a thorough audit of your existing irrigation system, the layout of your yard, and the composition of your landscape elements, a WaterSense partner can assess exactly how much water your lawn needs, and create a system and schedule that could conserve water, save you money AND help you create a greener lawn...in every sense of the word.

To find a WaterSense partner in your area, simply visit http://www.epa.gov/WaterSense.

Link: Flower Planting Tips for Georgia

2008-03-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

I found this link the other day looking for some other information. I thought some of you might find it useful.

http://www.caes.uga.edu/topics/disasters/drought/home/flowers.html

Two Simple Tips to Save Your Lawn (and Money) During a Drought

2008-03-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

Don't Mow - When under stress, grass grows very little. If it's not necessary, don't mow it. Cool season grasses in the South can easily go for 2 or 3 weeks without mowing. And when you do mow, mow at a higher setting, as this is less traumatic for your grass.

Use Less Fertilizer - Grass needs fertilizer…just not as much as it generally gets. Try this: cut your normal "dosage" in half. If necessary, add more in 45 days but you will probably find that your grass performs fine during a drought on half the usual fertilizer. If you're under a water ban or restrictions, time your fertilizations with your watering day or before forecasted rain. It's a pain in the neck, but well worth it in the end.

Reduce Water Bills And Forget the Drought With Rainwater Harvesting

2008-02-26T08:08:00.001-08:00

There's no denying that the droughts can make things rough for everyone. Boating and fishing are affected as water levels drop. Water restrictions result in brown lawns and unwashed cars. And if it gets really bad, water restrictions could get even tougher. All around Georgia, local and state agencies are cracking down on water use as the severe lack of rain continues.

Most people throw up their hands and cry "what can you do?" But not everyone. Some people are looking to innovative new takes on old solutions. The result? Lush green lawns; shiny, clean cars and, best of all, lower water bills month after month.

Welcome to modern rainwater harvesting systems. Before cities had their own water systems, just about everyone had a rain barrel that collected all of the rainwater from their roof to use for standard household activities. But, as plumbing systems evolved, convenience won out and the tap became the go-to source for household water needs.

Today, however, people are starting to return to the idea of hanging on to the rainwater the falls on their property, rather than letting it soak in and enter the water table. Here are 3 reasons they're doing it:

1. Less than 40% of your water needs require pure, potable water. These essentials include cooking, drinking and bathing. Just about everything else--60% or more--doesn't require nearly as stringent controls. Things like laundry, flushing the toilet, watering the lawn, washing the car. If you collect rainwater and reintroduce it into your irrigation and plumbing systems, then you can reduce your use of city water considerably. And if you aren't using city water...you aren't paying for it.

2. Ignore the Water Bans. There are more than just financial benefits to using harvested rainwater. If your not getting the water from the public water supply, then the water restrictions don't apply. Which means you can water your lawn as often as you need to keep your yard green and growing. While your neighbors' yards are wilting in the heat, yours will look vibrant and alive.

3. It's actually good for the environment. If you are capturing and storing the rain, then there is that much water that isn't carrying pesticides and other household pollutants back into the environment and into the public water table. You also don't have to worry about concentrated flow from downspouts causing erosion, saving you repair work in the future

These systems work by capturing the runoff from your roof, filtering it and storing it in a cistern on your property. From there, the water is integrated into any of your existing plumbing or irrigation systems as you see fit.

You can get a rainwater harvesting system installed by a professional quickly and painlessly. The systems can also be tailored to fit in with your existing decor and homeowners association guidelines---even installing the cistern underground so it remains out of sight and unobtrusive. An easy way to find someone who can install a rainwater harvesting system is to search for EPA-certified WaterSense partners in your area. WaterSense certification means the professional is trained on the latest tools and techniques for creating irrigation and water-related systems that have a minimal impact on the environment.

It's something that might well be worth looking into. While it might save your lawn if the drought persists, it will continue to save you money even if the drought comes to an end.