Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

Your driveway, along with the front of your property, is a very prominent part of your landscape. It is very visual from the street. It is an entry to your home. In addition, it is the main thing people look for when coming to your home. There are a few important things to think about when undertaking a driveway design.

1. Easy access to your garage (or parking area) is necessary. If you need to make a turn to get to your garage or parking area, create a proper turning radius so that it is not too tight of a turn. An arc with a ten to fifteen feet radius works well. The depth from your garage doors to the driveway edge as you back out should be a minimum of thirty feet.

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2. Driveways should function well for guests who come to your front door. Create a walkwayfrom the driveway to your front door entry which is wide and inviting. The walkway design should be wide enough for two people to walk side by side. Four feet is the minimum for comfort. However, wider walkways can be even nicer, whether they are curved or straight.

3. Many people disregard extra parking or turn around area. As you pull out of your garage or parking area, try to create space to back into so that you may drive forward towards the street. This space can also serve as extra parking. If you are designing a circular driveway, make it wide enough near the front door so that one car can pass while a car is parked there. The entire width of the circle does not have to be this wide. However, the outside circle diameter should be seventy feet wide. You are probably thinkingthat this is too wide, but I assure you, it is not.

4. If your property lends itself to a parking court at your front door area, make sure the dimensions are right. Many people do not realize how wide this actually must be for the courtyard to function properly. Parking courts are usually square. Fifty five feet in width and depth dimensions are good to use.

Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

5. How wide should a driveway be? I prefer to driveways that are more narrow, anywhere from nine to eleven feet in width. Why create more hardscape than is necessary? Although a driveway can be designed nicely, the driveway paving takes away from plantings and other garden amenities. In addition, driveways create runoff in the environment, so the less the better hardscape square footage. However, if your garage is in thefront of your house and not a long distance, the width of your driveway may have to accommodate two cars.

6. Think about driveway entry landscaping ideas. A nicely landscaped entry is welcoming. The planting design should blend with the rest of your landscape.
If your property is informal, the entry can be somewhat different on wither side, but balanced. On the other hand if your home and landscape is more formal, you might want to create the same type of design at the driveway entry, such as an allee of trees.

7. You can also dress up your driveway entry by using a more decorative paving material there. For example, a pretty tumbled paver entry can look nice with the balance of the driveway being constructed of asphalt or loose> stone. The paver entry can be fifteen to twenty feet long and as wide as the driveway itself. The paver area can have a soldier course as a defined edging.

I hope I have given you some things to think about which will be helpful when thinking about driveway designs. I have written about this and other elements, such as driveway paving types, the driveway edgings and landscape at my website page below.

Seven Important Elements Of Driveway Designs

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

Oftentimes homeowners try to find ways to give their home that something special which will make it stand out from the rest. There is a desire to do something different and unique. One of the items that is versatile enough to allow for personal creativity while still giving that unique look is the use of brick landscape edging. There are many different types of edging. You can use it in many places. In fact, any place where there is a definitive border can then have brick as the edge. Flower beds, mailboxes, trees, sideways and driveways are just a few of the places where this trim can be used to finish the look of your home.

Brick can be found in more shapes than the rectangle you are probably familiar with. In addition, it now comes in different thicknesses as well as different colors other than traditional red. Because you now have so many more options you can use it in a variety of ways, each with their own special look. For instance, flower beds often look best when a tiered brick outline surrounds them. The brick is laid out and then an additional layer is placed on top at an offset line from the first tier. It looks very polished and professional.

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Trees and sidewalks very often will look best with a single layer of brick trimming around them. Sometimes the brick will be mortared together, especially for the sidewalk. Since there is a good possibility that the trim will be hit, stepped on or kicked by mistake, mortaring the bricks together will keep them from falling out of line when touched. If they are left free standing, be prepared to always fixing them after they get hit or touched and fall off their line.

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

One of the places where brick landscape edging is very popular is up and down the driveway. Sometimes the brick is actually set down into the ground so it is even with the height of the driveway itself. This keeps people from tripping over it and gives it a nice look. To install this way though, is very taxing so you will need some time and patience if you plan on doing in yourself. Raised brick trim is used around driveways also but the chances of the brick being hit or moved is great so you will want to think about connecting the bricks either through mortar or other means available.

Brick Landscape Edging - A Classic Look

Landscaping Ideas

Landscaping ideas come with little effort and lots of imagination. You can go green without bothering too much about its maintenance. Everyone loves landscapes-especially a good looking, well maintained one. However there are many who have the luxury of a large outdoor space which is sufficient for a sprawling garden, but do not utilize much of it because they believe that it would require a lot of maintenance.

Landscaping ideas' planning ideally begins even before buying a house, to avoid potential problems. For folks who care about landscaping and gardening, buying a house entails more than inspecting the home itself. Since they'll be spending a lot of time outdoors, they should inspect the yard, too.
Actually it is possible to have a large and flourishing landscape and still not have to invest plenty of time and effort if you know how. No, we don't mean engaging a full time gardener. Rather, we are talking about a low maintenance landscape.

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Good Landscaping ideas generally suggest avoiding plants and creepers and shrubs and that require regular feeding, pruning, trimming or dead heading, frequent replacement of soil and replanting. Acquire plants and the kind of lawn grass that doesn't require oodles of care and time, so you can have a good landscape when if you are busy.

Landscaping Ideas

A rock garden is another choice as it generally contains drought resistant, low maintenance plants. Get a landscape artist to make one for you. You can also have several large but slow growing creepers all over the home. Canopy comes in handy for cozy meetings with friends and family. Large or small, permanent or temporary, the canopy in landscaping ideas is a great way to enjoy the outdoors either alone or at parties.

Landscaping Ideas

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

Pavers, brick, and stone can be dry-laid over a bed of sand by a homeowner without difficulty. The installation process is fairly simple and is forgiving. In areas where no frost heave occurs, you can lay large stones directly over compact soil if need be. Then sweep sand between the stone to help keep them from shifting.

Here we offer a basic step-by-step way to install stones, pavers, and bricks to make a walkway, patio, or garden path. I will refer to all concrete pavers, bricks or stone as simply- stone, to save space.

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The simplest form of stone paving is laying flat stones directly on the ground. Loosen the dirt so each stone sits firmly and is supported evenly underneath. Grass or ground cover grows between the stones and you mow right over them. This method is appropriate for rustic, natural settings. To help drainage, spread a half-inch layer of sand over the compacted dirt before laying the stone.

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

For a formal look or design and to get better drainage, lay stone in compacted sand over crushed stone. This requires more work, but you'll get a flatter, more even paving with joints of sand between the stones instead of vegetation. The sand compensates for irregularities in the ground. Once the bed is in place, laying the stones is a lot like doing a puzzle. Try different stone combinations until you get the smallest gap between joints. If using pavers or bricks, the pattern will have been pre-determined.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS YOU MAY REQUIRE - Stones, pavers, or bricks, tamper, gloves, landscape fabric, safety goggles, tape measure, rubber mallet, string, plywood, wood stakes, 48-inch level, small sledgehammer, pencil, framing square, brick hammer, garden hose, pitching chisel, spade, broom, sand, gravel, and kneepads.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS: The most difficult step in laying stone is preparing the bed. Normally a two-inch bed of sand is enough if your stones are the same thickness. If the thickness varies, you may need a deeper sand bed. To keep weeds down, use landscape fabric. If your soil does not drain well, consider a four-inch bed of gravel under the sand. Use landscape fabric between gravel and sand when using this method. If your soil drains poorly and you are in a cold climate, consider an even thicker gravel base.

When ordering materials, have your measurements with you so the dealer can help figure your needs. If you are NOT making your own stone, brick or pavers with concrete molds, purchase 5-10 percent over what you need to allow for breakage, cutting mistakes, and future repairs.

LAYING STONE IN PACKED SAND:

1. Lay out Your Area- Set stakes to mark the proposed edge of the patio or walk. Mark the outside corners a bit beyond the proposed edge. Use a framing square to confirm that the corners form right angles. For free-form shapes, lay out the curves using garden hose. Now go around the outline, sinking a spade into the earth to score the perimeter. Once you've scored the ground, remove the stakes, string, or hose.

2. Excavate Soil- Set your stones about 1 inch above the ground. To do this, excavate to a depth that equals: the thickness of your stone minus 1 inch. Then figure 2 inches for the sand bed, plus 4 inches for a gravel base if one is needed. Remove all grass, roots and large rocks from the area to be finished. Now place the gravel if using any. Tamp it down with a hand or mechanical tamper.

3. Install a Weed Barrier- Install a layer of landscape fabric on the excavation or on top of the gravel if used. Overlap by 4 to 6 inches. Landscape fabric is designed to prevent weeds while still allowing water to drain through.

4. Spread and Screed the Sand- Top the landscape fabric with about 2 inches of regular construction sand. Tamp it down, and use a straight length of 2x4 to screed the sand level.

5. Install the Stones- Starting in one corner, place the stones on the sand and tamp them into place using a rubber mallet. Make sure that they are solidly bedded, level, and do not wobble. If necessary, dig out sand to make the bedding more stable. Arrange the straight edges toward the outside perimeter and fit any irregular edges together. Leave a half-inch space between the stones. If using pavers or bricks, butt them against each other, with a quarter to a half-inch space between them. If you made your own pavers or bricks with concrete molds to save money, the angle of the sides needed to enable demolding will automatically give you the spacing when butted tightly against each other.

TIP: If you have to kneel on the sand to lay stone, use a piece of plywood to keep from creating depressions. After you have laid a few stones, kneel on the stone instead. Use a 4-foot-long level to maintain the paving level.

6. Cut and Shape the Stones- Some stones may need to be trimmed for a better fit. First, hold the stone to be cut over those in place and mark the cutting line with a pencil or crayon. For small cuts, trim using a brick hammer. For large cuts, score the marked line with a pitching chisel and hammer. Gently tap off the unwanted piece using the hammer. With pavers or brick you may not need to trim anything if you've pre-planned the dimensions of your project.

7. Fill the Joints with Sand- When all stones are in place, sweep the joints full of sand. Wet the surface with a fine mist from your hose to compact the sand, then sweep more sand into the joints until they are full. Fill the joints again in a few days when the sand settles.

Now stand back and admire your work!

How to Install a Stone, Paver Or Brick Garden Path Or Patio

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

Some of the most beautiful fish in the world, koi are actually very common in outdoor landscaping. Homes with wonderful gardens and outdoor ponds are some of the best looking outdoor eye-candy. Many people, especially garden and pond lovers are perfectly content to maintain a koi pond - despite the high maintenance.

1. There are many conditions to consider before you begin:

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o Koi is a very delicate kind of pond fish, therefore, it is likely that you will need a pond constructed perfectly to fit their needs.

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

o There are absolutely specific guidelines to following when you construct a koi pond of your own.

2. Finding the very best location for your koi pond:

o A koi pond should be designed without direct sunlight as much as possible. Find a good place in the shade for your koi pond before you begin.

o Finding a beautiful place for your koi pond in the shade of trees. Of course, foliage (especially full foliage) can be a real mess, and will certainly require a significant amount of cleaning.

o Some people consider other options for the location of your koi pond.

o However, select place that is most convenient for you. There are many kinds of garden equipment that will seem like they are designed to help you maintain your koi pond.

a) Koi ponds can be partially if not completely covered in shade by a garden bridge.

b) Ivy archways are another great idea for keeping your koi pond in the shade. Not only do they provide shade for your garden pond - but the archways will act as a netting device to help lower the maintenance of falling foliage when it does happen.

c) Other great ideas for keeping your koi pond nice and cool is to include water plants such as water lilies and lotus flowers.

3. Construction: let's get down to the actual building of the pond.

o Because koi are big fishes compared to almost every other kind of pond fish, they require a larger space. The koi fish in your garden pond can grow to be approximately three feet long.

o A minimum of five feet in depth is absolutely important for your koi fish pond. If the pond is too shallow the fish will not survive.

o In the simplest terms: determine the exact measurements of your koi pond before you begin to build.

4. How to construct the overall design:

o There are a couple of ways to construct the bottom of the pond once you have dug the hole and come up with an overall design. Often, people will want to have certain spaces in which the koi can hide and remain in completely shade.

a) Pond liner

A pond liner is a very typical way to design and create a pond - many people choose to use a pond liner. It will be very important to install your pond liner exactly the way it should be installed. Therefore, be sure to know your space and how the pond liner will fit.

b) Cement landscaping

Cement is useful in landscaping in many different ways. As a matter of fact, I prefer cement to any other method for building a koi pond. But it is very important that you are dedicated to your idea.

c) Pond accessories

Stones and rocks are, in my opinion, the greatest addition you can make to improve your garden pond. Layered stones and rocks are elegant, luxurious and there is a virtually endless amount of designs to choose from. Waterfalls, personalized designs, creations that are symmetrical or asymmetrical, rocks and stones can even provide shade and cool hiding places for your koi. However, that does not mean that the rest of the water can be in the light.

Gardening hobbies such as building and maintaining a koi pond is wonderful work, as a can be the most relaxing of hobbies, and the most and creative ways to relax. It is a great idea for any gardening enthusiast - you'll feel great especially when you have an elegant, custom built koi pond to enjoy. Hobbies such as maintaining a koi pond can be relaxing for everyone. Watching koi swimming happily around a luxurious koi pond is a wonderful experience.

Design and Build Your Very Own Koi Pond

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value

Know what you are buying!

An educated buyer is a savvy buyer that knows how to spot a great deal and a worth-while value because they know what to look for!

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If this is your first venture into the world of artificial turf for residential or commercial use - you want to explore artificial turf grasses and how they are manufactured as if you were purchasing any outdoor flooring solution.

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value

What options do you have?

Realistically - your options are limited only by your imagination, willingness to shop and your budget!

Artificial turf materials are meant to be properly and permanently installed by professionals and handy do-it-yourselfers that can follow standard installation guidelines.

If you plan to build-it-yourself, budget for tools and equipment rentals for some projects!

What Makes Up the Costs

Surface materials, infill, seaming tapes and glues or tacks, soil stabilizing fabrics, base materials, rodent control barriers (where needed), cups and other trim materials called for in the design specification are all costs associated with artificial turf grass for lawns, pet areas and putting green installations.

Surface styling, fiber quality, stitch count, backing materials, even UV protection and warranty are always reflected in the cost of these materials. Lower costs are generally a sign of a compromise in one of the factors just mentioned, just as it is normally found in the world of carpeting.

Where You Can Buy Artificial Lawn and Sports Surface Materials

In the world of artificial grass there are only a handful of skilled tufting companies that focus on manufacturing artificial turf surface materials. Lawn, landscape and leisure sports uses all have "styles" of artificial turf manufactured to optimize look, feel and performance.

Higher-end, professional quality, branded solutions are generally sold through experienced, artificial turf installers; licensed builders and value added dealers, such as professional construction landscape materials and building supply centers.

How Do You Determine Quality

Unless you are willing to replace materials every few years, you should consider the purchase of your new artificial turf installation as a long-term investment. The difference in pricing between products and contractors may be as dramatic as the quality, durability, look and feel of professionally installed veneered flooring to hand-rubbed oak; and for those differences, expect to pay more for better quality, service and building standards.

Warranty

Many styles of materials are warranted to resist fading, stains, blade and backing failure for 8 years or more; and with low traffic, well cared for artificial turf could last even longer.

The type of surface materials you choose only make up half the installation expense. Properly planned and executed site preparation, appropriate drainage, base and surface installation are keys to having your project remain structurally sound, for years.

To overcome issues of wear-and-tear and blades matting down, plan to design a walkway through high-traffic areas; use concrete, paver or stone patios for out-door dining that can be easily cleaned if you have food or beverage spills, and your artificial turf, like any natural lawn, will provide you with a beautiful and lush green area to offset the hardscape and rock you use elsewhere.

How Large Is a Roll of Turf?

Rolls of surface materials are 15 feet wide and many bulk rolls are up to 100 linear feet long; a total of 1500 square feet per roll; and about 600-800 pounds of dead weight.

I Just Have A Little Area ...

To locate smaller quantities for purchase and self-installation, materials can be found on the internet and some discount carpet wholesalers. Landscape and building supply centers may carry products locally. Request samples before you buy products, sight unseen, and ask about support for installation questions.

Turf Wholesale

Wholesale pricing for surface materials can be found from the low-end at to over per square foot for professional quality materials. Expect to pay another to dollars per square foot for other job materials, if you are doing the work yourself.

Professionally Installed Artificial Grass Projects

Professional installations of lawn and landscape projects can cost from .00 to well over per square foot. Required equipment, job materials, site preparation needs and other factors, such as access to the area and local labor and fuel costs will all have an impact on your final estimate.

Infill Material

All turf surfaces require some weight and anchoring to insure the materials won't shift, wrinkle and buckle. The material we use as ballast is called infill and there are several types that are used, depending upon the artificial turf system you select.

Infill materials are particles of either silica sand or crumb rubber and are distributed across the surfaces after the turf has been seamed and trimmed to fit. Infill does not go under the grass surfaces, it is always installed across the top.

Recent developments in resilient pads and mats systems that can be used under the turf to increase resiliency and surface stability are bringing more options to market.

If you are building your own project, your artificial turf supplier will provide you with the materials and recommended amount to use to achieve maximum results.

Price Savings

If you're trying to stretch your budget by buying materials and then installing the job yourself, guidance is priceless!

Artificial Turf Cost - How to Get the Best Value