Easy Ways to Enhance Outdoor Spaces

The arrival of sun and climbing temperatures mark the end of months in hibernation and the ideal time to refresh your outdoor living space. While constructing a new deck can be a major undertaking, the planning process doesn't have to be, thanks to a wealth of online tools and resources available at your fingertips. In fact, it's now possible to design the deck of your dreams entirely on your favorite electronic device.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150326/194686

During the past several years, there has been an influx of online resources to help homeowners create and plan their ideal outdoor living spaces. Following are just a few of the helpful and handy digital destinations for those looking to make their dream decks a reality.

Visual social channels. Today's social channels are packed with inspirational images. You can peruse thousands of decks and outdoor living projects on Houzz and Pinterest. You'll also find ideas from many building materials brands and suppliers on these channels, as well as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Magazine and manufacturer websites. For additional inspiration, you can flip through the digital pages of your favorite home and garden magazines via their websites, and tour the online inspiration galleries of decking manufacturers and contractors. Each destination offers a unique experience, along with valuable information about different brands and products.

Digital apps. As you transition into the design phase, seek out an online application that allows you to experiment with various combinations and configurations. The award-winning Trex Deck Color Visualizer app for iPad is one such tool. This virtual resource allows users to experiment with the colors of various deck elements, as well as different railing configurations, to design a completely customized outdoor living space. Once the user has created an ideal design scheme, the finished photo may be saved to the iPad and shared with friends, family or potential contractors.

Interactive planning tools. Those further along in the planning process can take advantage of other online resources such as sample deck plans and video tutorials. Additionally, many major manufacturers offer user-friendly deck design tools on their websites that enable homeowners to specify dimensions, materials and color selections to bring their dream decks to life.

With the many tools and resources available online, designing your dream outdoor living space can be nearly as much fun as enjoying the finished product. For more information and inspiration, visit www.trex.com.

5 Ways to Increase Curb Appeal, Value

Whether you're planning to list your home for sale soon or you're simply working to maintain features that attracted you to the charming abode in the first place, careful attention to curb appeal is a must.

In the real estate world, the saying to avoid judging a book by its cover does not apply. The exterior of your home sends an important message about its character, and even its value, making people eager to see what is inside. This first impression sets expectations for the entire property for potential buyers, appraisers and even your guests.

Keep your house looking young and inviting with these five home care tips:

1. Look at the landscaping. Curb appeal is about the whole picture your home presents, which includes your lawn, shrubs and features such as flower beds and rock gardens. Keep grass neatly trimmed and prune vegetation for a well-kept look. Also give your home a thorough look from the street. Are trees or shrubs obscuring an appealing architectural detail? Does vegetation dwarf your home, making it seem small? Would a pop of color from some flowering plants add to the overall look?
2. Beware of dingy dirt. Because you see your home every day, you may not realize the exterior has become dull with a layer of dust and dirt. An adjustable pressure washer with Briggs & Stratton POWERflow+ technology will let you wash siding, garage doors and shutters without stripping paint as well as delicate items such as glass top patio tables. Then switch to the high flow mode, which delivers up to five gallons per minute for extended reach to clean second story windows, eaves and gutters or to blast away hard-to-reach cobwebs and insect nests.
3. Update with paint. If a thorough washing leaves a ho-hum look behind, it may be time to revisit your home's exterior color scheme. Even modest adjustments, from pale beige to a deeper tan, for example, can completely alter the look. Or, focus on adding color to the trim, door and shutters if new, all-over color is out of the question.
4. Wash where you walk. The favorable impression created by impeccable landscaping and a fresh, clean facade can be swept away in an instant if sidewalks, driveways and patios are unsightly. Skip the messy buckets and brush, and instead reach for a high pressure, high flow pressure washer such as those featuring Briggs & Stratton's POWERflow+ technology, which include adjustable pressure and flow as well as power-soaping detergent tanks to let you clean tough stains then quickly wash them away with a single machine.
5. Dote on the details. Decks, fences, mailboxes, birdbaths, gazebos and other decorative features all factor into your home's exterior image. Thoroughly clean these items, repair any loose or broken pieces such as fence slats, and apply a fresh coat of paint or stain, if needed.

Redesigned Survey Reveals Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends

Sustainable and low-maintenance design are the top trends for residential landscape projects, according to the 2015 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).  

Landscape architects were asked to rate the expected popularity of a variety of residential outdoor design elements in 2015. Respondents expected the greatest demand for ecologically sensitive projects intended to preserve the environment, conserve water and reduce landscape maintenance.

Here are the top ten project types with the expected highest consumer demand:

• Native plants (85 percent)
• Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants (83 percent)
• Food/vegetable gardens (79 percent)
• Fire pits/fireplaces (78 percent)
• Low-maintenance landscapes (78 percent)
• Permeable paving (77 percent)
• Drip/water-efficient irrigation (74 percent)
• Rain gardens (74 percent)
• Lighting (72 percent)
• Rainwater/graywater harvesting (71 percent)

"Consumers care about designed landscapes that are attractive, easy to take care of and eco-friendly," says Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. "The survey shows that homeowners increasingly see opportunities to improve the environment right in their own backyard."

The survey asked landscape architecture professionals about the estimated popularity of various residential design elements for 2015. The survey was fielded February 13 through February 27, 2015, with 581 responding. ASLA redesigned the survey for 2015 and introduced a new methodology to more clearly rank the popularity of different types of landscape projects.

The top three most popular outdoor design elements include fire pits/fireplaces (78 percent), lighting (72 percent) and grills (63 percent). The top landscape and garden elements include native plants (85 percent), food and vegetable gardens (79 percent) and low-maintenance landscapes (78 percent). Pergolas (51 percent), decks (45 percent) and fencing (42 percent) are expected to be the most popular outdoor structures.

The hottest sustainable design elements include native/adapted drought-tolerant plants (83 percent), permeable paving (77 percent) and drip/water-efficient irrigation (74 percent).

Forty percent of respondents noted that the most popular outdoor recreation amenities for 2015 will include spa features—hot tubs, Jacuzzis, whirlpools, and indoor/outdoor saunas—and swimming pools.

For more landscape ideas for your home, and to find a professional in your area, visit www.asla.org/residentialinfo.

Landscape Spending to Increase for Hardscapes and Specialty Services in 2013, According to Survey Conducted by Harris Interactive for PLANET

HERNDON, Va -- A new U.S. online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of PLANET, the national trade association of landscape industry professionals, shows that consumers are looking to increase spending on hardscapes (outdoor kitchens, patios, decks, water features, and walkways) and other specialized services (irrigation and lighting). Hardscaping comprises outdoor living spaces and paved, non-living components of a landscape.

The study, conducted on behalf of PLANET in February 2013, surveyed 2,219 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 1,830 have a lawn or landscape. Consumers were asked about their spending on professional lawn and landscape services from lawn care and landscape maintenance to tree care, water features, and outdoor lighting.  

Overall Spending Trends
While overall consumer spending is expected to remain steady in most categories, landscape maintenance (mowing, edging, leaf cleanup) will see a modest increase in spending ($700 on average in the coming year[1] vs. $600[2] in the past year), while spending will increase to hire a professional for hardscapes and specialty services[3] ($2,300 on average in the coming year vs. $1,680 in the past year).

"Despite the sluggish economy, our core landscape maintenance services are holding steady, while consumers are deciding to increase their investment in projects that encourage 'staycations' and outdoor entertaining, and ultimately improve the resale value of the home," said PLANET CEO, Sabeena Hickman , CAE, CMP.

Who is spending the most on landscape services?
Men outpace women when it comes to hiring professional landscape help over the past year (39 percent vs. 32 percent), and younger adults, ages 18 to 34, stand out as most likely to have hired professionals for the building of outdoor living spaces, patios, and walkways over the past year (9 percent vs. 3 percent of those age 35+). 

In general, 35 percent of those with a lawn/landscape have hired professionals to do lawn and landscape services over the past year, with those in the South (38 percent) and West (40 percent) being more likely to have hired a professional than those in the Midwest (29 percent.)

Why do consumers find value in hiring landscape services?
The most often cited reasons for hiring a professional for lawn/landscape services[4] are as follows: "They don't have the knowledge, skills or physical ability" (42 percent), and "they don't have the right equipment" (42 percent) to do the landscape work themselves.  

Interestingly, younger adults (18 to 34) were more likely than their older counterparts to say "don't have the patience" as a reason to hire a professional.  

"Eighteen to 34 year olds might be more digitally connected than their parents, but they are still putting a high priority on outdoor entertainment areas. They are looking to landscape professionals to take on work that is not only time-consuming, but also requires a high degree of expertise to be done well," added Hickman.

For the full report visit, www.loveyourlandscape.com or contact lisaschaumann@landcarenetwork.org.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of PLANET from February 7 to 11, 2013, among 2,219 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 1,830 have a lawn/landscape. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Lisa Schaumann at lisaschaumann@landcarenetwork.org.

About PLANET
PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network, is the national trade association representing more than 100,000 landscape industry professionals, who create and maintain healthy, green living spaces for communities across America. PLANET members are committed to the highest standards in industry education, best practices, and business professionalism. Many of PLANET's professionals have attained the status of becoming Landscape Industry Certified, achieving the greatest level of industry expertise and knowledge. Visit PLANET at www.landcarenetwork.org. 

Related Links

Landscape Survey and Tips