Pets | Phoenix Landscaping Design & Pool Builders, Remodeling

August 14, 2019

Enjoy The UNIQUE Health Benefits Of A Swimming Pool

Swimming pools offer more benefits than just a fun place to hang out with family and friends. There are many health benefits to swimming and water exercise.

Living in Arizona, we all know how refreshing it can be to jump into a swimming pool on a hot summer day. And it is also a great place to gather with friends and family for some fun and games. However, you might not be aware that there are the number of actual health benefits to owning a swimming pool. The first step is to contact a UNIQUE designer to learn more about designing and building your perfect pool to improve your health and to your enjoyment of your outdoor living space.

Swimming is a great form of aerobic exercise and one that you can still enjoy in the heat of our Phoenix summer. Let’s face it, even the most dedicated health conscious residents know that it can be tough to get our for a run when it is over 100 degrees. But a good swim offers many benefits:

Increases your heart rate
Provides a full body workout
Tones muscle
Build endurance
Builds strength

And possibly one of the greatest benefits to swimming is that it provides all of this without heavy stress from impact, like running or jogging.

Swimming and water aerobics offer a tremendous workout without the harsh impact to your joints. This is a great benefit for older adults and those who are rehabilitating from an injury.

Swimming Provides Rehabilitation After Injuries

Because swimming is considered to be a no impact form of exercise, it is often recommended during rehabilitation from injuries or surgery. There is far less stress places on muscles and joints than with other forms of exercise but it still provides the benefit of motion and an increased activity level. Many medical professionals also believe that swimming helps to reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis and other joint stiffness.

Swimming Burns Calories Quickly

If you are looking for a low impact way to burn calories then swimming is your solution. To put it into perspective, a 160 pound person burns over 420 calories swimming for an hour. That same person would only burn about 300 calories walking for the same hour. And in the arid climate of Phoenix, spending an hour in a swimming pool is far more enjoyable than spending an hour walking on scorching pavement. Even working out indoors on an elliptical trainer would only burn around 350 calories, so swimming gets you far more calories burned per hour of exercise.

Other Amazing Health Benefits Of Swimming

Water aerobics provide a great full body workout in an impact free environment. Classes are also a great way to socialize and keep each other motivated to exercise.

Swimming has been found to reduce insomnia in older people. In many cases, older adults are not very active during the day, which can lead to difficulty sleeping. Swimming provides enough activity to allow for better sleep patterns and a boost in quality of life. Research has also found that swimming boosted the mood of participants in a 12 week study. Other studies have found that participants also reported feeling less stressed after just 30 minutes in the pool.

Swimming pools have been a great source of enjoyment for many decades. From a fun day of splashing around with family and friends to an afternoon of relaxation and floating, everyone loves to hang out in the pool. But only recently have scientists been interested in tracing and monitoring the health benefits associated with a swimming pool. In the most recent studies, swimming pools have been found to offer physical, psychological and emotional benefits. And the greatest part is that everyone from small children to pregnant women and senior citizens can enjoy these benefits together.

To learn more about designing and building your own UNIQUE swimming pool to increase your health and the fun that you are having in your own backyard, call 480-969-1911 to schedule a free consultation. A UNIQUE designer will visit your home, answer your questions about the design and build process and provide you with ideas for creating your perfect outdoor oasis and exercise space.

Even the four-legged members of the family can benefit from a little exercise in the swimming pool. This is a great way to be certain that your pet does not overheat or get burned paws in the scorching summer heat.

May 1, 2019

Top 4 Reasons to Install Artificial Grass in Your Phoenix Yard

This beautiful backyard is child and pet-friendly because the artificial grass reduces the allergens and the need for potentially toxic chemicals. And parents love that there is no water and no maintenance required leaving plenty of time for fun with the family.

Even though we live in the desert, most homeowners are fond of looking out the window and seeing a nice, lush, green lawn. But not only can it be very difficult to achieve that lofty goal here in the Valley of the Sun, but it can also be very costly. With the cost of water and the inevitable restrictions on lawn watering, keeping even Bermuda grass looking good can become quite a challenge. But artificial grass is an alternative to natural grass that is becoming very popular with homeowners who are not sold on the less than lush look of desert landscape. Call 480-969-1911 to schedule a free consultation with a UNIQUE designer to learn more about your options for eliminating your grass and enjoying all of the benefits of artificial grass.

Artificial grass is no longer that cheap looking carpet-like material that used to be popular in retirement communities as an outdoor carpet on patios. Today’s turf looks far more natural and real, in addition to being far more durable. In fact, some artificial grass manufacturers offer as long as a 15-year warranty on their products. And of course, there is the benefit of little or no maintenance required to keep artificial lawns looking great. This also means that you will not be spending money on fertilizer, weed killer, mowing, scalping and over-seeding or watering. But there are several other benefits to artificial lawns that you might not have thought about.

No Allergens With Artificial Grass

Artificial grass is the perfect grass to install at all play areas including sunken trampoline pits and other play equipment. The turf is durable enough for high traffic areas and gentle for children’s feet and pet’s paws.

One of the larger contributors to most people’s allergies is pollen. Natural grass is a major contributor to the pollen issues here in the Phoenix area. So for homeowners with allergies or who have children with allergies, artificial grass is a great alternative to staying indoors or being miserable when you are outside. It is also worth mentioning that many dogs also develop allergies. Pets with allergies tend to lick the areas that itch causing their fur to fall out. If your pet has bald areas on his or her paws, it could be due to a grass allergy. Artificial turf can provide welcome relief to pets who love the outdoors but suffer from allergies just as many humans do. And you never need to worry about pet urine or waste ruining your turf, as it can simply be removed and hosed off as needed.

Another concern for homeowners with small children and pets is the number of chemical treatments that are required to maintain a green and healthy lawn. Not only are some pesticides and herbicides toxic for pets but they can also be harmful to small children. But eliminating natural grass also eliminates the need for many of the chemicals that will be used in your yard, making it a safer and healthier environment for children and pets alike.

Reclaim Your Weekends with Artificial Grass

Homeowners can add fun and function to their backyard with an artificial grass putting green. This putting surface requires almost no maintenance and looks beautiful year round.

If you take care of your own yard, then you understand the time involved in cutting the grass, trimming and maintaining the sprinkler system. You also know that several times a year you need to allocate time for applying pre-emergent, post-emergent and fertilizer as well as the dreaded scalping and over-seeding process. But all of those chores can be removed from your evening and weekend time when you install artificial grass. Once the turf is installed, you have a pristine panel of green in your yard year round. There is no need to worry about having unsightly brown spots in the grass when you are having guests or rushing out to cut the grass before a big pool party. Your yard is ready to entertain or simply to relax and enjoy with the family, all day, every day. So if you are ready to save time, money and reduce the allergens in your yard as well as the hazardous chemicals, then contact the design team at UNIQUE to schedule a free consultation to learn more about artificial grass and why it will be a great addition to your Phoenix yard.

Even a small panel of artificial grass has adds a big impact to your yard. The lush green color and softer texture help to balance all of the hardscape features in outdoor living spaces.

March 12, 2019

Dog-Friendly Landscape Design Tips

As a pet owner, I can attest to the fact that I am most happy when I know my dog is happy. And when it comes time to enjoy being outdoors, I want to know that my dog is both safe and happy in our yard. This means taking just a little bit of time and effort to plan for a dog-friendly design for the backyard.

My first concern was to have ample play space for my dog and possibly a few guest pooches as well. And while grass is always a great play area for pets, I did not want to create a space that required both a great deal of care and water. So I opted for some large, open areas of compacted ¼ minus granite which can be used as seating areas, dining space or play space for pets. This multipurpose area is easy to maintain, and it allows a great deal of flexibility when entertaining or just relaxing at home with my dog. If granite is not your favorite surface you could also consider flagstone or splinter-free bark mulch. Both of these are pet-friendly and can be used in a space with many functions.

Around these large open areas, I wanted to be sure that all of the plants were also pet-friendly. In most cases, dogs will refrain from running through plants when there is a clear path around them, but over-excited dogs and sharp cactus can create a catastrophe. My section around our play area focused on soft ornamental grasses such as maiden grass and pink muhly grass as well as a few types of ground cover. I stayed away from Lantana as the powder on the leaves can cause irritation for both dogs and people. Ice plant, wedelia and hearts, and flowers are all very colorful plants that are easy to maintain and will not be dangerous to paws or curious noses.

If you are a fan of cactus or would like to plant a small vegetable garden, then a raised planter could be the best solution for both you and your four-legged friends. The elevated beds can provide great drainage to keep cactus and other native plants happy while also keeping them out of reach of your pets or other children. And even if you think that your dog is not going to be interested in vegetables, there is a good chance that he or she will be curious enough due to the smell to damage the plants.

Finally, it is important to create a place for your pet to relax. In most cases, animals prefer a place out of the way where they can curl up for a nap. And in Arizona, a shaded spot is always the best choice. You might want to consider a dog house or an outdoor weatherproof dog bed, just so that your best friend has a place that is all his or her own. And don’t forget to provide access to clean water when you are outside for more than just a few minutes. There are several great automatic doggie water bowls that connect to a hose spigot and will ensure fresh water all summer long.

Each dog has his or her own personality, and you will know which features will best meet the needs and likes of your best friend. Taking just a little bit of time to think about and include those features into your new dog-friendly backyard will ensure that your pet is happy and safe while you are outside relaxing together or when just your pooch is enjoying your new yard.