Turf | Phoenix Landscaping Design & Pool Builders, Remodeling

June 26, 2019

5 Important Tips From A Top Phoenix Landscaper

This landscape design provides the perfect outdoor living space to enjoy the year round pleasant climate in Phoenix. Homeowners can double their living space for a fraction of the cost of a home addition

Landscaping your Phoenix property is far more challenging than simply picking some plants and getting them into the ground. The Valley of the Sun is well known as a great place for outdoor living and entertaining, and you want your landscape to provide the stage for your outdoor lifestyle. Properly blending hardscape features, plant material and other features such as a swimming pool or splash pad required a great deal of knowledge, planning, and expertise. Investing in a professional design and installation firm is always a good choice. Contact the design team at the UNIQUE Companies for a free consultation to learn about all of the services and benefits of a professional landscape for your Phoenix home.

One of the most important outdoor features of any home is the view. And protecting that view rather than blocking it with landscape and other outdoor features is very important. Your landscape should enhance any view that you have rather than detracting from it. It is the view from your yard that will offer an sense of openness and space even in a smaller yard, and you never want to block it. A professional designer will be able to offer many ideas to maximize the view from your outdoor living areas and ensure the feeling of a spacious yard.

Your Budget Is An Important Factor In Your Level Of Satisfaction

This fireplace and patio extension are the foundation of this landscape plan. These features increased the landscape budget but provide a great return on investment in additional living space and by increasing the property value.

Having a healthy budget for your Phoenix landscape will definitely have a big impact on your overall enjoyment of the project once it is completed. Look at the investment you are making as money spent to increase the functionality of your yard and to increase your overall living space. Also, remember that patios, pools and shade structures can be added after an initial landscape is completed but they will be more expensive at that point. In addition, you are likely to damage or destroy a great deal of your existing landscape to add features later. Plan carefully to include all of the features and outdoor living spaces that you want in your initial design. This will save you a great deal of money in the long run and will ensure that the project flows as smoothly as the living spaces inside your home.

Odd Numbers Are Visually Pleasing

Planting in odd numbers creates visual appeal and interest. The variety of colors and textures also make this design very pleasing and inviting.

When selecting plant material, remember that odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. In addition, even when you plant in even numbers for symmetry, plants never grow at perfectly equal rates so there will always appear to be something lacking in the symmetry. Odd numbers allow for a more random and natural look and will be much easier to maintain in the future. Threes and fives are the magic numbers for plants, trees and even flower pots. And more than five and the element will become overbearing.

Plant For Year-Round Outdoor Living

The plantings in this landscape design enhance the appearance of the home but do not block the view from windows and doors. In addition, the trees provide shade and insulation for the front of the home.

Phoenix offers a wonderful year-round climate for enjoying outdoor living spaces. Keep that in mind when you are selecting plants. Be sure to have plants that will be blooming and at their peak throughout the year. Every design will have a single focal point at its center, such as a water feature or specimen plant. If the focal point of your yard is a plant, be sure that you select a plant that does not go dormant and one that will be pleasing to look at all year long. Adding seasonal features around the focal point will draw the eye in different directions depending on the season of the year. Planting fall and winter blooming plants near a fire pit or fireplace makes more sense than locating them near the pool which would be used more frequently in the summer months.

Add Texture To Create Interest

This design offers a great variety of color and texture as well as blooming season. This yard will offer color and foliage for enjoyment throughout the year.

Especially in the case of a new landscape with smaller plants, other elements such as hardscape features of stone or stucco, fencing or even statues will add a great deal of texture and interest to your landscape. A rough wooden fence will provide a color and texture contrast to smooth green foliage. Plant material can also be used to soften the feel of large masonry features such as an outdoor kitchen. Soft vines can trail up a trellis or the support posts of a ramada to cover the sharp angles and starkness. An open pergola over an outdoor eating area can also be a great place to vines for both shade and a softer, lighter texture. When selecting plant material, variation in texture is also important. The massive leaves of a fan palm can be paired with the more delicate leaves and plumes of a fairy duster to provide contrast in color and texture. To learn more tips on landscaping or to schedule a free consultation with a designer, call the UNIQUE team at 480-969-1911.

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.