Posts by DRS Landscaping

Planting shrubs along a wall

Landscaping Tips For Long Valley and Chester NJ

Your outdoor space is an extension of your home, and landscaping is crucial to creating a beautiful and functional outdoor environment. Whether starting from scratch or looking to improve an existing landscape, these tips will help you design a space you’ll love spending time in.

Choosing the Right Plants:

  • Consider your area’s climate and soil conditions when selecting plants for your landscape.
  • Choose appropriate plants for the sun or shade your outdoor space receives.
  • Mix and match plants with different textures, colors, and heights for a visually appealing design.

Creating Functional Spaces:

  • Determine the primary use of your outdoor space (e.g., entertaining, gardening, relaxing).
  • Create separate zones for different activities, such as a seating area, a dining area, and a garden.
  • Use hardscaping features like patios, walkways, and retaining walls to define spaces and structure your landscape.

Adding Decorative Elements:

  • Incorporate decorative elements like water features, sculptures, and garden art to add interest to your landscape.
  • Choose elements that complement your existing landscape design and reflect your style.
  • Use lighting to highlight decorative elements and create ambiance in your outdoor space.

Conclusion: With these tips, you can create a beautiful and functional outdoor space that reflects your style and enhances the beauty of your property. By incorporating the right plants, creating functional spaces, and adding decorative elements, you can transform your outdoor space into an oasis you’ll love spending time in.

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6 Benefits of Landscape Construction for Your Home

Looking at the outside of your house can be a good reflection of what’s going on inside. A home with a well-designed landscape is likely to have owners who take care of it and value it. On the other hand, an unkempt property could signify that the people living there don’t have time or energy for such things. There are many benefits of spending money on landscape construction for your home, whether you rent or own it. If you’re thinking about making changes to your yard and hiring professionals, read through these points first. They will help you understand if such an investment is worthwhile.

A Landscape Can Increase the Value of Your Home

If you ever decide to sell your home, you’ll be glad to know that a landscape can increase the property’s value by up to $3,000! This is one of the best reasons to invest in professional landscaping. It doesn’t make sense financially to spend money on landscaping if you’re in a rental home and don’t plan on staying there. Landscape construction can be a good investment if you’re planning on buying a home. You can lower the property’s price by a few thousand dollars if you’re open to negotiating.

A Well-Designed Yard Can Help You Feel Better

People who have a green space near them have been shown to have a lower risk for depression. This could be because spending time in nature “re-wires” the brain and lowers anxiety levels. A well-designed yard can also help you sleep better. Having a backyard that creates a peaceful and calming atmosphere can help with insomnia and reduce the risk of having nightmares. A landscape with plenty of green spaces, trees, and plants can also help with air quality. It can also be a source of water if your yard includes a water source like a pond or fountain. All of these things can contribute to a healthier home.

Outdoor Living Spaces Are Good for Your Health

If you have a patio or deck, you might use it just for relaxing, eating, or hanging out with friends and family. You might not realize, though, that studies show people who spend time outside have lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone) than those who stay inside. You can enhance the outdoor living spaces on your property by adding some landscaping. You can do this yourself or hire landscaping professionals to do the work for you. If you want an area used for various activities, you might want to add features like an outdoor kitchen or fire pit. If you have small children, you’re probably familiar with their outdoor space needs. Trees and plants can help keep them safe from the sun, and a small fence can keep them from wandering too far away.

Professional Landscaping Can Be a Good Investment

If you’re renting a home, you probably don’t want to invest too much in landscaping. It might not be yours long enough to see any return on the investment. However, professional landscaping could be a good investment if you own your home. When you work with a professional landscaper, you can maximize the space on your property. You can choose plants that grow well in your climate and have the potential to grow to be significant. This way, you get the most out of your investment.

Installing New Plants Can Help Clean the Air

If your home’s air quality is suffering due to pollution, it could affect your entire family’s health. If you’re in an area with poor air quality, you can use landscaping to help clean the air in your home. Several plants you can find in nurseries and botanical gardens have been studied and shown to clean the air of pollution. Trees are especially effective at cleaning the air, but they can be large and take a long time to grow. You can find smaller plants, such as shrubs, that also clean the air.

Conclusion

Landscaping doesn’t just make your home look nicer; it can help you and your family live healthier lives. The outdoor spaces near your home are an extension of the indoors and can be designed to bring the outside in. A professional landscaper can help you create a functional, visually appealing, and eco-friendly yard. This way, you can spend time outside and benefit from the positive effects of being in nature.

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Landscaping for Beginners: Tips for Managing Your Yard in 7 Steps

When you picture the perfect home, the front yard probably isn’t something that springs to mind. But a good-looking lawn and well-maintained landscaping are more than just a nicety; it’s also an investment in your property value. A messy yard can make it feel like no one cares about your house, which will drive down its resale value. It doesn’t take much time or money to transform your property from looking like you don’t care about it to make visitors think you have high standards for curb appeal. And the best part is that you can do all this work and reap the benefits for years to go for very little out-of-pocket expense!

How to Landscape for Beginners: Why Maintaining Is Important

Maintaining your landscaping does more than keep your house looking nice. It also helps keep pests and weeds at bay, conserves water, and improves air quality. These benefits don’t come without work, though. You’ll need to water your lawn, trim trees and shrubs, and make sure your garden isn’t overgrown. You’ll also need to fertilize and regularly do essential maintenance like weeding and mowing.

Step 1: Assess your current landscape

Before you start planning your landscaping, you must get a general idea of what you currently have. This will give you a baseline to measure your progress and help you avoid costly missteps when making changes. You’ll want to take note of the following points: – What kind of soil do you have? – How much sun does each area of your lawn get? – What’s growing in your garden? – What kind of plants are around your property?

Step 2: Establish a budget and plan

Before making changes, you must decide how much you can afford to spend on landscaping. This includes the cost of hiring professionals to help you with your project, too. Once you’ve got a general idea of how much you can spend, you can start making a plan. You may want to consider the following: – Do you want to keep your current garden? – How much maintenance can you realistically handle? – What type of soil do you have? – How much sun does each area of your lawn get? – What types of plants grow well in your soil?

Step 3: Hire professionals or do the work yourself.

If you’ve ever tried to do landscaping work yourself, you know it’s more complicated than it looks. Unless you have experience, it’s probably best to hire a professional Long Valley NJ landscaper to help you with your project. There are plenty of landscaping companies, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one that fits your budget. A good landscaper will be able to give you advice on what plants and trees will grow best in your soil, as well as which ones will be the most low-maintenance for you.

Step 4: Add soil, plants, and mulch

Before planting anything, you’ll need to add a couple of inches of good-quality soil to your beds. This will help your plants grow better and encourage healthier roots. Then you can start planting! You’ll want to mix your plants based on what grows best in your soil and how much sun they need. You can find plenty of information online, but hiring a professional will help you avoid costly mistakes. And don’t forget mulch! Mulch is a great way to keep your soil moist and healthy while keeping your beds looking tidy and helping your landscaping last longer.

Step 5: Lay down grass seed or sod

If you want a lush lawn but don’t want to deal with the hassle and maintenance of growing it from seed, you can always lay sod. Sod is a roll of grass that has been growing in a field for some time. When you lay sod, it’s almost like instantly having an entire lawn; you’ll have to water it a bit more for a few weeks until it’s fully established. You can always use grass seed if you want a lawn but don’t want to go the sod route. You’ll have to water, fertilize, and weed your patch until the seed is fully grown and can take care of itself.

Step 6: Plant trees and shrubs

You don’t have to have a full-blown garden to have well-maintained landscaping. Adding shrubs and trees to your yard is a great way to break up empty spaces and give your home curb appeal. You can go for various trees, but some of the most popular choices for landscaping include: – Oak trees: These are some of the most common trees planted as part of landscaping and for a good reason! They’re tall and can provide a lot of shade in the summer. – Dogwood trees: These are great because they come in a variety of colors, which makes them easy to match with the rest of your yard. – Rose bushes are a classic choice for landscaping thanks to their beautiful flowers and easy-to-manage nature.

Step 7: Rotate your landscaping to keep it looking nice

Like any other type of gardening, a well-kept landscape requires rotating the types of plants you put in your beds to avoid over-fertilizing your soil. You can do this by planting certain plants every other year and leaving the others out. This will help keep your soil healthy; your landscaping has been looking great for years. And if you do it correctly, it will also save you money on fertilizer! If you follow these steps and maintain your landscaping well, your property will be a beautiful showcase for years to come. A messy front lawn can make your house look neglected, but some work can make it look like you care about your home and property value.

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Fall landscaping

5 Top Fall Landscaping Services to Keep Your Chester, NJ Yard In Full Bloom

These top fall landscaping services prepare for falling leaves and cooler temperatures. There’s no better way to get your home in shape for the upcoming colder months than fall maintenance on your yard. Whether your property is big or small, there are many ways to help it look its best before winter settles in. These are some of the best services to keep things looking great without breaking a sweat. From removing dead leaves and twigs from older trees to getting eye-catching mums planted before they go dormant in November, there are so many ways you can make your property something that friends and family will love visiting come autumn.

Mow the lawn and trim your hedges and shrubs

If you procrastinate about mowing in the spring and summer, you’ll have to do it twice as often in the fall. That’s because leaves from your trees and bushes will fall on your lawn — and the more, the harder it will be to keep your mower from getting clogged. Plus, if you neglect to mow for a couple of weeks, you’ll end up with a yard that’s more like a meadow than a lawn — not the best look when you have guests over. Trimming your hedges and bushes is also essential. They can make your yard look tidy and manicured, but they can also be dangerous if left untrimmed. The best time to cut them back is in the fall — just before they start growing again in the spring. If you can’t get to them yourself, most landscaping companies will be able to do it for you.

Install winter-proofing measures

If you have any trees on your property that are particularly old or large, you’ll want to make sure they’re ready for winter. Hiring a professional landscaping company is a good idea if you’re unsure how to do it. They’ll be able to tell you what your trees need to stay healthy through the colder months. If your trees need pruning, make sure to get it done before it gets too cold. You’ll want to shield your trees from the sun during winter by covering the canopy with tarps or blankets. You can also hire professionals to install a cable-and-winch system that will help you protect the limbs from breaking — and your roof from getting damaged in the event of strong winds.

Add a bit of color with fall planting services.

If you want to add a pop of color to your yard as the leaves start to change, spring and fall planting is the best time to do it. The best spring plants are tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. For fall, you’ve got many more options — and they’ll bloom right as the weather cools down. You can choose between trees, bushes, and flowers. You can mix and match so that you’re not just getting one type of plant for your yard — you can get several that will look great throughout the fall and winter months.

Revive your landscape with fertilizing services

If you want to keep your spring and fall plants thriving after the first year, you’ll want to fertilize them. You can buy fertilizer in bulk at the store, but it’s not as effective as the type used by landscapers. The professional-grade fertilizer will give your plants and trees the nutrients they need to look beautiful year after year. Any landscaping company will be able to provide you with this service. Some companies even provide a fertilizer-delivery service, so you don’t have to worry about remembering to add it to your yard each year.

Chester NJ Landscapers

There are a lot of great landscaping companies out there — and if you live in a place where it gets cold, you can bet those companies will be busier than ever in the fall. If you want your yard to remain in top shape during the fall and winter months, it’s essential that you get your landscaping services scheduled as early as possible. DRS Landscaping will get booked up pretty quickly once the weather cools down — so you’ll want to get things booked before it gets too chilly outside. Contact Us now!

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The Best Landscaping & Hardscape Installation Service in Long Valley, NJ

‍If you’re like most homeowners, your property is your sanctuary. The sights and sounds of the outside world can feel a world away when you step through your front door. But as much as we love our homes, they don’t come ideally out of the box. Unless you purchased a new home that was finished precisely how you want it to look, it’s time to get started on those landscaping renovations! Whether you have a hilly backyard that needs some earth-moving or just some bushes that could use some attention, there are so many ways you can transform the look and feel of your property with effective hardscaping and landscaping services. At DRS Lawn & Landscape, we offer hardscaping installation services for these two types of projects and consultation services to help determine which is suitable for your property. Here are five reasons why installing either or both services makes good sense for your home.

Change the Look of Your Property

Many homeowners don’t realize that their landscaping and hardscaping installation can dramatically change the look of their property. You can do that if you have a sloped area of land that you want to level out. If you’d like more trees on your property but don’t want to put in the work of planting and to grow them, you can get them installed. If you want to turn your backyard into a functional outdoor living space, that’s something that installation services can do for you, too. Your landscaping and hardscaping installation can take your property from ordinary to extraordinary with just a few changes in appearance.

Increase the Value of Your Home

If you’ve ever talked to a realtor before, you know that one of the most critical factors in selling a home is its value. You’ll have a much easier time selling your house if it’s worth more than the price you’re asking for. While it’s impossible to say how much landscaping and hardscaping installation can increase a home’s value, it does make sense that it would go up. If you’re getting a professional service for your backyard transformation, you’re getting something that professional contractors use. Contractors use these same materials and methods to build public spaces and commercial properties. So it makes sense that your home could increase in value if you make high-quality improvements. If you’re interested in how landscaping and hardscaping installation can increase the value of your home, talk to a professional contractor and ask them how they can increase the value of your home. They have experience with these kinds of projects and will know first-hand how these types of installation services can increase the value of your home.

Enhance Your Property’s Safety and Security

The landscaping and hardscaping installation services you choose can go a long way toward making your property safer and more secure. You can install fencing, gates, and walls to make your property look more attractive, safe, and fast. You also have a few options when it comes to hardscaping installation. If you want to create an outdoor living space for you and your family, you can do that with a patio or deck installation. Patios and decks are functional outdoor spaces that can be used year-round and come in various shapes, styles, and sizes. Install a path and walkway to make your home more visible to authorities in a disaster situation. Paths and walkways are easy to follow, making them suitable for emergency responders searching for your home. And if you want to make it easier for your family and neighbors to get in and out of your home, install sidewalks and wheelchair ramps.

Install New Utilities and Infrastructure

There are a few things that landscaping and hardscaping installation can help you with regarding the utilities and infrastructure of your property. If you have a hillside that needs leveling, that’s something landscaping installation can help with. If you have a slope on your property and want to level it out so that water flows properly and doesn’t pool in any area, slope removal is what you’ll need. If you’re looking to plant trees on your property, but they’re not receiving enough sunlight, you can install an artificial light source. If you want the freedom to relocate a water source on your property anytime, you can install a water source pump. If you’re interested in any of these options for your property, landscaping and hardscaping installation can help.

Make Room for New Gardens and Greenhouses

If you want to create new gardens and greenhouses on your property, landscaping and hardscaping installation services can help. If you have a sloped area on your property and want to level it out to make room for a greenhouse, slope removal is the installation service you’ll need. To start a new garden or plant an orchard on your property, you must install the right soil type. You also need to install the correct type of water source that will be able to support the plants you’re growing on your property. If you want to create a new garden or greenhouse on your property, landscaping and hardscaping installation can help.

Conclusion

Landscaping and hardscaping installation services can transform your property’s look, feel, and functionality. Whether you want to change how your home looks from the outside or make room for new gardens and greenhouses, these installation services are the way to go. Professional contractors have the tools, experience, and know-how to transform your property with these installation services.

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Top Tips for Hiring a Landscaper in Long Valley NJ

Finding the best landscapers in Long Valley, NJ, can be challenging. You want someone knowledgeable, trustworthy, and reasonably priced. The process of looking for these professionals can be time-consuming as well. Here are some simple tips to help hire a landscaper in Long Valley, NJ. When hiring the right professional for your landscaping project, there are many things to consider. Depending on your needs and budget, you might need to hire a general contractor or an individual specialist such as an arborist or a horticulturist. It’s essential to do your research and identify potential pros before agreeing to sign a contract with anyone. Read on to learn more about hiring the right professional for your landscaping project.

Ask for References

The best way to determine if a landscaper is the right one for you is to ask for past client references. If the company has a good track record for customer satisfaction, it will be easy to find positive reviews online. You should also check to see if your state licenses the company and whether they include any insurance. It’s not just the satisfied customers you should talk to, but also the unsatisfied customers. By talking to people who hired the landscaper and ended up unsatisfied with the results, you can identify potential red flags that will help you make the right decision.

Check Licensing and Insurance

Before hiring a landscaper, you should ensure your state licenses them. Certain conditions, such as New Jersey, require landscapers to be approved by the Board of Examiners of Landscape Architects and Landscape Contractors. A legitimate landscaper will have the proper licensing and necessary insurance to cover any mistakes or accidents that may occur during the project. In addition to state licensing requirements, some cities and municipalities may also require permits for specific landscaping projects. It’s essential to understand the local regulations for your property so you don’t violate any laws.

Don’t Hire Based on Price Alone

Many homeowners hire the lowest bidder because it’s an easy way to cut costs. But this approach can often lead to poor quality work, contractor disputes, or low-quality materials. The best way to find a landscaper that offers high-quality work at a reasonable price is to ask contractors to provide a proposal. This will allow you to compare pricing and services offered by different contractors and find the right contractor for your project. You should also request references from past clients to ensure that the contractor is reputable and has a track record for quality work.

Check Out the Company or Contractor

You should also check out the landscaper’s company or contractor. If a landscaper is contracting out the work, ensure the contractors are properly insured. If the landscaper uses employees, ensure they are licensed and have the appropriate experience to do the job. Talk to their past clients to find out if they are satisfied with their work. This is another way to identify potential red flags.

Estimate the Costs Beforehand

Before agreeing to sign a contract with any landscaper in Long Valley, NJ, it’s a good idea to make sure you have an estimate of the costs beforehand. Most reputable contractors will be able to provide you with a breakdown of the costs involved with your project. If the landscaper is quoting you a price without giving a breakdown of the charges, you may want to look for another contractor.

Make Sure You’re Happy with the Design

Before hiring the contractor, you should also ensure you’re happy with the design for your Long Valley, NJ, landscaping project. You can hire a landscape architect to design the project. If you prefer to do it yourself, you can find plenty of free landscape design software online. You don’t necessarily need to be an expert in landscape design to develop an excellent strategy for your property. Make sure it meets all your needs, like providing shade or creating privacy. You should also consider the type of plants that you want to use.

Be Aware of Scams

Some landscapers may try to scam you, especially if you post an ad on Craigslist or hire an unlicensed contractor. To find contractors, you can reduce the risk of being scammed by using reputable websites, like Thumbtack or Angie’s List. There are also websites, like the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, which actively help people avoid scammers and unlicensed contractors.

Conclusion

Hiring a landscaper can be a significant investment, mainly if you are in a busy area with few open spaces. It can be a considerable convenience and help you genuinely enjoy your outdoor spaces. Keep these tips in mind when hiring a landscaper; you can find the perfect person for your project.

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Get Your Garden Ready for Spring with These Expert Tips from A Landscaper in Long Valley, NJ ‍

Everyone is waiting for that beautiful spring weather with the leaves budding, flowers blooming, and bees buzzing. But getting your garden ready for spring takes some work. This blog post will discover the best ways to get your garden ready for spring. You’ll also learn some great tips from an experienced professional landscaper in Long Valley, NJ, on what you can do now to ensure your garden thrives when the weather warms up again.

Check for damage from winter weather.

Before you even think about adding new plants, you need to ensure that your current garden is healthy. First, check to ensure there isn’t any damage from winter weather. You may need to repair fencing, remove fallen branches from trees, and cut back overgrown bushes. When you make repairs, keep in mind that your garden will be growing for several months, so make sure you leave enough room for plants to grow. Before you even think about adding new plants, you need to ensure that your current garden is healthy. First, check to ensure there isn’t any damage from winter weather. You may need to repair fencing, remove fallen branches from trees, and cut back overgrown bushes. When you make repairs, keep in mind that your garden will be growing for several months, so make sure you leave enough room for plants to grow.

Remove dead plants and bushes.

Now you can get rid of any dead plants and bushes. Many gardeners mistake clearing away all their dead plants and bushes before spring arrives. But don’t do that! Dead plants and bushes are helpful for your garden. Dead plants and branches add organic matter to your soil. This helps your garden thrive because it provides your plants with nutrients. So leave your dead plants and bushes in your garden. They’re helping your garden! You may need to remove a few dead plants, but don’t get rid of anything you want to keep growing. If you have any dead bushes, you should remove them. They’re taking up space that other plants could use.

Add organic matter to the soil.

You can also improve your soil by adding organic matter. This could be compost, manure, leaves, or grass clippings. Organic matter helps your garden because it increases the number of nutrients in the soil. When your soil has more nutrients, your plants grow better. Once your soil has been enriched, you may want to check your garden soil pH levels. This tells you how acidic or alkaline your soil is. Most plants prefer a soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0, but each has different requirements. You can test your soil pH with a kit from a garden store or online.

Start fertilizing now

If you want a garden that blooms in the spring and looks beautiful all summer, you need to fertilize it. This will give your plants the nutrients to grow strong and produce beautiful flowers. You can fertilize your garden with soil or liquid fertilizers. Fertilizers come in different forms, including soil, liquid, and granular. There are also organic and synthetic fertilizers made with varying mixes of nutrients. You can choose one that’s best for your garden. Fertilizers help your plants grow by adding nutrients like nitrogen, ammonium, and phosphorus to the soil. You can find fertilizer products at garden stores or online. Choose a fertilizer that’s right for your plants.

Add some color with flowering shrubs.

Now is the perfect time to add color to your garden by planting flowering shrubs. You can choose from many colors, including pink, purple, orange, red, white, and yellow. Some flowering shrubs will also produce berries, making them an excellent choice for edible gardens. You can also choose flowering herbs to add color to your garden. The best herbs for spring-flowering are rosemary, chives, lemon balm, lavender, and thyme. When you plant flowering shrubs now, they’ll be blooming by spring. You can also produce some vegetable plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cucumbers. They need about 80-90 days to grow before you can harvest them, so you’ll be able to enjoy your garden in the spring.

Conclusion

Now is the perfect time to get your garden ready for spring. You can fertilize your plants, add organic matter to the soil, and plant flowering shrubs. You can also grow vegetables like tomatoes, squash, peppers, and cucumbers. These plants need about 80-90 days before you can harvest them, so they’ll be ready to be planted in the spring. Getting your garden ready for spring is a fun project to do, especially if you love gardening. You can also do some gardening year-round if you live in a warmer climate. With these expert tips from a professional landscaper in Long Valley, NJ, you can get your garden ready for spring.

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