Pumpkin Design Ideas

2023 Autumn &Thanksgiving Ideas to decorate your entrance and help your family celebrate the holidays! Pumpkins placed on a straw bale welcomes visitors thru the wood double doors! Straw bales are a harvest décor that helps keep the pumpkins off the ground
Variety of Autumn decorations using orange Pumpkins, different colored mums and straw bales adds a Thanksgiving harvest theme.

Cedar Privacy Fence

Lap Style Cedar Privacy Fence

Got a really noisy neighbor? The kind that has a security camera that points over your property, type that calls bylaw & parking control, likes to sit on the front porch watches you and others, well?

Time for a solid wood or plastic privacy fence!

Type of wood fence design allows no view through the fence for total privacy of one’s backyard. Spring & Summer is a great time to enjoy your outdoor spaces …. problem is your neighbour(s) got the same idea to enjoy their backyards.

Get a privacy fence quote! And get motivated to take back your families privacy!  Loose your adjacent undesirable neighbor(s) this summer when are using their backyards a lot.


This type of fence uses wood vertical pieces which over lap each other providing continuous wood surface. Lapped vertical wood design is similar to lapping horizontal siding on a building.

Take notice this fence design is little different in that there are no wood post breaks.

Board to Board Privacy Fence

This type of wood fence butt ends the boards against each other making the most of your board’s width.

New Privacy Fence Upgrades

Fence Design ideas have expanded greatly in recent years, offering more options and ideas to dress up your fence with examples as wrought iron inserts as show below.

Privacy Fence P.S. Need a New Year’s resolution? High privacy fence might work to screen out that a noisy neighbor or messy junky neighboring’s yard!

Privacy Fence TIP

Installing a fence is a efficient use of property line because most fence styles only need 8-12 inches of width.

In contrast to say a cedar hedge which in the beginning needs only 2 feet or so … but later after 10-15 years requires 3-5 feet + at the base consuming larger width than anticipated!

Forsythia Flowers

Forsythia produces striking bright yellow flowers in early Spring.Forsythia Tip: Increase the number & concentration of Forsythia yellow flowers by shaping and trimming down your Forsythia shrubs increasing the concentration of flowers.P.S. “Must Have” Shrub use as a stand alone or can be grouped into a hedge.

Crocus Flower a Sign of Spring!

Which is your Favorite Crocus Flower Color?

Crocus is one of several of the first flowers to come out of the ground in spring. Some people refer to the Crosuses as the light bulb flower, bright like a light bulb.

Crosuses are a perennial flowering bulb flowering in the earliest part of Spring of each year.

Purple is a Popular Favorite!


Purple Crocus is a popular choice, planted closely in lots of 6-12 produces nice grouping of garden Color!

Crocus Flowers are a sign of hope & warm sunny days to come, that Spring has arrived!


There is an Autumn Crocus, known as Meadow Saffron or Naked Lady and is a nice sight in the Autumn Season when there is little color or flowers in one’s garden.Ifyou Did not plant Cocuses in the Fall?

Crocus Tip – Well go to the store and buy some ready to flower Crocus … after they are done flowering plant them in you garden to enjoy them next Spring!

Landscape Property Maintenance

Got the time to buy the landscape equipment? Energy to get out there after work to cut the lawn, do annual spring & fall maintenance … take care of the tree trimming, garden edging, fertilising, aerating, buy the gas?   …. it’s like running a multi department landscaping business!

Too Much?

Maybe so, your backyard is always in need of attention but takes but too much personal time!

If you don’t want get the 100 per cent full property maintenance package consider:

  1. Give a way the lawn cutting, edge trimming and blower work!  The bigger the property the more important is this step. Then do not need a gas lawn mower nor a trimmer   .. always nice to have a gas blower around.
  2.  Gardens Up Keep.  You can keep this area, edging and attending to the garden can be done a need basis.  The larger the garden(s) consider giving away the spring and fall clean ups which take up a lot of man power hours, especially if it is only you,  and generates a lot of plant waste.
  3. Watch others do your Landscape and Property Maintenance from your chair on the front porch.

Life is good!

Backyard Maintenance Program Example: Possible List of  Lawn Applications:

Early spring – fertilizing – get the lawn growing and green
Mid spring – over seeding – fill in the lawn  new grass & thicken thin spots
Late spring – weed control (first of up to 4 visits)  – type/effectiveness depends on local laws

Early summer – weed control & fertilizing if needed
Mid summer – weed control if needed
Late summer – weed control if needed

Early fall – weed control if needed
Mid fall – over seeding & fertilizing

PS Winter snow and iced maintenance can be the same – Lot nicer to let a company blow or plow the snow on need basis, then you buying the equipment & maintain it.  Life is short!

 

 

 

 

Flowers for Fall

Spring is far enough away that one needs garden flowers that do well into the late Fall SeasonBright Red geraniums flower well into Fall specially planted in some sun.

Large group of marigolds in a sunny patch will flower well in the Autumn

PS Sunny spot in your garden will produce the best late blooming floors … when out on a walk spot check what is flowering in other people gardens  .. a good way to find new Fall flowering garden ideas.

Palm Tree Service?

Palm Tree   Photo of a Cradle to help newly planted or wind blown palm trees to stand and grow straight. Cradle is left on giving the palm tree roots time to establish themselves while holding the palm perpendicular.

PS Getting New Trees off to a straight up start is important.  A consistent eye sore and reminder is to have a wonky tree look in your well landscaped area.

Rose of Sharon?

Rose of Sharon, pretty in a lilac purple color!

The Rose of Sharon is deciduous flowering shrub, is botanically known as Hibiscus syriacus.
Rose of Sharon, pretty in magenta. Referred to pink red color for it’s pink petal and red inside pattern!

When does the Rose of Sharon Bloom? Rose of Sharon blooms in mid to late summer. A single flower lasts one day. Flowers best in full sun with slower growth in part shade.

Gardeners favorite shrub pick with a variety of color: Red, pink, light blue, lilac and striking brilliant white flowers.

P.S. Rose of Sharon Scrub can be shaped and the height, width and thickness controlled with aggressive pruning. Rose of Sharon makes an excellent taller garden background shrub!!!

Begonias

Begonias are a popular annual plant that continuously flower all Summer.

Begonias are great in flower beds, flower pots, window boxes and are usually red, white, or pink in color.

PS 1. Two types of Begonias: Wax Begonias are more sun and heat tolerant and the Tuberous begonias need more shade with less heat.
2. A Family of Begoniaceae are best in the front row of your garden as they only grows 6-15 inches or 15-36cm high.

Alberta Spruce Trees

Alberta Spruce Tree

There are many types of spruce trees, but the Alberta Spruce is an extremely slow growing spruce tree.

The Alberta Spruce tree a top pick for tight landscaping areas and can be used for featuring walkways.

Not a gardener?

Hire out a tree landscape company to finalise your design and do all the buying and installation work

Tree Cutting

Tree Felling Fundamentals Tutorial

Demonstration on how to drop a tree eight different ways using different types of notches. Real live example on 140-150 feet high Fir Trees. Informative!



Types of Tree Saw Cuts and video’s time location:
The Humboldt- 1:26​
Gapped Face- 7:23​
Conventional Face Cut- 13:21​
The Bore Cut- 19:27​
The Sizwill- 24:57​
Pulling one with a Rope- 29:17​
Open Faced Notch- 35:32​
Backcut First- 39:33

DYK:  Removing a large stump can be the costly experience.

Thinking Gazebo?

Wood Gazebo is a GOTO gathering place for friends and family offering protection from the sun and rain!

Today, with the introduction of aluminum tubing and sheet roofing one can install a metal gazebo in your backyard at a fraction of the cost of a wood gazebo!      Here is an example of a large 6 sided Gazebo design using wood posts, roof timbers, wood railing and roof decking with asphalt roof shingles.
If your Gazebo Deck is low to the grade, then banisters could be optional!

Palm Trees around always a tropical vibe!

Poppy Favorite?

Poppys are prized for their large size and colorfulness!

Get a Wow out of most people…  lovely in large groupings  …  many unique exciting poppy colors like this pink poppy!

Planting your poppies in the fall will reward you lovely poppy flowers in early summer!

Orange Poppy flower is a traditional color & very eye catching in Spring

Crabapple Tree Flower and Fruit

Crab Apple Tree in flower close up photo . You can also see the small apples beginning to form on the tree.

A beautiful mid size height tree to buy, plant and enjoy in Spring when it flowers, top pick DIY project or give to your landscaper.

Crab Tree flowering trees are readily available in red, pink, white …  customized varieties can be found in your higher end nursery garden centre.

 

 

Rid of Weeds?

The dandelion weed is a persistent perennial weed.  If permitted, it will take over your lawn with it’s large light blocking leafs, reducing the effectiveness of grass to grow. Returning every year, usually blooming twice per season, as this owner knows well.

Weed Problem left too long? Hard to win against the dandelion .. best just call the weed specialists!

Dandelions: Why your Can’t Win!

If you not interested in using it’s dandelion’s leaves, stem, flowers or root parts for medicinal purposes then you know getting rid of them is almost impossible!!!

Dandelion hard to Remove!  The difficulty is the dandelion’s long fleshy tap root. When pulled it rarely comes out in one piece leaving a root for a new dandelion to grow.

Many hours invested?  No win situation.

GrassCycling & Aerator Lawn Plugs

Grass plugs are left overs from the Golf Course aerating their grass fairways and approaches to the putting greens. They run roller machines to perforate the grass and soil allowing exposure to air, more water and nutrients.

Spring Aerating Service is available through many of your local landscaping maintenance companies.

GOAL & Result is better lawn appearance and growth.

Is Hiring a Lawn Service Company is a good choice for many?

Fact is that Some of the needed lawn equipment is costly, aerator, grass cutting equipment, trimmer, and blower . … many of these equipment pieces need annual service .. must be gassed up …  some people like the ease of sitting back a watch their lawn cut, trimmed and cleanly blown. 

This feeds the grass roots which respond to produce a greener stronger vigorous lawn. Also helps to loosen up compacted soil conditions.

GrassCycling never heard of it?   It is not new

Idea is that grass clippings, fresh grass clippings are 60-70 per cent water, will break down and add nutrients to your lawn giving you a healthy lawn. Maybe save on some fertilizer.

 

 

 

Self Seeding Garden Plants?

List of Different Types of Self Seeding Plants

Featured is a Self Seeding Fox Glove,  which offers a great variety of different colored flowering plants.

Excellent place to start gardening with self seeding plants!

Photographed in early summer.Shown is a purchased “garden center Fox Glove” plant which produces lots of flowers over several weeks with the assistance of multiple flowering stems.

In the fall, it will self seed, let your garden do the some of the natural rebirth work!  You can harvest the seed pods over the summer. Replant Fox Gloves else where or give extra seeds to family, neighbors and friends.

Below the photos is handy a list of self seeding flowering plants that can save you some money when at the garden center.Got to plant them before summer comes! 

Here is a list of different self seeding plants, the pictures above are an example of foxglove flower, scientific name is (Digitalis purpurea)

Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

Borage (Borago officinalis)

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)

Honesty (Lunaria annua)

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Phacelia tanacetifolia

Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

Verbena bonariensis

Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)

 

Rock Garden Planning

Colorful Example of a Rock Garden in mid Spring showing a variety of Flower arrangement ideas.

Landscape ideas can be the key to winning design! Scan Google’s internet images, some garden centers offer free design ideas and gardening services, also landscape garden related service companies can help you with idea layouts, pricing and selection costs.

P.S. Year of the Garden? Jack Up your garden Design with some use of different types & shapes of rocks, along with dash different varieties of eye catching flowers and small shrubs.

Ice Pansy Flower, Is Bigger Better?

The Ice Pansy in Spring is frost hardy flowering plant coming in a multitude of bright solid and mixed assortment of colors.

Yes, for color impact & splash the bigger pansies make noticeable difference, see area calculations at the bottom to understand why!

Spring Flowers: Local garden centers, building stores, Costco display and big box grocery stores offer for sale Ice Pansies because they are frost hardy. Jump start your Spring with color!!!

Fall Flowers: Late Fall Tip: Frost is a killer of most Fall plants and their flowers, so planting greenhouse grown Ice Pansies in the off season, ie found at Lowes, Home Depot and Better Garden Centers, … a a fast way to return color in your prime garden areas.

PS Personally prefer the bigger 2″ plus diameter pansies for BIG color garden impact – takes some searching, not every store has the monster flowers!!!

Question: How much bigger is a 1″ pansy versus a 2″ pansy? Much larger, actually four times larger – see calculation below!

Well a 1″ (2.54 cm) )diameter pansy measures approx. 3/4 (5.06 square cm) of a square inch
A 2″ (5.08cm) )diameter pansy measures approx. 3.14 (20.2 square cm) of a square inch

Self Reeling Garden Hose Reel

The old Garden Hose Reel meant you had to do the work of winding the water hose back on the reel.

Good News! New designed Hose Reel versions are available,  Pull the hose out to where it is needs, then with a tug, the spring loaded reel will draw in your hose and align it like you would have done manually.

Well good water gardening news!

This Flow Master hose reel will do the reeling for you with it’s heavy spring which pulls the hose back in for storage.

Hose Reel is great for the elderly and those who do not want to fight 50+ feet of heavy hose back onto the reel.

Auto Reel makes the need to water the flowers, pots, filling the pond, hot tub just a lot easier!

Grass Hut with Thatched Palm Leaves

Buying a palapa umbrella, tiki hut, gazebo or grass hut one should consider getting a natural woven palm leaf roof to add to your tropical theme in the backyard, at the hot tub or at the pool.  A design upgrade a Palm leaf roof can be of different products: Mexician Palm, African Reed, Synthetic Palm & Reed to name a few. 

Did you know a good palm leaf roof can last over 10 years in Florida .. add 5 years if in California