11 Jan

Posted at 18:54h in Landscape Design by
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Clients’ Inner Dialogue might be like:  This year, we’re going to do it!  We’ve been talking about a pool for a while.  We love to entertain.  This could be awesome.  I’m going to look on Pinterest.  Woah, look at that outdoor kitchen.  Look at that fire pit!  I love these ideas.  What is this going to cost?  Where do I even start?  Let me type in local landscape architect.  Design Works!   This company does both the design and the installation.  They even do an on-site consultation. This sounds interesting.  Let me give them a call. Design Works Response:  Tell us about your dreams, your program, your ideas, your expectations. Tell us about your backyard and your front yard.   Is it a blank slate?  Are their grades to work with?  How is the access?  What are your expectations for a pool?  How do you plan to entertain?  Are there other elements?  Fire...

14 Nov

Posted at 11:00h in Landscaping by
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We know that sinking your hard-earned money into a hardscape, landscape planting, and other projects at your home is a significant investment. It is a privilege for us to work with customers to complete awesome projects, and in the end, we’re just as proud as you are of the results. This is why it is so important for us to provide the option of continued guidance via our proactive maintenance programs. If we’ve completed a landscape planting project together, your landscape has a variety of ornamental trees, shrubs, and interesting perennials. When we design landscapes, we’re looking to use plant material that evolves over the season with a variety of different heights, forms, textures, colors, flowers, and bloom times. The variety of plant materials will make your garden interesting and fun to watch grow. While some plants require less attention, it’s important to remember that ALL plants are living things and each...

09 Mar

Posted at 16:42h in Hardscapes, Landscaping, Lighting by
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When homeowners make decisions about landscaping and home renovations may choices ultimately come down to one thing—cost. And when factoring in cost, return on investment (ROI) is an important consideration, as well. For many people, a home and yard is their largest investment. So when you are preparing to make a significant upgrade, the ROI should be factored into that decision. Our advice—focus on ROI and curb appeal. Landscape Updating your landscaping is an easy and affordable way to increase your home's curb appeal. An updated landscape can add up to 14% to the resale value of your home. Landscaping can be as simple as weeding, mulching, or adding new flowers to your existing spaces. Or we can put together a custom landscape design to maximize your space to really increase your curb appeal. We'll design a landscape, pick out local nursery stock, deliver them to your home, and install them into...

27 Feb

Posted at 14:58h in Gardens, Landscape Design, Landscaping by
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When is the best time fo the year to landscape? It's a question we're often asked and there is no simple answer. Everyone wants their yard to pop once springtime arrives and the birds start chirping. Over time, that's achievable. In the interim, it takes a little bit of work throughout each season. Spring Many of us have the urge to start planting right when the ground thaws in spring. Resist that temptation. As we know from past New England springs, the weather fluctuates and a 70 degree day can be followed by a snowstorm or monsoon. Variations in weather can place undue stress on newly installed plants, flowers, and shrubs. Frost is a major factor and can prematurely kill new plantings. Use the early spring to turn your flower beds and garden beds. Amend the soil with compost. And put together a plan for what you'd like to plant. As spring turns...

24 Feb

Posted at 13:55h in Uncategorized by
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As you're planning for warmer months ahead, now is the time to start thinking about spring hardscape ideas. There are many decisions to be made about materials—brick, stone, decorative concrete, wood—and design features ranging from ultra-modern to rustic. We've narrowed down some of our favorite spring hardscape ideas for your dream yard. Add a Walkway A walkway in your home is a traditional necessity. But that doesn't mean your walkway shouldn't incorporate design elements and deliver a stunning visual impression. We like to use interlocking concrete pavers and other natural materials which flex with the harsh New England winters. We'll design a walkway for you that incorporates unique sizes, textures, and colors to fit your budget. Build a Patio Patios are an extension of your home into your backyard. After a long New England winter, you want to spend as much time outdoors during the summer. That's what your patio is for. Dine, entertain,...

30 Jan

Posted at 17:38h in Uncategorized by
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Your backyard needs a fire pit. You've built a new patio. Your landscaping is beautiful. Extend your day and your time enjoying the outdoors by adding a fire feature. Whether it's a warm summer night or a cool evening at the beginning of autumn, we know you'll enjoy a fire pit. Roasting marshmallows or enjoying the stars from your Adirondack chair, an outdoor fire pit is the place to be in your backyard. Functionality When deciding on a fire feature, you ultimately have three options for fuel—wood burning, natural gas, or propane. We'll work with you to determine what suits your backyard best and what will be the most efficient and useful solution for your needs. Natural gas connects right to the fuel source from your home. Propane requires tanks just like your grill. And a wood burning fire place makes it feel like you're camping in the great outdoors. Design A fire pit can...

21 Jan

Posted at 16:58h in Landscaping by
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Now is the time to decide on the right landscape maintenance services for your yard this spring. You should have custom maintenance package that works for your unique needs. Here are some considerations as you begin planning for your spring landscaping needs. Spring and Fall Cleanup You've spent a lot of money to purchase or build your home, design your yard, and install landscaping features. Maintain your investment by hiring a dedicated team of professionals to prepare your yard and your landscape for months of outdoor living. Additionally, you want to ensure your yard is ready for harsh New England winters. Plan ahead with comprehensive spring and fall cleanups to keep your yard in pristine shape. Gardening and Planting Annual, perennial, and vegetable gardens all have home in your yard and in your landscape design. Each garden has its own unique qualities, care regimen, and placement in your yard. Some plants you can plant...

30 Dec

Posted at 16:46h in Landscaping by
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We always recommend to our clients to use lighting to maximize your outdoor living space. After adding a living space and beautiful landscaping, outdoor lighting really does pull your yard together. Lighting emphasizes the beauty of your plants, garden, and landscape design in a nighttime environment. But most importantly, it maximizes the time you can spend in your outdoor living space. We all desperately await the warmer weather. Plan now for a little landscape lighting to enjoy outdoor living during the most months of the year. Up-Light Your Plants and Foliage When creating a landscape planting and lighting plan, we like to focus on the uniqueness of particular plants. For instance, a Hamamelis × intermedia 'Diane'/Diane Witch Hazel has a naturally beautiful form. Adding an up-light beneath this shrub shows off the twists and turns of its multi-stemmed branches, which contrasts with its broad leaf. When the leaves fall in the late...

17 Dec

Posted at 15:49h in Landscaping by
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It's winter in New England and that means it's cold and there's snow on the ground, but that also means it's a great time to share some DIY landscaping ideas. Just because it's dark at 4:00 p.m. and there's three (four? five?) more months of snow on the ground, it doesn't mean you can't work on your spring landscaping projects. Compost Are you composting in your backyard? If not, you should be. Composting creates a useful bi-product which you can use to amend your soil and grow bigger and better plants and vegetables. Master gardeners used compost to enrich gardens and flower beds and amend clay and sandy soil to help your landscape thrive. Additionally, composting helps the environment. The amount of waste which ends up in your garbage bin and landfill is significantly reduced. Composting is truly a win-win. Grow Seedlings When it's time to plant flowers and vegetables in the spring, most...

20 Nov

Posted at 15:47h in Hardscapes by
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Now is a great time to plan and schedule your hardscaping project in Southern New Hampshire. While we need warmer weather to plant perennials and annuals and landscape your lawn, we can work on those larger hardscape projects while the weather is colder and snow hasn't hit the ground yet. Let's look at plans for a fire pit, upgraded fencing, new patio, or excavation project. Fire Pit Backyard fire pits are one of the most common upgrades and provide a yearlong outdoor living space. Fire features can range from a basic pre-made unit to a completely customized design which incorporates materials used throughout your patio and exterior spaces. Some fire features tap into existing fuel lines and can be turned on with the simple flip of a switch, while others are more traditional fire pits used for wood burning. Regardless of your choice, an outdoor fire feature is a great addition to...