Custom Patio Blog

What do you know, we’re in the middle of the 2020. While crisis may shake us up, Mother Nature goes on and continues with the natural rhythm of life. For gardeners, here are the 3 gardening tasks you have for June.

MAINTAIN

Mow your lawns according to the recommended height. Maintain enough water for your plants even if the rainy season is about to start. Monitor weather changes and water accordingly.

REMOVE OR PRUNE

If you have flowering shrubs, time to prune them back into shape. This will raise your curbside attractiveness and keep a neat look for your yard. Don’t forget to clip off any dead or withering flowers you may see in your shrubs and plants in order to make way for new blooms.

If you have plants that have grown too tall this summer, prune them to a more acceptable height.

PLANT

June is the best time to plant herbs that grow best in full sun. These herbs range from basil, thyme, rosemary, and tarragon you love using in your dishes. If you want a summer that’s full of blooms, now’s the time to plant it such as periwinkle, phlox, salvia, snapdragon, and sweet peas.

If you want a tropical summer vibe all-year round, June is the best time to plant palm trees such as Queen Palm, Windmill Palm, or California Pan Palm. For a medium height palm, you can choose the Mediterranean Fan Palm or the Sago Palm. Palms are a very forgiving plant species and can thrive in almost any kind of soil type. They also are strong against wind and the salty breeze. However, make sure that your palm’s trunk is free from any soil or fertilizer debris when planting so it can grow and thrive.

Maintain, remove or prune, and plant are the top three tasks for June. If you need any more gardening tips, feel free to call us for a free consultation!

While the Coronavirus crisis is still in full swing, most of us are sheltering at home. Weeks have passed and we’re sure most of you are itching to go out and explore. While vacation is out of the question, have you considered doing a stay-cation instead? And how about replacing indoor living 24/7 into venturing into outdoor living? Here are 3 steps to starting your outdoor lifestyle.

Recreate your living room in your outdoor room.
Instead of sitting all day, every single day in your couch, how about making a living room out of your patio? Start with putting comfortable seats in your patio, a table or two, and plump pillows for 100% comfort. Now, instead of forgetting what time it is or the state of the weather, you can get fresh air and be more aware of the weather in your outdoor living room.

Establish a source of shade for your patio.
If you already have a patio cover, skip to the next tip. But if your patio is open and roof-less, don’t lose hope. You can still transform it into a living room by installing some shade-giving element. You can put up a large umbrella, shade sail, or even potted plants facing the sun’s direction.

Put privacy screens.
The main argument against outdoor living is that whatever you do in your patio can easily be seen by your neighbors, or worse, passersby. To give you ample privacy, you can put plants if you don’t have moveable screens.

Install adequate lighting.
You can continue hanging outdoors by hanging lights around your outdoor room or patio. Make it festive with Christmas lights or soft and romantic with yellow bulbs that can be dimmed. Instead of sitting in front of the television, how about stargazing for a change?

Have a heat source.
Aside from lights, summer evenings can be quite chilly which a blanket can’t easily beat. If you are yet to install a fire pit, you can try plug-in heaters in the meantime.

Stay-at-home orders are being rolled out almost every day by different counties. As more people prefer to stay at home to curb the pandemic’s spread, here are 5 tips you can use when venturing into your outdoor area.

1. Wear mask at all times.
   While the novel coronavirus isn’t confirmed to be airborne, it can still linger in the atmosphere or be spread by someone sneezing or coughing. Prevent those highly infectious droplets from reaching your eyes, nose, or mouth by having a protective mask on.
2. Use a different pair of footwear for indoors and outdoors.
   Most overlooked floors are possible contact surfaces onto which the virus can attach itself while waiting for a host. Having a different pair for your outdoor activities will ensure you won’t bring the virus indoors. It’s also advised to have your own sanitary footbath to disinfect the soles of your shoes.
3. Disinfect your patio furniture regularly.
   EPA has released a list of cleaning agents that effectively breaks down COVID-19. Use these agents to clean your outdoors and wipe the surfaces you frequently touch. Having a disinfected outdoor can give you peace of mind that the virus will have a hard time existing near your home.
4. Install a screen to protect your outdoor area.
   As the virus spreads through miniscule droplets, you can prevent it from reaching you and your family by further securing your outdoor room or area. Prop up temporary screens using clear plastic, wood, or polycarbonate sheets if you have some lying around. But it doesn’t end there. Regularly disinfect the screens too with a cleaning agent that’s effective against the virus.
5. Keep an alcohol or sanitizer nearby.
   It’s not just the surfaces which needs disinfection, your hands, too. If you do not have a sink outdoors, keeping an alcohol or hand sanitizer can easily prompt you to clean your hands regularly.

Enjoy your patio stay for longer by making your seating arrangement designed for the ultimate relaxation. In this post, we will list 5 seat options you can consider for your deck or patio.

Built-in concrete bench
If you’re looking for a sturdy option, then a built-in concrete bench will certainly last more than a lifetime. However, installing a fixed bench leaves no room for further experimentation with the layout. So before putting one in, make sure you’re more than 100% certain you want the bench in that spot.

Adirondack chair
A great seating area in front of a fire pit, these chairs occupy more space. If you are looking for a seating arrangement for an open patio, these chairs are a great choice.

Chaise longue
More than just a chair, a chaise longue is the perfect for sitting, chilling, and even afternoon napping. However, this long chair needs more overhead protection and cover than an Adirondack chair.

Rocking chair
Soothe your senses and pass the time away in a gently rocking chair. A staple of porches since time immemorial, if you’re looking for seating furniture for your porch, you must have at least one rocking chair.

Swing sofa
Another charming option for a porch, a swing sofa is hung from the ceiling of your patio. If you have young ones, a swing sofa can attract them to stay more in your outdoors and encourage them to have a more active lifestyle. Think of a swing sofa as the version for young kids. However, make sure to clear the space behind and in front of the swing sofa to avoid hit knees and skinned shins.

Did we miss any seat options in our list above? Share your seat options in the comments below. If you want to know more seat options for your deck or patio, don’t hesitate to give us a call for a free consultation!

Pergola covers are fantastic at providing you more protection when the weather requires. As long as it’s stylish, weatherproofed, sturdy and fit your outdoors seamlessly, a pergola cover will enhance the functionality of the area it covers. Here are the 4 types of pergola covers you can choose from.

Canvas
Canvas is a fabric specifically designed for the marine environment. As such, it’s already weatherproofed in that it can hold without tearing or ripping apart against strong winds and heavy rains. It’s also resistant to mildew as long as you routinely clean its surface. As for maintenance, canvas is very easy to care for. However, choosing canvas might mean there are fewer shade options to choose from. It’s also heavier than the other pergola covers and installing it would require a contractor’s help.

Tarp
A cheaper alternative to consider is using tarp. However, while it is great at keeping the sun out, it will still let in the heat, creating a sort of greenhouse effect on your area. If your goal is to provide your plants with enough shade, then a tarp may be the best choice for you.

Pergola Blinds or Louver
Louvers not only protect your pergola area from sunlight, it can also direct quality air flow and act as an exhaust. Made up of either wood, glass, or fiberglass, louvers are flexible and affordable depending on the material you choose. Louvers can also be operated to tilt at a certain angle to provide shade deflecting the sun’s rays.

Fiberglass
A transparent roof over your pergola, fiberglass can be an inexpensive option for your pergola cover. A clear one would be great to prevent the rain or leaves from carpeting your pergola area while a tinted one will allow you to sit out on the patio even on sunny days.

Out with Living Coral and in with Classic Blue as Pantone’s Color of the Year 2020. This strong, solid, and bold color will remind you of cloudless skies and the quiet and calm summer season. If you want to see classic blue blooms all year round, here are 5 flowering plants that will give you that blue hue.

Texas bluebonnet
Let’s start off with the state flower, the bluebonnet. Most Texans might know it’s just the bluebonnet but the Texas state has actually declared 5 varieties of the bluebonnet as its state flowers. So take your pick from either of these 5: sandy land bluebonnet, Texas bluebonnet, Chisos bluebonnet, dune bluebonnet or Bajada lupine.

Drummond phlox
This wildflower also known as wild phlox blooms in great quantities during March, April or May. This perennial evergreen can grow from 8-18 inches tall and its flowers can also be white, purple, red or pink.

Blue-eyed grass
This perennial thrives in a full sun spot and prefers moist soil conditions. If you’re worried your soil quality might not allow other meticulous plants to grow, blue-eyed grass can definitely survive. It’s even better if you leave the soil untreated. Its small bright blue blooms show up from March to July, giving your outdoors classic blue flowers from afar.

Mealy blue sage
Driving through the Texan countryside, you might mistake this tall tower of blue flowers for the Texas bluebonnet but is, in fact, the Mealy blue sage. However, upon closer inspection, a cluster of this flowering plant gives off its trademark sage scent. This perennial herb can also grow from 1-3ft. tall and shows off its lovely blue flowers from April to October.

Scarlet Pimpernel
From a towering shrub to a low-level perennial, scarlet pimpernel thrives well on sandy soil and needs full sun to grow. It shows its 5-petaled blue flowers from June to September. Its flowers also only open during certain hours of the day, which is why it’s also call the poor man’s barometer.

Welcome everyone with good cheer this holiday season by dressing up your front yard in the holiday spirit. In this article, we’ll list down 5 great ideas which you can implement in a jiffy in case you haven’t had the time yet to decorate your front yard for the holidays!

Turn every potted plant or shrub into a Christmas tree or hedge.
How to do it? Simply attach a star at the top of your small to medium-height plant. If it’s a hedge, pepper it with stars, as if it suddenly grew it as fruits. For maximum visibility, use stars with glow in the dark paint or highlights. It would be truly a cheerful sight to behold especially at night when it’ll look as if the galaxy had suddenly come down upon your front yard and littered it with stars.

Prop up an alternative Christmas tree.
If you’ve got spare dead branches, twigs, or even a pile of firewood, simply re-arrange it to form a rustic Christmas. Highlight it with holiday greetings or garlands and balls or Christmas lights. With a little creativity, anything can be fashioned into your very own DIY Christmas tree for the front yard. And at no cost to you, too!

Help Santa easily spot your house with your merry lights.
Outline your house with lights, much like a pretty Gingerbread house. Also light up any plant, shrub, or tree you might have in your front yard. With a single design element, you can already evoke a gleeful holiday aura.

Exude holiday extravagance with a gift display.
If you’ve got those leftover boxes from Amazon still lying in storage and a pallet or two, quick, this design tip is for you! Wrap those boxes up, pile it on top of each other, and display it in your front yard. You can place it in a pallet, or a red sack, as if Santa has delivered the gifts to your house extra early.

Turn your fence into candy canes or lollipops.
Iconic sweets are part of the Christmas holiday design. If you’ve got a picket fence or iron fence, you’ve already got 50% of your holiday design done for you. Simple fashion each fence post into a candy cane or lollipop and you’re up for an extra sweet holiday vibe!

Know why those outdoor spaces featured in magazines always have impeccable design? Want to have a tasteful outdoor setup for the holidays that isn’t tacky or chaotic? Then read on and find out about the top 5 design secrets when it comes to holiday decorating.

Timing is the key.

If you are yet to buy your holiday décor, visit your local craft store 3-4 weeks before the holidays. Chances are, they’ll be having a sale on their products. This way, you’ll get great décor design for less the price!

Snow is in the stuffing.

Of your pillows. For a better snow effect, head over to your pillows and use its stuffing to create a snow effect. It usually gives off a better snow imitation than store-bought fake snow and cheaper than in the store.

Use brick clips.

Does having a brick exterior for your house make it hard for you to hang decorations? Use brick clips that will attach your décor to the exterior without doing any damage to the bricks. Another way is to use a masonry drill and screws that are specifically designed to be used in brick and concrete surfaces.

Less is more.

Whether it’s the bare branches of a tree or shrub or fallen twigs or branches, re-fashion them into something that spread holiday cheer. Hang lightweight ornaments like Christmas balls, garlands, wreaths, stars, or Christmas lights to make the bare elements come alive.

It’s in the lighting.

The number one reason why yours don’t look as fancy as window displays is due to the lighting and styling done by professionals. Each element is carefully positioned so that the lights hit it in the right angle or direction for maximum impact. So next time you’re putting up your décor, don’t forget about your lights as well. Your outdoor setup may look charming in daytime but adding the right lights can make it even more dazzling at night!

When transforming your outdoor patio, it always helps to have a theme so that no matter what element you put into your outdoors, it’ll always have a cohesive look. In this article, we give you 3 examples of possible themes you can you when designing for your outdoor patio.

Pallet Patio

From the deck’s floorboards to furniture and even privacy screens or vertical gardens, pallets are a very versatile and eco-friendly material for your patio. You can also center your design theme from this sturdy material. Pallets can also be repainted or spray-painted not only to add colors to your patio but also to add a layer of protection to the pallet itself.

Paver Patio

While pavers are mainly used as a patio surface material, its variety in terms of design, shapes, and colors make it a great border or retaining wall material as well. Pavers are also a great material to work with when it comes to building meandering paths and walkways, establishing the right spaces for foot traffic while giving the other elements of your yard its own space to thrive.

Gazebo in the Patio

A cross between a view deck and an outdoor room, a gazebo provides you a 360-degree view of your yard while keeping you sheltered from the sun and rain. It can have screens or glass windows for further protection from pests and insects. If you prefer keeping it open, you can have hanging plants adore each window or have vines adorn the posts to make the gazebo look connected to your garden.

Whichever theme you pick, it’s always best to consider the one that fits your outdoor lifestyle and budget the most. If you want more themes and ideas for your outdoor patio, call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation or schedule an in-home consultation and estimate.

A pool easily draws the crowd, but it can also be a barren and desolate oasis in the middle of your backyard. From adding privacy to lowering your pool maintenance efforts and adding a little extra to your pool experience, here are 3 landscaping ideas you should check out for a more pleasant pool experience.

Privacy Screen

While you may already have a fence, it might not be enough to discourage prying eyes from spying on you. To give you more privacy while you do a few laps in your pool, follow this homeowner’s pool design of having trees and shrubs which not only effectively screen your pool but also provide a canopy of shade overhead the resting area.

Wind Screen.

Pools lose a lot of water through evaporation and this process is sped up by wind. To slow down evaporation, add low shrubs and bushes near your pool. This group of plantings becomes your screen against the wind and lessens water loss effectively. On hot summer days, plants and shrubs also keep the swimming pool area relatively cooler.

If, however, you already have a paved pool area, it doesn’t have to be a concrete desert with the pool as your sole oasis. Turn it into a paradise with plant containers for the bushes and shrubs.

Pergola Patio and Outdoor Kitchen

Let’s take the pool landscaping up a notch or two by adding a pergola patio cover and a compact outdoor kitchen. Swimming always makes one hungry and preparing a quick bite is so much easier with a grill ready.

A pool easily increases your home’s resale value and a well-thought out landscaped pool area even more. To know more about pool landscaping and explore more options, call us today for a free and no-obligation consultation.