Cinco Gardens

When it comes to updating your backyard, a garden can be a simple and effective way to do it. By adding some well-placed flowers, shrubs, and trees, you can create a completely new look for your outdoor space. Not only will it look great, but a garden can also provide a much-needed dose of nature in an otherwise urban environment. 

There are many benefits to having a garden, including the fact that it can help to purify the air and provide a natural habitat for wildlife. If you’re looking to update your backyard on a budget, a garden is a great option. With a little planning and some elbow grease, you can create a beautiful outdoor space that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Hiring a professional gardening company is also a great option. Go with Desired Landscapes for quality and reliability.

10 Garden Ideas to Improve Your Outdoor Space

1. Incorporate Water Features

A water feature is a great way to add visual interest and a touch of luxury to your garden. They can be as simple as a small fountain or as elaborate as a large pond with a waterfall. Water features can also help to mask unwanted noise from neighboring homes or busy streets. 

2. Add Garden Lighting

Garden lighting can help to create a magical atmosphere in your garden and can also be functional, providing light for evening entertaining or to light the way to your front door. There are many different types of garden lighting available, so you can choose the perfect option to suit your garden and your budget. 

3. Use Color

Color can be used in many different ways to create different effects in your garden. You could plant colorful flowers to add splashes of color, or use colorful garden furniture or accessories to add a touch of fun. Alternatively, you could paint your fence or sheds in a bright color to really make a statement. 

4. Incorporate Garden Art

Garden art is a great way to personalize your space and add visual interest. It can be as simple as a few well-placed statues or as elaborate as a large sculpture. Garden art can also be functional, such as a sundial or a birdbath. 

5. Create a Focal Point

A focal point is a great way to draw the eye to a particular area of your garden and can be created using a variety of different elements. A large tree, an interesting garden structure, or a beautiful water feature can all make great focal points. 

6. Add Texture

Texture can be added to your garden in many different ways, such as through the use of plants with interesting foliage, or by incorporating stone or gravel into your planting beds. Adding texture can help to create a more inviting and visually interesting garden. 

7. Use Containers

Containers are a great way to add color, texture, and interest to your garden without taking up too much space. They can be used to plant with a variety of different plants or can be used to display garden art or other decorative items. 

8. Consider Vertical Gardening

Vertical gardening is a great way to make use of small spaces and can be used to grow a variety of different plants. Trellises, fences, and walls can all be used to create vertical planting areas, or you could even build your own vertical garden. 

9. Add a Greenhouse

A greenhouse is a great way to extend the growing season and can also provide a protected environment for delicate plants. Greenhouses come in a variety of different sizes and styles, so you can choose the perfect one to suit your needs. 

10. Think About Maintenance

It’s important to consider how much time and effort you’re willing to put into maintaining your garden before you start planting. Some plants require more care than others, and if you’re not prepared to commit to regular maintenance, you might want to choose low-maintenance plants instead.

How to Choose the Right Plants to Fit Your Garden Ideas

Choosing the right plants for your garden can be a daunting task, but with a little research and planning, it can be a fun and rewarding experience. There are a few things to consider when choosing plants for your garden, such as climate, soil type, and light exposure. 

Climate is an important factor to consider when choosing plants for your garden. If you live in an area with a hot, dry climate, you’ll want to choose plants that are drought-tolerant and can withstand high temperatures. If you live in a cold climate, you’ll want to choose plants that are cold-hardy and can survive in your area. 

Soil type is another important factor to consider when choosing plants for your garden. Different plants prefer different types of soil, so it’s important to choose plants that will do well in the type of soil you have. If you’re not sure what type of soil you have, you can have it tested by a local gardening center or university extension office. 

Light exposure is also an important factor to consider when choosing plants for your garden. Some plants need full sun to thrive, while others prefer partial shade. Be sure to choose plants that will get the right amount of light exposure for your garden. 

Once you’ve considered climate, soil type, and light exposure, you can start narrowing down your plant choices. Researching plants that will do well in your specific gardening situation will help you make the best choices for your garden. You can also talk to local gardeners or visit a local nursery to get ideas and advice on plants for your garden.

Garden Maintenance: Things To Remember

Gardens are a lovely addition to any home, but they do require some maintenance to keep them looking their best. Here are some tips for garden maintenance:

• Water your plants regularly, especially during hot weather. 
• Pull out weeds as soon as you see them.
• Prune dead or damaged branches from

…

Read More »

To determine if soil is suitable for a project, the test must be conducted before the construction starts. The results will give a clearer picture of whether the site is suitable for the project. If you’re looking for professional testing, try www.aussiesoil.com.au. 

Common Testing Methods

The most common type of soil testing involves the Casagrande type Cup, which consists of a cup with a moving mechanism. The liquid limit is a value determined by adding water to the soil sample and rolling it into threads of three millimetres. This process is repeated until the thread breaks. 

A wire flag can be used to determine the soil’s compaction. It can be pushed into the ground up to a depth of 12 inches without bending. Soil that is compacted to this depth is considered good for construction. A soil that is four to twelve inches and has no bending is considered fair. Soil samples should be a minimum of two millimetres in size for construction. The test is accurate only when the soil sample contains less than four millimetres in diameter.

The first two bores cost between $800 and $1,400 and additional bores can cost another $400 to 800. These tests are important because poor soil can greatly increase the cost of homebuilding. In some cases, a poor site may not be suitable for residential construction. Luckily, soil testing is inexpensive and easy to do. For a small investment, you can protect your health and safety. A few dollars spent on soil testing can avoid huge expenses down the road.

Benefits of Testing

Soil tests can reveal the physical and engineering properties of soil and can help you decide the right building material. For example, if you are looking to build a home, you will need to know the moisture content of the soil. A few common methods include oven-drying, calcium carbide, alcohol, and torsion balance. Using an oven-drying method, the soil is weighed before and after drying. The difference in weight indicates the amount of water in the land.

Soil tests are important for construction. They can show how much water is in a particular soil by measuring its specific gravity. The results from these tests can help you determine which foundation material to use. The density of the soil will determine how stable it is and how strong it is. The water content of the soil will affect the strength of a building. It is important to choose the right foundation when you are building a home.

Soil testing will help you determine how much water is in the soil. The most common method is the oven-drying method. This method involves weighing the soil before it is dried and then comparing the weight before and after. The difference between the two weights will be the amount of water in the soil. In addition, the moisture content of the soil will determine the type of foundation it can support. In addition, it will tell you the best way to build a home.

Other Tests

Soil samples should be mixed in a clean bucket. Generally, one cup of soil is sufficient for most tests. It should be dry enough that it does not contain water. Soil samples should be placed in a sealed plastic bag. You can download the lab’s submission form online. The form should be completed and sent with the soil sample. Then, mail it to the lab. The samples should be mailed back to you after the process has been completed.

Soil testing is a vital part of the construction. Soil samples can be used to determine the quality of a building’s foundation. Soil testing can help you decide the right type of foundation for a building. Soil samples can also be used for determining the water content of the ground. The soil should not be too moist, because this can cause damage to the foundation. Soil tests can help you determine whether or not a building is safe.

…

Read More »

Garden design is an art and a science. It is an important aspect of home landscaping. The garden has been designed to improve the value of your property. A garden design can make the difference between a home that you love to spend time in and one that is unappealing and wasteful of space.

One reason why garden design might be viewed as non-professional is that it is often perceived to be the work of gardeners alone. Yet many of the best gardens in the world were not created by gardeners. They were the result of years of work by gardeners, landscapers, garden design consultants, and design experts.

Finding Your Style

Not only design but garden styles also impact your garden. The garden-style you choose will have a significant influence on the final garden design that you choose. So do not hesitate to think outside the box. There are plenty of garden styles out there and plenty of ideas as well. If you have not yet started exploring garden design, I recommend that you start doing so!

The first thing you should do is visit gardens that you find attractive. Do not limit your visits to public gardens, which are often run by professional gardeners, but instead focus on local homes or gardens. You will be amazed at the amazing ideas gardeners have for sprucing up their gardens. Local gardeners are often more open to giving you some free advice than gardeners working for large companies are.

Accessories

Once you have done this, you will be in a better position to understand design ideas and think about your garden. If you have a pretty small garden, go shopping for garden design accessories such as planters and garden furniture. You can get these from your local garden centre, home improvement store or a garden design store. These shops will sell design accessories such as outdoor furniture, garden heaters, garden rugs, planters and much more. All of these items will make your outdoor space look more complete.

If you have a larger garden design, it may not be possible to obtain design accessories from these stores. If that is the case, do not despair! There are plenty of garden design ideas online and in catalogues. All you need to do is search for garden design magazines.

Planting and Landscaping

Once you have an idea for your garden design, it is time to start planting! Take some time out to plan your garden and plot your planting areas. You will want to place as much heavier objects as possible on the areas that receive the most sunlight. Heavy planting beds and shrubs should be placed near a window so that they receive the maximum amount of sunlight, as well as shade. Be sure that you take into consideration the importance of sunlight, as too much exposure to direct sunlight can cause frost and damage to your garden.

In addition to the actual garden design, another key component to landscaping is the overall theme of your garden. Gardens can be designed around sports, hobbies, or even a specific geographic region. Themes in garden design are as wide-ranging as individual lifestyles. Many design ideas are used to add interest to public areas, such as parks, playgrounds and museums. Some people plant flowers that bloom throughout the year, which helps to save money because they do not need to purchase seeds every year, thereby reducing the cost of gardening.…

Read More »

One common question that gardeners have is what does garden maintenance entail? Generally, it involves lawn care and weed control, grass cutting/fertilizing, lawn mowing and bush trimming, leaf blowing, garden edging, watering. Garden maintenance service prices range from approximately 30 to 100 per hour, depending upon the kind of services that are rendered. Some companies even offer organic garden maintenance services.

Common Maintenance Tasks

There are three different types of lawn care maintenance: lawn mowing, leaf blower, and weed control. Lawnmowing involves trimming grass or plants to achieve an equal and smooth height; however, it doesn’t necessarily include fertilizing or mowing. Lawnmowing should be done periodically, especially during the springtime. The time of year when lawn mowing should be performed depends on factors such as weather conditions, level of soil fertility, and the availability of grass clippings or cuttings.

Other garden maintenance tasks that are common include mulching, seeding, weeding, and weed control. Mulching involves removing dead and damaged leaves, stems, and tree cuttings to avoid contamination and decomposition of the soil. It is an important pre-harvest service to help prevent nutrients from leaching into the water table.

DIY

Seeding and composting are garden maintenance services that are frequently performed by professional gardeners and maintainers, but a lot of do-it-yourself gardeners also undertake these activities because of their love of Mother Nature. For a dollar or less, you can buy, plant, and tend seeds, using natural and organic materials. At most, the cost of one square foot of artificial grass will last approximately three years. However, a good set of artificial grass seeds may cost up to seven hundred dollars. Weeding can be done by hand; however, it takes time, patience, and a good garden maintenance schedule to ensure that your lawn remains in great shape.

Another popular DIY activity that many people undertake is lawn mowing. However, homeowners need to realize that lawn mowing is not something that can be neglected. Homeowners need to set aside time for regular lawn care. Some lawns may need to be mowed more often than others.

Hiring a Gardener

If you have a garden caretaker, you will have to pay for the gardener’s professional fees. This fee could include the wages of the gardener, gas for the garden equipment, and any other costs associated with the garden caretaking. Therefore, hiring a gardener may cost up to three hundred dollars.

There are many other costs associated with garden maintenance. Many homeowners do not consider the cost of fertilizer, pest control, or watering. If these tasks are neglected, weeds will grow and your lush lawn will wither away. A weeding service can cost anywhere from twenty-five dollars to several hundred dollars, depending on how extensive the weeds are and how often the service is rendered.

Other service costs that garden maintenance service providers can include pest control, septic tank repair, irrigation service, and the removal of dead leaves or flowers. Each service varies depending on its frequency and the complexity of its job. Some homeowners choose to go with minimalists when it comes to garden maintenance. Others want to keep things as minimalistic as possible.…

Read More »

If you own a lawn, then chances are you’ll require some level of irrigation maintenance. Whether you need a basic irrigation maintenance service on an annual basis or more frequently throughout the year, irrigation maintenance and repair are a necessary part of owning a green and beautiful lawn. Irrigation is essentially the process of adding water to plants to help them grow and thrive. The amount of water added, as well as the frequency and quality of the water, can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors including plant type, area of the lawn, availability of water, etc. This can lead to problems for the plants if irrigation maintenance and repair are not carried out as recommended.

Irrigation Maintenance Basics

Here are three key components of an irrigation maintenance schedule that will help ensure your lawn appears its finest. Irrigation maintenance services can be fairly simple affairs but, of course, this is not always the case. While most irrigation systems can often be quite easy to use, all irrigation maintenance should be regularly scheduled and inspected to ensure optimal lawn health and performance.

Are you experiencing any problems with your home sprinkler system? The easiest way to tell if there’s a problem is by looking at the yard itself. Signs that you might have a broken or worn sprinkler head include drips or areas of water left in the centre of the turf, cracks, weak spots, and other problems that may indicate damage to sprinkler heads.

Inspections

Is your home water pressure set correctly? If your lawn irrigation maintenance routine includes regular checking of the water pressure setting on your home irrigation system, make sure to check your water pressure gauge from time to make sure it is within safe levels. Low water pressure can result in brown spots on your lawn, a lack of vibrant, healthy growth, and an overall lack of irrigation maintenance on your part. This is something that you can easily remedy by simply increasing your water pressure. Additionally, you may want to think about increasing your grass planting height to help your lawn take in more water.

Has your irrigation maintenance department done a regular inspection of your valves and sprinkler heads? Most irrigation maintenance departments will offer inspections to both your home sprinkler system and your valves and heads every month. If you have an issue with either one of these devices, it is a good idea to make it a part of your annual maintenance routine. You should also make sure to replace your irrigation maintenance valves once they are damaged or no longer properly working. If you don’t do this maintenance, you could end up having to deal with problems with your irrigation valves and sprinkler heads that could cost you more money than they are worth.

Common Problems

Are there leaks in your irrigation system that you aren’t aware of? Some leaks in irrigation lines are small, such as ones that occur when a pipe is leaking. Other times, leaks can be more serious, causing water damage to your lawn. You must make sure that you check for any leaks in your irrigation system periodically to prevent problems from getting out of hand. Remember, by not doing maintenance on your irrigation system, you could end up damaging it and having to replace your lawn watering supplies.

Is your irrigation system or sprinkler system at risk of freezing temperatures? If you find that the area that your water has a higher than normal rate of freezing temperatures during the winter months, you may want to consider irrigation winterization. Irrigation winterization is the process of adjusting your irrigation system so that it will better serve your home in the winter months and also so that you can save money on your heating and electric bills.

When you hire irrigation maintenance services to fix any leaks or other issues with your irrigation system, you’ll be able to keep your water bill low and your lawn looking great year-round. Winterizing your irrigation system saves you money on your water bill, keeps your lawn green and beautiful, and also helps to avoid future leaks that can lead to more expensive repairs. It’s easy to fall behind on your irrigation maintenance due to high temperatures, but you don’t have to. By properly winterizing your irrigation system, you can avoid missing three months of watering because of a leaky hose or clogged irrigation lines. Winterizing your system now can save you money later and keep your lawn looking beautiful all through the year.…

Read More »

Here’s the thing, when you invest in a property you have to understand that the longevity of your investment is entirely up to how well you maintain it. There are a myriad of factors that will influence the difficulty of maintaining your property including the size of your yard, your location and the size of your home. In this article we’re going to outline 5 key aspects of your property you need to look out for in protecting your investment.

1. Prune and Maintain Your Trees, Grass & Garden Regularly

Left unchecked, trees can become hazardous over time. If you have trees on your premise that are growing too closely to powerlines or have branches overhanging your building or walkways, it’s time to call your local tree removal services. If you happen to be on the Gold Coast, All Tree and Stump Works have a strong reputation for affordable and competent tree removal services . Give their team a call today to discuss how you can get the trees on your Gold Coast property handled safely and efficiently. 

1. Set up a cleaning-plan and strictly stick to it 

Let’s just start by saying, cleaning isn’t for everyone. If you’re in a comfortable financial situation and you feel you don’t have the time to clean your home to a high standard, hiring professional cleaning services may be a more viable option for you. If you aren’t, it’s time to establish a cleaning plan that works for you. Fortunately, there are plenty of great online tutorials that offer free tips and tricks on how you can get your cleaning done more quickly and efficiently. An example includes ‘5-Minute Crafts’, a highly reputable YouTube channel that provides free cleaning hacks on how you can speed up your routine. See the video below!

1. Get rid of clutter

Not only is clutter aesthetically unpleasing, but it also contributes to a chunk of other issues that could have been avoided simply by organising the resources on your premise more efficiently. A good way to get rid of clutter on your premise is to hire a skip bin. When you get a skip bin delivered to your premise, you can simply throw all of your unwanted items in the one location and have professional services remove and dispose of it from your property. Clutter is commonly known to be the root-cause of pest infestations, which brings us to our next tip:

1. Get a routine pest inspection

If you’ve seen signs of cockroaches in your home or other kinds of pests, it often means there’s more lurking behind your cabinets and inside of your walls. When this happens, getting a pest inspection is absolutely fundamental in ensuring that your premise won’t be vulnerable to a pest inspection. Some types of pests are worse than others. For properties, termite infestations could critically damage the structural integrity of your building. Left untreated, a termite infestation could render your home valueless. 

For this reason, you need to do your research to ensure the servicemen that you choose to do a pest inspection for you must be certified. In the last few years, there has been a large number of homeowners becoming more concerned about protecting their home from the pests that are in the area. It’s no secret that some people enjoy the thrill of seeing the bugs crawling up on the furniture in their living rooms. There is nothing like that feeling, but if you are thinking about buying a new home for your family, then you will want to make sure that it will be bug-free before you commit to buying. 

1. Don’t overlook a new paint coat

Depending on the age of your building and the materials used in construction, as a general rule of thumb you should be aiming to paint your home every 5-10 years. Here’s the thing: getting a paint job can be an extremely expensive endeavour, especially if you’re living in a larger building. In this case, you might want to consider conducting a DIY paint job for your home. When confronted with how expensive a paint job will be, it’s understandable why you might question the importance of getting it done in the first place. However, applying a fresh new coat of paint is one of the most cost effective ways to raise the value of your home. 

Where can I go for more information on maintaining the value of my home? 

If you didn’t find the information you’re looking for in this article, it never hurts to do your own research. The good news is, there’s a multitude of free information out there available to help you save a fortune on your future home-maintenance. In our modern age of digital media, there are countless YouTube tutorials and masterclass videos designed to help you cut down on your time spent cleaning without sacrificing quality. At the end of the day, it’s vital that you do a deep clean of your home from time to time. If you feel that you don’t have the time to get a deep clean conducted on your property, you may want to consider hiring a cleaner to routinely maintain a high level of cleanliness in your home. 
…

Read More »

Dead or diseased trees pose a detrimental risk to your property. A dying tree can drop branches on your property, which becomes hazardous to the safety of you and your family. If you have branches hanging over the top of your house, it’s time to consider getting a professional tree removal.

What Do I Need to Know About Tree Removal?

The roots of large trees can also cause havoc on the value of your property. As roots grow deeper, they can overcome your piping and electrics. Ultimately, this has the potential to cause a large amount of harm to your household appliances. A common issue is water leakages. If a root has grown into a water pipe and begins causing a leakage, it must be dealt with immediately or the chances are you’ll have to pay a hefty water fee.  If a tree on your property is worrying you, in this article we’ll outline everything you need to know about tree removal. 

How Much Does a Typical Tree Removal Cost in Brisbane? 

The cost of your tree removal will depend largely upon the size of the tree and the difficulty of removal. Large overgrown trees positioned closely to your housing are likely to cost more, as a great deal of precision is required to ensure overhanging branches don’t fall onto your house or apartment. You can expect to pay anything from $150 to $2,000 for a tree removal. 

Tree Removal Cost By Sizing Guide

As mentioned, the size of the tree being removed is the biggest indicator as to the price of the tree removal. Although it isn’t the only classification, here’s a rough guide to an average tree cost removal by size:

• Small Trees (30ft or below): $150 to $400
• Medium Trees (60ft or below): $450 to $700
• Large Trees (100ft or below): $900-$1,200
• Very Large Trees (100ft or above): $1,300 – $2,000 

In Brisbane, there are a range of competitors offering similar prices for different degrees of service. If you’re on Brisbane Southside and you’re unsure on where to go for tree removal services, RJK Tree Lopping Service are community trusted tree removalists. They have over 25 years of experience and their affordable workmanship is said to be favoured to other competitors in Brisbane. 

Can I Remove a Tree Myself?

In 2009, there were roughly 600 deaths related to tree removals.  Unless you’re an experienced arborist, we wouldn’t recommend carrying out a tree removal on your own. Tree removals are an incredibly risky process that require a lot of expertise to get right. From the way you cut the tree at its base, to ensuring branches fall in the right direction; failure to adhere to professional tree removal principals could risk your life and the value of your property.

Where Do I Go From Here? 

With all of this in mind, we’d highly recommend you turn to your local tree removal specialists to preserve the value of your property. If you don’t know where to start, RJK Tree Lopping Services are currently the community favourite in tree removal services. If you’re still unsure, call up competitors and compare quotes to scope out the most cost-effective route for you. 
…

Read More »

The beauty that is envisaged is achieved by the collective efforts of the landscape architects, together with engineers and architects, who design the built environment outside of buildings. That’s a rather broad definition for a broad profession. The popular FDR memorial in Washington D.C. was designed by a landscape architect, Lawrence Halprin. Your front yard too may have been designed by a landscape architect. Parks and trails, streetscapes, remediated brown fields, commercial, public and residential gardens and landscapes are all significant part of the profession.

For many site design, meaning a set of drawings a specific address, a typical set of drawings and services might include all or some of the following:

Preliminary plans: This is also referred to “Master Plans”, this is the phase that is concerned with the concepts, where the elements of the landscape are planned. The shape and location of features such as walls, fences, decks, trellises, steps, paving and circulation, and major planting elements such as trees, lawns, shrub massing, and screening are fit together into a whole.

Design development: This phase deals with materials choosing such as types of paving, finishes, and in general the preliminary plan is refined.

Construction Drawings: This includes planting, irrigation, layout, grading, drainage, and construction details for decks, trellises, fences, paving, retaining walls, etc. These are drawings that a contractor uses to construct the landscape.

Submittals: Working with city planning and building departments and design review boards to ensure that the plans meet the requirements and that required calculations are submitted, such as for the California WELO (Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance).

Cost Estimating: Providing cost estimates as required.

Bid Assistance: Help with choosing contractors, and preparing the bid letters and contracts.

Construction Administration: Site visits to observe the construction process and work with the contractor to achieve a successful landscape installation; managing contractor payments, and creating and clearing a final punch list. Designing residential retaining walls (a good example of how a licensed professional can help you): Landscape architects can design retaining walls up to 3 feet high in California. Walls over that height must have calculations by a structural engineer.

The most common reason for retaining wall failure is probably due to the lack of drainage behind the wall. Every wall should have a bed of drain rock behind it, with some way of getting the water out-either through a perforated pipe at the foundation of the wall, or weep holes at the bottom of the low side. Weeping can stain the wall, but is a better choice if there is no good place to outlet the perf pipe. Ideally the drain rock and pipe are wrapped in filter fabric to keep soil from intruding.

For wood walls, the other frequent cause of failure is not setting the posts deep enough or close enough together. Posts should be as deep as the wall is high above ground and not less than 2 ft. deep. They should be spaced 4 ft. or less, and should be installed in concrete footings, with the bottom 3″ of the post extending past the footing to keep water from pooling at the bottom of the footing.…

Read More »