Landscape Contractor Serving Commercial and Residential
Rivas Design & Landscaping

Category: Money Saving Tips

Free Seasonal Decorations

Apparently Christmas is upon us . . . at least that is what the Mall was telling me! It used to be that Christmas music didn't make a comeback until after Thanksgiving. Now you can expect it to start piping while the employees are removing the Halloween goods from the shelves. Crazy!

But jumping the seasonal gun aside, now is the time to take a look at what you have in the yard that can assist you in reducing your holiday expenses and bring the beauty of outside inside. A few things to keep in mind when you are collecting your natural decorations:

  • Trim judiciously and only what you need. Try to be even in your pruning. You don't want to harm your shrubs/trees nor leave them looking like frankenshrubs!
  • On the flip side, do not fear cutting them!
  • The aridity in a winter house can cause rapid deterioration of the cuttings. Try to cut them as close to the time to your events to have them at their best. Sometimes misting them can keep them from drying out.
  • Protect your surfaces: if you are setting the cuttings on a table or mantlepiece, make sure that you put something down to keep your cuttings from damaging the surface with moisture or sap.
  • Be creative! Make wreaths, centerpieces, and mantle arrangements from your generous plants

Some great things to look for:

  • boxwood
  • spruce
  • pine  (beware of sap)
  • holly
  • magnolia grandiflora
  • Harry Lauder Walking Stick & Corkscrew Willow for branches
  • pine cones
  • dry seed heads of interest

While you are hunting for decorations on your property, don't forget to slow down and appreciate everything around you.

Happy Fall!

 

Wet Basements and How to Prevent Them

Top 5 Ways to Prevent Wet Basements

  1. Extend downspouts away from the house at least 10 feet. Make sure they distribute away from and not towards the foundation.

    Managing your downspouts can be the first line of defense against water damage for your foundation. Make sure that they extend away from the foundation with drain tile to prevent roof water from running back towards the house. Clear your gutters on a regular basis to prevent overflow and to keep water moving efficiently. You can clear the drain tile by running a hose or power washer from the connection point.

  2. Remove any soil/mulch that extends above the waterproofing line on the foundation

    Years of mulching can create a buildup that goes above the waterproofing line. Water can then leach into the foundation causing dampness. If you do not have waterproofing and wet or damp basements are a problem, consider investing in a professional installation.

  3. Add soil (below the waterproofing line) to raise the grade so that the soil at the foundation is higher than the yard.

    Sometimes the soil around the foundation collapses or just erodes away due to poor drainage flow. By building up with soil thereby raising the grade, you prevent water from settling along the foundation where it can seep in.

  4. Redirect your sump pump like your downspouts.

    Sump pumps, if improperly managed, can simply create a cycle of water distribution. Water can be pumped out of the pump, into a poorly managed terrain which then drains the water back to the foundation where it seeps in and...needs to be pumped back out again. Manage it the same way you do the downspouts: extend with drain tile away from the house, ensuring that the flow does not re-direct itself back towards the house.

  5. Redirect natural flows with grading.

    In some cases, the water isn't coming from your house or from around your house, rather, it is just the lay of the land. You need to take a more serious look at how the water flows through your property when it is raining heavily. Watch where it comes from and where it goes to. It may be necessary to re-grade, to retain or just simply redirect the flows.

 

Lining Your Driveway with Trees

Planting trees along your driveway can be a long-term investment. An allee, or tree alley, is usually a planting of medium to large deciduous trees evenly spaced along a walk or drive.

There are a few things to consider before planning for your driveway allee.

  • Distance. Do you have enough space for 5 or more trees? Plan to space your trees evenly apart and with enough room to grow without crowding the other trees. For example, if a tree is destined to be around 20′ wide, plan to plant the trees 20′ apart.
  • Height. When using medium sized trees (like pears, cherries, crape myrtle, e.g.) it is usually not necessary to consider the overhead utilities. However, larger shade trees (like maples and oaks, e.g) may interfere with any utility lines in the air.
  • Future impact. A tree planted too close to a driveway or walk can do significant and irreparable damage. When planning, consider what you plan to do in the future (are you thinking of a garage or a parking space in the future? Will you widen the existing drive?).
  • Also stay away from trees that tend to be trashy. Some trees are more prone to dropping branches, producing copious amounts of pollen and unbearably pointy seedpods.

Taking the time to choose solid performers for your allee, you will create an elegant and long-term investment for your property.

Want the peace of mind of knowing that you made the best choice for your property and the conditions?  Contact us for a consultation today!