Environmental Insights

What do you get when you take a massive building, surround it with pavement, then squeeze it onto just enough dirt to fit? Answer: steep slopes.

We had a new alarm system put in our little cabin the other day. It was cool. The guy came and installed it, and compared with the old style alarm systems it was super easy: he just screwed in a few wireless sensors, plugged it in and we’re set to go. It’s great—now we can control our alarm system right on our iPhones. It is uber simple compared to the old way.

As we move into fall, we’re entering a new season in the landscape. Things start to slow down after the crazy summer season, and people are showing their civil sides again after the heat of the dog days has lifted. It’s a really good time to sit down and plan what’s next, not only for the rest of the year but for the season to follow. And as with most planning endeavors, it’s often helpful to look at trends.

Want to know how to install professional-looking landscape lighting? Sure, I can give you some landscape lighting tips. I’ll post a few of my best below.

But first, bear with me, because I just have to rant about what NOT to do with landscape lighting. It’s actually easy to demonstrate. All you have to do is get in your car and ride around after dark. I can almost guarantee that within a few blocks you’ll have passed case after case of really bad lighting installations.

 

Like the giant square box runway lights that just blast light at a building as if it were daylight, doing nothing to highlight the architecture or evoke a mood.

Or the residence where somebody bought bullet lights and aimed them at a shrub, and it looks like what Moses saw on Mount Horeb: a single bush all alight with nothing but harsh shadows all around.

Or the facade of a house that has a bright, bright light in one spot right next to a patch of blackness so dark the devil could be hiding there. It’s jarring. When will people learn that you can’t just go buy lights and point them at things and expect it to come out looking good?

Now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s talk about how to do landscape lighting right.

The landscape is the first thing you see when you drive up to your home. It sets the tone for your whole experience being there. A tired-out landscape leaves you feeling just that: tired or dissatisfied. But a landscape that looks vibrant and inviting lends a positive feel to the home. When you start getting that tired feeling every time you look outside, it’s time to start considering landscape renovation .

In our area, we have a ton of homes that were built in the 1950’s—1970’s. A lot of these are still sporting tired old plants and patios from decades past; needless to say it’s just time.

In other cases, the property might be turning over to younger buyers who need a yard that suits their lifestyle. Same goes for homeowners who are approaching their golden years: they want to consider how the landscape can support their changing needs.

Across these twenty-six years of practicing my craft, I have spent countless hours rescuing clients from disappointing—and sometimes downright atrocious—projects created for them by someone else.  While it is gratifying to play hero and leave the client with a smile, it is also painful, considering the money such a client has already spent on work that ultimately had to be re-done. While some of these botched jobs have involved poor workmanship, all have been cases of poor design, or the lack of design at all.

It’s easy to think of design as simply the act of placing pretty things on the page or in the ground. But it goes far deeper than that. Good design is the act of creating spaces that function for their intended purpose and elevate the mood, well-being, and/or productivity of those who interact within them.  A well-designed site or landscape is carefully planned to result in the optimal well-being and safety of the user or occupant. It’s not something that happens by accident.

In design, the whole is always more important than the parts. Every feature can positively or negatively affect every other, as well as the overall impact of the site. This is why trained and competent landscape architects never simply “place” trees, shrubs, stones, statuary or any other physical elements on a site unless they truly serve a functional purpose or are essential to the creation of the space.  

In landscape design, nothing is arbitrary. In fact, there are immutable elements and principles of design that are universal to the creation of spaces and must be used with knowledge and sensitivity for optimal results. Here is a quick introduction:

Chances are if your landscape has been in for 15 or more years it is overdue for renovation. Even if your landscape was well planned and maintained for the long haul, a decade and a half’s worth of growth is almost guaranteed to leave it looking a bit unkempt. Crowded roots, straggly growth, overgrown trees and shrubs, bare spots, ho-hum or dated appearance: these are all signs it’s time for an overhaul.

If you’re reading this and nodding your head in recognition, here are some landscape renovation ideas to consider this spring.

The state of Georgia encompases 59,425 total square miles. That’s a lot of landscape. In fact, it’s beyond the scope of any one landscaping company to service all that land. There’s plenty of room for friendly competition!

Which is a good thing, because it’s nice to have freedom of choice when it comes to choosing any company, including your landscape provider.

At T.Lake, we pride ourselves on our ability to get along well with and satisfy just about any customer. However, we recognize that tastes differ and we may not always be the perfect fit for everyone who needs landscape services in central Georgia.

With that in mind, we thought we’d highlight a few of the best landscaping companies in middle GA. These are all solid companies we feel are doing a great job for their Georgia customers:

To prevent headaches and costly problems, avoid these nine residential landscape design mistakes with your next project.

You’re basically handed a blank canvas when you decide to buy new construction.

While that can be exciting, it can also feel a bit overwhelming. Beyond the house, you also have to think about the outdoor living space.

What does your new home’s landscape need? What will look best in your outdoor space? How do you combine all of your design ideas with the space you have? And of course, who can answer all of these questions?

Instead of getting frustrated with the whole process, work with a professional to design and build the outdoor space of your dreams.