LEAVE IT TO The PROS

Posted by admin on 29. June 2010 06:50

LEAVE IT TO THE PROS:

Okay, so you have a plan and it’s a pretty good one too!  You have some very good ideas of what the new landscaping should look like, and wish you had more advice and help in preparing the details. When thinking about tackling your own backyard landscaped area, and creating a new landscape project, sometimes it is wiser to leave it to the Pros.  Many efforts on a homeowner’s part have gone unfinished and unprepared due to snafus and snags that occur and are never foreseen prior to the beginning of a landscape project.  In some instances unfortunate situations are created that will end up being very costly and unproductive to the homeowner.

When digging and prepping an area in the yard for your project it is always a wise notion to contact your local Fort Collins Landscape Designer.  Attempting tasks such as irrigation and prepping soil without proper knowledge and input can be an insurmountable feat to accomplish, which is why you should always call a professional for some help.  The professionals will see to it that all locations for digging and prepping will be cleared by the proper authorities for you.

Some of the unwanted catastrophes that have occurred are usually so annoying and tedious that the customer ends up spending more time and money on the project than originally planned.  Gas lines have been severed as well as water pipes and electrical feeds, not to mention boulders within the landscape are discovered and roots from trees are overrunning the drainage areas of the yard.  All of these problems can certainly overwhelm a homeowner trying to do the work on his or her own. 

So, before you begin have a plan and that plan should be to call your local Fort Collins Landscape Specialists and let them help you in creating the design you want to achieve.  Without the fuss of errors and unwanted stress you will have started a very personal process of getting the landscape you truly desire.  In the end they are the pros in their field of knowledge and will certainly provide you with a hassle free landscape design and installation that will surround your home for years to come.

Contact ELFScapes TODAY

WATERING YOUR LAWN

Posted by admin on 24. May 2010 10:01

WATERING YOUR LAWN:

Do you want to promote a healthier turf in your lawn?  Proper watering can increase the deep rooted structure of your lawn. Contact ELFscapes today...

There are plenty of factors to consider, because no two lawns are exactly alike.  High rated quality lawns such as: bluegrass or ryegrass lawns under dry, intense heat, can require up to and over 2 inches of watering per week.  When the weather cools down the amount of water will lessen.  On the other hand buffalo grass will remain green sometimes for weeks without daily or weekly watering.  Of course shaded areas will also need less water than direct sunlit yards.

It is always recommended to speak with your Irrigation Company to make sure you are watering efficiently and when necessary.  Always keep in mind that if there are trees and shrubs they also will need to be watered.  When plants and trees compete for water, you might want to water more frequently, especially in mature landscaped areas.

Always remember that proper routine repetitive mowing, fertilizing and cultivating add a tremendous value to your lawns, making watering easier and more beneficial, in producing the end results you are trying to achieve for a beautiful lawn.

Have a great day!!! Contact ELFscapes we are here to help...

Maintaining Your Sprinkler-Irrigation- System

Posted by admin on 24. April 2010 13:37

Maintaining Your Sprinkler-Irrigation-System

Do you remember when you first installed your sprinkler irrigation system?  If so, you also remember the cost involved when you had it installed.  Keeping a well maintained system with timers to regulate water intervals can preserve your yard for years, allowing it to flourish and thrive like it was meant to be.

The sprinkler system on your property is a very important part of your yard maintenance and the frequency in how you care for it should always be monitored.  So many things can occur if your system is ignored and left to run for on its own.  You must consider your irrigation system as if it were a machine that you spent a good amount of money on and want it running smoothly without any interference.  Your system properly delivers water to your plants, grass, and trees in your yard, and keeps them thriving throughout drought conditions and also during the moisture events as well.  With timers in place, you can regulate and let the system know when you want your yard to be watered. 

Your Fort Collins Maintenance Technicians will set you up after installation for regular service to make sure your valves, sprinkler heads, timers, and piping are all up to date and functioning properly, along with start ups in the spring and sprinkler blow outs in the fall.  By maintaining this type of schedule you are sure to have a smooth operating system and in the long run you can and will prevent many an obstacle from occurring.

If you already have an irrigation system installed in your yard and would like regular maintenance to be implemented for the sprinkler system, simply contact your Fort Collins Maintenance Specialists and they will include you as a customer ensuring you that your system is performing and running adequately.  It’s like changing the oil in your vehicle after 3000 miles, or having the burner in your home maintained and cleaned by changing the filters and nozzles.  

Remember a well maintained sprinkler irrigation system will give your yard the perfect amount of water that it needs and will function effortlessly when it is properly and regularly maintained.

Do You Need Help With Your Sprinkler System Contact ELFscapes Today.  Click Here

Fences Make Good Neighbors-Tips From ELFscapes

Posted by admin on 23. March 2010 15:18

Fences Make Good Neighbors

All kidding aside, fences can be a very common structure that creates boundaries and divisions between a home owner’s property and their neighbors.  There are many types of fences that are used today from the most modern designs to the oldest know to mankind, which were made from rocks and boulders.

If you are considering installing a fence or replacing an existing fence you have many types and styles among the possibilities to choose from and consider.  You should first begin by contacting your Fort Collins Landscape Designer or Specialist and he or she can help and advise you on which types of fences that are appropriate for the style of home and yard which you live in. 

You will see that there are many different choices in fencing materials, such as; Vinyl, Chain-Link, and Wooden.  In many cases a homeowner these days will choose a wooden type of fence which will compliment the home’s structure.  Most wooden fences are comprised of lattice, stockade, picket, post and rail, as well as paneled style fencing.

Depending on what your needs are and the design of fence you are interested in, once you have chosen the material, and determined the size and structure needed, you are set to go.  So, be it rock, wood, vinyl or even chain link, fences do make good neighbors, all the while leaving you with a level of privacy for you and your family, while adding beauty to your home by surrounding it with comfort and protection all at the same time.

ELFScapes installs new fences and decks on New Landscape Design & Installation Projects as well as Landscape Renovation Projects...

Contact ELFscapaes Today.  Click Here

Fort Collins Landscape Maintenance Firm Offers Snow Removal Services

Posted by admin on 12. February 2010 10:43

Fort Collins Landscape Maintenance-The Benefits in Having a Snow Removal Contract

Having and securing a snow removal contract with your Fort Collins Landscape Maintenance Firm is a very wise choice to make during the winter months.  Many folks are not aware that snow removal contracts are available to them, and upon discovering this option are finding peace of mind and worry free confidence about snow and the accumulations that occur.  If you are on the go, and need to make sure your family is safe and able to continue their daily routines, than having the security of knowing your loved ones are being cared for with snow removal service is a very important thing to have during the inclement periods of winter.

There are some considerations to make prior to obtaining your contract for snow plowing and shoveling.  You will need to know how and want you want before you begin  A good plan ahead of time and meeting with a snow removal specialist will certainly make things go as smooth as silk.  Please be prepared if you are an HOA member and what restrictions if any apply to your neighborhood, enabling the snow removal employees to follow protocol within your development.

If you are looking for commercial snow removal, then you have to consider wisely when you would like the snow removal to be started and completed, and how often you would want the snow removed.  Therefore, your business will be able to function and run without any problems, giving you the time and availability to run your operations without interference of having to remove snow.

So, if you are considering a snow removal contract, give your Fort Collins Maintenance Specialist a call today, and they can certainly point you in the right direction for obtaining and securing a spot during those winter storm months, allowing you to continue your work throughout the day without interruptions of having to take your precious time to remove snow.

Do You Need Snow Removal Services in Fort Collins?      Click Here

SHURBS & TREES WINTER PROTECTION TIPS

Posted by admin on 15. January 2010 10:51

SHURBS & TREES WINTER PROTECTION TIPS

We still have a few nice warm days ahead, and it is not too late to prepare those tress and shrubs for a long winters rest.  Protect your wooden plant life from the worst that Mother Nature has to offer with a tiny bit of work in late fall and early winter, and the payoff will be healthier plants and trees.  Wrapping and tucking in those shrubs and trees for the winter will protect them from harsh weather that can result in tree cell erosion over the next three or four months of inclement weather conditions.  This can save you plenty of time and money in the long run.

Did you know that trees facing a southern exposure during the winter are more likely to have bark split and crack at the base of their trees?  This is due to the warm and cold exposure, which contracts and expands the trunk of the tree during sunlit days.  Wrapping these trees will help them to maintain a constant temperature therefore avoiding any splitting and cracking to occur.  Always wrap by starting at the bottom of the trunk while working up the tree to the first limb, and never let any type of tape stick to the trunk when applying the wrapping procedure.

Tree and shrub wrapping has been done for many years now, and your Fort Collins Tree Specialists are there to assist you with questions and help if you are considering protecting your plant life in your landscaped yard.  They are also available to provide you with services and knowledge in all areas of importance depending on the types of trees and shrubs that you maintain on your property.

So, remember as the cold weather approaches just contact your Fort Collins Landscape Specialist, and ask about the service that is available on how to wrap and protect those precious trees that Mother Nature gives a rest to during the winter months.

INFORMATION ON TICK PREVENTION:

Posted by admin on 15. December 2009 14:38

INFORMATION ON TICK PREVENTION:

Lyme disease is a tick-borne sickness with symptoms such as: fever, rash, body aches and chills.  In some cases a patient might experience a great amount of weakness and sometimes even temporary paralysis.  In most cases this is not permanent, and will go away as the patient improves.

What can be done to prevent you and your loved ones including your pets from encountering ticks and Lyme disease?

There is definitely no need to stay trapped inside in order to protect yourself and your family from these pests.  There are so many beautiful areas to hike and play in Fort Collins and within the surrounding Colorado regions that simple steps can be taken to make sure you are protected from tick bites and infections.

First, you need to avoid tick infested areas that are deep woods and places where deer will dwell and reside. Remember when hiking wear light colored clothing and long sleeve shirts and pants, and always perform a tick inspection after returning home, to include your clothing as well.

One last tip of advice is about your pets, remember they too can carry ticks, and they should be checked daily and often.   There are repellents that are on the market and available to the public to ward off ticks just remember that these repellents need to be washed away after returning home.  Following these tips and a little knowledge can go a long way and keep you and your family safer from ticks and encountering a possible problem with Lyme disease.

Composting:

Posted by elfscapesadmin on 1. October 2009 21:27

COMPOSTING:

Composting is essentially the equivalent of all the healthy stuff in the soil or (humus) which sustains plant life.  If you want to retain moisture, and nutrients into your soil, composting is a method that will do just that.

It is estimated that a single family will throw away at least 200 pounds of vegetation that could be used in our gardens every year.  Multiply that number by a million families and you certainly can picture the amount of composting that could be occurring daily.

Implementing a compost pile into your Fort Collins landscape project is a great step towards preparing for your garden, plus composting will also help save the planet!

There are many helpful kits and packages in your local areas that you can purchase to help you get started in conserving wasted vegetation and then converting it into compost for your gardens.  There are many options to choose from!  Remember, proper layers added to your compost piles are essential in achieving the best results possible.  Setting up your very own compost will help you to appreciate the environment and its surroundings.  Composting will also help you see the effects and benefits received in your flowerbeds and vegetable gardens when used properly.

"In todays busy world, it is important to try and recycle in every way we can to help preserve energy and the planet natural resources.  Composting is a very good way to begin!  Remember, we can all make a difference if we just try.  If your looking for more information on composting there's a stack of information out there be it literature or on the web about various approaches and equipment."

Check out this video explaining how to compost using your waste vegetation, while making a difference in the world.  It’s a win win situation!

Water Features In Northern Colorado: How To Attract Birds...

Posted by elfscapesadmin on 17. September 2009 01:40

BIRD ATTRACTION:

Creating a bird sanctuary in your backyard, can be a wonderful way to add a touch of beauty to your landscape, and relieve your daily stress at the same time.  It is a known fact that; water, wildlife, plants and flowers are all excellent sources of food for the soul.

When speaking with your Fort Collins Landscape Designer they will lead you on the right path in your search for the perfect spot to add a bird bath.  It’s a simple, easy and inexpensive way to improve a spot in your yard, without using a large amount of space, or money.

Once the bird bath is installed, add your personal touch with flowers and plants to surround it, and you will find the entire family glancing and peeking about to learn more about the new attractions that are showing up daily in your back yard.  There is very little upkeep with a bird bath, just keeping it clean and fresh is all you have to do.

A bird bath or sanctuary spot in your backyard is an ideal way to nurture your family with aviary trivia and education, in a leisure way, enjoying each others company and spending time together.  Within a day you will hear chirping surround your property, like hearing music to your ears, and marvel at the colors and different varieties of birds now luring you into the backyard with amazing curiosity.

Click Here To See Some Samples Of Our Water-Features

NATURAL FLAGSTONE PATIOS:

Posted by elfscapesadmin on 3. September 2009 22:27

NATURAL FLAGSTONE PATIOS:

Natural flagstone patios are becoming increasingly popular!

Using natural stone can add beauty and nature to your landscape with wonderful appeal and it can also make your yard a very desirable place for your family to gather and relax.

Your choice of natural stone versus concrete, tile, or brick, will add texture and new colors to your newly designed Fort Collins Landscaped project, leaving those who visit, green with envy.

There are many patterns and designs to choose from, and this is why a natural flagstone patio in your landscape plans is the absolute way to go!   This will also increase the value of your home way beyond the cost itself of the patio installation.  

You will also find yourself adding more plant life and maybe even a water feature to enhance its beauty.  Your Fort Collins Landscape Designer can direct and assist you in making the right choices of stones, colors, textures and décor for your newly added natural flagstone patio.

When your project is completely installed, without a doubt the entire family will spend more time on the patio and entertaining there will become a daily habit for many years to come.

Click Here To Check Out Some Of Our Fire-Features!!!