Most people are familiar with general practice of landscaping and thoroughly enjoy a well-manicured lawn. However, the term “hardscaping” may be unfamiliar to some novices. It is a subcategory of landscaping that refers to the inanimate elements of a landscape. As the name implies, hardscaping refers to hard components, such as concrete, brick or stone, and wood. Examples of hardscaping include constructing a patio or deck, brick walkway, a stone wall, or a wooden fence. But hardscaping doesn’t only include large-scale projects, as any non-living decorations in your landscaping is, technically, hardscaping.

If you are about to embark from scratch on a huge landscaping project that involves both hardscaping and softscaping, i.e. plants and other horticultural elements, you should consider what to implement first. It is recommended that you start with hardscaping because it is easiest to work on without the obstacles of plants, which can be easily damaged by the physical labor required for hardscaping projects.

Working with the hardscaping elements, such as stone and concrete requires physical labor and lots of heavy lifting. There are ways to facilitate your work, with throwing out your back. Invest in an automatic concrete mixer and avoid buying the 80-lb. bags of concrete. Buy a greater quantity of smaller bags that are easier to lift. You may pay a little more for the concrete, but you would be avoiding a possible hospital bill. You can also buy pre-mixed concrete, rather than the type that required the addition of other materials. That is more hard, physical labor that can be avoided.

When hardscaping use implemented into the overall landscaping design, people favor curved instead of straight lines. This serves as an aesthetic design purpose. Building curved walkways softens the landscape by counteracting the rigid lines that most houses and driveways visually create. If a walkway or path cuts through an area of visual interest, such as a rock or water garden, flower bed or tree line, building it with a curve makes more aesthetic sense. It also allows you to meander through the area slowly and enjoy the view. Be careful not the sacrifice functionality for aesthetic. If it makes sense to build a straight path or walkway that serves a utilitarian purpose, a straight line is more appropriate.

Fresh Start Landscapes, a Houston landscaping company, is a dedicated company that values the importance of hardscaping your lawn. Every stone and material used is hand-picked  to ensure that every aesthetic aspect of your project is perfect and meets Fresh Start’s dedicated standards. From decorate concrete stonework to the charm of real-rock features, Fresh Start offers lasting beauty for every hardscaping project. Fresh Start stand behind their products and make any reasonable adjustments to ensure customer satisfaction. A job is only as good as the materials used to make it and the hands that assemble it.

Not a day goes by that you don’t see an article in the Houston Chronicle about the release of a new environmentally friendly product, whether it be a hybrid vehicle, an energy-efficient appliance, or organic food. (Even Pizza Hut just introduced a new “all-natural” pizza. My first question was, “what exactly were they making it out of before?” but that’s beside the point.) There are also many tips and tricks published about reducing one’s carbon footprint in many areas of your daily life.  Since “going green” is a growing trend, I wanted to see if I could take an environmentally friendly approach to my new landscaping project.

I started by seeking out a reputable Houston landscaping company to partner with who could translate my vision into a reality. Together we developed a master plan, then identified a few areas were we could be more environmentally responsible: water, lighting, and pest control.

In Texas, the water we use for our lawns accounts for 35% of the total. That’s an awful lot, and is clearly an area where I should focus my efforts. We specifically choose plants that will thrive in Houston and don’t require a lot of water to maintain. Also, by adding elements like pathways or a sitting area, the overall need for ground cover (whether it be grass or some other greenery) could be reduced. Unless we choose only desert plants, I would still need to water, so it was recommended I install a sprinkler system. Most systems will come with a programable timer so you can deliver the exact amount of water necessary, with no waste. You can also set a sprinkler system to water at night, increasing the effectiveness your efforts, and ultimately using less water.

Lighting is another area in which to conserve energy. I learned that incandescent bulbs are no longer the way to go. Instead, you should choose from energy-efficient LED’s, compact florescent, or halogen lamps, depending on what is available for the type of light you are using. Although more energy-efficient, these bulbs produce a lot of heat which will need to be considered in their placement.

Pesticides reduce native predator insect populations, contaminate groundwater, and if misused, pose a potential threat to our heath. To reduce the use of pesticides, we started with healthy soil built with compost and earth-friendly elements. Planting only native plants will help reduce the presence of pests and fortunately the selection is quite diverse.  I used quite a bit of flowers to attract ladybugs and other beneficial insects. If pests become a problem, it turns out there is a wide variety of natural solutions, such as orange oil, garlic, or organic products that can be used.

My new garden was not only a site to behold, but I could sleep easier knowing that I’d gone easy on Mother Nature. Before beginning any Houston landscaping project, I encourage you to research opportunities for reducing your environmental impact. Water usage, lighting, and pest control are all areas where you can “go green.” Come on, everyone else is doing it!

A beautiful yard is just as important in Houston, Texas as it is anywhere else. Now, it may be a challenge to keep it looking fresh and green in those hot summer months, but if you have put in the effort for a attractive yard, you want to show it off.  Lighting can be an important part of any landscaping project. There is more than just one reason to add lighting to your landscape, and different ways to achieve those various outcomes.

Doug Perry, of Houston landscaping company Fresh Start, recommends three reasons to consider lighting when planning your landscaping project. When the sun goes down it may be difficult to see steps or walkways. Thus, lighting for safety is important. Your front porch light is rarely enough light to sufficiently see the way, so illumination at ground level is key.  Lighting for security is another must. There is a peace of mind that comes with lighting entry areas, driveways, and dark areas of your yard. These fixtures can provide constant lighting or have motion-sensors warding off any potential trespassers (whether human or animal).  Another common reason for lighting is lighting for effect. You can fully enjoy the beauty of your landscaping and architecture with up lighting, indirect accent illumination, and direct brightening effects.

There are several kinds of lights one can consider for any landscaping project, the following are a few of the more common types:

Flood lights are designed to cast light in one direction, typically used to highlight particular features of landscape or architecture. They also can be used for illuminating entrance ways and driveways for security.

Globe lights have a light enclosed in a globe without a metal shade. The result is a diffused illumination in all directions that is great for around spas or swimming pools, both for safety and aesthetics.

Well lights are buried in the ground and shine light upwards. This is perfect to light small trees from the bottom up.

Tier lights have tiers of rings that shield the eyes from the light and cast light downward. These lights are perfect for lighting pathways or stairs.

Mushroom lights can be used to light decorative ground cover as they have a wide shade to discretely hide the light bulb.

These days, most all of your lighting options are going to be economical and energy-efficient. Low voltage options don’t require complex wiring, but it takes planning. If you aren’t sure where to start, quality landscaping companies in Houston can perform a consultation to determine your needs. They can recommend proper wire, bulb and transformer sizing to provide the most efficient and proper lighting effects and can determine the best placement and adjustment of fixtures, wire and transformers. If planned correctly from the beginning, installation can be a snap and a professional landscaper should provide a warranty of parts and labor.

Lighting can add both safety, security and a decorative touch to any landscaping around your home. There are multiple options to choose from and a Houston landscaper can assist you in creating the perfect set-up.

Cedar is a great, year round wood for outdoor purposes. You can find cedar in fencing and home siding, so it makes sense for porch swings as well. One thing about cedar that many people like and many do not, it is purely personal preference, is that it slowly and naturally turns a silver gray color, taking on a very rustic look. Cedar is very durable and strong without being overly heavy, so it is easy to move when needed. Cedar naturally does not warp like many other woods meaning that it does not need a lot of extra, protective maintenance and care. For outdoors, cedar is a great choice, it basically comes down to whether or not you like its weathered look.

Teak is another very popular choice in outdoor furniture. Teak porch swings are also very durable in all weather conditions. It has a tight grain and natural oil so that it resists rot. Like cedar, you do not have to finish it with a spar varnish, you can let it weather naturally. Unlike cedar's gray, it turns a rich brown when exposed to air. Also, teak does not cause rust when in contact with metal. The down sides to teak is that it is expensive and, due to its dense nature, it is quite heavy.

Cypress, another wood known for its close grain and weather resistance to warping and shrinking, is known for its beauty. It is not used as much as cedar or teak, but is growing in popularity. It is heavier than cedar, but not as heavy as teak. Cypress can range in color from quite light to a rich golden brown, and it is also known to take an antique finish quite well.

Oak is a popular wood indoors, and can also be found in porch swings, but are definitely better used in weather protected areas. Oak is a hard wood that is quite heavy. Because of its open pores, it is affected by weather and needs to be protected with a weather resistant spar varnish.

I like the look of pine, but it is a soft wood that is better suited for the indoors. Many choose pine because it is more affordable than most any other wood, but it does not weather well. But porch swings are available in pine, so a spar varnish is a must, which should be regularly checked and maintained .

Regardless of the wood you choose for your swing, there are benefits of wood in general. Primarily that it does not hold the heat or the cold, so it is always comfortable to the touch. This is really nice because most other materials become hot during the summer and can deter users from enjoying a sunny afternoon relaxing outdoors. Also, any wood fits easily into the natural environment, regardless of the look and feel that you are trying to create.

So, consider the different qualities of the wood porch swings available, and choose one that suits your lifestyle and tastes best, you are bound to find one that you can enjoy for many years to com.

One of my favorite benefits of cedar is its strength to weight ratio, which in layman terms means that the wood is exceptionally strong without being overly heavy. Basically, cedar furniture is easy to move around, you don't have to hire the neighbor's teenage boys when you want to rearrange your patio furniture. This is one down side to teak, another great and common out door wood, teak is just plain heavy!

Another great thing about using cedar for outdoor porch swings is that it does not shrink or warp like other woods can do. Other woods are normally pressure treated to avoid this problem, but then you are exposing your family to chemical preservatives that may be harmful to their health.

I am also really excited about cedar because we finished landscaping our back yard last year, and this spring we will be getting some new outdoor furniture. I knew I wanted cedar because besides all the benefits mentioned above, I simply like the way it ages, I think it gives a garden a truly homey look.

Last year I found a company that sells cedar outdoor porch swings and garden furniture is called Rustic Natural Cedar Furniture Company. They have been specializing in manufacturing cedar products for the both in and out of the home for over 30 years. They use both Northern White Cedar and Western Red Cedar for outdoor products. We bought a wonderful swing for our front porch made of the Northern White Cedar, which starts out a beautiful creamy white color before it changes to the traditional gray. I really wanted to go with them again so that our backyard furniture matched our outdoor porch swing, and they had some great options.

We could go with a basic garden swing, they had them in a variety of sizes. But the footprint is larger than I want, plus we already have the porch swing. Another option they have are gliders, both single and loveseat gliders as well as glider benches. They also have a great double glider with a table between the two gliders all on a cedar stand. Great for out door socializing, and there are optional canopies.

Well, spring is starting to tease us here in north Idaho, we had a beautiful spring like day on Wednesday, but then a snow storm the next day. But it is still the first hint that I must decide soon on what great cedar pieces I want to grace our back yard.