When looking at all of the landscape contractors in the Orlando area, you can find one company that does it all…Commercial Landscaping and Maintenance, Mowing, Edging, Trimming, Blowing, Leveling – Fill Dirt, Tree/Stump Removal, Trash Removal, Sod Installation…and more!

But whether you are seeking the assistance of a landscape contractor in Orlando to recommend and maintain a few plants, or to plan an entire landscape for your home, be sure to ask if they are certified with the FNGLA (Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association). As a consumer, you deserve to have the most knowledgeable landscape contractor to handle your landscape needs. The FNGLA symbolizes knowledge and professionalism in the Orlando area.

As an Orlando homeowner, you should know that Florida has a horticulture industry certification program – the only one of its kind in the state – that provides landscape industry professionals with an opportunity to earn a professional designation as a Landscape Contractor or Landscape Designer. The FNGLA sponsors this unique industry certification program, and in order to receive full accreditation, landscape industry professionals must complete an extensive exam.

How else can you evaluate the qualifications of your landscape contractor? Well, start by asking the following questions of them.

1. Are you a certified member of the FNGLA as a Landscape Contractor in Orlando?
2. How long have you been in business as a Landscape Contractor in the Orlando area?
3. Do you have an Orlando-based business telephone and address?
4. Do you have a vehicle with your company name on the side?
5. Will you provide me with a copy of your Landscape Contractor’s certificate of insurance issued in Orlando?
6. Do you have a license to work as a Landscape Contractor in the Orlando area?
7. Can you provide a list of references in the Orlando area whom I may contact about your work as a landscape contractor?
8. Do you offer a warranty on parts and labor?
9. Will you guarantee that overspray will be at a minimum?
10. Are you going to zone the sprays and rotors separately to prevent over watering?

Any Landscape Contractor you decide to hire should be comfortable answering these questions and you should be comfortable with their answers.

A car size landscape stone

Car size sounds a little bit to big but when you have a large yard and you want to prevent unauthorized access by vehicles, one very large landscape stone can do the trick. You can also use a group of landscaping stones for the same job. You should be aware that it is posible that neighbours can have rights of way and if you place these kind of large stones in tghat spot it is possible that you have a problem so always ask around before you place such a landscape stone.

Uncluttered landscaping

Using one landscape stone as a feature point in your yard gives a uncluttered look and a neat appearance. but you can also make a choice for the use of many landscape stones as stepping stones or as a separation between plants. Stepping stones are a wonderful way to have a natural appearance and it makes it easy to weed and do other maintenance jobs without getting your feet dirty. Landscape stones as a separation of different kind of plants also give a natural uncluttered feel to the yard.

Outline planting areas with landscape stones

To make isolated flower beds from the rest of the yard you can also use landscape stones. You can create beds by using old stones from a wall or new stones that you can buy in any garden store. when you use two layers you can divide an area of the yard and keep it isolated from the grass or the drive way. you need to find landscape stones that will fit your needs be because there is a landscape stone for every purpose in many different shapes and sizes there will be no problem.

Use a complementing or contrasting landscape stone

It depends on your taste, the shape and color of your outdoor living space, the size of your yard and the type of yard you want to have what kind of landscape stone you need to buy. Some people prefer it if their landscape stone stand out as a big feature point with a contrasting color. Other people like it if the landscape stone they have chosen seems to disappear and naturally fits in when it is put in to place. They often choose a color that blends in the yard and complements the house.

In this natural way of landscaping fits also a walkway of landscape stones, you can fit them together like a big puzzle and create a beautiful natural walkway around and through your flower beds. It depends on the kind of landscape stones you choose if the surface will be rough or smooth, rough stones are much less slippery and this can be a better choice in areas where it rains a lot or if the path is near a pond.

As you can see there are many landscaping ideas for the use of a landscape stone or stones.

Plan your landscape lighting to use shadows to your advantage.

It is a common misconception among homeowners that shadows are a bad thing, and that the purpose of light is to brightly illuminate everything to the extent that no dark spots appear. The opposite is actually true. Houston landscape lighting works best as a blend between light and shadow, so use a balance of darkness and light when planning your landscape lighting system. Depending on the degree to which you vary this contrast, you can create all sorts of luminary effects and varying states of mind. Bathing exceptionally dark areas of your yard in soft ambient light from tree lights mimics the effects of moonlight and is highly romantic. Up lighting statuary, bird baths, and other ornaments creates an elevated sense of emotion ideal for garden parties. Hiding light fixtures within shrubs and flower beds creates a mystical effect where objects appear to glow with a light of their own. How you plan your landscaping lighting layout and landscape lighting maintenance program is really a matter of how you plan to feel when you look outside your window or spend warm summer nights on the patio. Start by evaluating plant materials, shrubs, trees, and gardens. These are forms that create shadow, and serve as guidelines to follow that are literally already growing right behind your home.

Plan your landscaping lighting with multiple layers of light in mind.

To achieve the type of depth and dimension we are talking about it, is necessary to use more than one layer of light. ILD landscaping pros typically plan a design around four distinctive layers of illumination, some of which distinctly overlap one another; others of which blend and synthesize together. Every landscape lighting design is different and must be planned around the unique dimensions of a yard and the contents within it. Fountains, sculptures, rock formations, bridges, and ornamental structures all provide accent or feature lighting opportunities. Trees provide moonlighting opportunities with concealed mercury vapor lights. Depending on the overall emotional tone you plan to create, any number of light fixture types can be used to illuminate these objects. You may want to install fixtures that are completely hidden so as to only illuminate objects of interest, or you may go the other route and use highly visible, decorative fixtures that add an additional aesthetic to your yard. If you are uncertain as to what type of fixtures to use, call one of our professionals and ask about specialty commercial grade fixtures that are made for specific types of landscapes and particular mood-setting lighting effects.

Be safe and practical when planning a landscape lighting system.

We recommend that the DYI homeowner stick with low-voltage landscape lighting equipment exclusively. 12-volt lights are generally all that you need to illuminate an outdoor area, and represent much less of a shock hazard to children and pets. They are also much safer to install. Do not forget to pay attention to the smaller practicalities of landscape lighting, either. Trip hazards such as steps, sidewalks, and driveways are good candidates for outdoor path lighting. Uplighting around trees can provide a visual aid that helps family and guests navigate in uncharted territory. Since these aspects of lighting involve safety as well as aesthetics, we recommend you consult with a professional firm for a free evaluation of your landscape lighting plan. This will help ensure that that you have thought of all the necessary contingencies, and will eliminate surprises, mishaps, and needless additional expense in the future.

Plan on contacting a landscape lighting professional.

Our landscape lighting crews are some of the best in the business. They understand how light works and where the light should go to maximize your visual nighttime enjoyment. No tree is too high for our professional tree climbers! We are experienced in all forms of outdoor landscape lighting from simple low voltage systems to more complicated high voltage mercury vapor lighting systems. We stock a full range of landscape lighting materials such as fixtures, lamps and replacement parts. We not only service what we sell, but we can assist you with repairs or maintenance to existing outdoor landscape lighting systems installed by our competitors. All of our technicians are experienced licensed professionals and we subcontract no work to outside vendors. The results will be spectacular!

Landscaping Ideas: The Gathering

Landscape design starts with ideas. Your ideas-before you bring in the professionals. It is the time to write down not only your needs, but also your wishes and deepest desires. This is true whether you want to landscape a two-acre homestead or install a small garden design.

Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds, says, “Landscaping ideas help in your own landscaping design process. The more landscape ideas and photos one has, the better. Even landscaping ideas of things one doesn’t like can help landscape designers and landscape architects achieve the desired results.”

Landscaping Ideas: Elements to Consider

• Hardscapes. Hardscapes-the non-plant material of your landscape design-play a critical part of any garden landscape project. Types of hardscapes include pathways, retaining walls, pool decking and driveways. You will need to make material choices that range from basic concrete to decorative stone and brick to wooden decking.

• Luxury swimming pools. A swimming pool is a necessity for any upscale home. It finishes off the design of the house because it is a natural extension of your indoor living space. All choices about a pool should factor in safety. One way to do it is through the use of fences. Halper points out that they can be built in a non-intrusive way. “We like to hide fences and gates by weaving them among shrubbery. This method makes the pool area safe, up to code and aesthetically pleasing,” he says.

• Outdoor water fountains. Outdoor water fountains come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and styles. Additional features can be added, such as a cascading waterfall or a contemporary wall fountain. Whatever style you prefer, the main thing to remember is that your overall landscape will be improved if you use an outdoor water fountain that coordinates with the style of your home and garden.

• Outdoor kitchens. Decisions to make concerning your outdoor kitchen include whether to cover it or not. You will want to consider the overall size needed. For instance, for the chairs at the dining table, you need at least two feet away from any other element, especially the grill or any step-downs. Be sure to plan for adequate cabinet space. Counter top options include tile, granite, stone and concrete. Also you’ll have choices regarding overhead fans and types of refrigeration.

Landscaping Ideas: Theme Possibilities

• Modern landscape design. Modern garden design tends to focus on scale rather than formal or classic designs that are based on axial relationships from Greek, Roman, and classical architectural traditions. The architecture of the house needs to be carefully considered when using a contemporary garden design. The home and landscape can be tied together through selective use of plantings or the intelligent placement of a hardscape feature, such as an organic pathway to the front door.

• Formal landscape design. Formal landscape design invokes order and balance. Think of the gardens of Monticello, the landscaping of Versailles, and, closer to home, the gardens of Bayou Bend, which is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

• English garden design. The English garden design is all about curved beds, winding paths and free-flowing color. The gardener’s hand is light. There-but just barely. Houston’s semi-tropical climate is well suited for vine-covered pergolas, sunny rose gardens, and sparkling azalea beds-all plant materials that fit well within the English garden’s concept of abundance.

• Mediterranean landscape design. The phrase to live by in this style is “Old World ambiance.” Favored materials include stone, weathered bricks, terra cotta tiles, flagstone, tumbled travertine, wooden beams, wrought iron, classical statuary and Roman columns, and outdoor furniture that evokes Arabian, Moroccan or Italian sensibilities.

The Steps to Getting Your Landscape Started

When you decide to hire a landscape business, you typically begin with an initial discovery meeting where you have an opportunity to discuss your overall goals, control elements, design intent and the overall aesthetics. The next meeting may include landscape designs, landscape plans, permitting issues and cost studies. In providing landscape services, a good professional should work diligently to help you define the scope of your outdoor project, phasing, scheduling, coordination, selection of all materials and construction methods, and project cost.

Once you have approved the landscape design, the landscape company you selected can begin the installation. As mentioned earlier, many landscape businesses act as the general contractor and oversee the entire installation of drainage, irrigation and landscape lighting. The fees for these services vary for each landscape business; however they are normally charged as a percentage of the total cost of the work for the project. .

Installation phase

A landscape business will usually include all plant materials, irrigation, drainage, and landscape lighting in their contract. Once the irrigation and lighting contractors finish their work, the planting can be completed by putting in all shrubs, groundcover, and seasonal color. After this step, mulching and cleanup commence. The irrigation and lighting subcontractors then return for final adjustments and the installation is complete.

It is during the installation that the importance of tree preservation must be emphasized. Careful pre-construction activities include protective tree fencing, borer applications on sensitive trees, temporary drainage and elevated walks to protect tree roots. Proper grading and soil preparation around large trees is another delicate issue. The foresight to understand the impact of changing grades on mature trees is crucial, so make sure your landscape service company is well versed in this area of expertise.

Some homeowners want to act as general contractors for their landscaping projects in order to save money. This choice can lead to some real problems. Often confusions can arise from the misunderstanding of trade terminology, scheduling and coordination if the different phases of a project. A subcontractor will respond much better to a seasoned general contractor who understands the work to be performed and with whom they have a good relationship based on past experience. Many landscape businesses have years of experience to make sure the end results exceed your expectations.

The Art of Communication

There should be good understanding, communication and comfort level between you and the firm you hire. Remember, your attention to detail and expectations of the entire process are crucial in determining which landscape company to hire for your outdoor project

Finally, landscape maintenance is one of the most important ongoing services to insure that your investment develops into a mature and beautiful outdoor environment. A landscape business will typically include proper trimming of plant material and mowing of all lawn areas. Landscape businesses should have a methodical feeding program that boosts the varying plant health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. The feeding program may also include spring and fall aeration of lawn areas with the application of fall rye grass. Water management through continual inspection of the irrigation controller, heads, and seasonal watering times is the foundation for lawn, shrub and tree health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and continually proactive maintenance program.

Commercial Landscaping: The Design Process

The basic components of a commercial landscape design include:

• Design. During the design process, your commercial landscape designers or landscape architects will work to bring together the program elements, your desired aesthetics and all permitting issues. This phase includes landscape layout, plans for plant materials and budget development. In providing design services, a true professional should work creatively, diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your project, assist in the selection of materials, coordinate vendors, determine the scheduling, and adhere to the approved budget.

• Drainage systems. A plan for landscape drainage is essential for commercial properties in the Gulf Coast region due to Houston’s dense soils, low-lying areas and heavy rainfalls. A proper drainage system protects your property from flooding, provides protection for the foundation of building(s), especially from cracking and uneven shrinkage or swelling, and carries water away from roofs, paved areas and landscaping, thereby avoiding standing water where mosquitoes can breed or people can slip and fall. Drainage contractors are particularly valuable in viewing the drainage system as a whole to ensure all the pieces work well together.

• Irrigation systems. Another essential feature of commercial landscaping, irrigation systems save money and provide convenience. They supply appropriate amounts of water to the various plants, thus protecting your landscape investment. They perform this function by separating the lawn, flower beds and planters into different zones that require different watering conditions due to the various plant types, weather and sunlight conditions.

• Landscape lighting. Since lighting has been proven to deter crime, one of the most important services that landscape lighting delivers is safety. This attribute makes it an invaluable benefit to entities that conduct business at night, such as restaurants, hotels, social clubs, country clubs, museums, colleges and schools. Additionally, as part of the commercial landscaping, a well-designed landscape lighting system gives your property round-the-clock visibility. A third purpose of landscape lighting can be to create an ethereal work of art, proving that beauty can be functional.

Commercial Landscaping: Ongoing Maintenance

As owner or manager of a commercial property, your days are filled with time management issues-meetings, budgets, security, tenants’ needs and demands. Therefore, an important partner for you to add to your team is a commercial landscape maintenance provider who can work efficiently and effectively without continual oversight.

The first order of business for this professional is regular maintenance. Duties include turf care-mowing, edging, fertilizing and treating it for any diseases. Hedges, bushes and ground cover need to be trimmed too so that they conform to the original design’s intent. Trees need looking after: deep-root feeding, aeration that promotes healthy roots, and inspection for disease and insect infestations. All plants need to be fertilized on a regular schedule, especially plants of the tropical, acidic and seasonal color variety. Plants also need systematic observation of and treatment for pests and diseases that are detrimental to overall health.

The addition of seasonal color to commercial landscaping is also important as it maintains an updated image of the property. Your landscaping pro should have an extensive and creative expertise with plant choices, color and texture that will bring your property to life.

Finally, your landscape service partner can handle preventive maintenance. Some items on this checklist include tree inspection (for instance, dead limbs need to be taken down for safety reasons; wounds need to be treated quickly to protect trees, which are valuable assets) and the inspection of the irrigation system. Proper maintenance and regular inspections of the irrigation system will detect such problems as broken lines and heads. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “This service is so important for commercial properties. We have saved some of our clients as much as $5,000 to $10,000 per month because we caught problems early.”

The great thing about improving your landscape is that, unlike other home improvement projects, it can cost as little or as much as you choose. There are a variety of low-cost plants that can be used to spruce up your home’s appearance, as well as more expensive solutions. Landscaping is often a year-to-year process of steady improvements – this is good because it often means you don’t have to buy everything all at once!

How does custom landscaping start? First, a custom landscaping expert will meet with you in order to get what vision you would like for your yard. As the name implies, custom landscaping is all about meeting your needs and what you would like to see in your estate. The problem with this is that it can get thorny when you try imposing or implementing your perspective without having the right expertise in order to do your redesigning and landscaping. A good custom landscaping person will use your ideas and execute them excellently.

For instance, some custom landscapers will provide you with pictures of different plans and grasses so that you can see which ones would fit your design better. They may show you pictures of different projects that they have already undertaken. Moreover, they will make suggestions with long-term visions in mind, because you will need to maintain your property. This will include factoring in your location, the weather or climate, and patterns of wind drift. This means that custom landscapers need to optimize your property so that you can get your design visions implemented without worrying about your landscape getting destroyed.

Different custom landscapers will have different strategies, but in general, a custom landscaper will provide you with information on how many plants you need and how much you will have to spend; and what fees you will incur in terms of keeping the finished product looking good all the time. Because custom landscapers work with your vision, you and your landscaper will be constantly contacting each other and talking about what you would like your property to look like. You may also find yourself making deals in terms of maintenance, or even remodeling after a certain amount of time. What is important is that you need to have a good relationship with your custom landscaper; this person has to be someone that you can trust, not just with implementing your design, but making efficient use of your money.

How do you do this? Start by addressing the shed itself. If the shed is old and/or has ugly colors, you might want to consider replacing it altogether. True, I realize this might not be what you had in mind when landscaping around a shed. But really, if the shed is horrendous to begin with, no amount of landscaping will make it look beautiful.

The next thing you need to do is create a pathway from your shed to other parts of your yard. This helps create the perception that the shed is a legitimate part of your landscape, (even if you know it isn’t). And, assuming you use hardscapes, such a pathway could help accentuate your landscape’s color contrasts… contrasts that could be designed around your shed’s exterior paint.

Anyway, once you’ve done that, you need to proceed to the next step associated with Landscaping Around Shed; deciding how you’re going to organize your plants. Now, some professional landscapers opt to put plants all around the shed. And, if your shed is really small, such an approach could work well. But if your shed is bigger, this method could make your landscape look a bit gaudy, especially if you use dozens of different gardening plants.

To prevent this problem you could consider landscaping with trees or bushes. In fact, when it comes to landscaping around a shed, trees and bushes are often the best gardening plants because they contain neutral colors and they have relatively low upkeep. And, depending on which one you choose, it’s possible that you could get a fresh batch of fruit each season.

Finally, you might want to consider adding steps at the entryway of your shed. Why? Well, remember, the main principle behind landscaping around a shed involves viewing your shed as a vital structure. So, why not put steps at its base? If you would do this for your house, your pool or your gazebo, you should definitely do it for your shed.

In conclusion, Landscaping Around a Shed doesn’t have to be a difficult task. With a bit of creativity it’s possible that this type of landscaping could result in a garden that looks even more elegant. And the reason why is simple. Instead of ignoring your shed, this type of landscaping helps bring out the structure’s inner essence. So, in the end you garden retains its practicality without sacrificing its aesthetics.

Understanding what professional landscape maintenance truly entails will help you better make an informed decision about what to invest in, and in whom to invest your money.

Gardens

Expensive gardens require professional landscape maintenance that will ensure their continued vitality and intended aesthetic function. All share a common need for the basics of plant maintenance that include the essentials of trimming, fertilizer, and water. While these may appear at face value to be very simple tasks, they can become very complicated in direct proportion to the style of the garden and the type of plants that are growing in it.

This is due to the fact that specialty gardens may feature unusual plant species that cannot be maintained with generic methods. One species may benefit from a certain cultivation or fertilization technique, while a species growing right next to it can wither and die from the very same treatment. Investing in a professional landscaping maintenance agreement that retains the original landscaper as the “gardener on call,” so to speak, ensures that your investment in that special French garden, Italian landscape, or Renaissance-style knot garden will continue to beautify your yard beyond the first few seasons of its planting.

Parterre gardens,

Parterre gardens rely on shrubbery for border and basic form. This shrubbery has to be trimmed from the perspective of the big picture of the garden and not just the individual plant. Additionally, the gravel foundation of parterre gardens functions as a drainage system for the plant life it surrounds. This gravel has to be turned over periodically to prevent standing water from forming that can damage the plant life in the garden. Professional landscaping maintenance agreements help ensure that both the aesthetic and functional elements of the parterre garden remain true to form and viable in expression throughout the year.

Knot Gardens

Knot gardens go hand in hand with a passion for flowers and a love for herbs. The first knot gardens, in fact, were fragrant herb gardens carefully planted to mimic Elizabethan embroidery designs and pre-Roman Celtic symbols. As such, this type of garden has always relied on a blend of very diverse plant material arranged to encourage the intention of intertwining different species into a new synthesis of organic expression. Maintaining such a blend of vegetation without knowledge of each interdependent species is virtually impossible from the perspective of generic yard services. Professional landscaping maintenance is an absolute must for preserving the vitality and ensuring the continued growth of a classic knot garden or any of its many modern derivatives.

Trees

Turning amateurs lose on your trees is the equivalent of evolving your landscape in reverse. A big tree looks virtually indestructible when you stand underneath it. It is easy to assume that pruning the tree, landscaping around it, and lighting it is a simple task that anyone with a ladder, a pair of gloves, and a few basic tools can do.

This is a great way to kill a tree by cutting off too many limbs or severing a vital root. Damage to bark, as insignificant as it may seem, leaves the tree vulnerable to parasites and bacteria that can kill it with infestation and disease. Never trust people who mow lawns to sculpt the pillars of your landscape. Such people may assist in tree removal after a hurricane blows one down, but asking them to maintain the vitality of a tree often takes the tree down before the hurricane has a chance to arrive.

Instead, hire a professional landscaper for any and all tree maintenance, including installation of any garden or flower bed around the base and root system of the trunk. Never try to install tree lights yourself or let a freelance “tree lighting contractor” around your favorite oak. Let a professional landscaping maintenance contractor find you an outdoor lighting design company who will safely light the tree without damaging it.

Shrubbery

Maintaining shrubbery involves more than trimming the top of shrubs. Many shrubs are sculpted to resemble other forms and need an artistic touch beyond simple pruning. As resilient as the shrubbery itself may be to amateur attempts at maintaining it, its form and function as a design element can be significantly damaged to the point it no longer works with the landscape. Professional landscapers should always be brought in to handle any trimming that needs to be performed to maintain the appearance of garden or perimeter shrubbery. They should also be called anytime there is an anticipated hard freeze during the winter or a particularly violent windstorm brewing on the horizon. Professionals can cover your bushes and shrubs to protect them from severe elements and give them a better chance at surviving harsh weather in a form that continues to work with your landscape.

Written Agreements

Professional maintenance can be obtained from a reputable, established landscaping company anytime you recognize a need for it. However, pay as you go services can quickly add up to considerable costs if you think only of short term investment and immediate gain. Exterior Worlds is always willing to work with any client to establish a written landscaping maintenance agreement that allows the homeowner to invest in ongoing services at a reasonable price with expected intervals of service and consistently satisfactory outcomes.