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Jessica Schwartz
The Dog Days Of Summer: 4 Tips For Creating A Pooch Paradise
During the Covid-19 pandemic, 23 million households in America – and 3.7 million in Canada – welcomed a new pet into their pack, according to the ASPCA. And while people have been using their backyards more in recent years for everything from working and entertaining to vacationing and working out, this backyard business is old hat for dogs. “No one loves the family yard as much as the family dog,” notes Kris Kiser, President of the TurfMutt Foundation, an organization that advocates for the care for and use of green spaces, as well as pet rescue. “It’s my rescue dog, Mulligan’s, favorite place to be, so I do everything I can to make it safe and enjoyable for her, which ultimately makes it better for me, too.” Kiser and Mulligan shared the following tips for creating a dream yard for pets and their families this summer: Plant Real Grass: Plastic grass is uncomfortable on paws (and bare feet), gets very hot during the summer, is difficult to clean, and is worse for the environment since it requires water for cleaning and usually can’t be recycled. The bottom line: real grass is the best option for pets, people and the environment. Select the Right Plants and Grasses: Choose a type of turf grass that will withstand the “ruff” housing of a dog. Buffalo and Bermuda grasses can be a good choice, depending on the climate zone. For other plants and shrubs, check the ASPCA’s list of toxic and non-toxic garden plants ...
11 Landscape Design Trends To Expect This Spring
From avoiding invasives to xeriscaping, these are the landscape requests to anticipate from homeowners. Tilly, which offers outsourced landscape design services (profiled in Turf Spring 2021), has a unique perspective on what landscape customers want. As an affordable online service, landscape design is all they do and homeowner-clients are located across the U.S. So what do they anticipate will be the most-requested yard features in 2022? As expected, environmentally sensitive design will continue to be increasingly embraced, but there’s some sheer fun on the horizon too, like dog-influenced design. Backyard bars also made the list—perhaps not surprising as the ongoing influence of COVID-19 puts an emphasis on at-home, outdoor entertaining. Here are Tilly’s predictions. Environmental Trends Avoiding Invasive Plants. Homeowners are starting to become extremely savvy about their yards—and not only what looks good, but what is good for the environment. While specifying native plants has been a focus for many years, residential clients are becoming more knowledgeable about the harm of invasive plant species. Some towns are even offering free removal of invasives. This concept can be a struggle for landscapers and growers since demand for invasive plants still surges in certain areas. Low Water Usage Landscapes. With droughts, extreme heat waves, and water shortages, xeriscaping will continue to grow in popularity across the U.S., but specifically boom in the West and Southwest. (Xeriscaping is creating a landscape that requires little or no irrigation to maintain.) Landscape designers savvy at making this pragmatic landscape look chic, sophisticated, and natural ...
11 Landscape Design Trends To Expect This Spring
From avoiding invasives to xeriscaping, these are the landscape requests to anticipate from homeowners. Tilly, which offers outsourced landscape design services (profiled in Turf Spring 2021), has a unique perspective on what landscape customers want. As an affordable online service, landscape design is all they do and homeowner-clients are located across the U.S. So what do they anticipate will be the most-requested yard features in 2022? As expected, environmentally sensitive design will continue to be increasingly embraced, but there’s some sheer fun on the horizon too, like dog-influenced design. Backyard bars also made the list—perhaps not surprising as the ongoing influence of COVID-19 puts an emphasis on at-home, outdoor entertaining. Here are Tilly’s predictions. Environmental Trends Avoiding Invasive Plants. Homeowners are starting to become extremely savvy about their yards—and not only what looks good, but what is good for the environment. While specifying native plants has been a focus for many years, residential clients are becoming more knowledgeable about the harm of invasive plant species. Some towns are even offering free removal of invasives. This concept can be a struggle for landscapers and growers since demand for invasive plants still surges in certain areas. Low Water Usage Landscapes. With droughts, extreme heat waves, and water shortages, xeriscaping will continue to grow in popularity across the U.S., but specifically boom in the West and Southwest. (Xeriscaping is creating a landscape that requires little or no irrigation to maintain.) Landscape designers savvy at making this pragmatic landscape look chic, sophisticated, and natural ...
Belgard Announces Color Trend Of The Year
Belgard, a leading manufacturer of paver and wall products, is joining the ranks of Sherwin Williams and Pantone by introducing its first-ever Color of the Year. And Belgard is going green, earthy green, with Terrarium. A rejuvenating hue, Terrarium is meant to enhance connections to the natural environment, signifying growth, vitality, and renewal. Accents of Terrarium complement the full range of Belgard colorations and allow landscapers to create a biophilic paradise in client backyards. Biophilia, a term popularized by American biologist Edward O Wilson in the 1980’s, focuses on human’s innate attraction to nature and natural processes. “We want to stay true to our roots with Belgard’s first-ever Color of the Year. While Pantone’s Classic Blue lends itself to the sky, Terrarium is grounding with a strong connection to earth,” says Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard. “The biophilic design initiative aims to connect people and nature with built environments and has taken off in outdoor living and design in recent years. Terrarium is guided by these core biophilic elements with a sleek aesthetic that is cozy yet contemporary.” Landscapers can create a biolphilic sanctuary for clients’ outdoor living spaces by pairing Terrarium-colored pieces, such as textiles and live greenery, with: Texture: Paver surface and texture add a dimensional aspect to outdoor living design, from a time-worn aesthetic with tumbled or distressed finishes, to an element of sophistication with a smooth or sculpted look. Scale: Depending on design goals, the shape and size of outdoor design elements — ...
