30 Year Anniversary
Serving the Naperville Community
Serving the Naperville Community
 Keeping a landscape looking vibrant and healthy through the years requires constant attention and labor. Not only do many landscape maintenance tasks require quite a lot of hard work, they also require specialized knowledge. Before you get started on this year’s landscaping maintenance, take a quick look at landscaping maintenance and what we offer in Wheaton and Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Investing In A New Landscape Design This Spring? Here Are 6 Planting Options in Hinsdale and Wheaton, IL A Trimmed and Healthy Lawn Mowing is definitely one of the most common landscaping maintenance tasks that keeps your lawn looking great. Keeping a lawn is an integral part of American culture and it’s hard to imagine a home without one. However, many lawns are mowed improperly. Mowing to the wrong height is one of the most common mistakes: mowing too short and the soil loses moisture too quickly; and mowing too long can cause excess moisture. Our landscaping professionals will mow your lawn to the correct height to maintain optimal grass health. Another common mistake is using dull mower blades. Dull mower blades will rip and tear at the grass, causing cellular damage. This is what causes ugly brown tips - and worse, tearing at the grass invites disease. Our landscape maintenance professionals will keep their mower blades sharp, ensuring a clean slice through the leaves that the plant can quickly and easily repair. Edging is another task often neglected in the interest of time savings. Not all edges have to have a military-style buzz cut to look neatly trimmed, but it’s a task you want to stay on top of to help prevent grass from creeping into plant beds or over your walkways and driveway. Whether you prefer a neatly trimmed look or a softer look, our landscaping professionals will edge your lawn to perfection. Beautifully Shaped Trees and Shrubs Regular pruning helps ensure tree and shrub health. Pruning is the strategic trimming and sculpting that removes overgrown, unhealthy, diseased, or dead, limbs. Whether a tree is obscuring a beautiful view or growing too close to the house; or shrubs are invading your driveway or choking the view from your living room window, some pruning will need to happen. Aside from being dangerous work, tree trimming requires expert knowledge. Our tree care experts how much to remove at one time to prevent shocking the tree while giving it the most attractive look. Even hedge trimming must be done thoughtfully to prevent damage. A Weed Situation That’s Under Control Weeds can quickly take over a landscape if given the chance - and it’s ongoing work to prevent weeds from germinating and to eliminate those that have sprouted. Neglecting weed control for even one season can mean exponentially more work the following year. Our landscaping professionals will apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds from germinating; and post-emergent herbicides to remove visible weeds before the plants go to seed. The application of herbicides must be done with extreme care to prevent accidentally damaging or killing desirable vegetation, and to ensure safety of the homeowners and their pets. A Fresh Look Many homeowners want to freshen up their front yard every year with seasonal color. Landscaping professionals can help you choose the best plants for the local climate, and design, plant annuals and perennials, and maintain gorgeous beds that are a joy to look at all season. Refreshing mulch is another seasonal task that will keep your plant beds looking tidy. And in the backyard, we can create a more back-to-nature feel by adding plantings directly adjacent to your patio. This more integrated natural look will create a serene setting for relaxing and entertaining. Related: Planning a Landscaping Redesign This Spring? Consider a New Fine Garden in Hinsdale, IL
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 Part of building a beautiful landscape is embracing what nature has to offer and curating the plant life they way you see fit. As you choose which plants to add to your landscape, make sure to choose plants that are native to Illinois as they will look amazing while requiring almost no maintenance. There are many native planting options which can enhance the beauty and health of your living landscape. Are you investing in a new landscape design this spring? Here are six planting options in Hinsdale and Wheaton, IL.
Related: Planning a Landscaping Redesign This Spring? Consider a New Fine Garden in Hinsdale, IL The Black Cherry Tree You might be thinking about the delicious properties of the fruit. Sure, the delicious black cherry fruit is enough of an attraction in itself, but the tree can also make an impressive presence in your landscape. It’s a strong tree that loves full sun exposure. Throughout the growing season, it will provide a wide variance in color. From white flowers in the early spring to wide green leaves and the dark fruit in summer, then finally a bright reddish orange in the fall, the black cherry tree is never short of stunning. Remember that people aren’t the only creatures that love this tree as pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will come flocking. The Butterfly Weed Flower As the name suggests, this flower is very attractive to butterflies. This is especially true for the coveted monarch butterfly, for which it is the only host plant for the species. However, this flower is most definitely not a weed. It grows a few feet high and builds bright clusters of orange and yellow flowers. It’s a hardy plant that loves full sun and does well in even the driest soil in your landscape. The Culver’s Root Flower Probably one of the most unique and interesting flowers you can add to your garden, the gorgeous Culver’s Root perennial can draw tons of interest. This flower loves shadier areas as well as moist soil as it grows tall and deepens its roots. The spiky and fascinating white flower clusters bloom in summer and provide a great deal of texture. The Elderberry Bush Another famous berry comes from this shrub and it’ll love the environment of your landscape. The berries themselves are well known for tasting delicious, boosting immunity, and creating a well-known liqueur, but that’s not all the plant has to offer. The broad leaves catch a lot of light throughout the growing season. The domed white flowers give off a lemony scent and create an amazing texture for your garden. It loves full sun and moist soil, so it’ll grow well almost anywhere in your landscape. The Foxglove Beardtongue Flower Just about as stunning as an orchid, this flower will draw interest anywhere in your garden. Their beautiful bell shape and delicate white color bloom during the summer. As the weather cools, the leaves will add a beautiful red tinge to its dark green. It loves full sun and normal soil. The details of the bloom are what make this flower so attractive and useful for a flower garden. The Garden Phlox Flower For adding another smattering of beautiful color to your flower garden, the Garden Phlox builds some purplish pink flowers in a symmetrical five-petal pattern. It’s a delicate plant, but it will add plenty of wonderful interest to your garden. Related: Looking to Revamp Your Hinsdale IL Patio? Consider These Landscape Design Trends  Great outdoor lighting techniques have the ability to transform even the most mundane landscapes. In fact, no matter what features and amenities your landscape has, it matters very little after dark, without decent outdoor lighting. There are a few key places around your property with which outdoor lighting is essential and others where it can make a huge difference in the overall feel of your landscape. Here are four places to include outdoor lighting to enhance your Naperville, IL property.
Related: Increase the Safety of Your Driveway With These Outdoor Lighting Tips in Naperville, IL The Driveway and Garage Area The old-school technique was to mount a floodlight on the garage, to illuminate part of the driveway and the area in front of the garage. However, a single bright light source above the garage provides strong illumination immediately below the garage, but it can also provide a significant amount of glare that can interrupt the driver’s vision. It’s an unattractive and unappealing way to light the area. Instead, opt for lights that are placed closer to the ground. Walkway lights are a great solution because they illuminate the ground for safety, without causing glare or stark shadows. Placing a sconce on either side of the garage door, with light emanating both directly up and down, will add ambient light but in a much more welcoming way than a floodlight. Walkways and the Entrance Ensuring that the walkways are adequately illuminated will greatly enhance safety. Once again, focus on using walkway lights. Remember that the higher the lights, the bigger chance that objects can interfere and create shadows. Choose walkway lights that are low to the ground to maximize their energy efficiency as well as their effectiveness in lighting your way. Some people choose solar powered walkway lights although keep in mind that snowfall and extended cloudy weather will quickly deplete their batteries, which could leave your walkway very dimly lit or entirely in the dark. We recommend hard-wired lights for the walkway, which won’t fail because of the weather. Outdoor lighting can also be integrated into masonry features such as a retaining wall, or even directly into the walkway surface. Your front entry should be well-lit and welcoming. Again, keep in mind the angle of the light: directly up and directly down is best for light fixtures mounted on either side of the front door. Outdoor Living Spaces On the patio, use a mix of lighting strategies to create ambient light as well as task lighting for your outdoor cooking area. For the perimeter of your patio, you can use walkway lights and overhead task lighting in places such as a covered outdoor kitchen and bar area or pergola. Use masonry surfaces to disguise light fixtures: a fire feature, water feature, outdoor kitchen, pillars, steps, and retaining walls are excellent spots to integrate lighting. Within the Landscape To give your landscape a more dimensional feel, consider placing a few “random” light fixtures such as spotlights or walkway lights in a few spots such as under a shrub or tree, to add dimension and reduce the contrast between the dark landscape and well-lit outdoor living spaces. Add silhouetting and moonlighting techniques to add interest. You’ll notice that most of these lighting strategies don’t use one bright fixture to try to illuminate a space: instead, a multitude of small, dimmer fixtures placed below eye level will create a much more pleasing atmosphere. Related: Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions for an Active Patio in Hinsdale, IL  Gardens are often the most cherished parts of landscapes. They bring us closer to nature with the beautiful colors, textures, shapes, and sensory immersion that only comes from the bounty of nature. As you make the next moves in your landscape redesign, make sure to prioritize the benefits that plant life can bring to your home. Between establishing a theme, adding native plants, and providing support for the new landscape, are you planning a landscaping redesign this spring? Consider a new fine garden in Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Looking to Revamp Your Hinsdale, IL, Patio? Consider These Landscape Design Trends Planning for Immersion: the Beauty of Paths In order to enjoy the full scope as well as the most intimate details of the plants in your new fine garden, you need to plan for paths. While you likely don’t need to accommodate much foot traffic, there should be a way to comfortably amble around and experience the beauty of your landscape up close. Stepping stone walkways or gravel paths work beautifully as casual ways to meander through the landscape. Planning for Gathering The fine garden in your backyard can be a great place to entertain friends and family. Envelop a section of your patio with the lush plant life of your garden. By setting the patio within the garden, you’ll be able to create that sense of immersion that’s perfect for creating wonderful memories with loved ones. Your patio should have plenty of seating space as well as amenities and creature comforts such as a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and even an elevated space where you can observe your garden from a higher vantage point. Planning for Growth One common mistake is to install plants too close together, and not give them room to grow. Expect your plants to grow to their full mature size. Watching these plants thrive in your landscape will instill you with a great sense of pride, which is why a garden designer needs to plan for growth (and yes, this includes planning for patience while the landscape fills in). Planning for Dimension The most pleasing gardens are those that incorporate a mix of short, medium, and tall plants. Some plants creep along the ground; others reach for the sky. Various climbing vines and hanging plants can complete the picture. Consider installing a pergola that allows climbing plants to create a soft, immersive experience within the pergola; and surround the space with a variety of plants of varying shapes, sizes, and visual densities. Planning for Balance Visual balance doesn’t necessarily mean symmetry. It means balancing visually dense plants such as evergreen trees with light, airy plants such as ornamental grasses or tall perennials that also add movement to the space. Planning for Layers The best gardens carefully place each plant in the right place to give them the best chance at growth, let them assist other plants’ growth, and create a harmonious setting. The technique of building layers will add dimension and interest. You could place trees and shrubs in the core of the garden to provide an anchor. These will grow the tallest and widest, so they should be placed first. Ornamental grasses should come next, followed by ground cover. Place the most delicate plants near the front of your garden where they are most easily visible and accessible. But, rules are made to be broken! Adding an unexpected taller element among the shorter plants adds a natural look and prevents an artificial look. Related: If a Landscape Design Is One of Your Resolutions, Here's Why You'll Want to Include a Fire Pit in Naperville, IL  A driveway should be a safe place to park, and landscape lighting is essential not only for safety but for ambience and curb appeal as well. In fact, landscape lighting is the best way to increase beauty as well. You can increase the safety of your driveway with these outdoor lighting tips in Naperville, IL.
Related: Creative Outdoor Lighting Solutions for an Active Patio in Hinsdale, IL Avoiding Glare and Shadows With landscape lighting, putting lights overhead can actually do more harm than good. Using single light sources up high creates lots of negative opportunities for obstructions. Glaring lights up high can easily become annoying or dangerous if you’re moving toward them. The distance between the light and the intended target is long and there are plenty of ways where movement in between casts harsh shadows that obscure obstacles. Avoid this glare and shadow risk by placing safety lights low to the ground and angled away from potential eye contact. Low-Lying Lights The most important place to target lights is the ground surface. At night, a driver needs to have full vision of the driveway; and headlights shouldn’t compete with house-mounted lights. You can get amazing results by using low-lying lights that hug the perimeter of the driveway. Since they are much closer to the ground surface and cover a smaller area, they will direct light energy where you need it: on the ground. If you have a paver driveway, low-lying lights will also call attention to the textural details and color of your driveway, letting masonry beauty shine at night. Using Vertical Spaces Another great way to enhance safety on a driveway at night is by illuminating vertical surfaces. This allows for a much greater sense of depth perception around the space, especially when a driveway is confined between obstacles. Spotlights angled upwards along the vertical space of your retaining wall, trees, rock outcroppings, and other large landscape features will create interest, highlight these features, and add to the ambient light around your driveway. By the time your guests reach your house, they will have a good appreciation of the beauty and function of your front yard landscape and driveway. Upgrading to LEDs Modern lighting technology has been expanding rapidly through the evolution of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. These tiny light fixtures, when grouped together, can create a stunning amount of light from a surprisingly small amount of energy. They can last more than 10 years without replacement and the newer generation is showing even greater promise. This is in contrast to traditional incandescent or halogen lights that can burn out every 6 months or so. Some LEDs can also be programmed to change color and switch on and off according to timers, giving you much better control of the appearance of your front yard landscape and driveway. Creating Ambience Through a Layered Effect When most of your lights are targeted to a specific space - namely, the driveway - they end up creating too much contrast between these well-lit areas and the landscape beyond. Adding some more low-lying lights in various “random” places in the landscape will reduce uncomfortable dark patches and make the area around your driveway feel much more safe and welcoming. Layering means putting most of your light energy where you need it, and then gradually diminishing the number and intensity of light fixtures as you move outward. This creates depth perception as well as a pleasing lighting theme. Related: Extend the Use of Your Patio With Any of These Outdoor Lighting Options in Naperville, IL  It’s easy to see and appreciate all of the most beautiful parts of a landscape such as flowers, waterfalls, and patios. However, there’s one landscape feature that has the ability to not only stun with its beauty but also provide an essential structure that helps shape the landscape. A retaining wall should be a part of any sloped landscape or any outdoor living area that is in need of a division of spaces. As you decide what your landscape needs next, here’s why you should consider a retaining wall as part of your Wheaton, IL landscaping project.
Related: 6 Ways You Can Include a Retaining Wall in Your Landscape Design in Naperville, IL Preventing Erosion The biggest threats to a landscape are the massive geological processes that shape our natural world. Rain runoff can quickly erode topsoil and damage a landscape beyond recognition. A retaining wall will do the essential duty of physically holding back soil, which will dramatically reduce the harm done from erosion by diverting the water to where it can be safely extracted. A retaining wall is useful on any steep slope with poor plant cover, with soil that tends to hold moisture; but the best way to determine whether you need a retaining wall is to consult with a landscape professional. Dividing Spaces of Use Though the retaining wall is generally a fairly low landscape feature, rarely rising above 4 feet and often even lower, it does prove to be an effective physical barrier. If the retaining wall is along the property perimeter, it can do double duty as a fence; and if it’s more centrally located, it can help to divide your backyard into various spaces of use. For example, the upper part of the slope could be reserved for outdoor living, while the lower part could become a play area for the kids. If your slope is particularly steep, a series of terraces could be used to shape the land and create more usable space for gardens and outdoor living. On perfectly flat properties, a low seat wall could be used to divide the space between a front entry walkway and the landscape, to define the space and give a warm “embrace” to visitors. Housing Light Fixtures The essential difference in your landscape between night and day is whether or not your friends and family will feel safe and welcome. Some great lighting strategies can greatly enhance the beauty of your landscape. Integrating light fixtures into the retaining wall creates a clutter-free landscape, enhances the textures of the wall at night, and provides visual depth to the space. Expanding Seating A retaining wall can become a great place to integrate seating. A low retaining wall can have a few casual partygoers sit on the capstones and enjoy some drinks and a friendly chat. A taller retaining wall can feature an integrated bench that allows for a comfortable place to appreciate the view. A rounded retaining wall can create a big semi-circle seating area surrounding a fire pit. Integrating seating into a wall is another way to reduce clutter in an outdoor living space while providing necessary overflow seating. Emboldening Visuals Apart from its endlessly practical physical presence, a retaining wall also has the opportunity to become a beautiful focal point. The masonry used to make a retaining wall is one opportunity for creative expression. A retaining wall establishes a strong vertical presence and increases visual interest: and the choice of natural stone, decorative concrete wall units, or veneers give you endless design choices. Related: Choosing the Right Look for a Retaining Wall That Will Be Part of Your Brick Patio Design in Hinsdale, IL  When you plan out your landscape renovation, there are many things that can make a landscape comfortable and memorable. There’s one type of feature, however, that can make a landscape unlivable if it’s missing or poorly designed: landscape lighting. The lack of adequate outdoor lighting can turn a landscape into a potentially dangerous place that sours the moods of your guests before they even get outside. To make your landscape reach its full nighttime potential, here are some creative outdoor lighting solutions for an active patio in Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Bring Your Wheaton, IL, Brick Patio to Life With a Creative Outdoor Lighting Plan Hardwiring the Perimeter An unsafe outdoor living space is going to be one that everyone wants to avoid. Safety starts with the walking surfaces, which means thoughtfully illuminating the entire patio as well as all walkways. The harsh contrasts created by the shadows of flood lights, for example, can make obstacles invisible. For safety reasons, focusing light energy on the ground is the right way to start with your outdoor lighting design. Choose a series of light fixtures that are close to the ground and focus light onto the walking surface. The proximity to the ground will greatly reduce the chance of shadows that obscure hidden obstacles. For the most consistent safety, walkway lighting should be hardwired around the perimeter of the patio and walkways, as well as the driveway for parking safety. Hardwired light fixtures are much better than off-the-grid solar-powered lanterns that will lose brightness whenever the solar arrays are covered in snow or after a series of cloudy days. Creating Focal Points A patio doesn’t need to have full power of lighting on every square inch after night falls. However, no patio hosts just one activity, and therefore a variety of lighting techniques will ensure the most livable and aesthetically pleasing space. Determine what the focal points are in your outdoor living space. This may be an outdoor dining table, a fire pit, a waterfall, or a piece of outdoor art to be admired. Artistic illumination of one or several prominent features will also add some ambient light to the patio without resorting to one lighting strategy (such as perimeter pathway lights). Enhancing Ambience After the safety priorities in lighting design have been addressed, it’s important to put some thought into the lesser-used spaces that surround the patio. Eliminating the harsh definition between illuminated and dark areas in your outdoor living space will not only make a space feel much more safe and secure, but will add to the depth perception that enables enjoyment of the space. Seek out the darkest corners that surround your outdoor living space and place a small light or two in that area to add dimension and lessen the contrast that makes people feel they’re living in a snow globe surrounded by darkness. Overhead Delight While overhead lighting isn’t very effective at enhancing walking safety, there are some types of lights that can make a space feel truly magical. A few rows of string lights over the patio can add an incredible amount of light that’s easy on the eyes. Moonlighting is another fun technique to add light from above. This technique requires a mature deciduous tree. Place a whitish-bluish light high in the canopy, so the light can filter down through the foliage to create wonderful dancing shadows on the ground below. Related: Extend the Use of Your Patio With Any of These Outdoor Lighting Options in Naperville, IL  The best landscapes feature areas where friends and family can gather; and nothing is more of a draw than fire. Fire pits are incredibly popular additions to any landscape. These features are reminiscent of a roaring campfire (whether wood or gas-fueled) and can be customized to fit any design theme. So, if a landscape design is one of your resolutions, here’s why you’ll want to include a fire pit in Naperville, IL.
Related: Extend the Use of Your Patio With Any of These Outdoor Lighting Options in Naperville, IL A Communal Structure Fires are natural attractive forces in a landscape, especially as the temperature begins to dip. Since it allows people to gather in a circle around it, a fire pit is a communal structure which evenly distributes heat in all directions. A Focal Point or a Destination A natural gas-fueled fire pit is typically located on the patio where running a gas line is more convenient. A wood-fired or propane-fueled fire pit can be located anywhere in the landscape as a destination spot. A fire pit can be the most prominent feature of your patio, sitting close enough to your house for easy access. It can sit at the edge of a hill or the woods where a spectacular view awaits everyone. It can also anchor a place of ultimate solitude far away from the excitement of the home and the outside world. A Primal and Mesmerizing Experience Humans have been fascinated by fire for millennia. Our ancestors used fire for heat, cooking, light, and protection. Today, we still love the fireside experience for these reasons; and fire is something that’s absolutely mesmerizing to look at. While you and your friends and family are enjoying a fireside chat, the fire pit will also visually dazzle while it keeps everyone comfortable. In fact, if you’re enjoying a quiet evening on the patio, a fire pit could turn it into a soothing, meditative experience as you lose yourself in the dance of the flames. Surprisingly Compact The amount of heat and light produced by even a small fire pit can do an amazing job of making a gathering area comfortable and intimate. Remember to allow enough space around the fire pit for chairs - approximately 4-7 feet. You could also install a seat wall or high-backed seat wall around the fire pit to create a more intimate space and eliminate the clutter of furniture. Gas-Fueled Fire Pits: Pros and Cons Gas-fueled fire pits are gaining in popularity for many reasons. Gas is a safer material for fire pits since the flames are much more consistent and controllable. Gas-fueled fire pits avoid all the mess of smoke and the hassles of firewood, but they won’t have the authentic crackle and aroma of wood; and they are not typically usable for cooking since the lava rock, glass, or faux wood can be difficult to clean if food spills on it and bakes on. Choose natural gas if you don’t want the hassle of propane tanks, unless you want your fire pit to be in a more remote location in which case running a gas line could add significantly to the cost. Wood-Fueled Fire Pits: Pros and Cons About as simple as it gets, wood-fueled fire pits require just a masonry structure to contain the flames. You may need a small structure nearby for storing firewood. Wood fires generate more heat than a gas fire pit, and the right wood can make cooked food taste amazing. The snaps, crackles, and aroma of burning wood make for an engaging and memorable experience. However, placement is crucial: a fire pit must be placed far away from any combustible materials including trees. Related: Is Your Wheaton, IL Landscape Design Missing a Cozy Touch? A Fire Pit Could Be the Answer Extend the Use of Your Patio With Any of These Outdoor Lighting Options in Naperville, IL12/21/2021  The outdoor living space is a special place where friends and family can relax outdoors and create wonderful memories. Everyone coming to your backyard should feel welcome and safe at all times. Outdoor lighting is absolutely crucial not only for a welcoming and safe feeling, but for beauty as well. When planning your landscape renovation, consider the lighting strategy as a way to enhance your outdoor living space. Now you can extend the use of your patio with any of these outdoor lighting options in Naperville, IL.
Related: Don't Let Your Landscaping Hide in the Dark: 6 Outdoor Lighting Trends to Contemplate in Hinsdale, IL Strategic Combination When designing the lighting scheme of your backyard, it’s important to use a strategic combination of techniques for the best effect. This series of techniques is going to create a layered visual texture that enhances the appearance of your landscape at night. The more focused and intentional your lighting design is, the more time you and your loved ones will want to spend on the patio. Also, less is more. A single low-wattage light fixture can offer enough light for your purposes so we recommend starting small, and gradually adding lights one at a time until you’ve achieved the desired level of illumination. Well-Illuminated Ground Surfaces The patio and walkways need to be illuminated to make sure they’re safe places to walk on, clear of contrasting shadows that could be obscuring obstacles. Single overhead lights won’t be sufficient as they will actually create dark shadows as well as a blinding light should you happen to look up. A better option is to use low-lying walkway lights around the perimeter of the patio and along walkways. These fixtures focus their energy on the ground surface, eliminating dangerous shadows and glare, making a pleasant place to walk around and mingle. Task Lighting When you’re preparing drinks or food in an outdoor kitchen, it’s imperative that there’s decent task lighting. This lighting technique can come in the form of overhead track lights or lights that are embedded into the backsplash if there’s no opportunity to install overhead lighting. Backsplashing Once you’ve made a space safer, it’s time to play around with ambient light to set the mood. This can be done with the technique called backsplashing, which involves shining a spotlight at a blank wall or other large feature and allowing the light to bounce back on the surrounding surfaces. Backsplashing can make use of an otherwise idle surface or feature. Fire Light Take advantage of a fire feature by planning your lighting scheme around the ambient light from the flame. This fire light creates a dramatic ambience that can reflect and enhance any gathering, both relaxing and exciting. Allow the natural light from the fire to wash over that area with the dynamic reflections of dancing flames. After the fire is out, lighting embedded into the fire feature will light the way and remain unobtrusive during the day. String Lighting One of the simplest, yet most exciting lighting schemes for any outdoor living space is string lighting. This lighting technique involves placing tasteful wire lights around the patio. Not only will they create substantial ambient and direct illumination, but they help to make the space feel more magical and lively. These lights can be used on your walkways during parties to help guide guests to where the fun is happening and build on their anticipation. We recommend professional installation if string lights will be hung high in trees or from the home. Related: Brighten Up Your Driveway With These 5 Landscape Design Trends in Wheaton, IL  Integrating outdoor lighting into your landscape is one of the key ways to make your outdoor living space and property safer and more beautiful. When a landscape isn’t given proper illumination at night, it can feel scary and unwelcoming. The best strategy of outdoor lighting is to use a mix of strategies, creating a rich visual tapestry that sets the mood and provides a feeling of security. Don’t let your landscaping hide in the dark: six outdoor lighting trends to contemplate in Hinsdale, IL.
Related: Adding a New Fire Pit in Hinsdale IL? Consider These Other Outdoor Lighting Ideas Too Hard-wired Walkway Lights The most important lighting strategy in your landscape is one that focuses on safety. Walkways, pool decks, patios, and driveways need consistent illumination on the ground surface in order to make your outdoor living space safe. Instead of using a flood light to illuminate your ground surfaces, opt for walkway lights. The energy will be focused where it’s needed, providing the best visibility of a walking surface. While some areas of the country can easily use solar-powered walkway lights to reduce electricity bills, here in the Midwest we recommend hard-wired pathway lights that will shine no matter if we’ve had weeks of cloud cover (solar lights only operate at about 50-60% capacity under heavy cloud cover). Updating to LEDs Now is a great time to update your landscape lighting to use light-emitting diode (LEDs) bulbs; or replace older fixtures with modern LED styles. Traditional light bulbs produce a substantial amount of heat, which is essentially wasted energy in a landscape and must be replaced typically once a year, producing a large amount of glass waste. LEDs are incredibly energy efficient and bulbs typically last around 10 years. Some LEDs can even be programmed to change color and be set to automatic timers accessible from apps on your smartphone. Underwater Lighting If you have a pool, you’re familiar with the ethereal blue glow and shimmering waves that wash over the landscape. You can achieve this same effect in smaller water features as well. Fountains, waterfalls, reflecting pools, and more water features will have similar effects. Your landscape will have a more dramatic feel that amplifies the most exciting parties or the most soothing evenings. And, because of the refractive properties of water, the water feature will act as a source of ambient light. Moonlighting Part of creating a dazzling visual experience in your backyard as well as increasing safety is placing lights in the background. Trees make excellent places for effective lighting. Moonlighting is a strategy that places a light high in a tree canopy and aims it downwards. As the light passes through the leaves, it will scatter and create a rich visual texture that dances in the slightest breeze. Use white light to simulate the soft glow of the moon. Embracing Fire Besides being admired in your nighttime outdoor living space, outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, and fire tables also provide a substantial amount of lighting. The ambient light that comes from a warming fire feature is a primitive experience that attracts everyone. Instead of battling your fire features with light, allow them to light their own space. You can also incorporate landscape lighting into many fire features. Choose dimmable fixtures so you can increase the brightness once the fire is out. Finishing Touches for a Layered Effect Identify any overly dark spaces that might create an unwelcoming feeling at night. Place a few (less is more) individual lights in these areas, such as under shrubs, or spotlight a tree, to give dimension to the space without destroying the charm of the night. Related: Brighten Up Your Driveway With These 5 Landscape Design Trends in Wheaton, IL |
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