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 One landscape feature can extend your enjoyment of the great outdoors well into the cooler months: a fire pit. In fact, cooler temperatures encourage people to gather around the fire! Here’s how a landscape design plan can benefit from the addition of a fire pit in Wheaton, IL - not only to give you more enjoyment from your landscape, but to elevate your home’s value. Related: Make an Outdoor Living Space Feel Like Home With Outdoor Lighting and a Fire Pit in Naperville, IL 1. Add a Welcoming Focal Point When you or your visitors step outside onto a patio, your eye is immediately drawn to its key elements. A fire immediately says “welcome” to everyone. It inspires people to pull up a chair and socialize. Do you love the look of a rustic stone wood-fueled fire pit that reminds you of camp? Do you want to enhance your backyard with the chic look of a sleek and sophisticated granite gas-fueled fire pit? Do you want a fire pit big enough for a large family to sit around comfortably, or a small one perfect for two? Whatever style you choose, fire draws people together! 2. Add a “Wow” Factor to Alfresco Dining A dining-table or bar-height fire table is a modern adaptation of the classic fire pit. These fire features have a deep ledge perfect for plates and glassware. Fire tables are natural gas- or propane-fueled for safety. It’s an opportunity to add flair to an outdoor kitchen, and to add interest with colored fire glass. 3. Expand Your Cooking Options A fire pit can also be used for cooking. Permanent or temporary grates are the perfect spot to cook anything from corn to burgers (just be sure to use wood that is suitable for cooking, such as fruitwood; pine will give your food a very sharp taste). You can use a gas- or propane-fueled fire pit for cooking, but you’ll have quite a bit of cleanup to do as food residue can bake right on to the lava rock or fire pit glass. 4. Express Your Style Your fire pit can be a stand-alone artistic feature that uses materials found nowhere else in the hardscape. Or, it can be made to match or complement retaining walls or other vertical elements like water features. You can choose between elevated or recessed fire pits, and decide whether you want permanent (masonry or wood bench) seating or movable patio furniture. A generous ledge on a coffee-table height fire pit lets people sit closer to the fire. You can choose between round, square, or rectangular shapes, as well as various heights and of course sizes. Personalize your fire pit area with colorful cushions, built-in low-voltage lighting, or colorful fire glass. 5. Add Coziness Whether your outdoor space is large or small, a fire pit will encourage people to go outside. A fire pit can be centrally placed to break up a large expanse of patio; or, it can be tucked into a corner to make a small patio feel more spacious. 6. Add Value When it comes to value, a fire pit can be a big draw. Wood-fired fire pits offer arguably more charm, but they are also messier and more hazardous. Natural gas fire pits need to be professionally installed. Propane fire pits will require nearby storage for a propane tank. Whichever fuel you choose, a fire pit makes your backyard “the” place to be, and not just during balmy evening nights. Related: Bored At Home? Consider These 5 Landscape Design Ideas for Hinsdale, IL Backyards
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 What does your front entrance say to your guests when they arrive at your home? First impressions are lasting; putting forth a little effort to create an entrance that reflects your character will go a long way in extending a warm welcome to your guests.Try these landscape design ideas for showstopping entrances in the Hinsdale and Naperville, IL areas.
Related: Achieve a More Welcoming Home With an Upgraded Driveway in Wheaton, IL Walkway Create a walkway that is both practical and beautiful. With many choices of color, size and shape for both concrete pavers or natural stone, you have endless options for turning your walkway into a work of art. Pavers will give your walkway a chic, modern feel, and come in a variety of patterns and geometric shapes for you to choose from. Flagstone is always unique as you fit together pieces of all different shapes and sizes, and will create an elegantly natural vibe. Instead of just an outdated straight line from the driveway to the front door, create a more relaxed and inviting look with a gently curved walkway. Not only does this add dimension to your front yard, it provides more variety for how to add plants and garden beds to your front landscaping. A walkway with natural-looking curves invites people to linger and admire the scenery. Landing A landing can be a larger or smaller space at the end of the walkway by the front door, and it adds an even more welcoming atmosphere to your front entrance. Place a comfortable bench, seating wall or porch swing on this wider area, and consider adorning it with a bubbling fountain, a birdbath, a sculpture, or colorful planters erupting with cheerful flowers. Steps The steps leading to the front door add character to an entryway. Wood steps can be built in a stately way, but require more upkeep maintenance with staining and weatherproofing. Steps built out of natural cut stone can be built in a variety of different designs, with choices for smooth or rough cut stones in many different color choices. Stone is an elegant way to stay true to the natural environment around you, and gives your front entry a stately and welcoming presence. Mailbox Although a mailbox may seem like a small feature, it is a noticeable part of your entryway. An old and ragged mailbox, or one that doesn’t fit your landscaping decor, will stick out as something that doesn’t belong. Surround your mailbox with stone that matches the materials in the rest of your landscape. Planters and Garden Beds Potted flowers add bursts of color when used to line the steps or accent the corners of your patio. Hanging pots with falling ferns are eye-catching features that contribute to a warm welcome for your guests. Line your walkway with a narrow, winding garden bed and plant larger beds on either side of your patio that will frame your entryway. Lighting Line your front walkway with solar powered ground lights leading up to your entrance. Lights will act as a guide along your walkway in an attractive, clear and safe way, whether guests are visiting for the first time or you are walking up to your house with an armful of groceries. For a larger lighting feature that makes more of a statement, consider building masonry pillars topped with attractive light fixtures adjacent to your entrance. Updating your entryway is a guaranteed way to transform the look of your home. Even small changes can make a big difference to create an elegant and welcoming atmosphere from the moment your guests arrive to your home. Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties  Choosing the right driveway or patio pavers will ensure that your new outdoor space will be adequate for the intended use, and that it will stand the test of time. Not all pavers are created equal. When you’re looking at driveway pavers vs. patio pavers: is there a difference, in Hinsdale, IL?
Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties On the surface, driveway pavers and patio pavers can look the same. Many manufacturers of concrete pavers offer the same styles, colors, textures and finishes in both types; however, under the surface, there are significant differences. Dimensions Driveways take a lot of heavy use by vehicles, foot traffic, equipment and harsh chemicals such as de-icing salts. The compressive weight of vehicles can quickly cause the wrong pavers to shift and crack. This means the first thing you want to look for is whether a paver is thick enough to withstand the heavy loads that will be applied to it on a daily basis. Most contemporary driveway pavers range between 2-⅜” to 3-⅞”” thick. The thickness of the paver determines the thickness of the base: a thinner paver is more fragile. It requires more support, and therefore a thicker base. In addition to being thicker, driveway pavers are also often smaller than patio pavers - again, to prevent cracking due to the weight of vehicles. A large format square or rectangular paver would have to be even thicker than a more modestly sized paver to stand up to vehicular traffic. This would increase the cost of the pavers and make installation more difficult. By contrast, patio pavers can be thinner and larger since they don’t support as much weight. You can find large format concrete patio pavers, for example 24”x24” squares; and these are relatively thin, at just 2” thick. If you want to go ultra-thin (for example, to overlay a poured concrete slab with attractive pavers without creating a significant transition to another outdoor space or the home) choose porcelain tile, which can be as thin as .75” and yet still give you a modern oversized look (16”x38” or 24”x24”). Of the pavers that are offered for multiple residential uses (driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks), most are available in thickness and size combinations suitable for any application. This means you can buy enough pavers for your entire hardscape without wondering if you’re using the right paver in the right place. Permeable vs. Impervious Surfaces Another key difference between driveway pavers and patio pavers is that many driveway pavers are offered as “permeable” options. This doesn’t mean the pavers themselves soak up water. Rather, the spacing between them is slightly larger; the jointing sand used allows water to seep through; and the underlayment is specially designed to slowly percolate water through the base material into the ground below. There are several advantages to permeable pavers. First, you avoid puddling and flooding like you would find on a solid-surface hardscape. The larger joints between permeable pavers also let trapped heat escape, making for a cooler surface underfoot. If your patio is situated on the north side of the home where it receives less sunlight, choosing permeable driveway pavers may be a great solution that will keep the patio drier than if water and snow had to slowly evaporate over time. Which is Best? In short, if you want a more heavy-duty paver installation (for example, you’ll have a hot tub or other heavy element on your patio), you can use driveway pavers anywhere (just be prepared for higher installation costs, since footings need to be deeper and you will need more base materials to support the weight). However, do not use regular patio pavers on a driveway as they simply won’t stand up to the demands. When in doubt, call us, and we’ll show you the best options for your style, budget, and needs! Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties  If you cringe every time you pull into your cracked and crumbling driveway - and don’t relish the hassle of redoing a driveway every couple of years - then consider an upgrade to a paver driveway, which will pay off in durability, looks, and value. Here’s how to achieve a more welcoming home with an upgraded driveway in Wheaton, IL.
Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties Why are concrete pavers a superior choice over more traditional driveway materials like asphalt or poured concrete? Like the rest of your landscape, your driveway should be an expression of quality workmanship and attention to detail. You can find concrete pavers in a huge variety of shapes, styles, colors and textures. Not only does this give you unparalleled design flexibility, it also ensures that your driveway will beautifully complement your home and tie in with the rest of your hardscapes. A driveway is a blank canvas. Imagine a flagstone-look driveway… or the timeless charm of cobblestone or brick. Whichever look you choose, from modern to traditional, your driveway will turn heads! Asphalt and poured concrete driveways have a limited lifespan that is heavily influenced by the weather. In Illinois, you can expect a constant freeze-thaw cycle that wreaks havoc on solid-surface driveways. As the soil beneath an asphalt or concrete slab shifts, nature will take its toll with cracking, chipping, bulging and sinking. A properly installed driveway of any kind will last longer, of course, but paver driveways are made up of individual pavers that can move slightly without cracking or creating an uneven surface. This means your driveway will last much longer and in the long run, it will even save you money. In the unlikely event a paver should break, or you need to access buried utilities, you can remove and replace individual pavers rather than ruining the appearance (and integrity) of a solid-surface driveway. Yes - that means, no more ugly patches! Paver driveways can also contribute to the health of your landscape, if you have a permeable version installed. This means that the joints between individual pavers are slightly larger than normal, and they are filled with a permeable jointing sand that allows snowmelt and rain to filter through to a special base that then slowly disperses the water into the aquifer. You’ll never have to worry about runoff from your driveway overwhelming the municipal storm drain system. And, you can say goodbye to water flooding into your landscape, too! With so many pros, it’s hard not to say yes to a paver driveway. The most fun part is the design, and this is where you can let your personality shine. Contrasting borders, accents, and even inlays give your driveway a unique look. If you finish the look with masonry entrance pillars and a contrasting apron, you’ll create a formal look that will make you feel like you’re coming home to your own gated luxury estate! If you prefer to stick to a poured concrete or asphalt driveway, you can still add a paver apron, inlays, and borders to give your driveway personality and flair. Remember landscape lighting when you’re installing a new driveway. Installing low-voltage landscape lighting along the length of the driveway provides just enough illumination to define the driveway and offer a warm yet sophisticated welcome. It’s time to do away with the single bright light on a post, which casts harsh shadows on your landscape. More gentle modern light fixtures create ambience as well as safety. For that “welcome home” feeling, start with an upgraded driveway. Give our experts a call today! Related: Bored At Home? Consider These 5 Landscape Design Ideas for Hinsdale, IL Backyards  COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions have many homeowners reconsidering the usability of their backyards, and thinking about ways to maximize the space so that the whole family can enjoy being outdoors. In many cases, just a few small touches can make all the difference. Here are __ landscaping ideas for making your Naperville, IL property more useful.
Related: Bored At Home? Consider These 5 Landscape Design Ideas for Hinsdale, IL Backyards 1. Shelter Nothing is more frustrating than enjoying time outdoors only to find that the weather just won’t cooperate. Whether you need shelter from the sun or want to create more of a three-season outdoor room, adding a permanent shelter to your outdoor space can make all the difference. One option is a pergola, which offers shade from the sun while letting hot air rise and breezes to flow through. If you enjoy the open-air feel but want more protection from rain, opt for a pavilion or a gazebo. Pavilions and gazebos are also great for setting up a temporary outdoor office, if you are able to work on a laptop. Any of these permanent structures can be made more comfortable with the addition of an outdoor fireplace. You can also add a vine-covered trellis on any side to add privacy and serve as a windbreak. 2. Privacy If the neighbors are just a little too close, a privacy wall can help make your backyard into a more private sanctuary. Privacy fencing is often plain and boring, but there are ways to make your space more private without feeling like you’re in a cubicle. Add trellises in front of a wood privacy fence, so the climbing vines add greenery and interest. Planting tall cedars in front of a privacy fence also helps soften the look. It also adds a dimensional quality to the yard’s perimeter so it feels more natural. You could opt for a living fence (cedars are great for this) but keep in mind it will take some time for them to mature and fill in the gaps. For a chic and unexpected twist, a water wall can serve as a functional privacy wall as well as an attractive focal point. A water wall pumps water to the top of a smooth vertical surface like tempered glass or metal, and allows the water to cascade over the surface into a catch basin. You get the amazing qualities of water in the warmer months, and the wall is just as beautiful and functional when the water is turned off for the season. 3. More Space Carving out more usable space in a backyard isn’t always easy. But have you considered how you can best use your side yards? Side yards can be the ideal solution for raised bed gardens, a play area for the kids, a game area for all ages, a hot tub, a meditation nook, a breakfast patio, or even a hangout for teens. For a magical side-yard getaway, start with a small paver patio. Add a privacy fence, comfortable seating, fun string lights and eclectic decor, and you can transform your neglected side yard into a functional work of art! If using your side yard isn’t an option, consider going vertical with some elements to give the illusion of more space. Adding multiple levels to your outdoor living space (even if it’s only a few steps) helps break up the space into unique zones, which will also help you organize activities into various levels of active to relaxed. Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties  Bored at home? Consider these 5 landscape design ideas for Hinsdale, IL backyards. COVID-19 restrictions may have put a temporary hold on landscaping projects you may have had in mind for this spring, you can take this opportunity to refine your landscaping plans so that you end up with precisely the space you want once landscapers get the OK to resume normal services. You might find that after having a second look at your plans, that there is something you’d like to tweak. If you’re starting from scratch, this is the perfect time to identify what you really want out of your backyard so that it’s a true haven where you love to be, and not someplace you’re just stuck.
Related: How to Avoid These Common Hazards in Your Wheaton, IL, Landscape Design A Patio Addition If your patio feels too tight and you’re bumping elbows with your family, consider an addition. An addition is like a “peninsula” that adds a dedicated space such as a pergola-covered lounge, a hot tub, or a fire pit with high-backed masonry seating. With an addition, the new space can use its own materials. For example, a circular addition with brick pavers that fan out in a circular pattern can be absolutely stunning next to a bluestone patio! A New Cooking/Dining Solution Everybody loves to gather in the kitchen, no matter how tight the space is. This is true for indoor and outdoor kitchens! One great solution is to build an L-shaped cooking area. On one peninsula, you put your grill, smoker, and a work (prep) area. On the other, you have bar-style seating for 4-6 people. This way, everyone feels like they’re included, and as a bonus, you free up space on your patio because a dining table might never get used again! A New Office Many people are working from home on their laptops. If you’re one of the lucky ones, why not take it outdoors, in the shelter of a pavilion? Sun glare on a computer screen puts incredible strain on the eyes, but if you’re under the cover of a solid roof, you can still enjoy fresh air and the sounds of songbirds while you work - and you can still be outdoors even in a downpour! A Cozy Place to Relax If your outdoor space doesn’t have a fireplace or fire pit, you’re missing out on one of the most human things to do: gather around the fire. Adding a fireplace to your pavilion will transform it into a three-season outdoor getaway. A firepit can help (a little) with the feeling of wanderlust, especially if you pitch a tent or hang some hammocks nearby for a backyard camp-out! Or, you can transform your outdoor dining area into a chic focal point with a stylish bar-height fire table (a perfect complement to your new L-shaped outdoor kitchen/bar). Pizza! Nothing puts a bigger smile on people’s faces than a wood-fired brick pizza oven! Whether it’s stand-alone or part of an outdoor fireplace and/or kitchen, a pizza oven might make you forget all about your indoor kitchen. Coffee! And while you’re at it, why not install a coffee machine in your outdoor kitchen, or even as a stand-alone mini coffee bar so you can enjoy the bliss of that first sip in the great outdoors. Related: Check Out These Landscape Design Ideas for Large Naperville, IL Properties  Do you ever feel lost in your large landscape? While having plenty of elbow room is a bonus, large spaces can feel impersonal, and they can lack the cozy intimacy of smaller properties. Check out these landscape design ideas for large Naperville, IL properties and get inspired to create your own backyard retreat that’s the perfect mix of spaciousness and intimacy!
Related: Landscaping With Spring in Mind in Wheaton, IL Avoid the Parking Lot Look A very large patio can easily start to look like a parking lot. It’s a hot, exposed, and somewhat unwelcoming space, but it can be broken up into outdoor “rooms” for a more human scale. This will give you a chance to create zones for “doing” and zones for “being.” Both are important! Someone may want to knock out a couple of hours of work outdoors, while other family members are getting some exercise and play time. Use vertical elements to divide up a large patio using seat walls that surround a raised planter (perfect for herbs, or fragrant flowers) or arbors and trellises with colorful climbing vines. Other vertical features that break up a large patio can include a reflecting pool or a fire table. A centrally-located kitchen with a pergola cover, or a central fire pit area surrounded by high-backed masonry seating can break up a huge space into more intimate areas. Ensure Easy Traffic Flow Getting from here to there in a large landscape can be just as challenging as in a small space. Place activity hubs like an outdoor kitchen where you have clear access from the house (no detours around features or furniture). Less frequently used spaces, such as a meditation nook or play area, can be located farther away. Make sure that the way to get to these more remote spots is a pleasant journey. The walkways don’t have to be razor-straight, but they should flow organically. People will always create shortcuts if they perceive that the shortcut is a better way than “around.” Meandering walkways are beautiful; just avoid right angles. Create Islands A huge expanse of lawn is great if you have kids or dogs that need plenty of space to run, or if you enjoy the look of a large, stately lawn. If you want a more natural setting, you can create beautiful islands in the “sea of green” to visually break up the space without taking away from its natural feel. In nature, islands are common. In nature, you’ll encounter a clearing within a deep forest; or an island in the middle of a lake or ocean; or even a small grove of trees in the middle of a wildflower meadow. These islands can also be usable space: add a tiny paver patio just big enough for a comfortable bench and a small coffee table to create a beautiful retreat or “secret” play space for the kids. Create Focal Points Drawing the eye to a focal point can make a large space seem more intimate. The focal point could be an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, gazebo, water feature, or even a dramatic paver pattern. For example, a transition between the patio and the lawn could be accomplished beautifully by placing large, individual pavers 6-10” inches apart and filling the space between them with grass or a low ground cover such as creeping thyme. Use Scale Use furniture and design elements that are scaled for large spaces. A small fire pit might look lost on a large patio, while a more substantial fireplace honors the scale of your outdoor space without feeling too imposing. Related: A Brick Patio and Other Characterful Additions to Hinsdale IL Landscapes  In spring, we are all eager to enjoy the first blooms of the year. Traditionally, spring has been associated with rebirth and great promise. Here are our tips for landscaping with spring in mind for Wheaton, IL.
Related: A Brick Patio and Other Characterful Additions to Hinsdale IL Landscapes Spring brings fragrant and colorful flowers. The spectacular display offers a delightful contrast against green leaves and needles; add to that some flowering perennials and flowering trees… and you have a true feast for the eyes! But how do you create this perfect mix of plants so that your landscape is gorgeous only in spring? You don’t want to have all of your flowers, trees and shrubs blooming at the same time, so use the rule of thirds: one-third of your plants should bloom in spring; one-third in summer; and one-third in fall. This doesn’t mean “all” of your plants need to be flowering. In fact, it’s the contrast between seasonal pops of color against the more steady display of evergreen trees and shrubs, non-flowering deciduous trees, and your lawn. However, when you’re choosing plants for spring blooms, don’t purchase only those that bloom in spring. Enjoy the gradual shift in color as the seasons change, by choosing one-third of your blooming plants to showcase their full glory in spring; and two-thirds that will grace your landscape with color in summer and fall. You can take several approaches with this seasonally-layered strategy. One is to devote an entire flower bed to spring bloomers. Then, you can enjoy a spectacular riot of color as these plants bloom at the same time, and then relax into a softer, more relaxed green state during the remainder of the growing season. Once spring bloomers are spent, your eye will be drawn to your summer and fall plant beds, livening up various areas of the landscape while the others play a supporting background role. The other approach is to mix spring bloomers in with plants that bloom later in the season, so the specific plant bed (or large-scale garden) always has something in bloom. Taking blooming seasons into consideration when choosing plant material is a key element for a successful landscape design. This way something is always in bloom and your landscape is beautiful and interesting in all seasons. Popular spring bloomers are crocuses and daffodils (the flowers that truly signal, “spring is here!”); daisies; hyacinths; tulips; Spring Beauty; rockcress; bluebells; columbines; and wild geranium are just a few spring bloomers that will make your spring landscape cheerful and uplifting. But don’t just focus on annuals and perennials! Ground covers that bloom in spring help green up a landscape that is emerging from its winter slumber. Thyme, for example, offers a fragrant and soft transition between a walkway and a plant bed. Spring-blooming shrubs include azaleas and lilacs. Spring blooming trees include magnolia, cherry, and crabapple. Use evergreens and non-flowering shrubs, trees, and perennials as a beautiful backdrop to blooming flowers. Evergreens are the mainstays of the garden, the steady and reliable greenery that offers a beautiful contrast to colorful flowers and in winter, a reminder that your landscape will once again be lush and green come springtime. In the fall, when all the flowers are spent, you may enjoy spectacular shows of color from trees and shrubs that are otherwise happy to play a supporting role to flowering plants. Related: How to Avoid These Common Hazards in Your Wheaton, IL, Landscape Design  If your landscape is in need of freshening up — especially now that everyone is spending so much time at home — a few special touches can make all the difference and transform an ordinary space into one you are happy to spend your time in. Here’s how a brick patio and other characterful additions to Hinsdale IL landscapes can put a smile on your face.
Related: How to Avoid These Common Hazards in Your Wheaton, IL, Landscape Design Brick is a top choice for adding beauty, expanding your outdoor living space, and making the walk from one part of your landscape to another enjoyable. Brick is durable and beautiful. It works well with nearly any architectural style, either as a complementary or a contrasting material. Whether you choose authentic clay brick or a concrete alternative, you can be sure that your outdoor space will be filled with historic charm and character. The classic brick patterns include running bond, basket weave, or herringbone. The most dramatic is herringbone, which creates amazing visual texture. This laying pattern is extremely strong, making it perfect for driveways as well as pedestrian spaces. If you want to get fancy, a fan-shaped or circular laying pattern adds even more interest and says “You’ve arrived” in style. Bricks are nearly the perfect material for use in walkways. Their slender profiles and small sizes lend themselves to curves; and what’s more romantic than a sweet brick walkway that meanders through the landscape? If you want to recreate a cozy cottage look in your backyard, consider a collection of smaller brick patios: one for cooking, dining and lounging; one for quiet contemplation or one-on-one conversation; and another, centered around a fireplace or fire pit, to create a gathering spot you’ll enjoy in any season. Link these spaces with meandering brick paths. If you’re not a fan of so much “brick red” you may want to go with concrete pavers made to resemble brick. You will have significantly more color choices including dramatic blended colors, and some flexibility in dimensions as well. Another character-filled material is bluestone. Quarried in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, bluestone is a type of flagstone with a dramatic bluish tint. It also often features other colors within each stone, including bronze, chocolate, buff, green, and purple. This makes each stone completely unique. Brick and bluestone pair exceptionally well. For an elegant yet relaxed look that works with nearly any style of home, use brick as a border for a bluestone patio. How can you finish the look of a brick or bluestone patio and walkway? Masonry walls! Masonry walls can be comfortably low — serving as overflow seating — and serve as a wonderful bridge between the man made shapes of the home and the bricks, and the surrounding landscape. Walls give your landscape vertical dimension. A neutral-toned stacked-flagstone veneer will add texture and interest to the patio, and this style works very well with both brick and bluestone. Incorporate landscape lighting into the wall construction (just under the lip of the cap stone) for a subtle yet dramatic lighting scheme. The rich details of a brick or bluestone patio and a masonry wall make any space feel cozy and welcoming. The timeless look of these three character-filled materials is sure to be a hit. All three will add value to your home, too! Take this opportunity to plan a few landscape upgrades, so that once the warm weather is here to stay, you’ll have a stylish and appealing space to hang out in! Related: Landscaping Ideas for Rustic Backyards in Hinsdale, IL  A landscape should be a delightful place to enjoy time with family and friends. But some landscapes make life dangerous. Nobody wants to risk injury or a lawsuit, so here’s how to avoid these common hazards in your Wheaton, IL, landscape design.
Related: Enhance the Look of Your Naperville, IL, Home With a Refined Driveway The Wrong Materials for the Job It’s unfortunately all too common for some landscape companies to use the wrong landscaping materials for a particular function. This could happen due to low budgets, lack of knowledge, substituting materials that aren’t available, or time constraints. Not all pavers are suitable for all applications. Not all retaining walls are alike. Not all materials are strong or durable enough for their intended use. Not all materials are high quality, either, and low-quality materials can degrade quickly and cause hazards. Uneven Ground It’s one thing to have a gently undulating softscape, but a hardscape must be level for safety. The main reason for a softscape becoming uneven is poor installation. Improper base materials, poor compaction, and careless installation of pavers or natural stone will lead to movement. Some parts of the hard surface may settle, while others get pushed up. Either way, it's imperative that uneven ground be made level as quickly as possible - even if this means tearing out the entire patio and re-installing it. Surprise Steps Nothing is perhaps more dangerous than a step that comes out of nowhere, such as when its colors blend perfectly with the patio above. For someone with impaired vision (or even just someone who’s not paying close attention), surprise steps can lead to trips and falls. Steps should always be marked with contrasting paver colors or pillars. Too Many Curves or Corners As the saying goes, the fastest way to get from A to B is in a straight line. Curved walkways are beautiful and work well if the curves are gentle. Avoid right-angle turns, because that’s not how people walk—they want easy access to their destination, not an obstacle course or a maze. Keep in mind, people will walk through gardens if that’s the easiest way. Poor Drainage Poor drainage can mean water pooling in a part of your landscape and causing the ground to sink or become dangerously soft; this is especially bad if that area happens to be where people walk regularly. No Fencing Fencing around a pool is a must if you have small children, but don’t forget fencing around compost piles, ponds, or any area that you feel is better left looked at than walked through. Inadequate Lighting Landscape lighting is essential for after-dark safety. A home with a single high-wattage bulb mounted on the siding will illuminate one area of the landscape (usually too brightly), but it will also cast dangerous shadows and leave the rest of the landscape pitch black. The human eye isn’t great at adjusting between lighting extremes. Today’s landscape lighting involves many types of fixtures and lighting techniques that will do double duty in making your landscape attractive and safe at night. Lack of Maintenance Debris like fallen branches or overturned rocks; animal burrows; overgrown walkways; rotten tree stumps; or landscape edging that has grown over, can all cause tripping hazards Related: 4 Ways to Complement a Brick Patio |
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