Home and Garden (KY)

Oh, can you believe it? Spring is finally here. It feels as though we’ve waited so long for this – the most breathtaking of seasons.

I was out a few days ago enjoying the warmth in the air with my pug, Ricky.

Even he could feel something different that day.

He could feel the inviting warmth of a new season – a new beginning.

Spring is the most exciting season.

It’s a time for new beginnings, whether that be for our lives, our homes or our yards.

This year’s Spring Home & Garden is sure to offer some wonderful inspiration for your remodeling and planting projects.

Each page blooms with wonderful information on local businesses that are here to help you through the process.

Melissa Hayden Specialty Publications Editor mhayden@communitypress.com | 248-7121

Features 4

Greening the kitchen Go Green with eco-friendly cabinetry – it’s no longer a passing fad.

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Early gardening

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Expert tips for creating a beautiful landscape

Bring the outdoors into your home this spring.

Increase the value and beauty of your home with expert tips.

Featured businesses Kitchen Tune-up of Northern Kentucky . . . 3 Ceramic Tile Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Perfection Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Deaton’s Greenhouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Contact Spring Home & Garden is an annual advertising-sponsored magazine published by the Specialty Publications Department of The Community Press/ The Community Recorder.

Questions and comments can be sent to Editor Melissa Hayden c/o The Community Press/394 Wards Corner/Loveland, OH 45140 or e-mail mhayden@communitypress.com.

For advertising information call 578-5501.

Roof Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Excellence by Nature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Morris Heating and Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Concrete Lifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Ace Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Kentucky

Spring Home & Garden

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Kitchens for the average Joe (and Jane) Have you put off doing your Gary and Marin have been kitchen for a long time? Could redoing kitchens and this be the year you have vowed saving hometo do something with your cabiowners thounets? With prices surpassing sands of Common $100,000 for full kitchen remodeldollars by courtesy, ing, it is no wonder the average coming person feels a little overwhelmed. plus the ability up with Enter Kitchen Tune-Up. This creative to offer many nationally franchised company, soludifferent options tions locally owned and operated in Union, Kentucky, by Marin and for and price Gary Smith, offers a variety of their points, is what choices for creating the kitchen kitchen you‘ve always dreamed of. needs. powers “I think some people get stick“We Kitchen er shock when they look at the stick with Tune-Up. price of redoing their kitchen,” the basics said Gary. “But there are many, such as many ways to update the kitchen returning phone without breaking the bank. Our calls, showing up on average kitchen job last year was time, and completing the work as under $6,000.” promised,” explained Marin.

“This doesn’t sound difficult, but it is something that is often lacking in the remodeling business.”

Common courtesy, plus the ability to offer many different options and price points, is what powers Kitchen Tune-Up. “We are not trying to sell our clients more than it takes to accomplish their goals in accordance with their budgetary needs,” Gary stated. “We like to think of ourselves as the experts in minor kitchen remodeling, or ‘mini-remodeling’ as we like to call it.”

Kitchen Tune-Up can provide anything from the signature tune-up, which restores existing cabinetry, to a full-blown design and remodel.

“Most of our work last year was in the refacing and tune-up

category,” Gary mentioned. “We take pride in making each kitchen the best it can be.”

Kitchen Tune-Up also offers upgrades such as glass doors, tip out and rollout trays, and spice racks as well as counters in laminate, solid surface, granite, and Cambria quartz.

“We often get calls to update the kitchen when the owner is ready to sell,” Marin said. “Both of us wonder sometimes why they didn’t do it earlier so they could have enjoyed it for awhile.”

To schedule an appointment, or to discuss your kitchen needs, call Marin or Gary at 513-4423588, or visit their website at www.kitchentuneup.com.

Call 578-5501 to advertise in CreativeLiving

Call 578-5501 to advertise in the 2011 Spring Home & Garden

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Spring Home & Garden

Spring home makeovers start with tile from Ceramic Tile Outlet It’s spring and change is in the air!

Many homeowners are looking to renovate and update their homes this spring and research shows that the wisest investment that you can make to your home is in the kitchen and bathroom.

With a high return on your investment and a new look that livens up your home, Ceramic Tile Outlet has the perfect product for your kitchen or bath redo.

Located in Erlanger, Ceramic Tile Outlet has been supplying Tristate homeowners with high quality floor and wall tiles for 20 years. Homeowners prefer Ceramic Tile Outlet because of their excellent selection of tile which they have in stock, ready for pick-up and their unparalleled customer service.

“That is one thing that sets us apart and makes us different from other tile companies. We stock our tile and have it conveniently ready for our customers and the other tile suppliers don’t,” said owner Dan Kennedy. “It is already here, ready to be loaded.”

Ceramic Tile Outlet carries fine, quali-

ty tile that you will love in your kitchen or bathroom at exceptional Ceramic prices. The company imports most Tile Outlet of its tile from has been the most supplying respected tile makers in Tristate Italy and has homeowners been doing business with with high many of their quality floor vendors for over 20 years. and “We carry porcewall tiles for lain, ceramic, and 20 years. glass tile as well as an engineered stone that no one else has in greater Cincinnati,” said Kennedy.

This spring, give both the value of your home and your kitchen or bathroom a boost with beautiful tile from Ceramic Tile Outlet. Call 525-1600 for more information and store hours.

Greening up the kitchen with eco-friendly cabinetry

February 2008 • Kentucky

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“Incorporating green elements into a kitchen remodel is no longer considered just a passing fad, but a way of life,” says Dick Titus, executive vice president of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA).

“Homeowners feel a social responsibility to choose products that are safe for the environment and their family’s welfare.”

Kitchen cabinets could take up as much as half of a kitchen renovation budget, so it’s vital for homeowners wanting to “green” their kitchens to choose a quality cabinet manufacturer with roots in environmental sustainability. KCMA’s Environmental Stewardship Program

(ESP) can simplify the quest. ESP enables cabinet manufacturers to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability and helps consumers easily identify environmentally friendly products.

ESP encourages the following practices by awarding points to manufacturers who qualify:

Certified by a recognized sustainable forestry program Wood products, especially cabinets, are an environmentally friendly choice for a number of reasons.

One reason is that wood is a naturally renewable resource, meaning new trees will

grow in place of those that have already been harvested.

ESP certification awards points to manufacturers who use wood in their cabinets that is certified through a recognized sustainable forestry program. Programs such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) put a label on their wood products to show consumers that the resources removed from the forest are at a level the forest is capable of renewing without damaging its future.

In doing so, these practices preserve the environment and valuable forest resources.

See CABINETRY on page 5

Kentucky

Cabinetry |Eco-friendly Continued from page 4

Materials with low levels of formaldehyde To earn points in ESP’s air quality category, manufacturers must prove that 80 percent of particleboard, medium density fiberboard, hardboard and plywood used in the cabinets meet the low formaldehyde emissions level of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Compwood ATCM. Such materials must be thirdparty certified by a CARBapproved lab to meet low formaldehyde emission standards. The CARB Compwood ATCM is the lowest formaldehyde standard in the world.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance that can be produced by the human body. It is ubiquitous and a component of hundreds of consumer items.

Spring Home & Garden

Perfection Pest Control offers preventative help for likely pest problem this spring Everyone is ready for spring. Rising temperatures, blooming flowers, green grass, and lots of…bugs? While most of the season’s characteristics are pleasurable, the emergence of pesky pests is not. And with the amount of moisture we received last winter, there will be more activity from one of our least favorite six-legged pests, the carpenter ant.

Tim Leatherman, owner of Perfection Pest Control, has over 31 years of pest control experience and is encouraging homeowners to prevent unwanted pests from getting in their home this spring. “With all of the ice that was hanging off of gutters last winter, it has left behind a lot of damaged gutters and decaying wood, which carpenter

ants are attracted to. It is important to have perimeter treatments around your home to prevent any problems,” said Leatherman.

Perfection Pest Control continues to grow after 12 successful years in the business and has become the trusted pest control source of many Tristate homeowners and businesses.

The company custom designs pest control programs for each and every customer. “We service all types of structures including residential, commercial, industrial, medical, schools, and food storage, processing, and service facilities,” said Leatherman.

Perfection Pest Control will take care of rodents, bugs, spiders, bedbugs, bats, and termites with

their professional products and methods at a reasonable cost. “We will thoroughly inspect your home or business and identify your particular pest problem, conducive conditions for pests, evaluate structural and sanitation issues, and will include recommendation of treatments to prevent and/or eliminate pests,” said Leatherman.

Leatherman is also the owner and president of Perfection Handyman Services. “This service can take care of any damage that has been caused by problems with termites, carpenter ants, rodents, etc,” said Leatherman.

“We can solve the problems with rodents permanently by providing solutions like weather stripping garage doors and closing gaps in door

thresholds.”

Lynette Holland has been a customer of Perfection Pest Control and Perfection Handyman Service for 8 years and is very happy with the excellent customer service and quality work that has been provided for her and her family. “They take care of all of our needs both inside and outside and are very efficient,” said Holland. “His followup care is excellent and he really stays on top of everything that needs to be taken care of.”

For more information on preventing or eliminating pest problems at your home or business call Perfection Pest Control at (859) 525-8560.

Let them take care of those pesky pest problems while you enjoy the finer features of spring.

Eco-friendly manufacturing process When shopping for eco-friendly cabinets, it is important to not only examine the cabinets, but also the process that was used to manufacture them.

Criteria for process resource management includes that the manufacturer have an active recycling program for wastes, an energy-conservation program or another form of environmentalmanagement system.

On top of conserving resources, these practices can reduce the emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and aid in decreasing landfills, all of which have clear societal benefits.

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Spring Home & Garden

The Deaton family.

The Deaton family is ready to spring forward

Call 578-5501 to advertise in the Senior Living section of CreativeLiving next month.

Spring is here, and the Deaton family is excited to jump into another growing season!

Conveniently located on the corner of Harris and Madison Pike in Independence, Kentucky, Deaton’s Greenhouse and Florist welcomes customers in the door with a hearty “Hello, how are you doing?“ Inside, customers are treated to a wide variety of bulk garden seeds and vegetable plants. Their comprehensive array of gardening products is only exceeded by their inventory of trees, shrubs and lines of award winning perennials – everything a gardener needs to inspire him or her to get out into the yard.

Need a hand with the heavy lifting in the yard? Let Deaton’s experienced landscaping crew tackle all your home improvement projects, ranging from yard clean-up, and design and plant installation, to creating permanent garden features such as rock walls, grills, patios and pathways. For do-it-yourselfers in need of advice and bulk

mulch, or beginners just starting out in the gardening world, Deaton’s knowledgeable staff can Deaton’s help you knowledgeable achieve your goals, and get staff can help you out enjoyyou achieve ing your yard your gaols, and and the harvest get you out and of your vegetable garden. enjoying your Deaton’s is yard... definitely the place for Mother’s Day gift giving needs with our full-service florist, and unbeatable selection of hanging baskets, blooming shrubs, and combination planters. New this year is a selection of Kentucky crafted items, including etched gourds, handmade baskets, candy and much more.

Come out and see what’s blooming at Deaton’s, or call them at 356-7701.

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Why didn’t it last?

Most people don’t understand why their roof has failed or why it never lasts its warranty.

Roof Time has the answer.

“It has to do with what I like to call the ‘Energy Trilogy,’ Roof Time Project Manager JD Shoemaker explains. “Ventilation, insulation, and radiation.”

A common problem is that there is not enough insulation.

Roof Time uses the amount recommended by Energy Star.

Ventilation and insulation are required by code, but radiation is not. Therefore, most in the roofing industry don’t take it into consideration, according to Shoemaker.

Roof Time uses a radiant barrier, a metallic foil material, that reduces the transmission of radiated heat. Using this technique Roof Time can add another 10 years to your roof’s life.

These factors will pay dividends, as you’ll be able to save on your monthly energy bill.

Call 578-5501 to advertise in CreativeLiving

“We have the knowledge,” says Shoemaker.

“We have “...We are quality passionate products. about serving But our customer. more imporWe know that tantly our integrity we are pasdepends on sionate our service.” about serving our customer. We Rick Beckett’s West Chester home. know that our with me and helped me underintegrity depends on stand. They told me what was our service.” needed, what they would do and Client Rick Beckett knows this they did it.The experience was best. Beckett rests well at night fantastic.” because he has complete confiBeckett recommends Roof dence in the roof over his head.

Time, because he was satisfied, “I knew nothing about roofs,” not only with their expertise, but the homeowner admits. “But their impeccable service. those at Roof Time spent time

“All those in the roof industry have to ask why their business exists,” explains Shoemaker. “We exist to serve.”

Roof Time has won Angie’s List Super Service Award for the past four years in a row, as well as, was voted Favorite Roofer by

See ROOF TIME on page 9

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Spring Home & Garden

Granite ROCKS, and now laminate does too When it comes to renovating kitchens, the countertops typically become the star of the project.

The countertops are where the work in the kitchen takes place and where friends and family gather to talk and eat. The countertops often become the visual focal point of the kitchen as well.

Since they are such an essential piece to the kitchen puzzle, choosing the right countertop surface is a decision not to be taken lightly.

Finding your local countertop experts can help you sort through the confusion of the many types and styles of countertop choices available today. Excellence By Nature is a locally owned and operated company with an experienced staff to offer a wealth of knowledge and ideas. At Excellence By Nature, there are many countertop choices including laminate, solid surface, tile, quartz, and granite for countertops.

Although there are so many options, granite is still by far the most popular choice for kitchen countertops. Excellence By Nature offers on-site slab selection, which boasts the largest

doesn’t allow for natural granite countertops, the new Formica colors are a great alternative,” explains Sarah Collins, Interior Designer and Operations Manager at Excellence By Nature.

“The colors and patterns available now much more realistically resemble granite than anything offered in the past.”

New laminate countertops in A sample of Excellent By Nature’s quality work. the 180fx finishes can be installed selection of unusual and exotic ors and variations of granite coun- for less than half of the cost of granite countertops. Many do-itslabs in the area with new shiptertops. The fx patterns are 5 feet yourself homeowners will save ments arriving weekly. Your new wide and don’t repeat every 18 even more by choosing to install granite countertop installation is inches, like a standard laminate also guaranteed within two weeks countertop, which means the lam- the laminate countertops themselves, since it doesn’t require the of your template. Granite’s natuinate will have more of the natuspecialized tools and skills that ral hues, variation, color selection ral variation that is so appealing granite installations do. and durability keep it at the top of with granite.

Whether you are looking for the list for kitchen countertops.

The Radiance finish available granite or laminate countertops However, not every homeown- for these colors, as described on er has the budget to accommodate Formica’s web-site, also “refracts or anything in between, put granite countertops, even with the and reflects light while highlight- “Visit Excellence By Nature” on your to-do list. Bring a sketch of monthly specials and discounts ing natural veining“ which your countertops with measureoffered at Excellence By Nature. brings a natural-looking color ments and any paint, wallpaper In these cases, there is an exciting and visual depth to the patterns or cabinet colors with you and let new option on the market that lets and colors offered. the experts at Excellence By clients have countertops that Even though laminate counresemble the look and feel of tertops don’t offer the same dura- Nature guide you in selecting the granite without the expense. The bility as granite, if they are prop- beautiful new countertops that will become the star of your new 180fx patterns, offered by erly maintained by the homekitchen!

Formica, have nine colors and owner, they can last many years designs that closely mimic the col- in any home. “When the budget

Kentucky

Spring Home & Garden

Morris Heating and Cooling emphasizes quality service Morris Heating and Cooling, Inc. is reminding homeowners this spring to have their air conditioners checked before the warm months of summer arrive.

Periodic maintenance of furnaces and air conditioners is a wise measure for homeowners to take so that they can run optimally throughout the year. “It’s better to be proactive than reactive,” said service manager, Larry Schmalz.

“Morris Heating and Cooling recommends maintenance in the months of April and October.”

A family owned and operated business, Morris Heating and Cooling has been serving the Tristate area’s heating and cooling needs for both residential and commercial customers for 14 years. They are known for their excellent customer service and thorough working knowledge and care in the heating and cooling industry.

“Our service from the very first phone call is superior and we follow

through until the issue is taken care of,” said office manager Becky Morris.

“Our courteous technicians are well-trained and experienced in 24-hour emergency service.”

Morris Heating and Cooling has a 24-hour answering service to serve customers at any hour, day or night, including weekends and holidays. “We make it a point to respond quickly to our customer’s needs,” said Morris.

From new installations to repairing or replacing existing furnaces and air conditioners, Morris Heating and Cooling will professionally and efficiently take care of your heating or cooling need.

For information on installation, maintenance, or repair of your furnace or air conditioner, call Morris Heating and Cooling at 282-8300. And remember to have your air conditioner cleaned this spring – because those sweltering summer temperatures are closer than you think!

Roof Time |Confidence Continued from page 7 Community Press readers in 2009.

Their estimators arrive on time and prepared, in neatly lettered vehicles and uniforms; inspect the attic portion of the roof, then inspect and measure from the roof top. An estimate can be prepared right from their vehicles or e-mailed back the same day! Estimators are noncommissioned, and only bid work that needs to be completed. Written estimates are free, and feature digital roof top photos.

Roof Time is an Owens Corning preferred contractor and has been serving the community with offices in Boone and Clermont counties since1995.

Call Office Manager Sandy, at 859-344-TIME or 513-528-TIME, to schedule a free roof inspection and visit, www.time2roof.com, for a valuable Internet only offer.

Concrete lifting: Attractive alternative to replacement Matracia Contracting, Inc. would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the concrete lifting process.

Concrete lifting is a process in which a concrete slab is raised back to its original position. It is the economical alternative to tearing out and replacing concrete.

Your concrete is lifted by drilling one or more holes into the surface of the concrete slab, and pumping a cement-based material through the holes.

This fills any voids and

displaces any standing water under the slab which may have occurred by settling or rodents burrowing under it. We continue pumping until enough material is pumped under the slab to raise it back to its original position.

The cement-based material is a sandy loam containing lime and cement. It is non-toxic and environmentally safe.

This process works on any concrete slab, sidewalks, porches, garage floors, driveways, house floors, steps, pool decks

and more.

Their portable pump allows us to go anywhere on your property without damage to your lawn or landscaping. Their trucks stay on the street. There is no mess and no heavy equipment.

And most jobs are completed within one day – or less. Give them a call.

Their estimator will call you back within 24 hours and set up a time to receive a free estimate.

To reach the professionals of Matracia Contracting, call 371-1398.

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Spring Home & Garden

Bring early spring to your home with indoor gardening Do images of flowering trellises laden with yellow, pink, green and purple blooms dance through your dreams? You may be ready for some warm springlike temperatures, but the weather outside is still a little frightful.

Ignore the weather and bring spring inside with some indoor gardening.

Not only does bringing spring inside help brighten your home, but house plants can also improve the quality of the air you’re breathing. A NASA study found that house plants remove up to 87 percent of toxic indoor air inside a sealed chamber within 24 hours.

By planting now, while winter is still in the air, you will have vegetables, herbs and flowers primed for transplanting when warmer weather finally arrives.

And since they’re inside, you can watch the plants as they shoot their little green stems out of the fresh dirt, monitoring them as they grow.

• Use loose potting soil to promote root growth. Outside, worms and insects tunnel through the dirt, naturally breaking it up to help plants spread their roots. To mimic their effect indoors, use potting soil mixed with peat moss, vermiculite and

perlite to create a light texture that won’t compact after a couple of waterings.

• Make sure the natural light is adequate. Some plants like direct sunlight and must be located near a south-facing window, while others prefer a few hours of indirect light. But to really keep your herbs and flowers looking strong all season long, consider using artificial light like the Grow Light Pro White from Wards.com, which can also help you get your spring garden started early with seedlings. The

Grow Light has four lights that can be turned on as a unit or individually, and it has an adjustable bottom shelf so you can alter the light level as your plants grow.

When plants don’t get the light they need, they start to appear thin and frail. As your plants begin to grow, make sure to rotate the pots so the stems grow straight, rather than bending unnaturally toward the source of light.

• Keep the humidity level above 50 percent with a humidi-

fier. Not only will your plants appreciate the extra moisture, but so will you. When the humidity drops below 50 percent, most plants suffer from water loss through their leaves, and it’s difficult to regain that water balance, even with frequent watering.

• Really bring spring inside your home with beautiful pots and decorating accents. Visit Wards.com to find beautiful and creative birdhouses that not only are functional, but stylish enough to hang inside. Consider hanging a wire birdhouse in the shape of an acorn in the kitchen window, or using a set of two birdhouses as a unique decoration for your entryway.

• Mix art and fun together with some ivy. Ivy topiaries are very easy to grow, and there are many creative planters and forms you can use to support the ivy as it winds its way toward the sun.

Are you a music fan? A guitar and music stand with little pots incorporated into the design can help brighten up your living room. Or maybe you prefer a vintage look created by placing a Madeline Dress Form over your vines, allowing them to grow and construct the skirt.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Ace Hardware is your ‘Helpful Place’ The helpful employees at the two Ace Hardware locations in Florence and Hebron can get you ready to tackle whatever home project you have your mind set on.

Ace Hardware carries the usual hardware, electrical and plumbing supplies, power and hand tools, and Carhartt workwear. They offer screen repair, cut glass and plexiglass, and refill propane tanks or offer the Blue Rhino tank exchange program. If they don’t have what you need, chances are they can order it for you.

“We have merchandise delivered weekly and can place special orders for customers,” Wally Schwartz, assistant manager said. They can also

lines of Porter Paint and Benjamin Moore paint now at its Hebron location. Porter has a new line of colors called Voice of Color which we also have in stock, Schwartz said. If you have a certain color in mind that comes in a An Ace Hardware employee assists a customer in choosing paint. brand other than Ace, order merchandise how to use the products,” Porter, or Benjamin Moore through Dick Blandford, owner we have a cross-referacehardware.com, have it said. “We send many of enced file that enables us sent to our store for pick our sales people to the to come up with a formuup, and avoid the shipScotts Training Institute so la to get you that color in ping fee. they can best meet our our Ace paint.

Ace’s garden center is customers needs. We also Sold exclusively in Ace top-notch and provides carry a great assortment Hardware stores and reliable service, advice of patio and garden suphome centers worldwide, and products to help cus- plies and furniture, and each Ace Private Label tomers get their projects will have a selection of product is stamped with a done right. live plants when the guarantee of its quality. It “We carry Scotts® lawn weather breaks.” can pay you to shop at care products and have And then there’s paint. Ace. point-of-sale material Ace Hardware not only “Signing up for the Ace from Scotts that explains sells the Ace brand of Rewards program is free to customers when and paint, but also carries the and easy,” Dick

CreativeLiving • Call 578-5501

Blandford, owner, said.

“As Rewards customers purchase items, they accumulate points. Special coupons are issued periodically, even on their birthdays, and they can participate in promotions throughout the year which are available only to Rewards customers. To date, more than 13,000 customers have signed up since our opening in 2006.”

With the exception of major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, both Ace Hardware locations are open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday. Come to the helpful place, come to Ace Hardware.

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Spring Home & Garden

Expert tips for creating a beautiful landscape Landscaping success doesn’t have to be hit or miss, and if it has been for you, it may be time to call in a professional landscape designer.

Why? Because in the long run, hiring a landscape designer can cost less than doing it yourself.

You’ll get a “doable” design created right the first time, saving you the cost of repeated tries at getting it right or planting the wrong plants in the wrong spots.

A professional landscape designer envisions creative solutions to the most difficult outdoor challenges – problems they’ve more than likely solved before.

Plus, a high-quality landscape increases home sale prices up to 10.8 percent, compared to a home with a simply average landscape, according to the Journal of Environmental Horticulture.

Here are some tips from professional landscape designers to create your dream garden.

First, consider your space and any “issues” that it has. Hiding an unsightly air conditioning unit, adding privacy and changing boring views to beautiful ones are issues that landscape designers face with many clients.

“As a certified landscape designer through the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, I see the big picture,” says Boston-based landscape designer Maria von Brincken,

APLD. “A designer sees the problems that you see, and often the ones you don’t, and can offer solutions to create beautiful, functional and earthy-friendly landscapes to add to your lives.”

Next, do your homework.

Tear out favorite pictures from gardening magazines, and start making a file on what you would like for your dream garden. While not everything might be possible for your garden, it will give your landscape designer a visual starting point. Don’t forget about hardscape such as patios, decks and fencing; designers can help with these also.

Take your time. Brincken warns of the temptation to impulsively buy plants at a garden center and attempt a garden make-over. This can be a costly gamble for those without experience. Many homeowners find that it takes the help of a designer to create a well-planned land-

scape project that includes both plants and hardscape.

While there is a cost to hiring a landscape designer, it is ultimately more economical to work with an expert to create a plan specific to your yard. The project is completed in a timely manner and within budget when you take your time and create a landscape plan. Expect to spend about 10 percent of the total cost of the project on the design.

Consider what you want to achieve with your landscape.

Research and reach out to a few landscape designers. Be sure to interview several designers to find one who meets your needs and personality.

Review the portfolio or Web site of each designer, and visit some of their work if possible.

Finally, if you have a budget in mind, share this with the designer up front.

Courtesy of ARAcontent