Author Archives: micah

There are plenty of fun ways to add visual interest and useful function to your backyard, but by far, one of the most popular ways is including a fireplace or fire pit.  But as with any design choice, adding a fire feature to your backyard requires more than a single decision. And with so many options available to homeowners, it might be a little overwhelming at first. We’re here to help, with a quick overview of some of the basic […]

When it comes to yard design, most Arizonans take one of two directions: either they choose to make their yard lush and green (with grass, trees, and bushes), or they embrace their surroundings and go for more of a low-maintenance desert vibe (with rocks and cacti).  But no matter which direction you take, you’ll probably want some way to add a splash of color to your yard. Color keeps things interesting and creates focal points in your landscaping. Not to […]

Almost every homeowner in the Phoenix area has at least thought of installing a pool at one point or another. With swimming season extending almost year-round, it’s easy to see how a pool could be a worthwhile investment for your home and family. That said, pools aren’t for everyone. They require a lot of upfront cost, along with maintenance and upkeep expenses. Plus, they present a significant safety hazard for many families.  The good news is that even if you […]

When working on bringing personality to their home design, many people focus on the interior of their home. But there are plenty of design opportunities outside, too! In fact, you should think of your yard as yet another way to bring your own artistic style into your daily environment. But how exactly can you give your yard a more artistic feel? Here are a few ideas. Lighting Lighting pulls double duty when it comes to adding more artistic elements to […]

When designing your home (and the landscape surrounding it), it’s always a good idea to keep resale value in mind. No matter what the real estate market is doing, your listing will always be more competitive when your home is beautifully designed, inside and out. So what are some things you can do with your landscape design in order to increase your home’s value? Here are a few of our best ideas. Use professional design and installation. One thing home […]

Your home is your family’s sanctuary, and you do your best to keep it as safe and as private as possible. This includes doing the obvious things like installing locks, privacy doors, security lights/cameras, and more. But did you know that even your landscape design can help create a private oasis for you and your family? Privacy hedges are loved for their ability to do just that: create a separation between your yard and the outside world (and any wandering […]

Unless you want to stay inside absolutely all season long, it’s important to have ways to cool off outside during the brutal Arizona summer. Since not everyone has easy access to a pool, we wanted to focus on another option that can help a bit: shade trees. While shade trees may not be enough to make the hottest days enjoyable, they can make a difference. Temperatures in the shade usually feel as much as 10-15 degrees cooler than those in […]

For most of the United States, the threat of frost is very real for plants, even late into the spring. In Arizona however, plants face a different threat entirely: heat waves. With brutally hot temperatures coming as early as May, homeowners should be prepared to care for their plants properly during those triple-digit days. Here are some tips to help. Choose heat resistant plants. Because Arizona is a dry, hot climate, it makes sense to take heat waves into consideration […]

A well-designed backyard is hard to beat. When you design your yard with intention, it expands the livable area of your home and creates a space for making incredible memories. But many people don’t know where to start when redesigning their landscape. A great way to get the process going is to choose a feature or two you are really excited about, and then build the rest of the yard around that. And if you’re looking for incredible features for […]

Weeds are the bane of existence for most gardeners, landscapers, and homeowners. Staying on top of weeds can feel like shoveling snow in a blizzard: the moment you feel like you have the problem under control, you turn around and a new crop of weeds has popped up! You can always pull weeds as they grow. Or you can stay a step ahead of the weeds with pre-emergent. As the name suggests, pre-emergent is an herbicide that takes care of […]