Search Results for: blog some things to consider when landscaping

Home Based Business Idea – Landscaping

If you are looking to start a home-based business and you would like to spend time outdoors while you work, you may want to consider starting a landscaping business. Depending upon the geographic area where you live, you may want to turn your landscaping business into a year-round enterprise by offering services like leaf clean up and snow removal during times of year when those things are needed more than lawn mowing and hedge trimming. Landscapers that provide high quality work and have good customer service skills are always in demand. Some of the things that you will want to … Continue reading →

Wildfire Evacuation Plan: When you have some warning.

In the last blog I wrote about the things we need to do if an evacuation is ordered and you must leave now. Sometimes, especially with wild fires, local officials may not advise an immediate evacuation but warn areas that an evacuation may happen because there’s a chance things may get worse. When you are asked to Stand By for an evacuation, consider this time valuable and take steps to protect your home and family. Protecting your house: Bring everything inside, including: Patio furniture, garbage cans, the kid’s toys, gardening equipment, hanging plants, and all the other things that may … Continue reading →

Some Things to Consider When Landscaping

Landscaping clearly goes beyond typical yard work, creating visual “scapes” or scenes, but it also includes functional elements. While aesthetics are an important part of creating a design plan, remember that function is every bit as important if not more so. Retaining Wall Retaining walls are used to prevent standing water and to keep overabundant water from ruining the rest of the yard or garden. They also work to give some symmetry to yards that are not level. Often, a tiered design is used to stagger the space between low and high ground, instead of having hills and valleys. Tiered … Continue reading →

Firewise Landscaping: Trees

There isn’t much a homeowner can do to reduce their risk of loss caused by earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. When it comes to wildfire however, there are several ways homeowners can protect their homes from fire. Wildfires occur no matter our best efforts and keeping a wildfire away from your home starts with your landscaping. Homeowners may want to talk with their insurance agent or state agricultural college for tips and advice about fire resistant landscaping. In many cases insurance companies will inspect for defensible space and firewise risk management before issuing or renewing a homeowner insurance policy. Trees on … Continue reading →

Landscaping To Reduce Wild Fire Risks For Homeowners.

It’s spring and the time of the year many of us feel the urge to get out in the yard and start cleaning things up for the upcoming summer. Spring tasks need to be done to make our yards pretty for the summer BB Q’s and hot afternoons that lay ahead. It’s also a great time to think about risk management and using landscaping maintenance and choices to lower any fire risks our home may now have. A well-designed and properly maintained area around a home or building offers a “defensible space“ This is the area of landscaping where homeowners … Continue reading →

Go Big With Giant Painting Projects!

Whether you follow a curriculum in the summer or just take it easy, these art projects are sure to be a hit! So you love yourself a good wall mural, or perhaps your kids like finger painting. Those things are wonderful, but have you considered other great big painting options? Options that will make your kids go wild with glee? If you have a big batch of paper and some paint, try out some of these giant painting projects: Slide painting. This is simple. You have a slide. You have some tape. You have a kid or two or three. … Continue reading →

Should You Have More Than One Home Based Business?

One of the questions that may be on your mind as you set out to begin your home – based business is whether you will begin just one business or whether you will have multiple home-based businesses. There are advantages to each type of arrangement, and your final decision will have to be based upon your needs and the needs of your family. Some home-based businesses lend themselves better to being run alongside of each other than others do, so this is certainly one thing to think about before making a decision to have more than one business operating at … Continue reading →

Will Outdoor Improvements Increase The Value Of Your Home?

Now that the weather is finally warm and sunny here in the North Country, many homeowners are getting geared up for summer home improvement projects. Things like decks, pools, patios, gazebos, and ponds can make spending time at home on nice summer days a lot of fun. From a financial standpoint, however, only some of these outdoor upgrades add to your home’s resale value. First, the good news. Decks are a great investment. I’m tickled to hear this because as soon as the snow melted, my husband went out in the yard to continue working on the large wrap-around deck … Continue reading →

Rent or Buy: Our experience with home ownership

We bought a home mainly because we were always told that we should… not because it was right for us, but because it was expected of us. We were told that home ownership is important for stability of your family, real estate is always a good investment, and that owning a home would be cheaper than renting. I actually have a friend who used to argue these points with me so vehemently that I can’t even have the discussion with him any more. I understand that owning a home can be a really good investment. But I also understand that … Continue reading →

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

While some of us are still shivering in the cold, being blown about by frosty winds, or sighing glumly at the piles of snow in our yard, spring is in full swing in Orlando. Yup, it’s that time again; Wednesday is the kickoff of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. I have multiple family members that for whom coming to see fanciful hedges trimmed to resemble and adorned with flowers to represent multi-color Disney characters would be enough of a reason to visit Epcot this spring. The living rainbows sure to be on display at Bambi’s Magnificent Butterfly Garden … Continue reading →