Outdoor lighting can significantly improve the aesthetics and safety of your backyard, making the outdoors more accessible during the dark hours while keeping your home a beautiful sight even when nobody is around. Here are 12 great backyard and patio lighting ideas for Kansas City homes.
1. Free Standing Solar Light Posts
Free-standing solar light posts are one of the easiest outdoor lighting options anybody can DIY in their backyard. They come in various designs and heights, with most models varying from $70 to $300. Some higher-end wrought iron light posts may cost over $500 per post.
Most solar light posts come with a stake that goes into the soil. Others might come with a weighted, enlarged bottom so they can sit directly on your patio.
2. Bistro Lights
Bistro lights have become increasingly popular, especially among younger homeowners. The French bistro atmosphere adds a hint of foreign romance to any property, whereas the industrial-style bistro lights resonate with Kansas City’s profound industrial history.
Plug-in or battery-powered bistro lights can be installed on patios, using exterior outlets as direct power. Solar-powered bistro lights can be dangled above pathways to provide more sophisticated overhead lighting than traditional options.
3. Lighting Along Pathways
Regardless of what type of pathways you have, adding lighting along your walking paths is always a good investment. For walkways leading up to the house, opt for classic, bold, and significant designs to improve your curb appeal. Meanwhile, you can choose more creative options in the backyard to complement the surrounding landscape.
4. Fairy String Lights
Who says string lights are for holidays only? Neutral color string lights can be used year-round as decorative accents inside tree crowns or wrapped around patio and stair railings. Thin string lights are also one of the most affordable patio lighting options, costing less than $20 for a 4-pack of 130-foot, solar-powered lights.
5. Chief’s or Royal’s Themed Lights
Kansas City loves its sports, and red and blue color-ed lights are not the hardest to find. Get some colored lights, plus a decent lighted sign for your favorite team, and voila! Now you can showcase your love for sports in your backyard.
6. Color-Changing Lights
Outdoor color-changing lights are perfect for setting the mood right, regardless of the season. We recommend using low-voltage outdoor lighting with automated color-changing programming. Our favorite product is FX Luxor, which provides one of the widest ranges of color options using an RGBW LED color board.
If you only want to have the color-changing effect at certain spots, LED low-voltage bulbs are perfect for that. These are individual bulbs that can be programmed separately, allowing you to have different colors at different places in your backyard.
7. Starlight Projector
If you’re only looking for patio lighting for special occasions, a starlight projector is the perfect option. Some projectors can also serve as Bluetooth speakers. Imagine having a long week, then stretching out on the patio with your favorite movie soundtrack and stars floating around you: wouldn’t it be perfect?
8. Night Glow Pebbles
Glow-in-the-dark pebbles absorb sunlight during the day and glow at night. They come in different sizes and colors, and cost as little as $20 per 200-piece bundle. You can lay these pebbles into paver joints, or sprinkle them into the grass or in your flower beds. Most nightglow pebbles are made with resin. While they’re abrasive-proof enough for people to walk on them, they should not be mixed into a gravel driveway.
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9. Renaissance Style Lanterns
If you’re a fan of Tudors, Bridgerton, and other period historical dramas, Renaissance-style lanterns could be a wonderful addition to your backyard and patio. Most of these solar-powered lanterns can be mounted directly to exterior walls or fixtures. Some come with a sturdy chain that can be hung over strong tree branches or posts to be installed into the ground.
These lanterns usually feature a bronze or wrought iron finish and intricate embellishments. Some models use clear glass, whereas others use frosted glass for a gentler lighting effect.
10. Mushroom and Botanical-shaped Lights
Looking to make your backyard a bit more playful? Solar-powered lights come in various shapes nowadays, but mushroom lights are definitely one of the most popular designs. Common designs include frosted glass mushroom stumps and colorful amanitas. These lights work as path lights, but can also be scattered along bushes and flower beds.
11. Lighting Up Your Water Features
If you have water features in your backyard, lighting them up could bring a unique view at night. Some of the lighting options mentioned above, such as night glow pebbles, also work well in water features. Alternatively, you can hire a professional outdoor lighting company to install the right type of lighting for your waterfall or backyard pond.
12. Lanterns With Cutout Patterns
Instead of a glass or open design, these lanterns are enclosed by metal panels with cutout patterns. When light shines through these panels, they cast the geometric shape or decorative design onto their surroundings. These lanterns are primarily decorative and should be used in areas without too much foot traffic because the shadows they cast can sometimes make it harder to see your surroundings.
After you’ve fertilized your newly seeded lawn, watering is the next step to ensure proper grass growth. Overwatering can drown or wash away your new seeds, whereas under-watering can kill the seeds in drought, especially with Kansas City’s heat. This article will tell you how often you should water a newly seeded lawn, a reseeded path, or an overseeded lawn, how long to water each time, and the factors that may affect your watering schedule.
How Often Should I Water Grass Seeds?
Generally speaking, you should water new grass seeds two to four times a day during the germination period, and once a day after germination until the grass has sprouted.
Once the grass has sprouted, you need to adjust your watering schedule accordingly:
Weeks 1-2: once a day with a 1.5-inch soil moisture depth.
Weeks 3-4: once a day, with an additional watering during hot and dry days.
Weeks 5-6: Give your seeded area a 40-minute soak every other day, then 2 to 3 times a week.
Weeks 7-8: 1 to 1.5 inches of water once or twice a week
The best time to water a newly seeded lawn is early morning. The cooler temperature allows moisture to penetrate the soil before evaporating. Water again in late afternoon or early evening.
How Long Should I Water Each Time?
If this is your first time watering the seeds, water for 5 to 10 minutes, then switch to a mist nozzle to prevent washing seeds away. Afterward, aim to keep the top 1.5 inches of your lawn moist via manual watering using a garden hose.
Factors Affecting the Watering Schedule
The watering schedule for a newly seeded lawn depends on the following factors:
Size of the lawn: The size of your lawn can affect your watering frequency. For larger lawns, you may want to break it into smaller sections and develop a rotating watering schedule.
Type of grass: Cool-season grass requires more watering during hot weather. Warm-season grass needs less water in the fall as they enter dormancy.
Soil quality: If your soil doesn’t have the best drainage, you will water less.
Climate: Kansas City’s heat waves can arrive early and unexpectedly. During high heat periods, you might need to water a little extra to protect your new grass.
How to Water an Overseeded Lawn
Overseeding is a common method used to increase the grass density for an existing patch by planting new seeds on an established turf. When watering an overseeded lawn, ensure the topsoil is moist enough for the seeds to germinate, while also providing the established grass with sufficient water.
For the topsoil, gently water twice a day for 5 to 10 minutes each time. Then, deep water once a week to ensure the existing turf gets enough water.
How Often Should I Water a Reseeded Bare Patch
Water the reseeded patch two to four times a day with one-eighth to a quarter inch of water until germination. Then, slowly reduce the watering frequency. Don’t forget to water the rest of the lawn following your regular schedule.
How Often Should I Water a Newly Seeded Lawn
Water the lawn two to four times a day, 5 to 10 minutes each time. Continue with this schedule until the seeds germinate, then reduce watering to ensure a 1.5-inch moisture depth.
With proper watering, your seeds can begin to grow in 10 to 14 days. Some grasses may take longer to germinate, ranging from 14 to 21 days.
Nobody will complain about a refreshing, vibrant lawn as the weather becomes nicer. To ensure you have a lush lawn come summer, proper seeding and fertilization are a must. One common question we receive from people is whether you can fertilize and seed your grass at the same time.
Generally, you shouldn’t fertilize and seed simultaneously because fertilizers can harm grass seeds. Ideally, you’d want a local lawn and turf care company to handle these tasks. But if you’re doing it yourself, below are some fundamentals you should know.
Best Types of Grasses for Kansas City
Situated in the mid-west, Kansas City has a weather that allows warm- and cool-weather grass to survive. Having mixed lawn also ensures you get the most green throughout the year.
Here are 4 types of grasses that will do the best in Kansas City:
Turf-type tall fescue: A cool-season grass that thrives in full sun and is extremely drought tolerant.
Kentucky bluegrass: A resilient cool-season grass with a subtle blue hue in its dark green color. Often mixed with other grasses for texture purposes since it’s highly vulnerable to summer diseases.
Fine leaf fescue: A delicate cool-season grass that prefers a dry and shady environment.
Zoysiagrass: A warm-season grass perfect for Kansas City’s summer weather that provides a dense turf with strong heat tolerance
When to Fertilize Your Grass
The best time to fertilize your grass varies based on your grass type.
Warm-season grasses have thick, rough, and strong blades and grow the most during late spring and early summer. it’s best to fertilize right before the high temperatures hit. Apply a second layer of fertilizer after peak summer.
Cool-season grasses, on the other hand, produce thin, smooth, and soft blades. These grasses grow in the early spring and early fall, then enter dormancy for the winter. Therefore, you should fertilize heavily in the fall and lightly in early spring.
Best Fertilizers for Grass Lawns
Generally speaking, nitrogen-rich fertilizers are your safest and most effective option for warm and cool-season grasses. They come in quick- or slow-release options.
For cool-season grass, apply 1 to 2 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Apply treatment before peak temperature to keep your grass green and healthy. For warm-season grasses, use 3 to 4 pounds of fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Water thoroughly to wash the grains off the grass blades and into the soil.
When to Seed Your Grass in Kansas City, Missouri
The weather in Missouri tends to stay cool until early summer (late May), with bursts of high temperatures in between. The last frost date in Missouri is typically around the end of April. Therefore, you should seed cool-weather grasses by mid-April and plant around mid-spring. As long as the soil temperature is above 50°F.
Common Mistakes When Seeding Your Grass
If you think seeding grass is as simple as throwing the seed out into the soil, you’re wrong. Here are some common mistakes you should avoid when seeding your grass:
Seeding at the wrong time: Warm- and cool-season grass seeds have different temperature and pH requirements to grow. Seeding at the wrong time could lead to poor growth.
Uneven seed application: Too many seeds in one area could suppress proper growth, whereas scattered seeding could lead to bare spots in your lawn.
Not covering the seeds up: If you leave the seeds exposed on the surface of the soil, they can get washed away or become bird food. You should gently till the area after seeding your grass.
Too much or too little water: Overwatering can drown, wash away, and underwatering can burn your new seeds.
Can You Fertilize and Seed Your Grass at the Same Time?
No, you shouldn’t fertilize and seed your grass at the same time. You should always spread the seeds first, as direct soil contact is helpful for germination. To prevent fertilizers from harming grass seeds, it is recommended to wait six to eight weeks after seeding. A good measurement is to fertilize after you notice small sprouts and use a starter fertilizer for best results
Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Whether you’re preparing a bouquet for your own mom, a mother figure, a pet mom, or even a mom who’d recently lost their child, a thoughtful bouquet can never go wrong. Learn about the meanings behind these 8 flowers you can get for Mother’s Day and craft a beautiful bouquet!
Known as the official mother’s day flower, carnations are a classic option to get for your mom. Pink carnation, particularly, is a representation of your gratitude to someone who has shown you immense support and kindness in your life. Red carnation, with its more passionate power, symbolizes love and courage. Finally, white carnation is often given as a prayer for good fortune.
Tulips represent perfect love and affection, making them a brilliant choice to honor a mother’s unconditional love. Red and pink tulips are closely related to passion and love, and yellow tulips convey cheerfulness.
It’s also a good idea to gift your mom some tulips if you’ve had a rough relationship with her, as it shows that you acknowledge that your mom tried her best to love you in the way she knew how. Particularly, white tulips symbolize forgiveness.
Image from Pixabay
Iris
Iris is God’s messenger in Greek mythology. In modern times, irises are associated with respect and honor. Different color of irises represent different meanings and blessings. For example, blue irises stand for faith and hope. White and yellow irises are for courage and boldness (perfect for the lady boss mom). Black irises symbolize mystery and wisdom.
Gladiolus, known for its tall, majestic appearance, is a flower of respect and honor. They are amazing additions to any bouquet because they can add more depth and height to the structure. They are also perfect if you want to pay tribute to a motherly figure or a female mentor. Gladiolus symbolizes strength of character, honor, and integrity. Its root, “gladius,” means “sword” in Latin.
Don’t let chamomile’s humble look trick you. These flowers represent endurance and perseverance after hardship. While chamomiles may not stand on their own as a full bouquet, they’re perfect to add some accent to any bouquet featuring bold colors and larger blooms. Plus, you can save them for tea later.
Gerbera daisy stands for childlike innocence, wonders, and admiration. Specific meanings by colors are listed below:
Red Gerbera: fiery love
Pink Gerbera: grace and gratitude
Orange Gerbera: you are my sunshine
Yellow Gerbera: positivity and true friendship
White Gerbera: innocence and purity
There is also a hidden meaning in gifting someone three gerbera daisies: unconditional love and a new beginning. If the person receiving your bouquet has just had a rough patch in life, giving them three gerbera daisies can convey your sincere wish for them to have a fresh start.
Elegant, timeless, classic. White lilies are the queen of flowers. White lilies also carry spiritual meanings. For example, they are associated with Virgin Mary (thus purity) in Christianity, but refer to goddesses Hera (Zeus’ Queen) and Venus (Goddess of Love and Beauty) in mythology. If you honor your mom like a Queen, gift her a white lily bouquet. That will surely make her day.
Blue hyacinth can add a charming highlight to any bouquet thanks to its bold, highly saturated color. The flower is connected with the throat chakra, representing a desire to communicate. Since blue hyacinth grew from the blood of Apollo’s lover in Greek mythology, they are also sometimes associated with loss, grief, and mourning. If your mom is no longer with you, bring some blue hyacinth to her resting place. Or, if you want to comfort a friend who’d recently lost a child, blue hyacinth will be a kind gesture for sure.
Have Your Mother’s Day Flower Delivered
Don’t have a flower shop near you? Let us bring some hardy annual colors for Mother’s Day to your doorstep. With our seasonal flower service, you will always have the perfect flowers for every important holiday. Plant them in your garden or keep them potted. Clip the bloom to make a bouquet and make your mom feel special.
Pathways help you move through your landscape smoothly without causing damage to the plants. They also keep your feet clean even on muddy, wet days. Different types of pathways can also complement your landscape with attractive design elements, adding depth, texture, and complexity. Here are 5 types of pathways you can add to your landscape.
1. Stepping Stone Pathway
Stepping stone pathways are affordable, durable, and can bring a natural, earthy aesthetic to your home. When laying a stepping stone pathway, ensure the stones are placed within a close distance from each other and that the stones you use are big enough. If the stones you use are too small, you’d end up tiptoeing through the tulips. For the best results, use flagstones or large pavers as stepping stones.
PROS
CONS
Affordable
Can be hazardous for elders or those with mobility issues.
Natural, rusty look
Grass, mulch, or other obstacles can get in between the stones.
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
2. Gravel Paths
Gravel pathways are popular due to their affordability. Gravels also provide effective drainage as water can soak through the pathway into the soil below. Most pathway gravels are recycled from other quarry activities, making them one of the most environmentally friendly pathway options.
However, gravel paths can be difficult to roll strollers or wheelchairs on. Gravels also tend to spread into nearby beds and lawn along the path. As a result, you may need to add gravel every few years. Finally, weeds can grow through the gravel, making it harder to maintain.
PROS
CONS
Affordable prices
Gravel loss happens over time and must be refilled every few years
Easy installation, can be DIY-ed
The loose material can be difficult to walk on.
3. Concrete Pathway
Concrete pathways require minimum maintenance and are easy to keep clean. Concrete is also more accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, making it the perfect material for entryways or sidewalks. You can color and stamp your concrete for it to match your house. Concrete can also be poured and fashioned with nice, crisp lines.
Properly installed concrete pathways can last a long time and weather most storms. However, the concrete will expand with hot temperatures, causing it to crack. Soil movement can also cause water to pool up under the concrete, leading to water damage.
Finally, you should hire a professional to install a concrete pathway. Rebar must be used to make the concrete strong. Before the concrete is poured, a wooden form must be made.
PROS
CONS
Low maintenance
Will crack due to temperature fluctuation
Durable and weather resistant
May suffer water damage as soil shifts and water pools underneath
Safe for strollers and wheelchairs
Must be installed professionally
4. Paver Paths
Paver pathways add a simple, modern look to your landscape Paver paths are also great options for front entryway and can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal.
Pavers come in various sizes and styles. Choosing the right paver to blend the pathway with your home’s architecture or create a sharp contrast. Paver pathways also make it easier to transport large appliances or heavy equipment. You can even lay down pavers in amazing patterns to add some personality.
Once installed, paver pathways are easy to maintain since you can replace a single paver if it heaves or cracks instead of redoing the whole pathway. However, the upfront investment for a well-laid paver pathway can be higher than other options.
PROS
CONS
Elegant, modern aesthetics
Higher initial cost
Makes it easier to transport heavy items
May heave and shift as time goes by
Can be spot repaired
Requires regular maintenance
5. Bridges
Does your pathway cross a drainage swale, creek bed, or water feature on the property? You need a well-constructed bridge. Bridges can be built with various materials, including natural wood, composite wood, PVC, stone, tile, or pavers.
Bridges can add complexity to your landscape. When installed in the front yard with a water feature, it can significantly improve your home’s curb appeal. They provide a clean and effortless way for you to get over a pond or creek, turning your landscape into a watery sanctuary.
PROS
CONS
Adds complexity to your landscape
Higher cost
One of the most decorative options
Can be high maintenance
Image found via Google
6. Ramps
Ramps make areas more accessible. They can be used in place of stairs or right next to them. Accessible ramps can be integral to your pathway to make life easier for elderly household members or individuals with mobility issues.
PROS
CONS
Improve your home’s accessibility
Must meet specific requirements (such as ADA specifications)
Make it easier to move heavy things around
Needs to be installed by a pro.
Can Pathways Increase Your Property Value?
Properly installed paver and concrete pathways, well-designed bridges, and wheelchair ramps that meet ADA requirements can make your property more attractive to high-end buyers, whereas gravel paths rarely have a direct impact on your property value. To maximize your investment in pathways, make sure you stay on top of seasonal maintenance. Broken pavers and cracked concrete won’t really help when it’s time to sell your home.
Hiring the Right Paver Contractor
Pathway installation is labor-intensive and highly challenging. The land must be prepared before laying down the materials. The sod must be removed, gravel or sand must be laid down first. A poorly installed pathway can cause uneven surfaces, pose security risks, or reduce the pathway’s lifespan.
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has the skills, experience, and crew to do this right. Our team can design the perfect path with bridges, ramps, and other important features. We also offer cleaning, sealing, and maintenance services to ensure your pathways always stay at their peak. Let us help you install a new pathway or repair an existing one.
