Fall is fast approaching. That means it is time to do your fall planting. Planting in the fall gives your plants a head start in the spring for perennials and gives the flower beds a burst of color from fall annuals.
Fall Vegetables
Planting in the fall is a race between the vegetables and the onset of winter. It is a little late to plant most things, but if you use transplants, you will probably make a crop before the first freeze. You may even get a crop of root vegetables, depending on when the first killing freeze comes. The Missouri Extension Service has a good map with planting dates and cultivars on their website. Here are some you can still plant.
Beans There are lots of different types of beans and many of them can be planted in the fall.
Beets You can harvest both the roots, or beets, and the tops.
Broccoli This member of the Cole family can be harvested smaller than usual before a freeze.
Cabbage These can survive a mild frost.
Cauliflower The new “rice” can be harvested as long as it is no longer green.
Kohlrabi Plant the Eder cultivar for earlier harvest.
Mustard Greens often taste better after a slight frost.
Lettuce Both loose leaf and butterhead lettuce will work.
Radishes These fast growing roots will produce before the first hard freeze. The greens are edible, too, and add some bite to salads.
Spinach Another green that does well in the fall.
Turnips Both the leaves and roots work well in the fall.
For specific tips on how to plant each vegetable, go here.
Fall Ornamentals
Ornamental plants brighten the landscape. The time is right to plant the following plants.
Chrysanthemum (Mums) start flowering in late summer and last until the first frost. They can be put in pots or in the ground.
Pansies are always in bloom somewhere. They bloom in September in Missouri, so grab a flat of them and add a little color to the fall flower bed.
Bulbs planted this month will grow good roots before the winter puts them into dormancy. The cold fulfills the ‘chilling’ requirements, so they bloom in late winter or early spring.
Kale comes in ornamental versions that are prettier than the ones most people grow for food. They are still edible, but can be a bit tougher than vegetable kale cultivars.
Lawn Renovations
Mid-August to mid-September is a good time to renovate your lawn. The following will make your lawn lush and thick in the spring.
Apply a post-emergent to your lawn to kill the weeds.
Dethatch your lawn.
Top dress your lawn with an inch of compost.
Use a rake to smooth the compost into a seed bed anywhere the lawn is not doing well.
Spread the grass seeds on the seed bed.
Keep moist for 14-21 days until it germinates.
Keep moist for 21-30 days before mowing for the first time. Let the ground dry out a little before mowing or you will leave ruts in the new grass.
Need some help getting ready for Fall? Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can remove fading annuals and replace them with fall colors. If you want a few vegetables but don’t want a vegetable bed, we can plant them in a corner of your flower bed. While we do not offer lawn renovations as a stand-alone service, we can refer you to a trusted partner we know does good work. Of course, if we manage your whole landscape, we can do the lawn renovations, too. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to get on our schedule.
Having a deck can improve the enjoyment of your outdoor living space. It can become a treasured area to spend time with friends or watch the stars. Here are a few things to consider when building a deck.
Plan Your Space
The first step is deciding what you want the deck to do. Is this going to be an intimate area outside your bedroom door or a large place to party? Here are some questions to answer to clarify your vision.
How many people will be using the deck at a time? A deck for two is very different from a place to entertain friends, family, or even potential clients.
What room or rooms will have doors onto the deck? Decks coming off living rooms or dens are more likely to be used by more people than a deck coming off a bedroom or garage area.
What furniture will be on the deck? A few chairs and a grill have a different footprint and vibe than a large table and chairs for dining.
How do you entertain? This helps determine how large the deck needs to be.
Do you need steps or a ramp from the deck to the rest of the yard? If you need a ramp, it needs to slope no more than one inch a foot, or it will be too steep for wheelchair access. Stairs need to be 7 ¾” rise or less to be to code and be easily accessible.
Do you need railings on the steps, ramp, or sides of the deck? Having a railing will enclose the space more than a deck with no railings. Decks above 30” require a railing, but if it is lower you can avoid railings all together. If a railing is required and you want a more open look, there are cable rails and even glass rails that can open up the views to the backyard, lake, or swimming pool.
How much privacy do you want when you are enjoying your deck? Decks can be less private when they are high than when they are ground level with trees around. Privacy screens can also be added to screen between your neighbors.
Do you want the whole deck to be one level, or do you want different levels for different functions? There could be an intimate deck off the bedroom with a lower deck that is expansive and ready for a party. If there are different levels you can also have more shade and possibly waterproof below.
Laying Out Your Design
Now that you have some idea of the size and shape of the deck, it is time to work out a design. The easiest way to do this is to get some graph paper and draw your deck out to scale. It is best to use graph paper as it is big enough to see what you are drawing. Make each square a foot and draw what you want. For smaller projects, 10 squares per inch may work, but for larger decks, with more detail, you may need 4 squares per inch.
To make sure the design will accomplish your goals, draw furniture to scale on another page and cut it out. Lay the furniture on the draft of the deck until you are satisfied you have enough room for it. We recommend a minimum width of 14 feet if you are going to have a dining table for six or more people. Sixteen feet is even better. Make sure you leave pathways that are at least 36 inches wide to get around all the furniture and people.
Materials For Your Deck
Next, decide what materials you want to use to build the deck. There are several choices here, each with some tradeoffs.
Wood is the classic deck material. It comes as pressure-treated or rot-resistant, such as cedar. Right now, lumber is expensive and can be hard to obtain. Wood needs a lot of maintenance to stay nice. It will have to be sanded down once every few years and stained for a dark-colored appearance. If wood is left to weather it will turn a grey color like tree bark.
Composite decking is more expensive than wood but requires less maintenance. It is not as strong as wood. Some composites can weaken and warp, mold can grow on it in shady areas, the color can fade in the sun, and if it is scratched it cannot be easily fixed. Of course, these things can happen with wood also.
PVC decking is all plastic, although it can be made to mimic wood. It does not grow mold, weather, mildew, and resists moisture. It is more expensive than composite decking. PVC decks can shrink and swell with extreme temperature changes.
Pavers are very durable and look very nice when made into a deck. The effect is partly because they are an un-common deck material. We can custom build a paver deck and it will outlast wood and most other materials.
Wooden frames are often used, regardless of the decking material. They are cheaper than steel, but even pressure-treated wood eventually fails. Wood also fades and can look bad without frequent maintenance. Wooden frames are also vulnerable to termites.
Steel frames are more resistant to weather damage than wooden frames are. They are sleek and modern-looking. They are stronger than wood frames. They also keep wood out of contact with the dirt, which makes it less likely to get termites. Of course, they are also more expensive, but they are usually worth it.
Railings come in steel, cable, and wood. Wood railings look good with wooden or composite decking. However, they fade, are negatively affected by the weather, and have to be replaced more often than cable and steal. Cable railings look sleek and modern, however, if the cables run horizontally they can sag over time if users put their feet on them constantly. Steel lasts the longest and can be a good choice for a deck with a steel frame. Glass can also be used to keep open views to the surrounding landscape.
Roofs or Pagodas Both roofs and pagodas provide shade in the summer. A roof can also be used to keep the deck and the stuff on the deck dry. This means you can have some nice extras installed on your deck.
Neat Extras For Your Deck
If you have a roof, you can have things that will ruin in the rain. These include:
Fire features can be nice to sit around at night. They can be used to grill food and marshmallows, to keep warm with, or just to watch.
Built-in heaters can also keep you warm and toasty during the winter. They can extend the seasons for your deck into late fall. Electric infra-red heaters are pretty common in our area.
Television A large screen television can be installed into a covered deck. Think sports-watching parties during the season.
Fans With fans you can be outside and cool at the same time. You can get fans to fit any decorating scheme.
Kitchens Homes in the South used to have summer kitchens in the back of the house so that the heat of the oven and stove would not heat the whole house. You can do the cooking on the deck and keep the house cool.
Lights can keep the party going after dark or start it early in the morning. There are lots of styles to fit a variety of decorating styles.
Electrical outlets Electricity and rain do not mix. A deck with a roof makes it possible to have outlets in a variety of locations. Everyone can charge their devices while enjoying the day on the deck.
Screens A screened-in deck can keep the bugs out of your hair while you enjoy being outdoors. With all the mosquitoes it will be nice to watch the sunset without getting bitten.
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has lots of experience working with property owners to help them envision the deck of their dreams. We can walk you through the choices at each stage and, when you are ready, we can have our Blue Crew install it for you. Schedule a consultation with Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to get things started.
A true landscape professional can help you design and install the landscape of your dreams. Hiring the wrong person can leave you with an undesirable result that could be designed and constructed poorly, which will ultimately cost you much more than expected. Do your due diligence before you hire any landscaping company. Here are some things to look for.
Who Is Whom?
There are a lot of different titles that landscapers go by. Here are some of the most important ones.
Landscape Architects design attractive and functional public parks, gardens, playgrounds, residential areas, college campuses, and public spaces. They also plan the locations of buildings, roads, walkways, flowers, shrubs, and trees within these environments. To become a registered landscape architect requires a degree in landscape architecture as well as passing state exams and continuing education. Most commercial projects require a registered landscape architect to stamp drawing documents.
Landscape Designers are not registered as landscape architects but do share some of the same responsibilities such as conceptual design, design development, material selection, and specification. Landscape designers often tend to work more on residential projects where a license is not required or as an apprentice of a registered landscape architect assisting in larger more complex projects.
Landscape Contractors install the landscape. They can have many different specialties from hardscapes and softscapes to irrigation, water features, and outdoor lighting. Some landscape contractors act as the General Contractor for all outdoor construction and organize a team of specialized subcontractors that install the total scope of the design.
Landscape Account Managers typically maintain the landscape. They manage the services of mowing, fertilizing, maintaining sprinklers and lighting systems as well as snow removal services. They are in charge of taking care of properties all year round.
Horticulturalists have a degree in horticultural science. They are the plant experts. If a plant is sick or looking scruffy, the horticulturalists can diagnose the problem and recommend a course of action. Horticulturalists are also a good resource for landscape design as they tend to know what plants work best in varying conditions.
Arborists care for the health and well-being of the trees. If you have a tree that is damaged or sick, the arborist can diagnose the problem and recommend a fix for it. Reputable arborists belong to the International Society of Arboriculture. Never let someone who knocks on your door touch your trees without verifying that they are a certified arborist.
Questions To Ask
The major way to differentiate a professional from an amateur is to ask lots of questions. A professional will be happy to discuss their credentials, insurance, licenses, and communications preferences. An amateur may try to avoid answering your questions directly, which could signal that they are not the landscaper for you.
How long have they been practicing their craft?
Experience matters. Most landscape professionals work for a company with more experienced professionals for several years before opening their own business. Ask how long the person has been a landscape professional and how old the business is. Everyone has to start somewhere, but you may not want it to be with your project, especially if it is complex and a large investment. There can be a lot of risk in hiring a large project, and it is best to find someone has done several similar projects before and has the knowledge and confidence to get it done right the first time.
What is their specialty?
You should get one of the titles mentioned above in reply. If they tell you they do everything, that should be a red flag. You may have a “Jack of all trades master of none” situation. You really want a landscape company that has at least one of the titles mentioned above, and knows what their specialty is and what sets them apart. The best professionals work as a team to take care of your project and landscape.
Do they have insurance?
A reputable company carries workman’s comp and general liability insurance. With the workman’s comp, if anyone working on the project gets injured, their medical treatment and the time off work are paid for. The general liability insurance will pay if the property is damaged during the project. Without these types of insurance, you are liable for injuries and damages and may have to pay out of pocket to deal with them.
Do they have a license?
In this state, there are certain things only licensed individuals can do. Different people on the team that does the design and maintenance for your landscape must have a license to do these things.
Landscape Architecture license for commercial design
Fertilizer license for chemical applications
Backflow Inspection license for lawn sprinklers
General Contractors license for construction permits
Do they have an online presence?
No serious company is totally offline. At a minimum, they should have a website and a presence on one or two social media sites. The website should look professionally done, not thrown together in a rush. If a company does not care enough to have a professional-looking website, can you trust that they will care enough to create a professional-looking landscape?. The company should also be on different review websites. Everyone gets a few bad reviews, but most of the reviews should be positive. If there are negative reviews, does the company reach out and try to make things right? What is the Better Business Bureau rating for the business?
Do they have a portfolio?
The business should have a portfolio of work they have done. Most companies post it on their website, or at least on their social media pages. Sometimes social media can be a place to see more of their work as it is easier to update than a website. Has the company done work similar to what you want? If you want a waterfall and do not see any waterfalls on any of their pages, you may need to talk to someone else.
Do they have referrals and testimonials from previous customers?
Another page on the website should have testimonials from satisfied customers. Ask if you can contact some of those customers and talk to them about what it is like to work with this company. Would the customer refer people to this business? If people the company sends you to are not enthusiastic about the company, that is a big red flag.
Other Things To Note
Interviewing a company for your landscape project is a two-way street. You should be asking questions to make sure they are the best fit for your needs, and they should be doing the same and trying to make sure that their services and approach to doing business are in sync with your expectations.
Do they communicate and do what they say they will do?
Does the company arrive on schedule, call you back promptly, provide you with the requested materials? If they do not communicate well or do what they say they will do as they are trying to win your business, you can be sure they will be a problem after you sign the contract. Communication should be a priority.
Do they clearly communicate the next steps at the end of meetings?
You do not want to be left hanging, unsure of what happens next. At the end of every meeting with a landscape company’s representative, you should be told what happens next and whose responsibility it is to make it happen. If they need something from you to proceed, you want to know to give it to them. If one of their employees is supposed to make the next move, you need to know that, too.
Do they value their time?
If the company charges for a consultation, don’t be offended. Years of training and experience go into the time and attention you get from them. You are really paying for this invaluable resource, not merely for the time they spend on your consult. People who do not value their time won’t value your time, either.
Do they have a backlog, or can they start tomorrow?
When can they start? Reputable businesses often have a bit of a wait to get your project started. This is because they are good, and their talents are in demand. You may have to wait weeks or even months for them to start if they are good at what they do, but someone who can start tomorrow may not have talents anyone wants. Ask how many projects they have now and how they will fit your project into their schedule.
In Conclusion
While finding a landscape professional can be tedious, you don’t have to look far. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping ticks all the boxes you want in a landscape design and installation company. We have a wide variety of landscape professionals working on each of our teams. You can be sure your landscape dream will come true with us. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping and book a consultation to start your landscaping journey.
Weeds can really cause a problem in landscape beds. They take water, nutrients, and space away from the plants you put there. They also look bad.
What Is A Weed?
A weed is any plant that is growing where you do not want it to grow. Generally, it is a plant whose seeds are brought by the wind or by an animal to your landscape. If the seed ends up in a place that meets its requirements, the seed germinates. It only takes a little organic matter for some weed seeds to germinate, while others are pickier.
Preventing Weeds
There are several ways to control weeds. The best way to control them is to keep them from ever growing.
Mulch looks nice, but it also helps keep your landscape beds free of weeds. When a weed germinates, it grows up toward the light. It has to reach the light before the energy in the seed is exhausted. Here is where the mulch comes in. With a 3–4-inch layer of mulch, the seed runs out of energy before it reaches the light and dies. Mulch also retains water and gives it back to your plants when they are dry. It insulates the plant roots. The mulch will need to be topped off every year with about an inch of mulch as the bottom layer decays during the year and delivers a slow nitrogen fertilizer to the plant roots.
Pre-emergent This product forms a layer in the soil. As the seeds hit that layer, it is poisoned and dies. You can apply a pre-emergent more than once a season. Pre-emergent is not as effective in the late fall and winter when the temperature drops. It only works on things growing, not on things going into dormancy. One word of caution: Don’t put pre-emergent anywhere you are planting seeds, as it will kill them. This happens in vegetable gardens as well as in flower beds and grassy areas.
Weed Barrier Fabric is laid down when the bed is first established. It is often made of polypropylene or linen and has small holes so water, nutrients, and oxygen can reach the roots. This fabric physically blocks seeds from the light. They run out of energy and die. After the fabric is laid, slits are cut to plant the landscape plants. One word of caution: Do not place mulch on this fabric. The mulch will decompose and become organic matter that will germinate seeds as well as rot out the fabric over time. Use decorative rocks to cover the weed barrier fabric instead.
Maintaining Rock Beds means cleaning leaves and other blown debris out of your rock bed. Otherwise, the debris will settle in the gaps and form a place for weed seeds to grow. Most people use a blower or a vacuum for this.
Killing Weeds
Once weed seeds are seen, it is too late for prevention. Now you have to eradicate the resulting weeds. There are several ways to do this.
Hand Pulling is a good way to get rid of the weeds while they are still small. If you are to be effective, you must get all the roots. If roots are left behind, the weed will come back. Every landscape bed should be weeded at least once a month. Weekly is better if the size of the landscape permits it. Remember, the smaller they are when you pull them out, the easier they come out. If you are going to weed a bed when it is dry outside, you should water it the day before, so the weed comes out easier.
Herbicides are another method to kill weeds. There are selective herbicides and broad herbicides. A selective herbicide is one like 2,4,D. It only kills broadleaf plants. Because most landscape beds are full of broadleaf plants, it is usually used on Bermuda grass to kill the weeds in the lawn without killing the Bermuda grass. A broad herbicide will kill anything it touches. Many people are familiar with Round-Up. It is a broad herbicide. Be careful when using herbicides around ponds, as they are toxic to aquatic life.
If you choose to use an herbicide, make sure you follow the directions on the label. More is not better. It is a federal law that you must use the herbicide in a manner consistent with the label. You should wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves, and closed-toe shoes when using these products. There has been some research suggesting glyphosate, the active ingredient in Round-Up and other broad herbicides, causes cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it is safe to use if the instructions on the label are followed.
Let The Professionals Do The Work
Killing weeds can be a lot of work, especially if they have been neglected. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can do that for you. We can do a one-time clean-up, useful if the landscape has been neglected by a previous owner, or we can do regular maintenance. Let us know if you need help keeping your landscape weed-free. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today so you can enjoy your landscaping, not the weeds.
Hardscape is a design term that means the inanimate parts of the landscape. Softscape means the living parts of the landscape. Generally, the hardscape is installed before the softscape, so it doesn’t damage any of the plants going in. We will usually install at least one, but possibly all, of the following components.
Patios
Decks
Fire Features
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Patios
The patio is a paved outdoor area adjoining the house. It can be made out of natural or man-made materials. We use three different types of material to make a patio. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Concrete
Concrete is easy to work with and is the cheapest material we install. However, as the soil freezes and thaws, it can move under the concrete. This can cause it to crack. Also, if there are pipes or wires under the concrete that need repair, you will have to hammer out the concrete for access to them. This can quickly get expensive.
Pavers
These are our most popular patio material. Approximately 80% of the patios we install are made of some sort of paver. Pavers are individual concrete pieces that are laid in a pattern to form a patio. They come in all shapes and sizes. Our favorite paver manufacturers are Belgard and Unilock brands for their quality and range of products available. Pavers are more expensive then concrete but are much more durable. They are a flexible pavement, which means they can move with soils instead of cracking. They can be dug up to get to pipes or wires below them and then reinstalled, instead of being destroyed as they are removed.
Natural Stone
This is the best choice as stone will weather the best. They can be in shapes, irregular pieces, or as squares or rectangles, depending on the formality of the landscape. They never go out of style as they are from the earth. We lay them in a mortar bed on a concrete base or dry lay on an aggregate base. We use polymeric joint sand to fill the gaps between them when laid on aggregate. Natural stone is more expensive than the other two materials but will last a lifetime.
Decks
A deck is an elevated structure adjacent to the home. They are often built so that you can enjoy a view, such as by a lake or creek. There are several different materials you can chose for your deck.
Wood
Wood decks are probably the most common. You can use pressure treated wood to repel insects that might eat the wood, such as carpenter ants or termites. A more organic solution is cedar wood, which naturally repels insects and is also resistant to rotting. Wood is normally the cheapest material to build a deck with, but lumber is in short supply right now and is quite expensive. This can add to the price of a deck, so quotes may need to be adjusted based on the current price of lumber. Decks do require periodic sanding and re-staining as the sun makes the stain fade. Or you can let the wood age naturally for more of a grey tree bark look overtime.
Composite material This is a blend of wood fiber and PVC. It looks like wood but is much more durable. It does not need to be sanded or stained as the color is added when the product is manufactured. Composite boards come in many different colors. You will need to sweep debris such as leaves off it regularly and hose it off periodically. Composite material is more expensive than wood and cannot quite match the warm glow of natural wood.
PVC boards These boards look like wood but are all PVC. PVC boards are strong, durable, and low maintenance. They are more expensive than wood or composite material and do shrink and swell during temperature fluctuations.
Alternatives
Decks don’t have to be constructed with wood or wood lookalikes. We can use a steel frame and put pavers, stone, or tile down instead of wood. These types of decks are long lasting and the lowest maintenance of the choices we install. Since they are unusual, they are great conversation pieces, as well.
Fire Features
Fire features usually go on top of patios and decks. They add to the enjoyment of evenings outside. Fire features can use natural gas, liquid propane, or wood. We install several types of fire features.
Fire pits
These are structures that contain fire in a bowl or pit inside the structure. They are great for sitting around on a cool evening or making marshmallows. They are an inexpensive way to add fire to your outdoor space.
Fireplaces
We can build a gas fired or wood burning fireplace in your outdoor living space. These look like the traditional fireplaces inside a home, but do not have the size constraints home fireplaces do. They add a warmth and depth to your outdoor space. We can even put a spit in the fireplace so you can roast your food over it.
Fire Tables
These tables have a fire inset that burns while you eat. It can be used as a flame to prepare a meal or just to enjoy one by. The tables are usually resin, metal, or stone and use natural gas or liquid propane as a fuel. They can include a glass wind guard, so the flames are not blown out by a breeze.
Outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens
Southern homes used to have summer kitchens outside that had a roof and were enclosed by screen. This meant the house was not heated up by the stove and ovens when it was already hot. It also gave the cooks some relief from the heat. We don’t have to worry about that now but having an outdoor kitchen and/or pizza oven can make preparing for a crowd easier without the cook having to miss the party. Pizza cooked over an open flame just tastes better than one cooked in a conventional oven.
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Pergolas are structures, usually made out of wood, that cast shade so you can enjoy the outdoors without the heat of the direct sun. They must be designed and oriented for your lot to cast shade when and where needed. Often people grow vines or vining roses up and over the pergolas for a stylish look and added shade. There are several styles available to choose from.
If you want shade and protection from rain, we can install a roofed structure. Often called pavilions, the roof allows for additional amenities such as fans, lights, and heaters. Pavilions can be screened in to protect from insects while allowing cooling breezes to flow through the space.
Hardscapes provide elements to improve your outdoor living space. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can design and install any of these components for you. We can advise you on what the best hardscapes are to facilitate your goals for your outdoor living space and show you what that would look like. Book a consultation with Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to get started.
