Whitney Minnich Real Estate and Community Updates

Top 5 Landscaping Trends for 2019 January 15, 2019 Pergolas, metals, and pinks will be the leading landscape cravings of 2019, according to the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The NALP surveyed 1 million of its landscaping professionals to predict the hot trends that will influence the design and maintenance of backyards across the country. “Homeowners yearn for beautiful outdoor spaces without the hassle of upkeep,” says Missy Henriksen, the NALP’s vice president of public affairs. “This year’s trends reflect current lifestyle preferences as well as innovations happening in the industry that are transforming landscapes across the country.” NALP predicts the following trends will have the biggest influence on outdoor spaces in the new year: 1. Two-in-one landscape design.  “Functional elements are no longer a perk, but rather a necessity in today’s landscapes, as consumers desire stunning outdoor features that have been cleverly designed to se...

Fall Yard Care Checklist: What to Do When October 26, 2018 As the temperatures cool, homeowners have a lot of chores to do with their lawn to make sure it weathers well into the spring. Perfect timing is essential for fall yard care, says Missy Henriksen, vice president of public affairs for the National Association of Landscape Professionals. “For example, for many parts of the country, this fall has been warmer and wetter than usual, which has required that lawns are mowed later into the season, and may postpone pruning of ornamentals and fertilizing for some,” Henriksen says. To keep lawns healthy, the NALP recommends homeowners take these steps in the fall: Seed: Seeding and overseeding will help inject new life into thinning grass, help fill in bare areas, and introduce grass varieties. Fertilize: Fall fertilizing helps lawns maintain future health and appearance. Be sure to factor in the types of grass in the lawn and the climate before fertilizing. Cool...

Droughts Spur Landscape Remodels DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, JULY 02, 2015 Recent home purchases are triggering major landscape projects, according to the  2015 Houzz Landscaping & Garden Trends report . This survey analyzed 1,600 home owners who completed an outdoor project in the past 12 months, or are currently working on one, or are planning a project in the future. More than half of home owners who are updating their yards say they're doing it to solve drought or flooding issues. Thirty-six percent of home owners surveyed say they're reducing their existing lawn, while 16 percent are removing them altogether. In drought-ravaged California, 46 percent of home owners there said they are substituting their existing lawn for a synthetic one -- twice as likely as anywhere else, according to the survey.  "In light of water-related challenges across much of the country, home owners are embarking on projects to tackle a lack of or excess water in the lo...

Nothing ruins your garden or yard like weeds, those uninvited guests that rob your plants of space and nutrients. So murder those weeds most foul, but without harmful chemicals that can do you in, too. Who says you need standard  weeding tools  to kill weeds? Here are seven ways to kill weeds with weapons you already have around your house. How to Kill Weeds 1. Newspaper:  A carpet of newspaper, which blocks sunlight and oxygen from reaching the soil, will smother weeds already sprouted and prevent new ones from growing. Throw down newspaper in 10-sheet layers, wet to hold it down, and cover with an inch or two of mulch. If weeds begin to grow in the mulch, add more layers, making a mulch-newspaper lasagna, which eventually will decompose and nourish the soil. 2. Old shower curtains and carpet samples:  Spreading these useless items in garden paths or between rows will keeps weeds from ever showing their unwanted heads. Cover with mulch. 3. Corn gl...

5 Plants You (Almost) Never Have to Water By:  Lisa Kaplan Gordon Every plant needs water. But drought-resistant varieties need only dainty sips once they’re established, making them perfect for low-rainfall areas and low-energy gardeners. Susan Gottlieb, an expert on drought-tolerant gardens, says native plants have the best chance of surviving dry summers or whatever nature throws at them. “Natives have evolved to thrive in your climate without a whole lot of extra work,” Gottlieb says. Include these five stunners in your  landscaping  and retire your watering can. 1. California lilac (Ceanothus):  This beautiful shrub flowers in late winter/early spring, emits a lovely fragrance, and shows flowers that run from white to purple. The “Concha” variety is prized for its deep blue blossoms. California lilacs grow best on dry, sloping land or in front of any structure that protects them from wind. They also prefer well-drained soil, and they don’t ...

How to Keep Your Dog Out of Your Garden By:  Lisa Kaplan Gordon Is your pooch pawing your petunias? Here’s how to keep your dog out of your garden and away from your precious plants. Spray Nasty Odors Your vegetable garden is a salad bar for your dog. To keep him away, spray plants with pungent white vinegar or apple bitter. Or plant marigolds between vegetable rows, which repel dogs and other  backyard pests , such as Mexican bean beetles, aphids, squash bugs, and whiteflies. However, don’t apply rabbit or  deer repellents  that contain coyote urine. Dogs love the smell of urine and will either roll in your sprayed plants or leave an odor of their own. Sprinkle Yucky Tastes Sprinkle powdered mustard or red pepper flakes around your plants. A few sniffs and licks of these unpleasant tastes will discourage your dog from returning to the area. Fence Dogs In or Out If you’ve got small dogs, a 16-inch fence border ($29 for 6 feet) will mark the perimeter of...

10 Cheap Ways to Increase a Home’s Value Posted in  Remodeling Adviser , by  Blog Contributor  on May 25, 2015

Owners Place High Value on Good Yards DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2015 Don't underestimate the importance of a beautiful yard to home owners and their neighbors. 84 percent of adults say that the quality of a home's landscape and yard would affect their decision on whether to purchase a home or not, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals. The majority of Americans want to live amid nice landscaping. The survey found that 91 percent of Americans believe it is important to live in close proximity to trees, grass, or nice landscaping. Midwesterners are the most likely to rate the importance of landscaping the highest (at 94%), followed by the West (89%) and Northeast (87%). "Across the board, the survey reveals that Americans deeply value surrounding natural elements and yards where they can spend time outside their homes," according to the National Association of Land...