Spending time outside is good for you. But not all homeowners have outdoor spaces they enjoy. Now is the time to change that. Outdoor living spaces are increasingly popular and help homeowners experience nature’s health benefits. Plus, outdoor improvements add value to your home and make it more enjoyable. Use the following planner to envision your dream landscape and develop a strategy for maki… Read more...

February is unpredictable in Atlanta—if warm winter weather prevails, tulips and daffodils could be in bloom with Lenten roses and forsythia showing their lovely flowers! Frosty weather will certainly continue (Remember that ice and snow in late February and early March are not unheard of), but take advantage of those balmy February days and enjoy spending time in the garden. Garden Maintenanc… Read more...

Seems like we only get hit by ice storms a couple of times a year, but the immediate and long-term damage can be enormous. A few basic precautions can reduce both damage and danger. Georgia was famous for pine and pine products. From pine tar and turpentine to pulp wood and lumber, pines produced a bounty for the state. Pines were, and are, everywhere. But they don’t need to be close to your hom… Read more...

Like many things in the world, pools and spas have changed—mostly thanks to technology. From droid-like automatic-cleaning machines to full-fitness swim spas, there are more benefits to water recreation than ever before. Many of the newest options also can improve comfort, health or even the value of your home. Here, Atlanta Home Improvement offers a survey of five of the top trends.      … Read more...

Jeff Foxworthy’s popular game show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” gives everyone plenty of laughs. There are few laughs involved, however, in the game of wits between dedicated bird feeders and Mr. Bushytail. In this longstanding feud, we humans come up on the short side more often than not. And that’s in the face of a well-developed industry that makes its money convincing us that… Read more...

Happy New Year—to you and your garden! Savor the fragrance of daphne odora, witchhazel and winter honeysuckle on cold, crisp mornings. Soon late-winter bulbs will emerge, and flowers will pop out overnight. Garden Maintenance ➤    Your cool-weather annuals will be happy if you feed them with nitrogen fertilizer and remove their dead blooms. This will encourage additional flowering.➤  … Read more...

For this landscape makeover, the homeowners desired to create an exciting entrance into their Buckhead townhouse with an enhanced front yard. To achieve this goal, a bubbling stream with a waterfall and pond as well as a large boulder wall, 15 tons of fill dirt and new plantings were added—all within a budget in the $40,000 range. When constructing the boulder wall, loose gravel an… Read more...

The owners of this Alpharetta home wanted to make use of the wasted and unsightly space in their backyard and called upon the pros at Outside Landscape Group to get the job done. What was once a large, dirt slope just outside of the homeowners’ main living space was transformed into a beautiful water feature that became the focal point of the entire home. The pond basin is approxim… Read more...

Atlanta’s November weather can be unpredictable; warm and sunny one week, cold and rainy the next. Atlanta’s first frost is usually in mid-November, so enjoy the last of the warm season annuals early in the month!   November’s cooler weather makes this the best time of year to plant shrubs, trees and many perennials. Garden Maintenance • Watch the weather report. If rain isn’t in the… Read more...

As cooler weather nears, it’s time to start thinking about your landscape and how to safeguard it from the winter months. Find out from local landscapers exactly what you need—and DON’T need—to protect your terrain. Flowers and Beds • Remove old mulch if there were any severe disease problems.•  Add a fresh application of approximately two inches of mulch. “Mulch helps conserve mo… Read more...