Put some beauty bark down and enjoy your summer!

It's amazing how certain senses trigger emotion and memories... Certain smells for example have a way of taking you back to a place you haven't been since you were young or maybe remind you of a certain time of year.   The smell of a Christmas tree in the winter time,  a freshly cut lawn in the spring, that wonderful smell after a warm summer rain.   One smell that always lets me know it's summertime is the unmistakable smell of fresh bark in the landscape.

Of course, there are lots of reasons you would want a fresh layer of bark or mulch in your landscape during the summer.  For one, it saves you time.  Saves you time?  How can this be?   I'll tell you... One great advantage of putting beauty bark in your shrub beds is it's ability to keep those pesky weeds at bay so you can enjoy the nice weather doing things other than weeding,  which very few people enjoy... except for me!  :)

There are a number of mulch products available.  Some have advantages and disadvantages.  For example, organic mulch can be tilled into your soil to provide nutrients to your plants in the fall, but insects also like it because it provides a cool damp place to get away from the heat in the summer.  This is more problematic in other parts of the country.   Here in the Pacific Northwest, we do not really have insect problems... for the most part.  If you do, they were probably there before you put the mulch down to begin with.  Besides, who doesn't like a cute little earwig?   :)   I wouldn't let it deter you from making your yard look great for the summer.

I prefer inorganic bark mulch myself.  Commonly known as beauty bark.   Let me tell you some other advantages to applying beauty bark to your shrub beds.  It acts as erosion control during hard rains, which also prevents dirt from splashing up against your plants or your house during rain storms.   

Another advantage is that it acts as a blanket which protects your plants against freezing temperatures during the winter months.   In the summer time when it gets hot, the beauty bark lowers the temperature of the soil and retains moisture to keep your plants and trees nice and healthy.  Just don't cover your plant with it.  You should leave a little "bark ring" around your plants so the bark doesn't prevent the water from getting to the plant.

These are all practical benefits to bark and mulch.   But I think the biggest benefit to bark is how great it will make your yard look!   

It's a quick and easy way to give your landscape a fresh look for everyone to enjoy!   

More importantly, beauty bark right has drastically come down in price which makes it a cost effective way to make your landscape look great!

We have great resources for beauty bark when it comes to quality and price so give our office a call and let us give you a free quote and take advantage of the benefits beauty bark has to offer!

www.olympiclawn.com

253-261-2700

Thanks for reading the blog!

Derrik Tribble

The Lawn Psychologist

Install Paver Patios for a Summer Hangout...

I recently blogged about how much I love flagstone patios and how much of a dramatic change in your landscape they can make.  I want to continue with the same theme, except provide an alternative choice to flagstone.  In some cases... a more cost effective choice.  

Paver Patios are an elegant way to enhance your landscape.   I truly love incorporating a "courtyard" feel to a landscape.  Paver patios is a big step towards creating this look.   You would be surprised that cost for pavers is extremely competitive with concrete.  However, it simply can't be beat in terms of looks.  Especially as an alternative to a typical poured concrete slab . It's a bit more than standard concrete and less than stamped concrete.  It also cost less than flagstone due to the cost of flagstone material.

Many folks are downsizing now a days from larger homes into condos and town homes.   Generally the backyards for these types of dwellings are extremely small and the landscape budget has already been spent on the rest of the building leaving the owner with a landscape that is for lack of a better term.... "lack luster."

Imagine getting rid of the grass that never grows, the shrubs that are "hanging by a thread" and creating your own personal mini-courtyard that you can enjoy year round.   If done properly, paver patios require almost no maintenance so you can throw the lawn mower away!   Add a few pots and planters around your new outdoor living space and you would think your in pioneer square, downtown Seattle!

Other applications that hardscape pavers are used for is driveways, patios, pathways, fire pit areas and a place to put that darn bar-b-q.  :)

We are always running specials on pavers, so please contact us for a free estimate!

www.olympiclawn.com
253-261-2700

Thanks for reading the blog!
Derrik Tribble
The Lawn Psychologist.