VOLUME 8 ⚪ ISSUE NO. 13 ⚪ JULY 2, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
◻️ Patios & Walkways
◻️ Washington, DC
◻️ Dog Days of Summer
◻️ Ornamental Grasses
Your trust in our services means the world to us and our motto, “We believe everyone everywhere benefits from a connection with nature” are words we live by each day as we care for your property. Our team members continually strive to provide the best service they can while enhancing and beautifying your outdoor spaces so that you may enjoy and benefit from the connection with nature we care so much about.
We wish you a safe and happy Independence Day and a summer season filled with all the things that make you smile. May the days be as colorful as the summer flowers! ~Shayne
PATIOS & WALKWAYS
A well-designed and expertly constructed patio is one of the most budget friendly and quickest ways to remodel an outdoor space for more enjoyment and ease of care.
Adding a hardscaping element like a patio or walkway seamlessly connect areas of your property to transform it into a functional and visually appealing outdoor space. Whether you’re looking to create a secluded reading nook, a functional spot for family gatherings, or a stylish pathway to navigate your gardens and property, hardscaping offers a blend of beauty and practicality that enhances your overall outdoor living experience.
Hardscaping also offers many benefits to a property besides aesthetics and functionality.
- Adds texture, contrast and boosts curb appeal: Hardscaping materials come in all types of styles, colors, patterns and designs – think brick, natural stone, pavers and wood.
- Increases property values: Potential home buyers find hardscaping a valuable bonus when house hunting.
- Is extremely low maintenance: No mowing, trimming or watering required!
- Durable and long-lasting: Hardscaping materials are naturally sturdy and strong.
- Promotes Usability: Outdoor spaces are used more effectively and more often.
- Erosion Control: Hardscaping helps prevent erosion in the landscape.
- Water Savings: With less grass and drought-resistant hardscaping, water use is significantly reduced.
Do you have any specific ideas or styles in mind for your hardscaping project?
We’d be happy to help you explore them further!
RENEWAL & REMEMBRANCE
Each July for the past fifteen years, YardScapes has sent a team of volunteers to participate in the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) premier event, Renewal & Remembrance in Washington, DC.
Landscape and lawn care professionals from across the country gather together to donate their time and expertise to help enhance the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery and the National Mall – also known as America’s Front Yard.
In addition to their work at Arlington National Cemetery, volunteers will tackle an incredibly significant landscaping project at the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in partnership with the National Park Service, installing nearly 10,000 plants!
“Renewal & Remembrance is a fantastic opportunity to give back to our veterans and all the people who visit,” says Shayne, “and I am always impressed by the number of volunteers that descend on Washington, DC to care for these special places. In our 15th year of volunteering, I am also proud of my team members that volunteer their time and skills to attend this special event. It’s a very humbling experience.”
THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
When asked, the majority of people know that the Dogs Days of Summer refer to those days in July and August when it is so hot, humid, and uncomfortable that you just don’t want to move. But where did that saying come from?
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky and unmistakable in the constellation Canis Major (the Greater Dog) is also known as the Dog Star and is not visible at all times of the year. However, in July it rises high enough to easily be spotted in the night sky. The first record of their mention was in Homer’s Iliad, thought to be written around 8th century BC.
In ancient Greece and Rome, the “dog days” were thought to bring drought, bad luck, disease, and madness. They also believed the star gave off “bad vibes” and sufferers of its effects would be deemed “starstruck”. In Egypt, the return of the Dog Star meant the Nile would soon experience its annual flooding while much, much later in North America, farmers showed their preference for a dry summer:
Dog days bright and clear
Indicate a good year;
But when accompanied by rain,
We hope for better times in vain.
Thankfully, modern science has allowed us to know what the ancients did not – Sirius is 8.7 light-years away from Earth (52 trillion miles), and unlike the moon, it has no effects on our planet’s people, animals, weather, or temperature. As we enter into the Dog Days of Summer, be sure to water your lawn, gardens and containers regularly! See our previous newsletters for watering tips!
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water,
or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” — John Lubbock (1834-1913)
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
There are many ways to incorporate ornamental grasses into your landscape. When attempting to fill-in sparse areas, many will first think of bushes or flowering shrubs, but grasses are definitely underrated for the impact they can bring to a landscape.
They have many uses in and around the landscape. Grasses can be placed as focal points, used as visual accents, planted to aid with temperature control, or create a privacy screen. They do this while adding color and interesting textures, along with many other benefits to your property.
- All grasses, including turf grass, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen!
- They are low maintenance, requiring very little care.
- They reduce water runoff, hold soil in place, and prevent sediments from reaching waterways, helping to prevent erosion and flooding.
- Areas with well-maintained grasses (including turf) can be up to 30° cooler than asphalt in summer.
- Tall grasses can create beautiful screens to block unpleasant views or create privacy. Low-growing grasses can also be used as a captivating groundcover.
- Grasses contribute to noise reduction, dampening undesirable sounds from entering your space.
- They create habitats (cover) and food sources (seeds & insects) for beneficial wildlife, especially birds.
- Smaller grasses can be potted in containers to set in beds, or place on porches, decks and patios.
- Ornamental grasses can add texture to beds and borders. Some are tall and rigid while others are soft and flowing. They beautifully fill in sparse areas.
- Strategically placed, they soften hardscaping and add visual interest.
- Most grasses look great in their fall colors and have interesting seed heads.
Please contact your landscape consultant if you are interested in adding grasses to your landscape!
