Concrete pavers have been around for many years and today their popularity have risen to great heights. So many people have still not experienced the joy of pavers and lots of people still ask, why pavers?
That question is easy to answer. Poured concrete cracks and shales, leaving you to have to replace it often and sometimes creates a safety hazzard as well. It is not uncommon to see stress cracks in concrete days after it cures. There is not alot you can do to make concrete look good. No variety, no creativity, and no interesting patterns. You can stamp concrete into different patterns and dye it into different colors all to look like pavers. Stamping patterns and dying concrete do not stop the concrete from cracking and shaling, as a matter of fact it might make it worse. The advantage to poured concrete is that it is a little bit cheaper initially, but only last 5 - 10 years before it needs replaced.
Wood decks are very attractive when they are first built and stained. They take alot of time to build and if it is not built properly the deck can be dangerous primarily when it is raised. The problem with wood is the unbeleivable amount of maintenance that must be done on it. If you do not power wash and stain your wood deck at least every 2 years the wood will start to become rotten. Over the course of my landscape career I can not count how many wood decks I have torn out because the wood is rotten. Wood is expensive and the cost of maintenance continues to rise, and plus your time is worth alot in its own right. After all of the washing and staining and wood replacement, the wood deck still only last 7 - 10 years and is in your wallet constantly.
Why pavers? Because they are durable, beautiful, versatile, and low maintenance. The paver has evolved into whatever you can dream up. 1000's of patterns available and colors to boot. If you are looking for something formal there are pavers that are dimensional. If you want a more natural look there are pavers that look like natural stone. The greatest thing about pavers is that once they are installed, there is virtually no maintenance except sweeping them off. Because there are many pavers together bonded by sand if one would break that individual paver can be replaced not an entire section of your drive or patio.
At Du Sum Landscape Services we use 2 different manufacturers of pavers and paver products. Begard pavers show a great variety in color and pattern for all applications. You can view Belgard products at http://www.belgard.biz/. Unilock is the other manufacturer and you can view their products at http://www.unilock.com/.
When you are considering replacing your deck, patio, walk, steps, driveway, and more take a look at pavers. They are the best alternative on the market. When Du Sum Landscape Services installs any paver projects, WE GUARANTEE THEM FOR THE LIFE OF YOUR HOME. Check out our website, for many pictures of paver work we have completed. and remember " When in doubt ........Du Sum Landscape!!!!!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
Monday, September 8, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
How much should I water my lawn in dry times?
It is important that you water your lawn in extreme dry conditions. You can take your hand and push down the turf and if it bounces back no water is necessary. If the turf lays over and does not stand back up, you should water immediately. The other way to tell if your lawn needs water is its appearance. I don't like to let the turf get brown or burnt before I water. It just takes too much to get it back. I look for a more gray tinge to the turf. This condition will allow you to bring the turf back in just a watering or two.
If you pay attention to the weather forecast, usually you can plan out timely waterings around any rain in the forecast. If no rain is in the near future plan on 2 or 3 waterings to maintain good turf health.
How long should you water each area? My recomendation is 25 - 40 minutes, depending on water pressure and sprinkler type. You should have ground saturation several inches deep.
If you have any tips on watering your turf that have been successful for you, please post it. If your lawn is in need of renovation or just sprucing up feel free to log on to our website at dusumlandscape.com.
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
If you pay attention to the weather forecast, usually you can plan out timely waterings around any rain in the forecast. If no rain is in the near future plan on 2 or 3 waterings to maintain good turf health.
How long should you water each area? My recomendation is 25 - 40 minutes, depending on water pressure and sprinkler type. You should have ground saturation several inches deep.
If you have any tips on watering your turf that have been successful for you, please post it. If your lawn is in need of renovation or just sprucing up feel free to log on to our website at dusumlandscape.com.
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Dyed Mulch or Hardwood Bark?
Many people are using dyed mulches these days. I am asked often to install dyed mulch. I will install it, but I do give all of my customers who ask for it my disclaimer. The attraction is longer life of the mulch. Not only does it not break down as quickly, but it holds its color longer. These are good things but unfortunately the mulch consist of mostly wood product. In order for wood to break down and compost, it needs nitrogen. It pulls nitrogen from the earth and leaves the plants with a nitrogen diffeciency.
In my opinion a Premium Hardwood Bark Mulch is the best alternative. It has better water retention and it breaks down without taking anything away from the plant material. I will always opt to the health of plants over anything else. Once bark breaks down it really helps enrich the soil which helps the existing plants and futrue plants not yet planted.
Du Sum Landscape uses only Greendell Farms Premium Mulch. You can link to them at http://www.greendellmulch.com/. If you need mulch installed or any other landscape needs contact us at http://www.dusumlandscape.com/. and don't forget "When in doubt Du Sum Landscape !!!!)
Have a Grrrrreat Day !!!!!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
In my opinion a Premium Hardwood Bark Mulch is the best alternative. It has better water retention and it breaks down without taking anything away from the plant material. I will always opt to the health of plants over anything else. Once bark breaks down it really helps enrich the soil which helps the existing plants and futrue plants not yet planted.
Du Sum Landscape uses only Greendell Farms Premium Mulch. You can link to them at http://www.greendellmulch.com/. If you need mulch installed or any other landscape needs contact us at http://www.dusumlandscape.com/. and don't forget "When in doubt Du Sum Landscape !!!!)
Have a Grrrrreat Day !!!!!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Time To Mulch For The Stretch Run
I know it doesn't seem like it but the summer is rapidly coming to a close. We still have some great weather ahead though and it is time to do a color coating of mulch in your beds. Nothing spruces up your beds like a color coating of mulch.
There are more reasons to mulch than just aesthetics. Water Retention in a time that mother nature is not helping with timely rains. Weed deturant is important because the weeds love it dry and are still growing rapidly. Winter protection from freezing and thawing. Most people think that mulch keeps the root ball from freezing. This is false! Mulch keeps the ground frozen so freezing and thawing rapidly does not occur.
Call Du Sum Landscape Services today to whip those beds into shape. You won't regret it
Have a Grrrrrrreat Day!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
There are more reasons to mulch than just aesthetics. Water Retention in a time that mother nature is not helping with timely rains. Weed deturant is important because the weeds love it dry and are still growing rapidly. Winter protection from freezing and thawing. Most people think that mulch keeps the root ball from freezing. This is false! Mulch keeps the ground frozen so freezing and thawing rapidly does not occur.
Call Du Sum Landscape Services today to whip those beds into shape. You won't regret it
Have a Grrrrrrreat Day!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
Monday, August 25, 2008
Dog Dilemma
Boy I love my dogs to death but their excrement's sure do a number on my turf. If you fertilize regularly and your dog fertilizes naturally, your turf may burn and turn brown in spots. I have a few tips to try and keep up with the battle. If you have any tips please post them.
1) Try and keep your dog from urinating in the same exact spot all of the time. The more urine in one spot likens your chance for urine damage.
2) Do not let fecal matter lay on the turf too long. As it breaks down a high concentration of nitrogen is released and will burn your turf.
3) Frequently Water areas where your dogs tend to go. This will help divert some of the nitrogen and allows your turf to use what is there.
4) There are a plethera of products on the market that claim to keep your pet from going in areas that are treated. Some work and some don't, but the ones that work can be an affective method of training your dog away from certain areas.
That is all I have for now. Please feel free to post any other ideas to help us all combat the brown spot syndrom in our yards.
Don't forget to call Du Sum Landscape for all of your landscape needs. Contact us before September 1, 2008 and recieve 15% off an aeration and overseeding of your turf. Aeration is the single best thing you can do for your turf.
Have a great day!!!!!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
1) Try and keep your dog from urinating in the same exact spot all of the time. The more urine in one spot likens your chance for urine damage.
2) Do not let fecal matter lay on the turf too long. As it breaks down a high concentration of nitrogen is released and will burn your turf.
3) Frequently Water areas where your dogs tend to go. This will help divert some of the nitrogen and allows your turf to use what is there.
4) There are a plethera of products on the market that claim to keep your pet from going in areas that are treated. Some work and some don't, but the ones that work can be an affective method of training your dog away from certain areas.
That is all I have for now. Please feel free to post any other ideas to help us all combat the brown spot syndrom in our yards.
Don't forget to call Du Sum Landscape for all of your landscape needs. Contact us before September 1, 2008 and recieve 15% off an aeration and overseeding of your turf. Aeration is the single best thing you can do for your turf.
Have a great day!!!!!
Eddie Miller
Du Sum Landscape Services
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Dog Daz of Summer
Hello everyone, My name is Eddie Miller and I am co-founder of DuSum Landscape Services. We hope you enjoy our website and I will always be available to answer your questions on this blog.
We are entering the dog daz of summer and now is the time to install that new patio or walkway. Don't make the mistake of replacing it with concrete or wood. It is the paver era. So many designs and colors to fit your existing landscape and did I mention DuSum Landscape guarantees your paver work fo LIFE!!! Yes you read that correct DuSum will replace broken pavers, fix any areas that might settle all at no charge for LIFE (transferrable with the deed of the house).
We look forward to hearing from you and always remember "when in doubt DuSum Landscape"
Eddie Miller
DuSum Landscape Services
We are entering the dog daz of summer and now is the time to install that new patio or walkway. Don't make the mistake of replacing it with concrete or wood. It is the paver era. So many designs and colors to fit your existing landscape and did I mention DuSum Landscape guarantees your paver work fo LIFE!!! Yes you read that correct DuSum will replace broken pavers, fix any areas that might settle all at no charge for LIFE (transferrable with the deed of the house).
We look forward to hearing from you and always remember "when in doubt DuSum Landscape"
Eddie Miller
DuSum Landscape Services
Monday, August 4, 2008
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