After years of planning, scrimping, and saving, you’ve finally done it: you own your own home! It may be a fixer-upper, but it sure has potential, and more importantly, it’s all yours. But, if you’re like most first-time homeowners, this might also be the first time you’ve ever been responsible for the design of your landscaping. You always promised yourself that as soon as you own your own place, you’d ditch the dingy garden gnomes and toss the tacky tire planters. Well, now you’re finally at the front gate of your very own lawn: but when it comes to design, you’re not sure where to even start. Read on for some tips on developing a landscaping plan that stamps your yards with your personality, and relegates outdated trends to the past where they belong.
Now that winter is officially in full swing we can expect to see more snowfall. With this snowfall comes icy road conditions that can be dangerous for all drivers on the road no matter what car you’re in. Everyone knows the frustration that comes along with driving on roads that haven’t been plowed or have had salt laid down. Once plows head out after a snowstorm they need something that will work fast, which is where red salt comes in handy.
The cold winter months are here, and with it comes the harsh weather patterns that do no favors to concrete and asphalt. It’s easy enough to clean the exteriors of our homes and office buildings, prepping for heavy rain, snow, and ice, but sometimes we all but forget surrounding roads and grounds. If your driveway or asphalt pavement hasn’t been receiving the same attention you’ve put toward winterizing the various elements of your curb appeal, now’s the time to get started.
The team at Asphalt Materials have some simple ways to help you prepare for the winter ahead, here are some tips to keep driveways, walkways, and parking spots intact after the winter thaw.
1. Repair Before Major Snowfall
Keep in mind that asphalt changes along with the weather. Asphalt naturally contracts and expands along with freezing and thawing periods of Utah’s weather. The moisture on the ground and air can both heavily affect the behavior of asphalt material. This doesn’t bode well for such materials, but there are ways to maintain its structural integrity and performance throughout winter. If you don’t have the expertise to repair potholes on your own, be sure to hire a professional service. However, if you do have the experience, we recommend filling potholes with UPM Cold Mix Asphalt, specifically designed for winter and pothole repair in Utah.
2. Pay Attention to Water Pooling
See water pooling in parts of your asphalt driveway or walkway? Those spots are more likely than others to see major damage after significant rain or snow. As said before, water freezes and expands, meaning what might have been a tiny puddle of pooling can turn into a sizable pool. Repair damage as you see fit, but be sure to take on the job or schedule professional maintenance before the damage is too far gone.
3. Be Sure to Shovel Snow Regularly
The easiest way to prevent unwanted damage during a harsh winter is to keep your asphalt free of standing water and snowmelt. How can you do this? Simple! Just be sure to shovel asphalt areas whenever a heavy snowfall happens. Be removing snow before it has the chance to melt, you can keep the asphalt from excessive damage. Of course, whether you’re using a metal shovel or snow plow, be cautious of catching the edge of the shovel on loose asphalt. This can pull up areas of weakened asphalt, making pockets that hold on to snow. Although many individuals choose to shovel on their own, you can also trust a reliable company to plow snow for you. With the right experience and professional equipment, unintentional damage can be more easily avoided.
4. Use Ice Melt Properly
It can be easy enough to use ice melt materials to get the job done quicker, but be wary of products. De-icing can cause both environmental distress and physical asphalt damage if used improperly. Rather than use a de-icer as a tool to save you time, use it only when necessary after you’ve properly shoveled away snow or debris. When shopping for an ice melt, find a mixture that contains more than just salt. A good mixture of salt and sand help to create traction in slippery areas, are safer to use around animals and plants, and is less likely to cause damage to your asphalt. Use it responsibly!
Utah is seeing one of the worst droughts in recorded history, and cities are issuing water conservation measures earlier every year. Adapting your lawn care to current conditions has a big effect on water conservation, and it’s easier than you think.
A big, shady tree in your yard is a blessing in a desert state like Utah, both in terms of practicality and aesthetics for your landscaping. However, be aware of where it’s planted. A tree in the wrong spot will turn the blessing into a burden.
Rocks can be used in landscaping in a variety of different ways, from large boulders to break up other landscaping elements to the use of stairs and walkways made from natural stone. One of the most popular methods of using rocks in landscaping, though, is as a method of ground cover or mulch. The filler that this provides can be used as a design element that guides the eye around the yard and helps protect greenery, trees, and gardens around your property. Here are some of the most common types of rocks that get used as ground cover in the landscaping industry…
Spring is the perfect time to reevaluate your garden. Throwing out any plants that didn’t do well in the previous years, and replenishing anything that didn’t make it through the harsh winter. Picking the right plants for your Utah garden can be difficult since we live in such a unique climate. If you’re trying to figure out what flowers and plants should go in your garden, here are a few of our top picks.
Too many people look at their busted concrete and think of it as nothing more than trash, waiting to be taken away to some dump. However, like with many other landscaping materials, there is a greener way that we can think of old concrete. Indeed, it is becoming more and more of a popular material to use in landscaping throughout your yard. Using recycled concrete helps reduce the amount of trash in landfills and helps reduce the amount of carbon that we produce.
Here are some of the key ways that you can incorporate recycled concrete in your yard…
High-quality topsoil will help your plants grow faster and healthier. Because it is so important to the growing process, both veteran and aspiring gardeners and landscapers often have the question of if they can make their own topsoil, and if it is worth it. The answer to the first part of that question is a resounding yes! It takes nature thousands of years to naturally produce topsoil, but we can manufacture our own in hours or days, depending on our resources.
In our last blog, we talked about the benefits of turning your yard landscape into a “localscape”. Not only is this an advantageous way to boost your curb appeal, but it can:
- Make waterings efficient
- Simplify irrigation
- Lower property maintenance
- Build a design for Utah’s climate