There is a certain satisfaction that comes from planning and completing a DIY project in the yard. Not only is the yard transformed, but you as the homeowner are able to leave your mark on the property in a positive way— breaking a sweat while working with your hands to create your own personal masterpiece. At Asphalt materials, we provide the materials needed for Utah landscaping projects large and small and there is no better time to start improving your outdoor space than right now. Summer is upon us and there are a number of worthwhile projects to start while the weather permits. Here are just a few.
General Landscaping
Your yard should be a reflection of your personality. Some homeowners prefer a clean-cut open yard while others prefer a more exotic look, filling their space with trees and plants. Whatever your preference, a designated area of beauty in the yard is always a good way to bring life to your landscape. Whether this be a small garden or a large area with a stone path and a pond, it is always a good idea to do something special with a designated portion of your yard.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. They help keep landscape soil from eroding, break up the yard creating depth and dimension and are a beautiful landscaping feature. A well-placed retaining wall can create more usable space in your yard, especially when your yard is naturally sloped or hilly. The best part is that they are not too difficult to construct if you have the right materials.
Decorative Landscaping Rock
A little rock goes a long way. There are many different types of landscaping rock that can transform a front or back yard into a more pleasing space. Some such rocks include:
- Rock ground covers
- Polished pebbles
- Cobblestones
- Rubble stones
- Landscape boulders
- Flagstones
Incorporating decorative rock into your yard is a sure way to improve your overall landscape design and can be used to complement any number of features already present. When laying decorative rock, however, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Measure out space carefully
- Edge the perimeter of your barrier
- Don’t dig deeper than is necessary
- Pack the soil before laying rock
- Lay landscape fiber to prevent weed growth
- Rake the rocks to even them out
- Rinse with water to bring out the stones’ natural shine
Fire Pits & Hardscaping
Hardscape refers to hard landscape materials in a structure that are incorporated into a landscape. Some general examples include pathways, fire pits, stairs, and more. These features can be made out of a variety of materials including wood, stone, and concrete. Some of the most popular Utah hardscapes of the past several years are fire pits in various sizes and styles. Like retaining walls, fire pits are not terribly hard to make. Once your space is allocated, and the materials are had, the project should be completed in no time.
Water Features
Water features certainly go beyond simple koi ponds. Here are some of the popular water features springing up in Utah yards.
- Garden creeks
- Outdoor shower (for those with pools)
- Birdbaths
- Water walls
- Wall fountains
- Waterfalls (a complement to small ponds)
- Garden fountain
- Mini pool
If you have a little extra space in your yard, consider incorporating a unique water feature.
Affordable Quality
For over 40 years, Asphalt Materials has been providing the Wasatch area with quality materials for their outdoor Utah landscaping projects. If you are looking to undertake a yard project this summer and are looking for the best materials at a fair price, contact us today. We are always happy to help.
The resolve to do more green initiatives in one’s life doesn’t have to be a commitment to a totally foreign and expensive lifestyle. While many people enjoy living according to renewable energy sources and feel like they have been worth the initial high cost, going green in your landscaping can be a decidedly less difficult transition and still yield incredible results.
What does “green gardening” look like? Isn’t that a bit of a redundant term? Essentially, instead of relying on waste management companies to haul away all of the organic trash that you throw away with the rest of your garbage, recycling that refuses into a compost pile and allowing that organic material back into your soil will accomplish a few environmental goals at once. First, it will enrichen the soil you use to garden, much like utilizing manure as a fertilizer. Secondly, it will spare the potential of those materials from being wasted as it is deposited out in a landfill somewhere.
Your landscape is ultimately an extension of yourself. That is to say, it is an extension of the atmosphere that you want to permeate the entirety of your property, from the attic to the basement, from the driveway to the backyard. And because the landscape work encompasses everything around your home, it is invariably the first thing that visitors (or you yourself) will get to experience before stepping across the threshold into your garage or entryway.
If you were to cast your mind on the landscaped property of homes or businesses you admire, could you be able to describe why you like them? What about the layout of the gardens, the design of the driveway or the outdoor amenities do you respond to the most? Finding that special “something” to define your property is an organic process, born from introspection, familiarity with landscape supplies, and consultations with professional workers.
Henry David Thoreau said geology is where we “discover the causes of all past changes in the present invariable order of society.” In so many ways science﹘be it chemistry, geology, astronomy, or biology﹘is the study of change over time; the intense pressure put upon a subject causing it to evolve from one state to another, and to grow from there. As a scientific species, we experience time travel not only when we send probes into space to experience the relativity of time and space, but each time we put a rock under the microscope.
At Asphalt Materials, we love the stories that rocks tell. Each one teaches us about what occurred in our valley millions of years ago and helps us appreciate the natural beauty found all over Utah. Over the years our customers have grown to value our various landscape supplies, and our various rock and sand options have elevated our asphalt company beyond just making blacktops.
It’s true— there’s a lot of money to be saved by paving and patching your own driveways and lots. Contractors, though incredibly skilled, can exceed the home improvement budget. For that reason, it is important to know your options and the basics of application. While the task may seem daunting at first glance, there are some things to know that can help you along the way. Here are some helpful insights from your landscape supplies experts at Asphalt Materials.
Composting is the process of taking organic matter and materials that are essentially waste and turning them back into soil—not just any soil, though. Composting turns said materials into nutrient-rich goodness that promotes all things living. This process quite literally impacts everyone on the planet and has the potential to improve the earth and sustain life.
You’ve likely spent more time in your backyard than usual this year. Have you noticed any things about it that you want to change? Or do you have a new build and are looking for ideas on designing a yard from scratch? Whether you’re starting fresh or remodeling, we have some ideas for creating a backyard with safety in mind.
Before purchasing your own home, you probably rented a place with a smaller front yard that didn’t take too ‘much upkeep; in fact, you probably spent more of your time worrying about maximizing the space for outdoor use—and having to practically squeeze your family and friends onto a small concrete patio—than you ever had to spend decorating. And now, after several years of saving, you’ve finally been able to purchase a home of your own—only now, the property you’ve picked up is offering you up the opposite problem: more space than you know what to do with.
Your driveway welcomes you home each day, so why not take the time to beautify it? Driveway landscaping often gets overlooked as other parts of the yard take precedence. However, with our tips, you’ll be ready to tackle it like a pro.
When you think of cultivating a garden, what are some of the first things that come to mind? You probably envision leafy, green plants, colorful flowers, manicured shrubbery, trees and the like. But what about landscaping that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance? Garden rocks make a great addition to any garden, especially if you’re looking for drought-tolerant landscaping ideas.