Blogs

ROI and Curb Appeal

When homeowners make decisions about landscaping and home renovations may choices ultimately come down to one thing—cost. And when factoring in cost, return on investment (ROI) is an important consideration, as well. For many people, a home and yard is their largest investment. So when you are preparing to make a significant upgrade, the ROI should be factored into that decision. Our advice—focus on ROI and curb appeal.

The Best Time of the Year to Landscape

When is the best time fo the year to landscape? It’s a question we’re often asked and there is no simple answer. Everyone wants their yard to pop once springtime arrives and the birds start chirping. Over time, that’s achievable. In the interim, it takes a little bit of work throughout each season.

Spring Hardscape Ideas

As you’re planning for warmer months ahead, now is the time to start thinking about spring hardscape ideas. There are many decisions to be made about materials—brick, stone, decorative concrete, wood—and design features ranging from ultra-modern to rustic. We’ve narrowed down some of our favorite spring hardscape ideas for your dream yard.

Your Backyard Needs a Fire Pit

Your backyard needs a fire pit. You’ve built a new patio. Your landscaping is beautiful. Extend your day and your time enjoying the outdoors by adding a fire feature.
Whether it’s a warm summer night or a cool evening at the beginning of autumn, we know you’ll enjoy a fire pit. Roasting marshmallows or enjoying the stars from your Adirondack chair, an outdoor fire pit is the place to be in your backyard.
Functionality
When deciding on a fire feature, you ultimately have three options for fuel—wood burning, natural gas, or propane. We’ll work with you to determine what suits your backyard best and what will be the most efficient and useful solution for your needs. Natural gas connects right to the fuel source from your home. Propane requires tanks just like your grill. And a wood burning fire place makes it feel like you’re camping in the great outdoors.
Design
A fire pit can come in all shapes, sizes, materials, and colors. Your design can flow seamlessly with the aesthetic that already exists in your backyard. Or you can choose to make your fire pit a show-stopping feature that will catch the attention of anyone who stops by to visit. Depending on your budget, your fire pit may be a pre-made unit or we can customize it down to every last design detail.
We love designing and building fire pits. Contact us today if you live in Hudson, Nashua, or Southern New Hampshire to get started on your design.

The Right Landscape Maintenance Services

Now is the time to decide on the right landscape maintenance services for your yard this spring. You should have custom maintenance package that works for your unique needs. Here are some considerations as you begin planning for your spring landscaping needs.

Use Lighting to Maximize Your Outdoor Living Space

We always recommend to our clients to use lighting to maximize your outdoor living space. After adding a living space and beautiful landscaping, outdoor lighting really does pull your yard together. Lighting emphasizes the beauty of your plants, garden, and landscape design in a nighttime environment. But most importantly, it maximizes the time you can spend in your outdoor living space. We all desperately await the warmer weather. Plan now for a little landscape lighting to enjoy outdoor living during the most months of the year.

DIY Landscaping Ideas

It’s winter in New England and that means it’s cold and there’s snow on the ground, but that also means it’s a great time to share some DIY landscaping ideas. Just because it’s dark at 4:00 p.m. and there’s three (four? five?) more months of snow on the ground, it doesn’t mean you can’t work on your spring landscaping projects.

Hardscaping in Southern New Hampshire

Now is a great time to plan and schedule your hardscaping project in Southern New Hampshire. While we need warmer weather to plant perennials and annuals and landscape your lawn, we can work on those larger hardscape projects while the weather is colder and snow hasn’t hit the ground yet. Let’s look at plans for a fire pit, upgraded fencing, new patio, or excavation project.

Start Planning Your Spring Projects Now

Winter is the ideal time to start planning your spring yard projects. With leaves and snow falling outside, dream about your perfect yard, new driveway, or firepit and have your design ready so when spring time comes you can get to work and enjoy your outdoor space.

Winterize Your Lawn and Yard

With cold weather on the horizon it’s important to take steps to protect your lawn and yard from harsh New England winter weather. Taking the proper steps now will help ensure your lawn and yard return better than ever next spring. Over the years we’ve worked with homeowners and business owners to get their properties winter-ready and here’s what we recommend.

Don’t Let the Weather Close Your Business This Winter

We know winters in New England can be tough—snow, sleet, freezing rain, wind, and below freezing temperatures. Just because we endure this weather it doesn’t mean your business’s customers should have to navigate icy walkways, unplowed parking lots, and snowbanks the size of mountains.

The Benefits of Fall Yard Cleanup

Leaves are beginning to change colors in the Nashua area. There’s a crisp coolness in the air. And before the first frost comes your yard is in need of a thorough fall cleanup.

While you would rather spend your fall weekends apple picking with your family or enjoying a Sunday afternoon watching football, don’t neglect your yard. Here’s why:

Maximize the enjoyment of your outdoor time with landscape lighting

Maximize your outdoor time with landscape lighting

When we discuss our services with clients, one service that most people are unaware of is LIGHTING. Lighting really completes the package. It provides emphasis on the beauty of the plants and landscape materials in their nighttime environment. Probably one of the most underrated features of landscape lighting, however, is that it maximizes the quality time spent in your outdoor living space. And given that we ALL are desperately awaiting the warmer weather, planning now for a little landscape lighting will be a good way to stay outside longer during the best months of the year.

In-Ground Pool Project

What You Need to Know Before You Start Your In-Ground Pool Project – Part 2

You’ve given thought to the pre-installation variables of your pool project; now let’s talk about hiring a pool company. Research is undoubtedly an essential part in starting the process; therefore the decision to pull the trigger is often time consuming.  After all, the company and the team that installs your pool will play a large role in the success and longevity of your dream project. To simplify the process, Design Works can offer you a reference to a pool contractor that will fit the specific needs of your project.  We understand that each project has unique components, budget and goals.  We have created professional relationships with some of the most reputable pool companies in the area, so it is our objective to help you find the perfect fit up front and start the construction project off right.

In-Ground Pool Project

What You Need to Know Before You Start Your In-Ground Pool Project – Part 1

The calendar year of 2012 has come to an end as we now turn our thoughts towards 2013. What does it have in store for you? Finally having that dream pool of yours installed possibly? There is undoubtedly no better time than right now to start developing ideas for your pool project! While it may seem like an intimidating task, there are ways to alleviate some of the stresses that come along with such a life changing decision. Of course the best way to feel confident as you enter this process is to comprise a cohesive design for you to reference as your project begins to commence.

Creating Sustainable Garden Landscapes

Designing for the Future: Creating Sustainable Garden Landscapes

What’s the buzz about “Going Green?” More than likely, you’ve seen the TV commercials about eco-friendly products, heard a speech from the President about climate change, etc. It’s everywhere! Whether you’re a skeptic or not some of the green trends can be fascinating at the very least.

Landscaping in Southern New Hampshire from the Ground up

As the end of February nears, spring lies just ahead. We “Green Thumbers” soon emerge from a seemingly eternal hibernation to get outside and get our hands dirty. As the weather warms, we remember how landscape gardening offers a real sense of rejuvenation and excitement. To help you catch that spirit, here are a few inspirational thoughts and landscaping ideas.

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