5 Ways You Can Add Value to Your Home

If you are looking to add value to your home, a great place to start is with the exterior. After all, first impressions are crucial. Landscaping is one of the more cost-effective options for increasing value. Use these landscaping tips to boost your property value and curb appeal!

Healthy Lawn

Overgrown grass, weeds, and unruly shrubbery will surely drive down the value of your home. Exterior neglect can really send the wrong message to potential homebuyers, which is why it’s just as important to maintain and upgrade your yard. By setting up a fertilization schedule and regular mowing, your yard can be the greenest on the block!

Irrigation System

A beautiful landscape can also come with a laundry list of maintenance. Avoid the extra hassle of watering and grab the attention of buyers with a fully automated sprinkler system. Irrigation systems are now equipped with sensors that observe the water levels and only water your landscaping when necessary. Water smarter, not harder!

Planting Trees

Did you know trees can add between $1,000 to $10,000 to your home’s value? That said, make sure you plant trees as soon as possible, as it takes a few years for trees to mature and reach their full potential. Planting mature trees is an option; however, it may cost you an arm and a leg depending on the tree’s size.

Light It Up

Landscape lighting is both a design element and a safety feature. Illuminating the outside of your home creates an occupancy pattern that keeps intruders at bay as they tend to look for homes that appear to be empty.  

You may worry about an added electrical expense, but if you choose LED bulbs or solar options, they are bright enough to keep you safe and won’t run up your electrical bill.

Large-Scale Update

If you are looking for a complete landscape makeover, consider adding an outdoor living space. Not only will you extend the square footage available for gatherings, but you also appeal to a larger range of buyers. Whether you add an outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, deck, or pergola, you will entice many with the endless hosting possibilities.

Contact the professionals at JK Landscape today and we can talk through your home exterior renovations. Whether you choose to install a couple of trees or a full outdoor oasis, any of the additions above will add instant value to your home.

Taking Care of Your New Landscaping

After the pavers have been placed and the last shrub has been planted, your new landscape is vibrant. Although your yard has been transformed in a matter of days, the months and years following are what really matters. Continue reading our blog for the top landscape maintenance tips.

Watering New Plants

Watering freshly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers is important to the longevity of your landscape. The first 1-2 weeks is the most critical for new plants as the roots still need to be established in the soil. Even if your plants are close to a water source, they are only able to absorb water near their small roots. Direct watering at a low pressure will allow the plant to uptake the maximum amount of water.

Watering needs for plants vary depending on the type of plant, size of plant, and weather conditions. It’s important to check the soil condition before watering to avoid flooding the roots. If you are questioning the hydration of your foliage, check the soil. If the soil is dry 4-7 inches deep, that’s a tell-tale sign your plants need to be watered.

Fertilizing Your Yard

Fertilizing your yard is an important step to take to ensure continuous growth. This step should be done in the spring or fall to encourage new foliage growth. Remember, fertilizing should NEVER be done in the summer, as the new growth will hinder the ground from hardening, making your plants susceptible to damage.

Foliage Upkeep

Pruning is not only suggested to keep your yard looking immaculate, but it also protects your plants from many forms of damage. Before you start pruning, make sure you know exactly how and where to trim. Always trim branches at the base or collar of the branch. Open stubs leave the plant vulnerable to disease in the future.

Hardscaping

Hardscaping might seem like it can be installed and forgotten, but your pavers need some love too. Not only will moss, weeds, and cracks look unattractive, but they pose as a danger as well. You and your guests will be spending much more time outside during the warm summer months, which is why it’s important to keep it clear of debris and cracks. Take the time to weed around the pavers, scrape off any moss, and fill small cracks in the stone pavers. If you notice the cracks are becoming large and uneven, it may be time to call a professional to repair the stone or replace it.

If you have questions about landscape upkeep, contact the professionals at JK Landscape today. Our experienced team want to see your yard looking as great as the day your new landscaping was installed.

Create Your Backyard Hot Spot

After a cold winter and chilly spring, the idea of spending time outdoors is enticing. And it’s about to get even more exciting. Now is the time to think about that outdoor fireplace or fire pit you’ve always wanted. The design and installation experts at JK Landscape can help create your backyard hot spot and give you so much to look forward to this summer.

Supplemental Space

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit area creates more usable space outside and extends your living area. Instead of spending your evenings curled up on the couch, enjoy fresh air under the stars in front of your fire feature. Whether you have room for a grand paver patio and fireplace or just enough space for a practical fire pit, our team will work its magic to deliver perfection to your property.

Gathering Guests

With that extended living space comes more room for hosting guests.

Invite family and friends over to gather ’round the fire. Swap stories and catch up with those you haven’t seen in a while. Socialize and stay warm on cool summer nights or even into the fall months. Your fire feature can be the designated backyard hot spot to get the gang together.

Making Munchies

You can also use an outdoor fire pit or fireplace for a secondary spot to fix meals or make munchies. Roast marshmallows or make S’mores for an afternoon or evening treat.

Or put those flames to good use and cook up a family meal outside. Pretend you’re camping and make hot dogs with the kids or prepare more extravagant dishes and use your fire as a heat source. Then, relax around that fire and enjoy dinner together.

Beautiful Backdrop

The attractive design and craftsmanship of an outdoor fireplace can add charm to any back yard. Create a focal point with your fire feature and enjoy the ambiance of a quiet, romantic evening or the relaxing crackle from the fire.

The hardscapes experts at JK Landscape work with materials of varying colors, shapes, and sizes to install a beautiful and eye-catching masterpiece that you can enjoy for years to come.

Cozy Comfort

Most importantly, an outdoor fireplace or fire pit is designed to keep you cozy and warm long after the sun goes down. The summer nights can get cool, but you don’t have to worry. Huddle near the fire and wash away any worries from the day by the flames’ mesmerizing glow. Enjoy the quiet stillness of each night with your beautiful new backyard hot spot.

The award-winning team at JK Landscape can custom design and install the outdoor fireplace or fire pit you’ve always dreamed of having. Our designers can discuss with you the best options for materials and placement in your yard to take full advantage of space and accessibility. In doing so, you’ll welcome new possibilities for outdoor living and create your backyard hot spot to enjoy throughout summer and even all year long. Contact us today to get started on your outdoor fire feature project.

Enjoy Backyard Living with Help from JK

We’ve finally reached the start of spring, with summer close on its heels. The longer days and warmer nights allow for more time outside. Make sure your exterior space is comfortable. These projects and others like them will ensure you’ll enjoy backyard living with help from JK Landscape.

Decks

Enhance your outdoor experience with a well-designed, durable, and practical deck. A new or improved deck serves as an extended living area that’s ideal for hosting family and friends, grilling out, dining, or simply relaxing.

The experts at JK Landscape have constructed these outdoor spaces in varying shapes, sizes, and colors. We will work with you to determine the right design and materials to fit your home, style, and budget. With so many options, you’re sure to appreciate this structure for years to come.

Patios

Installing a paver patio is another way to add dimension and flair to your outdoor living space. Pavers come in a variety of colors, sizes, and styles to appeal to any taste or compose the most artistic design.

That empty space in your yard might be just the spot for an open-air paver patio. We can design and construct a place to gather guests, entertain, or simply relax. This cost-effective transformation can breathe new life into your yard and help you utilize an area that may have otherwise been forgotten.

Outdoor Kitchens

The outdoor kitchen is one of the latest features to elevate backyard living. Your home’s kitchen is a meeting room. It’s the place where family and friends come together to catch up and talk about their days while snacking or preparing a meal. This is the heart of the home, and a custom-designed outdoor kitchen can extend that essence beyond the walls to the outside.

These designs can be as intricate and detailed as you want and can include built-in grills, gourmet brick or pizza ovens, mini refrigerators, and sinks. A stylish kitchen can also include a bar top and plenty of counter space for food prep, dining, or hanging out with friends.

Need space for storage? You can have that, too, with cabinets that will withstand all weather elements while keeping things tidy. Our team will work with you to determine exactly what you want and need from an outdoor kitchen area.

These are just a few of the outdoor projects we can design and install to help you enjoy backyard living this summer and beyond. That special sanctuary or entertainment spot you’ve always wanted can be your reality with help from the experts at JK Landscape. Our designers, landscapers, and construction professionals are ready to get started on your next project. Contact us today.

Tips and Tricks for Frosty Landscaping

You’re probably not surprised that snow is already covering the ground. After all, this is Minnesota. Cold weather takes its toll on a lot of things, including your yard. These tips and tricks for frosty landscaping can help ensure your yard will look its best once the blanket of winter snow is gone for the season.

Lawn

Take care of your lawn this winter by keeping vehicle and foot traffic at bay. Frequent driving or walking on frozen turf can damage the grass’s crown. This is a vital segment of a plant’s design because it’s where growth occurs. Without a healthy crown, the grass can’t grow.

Areas of thick, fallen leaves can also destroy turf crowns if left on the grass throughout winter. As the weather allows, gently rake and remove large piles of leaves to alleviate the potential for them to damage your lawn.

Trees

To help protect your trees from winter weather:

• Lay a thin layer of mulch under the dripline to help reduce water loss and insulate soil and roots from fluctuating temperatures.
• Blanket the trunks with tree wrap to help prevent the bark from cracking under the daytime sun and nighttime cold. Remember to remove the wrap come springtime.
• Use plastic tree guards to deter rabbits and other critters from feasting on and damaging outer and inner tree bark.
• Inspect and trim broken or problematic branches.

Hardscapes

Winter’s idleness provides the perfect opportunity to scan your yard and landscaping for stark spots that may need a little something extra. Notice which areas grab your concentration and consider adding visual attention to those focal points.

Perhaps a statue or stone bench could help accentuate an open space. Maybe adding a trellis or arbor would help highlight your garden or a walkway.

Easy on the salt

When keeping your driveway or sidewalks clear of snow and ice, be careful with ice melt. These products often have a high salt content and can prevent tree roots from absorbing water and nutrients. The salt can also harm your grass, leaving bare spots.

Try using sand or kitty litter or look for ice melt options that contain calcium, potassium, or magnesium chloride.

Whether or not we’re ready, winter conditions have moved in. However, with these tips and tricks for frosty landscaping, you can look forward to the spring thaw and a healthy yard. The experts at JK Landscape Construction are here to help with any questions or concerns or to help you with ideas for your next project. Contact us today.