4 Summer Landscaping Trends for a Beautiful Yard in 2024

At JK Landscape Construction, we always aim to help you bring your dream landscape to life. And sometimes, looking at what other people are doing with their landscapes can be a great inspiration as you brainstorm ideas. That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top summer landscaping trends of 2024! Check out these popular ideas and think about how you might want to incorporate them into your own outdoor property. For questions on how to design your perfect outdoor landscape, contact us!

Outdoor Living Areas

As people look for ways to spend more time outside, many homeowners are building comfortable outdoor gathering spaces and even kitchens. Summer in Minnesota couldn’t be more beautiful, and spacious outdoor living areas are helping these families make the most of the balmy weather. How you want your outdoor living space to appear and function is up to you, however. You may want to build a screened or roofed patio for a more sheltered place to enjoy the fresh air. A simple pergola offers a bit of shade and definition to your outdoor space while still allowing plenty of sunlight to filter through. Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are also growing in popularity and are well complemented by a patio of smooth paver stones or concrete. Whatever you envision for your outdoor living space, the experts at JK Landscape Construction will help you build it.

Sustainable Landscaping

The principle behind sustainable landscaping is working in tandem with nature rather than in opposition to it. This means creating a landscape that is in harmony with the natural environment around you and is therefore much easier to sustain. Homeowners are choosing sustainable landscaping for its many benefits, including decreased maintenance, lower water consumption, and reduced environmental impact.

The easiest way to incorporate sustainable landscaping is by selecting plants native to your region of Minnesota, which can thrive with minimal care. Common milkweed is a native perennial that also attracts Monarch butterflies, for instance. If you’re looking to plant a new tree or two, American elm, basswood, and silver maple all do well in the Twin Cities region (check out this map for a full breakdown of native trees throughout the state).

Low-Maintenance Plants

Overlapping with sustainable landscaping is the trend of decorating your yard with low-maintenance plants that look beautiful with little work required on your part. Low-maintenance gardens require less watering, weeding, and overall upkeep. This could mean planting drought-tolerant plants such as little bluestem, an ornamental grass, or the pink-flowered Joe Pye weed. Ground cover plants such as sedges discourage weeds and add a natural look to your property. Considering soil type and sun exposure when choosing your plants will also mean less maintenance for you.

Pollinator Gardens

The final trend we’ll look at today is attracting pollinators to your property. Pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystems by helping plants reproduce and supporting plant diversity. Unfortunately, insect pollinators such as bees are threatened by habitat loss, parasites, and improper pesticide use. Providing for pollinators by filling your yard with plants they need to survive helps the environment and transforms your outdoor space into a more beautiful, lively place. Narrow leaf coneflower, giant hyssop, leadplant, prairie clovers, and wild bergamot are all native plants known to be “super foods” for pollinators!

Design Your Summer Landscape with the Help of JK Landscape Construction

Whether you want to follow this year’s summer landscaping trends or design something completely unique, our expert team will make it happen. Contact us to discuss your ideas, and we’ll offer our professional advice for a Minnesota landscape that will look beautiful all year round!

Winter Landscaping Projects for Your Lakefront Property

Many people don’t think of tackling landscaping projects during the winter. But every season brings its own landscaping opportunities, and winter is no exception. This is especially true for lakefront properties, where steep shorelines and remote locations make them difficult to access during the summer. When the lake or river freezes over, however, these areas become much more accessible. Continue reading as we explore various winter landscaping projects for lakefront properties.

Shoreline Transformation

If you have a steep shoreline on your property, you likely understand the difficulty of completing landscaping work on it, especially if heavy equipment is needed. Maintaining your balance to avoid falling into the water while working is no easy feat. But if the ice is thick enough during the winter, this problem goes away. We can drive any heavy machinery or equipment you need right up to the shore’s edge. This provides a large, flat working area. Is your shoreline crowded with brush, buckthorn, or small trees that obstruct your view of the lake and prevent you from planting your own flowers and shrubs? Winter is the perfect time to clear all that out.

Rip Rap Installation

Shorelines are a beautiful feature of waterfront properties, but they are vulnerable to various damage. The biggest danger facing your shoreline is erosion. If left unchecked, the constant beating of waves against the shore can cause significant loss of land. Critters such as muskrats often burrow along the water’s edge, which can destabilize the soil and create further erosion. Expanding ice during the winter also contributes to this issue. The best way to protect your shoreline from erosion is with professionally installed rip rap. We’ll transport the heavy stones across the ice and place them on the shore to shield your land all year long. When the ice melts, the rip rap will already be in position at the water’s edge.

Beach Sand Delivery

Inclement weather and the passage of time can gradually wash away your soft beach sand or harm its appearance. This is an easy project to take care of during the winter when you’re not as busy with other landscaping work. As with rip rap, thick ice makes it easy for us to deliver large quantities of fresh, high-quality sand without driving heavy machinery over your lawn. We can even place the sand on the ice along your shoreline, so that when it melts in the spring, the sand will drop into the water. This is an easy way to install new sand in your swimming area and protect your feet from sharp rocks and shells.

Contact JK Landscape Construction

As we’ve seen, winter landscaping is the perfect opportunity to transform lakefront properties. Whatever project you’re considering, the experts at JK Landscape have the knowledge and experience to help you accomplish it. Contact us today to discuss ideas for your lakeshore landscape!

When Is the Best Time to Start Landscaping Projects?

When is the best time to start landscaping projects? It’s a question many homeowners ask, especially now as the longer, warmer days of spring and summer get closer. Read on as we discuss why you should begin planning now, as well as the benefits of starting landscaping work in spring.

Begin Planning During Winter

Considering Minnesota’s climate, it’s no surprise that spring–fall marks the busy season for landscapers. For one, the snow and freezing temps present unhealthy conditions for new trees, shrubs, and plants to thrive. Additionally, frozen soil makes it extremely difficult to dig holes for landscaping structures and features.

However, winter is the perfect time to begin planning. Advantages of staying ahead of the busy season include:

• A more relaxed pace during the planning stages to ensure the design(s) match your vision.
• Submitting necessary permit and approval applications early helps ensure that you’ll be ready to be cleared when it comes time to break ground.
• Early planning provides access to a wider selection of plant materials before competition increases during the busy spring planting season.
• Landscapers tend to have more convenient scheduling options during the off-season, making it easier to book an appointment and get started.
• Planning and starting the project early allows for better timelines and earlier completion, allowing you to enjoy your new landscape sooner.

That’s not to say that some winter landscaping isn’t possible. In fact, sometimes it’s necessary. JK Landscape provides professional rip rap (AKA “rock armor) installation to repair and prevent shoreline damage, snow removal and ice control, and more. Contact us to learn more about our lakeshore winter services.

The Benefits of Spring Landscaping

With the snow and ice gone and the weather getting warmer, spring is the ideal time for work to begin. Generally, it’s best to start construction when temperatures remain above 45–50 degrees. Benefits of spring landscaping include:

• The ground has thawed and softened, making it easy to dig holes for new structures, features, and plants.
• Mid to late spring is considered “mulching season,” as the soil has had time to warm up following winter and allows time for the plants to establish throughout the summer and fall.
• Additionally, planting new shrubs, trees, and perennials early on helps ensure they have time to acclimate and establish a strong root system for surviving Minnesota’s harsh winters.
• As previously mentioned, planning in winter and starting construction early allows you to beat the rush. You’ll have better scheduling, quicker turnaround, and more time to enjoy the final product.

The Final Word: Get Started Today!

So, when is the best time to start landscaping projects? The real first step is planning, and the time for that is now. The design and installation specialists at JK Landscape have the experience and expertise to ensure success and satisfaction. We’ll make sure the soil is ready for optimal planting and plant care, work with you to create a design you’ll love, and then bring it to life with prompt and professional construction.

Browse our project gallery to see our exceptional services in action. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a meeting.

Turn to JK Landscape for Winter Services

With everything covered by snow or ice, overlooking property care during the colder months is almost too easy. Did you know our versatile team stays active all year round? If you have concerns about ice control or your waterfront property, turn to JK Landscape for winter services. Let us take the worry out of wintertime projects.

Ice Control

Ice in any form can wreak havoc on roadways and even throughout your business’s property. High-traffic areas like steps, sidewalks, and parking areas can become danger zones with the slightest coating of ice.

Black ice is a layer of ice that’s extremely difficult to detect because of its thin, transparent nature. This ultra-slick glaze can develop from freezing rain or ice or snow that melts and refreezes. Driving or walking on black ice-coated parking lots or walkways can be scary and lead to bumps, bruises, and even broken bones.

Use caution when navigating slippery spots, especially under low or minimal lighting. And try to manage any ice issues around your property before they cause problems. The best way to do this is to contact our specialized team at JK Landscape. With our ice control services, we will prevent ice buildup in heavily frequented areas and help keep you, your patrons, and your property safe.

Waterfront Property

If you own a seasonal cabin or have your home on a lake, you’re probably already thinking about warmer days, spending time in or on the water, and relaxing on your sandy beach. Though summer is a few months away, we all know it’ll be here before we know it. And winter is no time to stop thinking about preparing your property for the inevitable hot, sunny days ahead.

Beach Sand

After a long winter’s nap, be prepared to enhance or repair your beachfront. We offer beach sand delivery services in the winter, which is especially important if your property is inaccessible through regular means. Our team will traverse the frozen water to deliver fresh, high-quality sand so that you’ll be all set to bury your toes or build a colossal castle this summer.

During the summer season, too, we provide barging services to areas with steep slopes, narrow property lines, difficult shorelines, or other challenging terrain. We can safely and efficiently move heavy equipment, products, and supplies across the lake to your property, without any risk to the waterfront.

Rip Rap

Harsh weather, ice, and troublesome critters can often cause your shoreline to erode. Shoreline erosion can decrease property value as well as harm the water’s ecosystem due to sedimentation. This process can, among other things, introduce pollutants into the water and damage plants necessary for feeding and spawning fish.

Protect your property and the environment with rip rap. The JK Landscape team can professionally install “rock armor” to repair current damage and prevent future erosion issues.

Summer will be here soon enough. Until then, turn to the design and installation specialists at JK Landscape for winter services. We can provide everything you’ll need to be sure you and your property are protected. Questions? We’re here to answer them. 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.