Diamond Certified Resource Landscaping & Lawn Care Guide
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Read MoreNOVATO — One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make with landscape construction is cutting costs with quality. While this may save money in the short term, it often ends up costing more later when things need to be repaired or rebuilt. One area where this often occurs is materials. For example, when building a retaining wall, some homeowners opt for hollow concrete blocks to save money. However, since they aren’t solid concrete, these blocks often lack the weight to ensure structural stability. Most homeowners don’t realize that hollow concrete blocks aren’t intended for building structures higher than three feet tall, so when their five-foot retaining wall fails after a couple of years, it can be a rude awakening. Read more
WALNUT CREEK — Due to the rainy weather, one of the biggest concerns during the winter is proper drainage. To prevent water and/or structural damage to your home, you should inspect two key areas before the season begins: Gutters The single most important measure you can take before winter is to make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and functional. You should also check the drainage basins around your property (if there are any). A good way to test your downspouts and other drainage components is to insert a garden hose and make sure the water flows out as it should; if it doesn’t, there’s a clog somewhere. Crawl space Drainage is critical in the crawl space beneath your home, Read more
CAMPBELL — Like any plant, trees require nutrients to grow and flourish. While trees typically derive nutrients from the soil, under certain circumstances they may not be able to get adequate nutrition, which can put them in a state of stress. This can occur when trees are situated near lawns or in areas of dense vegetation, where competition for water, nutrients and minerals is intensified. In cases of extreme nutrient deficiency, a good remedial measure is deep root fertilization. Deep root fertilization utilizes hydraulic injection to deliver nutrients directly into the soil at the tree’s root level. The nutrients are conveyed in the form of a liquefied solution, which makes it easier for the roots to absorb them. Read more
PINOLE — One of the most important steps of hiring a contractor is verifying their credentials, including proper licensing and insurance. If you’re hiring for a paver project, one important credential to look for is certification with the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI). This certification provides added assurance that the contractor is well-versed in the processes and standards of quality paver installation. An ICPI Certified paver contractor’s detailed knowledge of paver installation can go a long way toward ensuring a quality product. For example, they’ll know the correct excavation depth for the particular kind of paver feature they’re installing. Whereas seven inches is a typical excavation depth for a paver walkway, a paver driveway requires an excavation depth of nine to 10 inches to ensure a solid foundation. Read more
SAN JOSE — Do you have a large back or front yard that you’d like to get more use out of? Good news: There are plenty of options for you to do just that. Here are three ways to enhance your outdoor living space. Synthetic grass Everyone likes a nice lawn, but not everyone enjoys the upkeep and expenses that come with it. That’s why synthetic grass can be a worthwhile addition to your outdoor living area. Synthetic grass provides the same aesthetics of natural grass without any of the disadvantages like watering, mowing or gophers. Today’s synthetic products are also durable, environmentally friendly, and safe for kids and pets. Read more
