Homepage Archives - Page 7 of 7 - Landwork Contractors

Fall Landscaping in Brilliant Colors

Posted on October 17, 2016October 7, 2016 by Landwork Contractors

Bring Bright & Beautiful Home for Harvest Time

There is nothing more beautiful than the brilliant colors of the leaves turning in our own Westchester County and surrounding areas. Our little piece of the world is famous for its gorgeous fall foliage and rolling hills. Landwork Contractors has been privileged to help care for some of these landscapes for over 16 years. We love reflecting the natural scenery in landscaping designs. So how can you capture the beauty of fall for your home? We’ve come up with a few easy steps to get your home bursting with color for fall.

Mulch– It might sound dull, but mulch can really spice up your landscaping while saving your plants. Mulching serves two purposes at the same time:
- Mulch protects and insulates plants so they are kept warm during colder months. It also helps plants absorb and retain moisture so they won’t go dry during autumn and winter.
- Mulch adds color and texture to your landscaping. There are multiple mulch colors to choose from and each one can add bright color to wintering shrubs. The right mulch will make your plants really pop by contrasting the mulching color to the plant color. All of this while maintaining the health of your plants!
Vibrant Mums– When we think fall, we think bright, vibrant colors, oranges and reds and brilliant yellows. You can easily achieve these colors by adding mums just about anywhere. You can put them on porches, in window boxes or along your pathways and stairs. Mums are the perfect addition to a fall landscape because they are sturdy and colorful. With the right care, they can last through the autumn’s chilly season and brighten up any spot you put them in. Landwork Contractors can help you choose the perfect mum and keep them thriving throughout the fall.
Pumpkins– It just doesn’t seem like fall until pumpkins start popping up. Use these colorful harvest plants to brighten up your home in many different ways.
1. Add different colored pumpkins to your pathway, with fun faces or elegant designs.
2. Place a pumpkin tower on your porch or stoop with designs stenciled in.
3. Place pumpkins throughout the home to bring a bit of fall color indoors.
4. Place an arrangement of colorful pumpkins along your steps or porch to brighten up cloudy fall days.
Harvest Displays & Hayrides!– Make your home the talk of the neighborhood with a fun harvest display or weekend hayride. Your doorstep can be transformed for fall with a simple hay bale and a perfectly designed display of Indian corn, pumpkins and fall plants. Or keep it simple with a harvest wreath of Indian corn and wheat. On weekends, have your kids and their friends ride on your own hayride, just pull a trailer behind your riding lawnmower and add a couple hay bales. You can even place hay bales around your fire pit and roast marshmallows. Just be sure to keep them a safe distance and follow all fire safety rules. Harvest displays can be anything you choose, get out there and have fun!

Fall Fun or Autumn Elegance, You Choose How to Brighten Up Your Home!

No matter what your style is or how you celebrate fall, you can easily brighten up your home for fall. An experienced designer, like our team at Landwork Contractors, will help bring your vision to life with beautiful, healthy plants. Call us today at 914-479-2537 to get your fall designs started. You can even make an appointment online as you dream up your design. We’ll have your home ready for fall in no time.

Prevent Pest with Perfect Planting

Posted on March 21, 2016March 11, 2016 by Landwork Contractors

Landwork Contractors Keeps Your Lawn Lovely

While we all love seeing deer and little critters out in the wild, but we’d prefer they stay out of our gardens. While we start planning our spring gardens, it’s the perfect time to consider deer and pest resistant plants to add to our yards. Landwork Contractors knows how to protect your lawn from pests. Our experienced and trusted staff can keep your landscaping beautiful all year long.

Pests on Patrol

There are many pests that are native to the Westchester County area, each of them can damage or destroy your lawn or landscaping.

Deer– Deer are beautiful and majestic creatures that love our woody plants

with broad leaves. Deer destroy gardens and landscaping with:

Scraped Trees – Bucks use the bottom trunks of trees to scrape their antlers on and trees are stripped bare of the bark needed for protection and nutrition.
Trampled Gardens- Crops, bushes, plants and grasses can get trampled down while deer eat.
Bare Bottomed Trees- Often deer will eat all the leaves from the reachable branches.

Voles– Voles are small rodents that resemble mice. They love fruit trees, but they will scavenge after anything. Voles damage landscaping by:

Holes- Voles create holes all over your garden and lawn, particularly close to trees.
Leftovers- Voles make it difficult for plants to grow by leaving behind tunnels and droppings.
Girdling- Much like deer, voles will strip a tree of its bark, usually in one strip around the entire tree.

Rabbits– Who doesn’t love a sweet little bunny? The problem is their large colonies can destroy our yards and gardens.

Dead Grass- Rabbits either eat the grass or damage it with their waste.
Vanishing Veggies- Rabbits will come in the night and take veggies or plants they love.

Winning the Pest War

Now that you know what you’re up against, you might be wondering how you can win the pest war. Landwork Contractors has a wealth of knowledge and experience battling pests and keeping lawns beautiful. Here are just a few tools for beautiful gardens:

Pest Resistant Plants– Certain textures and smells work to repel deer and other pests from eating up your garden. Luckily, there are several that are available for planting right here in Westchester County.
- Herb Gardens- Herbs have a strong smell that keeps pests away. There’s also the added bonus of having fresh herbs at the end of the day
- Grasses- Certain Grasses can be used to deter deer, like Golden Variegated Hakonechloa, Switch Grass, Perennial Fountain Grass, Ribbon Grass, Chinese Silver Grass and many other ornamental grasses.
- Woody Perennials- Beautiful woody perennials like Bayberries, Butterfly Bush, Boxwood, Junipers and Contoneaster all tend to keep deer away.
- Perennials-There are a lot of perennials that pests avoid. Some include Periwinkle, Japanese Painted Ferns, Ragwort, Allegheny Spurge, Monkshood, Creeping Jenny and many more.
Fencing– Fencing doesn’t have to be an eyesore to protect your plants. Landwork Contractors works with many different hardscaping designs to protect lawns, you can get some ideas from our Pinterest page.

Small fences around tree bases, particularly around fruit trees.
Beautiful retaining walls that separate some pests from their food.
Property fencing for gardens.

Frightening Away- Adding a few extras can scare away pests.
- Things with reflective surfaces, mirrors or tiles that catch the light.
- Pieces that make a little rustling sounds or wind chimes that sing.
- Anything that smells like people, cats or dogs, including scarecrows or hair on lower branches.
- Ammonia Scent- The smell of ammonia wards of many animals because it mimics the smell of waste.
Planning Plots- Make a plan for your yard by using zones.
- Place plants that attract deer and pests closer to your home, where they are less likely to go.
- Plant deer resistant plants on the edges of the property to keep deer from entering.
- Do a patchwork of pest resistant plants around the more edible plants.

Prevention Brings Perfection

Landwork Contractors works closely with local nurseries to provide the best in pest resistant plants. While no plant is pest proof, many deter pests. Landwork Contractors can help you make your landscaping both beautiful and practical. Call us today to order your pest resistant plants and get your Spring Garden started right. Or make an appointment online while you enjoy your morning coffee.

Make Your Mark Anywhere

Posted on January 25, 2016January 29, 2016 by Landwork Contractors

Professional Landscapers Create Magic for Any Grounds

When you look around at the incredible homes and grounds of the Westchester area, it’s easy to see why our homes are the best in the nation. These incredible landscapes and grounds took careful planning. The hilly ground and rocky areas create many landscape challenges. Landwork Contractors knows how to create beautiful spaces from challenging conditions. We offer many residential and commercial services to deal with irregular and small lawns, including:

Landscape Design
Landscape Construction
Patio and Walkway Design and Placement
Custom Masonry Work
Drainage for Problem Areas
Steps and Stairway Designs and Installation
Fire Pit Installations
Retaining Walls for Unusual Grounds

Your yard isn’t impossible. The incredible team at Landwork Contractors can turn any space into a beautiful oasis, and winter is the perfect time to start.

Small Can Be Big

Just because you have a small patch of yard doesn’t mean you can’t design it to fit your big dreams. For smaller yards consider a few of these tips.

Consider Growing Up- Adding levels to your small space through terraced grounds or decks can add extra space.
Give It a Rest – Find a spot where you can sit and relax, off to the side. Small grounds like office courtyards or city terraces are great for built in seating. Add a retaining wall with seating or place a bench under two trees and design out from there.
Walk Around- Make the most of your garden with a walkway or path. Winding paths create beautiful views with the illusion of more space.
Plant in Layers- Much like adding levels, planting in layers can add more to your little space. Choose a tree or two, some vine plants, a shrub or so and small flowers. Your garden has a vertical view that makes it larger.

Irregular Can Be Incredible

Natural beauty is sometimes challenging. Sloping land and rocky edges make designing tricky. A professional landscaper like Landwork Contractors can help you tame the wild with a few techniques. These techniques include:

Retaining Walls: Retaining walls keeping land where it is. Walls with custom masonry also create new spaces and beautiful accents.
Pathways and Steps- Installing pathways or steps can create a safe place to walk on hilly or uneven ground. They can also add focus and drama to unusual grounds.
Spacing Out- Seating, fire pits, patios, and geometric designs can all be placed in nooks of your irregular yard, leaving you with lots of areas for entertaining or relaxing.

Narrow Is Nice

Many of our older homes have narrow lanes of green. These strips of land can be turned into backyard retreats with a few steps.

Compartments- Much like your home, a narrow yard can be divided into outdoor rooms. Section off blocks for different uses. An area towards the front for entertaining. One block for gardening or a hobby.
Featured Fun- Installing features can create purpose and calm. Place a fire pit to the side for entertaining. A water feature in the back for relaxing. The possibilities are endless.
Illusions of Grandeur- Winding paths and stonework can make narrow spaces seem wider. Plus, the right path can make the sections of your narrow yard flow together.

Dreams Come True

Some issues make it difficult to create the perfect peaceful landscape. Landwork Contractors can solve your lawn issues. We can help you create your perfect sanctuary in any setting, no matter the natural features, the shape or size. While winter is blowing in, start planning your dream landscape. Call us today at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online. Be the first on our list to get your retreat ready for spring.