Get a Jump on Spring 

The next time you gaze out the window thinking about the first day of spring, don’t think you have to wait to get your spring projects started. In fact, now is the time to start the ball rolling. This interlude between fall and spring is perfect to undertake two types of projects – grading and hardscaping – so when that first day of spring weather shows up, you'll be well on the way to having your outdoor improvements in place.
Oriole Landscaping can work with you now to design, plan and build those improvements you’ll enjoy for years to come, starting right away come spring weather this year.

Like the name implies, hardscaping involves the use of hard materials, such as gravel, stone, concrete and brick. These materials form the basis of a bevy of features, including:

• Walkways
  
• Patios
  
• Decks
  
• Retaining walls
  
• Water features
  

Oriole Landscaping always strives to achieve a balance between a yard's hardscaping and “soft” features. By “balance,” we don't necessarily mean a 50-50 ratio of elements. Every yard is different, and the characteristics worth accentuating (especially trees) often drive a hardscaping plan that is original and distinctive. True balance is achieved by creating a hardscaping plan that complements the topography as much as it pleases the eye.

Why now is a good time for hardscaping

As you know from the state of your yard, grass, plants and flowers go dormant during the winter. And if the ground isn't frozen, it's certainly harder now than it is during the warmer months. Both conditions bode well for wintertime hardscaping projects. Digging into your yard now causes less disruption to the surroundings and to plant roots, which tend to grow actively in warm weather. And the timing results in less mess because the ground isn't wet and muddy.
If you have a brick or paver patio on your wish list, now is the time to get the project on the drawing board and completed in time for spring.

Grading, sometimes referred to as leveling and even sculpting, is often considered by home owners as a way to add lawn space, but it also serves to improve plant health and drain water away from your home. To the naked eye, it can be difficult to tell if your yard is properly graded. But some telltale trouble signs usually point to a yard that could benefit from regrading. These signs include:

Water pooling in the yard, causing grass and plants to become waterlogged or water pockets to form and become a haven for mosquitoes
Water pooling near the foundation, which can lead to flooding and structural damage to your home
Topsoil and fertilizer washing away quickly during even a light rain storm

Why now is a good time for grading

There is little you can do – or enjoy – without a properly leveled yard. Even the most carefully chosen shrubs and plants can flounder without proper drainage. And a small play area could be plagued by myriad safety problems if water congregates where it shouldn't.
Grading your property now will make it more hospitable to whatever you have planned for it, be it a passive or active use, from a patio or deck framed by soft gardening beds to a small badminton field. And it will make even routine lawn maintenance less of a battle.

You can benefit from Oriole's expertise

At Oriole Landscaping, you can always count on our expertise and creativity. But now is the perfect time to call us to schedule an in-home consultation. We'll be ready to start getting your yard ready for spring – right this minute.