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gardening Landscaping

Terrace Gardening And Landscaping Ideas

Terrace Gardening And Landscaping philadelphia Ideas

Terrace Gardening And Landscaping Ideas : the terrace may be either at ground level, below ground level, or raised above it. The simplest type is ground level, which requires only the grading we have indicated.

Terraces present wonderful possibilities in the garden. They are outdoor living rooms during good weather and form a transition from the outdoors to the indoors throughout the year.

The terrace may be either at ground level, below ground level, or raised above it.

The simplest type is ground level, which requires only the grading we have indicated. There is a wide choice of flooring materials to use. One may use cement, poured and leveled with a large board, but in maintaining the drainage grade or including shallow drainage paths, smooth turf may be used, in which case the preparation will be the same as for other lawn areas and various other types of bases.

The use of flagstones is made simple by applying a load of sand or gravel to the subsoil and digging the flagstones into the sand or gravel. The niches between the stones can be dug out and filled with top-soil and grass or other cover planted between them. This gives a very pleasing effect.

Hollow clay building tiles can be split and laid as units in the terrace floor, their rough edges in the soil.

Another good surfacing material is “exposed aggregate,” which is free from glare because of its rough finish. For this type of surface, build a form of 2 x 4’s. Pour the flooring in squares, one square at a time, and level with a straight board. The material used is a mixture of cement, sharp sand and crushed rock or pebbles.

Redwood or cypress blocks may also be used for terrace floors and are very attractive, although somewhat less durable than stone or brick. You can buy the blocks cut to size and lay them directly in a bed of sand, which in turn has been laid on compacted gravel or cinder. Un-mortared brick, laid in a pattern, on 2 to 4 inches of well-tamped sand, with loose sand in the crevices for grass, makes a hardy and simple-to-construct terrace floor. The bricks may be laid flat or on end, and to keep them from spreading, drive an angle iron against the corners. Use a pattern that follows the lines of your terrace.

The Sunken Terrace Gardening

A sunken terrace is one that is below ground level, says modifier stl freecad . It can be very attractive, and it does give a feeling of coolness on a humid day or a hot night. The sunken terrace requires a retaining wall to prevent soil from continually eroding into it, and also to maintain the topsoil of the surrounding garden. The subsoil must be dug to a depth of about 5 or 6 inches below the level you wish to attain with the terrace itself. The use of sand or gravel as a base is of importance. The top treatment can follow your own dictates.

The Raised Terrace Gardening

The raised terrace is generally not fully raised, but starts at the house level and is raised at its outer edge. Again, a retaining wall is called for. The principal problem with the raised terrace is levelling. Once this is accomplished, and the retaining wall built, construction follows the same procedure as in any other case. Drainage is supplied either by a central drain, going into a tile line, or by underground piping through the retaining wall.

Terrace Gardening And Landscaping Ideas by Landscaper Philadephia

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gardening Landscaping

How to make your landscape look good

How to make your landscape look good san antonio

How to make your landscape look good. There is no doubt that when landscaping one wants to save money, as well as have an attractive property. Not only can landscaping help you beautify your home, but it can also provide a source of satisfying exercise in the fresh air. When you have a good business term loan and take care of your yard on your own, it is possible to save money and to improve your physical conditioning. But if the landscape turns out to look bad, then that is so much time and money wasted , explains Imprimantes 3d . However, it is possible to ensure a better-looking landscape by following a few tips that can help you take better care of your yard.

Know your soil type.

Some plants thrive in soil with more acidity, and others prefer a little more alkali. Additionally, sandy soil and clay soil, as well as the presence of loamy soil, can make a difference in what types of plants will thrive in a landscape. You should have your soil evaluated in order to determine what types of vegetation should be planted on your property. When you purchase plants that will succeed in the soil conditions present in your yard, then you make a wiser money decision, and you end up with a more attractive landscape. If there are plants that you would like to use in your soil, but the soil is not quite ideal, it is possible to improve the soil to proper conditions. You need only add mulch or peat, or to add crushed limestone or clamshells, depending upon what you hope to accomplish. As long as there is not a great difference in what you have and what you hope to achieve, it is possible to make soil adjustments to be more accommodating.

Understand how much space each of the plants need. There are some plants that require more room for their root systems than others. If you choose one plant that tends to grow everywhere, and you do not have adequate space, you will find that your other plants may be crowded out or that they may choke and die. Also, make sure you understand the spacing requirements for between plants. Many shrubs and small trees need to be planted at least three to four feet apart to have enough room to grow.

Use native plants in your landscape design.

One of the most effective things you can do to ensure a good-looking yard is to make use of native plants. Find out what plants grow best in your area, and what plants are indigenous to the region. This way you will already be ahead, in that you know that the plants you choose are adapted to the climate. You will not have to struggle against natural inclinations to keep your landscape looking beautiful. If you due use non-native plants, assure yourself that they come from a place that shares a climate similar to the one in which you live.

Plan your landscape around different blooming times. Different plants bloom at various times throughout the year. If all of the plants in your landscape are at their most attractive all at the same time, then your yard will look beautiful for a few weeks each year, but quite possibly ugly the rest of the year. One way to help avoid this is to choose attractive bushes and shrubs that look good green, but also have some sort of flower. However, it is a good idea to stagger plants among each other. Plant tulips and crocus among later-blooming plants so that in early spring the bulbs bloom, and then when those flowers’ time is up, the next plants will be in bloom. In this way the cycle of your landscape is in keeping with the seasons, and looks attractive all year round.

Use wood chips around shrubs, bushes and trees.

Wood chips can help the ground around shrubs, bushes, and trees look more attractive. Not only do the chips cover the ground (often looking better than dirt), but they also help keep in moisture, repel weeds, and provide natural food as they break down. Likewise, attractive groundcover like chicks and hens placed around trees and shrubs can make the area more interesting and pleasing to the eye, explains Landscaping San Antonio

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gardening Landscaping

How Does Your Garden Grow: Tips For Hiring A Landscaper

How Does Your Garden Grow: Tips For Hiring A Landscaper Iowa City

How Does Your Garden Grow: Tips For Hiring A Landscaper : just when you’re done with shoveling snow, you can set your sights toward spring (and summer) and mowing the lawn. But, for many the grass would be a lot greener if they could just get someone else to do it (the mowing that is). But, weeding out a reputable landscaper, one who not only knows what he is doing, but also one you can trust and can afford can be quite challenging and tricky, especially if your not sure of what to ask about or look for. With that said, professionals offer the following advice for homeowners who are a bit “green” in the gardening arena.

1. Put Your Money Where Your Word Of Mouth Is:

If you’re going to invest in any professional, your best bet is to chose among those that come highly referred by those you know and trust, tells Fonction Matlab . After all there’s no better advertising, than a content client. And, by all means don’t be afraid to ask strangers and neighbors (with lovely lawns) for their recommendation.

2. Dig A Little Deeper:

Go beneath the surface and unearth some solid references. Not only should you ask for client approval but ask to take a look at their yards. You’ll also want to ask your potential service provider to see a sample of his work, including photo albums and any work featured in magazines.

3. Refrain From Planting A Financial Seed:

Sometimes service professionals will charge you based on what they think you can afford, or a “comfortable” number you’ve revealed to them. Instead, experts suggest giving the prospective landscaper a detailed wish list and allowing him to generate an estimate.

4. Sign On The Dotted Line:

Although many (service) professionals may insist that their word and their handshake is as good as a written contract, experts suggest “getting it in writing” It’s likely your chosen landscaper will request a 50 percent down payment (upfront) with the balance due upon completion of the job/services. However, professionals point out that a landscaper worth his weight in soil will honor the contract even if you hold back 10 percent of the payment until 30 days after completion (or sooner if you’re happy with the work). And, they suggest asking for a specific guarantee for the services agreed upon.

5. Get An Education:

Get informed by brushing up via the latest gardening books and magazines, you that you learn the lingo and can properly ask for what you want, and maybe even have some pictures to show making your expectations more concrete and clear.

6. Insta-Garden Alternatives:

If you’ve got the time, energy, and ambition about doing much of the work yourself, experts suggest hiring a landscaper or landscape architect to draw up the plans and a planning schedule (preferably starting in the spring). And they note that some nurseries offer this service either for free or for a nominal fee.

How Does Your Garden Grow: Tips For Hiring A Landscaper by Iowa City Landscaper

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Landscaping

Gazebos Add Style To Any Landscape

Gazebos Add Style To Any Landscape AtlantaGazebos Add Style To Any Landscape : a gazebo can be a wonderful addition to a backyard landscape, adding an aesthetic appeal as well as a comfortable relaxation spot. If you are thinking about adding a gazebo to your backyard decor, you will want to consider the location where you plan to place your new structure.

Gazebo location is going to depend to a large extent on what you are planning to use your gazebo for.

Is it a garden gazebo, a gathering place for friends and family on beautiful summer afternoons? Perhaps you’ll be enclosing your gazebo and installing a hot tub or spa inside of it, suggests Modifier Stl . How you use your gazebo will determine where you should build it. A garden gazebo might be located toward the back of your yard, in order to have friends walk through it. A hot tub shelter should probably be located closer to the door, to minimize the walk in a bathing suit.

Aesthetics are important: you may choose to highlight your structure by making it the center of attention or blend it into your landscape and make it a secret hideaway. You should also be mindful of the building’s relation to other structures that you may have on your property.

Think about the pros and cons of your preferred site in all four seasons.

The surrounding foliage (and weather) can look very different from one season to the next. All of these considerations may have some impact on where you build your gazebo.

Choosing a size for your gazebo is the next important step. The key is to ensure that your space is large enough for its intended purposes while remaining proportional to the surrounding environment. A general rule of thumb is that an 8′ gazebo fits 2 people (2 chairs) and a small table. With every two-foot addition, two more people can be seated comfortably in the gazebo (for example, a 10′ gazebo holds 4 people comfortably, a 12′ gazebo holds 6 people comfortably, etc.).

Once you have decided on a size, it’s a good idea to stake it out the dimensions in your yard to ensure that the fit is comfortable for your needs and that the location is harmonious with your landscape.

Gazebos Add Style To Any Landscape by Atlanta Landscaping

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Landscaping

Landscape Gardening – 8 Tips to Wow Your Neighbors

Landscape Gardening - 8 Tips to Wow Your Neighbors Atlanta
Landscape Architect sketching Detail on Garden Plan. Design, Idea and Sketch is our own Work.

Landscape Gardening – 8 Tips to Wow Your Neighbors

1. Planning your landscape is like painting a picture on canvas.

Just like your art teacher in high school told you – have a main point of interest and add several sub points to make your beautiful landscape more interesting. You imagine it in your mind, draw sketches and fill in all the details that you’ve dreamed of. Keep revising your sketch until it looks like the picture you have in mind.

2. Not feeling very artistic?

If you’re a more ‘concrete’ person, try laying out garden hoses or heavy string in your yard to get a feel for how and where you want to divide up your space. Remember to think balance, not symmetry. Some people think that they have to plant trees and flowers in straight, boring rows. Tip: pick an odd number when planting trees or flowers. With flowers, plant several of the same plant in groups to make a large color splash. Better to have a few, well-chosen, bold splashes of color than to have tiny spots of color spread all over a large area.

3. If you’re having a hard time thinking of what your chief point of interest can be, close your eyes and think about what you like most about your yard.

Is there a tall, solo pine tree, a grouping of birch trees, a rocky ledge, an old weathered fence or something else that catches your eye? If you can’t find something of interest that’s already in place, think about adding something that you admire from a picture in a magazine or something that caught your eye when you were driving through a beautiful neighborhood. Tip: do NOT copy something that your next-door neighbor is doing. They won’t appreciate it and it won’t look nearly as special if both of you are going for the same effect.

4. Still can’t think of a chief point of interest?

What about creating a spot for a water fall? Not a pond – that’s old news! With a re-cycling water fall, you don’t have to worry about standing pond water or algae. Just pick some interesting rocks or boulders of varying sizes, arrange them to cascade down a slope, add plants and water, tells Vin Blanc du Languedoc . Voila! Or, how about a rock path winding through your yard? Or a rock wall of native stone to create interest?

5. If you choose a tree or group of trees to be your main point of interest, don’t center them in your yard.

It’s far more interesting to place them a bit off center. Don’t choose a huge, overpowering tree; the tree should have a good shape, with something interesting about its bark, leaves, seed pods, flowers or fruit. Tip: while the poplar is a striking tree and a rapid grower, it sheds its leaves early and so is left standing with bare branches in early fall. The poplar makes a better choice for a backyard tree or when creating a dividing space between your yard and your neighbors. Good choices for trees are the mountain ash with bright berries, the brilliant leaves of the sugar maple or the bark of the white birch, which all add interest to your total landscape.

6. It is always best to choose trees and shrubs that thrive in your local climate.

It’s tempting to choose something exotic out of a catalog but you’ll be unhappy if the tree you choose is not right for your climate. Trees are a big investment, choose wisely.

7. Flowering vines can also be used to create interest.

Whether you choose an ivy to climb the bricks on your house or a trumpet vine to wind around an old weathered fence alongside your house, both can be used as sub-points to accent your main point of interest. Tip: perennial vines can be used to form a permanent addition to your landscape scheme. The Virginia creeper, wisteria, honeysuckle, a climbing rose or clematis all make excellent choices for creating interest and can be used to minimize minor imperfections in walls.

8. And for a final flair, add a colorful flag to your landscape design.

Whether you choose a whimsical, garden flag or a majestic, patriotic American Flag, both will create interest and add color to your landscape. Tip: choose polyester for the greatest durability of a flag that is flown daily. Choose nylon flags for flying in the lightest breeze. There are several new, flag hanger styles available if you don’t already have a flag pole in your yard. The spinning flagpole mounts on your house, deck or mailbox post, and is designed to keep your flag from wrapping. And the telescoping flagpole easily extends up to 20 feet in seconds or down to 7 feet for portability.

Landscape Gardening – 8 Tips to Wow Your Neighbors has been kindly provided by Create your patio in Austin – Landscape Gardening – 8 Tips to Wow Your Neighbors by our landscaping Austin

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Landscaping

Organic Gardening Compost

Organic Gardening Compost landscaper dallasOrganic Gardening Compost : saves You Money and Helps Save the Earth.

Synthetic fertilizers are out and organic gardening compost is the in thing with farmers who are trying out the holistic way in planting.

Organic Gardening

With organic gardening, farmers are going back to the most basic way of growing plants and trees and that is by being one with nature. The latter phrase meaning that they no longer use artificial fertilizers and commercially available pesticides, but instead rely on the natural environment to be able to grow produce.

Organic Gardening Compost

Compost is the mixture of decaying plants, animal manure or other organic materials that is being used as a fertilizer. While nature can work on compost by itself, men can speed up the process by using the equation air plus water, carbon, then nitrogen is equal to compost.

Composting in Simpler Terms

Don’t be overwhelmed by the word equation stated above. This is not really a complex thing. This can actually be done in a simple and step-by-step ways.

Hot Compost

While others opt to burn fallen leaves, such is wealth for gardeners as this is the start of their composting process. The first thing they have to do is to bag those leaves. Clipped grass from mowed surfaces can also be put in the bag.

To bring in oxygen and a quantity of water enough to dampen the leaves systematically, put several holes near the bag’s top and at its bottom. The holes will also let the carbon dioxide out and excess water as well. Pour in about two shovelfuls of garden soil into the bag where the leaves are, then shake it to mix the contents. Or if not possible, just roll the bag thoroughly.

Mixing should be done on a schedule after every other week.

Check on the leaves and pour water to moisten those if they’ve dried out. In about two to three months, alas, your compost is ready. The contents of the bag that look like dark and flaky stuff are your compost.

To use that dark and flaky stuff as a fertilizer for your plants, put an inch thick layer on the soil’s top layer. That will then be absorbed by the plants. It actually acts as fertilizer and at the same time pesticide and can even prevent weeds from growing. It also contributes in conserving water as your plants won’t need as much.

To be able to come up with the same output at lesser time, you can also try shredding the leaves first before sacking it all up.

Cold Compost

The difference between cold and hot compost is that the first is easier to do than the latter which takes more effort.

Cold compost can be done by simply gathering wastes from your own backyard, may it be leaves, grass clippings and weeds, then piling them up. Allow a period of six to twenty-four months for earthworms and other microorganisms to break the stuff down. While waiting, you can add up materials to your pile. In this scenario, the stuff at the bottom decomposes first.

But aside from the long wait, this type of compost is not as effective as hot compost. It cannot kill weeds and pathogens. Also, before using such, you should screen out for undecomposed materials from the pile.

Whatever you may choose between the two, you’re still on the winning side by using organic gardening compost because not only you are saving up money but more so, you are helping out conserve and clean our environment.

Thishttps://www.landscaper-dallas.com/services/landscaping-ideas-landscape-design post “Organic Gardening Compost” was kindly provided by Dallas landscape design , a professionnal Landscaping company ) .

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Well drilling

Drill Buying Considerations

Water Well Drilling Oklahoma Drill Buying ConsiderationsDrill Buying Considerations : if you are researching the purchase of a new drill, this article suggests some points you may want to include in your decision prior to spending your hard-earned money on a drill.

1) With Cord or Without?

This is the first important decision to make. There are several advantages and disadvantages to each type of drill:

– Cordless drills tend to be more convenient to use. They can easily be used in any location without the need of power cords and power outlets; so long as the battery stays charged. The significant advantage of corded drills is that there is no limitation on how long they can be used. With a corded drill, you will never find yourself waiting for batteries to charge.

– While it may sounds strange, cordless drills tend to be lighter than corded drills. But, if you choose a high-power cordless drill (18V and 24V), these models are often as heavy or heavier than their corded counterparts.

– Cordless drills are safer. There is no cord acting as a trip hazard.

– If torque and long run times are needed, a corded drill will perform better. Although there are many high-power models available for cordless drills, corded drills will always be able to supply more power, and they will be able to supply it for a longer period of time.

– Even the best batteries have a finite lifetime. You should expect that the batteries in your cordless drill will only last two to three years at most. Batteries for cordless drills are very costly to purchase; it’s usually cheaper to just buy a new cordless drill than it is to purchase two new batteries. So if you are purchasing a cordless drill, expect to be buying a new drill in several years time. By comparison, if you choose a corded drill you are set for at least 10 years, if not more.

– If you are going to opt for a cordless drill, be sure to get a cordless drill with Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries; do not buy a drill with Nickel-Metal-Hydride (NiMH) batteries. Li-Ion batteries are better; they are more powerful, they have longer lifetimes, they do not have “memory” issues, and they are less harmful to the environment because they contain less harmful metal elements.

2) Pick a Chuck

The chuck is the part of the drill that holds the bits in place. There are two picks to make here: size and type.

Standard chuck sizes are 1/4″, 3/8″, and 1/2″ with the standard size being 3/8″. If you want the ability to use large diameter drill bits, go with the 1/2″ chuck since many bigger bits will not fit in a 3/8″ drill. If you do not need or want the ability to accommodate larger bits, the 3/8″ chuck is a better option since typically they have higher bit speeds with the smaller chuck sizes.

There are two types of chucks: keyed and keyless. With the keyed chuck, you use a mechanical key to tighten and loosen drill bits. For drills with keyless chucks, the drill bit is tightened into the chuck by holding the chuck with your hand while powering the drill. The mechanical advantage of the keyed chuck makes it able to hold bits tighter so there is less chance of your drill bit slipping in the chuck. The advantage of the keyless chuck is that it is much quicker to change drill bits, and there is no key to lose or keep track of.

3) Important Features

To get the most benefits out of your new drill, be sure that it has these important features:

– Reverse. Even if you don’t plan to use your drill for driving screws, the reverse is a very important feature to have for removing bits that get stuck. If you are getting a drill that has a keyless chuck, it will always have reverse (otherwise there would be no way to get the drill bit out), you only need to check for the presence of this feature if you are buying a drill with a keyed chuck.

– Variable speed. If you want to use your drill to drive screws, this is essential. If you don’t plan to drive screws, this is still an important feature as it makes it much easier to drill clean holes since different materials require bit speeds.

– Speed range settings. This is only needed if you plan to drive screws. If you are, this feature is critical to have. Having the lower speed range makes it much easier to drive screws.

– A torque clutch. Again, this is only required if you plan to drive screws. The clutch allows you to set a maximum torque point after which the drill will stop. This is extremely useful when driving screws so that you do not over-drive the screw into the material. If you are driving large amounts of screws (like in decking), this feature is a real life-saver.

This post Drill Buying Considerations has been kindly provided by Well Drilling Oklahoma

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Landscaping

Aerating Your Customers’ Lawns

Aerating Your Customers’ Lawns Landscapers Cleveland
Aerating Your Customers’ Lawns : if your customers don’t have the thick, lush lawns they’ve imagined, you can rack your brain trying to figure out the cause. While you interrogate them about their watering practices and second guess yourself on fertilization, the problem might be a lot simpler. It might be time to aerate.

If your customers don’t have the thick, lush lawns they’ve imagined, you can rack your brain trying to figure out the cause, tells Code postal Lyon . While you interrogate them about their watering practices and second guess yourself on fertilization, the problem might be a lot simpler. It might be time to aerate.

Are there tracks on the lawn?

Are there tons of weeds despite a good fertilizer with weed prevention? Are pests becoming a problem? Is water pooling in the lawn after heavy rains? Are there bare spots that you haven’t been able to help? The soil might have compacted, and it might just take a little aerating to make the lawn thrive. If the customer has clay soil or it’s a dry area, you’ll need to aerate more frequently. There’s a simple and pretty unscientific way to tell when it’s time to aerate. Grab a stick. If the soil is difficult to penetrate with the stick, you should aerate.

You should choose a nice, clear day to aerate. If the soil is wet, you will have a huge mess and a lot of explaining to do to customers. You’re also going to get compacted soil much more quickly if it’s wet. If it’s too dry, you won’t be able to penetrate the soil with an aerator. Pay attention to the weather. You should have nice weather for as long as possible (a week at least) after you aerate for maximum benefits.

If you don’t yet have an aerator attachment for your mowers,

you can rent one. I recommend renting them before you buy one anyway. There are different types of aerators with different features, and the best way to determine which you prefer is to try them out. Aerators with spreaders allow the plugs (or cores) of soil to be spread throughout the lawn. It’s fine to leave them, but they should be raked to make the lawn look better right away. If you have a lot of clay soil yards or live in a dry area, you want longer spikes on your aerator. You also want more spikes to play the odds. The more spikes you have, the more likely at least some will penetrate harder, dryer soils. In particularly dry areas, it’s a good idea to water a day or two before aeration, just to promote penetration. Then simply mow in the same pattern you were going to mow anyway, with the aerator attached.

Aerating a lawn allows air, water, and nutrients to get to the roots of the grass. It allows earthworms to move about. Other good little organisms that take care of pests and naturally fertilize the lawn will thrive. You’ll also break through some weed roots, and the healthier lawn will have a better fighting chance against the weeds. You’ll have fewer problems with flooding, and the lawn will be more drought-tolerant. Bare spots will fill in much better.

Right after aerating is the perfect time to overseed

if you are trying to repair bare spots or filling in during fall for a green winter lawn. By core aerating the lawn, you’ve perfectly prepared the soil to thrive on the seeds. This should be done as soon as possible after aerating, and it’s best to remove the pulled plugs from the lawn if you’re going to seed. It’s also a great time for water to get deep into the soil in dry areas, so watering after aeration is preferable. If it’s fertilization time, it’s also a good idea to aerate first if it’s needed.

In hot, dry climates, you might need to aerate in summer, fall, and at the beginning of spring, depending on how dry the winter was. Cooler weather grasses are better aerated early in fall. They are too fragile and will recover more slowly if aerated in the summer, and fall is the perfect time to prepare them for winter. If the soil is heavy with clay, you might need to aerate more often. It’s a good idea to keep your stick (knife, screwdriver, etc) handy to check if the soil has compacted.

Aerating will save your customers time and money watering in the summer as their lawns will be better able to withstand drought, and they will be thrilled with their healthier, fuller lawns. It’s well worth investing in a good aerator.

This post “Aerating Your Customers’ Lawns” has kindly been provided by Landscaping Cleveland, ( one of the best landscapers near me companies ).