Need shade for your patio? Shade sails offer a nice alternative to the norm

Properly designed outdoor living spaces and landscapes offer areas of full sun, as well as shady retreats for sitting and relaxing. Here in the Hudson Valley, homeowners generally turn to options like pergolas, pavilions, awnings, or umbrellas. These all work well and the team at Landworx has certainly installed its fair share of these solutions. 

As of late, there seems to be a new-comer to the shade party. Commonly referred to as shade sails, they are essentially large pieces of heavy duty, weather resistant fabric help taught by heavy duty posts. A quick search on Houzz.com will yield numerous inspirational photos of real projects where sails where used. Often triangular in shape and used in sets of 2 or 3, shade sails are great for creating a design statement or focal point in the landscape. 

With outdoor living industry exploding in popularity, more and more products are coming to market, offering great design options for homeowners in Orange County, NY. So following suit after advancements in patio pavers, outdoor kitchens, and pool construction, we were due for a new solution for creating shade in the residential landscape. Perhaps these shade sails will take off in popularity here in the Hudson Valley as they have out on the West Coast. We can only wait and see what the 2016 outdoor living season has in store for us!

Keep your dog happy in your new outdoor living space.

When designing a new outdoor living space, the kids, the in-laws, the big parties, and even the cold evenings are often considered. Making sure there's plenty of room to relax, that it's easy to access the necessities (e.g. proximity of the outdoor kitchen to sitting areas), and the kids safety find their way to the top of the list. And since the dogs are family members too, it's just as important to think of how they’ll be enjoying the landscape as well. The sooner you think through all the extra details that will make the little four-legged friends comfy, the more that your landscaping professional can ensure that all of the pieces work well together in the overall design.

To get your inspiration going, here are 5 important things to consider when creating animal-friendly outdoor living spaces for your Orange County, NY home. 

1. SHADE. Just like their humans, dogs love and need shady areas for rest. Consider a doggy house (maybe even multiple levels) to match the rest of your landscape design. Or perhaps areas of the patio that will always provide an opportunity for a break from the sun. Don’t forget that some pavers and stone can become extremely hot on the particularly sunny days; make sure to provide alternative walking paths for those moments.
2. WATER.  Water fountains with a pump and filter are perfect for providing never-ending clean water for your pet. Place these in discreet areas for dedicated water source for your doggies or use them as integrated design elements that complement or stand out on their own. By integrating, you get the opportunity for double benefits - relaxing water feature for yourself and other humans as well as potentially multiple options for water for your pet. Keep in mind that many dogs can’t swim and even those that can should always be provided a safe way out in case of danger. Enabling access to only shallow water and discouraging access to deeper water areas is best.
3. WANDERING PATHS. Dogs love to roam and explore. Provide fun areas for discovery by creating paths within the space or even all around (a kind of dedicated dog walk area). The paths can also serve as fun exploration areas for children (if safety needs are met - such as avoiding small rocks). Add some benches, great scents from plants like lavender, and you’ll also have the perfect adult paths that allow for meditation and escape.
4. LAWN. All dogs must run! Provide enclosed and large (if possible) spaces for them to go wild. Depending on the breed of your dog(s), some might use this space a lot more than others to get all of their energy out. To help make sure that the rest of your family can enjoy the fury animal members, ensure the running space is near adult-friendly features such as your outdoor kitchen or a children’s swingset. 
5. SAFETY. Some dogs can be happily trained to stay within an area - and others can’t. You know your happy dog best, be sure to incorporate a fence into your design, if its necessary. There’s more to keeping dogs safe - such as avoiding the use of some plants (e.g. lilies - ask your vet for more info) and protecting your animal from other animals. Think through what dangers your dog might be put in with a new design—and which ones currently exist—and face them head on in your conversations with your landscape design/build company. 

3 reasons why fall in the Hudson Valley is perfect for plantings

Contrary to popular believe, the landscape planting season doesn't end come October. In fact, it's just beginning! Because the summer sun here in Orange County, NY can be harsh, trying to establish new plants during the heat can be very challenging. That's why professionals tend to install large new plantings during the cooler months of the year before winter sets in. Here's 3 reasons why autumn is great for pulling the trigger on that new foundation planting, privacy screening, or large tree planting. 

1. The new root systems have time to grow.

Planting in the fall gives shrubs, trees, and perennials time to become accustomed to their new homes. Come spring and summer, their root structures have had many months to establish good growth structure and they are better suited to take on the heat.

2. You get to choose beautiful fall bloom colors when, well, they're in bloom!

Fall is when a large number of trees and shrubs show their beauty. It's difficult to select the plants you wish to use—think Burning Bush and it's fire red glory—in the spring if they are fall blooming specimens. Installing plantings in the fall allow you to see exactly what you're choosing. 

3. Autumn rain showers and cooler temperatures make it easy to keep the soil moist.

With any new planting, regular watering is the most important factor to success. Planting in the summer months makes it extremely challenging to maintain optimal moisture content underground. Luckily, fall in the Hudson Valley usually comes with lower temperatures, morning dew, and regular rain showers. Talk about making your life easier! 

What Size Patio Do I Need?

Investing in your home's outdoor living spaces is one of the most sound decisions in remodeling today. According to a 2014 study by RealEstate.com, landscaping and hardscaping can bring returns of up to 150%—passing traditional kitchen and bath remodels in the ROI department. 

Backed by the reassurance that developing your landscaping is a great idea, now it's time to decide on what size space is right for your family's needs. Traditional speaking, the patio becomes the hub of your Hudson Valley outdoor space, so it's important to size it correctly. 

Sizing your Hudson Valley patio doesn't have to be so a mystery. Image: ConcreteNetwork.com

How to choose the best size for new patio?

Considering how you will actually use your patio is the best way to solve for the sizing problem. How big is your family? Do you like to entertain regularly? What type of furniture do you like and what are the dimensions? Questions like these are extremely helpful in making sure to not go too small or too big. 

We've included a handy guide from the Concrete Network which shows the average square footage it takes to accommodate different furniture arrangements. Planning should start from the essentials like a dining set and expand from there. Once the fundamentals are met, you can access what's left in the budget and how you would like to allocate them. 

Handy Tip: Thinking of your outdoor spaces, just as you would your indoor living room and kitchen, is an excellent way to get a feeling for the space. Considering the trends in outdoor living today, chances are pretty good that you will find yourself using your landscape spaces just as you would your indoor home. 

What outdoor living features should I include?

Now that you have an idea of the budget you have remaining for special elements, it's time to dive into the world of outdoor living accessories. You are pretty much only limited to your imagination and budget here, so it's time to get creative. 

Outdoor fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are incredible ways to extend the useable months outside, while also bringing the family together for some quality time around the fire. Water features are also very popular in the Hudson Valley and bring an amazing focal point and soothing sounds to the party. 

With everything from fully functional outdoor kitchens to overhead structures that add shelter and shade, outdoor living spaces can truly become a seamless extension of your indoor home. 

Add style to existing concrete porches and landings with bluestone overlays

A large number of homes across Orange County, NY and the greater Hudson Valley are built with standard poured concrete front walkways, porches, and landings. Even if the house was built in the last 10 years, chances are still pretty good that the front walkway is concrete. 

Either way, at Landworx, we work with a lot of customers who are looking to upgrade the look of their home's outdoor surfaces. While concrete overlays are a great way to add the beauty of bluestone and natural fieldstone to your curb appeal, it is important that these existing surfaces are sound structurally. Barring any large cracks and/or shifting, overlaying and veneering can be a cost-effective way to bring big outdoor style and curb appeal. 

Front landings are particularly well-suited for this approach. The above photo shows a member of the Landworx install crew working on a total front entry transformation. On the sides of this landing and on the step risers, colonial fieldstone is skillfully veneered, achieving a finished product that looks like it has been that way for years. Finishing off the structure, the bluestone step treads tie in the natural colors of the fieldstone and cohesively unites with the house facade.

Now that's a drastic improvement over the existing concrete stoop!