Custom Patio Blog

Your patio may be pretty but it will definitely look lonely at night without some light to showcase its beauty in the dark. So in this article, we’ve listed 5 lighting ideas you can try so that your patio still gets the appreciation it warrants even at night.

Lamp Post

As quaint as it sounds, lamp posts add an idyllic touch to your outdoor lighting design. So even during the day, you’ll get an impressive outdoor structure that holds its own.

Tiki Torches

Inject a sense of fun and endless summers with tiki torches in your yard. With this lighting style you’ll always feel that the party is just about to get started.

Glow-in-the-dark Paint

One unconventional way of lighting your outdoors is by painting some glow-in-the-dark colors on your patio surface and plant containers. Not only will you save money on electricity and bulbs, you’ll also make your yard gain interesting curb points and appeal.

A Faux Firepit

Now, why did we say faux? Because instead of lighting a firepit, you can simply wrap around string lights on wood and let it be lit the entire night. No fire, just the right amount of light to make you appreciate the beauty of your outdoors at night. You can also wrap it around tree barks.

Chandelier

Who said chandeliers are only reserved for grand ballrooms? Whether it’s using light bulbs, solar-powered or the old-fashioned candles, chandeliers make for an interesting yet quaint lighting option. Like the lamp post, a chandelier transforms into a unique outdoor décor during the day.

Whichever lighting structure you pick, just make sure that it’ll answer your lighting needs.

If you’re still unsure of your lighting options, call Sugarland Patio and let our lighting experts help you with our free, no-obligation consultation.

With Pantone’s color of the year for 2017, expect greenery to amp up its presence from fashion to outdoors and your neighbors’ gardens. In this article, we present you clever ways on how to turn your patio into a trendy greenery.

Mossy Sidewalks, Greener Sidewalks

If you have paved pathways with loose soil in between the tiles, let grass grow in between those steps. Not only will you stop dirt from taking away the shine from your steps, you’ll also create a smoother transition from paved steps to grass and meld the overall look of your patio surface.

Wall Plots

Did you know some plants can grow even without soil? Yes they can when they’re the crawlers which adorn walls with mystery and cloak it with greenery! With some trellis, let them run wild and make your house look more charming. Just make sure to trim it if it grows too wild for your tastes.

Let it Hang

If you don’t want your walls untouched, another horizontal gardening trick you can try is hanging aerial greenery. Free up your limited space and make use of the often overlooked aerial space. Picking greenery that’s also aromatic will also instantly turn your outdoors into a beguiling perfumery.

Go Green

While plants are the first thing that comes to mind when talking about greenery transformation, you can also update your outdoor theme by simply choosing green accessories for your outdoors. From hints of greenery on your patio furniture to throw pillows, carpets and pots, you can easily add greenery without having to turn your outdoors into a forest of green plants.

With these ways, we hope we’ve inspired you to inject more greenery into your patio and in turn, transform your humble patio into the green paradise it truly is.

Aside from the holiday trinkets and simple good old cheer, bring in the ambiance of holidays with the scents these holiday plants bring in.

Pine

Nothing beats the iconic Christmas tree in making us pine for the holidays. Aside from its trademark holiday, it also brings in the scent that reduces anxiety. No wonder the holidays prime us up for nothing but pure and joyous merrymaking.

Cinnamon

Whether it’s to top your hot chocolate, your holiday dessert or a study conducted, subjects has verified that cinnamon is the top spice that reminds them of Christmastime. Not only does it remind us of the holiday, it also improves our attention and memory. Perfect for remembering who is naughty or nice, right?

Vanilla

Make your home smell heavenly with vanilla. Aside from that, it’ll also put you into a joyous and relaxing mood, perfect for the holidays. So relax, sit back and enjoy the holidays with the scent of vanilla.

Lemon

While the holidays are raging on, most homemakers may find themselves at a loss on how to keep their homes clean and organized. As much as everyone loves the smell of festive holiday dishes, too many aromas fighting may choke your home’s ambiance. However, with a simple lemon scent, your home will smell clean and wonderful again. A simple spritz of lemon and your home will smell cleaner in an instant without you having to pick up the broom.

Sage

Perfect for the cool season of Christmastime, sage brings in a pungent aromatic scent that reminds us of holiday comfort foods. Ushering us into the period of cheer and festive meals, sage also makes for a great door wreath which will greet your family, friends and guests with its warm, woody scent.

Do you have a clogged nose? Bloated? Are your joints creaking and swelling? Suffering from a cough? While you ingest your medicines as your doctor has prescribed, augment it with the herbs you may have in your garden by seasoning your food with too and heal faster.

Cayenne for a Clogged Nose

Everything seems muted for worse when your nose fails you. Food tastes bland and your head aches, debilitating you. So to bring back your sense of smell and love for food, incorporate cayenne in your meal and let its compound deactivate inflammation in your nose.

Rosemary for your Cough

It smells good and makes your food taste even better. And for your cough, its eucalyptol component will usher that phlegm out of your system smoothly while its anti-inflammatory benefit will keep sore throat at bay. Say goodbye to sticky phlegm and sore throat with rosemary.

Parsley that Bloat

Feel your body is keeping water reserves enough to tide you over until next year? Get rid of that bloated feeling with parsley. Since it’s a natural diuretic, it’ll help you flush away excess water in your body.

Curry for Joint Pain

It is a definite sign of aging when our joints creak and squeak. Thus, to alleviate that nasty joint pain, use some curry for your food seasoning and feel young again once those joint pains go away.

Oregano for Menstrual Cramps

Every female who has had menstrual cramps can tell you how it feels like there is a little monster carving pain from within and there’s almost nothing you can do about it but lay helpless and whimper in pain. But a teaspoon or two of oregano in your diet during your menstruation period can help you combat menstrual cramps. Thymol and carvacrol, antimicrobial agents found in oregano, help relax the uterine walls and prevent the painful contractions that give you menstrual cramps.

While pharmaceutical drugs are there to cure us of our pain, eating healthy using the right herbs to target our ailments also greatly help our body in healing faster.

While most homeowners would love a garden in full bloom, the cost of maintaining one may be too steep a price to pay. But with these plant varieties that only require a small amount of water, you can have a blooming garden without the normal costs it entails.

Lamb’s Ears
A towering flowering plants with a velvet look and fuzzy ears gives your garden a soft look. Aside from being able to thrive with little to no water at all, lamb’s ears is also a very flexible plant which can grow in full or partial sun and in the poorest of soils.

Ceanothus
It might be classified as an evergreen but its arboreus variety also known as the Catalina Mountain Lilac blooms shocking blue flowers in spring. Meanwhile, its white counterpart known as the New Jersey Tea give fragrant white flowers in clusters. It’s a drought-tolerant species which can also act as a focal point for your garden.

Butterfly Weed
This drought-tolerant plant not only will slash off your water bill but will also give you a butterfly garden. As it blooms clusters of deep yellow flowers from May to September, see butterflies especially monarchs hover over it.

Tower of Jewels
While this majestic tower of red blooms is categorized for zones 9-11, there have been success stories of having these towers bloom in zone 8. This drought-tolerant tower is also a natural attractant for birds, bees and butterflies.

Bananarama Lantana
Growing in clusters of golden yellow, this drought-tolerant plant can thrive in both full sun and light shade. It does not need a lot of water to survive and is most happy when it’s at the hottest temperatures.

With these plant options, get a blooming garden without the exorbitant water bill. If you’re unsure whether these plants can thrive in the kind of garden soil you have, call us today for a free expert advice straight from our seasoned landscape artists!

Keeping the grass green on your side requires a lot of toil. And for most busy homeowners, it just takes so much time. Thus, we’ve compiled a list of lawn grass substitutes that is just as equally charming than your usual lawn specimen. Choosing wisely, any of these lawn grass substitutes can even give your outdoors a charming cottage garden look.

Yellow Creeping Jenny

Sturdy and fit for zone 8, the yellow creeping jenny variety will easily lord over your lawn and create a soft golden carpet for you to tread on.

Rock cotoneaster

This medium height ground cover option transforms over the course of the year. Covering up to 15 feet of your lawn, it produces white floral blooms in spring while it gives off shocks of red berries in fall.

Clover Field

Clover easily makes up for a soft green carpet as a ground cover substitute. Especially for those who hate mowing, clover gives you a low maintenance lawn plant option. From sunny to shady places, this plant does not have a hard time propagating. No need to fertilize it too, making it a thrifty lawn cover option for any homeowner.

Sedge

For those who is going for a meadow-like lawn, sedge is the plant you’re looking for. It thrives almost anywhere and grows in clumps. You can mow it in spring to rid of old grass and let it grow anew.

Prairie Meadows

If you want a charming outdoors that do not need much tending, prairie meadow mix gives you a lawn cover with shocks and spurts of color all over the place. A significant feature of this plant mix is its low maintenance. It also is not as water-hungry as other plants. Although it would love as much sun as it can get, it’s all a prairie meadow mix asks for.

With these 5 lawn grass substitutes, say goodbye to your lawn mower and sacks of fertilizer. Say hello to a charming outdoor lawn and get more out of your lawn for less. If you still need more lawn substitutes or expert advice, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

No matter how good looking your patio is, it needs sprucing up from time to time. Here are some things you can do for your patio maintenance.

1. Make repairs.
   Check your patio surface for cracks or breaks which might invite weeds to grow in it. If you’re unsure on how to fix it, better call up your contractor for advice.

2. Kill weeds.
   Tidy up the look of your patio by eliminating these invaders. Whether you’re using natural weed killers or going for the store bought option, just make sure you’re only targeting the weeds and using it in moderation.

3. Check waterways and drainage systems.
   If you have a sprinkler system, check for leaks or test how the water is distributed, if it reaches all of the plants and moderates water distribution. Make sure that your drainage system is unclogged as well and there are no debris in its path.

4. Take inventory.
   Check and see whether all your plants are healthy. Some may need some trimming, others containing. Check for parasites and unwanted insects and eliminate those.

5. Inspect patio structures.
   Whether you have hammock posts, pergolas, patio covers or fire pits, inspect these patio installments for any wear and tear. Of course, there’s bound to be changes due to the outside elements but also check whether it needs to replaced, refurbished or repainted.

You can create your own relaxation spot in your home where you can unwind as you enjoy the outdoors. Transform your patio into a great spot to relax and entertain guests.

All you have to do is get a few tips on how to decorate and furnish the space, and you have yourself a little haven in your home. The key to furnishing your patio lies in comfort, beauty and function. The following tips will help you come up with splendid patio furniture.

1. Make a skeleton plan

Depending on the size and shape of your patio, you should make a furnishing plan. Develop a vision of benches, chairs and tables that you would have to get.

Consider your lifestyle, color preferences, and the space that you have. Consider what you want the space to be used for in the future. You can plan a dining area where you can eat on warm summer days, a peaceful reading and meditating area, or a fabulous space for holding outdoor parties. This way you know what kind of furniture to get.

2. Go window shopping before buying

Aside from the aesthetic value, patio furniture should be comfortable. Before you buy anything, test it to make sure that it is as comfortable as it looks. Ensure that the furniture you buy will look good and maintain comfort in the long run.

3. Get furniture that is easy to maintain

Patio furniture, as well as garden furniture, get exposed to the harsh outdoors. When you go shopping, choose furniture that is weather-proof. Go for materials such as cedar, metal, teak, wicker and wrought iron. You can include pillows that you can store if the weather is bad. This way your furniture can look wonderful for years to come.

4. Get movable pieces

Sometimes you have to move your furniture to another location for use or for protection. Do not go for benches and tables that are fixed to the ground. You can move the furniture in the basement or shed during storms or winter to protect it.

5. Do not compromise on quality

Patio furniture is enjoyed mostly on warm sunny days. You may find great-looking plastic chairs and tables at cheap prices but may not last for more than two years. Go for quality pieces that will last longer.

6. Get dual-purpose pieces for small spaces

If your patio seems small for furniture, get pieces that can double up their functions. Consider pieces with double sitting space. Use benches that can be used as a table, and when you bring out the throw pillows, they become an instant sitting space.

7. Add a little luxury to it

As much as patio furniture belongs to the harsh outdoors, you are not prohibited from adding a touch of luxury to it. Get soft throw pillows for the hard wrought iron chairs. You can also find soft, all-weather underfoot rugs that are suitable for outdoor use.

A landscaping job is, more often than not, as good as the professionals handling the project. If you want an excellently executed landscaping job, then you should only settle for a reputable and trusted company.

Here’s how to pick out the pros from the crowd of mediocre companies that undertake landscaping works.

1. They always give sound advice

The company that you should settle for should offer you sound advice on how to take care of your lawn throughout the year. This is especially important when choosing the type of plants, flowers, and other décor in your garden.

2. You can access them with ease

A company that has been in business for quite some time can be easily found in the local directory. However, these days it is almost compulsory for serious landscaping businesses to have some form of online presence, such as a website, or a social media page. If the landscaping company you want is hard to find, then probably it is not wise to hire them.

3. The company has the relevant equipment for the task

If you have a clear picture of how you want your lawn to look, and your idea is practical then any landscaper worth his salt will find it easy to execute. However, if the landscaper does not have access to equipment for the task, the outcome will surely not satisfy you. Make sure to confirm that the landscaping company is fully equipped for the task at hand.

4. You will get certified professional landscapers

All landscapers undergo some form of education that is relevant to their trade. The vital insights, practical skills, and useful knowledge they learn concerning landscaping is important for your specific project. Furthermore, a certified contractor is sure to have met the legal requirements for handling any project, this includes having adequate insurance.

5. Impressive previous work

You cannot afford to ignore any work that the landscaper had done in the past, since this is hard evidence of what their company can and cannot do. Gain access to as many pictures of previous work, and personal testimonies from their past and present clients for you to get a clear picture of what to expect.

6. It specializes in what you need

It is common to find landscaping companies that specialize in different aspects of the job, and depending on your need, you should go for specialists in that field. Some companies can specialize in lighting, others in paving, while some are into building swimming pools, ponds, and other landscaping components.

7. It is affordable and offers extra services

You cannot afford to ignore the cost aspect in a landscaping project, since there are companies that charge too high while others are suspiciously cheap.

But do not compromise on the quality of the project by solely basing your decision on the cost. This is why you need to come up with a reasonable and clear budget. Some high-end companies will offer you a number of attractive services after the project is through; services that are worth the investment.

If you are looking for patio furniture ideas, you can get overwhelmed by the variety of patio materials and the numerous styles out in the market today.

However, you should settle for the furniture that will complement the look and design of your patio, stay within your budget, and will make you feel comfortable.

Here are fantastic patio furniture ideas that most people are going for today:

1. Metal chairs

Popularly known as motel chairs, these types of chairs are quite common in many patios. They are easy to handle, do not require expert maintenance; come in numerous designs, and they can be as comfortable as the couches in the living room, if fitted with a good cushion.

You can paint them any color that goes along with your patio theme and their light weight makes it possible to move them around as you wish.

2. Resin wicker chairs

The best ones to acquire are the ones that will hold strong through all types of weather. You can even get the type that you can hang from a pergola to give you that swing-like feeling. A couple of these wicker chairs or just a big one on your patio can create a special nook where you can spend some quality time with a loved one or read a book by yourself, away from any form of distractions.

3. Stylish wooden furniture

Many homeowners use wooden furniture, especially with covered patios. Wood furniture is great because it lasts for a long time; it is easy to come up with unique shapes and designs for it and it is affordable. In addition, wooden furniture is not that difficult to maintain; and with the proper coating, it can withstand any weather condition.

4. Plastic patio furniture

Plastic patio furniture is one of the easiest types of furniture to handle. Unlike most other materials, you can stack the plastic seats up when not in use and you can dismantle the tables and keep them in safe storage until the time when you need to use them.

There are numerous designs to choose from, and they hardly need any maintenance except wiping them if you find any dirt on them. Except for breakage, plastic furniture will not wear down for years, and you can place cushions on them to make them even more comfortable.

5. Custom-made cushions

Cushion makers manufacture products that can take any shape or size, and getting huge cushions and placing them out on the patio can be a great idea. These cushions also come in different types of fabric and you can settle on whichever you find is the best quality and ideal for your patio.

6. Aluminum furniture

You can get aluminum furniture that’s been carefully crafted to meet your patio design needs. The best aluminum furniture manufacturers make furniture that is not only stylish and comfortable, but they offer warranties on their products as well. They can produce highly detailed or simple and elegant furniture that will transform your front space into your dream patio.