Outdoor Living in Lincoln – April 2023

Cleaning up debris, performing the necessary lawn treatments, servicing the irrigation system, planting and mulching, installation of new landscape features, power washing and painting, various property repairs, putting in a new deck or patio, making improvements to your outdoor living and entertaining space(s)…there’s a lot going on right about now, and plans are being made for the duration of the spring, summer and even fall already.

Busy season has arrived, indeed. When the first string of a few nice days with no snow cover hit, you can bet that your lawn care professional or landscaper of choice is being inundated with phone calls from that time forward. The same holds true for anything related to grounds maintenance or exterior construction/renovation. If you’re not one to plan ahead or have this in place well before that time, all is not lost, but you’re going to need to get on it relatively soon to ensure you can secure a spot on the schedule this year.

The only thing that can make great weather even better is a gorgeous landscape to enjoy it with. You might be a do-it-yourself landscaper, or perhaps you’d rather enlist some professionals to help you transform your property. Regardless of which route you’d like to take, Lincoln has seasoned landscaping and outdoor living professionals that can offer their advice and/or labor to help you create the perfect landscape, just in time for summer!

Fine Outdoor Living

As providers of fine outdoor living, Landmark Nursery and Landscaping in Eagle wants to fully understand your goals, so they can create a space that is designed for you. They start every landscape project by simply listening and getting to know you.

Next, they pair you with the perfect member from their design team who will be dedicated to you from consultation to completion. The talented designer and experienced horticulturist will collaborate, inspire and guide you along the way until it’s time to put your feet up, and take it all in.

No dream is too small, or too big. Allow Landmark Nursery to tailor the perfect plan for your lifestyle, property and budget. They take great pride in their landscape services, so that you will take great pride in your outdoor living space for generations to come.

If you’re looking to upgrade your current outdoor living space, the hardscaping design team at Landmark has your back. Take your living space outdoors through the addition of hardscaping, which as the name suggests, is the hard, non-living design elements that are incorporated into the landscape. Outdoor kitchens, fire pits, patios, walkways and even decks are all examples of modern hardscaping. Combining the two in a way so that they complement one another is key. Hardscaping adds usable outdoor square footage to the property and increases your home value, while improving its livability.

Automatic Sprinkler Advice

Since 1997, Hunt Irrigation, Inc., The Water Smart Company, has been exceeding the needs of clients and providing expert services for residential sprinkler and commercial irrigation systems throughout Lincoln and surrounding communities. They have been successful at providing Water Smart Irrigation Systems and service by remaining finely tuned to the needs, wants and expectations of their clients.

To deliver this kind of dedicated service requires a staff that stays on the cutting edge of every new irrigation concept and idea. Hunt Irrigation’s success in meeting this goal has resulted in the most sophisticated, comprehensive and responsive program of irrigation care and customer service available anywhere in Southeast Nebraska.

Hunt Irrigation, Inc., strives not to be Lincoln’s largest sprinkler company but Lincoln’s best. They custom design each lawn and landscape to your lawn’s specific needs and leave the rush jobs to the cookie cutter companies. Hunt Irrigation specializes in water conservation and save an average of 50,000 to 120,000 gallons of water per year per residence.

As the temperatures warm and the lawn and garden begins to thaw, there is no better time than springtime to make sure your automatic sprinkler system is ready for another season of efficient lawn and garden watering. Just a few simple steps will go a long way towards saving water, money and preventing a mid-summer landscape catastrophe at home. Get the warm watering season off to a great start with the following tips from Hunt Irrigation:

1. Inspect your backflow device for any possible damage, prior to pressurizing the system.

2.Slowly begin to fill the system with water and make sure to never open the water too quickly as this may damage the mainline or valves.

3. Turn each individual zone on and inspect for damage and normal wear and tear.

4. Inspect each fixed spray nozzle for obstructions and clear with a small screwdriver or if obstruction is severe enough, replace the nozzle.

5. Inspect each rotary head to make sure that they are not only oscillating, but that they are not over rotating or watering sidewalks and driveways.

6. If you have a drip system be sure to clean the filter and inspect the landscape beds for leaks.

7.Lastly, check the programming in the controller and make sure that you are watering at the proper times of the day and that the run times for each zone do not exceed the absorption rate of the soil.

Of course the staff at Hunt Irrigation is always there to lend you a hand. They offer trained irrigation techs that can perform this service for you. Hunt Irrigation, The Right Choice, The Professional Choice, The Water Smart Choice!

“In addition to lawn maintenance, we can also help you upgrade your outdoor living area by adding lighting to the area,” said Owner Jeremy Hunt, “We take into consideration the safety, security and aesthetic components to create a complete and balanced custom design. Plus, we are certified to install systems that are safe and energy-efficient.”

Outdoor lighting on driveways, pathways and steps will help you to avoid potential accidents and increase the safety, security and value of your home, as well as discouraging unwanted guests by illuminating hidden areas.

 

Relaxing and Beautiful Outdoor Living Spaces

Luxury Landscape designs and installs big and small beautiful landscapes for both residential and commercial customers. Luxury completes paver patios, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, arbors, water and fire features, just to name a few of their services!

“The trend for 2023 in landscaping continues to be popular from previous years, which is outdoor living spaces. They want somewhere beautiful and quiet to entertain or wind down from a busy week,” shared Jackie Svoboda, owner. “Our customers want an outdoor kitchen, a dining area, a water and fire feature, ample sitting areas for guests and privacy. We love designing these projects! The drought we have experienced the last couple of years wreaked havoc on shrubbery and trees, so we are doing quite a few landscape renovations.”

Everyone gets excited for spring, including the team at Luxury! This is when we get to dust off patio areas and furniture and plan for an enjoyable season ahead. There’s plenty to do to prepare, but please remember to not cut down ornamental grasses and perennials too soon in the spring. There are several good insects and pollinators living in these plants, and cutting too soon disrupts these amazing creature’s habitats. Wait until the daily temps are consistently in the 50s.

This year Luxury is ready to get back in action and be better than ever before. They are committed to providing the best possible experience for their customers and for their team.

“The last couple of years were challenging for us. Meaning it was difficult to find great employees to hire. We retained our amazing crew, although small, so our project completion schedule was way behind, Jackie explained. “We learned from this and made some amazing adjustments and started looking for respectful crew members to add to our crew early this year. We have also restructured our business and are ready to serve our customers with great communication and an improved timeline…as long as the spring weather cooperates!”

If this is your first season of landscaping and outdoor living preparation, Jackie shared some advice that can help you get started.

“Gather a couple of estimates from different companies. This way you’ll get to meet the owners or the landscaper that will be doing the project on your property. Ask a ton of questions, including the history of their company, who will be on your property, what you can expect from start to finish,” advised Jackie. “During the consultation, the landscaper should also be asking you questions, such as your style, how you want to use your outdoor space, favorite colors, maintenance levels, etc.  Pick someone that sees your vision and offers great communication.”

Jump into spring and warmer days with a new and improved outdoor living space from Luxury Landscape!

Lawn Care with Flair

Since 2002, TDK Lawn Care, Inc. has been taking care of its clients and providing a complete, honest, and professional lawn care service that includes lawn mowing, fertilizing, aerating, over seeding, yard cleanups and snow removal. For both residential and commercial work, no job is too big or too small.

“After last year, planting draught resistant grass and plants are at the top of every one’s mind. Over the next several weeks the temperatures will slowly warm up and our attention turns from snow removal to lawn care,” says Lee Schumacher with TDK Lawncare. “This is a perfect time to start the healing process from last year’s drought and extreme heat.  By changing our practices we can help our lawns survive Mother Nature’s twist and turns she has for us this year.

To help repair the damage from last year’s drought, aerating while at the same time broadcasting grass seed around five pounds per 1,000-square-feet is an easy way to help rejuvenate your lawn.

Aerating is the process of making finger size holes in your lawn and depositing the removed material on the surface to break down. This allows fertilizer, water and oxygen to get to the roots where healthy grass originates. In areas where the soil has a high clay content, compaction and thatch buildup is more prevalent and aeration should be done twice a year.

Lee also has tips for landscaping newbies that may not know where to start.

“Clean all debris and leaves from the lawn and landscaping and assess the damage from last year. After doing this, talk to a professional to create a plan for the season. Make sure that they are insured, licensed and have a good work ethic. I would also stay away from national online companies to find your landscaper,” advised Lee. “Contact your landscapers now as their schedule will fill up fast during this time of the year.”

TDK Lawn Care’s mission is to create an annual lawn care program that focuses on your corporate or individual needs. TDK Lawn Care offers several different options, giving you the lawn you deserve at a price you can afford. Timely, dedicated and knowledgeable are in the name!

Best Time to Plant Trees

Eagle Nursery provides landscape design, hardscaping, landscape lighting, installation and maintenance services for residential and commercial properties. They are proud to utilize Nebraska-grown trees, shrubs and perennials. If you aren’t sure where to start with your landscaping plans, Eagle Nursery can send one of their professionals to your property to work with you and determine your preferences and goals for your landscape.

“If you are interested in planting trees, the best time to do so is when they are in their dormant period – typically early spring or late fall,” explained Owner Tom Scharfen. “Trees are lifelong investments for your property, so it’s important to give them all the resources they require to grow. Unlike flora, shrubs and trees can be trickier to plant and raise, so we recommend going to a professional when making larger plant purchases and plantings.”

According to research conducted by the USDA Forest Service, trees create about three times more economic advantage than their cost due to how much they can raise property value. Each large tree adds about 1% to the value of a house. Plus, they produce energy savings, storm-water runoff reduction, and cleaner air.

“An advantage to installing trees, particularly larger trees, into your landscape is that you have instant curb appeal, plus shade,” Tom said. “Other projects can take years to add the same value that a single large maple or oak, for example, can add overnight. This is the perfect time to take on those large projects—particularly when it comes to ‘spaded trees,’ or transplanting larger trees that are already well-established.”

When choosing which kind of tree to plant, it can be extremely helpful to work with an Eagle Nursery expert. They will help you choose a tree that will not only survive but thrive in Nebraska’s turbulent weather. Experts at Eagle Nursery have extensive knowledge about native Nebraska species of plants and trees that will help you build a flourishing ecosystem in your landscape. Eagle has 70 acres of trees in production, in addition to five greenhouses for perennials and shrubs, so you’ll absolutely find the ones that will work best with your vision.

Nothing Runs Like a Deere!

The very heart of a live landscape is the establishment of a healthy lawn. No matter how much you invest in fancy plants and trees, they always look their best when they are adjacent to green, lush grounds. Regardless of the size of your yard or your landscaping project, AKRS Equipment can provide an extensive array of John Deere equipment you need to get the job done right. AKRS offers John Deere turf, compact utility tractors, and compact construction equipment, plus a host of attachments to accomplish any yard or acreage project.

When it comes to choosing a mower or keeping up with lawn maintenance, AKRS is in your corner. The John Deere equipment they sell offers the lowest cost of ownership in the industry, and their mowers have, over the years, proven to operate longer with fewer repairs and maintain their value better than any other product on the market. AKRS even has a service available to keep your equipment in top working order.

“AKRS Equipment offers a Ready to Mow Service in the Omaha and Lincoln communities, where we will come to your home or business and perform routine maintenance on-site and ensure that your equipment always performs well,” said Turf and Commercial Equipment Sales Professional Nick Wessel. “For larger repairs, we offer pickup and delivery to one of our AKRS locations.”

For commercial mowing, one of the hottest trends in mowers is the John Deere QuikTrak Stand-on Mower, which AKRS offers. These stand-behind mowers serve up advanced maneuverability and speed to allow you to mow more and feel less fatigued at the end of the day. On the residential side, the John Deere line of Lawn Tractors provides mowing with a variety of attachments to make landscaping chores simple and easy.

“Customers can stop in at their convenience and learn what equipment best fits their needs,” Nick said. “The earlier they pay us a visit, the sooner we can get them up and running with the guidance and equipment they need to maintain the best lawn in the neighborhood. Come see us and take a test drive on any John Deere product. After all, Nothing Runs Like a Deere!”

Aeration 101

Before you jump right into applying aesthetic landscaping features, a little lawn maintenance needs to be done. If you don’t have a good foundation of healthy soil and grass, everything in your outdoor space will suffer. Luckily, lawn care can be easier than you think; it just requires some basic knowledge and a little attention week to week.

How do you know if your lawn needs aeration? Larry Svoboda from Ray’s Lawn and Home Care dove a little deeper into this topic with us to explain the signs to look for, as well as the importance of hiring a professional to get the job done.

“If your lawn is a high traffic area, you’re probably a person who should be aerating their lawn,” said Larry. “When soil gets compacted, it inhibits the flow of the essential air and nutrients that support a thicker, healthier lawn. Soil compaction could be caused by children playing, animals running on it, or even if you simply like to entertain outside.  An easy way to tell if your lawn may need aerating is to watch and see if rainwater puddles in places where it  used to be absorbed. While aeration machines can be rented and it’s possible to do it yourself, it can also negatively impact your lawn if done incorrectly or if it doesn’t even need done. If timed improperly, it can stress out your lawn very easily. We always recommend having professionals come to check the health of your lawn in terms of nutrients, water need, and soil density before starting any larger lawn projects.”

Ray’s provides Lincolnites with a five-application treatment plan to keep your lawn lush and green all year long. It includes guaranteed grub control, weed control, pre-emergent, post-emergent, fertilizer, and insecticide treatments. They also have additional treatments for fungicides, aerating, and renovation.

Painting Professionals

Whether you are freshening up the current exterior color of your home, looking to try a new shade, or trying to really make your outdoor living area pop, a new coat of paint on the exterior of your house can positively change the entire look of your property. In addition to this, according to CertaPro Painters, a good paint job adds value to your home, and quality paint acts as an extra layer of protection from the outside, keeping your home safe from weather, insects, and dust. It can even keep wood from rotting and prevents you from facing larger repair costs in the future. Invest in your home now with Walter’s Painting Inc. and let them both beautify and protect the exterior of your home.

“Our crew here at Walter’s Painting can transform your chipped and peeling exterior into something out of a magazine,” said Jeff Walters, owner. “We can also spruce up your exterior wood, including decks, stairs, or pillars. It’s amazing what a new coat of stain on wood can do for your home, making it look like new while also protecting it from the harsh weather that will inevitably arrive in Nebraska!”

Another great way to freshen up the look of your property is through pressure washing. Walter’s Painting Inc. can pressure wash your home exterior, including pools, fences, hardscapes, concrete, brick, wood surfaces, and decks. When is the last time you washed your driveway? For many of us, the answer is probably never! Walter’s Painting can easily and quickly clean it for you, giving your property a clean, fresh look.

Pool Prep

Since 1998, Strawberry Springs has been serving the Lincoln and Omaha metro areas. They provide unmatched attention to detail, complete customer satisfaction and great service.

Whether starting up a brand new pool or one that has been closed over the winter, a proper start-up will get you swimming faster and enjoying the pool more, and help prevent problems during the summer months.

1. Remove, clean and store pool cover with cover cleaner deodorizerand perform housekeeping chores such as brushing, vacuuming and emptying skimmer baskets of dirt and debris.
2. Add water.Water level should always be approximately half way up the skimmer opening.
3. Prepare equipmentfollowing manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. Balance waterby taking one quart of pool water to your professional OMNI dealer for a complete water analysis. Follow the dealer’s instructions for balancing the water.
5. Continuous disinfection.Regular sanitation consists of using OMNI Chlorination Stix or one inch to three inch tablets in your skimmer or automatic chlorinator. At all times, maintain a free chlorine level of at least 1.0 ppm, to continuously kill bacteria.

Strawberry Springs is your trusted partner in making your pool and spa environment work well. They can bring new and cutting-edge design and efficiency to your project. When they’re done with your pool it will be perfectly clean, balanced and ready for the new season!

Hand-Crafted Concrete Creations

Concrete Craft of Lincoln can provide nearly endless solutions to bring your outdoor living space to life through their beautiful concrete solutions for patios, driveways, walkways, pool decks and more. They can transform your patio with exquisite designs and classic looks, or they can banish the boring, plain, gray concrete walkways on your property with stamped concrete in patterns, designs and colors that bring out the best in your surroundings. Even more, they offer a stamped concrete seat wall and fire pit system that is a fast and economical way to create the outdoor entertaining area of your dreams. This cost-effective method will give you a fire pit that looks like natural stone but is made with the more durable material of stamped concrete.

A stamped concrete driveway, resurfaced concrete driveway or stained concrete driveway is sure to give your home an impressive entrance and upgrade the overall appearance of your home. With their various stamp patterns and integral coloring processes, Concrete Craft can replicate popular, expensive materials, such as brick, cobblestone and natural slate. No matter what outdoor concrete project you want to take on, Concrete Craft will help you totally transform your space and become the envy of the neighborhood – all without breaking the bank.

Spring brings with it plenty of landscaping tasks that are crucial to getting right if you want your lawn, shrubs, trees, flowers and other plants to thrive. We recommend getting in touch with these professionals to make sure you start on the right foot!