Your Landscape Project.....Know All the Costs before YOU decide..
When building a hardscape, or any other type of Landscaping project, it’s recommended to plan how much you are willing to spend on the project and discuss your budget with a professional landscaper. It’s better to know the costs or get at least three estimates of the materials needed if you’re unsure of what to consider for your budget.
Be hands-on in knowing the costs of the materials needed for your hardscape project. From stones to plants and lighting, it can cost you more or less than your budget. That is also when you will decide whether to spend or save.
The American Society of Landscape Architects suggests, to begin with, 5 to 10% of your property’s worth. A good landscape design can add 15% or more to the value of your property compared to the other houses in your neighborhood.
THE FOLLOWING IS INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE OTHER LANDSCAPE COMPONENTS REQUIRED.
IRRIGATION
ULTRA ONE LANDSCAPE COMPANY offers a wide range of irrigation services for Residential and Commercial properties in the Coachella Valley area. We use the latest technology available to allow for proper coverage and maximum water conservation. Our services include: Irrigation consultation and design
Irrigation installation
Repair and troubleshooting
Drainage (residential to large commercial)
French Drains and Sump Pumps
Backflow inspection and certification (state required)
Select ULTRA ONE for your irrigation needs and you will benefit from:
Personalized and friendly service
Highly experienced install crews
Use of highest quality components-fittings for years of trouble free performance Minimal damage to grass and surrounding landscape
Equipment for any size job
Our work is guaranteed!
Understanding your Irrigation System. We will install the most water-efficient design around, but the amount of water applied to the landscape is ultimately decided by you.
ULTRA ONE helps you to understand and operate your irrigation system in a water-efficient manner, saving money for you and protecting resources for generations to come.
As an educated consumer, you will understand the basics of plant selection and placement, as well as how much water is actually needed in the landscape.
LANDSCAPE LIGHTING
The strength of a great company lies in things less tangible than the products they sell. It's the service and individual attention they provide once the job is done that pushes the experience to new heights.
For years, ULTRA ONE has been providing outstanding design solutions and unquestionably dedicated service to all of the Coachella Valley.
Our Companies are fully licensed, fully insured, and work with nearly every major contractor to get you the most competitive prices.
Whether it's a brand new installation, a comprehensive upgrade, or a repair to your existing landscape lighting, we get it done right. Whatever your lighting needs are, we've got you covered.
ROCK DESIGNS
For over 12 years, we have been creating peace and tranquility in yards across the nation using only top quality equipment that individually meets each of our different customers’ needs.
Due to varying conditions, requirements and needs, every installation is approached with a custom, one-of-a-kind mindset. We give attention and regards to every detail before, during and after the construction.
Whether it’s selecting the correct water feature, its brand, size and type of filtration system to choosing the proper size and location for your water garden pond feature we scrutinize every possible combination of designs before making any recommendations to you.
DO-IT-YOURSELF customers are ALWAYS welcome to bring their ideas and projects and a Ultra Landscaping Professional will walk them through all aspects of the project.Landscaping rocks can add a stylish touch to your outdoor space. In order to have a well-balanced home, it is also important to have an appealing outdoor design, aside from having a fabulous interior design. Stones are the best elements for a landscape makeover because it’s very versatile. Rocks provide texture and contrast to your yard. It can be utilized as a sturdy groundcover and best of all it does not require a lot of maintenance.
Aside from embellishing your yard with different flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetation, you can also use rocks and stones. Landscaping rocks can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be used as an elegant decoration to your fountains, gardens and water features. There are many types of rocks that are available, this means that your design options are infinite. Here we will present to you some of the trendiest ways to include rocks and stones to your landscaping ideas.
We offer the following professional services:
All Types of Water Feature Consulting, Design, Construction, Maintenance
Koi Pond, Water Garden Pond & Hybrid Pond Consulting, Design, Construction
No-Pond Waterfalls Installations (Waterfalls without ponds that are low-maintenance)
Pond Water Garden Maintenance Services & Contracts
Educational & Do-It-Yourself Pond Construction Techniques
Backyard Waterfall Training Seminars
Custom Concrete Hand-Carved Pool & Spa Waterfalls
Custom Concrete Hand-Carved Exotic Animal Enclosures, Zoo & Museum Exhibits
Custom Fountains
FORMAL HARDSCAPE DESIGNS
Hardscape refers to all the permanent, structural components of the landscape - paths, patios, arbors, walls, decks, and sheds - as opposed to the softscape, which is limited to plants, soils, and mulch. Installing a hardscape is a long term investment in the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your property. Based on price per square foot, hardscape is much more expensive to install than softscape, though maintenance is usually needed less often than with plants.Design Essentials
Typically, the hardscape is designed first, which forms the structure that the softscape will fit into.
Geometry
There are two main approaches in landscape design - formal and naturalistic - which also form the jumping off point when considering the design of your hardscape. Formal design emphasizes straight lines and symmetrical shapes, while a naturalistic approach utilizes assemblies of asymmetrical shapes to achieve an overall design that appears balanced and orderly.
A kidney-shaped patio edged by the sweeping curve of a stone retaining wall that tapers off into the hillside exemplifies the naturalistic approach. Formal hardscape design might include a series of rectangular raised beds constructed in two parallel lines with a central path between them leading to a circular fountain.
Japanese hardscape design
Japanese-style hardscape design style
A garden shed with weathered wood siding and a rustic wood-shingled roof has a very different style than a stucco-walled outbuilding. A flagstone patio with tiny ground covers creeping between the stones conveys something very different than a stamped concrete surface with brick edging. In other words, style has a lot to do with the materials used and the ambiance they create when combined in the landscape. The key is to choose what suits your personal sense of taste, what matches existing features (especially the house) and to use the choices consistently throughout the design.
Map Your Design
It's a good idea to start designing with an accurate base map of your property. Draw outlines of the hardscape features you desire and link them with a network of pathways. You will see very quickly whether a formal, symmetrical approach is a good fit for the shape of your house and property lines or if it would be an unnatural, forced approach.Path Layout
Consider the layout of paths carefully, as they are the arteries of the design. Try to keep it simple by routing them along the contours of the landscape as much as possible to avoid going up and down a lot and having to install stairways unnecessarily.
Amount of Hardscape
When thinking about how to far to go with your hardscape project, it's wise to strike a good balance between the amount of hardscape and the amount of softscape. In an average size backyard, limiting the amount of hardscape to about one-third of the total space is a good rule of thumb to keep a good visual balance. Of course, if you have a tiny yard, you may want convert the entire space to a patio or deck, in which case the plantscape can consist of a container garden.
Hardscape Elements to Include;
Consider the most common elements of hardscaping that you may want to include in your overall landscape design. Patios
Patio with potted plants
Patio hardscape As a ground level entertaining area, patios are considered an extension of the house and are usually adjacent to the back door. On larger properties, they can also be located away from the house as a destination for cookouts, parties or simply relaxing in the sun. Consider incorporating other hardscape elements with your patio to make it even more user-friendly - an overhead awning or pergola for shade, water feature or an outdoor fireplace, for example.
Wood deck Decks are by nature elevated off the ground, making them a logical alternative to a patio if the back door is not at ground level. They're also a great fit to hang over the edge of a slope to create flat, usable space on a hillside and to take advantage of a sweeping vista.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls are a way to stabilize slopes and make flat space for gardening or for a patio, deck or other form of hardscape. They serve an important function but they should be designed with aesthetics in mind - imagine the terraced hillsides of Tuscany or Indonesia for inspiration.
Structures
Ornate gazebo on pavers Combined elements and materials Sheds, gazebos, pergolas, arbors and trellises are other common hardscape elements to incorporate into your design. Pergolas and gazebos are enchanting backyard destinations, while arbors and trellises are designed to support the growth of vines, the former at entryway locations, the latter adjacent to a structure or the home itself. Often several of these hardscape elements are adjacent to each other or related in some way, so it's best to design them with a common visual motif, in terms of style, materials and color scheme.
Material Choices
Each hardscape feature can be built with a wide range of materials, depending on the way it will be used, personal taste, and budget.
Stone
Whether in the form of flat flagstones, decorative boulders, ornamental gravel or as a rustic retaining wall material, natural stone has a timeless - some would say priceless - presence in the landscape. One thing for sure is that it is pricey. Using it strategically in small quantities - such as the concrete wall blocks with a thin stone facing that are commonly available - is one way to enjoy the look of stone without draining your hardscape budget.
Paver path and block wall
Concrete pavers and retaining wall Concrete is generally the cheapest material to work with and offers an incredible degree of flexibility in terms of the form it can take. Wet concrete can be poured into forms for patios and walls, while concrete pavers and pre-fabricated blocks are an inexpensive alternative to their natural stone counterparts. Concrete can be dyed, stained, polished, textured and stamped with patterns to achieve any look desired - but alas, it is still concrete, which never quite looks or feels like natural stone.
Wood
Wood has a lighter, less dominating feel in the landscape compared to stone or concrete, though its lifespan is somewhat limited. It is the only choice for decks, but can also be used for retaining walls - in the form of stacked railroad ties, for example. In general, wood is conducive to a landscape design featuring straight lines, while concrete and natural stone are easier to work with when curved lines and organic shapes are desired.
Tips, Tricks and Details
Designing a successful hardscape is costly, complex and involved. Make sure you have all the information on the table before jumping in.
Drainage
Drainage is a major consideration in hardscape design that is often overlooked during the planning stages. Your property must be graded for water to flow away from all structures and hardscape elements and to move in a gentle, constructive way that does not result in erosion.
Grading is often necessary to build hardscape features and is a costly part of the process that must be considered at the outset. Plus, most types of hardscape are impervious to rainfall, meaning the water that falls on them must be collected and routed to some sort of drainage system.
Urbanite
Pile of broken concrete Concrete rubble for reuse in hardscaping Concrete rubble is one of the world's biggest waste products - why not recycle it and incorporate it into your hardscape? Flat, flagstone-size pieces of broken concrete can be used as a path or patio surface or stacked into retaining walls. Colored with concrete stain and planted around the edges, urbanite, as it's often called in the trade, is an inexpensive, Earth-friendly hardscaping material.
Know When You Need a Contractor
Decks, patios, walls, drainage systems and other hardscape elements often require a permit from the local planning or building department. Depending on their complexity, plans from an engineer, landscape architect or contractor may be necessary. As load-bearing structural features, there is a safety element involved and it is better to hire a professional than assume liability if your good intentions result in unintended consequences.
Start Planning Today
With all this information in mind, it is time to start dreaming and put pen to paper in planning out the hardscape components that will make a foundation for the landscape of your dreams.
FAQ'S
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Question: What type of fertilizer do I use first thing in the Spring?
Answer: Turf builder with a pre-emergent type of fertilizer.
Question: How often should I be watering and for how long?
Answer: This depends on the season the weather. Watering your lawn in the evening can lead to the spread of fungus. In the summer, always water in the early morning.
Question: How do I get rid of those dandelions and other weeds?
Answer: Depends on the type of weed, proper watering produces thick lawns. The thicker your lawn is the less likely it is to have weeds. So make sure you fertilize and water your lawn often. (See above for watering tips.) Bluegrass should not be cut below 2.5 inches and fescue not below 3 inches. Digging up dandelions is best, but time consuming. They can be treated with herbicides.
Question: How often should I Aerate?
Answer: One to Two times per year. Spring is best, Fall 2nd.
Question: How often should I Power Rake?
Answer: With proper water, fertilizer and mowing practices, every 3-5 years. Possibly never.
Question: How often should I Fertilize?
Answer: Every 6-8 weeks.
Question: How do I get rid of yellowing in my lawn in the summer?
Answer: Yellowing is caused by chloises - iron will help to return your lawn to dark green
TREES FOR YOUR HOME.....
Trees define the landscape, creating the bones of your garden. Choose the wrong one and the appearance of your home may be diminished. With so many different types to choose from, how do you pick a tree that will beautify your home? Whether you’re looking for shade, privacy, or something ornamental, you can find just the right tree to fit your needs.
Most people fail to consider the mature height and appearance of a tree when they are selecting one for their landscape. Trees are generally sold in containers, much smaller than their full-grown height. The tree’s shape will also say a lot about whether it is suitable for the area in which you want to place it. Sure, the tree might look great while it’s sitting there in the container, but once it’s planted and grown to the point of concealing your existence, or the roots have become entwined in your septic lines, how great is it then? Trees that are too large for the landscape will not look appealing. Then again, choose one that is way too small and you may as well be choosing a shrub instead, leaving the landscape looking barren. Any tree placed within a landscape should complement its surroundings and remain within scale to your home as well the rest of the landscape.
The best way to ensure the right tree for your landscape is to perform some research beforehand. There are numerous resources available, from books to online resources. Also, take a walk around your property, noting any existing trees and in what areas of the landscape you would like to add more. Determine your overall purpose and the tree’s function. Perhaps you are looking for more shade. Will the tree be chosen merely for its flowering in spring or its fall color? Do you want to add some privacy to your home? Consider its overall size and shape before making any decisions, especially when you’re ready to purchase one. This is where all of your research will pay off; saving you both time and money later on down the road. With shade trees, it is important to consider height since they are usually located nearest the home. This means that safety issues need to be addressed.
Generally, the oak tree is one of the safest choices you can make. These trees are extremely sturdy. Red maples, best known for their amazing fall foliage, also make fast-growing shade trees and suitable landscaping choices. Sycamore trees are fast growing and ideal as shade trees as well. Furthermore, these trees provide additional interest with impressive, flaking bark. Elm trees with their towering, yet, graceful canopies are excellent choices too. Not everyone, however, requires something large. Maybe you live on a small lot or perhaps you are simply looking for something to shade your patio or deck. If this is the case, choosing a smaller-sized tree is most fitting provided you select one having large-spreading canopies, such as a dogwood.
Consider Flowering Trees............. Dogwood trees offer striking blooms during spring, interesting branching patterns during summer and beautiful foliage during fall. Other good choices for spring flowering include ornamental fruit trees; the fruit is merely a bonus. My favorites are Bradford pears and apple trees. Flowering landscape trees can be the main attraction of the landscape during the spring season. Weeping cherry trees are spectacular blooming specimens for the spring landscape as are magnolias. However, did you know that some trees bloom in summer as well?
For example, crepe myrtles provide stunning flower color and have a long blooming period, lasting from mid-summer to fall. Maybe it’s fall color you’re looking for. Good choices here include maples, ash, poplars, and some oak varieties. Japanese maples display exceptional foliage color not only in autumn but during summer as well. An interesting tree for winter enjoyment include birch trees. Birches have interesting branching patterns as well as unusual bark. Do You Need Privacy? Privacy is sometimes an important factor when selecting trees for the landscape. Many evergreens are used for this purpose, as they remain full and green throughout the year. Arborvitae trees are attractive year round. These evergreen trees are commonly used for creating screens or privacy fences. Blue spruce not only looks lovely in winter as a specimen plant, but planting more than one will also create appealing windbreaks and additional privacy. Evergreen trees always deserve a welcoming spot in the landscape.
Their foliage brightens winter scenes, offering an opportunity to distance ourselves from the gloominess of dark winter days. Many evergreen trees can actually be pruned down to resemble shrubs and used as foundation plantings to obscure unsightly areas or provide year-round interest. Good considerations here include evergreen yew and holly. Either of these can be grouped to form a hedge, or used as a specimen plant by itself. Hollies provide an additional bonus. The foliage of these evergreens can be used for winter decorations during the holidays, and their lovely red berries attract birds as well. No matter where you live, there’s a tree for you. Provided you’ve done your research and chosen trees wisely, your landscape will flourish with beauty year round. Nothing makes for a more stunning view than trees that please the landscape.
OTHER INFORMATION.
We also provide information for Basic Hardscape, Xeriscape and Softscape Projects.
