(281) 516-1600
 Journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell said “We don't know where our first impressions come from or precisely what they mean, so we don't always appreciate their fragility”, and his saying can very well apply to commercial landscaping.
Really, your landscaping is the first impression that customers and passersby have of your business. But commercial landscaping is often the last thing on a busy business owners mind. You may not realize just how important your first impression is, though, so here is our take on the top benefits that professional commercial landscaping can have for your company. Boost Your Curb Appeal Perhaps the most important benefit of a well-maintained landscape is attracting the eye (and business!) of foot traffic and drivers. If your storefront is weed free, well-trimmed, and decorated with fitting greenery, potential customers are going to notice. On the other hand, if your lawn is unkempt and overgrown, people are more likely to walk on by. And you might not think that a maintained landscape is important in your industry, but keep in mind that every customer perception says something about your brand. Do you want to come off as clean and well-kept or as sloppy and mismatched? Save Time and Money Doing your own landscaping is always an option. But, generally speaking, your time is more valuable than that. Every hour spent not growing your business is money that you are leaving on the table. So do what you do best and leave your lawn to a professional commercial landscaper. Show Off Your Attention to Detail Customers want to know that you are going to care about the little things. It doesn’t matter if you are a plumber, a lawyer, or an auto mechanic—attention to detail builds trust. If your landscaping shows that your business cares enough about choosing the right shrubs and keeping grass and trees maintained, how much more will your customers know that you will take their needs seriously. Increase Your Property Value Just like residential property values can be increased with professional landscaping, so can your business property. And while you may not be planning on selling your space any time soon, higher market value equates with better curb appeal and higher paying clients. So if you are looking for a way to stand out as a premium service provider in your industry, commercial landscaping may be one piece of the puzzle that’s missing. Improve Safety Keeping your storefront or campus well-lit and free of excessive plant growth will deter crime while making customers and employees feel safer too. Dark places crowded with shrubs invite criminal activity. So get a professional commercial landscaper to keep your place of business clean and safe. Boost Employee Morale Nobody wants to wake up everyday to drive to an unkempt business. On the contrary, employees who work for a well-maintained company with beautiful landscaping will look forward to their job. When lunch breaks can be set amidst fresh cut grass, trimmed trees, and colorful flowers, employee morale will increase overall (and thus, employee productivity). Let Outdoor Perfection Give Your Business the Commercial Landscaping You Deserve! Outdoor Perfection has been beautifying the businesses of Houston and the surrounding areas since the year 2000. Contact us today to learn more about our vision for your perfect commercial landscaping.
22 Comments
We all know the incredible damage that excess water and moisture can cause to our homes and yards. So when thinking about how to keep our property in great shape, it’s important to not overlook water management. French drains have long been used as a simple and effective way to manage water flow. If you aren’t familiar with them, french drains are pipes laid in a trench that’s typically filled with gravel or rocks. As water collects in your yard or near your home’s foundation, it seeps between the gravel or rock and enters the pipe through small perforations in the wall. The french drain then channels the water in a safe direction, ensuring that it does not pool in one place and cause damage. Do I Need a French Drain? When first learning about french drains, people sometimes wonder whether it’s an improvement they really need. Here are some of the top benefits of installing a french drain on your property. 1. Eliminate Water Pooling
If you’re seeing puddles of water in your yard after a good rain, then you have a problem with water pooling. This occurs when excess water is not diverted from ‘dip-points’ in your property. Not only does water pooling damage your lawn and soil, the excess water can also seep into the ground and collect around your home’s foundation. A strategically placed french drain will fix this problem by collecting the excess water and diverting it to a safer place. So even after a really hard rain, you won’t see any more puddles in your yard. 2. Prevent Soil Erosion Soil erosion occurs when water and wind wear away your yard’s topsoil. Not only will this make your yard look bad, it also deprives the ground of nutrients and minerals that are needed for plants and grass to grow. Just like with water pooling, a properly placed french drain will keep your soil intact by preventing this excess build up. So if you’re noticing that your plants and grass don’t look as healthy as they should, you might have a problem with soil erosion that a french drain will fix. 3. Keep Your Retaining Wall Safe If you have a retaining wall on your property then a french drain is a must. A retaining wall is a structure designed to restrain soil from eroding into a lower elevation on your property. When it rains water will collect against the inner-side of the retaining wall, exerting additional pressure on the structure. A french drain will relieve this pressure and ensure that your retaining wall stays strong. Anything you can do to prevent a retaining wall from collapsing is definitely worth looking into. 4. Waterproof Your Basement If it’s happened to you, then you probably never want it to happen again: basement flooding. This happens when excess water collects around your home’s foundation and seeps into your basement. Needless to say, this is one of the most important benefits of a french drain. By installing one along your home’s foundation, you make it a lot less likely that a big storm will deposit a pool of water in your basement. As a bonus, you also make it less likely that your home’s foundation will need a major overhaul in the future. That’s an expense to avoid! 5. Improve Air Quality French drains have a lot of obvious practical benefits. But this one is often a surprise. Rain water can be quite dirty, containing harmful toxic substances. If this water seeps into your home’s foundation then not only will it leave behind dirt and debris, it will also decrease your home’s air quality. So if you and your kids are looking to spend quality time your home’s rec room, you definitely want to consider installing a french drain to keep the air safe and clean for everyone. It’s Worth a Look These are just a few of the top benefits of installing a french drain on your property. If you suspect that bad water management is causing problems at your home, then it’s definitely worth considering a french drain. Contact us today to learn more about how the experts at Outdoor Perfection can help.  Thousands of Americans daydream about the moment they’ll get to relax in their own backyard after a hectic and busy day. After all, there is no better way to chill out than sipping on a glass of cool lemonade at the end of the day in the comfort and privacy of your own yard.
But privacy is something hard to come by these days for many reasons, starting from nosy neighbors to small children who are interested in almost everything in the world. While fencing is a very good option, many homeowners don’t like it as it contrasts negatively with a properly landscaped garden or yard. Privacy landscaping is a recent trend that has been on the rise for the last few years. Instead of creating an artificial barrier for privacy, elements of landscaping are used to create a natural barrier or wall for small and large yards. If you’re a homeowner living in a crowded neighborhood or postage stamp yard, here are a couple of the best privacy landscaping techniques for small yards. Fence Trellis A very popular privacy landscaping option in suburban areas all around the world, a fence trellis is a structure that incorporates creepers and plants in its design. Thanks to the addition of this vegetation, this landscaping barrier achieves a more organic look. A trellis is definitely a more appealing option than a simple fence. Pros
Cons
Tiered Planting Tiered planting is an excellent way to create a natural wall without spending extra on fences. In this privacy landscaping process, a landscaper plants trees and plants in a measured manner layer by layer, starting from small bushes and shrubs and ending with tall trees. This method greatly helps to declutter small yards. Pros
Cons
Bamboo Fencing Planting one of the fastest growing plants in nature to form a natural wall is one of the cheapest and most effective ways of implementing privacy landscaping. Not only can they be grown from scratch, but bamboo plants as tall as 30 feet can be purchased and planted directly in your yard. Pros
Cons
Vertical Garden Beds This privacy landscaping method can be considered a variation of the fence trellis. Instead of leaving parts of the fence exposed. Vertical garden beds are dense layers of flowers, creepers, and vines that grow vertically on fences without leaving any gaps. This provides a better visual aesthetic than a fence trellis if done properly. Pros
Cons
Raised Garden Beds An excellent alternative to vertical beds, raised garden beds also provide excellent privacy and cover for small yards. For integrating a raised garden bed, a tall frame with a roof has to be made first. The plants and shrubs flow down like curtains from the supporting room structure. Pros
Cons
Now that you have a good idea about the most common and popular privacy landscaping methods, hopefully you’ll have an easier time deciding on one that fits your budget and taste. If you’re settled on one of them or want professional consultation, just give us a call at 281-516-1600. Our professional landscapers with years of experience at Outdoor Perfection Landscaping will help you find the best fit for both your yard and your budget.  Landscaping a pool is no joke and requires the utmost care in planning and execution to pull off properly. The right pool landscape can make you (and your guests) feel like you’re sitting in a tropical paradise, while one wrong choice can totally break the immersion.
A perfect pool landscaping design uses both natural and man-made materials to create a balanced aesthetic that is inviting to the eye and ergonomic for daily use. Natural elements include plants, sand, and rocks, while man-made elements of the landscaping may include rock-walls, dining space, or even a fire-pit. Since creating the perfect landscape for your pool is not just a passing fancy but a long-term investment, here are four rock solid tips for your pool landscaping to ensure you create something beautiful and edifying. Consider What Plants You’re Going to Use While you might consider something like cherry trees to beautify your poolside, have you thought of how to clean up the petals and make sure they don’t clog up the pipes? Plants can be very tricky to use in pool landscaping, so it’s generally a good decision to avoid using plants that shed leaves and petals a lot as it will only add to your cleaning woes. Shrubs or evergreen trees are generally preferred by homeowners who are looking for low maintenance pool flora. Choose Lighting with Ambiance in Mind With proper lighting, a regular home pool can be transformed into something straight out of a fantasy or sci-fi novel. Make sure to use colors and lighting that resonate with the theme of the design so as to give a calm and soothing aura during night-time. If you feel fancy, you can utilize mini lights between the plants and bushes to give off a dreamy ambience to your poolside. Consider elements like color, size, brightness, and direction when it comes to choosing and placing lights to create an effect. Compliment the Natural with the Man-made Unless you’re going for a chic modern look for your poolside complete with a bar and grill, it’s best to blend the elements of your pool landscaping in such a way that the man-made elements compliment the natural ones. Part of this involves thinking about how you position your features. If you’re using rocks and wooden stumps in the landscaping, for example, position them in a natural organic manner than haphazardly. Proper positioning of the material and elements can help reduce maintenance efforts and costs while also creating a less “manufactured” feeling design. Keep It Simple While complex landscaping designs often show the ingenuity of the designers, critics and experts often note that the most attractive and praiseworthy designs are often also very classic. Simple designs allow for saving time and money which can be used for beautifying other elements of your lawn. A minimalistic approach also allows you to make simple customizations to you pool landscape all year round to keep the view refreshing. Feel like having a do-over for your pool after reading this article? Call up Outdoor Perfection at 281-516-1600 for your free consultation today. Our landscapers have decades of experience in lawn and pool landscaping in Houston, and we’d love to help you beautify your home with professional landscaping at a fair price.  Your pool is a place to relax, enjoy the sun, and cool off on a hot summer day. It’s a big investment, and you want your pool deck to do it justice. You want it paved with a material that doesn’t just function well, but adds to the aesthetic appeal of the entire pool experience.
When it comes to pool decks, there are a lot of choices in the market. Since there is quite a large assortment of pool deck materials out there, it can be very hard to decide to choose the right one that offers the perfect balance between form and function. After working on many different types of pool decks with different materials, our verdict is that travertine paving strikes such a balance. Travertine offers a host of additional benefits that other types of paving commonly lack. Read on to hear our rundown of the top 5 reasons travertine paving is the best choice you can make for your pool deck. Insulation and Temperature Ever experienced one of those hot summer days when you eagerly make your way to the pool for a dip, but as soon as your bare feet hit the pool deck, they practically catch fire? One of the most common problems with other types of paving is that the surface temperature of the tiles can shoot through the roof on a sunny day due to poor insulation. Travertine has high impressively high insulation capabilities which can reduce surface temperature of tiles on your pool deck by 20%-30% compared to other types of concrete and stone paving. Good Grip and Water Absorbency Pool decks can be often dangerous for toddlers and adults alike. One accidental slip and there could be an emergency situation at hand. Travertine is a highly water absorbent material, so travertine tiles have a good grip and are far less slippery than other deck materials. When it comes to safety, travertine is about one of the best choices you can make for your family. Looks Fantastic Travertine is perhaps the most eye catching pool deck material on the market, with stunning shades of brown, grey, ivory, and more that will offer the perfect contrast to your landscaping and bring to life the vibrant blue of your pool water shimmering against the sun. Long Lasting Color One of the common problems with concrete and stone paving is that, in the long run, the colors fade. This is due to the fact that the fade resistance factor of these materials is dependent on chemicals. Since travertine tiles are made of natural stones, the colors don’t fade as easily over time compared to other materials that rely on dye for coloring. Easy, Seamless Repair Compared to travertine paving, stone and concrete paving are at a disadvantage when it comes to repairing a pool deck. With concrete and stone tile repairs, the damaged area doesn’t patch right and looks uneven in the long run as both are hard materials. With travertine, the repairs are not as apparent. Travertine is a soft stone, so it blends easily with the surrounding surface. Revive Your Pool Deck with Travertine Paving If you’re looking for one of the most stylish, natural, and long lasting materials for your pool deck, travertine paving is the way to go. It looks great, lasts long, and will make your pool stand out from the others in the neighborhood. We’ve been paving pool decks in the Houston area for years, so if you are looking for an experienced name in travertine pool decks, schedule a free consultation today. Just give us a call at 281 - 516 - 1600 or completing our online contact form. 
7 Ways to Beautify Your Home with Landscaping DesignWhen it comes to aesthetic appeal, there are countless options to beautify your home. You can update your kitchen cabinets, open up the floor plan, add a fresh coat of paint, and more. But perhaps the most stunning, curb-appealing change that you can make to liven up your living space is unique and original landscaping design. And, the best part about improving your landscaping is that it doesn’t just benefit you. Your entire neighborhood will love to enjoy the view of fresh, modern landscaping. Here at Outdoor Perfection, we’ve been boosting the curb appeal of Houston homes since 2000, and it this post we want to share with you seven ways to beautify your home with landscaping design. Build an Outdoor Living SpaceOne of the aspects of your home that you will enjoy so much is the outdoor entertainment you are able to take in when the weather is warm, and you can only achieve the best of this with a custom outdoor living space. A yard is just a yard, but once you’ve added living space outdoors, you’ve got a place to “live”. While this will give you an amazing landscape design and opportunity for outdoor entertainment, it also saves money and time because you’ll have less grass to mow (or pay to get mowed). If you aren’t sure where to start, a simple patio with a grilling space, a fire pit, and small dining table will offer an excellent place to entertain without subtracting too much from your lawn space. Decorate the DrivewayAnother simple way to improve your landscape is to freshen up your bare asphalt driveway with some colorful plantlife. This does more than just hide the imperfections that might be forming in the blacktop. It helps transform your front yard into a bountiful paradise. Use roses or other bold flowers to build a very low boxwood hedge at the back or along the side of your driveway, and allow those amazing perennial flowers to grow taller and rise above the hedge. Here, you have to infuse different colors, height and textures to truly make the effect pop. Construct a Low FencePeople who live in houses that are very close to the streets should use this landscaping design trick. A low fence that sets back slightly from the sidewalk gives the illusion that your house is farther from the street. Planting a bed of flowers in the space between the sidewalk and the fence completes this effect and lines your curb with an array of color. Get the Flower Work RightUnderstanding the type, color, and pattern of flowers to put at particular places in the compound is among best achievements in proper landscaping design. Welcome your guests with flowers of different types. With perennials, your home will glow year in year out. Another simple trick is to arrange your flowers at different heights. You can achieve this with the help of baskets and planters. Staging your color at different levels will prevent your landscaping design from feeling flat and one dimensional, while also attracting the eye of onlookers to a sea of beautiful colors from low to high. You can further add depth and height to your landscaping design with shrubs and trees that accent your floral arrangements. You can also the plants and flowers to hide the more unsightly parts of your home. The outdoor workplace, garage, and sheds, for example, can be covered with flowers and trees. With wooden planks and brackets, you can also design shelves on top of the entrance doors and windows. To achieve a sort of seamless design here, you can allow the plants and flowers to climb onto the walls of the structures in question. Lay MulchOne of the simplest and affordable ways to beautify your lawn is by laying mulch. Mulching trees, flower beds, and bushes adds a layer of contrast that makes every aspect of your landscaping stand out. Beyond the aesthetic effects, mulching also helps discourage weeds and encourage healthy plant growth. Construct a Stone WalkwayNothing sets your lawn apart from the neighbors like a stone walkway. Natural stone is comfortable even on bare feet, looks amazing, and helps divide your lawn into distinct spaces. Traditional grays and reds work well on almost any yard, but you can really give your landscaping personality with something more striking, such as orange or blue. Get Your Landscaping Design Done Right from the StartChoosing the right landscaping design can make your life a visual joy every time you step out the front door or return from work. If you don’t know where to start or aren’t sure what works best for your lawn and your space, reach out to Outdoor Perfection today. Just give us a call at 281 - 516 - 1600 or fill out our quick and easy contact form. We love landscaping Houston, and we are happy to provide you with a free consultation. |
Archives
January 2019
Categories |
RSS Feed