Lighting Landscape Ideas
From subtle “washes” of light to dramatic accenting, lighting landscape ideas help your garden look stunning after dark. However, remember that too much illumination can overwhelm a design concept. Remember that you should always be aware of the potential for lightning strikes and stay away from metal objects or equipment as they conduct electricity. For more information, visit Orlando Lighting to proceed.
Water Features
Adding water to any landscape design is one of the most beautiful ways to add definition and create visual interest. A water feature is also a soothing and peaceful element that can help calm the mind and relieve stress. Spending time around flowing water can lower your blood pressure and heart rate.
With various options available, we can install water features that fit into any landscape design aesthetic. From a quiet, still pond to a waterfall that masks noise, we can bring a new dimension to any landscape with an easy-to-maintain and low-impact water feature.
When choosing a water feature, homeowners need to consider the amount of maintenance they’re willing to do and what the feature’s main purpose will be. For example, a homeowner who wants the tranquility of a pond will need to be ready to do more frequent maintenance, such as removing leaves and debris and regularly cleaning the surface. In contrast, a pondless water feature can supply texture and sound without much maintenance since it recirculates the water, so it never has to be refilled.
Lighting is an important part of a water feature landscape design because it can highlight the calming glimmer of a fountain or a dramatic waterfall. Lighting can also be used to show off a rock wall with water flowing over it in a spectacular way that will impress visitors.
Aside from the visual appeal of a water feature, it’s important to remember that any outdoor water feature supports wildlife in your garden. Birds, frogs, toads, and insects will all call the water feature home as they seek shelter from the elements. Having a water feature on your property will ensure that the local ecosystem is balanced, and this is particularly important in Central Oregon, where our dry climate can make it difficult for many species to thrive in outdoor habitats.
Trees
Thousands of trees are struck by lightning each day. This is primarily because they are often the tallest objects in the landscape and, therefore, more likely to be hit by lightning. They also have deep roots that help conduct electric current to the ground. A tree that is dead or significantly damaged by lightning often rots and eventually falls over.
A lightning strike can devastate a tree, and the damage will depend on the nature of the strike and the environmental conditions around it. The type of tree is another factor; older trees are more susceptible to injury than young ones. The location of the trees, and whether they are grouped together or in isolation, will also influence susceptibility to damage by lightning.
If a tree strikes on the sides of its trunk, the living tissue is typically killed in strips that run along large branches or vertically down the trunk to a point a few feet above the ground (figure 4). This can be very destructive. In these cases, the tree may appear fine after a strike but then decline over a few months. This can be due to the disruption of the metabolic process caused by the strike or because the strike weakened the tree and could not fend off fungal disease or insect pests.
A strike causes no visible damage in some trees or only small scorched bark areas. Then, the tree dies suddenly two to 12 months later. This is usually because of a disruption in metabolism or because the tree was unable to fend off fungal diseases and insect pests after being weakened by the lightning strike.
While trees add beauty and value to a landscape, they should be supervised after a lightning strike. A professional arborist should be consulted to assess the damage, and a strategy should be developed to prevent future lightning-related injuries and tree failures. A tree care plan should include proper soil drainage, mulching, and watering to promote vigorous growth and to avoid root rot and other problems.
Lawns
The grass is one of the most important parts of any landscape. It can add beauty, color, texture, and smells to any yard. A beautiful lawn can make a house feel warm and welcoming. It is also a good place for children and pets to play. A well-maintained lawn can help reduce the amount of water and fertilizer needed.
Many people believe that their grass is greener after a lightning storm. This is because the electricity in a lightning strike can cause the nitrogen in the air to turn into nitrates. Raindrops then carry these nitrates to the ground and are absorbed by the grass. This fertilizer makes the grass greener. However, there is debate about how much electricity affects the grass. Some scientists say that the amount of nitrates formed is insufficient to make the grass greener and that the bright green color is simply an illusion created by the wet grass sparkling in the sun’s rays.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your yard, consider adding trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers to your landscape. These can add color and texture to your yard, and they can also provide shade and privacy. Plants can also improve the quality of your soil, making it healthier and more productive.
Sprinkler system installation and maintenance is another great way to improve your landscape. A sprinkler system can save time and money by automatically watering your plants and lawn. It can also help prevent overwatering, which can damage your landscape and cause problems for your plants.
If you’re looking for a professional landscaping company, look no further than Lightning Lawn & Landscape. They offer a variety of landscape services, including sprinkler repair and maintenance, sod installation, hydroseeding, and mulch installation. They are also known for their high-quality outdoor lighting services, which can transform your home’s exterior into a magical wonderland at night.
Flower Beds
Many different flowers and plants in your garden can look very attractive during the day, but they are an absolute attention catcher when illuminated at night. When it comes to landscape lighting, it is important to know that a little goes a long way, as too much light can be distracting and unpleasant to the eyes.
You can create a relaxing atmosphere by introducing washes of beautiful lighting to your flower beds and other softscape elements. You can also use lighting to highlight trees, bushes, and other plant features you want to emphasize or create a dramatic effect. Coordinating the illumination with the plants’ colors and textures you are highlighting is important to ensure they work well together.
For example, you can create a relaxing ambiance by illuminating the steps of your patio or deck. This helps to ensure that you can easily navigate the space at night, and it will also look great. Alternatively, you can use low-level lighting to accentuate a garden bench or other structure in your landscape. This can be a more dramatic effect, but it is important to remember that you will need enough light for safety and aesthetics.
This is a common and quite useful technique in outdoor lighting. Highlighting is created by placing a spotlight at the base of an outdoor feature. By varying the distance and angle of the light fixture, you can experiment with different lighting designs for unique landscape architecture goals. For example, trees often need two or more fixtures to provide sufficient illumination.
Place the landscape spotlight behind the feature, aimed towards an adjacent wall; this creates an illuminated backdrop. This dark outline of the object showcases the plants and other dense features. It looks especially striking in the sunset.
Similar to silhouetting, shadowing also places the fixture towards the base of the feature, aimed towards an adjacent wall. However, the goal is to create a softer shadow, and it often works best with a tree with open, delicate foliage. The effect of the tree’s movement in the wind will surely add drama to any home façade.
Pruning Trees Properly
If a tree’s branches extend too close to the ground or cause safety hazards, it’s time to call Tree Trimming Cedar Park.
Properly pruned trees are healthy, safe, and more attractive. However, many people don’t know how to trim trees properly.
When trimming a tree, make sure the cut is made on the branch side of the stem collar—the small lip of bark each branch protrudes from. Doing so will help the wound close faster and reduce the disease risk.
A broken or dead tree is an eyesore, as well as a potential safety hazard. Tree trimming can prevent this from happening by removing damaged and dead branches. This process also improves the health and appearance of the trees on your property. However, pruning is not a simple task, and improper cutting can lead to irreversible damage. This is why it’s important to hire a professional tree service to do the job for you.
When pruning a dead or damaged limb, start by identifying the area that needs attention. Usually, this will be the area that is cracked or split, and may contain a large amount of decay or insect activity. It is important to remove these areas first so that they don’t cause further damage in the future.
Next, make a cut just outside the branch collar. The branch collar is the raised area around the base of a branch where it joins the trunk. If the collar is injured by a bad cut, the wound won’t heal correctly and will eventually cause rot. Avoid making flush or stub cuts, which leave too much of the stub and create a point of weakness.
It is also important to identify and prune suckers, which are weak weedy looking growth that form at the base of a tree or shrub. These suckers steal energy from the more desirable parts of a plant, and they should be removed as soon as they appear.
Finally, it is important to use the right tools when chopping off dead or diseased limbs. A good quality pair of sharp shears or a two-handed pruning lopper will work for smaller limbs. For thicker limbs, you will need a proper tree-cutting saw. Using the wrong tools can result in improper cuts and injury to your plants.
Lastly, it is crucial to disinfect tools that have been used on diseased wood before using them on live plants. Diseased wood can contain living inoculants, such as insect eggs or fungus spores, that can enter the plant and cause serious damage. This is why it is critical to dispose of diseased wood properly.
Taking the proper steps to reduce risk when trimming trees helps prevent serious property damage. This includes reducing the chance of limbs falling on your home, yard or power lines. It’s also important to keep your property safe from potential insect infestation or disease caused by dead limbs. By reducing the chances of injury, you can help prevent damage and save money.
It’s crucial to inspect a tree before starting work. This helps prevent injuries to workers and property owners. You should look for a broken trunk, large cracks or wounds, mushroom growth, fungus or missing bark. If you see any of these issues, it’s a good idea to call an arborist for help.
You should also look for weakened or dying branches. These may break off in a storm and fall, and they can cause damage to people or vehicles. If you see any weakened or dying limbs, it’s best to remove them right away.
If a branch is decaying, you should cut it just above the collar. The collar is the point where the branch meets the trunk. The collar contains an area of wood that is chemically protected from further decay. By cutting a branch at the collar, you can minimize the amount of decay that spreads from the bottom of the limb to the trunk of the tree.
In addition to removing dead and unhealthy limbs, you should also remove branches that are overextended or too long. This will reduce the weight of the branches and improve the architecture of the crown. It will also help minimize wind damage during a storm.
If you are trimming a mature tree, the risk of falling limbs is greater than that of a younger tree. It’s best to do this work in winter, when the weather is colder and more conducive to safe working conditions. Then, you can use a ladder or aerial lift to avoid falling debris. In addition, you should follow ANSI recommendations and assume all overhead power lines are energized until they are verified as de-energized. This will help reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities for your workers.
While pruning can alter a tree’s natural shape, it should only be done to improve its health and safety. When done improperly, it can lead to damage and serious problems. In order to minimize the risks of incorrect pruning techniques, it is best to consult a certified arborist. They will ensure that the work is performed correctly and safely.
When trimming a tree, the first thing that should be done is to remove any dead branches or limbs. It is also important to remove branches that are rubbing against one another or crossing over each other. This will help prevent the formation of rot in the wood and will also reduce the risk of disease infection.
The next step is to thin the tree. This will help to reduce its size and encourage new growth. Topping a tree, however, is not a good idea because it can cause weak suckers to develop that are more likely to break off in high winds and may obstruct the flow of water through the trunk. In addition, topping can lead to wood rots that are more difficult to treat than simple wound infections.
A better method to reduce a tree’s size is by using a reduction cut instead of a heading cut. A reduction cut involves shortening a terminal branch back to a lateral branch that is at least a third or half of the diameter of the terminal that is being removed. This allows the remaining branch to perform all the photosynthesis work that was being performed by the terminal branch. In addition, it also reduces the chances of decay entering the wound.
Avoid removing any large limbs in the growing season, since this can lead to major damage and create a hollow or cavity inside the tree. This will attract insects, fungi and other organisms that can contribute to the spread of disease. Also, never fill a cavity with concrete or brick, since this can block water and lead to fungal infections.
Prune trees and shrubs during the winter to prevent damage to the bark and cambium. Pruning should be conducted during the dormant season when it is easier to see what needs to be done and to make smaller cuts. If you must prune during a growth flush, it is advisable to do only light corrective or structural pruning. The energy required for wound closure is low during this time and is often diverted to shoot elongation, flowering or fruit production.
Keeping your trees healthy is important for preventing disease, pests and other problems. In addition, it helps ensure that your trees can grow and thrive in the desired shape. One way to do this is by trimming them on a regular basis. Regular pruning can also encourage flowering and fruit production and prevent damage to buildings or power lines. When you are trimming a tree, you should follow these tips to keep the plant healthy:
Start by checking for dead branches. If a branch is dead, you should remove it immediately. Branches that are close to the trunk should also be removed. This will help reduce the risk of storm damage and improve airflow. When removing dead branches, you should make sure to use under-cuts and finish with a cut that leaves a half inch collar to promote healing. This will protect the wound from fungus and insects.
Once you have removed the dead branches, you should check for other signs of stress. For example, if you notice that the leaves are turning yellow or brown, this may indicate that the tree is under stress. It is also a good idea to check for any cracks or wounds on the trunk of the tree. These can be entry points for pathogens and should be cleaned and covered with a wound dressing to prevent infection.
In addition, you should also look for any signs of girdling roots or insect infestation. Girdling roots are the result of a sucking root system and can lead to severe trunk damage. You can spot these by looking at the base of the tree where it meets the ground and observing how wide the flare is.
If the flare is narrow, it could indicate a serious problem with the trunk of the tree. You should also prune out any suckers that are forming at the base of the tree. Suckers are weak, weedy-looking growth that steals energy from the healthy branches of the tree. In addition, they can cause a variety of issues, including damage to property and safety hazards.