But before long the purples and pinks begin to fade and the summer heat is upon us. Things can thin out pretty quickly if you haven’t planned your landscape carefully. One of the reasons to work with a professional landscaper is to make sure that you have color and interest in your garden all throughout the year. We help our clients plan an environment that always has a little sumthin-sumthin going on. Here are a few of our greatest hits:

Grasses:

We’re not talking Fescue here, people.  We’re talking bushy, lush ornamental grasses. They can fill up a bare spot and create a focal point of texture. They come in a variety of colors and sizes and are perfect for gardeners who would rather be watching the Red Sox (of course, this year, we may rather be watching the grasses).

Ornamental trees:

There is nothing prettier than a Japanese maple to accent a water feature or add interest to your foundation plantings. With a deep red color and a delicate leaf, Japanese maples are a great contrast to a mostly green background. Also, the lacy maple is a real showstopper in the fall.

Lavender:

Lavender adds a beautiful soft color and a calming fragrance to your garden. Lavender requires little maintenance and is fairly drought (vacation) tolerant. Even after the bloom has faded you’ll enjoy the silvery color and texture. You can also cut lavender blooms and keep them in water or hang them upside down for 10-14 days to dry them. You can also use it in cocktails.

So give us a call.  A colorful yard can be yours without a lot of work!

Hint: Mom would love to put up her feet up and relax next to a serene water garden.

You know who you are, you guys out there who haven’t gotten the all-important Mother’s Day gift yet.  You’re probably going to be running around at the last minute, maybe buying some outfit that she’ll return on the Monday after Mother’s Day, or maybe, worse yet, you’ll send flowers.  Does anything say “I forgot Mother’s Day” like a flower arrangement?

But there is hope. Even with only days to spare, you can pull the Phoenix from the flames and get your wife or Mom something she really wants.  So what do Moms really want for Mother’s Day?

A place to relax.   Motherhood is stressful from start to finish.  There’s birth – enough said about that.  Then there are the diapers, feedings, baths, science projects and thousands of cupcakes that will need to be baked before the little nippers are even in junior high school.  Let’s face it – Mom needs a place to relax and a beautiful water garden from Dana Landscaping is just the ticket.  No one can sit and listen to the sound of a waterfall and look out over a beautiful water lily and feel tense.  Well, a glass of wine also helps.

Something of lasting beauty.  Flowers from a florist are nice but they’re gone in a few days and then all that’s left is an ugly vase.  But an investment in your property can bring color and beauty that she’ll enjoy for years to come.  And with a well-designed outdoor space, she’ll have more room for entertaining or just relaxing.

A project that’s fun (but not a lot of work).  She may love a beautiful garden, but she may not love all the hard work that goes into it.  That’s why we’re here!  She just needs to tell us what her vision is, and we’ll go to work making it happen.  If she isn’t sure what she wants, we can create a design that is perfect for the space (and your budget).  We specialize in transforming under-utilized areas of your property into beautiful outdoor living spaces.

SO HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:  Find a picture on this web site that you like…a water garden, planted bed, a patio, whatever.  Print it out.  Place said picture inside of the thoughtful Mother’s Day card you buy at CVS.  And then contact us to come out for the free design estimate!

Maybe a paradise for dogs, but not for people.

Lots of people have a part of their yard that just drives them crazy. Maybe it’s where your dog has decided to dig a few holes (ask Eddie the Bassett Hound about that). Maybe it’s an odd shaped space that you can’t quite figure out what to do with. Or maybe it’s an area that you’ve never gotten around to improving (although you’ve talked about it for years).

Whatever the size, shape or challenges of a particular spot on your property, there is a landscape plan that can add beauty and functionality. That ugly duckling can become a swan. Or at least a better-looking duck.

Wow! What an amazing transformation!

Eddie is not sure that this was an improvement. He preferred the dog park. Luckily, Eddie does not get out to talk to customers much. He’s busy digging holes.

Do you have a spot that you just can’t figure out what to do with? Contact us and we’ll be happy to provide a free consultation.  Now is a great time to get started on those long-overdue outdoor projects.  You’ll be able to enjoy your new space all summer long!

So now is a good time to start thinking about adding a fire pit to your property.  Dana Landscaping specializes in creating custom fire pits that bring added character to outdoor living areas. You can even have the convenience of a gas fire pit. Some things to think about:

• Fire Pit Materials and Styles: We have built fire pits using numerous different types of stone. Larger stones can be used to create a more rustic, stone wall appearance. More tightly stacked slates create a more modern profile. Consider the area you’re putting the fire pit in and the ambiance you want to create.
• Creating a separate space: Some fire pits are incorporated into an existing patio area, fairly close to the house (but not too close – you need to make sure that you are well clear of any overhangs or wooden decks). Another nice idea is to locate your fire pit away from existing built-out areas. It can make give more of a “campfire” feel if you’re a little farther away from the action.
• Safety is important: Obviously, you need to be careful when lighting fires. If you have youngsters around, make sure they never try to use the fire pit alone. Adult supervision is important and so is having a fire extinguisher handy. Also, when you need to dispose of ashes, make sure they have had time to cool. Never dump your ashes into a compost pile, as they can still be warm and ignite the compost material. A good idea is to have an ash can for occasionally cleaning out the fire pit and disposing of ashes safely.

If you’re warming up to the idea of a fire pit, give Dana Landscaping a call at 978-682-9267.

Whatever you’re dreaming about, the best way to achieve a good outcome is to start with a plan.  This is also the step that many homeowners find the most difficult.  It can be hard to look out at featureless yard and imagine what it could be.  So here are a few tips on planning for your next landscape project:

1. Match your landscape design to your home and property.  Sometimes homeowners fall in love with some landscape idea they’ve seen in a magazine, or a particular plant they’ve seen at the garden center, and they have to have it, even if it isn’t really a good match for their home or property.  What can happen is that you end up with a mish-mash of plants or features that distract from the home rather than enhancing it.  It’s a good idea to clip (or pin) ideas that you like when you come across them, but you want to think of them as possibilities in the context of an overall plan.  If you house is rustic, lean toward a more rustic garden; if you are the contemporary type, think clean lines and grasses.  Also consider how your property is situated with regard to sunlight, drainage issues and soil type.
2. Make sure your landscape design is a good fit for your lifestyle.   For some people, the perfect summer afternoon is spent puttering around the yard, watering plants, pulling the odd weed and deadheading the petunias.  For others, the idea of spending the afternoon doing any kind of yard work is about as enjoyable as a root canal.  So make sure the landscape you are planning is good fit for you.  There are choices we can make to keep your garden looking great even if you hardly have time to look at it.  Also think about how your whole family will want to use the yard.  There are ways to accommodate outdoor entertaining for adults and kids’ activities if you plan ahead.
3. If you just can’t get the vision…call in the experts!  We often work with homeowners who just don’t know what to do or where to begin.  The best thing is to call us and we’ll come out and walk your property with you and give you some ideas to think about.  We can help you develop a plan for your whole property, even if you are only ready to take on one piece at a time.

If you’re planning major projects like a new patio or water feature, you want to get started soon so that you can enjoy your new landscape for the whole summer.  So contact us for a free design consultation and quote!

• We deliver on our promises.  Dana Landscaping has been serving the Merrimack Valley for over fifty years.  You don’t stick around that long if you’re not keeping the public satisfied.
• We respect the need for balanced budgets.  Not everyone is in a position to make a big investment in landscaping this year.  We can work with you to find projects that will fit your budget and improve your quality of life.
• We care about your health.  Not to mention the health of your property and its market value. A beautiful water garden lowers your blood pressure.  And adding features like a patio or an attractive stone wall can make a big difference in a tight real estate market when it comes time to sell your home.

So, vote for Dana Landscaping already!  Not only will you be doing your civic duty, you’ll be entered to win one of five gift certificates for area restaurants.  By the way, this is a photo from a Dana Landscaping project that appeared in the September issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine.  It’s a great example of what you can do with a combination of landscaping, hardscaping and night lighting.

Dana Landscaping has been based in the Merrimack Valley for nearly 50 years.  We take great pride in our work, which brings great landscape design to Valley homes and businesses in the form of water gardens, traditional hardscapes (patios, walkways), plantings, fire pits and landscape lighting.

And our commitment to service is second to none.

Enjoy examples of our Landscape Design, Water Gardens, and Poolside Creations… or fill out our contact form to discuss your latest project!

Once we get reacquainted, then the new construction projects begin: we have a blue stone patio, patio and firepit going in in North Andover; a blue stone patio, water garden, fire pit and planting in Andover… this is the really fun part.

Fire Pit

Bluestone Patio

A Dana-designed Diving Stone and Jacuzzi Spillway

Wait until you see when we put all of these together!

For almost 50 years at Dana Landscaping, we have brought our landscape design and construction skills to homes and businesses throughout New England.  Based in Andover, MA, we specialize in water gardens: ponds, waterfalls — beautiful features which can transform your back yard or the impression customers have when they visit your place of business.

Please feel free to contact us if you want to discuss a project.

Read the article here.