Spring 2014 Atlanta Landscape Color Combinations – 2

February 24, 2014 by

Todd has pulled together yet another grouping of seasonal color combinations to keep your business or home looking fabulous.

SpringBlend2-Best-Atlanta-Landscaper

Fresh color combinations can turn any area, whether home or business, into a showplace, creating a welcoming atmosphere and setting the stage for your visitors, family, customers, residents or employees to enjoy the outdoors.

This week, our custom Atlanta landscape color combination is vibrant with reds and yellows and is suitable for the full, hot Atlanta sun. (Click on the image for a larger view of the custom PDF) You may also check out our page on seasonal color for more information.

If you are ready to turn over the design, installation and maintenance of your business, POA, HOA or outdoor living area to inspired Atlanta designers, contact us today. We’re ready to help your dreams come true and to save you valuable time.

 

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Fall Landscape Ideas from Unique

October 26, 2012 by
Fall is the perfect time to add plant material to your existing landscape or to plan a compete landscape makeover in your yard. Whichever the case may be, Unique Environmental Landscapes has a few plant suggestions for the Atlanta and Northern Georgia region. It just so happens that three of the plants Unique will be using this fall are also University of Georgia (UGA) Gold Medal Plant winners for 2012.

The first, and one of Unique’s favorite, is the Red Bark Coral Maple. One of it’s most outstanding characteristics is the vivid red-coral color the branches turn during the winter. Because it is a deciduous tree, the branches become a focal point in the winter garden, shine a little light on this beauty after dark and add drama to your nighttime landscape (see photo below.) In the spring, the new leaves don red edges adding another cool characteristic to the Coral Bark Maple. Then there is the fall splendor with yellow-gold and red colors.

Another one of Unique’s favorite is the Rabbiteye Blueberry (or Southern Highbush Blueberry.) You will notice this plant at this time of year for it’s beautiful fall foliage color, a deep red. Of course, the blueberries we harvested over the summer are a tasty reason to love this deciduous shrub, too. Next spring, this native blueberry bush won’t disappoint either with it’s incredible cream colored blooms almost like that of Lily of the Valley. Even though plant selection might be limited in the fall, it is the very best time of year to plant a blueberry shrub, it will love a rainy winter. Be sure to purchase at least three plants including two or more varieties for cross-pollination purposes.  If Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate, be sure to keep the soil moist. A good layer of mulch at the base always helps retain moisture…a must for best blooming and berry harvesting!

If your landscape project includes adding to your perennial garden, try Coral Bells (Heuchera) in a part-to full-shade garden. It looks best when planted next to the fine textures of plants such as bleeding hearts and ferns. It also looks great around smooth creek rock or garden statues. This perennial adds year round color, though older and tired leaves should be trimmed off before the new spring growth.

All three of the plants listed here tolerate drought conditions fairly well. Though it’s always important to remember, newly planted material requires sufficient watering for the first year especially. And of course, there aren’t really any plants in the south that don’t need a good drink of water occasionally!!

Drama in the landscape

Coral Bark Maple is a night time show piece!

Filed Under: Atlanta Landscape Company, Atlanta Landscape Design, Atlanta Landscape Designer, Atlanta Residential Landscape, Atlanta Residential Landscape Tips, Homeowner's Association, Landscaper in Atlanta, Todd's Landscape Tips Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Visit Unique Environmental’s Booth at the Upcoming CAI Tradeshow

August 16, 2012 by

Join us for a day dedicated to issues that affect Georgia Community Associations! Meet industry leaders and get your questions answered. This expo is FREE to HOA and Condominium Board Members, Homeowners and Community Association Managers.
Seminars include: Coping with Difficult People, Collections for your Community, Hot Legal Topics that Affect Today’s World, Social Networking and much more.
Keynote speaker is HGTV’s Vern Yip… this promises to be a good one!
August 25, 2012
Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel on 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Rd.
To Register, visit: www.theneighborhoodexpo.org
And please visit Unique Environmental’s booth!

Filed Under: Atlanta Landscape Company News, Homeowner's Association Tagged With: , , , ,

Unique Really ‘Digs’ Irrigation – Small to Large Leaks

September 8, 2009 by

100_0721 As shown in this photo, Unique really ‘digs’ into irrigation repairs – large and small. This ongoing leak was detected when the system was reactivated this summer after an extended shut down due to the drought restrictions of the last two summers. Extended dormancy of irrigation systems create a higher frequency for repairs and it’s be best to get an audit before irrigation ‘start-up .'

Irrigation audits will:

1.   Ensure that you are getting proper coverage and there is no mainline or value box leaking. Undetected leaks on larger properties can become costly when you're paying for all this extra water.

2.   Examine how much water each zone is using and allows for  proper recommendations of changing heads to give each more effective application of water to the turf or shrub areas.

3.   Balance the irrigation needs of the landscape between the turf and shrub areas. This can be done by using the more efficient irrigation heads and integrating drip irrigation as well as updating the irrigation clock . Quite honestly, turf takes the largest amount of water but at different periods of the year, while annual beds may require a higher frequency over a short period of time. An updated irrigation clock allows the technician to set different runtimes and different frequency times to balance out the efficient use of water in your landscape.

After your audit is complete, follow the recommendations made by the irrigation tech and maintenance manager. It may be best to water twice a week for the recommended period of time than small frequencies every other day. Deep roots keep plants thriving in drought conditions. Monitoring during the irrigation season is recommended. We suggest at lease once per year on residential homes and HOA properties and 2 to 3 times per year on commercial properties depending on size. Click here to learn more about the irrigation services we offer in the metro Atlanta area.

What should an irrigation audit provide:

1.   A complete mapping of your system that indicates boxes, mainline and clock locations.

2.   Gallon consumption per zone to inform you of water consumption on your property when the system is running.

3.   An itemized list of recommended essential repairs and alternativ solutions to making your system more effective.

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