Should You Mulch in the Fall?

Spring is the most popular time for mulching, but is it the only time to mulch? While adding mulch in the spring is a great idea to help reduce weed growth and improve the appearance of your landscaping, there are reasons to also mulch in the fall. Here are some benefits to adding fall mulching to protect your favorite plants and trees through the winter months.

  • Restore mulch layer. During the long summer, mulch can become displaced. Summer storms, irrigation and other factors can cause thin spots in your mulched areas that need to be replenished. You want to keep a 2-4-inch layer of mulch around trees and larger plants to protect their roots.
  • Prepare for winter. Cold weather can be detrimental to your plants. Mulch can help protect the root system and soil around your shrubs, trees and other important plants. A nice layer of bark or wood mulch can insulate roots and give them protection from the cold air and possible snow above.
  • Less work for the spring. If you only mulch once a year, it can be quite the chore. Spring is busy enough; cut down the workload in the spring by mulching in the fall. You will have much less mulch to spread, leaving you more time for planting and other spring projects.

Adding mulching to your fall chores can be beneficial to your landscaping and minimize the work needed in the spring. Visit your local landscape supplier to stock up on the best mulches for your needs. Many suppliers sell mulch in bulk amounts to save you money and can deliver right to your home to make it easier.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

Where Does Flagstone Originate?

What is flagstone and where does it come from? This popular natural stone is used in many landscaping and hardscaping projects, yet most people are unaware of what this stone is and where it originates. The flat shape makes it perfect for paving outdoor areas or covering surfaces, used for outdoor and indoor natural stone projects. Understanding the nature of flagstone and the different options available can help you determine the best type for your next project.

What Is Flagstone?

Simply put, flagstone is not a certain type of stone but more of a shape of sedimentary rock. Most flagstone is made from slate or limestone and can come in a variety of colors, but it is usually sold as a flat rock in various sizes. These rocks are used in paving, retaining walls, fireplaces and surface coverings for a natural and beautiful appearance that is durable and can withstand the elements.

Tennessee Flagstone

Flagstone can be quarried from anywhere with sedimentary rock formations, but one popular area in the U.S. is Tennessee. The flagstone from Tennessee is usually brown or gray, with varying hues of these colors depending on where it is quarried. Tennessee flagstone is shipped all over the U.S. to landscape suppliers due to the high quality and demand for this unique and durable natural stone that can be used in many different projects.

If you are planning project using natural stone as a paving or covering, consider the benefits of using Tennessee flagstone. Contact a local quarry or landscape supplier in your area that offers Tennessee flagstone to see the different sizes and varieties available to create a unique and lasting surface made from beautiful natural stone.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

Make the Most of Your Slopes with Stone Retaining Walls

If you have steep slopes on your property, this can be wasted space. It can be difficult to plant, and erosion is a concern when the wetter months arrive. Retaining walls are not only a way to combat erosion; they can be used to transform slopes and hills into useable spaces. Here are some ideas to make the most of your slopes with retaining walls made from natural stone.

Tiered Garden

Using two or more retaining walls, you can tier your slope and create one or more flat spaces for planting. The natural stone walls create the perfect edging for a stunning rose garden or a bed of wild flowers. You can turn a unused hill into a beautiful landscape for your front or backyard that will be the envy of your neighbors.

Hill Patio

Another option is to use retaining walls to create a patio to overlook your property. This can be a nice place to add a fire pit for evening marshmallow roasting, created with flagstone or fieldstone for a natural look to blend in with the surrounding plant life. By night it can be a place for “camping” at home, while during the day it can be a beautiful hardscape that enhances your nearby slope.

Natural stone retaining walls can add depth and interesting edges to your property, while protecting your property from erosion and creating useable spaces. Visit your local quarry to find the right natural stones to use to build your retaining walls to revamp your slopes and hills. Your local supplier can give you tips on the ways to use natural stone and refer you to local hardscape contractors that can help build your new useable slope.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

Is It Time to Add Gravel to Your Driveway?

Gravel driveways are economical and require little professional maintenance compared to paved options. However, that does not mean they are maintenance-free. Annual raking can help keep gravel level and improve the surface, but over time gravel will become compacted and you may need to add more gravel to resurface your driveway. Here are some signs it is time to invest in adding to new gravel to your driveway.

Pothole Problems

Does your driveway have potholes or areas where water collects in puddles? Erosion and wear can lead to low spots that need filling to create a level surface again. While you can rake and fill these in, without adding new gravel and compacting it, the problem will continue to get worse.

Tire Tracks

Using the same spots to park your vehicle can leave tire tracks. You may even get grass or weeds growing in the areas between the tire tracks. Once again, spreading the gravel will help, but eventually you will need to add more gravel to fill in the worn areas.

Contours and Slopes

The shape of your driveway can change. It may become contoured, creating a low area that collects water, or slope in one direction or another. This can cause drainage issues that can be annoying and detrimental to your property.

If it is time to add more gravel to your driveway, you can save money by doing this yourself. You will need new gravel and equipment to compact and rake the new gravel into a level surface. Contact your local landscape supplier for gravel delivery to your home. They can suggest the right gravel type and the amount of gravel you will need to resurface your driveway.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

5 Benefits of Flagstone Patios

Are you thinking of building a new patio or upgrading an old one this year? Patios can be made from many different materials, but one of the most popular right now is natural flagstone. Before you settle for a plain concrete or man-made paver patio, consider the benefits of using flagstone for your new patio. Here are five advantages of choosing flagstone for your patio project.

  1. Long-lasting stone. Flagstones can be hundreds of years old before they are used for an outdoor patio. This resilience is one of the reasons so many people choose them for their paving needs. They can last for decades and still look wonderful.
  2. Uniqueness. No two natural flagstone patios will be exactly alike. Each stone can be a slightly different color, pattern or shape, giving your patio a unique quality, which only natural stone can achieve.
  3. Easy maintenance. Flagstone is easy to maintain. It is meant to be outdoors and is quickly cleaned with sweeping or pressure washing.
  4. Add value to your home. The popularity and longevity of flagstone makes it an excellent investment into your home. It can add value to your home, making it more desirable if you decide to sell in the future.
  5. Natural beauty. There is nothing like natural stone to add beauty to your outdoor spaces. A flagstone patio offers uncompromising aesthetics that cannot be replicated with man-made pavers or concrete.

If you want a stylish patio that will add beauty, value and elegance to your home, choose flagstone for your paving material. Visit your local quarry to view the various flagstone options available for your next paving or stone-building project.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

Add Beauty and Function with a Stone Sitting Wall

Do you love spending time on your back patio or yard? If your outdoor space is one of the favorite “rooms” of your home, make it even more inviting with a stone sitting wall. Natural stone can add elegance to your outdoor living space, and a sitting wall is beautiful as well as functional. Here are some benefits of creating a stone sitting wall around your back patio.

  • More seating. One of the obvious benefits of a sitting wall is more places for people to sit. A patio can get crowded adding too many chairs or additional furniture. A sitting wall does not take space away from your patio but can be placed on the edge for added seating.
  • Gorgeous edging. Using flagstone or fieldstone to build your sitting wall can create a gorgeous edging to your patio and separate spaces in your outdoor area. Sitting walls use a low retaining wall with a sitting platform to encase your patio and improve the design of your space. This can be a great divider between areas, like your outdoor kitchen and dining space.
  • Year-round outdoor furniture. When your patio table and chairs are put away for the winter, your sitting wall will still be available for seating. Enjoy sustainable furniture that will last for decades, adding beauty and value to your home all the seasons of the year.

There are many different natural stone options for building a sitting wall on your back patio. Visit your local quarry and view all the different colors, shapes and sizes of stone that can be used to add more elegance and seating area to your outdoor living space.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617

Improve Your Tree Health with New Mulch

Mulch or beauty bark is often seen as a tool to tidy up landscaping around bushes and larger plants. However, it has a function beyond just aesthetics. Mulch can be used to protect the moisture in the soil and can add nutrients as it breaks down; it is also not just for bushes or shrubs. Mulch can be beneficial for trees of all sizes and an important aspect of keeping them healthy.

Why Should You Mulch Around Trees?

Trees may be the biggest plants in your yard, but they need protection and care. As the giants, they need more water and nutrients than other plants, but they must fight for what they get. Mulch can help protect the roots of your trees from damage and keep the moisture in the soil. The right type of mulch can also add nutrients to your soil that trees can use to thrive.

When Should You Mulch

Most mulch needs to be replaced at least once a year. Spring is a common time when mulch is replaced, getting the landscaping ready for the warmer summer months ahead. Keeping a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch around your trees can give them extra protection from root exposure and help improve the moisture of the soil. Plus, it has the added benefit of improving the aesthetics of your landscaping.

When placing mulch, make a 3-foot circle around the tree of no more than 4-inches deep of mulch, but keep the mulch away from the tree’s trunk. This will give adequate protection for the roots from the cold and heat, while preserving moisture. Talk to your local landscape supplier about the available options in mulch for your landscaping needs.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

What Are the Benefits of Using Aquasorb?

Does it seem like the water you use in your irrigation just disappears, yet your lawn and gardens are left thirsty for more? Water can evaporate quickly, or soak down into the soil, needing replacement frequently and adding to your watering costs. One option for soil moisture improvement is using Aquasorb, a soil enhancement that stores water to keep it available for your plants.

What is Aquasorb?

Aquasorb is a moisture retainer for the soil, made from aniocic polyacrylamide polymer that can hold up to 400% its weight in water. When added to the soil for lawns or gardens, it absorbs the moisture and keeps the level perfect for growth. It can absorb extra water that can drown roots, then release it as needed when the soil begins to become too dry. Some of the benefits include:

  • Perfect soil moisture for sustained times
  • Reducing irrigation costs – 20-25% less water is needed for plant/grass maintenance
  • Improve health of plants and grass
  • Improve the root system
  • Ideal for transporting plants from one place to another
  • Enhances sod applications

Aquasorb comes in different varieties, depending on where and how it will be used, with particles ranging from, 03 to 4.0 millimeters. The product can be added to water or to soil, and is useful for residential and commercial applications, even for large agricultural projects.

If you want to improve the moisture content of your soil and reduce the amount of watering needed for plant growth, visit your local landscape supplier to learn more about Aquasorb. It could be the best way to improve the health of your lawn and gardens, while minimizing your irrigation frequency.

Posted on behalf of:
Green Brothers Earth Works
680 Franklin Rd, SE
Marietta, GA 30067
(770) 590-8220

5 Ways to Use Natural Stone Veneer

Do you love the look of natural stone, but building with natural stone is too expensive? You can have the best of both worlds, lowers costs and beautiful style, with natural stone veneer. This product is created from natural stone and is cut into thin sheets that can make it look like a solid stone structure. Here are five ways to use natural stone veneer around your home to add beauty and value.

  1. Siding. Stone veneer is perfect for adding a stone entry around your front door or partial stone for around the circumstance of the exterior. It can be added at any point, changing and updating the entire appearance of an older home.
  2. Fireplaces. Have an old brick mantle you wish was natural stone? Stone veneers can replace the exterior of your fireplace for a natural style.
  3. Outdoor kitchens. Many homeowners are adding outdoor kitchens to expand their outdoor living space and entertaining options. Blend your outdoor kitchen in with your natural stone patio with stone veneer for the cabinetry.
  4. Entrance pillars. Want natural stone entrance pillars at the entrance of your driveway without the expense? Cover concrete, brick or wooden pillars with stone veneer to create the look you desire at a lower cost.
  5. Natural interiors. Stone veneer can create a natural look for bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens inside your home, giving it an upscale appearance.

Almost any surface can be covered with natural stone veneer for a gorgeous new look. Talk to your local quarry that offer stone veneer to learn more about the options available for your next home improvement project.

Posted on behalf of:
Culbreth Stone
1968 US-41
Pelham, TN 37366
(423) 930-8249

3 Excellent Options for Retaining Walls

Are you planning on adding a retaining wall on your property? These walls can have functional and aesthetic benefits, from reducing erosion and mudslide on slopes, to creating a clean, sculpted appearance for your yard. One of the decisions you need to make when creating a retaining wall is the best material for the job. Here are three excellent choices for retaining wall materials and their benefits.

  1. Modular block. For easy building, modular block can be a great option for retaining walls. These blocks are made to fit together and stack, creating a tight, solid wall for your project. They can be square, rectangle or curved, depending on your needs, with a lower cost than some other options.
  2. Fieldstone. For natural style to your retaining wall, fieldstones can be an excellent option. Since the sizes and shapes in fieldstones vary, they do take more work and mortar to hold them in place. However, the beauty of natural stone can add value to your home and cannot be surpassed for aesthetics.
  3. Pavers. Pavers and modular block are similar, but pavers come with more color options and are easier to use than natural stone due to their uniform shapes. They can offer some of the beauty and design options of natural stone, with the ease of blocks, making them a nice in between option that is usually less expensive than natural stone.

Get the best choice for improving your landscaping with a retaining wall by visiting your local quarry or landscape supplier. They can help you decide which material will work best for your project and budget, while creating a beautiful retaining wall that will perform the function you need on your property.

Posted on behalf of:
Alliance Stone
5420 Campground Rd
Cumming, GA 30040
(404) 759-0617