mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com, Author at Back to Nature Landscaping & Construction

Wrap Up Summer and Stay Cozy with Fire Pits

by mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com | Aug 1, 2024 | Uncategorized

Summer may be wrapping up but time for fun outdoors is far from over. It’s time for football season, pumpkins, cozy sweaters, and fresh cider. The warm temperatures in southwest Virginia are likely to stretch through the end of September. As the chill picks up in October many of us simply reach for our favorite hoodies, sweaters, and scarves and continue to enjoy the last bit of time outdoors before winter sets in.

The addition of a fire pit to your outdoor space is a great opportunity to bring your family and friends together and add a little extra warmth on cool nights. Fire pits can be much more than a stack of cinderblocks and a hole in the ground. The design of a fire pit can be as unique as you. Back To Nature Landscaping & Wildlife Restoration can help you find the perfect fire pit to match your personality and needs.

A fire pit can be the first feature that to an outdoor space builds on just as easily as it can be added to an existing structure or design. Designs for fire pits are now available in traditional forms and much more modern, updated versions. What really makes an outdoor space come together is the incorporation of a comfortable seating arrangement and plant design.

Below is a guide to selecting the shape and height of fire pit from the folks at Outdoor Elegance Patio Design Center and Patiolo. Once all your entertaining needs have been considered, be sure to check out our boards on Pinterest for more fire pit inspiration. When you’re ready to break ground, call Back to Nature for all your landscaping and construction needs.

4 Types of Ponds for your Backyard

by mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com | Jun 1, 2024 | Uncategorized

Adding a pond to your backyard can be a great and exciting experience. Before starting make sure to do your research or consult a professional. There are many different types of ponds to create depending on your taste and style. Some ponds produce more noise and require more maintenance, while others allow for more plants and wildlife. Ponds can be a great backyard learning experience for the little ones; they can watch plants growing, fish swimming, and frogs reproducing. Be sure to know what your end result will be from the beginning and enjoy your water feature!

Fountain Ponds

A fountain pond keeps water clean without having to have many pond plants. A pump is used towards the surface of the pond to spray water upwards. This creates falling water that helps circulate and oxygenate the water. Enjoy the site and sound of falling water!

Water Fall Ponds

Waterfall ponds are a great way to make the best out of your outdoor space. A lot of planning goes into construction; shelves need to be built, pond liner laid, filter and skimmer boxes installed. Much of the leftover dirt from installation can be used to form the waterfall. Natural stones are used to line the sides of the pond and to create a nice flowing path for the waterfall. A perfect combination of plants and fish can be added to have a relatively maintenance free pond. A pump is used to pump water from the skimmer box to the top of the waterfall. You can keep them on all winter!

Pondless Waterfalls

Pondless waterfalls are a very unique type of water feature. A stream and waterfall are constructed out of stone to create a path for the water. Instead of it flowing into a pond, the water disappears into the ground where the pump is staged and pumps it back to the top. There is no standing water in this style pond so there is no need for plants or fish and there is no place for mosquitoes to reproduce.

Natural Pond

A natural pond requires no pumps or flowing water but relies on plants and fish to create a perfect environment. These ponds typically attract an abundant of wildlife also helping to reduce an algae breeding ground. Natural ponds are very customizable. You can add waterfalls and fountains to help circulate the water. You can also add an abundance of plants in and around the pond to give it a very natural unique feel. Goldfish and most native fish are popular to add to this type of pond.

Are you ready for a water feature in your backyard? Back to Nature can help design, install and maintain your water features. Please contact us at www.backtonaturelandscaping.com or 540-739-3947.

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Winterizing Ponds

by mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com | Nov 6, 2023 | Uncategorized

If you have a pond on your property, now is the time to prepare for winter. Here is a list of tasks you should be doing to during the fall season.

Repot overgrown plants.
Bring in any tropical plants and sensitive fish that cannot survive the cold winter weather.
Remove all tropical plants, dead foliage, and leaves before cleaning out the pond.
Vacuum clean the bottom of the pond and clean out.
Do a good water change and top off the pond as needed.
Clean out filters as needed and check them each week.
Slowly stop feeding the fish and do not feed when the water temperature is under 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Put up filter systems, pumps, equipment, and ornaments that are not to be used during the winters.
Cover the pond with leaf net and put out de-icers.
Check pond daily for dead fish, leaks, overturned pots, or other problems.

Feeling overwhelmed? Perhaps your schedule is a little over full this year. We can help you get your pond ready for winter. Contact Back to Nature Landscaping & Construction at 540-739-3947 to schedule an appointment with our team today.

Preventive Maintenance

by mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com | Oct 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

The warm days of summer are slowly fading into the cool nights of fall. It also means it is time to look ahead to cleaning up the yard and preparing for winter. While most people think of cleaning out the flowerbeds, garden, and the dreaded task of raking the seemingly endless piles of leaves, there are several other items to add to the list.

Preparing the outside of your home for winter will save your home from damage and in the process save you lots of time and money. Here is a list of 9 things you can do to help protect your home:

1.) Seal cracks and gaps around exterior doors and windows before the cold winter weather begins.

2.) Survey the roof for damage and check gutters for build up.

5.) Prune any trees within 3 feet from your home and any other buildings on your property to prevent branches from scraping or falling on roofs. Additionally, young trees need protection from animals. Wrap the trunks in wire guards to prevent animals from chewing through their delicate bark.

6.) Make sure to disconnect garden hoses. Water left in a connected hose will damage more than the hose itself- it can lead to cracks in the faucet or pipes as well.

7.) Prepare your lawn mower and any other gas-powered equipment for winter storage by making sure all fuel has been used or drained from the tank.

8.) If you have a fireplace, make sure to prepare your chimney for winter to ensure it is safe and efficient for the winter season. Clear out any built up ashes clean soot, or creosote. Have a professional inspect your fireplace yearly to monitor the build-up of creosote in the chimney which can cause fires and damage the fireplace’s masonry.

9.) Prepare your gutters and roof by applying heat tape inside the gutters and on the edges of the roof. This will prevent melted snow and ice from running off the roof and freezing in the gutters to create an ice dam. Ice dams continue to build up in the gutters. These ice blocks eventually weigh down and can even tear the guttering off your home.

Aeration and Overseeding

by mwuesthoff@digidesigncompany.com | Sep 1, 2023 | Uncategorized

Aeration and overseeding are important factors in keeping your lawn lush and healthy. In our region both processes are ideal for the late summer and early fall temperatures.

By puncturing the soil with many little holes, the process of aeration allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. The main benefit of aeration is lessening the amount of soil compaction. Lawns that are heavily used, were part of new construction, easily dried out, or established by sod. Aeration also helps reduce the amount of thatch built up in your lawn.

Overseeding is a proactive way to keep your lawn healthy by spreading grass seed over your existing lawn. As your lawn is used and the grass matures it naturally thins. The process of overseeding begins with establishing goals for your lawn, correctly timing the process, and preparing the area by mowing the lawn extra short. While preparing for overseeding, it is a great time to correct existing problems in the lawn. Lastly you will select a grass seed, spread the seed, and fertilize overseeded areas. Sound complicated? Let Back to Nature Landscaping provide a free quote for your aeration and overseeding needs.

Back to Nature Landscaping provides aeration and overseeding services using a custom blend of grass seed designed to maintain a healthy lawn all season. This blend is Class A rated for color, drought and disease tolerance, density, overall turf quality, and certified weed-free. Even the best grass varieties weaken with age. This is the perfect time of year to refresh your lawn for the next season.

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Wrap Up Summer and Stay Cozy with Fire Pits

4 Types of Ponds for your Backyard

Winterizing Ponds

Preventive Maintenance

Aeration and Overseeding

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