If you’re like most people, you’ve seen the unsightly puddles around the yard and never gave it too much thought. You say to yourself, “I’ll deal with later”, or “it doesn’t rain that much here”. Then the ground dries, the soil cracks and you start to notice the cracks in the wall from the foundation moving.

Drainage correction is an inexpensive way to make sure that a small fix today doesn’t stop a major headache in the future.

Most drainage issues present themselves in water logged flower beds, bogged low spots in the lawn, water damage to garages, and downspouts that erode soil away from the house.

Each problem has a different remedy. We can use one or a combination of applications to pull the water away from your homes foundation and save you from unnecessary repairs in the future.

The most expensive option to rectify your drainage issues would be to re-grade the ground to correct the slope. This is also the most intrusive remedy, often leaving many visual signs of the past problem.

Better drainage remedies include:

• Channel drains for driveways
• Catch basins for easy debris collection
• Pop Up emitters drain water out to other areas in the yard
• French drains to handle sub surface water and downspout drains for surface water.

Caps also come in a variety of colors and metal finishes that can be used in almost all applications.
Don’t let this be your home. Call Dallas Curb Appeal today and be on your way to ridding your home from muddy feet and paws, foundation issues and dead plants and grass, due to unsightly standing water.

By Maria Bargellini, of Dallas Curb Appeal

Believe it or not the Oakleaf Hydrangea is actually native to the United States, most Hydrangeas are native to china.

We here in Dallas use the Oakleaf hydrangea in our shady gardens to add interest to our gardens all year long. It’s gorgeous blooms add a dramatic yet fragile look to any landscape. It blooms best in bright shade, or when planted in gardens with north facing, morning sun. What’s bright shade you ask? Well there are varying types of shade; dry, moist, bright and deep or dark shade. Hydrangeas look their best in bright shade. That’s dappled or indirect sun. Afternoon sun will scorch this plant and eventually kill it.

When incorporating them into your Dallas landscape, make sure to plant them toward the back of your beds as they do tend to be tall, ranging from 4-8 feet. In addition, the weight of the large cone shaped followers will weigh woody stems down to give this shrub an arching shape, which will require some room, at least 4′, unless you like the look of the arching stems over your smaller plants in front of the Hydrangea.

Hydrangeas also have a higher water requirement unlike our native Texas plants. So if your thinking about adding this plant to your garden, make sure you are adding it to a bed with plants with like water requirements. Otherwise somethings gotta give. You will either over water your existing plants or underwater your Oakleaf Hydrangea. And just because they like extra water doesn’t mean you can drown them either. They do not like to have their feet sitting in water as you might find in moist or deep shade, where sprinkler water does not have as much an opportunity to dry out of flower beds. This water tends to collect at the base of plants and will rot out their roots. The term most commonly used here in Texas to describe this is “wet feet”. FYI Hollies and Azaleas also don’t like wet feet.

Although they are not evergreen, they do have some winter interest and are winter hardy here in Texas. When they do lose their leaves in the fall or winter they expose an interesting exfoliating bark much like our Crape Myrtles, where the outer layers appear to be peeling off of the stems. When the white blooms start to fade they will sometimes fade to a pink color. When cut, at any color, Hydrangeas make  for great follower displays for your home, whether they are freshly cut or dried out..

Dallas Curb Appeal also owns and operates DFW Christmas Lights and The Outdoor Lighting Expert.

In an effort to conserve water and improve public safety the State of Texas along with your Local Municipalities have implemented changes to their irrigation ordinances for both commercial and residential properties. Consult your local department of building inspections for details on the rules and restrictions governing your area.

Water Is Our Most Valuable Resource. Unfortunately irrigation and drainage is often overlooked when installing your landscaping. On average, landscape water usage accounts for over 30% of your total usage. The Right Design and Equipment can Conserve Water and Save you Money. Call today and find out how we can help you save Up To 50% on your next water bill.

One of the easiest ways to conserve water and make your plants look their best is to add drip irrigation. Some of the reasons people shy away from drip is because they think that a soaker hose is the equivalent or that drip needs to be on top, or inside the mulch, making it difficult to hide. Those theories are both wrong. A soaker hose is not a substitute for a drip system nor is it efficient in it’s water delivery system.

We install drip line at 6″ in the ground. You want your water delivered at this height to encourage roots to grow deep into the sub surface. The emitters (holes) in the drip line are spaced according to the application, in 12″ -18″ increments. A soaker hose secretes water throughout it’s entire length making it’s water distribution uneven.

A correctly installed system requires the use of a filter and clean outs to insure that it does not get clogged, and that the water is not compromised by large particles. Drip systems have been used for years and are replacing traditional irrigation systems in the agriculture, greenhouses and nurseries sectors. Drip irrigation is not a system for the future, it’s for the here and now and will help to ensure that our children and their children will have the water that they need.

New legislature concerning irrigation is in effect 1/1/ 09. Some of the new standards include the mandatory use of evapotransporational controllers (smart Controllers), drip zones for sections of grass narrower then 4 feet and individual drip zones for flowers and foundations, to name a few.

Don’t trust your installation to just anyone. In Texas all irrigation repairs and installations are to be done by a Licensed professional. This is to protect the consumer from individuals who are not up to date on code compliance, water conservation methods and proper installation techniques.

I know a good deal can be hard to pass up but with fines staring at $500 in most cities, in the end that “Great Deal” can cost hundreds more when you factor in fines, water waste and repairs. Have your system installed by a licensed and reputable company.

We install several different types of Water Features. We can help you understand your options and choose the feature that best fits your lifestyle.

Ponds, Streams, and Waterfalls can be as simple or as complex as you want them to be. Below are the different installation types. But it doesn’t end there. Dallas Curb Appeal can incorporate your existing landscape to enhance the experience. Call today and find out how we can help you get the serenity you’ve always wanted.

Below you will find a link to download the pond owners handbook. See for yourself just how easy owning your own little peace of tranquility can be.

Pondless Waterfall

Love waterfalls but don’t want a Pond? Pondless waterfalls are just the thing. All the sound and comfort of rushing water without a body of water.

We can build you a natural looking waterfall that crashes down onto rocks and disappears. And It doesn’t end there. We can incorporate your existing hardscape into the water features, you can also add a 10′-30′ stream that winds through the landscape. With tons of design possibilities it’s definitely worth taking a look at.

AquaBasins

These can range in size and complexity. This system consist of a reservoir to hold and circulate water, a pump, a vessel and plumbing fittings.

The most commonly used vessels are pottery. They come in many colors, textures, heights, and shapes. Pricing for these water features are dependant primarily on the types of vessels used. Click here for more information.

Eco System Ponds

We use a balance Ecosystem, developed by Aquascapes that is designed to balance out your pond the natural way. No exposed pipes, no viable liner, no huge filtration equipment. It’s as simple as Fish, plants, and gravel.

The most popular Pond Sizes are:

• Small

1. 1. 4′x6′ (Pondless Only)
   2. 6′x8′
   3. 8′x11 (Best Seller)

• Medium

1. 4′x6′ (Pondless Only)
2. 8′x11
3. 11′x11
4. 11′x16′ (Best Seller)

• Large

1. 11′x16
2. 16′x21(Best Seller)
3. 21′x26′

Whether you require basic service or an all inclusive estate package, Dallas Curb Appeal can help you create a maintenance plan that suits your needs and your budget.

We are available for services 52 a weeks a year, so we’re always there when you need us

What’s included

Estimates: You are not required to be home for basic service estimates as long as all gates remain open during the day of the estimate. Estimates will be emailed no later than the next business day, followed by a call to explain the items and go over any add ons. We use email as our major form of correspondence to reduce paper waste. If you require paper estimates and invoices please notify us.

Pricing: Pricing for “One Time Only Mowing” is determined by the square footage of the property before improvements, and by any obstructions on the lawn that have to be moved, such as furniture. Yearly maintenance is determined by the total amount of all services divided into 12 monthly payments.

Contracts: Vary in length according to the type of project, and are simply and agreement between Dallas Curb Appeal and our clients to perform services and receive payment. One of the most important things in business is to be clear. Contracts are a way of protecting both parties from misconceptions and assumptions. Contract automatically renew every year.
What’s included: As much or as little as you like. You maintenance is fully customizable. Please feel free to call 1-800- Curb Appeal for more information.

Calendars: Calendars are sent In January and are to be used as a reference throughout the year as to when and what type of services will be performed. Of course weather plays a big role in the scheduling process. For this reason dates are subject to change.
Pets: We truly love the furry guys. But unfortunately they can be some of the best escape artist around. The best way to avoid a bad situation is to keep them inside on maintenance day. In addition we do not offer a poop n scoop service. We ask that your lawn be poo free by maintenance day.

Gates: Gates must to be unlocked on maintenance day, allowing us access to all areas of the yard. We recommend using combo locks. In the event that the gate is closed, the service will not be performed in that area.

Weather Days: As much as I try I cannot convince mother nature to do what I want when I want. Every effort is made to stick to you schedule. In most cases the properties are done the very next day. With multiple rainy days you can expect to be delayed one day for every day of rain. If you have any questions please call 214-257-8155.

Alleys: Access to the alley is needed in order to insure those areas are code compliant. We recommend using combo locks so that you can’t forget to leave it open. Locks are available to you at any time. If we can not gain access from within the property, the service will not be done. Our goal is to give you affordable service, and unfortunately if it takes 3 men 5-10 minutes each to load up, drive around back and unload again the cost of your service would increase to cover the 15-30 minutes of extra time. For further information please contact us at 214-257-8155

Cancellations: We will do everything in our power to insure your happiness as our client. But we understand that in hard economic times cancellations are inevitable. Fortunately, unlike the dreaded Gym membership you may cancel your contract at any time. We simply require 30 days notice to evaluate what is owed to either party. Because your monthly bill is averaged over 12 months, we have to research your file and bill you only for the actual services completed during the time before cancellation.

Service Areas: Our service area (for maintenance only) is in Highland Park, University Park, and Preston Hallow. Staying in a concentrated area enables us offer our clients the assurance of always know we’re in the neighborhood. We are in the process of expanding to other markets and adding additional crews. Please call to see if your neighborhood will be next on the list for maintenance services.

Contracts: Vary in length according to the type of project, and are simply and agreement between Dallas Curb Appeal and our clients to perform services and receive payment. One of the most important things in business is to be clear. Contracts are a way of protecting both parties from misconceptions and assumptions. Contract automatically renew every year.

Irrigation Checks: Irrigation checks are solely for the purpose of ensuring proper functioning of your equipment. You will be notified if repairs and what the cost are. Coverage deficiencies, water audits, and controller setting are separate and additional services.

Most people consider their home to be a direct reflection of themselves. What does your home say about you?

Whether you want a Formal, Cottage, or a Zen style garden, Dallas Curb Appeal will get you the look you want by listening to all your ideas, addressing your needs and incorporating all these different facets into a cohesive design that reflects your personal style. Don’t end up with the same old tired landscape design. We can help you make yours, your own.

There are many choices when it comes to your landscaping needs. You can go with a huge company and be just another number or pick a one man operation that can’t offer you all the services you need. Why compromise. We can deliver big company results without sacrificing quality, and still maintain the personal connection with our clients, like a one man operation.

Our goal is to have our customers feel as good about the work that’s being done as they do about the people doing it. Call us today and find out how we can help you.