Tag: landscaping design

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2024 Landscape Design Trends to Improve Your Landscape

Written by Burkholder on February 12, 2024. Posted in Blog, Landscape Ideas & Design.

Now that 2024 is in full swing, many homeowners will be thinking about their landscaping goals and projects for the year. Burkholder offers some 2024 landscape design trends to incorporate into home landscapes. Now is the time to meet with your hardscape and landscape contractor, and these trends for 2024 are versatile and practical enough to be suitable for any property.
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Hardscapes

In 2024, hardscape landscape design trends focus on creating luxurious and functional outdoor spaces. One of the standout themes is “Quiet Luxury,” which emphasizes timeless design with a focus on natural and elegant materials. Warm tones are being introduced to offer a cozy and inviting atmosphere in outdoor spaces. The use of natural stone is also prominent, with products like sandstone slabs and granite colors often being chosen to add a touch of sophistication and durability to outdoor designs.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a key trend, with the integration of permeable pavers that add aesthetic value and address environmental concerns by minimizing runoff and pollutants. Creative use of outdoor spaces is encouraged, transforming areas like slopes or outdoor stairways into multi-level edible gardens or incorporating floral-patterned patio slabs to enhance greenery.

Pavers

Trends in paver shapes and colors are aligning with modern architectural designs, incorporating different combinations such as hexagons and diamonds to complement contemporary homes. Patio preferences are adapting to property sizes, with more compact designs using smaller pavers for smaller lots and bigger pavers or slabs for expansive patios with designated areas for entertainment spaces. The incorporation of bold patterns and textures is also on the rise in 2024 landscape design trends. Linear designs and creative curves are making their way into hardscape features, bringing

dynamic shapes and movement into outdoor spaces. This trend includes the use of paver mosaics for circular patterns and the strategic placement of pavers to create engaging visual effects. You might see a section of pavers surrounded by darker or lighter pavers to create a space separation or just a pleasing aesthetic.

These trends reflect a shift towards more sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living spaces, highlighting the importance of integrating hardscape elements that not only complement the home’s architecture but also enhance the overall outdoor experience.

Outdoor Kitchens and Dining Areas

Outdoor kitchens in 2024 are evolving to cater to contemporary homeowners’ needs for spaces that go beyond cooking to entertaining, relaxing, and connecting with nature. The focus is on modular designs that offer flexibility to match personal lifestyle needs and environmental consciousness with the use of eco-friendly materials. Gas grills continue to dominate due to their convenience, but people seem to have a growing interest in versatile cooking options like pizza ovens and Kamado-style grills. The design of these outdoor spaces is also integrating multipurpose areas that combine cooking with entertainment and relaxation zones.

In addition to these trends, outdoor decks are seeing innovations like fire features for warmth and ambiance, eco-friendly designs utilizing sustainable materials, and modular furniture for adaptable layouts. Smart technology is also making its way outdoors, with AI-powered gadgets, including grills and other appliances enhancing the functionality and convenience of these spaces. Statement lighting in outdoor kitchen areas is key for setting the right mood and ensuring safety after sunset.

Outdoor Lighting

Great lighting for a patio, deck, path, pool, or other focal points in the backyard will always be popular. Outdoor lighting design trends in 2024 are focusing on blending functionality with aesthetic appeal, creating inviting and sophisticated outdoor spaces.

Smart Lighting

One of the key trends is the integration of smart outdoor lighting systems. These systems offer convenience and customizability, allowing homeowners to control lighting through smartphone apps, schedule lighting to match the natural daylight cycle, and choose from hundreds of presets to create the perfect ambiance for any occasion. This trend also includes smart security lighting, which adds an extra layer of security with motion detection and alerts.

Ambient and Invisible Lighting

Both ambient and invisible lighting play essential roles in creating inviting and functional outdoor spaces. Ambient lighting is gaining popularity for its ability to create a warm and inviting outdoor atmosphere. This trend includes diffused wall light fixtures and string lights, utilizing materials like rattan and wicker to provide a soft glow that enhances the coziness of outdoor areas.

Invisible lighting blends the illumination into the landscape. Techniques such as lighting the vital points and junctures of a path and hiding the lights that brighten up the home landscape are elements of invisible lighting landscaping trends. For example, long, linear lights beneath landscape structures create the illusion of floating structures. People are becoming more interested in seeing the light rather than the lighting fixtures, so invisible lighting will continue to gain traction in 2024.

Specific lighting trends such as bistro or string lights, moonlighting from trees, pool area lighting, hardscape lighting around fire pits, and safety lighting for natural stone steps are other popular trends. These trends focus on creating specific moods and enhancing safety in outdoor spaces, transforming them into functional, and attractive areas for various uses.

By embracing these trends, homeowners can create outdoor spaces that are functional and safe and also align with modern aesthetic preferences, making the outdoor areas an extension of their indoor living spaces.

Learn About Burkholder Outdoor Lighting Design

Low-Maintenance Landscape Care

While many people love spending time outdoors, most of them likely prefer spending their time relaxing or playing outdoors instead of working. As a result, homeowners continue looking for ways to keep their landscape beautiful and make lawn care more manageable and convenient.

Native Plants in Landscape Design

One of the most obvious ways, and one of the 2024 landscape design trends that looks to sustainability, is the addition of native plants. Incorporating native plants and drought-tolerant species into landscape design offers numerous benefits for homeowners. These plants are inherently adaptable to the local climate, requiring minimal maintenance and water once established. Their ability to thrive in challenging conditions makes them ideal for landscapes in the Main Line area, where we get cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers.
By choosing native plants and drought-tolerant species, homeowners can create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces that require less upkeep and contribute to the sustainability of the local environment.

In addition to native plants, natural stone for patios, shrubs, and trees can help create a beautiful, unique landscape while needing minimal care. Using natural elements and intelligent design, you can maintain quality and a low-maintenance landscape more efficiently in 2024 than in previous years. And, of course, many residents choose to have professionals, like Burkholder’s professional maintenance team, take care of lawn mowing, tree and shrub pruning, and bed maintenance. Our sister company, Burkholder PHC, offers comprehensive plant health care to keep valuable landscape plants and trees thriving.

Learn About Burkholder Plant Health Care

Start Planning Your New Landscaping Design Project Today

Burkholder’s team of landscapers and designers has the skills and passion for creating your ideal landscape. Our landscape professionals have served Main Line communities like Malvern, Villanova, and Bryn Mawr for decades, understanding their needs and providing all landscaping services. Contact us today to learn more about 2024 landscape design trends or our services.

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Take a Look at Burkholder’s New Landscaping Projects

Written by Burkholder on September 19, 2023. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

Each year our designers help Main Line homeowners upgrade their landscapes with new landscaping projects. Sometimes the upgrade is as simple as adding a new custom stone walkway or a specially designed deck. Other projects are more elaborate, incorporating water features like pools and spas, outdoor kitchens, firepit entertaining areas, and softscaping. Below are a some of the landscape design projects we have completed.

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Pool and Patio Retreat

We collaborated with Ted’s Pools on this gorgeous backyard. This project included retaining walls, seat walls and steps using Techo-Bloc 6” Mini Creta Architectural caps in beautiful chestnut brown. The patio and walkway were built using Techo-Bloc Blu 60 pavers in Champlain Grey.
The natural stone steps in the spa area are West Mountain Steps and the boulders surrounding the space are a brown granite.

Additionally, our team created this amazing outdoor space by adding plantings that would highlight the area with blooms from Spring throughout Fall, with an emphasis on summer, while the pool is in use.

Backyard Oasis

Check out this beautiful backyard oasis! Our team created this gorgeous new outdoor living space using Blu Grande Techo-Bloc pavers for the patio and walkways. We built a composite wood grilling island and a raised spa with a waterfall spillway. Now the client has a staycation location right in their backyard!

Techo-Bloc Patio

This cozy backyard living space is fall-ready!
Our team completed this Techo-Bloc Blu60 Patio with a gorgeous Valencia Firepit and Techo-Bloc Mini Creta Architectural retaining walls. Plantings and outdoor residential lighting were added as well to make the space complete.

Malvern Backyard Project

A client in Malvern, Pa was outgrowing their existing deck, patio, and outdoor kitchen in the summer of 2022. Our design team came up with a plan to fit their needs. This was a great project to build and the transformation is pretty incredible. Now the family and their friends have amazing outdoor spaces to enjoy year round!

Private Oasis

In summer of 2022, a client wanted to add outdoor living spaces to their landscape. Our plan included a new deck and patio, pavilion with seating and a television, a pool with a rock waterfall. Now the clients have their own backyard oasis.

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Outdoor Upgrade

Here are some before pictures of a project we finished in June of 2022. We used a mixture of natural stone and Techo-bloc products to create a level area for an inviting bluestone walkway with ample space for colorful plantings and landscape lighting.

Backyard Pool Project

We completed this particular project in May 2020. We used flagstone pavers as the primary material for the pool deck and surround, which are durable, slip-resistant, and complement the pool’s design nicely. A few lights around the pool and the chairs help provide a lovely ambiance at night. The pool area has a significant amount of softscaping, and the plants are coming in and blooming wonderfully. Our crews did a fantastic job, from the design process to the final stages of building, and the client is ecstatic.

A Backyard Transformation

Our new landscaping projects vary in scope and complexity, and this particular project was a full backyard transformation. We had a thorough design consultation and process to fully understand what our clients wanted their dream backyard to become for starters. Next, we designed the pool, the spa with waterfall and natural stone veneer, and the pavilion, which is excellent for outdoor entertaining.

The entertainment area features a stone fireplace, plenty of seating, a built-in television and a natural stone countertop for meals and drinks. Backyard transformations take time to plan and build, but the result is a beautiful, ideal landscape.

Small, Yet Detailed Patio

In contrast to the complete backyard transformation, we have smaller scale projects such as new patios. Our hardscape crew used flagstone pavers, and the warm, earthy tones give the patio an organic, natural appearance.

The different sizes, shapes, and intricate patterns of the pavers also provide the patio with a unique aesthetic, enhancing visual interest and complexity. And the wall nearby has a couple of undercap lights, which makes the outdoor space more usable and inviting during the night. We are proud of the work one of our hardscaping crews did with this project, and this patio is an excellent example of what you can have on your property.

Regrade for New Retaining Wall and Patio

These homeowners wanted to expand their outdoor living space, but the slope was a little too steep. So we cut down the existing grade and installed a Techo Bloc Semma retaining wall and Techo Bloc Blu 60 pavers.

Contact Burkholder Brothers for Your New Landscaping Projects

If you have new landscaping projects or landscaping ideas that you want in your front or back yard, contact Burkholder Brothers. We have designed and built hundreds of landscaping projects in the Main Line area, from softscaping to pools, spas and outdoor kitchens. Our account managers will work with you to fully grasp your vision and make the design process go smoothly. We have a team of highly experienced landscape professionals that can bring your dream landscape to life. For more information on how landscape design company Burkholder Brothers can enhance your landscape, contact us today.

How Do Walkways Impact Curb Appeal?

Written by Burkholder on July 15, 2022. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

One of the aspects of a landscape that can affect curb appeal and that is overlooked by homeowners is a walkway. Walkways impact curb appeal because they are often the first thing people see. They can also act as boundaries, leading to special features or entertaining areas in a landscape. Many different factors go into whether a walkway helps with a house’s curb appeal, from the location and layout of the walkway to its shape and design. Of course, aesthetics matter, too, so materials and lighting can also affect how people see your home. Look at this Burkholder Landscape walkway upgrade project. We used natural stone and Techo-bloc products to create a level area for an inviting bluestone walkway, allowing space for colorful plantings and landscape lighting.

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Before Walkway Upgrade
Before Walkway Upgrade
After Walkway Upgrade
After Walkway Upgrade

Location

Your walkway’s location and connections are important. A walkway should connect the entrances of your home, like the front or side door, with the areas guests are likely to park when visiting. For example, if guests park in your driveway, the walkway should connect the driveway to the front door to create an easy path. Inviting, welcoming entrances and clear pathways for people to use makes a house more appealing. Consider connecting the walkway to the sidewalk, if your street has one.

Shape

A straight or curved shape is one of the choices homeowners must make when building a walkway. Each shape has advantages regarding aesthetics and more practical effects. For example, straight walkways are traditional, simple to maintain, and work best in small front yards where homeowners may lack space to build extensive, winding walkways.

On the other hand, curved walkways are more visually pleasing and eye-catching and work well for homes with large front yards. In addition, with curved walkways, you can create large planting beds in front of your house, adding more curb appeal.

Slopes & Steps

While walkways impact curb appeal, a walkway can also impact how safe your property is and how people can safely enter and exit your home. Many homeowners here in Pennsylvania live on sloped landscapes. Add steps to your walkway when you have a slope in your yard. Also, you may wish to avoid single steps when possible, as single steps can create tripping hazards.

Materials

The material you choose for your walkway is integral to curb appeal. In addition, your walkway will be exposed to the elements, so you have some questions to consider when deciding what type of material will work best for your home.

What material most complements your home’s aesthetics and style?
Is your landscape sloped or flat?
What kind of weather does your area get?

Knowing the answers to these questions can help you can choose the materials that will most positively impact your curb appeal. With Burkholder, your landscape designer can help you decide on the best materials for your individual project.

Some possible materials you might choose are:

Natural Stone Pavers

Natural stone can add a rustic or luxurious look, depending on the type and finish. In addition, natural stone has anti-slip characteristics, ideal for creating a safe, organic-looking walkway.

Techo-Bloc Pavers

We often use Techo-Bloc in our projects. These pavers are high-quality, durable, and attractive. They also offer a high degree of customization and are easy to maintain.

Brick Pavers

Brick is a popular choice for walkways and edging and is available in many colors and sizes. If cared for properly, brick materials can withstand heavy foot traffic without showing signs of wear after years of service.

Lighting

Lighting is an essential element of walkway design that improves safety and can enhance how walkways impact curb appeal. Lighting can create a safe and welcoming space. In addition, if you want to highlight features of or near the walkway, lighting is an excellent way to do so. You could install lighting to make colorful plantings or trees visible at night or add lighting under stairs to highlight their presence. Outdoor lighting adds to curb appeal because the lights make your property and outdoor space look better and safer.

Contact Burkholder to Begin Designing Your Custom Walkway

Now that you see how walkways impact curb appeal, the next step is to create the ideal walkway for your home. Whatever effect you want from your walkway, Burkholder’s designers will help you achieve the look you want. For over 25 years, Burkholder Brothers has been helping Main Line homeowners create their ideal landscapes. Contact us today to get started on yours!

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3 Benefits of Landscape Design to Improve Your Home

Written by Burkholder on May 9, 2022. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

A well-maintained and designed landscape makes a great first impression on those visiting your home. The benefits of landscape design go beyond aesthetics. The professional landscape designers at Burkholder offer some of the ways that landscape design can benefit you and your family.

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Benefits of Landscape Design

Many homeowners start thinking in the spring about ways to enjoy the outdoors. For many, those thoughts lead to a desire to improve their own outdoor living spaces. Below are three reasons that a landscape design project is a great idea.

1. Quality of Life

Landscape design can go a long way to improving the quality of life for you and your family. Green spaces, in general, have been shown to improve the mental and physical health of those who interact with them. For example, if you have a busy schedule with work and family, you may want to have a quiet, relaxing area outdoors to unwind. With landscape design, you can put up barriers such as fences or trees that give you privacy and make your yard quieter. As a result, a yard can be a serene area for those looking to get away from life’s stresses.

Your yard can also promote enjoyable physical activity, such as sports or gardening. You can design your landscape to be wide and open, add various features for entertaining, or even install a swimming pool. Other outdoor features that can improve your quality of life include:

Outdoor kitchens
Fireplaces
Seating & Dining Areas
Spas

These features can transform a backyard into whatever you want and need in your life, whether you want a private resort feel or a quiet getaway.

2. Increase Property Value

One of the great benefits of landscape design for the homeowner is that a beautiful, well-maintained landscape increases property values. Homes are more than shelter; homes are investments, and if the investment is in good condition, the value increases. Lawn care provides a return on investment of up to 270 percent. Improving an outdoor space from average to excellent has measurable effects on a home’s value.

Just having trees in a front yard has notable impacts on the property value. For example, large trees in yards along streets increase a home’s value from 3 percent to 15 percent. In addition, a smart sprinkler and irrigation system keeps lawns lush and green. Manicured gardens, well-built structures, and hardscaping such as pools and decks are examples of landscaping improvements that can increase curb appeal to potential buyers.

3. Better Entertainment and Social Value

Our homes and landscapes can allow us to gather and connect with family and friends. Many people’s homes and landscapes are social spaces, and having a welcoming, inviting space that facilitates and enhances social connection is valuable. Landscape design offers many different solutions for improving entertainment in the outdoors. When a home’s living space expands to the outdoors, new experiences unfold.

Here are examples of how landscapes can be used as social spaces and how landscape design can create or enhance those spaces.

Outdoor kitchens and grills provide new spaces for dining and engaging with family and friends.
Lounge areas with firepits or fireplaces let people relax and have conversations.
Lighting creates ambiance and the ability to highlight certain features of a home.
Pools and spas allow people to relax and cool off in the summer heat.

Landscaping design provides tremendous benefits for homeowners looking to make their homes centers for community and entertainment.

Contact Burkholder to Gain the Benefits of Landscape Design Today

Burkholder’s team of creative and experienced landscape designers can bring all the benefits of landscape design to your home. Our landscape professionals have served Main Line communities like Malvern, Villanova, and Bryn Mawr for decades, providing a wide range of landscaping services. To learn more about how landscape design can help increase the value and enjoyment of your home, contact us today.

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Top 5 Landscaping Projects with the Highest Return on Investment (ROI)

Written by Burkholder on March 21, 2022. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

Homeowners considering home improvement projects often think about whether they will get the value back when they decide to sell their homes. Of course, kitchens and bathrooms are usually high on the list of popular renovations. However, homeowners may overlook that many outdoor landscaping projects can yield 100% or more of their investment in a home sale. In addition, the outdoor home improvements will enhance their family’s enjoyment with the upgrades to the outdoor living space.

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Landscaping Projects that Add Value to Your Home

Burkholder Brothers Landscape does all types of outdoor home improvements. We have collected information about which ones give you the best value for your hard-earned dollars. Some of the enhancements are so simple that they might surprise you.

1. Lawn Care

One of the most significant ways homeowners can increase their ROI on outdoor landscaping projects is to maximize curb appeal. Prospective buyers look carefully at landscaping when inspecting different houses, so the landscaping needs to be attractive and pristine. For example, suppose a buyer is looking at 2 different houses: one only has foundation planting in the front yard, while the other has more vibrant front yard landscaping with flower beds, window boxes, and other landscape features.

As a result, the buyer is far more likely to be attracted to and willing to pay more for the second house, allowing you to recoup more of your investment by listing your home at a higher price.

Essential lawn maintenance and upkeep improve curb appeal, but did you know that simply controlling weed growth and fertilizing can yield a ROI of nearly 270%? That is what a 2018 joint study by the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found.

2. General Landscape Elements

In addition to improving your landscape, you can also add various landscape elements to your property to increase your ROI.

Walkways or stepping stones make traversing your yard easier (and cleaner when mud is present), and they also make a yard appear more cared for.
Large planters are visually appealing and relatively inexpensive.
Outdoor lighting adds greater security and more time to enjoy your outdoor living spaces.

The NALP and NAR study found that these types of upgrades can yield approximately an 80% ROI, and outdoor lighting can return 50% of the costs, primarily if you use the lighting to accentuate other aspects of your property, such as showing off the nearby plants or highlighting the architecture of your home.

3. Patios & Decks

Other types of landscaping projects that can make your outdoor space more usable and provide a high ROI are patios and decks. The addition of these exterior structures adds much value to a home in the eyes of homeowners and buyers. For example, according to Remodeling Magazine’s 2021 Cost vs. Value Report, a new deck can return around 60-70% on your investment, depending on the materials used. This feature adds usable living space for your family. In addition the addition can complement your landscape and architecture while increasing your living space and making room for entertaining options, like eating or cooking areas and even a spa.

4. Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens have become increasingly popular landscape features for homeowners over the past few years. An outdoor kitchen can be a landscape project that helps seal the deal when convincing prospective homeowners or buyers to buy your house. Some of the most common outdoor kitchen features are grills, dining areas, and outdoor bars that include built-in coolers and sinks. Other elements that you can consider adding to an outdoor kitchen that might help set your property apart from others in the eyes of buyers are firepits and pizza ovens. Based on the NALP and NAR study, you can expect a return on investment of approximately 70% if your outdoor kitchen project is relatively simple.

5. Softscape Upgrade

Adding upgraded soil that better nurtures grass and plant growth is one of the relatively simple landscaping projects that improve the overall look of your lawn. Lush shrubs and trees lend privacy, shade, and beauty. According to the University of Washington, larger trees in yards can add around 3% to 15% to your home’s value while increasing your pride and pleasure in your landscape.

Call Burkholder for all of Your Landscaping Projects

Burkholder Brothers landscaping has been designing, implementing, and maintaining home landscapes and landscape features for over 25 years in the Main Line area. Our designers will help you determine which landscaping projects will add the most value and enjoyment within your budget. Contact us today to get started on your landscaping.

Natural Pergola over Back Patio | Benefits of Adding a a Shade Structure | Burkholder Landscape

Patio Options to Make Your Outdoor Space Exceptional

Written by Burkholder on January 24, 2022. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

Many homeowners enjoy spending time out on their patios and want to make their patios suit their needs. Some want protection from the elements, others want to cook and dine outdoors, and others need a lot of seating for entertaining guests. However you like to spend time outdoors, the patio options available to you can take your outdoor space to the next level. Here are some ideas for features and structures that can improve your patio and outdoor space.

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Covers and Shade Structures

Some of the most popular patio options for homeowners are structures that provide cover and shade, which take many forms based on peoples’ preferences.

Pergolas are freestanding structures, typically made from wood, that provide partial overhead coverage and are especially beautiful with plant or canopy accents.
A pavilion is another freestanding structure similar to a pergola: the main difference being that a pavilion has a fully-covered roof. Pavilions provide plenty of coverage for backyard areas like a grill.
Shade sails are outdoor covers made from fabric that offer shade (and look similar to the sails of a boat) and are ideally installed over decks or patios.

Each of these structures and coverings has unique designs and is excellent if you want to keep UV rays and rain from messing up your outdoor fun.

Outdoor Kitchen

A growing trend among homeowners who want to improve their patios and backyards is to add an outdoor kitchen or dining area. Both of these patio options make your space noteworthy and exceptional while also having many design possibilities. For example, if you like to cook outdoors and want an outdoor kitchen designed for entertainment, you can add a bar or island so your friends and family can chat while cooking. You can also add various cooking tools and features, such as pizza ovens or beer taps, to give you more options. And these can be outfitted with additional features like warming drawers, sinks, and refrigerators to make your outdoor kitchen as high-tech as your indoor kitchen.

Seating Walls

More and more homeowners are adding outdoor furniture to their patios for extra seating, but one of the more creative ways people add additional seating is with seating walls. A seating wall is a short wall designed for seating, combining all of the benefits of a place to sit with retaining walls. In addition, while weatherproof and resistant outdoor furniture exists, a seating wall can easily withstand exposure to sunlight, rain, snow, and other weather. So if you need to control a slope in your yard, repurpose a retaining wall, or want to define where the patio ends and the yard begins, seating walls are great choices.

Seating walls also work when paired with other patio features. For example, a fire pit makes for a great central location to gather around for entertainment, and a seating wall can accommodate many people while reflecting heat from the fire for a cozy lounge area.

Other Patio Options

In addition to the options listed above, here are a few other ways to improve your patio.

Fireplaces and fire pits, as mentioned previously, are great for creating comforting and inviting entertainment spaces.
Sound systems give entertainment options, like playing music when hosting a party with friends and family.
Adding plants around the patio is ideal for nature lovers and those who appreciate their landscape.

Contact Burkholder for Patio & Landscape Design

Do you have a preference for one or more of these many patio options? If you want them to be incorporated in your landscape, contact Burkholder Brothers. Burkholder’s landscape design experts will work closely with you through a proven design process to arrive at concepts suited to your needs, sense of style, and home. We have worked with Main Line residents for decades, building pergolas or pavilions and designing and maintaining their landscapes. In addition, we offer a range of choices that maximize style and detail while respecting the project budget. Contact us today for a consultation!

Fall Lawn Care Tips for 2021

Written by Burkholder on October 12, 2021. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

The hot weather of summer has given way to the cooler temperatures of fall. And with fall comes time to keep your lawn maintained and prepared for winter. Homeowners have options for maintaining their lawns, and professional lawn care can elevate a lawn’s appearance and health to another level. Here are a few fall lawn care tips to help prepare your property for winter.

4 Fall Lawn Care Tips

Burkholder’s team members are landscape experts at lawn care and offer 4 recommendations for keeping your lawn in shape throughout the cold season and for enjoying your outdoor space.

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1. Schedule Winterization

A major fall lawn care tip is to schedule winterization for your property, especially if you have a sprinkler or irrigation system. Winterization is important to keep your lawn, irrigation system, and other areas of your property healthy and functional by the time snow start falling. For irrigation systems, you want to schedule winterization in mid to late fall, before December. On an important note, you should get your irrigation system winterized before you experience several days of freezing temperatures (below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.) When temperatures are below freezing, the water in your irrigation lines can freeze, expand, and damage your sprinkler system.

Get your lawn winterized during the same timeframe: around late November to early December. Winter lawn fertilizer strengthens the roots and helps the grass survive cold weather. A winter lawn treatment keeps your turf strong and green through the fall and ready to perk up again once spring arrives. How your lawn should be winterized can depend on what grass type you have, so reach out to a landscape professional to determine the best winterization plan for your property.

2. Have Trees and Shrubs Mulched

Mulch keeps plants insulated, keeping soil cooler during summer and warmer during winter. In addition to protecting plants from extreme temperatures, mulch helps soil retain water and prevents weed growth. If you have trees on your property, you can even use fallen leaves as mulch. A landscape professional can ensure that your plants have proper mulching to protect them during the upcoming cold weather.

3. Trim Shrubs

Getting your shrubs trimmed in the fall will help prepare them for winter. All of the dead, damaged, or otherwise unwanted branches should be cut during fall so that the shrubs can maintain their shape in springtime. For certain species, trimming shrubs during the fall can even prevent the spread of diseases since the shrubs will have more energy to use on healing rather than growing new stems or branches.

4. Make Your Lawn a Gathering Place

No list of fall lawn care tips would be complete without mentioning how to make your landscape hospitable for family and friends to gather during the cool months as well as all year long.

Have a Custom Firepit or Fireplace Added

A firepit makes a great addition to a backyard if you want to enjoy cool autumn nights outside with friends and family. Firepits are often the centers of attention and make great spots to gather and enjoy others’ company. The heat from the fire makes outdoor gathering in winter temperatures feasible, and seating such as chairs or benches can help accommodate large groups. You can even incorporate other features such as tables for fireside dinners or a speaker system for more entertainment options. Firepits can use propane, natural gas, or be wood burning.

Install Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is popular as a safety measure, but lighting also creates the opportunity to enjoy your outdoor space even when the days get shorter. Different types of lighting create different atmospheres as well. An outdoor lighting designer can help you decide what types would meet your needs.

Contact Burkholder Brothers for Fall Lawn Care Tips & Services

Do you want to ensure your lawn is as healthy and beautiful as ever this fall? If so, contact Burkholder. Burkholder Brothers Landscape has been designing and maintaining beautiful landscapes for Main Line residents for decades. We have a team of highly experienced and qualified landscape professionals to keep your lawn vibrant, healthy, and valuable. In addition, our account managers will work with you to turn your dream landscape into a reality. For more fall lawn care tips or information on our services, request a free consultation today.

Manicured lawn | Professional turf care | Burkholder Brothers

February Landscaping Tips From Burkholder Brothers

Written by Burkholder on February 9, 2021. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

As the chilly winter leaves us and spring draws closer, this time of year is excellent for getting your landscape ready for the new season. Some homeowners may wait until the arrival of spring to start thinking about their lawn and landscape, but we suggest starting earlier. Thinking about lawn care and any big plans you have for your landscape now will benefit you, as you will be able to enjoy your new designs or features earlier and longer throughout the year. Here are a few February landscaping tips to help you get started.

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Our 3 February Landscaping Tips

Our February landscaping tips are meant to help you prepare your landscape for the warmer weather, milder winds, and rainy days of spring.

1. Prepare Your Lawn for Spring

The first of our February landscaping tips is to practice preventive maintenance. For example, snow and frost can cause the grass to become stiff, brittle, and susceptible to tearing if your lawn gets a lot of foot traffic while covered in snow or frost. Try to avoid walking on your lawn and use sidewalks or nearby walkways. Torn grass can cause discoloration and produces an unhealthy look.

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2. Schedule Spring Maintenance with Your Landscaping Company

Soon, your lawn and plants will be in full bloom, which means that spring maintenance is needed to keep them healthy and beautiful. Use the tail-end of winter to talk with your landscaping company and discuss a schedule for spring maintenance and lawn care. Mowing, trimming, and pruning are a few of the maintenance services Burkholder offers. In spring, cleaning up the lawn or flower beds, pre-emergent weed control, fertilization, and cutting back any perennials or grasses left standing over winter are some of the essential maintenance tasks to keep your lawn healthy. Reach out to your landscaping company to discuss how to keep your landscape lush and healthy during spring.

3. Think about New Additions or Designs for Your Landscape

Another one of our February landscaping tips is to start thinking about new features or changes you would like to make to your landscape. The cold weather is an excellent time to begin planning so that those new features or structures you want can be added during the spring and enjoyed during the summer and fall. You can think about new plants to make your landscape more lively and vibrant, and opt to plant trees for extra shade. Some structures or hardscape features that you and your family could add include patios, fire pits, spas, or pavilions, all of which add practical benefits and value to your outdoor living space.

Contact Burkholder Brothers for Landscaping Services

If you want more February landscaping tips or are interested in landscaping services, contact Burkholder Brothers. Burkholder Brothers has been maintaining, designing and building beautiful, refined landscapes throughout the Main Line area for decades. We have a team of highly experienced and qualified landscape professionals who can keep your landscape lush, healthy, and valuable. Our account managers will work with you to realize your dream landscape, whether you are building a backyard patio or designing an elegant garden. For more information on how we can enhance your landscape, contact us today.

2021 Landscape Design Trends You May Want to Try

Written by Burkholder on January 6, 2021. Posted in Landscape Ideas & Design.

Each new year, many homeowners plan to implement changes in their landscapes to improve their properties after the long winter. As this New Year gets underway, Burkholder offers 2021 landscape design trends to inspire you. Native plants are great options for people who want to bring new, low-maintenance plant life into their lawns. Incorporating indoor technology and accouterments will make outdoor living spaces more usable year-round. Smart, interconnected technology helps keep your property pristine and beautiful while reducing maintenance and saving you time and money. Here are a few landscape design trends to try out in 2021.

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Native Plants

One of the significant trends we have noticed over the years is more homeowners opting for native plants in their landscapes and this trend appears to continue as with 2021 landscape design trends. Native plants offer several benefits for you and your landscape.

Because native plants have adapted to their respective natural environments, your landscape can maintain its beauty through the entire year, through heavy rain, snow and hot summers.
Native plants are also more likely to resist locally occurring pests and diseases.

Consider adding native plants to your gardens and landscape to make your property more beautiful with less maintenance.

Bringing the Indoors To the Outdoors

Another growing trend among homeowners is the use of their backyard to unwind and relax, bringing the comforts of the indoors to the natural beauty of the outdoors. Turn your backyard into a private getaway with some outdoor furniture. You can also turn your outdoor space into an entertainment area, with a pergola or pavilion to protect you from the elements and enable you to add other items such as sound systems or televisions.

Another method of bringing the indoors outside that has been quickly rising in popularity is an outdoor kitchen. Some of the outdoor kitchen and dining features homeowners want include:

Grills
Dining tables
Pizza ovens
Firepits

These outdoor features also add value to your home, so you and your family are getting both personal and practical value by expanding your outdoor living space.

Smart Technology

As technology grows more interconnected and makes our daily routines more convenient, one of the 2021 landscape design trends you may want to try is adding smart technology to your landscape. An example would be an intelligent irrigation system that automates irrigating your lawn and plants. The automation makes keeping your property watered convenient, while the smart technology prevents overwatering.

Some of the smart technology used in irrigation system includes the following:

Rain sensors
Local weather information linking
Wi-Fi sprinkler control applications for mobile devices

Another example is using smart technology in your outdoor lighting. For entertaining friends and family, you can use color-changing lights to help set the ideal atmosphere and mood for parties or family get-togethers. A smart lighting system also makes your property safer and deters trespassers by activating when the sun goes down. Both of these intelligent technologies make your properties safer, more valuable, and more usable.

Contact Burkholder Brothers for 2021 Landscape Design Trends For Your Home

Are you interested in more 2021 landscape design trends for your home? Contact Burkholder Brothers for a consultation. Our team has decades of experience designing and maintaining beautiful, refined landscapes for Main Line residents. We are up to date with the latest knowledge of landscape materials, trends, and styles. The passionate and experienced hardscape and landscape contractors at Burkholder will work with you to create your dream backyard. For more information on our services, contact us today.

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Native Plants in Landscape Design

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4 Fall Lawn Care Tips

1. Schedule Winterization

2. Have Trees and Shrubs Mulched

3. Trim Shrubs

4. Make Your Lawn a Gathering Place

Have a Custom Firepit or Fireplace Added

Install Outdoor Lighting

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Our 3 February Landscaping Tips

1. Prepare Your Lawn for Spring

2. Schedule Spring Maintenance with Your Landscaping Company

3. Think about New Additions or Designs for Your Landscape

Contact Burkholder Brothers for Landscaping Services

Native Plants

Bringing the Indoors To the Outdoors

Smart Technology

Contact Burkholder Brothers for 2021 Landscape Design Trends For Your Home