Create a Tranquil Space
Entertain in style or relax after work surrounded by the tranquility of nature. In addition to being visually pleasing, water features use the soothing sound of rushing water to block background distractions and transform an ordinary home into a peaceful retreat. The ambient noise created by water features has been shown to reduce aggression, anxiety and stress, leading to a happier home life and better health.

Add Pizzazz to Your Patio
Stand out from the crowd with a custom water feature. Whatever your home décor, there’s a water fountain or fall to suit your style. Choose traditional looks that summon the sights and sounds of a rocky mountain stream or a more modern design that uses interesting surfaces and reflective materials to maximize the play of water and light. Incorporate water features into hardscapes or use them in natural settings.

Get Back to Nature
Everyone is trying to do his or her part to preserve and protect the natural environment these days. Water features create miniature habitats for animals, plants and birds. Even during the winter months, water features can provide valuable sources of food and water for wildlife. Self-sustaining water features that replace thirsty turf reduce water use, and the positively charged ions produced by moving water improve air quality.

Return on Investment
Professional landscaping is an inexpensive way to increase the resale value of your home. Studies show that homes with interesting or creative landscaping sell more quickly than ones without. Water features add that special touch that makes your home one to remember and encourages prospective buyers to sign. A fountain, pond or waterfall that complements the existing décor and is surrounded by attractive plantings turns an ordinary yard into something spectacular.

Make this summer one to remember. Call today and transform your garden into a private oasis.

At the first signs of the ground thawing, it’s time to start working on your lawn. Take a few hours to look over your lawn mower, weed whacker, and other lawn care tools. Make sure every item is working correctly. Sharpen the blades, replace rusted parts, oil the gears, and don’t forget to replace the spark plugs in your lawn mower. Once all your tools are in working order, you can begin your spring lawn care.

First, aerate the lawn. You can rent an aerator from most garden supply stores and some department stores. This tool helps make the soil perfect for new seeds to thrive and will also eliminate any winter compaction, especially in areas that receive a significant amount of snowfall each year.

Now it’s time to break out the rakes and get those muscles moving. Your aim is to remove every little clump of thatch buildup in your yard. Use a metal rake or a special dethatching rake for the best results, which will get all the dead grass out of the way to make room for new and healthy grass to grow. All this raking will also core the soil so it is ready for new grass seeds.

Once all this is done, simply plant grass seed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Not only should you distribute the seeds in the bare spots, but also seed the thin areas of your lawn and anywhere else that you feel the grass isn’t as thick as you’d like it. Keep the seeds and new growing grass moist at all times. Once the grass is about two inches tall, it can be mowed. Fertilize your grass once a month for the ultimate summer yard.

If you are a community or business leader interested in the addition of a playground to your institution, you must determine the best organization to install that playground. Put your trust in Grass Roots Landscaping and Home Improvements for the highest quality service and products. The experts at Grass Roots have been installing playgrounds for more than 30 years. They are experts in their field.

When Grass Roots takes on the job of playground installation, they first carefully calculate the design of each piece as it is assembled to ensure it can easily hold a child’s weight and is properly connected. Their attention to detail results in the reduction of injuries to children and liability to the playground owners, not to mention an increase in fun!

Most importantly, Grass Roots is Game Time Certified. Game Time is the leader in adopting the strictest safety standards for their equipment and Grass Roots is certified to adhere to those standards whether installing their own equipment or that of another manufacturer.

With Grass Roots, you will be guaranteed the best quality equipment put in place by the best quality installation. You can find a cheaper installation company, but Grass Roots provides a fair price for a superior service. And once your playground is in place, you will be able to rest easy and enjoy the benefits of a playground without the concern. Grass Roots gives you a job done right that children, parents, and you will appreciate.

Outdoor lighting comes in many variations and can greatly complement a garden, an outdoor feature, and a home. Light up the garden perimeters and enjoy the view in the evening, border an attractive tree surrounded with flowers or add some outdoor lighting to line the paths around the garden or up the driveway. Outdoor lighting is also a wonderful way to display stonework on or around the home, show off outdoor art or expose a pond or fountain.

Outdoor lighting can come from below or above so everyone can choose the look that is most enhancing to their garden and home. Lights can be as effortless as path lights that are simply pushed into the dirt to path lights that stand tall and become part of the view. Accent lights can spotlight a favorite place in the yard while deck or rail lights will lead guests to the door. Lighting can be made to look completely natural or made to stand out and be noticed.

Another advantage for outdoor lights is safety. Outdoor lights can lead one from the car to the door without fear of tripping or walking into something as well as helping visitors find the correct house in the dark. Another benefit from the use of outdoor lights is the deterrence of unwanted intruders whether they are burglars or nighttime creatures intending to raid the trash can.

Whether outdoor lighting is used to beautify a garden, enhance a home or for safety reasons, one thing it will most certainly do is bring up the value of the home.

Problems with drainage arise when the land around a home or other structure is not properly graded or has changed over time. This means that water that is drawn to the base of a home through a downspout or other device will not flow away from the house. The angle of the ground will keep water around the sides of a home and can potentially damage the foundation or can cause severe flooding the basement.

Erosion occurs when a landscape feature or a piece of the property that is near a body of water slowly starts to crumble away. This can happen after a large storm, a flood or it can occur naturally over time. Erosion can reduce the available land on a property or can make the ground dangerous to walk on. It can even destroy plantings and down trees. Homeowners who notice erosion should take steps to stop the problem before it requires large and expensive treatments.

Both drainage and erosion are serious problems. A professional landscaper can assess what the exact problem is and can repair it. Drainage problems can be solved by re-grading the land and moving material to create a slight incline that directs water away from the home. Erosion can be solved by rebuilding the land with some structural support. It can also be effectively prevented in the future by planting native shrubs and trees whose roots will secure the ground. Catching and repairing these very serious problems early can save a homeowner a significant amount of money over time.

Grass Roots Landscaping & Home Improvements is the company to take care of all commercial landscape needs in the Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. areas. Even before the commercial building is raised, Grass Roots can partner with the business owner to help design the best landscape for the site and for their business. They will also install the landscape and help maintain it. This includes laying down sod and seed for any lawns or grassy areas and moving or planting trees according to local ordinances or the client’s wishes. Indeed, Signature Trees, their subsidiary, are experts in moving and replanting even very large trees. Grass Roots will also install hardscaping like walkways, driveways, parking lots, pergolas and gazebos, raised beds, retaining walls, fences and gates. Playgrounds can also be set up if they’re needed, again, according to the client’s wishes and in keeping with local laws. As licensed pesticide applicators, they can also provide pest control for the client.

Grass Roots will also design and install an irrigation system or landscape sprinklers to keep grassy areas and areas with plantings in top shape. They have a variety of means to control erosion, including landscape fabric and/or adding plants, terraces or steps. When the winter comes they’ll also perform snow removal as well as de-icing services, using materials that won’t hurt the lawns and plantings around the site. Because snow and ice need to be removed immediately for safety reasons and to allow access for employees and clients, Grass Roots will send their snow removal team to the business in a timely manner.

A family business, Grass Roots Inc. has been operating for 35 years. Their workers are prompt, professional and experienced and the company has certifications as a landscape technician and a Techo-Block Pro Certified Contractor. They’re also members of the PLANET Professional Landcare Network.

Your lawn’s spring time regiment should consist of these important steps.

Your first step should be clean up. Winter can wreak havoc on your lawn, start by raking up any of the left over leaves, sticks and twigs left over from the fall.

Next you’ll want to contact your chosen lawn maintenance provider and have them properly aerate your grass. If your lawn receives a good amount of use throughout the year it can cause it to become compacted. Aerating helps by removing plugs of sod, loosening the soil and helping water and fertilizer down to root structure of the grass.

You’ll then want to have a top dressing applied. By adding a thin layer of peat moss evenly over your entire lawn you help gradually strengthen the lawn throughout the year. Helping it greatly resist weeds, disease and ground cover. It also helps reduce the amount of water and fertilizer needed for the lawn.

You now can move on to the dead spots. Whether it comes from dog urination or weeds, dead spots can be an eye sore. Simply remove the dead grass and sprinkle some new seed along with some fertilizer. Make sure to keep it damp until the new grass starts to show.

Through out the year along with it’s regular mowings your going to want to keep your grass weed free. Despite having the top dressing a weed still manages to pop up here and there. Also thatch blocks sunlight, moisture and oxygen from getting to the grass so removing the build will keep your grass looking healthy.

Now is the time to come up with a yearly lawn maintenance plan with your lawn care specialist and keep your yard looking the best on the block all year round.

Some of the services that Grass Roots Landscaping and Home Improvements offer include:

Landscape Design and Installation – whether there is a completed lawn or simply a dirt patch, Grass Roots has the expertise to handle your design smoothly. Grass Roots professionals can convert your open spaces, lawns or property into appealing living areas.

Hardscape Design and Installation – this word is used to convey an outdoor house or lawn attachment that is erected using materials such as brick, wood concrete or asphalt. This can increase home value or make your property look attractive. Some hardscaping constructions are patios, walkways and driveways.

Drainage and Erosion Control – it is important for a property to have a good working drainage and erosion system. An efficient system helps to steer water away from the property into assigned areas. Erosion can be taken care of by using sod to balance soil or by way installing new drainage fixtures.

Outdoor Lighting and Amenities – lighting is a valuable aspect of any property. It can add artistic effects or can be used for safety and security reasons.

Water features – having a water feature, can help your property attract attention and be conspicuous. The benefits of having a water feature is that the audible noise of running water can be calming and refreshing. In addition, running water blocks out the day to day sounds of traffic or neighbors around.

Home Improvements – since your home is where you spend most of your time, you would want to make sure that it is kept in the best possible condition for yourself and family. Home improvements make your property more visibly attractive and can increase the financial value of it also.

Keeping the gutters and downspouts in working order will help to prevent water that runs off the roof from soaking into the ground at the walls. Landscaping that creates a gentle slope provides a means of diverting water away from the house as well.

Another important component in maintaining a good landscape is erosion control. Strategically directing the storm water runoff in the right direction is very helpful. Using sod, vegetation, and trees are very effective ways to stabilize the soil. Not only does controlling erosion prevent deterioration of the soil, but water pollution will be significantly reduced.

Individuals with property that borders a body of water not only have to be concerned with rain water, they must find ways to protect against water erosion caused by the body of water itself, whether it be a river, lake, or the ocean. Many soil erosion specialists use riprap along the edge of the water to protect the soil. Riprap is also referred to as rock armour, a term that is descriptive of its function. It is made of stone, usually granite or limestone, to serve as a buffer between the land and water. Control of erosion is best handled by a company with the resources to handle it professionally.

Grass Roots Landscaping and Home Improvements has the experience and expertise to make your living space more interesting and desirable to both your family and possible future residents.

Attention is focused on a home that appears to be cared for. Make a good first impression by sprucing up the landscape and exterior of the house. A neat yard with well placed shrubs and plants and a clean face on the house will shout to passersby that this place is loved.

The center of a home has always been and will continue to be the kitchen. Buyers will usually look at the kitchen first and want to know that it is clean and functional. They are impressed when there are matching appliances that meet the standards of energy efficiency, and counters and cabinets have a smooth finish with doors and drawers that open and close easily. Your family deserves this, too.

Home buyers look for homes with at least two bathrooms. But if you cannot find the space to build a second bathroom, why not remodel the existing one and install double sinks. Bathrooms are number two on the list of a buyer’s concerns, so make the one you have so attractive they will forget the ‘other’ bathroom.

Adequate storage is not only essential for you and your family but is something that house hunting individuals will find appealing about your home. Even if there is not enough room to enlarge a closet, the existing space can be improved with enough drawers and more shelves to accommodate all the clutter that is now crammed into the closet.

Grass Roots Landscaping and Home Improvements can advise you on the improvements that will make your home the one the buyer will want.