Rock Walls Prevent Soil Erosion

Many homes are built on hilly land, leaving homeowners to decide what to do with those areas that are too rolling to do anything with. Hills are beautiful and add much character to landscapes, but sometimes they cause erosion problems. If a hill has nothing to anchor the top layer down, the dirt and soil on top will start tumbling downwards. Without anything holding the dirt in place, the homeowner can be left with a constant mess of soil making its way down the hill.

There are, of course, ways to prevent erosion. One way is to add plants to the hillside that will send their roots down deep and anchor the hill. But the soil can still wash away around the plants, and sometimes more drastic measures need to be taken to prevent erosion.

Rock walls are a good way to prevent erosion in tough areas. Cap rock is a good material to use to build a retaining wall. A cap rock wall will hold back the soil and even allow landscapers to create flowerbeds above or below the wall. Cap rock is found in Florida and is known for its natural beauty. By planning a cap rock wall into a hilly area, a homeowner will be able to prevent erosion and add depth and beauty to their landscape

Travertine Pavers Show a Homeowner’s Style

Travertine pavers are a very versatile building material. Besides being heavy duty and durable, these pavers come in different shades and sizes, and they can be used for a variety of purposes. They can also portray a range of styles and interests. For example, homeowners that use travertine pavers for a patio or fire pit will show that they are classy and like a bit of elegance in their design.

Travertine pavers that are used around a swimming pool show that the homeowner is smart and practical in their landscaping design, because these pavers are naturally skid resistant and stay cool even in the hot sun. On the other hand, travertine pavers can also be used to create a walkway around the house, or a path that leads through flowerbeds, and this might show a feeling of timeless beauty. There are many possibilities, and designers can incorporate travertine pavers into almost any landscape.

Pebbles for Landscaping

They seem like such a common, everyday material, but pebbles are gaining in popularity because of all the benefits they provide, as well as the improvement they make in a landscape’s appearance. Pebbles are used extensively for pathways, to fill areas under plants, in the building of ponds and rivers, and to improve the look of certain areas of a yard. Pebbles now come in such a wide variety of colors and polished finishes that homeowners are sure to find something they like. They are also often used in xeriscaping areas that don’t receive much rainfall, in an effort to add color and beauty to dry yards. Pebbles are also great for rock beds, and to fill in small areas that are hard to do anything with.

Many landscapers are turning to different types of stone to design landscapes, because stone is so versatile, natural, and long-lasting. Pebbles have added benefits because they can be placed easily and can be installed by do-it-yourself homeowners, if desired. A good landscape will incorporate a variety of materials, colors, and plants, and many people are now using pebbles to enhance their landscape.

Glass Mulch for Landscaping

More and more people are using glass mulch as an alternative to more traditional bark or gravel mulches. The use of glass mulch in landscaping is appealing to those who support recycling. People would rather see beer bottles and other discarded glass end up as glass mulch instead of thrown into a dump where they sit for years and years. Instead of being taken to the dump, old glass is ground into nugget-sized pieces and tumbled to remove any sharp edges. Sometimes pigment is added to produce glass mulch into a wide variety of colors.

Another environmental reason people are turning to glass mulch is that it doesn’t absorb water like wood mulch does, therefore more water gets to the plants and less water is needed when watering plants. Glass mulch also doesn’t break down like wood does and therefore you don’t need to continually replace the mulch every few years.

Finally, because glass mulch comes in a variety of colors, people are able to landscape more creatively than they could with brown or red wood mulch or gray gravel. Some people use blue glass mulch in order to form a stream or pond in the middle of their landscaping. Others have used glass mulch to make designs or logos to accent their plants. Glass mulch is a versatile, environmentally friendly alternative to bark and gravel mulch that is gaining popularity among many people.