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Make Your Backyard Your Next Vacation Destination
 You've heard the term "stay vacation". Now it is time to transform your backyard into a fun and relaxing retreat your entire family can enjoy. There are many ways to extend your living space outdoors within your budget while you add value to your property and a lot of enjoyment to your life. Here are some ideas to get you started...
Bring the Indoors Outside
Many homeowners are expanding their decks and patios to include outdoor living rooms with comfortable seating -- even a fireplace or fire pit. Gas-burning fireplaces and fire pits are all the rage.
Also extremely popular are outdoor dining rooms and kitchens. No more grilling on your driveway and eating on a card table in the garage! How about an outdoor pizza oven? They're great fun for family get-togethers and informal parties.
Get Relaxed
Water features, hot tubs, pools, even outdoor showers are being added to backyard living areas to bring the cool, calming effects of water to outdoor retreats. Don't forget a few shade trees, privacy screens and outdoor lighting to set the mood for a cozy getaway.
 Have Some Fun!
What is a vacation without some recreation? Consider separate play areas for kids and adults. Swimming pools, areas for volleyball or other sports -- even an outdoor putting green can make your backyard the place everyone wants to be! What could be more perfect for family night at home?
Are you ready for your outdoor retreat? RYCO Landscaping can help you make your backyard the best room in the house! |
What's News at RYCO Landscaping
Meet Charlie Hoffkins, APLD, Senior Landscape Designer Southern Wisconsin
Over 30 years in the green trades has given Charlie Hoffkins a wealth of well-rounded landscaping knowledge and remarkable insight into the needs and desires of his customers. He is accredited by the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) and has a degree in Ornamental Horticulture as well. In addition, as a Conservancy and Lake Property Development Specialist Charlie knows the state and local requirements for these special types of properties and can help customers efficiently and expertly design and build landscape structures.
Even with all this expertise, Charlie believes that his greatest skill is listening to the customer. "Everyone is unique," says Charlie "and they have different levels of expectations and desires -- and, of course, budgets." His role is to design and build landscaping plans that satisfy those needs and exceed expectations.
A former professional skier, Charlie likes to sky dive and is an avid international traveler. Contact Charlie for your next landscape design project in the Southern Wisconsin area!
SAVE THE DATE! Learn Ways to Save Money and Conserve Water for FREE
RYCO's Seth Logan will be one of the featured speakers at the Water Forum on Saturday, August 7 at the McHenry County College in Crystal Lake. You'll learn about conserving water and cutting costs inside and outside your home. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Vendor booths will be open from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Call 815-245-4556 for information or e-mail Barbara Wheeler to sign up today. |
| Hardscaping Goes Green
Need a new patio, walkway, driveway or retaining wall? There are some exciting new materials available including permeable pavers and "green" retaining walls.
Permeable pavers are strong enough to take heavy loads, like large vehicles, while at the same time allow water to filter through the surface and reach the underlying soils below where the water is naturally filtered and pollutants are removed. They are ideal for walkways, driveways, patios and pool decks. Permeable pavers reduce storm water run-off, reduce flooding and reduce the need for irrigation of area plantings.
The VERSA-Green® Plantable Wall System combines the durability and strength of  a VERSA-LOK segmental retaining wall with the lush beauty of a hanging garden. Inside each unit is a 6"-deep plantable core for planting and a groove in the top to accommodate irrigation tubing. The result is a functional wall that becomes a living part of your landscape.
Want more hardscape ideas? Check out our
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ASK THE EXPERT
Have a landscaping question? Each month we'll choose a question from our readers and a RYCO landscaping professional will provide the answer. Plus, the reader whose question is selected will receive a free gift. Send your questions today to Ask the Expert
THIS MONTH'S QUESTION: Is there a trick in reducing the weeds that grow between your vegetable plants? Possibly straw, mulch, landscape material? I enjoy growing my vegetables, but the constant weeding takes some of the fun out of it.
- Charlotte N., Barrington ANSWER: The best thing to do is to compost your bed if you have not done that in at least 2 years. Then put down a landscape fabric and use landscape staples to hold the fabric in place. Next, cut holes where you are going to place your plants, making sure that the holes are large enough so that water can get to the plants. I would also recommend applying Preen, which is a weed preventer. After that, mulch the areas of the landscape fabric only. This should ensure a lot less weeds this year.
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| MONTHLY TO-DO LIST
Begin fertilizing your annual flowers.
It's not too late to plant! Annuals, perennials, shrubs, and most trees can still be planted with routine watering.
Prune the tips of chrysanthemums and coleus now to promote bushier growth.
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NOW IS THE TIME...
to Eliminate Outdoor Pests and Schedule Spraying for Japanese Beetles, Grub Proofing and Mosquito Control.
to Schedule an Irrigation System Check.
to Install a New Patio or Outdoor Kitchen to Enjoy this Summer.
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