“Mulch” is a general term that landscapers and homeowners use to describe organic material that helps to keep the soil moist and reduce the growth of weeds. Around the nation, mulches can come in a variety of different materials, but in the South, pine straw has been the preferred choice since the 1980s. It quickly became a favorite substitute for other traditional mulches due to its affordability, attractiveness, and availability. If you are deciding whether pine straw is right for your landscaped areas, here are six things to consider.

1. It Weighs Less Than Wood Alternatives

Pine straw weighs significantly less than other types of wood mulches. That means less labor-intensive when you are placing it around, and it also means that spring clean-up is much easier. An individual bale of pine straw weighs somewhere around 35 pounds and can cover up to 50 square feet. Wood mulch weighs about 25 pounds to cover about 12 square feet, which is a big difference in terms of labor.

2. It is Sustainable

Pine straw is harvested from local and regional timber farms. If you have pine straw in your backyard already, however, it is not only free; it is more environmentally friendly for you to use natural resources. Using natural material means that you don’t have to use fuel to have it delivered from one place to the next; it also means that you are using what you have to make your landscaping look better.

3. It is Less Expensive

One reason why homeowners use pine straw is that it is more economical than wood mulch. The average price of a bag of mulch is about $3.33 per bag; since each bag covers about twelve feet, that means it costs about $10 for 36 square feet. Pine straw, on the other hand, costs about $4 a bale, covering about 50 square feet, which means that pine straw covers about three and a half times more area for the same price.

4. It is an Excellent Insulator

Mulch is used to keep moisture in the soil, reduce soil erosion, cut down on the growth of weeds, and keep the soil cooler in the summertime and warmer in the winter. Pine straw acts like a blanket, which means that it works extra well during the hot summer and cold winter to protect the root system.

5. It Retains Moisture Well

Pine straw works to reduce the evaporation of moisture around plants, shrubs, and trees. When moisture is depleted in the summer and winter, your tree will have a harder time retaining water and staying healthy. Pine straw is a great insulator, but it also allows air space over the ground that allows water to pass through the soil; it keeps moisture in instead of allowing it to escape. 

6. It Might Not Be the Best for Preventing Weeds

Pine straw is a great insulator and protector for root systems, but it might not be the best option for reducing weed growth. When compared to other types of mulch, pine straw doesn’t do such a great job at weed elimination. Therefore, if you are going to use pine straw, you might want to consider a weed-preventer spray, too, just to be on the safe side!

If you are looking to make your lawn spring green for the spring ahead, then preparing for the winter is the key. Mulch is a great way to keep your trees, shrubs, and other landscaping plants healthy, but which is best for you: wood mulch or pine straw? At Rollin’s Landscape, we believe in using the most sustainable and longest-lasting solutions for all of your lawn care needs, which includes using pine straw in Augusta over traditional wood mulch for certain circumstances. Allow us to find the most viable fixes for your landscaping today!

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As the kids return to school and the days start to get shorter, getting the most out of your evenings in the great outdoors will become harder, especially if you don’t have the correct lighting. Your landscape lighting is an essential part of enjoying your backyard space through fall and potentially winter. It is also a great way to showcase the beauty of your home and deter possible criminals from entering your property by providing security lighting. These are some landscape lighting types that might benefit you and your family this fall. 

Factors to Consider

When you’re choosing the right type of landscape lighting, the first step is to consider the factors at play: how bright you want them to be, where to place them, and whether you want them to come on automatically or not. 

Power Source

Lights can be powered by either electricity or solar power. When placing lights, if there is sunlight during the day, then solar power might be the way to go. However, there is no or very little sunlight, your only option will be electricity. Even if the area does get sunlight, you might prefer electric lights to ensure their predictability, but that really is a personal choice. 

Types of Lighting 

If you are illuminating a large area, you are going to have different lighting than if you are lighting up a tiny space. For smaller patio areas or gardens, you might want to consider strategically placing staked lighting. For a patio where you wish to entertain, having hanging lights or even flood lights can make it a great space to hang out throughout the year. 

Pathway Security Lighting

It is always a good idea to light the way for guests, family members, and even passersby. Solar security lighting is an excellent way to showcase your house while providing a lit pathway and a deterrent for trespassers. Pathway lighting can be both solar-powered and hardwired, depending on your available power source.

Post Lights

When you want to light things up well for entertaining or for a warm welcome, post lights are a great way to enhance your curb appeal. They also come in LED options, which can give your home a warm and friendly glow. And LED bulbs provide about 18,000 hours, or 18 years’ worth of illumination, which means less maintenance for you!

Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting is an ideal way to show off your landscaping. You put so much time and energy into making your yard beautiful, so why not show it off both day and night? Landscape lighting also comes in energy-efficient options, which is an eco-friendly and less expensive way to go!

As we head into fall, the days are getting shorter – and so will be your time outdoors if you don’t put up some landscape lighting. Strategically placed lighting can do wonders to make your outdoor spaces more fun when you’re entertaining. It is also critical to keep everyone safe by lighting pathways and deterring trespassers. At Rollins Landscaping, we have a vast number of options to light up your outdoors to make them look their best. Contact us today to discuss a lighting plan that works for you and your needs!

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As the summer continues in full swing, your body can’t get a break from the soaring temperatures. Don’t let the weather drive you indoors when there are so many things to enjoy outside! The key is finding a place that’s warm but not too hot for entertaining, reading a book to pass the time, or taking a comfortable siesta. Here are some cool ideas for hardscape structures to provide a cool atmosphere for you to enjoy the rest of your summer!

What is a Hardscape?

A hardscape is an area outdoors where the landscaping offers both aesthetic appeal and functionality. When building a hardscape, you have three things to consider for the maximum “cool” factor: shade, using light colors to reflect radiant heat, and airflow. The first step is to evaluate your outdoor areas to find the best place to find shelter from dusk to dawn, and then to transform it into your new hardscape haven.

Getting Started

Doing a thorough evaluation of your outdoor spaces is the first critical part of finding the best place for your hardscape design. Things to consider include the position of the sun throughout the day, surfaces that absorb heat like dark walls and paved areas, and where the airflow stops and picks up. The best way to monitor the sun throughout the day is by taking hourly photos during full sun and then going back to look at them from varying vantage points.

Maximizing the Cool Factor with Shading Tools

Placing permanent structures is the key to maximizing shade that will provide a cool spot from the hot sun. When you sit in the shade, you aren’t bombarded with radiant heat that can be overwhelming and unhealthy! Shade also allows you to enjoy the evening hours more because the pavement doesn’t take so long to cool down after being heated all day long. The best place for permanent shade is over things like decks and patios. They are also an excellent way to entertain. 

Trees

Trees are one of the best ways to enhance shade and cool things down. They have a natural cooling effect and they also lower the ambient temperature of an area. Find a tree variety with dense leaves for maximum coolness. After choosing the best type of tree, you will want to plant it in a position where it can block the most sun all day long. Most importantly, if that isn’t possible, plant it where it will block the majority of the sun by correct positioning.

Pavers and Decks

When choosing which type of deck or paver material you are going to use, always think in light colors. Light colors will help to reflect radiant heat rather than absorb it. Reflecting the sun’s rays will lower the ambient air temperature and provide a cooler environment. Look for a material’s Solar Reflectivity Index, which measures how well a paving material will reflect light and cool things down. 

Painted Exterior Walls

Just as you want to find materials for pavers and decks that will reflect light, you want to look for paints that will do the same. If you are using an outdoor wall with paint, choose a color and product with a high Light Reflective Value. Neutrals and pastels often provide an LRV that is above 50 percent, and the higher the value, the better.

Airflow

Most importantly, when designing your hardscape, find a place where you have good ventilation and airflow. In Augusta, breezes at dusk can be hard to come by and when the air stops, so does the coolness. Air circulation helps to increase sweat evaporation and make us feel cooler. It can also combat the high humidity that we often experience. A fence or wall with good ventilation is the key to keeping things cool, so consider walls with slats, openings, or fence pickets to reduce stagnant airflow!

As we head deeper into summer, finding a place to hide from the sun is becoming increasingly difficult. If you design a hardscape appropriately by considering all these things, it can be your outdoor haven for shelter. Before you begin your project, it is a good idea to consult an experienced landscaping company like Rollins Landscaping to get it right! We put the cool in your desire for a sheltered place to enjoy the great outdoors. Contact us today to get started!

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The surviving home holds a great bit of American history, once run by Mrs. Green, world-renowned guests from John D. Rockefeller to President William Taft are just two major figures who frequented the home. It was also a favorite place to cool after a long, hot day. People would pay 25 cents to take a dip, men on one side, women on the other.

In 1958, Alonzo Plumb Boardman, Sr. “Lonnie” purchased 48 acres adjacent to the Bath House at 3855 Bath Edie Road. An additional seven were added over the years. Along with the property, various springs were useful to nourish the vegetation, which had the appearance of a “jungle”. It was an exact replica that Lonnie wanted to recreate of an Austrian Village.

An Initiative in 2017 to Restore the Bath Gardens Was Just the Beginning…

The resulting village had the scene overlooking the gardens. And in 1964, they had become so lush and popular that many regional and local publications recognized both their beauty and their uniqueness. Over the decades, not much of Bath survived, but it still had the original charm and character that it once did. An initiative beginning in 2017 to bring Bath to life again failed due to a lack of resources and funding. But several projects began to restore bits and pieces.

In 2018, Catherine Fleming inherited the property. Ms. Fleming quickly went to work rolling up her sleeves and doing what she personally could to stop the gardens from disintegrating to seed. And in 2019, the Bath Garden’s renovation and restoration began.

Lots of Work Lie Ahead

Bringing the gardens back to life was no small feat. It took a vast number of landscaping professionals and landscaping maintenance and designers to coordinate such a large undertaking. The first step was to tame the spring water. WP Law Fountain Division of Lexington, SC began to repipe the garden because the original clay pipes were either broken, roots were occluding them, or they were clogged.

The six original cement pools at the garden were all cleaned up and renovated and the three fountains contained within were brought back to spout water again. The largest pond was leaking, causing the Lodge to cave in, so the dam was rebuilt, re-cemented, the patio and planted flower beds were all redone, and a plaque to commemorate Mr. Boardman was prominently placed.

Thanks to the Efforts of Rollin’s Landscaping, Bath Gardens are Blooming Again

Rollin Giesbrecht, President of Rollin’s Landscape Co, came on board in 2019 and began large-scale work on the Bath Gardens. He kept with the original design and layout of the garden, but heavily emphasized seasonal color and fragrance to ensure that there is always something blooming, regardless of the time of year. The garden soon became a huge attraction.   

Rollin also added a French Drain system to guide the water from the newly fixed springs and add it to the irrigation system that was recently installed just this past September. Rollins Landscaping was highly critical to bringing the Bath Gardens back to life. His crew was not only instrumental in containing and controlling water issues and irrigation; his knowledge of regional plants, flowering plants, shrubs, and various grasses and ground cover is the reason that the Bath Garden looks so lovely from spring to spring and every day in between.

Bath Gardens, A Shining Display of Rollin’s Landscaping And Others!

Many people in and around Augusta have put their time, resources, energy, and hard work into attempting to bring the Bath Gardens back to its original majesty, but they can’t do it alone. Bath Gardens aren’t just beautiful to look at; they are an important part of this area, as well as national, history. Support the revamping and renovation project still in process. Many hearts have poured everything into returning the Bath area to its original prominence.

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8 Fall Lawn Care Tips For Spring Green!

1. Test Your Soil

Although typically not something homeowners do, testing your soil in the fall is an excellent idea. It is difficult to know what your soil is lacking, specifically, if you don’t periodically take a sample. Once you know what you are missing nutrient-wise, you can make corrections so you will be ahead of the game for spring green! 

2. Stop Fertilizing

When fertilizing, you want to ideally feed your lawn for up to six to eight weeks before we experience the first frost. If you have Bermudagrass, the time frame should be closer to four to five weeks before. If you fertilize any later, you can interfere with the dormancy that your lawn is naturally supposed to go through, which will leave your lawn vulnerable throughout the cold winter months.

3. Overseed

To stop your lawn from turning brown and unappealing, overseed it with a cool season grass. That way, you will have a much prettier landscaping until spring. Once the warm season returns, overseed again to limit thinning, so you will have an actively growing lawn for the spring.

4. Rid Your Lawn of Leaves!

Who doesn’t love the colorful autumn leaf change? Your lawn! When you allow leaves to fall and don’t address them, it can result in rotting that will kill your grass. Leaves are a great fertilizer when you use them as a fertilizer, but not if you allow piles of leaves to sit without tidying up. Leaves in mounds that aren’t cleaned up will decompose and lead to fungal growth. It will also limit the natural sunlight that your grass needs, and the grass’s ability to store all the nutrients required to make it successfully through the winter months. If those mounds lead to disease, they can also eliminate your grass’s capacity to absorb oxygen.

5. Weed Prevention

Some weeds are easiest to target during the dormant season. Try to spot-treat weeds using a post-emergent herbicide. It will work to target the weed growth only, and leave your lawn in tact.

6. Cut Back on Watering, But Don’t Stop

Although it seems like your lawn doesn’t need any care, it does. During the fall and winter months, it is okay to cut back on watering, but don’t eliminate it completely. Any amount of precipitation at least once a week will be adequate though so once we start getting regular rainfall you can usually turn the irrigation system off.. Also, although our area might not get as many freeze cycles as other regions, pay close attention to your sprinkler systems. Carefully monitor any spigots so that they don’t freeze over the winter.

7. Forget Dethatching and Aeration

Aerating and dethatching might sometimes help strengthen lawns, but they can also be difficult on grasses. Save both aeration and dethatching for spring and summer when your warm-season grass is most active and can withstand the punishment.

8. The Best Fall Lawn Care Tip – Hire a Professional

You’ve got so much on your plate, why not allow a professional service like Rollin’s Landscaping to not only prepare your lawn for the long winter ahead but also, ensure your landscaping is in good health and ready to make it all the way through. We have the tools and resources to preemptively make your lawn as green as possible when spring showers grace our area. Contact us today to schedule your fall lawn clean-up/winter preparation. 

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1. Build Equity in Your Home

Your home is always a safe investment when it comes to equity building. Statistics tell us that adding hardscape to your outdoor areas has a rate of return of about 20-30% of the money you spend. So you aren’t just building a structure to enjoy, you are investing in your future, which makes it a win-win scenario.

2. Enjoy the Great Outdoors More

Adding things like a patio or an outdoor kitchen are the best ways to maximize your time outside. There is nothing worse than having guests over and spending your time in the kitchen while they are outside enjoying time together. A backyard built-in grill or refrigerator will unchain you from your time inside. Or consider adding a fireplace to extend the seasons that you can comfortably entertain in outdoor areas. There are a vast number of ways that hardscapes help to enhance your enjoyment at home.

3. Functionality

Hardscapes, like retaining walls, can serve a dual purpose when planned correctly. Not only can a retaining wall help to keep your grading level and reduce soil erosion and flooding; it can double as a great place to display built-in planters with annuals or even a bench seat to add more entertainment space to your outdoor areas.

4. Reduce Maintenance

If you are tired of wasting all of your weekends and days off maintaining your lawn, consider adding a patio, which is maintenance-free. A patio can be shaped in many sizes to accommodate your guests when having people over. And they are also multi-functional because you don’t have to worry about cutting grass or weeding. The green space you lose is well worth it in man-hours of landscaping time you gain. 

5. Privacy

Sometimes “good fences make good neighbors”. A stone wall or a fence can do wonders to enhance your privacy when you are outside. Or, consider something like a pergola to shade from the hot sun during the summer or a gazebo where you can sit and enjoy a warm spring night.

Hardscapes are an excellent way to enjoy your landscaping a whole lot more. Whether you are looking for privacy, a place to entertain, or a functional way to fix water and grade problems, hardscapes are a great way to build equity, while also having a way to enjoy the great outdoors. At Rollins Landscaping, we are experts at all things outdoors. Contact us today to discuss your hardscaping vision so that we can make it a reality. 

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 Seasonal Colorscape Changes

When you have an excellent colorscape design, it requires that your landscaper replace annuals throughout the year. That serves to keep your colors vibrant and alive with an appeal. Maintenance is the key to making sure that something delightful is always blooming.

We work closely with our clients to pinpoint what their flower design and color preferences are. And then, we work tirelessly to maintain healthy plants even throughout the driest or hottest parts of the season. And we also offer various price points so that we can help to fit your budget while maximizing your enjoyment.

Colorscaping it About More Than Simply Adding Plants Here and There

A colorscaping plan does have an exact science to it, it doesn’t just involve planting various things here and there. We work by using primary colors and secondary colors that mix different color hues of your tastes that combine them into a symphony. We also determine things like your main focal points, elements of color, lines, textures, shapes, and lines to complete an entire scheme, not just a random splash of color.

As we walk through your yard, we identify where we want to add the most attention to accentuate your natural flow and overall appeal. A good colorscape design is all about proportions and using balance to make sure that it is a total cohesive show of wonderful. 

Setting the “Mood” With Colorscaping

Colorscaping also involves having an idea of what emotions color elicits and placing it exactly where it will be most effective. Knowing what hues set the mood is the best way to enhance happiness, tranquility, or even excitement, if placed correctly.

Blues and Greens

Blues and greens are “cool” colors. They help to calm feelings and find your “chi”. Places, where blues and greens are most effective, are things like hospitals and dental offices, or even the place where you enjoy your morning coffee.

Yellow, Red, and Orange

Yellows, reds, and oranges are “warm” colors. They also can help to create excitement. A combination of the three will grab attention and bring about a cheery feeling.

 Purple

The color purple is a great happy medium between cool and warm. It is a color that can be used independently or alongside the scheme of the others to enhance your landscaping throughout the year! 

 Designing For Your Home’s Exterior

Before we devise the best colorscaping plan for your home or office, we take into consideration the exterior’s appearance. And then, we try to incorporate your taste preferences. The best colorscaping contractors are the ones that take into account what you already have available and play expertly off of it to create an intense emotional feel. Whether it is the serenity of white and cools or the excitement of darker colors and bright, we know how to make your landscaping perfect. 

Why Hire Rollins Landscaping for Your Colorscaping

Whether you own an office building or house, you want people to feel emotion when they arrive, sit in your favorite spots, or enjoy a night of entertaining. Our maintenance program helps us maximize your colorscaping design so that you get the best of the best year-round. Contact us today and let’s start color-designing!

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