Planter boxes are a fun and easy way to create a mini mobile garden. Whether you’ve opted for flowers, creepers, leafy foliage, or whatever plant of your choosing, know what to do from start to finish. Before you even set foot in a nursery, having a plan of action will ensure the best results possible, and a beautiful bounty in your planter boxes.

Many people think that the first criteria when picking the “best spot” for a home vegetable garden is good soil; however, although good soil is important, good soil is made, not found. You can rebuild the soil once the spot has been chosen. When you are choosing where you want your home vegetable garden patch to be, you must focus on its convenience and exposure.

Six years ago, Exterior Worlds was contacted by a couple by the names of Rick and Susan Ashcroft. They asked if we could do something about the lagoon-style swimming pool that had been built behind their house in the late1940s. This style had been very popular at that time, and it is still a favored by some of the world’s more lavish resorts. However, ever since the day they had purchased their home, the Ashcroft’s had always been agitated by the ostentatiousness of the whole thing, and had finally decided to have it redesigned as a natural swimming pool. They wanted their back yard to retain the feeling of a tropical locale, but lose the touristic element in favor of that of a cozier, more private corner of paradise.

Concrete has been given new life in the last 10-15 years. It has become a viable aesthetic, especially in contemporary and urban designs. Nature gives concrete its appeal-the qualities of durability and convenience. Artistry gives it flair-simplicity, gracefulness and the freedom of a blank canvas. All these attributes come together in a concrete patio.

The fascination with tropical landscaping makes sense in Houston because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, cultural influences of the tropics, subtropics of Spain and Latin America which provide plenty of local inspiration for creating the tropical landscape design. Houston’s architectural styles now popular including New Orleans plantation, Spanish, and Mediterranean all lend themselves well to tropical landscaping. The tropics diverse palate of lush plantings and bright colors inspire the most beautiful and prehistoric spaces echoing vacation or leisure. Often, because of budgetary concerns or lack of horticultural knowledge tropical landscaping is poorly executed because it is treated as just another landscape i.e. substitute oaks for palms and you’re finished. When done well the tropical landscape is lush, beautiful, private, refreshing and becomes a paradise for retreat.

Spring is on its way, and warm weather will be here again before you know it. What does that mean? It means dusting off the old barbecue and giving gardens the once over. Patio sets can be a relaxing escape on a nice day, but for some added fun, there are a bevy of things one can do that can turn a summer snooze-fest into a backyard blowout. See just how swings, fire pits, bird feeders and more can make turn a patio set into more than just a place to sit.

The patio is a nearly always present feature of the Houston home. By enlarging your living space, patios make the house feel bigger and unite the interior and exterior spaces. Patios give us an opportunity to enjoy the out-of-doors, especially when they are dressed up as an outdoor room.

We were contacted by a family in River Oaks who requested that we completely remodel their pool and the yard that surrounded it. They wanted to get rid of the pool’s “L-Shape” construction and have it redesigned with a curved, linear structure and rounded ends. They also wanted to surround the pool with something very different than the traditional wooden deck or concrete surface. Instead, they wanted a stepping stone patio that would look like a part of Nature itself and cause the pool to look more like a part of the landscape.

Last summer, a Houston couple by the name of Turner called us and asked us if we could design a landscape out of natural materials that would also reflect their passion for collecting abstract and contemporary art. They wanted a garden water fountain and colorful vegetation that also combined certain aspects of the irregular geometry that characterizes abstract art. They wanted a very subtle blend of regularity and irregularity, and a combination of curved and linear elements that would suggest a natural sense of movement from the edge of the property to the back of their home.

When considering which piece of furniture to buy, quality is always of the utmost concern. We all want to spend our hard-earned dollars only on something that’s going to last us a while. When buying wicker patio furniture, the question of how to distinguish good pieces from bad becomes even trickier, since most of us don’t know what to look for. Just follow these few simple tips, and you’ll be sure to only get the best wicker money can buy.

Wicker outdoor furniture is some of the most popular types of garden furniture. With its combination of style, flexibility, and comfort; wicker is a great choice for anyone looking to decorate their patio, pool, or sunroom. However, wicker isn’t the most durable of furniture choices, and requires some care and attention to maintain. Here are some tips to help keep your wicker pieces looking like new.

Patio sets are a fun and relaxing way to enjoy the outdoors, but after a time even the sturdiest of furniture will eventually fall prey to the ravages of nature. With a little regular care and maintenance, your patio furniture will continue to last and look like new for years and years. The following are some useful tips for keeping patio sets looking tiptop.

Softwood cuttings should be taken from April to August, Depending on where you live, you may be able to start taking middle of march.

Ten years ago, a Memorial-area couple by the names of John and Jennifer Randall contacted us. They had just bought a beautiful lot located off of Piney Point drive. Because Jennifer loved the French, and because John was Acadian from Louisiana, they had already decided to have their home built in the style of a modern French country house. The Randall’s wanted to landscape the property in accordance with a European theme, with a paver driveway and partier garden in the front, and a very large and uniquely styled pool in the back to host summer parties. However, the premier element to this landscaping project was to be a private morning garden they asked us to create in the far East corner of their yard. The Randall’s wanted this corner set apart as separate, personal space, consistent with French design elements, but with the consciousness of Zen. It was to be a place just for the two of them to relax, talk quietly, and read in the early morning and evening hours of the day.

One of the most popular forms of outdoor decoration, wicker patio furniture provides a stylish, elegant, and inexpensive way of furnishing any outdoor space. Though it does have some drawbacks, wicker also has some distinct advantages that make it a classic choice.