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Landscaping Articles – Davis Concrete

Outdoor living space on a brick patio overlooking a tranquil lake

Ultimate Design Trends For Outdoor Living In 2017

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Outdoor living is very much a part of the American culture, with homeowners spending more time in the outdoor living areas than in their indoor living areas. So what are the major exterior design trends in vogue this year? On top of the “What’s Hot?” in home design list is blending outdoor and indoor living spaces to create an attractive and livable outdoor space.

The backyard has always a firm favorite among homeowners for barbecuing and enjoying outdoor games in summer or to enjoy the warmth of a fire on cool fall evenings but consumers now want more from their backyards. Outdoor spaces now are comfortable entertaining extensions that help bring a sense of nature into the home Continue reading →

Choosing River Rock or Mulch

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Dollarphotoclub_gravel_64759699

These days you are spoiled for choice when it comes to ground cover, you can opt for synthetic material, such as landscape fabric and recycled rubber strips, or go for natural organic mulch and natural inorganic mulch. The benefits of a ground cover like river rock or wood mulch is weed suppression, water retention and aesthetic appeal. While mulch reduces erosion and water loss, improves soil nutrition and a more balanced soil temperature, attractive river rocks prevent weed growth, helps conserve water and requires little maintenance. Read about their advantages to decide for yourself, which ground cover would be suitable for your landscaping and design needs.

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Using River Gravel for Landscaping

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using river gravel

Gravel is an angular or rounded stone material that can range between five to thirty millimeters, usually used as an eco-friendly landscaping choice. Angular gravels are a by-product of crushing from quarries and rounded gravel is sourced from river beds, beaches or from dredging channels. They are commonly used for beautification of a garden, yard, patio or pathway by designers and homeowners.  The crushed stone requires minimal maintenance while adding texture and color. Additionally gravel allows drainage being permeable, is sturdy and with more aesthetically pleasing choices in colors and textures.

River gravel consists of smooth, rounded stones in an array of colors, such as white, brown, yellow and different sizes that can be used to pull off versatile landscape designs and to easily brighten up your yard. Davis Concrete, Masonry and Landscaping offers high quality river gravel in a variety of colors and sizes for any project needs:

3/8″ Brown River Gravel
3/8″ White River Gravel
1/2″ Brown River Gravel
1/2″ White River Gravel
3/4 Brown River Gravel
3/4″ White River Gravel
1″ Brown River Gravel
1″ White River Gravel
1.5″ Brown River Gravel
1.5″ White River Gravel
(1″-4″) Deco Brown River Gravel
(1″-4″) Deco White River Gravel

Advantages of River Gravel

There are many benefits of using river gravel, here are just a few:

  • Low maintenance
  • Variety of colors and sizes
  • Easy to install or lay
  • Exceptionally beautiful when wet and dry
  • Hardy and tough material
  • Relatively cheap
  • Reduces weed growth
  • Permeable, allows water to drain
  • Minimal water usage

Applications of River Gravel

River gravel has a wide range of uses because of its versatility but the most popular use is in driveways. This gravel instantaneously brightens up the landscape to create a visually aesthetically pleasing look at the front of your home. When you use gravel for your driveway it requires little maintenance, especially if you have laid a fabric before installing your gravel driveway. Also gravel driveways offer an ideal drainage solution, with the rain water easily penetrating down to ensure your driveway is always flood-free.

River gravel can also be used for walkways to the front door or to create garden pathways.  You can pack in river rock tightly to create a durable, flat surface underfoot that requires little maintenance.

Another common use for river gravel is as paving around patios and or garden border to add structure to your landscape. The natural color and rounded soft sides can be used for edging to enhance the look of the lawn. The gravel blends well with all types of greenery, plants or shrubs to complement them further.

Lastly, gravel can also be used as surface mulch for garden areas, with a top-soil underneath the gravel for adequate nourishment of the plants. The gravel on the surface helps to guard against moisture evaporation and also restricts weed growth in garden beds.

These are just a few applications that show the versatility of river gravel. However, we’re sure you’ve seen or even used river gravel in a different way.

If you have any questions about gravel, stone or any other landscaping supplies, contact our experts at Davis Concrete. We’d love to help with your project.

Low-Maintenance Landscaping: Water-friendly Alternatives

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stone walkway in garden

A green grass covered yard contributes to the curb appeal but lush lawns come with a big price tag, especially if you consider the care and maintenance costs too. Think of the Saturdays you will have to spend mowing, edging, aerating and watering. Then there is an environmental standpoint with green yards, some lawn pesticides or herbicides can harm our health, and have been linked to cancer, reproductive defects or kidney damage. Now consider the high water requirements for natural grass lawns too. The Southeast and Florida state have been experiencing a dry spell, which means severe water restrictions, specifically for lawns too.

No wonder then that proactive homeowners have been replacing conventional grass lawns with low-water & easy maintenance landscaping alternatives that are better for the environment and cheaper on the wallet.

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Gravel Yard –DIY Gravel Landscaping

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Beautiful Fountain Path

With the rise of small urban dwellings, many homeowners face a problem of maintaining grass lawns with insufficient sunlight. An effective and simple answer to this problem is to replace patchy carpet of grass with decorative gravel.

There is no need for regular maintenance with the lawn mower either. Also if you have pets or kids, grass does not grow well because of repeated trampling. With a gravel yard, there is no such worry and maintenance. Installing a gravel yard, combining decorative gravel with lawn decorative pieces, is an easy task to accomplish. Even for larger yards, a part of it can be converted into an alluring gravel garden area. It may also be cost-effective to use gravel for making a pathway, driveway. You can also make low lying areas where rain water collects into utility areas, for keeping recycling bins, storing lawn furniture, or placing your barbecue grill, with a compact bed of gravel.

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Landscaping with Gravel – Best Gravel for Landscaping

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Landscaping with Gravel

Landscape gravel is commonly used for the beautification of garden surrounds, around pools, patio and yards with little effort. It has become a favorite with home owners and landscapers because the crushed stone material requires little maintenance, additionally they adds texture and color. Also consider the practical benefits of using landscape gravel for ground cover such as preventing soil erosion controlling weed growth, and facilitating yard drainage.

Gravel and stone make for smart substitutes, especially for those concerned about water conservation and chemical use in yards. Landscape gravel usually finds a place in every home due to their natural appearance and durability factor.

Types of Landscape Gravel

Landscape gravel is hugely versatile not only on the basis of its numerous uses but also because of its availability in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors.

Decomposed granite

Decomposed granite is weathered down granite that has broken down into smaller rocks and silt. It usually comes in tan, grey or mauve that lightens slowly over time from time in the sun. Compared to other gravel types it can compact rather tightly but a stabilizer should be added if used in high traffic places such as patios and driveways. With wear and tear over the years this variety continues to decompose into the soil, so it requires new layers to be added.

Pea gravel

Pea gravels are smooth rounded stones that come in small or large size from 1/8 inches to 1.25 inches thick. This translucent river rock also comes in a wide range of mixed colors from tan, gray, white and brown. It is very easy to walk on pea gravel so it is often used in pet-friendly yards. Also bear in mind that it is so lightweight that in case of high winds they might blow away.

River Rock

River rock is typically rounded, big and smooth that comes in shades of gray or brown. It can be packed tight because of its shape and therefore works well for drainage. It looks rather attractive when used to line walkways and since there are no sharp edges it is especially easy on the feet. River rock can also prevent soil erosion in planters, or flower and garden beds rather well. Often homeowners going for a rustic design combine river rock with mortar into fence facades and outdoor fireplaces.

Lava Rock

Lava rock is lightweight, porous, irregular shaped rocks actually harvested from inactive volcanoes. They come in hues of black or red and sizes range from3/4 to 1-1/4 inches. Lava rocks do not decompose, so they don’t need frequent replacement. Lava rock is used extensively in driveways, walkways or gardens because it offers good drainage and packs down well. Additional layers may need to be added to maintain good ground cover thickness.

Crushed gravel

Crushed gravel rocks are irregular rock fragments that are a little bit larger than decomposed gravel and much less smooth than pea gravel. Their shape helps the rock interlock and provide good packing for driveways, roads, and pathways. It can add texture to cactus gardens or something similar. The size of crushed gravel ranges from 1/4 to 3/4 inches.

Washed gravel

Washed gravel like Del Rio and Lodi come in attractive speckled colors like grey, white, gold and tan. Del Rio ranges in sizes from 3/8 inches to ¾ inch wide, while Lodi changes from 1 and 1.5 inches. They are most frequently used for mulching or simply to add decorative appeal to garden surrounds.

White Gravel

This variety of landscape gravel is used around gardens and flowed beds to highlight certain areas. They can bounce back light, so in damp, dark winter conditions they can create a lot of desired light.

Shore Gravel

Shore gravel stones are naturally rounded, beige, smooth stones available in 3/8 and ¾ inches. The smooth edging is particularly suitable for surrounding shorelines and pool surrounds in home environments.

 

 Davis Concrete is a family-owned and operated concrete business that provides Florida homeowners and contractors with the very best building materials in Clearwater, Tampa, Bradenton and Lakeland

Benefits of Using Plaster

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Plaster-on-wall

Plaster was once the most common and popular form of interior wall finish. It may have seen a slight change in fortune ever since the pressed gypsum boards known as drywall became widely available but it is still used extensively. It originated in the mid 17th century, so you may think of plaster as a wall finish only found in historical or old homes. However, this ancient material still offers a number of benefits in modern applications. This compound can be used to decorate and stylize your homes in varied styles, ranging from Victorian to French designs. There are many advantages associated with the use of plaster for remodeling your home and some of them include:

Aesthetics and Stylization

The living space of your beautiful home needs something more than barren smooth distempered walls. Plaster adds a sense of fullness thereby accentuating the wholesome look of your home. If your aim is to instill the ‘Wow!’ factor into your room at minimal cost, this can often be achieved using plaster moulds on your walls and ceiling. There are many aspects to be considered while choosing the plaster moulds like – theme, colors, size and design. Even the slightest change in shade or depth would turn it into a work of art.

Varied designs

The possible choice of designs is practically infinite. Plaster provides varied charming design opportunities for your room like plaster cornices, architectural columns, decorative plaster ceilings, archways, ceiling domes, plaster ceiling panels, decorative corbels, plaster fireplaces, decorative vents, acoustic ceiling tiles and acoustic panels.  Plaster can be cast into any imaginable shape and is ideal in many different situations. It offers unlimited design possibilities from ‘traditional European’ designs to ‘modern contemporary’ styles.

Durability

Plaster not only lends elegance and beauty to the walls but it also enhances durability. If properly mixed and applied, a plaster coating creates a stronger and more durable wall finish than drywall. The walls become stronger due to the chemical reaction that takes place when water escapes the plaster mixture. Plaster is more resistant to knocks and dents in most cases. The lath, or backing, used behind the plaster also affects its strength. A modern metal lath or tough backing boards are more durable than the thin wooden lath strips used in historical houses.

Easy Installation

One of the benefits of using plaster is the installation procedure. It is quite easy and convenient to install since it does not generate any kind of dust except for a small amount released when water is first added to the powder. Moreover, plaster doesn’t need any kind of sanding and a wall can be plastered within a shorter timeframe. It also doesn’t require sanding and, if multiple coats are used, they usually are applied before the bottom layer is completely dried. A plaster wall takes less time to finish and produces less mess.

Absorbs Noise and Deters Fire

You can hear the difference in noise levels between rooms fitted with plaster and lath compared with contemporary drywall. Plaster can absorb noise, the keys with their irregular shapes between the walls, act as acoustical and sound absorbing elements and the lime plaster is denser than new gypsum board. The traditional lime plaster material is also known for inherent fire resistance, as carbonated lime (lime that has had months to cure) will spread fire slower than traditional drywall. Additionally, there is less space or air between the wall or ceiling layers, potentially giving fire less oxygen to work with.

Plaster may be considered especially in these applications:

  • Interior plaster can be used in quality custom homes.
  • Deluxe office spaces that require an architectural impact with plaster.
  • Specialty retail space. Restaurants, boutiques and jewelry stores are just a few of the retail environments, which demand a higher standard of interior detail.
  • Public buildings and institutions with a long service life.
  • Interior plaster is ideal for churches, synagogues, university buildings, and government buildings, which are expected to last for many decades.

When you consider the long life and superior aesthetics of plaster finishes, they may take a little time to install from start to finish but they provide excellent value.

Why Choose Landscaping Ground Cover Rocks?

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There are many options when it comes to choosing a ground cover for your backyard ranging from synthetic material, such as landscape fabric and recycled rubber strips, to natural organic mulch and natural inorganic mulch. In the inorganic category, you’ll find rock-based ground covers like gravel, volcanic rock and crushed stones. The purposes of a ground cover like rock or wood mulch is weed suppression, water retention and aesthetic appeal. They conserve water and require less maintenance than grass-based yards. The harder surface may limit activities that can be performed on it. Before making your choice of rock ground cover for landscape, be aware of its advantages and disadvantages so you can make an informed decision.

Advantages of Rock Ground Cover

  1. Rocks are visually interesting and provide texture to a landscape that might be flat and monotonous.
  2. Ground rocks require less maintenance than a lawn of grass or turf does.
  3. Rocks are ideal for any climatic conditions, and unlike plants, do not need certain atmospheric conditions to thrive properly.
  4. Finally, rock cover can help protect plant roots from the elements, encouraging plants to grow in poorer quality soil.

Pros:

Minimal Maintenance

Rock-based ground covers are low-maintenance because they don’t need constant replacing, maintain their appearance and aren’t easily blown away by the wind or displaced by you or your pets. Even non-living, organic ground covers need periodic maintenance. Many types of wood chips and bark chips need to be replaced every few months because the wood’s color fades. But rock does not require topdressing every year and is easy to reuse. It can also be washed clean with a basic garden hose.

Doesn’t Decompose

Rock is much more resilient to the elements, which plays into the sustainability. Wind, sun and rain are not going to speed up degradation or displace it like they do with wood mulch.

More Durable

Rock ground covers such as river rock or crushed granite, definitely have staying power. Durability is an important factor especially in areas such as walkways or a driveway where organic or living ground covers would be easily trampled or destroyed by visitors or cars. Gravel and other forms of rock ground cover stand up to heavy use.

No Bugs

Pea gravel and other types of inorganic ground cover don’t decompose and minimize the risk of such bug problems. Whereas wood chips, bark strips and plant ground covers decompose, and attract insects to the decaying organic matter. Of more importance are termites, which are attracted to most types of cellulose-containing mulches.

Conserves water

Rock covers also lessen the amount of water used during hot months, conserving a valuable natural resource and reducing the consumer’s water bill. The addition of rock near the foundation of a house can help stop erosion and reduce water damage to a home’s foundation.

Cons:

Sinks into the Soil

Rocks and other stone-based ground covers being heavier than the soil upon which they’re placed can start to sink deep down into the soil over time, this can interfere with the healthy soil structure and make it difficult to till or replant the area in the future.

Injuries

Flying rock projectiles can create a significant hazard for you and your family, especially if you’re using stone-based ground covers near areas that are mowed or trimmed. The lawn mower or trimmer can catch on the rocks and fling them into the air.

Increases Heat

Rock gets much hotter than wood mulch and reflects sunlight, which can create an uncomfortable micro-climate for plant material. Pea gravel, volcanic rock and similar stones have a high capacity for absorbing and retaining heat, which they then release as the sun goes down. Rocks also reflect a lot of heat off of their exposed surfaces. It can increase the day and evening temperatures in the area and make your house hot, especially when you have these ground covers near your exterior walls. Rock, while easy to maintain, can be tough on plant material.

No Nutrients

As organic ground covers, both living and dead, decompose, and add important nutrients to the soil such as nitrogen and phosphorous. Inorganic mulches don’t decompose and do not improve the soil.

Now that you know the pros and cons of rock ground cover it will be easier for you to choose the right landscaping material for your backyard. Contact Davis Concrete at (800) 910-6928 for advice on the best way to bring out the most in your landscape with gravel.

Preparation for Pea Gravel Ground Cover

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Dollarphotoclub_gravel_64759699

Pea gravel ground is a hassle free alternative to grassy lawn. Grassy lawns require a lot of maintenance and consume a lot of water to stay green. Gravel is a better landscape material that is permeable, low maintenance and inexpensive. The most important stage of laying pea gravel is preparation to prevent weeds from pushing through in no time. Pea gravel seems a good choice for mulch in planted areas in borders, to create a focal point in your lawn, or to lay a path or cover your whole yard. The best use of it is to use gravel as a general ground covering with plantings throughout it and stone or concrete walking paths. No matter what the landscaping project is, the basic preparation for pea gravel is the same; plan, dig and cover up, then sit back and rest easy.

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Landscaping Ideas Using Gravel

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Gravel   Photo by toxawww

Gravel is inorganic ground cover that is permeable, allowing adequate drainage for precipitation, yet tougher and more pleasing to the eye than exposed soil. Gravel refers to small stones, generally 5-30mm in diameter that may be angular or rounded. Angular gravels are usually sourced from quarries, a by-product of the crushing processes, whereas rounded gravels are from a fluvial source, such as an old river bed, beaches, and channel dredging. Types of gravel can vary and not all are suitable for landscaping though. Depending on the area of landscaping that it covers the landscaping gravel differs. Take a look at the varying types of gravel used for different landscaping purposes. Continue reading →