Annuals | Phoenix Landscaping Design & Pool Builders, Remodeling

June 5, 2019

Top 6 Ways To Make Your Phoenix Backyard a Cool Place To Enjoy This Summer

As the summer temperatures in Phoenix begin to reach over 100 on pretty much a daily basis, it is important to know how to keep your outdoor living space as cool and enjoyable as possible. The valley is a great place for outdoor living, and with a few helpful tips and features, you can enjoy being outside year round in comfort. Everything from shade structures, to landscape selections and cooling systems, can work together to provide you with a great outdoor living space even in the peak heat of August. Contact a UNIQUE designer at 480-969-1911 to learn more about how we can help you create your perfect outdoor oasis.

Your landscape plant and tree selections will have an impact on your level of comfort when enjoying your backyard in the summertime. Larger plants such as orange jubilees, oleander and sage can provide a much needed natural screen to block the sun from seating areas as well as play areas. But unlike walls or other solid structures, plant material allows air to circulate. On the days when there is a breeze, you will still enjoy it, as well as the shade from these larger plants. Shade trees, such as the Sissoo, Tipu, Arizona Ash, Shamel Ash, and Brazilian Pepper will also provide much-needed shade and add beauty and privacy to your outdoor living space. Strategically places shade trees can even help to lower the cost of cooling your home.

*This Ramada offers a great place to get out of the sun for a snack and will also provide shade to the swim-up bar later in the day.*

Shade Structures Add Functionality and Comfort

There are many types of shade structures that you can add to your Phoenix backyard to make it much more comfortable in the hotter months of the year. Pergolas, Ramadas, gazebos, and covered patios are all great options that can be custom designed to complement your homes architecture style and your lifestyle. And not only do these structures help keep the heat off in the summer but they also provide shelter from the rain in the wet season and protection from the cooler wind in the winter, making them a year-round benefit.

Misters help keep this bar area more comfortable even when the sun is at its peak. But the fine mist never creates puddles or a slipping hazard.

Include A Mister System To Cool Your Outdoor Living Space

A professionally designed and installed mister system can completely change the feel of your outdoor living space in the summer time. There are some do-it-yourself systems out there that claim to be the perfect solution, but in the end, only a professional design and professional quality equipment can really keep the heat of a Phoenix summer at bay. The UNIQUE design team knows how to eliminate issues such as wind, overspray and large droplets of water which create puddles and a safety hazard. Walking into an area with a professionally designed and installed misting system feels almost like walking into your air-conditioned home.

Portable Cooling For Your Backyard

An evaporative cooler is a solution that you can move throughout your yard to cool a small area. All you need to provide is power and a water supply so that the unit can draw in the hot, dry air and cool it by blowing it through a wet filter. This unit can be used in open areas as well as on a patio or even in a garage when the door is open.

Two Features From Indoors

As you are creating your ideal outdoor living space, don’t forget to add two important features that you have inside your home. The first critical item is a ceiling fan. This helps to keep air circulating on covered patios as well as inside any shade structures such as a Ramada or gazebo. Plan early for these features by including an electric drop in the ceiling. Also, be certain that the structure will support the weight of a ceiling fan. The last feature to cool you down quickly is an outdoor shower. Just a few minutes in the cool water and you are refreshed and ready to relax. This feature also is a great way to be certain that everyone rinses off before getting into your pool. This will go a long way in helping to keep your pool water manageable.

Adding some or all of these cool features to your backyard is a great way to ensure that you will enjoy outdoor living even in the hottest part of the summer. Call 480-969-1911 to schedule a free initial consultation with a UNIQUE designer to learn more about these great features and how to incorporate them into your yard. As a full service pool and landscape contractor, the UNIQUE Companies can meet all of your needs for pool, spa, and landscape design and construction. Our in-house team of craftsmen will custom build all of the features and spaces to turn your dreams into your reality.

*At night, misters add to the comfort as well as the ambiance of this outdoor living space. But guests never need to worry about droplets of water on furniture or on the decking.*

*This UNIQUE pergola provides shade for the patio as well as adding to the visual interest. The ornate design makes it appear to be a work or art as well as a functional shade structure.*

May 22, 2019

5 Important Tips From A Top Phoenix Landscaper

This landscape design provides the perfect outdoor living space to enjoy the year round pleasant climate in Phoenix. Homeowners can double their living space for a fraction of the cost of a home addition.

Landscaping your Phoenix property is far more challenging than simply picking some plants and getting them into the ground. The Valley of the Sun is well known as a great place for outdoor living and entertaining, and you want your landscape to provide the stage for your outdoor lifestyle. Properly blending hardscape features, plant material and other features such as a swimming pool or splash pad required a great deal of knowledge, planning, and expertise. Investing in a professional design and installation firm is always a good choice. Contact the design team at the UNIQUE Companies for a free consultation to learn about all of the services and benefits of a professional landscape for your Phoenix home.

One of the most important outdoor features of any home is the view. And protecting that view rather than blocking it with landscape and other outdoor features is very important. Your landscape should enhance any view that you have rather than detracting from it. It is the view from your yard that will offer an sense of openness and space even in a smaller yard, and you never want to block it. A professional designer will be able to offer many ideas to maximize the view from your outdoor living areas and ensure the feeling of a spacious yard.

Your Budget Is An Important Factor In Your Level Of Satisfaction

This fireplace and patio extension are the foundation of this landscape plan. These features increased the landscape budget but provide a great return on investment in additional living space and by increasing the property value.

Having a healthy budget for your Phoenix landscape will definitely have a big impact on your overall enjoyment of the project once it is completed. Look at the investment you are making as money spent to increase the functionality of your yard and to increase your overall living space. Also, remember that patios, pools and shade structures can be added after an initial landscape is completed but they will be more expensive at that point. In addition, you are likely to damage or destroy a great deal of your existing landscape to add features later. Plan carefully to include all of the features and outdoor living spaces that you want in your initial design. This will save you a great deal of money in the long run and will ensure that the project flows as smoothly as the living spaces inside your home.

Odd Numbers Are Visually Pleasing

The plantings in this landscape design enhance the appearance of the home but do not block the view from windows and doors. In addition, the trees provide shade and insulation for the front of the home.

When selecting plant material, remember that odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye. In addition, even when you plant in even numbers for symmetry, plants never grow at perfectly equal rates so there will always appear to be something lacking in the symmetry. Odd numbers allow for a more random and natural look and will be much easier to maintain in the future. Threes and fives are the magic numbers for plants, trees and even flower pots. And more than five and the element will become overbearing.

Plant For Year-Round Outdoor Living

*Planting in odd numbers creates visual appeal and interest. The variety of colors and textures also make this design very pleasing and inviting.*

Phoenix offers a wonderful year-round climate for enjoying outdoor living spaces. Keep that in mind when you are selecting plants. Be sure to have plants that will be blooming and at their peak throughout the year. Every design will have a single focal point at its center, such as a water feature or specimen plant. If the focal point of your yard is a plant, be sure that you select a plant that does not go dormant and one that will be pleasing to look at all year long. Adding seasonal features around the focal point will draw the eye in different directions depending on the season of the year. Planting fall and winter blooming plants near a fire pit or fireplace makes more sense than locating them near the pool which would be used more frequently in the summer months.

Add Texture To Create Interest

Especially in the case of a new landscape with smaller plants, other elements such as hardscape features of stone or stucco, fencing or even statues will add a great deal of texture and interest to your landscape. A rough wooden fence will provide a color and texture contrast to smooth green foliage. Plant material can also be used to soften the feel of large masonry features such as an outdoor kitchen. Soft vines can trail up a trellis or the support posts of a ramada to cover the sharp angles and starkness. An open pergola over an outdoor eating area can also be a great place to vines for both shade and a softer, lighter texture. When selecting plant material, variation in texture is also important. The massive leaves of a fan palm can be paired with the more delicate leaves and plumes of a fairy duster to provide contrast in color and texture. To learn more tips on landscaping or to schedule a free consultation with a designer, call the UNIQUE team at 480-969-1911.

January 8, 2019

Keeping Your Poinsettia Beautiful Throughout The Winter

As one of the most popular holiday flowers, Poinsettias are sold by the millions around the world. But most people are unaware that this holiday masterpiece originated in Mexico. There are currently over 150 different varieties that offer colors of bright red and deep green to softer pinks, oranges and even creams and whites. And because it is native to Mexico, it can remain a beautiful splash of color for your patio or on your dining table throughout the winter months here in Phoenix.

Less Is Best

As with many desert dwellers and plants of the southwest, the Poinsettia prefers less water than most flowers. The roots should not be soaked with water or allowed to become completely dried out. This plant is very susceptible to root rot which will cause the leaves to drop very quickly. Never overwater, simply moisten the soil. Checking the soil every two or three days should be a good schedule.

Warmth and Light

The Phoenix climate is perfect for Poinsettias as they need a good amount of light and to be kept relatively warm. In a sunny window, as a centerpiece on a table near a window or even on a protected patio are all idea in the valley. If the sun is intense, be sure to check the soil more frequently as it will dry out faster. If the nighttime temperature is going to drop below around 45-50 degrees, it is a good idea to bring your Poinsettia indoors for the night and return it outside once the air temperature warms with the morning sun.

Poinsettias and Pets

Almost everyone has heard that Poinsettias are poisonous to domestic pets such as cats and dogs. This is somewhat true. The white milky sap of the flower is mildly toxic and can cause vomiting or drooling but medical care is very rarely required. Most pets who ingest this sap will be lethargic for a day, but then will be fine without special care or medication.

Not only are Poinsettias a long time holiday tradition around the world but they are one of the few that is very well suited to thrive in our desert environment. And with just a little care, they can add a festive splash of color to your home well into the spring.