Investing in your well-being Through landscaping:

*As seen in the 2018 Fall edition of Fine Homes & Design, Asheville’s Luxury real estate homes and design magaizine in the WNC area.

**NOTE: We have a End of 2018 Opportunity promotion for any contracts that include hardscape work and are signed by the end of the year! **

The Top 5 Reasons to Keep Projects Going All Year Long.

If we know the natural world is beneficial to your well-being, and we know that many of us struggle with lack of energy and connected-ness during the winter months – why do we decrease our connection with nature seasonally? Or better yet, why do we stop our outdoor projects in an area that support our relationship with nature? It was once said, ‘if a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.’ For us – we keep our shades open all year long!

Right now, Summer’s energy is still hanging around, with fall activities and holidays starting to bring a new kind of excitement. For many people, however, the increase of colder and shorter days will enviably loosen their personal connection to the environment around them.

One thing we like to tell clients, is that Western North Carolina is a ‘mostly’ year-round climate for your landscaping needs. We can get snow in October, then be in t-shirts during Christmas. We have four seasons, they just don’t have a set schedule.

Snow Creek Landscape Sales for the end of 2018.

Want to avoid those winter month blues? Ramp up your landscape projects through planning, organizing and implementing – regardless of whether you need an additional layer. We have many clients that work on their hardscapes work during the winter, and can barely contain themselves when spring starts emerging from their home. They earned the right to really embrace their outdoor living area when spring begins its new growth.

Here’s our top 5 reasons why your home landscaping isn’t just a seasonal project.

The natural world has significant healing qualities to help your overall mental and physical health.

We all have the winter blues. For some, it lasts longer than others, as the days continuously get shorter and colder. Others are able to embrace the seasonal change through activities that embrace our natural change. We can all agree, however, the months after the winter holidays seem to last forever!

Our relaxed four seasons climate is the reason we are able to continue to work on most landscaping projects all year long. Our clients are able to keep the excitement of their outdoor projects all the way through to spring, then really embrace the growth as it warms back up.

Whether you are working on outdoor projects – or just getting outside – it’s the experience that matters the most. Embracing the cool mountain air and embracing the seasonal change around you is sure to lower your stress level significantly.

Learning and development are enhanced through the natural world – so learn more about your yard.

Take the time to really get to know the land around you. It’s a simple but rewarding process that many take for granted.

So how does one learn about the natural world during the Fall and Winter? For each homeowner, it can be spending a few hours a week learning about the plants that make up their yard. Or better, yet, working on the projects they want to have in the future through planning, organizing, and calling the help they need to get it done.

Here are some ideas fall and winter projects to help you learn about the natural world around you.

• Leaf identification: Collect them all before they fall to the ground, then learn to distinguish which tree produces what leaves by the bark, shape and color of the tree.

• Deciduous VS coniferous: Do you know the
  difference?

• Garden and Landscape design – Take the time to understand what you liked and didn’t like about your yard this summer.

 Accessible outdoor areas generally promote healthier lifestyle activities.

If you don’t spend a lot of time accessing the outdoors of your home during the colder months, but want to, then figure out what’s stopping you. These are all
projects that can be answered through the right design – and on any budget.

In Asheville, it is very common to see restaurants have year-round outdoor seating with heaters. Our climate allows that to a certain extent. For your home, we suggest accessible areas that can be heated, but also enjoyable through comfortable outdoor furniture. There is nothing better than a nice blanket on a chilly Fall evening on a back porch or patio. The air is just so crisp and inviting.

If you find yourself sitting inside more during the Fall and Winter months, then maybe it’s time to invest in an outdoor area that can promote getting outside more. Even if that does mean a couple of layers and
ingredients for s’mores. Remember – moderation is key on that chocolate!

Quality landscaping can help improve the overall health of the environment.

The Asheville area is booming with new construction and developments. We find, however, that during the rainy summer months, people are constantly looking for us to help with their drainage or structural aspects of their landscape, but wait until Spring to work on it. Didn’t get it done during the warmer months? No worries, let’s get ready for those May showers ahead of time!

Depending on the temperature with the Winter months, most projects can be completed all year long
hardscapes, drainage and plantings.

Beyond directly working on projects on your home, take time to think about your environmental impact for the new year. Here are some questions to ask yourself.

• How is our water usage as a home?

• What species of plants do we have that help the natural world to the fullest?

• Do we want to start planning a vegetable garden? If so, what can we do?

Functional and inviting outdoor living areas can increase social interaction.

The Fall and Winter months have so many reasons to celebrate our family and friends. Whether it’s an evening fire celebrating the new year, or being with your loved one gazing at the winter stars – they are memories to last a lifetime.

Take your hosting game up to a new level by creating a seasonal outdoor area, fit with the ability to tackle most weather. Whether it’s planning during the winter months, or implementing the basics, make 2019 the year of the social butterfly.

Work on your cooking skills outside this year.

Note: If you know a special someone who wants a Grill for Christmas, you’ll want to make sure the grill has a home of it’s own!

As we bring on the Fall months, tackle the low energy and spirits of the colder seasons by increasing your landscape projects at different stages. Our landscape has an
important role to play with our mental and physical health, so don’t let spring and summer be the only time we invest in it.