Relaxing Getaways At Home - Tulsa In-ground Spas

What do you think of having an in-ground spa in your own Tulsa home? You may have enjoyed using a spa or hot tub at a resort, watching the kids play in the swimming pool while you enjoyed the soothing relaxation of pulsating hydrotherapy jets, but imagine enjoying the same relaxation in your own backyard.

What are the perks of having an in-ground spa for your Tulsa outdoor environment?

Whereas a pool in Tulsa can only be enjoyed for a limited amount of time during the year, in-ground spas offer relaxation year-round. Spas can be built by themselves or in conjunction with a pool. These spas can extend the use of your outdoor environment. Picture a charming evening relaxing in your spa as snow falls all around you.

Besides providing a relaxing escape from the day’s stresses, the warm water and gentle massage of a spa can help to alleviate  pain in achy joints and muscles. Hydrotherapy has been shown to help with circulation, arthritis, metabolism, immune function, skin problems, detoxification, and overall health.

Many people also use spas to help improve their sleep. The overall stress reduction and massage benefits of a spa motivate many to go to a professional spa center each year. Having your own custom spa at home is a convenient and fun way to enjoy a more healthful, relaxed life.

  

Custom in-ground spas also add an elegant style and create a unique focal point for your outdoor living space. These distinctive spas can be a focal point for your patio or deck. They come in an almost endless array of shapes - from the traditional circle to square,oval, rectangular, or even a custom shape and design.

In-ground spas can be crafted to perfectly complement your home and landscape design. They can have decorative features including tile mosaics and water features like cascading waterfalls and bubbling fountains that flow into a connecting pool below.  The design options for an in-ground spa are virtually limitless. .

Tulsa in-ground spas can be designed using a variety of materials like concrete, tile, gunite, and fiberglass with decorative elements added like stone and tile to create a delightfully inviting outdoor retreat.

Adding an in-ground spa when you’re building your custom pool or as its own water element will bring years of fun and relaxation to your outdoor space.

Adding Charm and Functionality - Tulsa Retaining Walls

Is your landscape having some erosion problems? Or do you have an uneven spot on your Tulsa landscape that makes it more difficult to use or creates unsightly dirt piles? These landscaping issues can often be fixed with a retaining wall. There are many benefits to these hardscape structures. Adding a retaining wall to your Tulsa property not only can protect it, but also create a beautiful landscape design.

Retaining walls hold back soil that might otherwise erode or move downhill on a landscape. These structures act as barriers, preventing erosion or a landslide that would cause significant damage to your home. Thus, for a sloped area, retaining walls provide the vital support your landscape needs.
These hardscapes help to mimimize flooding by reducing the flow of runoff water from rushing through your landscape to your home, garden, or the connecting city street. An effectively-designed retaining wall will complement your drainage and irrigation system to divert rainwater to the right places.

Tulsa retaining walls add functional value to your property by creating level areas where previously there were hills or slopes that made the land difficult to use and maintain. By adding a retaining wall, these problematic areas become usable space, perfect for a garden or a complete outdoor environment with a patio, pool, outdoor kitchen, and more. Tulsa homeowners can thus utilize more of their property by implementing these hardscapes. These walls can be used to divide areas of the property, adding dimension to the landscape.

This added dimension to a landscape is part of another benefit retaining walls offer – that of creating a sophisticated, polished look for the landscape. Organization often gives objects a sophisticated look. Having an organized landscape can do the same. Retaining walls not only help to “organize” your landscape, dividing areas, even having different layers of walls with different purposes and keeping things in place, but they do all of this in style. Retaining walls add a decorative architecture to your landscape, creating a contrast between nature and hardscape.  When done effectively, they can add beauty and charm to your landscape. These hardscapes can coordinate with the architecture of your home and outdoor living space to provide character.

Retaining walls can be made using a variety of decorative materials, each with their own look and feel. This artful variety of hardscape materials and the skillful and purposeful building of these walls is what adds character to the landscape. These materials can include natural stones, interlocking blocks, concrete, wood, bricks, and cinder blocks. When they are textured and aged, retaining wall materials can have an alluring Old World feel. They can also be smooth and symmetrical to have a more urban look.

However, for retaining walls to be effective, they must be skillfully built. Otherwise, these hardscapes could succumb to the pressures of weather, time, and other natural elements.

Retaining walls are an important part of artful and practical Tulsa landscape design. These add definition and charm while creating functional space and vital stability to a landscape.

2013 Tulsa Landscape Design Trends - Low-Maintenance Landscapes, Outdoor Fireplaces

When the year comes to an end, we start to think of how the year went. What were some of the highlights? What did we accomplished? What were some of the trends? As for outdoor environments in Tulsa, let’s look at some of the biggest landscape design trends of 2013. Many of these trends will remain important in the 2014 landscaping scene, so Tulsa homeowners can also get ideas for how to renovate their landscapes in the coming year.

Low-Maintenance Landscapes
With green, sustainable living becoming more popular, low-maintenance landscape design is a huge landscaping trend now. Requiring less maintenance and often less water to remain healthy, these landscapes are great for homeowners with a busy schedule. But less maintenance doesn’t have to mean less color. Using native plants can create a more hardy landscape. Native and drought-resistant plants can often reduce your landscape’s need for water and maintenance. Ornamental grasses and succulents are popular, low-maintenance plants that are perfect for adding texture and style to a landscape. Part of low-maintenance landscaping is knowing how to group these plants together in way that will require less maintenance and maximize water conservation. With these landscapes, you can have a beautiful, vibrant Tulsa landscape with minimal upkeep.

Outdoor Environments
Outdoor living areas that become an really extension of your home are continuing to be a popular landscape design element. With stylish and comfortable dining areas and outdoor seating areas like outdoor sofas and tables, Tulsa outdoor environments are becoming more functional, more chic, and more of a complete outdoor living area where homeowners can relax or entertain much like they would in their indoor living room. Durable and trendy outdoor fabrics are making outdoor living much simpler. State-of-the-art outdoor kitchens are making entertaining outside a lot easier and a lot more fun. These outdoor kitchens look much like indoor kitchens with built-in sinks, grills, refrigerators, counter-tops, and more.

Fireplaces and Fire Pits
A popular aspect of many outdoor living areas are fireplaces and fire pits. These stylish outdoor elements are becoming very popular for homeowners, creating a fun and relaxing outdoor space. They can be designed in a variety of shapes and styles to complement almost any landscape. Installed seating adjacent to an outdoor fireplace creates a perfect spot for talking with friends. Lately, adding fire to a water feature has also become more popular, creating a stunning backdrop at night.

Water Features
Speaking of water, adding fire to a water feature is one element of this popular landscaping group. The relaxing sound of trickling water amid a garden can help soothe away the stresses of the day. That’s why decorative water features, whether portable or complete fountains, grottos, or waterfalls have risen in popularity in the landscape design world. These features add to the “green living” movement that has spread around the world, encouraging us to stay healthy in body and mind.

Edible Gardens
With an increased focused on healthy, organic living, many are now choosing to grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Whether in complete organic gardens or in container gardens sporadically placed in their outdoor environment, homeowners are growing a feast in their own backyards. Many of these edibles are being used as decorative plants alongside other gardening features, mixing them in with the rest of their garden foliage to produce a beautiful and healthful landscape.

Other landscaping and outdoor trends include adding splashes of vibrant color to outdoor environment elements, moving technology outside with complete entertainment centers, WiFi, and surround sound, as well as living walls of foliage and green roofs.

Tulsa homeowners want to get the most from their outdoor environments and these trendy landscape design elements furnish the practical and aesthetic value needed for the perfect "staycation," while also increasing your property value.

Tulsa Christmas Lighting Safety Tips

Many use Christmas lighting during the winter to light up the night and brighten the season. But while holiday lighting and decorations can create a beautiful winter scene for your Tulsa home or business, these lights can also create a fire hazard if not used properly.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) noted that between 2007-2011 holiday lighting and decorative lights with line voltage were involved in an average 150 home structure fires per year.
To protect your loved ones as well as your home or business, take these safety precautions from the National Safety Council and the NFPA when decorating your home or commercial property.

• Before you hang your lights, check for any broken or cracked sockets, loose bulb connections, and frayed or bare wires. Do not use lights with damaged parts.
• Lights should be unplugged before replacing bulbs and fuses.
• Use clips to hang lights instead of nails, tacks, or staples so that the wires are not damaged.
• Only use lighting that is tested by an independent testing and rating laboratory like the Underwriters Laboratories (UL Label).
• Use the correct type of holiday lighting for the environment – whether for indoor or outdoor use – following the manufacture’s guidelines.
• Connect a maximum of three stands of miniature light sets and 50 bulbs for screw-in bulbs. Be sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting LED strands.
• Do not overload extension cords.
• Do not close windows or doors on extension cords.
• Turn off all lights and decorations before going to bed or leaving your home or business.
• Holiday lighting is meant to be used temporarily, up to 90 days, so take down and properly store all lighting after the holidays.
• When hanging outdoor lighting, be sure your ladder is on level ground and never stand on the top three rungs of the ladder. When laying against a roof, the ladder should reach at least three feet above the edge of the roof. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder.
• Avoid hanging lights near combustible materials and do not hang or cover lighting with combustible materials like cloth or paper.
• Check with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for recalled holiday lights sets that could pose a greater fire or shock hazard.
• Do not use electric lights on metal Christmas trees.

For more information on winter and holiday fire safety, visit the NFPA at www.nfpa.org. The twinkling lights of holiday decorations can brighten up your neighborhood or business, but keep in mind these safety tips to protect yourself this season.

Tips to Keeping Your Tulsa Home Safe While Traveling

Are you going out of town this holiday season? Many Tulsa homeowners may be planning to travel to visit family or friends this time of year, but before you go, there are a few simple things you can do to keep your Tulsa home safe while you’re away.

The objective is to not give the appearance that you’re gone. Thus, while you may have a home security system, you can also do little things to make your home less appealing to burglars.

1. Keep up the lawn care. – Interestingly, having regular Tulsa lawn maintenance and landscaping will help your home look like you never left. We’ve all seen houses where the lawn is not mowed, and we may think that there’s either no one living there or they’re on vacation. Thus, when you’re gone, keeping your lawn mowed, your leaves raked, and your snow shoveled will give the appearance that you’re home while also making your property tidier and much nicer to come home to.
2. Keep trees and shrubs trimmed. – Burglars love things to hide behind, so an overgrown tree or shrub next to a window creates the perfect hiding spot. Thus, try to keep windows and doors visible by regularly trimming trees, shrubs, and hedges.
3. Put your lights on timers. – Programming your interior lights to turn on and off using a timer is another good way to make your home look like everything’s normal. Having your home lights come on for a few hours in the evening will keep up the appearance of a normal routine. Motion sensor lights for your outdoor landscape can also help deter thieves.
4. Stop your mail and newspapers. – Having a pile of mail or periodicals by your door is of course going to make your home look vacant. You can put your mail on hold at the post office for up to 30 days. Have your newspaper put on hold as well. But there may still be other packages that are delivered to your home, so have a neighbor or friend stop by regularly while you’re gone to pick these up.
5. Hire a house sitter. – The simplest way to give the appearance that your home isn’t vacant is to have a friend or neighbor stay there while you’re on vacation. If you have pets, a pet sitter can also be useful, not only in taking care of your pets while you’re gone, but also by checking on your house.
6. Tell a trusted neighbor you’ll be gone. – If you don’t have a house or pet sitter staying, let a trusted neighbor or two know when you’ll be gone and ask them to stop by periodically to check on your home and pick up any flyers or items left at your home. You may even leave a copy of your house key with them for emergencies. They may also be able to pull your garbage or recycling receptacles out on trash day to make everything look normal.
7. Unplug electronics. – Turning off and unplugging electronics and appliances like your home computer, television, coffee pot and even your garage door can save you money, prevent a house fire, and, by turning off your garage door, prevent thieves from breaking in.
8. Keep valuables away from windows. – Make sure your big screen television or computer isn’t plainly visible from outside your home. You may want to walk around your house to see what is visible from outside.
9. Make sure everything is locked. – In the hustle and bustle of vacation packing, you may forget to lock all the windows and doors. Make sure every entrance to your home is secure, including sliding glass doors to your patio. You can help secure these further by placing dowel rods or poles in the slats when you leave.  Advertise and activate your home security and surveillance system. Walter T. Shaw, a former master thief, told MSN Money that alarm system warning signs and decals should be placed in the backyard where thieves are most likely to case out and try to break-in your home. These warning signs can prevent thieves from thinking your home is an easy target.
10. Be careful about what you share. – While today’s world shares everything online, sharing when you will be on vacation may not be the best thing to post on Facebook. Thieves can check up on you on social media platforms and may easily be able to find out when you will be gone just from what you post. Shaw also noted that many people often casually talk about their vacation plans with people they come across at the grocery store or mechanic shop. Be careful about what sensitive information you share online as well as what you share with strangers or people you may not know well.

To have the best vacation this year, make sure your home is secure and still gives the appearance that you’re home even if you’re far away.

Winter is the Best Time to Prune Many Trees in Tulsa

You may be thinking that there’s not a lot of landscaping to try to do for your Tulsa property in the winter, but actually this season is truly a great time for pruning several species of trees and shrubs.

Trees and shrubs that are pruned and well-maintained often produce more flowers and are typically healthier. Once the diseased, dead, or overgrown branches are removed, the tree can grow stronger and healthier and often is more resistant to disease and insects. Trees pruned in the winter will be able to grow quicker and more lush in the spring. Thus, practical pruning efforts really helps to promote the long-term strength and health of the tree.

Why is late winter a great time for pruning trees in Tulsa?

Many deciduous trees are dormant throughout the winter, which may reduce the damage done to the tree. This dormancy stops the trees from bleeding sticky sap when they are cut. These winter cuts won’t expose the dormant tree to as much chance of disease or insect damage because these are also dormant throughout the winter.

On a sensible note, with the leaves gone, you’ll be able to see the structure of the tree more. This could enable you to more clearly see where there are broken or dead branches that need to be removed.

When should you begin pruning trees and shrubs?

Late winter or once the coldest part of winter has passed is generally said to be the most effective time to prune most trees. There are some species, though, that should not be cropped during winter. Talk with the horticulturists at Oklahoma Landscape to find out specifically when your landscape’s trees should be pruned.

“A good rule to follow is to prune the latest blooming trees first and therefore the earliest blooming last,” North Carolina Cooperative Extension noted.

Prune trees on a dry, mild day to prevent the spread of disease by water. Branches rubbing together can cause wounds that increase the chances of disease and insect damage. Removing one of the rubbing or crossing branches to help the tree remain strong. Cut off dead, damaged, or diseased branches with sharp pruning tools. When there are diseased limbs, cut well below the diseased part of the branch.

Pruning trees and shrubs in Tulsa during the winter months not only helps them to look better but can do much to keep them healthy and prepared for spring.

Winter - A Great Time to Design your Dream Tulsa Outdoor Environment

While there may not be as much to do outside this time of year (unless you have an outdoor fireplace or fire pit), there are some things you can work on even inside to fully enjoy your Tulsa outdoor space in the future.

Winter is a good time for Tulsa homeowners to consider landscape renovation plans for the coming year. After all, we update our houses. Shouldn’t we also update our landscapes and outdoor living areas? Tastes and styles change over time and that’s true also in regard to our Tulsa outdoor environment. These renovations could range from full-scale, complete outdoor environment additions to simple changes in flowers, plants, or shrubs.

Whatever renovations you may be thinking for your outdoor space, winter is a great time to start planning. The Tulsa landscape designers at Oklahoma Landscape can help you evaluate your existing space, give you options on how to improve your landscape based on how you want to use the space, and begin planning and designing the renovations.

Beautiful outdoor spaces not only add to your outdoor enjoyment, but they also add to the value of your property and home.  Landscape renovations can provide you with a gorgeous outdoor living area while also correcting other landscaping issues like erosion or poor drainage. A professional Tulsa landscape designer can help you prevent costly mistakes and offer innovative design solutions so you get the most from your landscape. They can also assist you with zone laws and other concerns that could arise in projects like these.

In planning a landscape renovation, consider how you will want to most often use your landscape. Do you like to have friends over and cook out? An outdoor kitchen would help you be the host of the neighborhood. Would you like to enjoy romantic evenings with your spouse? An outdoor fireplace creates a cozy, relaxing atmosphere. Do you have kids that need a place to hang out and get out of the house during the summer? A custom, kid-friendly pool will be a perfect way for them to spend the summer. Or do all these outdoor living plans fit your lifestyle? A landscape design professional can help you blend all these elements together seamlessly to create one unique and functional outdoor living space.

Developing a plan, budget, and schedule during the winter months can ensure you’ll enjoy your renovated landscape next year. So while you may not get to enjoy your landscape as much as you’d like to this winter, dreaming of and planning that perfect outdoor environment can keep you entertained until the warm weather arrives.

Bring Color and Life to Your Tulsa Landscape This Winter With Dogwoods and Hollies

Have you wondered if there’s any way to liven up your Tulsa landscape design during winter? Actually, there are ways to bring color and life to your outdoor environment in Tulsa even when the weather is less than perfect.

Many plants have colorful and interesting bark and shapes that stand out amid the dreary winter weather. Dogwoods have yellow, red, and green stems that can bring a jolt of color to your landscape throughout the winter. Redosier and Yellow-twig Dogwood have a nice, showy bark that are good for Oklahoma landscapes.

Harry Lauder’s Walkingstick has unusual branches that make an interesting landscape piece for the winter. Other plants with interesting branches perfect for a snowy winterland include Euonymus and Japanese Kerria.

Shrubs that produce berries can add a lot color to the landscape during the winter while they also attract birds to watch from the comfort of your Tulsa home. Berry shrubs include a wide array of holly plants like American Holly, Blue Holly, and Yaupon Holly, as well as other shrubs like the red chokeberry with its vivid red fruit that stands out beautifully against the contrast of evergreens. Evergreen plants of course provide nice background foliage for winter.

Flowering plants that look great during the Oklahoma winters include Camellias that have white and pink blooms, as well as Forsythia, Witch Hazel, and Jasmine.

But if you want a quicker way to dress up your landscape this winter, planting miniature conifers in container gardens in different areas of your outdoor space as well as other potted plants like poinsettias can quickly spice up your landscape. Carefully-planned landscape lighting can also brighten up the winter months and creates an inviting atmosphere to guests.

Oklahoma Landscape’s horticulturists and Tulsa landscape designers can help you choose the best plants and shrubs to help brighten up your Tulsa landscape and keep it healthy all winter.

Commercial Landscape Design in Tulsa - Increase Productivity and Relieve Stress

We've probably all taken a walk through a  relaxing city park or left our cubicle to sit outside next to trees and plants that provide a refreshing break on a hectic workday. These are all part of Tulsa commercial landscape design that artistically blends nature and greenery into the architecture of commercial properties.
Why is commercial landscape design in Tulsa important? Being around nature is vital for our mental and physical health. Studies that were published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology noted that “being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to significantly boost vitality levels.” Thus, incorporating landscape design into a commercial campus or office park can help to increase productivity in employees.

“The quality of a person’s physical surroundings has a real and profound impact on their attitude and performance as well as their enjoyment of a place,” the American Society of Landscape Architects said regarding the PepsiCo World Headquarters commercial landscape design project. In this project landscape architects created a sustainable, quality environment with accessibility to nature, formal landscapes as well as sculptures. “The quality environment created at PepsiCo resulted in lower turnover, less absenteeism, shorter lunch hours and greater productivity,” the article noted.

This improved outlook and increased energy in relation to being in nature can also translate to clients. Many retail environments and corporate office parks have brought thoughtful landscape design to their Tulsa commercial properties to create a more welcoming atmosphere for customers. Well-manicured and beautifully-captivating commercial properties provide a curb appeal that greatly enhances the image of a company and can attract more business.

Many cities are incorporating more landscape design and water conservation into their streetscapes, giving a more natural, sustainable appeal to their city and creating a more enjoyable place for residents and customers. Students can learn more studying outside on a beautifully-manicured college campus. Tenants are attracted more to apartment communities with nature parks and stylish greenery areas.

All of these commercial spaces are benefiting from landscape design. Commercial lawn maintenance also relieves stress from Tulsa businesses. Landscape design and lawn maintenance can be one less thing a property manager has to worry about with professional landscape design for his or her company. Not only increasing the curb appeal and beauty of the property, commercial landscape design in Tulsa can also increase productivity and even sales by creating a more positive, refreshing environment for everyone.

Outdoor Kitchens in Tulsa - Making Hosting Much Easier

Have you ever found it hard to entertain outside because everything you need to cook or grill is inside? This is the quandary many hosts face with their Tulsa outdoor environments. They may have a fire pit or even a swimming pool to entertain guests, but how do they stop from having to run inside numerous times to prepare or cook for their guests?

Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens are the perfect way to make outdoor entertaining a real joy. They can be designed to make entertaining much easier by giving you plenty of  space for essential prepping, cooking, serving, and cleaning. With an outdoor kitchen, you can have everything you need right at your fingertips – outside. Many outdoor kitchen areas come with refrigerators, sinks, grills, burners, and more. Building your Tulsa outdoor kitchen close to your indoor kitchen will help mitigate travel time if you don’t have everything outside or if you would prefer to prepare things inside.

But a vital part of having fun in hosting is being able to chat with your guests. How can you do this while preparing and cooking the food? Outdoor kitchens built with adjacent bar seating areas are perfect for keeping guests in the action and the cook in the party. And, this way, guests can sit and talk with the host while also not being in the way of a busy cook. This bar area also provides extra counter space for prep and cooking.

Having an outdoor living area close to the outdoor kitchen will also make it easier to entertain while preparing a meal. And it makes for an easy transition between cooking and dining. Guests are close enough to interact with the cook while also being able to hang out and relax on their own in a comfortable lounge space.

Really, outdoor kitchens in Tulsa are a great addition for those who love to entertain and enjoy giving their guests the best in food and fun.

Tulsa Lawn Fertilization and Weed Control - Vital for Vibrant Lawns

You’re probably enjoying the changing leaves of fall in Tulsa, and winter is here, so you may be thinking, ‘We’re in Tulsa. It’s getting colder. Why should I think about my lawn and its fertilization program?’

Well…actually a Tulsa lawn fertilization and weed control treatment programs can help your lawn be prepared for winter temperatures so that it can bounce back to be even more lush and green in the spring. Lawn fertilization helps replenish nutrients that were lost during the heat of summer, or because of stress and from just the passing of time.

Nutrients are key to a green, healthy lawn. Replenishing these nutrients allows the root system of your lawn to grow stronger and deeper for a robust and healthy winter lawn. These slow-release fertilizing treatments help the lawn have the needed nutrients, feeding it through winter, so that it’s ready when spring arrives.

While the 6-treatment Tulsa fertilization and weed control programs are finishing up this winter, it’s a good time to start thinking about the next set of treatments for the new year. A complete treatment program is really vital for grass to thrive and remain healthy and weed-free, so having a treatment program already scheduled will ensure your lawn doesn’t miss any of the nutrients it needs.

Pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control systems allow your lawn to be virtually weed-free. A healthy, green, weed-free lawn actually requires less time and attention to maintain. Healthy lawns become more resistant to stress, weeds, and disease. Using weed control systems in the fall will help prevent weeds taking the nutrients the root system needs and prevent them from overtaking the lawn in the spring.

Even though the temperature is getting cooler, fall is a great time to help your Tulsa lawn have the nutrients and strength it needs to survive the winter months and come back for a beautiful spring. Tulsa fertilization and weed control treatment programs can do just that, keeping your lawn lush, healthy, and ready for the next season.

Tulsa Fire Pits - the Many Benefits for your Outdoor Environment

As the weather gets colder, fire pits become the focal point of Tulsa outdoor living spaces. These hardscape elements provide a cozy area for friends and family to relax and keep warm. But the ambiance they give also makes them a charming design element addition for your outdoor space.

Fire pits have become a popular addition to Tulsa area homes. With 360-degree access, these design features allow for larger groups of friends to gather around the fire to roast marshmallows and talk about old times, more of a campfire feel than outdoor fireplaces.

These fire features can be built using a variety of finishing materials such as stone, copper, metal, concrete, or brick and can be wood, gas, propane, or ethanol burning. Fire pits can also come in a variety of shapes including triangular, L-shaped, square, or landscape architects can design a custom shape for fire pit.

Fire pits are great for your outdoor environment because they can be the perfect entertaining spot without overwhelming your outdoor environment. They are ideal for sitting around to watch the sunset or view the beautiful surrounding landscape or cityscape. You can create ample seating for the fire pit by creating a built-in seating wall, with or without a back rests, and add colorful weatherproof cushions to create a warm and inviting ambiance.
The fire pit can be customized to how you will want to use it and be designed to complement your home and outdoor environment. There are many different styles and themes for fire pits and outdoor environments, anything from Mediterranean or Tuscan to contemporary or traditional. Create a unique atmosphere and style with your Tulsa outdoor fire pit.

These design elements are practical as well as inviting and add a great deal of value to your Tulsa property.  Oklahoma Landscape can design and build the ultimate fire pit for your outdoor living space, creating unforgettable evenings with friends and family.

Blending the Inside with Outside - Tulsa Outdoor Environment Designs

Tulsa outdoor environments allow homeowners to  utilize our outdoor space, engage with nature, and relax with friends after a busy workweek. What are some of the décor and design options of outdoor environments? What are the trends? With the almost endless variety of materials that can be used to create hardscapes for your outdoor environment, you can create an almost infinite array of designs for your outdoor space.

A well-designed outdoor environment can complement your home’s architecture and style. Thus, outdoor living spaces can greatly increase the value of your home and property while increasing your home’s curb appeal, in case you would ever want to sell. Outdoor living spaces can showcase your style with a particular theme like Mediterranean, Contemporary, Asian, Traditional, etc. So have fun with your outdoor space and create a beautiful staycation resort in your own backyard. And the added beauty is that you don’t have to pack. More and more, people are utilizing their outdoor space as an extension of their home.

Homeowners are blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living spaces. Thus, they’re endeavoring to make their backyards more useful and comfortable, taking the best indoor amenities outside. For instance, outdoor kitchens in Tulsa are becoming more popular because, of course, food is at the center of great entertaining. These outdoor kitchens are built fully stocked with state-of-the-art grilling and cooking equipment, granite countertops, refrigerators, bar seating for great conversation, and much more. And homeowners are now bringing all the great entertainment features outside. From flat screen televisions, wireless devices, and surround sound to complete outdoor movie theaters, homeowners have all the entertainment services they need in their Tulsa outdoor environment.

And the lines are being blurred with outdoor furniture décor as well. No longer is there just plastic patio furniture and lawn chairs. Many styles, materials, and colors for outdoor furniture take their inspiration from fine indoor décor. Of course, everything outside needs to be weatherproof, but today many outdoor, weatherproof furnishings are also very posh and trendy, from throw pillows, cushions, rugs, and more. These also come in variety of designer colors, giving your Tulsa outdoor environment a touch of urban flare. Beyond just more stylish fabric, outdoor furnishings now more readily resemble your indoor space with coffee tables, sofas, and chic dining sets. Enjoying your outdoor space has never been easier or classier.

With many homeowners wanting to get back to nature more and relax in the beauty that only the outdoors brings, outdoor environments allow homeowners to be more comfortable outside and get more use from their outdoor space.

Paver Design in Tulsa - Adding Charm to your Patio or Walkway

Would you like to create more character and charm for your walkway, patio, or pool deck? Homeowners are now using pavers in Tulsa to give their outdoor living spaces greater detail and style. Pavers are hardscape materials that can be used to create landscaping pavement features like walkways, driveways, patios, pool decks, and more. Why are these hardscapes a great addition for your Tulsa landscape?

Pavers are a practical way of enhancing your landscape. Pavers in Tulsa are more easier to replace and more affordable than many other materials. Pavers can be easily removed and replaced, greatly reducing your landscape repair costs, unlike poured concrete which becomes difficult to replace or repair if it’s damaged. Because they’re installed using sand as a stabilizer, these hardscapes can absorb stress much better than other pavement materials. That being the case, they can withstand harsh weather and even small earthquakes better than other materials such as poured concrete or asphalt. This design makes them ideal for almost any hardscape project.

Tulsa pavers can give your outdoor space a whole new look with a variety of shapes, sizes, styles, tones, and materials available. With so much variety in the colors and textures of pavers, homeowners can add a unique personality to their Tulsa outdoor living space. A multicolored. coordinated paver walkway or patio can create a striking entrance and can perfectly complement the architecture of your home. With pavers, you can give your outdoor space the vintage look and feel of cobbled streets, an elegant Mediterranean veranda, or a more modern feel with custom interlocking paver designs. Whatever theme you want your outdoor environment to have, pavers can help create it. You can use an assortment of interlocking brick, stone, and concrete pavers to give your landscape a unique style.
Pavers can also be environmentally friendly, allowing water to percolate through to the ground beneath, thus preventing erosion, runoff, and helping to improve the soil. These permeable pavers in Tulsa can help filter pollutants that might normally run off into storm drains and streets. Unlike concrete which absorbs heat in the summer, permeable pavers can even help lower the temperature around your home by absorbing moisture instead of heat.

Pavers are a great choice for many Tulsa landscaping projects by adding an affordable and easy way to dress up your landscape while providing practical value and versatility. Oklahoma Landscape is a certified Tulsa paver installer. Our designers have been trained, tested, and certified by the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (I.C.P.I). Call us today to find out more about how pavers can highlight the beauty of your Tulsa landscape and home.

Functional Landscape Design in Tulsa - Transforming your Backyard into a Work of Art

Landscape designers in Tulsa transform traditional backyards in cohesive outdoor living spaces. What does that mean and why is it needed? Landscape designers create a theme for properties using plants and hardscapes to tell a story or set a tone for the landscape. This landscape theme makes the landscape more functional, more practical for everyday use.

Instead of allowing plants and grass to grow haphazardly, landscape designers in Tulsa such as Oklahoma Landscape can use the natural elements of a property to enhance not only the landscape but also the home itself, increasing property value and curb appeal. Plants, trees, and shrubs are set in strategic places to lower energy costs, provide shade, reduce irrigation needs, and prevent erosion. The variety of plants and foliage in the landscape and their color can provide serenity and relaxation for a home or business owner. Color therapy can be used in a landscape to evoke certain emotions and enhance the outdoor experience. Gardens can provide the needed relief after a stressful workday to balance emotions and promote well-being. Landscape designers are adept at creating these luxury gardens that invigorate the senses.

Landscape design combines an effective use of plants, or softscapes, with hardscapes or the inanimate features of a landscape such as those made of stone, concrete, wood, or brick. Used in the right combination, these elements provide visual structure, dimension, and character to a landscape, while also adding to the theme or tone of the property. A functional outdoor kitchen in Tulsa with granite countertops provides an ideal entertaining spot for a landscape. An elegant outdoor fireplace offers a romantic focal point to the landscape design. Oklahoma Landscape’s design architects use realistic 3D modeling to show how the finished project will look before landscape development or construction even begins.

And, of course, fundamental to landscape design is good design, planning, and implementation. Tulsa landscape designers know that to create a landscape that is not only visually engaging but also practical to the homeowner’s lifestyle, landscapers must analyze the needs of the homeowner and the landscape itself, and then carefully plan a landscape arrangement to fit those needs. This carefully thought-out design allows for the optimal use of the property and most pleasing visual appearance, creating the most serene environment.

Good landscape design is everything for your Tulsa property. It makes your home or business and their adjoining property a cohesive design element in the community, creating a living work of art for your Tulsa neighborhood. The needs of you as a property owner are of prime importance. If a landscape design is not practical to the home or business owner, then it won’t be used to the full. But if the landscape design creates a compelling theme for your home or business, then you’ll be sure to ‘find yourself outside.’

Get your Tulsa Landscape Ready for Winter with these Lawn Care and Weed Control Tips

With autumn in full swing in Tulsa, there’s no better time to watch leaves change colors, indulge in a cup of hot apple cider, and enjoy a hayride with family and friends, But, did you know it’s also the perfect time to prepare your Tulsa landscape for winter?

Oklahoma Landscape offers Tulsa fertilization and weed control programs to keep lawns looking great and keep them healthy. Fall is an important time of year to give your lawn proper care, so it can survive the harsh winter months ahead. So before you put your tools in hibernation, consider these five lawn and garden projects to help your lawn flourish come springtime:

1. Leaf removal – During the fall, leaves cover your lawn in what seems like the blink of an eye. A leaf blower is an easy tool to use and can help you move all your debris to one place for quick cleanup. Keep in mind, it’s best to either blow all leaves toward the center of your yard to create one big pile, or start at the edge of your lawn and blow leaves in the same direction.

2. Restore soil – Add beneficial nutrients, soil bacteria and microorganisms to next year’s garden by recycling pulled annuals, leaves, grass clippings, and leftover fruits and vegetables into an organic compost. Your homemade compost will help you get a jumpstart on your spring lawn and garden efforts, and increase soil richness for plants and flowers.

3. Prune – Since trees and shrubs lose leaves in the fall, it is easier to spot and prune diseased or dying branches. To prevent disease, prune branches that grow back toward the center of the tree, or cross and rub against each other. However, do not remove unreasonably large branches since exposed stubs can cause health problems for trees and shrubs.

4. Lawn mulch – Give your lawn the strength it needs to survive the winter with nutrient-heavy mulch. An easy way to do this is by using a mulching lawn mower or a chipper shredder to mulch leaves and spread a thin layer over your lawn. The nutrients and organic matter absorbed into the ground will contribute to your lawn’s overall strength and growth in the spring. Plus, mulching is great for preventing weeds, stopping erosion and compaction.

5. Weed control – Just like other plants, weeds prepare for winter by storing food in their roots. To remove stubborn weeds, pull or dig weeds out of the ground or use a homemade weed-control solution, such as five parts white vinegar, two parts water and one part dish soap, and then-reseed the spots to prevent regrowth. Oklahoma Landscape also offers an effective weed control treatment to keep your Tulsa lawn weed-free all year, as well as lawn fertilization and overseeding programs to keep it healthy and looking great.

Fall will be over before you know it, so get your yard ready for the cold days ahead. Call the Tulsa landscapers at Oklahoma Landscape for more help in keeping your Tulsa landscape looking its best. You’ll be glad you did when spring is in full bloom.

 (Courtesy of Brandpoint)

Trees and Shrubs in your Tulsa Landscape - The Ideal Time for Planting

Have you been wondering when the ideal time is to plant trees and shrubs in Tulsa? Actually, fall is a great time to plant these gorgeous landscape additions. Shrubs and trees can really bring a great deal of structure and character to your Tulsa landscape design. Planted in a row, they can help add privacy to your outdoor living space and home and reduce noise. And, of course, they can provide shade during those hot summer months. They can also be used to reduce energy costs inside your Tulsa home by implementing smart tree placement, as well as other green technologies such as green roofs and walls.

"If placed strategically, trees can reduce summertime cooling energy needs by 7-47 percent and wintertime heating needs by 2-8 percent,” the American Society of Landscape Architects reported.

Planting shrubs and trees in the fall, as the weather is getting cooler, will allow the plant's root systems to grow and develop before winter sets in and before the next summer's heat. Although the air temperature is getting cooler, the soil is still warm enough to help encourage root growth. Sometimes less watering is needed with wetter and cooler fall weather. With a stronger root system established, shrubs and trees will be better able to deal the drought and heat of summer.  However, be careful to not plant too late in the season when the ground is freezing because this, of course, could be damaging to the tree.

Fall is also a good time to plant trees because this is usually when they go into dormancy. When they are dormant, handling and moving them is easier on the tree. Choosing trees in the fall will help you see the different color possibilities for your landscape in the fall when the leaves change.

When choosing shrubs and trees to plant in your landscape, look for species native to your area. Native trees and shrubs will be more resistant to drought and disease and will require less maintenance. Because these plants are already adjusted to the climate, they will also usually need less water.

Before planting, research the tree or shrub’s growing height when it’s mature so you know how far away to plant it from other structures, plants, and trees. Remember to plant the tree far enough away from houses, power lines, and other structures so that the mature foliage or roots do not interfere with any of these buildings or utilities. Planting them too close to these areas could pose a fire hazard.

Before you dig, check with your local utility companies to see if there are any underground utility lines in your yard. Trees, themselves, should also not be planted too close together so that they do not have to compete for sunlight or their root systems do not crowd each other.

Trees and shrubs not only increase the beauty of your landscape, but can also increase your property’s value and curb appeal. The horticulturists and landscape designers at Tulsa’s Oklahoma Landscape can help you choose and plant the best trees and shrubs for your landscape as well as develop a custom care program for your landscape.

Outdoor Structures Like Pergolas Complete Your Tulsa Outdoor Environment

If you feel that something's missing from your Tulsa outdoor environment, your home could need an outdoor structure to complete your outdoor living space. These outdoor landscape additions bring the environment together, giving the space a polished feel and can be built to perfectly complement your home. Having a structure over your outdoor kitchen or fireplace can ensure you’ll be able to use these spaces more and have a more enjoyable time, whether entertaining or just relaxing. What are some types of outdoor structures and what are their benefits?

Elegant Pergolas

Pergolas make up in elegance and charm what they make lack in providing full shelter. These outdoor structures can really define your Tulsa outdoor environment while not separating the different elements of your space. These more open architectural structures support crossbeams for a slatted roof to provide shelter from direct sunlight.

Pergolas can really be customized to fit your home’s style or outdoor space needs, whether to provide a sitting area by the pool or a dining area on the patio or to outline a walkway or path. They can be made using a variety of materials. Create a spa-like feel by adding fabric panels or as a covering for the roof. Add a fan to keep the air flowing and cool the space. Build the pergola with Roman-style columns to give the pergola a classically elegant flare. Climbing plants and vines can be grown on the pergola to add to garden appeal and create natural shade. These luxurious outdoor structures can add a vertical focal point as well as elegantly extend your home’s outdoor living space.

Cabana-style Pavilions

No longer just for luxury resorts, cabanas are now taking over Tulsa outdoor environments as a practical and visually engaging piece for your outdoor living space. These covered structures provide shelter, shade, and a great space for entertaining, especially by the pool. They can house fireplaces, outdoor kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and grills, bar areas and plush seating. Add overhead heaters, fans, and even a flat-screen television and surround sound and you have the perfect spot for relaxing all year round. The variety of trends and styles for these outdoor structures are almost endless.

Classic Gazebos

While traditionally gazebos have been octagon-shaped, white structures settled in a garden, landscape designers are now building gazebos in a variety of shapes and sizes from rectangular, square, or round.  These structures, that are open on all sides with a covered roof, provide comfortable shade and shelter from the elements. They can be built out in a garden as a free-standing structure or as the perfect addition to your deck, patio, or even over a pond as part of a dock. Gazebos can be used to shelter a hot tub or spa area on the deck or patio or as an extension of a home’s porch area. Gazebos can be made from wood, stone, metal, or concrete. Screens and doors can also be added to keep out bugs. With creativity and a modern style, gazebos offer a great place to ‘find yourself outside.’


Outdoor structures in Tulsa add timeless charm to your outdoor environment, provide practical function for all seasons, and can significantly increase the value of your home and property. Oklahoma Landscape’s design specialists can custom-design and build the right outdoor structure for your space.

Tips for Planning your Organic Garden in Tulsa

Everybody’s going green and an organic garden in Tulsa is one way to include sustainable landscape design into your outdoor space.

As more Tulsa residents turn to eating organic foods, many have seen the benefits of starting their own organic food garden. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, vegetable and fruit gardens had a 76.4 percent popularity ranking for outdoor design elements.

Not only is growing veggies healthier for your family, especially organic vegetables which are not grown using chemicals, but doing so can also save your family quite a bit at the grocery store. So where do you start with planning an organic garden? Below are a few tips to help jumpstart you on your path to organic gardening and healthy living.

Planning your garden – what you want in it and where – will be your first step. It’s good to put your ideas on paper so you can clearly see any problems that could come up.  Will you grow just vegetables or vegetables and herbs? Will you plant in containers or in the soil? The University of Maryland Extension recommends placing taller crops on the north and west sides of the garden so that they will not block the sunlight from shorter plants. They also encourage grouping plants by the season they grow in and how long they take to mature, and allow space between rows for watering and maintaining your garden.

In thinking about where to plant your garden, the University of Maryland noted, choose a level spot of ground that gets at least six hours of full sunlight a day with no trees, shrubs, or tall objects around. The root systems of nearby trees and shrubs can disrupt your vegetable garden. It’s also good to place your garden within a short distance of your water supply.

Preparing your soil is your next step to a ‘fruitful’ garden. Soil needs to have plenty of nutrients and oxygen to grow strong, healthy plants. You can determine the quality of your soil by getting it tested, either with a home testing kit or through your local agricultural extension office. To make sure your soil has enough nutrients, you’ll want to add compost, with different types of organic matter such as grass and leaf clippings (without herbicides) as well as manure, to the soil.

The next step is choosing your crops and planting.  Of course, it’s a good idea to choose veggies that you like and those that are expensive to buy in the store. Crops that are easier to grow such as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and zucchini, greens, and pole beans will not only make gardening easier for you but also more enjoyable when you see the fruitage of your labors. Native plants and crops that will thrive and be more drought and disease resistant are also a good idea for a garden.

“If you’re buying seedlings, look for plants raised without chemical fertilizers and pesticides. A great place to look is at your local farmer’s market, which may also have native plants and varieties well suited to your area,” The Daily Green reported. “It’s better to buy stocky seedlings with few, if any blooms yet, and with roots that don’t look overcrowded.”

With smaller seeds, it may be slightly difficult to determine how far apart to space the seeds, and you may have to thin out seeds later. Your local garden store, agriculture extension, or the seed packet itself should have information about the correct spacing for a particular seed. In any case, whether using large, small seeds, or transplants, “pushing the envelope too far [with spacing] will cause a decline in yield and plant problems,” the University of Maryland noted.


Finally, watering and taking care of your organic garden are essential for great crops. It’s best to water crops in the morning to avoid disease problems and evaporation. In general, crops do well with one inch of water per week, although some crops may have different watering requirements based on such factors as type and growing stage. The local climate will also determine whether more water is needed. Watering at the base of plant is best to help the root system grow deeper. A drip irrigation system is a good way to deliver water to the base of the plant. Applying mulch to the garden will help keep out weeds while helping to conserve moisture in the soil.
Organic gardening is not only fun and a relaxing hobby, but can help your family to eat healthier while you get in touch with nature and ‘find yourself outside.’ Oklahoma Landscape can help you design the right organic garden for your landscape and your lifestyle.

Sources: Organic Gardening – How to Start an Organic Garden – The Daily Green
http://extension.umd.edu/growit/food-gardening-101

Water Features Add Character to Tulsa Outdoor Living Spaces

Decorative water features bring character and life to your Tulsa outdoor environment. These elements create an area of added serenity and beauty for your outdoor living space. In a survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, decorative water elements were predicted to be in high demand for home landscapes. There are a variety of different decorative water features that can be added to an outdoor space.

Some of the more familiar ornamental water features include fountains, ponds, and streams. Fountains add an interesting focal point to your landscape. Fountains can be built in ponds and with streams of water spraying from them. There are also wall fountains that can be attached to buildings or other garden structures that bring a soothing sound of trickling water to the outdoor living space. Fountains can be created using a variety of materials like stone, concrete, marble, and tile as well as in an array of colors. They can have lights attached to them to produce a romantic nighttime glow and bring out the subtle beauty of flowing water.

Waterfalls and grottos bring life to a custom swimming pool and landscape. These features that can be made to resemble natural caves offer culture and depth to a landscape, especially a pool, creating a focal point for the body of water.

Waterfalls can also be built in connection with ponds and streams. Imagine listening to a cascading waterfall in your outdoor space, reading a book by the koi pond and stream. Waterfalls not only create an amazingly soothing atmosphere for your outdoor environment, but they are also a practical addition for your decorative pond. In keeping water moving, these elements help to keep the pond’s water clean, free from algae, and help to add needed oxygen to the water for plants and fish to thrive. Designing a waterfall can be very tricky in deciding how high the waterfall should be in relation to the surrounding elements. The landscape design experts at Oklahoma Landscape can help design the perfect waterfall and decorative water features for your Tulsa outdoor space.
Water runnels are a linear channel that carries water through the landscape. These can help retain rainwater and move it through the landscape in an aesthetically engaging and practical way.

Other water features include splash pools and water bubblers, as well as ornamental pools. These all have their own unique features that can bring creativity and flare to your outdoor environment, as well as add value to your home and property.

Visit http://www.oklahomalandscape.com for more ideas on ornamental water features and complete Tulsa outdoor environments.

Tulsa Low Maintenance Landscape Design - Xeriscaping and Water Conservation

We all would love more time. While gardening can be therapeutic, taking care of your landscape can take up much of your time, energy, as well as money. That’s why many homeowners are opting for low maintenance landscape design in Tulsa. Low maintenance landscaping is just that; it requires less maintenance as well as requiring less water. But this doesn’t mean that these landscapes have to be filled with cacti or have a desert-like feel. No, these landscapes can be very colorful all year round.

One important aspect of creating a more low maintenance landscape is using plants that are native to your local region. These plants are naturally more resistant to diseases and insects in the area and can survive better in the local climate. Native and drought-tolerant plants are less prone to be overtaken by weeds and often require less water. All of this translates to less maintenance. And it just makes sense that if these plant species can survive in the wild on their own, they will take far less maintenance than exotic plants that are used to a totally different climate. Oklahoma Landscape’s horticulturists can help you find colorful and lively native plants that will perfectly complement your landscape and home.

Choosing drought-tolerant plants is part of a landscape design known as xeriscaping or dry gardens. This doesn’t mean that no water is used, but that water conservation techniques are employed in the landscape design to reduce the need for water while still creating a sustainable and beautiful landscape. As with low maintenance landscape design, xeriscaping involves not only choosing plants that will thrive in the local climate and are resistant to drought, but also planting and grouping them in ways that will require less maintenance.

Effective planning is vital for your Tulsa landscape to become a low maintenance garden or xeriscape. Grouping plants together that have similar watering and sunlight needs will make it easier to care for them. Noting the terrain of your landscape and the way rain drains can help you prevent erosion by using terraces and other landscape features to reduce soil loss. In shaded areas where grass is hard to grow, ground covers and flowers that thrive in shade can be used to replace turf. Grass on slopes can be replaced by low-maintenance ground cover to reduce difficult lawn mowing. Analyzing and planning areas with more traffic can help you decide whether to introduce a ground cover or even a hardscape like a walkway or patio that will greatly reduce maintenance by replacing turf. This does not mean replacing your entire lawn, but simply designing turf areas in a more thoughtful way to maximize their effectiveness by balancing practicality. For instance, large, open spaces may be more practical with turf, but narrower, shaded areas where grass doesn’t grow well may need more native plants, rocks, and shrubs.

Planning also involves ensuring your soil is well-nourished so as to reduce the need for water. Aerating the soil and using a good fertilizer or compost can help improve your soil, helping it to retain the water it needs for plants and grass to flourish. Using mulch around plants can help prevent weeds and erosion while also helping the soil retain its moisture.

Drip irrigation systems can be used to maximize the effectiveness of irrigating while conserving water. With this type of irrigation, water loss due to evaporation, surface runoff, and wind is virtually eliminated. A slow, steady application of water directly to the plant’s root system is the best way to ensure plant health and vitality. In general, drip irrigation applications use 30 to 70 percent less water than an overhead irrigation system, and plants grow to maturity about twice as fast.

A low maintenance landscape doesn’t have to dull, but can be vibrant, full of colorful plants and using a variety of themes and designs. These landscapes can reduce watering costs, time in maintaining, reduce pollution, and increase the value of your home with sustainable landscape design practices. Oklahoma Landscape can design the best low maintenance landscape for your home so that you’ll have more time to “find yourself outside.”

Tulsa Outdoor Environments - Even Movie Theaters in your Backyard

What’s better than a custom-built Tulsa pool, outdoor kitchen, or outdoor living space? A custom-built pool or outdoor living space with a complete entertainment center! Today many homeowners are adding more entertainment amenities to their Tulsa outdoor environments like televisions, movie theater areas, projection screens, surround sound, and more. Watch the big game with friends outside while you barbecue or throw the ultimate pool party, watching the latest movie as you lounge in the pool.

With all-weather televisions, you can watch the game outside, hosting the premier tailgate party, or play your Xbox or Wii game system in your outdoor living space. Landscape lighting added to your outdoor theater area can help set the tone for your outdoor event or provide romantic lighting for a great date night at home. With high definition video and a powerful surround sound audio, your outdoor enjoyment will be taken to a whole other level. These custom-built entertainment systems give you the nostalgia of a drive-in movie in your own backyard. And with an outdoor entertainment system, you can spend time with family on holidays or host family reunions outside while still enjoying the entertainment you want.

To give added protection from the elements, homeowners can also build a pergola, gazebo, arbor, pavilion, or other outdoor hardscape structure over their outdoor entertainment center. These can be designed as simple or as ornate as you like. Some provide complete shade while others may allow some sunlight to shine through. These outdoor structures offer an ideal way to add cabinet space to your entertainment system as well as other comfort elements like fans to keep those not relaxing in the pool cool and happy.

There are an almost endless array of possibilities with outdoor entertaining. From state-of-the-art outdoor kitchens to cozy outdoor fireplaces to entire outdoor living rooms with movie theaters and stylish seating, Tulsa homeowners can have the staycation of their dreams or entertain with luxury and class with these premier and now more affordable outdoor entertainment centers.

Tulsa Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits - Practical Outdoor Living Design Elements

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces in Tulsa allow us to enjoy our outdoor environment well into winter and can be an aesthetically engaging design piece for our outdoor space. These are quickly becoming one of the most popular outdoor living features for homeowners. They were among the most wanted additions in the 2013 Outdoor Living Trends survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects. What are the major design and practical differences between fireplaces and fire pits?

Both outdoor fireplaces and fire pits in Tulsa provide warmth, light, a source for cooking (depending on design and fuel sources) and entertaining, as well as a relaxed atmosphere and cozy ambiance for your outdoor environment. They both can use mostly the same fuel sources – wood, natural gas, and propane – and can be built with a variety of aesthetic materials such as stone, brick, concrete, stainless steel, tile, and copper. These can be coordinated to match the style of your home and your outdoor environment.

Deciding on whether an outdoor fireplace or fire pit would be better may depend on a few preferences such as your entertaining style. Like a campfire, fire pits allow for people to gather all around them, which encourages storytelling and laughter and is often better for a larger group.

Although fire pits are often circular, they can be constructed into a variety of shapes such as linear, square, or custom-shaped and can have a wider rim or table feature to allow for easier dining. Outdoor fireplaces provide a more intimate ambiance with cozy seating next to the fireplace that may allow for a more romantic setting.

An outdoor fireplace often becomes the focal point or anchor of your outdoor environment. An entire wall can be attached to the fireplace, helping to “divide” the outdoor living space. An outdoor structure or roof can be built around the fireplace allowing for shade and protection from the elements as well as other decorative features that add a coziness to your outdoor space. The size and height of a fireplace can also add protection from wind, and with a chimney or ventilation system, guests can enjoy the glow of the fire without bothersome smoke. Thus, outdoor fireplaces provide a distinctive ambiance to an outdoor living space that cannot be ignored.

Fire pits create another mood or environment that can be equally charming based on your entertaining style and landscape needs. While these can become a centerpiece for your outdoor living space, they also offer a more subdued design style that doesn’t overwhelm the other elements of your outdoor space or the property itself.  With open seating, guests can fully enjoy the scenery that surrounds them an converge at a central spot that allows for everyone to join in the fun.

Both of these outdoor living features offer great value to your outdoor environment and home itself. They can increase your property value and provide a lasting investment. Oklahoma Landscape’s design specialists can help you determine which landscape feature may coordinate best with your outdoor space and home, or whether both may be captivating entertainment spot for guests all year round.

For more information, visit http://www.oklahomalandscape.com.

 

  

Additional sources:

http://www.concretenetwork.com/outdoor-living-rooms/firepit-vs-fireplace.html

http://www.landscapingnetwork.com/fire-pits/

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Outdoor Living Trends for 2013 - Tulsa Outdoor Environments Popular

Outdoor environments are increasing in demand, not only in Tulsa, but nationally according to a survey done by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).

“American homeowners are increasingly drawn to adding outdoor rooms for entertaining and recreation on their properties,” ASLA reported. “The category of outdoor living spaces, defined as kitchens and entertainment spaces, received a 94.5 percent rating as somewhat or very popular.”

In the Outdoor Living Features category, outdoor fire pits and fireplaces ranked the most popular additions, followed by grills and seating/dining areas. With so many options and features in outdoor environments, it’s no wonder that these have become major aspects of home improvement in recent years. Today, outdoor fireplaces can be custom-designed using a variety of beautiful materials to complement a home, and they can have installed and ornate seating to perfectly enjoy entertaining guests by the fire during the fall and winter months.

Outdoor kitchens in Tulsa can be customized to fit your cooking and entertaining lifestyle with stainless still grills and other appliances like pizza ovens, refrigerators, and more. Many outdoor kitchens have marble countertop bar areas for guests to have additional seating and allow the cook or host to be near guests while watching the grill.

Why are outdoor living spaces becoming so popular?

“In this uncertain economy, homeowners want to get more enjoyment out of their yards,” ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA said. “They want attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and sustainable.”

Yes, staycations have become an ideal way to relax and have family fun without the stress and expense of traveling. Many homeowners are adding movie theaters, televisions, and WiFi to their outdoor living space so that they don’t miss a minute of the game or can watch a movie while swimming in their custom pool. These areas are great for children’s parties, business events, or just a weekend with friends.

Decorative water elements like waterfalls, grottos, ornamental pools, and splash pools were also in high demand for home landscapes, ASLA noted, followed by spa features and swimming pools in the Outdoor Recreation Amenities category. Terraces, patios, and decks ranked high as popular Outdoor Structures. The practical and aesthetic value of these structures is evident when you think of entertaining or just relaxing in your backyard. They also add significant value to your home and property, making them a great investment.

Among the trends in outdoor living for 2013 were sustainable and low-maintenance design as the nation continues to increase its awareness on green living. “Americans still prefer such practical yet striking design elements for their gardens as low-maintenance landscapes (93.9 percent),” ASLA said.

Landscaping with sustainable design can include using native or drought-tolerant plants, drip irrigation, permeable paving, reduced lawns, xeriscaping, rooftop gardens, organic gardens, and more. Many people are opting to add vegetable and food gardens including orchards and vineyards to their landscape to help keep their family eating healthy.

As Americans continue to see the need to ‘find yourself outside’ and reconnect with the serenity and beauty of nature, as well as to get the most from their home and landscape, the demand for complete outdoor environments and sustainable living will increase.

Learn more about the Outdoor Living Trends for 2013 at http://www.asla.org/NewsReleaseDetails.aspx?id=38451.

For more information on landscape design including outdoor environments like outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, pools, and patios for your Tulsa home, visit http://www.oklahomalandscape.com.