How To Have An Outdoor Kitchen At Your Home

If you're big on outdoor entertaining then you'll love having your very own outdoor kitchen. Some of the benefits of installing an outdoor kitchen include:

Getting outdoors more often. After working indoors all day, cooking dinner in your back yard oasis can be a treat your family will enjoy. Add some ambient lighting and music for a relaxing evening at home.

Entertaining more easily. Having company over for dinner? Think of your outdoor kitchen as a social gathering area! People love hanging around the grill. The best part about cooking outside is that you won't be stuck indoors and away from your guests.

Increasing the value of your home by adding additional livable and functional space. Whether you have a large back yard or a small one, it's not the size of the space that matters as much as the setup. Outdoor kitchens can also warm potential buyers' hearts when it comes to envisioning themselves putting the amenities to good use.

Taking your cooking to the next level. Grill up some delicious food at home rather than ordering out during a get together. Grilling is also more healthy, less greasy, and more delicious than any other cooking option.

If you're in Northwest Indiana or the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com for all of your outdoor kitchen needs.

Tips On Giving Plants As Gifts

The holidays are a great time for people who love plants and gardening to share their passion by giving the gift of plants. Below are some tips and ideas for successful plant giving.

When giving flora as a gift be sure to match the plant to the person, in terms of care. If the recipient's home is generally kept cool, cyclamen and azaleas are both a suitable match. These plants tolerate indirect bright light. A Christmas cactus is a beautiful choice and will bloom each year around the holidays, this plant needs a bright window to thrive. Amaryllis are a great option, as they also flower throughout the winter months.

Does the gift recipient have kids or pets? The flowers on a Jerusalem cherry plant are gorgeous, but the fruit it bares are harmful if consumed. Poinsettias have been a holiday favorite for years, these plants are also toxic if consumed.

If they have a really green thumb, gardenias are a beautiful option. Lovers of gardening would appreciate clivias if they enjoy keeping their plants for years. This next plant won't flower but it does act as a natural air filter, Christmas ferns are a beautiful option for an attractive house plant year round. How about a plant your gift getter can eat? Herbs are an excellent gift. Mint, thyme, rosemary, and oregano are excellent choices. Plus they can be maintained indoors and then transferred to the garden later on.

Happy holidays from Forest Landscaping! If you're in Northwest Indiana or the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com for all of your landscaping needs.

Does My Property Need A Retaining Wall?

When considering upgrades to your home's exterior, why not think about having a retaining wall built? Retaining walls come in a variety of styles and materials, such as concrete, wood, brick, and stone.

Some of the benefits of installing a retaining wall include:

• Providing support in order to prevent earth from being forced downhill with erosion
• Improving functionality by leveling off an area
• Reducing the speed of water runoff, this protects your lawn and garden
• Creating curb appeal
• Preventing damage to property and surrounding striations (because of flooding and erosion)

Your property is in need of a retaining wall if:

• Your home's foundation is threatened by a sliding hill
• Your yard is sloped and is at risk for downhill erosion
• Your property is difficult to landscape because it is sloped
• Your yard needs a focal point
• You want to add style to your yard
• You would like to create additional gardening space with an uneven yard or patio

You can choose something simple for retaining a small flower bed or something on a grander scale such as a walkway that curves along the perimeter of the property with a retaining wall guiding it. The possibilities are limitless. If you're in Northwest Indiana or the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com for more information.

What Are The Benefits Hardscaping My Property?

Is your beautifully landscaped yard missing something? Whatever the style of your home, there is a natural stone or paver that will compliment your property. One of the advantages to having hardscaping professionally installed is that it adds interest and increases the aesthetics of your home without the amount of care a lawn and greenery require. Hardscapes include walkways, walls, fences, gazebos, fountains, or any non-living element.

Some advantages of hardscaping include:

• Hardscapes reduce the likelihood of property erosion.
• They are low maintenance and perfect for people with a busy schedule who don't have the time to maintain a yard. 
• Hardscapes serve as the framework for softscape elements.
• Hardscaping improves accessibility to other outdoor areas.
• Perfect for those who do not have a "green thumb." 
• Hardscaping designs can be timeless. 
• Adds functionality, such as an outdoor kitchen, relaxing patio, play area, zen garden, etc.
• Increases property value.
• Professionally installed hardscaping is visually appealing.

The benefits of hardscaping are endless. For more information on professionally installed hardscaping in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com.

The Advantages Of A Professionally Installed Brick Patio

While there are many choices of materials that can be used for a patio, none of them have the timeless appeal of professionally installed brick pavers. Pavers come in a plethora of colors to compliment a variety of architectural styles. Although red is a common color, one can find pavers in grey, brown, pink, and multicolor. Brick pavers also come in a multitude of shapes for a custom design. With brick pavers you can achieve a truly distinct look that will add to the beauty of your home.

Accenting your home with a professionally installed brick patio will ensure enjoyment for years to come. One benefit of brick is that it's durable. It stands up to Midwestern weather conditions, heavy patio furniture, and foot traffic. Additionally, the color in brick pavers do not fade with time if sealed properly. In the event a brick paver does get damaged, it's easy to fix individual bricks by simply replacing them with a new one.

Using brick pavers for a patio is cost efficient. Brick is less costly than stone, yet produces a similar natural feel for your hardscaping. Brick pavers will also save you money in the long run compared to having a basic concrete patio installed. While concrete is less expensive initially, it inevitably cracks, resulting in unsightly and costly repairs throughout the years.

For more information about brick patio designs in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com.

Looking For A Landscaper In Northwest Indiana And The Chicago Southland?

When the highest quality and attention to detail are what you are looking for in your outdoor space, count on Forest Landscaping, Inc. to provide it for you. Whether it’s creating an oasis in your backyard, putting the finishing touch on your new home, a place to practice your short game, replacing that old patio, or just updating the yard a bit, we will design and install what it is you’re looking for - even if you don’t know what that is! A beautiful, functional space is what everyone wants, and we’ve been delivering that to homeowners in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Southland for over 15 years. With owner involvement in every aspect of the process, you can count on customer service that is second to none!

If you're in Northwest Indiana or the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 or online at www.forestlandscapinginc.com for more information.

Strategically Placed Outdoor Lights Can Showcase The Beauty Of Your Home's Landscape

For many, our backyards are our sanctuary, a place we retreat to when we need to unwind from life's daily stresses. We can entertain friends and family or simply escape alone to read a book. One way to extend the use and safety of your sanctuary is to add outdoor lighting.

DECORATION
Strategically placed outdoor lights illuminating your home, shrubs, hedges, trees and more can showcase the beauty of your home's landscape. By installing outdoor lighting, you can give your plant's a night life through creating a stunning focal point. Mood lighting in various colors can provide even more ambiance to your outdoor entertaining.

SAFETY
Outdoor lighting is crucial to safely navigating outdoor areas at night. Walkways, patios, decks, gardens, pools, and yards in general can all be dangerous places if one cannot see. Reduce the chance of accidents around your property. The more visible, the safer your outdoor area will be.

SECURITY
An illuminated house and yard can convey a sense of security. Motion and flood lights can be an excellent deterrent to would-be burglars and vandals. Adding security lights can even lower your home's insurance cost.

If you live in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Southland, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 for more information on installing outdoor lighting around your home.

What Are The Benefits Of Professional Landscaping?

Upgrading the look of your home through professional landscaping has many benefits such as adding color and beauty, expanding your living space, aiding in relaxation, attracting wildlife, and offering an area for entertainment. Well designed landscaping can even result in an increase in property value.

Forest Landscaping can transform a previously unusable outdoor area into a functional living space. Imagine cooking a meal for family and friends in your outdoor kitchen, then serving it on the patio. Your outdoor living space can be an extension of your family room, where you go to relax and unwind. The options are endless.

Landscaping your property can save and make you money. The US Dept. of Energy found that strategically placed trees can reduce a household's energy consumption by as much as 25%. Additionally, the American Public Power Association found that landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by as much as much as 50%.

By enhancing your home's aesthetic value you will also increase the curb appeal, enticing potential buyers. One edition of The Wall Street Journal's Smart Money magazine stated, "If you spend 5 percent of the value of your home on landscaping, and do it wisely, you can get 150 percent or more of your money back."

Adding color through flora can transform your yard into a work of art. Seasonal pops of color throughout your property can accentuate aspects of your home and make previously unsightly or boring areas a gorgeous focal point. Maintaining a well manicured landscape will also make your home stand out among your neighbors.

Landscaping can transform your yard into your very own oasis. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to revamp your existing landscaping, contact Forest Landscaping at 708-516-4619 if you live in Northwest Indiana and the Chicago Southland.