/Oka
where
Tom Ellison
2739 East Maple
Milford, MI 48381
248.685.9211
www.landscapegroup.net
Sales and Design
The Landscape Group
HOME
what
For over twenty years we have been one of the
most creative design/build residential and commercial
landscaping firms in Oakland County.
Just Add Water from page A38
Commercial and Residential
Brick Pavers • Plantings • Stamped Concrete • Sod • Hydro Seed
Lighting • Water Features • Irrigation • Garden Railroads
The Landscape Group was established in 1985. For over twenty years we have been one of
the most creative design/build residential and commercial landscaping firms in Oakland County.
Consisting of over 30 plus employees, our design, sales and installation crews are unmatched when
it comes to experience. Our design staff has 4 designers, each with at least 15 years experience as
well as our install crews and project managers who are dedicated landscape professionals that are
committed to excellence in the finished product.
The ability to provide one on one personal service for your landscape project, including neces-
sary sub-contractors is our strong suit. By saving you the inconvenience of working with several
companies, we are able to coordinate your job to provide you with a complete project from start
to finish, by working with just one designer and project managed From new construction to reno-
vations on your existing home, we can professionally install brick pavers, retaining walls, large tree
transplants, shrub plantings, irrigation, sod, hydroseed, water features, outdoor lighting, decks, pools,
outdoor living areas including kitchens and fireplaces.The Landscape Group can handle it all!
All of the plant material you'll find at our I I-acre nursery is hand tagged, from all over the
country. We welcome all of our customers to come and view the plant material that is going to be
part of -their landscape. Our exclusive warranty is one of the best in the industry. When you select
The Landscape Group, you not only get great service and experience, you get piece of mind by
knowing you have chosen a professional dedicated to your satisfaction. We are confident that our
team of experienced professionals will be able to fulfill all of your landscape needs. Protect one of
your largest investments by choosing a company dedicated to your 100% complete satisfaction,
choose The Landscape Group.
adoerlitetrient
A40
July
2008
streams, fountains, Koi ponds and for-
mal water gardens. Pondless water fea-
tures are also among the most popular
as they work well for budget-conscious
homeowners.
The style selected by a homeowner
should complement the look and feel
of your existing yard. A yard with a
formal English garden, for example,
would benefit from a formal-looking
water feature that includes a fountain.
However, a free-flowing landscape
would be better served by a natural-
looking, irregular shaped pond or
waterfall.
Just like when you bought your home,
proper location of your water feature
is critical. The best location is one with
an absence of overhanging deciduous
trees that will drop leaves into the water,
resulting in a dogged pump and a gen-
erally less-attractive waterscape. Avoid
direct sunlight because it will result in
more evaporation and algae growth than
a shadier site.
Other considerations may be prox-
imity to an outdoor seating area that
would benefit from the sights and
sounds of moving water, or tying the
water feature into an existing element,
such as a swimming pool. And natu-
rally, the size of the water feature will
directly impact the cost.
Maintenance is another important
decision. While some water features
are virtually maintenance free, others
require time and effort to keep them
looking beautiful.
"Building the feature right the first
time is the biggest factor in keeping
maintenance to a minimum:' Ouwinga
cautioned. "You're either going to pay
now or pay later, so if you invest in
quality materials — including a qual-
ity liner and a good filtration system
— the system is going to do most of
the work for you."
According to Mark Munley, vice
president of sales and marketing for
Firestone Specialty Products, choos-
ing a quality pond liner is the most
crucial decision and it is something
that should never be compromised.
"The cost difference between a cheap
liner and a quality liner is not that
significant and rarely makes or breaks
a project in terms of overall cost;' said
Munley. "The liner is the building
block of the entire water feature. The
rock, plants, fish and everything that
goes into the ecosystem you create are
dependent on the quality of the liner?'
"A dependable liner with a 20-year
material warranty like PondGard is a
no-brainer," said Ouwinga, "especially
since rubber liners give you the most
in design flexibility due to their abil-
ity to conform to nearly any shape. If
a homeowner is looking for a place
to save a little money, I suggest a less
expensive pump because that can
always be pulled out and replaced
pretty easily. But never skimp on the
liner."
Remember to follow these key tips
for a successful water-feature instal-
lation and you'll enjoy the benefits for
years to come.
• Set a budget
• Know your skill level
• Keep maintenance in mind
•Avoid direct sunlight
• Install a quality liner
• Use re-circulated water
For more information about
Firestone PondGard and to find a local
distributor, visit www.firestonesp.
com.
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