/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. ❑