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AG VanGundy Landscape, Inc. & AG Landscape Materials, Inc. |
Archive for the ‘Landscape Planning’ Category
Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
It looks as though the worst that winter has to offer is behind us and we’re finally on our way to spring! Although the blizzard of 2011 was a little challenging it was a real blessing for the snow plowing entity of A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. However, I have to admit I’m anxious to start the landscaping season.
This past week-end was spent at the Home Show in Arlington Heights. It was great to see so many people as excited about spring’s arrival as I am. I got to talk to a lot of homeowners regarding their projects, both do-it-yourselfers and those looking for a contractor. I’m really looking forward to working with them.
On Monday, I attended a seminar conducted by Unilock, Chicago. Now, I have to tell you, I have been in landscaping over 30 years, but even I learned a few things. As an “old dog” I often think that “old school” is best. It sometimes takes a nudge from my kids and my employees to broaden my outlook and I have to be honest, it was great to learn about some new products and new installation techniques. I can’t wait to implement these new learned ideas.
Our next home show appearance will be at Harper College in Palatine, on March 12th and 13th. If you get a chance, come on out. It’s a great place to get ideas and to meet with us face to face. Finally, I want to encourage you to check out our previous blogs as they contain a lot of useful information. The blogs pertaining to planning for spring I think you’ll find especially interesting this time of year.
Let’s all think spring!!!
Tags: AG Landscape Materials, AG VanGundy Landscape, AGVanGundy.com, Do It Youself Projects, Landscape Planning, Roselle, Schaumburg
Posted in AGVanGundy.com, General, Landscape Planning | No Comments »
Monday, January 17th, 2011
Now is a great time for planning your landscape. Whether it be a curb appeal face lift for your home or your commercial property or a new back yard living space complete with a new patio, outdoor barbeque, and fireplace or privacy issues, this time of winter is best for planning and designing. Typically, you won’t be “up against the wall” for time and most landscape designers/sales reps have additional time to give you and your job more personalized attention than in the rush of the spring. This is why we here at A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. stress to call us early! Once the warmer temperatures arrive, most people will then call on the Landscape companies for quotes, designs… When this time of the year occurs, scheduling appointments may become a little less convenient for you as the “optimum” times will book up quickly. As our economy seems to be on the up swing, we anticipate that 2011 will be a busy year; however, we are currently pricing 2011 jobs using 2010 dollars. This is another reason to book early. Please know, however, that A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. strives to accommodate our clients and our potential clients; however, there are only so many hours in a day and so many days in a week.
If you are thinking about a larger job which will require a building permit from your town or village and want it to be completed early enough for you to enjoy most of the year, we will have plenty of time now to complete the design and make any needed adjustments before filing for the permit. Most towns and villages now require permits for patios, retaining walls, driveways, and in some cases even drain tile work. In addition to expanding their permit requirements, many of villages have reduced their building department staff, which has increased the amount of time needed for getting a permit approved. The permit approval process, which previously was a simple 2 – 3 day process has now become a 2 – 3 week process in some villages that are requiring more and more specifications. Some towns are now even requiring engineering prints and seals for retaining walls over 24” – 30” high. I’m not telling you of these new requirements to scare you off of doing your project; I just want to inform you of what some of you may be up against. We here at A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. have worked with a majority of the towns/villages here in the Chicago area and I have to admit, we have a pretty good working relationship with most of those building departments. We understand that they have limitations, as do most of us, and are willing and able to work with them and act as your liaison to get your permit approved. But, why not start this process as early as possible? The longer you wait on this, the longer the permit process will probably take.
I’m sure plenty of you are thinking about changing some things in your current landscape, but aren’t quite sure what to do. Where do you get “the most bang for your buck”? For ideas, there are plenty of publications and t.v. shows, but I think a great way to get ideas and/or meet contractors early in the season is to attend one of the week-end home improvement shows that occur just about every week-end somewhere in the Chicago area. Currently we are scheduled to be at two local home shows within the next few months. On February 25 – 27, 2011 we will be at the Home show in Arlington Heights and on March 12 & 13, 2011, will be at the home show in Palatine at Harper College. This is a great opportunity for people to come out and talk to us personally about you’re wants and needs for landscaping, look through our portfolios of before and after shots and of some of our completed projects. This also give you an opportunity to set up a free first appointment (with some restrictions) right then. We love taking part in these home shows as it gives us an opportunity to “show our stuff” to potential clients in the area.
For more information regarding planning for spring, check out our previous blogs from January, 2010, I think you’ll find them informative.
For more information regarding A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc., please visit us at www.agvangundy.com or call us at (630) 295-8190. We’ll be more than happy to go over the areas we service and the services that we offer.
Tags: AG Landscape Materials, AG VanGundy Landscape, AGVanGundy.com, Do It Youself Projects, Drain Tile, Drain Tile Work, Drainage, Hardscaping, Landcape Construction, Landscape Design, Landscape Designing, Landscape Installations, Landscape Planning, landscaping, Lawn Renovation, Patio, Retaining Wall Construction, Roselle, Schaumburg, topsoil
Posted in General, Landscape Designing, Landscape Planning | No Comments »
Thursday, November 4th, 2010
It’s been approximately 1 year since I’ve started blogging about various aspects of landscaping and landscape materials. Hopefully, many of you have found the information useful.
Some of our most popular blogs have been about Topsoil, Firewood, and Planning for Spring. Other blogs have been about Permit Processes, Sales Processes, Lawn Renovation, Snow Plowing, and Mulching, just to name a few.
Today I just wanted to let you know about some blogs that I’ll be posting in the future:
Cleaning & Sealing of your brick pavers
Polymeric Sand vs. Fine Sand
Building your own retreat space
Permits & the many new regulations for a lot of the villages in the Chicagoland area
I’m looking forward to continuing posting blogs.
If you have a topic or subject you’d like me to discuss regarding landscaping or landscape materials, please don’t hesitate to submit it to me via my web site at www.agvangundy.com.
Tags: AG Landscape Materials, AG VanGundy Landscape, AGVanGundy.com, Do It Youself Projects, Drain Tile, Drain Tile Work, facecord, Firewood, Hardscaping, Landcape Construction, Landscape Installations, Landscape Planning, landscaping, Lawn Care, Retaining Wall Construction, Roselle, Schaumburg, Snow Plow, topsoil, winter services
Posted in AGVanGundy.com, Firewood, General, Gift Ideas, Landscape Designing, Landscape Planning, Lawn Care, Snow Plow, Uncategorized, topsoil | No Comments »
Friday, September 24th, 2010
Well, it looks as though summer is officially over. Cooler temperatures have arrived, kids are back in school, leaves are starting to change colors and my personal favorite – Football is in full swing. Yes, I love fall. There’s still time to get landscaping projects done around the house. Actually, fall is an excellent time to plant trees and bushes, put down a layer of mulch, install sod that needs replacing and correcting any drainage issues you may have. Now is also the time to get your firewood for your outdoor fire pits and indoor fireplaces. Wow, there’s a lot you can get done in the fall. But, spare time is also minimized with the kids in school, sports, after school activities, meetings… That’s where A.G. VanGundy Landscape and A.G. Landscape Materials can help.
Have you thought about changing your landscape at all? We are more than happy to come out and work with you on installing plants or a new patio or walkway.
Do you have drainage issues on your property? We can come out and get the area graded correctly and install the drain tile so that your spring lawn and basement will be drier.
Once the leaves are down – do you have the time to rake them up and dispose of them? Here at A.G. VanGundy Landscape, we do. While we’re there we’ll be able to put down a layer of mulch, which is so very important to protect your plants against what could be a harsh Chicago-area winter. Installing mulch in the fall will help keep a consistent root zone temperature and help retain some moisture.
Don’t forget to call for your firewood. A.G. Landscape Materials carries both Mixed and Oak firewood. We sell it in a variety of quantities (30 pieces, 60 pieces, ½ Face Cords, Face Cords). We deliver throughout the Chicago-land area all year long. Don’t have a fire pit? Would you like one? How about an outdoor fireplace? Contact us and we can help. We have various sizes, styles and shapes available.
You can call us at (630) 295-8190 or e-mail us at www.agvangundy.com for details about any of the services we offer (from delivery of mulch, topsoil, gravel and firewood to installation of complete landscape projects).
Remember it’s not too late to get your outdoor projects done. Do them now and you may be one step ahead in the Spring.
Tags: AG Landscape Materials, AG VanGundy Landscape, Do It Youself Projects, Drain Tile, Drain Tile Work, Drainage, fall, Firewood, Landscape Installations, Mulch, Plant Maintenance, Retaining Wall Construction, Roselle, Schaumburg, topsoil
Posted in Drain Tile Installation, Firewood, General, Hardscaping, Landscape Planning, topsoil | 1 Comment »
Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Hopefully this blog finds all of you enjoying the summer. I know here in the Chicago area we’re experiencing a hot, humid, wet summer. Rain has been a real deterrent for many of us getting some of our landscape projects completed. If you have experienced a drainage issue, you might want to take a look at our blog pertaining to Drain Tile Work that was originally posted on 3/8/2010.
Speaking of wet weather, it’s sometimes a challenge to get things to grow. I do have some suggestions for you. Certain trees do really well in wet areas and are a great way to add to your landscape and help the environment. Fall is a great time to plant trees and now is an excellent time to start planning. I have listed a few of my favorites that I think might be worth your consideration when thinking about adding to your landscape. I have also noted the trees that do well in wet, poorly drained soil.
Arborvitae (Evergreen)
Emerald Green – Foliage is emerald green and it grows in a narrow, pyramidal
form. It grows to be approx. 20’ X 4’. Tolerates moist soils
Mission (Techny) – Foliage is a dark green and it grows in a broad, pyramidal
form. It grows to be approx. 12’ X 6’.
Nigra – Foliage is dark Green and it grows in a pyramidal form.
Appox. 12’ X 3-6’.
Birch (Deciduous)
River – Pyramidal & Oval in shape. Multi-Stemmed. Light Green Foliage in
summer. Yellow/Gold foliage in fall. Exfoliated tan/white bark.
Approx. 45’ – 30’. Tolerates wet/moist soils.
Whitespire – Pyramidal in shape. Multi-Stemmed. Dark Green foliage in
summer. Yellow foliage in fall. White Bark. Approx. 35’ X 25’.
Hawthorne (Deciduous)
Thornless Cockspur – Glossy, deep green foliage in summer. Orange/scarlet
foliage in fall. White flowers in spring followed by red fruit.
Approx. 20’ – 30’ X 20’-35’.
Maple (Deciduous)
Autumn Blaze – Bright Orange/Red fall foliage. Oval/Rounded growth habit.
Approx. 50’ X 40’. Tolerates moist soils.
Marmo – Orange/Red fall foliage. More of an upright oval growth habit.
Appox. 70’ X 40’. Tolerates moist soils.
Red Sunset – Glossy Dark Green foliage in summer. Brilliant Red/Orange fall
foliage. Upright/oval growth habit. Approx. 50’ X 40’. Tolerates moist
soils.
Superform Norway – Green foliage in summer. Yellow foliage in fall.
Upright/round growth habit. Approx. 45’ X 40’.
Pear (Non-Fruit Bearing) (Deciduous)
Chanticleer – Glossy green foliage in summer. Red/Orange to Purplish in fall.
White flowers in spring. Approx. 30’ X 15’. Tolerates moist soils.
Serviceberry (Deciduous)
Autumn Brilliance – White flowers in spring. Purple fruit. Yellow to Bright
Red fall color. Available in Tree form or Shrub (Multi-Stem Form).
Spruce (Evergreen)
Black Hills – Pyramidal Shaped with short Blue/Green foliage.
Approx. 30’ – 40’ X 25’.
Colorado Blue – Narrow-Broad pyramidal growth. Blue, prickly needles.
Approx. 30’ – 60’ X 20’.
Colorado Green – Narrow-Broad pyramidal growth. Green, prickly needles.
Approx. 30’ – 60’ X 20’.
Remember when planting a tree to dig the hole about 1.5 times the size of the root ball width and 1” – 2” shallow so that the ball of the tree creates a slight crown. When placing the tree in the hole, just set it in, larger trees may have to be rolled in. When rolling, take care not to loosen the root ball. Once it’s in the hole, stand back and take a look at it. Is it positioned the way you want it? If not, turn it until it is. Now is the time to take this step. If the root ball, has twine or string around it, cut it or loosen the string. It’s a good idea to back fill the hole with a topsoil/compost mix either by purchasing new topsoil and compost mixed or just adding compost to your existing soil or garden mix, all of which is available at A.G. Landscape Materials, Inc. A lot of people will come in to buy a 30 gallon container of it when they have planted 1 tree. You may want to consider sprinkling a little starter fertilizer around the tree at this point. Once the hole is back-filled, be sure to water the tree as it has been through a lot. Next, I would recommend placing approx. 2” of Premium Hardwood Bark Mulch around the tree. The mulch will help retain moisture and will help control the root zone temperature. An added benefit of installing the mulch is that it will break down over time and create an almost compost-like soil around your tree which will aid in getting nutrition to the tree. Finally, cut off the tags, sit back and watch it grow.
If you need more information or would like a quote from A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. please contact us at www.agvangundy.com or call us at (630) 295-8190.
Reference Material used: N.C. State University
Wilson Nursery
Dirr, Michael, J; Manual of Woody Landscape Plants: Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses
Tags: AG Landscape Materials, AG VanGundy Landscape, AGVanGundy.com, Do It Youself Projects, Drain Tile, Drain Tile Work, Drainage, fall, Landscape Design, Landscape Designing, Landscape Installations, Landscape Planning, landscaping, Mulch, Roselle, Schaumburg
Posted in AGVanGundy.com, General, Landscape Designing, Landscape Planning | 1 Comment »
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