There’s no denying that summer has arrived in Woodland Park and with it, comes the job of sprucing up your yard and curb appeal. One easy way to increase your curb appeal and highlight areas of your yard is with edging.Edging is a material that keeps two different ground covers separate in a garden landscape. It is most often used to keep grass from encroaching from a lawn into a garden bed or to keep two types of mulches from mixing.
It may seem pretty standard but with edging there are so many options from where to place it to colors and types that will match your style and home color, it can become overwhelming if you don’t take one section at a time.
Where to Edge
First, look to which areas and beds in your landscaping may even need edging. Edging typically keeps grass from moving into your garden beds. When you install it, make sure the top edge is flush with the soil surface. This is a great first step at ensuring a lower maintenance garden.
Even if your beds don’t need separation from grass or other spreading plants, you may want to look at edging for either keeping mulch within its borders or for purely esthetic reasons.
With all that said, let’s review edging material options:
Metal Edging
This is inexpensive and easy to use for keeping turf grass where it belongs and looking tidy. It comes in brown and green so it will blend into its environment. You can also use smaller curved pieces to use around trees.
Usually this type of edging comes in 10 foot sections, so making the length or curve of a bed is entirely up to you depending on where you’d like to cut the steel.
Bender Board
This edging is made from recycled plastic. It’s easier to cut to size than its metal counterpart and can be easier to work with where there is a grade change. Although more expensive than metal, It is safer for children and animals who may explore within the garden beds.
However, improperly installed, it can quickly become an eyesore where pieces do not line up properly or become unearthed. In our elevation, with warm summers and colder winters, look for cracking and color fading as well over time.
Stone
One option to stone edging is a round cobble. Although it may look natural, it often comes out looking messy. You can, however, match it to the stone of your home and, with care during installation, can come out looking quite nice.
Pavers and Bricks
Brick is nice but can turn into too formal a look for Colorado gardens and the natural surroundings of our area. It may be more conducive to give a more feel that blends with the natural surroundings of the Pikes Peak region.
If your home garners bricks currently, it may be nice to highlight a couple garden areas with matching bricks or pavers. However, using it up against grass will cause the grass to grow in between the cracks and eventually make its way into your garden beds.
Finding the edging option that works best for you is a matter of taste. Obtaining samples of everything you are interested in to see how it blends with your plants, ground cover, and home type is a great way to make your decision. An edging should just add a finishing touch to your Woodland Park home that gives a nice curb appeal and makes people want to see more of your home.
If you are looking to sell your Woodland Park home this spring, contact The Roshek Group to help you sell your home quickly and for the right price. If you looking to upgrade within the Pikes Peak Region, our experience and love for the area will help you find your perfect new home.
« April 2011 | Main | August 2011 »
July 2011
July 27, 2011
July 15, 2011
Buying Land for Your Colorado Dream Home
If you’ve dreamed of buying your own land in the Pikes Peak region and building a home, there’s no better time than the present. When buying land on which to build your home, begin by choosing the area where you want to live. Location, location, location is the main determining factor in land value and cost - as well as in future quality of life for you once you’ve moved into your newly built home.
If you have lived in the Pikes Peak region for a while, you probably know where you want to build. However, if you haven't been looking around, or if you are new to the area, The Roshek Group’s expertise with the local area can help you find the ideal location for you. We will know the amenities of each neighborhood (including schools), HOA requirements (if any) and the pricing of lots in different areas. If acreage is what you are after, we also specialize in outlying areas.
There are many things to consider when looking for land to buy and build a home on, such as:
- Whether water and sewer are currently provided
- The cost of getting water and sewer to your property line, if it isn’t already there, including tap fees or privilege fees
- If water & sewer are not available, the expense of installing and maintaining a well or septic system
- Costs and availability for gas, electrical, phone & cable services
- Deed restrictions with regard to structures allowed and minimum setbacks.
It’s also important to also look at a land survey (map) of the lot and determine the boundaries of your property. And, when building, you should always find the land to build on first, and then find home plans to fit it.
When you have decided you are ready to buy that parcel of land for your dream home to be built upon, contact The Roshek Team. Whether you decide to settle in Colorado Springs, Monument/Tri-Lakes, or Woodland Park, we have the experience in the Pikes Peak Region to help you find that perfect location.
July 08, 2011
Take the Worries out of buying Your New Pikes Peak Region Home
When buying your new Pikes Peak region home, don’t find yourself pressured at the last minute. Banks are responding to today’s economy with more caution, with means that right up to the closing date you may find some last minute loan application difficulties that can pop up – even to those homebuyers with good credit and plenty of cash.
However, buying a home can be an exciting and fun experience, so take the worry out of closing woes by following this advice:
Be Ready For A Last Minute Credit Check: New rules were initiated by Fannie Mae’s loan quality initiative, which went into effect June 1, 2010, stating that banks and lenders will likely do a second credit check right before closing. Don’t miss any credit card payments or be late on your current mortgage between the time of approval for the new mortgage and the actual closing date. By doing so, you could be putting your new home purchase in jeopardy. Even something as simple as applying for a new credit card could show as a credit score inquiry and reduce your credit score. Definitely not something you want to happen days before closing on your dream home.
No Major Purchases Until After Closing: It’s understandable that you are excited and want to furnish that new home of yours. Don’t purchase, or finance, all that new furniture just yet! Large ticket purchases suggest more debt and more risk. Therefore, banks have been known to pull mortgages when large purchases are made right before closing. This also includes cash purchases, as banks check out your cash reserves when they approve a loan too. Once the keys are in hand, purchase freely.
Hold Off On Big Career Changes: It makes sense that lenders weigh your salary and job stability when evaluating a potential home loan. You may be making a move to a higher salaried job, but, in doing so, your stability can be under question by your bank. This could delay the process, or even have the loan pulled, until you show that your career move is a stable one and guarantees that you can financially pay your mortgage debt. Be upfront and talk to your new employer. By being honest, perhaps something can be worked out to delay your start date.
Don’t Get Caught With Closing Cost Surprises: Don’t put all your cash into the mortgage down payment. By doing so, you may make the mistake of not allotting enough to pay for closing costs. Usually, closing cost are up to 3% of the home cost, but they are active and are subject to change. Don’t assume your closing costs will be a set amount. Instead, anticipate for them to rise and set aside extra to pay for more mortgage rate points or closing fees, if needed.
Buying a new home is a magical time. However, until you sign those closing papers, it can also be scary since your loan is in the hands of the lenders. You cannot anticipate every problem that may come up, but by playing it safe and being conservative and steady, you can alleviate some last minute difficulties. If you are ready to purchase your new Pikes Peak region home with less worries, call The Roshek Group today to find you your new home tomorrow.
-------
Colorado Living ...Where Dreams Come True
The Roshek Group
719-687-1531
