Top 5 Ideas for Landscaping a Driveway

Driveways typically are all about function and very little about aesthetics. In fact, the driveways installed when a home is built tend to go from the street to the garage in the straightest line possible. Fortunately, landscaping a driveway can help make it a star attraction or at least a bit more beautiful. Here are five tips to consider. 

1. Add Some Curves

Curving lines always add interest to a landscape design. When we draw up plans for our landscaping clients, we often change the driveway layout to incorporate a curve if possible. If a straight driveway is the only option, adding curved beds along its length can soften the harsh straight lines.  To allow homeowners to get the feel of a new driveway layout, we sometimes paint the drive’s new “footprint” onto the site so they can practice driving and parking along it. If you have plenty of space, a round driveway can bring a touch of elegance to your home. 

2. Accommodate Everyone

Think about who parks in your driveway and consider adding a camouflaged parking pad. Maybe you have older children with cars of their own, a cleaning service that regularly parks at your house or other vehicles on site. Adding a parking pad can help you avoid constantly moving cars. Landscaping a driveway parking pad can help it blend with its surroundings. We often include taller plants to shield a view of the extra cars from the street or the home. 

3. Landscaping a Driveway with Hardscaping

Think about the entrance to your driveway from the street. Is it kind of lackluster? Adding wing walls, columns or planting beds blends a driveway into the landscaping and creates a strong first impression. Stone walls make a beautiful backdrop for plantings. A good hardscaping design will always keep safety in mind: You wouldn’t want to block the view of oncoming traffic at the end of your driveway. 

4. Amp Up Curb Appeal 

For safety and beauty, it’s a good idea to line the driveway with path lights or define the entrance with post lights. Especially if a driveway curves, good lighting will help drivers stay on track. Exterior lighting fixtures from the street to planting beds to the front door can match and complement your home’s style.  

5. Soften with Bedding

You don’t want your driveway to stick out like a sore thumb. Landscaping a driveway with trees or planting beds in pockets or all along the length of the drive relieves the stark contrast of pavement. Consider stamped concrete, bricks or pavers to add texture to the driveway surface. Lining the edges of a driveway with river rocks or pretty stone curbing creates a clean look. 

Landscaping a Driveway in Cincinnati 

If you’d like to transform your dull driveway into a lovely entrance to your home, we would love to talk about your options. Contact us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

Cincinnati Landscaping with Timeless Elegance

After falling in love with an English garden at Lillianfels Resort and Spa in Australia, Debe and Lou Terhar decided to bring it home to Cincinnati, landscaping their West Side home to echo the resort’s garden. (To see “before” photos and the original resort garden, click here.) 

After conferring with Will Seiler and months of landscape design and construction, their home now overlooks a timeless and formal space, just steps away from their pool. Benches and chairs allow them to sit and enjoy the garden. With the project complete, the couple asked Seiler’s to update their front yard landscaping as well. 

Order and Symmetry 

Wrought iron trellises form archways that lead into the garden. The trellises in the Australian garden were covered with white roses. For Cincinnati landscaping, the Terhars will have white clematis twining around their arches. 

A large fountain is the centerpiece of the classically symmetrical garden. The fountain was handcrafted locally by Renaissance Garden Ornament. 

Flagstone paths lead to gravel-lined walkways that meet in a circular pattern around the garden beds filled with boxwoods and ornamental trees.

In the front of the home, a circular bed echoes the English garden in the backyard and complements the Georgian style of the Terhars’ home. 

David Hupman, general manager of Seiler’s Landscaping, worked closely with the Terhars to create the front yard landscaping. In the center of the front bed, gravel paths lead to a planter bowl on a pedestal that contains a shaped topiary. 

As the garden continues to fill in, hydrangeas and other white flowers, Korean lilacs and coral bells all will bloom as a beautiful reminder of a favorite vacation spot.  

Cincinnati Landscaping Dream to Reality

Inspiration for your yard can come from something in your neighborhood or from a place halfway around the world. If you’d like to transform your Cincinnati Landscaping, we would be happy to schedule a no-obligation consultation. 

Seiler's Landscaping: New Logo, Same Commitment to You

Now a second-generation family-run business, Seiler’s Landscaping has been serving the Greater Cincinnati area since 1977. As we move forward in our fifth decade, we’re excited to roll out a new look with an updated logo.  

Based on an original design lovingly created by our founder's sister, Sally Wehrman, the redesigned logo still features an iconic tree. We like to think it symbolizes both new growth and the importance of being strongly rooted in tradition. After all, our clients have always relied on us for superior work, top-quality plants and dedication to customer service. 

 Be on the lookout for our new logo here on the website, on Facebook and other social media. As the year goes on, we’ll roll the new branding out on signs, trucks and our uniforms. 

 Thanks to you, our loyal clients, for our continued partnership. Here’s to the next 43 years!

What's Burning? Three Types of Fire Pits

There’s just something about a backyard fire that brings people together. Many outdoor living space designs now include a fire pit. Here’s a look at the three types of fire pits based on what kind of fuel they burn: wood, ethanol or natural gas/propane.

Wood Is a Classic Choice

Whether it’s a simple, portable bowl or a permanent installation, a wood burning fire pit creates the classic sight, feel, sound and smell of a campfire. If you have easy access to logs and kindling—along with some fire-starting know-how—wood can be a great choice. Built-up stone walls and a mesh screen cover can help reduce flying sparks.

Choose this type of fire pit and you’ll have the added bonus of coals for roasting marshmallows.

Photo courtesy of EcoSmart Fire (www.ecosmartfire.com)

Ethanol for Your Fire Pit

Ethanol is a clean-burning biofuel that can be used to light some types of fire tables, vessels or pits. The benefits to ethanol are that it lights quickly and doesn’t create any smoke, ash or flying embers. Because it’s supplied in tanks or as a gel, no gas line is required, as with natural gas fueled units. Unfortunately, ethanol is not widely available and the flame created tends to be fairly small.

Fire Up with Natural Gas or Propane

If you want the beauty and warmth of fire and ease of use, a natural gas or propane fire pit might be best for you. Ignition is easy: Just push a button and you’ll have dancing flames. Gas-fueled units can take many forms, from vessels to fire tables to more traditional-looking fire pits.

To finish your gas-fueled fire pit, you can choose lava-type rocks, crushed glass or a set of ceramic gas logs. Log sets (like the one shown below) come in a variety of styles and are meant to be viewed from all angles, making them perfect for gathering around.

Photo courtesy of Hargrove (www.hargrovegaslogs.com)

Choosing from Three Types of Fire Pits

Sorting through all the options for a fire pit can feel overwhelming. We’re happy to help you design the perfect spot for you to enjoy evenings outside with friends and family. Just contact us for a consultation.

Protect Your Investment: Remember to Water

All plants, but especially newly installed plantings, need adequate moisture now in order to grow, thrive and survive through the winter. Now is the time to hydrate your plants. Attached to this article is a printable watering reminder. It’s perfect to hang on the fridge or hand to your vacation house-sitter.

Watering is the best way to protect your landscaping investment, and each type of plant has a different watering schedule necessary for the plant’s development. In the PDF below, we sum up the unique watering schedules needed for shade and evergreen trees, flowering shrubs, evergreen shrubs and perennials and grasses.

Once the ground freezes, your plants cannot absorb any more water, so these warm months are the best time to give your landscaping good, long drinks.

If you go out of town, ask someone to water your plants. New construction landscaping is particularly vulnerable to neglect, especially if you have not moved into the location yet. Be vigilant about watering at your new home.

Don’t Forget: Print!

Everyone is busy: To help you manage your plant care, we have attached a printable PDF. Landscaping is an investment; watering is the best way to see a great return.

If you have questions about caring for your new landscaping, contact us. We’re happy to help.

Pergolas 101: Designs to Inspire You

With the Cincinnati heat coming down, everyone is looking for shade. The classic style of pergolas is making a comeback, offering shade, protection and an opportunity to add climbing plants or outdoor lighting. Read on to find out why pergolas are a timeless addition and what they can bring to your yard. 

What Is a Pergola?

The definition for pergolas is very broad. A pergola is an outside structure with columns supporting a partially covered roof constructed from beams or rafters. They can be free-standing structures or attached to pre-existing buildings.

Where Can I Put a Pergola?

Because pergolas are often custom built, they are extremely flexible in terms of location. They are effective coverings for paths, patios or courtyards. They can be additions to a home or a focal point for landscaping. The closer a pergola is to a home, the more usage it will get. However, a pergola that’s placed near a pool, fire pit or outdoor kitchen can help cement that location as a “destination” within your yard.

Why Build a Pergola? 

Pergolas have undeniable charm.  They can support climbing plants such as wisteria, clematis, grape vines and rose bushes. Pergolas extend the living space and create a shady area that’s blissfully cool for entertaining. They can define a landscape with eye-catching form and function. 

Pergolas offer shelter and privacy from neighbors. They shade and protect from some of the extreme outdoor elements. Not only do they accomplish all this, but, depending on the materials you choose, pergolas can also be low-maintenance. 

The Age-Old Question: Pergola vs. Gazebo?

Although pergolas are very similar to gazebos, there are distinctions that optimize each for different situations. 

Gazebos are outdoor structures with a closed roof. They tend to have rounded structures, and most are hexagonal or octagonal in shape. Gazebos are a part of the garden but separate from the plants, whereas climbing plants are  typically given free rein to grow on pergolas. Pergolas are commonly rectangular in shape with roofs made of an open lattice of beams.

In reality, as for many profound and important questions, it depends. If you want to define a space in your landscape without interrupting the greenery of your yard, pergolas are the way to go. If you want an enclosed space that offers protection from the sun and a backdrop for singing songs about being almost 17, you may lean towards a gazebo. 

How Much Does a Pergola Cost?

According to research, most Cincinnatians spent between $2,500 for a simple two-post pergola to $5,750 for larger ones. Prices vary based on size, materials, design fees and whether the project entails replacing an existing structure or building a new addition.

What Is a Pergola Made Of?

Pergolas can be made of a variety of materials. For synthetic materials, aluminum, vinyl and fiberglass are popular. Cedar, teak, ipe, redwood and pressure-treated pine are common choices for building wood pergolas. At Seiler’s Landscaping, we like to use Western red cedar, which weathers to a beautiful patina. 

 Cincinnati Pergolas Summed Up

While the summer heats up and the Cincinnati humidity hangs above our heads, pergolas are an attractive option to create shade and add charm to your garden. If you’re considering adding a pergola to your landscape this summer, contact us.

Up, Down and All Around: Exterior Lighting Ideas

Not sure where to start with outdoor lighting? If you want to get the most out of your landscaping, we’d suggest looking up, down and all around for exterior lighting ideas. 

From the Top

Imagine a lively outdoor cafe, where people linger in the warm glow of string lights draped overhead. If this is a look you love, you can add string light installation to your exterior lighting ideas and plan. Commercial grade light strings offer durability, can be hardwired to flip on and off with a switch, and left in place year ‘round. 

Maybe you prefer a more contemporary look. Today’s outdoor hanging fixtures make a statement over a patio dining table, bar or outdoor kitchen. Try grouping two or three together for even bigger impact. 

Exterior wall sconces can shed light on fences or illuminate your doorways, making them even more welcoming and easy to find for friends and visitors. 

Exterior Lighting Ideas Below

Adding light closer to ground level makes your landscaping safer by highlighting paths, walls or steps. Lighting below eye level doesn’t create glare that can be blinding at night. LED strips along stairs, path lights and spotlights on low walls are all exterior lighting ideas that can make your landscaping shine. 

Underwater lighting can transform pools, ponds and fountains into sparkling gems in the yard. Some light fixtures can change colors, allowing you to create different effects. 

Uplights that graze along walls or shine on a special tree or piece of art add drama to the landscape after dark. 

All Around 

Today’s exterior lighting ideas make sprinkling light all around your outdoor living spaces fun and easy. Incorporating light into posts and railings is a sleek look that helps define the structure of your space. Oversized, rechargeable lanterns or globes are becoming popular. They can be moved around the outdoor space depending on where people are gathering. Some even float for a whimsical look. 

Don’t forget task lighting if you’ll be reading, playing games, grilling, tending bar or preparing food outside. This lighting is concentrated on a work surface so you can keep the fun going when the sun goes down.     

Our clients appreciate the comprehensive exterior lighting plans we offer. If you have questions about what type of fixtures to add, where to put them and how exterior lighting can add value to your home, contact us. We’re happy to provide a no-obligation consultation.  

Ready to Talk About Your Cincinnati Landscaping Needs? 

Call our office to have a conversation about your unique dreams and vision. Or contact us online.

Before and After: Paver Patio Installation

Everyone loves a gorgeous green lawn, but if you want to eat, cook and relax outside, it’s worth giving up some grass. This home now has a lovely outdoor living space, thanks to a paver patio installation. 

On the Drawing Board

When we work with clients on a paver patio installation, our first step is to evaluate the site. We look at how a patio could be laid out in relation to the house and other outdoor features. The location of trees and shrubs must be taken into account. If a tree is too close to a patio, its roots can shift the pavers over time.

Then, we talk about the clients’ vision for the patio. Its size will depend on the site and how it will be used. If the patio will be the spot for dining, an outdoor kitchen, a fireplace and a sitting area, it should be much larger than one designed for just a small bistro table and chairs. We also talk about other features they would like to include, like built-in firepits, sitting walls, lighting, a pool or hot tub. 

 The clients choose a paver material for their patio, depending on their preference and the style of their home. There are many options to choose from such as clay paver bricks, concrete pavers or natural stone. 

Paver Patio Installation Steps

With the design finalized, we begin by removing existing plants and excavating the site. A layer of paver base material is added and compacted. This material is topped with a weed barrier then a layer of sand, which the pavers will be laid into. This allows the pavers to flex slightly and accommodate the freeze thaw cycle. Making this base compacted and uniform ensures that the pavers will remain in place and the patio will look good for the long haul. Typically, a patio is slightly sloped to allow for water to drain off.   

Then the pavers are laid in whatever pattern the client chooses. Paver restraints are used around the perimeter. The last step is to brush a layer of joint sand over the top of the pavers to fill the spaces between them. 

If you have questions about landscape design or paver patio installation, we’d love to answer them. We look forward to hearing from you.

Building a New Pool in Cincinnati

After a spring like we’ve never experienced before, it’s unclear what summer 2020 will bring. Some areas are keeping public and community pools closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Is this the summer for you to build a new pool in Cincinnati?

As you consider the possibilities for your backyard, you can tap into one of these online resources.

Pool Pictures

The online gallery of pools created by Seiler’s Landscaping is a good place to start. You’ll see a variety of backyard getaways enjoyed by other homeowners in the Cincinnati area. 

Basic Information

You can find nuts and bolts on pool options and designs by visiting the Landscaping Network’s site. Several articles on this site walk readers through the design and construction process. The site offers information on pool placement, photo galleries and inspiration for plants to surround your pool. 

Try On a Pool for Size

Use the virtual tool at My Dream Pool to sketch out your dream backyard pool. It won’t give you professional design results, but it is fun to imagine the possibilities.

Cost of a New Pool in Cincinnati

While dreams of hosting pool parties and enjoying a sunset dip dance in your head, your practical side may be wondering about the bottom line. According to HomeGuide, the cost of adding a pool in Cincinnati ranges from $50 to $125 per square foot. Based on our experience, you can expect a pool to start at about $40,000 and go up from there. Fiberglass pools cost less. Concrete pools come with a higher price tag. Ongoing maintenance and utilities costs will likely range from $500 to $4,000 per year, according to HomeAdvisor. 

Here to Help

At Seiler’s we’ve helped dozens of homeowners achieve their dreams for pools and outdoor living. We’d love to hear about your ideas. Contact us today.

Now's the Time for Outdoor Entertaining

Saying it’s been a tough spring is an understatement. Fortunately, with nicer weather we can spend time with a few friends outside. This summer, outdoor entertaining will be a bright spot. So how do you make the most of your yard and landscaping for hosting small get-togethers? Here are four areas to consider.   

Lighting for Outdoor Entertaining

If you plan to relax outside with family or friends after dark, good landscape lighting is important: You need to be able to see guests to serve them, and they need to be able to come and go safely from your yard. 

Consider path lights to lead the way to your patio or firepit. Uplights and spotlights create background illumination while highlighting unique features or plantings. Post lights or light fixtures integrated into retaining walls, dividers or steps help people maneuver around the space. Lighting in and around a pool or hot tub creates a lovely mood while keeping swimmers safe. String lights are another charming way to welcome guests to your outdoor living room. 

Adding Warmth

If it gets chilly after night falls, a little extra warmth will entice guests to stay longer. There are many options for heating things up: You can choose from firepits, outdoor fireplaces, patio heaters and fire tables. Today’s outdoor hearths can take on any style from rustic to super modern. 

Some of these options can be portable, but many of our clients enjoy built-in firepits or fireplaces. Creating a designated space for the fire surrounded by non-combustible materials can help ensure safety. Adding a gas line to the unit makes starting and putting out the fire a snap.  

Avoiding Insects

Don’t let mosquitoes or other pests ruin the fun. One sure way to reduce mosquitoes is to address any areas of standing water. Our drainage experts can help with trouble spots in your landscaping. You should also regularly change water in bird baths and scout around your yard for other places water might be puddling. 

Because mosquitoes are weak flyers, adding fans to your outdoor entertaining space will help keep them at bay. Some people also swear by citronella candles or torches to put off pests.   

Keeping Safe Distance

For the time being, we are all looking for ways to see friends at a safe distance. To accommodate separation in your outdoor entertaining area, you could expand your patio or add sitting walls. Or choose comfortable outdoor chairs that can be set apart from each other. Either way, make the most of summer days: Set out the cold drinks and look forward to good times with close friends. 

We are happy to help make your outdoor entertaining spaces perfect for your family and guests this summer. Contact us today to discuss all the options in a no-obligation consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.