Fall Planting Ideas

As we watch summer come to an end – our beautiful summer gardens and plants lose flowers and turn brown.  We don’t have to accept this as the seasons change – we can surround ourselves with reds, oranges, purples, and yellows – and create an outdoor space we can enjoy on these cool fall days.  

Use containers around your space to create “pops” of color.  Fill the containers with chrysanthemums, ornamental kale, pansies, and marigolds.  You can get creative with the containers, buy a simple ceramic pot or use a recycled barrel to add a rustic touch.  Since most of the flowers you are going to use will be seasonal – you can use plastic containers to plant the arrangement and simply place the plastic container inside the pot or barrel – so when the plants die – you can compost the dead plants, and recycle the plastic container – leaving the pot or barrel waiting for the next season. 

Fall is a great season for using other organic materials around your outdoor space.  You can use pumpkins, gourds, or hay bales throughout your yard.  They can be part of your décor through holiday lights season in December.  You can find gourds and pumpkins at your local grocery store or farmers market –you don’t even need to go out of your way. 

Don’t forget to think about the future as you are clearing your dead summer plants and adding your fall accents.  Now is the time to plant your spring bulbs.   This is as simple as digging a 5” - 8” hole and dropping the bulb in with the point facing up.  You’ll be glad you did it when spring rolls around. 

Saving Money with an Irrigation System

“Residential outdoor water use in the United States accounts for more than 7 billion gallons of water each day, and is mainly for landscape irrigation,” according to the EPA. Experts estimate that as much as 50% of this water is wasted because of inefficiencies in irrigation methods and systems. Existing irrigation control technologies can significantly reduce overwatering by applying water only when plants need it.  

An irrigation system can help reduce water usage by as much as 50% – saving money, and making your lawn look green and plush, all while helping the environment.

First, irrigations systems reduce on overwatering – which means no waste, runoff, or watering unnecessary areas (i.e. – the sidewalk or driveway).  

Another advantage, is you can set your systems to water in 2 or 3 short cycles throughout the day – this lets the water soak into your lawn, and also means less watering time and greener lawns. 

According to www.irrigationtutorials.com “…if you normally water for 15 minutes, try this; water for 4 minutes, wait 30 minutes or more for it to soak in, then water another 4 minutes, then wait again, then water another 4 minutes. Now you have watered a total of 12 minutes rather than 15. Even with the reduced total watering time, chances are you will see a significant improvement in how good your lawn looks. The reason cycling works so well is that almost all brands and types of sprinklers apply water much faster than it can actually soak into the ground. So after about 5 minutes of running, most of the water begins to build up on top of the soil and then it just runs off into the gutter or to a low spot in the yard. Cycling the irrigation gives the water time to soak into the ground and reduces water run-off. It also will help reduce the wet spots in the lawn where lawn diseases get started.”  

Lastly, if you install a rainwater recovery system, it will catch rainwater and reuse it in your irrigation system – this combined with the rainwater detection system, which monitors rain fall in the area, and will not turn the on the system - saving from unnecessary watering. 

Why Hire a Landscape Designer...

We have all been there – usually as the weather begins to change we begin to evaluate our yards.  In the fall it is watching our flowerbeds turn brown and ugly, and in the spring those same flowerbeds are empty just waiting for color and life. 

Then you turn to you empty backyard and wish those 4 trees you chose 3 years ago added more life to the yard.  You had done your research on the Internet, you found what trees and shrubs were best for your yard, you spoke with the nursery employees, and you dug the right size holes – but there is no pizazz in the yard, it looks empty, and everything only blooms during one season.  What could you have done differently?  Well, there is one major change you could have done – HIRE A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER…

Top 10 reasons to hire a landscape designer

 
1.     Plant Materials – A Landscape Designer is familiar with the types of plans that survive in the climate you live in, so they are going to recommend materials that will not only survive – THEY WILL THRIVE
2.     Budget – Landscape Designers can work within your budget, maximizing it by using the right materials the first time.
3.     Installation – A Landscape Designer works with a team of installers, so you don’t have to know which plant needs shade, which plants need morning sun, or how far apart to plant your materials.
4.     Time – Again, these are professionals, so they are quick, and efficient, and many times can finish an installation in a day – where it may have taken you a month of weekends.
5.     Environment – Yes, green leaves are good for the environment – but this is more about the climate and the soil (which can change from neighborhood to neighborhood), so a Landscape Designer can analyze all the components and make the strongest recommendations for your individual space.
6.     Experience – A Landscape Designer uses the information they learn from each job, and apply it to the next, making them an expert.  You most likely don’t try to work on your own car engine – you leave it to an expert – why should your outdoor space be any different.
7.     Education – A Landscape Designer is usually holds a degree in Horticulture and/or Design – placing the designer as the expert, focusing on what is best for your yard.
8.     Full Design Plan – The Designer will create an entire new living space for your home, enhancing existing materials, and adding what will add the most beauty.
9.     One on One Service – Each yard is different, so will your design will be unique to your yard.  A designer will go the extra step for you – teaching you how to care for your new space, recommendations for changes of seasons, or whatever you ask. 
10. YOU WILL LOVE IT!!! 

Blue Max has a blog!

Check out the blog our friends at Blue Max Materials have started. It's filled with Hardscape ideas, info on the latests Belgard products and so much more! Follow their blog and let them know what you think. Click here to view their blog.

You'll also want to check out the Gardens at Blue Max opening October 4th. Overstream and a few other local landscape companies have joined with Blue Max to create wonderful outdoor displays including outdoor kitchens, paver patiors, firepits, fireplaces and beautiful water features. We would love for you to stop by sometime to view our display! You can find the display at 1625 E. Westinghouse Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273. 

We have a Newsletter!

You may or may not know this, but Overstream now has a monthly newsletter! Our Newsletter is filled with project updates, Landscaping tips and ideas and all the recent happenings here at Overstream. We would love to share our news with you! Click here to check out one of our previous newsletters and subscribe to receive the letters monthly! Let us know what you think!

Job of the Month!

Hey Everyone!

Below is a video that we threw together explaining the whole process of building a custom in-ground swimming pool! You get to see pictures and videos of each step (Forming/Excavation, Rebar & Plumbing, Shotcrete, Tile & Coping, Equipment Set Up, Decking, Landscaping, Interior Finish, Pool Fill, Start Up and the Finished Project!!!). This customer was a pleasure to work with and they were so kind to let us come by everyday to take pictures and shoot video footage! Below is a wonderful comment from the homeowners! Fill free to comment and let us know what you think. Also, let us know if you'd like to do something similar. It's going to be Summer before you know it and you're going to be wish that you had a nice pool to cool down and relax in :)

Enjoy!

"We have lived in Matthews for almost 15 years and have four children and have always wanted a pool but we live in the woods.  Thanks to a severe weather system, 6 of our trees came down in the back yard and the rest is history.  We had Overstream come out and make recommendations on which trees to remove and which ones to keep and they came up with fantastic drawings in their design program to give us an idea of what it would look like with a pool.  The final product is every bit as beautiful and imaginative as the initial computer layouts and the kids LOVE the slide off the back deck.  We heated it up for a Christmas party to remember with roasted marshmallows in the fire pit and hot chocolate poolside.  We wanted a place that would keep us from having to drive around town every summer to swim in a crowded pool, plus the advantage of hoping that our kids' friends will want to spend time here instead of them going elsewhere.  We love the final product and the construction phase flew by seamlessly.  What a great group of people to work with, and I love that they also do their own landscaping - it's truly one stop shopping.  Every employee from Overstream from the guys who did the tile/pavers, digging, project managers, designers and CEO were all extremely polite, thorough and a pleasure to work with.  We really had a great experience and couldn't imagine not using them if we had it all to do over again!"

Energy Efficient Landscape Tips & Ideas!

Recently, Bill Zemak was asked by a magazine to write about energy efficient landscapes.  Here is a portion of the article that many of you may find helpful:

Here are a few items to offer an energy-efficient landscape:

1)  Use LED low voltage lighting systems with timer and/or photocells:

The LED uses up to 1/4 the energy, the timer prevents the system from operating during the wrong hours.  The photocell does not allow the system to operate during daylight hours.

2)  Irrigation systems:

Use smart controllers:  These controllers allow for historical local data from your area to be loaded into the irrigation controller and adjust as needed for soil moisture levels, air and soil temperature, humidity levels, precipitation rates of the irrigation system itself, and quantity and frequency of rain.

Use rain sensors:  These measure moisture levels and prevent an irrigation system from operating when the turf does not need it.

Use drip irrigation for planting beds:  This allows for water to get right to the roots where the water is ingested into the plant and prevent run-off and water-waste.

Invest in a rain harvesting system to collect all downspout water, run-off water, etc. and then use this water with a pump to irrigate the yard or planting beds.

3)  Plant selection:

Use succulent plants which do not require a tremendous amount of water and those which have an ability to "store" water on their own.

Use drought tolerant plants such as (Junipers, Hollies, Osmanthus, Pyracantha, Wax Myrtles, among many others)

Use plants to help shade areas or the home to keep interior temperatures lower which in-turn will greatly reduce cooling costs inside the home.

4)  Turf choice:

This is by far the largest change that one could make on their property to increase the efficiency of their landscape.

Use grasses which do not require so much water such as Bermuda and Zoysia hybrids.

The tall Fescue turf grass which is so prevalent in the metro Charlotte area is a cool season grass.  This means that when soil temperatures are between 65-75 degrees it is happiest and grows wonderfully.  At those temperatures it also requires very little water.  However, those times of the year are few and far between and last for about 2-3 months out of the whole year.  In order to maintain that lush look, Fescue requires large amounts of water to keep the soil temperature down.  With large amounts of water, then their is a high risk of fungus.

Using the Bermuda and Zoysia hybrids are WARM season grasses which is opposite of Fescue.  They are happiest during those hot summer months when the humidity is high.  They do not require as much water, fertilizer, or fungicide.  They also do not require the traditional aerating and overseeding that Fescue requires in the fall.  There are many hybrid varieties available now which have not been available in the past that offer great color, thicker blades, and a lush feel to compete more with the Fescue look which a lot of people like.

5)  Driveway, patios, walkways:

Use permeable pavement systems to allow for water to penetrate through the surface and into the ground or into a water reclamation system to be used for irrigation.  These permeable systems also reduce water runoff into our waterways which carry fertilizers, soaps, and other toxins to our drinking water supply, which then have to filtered out with expensive filtration equipment.

Belgard Hardscapes Project Excellence Winner!

It's an honor to have won a Belgard Hardscapes Project Excellence award TWO YEARS IN A ROW! We're looking for jobs to submit next year, let us know if you would like it to be yours!

Preferred Payment Program

SAME-AS-CASH!

The Belgard Preferred Payment program is offered by yours truly, Overstream! With a 180-day Same-as-cash program available, homeowners can create the backyard of their dreams without having to phase out the project. Contact us today for more information or check us out as an Authorized Contractor (more info coming soon) at www.belgard.biz!

Happy Holidays!

Hey Everyone,

So excited that the holidays are finally here! We wanted to wish you all a wonderful holiday break and safe traveling to everyone heading out of town! Our office will be closed Saturday, 12/24 through Sunday, 01/01/2012! We will see you Monday! Once again, Happy Holidays from your Overstream family!

Job of the Week: Awesome!!!

Hey Guys,


Check out this awesome comment one of our customers sent to us!


Details of Job:

* Location: Matthews, NC

* Custom Shape Swimming Pool

* Octagon Shape Concrete Spa

* Grill Island including a 30" Stainless Steal Grand Turbo Grill, Drop-in Cooler and Bar Sink

* 36" Diameter Gas Fire-pit

* 9' x 20' Screen Room addition to existing Screen Room with EZE Breeze Screen

* Large Wood Pergola

Job Duration: 8 Weeks
Challenges:

*  Sensitive Drainage area between House and Pool.

*  Privacy was of great concern to this client.

*  Relocation of a storm water easement in order to build the pool.

*  Client wanted to be sure design was different/one of a kind, not the standard pool design.

"My wife Carolyn and I have two kids Jenna and Dylan Jenna is 13 and Dylan is 11. We moved to Charlotte in 2010. We looked very hard for a house that already had a pool. The neighborhood pool at our previous home was nice when the kids were little, but as they got older they wanted to spend all day in the pool and be there when their friends were with them. We had a couple of friends with pools and whenever we got together we found ourselves always going to their house so the kids could swim. We also noticed that having your own pool was a great way to get to know the kids that your kids spend time with. 

During our house hunting we learned that having a pool wasn't the same thing as an outdoor living area where one could find shade, have privacy, and a place to prepare meals. We searched for a home over a period of nine months. We always started with homes with pools at the top of the list. Just about every home we saw with a pool was nothing more than a backyard with a hole filled with water. No shade in sight, little privacy, and no outdoor kitchen of any kind.  After settling for a house without a pool, we interviewed several companies to add a pool to our backyard and Overstream really stood out based on their vision for our backyard and their ability to communicate that vision using their 3D drawing system. They presented us with many different views of our new backyard that was almost like having a picture of your potential new backyard. Other companies wanted to charge us for a hand drawing just so we could understand their vision for our yard. Overstream iterated changes to their design based on our feedback and then gave us there quote for our dream backyard.  

Our backyard would be a shadow of what it is today without the vision and design from Overstream. We inquired about extending and upgrading our 12'x17' builder grade screened-in porch and Overstream took care of that too. We used to have three steps out of the screened-in porch and Overstream suggested bringing the grade up in front of the porch enabling us to just walk out onto the patio. Very nice! They also suggested an outdoor kitchen with a sink, drop-in cooler, built-in grill and a bar. I was concerned where I would put my Green Egg grill/smoker and they designed a place for that too in the new kitchen. They also designed a sunken area where the outdoor kitchen just outside the family room bay window remains low enough to not block the view from inside. This was an excellent design decision.  They also thought of adding a swim-up bar area and adding lots of umbrella sleeves. I never would have though of that. I believe that it's the details during the execution that make a project a success. 

Bringing a design to life from a computer generated drawing is where there are a thousand opportunities for mistakes and Overstream deftly navigated this minefield without incident. I noticed for the first time as they were adding the coping that the tumbled concrete block we'd chosen for our coping didn't cover the entire top of the wall in the sunken patio area. When I asked Bill about what they were going to do, he explained that they were planning on using two of the bullnose blocks placed back-to-back requiring cutting of every one of these stones. This gave us a bullnose both inside and outside the pool creating a great seating area. Overstream never came back to me asking for more money to execute their original plan. There was never a place, like the coping, where they forgot about some detail or tried to upsell some plan detail that was necessary but not specified in our agreement. There were lots of details for doing a job like ours, probably more than any company ever documents in a contract. Overstream truly delivered on the vision they developed. They delivered on time and in budget. I watched them like a hawk during the process and never had to chase after them. The entire team was top notch. The workers were all extremely competent, friendly and helpful. Talking to anyone of them I felt as if I were talking to the owner of the company. They all really cared about my backyard and wanted me to be completely happy with the final outcome. My entire backyard was transformed in eight weeks. That included a pergola and an extra 150 sq ft of pavers that weren't part of the original plan. We had an easement through the middle of our backyard and Overstream was the only company willing to work with the town to get it moved inside the setback. Finishing touches are important and when they filled my pool in a few short hours saving me significant money on my water bill I was ready to celebrate.  I don't think that we could have done that without Overstream's assistance and expertise. I could not have asked for a better run project or a better group of people.

One of the things many people don't think about when searching for a company to build their dream yard is the follow up service you receive after the project has been completed. Overstream was the only company I found that offered a two year warranty on all of their plantings. Our 2011 summer was particularly hot this year and I did have some plants that didn't make it through the season. They set up a startup and training session with a pool service company too. That tells me they want more than my money. They want me to be happy and successful with my new back yard. Overstream came right out and replaced every plant every time. When I call for service, I feel as if they are still working on my project. Their follow up service is of the same quality as their design and construction. 

Now that we've had a season to enjoy the backyard, we appreciate it more than ever. We appreciate the design aspects and the quality of the materials and the workmanship. We are very grateful to have found Overstream.

I feel so confident in Overstream's ability to perform that I would recommend them to anyone looking to transform their yard and not to waste time speaking with other companies. It won't be hard to find a company willing to undercut Overstream's price, but I'm confident the product will not approach what Overstream delivers.  Perfection is truly a rare thing and I can't recall any mistakes on my extensive project. Thank you Overstream!"

You Rock Jerry & Carolyn! -Overstream

 

Winterization

It is a fact that North Carolina is located in a part of the U.S. where the frost level can extend below the depth of installed pipe. Why is this important? Because the PVC pipe (the white pipe installed underground) can suffer significant damage from expansion and contraction. If the pipe is more than half full of water and temperatures are freezing, this water will freeze and cause the pipe to expand. This will result in the PVC pipe cracking (usually along the length of the pipe from fitting to fitting). Repeated water expansion inside pipes can weaken the pipes and cause fractures and even breaks in the piping. It is necessary to winterize your irrigation system every year! These repairs can be very expensive and they are not covered under warranty if the system is not winterized by Overstream.

Follow the link below to sign up to have your irrigation system shut down for the Winter!

http://overstreaminc.com/winterization.php

Charlotte Seen Fashion Week: Day 1

Last night was the first night of Charlotte Seen's Fashion Week and it was a lot of fun! I have never seen so many well dressed people in one place at one time! If you weren't able to make it out last night, try your best to come out tonight! Overstream is sponsoring the Re-Model show and it promises to be quite an entertaining evening. Follow the link below for more details and ticket information. See you tonight!!!

Matthews Alive!

Hey Guys,


     For those of you who are from the Matthews/Charlotte area you know all about the Matthews Alive Festival and for those of you who don't know, The Matthews Alive Festival is a Labor Day weekend celebration dedicated to the support of local non-profit organizations through music, arts and community involvement, held annually since 1992.
     The Matthews Alive Parade is the largest Labor Day Parade in the Southeast! Each year the parade kicks off at 10 AM the Saturday morning of the Festival. This annual tradition embodies small town life, and does so in grand fashion by bringing high school bands, traditional floats, beauty queens, kids groups, our pro sport mascots, and the community together for a fun filled morning.
     Overstream was lucky enough to be a part of the Matthews Alive Parade this year. We sponsored the lovely Girl Scouts float and, as you can see in some of the pictures posted below, we decked out a huge 1968 army truck in flags and Overstream banners and filled the back of the truck with 500 balloons! It was a ton of fun and we can't wait for next year! We'll keep you posted on future parades in your area that Overstream will be making an appearance in. You wont want to miss it!

Hands On Charlotte 'Day of Trucking'

Last week Overstream volunteered on a “Day of Trucking” to assist with Hands On Charlotte’s 9/11 volunteer park build in Lincoln Heights. We are so glad we were able to help Hands On Charlotte make a difference in this community! Check out some of the pictures we took.

Can't wait to see how everything turns out. I'll post pictures of the finished project asap!