Thursday, January 30, 2014

Winterize your fountain



It is time to winterize your fountain to protect it during the cold winter months ahead. We walk you through the steps and even make a suggestion if you don't want to tackle it yourself.

Monday, January 27, 2014

We Have Cobblestones!



Dixon Landscape Materials has a large selection and large quantity of various sized cobbles to decorate your landscaping project. Whether commercial or residential, these cobbles can add the perfect touch to your landscape. They are very popular in creating dry river streams too.

Dixon Landscape Materials is located at 150 East H Street, Dixon CA. Call us at 707-678-8200 and visit our website at www.DixonLandscape.com.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Walk-on Fir Bark at Dixon Landscape Materials



Raj Hansra with Dixon Landscape Materials shows us the Walk-On Fir Bark which is very popular in landscaping and is much easier to work with than Gorilla Bark.

Dixon Landscape Materials, 150 East H St, Dixon CA. 707-678-8200. www.dixonlandscape.com

Saturday, January 18, 2014

"Stamp" Concrete with Impression Patterns by NewLook




An Impression Pattern is a durable, long-lasting polyurethane pattern. It's not a stamp. It's not a stencil. It's an Impression—the new method for imprinting texture and design into fresh concrete and overlays.

Impression Patterns are easier to use than their stamp and stencil counterparts and they're very versatile. They cost less and are much more forgiving.

They are available in many popular field and border stock patterns, including ashlar, brick, cobble stone, and random stone. You can even customize your Impression to achieve any intricate design you want.

Preparation

Prepare the Impression once the concrete is poured properly and finished with a steel trowel or bull float. Thoroughly coat both sides of the Impression with liquid release. Spray a liberal amount of release onto the concrete, as well. This prevents the Impression from sticking and helps it leave a well-defined pattern.

Placing the Impression

Place the Impression wherever you want. Don't worry about laying it down perfectly. The process is very forgiving. The marks and lines left from the Impression will disappear when the Impression is troweled. Adjust and move the Impression as needed until you are satisfied with its position.

Troweling & Finishing

One of the unique benefits of using Impressions is found in the finishing process. Begin by gently tapping and troweling over the Impression. This helps push the Impression into the top layer of fresh concrete so that the top part of the Impression becomes flush with the concrete surface. Use standard troweling techniques to achieve the desired finish.

Once the Impression is set, you can add texture using a textured roller. Be sure to coat the roller with release agent. Using powder release can also help prevent puckering and sticking.

Remove the Impression

Once the concrete is dry, remove the impression by lifting up from one end.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

How to Dry Brush Faux Finish Technique - NewLook


Learn more at http://www.GetNewlook.com!

A brief video demonstrating how to faux finish using an 4" Round NewLook Applicator Brush and Designer Series Enhancers.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

We Have Plenty Of Rocks On Hand... We Deliver!



Dixon Landscape Materials has got rocks! Lots of them! Big ones! We've got a huge selection of boulders, large rocks, and of course, we have all the common decorative rock selections as well. It's a perfect weekend for sprucing up your yard, so come on down and let us help you get the materials you need, and don't forget--WE DELIVER!

Dixon Landscape Materials, 150 East H Street, Dixon, CA. 707-678-8200. http://www.dixonlandscape.com/.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

We Are More Than Dirt And Gravel! Come Check Us Out!


We have dirt and we have gravel. In fact, we have a huge variety and a full selection of kinds of dirt and gravel of all sizes--even boulders! Yet, we are so much more than this. We also have a very large selection of pavers, brick and block for building retaining walls, doing driveways like the beautiful one above. We also have hundreds of other helpful items. You could say we are a one-stop location for anything needed for landscaping, and if we don't have it, we can get it.

Drop by soon and wander through our large yard and see what ideas may pop into your head to fix up your place. Dixon Landscape Materials is located a few feet of Hwy 13 at 150 East H Street in Dixon, CA. See our website at http://www.dixonlandscape.com/.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Planting Sod - How to Lay a Sod Grass Lawn and Care For It

With sod, it used to be that you just took what Mother Nature gave you. Today, you have a lot more choices. But before you pick out the one that best catches your eye, there are some considerations which you cannot ignore. Do you live in a heavily shaded area? Does the sun beat down 24/7? How much use will the sod get out of family barbecues, camping out under the stars, or neighborhood wiffleball games? Knowing the answers to these questions will ultimately determine which of the following is the best sod for you:
Marathon Sod is well suited for the soils and climates in Southern California. It's roots grow up to five times deeper than other varieties of sods, such as Bluegrass. Marathon Sod has such an extensive root system that it can tolerate extreme heat while using less water.
Purpleblue is a high quality blend that is dense in nature. Therefore, it provides an elegant appearance. It thrives in moderate coastal areas and do not do well in warm dry climates. Maintenance wise, it requires regular care. Purpleblue remains green throughout the entire year.
Ryeblue sod is very similar to Purpleblue in terms of characteristics. However, it contains 20% perennial rye, which makes it more resistant to disease. It also appears in a lighter shade of green.
Besides evergreen sod, you can also consider winter dormant varieties such as Dichondra sod as well as St. Augustine sod. Dichondra sod is more ideal for shady areas, while St. Augustine sod is coarse and more suitable for non-shady areas.
If you have a lot of clay or sandy soil types lying around, then you may wish to consider Zoysia sod on account of its low maintenance ways. Resilient and resistant when it comes to weeds, you will do a lot less edging with this choice.
Preparing the Ground
Get your shovels, wheel barrow, and rake. It's time to level and till. Get rid of the rocks and weeds as best you can before you start.
Installation
Lay the strips of sod end to end. Make sure it is flat and gives off the appearance of connection so that there are no gaps in between the strips.
Care
The sun will usually take care of its end of the bargain, but it's your job to keep up with the weather and water accordingly. Extremely hot climates may require several hours of water per day. Cool and moist areas are easier to handle. The most important thing is not to take the sod for granted. Don't expect Mother Nature to do all the work.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4830663

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Build a Flagstone Walkway in Your Garden

Often there is a spot in your garden that you are especially proud of, and you would like to share it with others, but how do you guide garden visitors to this special spot? Why not install a flagstone walkway to invite and entice garden explorers?
Start by laying out the shape and size of your walkway--garden hose works well for this. Keep in mind that gently curved paths appear more inviting than straight or angular ones. Once you have your path laid out, remove the soil and/or sod to a depth of about 5 inches.
This is when you will need a compactor, which you can rent from your local equipment rental company--they can also instruct you on its operation. You will also need 1/4" minus crushed rock--this is finely crushed rock that is no larger than 1/4" and also includes much finer material that compacts well and makes a solid base for your walkway. If you are not sure where to purchase 1/4' minus, you can check with your local landscaping company to find this product.
First, run the compactor over the entire walkway area a few times to compact the soil. Then add a couple of inches of crushed rock, rake it out smooth and run the compactor over the whole area several times again. Repeat the process of adding a couple of inches of crushed rock, then raking and compacting it, until the level is about 3" below ground level. Now add about 1" of crushed rock and rake it out smooth--do not compact this final layer.
Now you are ready to install flagstone. Remember to wear your gloves and steel-toed shoes. Also, keep in mind that flagstone can be quite heavy, so lift with your legs, not your back. If you are not sure where to purchase flagstone in your area, check with your local landscaping firm--they will have it, or know where you can get it.
Laying flagstone is like assembling a large puzzle that has no rules as to where the pieces go--just make them fit any way that you like--alternate larger and smaller stones for the best look. Set each stone into the loose upper layer of crushed rock, push down on it with both hands, and wiggle it downward into the crushed rock.
You can add or remove crushed rock beneath individual stones, to level and stabilize them as you go. You can also use the hammer and masonry chisel to knock pieces off stones to get a better fit--safety glasses and gloves will be needed.
Once you have all your flagstones in place, you can fill in the gaps with crushed rock, or use a polymeric sand to fill in the gaps. If you don't want anything growing in the cracks, the polymeric sand is the best choice, as it hardens to a rubber-like consistency, which prevents weed growth--check the product packaging for exact instructions.
You now have an attractive and durable walkway that can be enjoyed for many years to come--a walkway that invites friends and family to explore your garden.
Materials and Tools Needed: flagstones of assorted sizes, crushed rock (1/4" minus), polymeric sand (optional), masonry chisel, garden shovel, 3lb hammer, compactor, rake.
Equipment Needed: steel-toed shoes, safety glasses, work gloves.
Work Safe: always wear work gloves and/or safety glasses when you should. When handling heavy materials, lift with your legs, not your back, and remember to wear steel-toed shoes.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3876921