We have been enjoying a beautiful spring here in North Georgia. Despite the unprecedented times that our Nation is facing, one of the biggest blessings has been that children and families have been able to spend a lot of time outdoors. With new trees, plants, and flowers blooming out each week, your yard can be an oasis during these troubling times. Spending time out of doors can cure bad moods, promote health, and provide fresh air and an extra helping of Vitamin D.

Now that spring is finally here in Georgia, many people find themselves outdoors much more. Taking walks, bike rides, and scenic drives are great ways to spend these enjoyable days before the heat of summer drives you back inside. Being out of doors more often can leave you feeling energized, but it can also lead to a bit of “yard envy” as you begin to notice the landscaping features in your neighborhood. If you are experiencing envious feelings towards your neighbors’ curb appeal, it is time to up the WOW factor in your lawn.

During the cold and wet winter months, you may not be thinking of enjoying time outdoors on a beautiful patio. You are probably just fine staying nice and cozy indoors. However, winter is the perfect time to install a patio. There are several perks to installing a patio during this time of year to get the most out of this beautiful landscape feature.

When it comes to having a drain installed in your yard, you want something that does the job you need it to do without being an eyesore. A French drain is nothing more than a ditch in the ground, inset with a perforated pipe under a layer of gravel.

A retaining wall is a structure designed and used to resist the lateral pressure of soil when there is a desired change in ground elevation. This wall needs to retain all of the material that fills the space between itself and the steepest angle at which soil can hold itself together without caving. Homes built on a steep slope (typically for basements) need to have means of protecting the foundation from soil wash-out. At Alliance Stone, not only do we provide structurally sound retaining walls, but we offer beautiful design to accentuate this feature in your landscape.

Many times, it is hard to think of precisely what we want to receive for the holidays. Do we want that new fancy phone with the fantastic camera? Do we want a gift card to our favorite massage spa? Too often, people settle for something that they do not really want because they cannot come up with a good idea. Well, change that this year and give yourself a gift that keeps on giving.

Halloween brought in the crisp, cool temperatures that Autumn is known for here in Georgia. The month of November is the perfect time to utilize an outdoor space for entertaining, hanging out, and enjoying a nice warm fire. Building a fire pit in your backyard is a beautiful way to utilize your space, both functionally and aesthetically.

Many homes are built on an incline to allow room for a usable basement. With the feature of an inclined yard, one thing you can do to set your yard apart is to add landscape stone steps. Stone steps provide a classic look, are easy to maintain, are rife with design opportunity, and are typically a “one and done” cost. Yes, stone steps do generally cost more than other styles (cross ties, for example), but stone steps can last for generations.

When it comes to updating your landscape, there are more options available than you probably imagined. From different materials to different colors, the combinations of options can be somewhat overwhelming. Many homes and businesses use pine straw or mulch around their natural areas, and while these options are common they often end up costing homeowners and business owners much more money than they projected.

Are you considering a new driveway? Do you have a new construction house that needs a new driveway? Does your existing driveway need to be replaced? If you’re in the market for a new or replacement driveway, why not think about other options besides the traditional concrete or asphalt driveway?