Landscaping makes your home’s exterior more attractive, but it also requires a lot of maintenance. If you feel overwhelmed by the upkeep, you may be focusing too much attention on softscape and not enough on hardscape ideas.

The Elements of Landscaping

Front-yard landscaping adds curb appeal that makes a great first impression and adds resale value. Backyard landscaping makes a home feel functional and luxurious.

If you design your landscape with the care and time it deserves, it will be attractive and low-maintenance. That means you’ll need to bring both softscape and hardscape ideas to the drawing board! But first, here’s a quick vocabulary lesson. 

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines hardscape as “structures (such as fountains, benches or gazebos) that are incorporated into a landscape.” Softscape, on the other hand, is “vegetation (such as shrubs and flowers) that is incorporated into a landscape.”

If you have too much hardscape, the exterior will be easier to maintain, but it will look cold, lifeless and uninviting. If you have too much softscape, it could be beautiful at first, but a pain to keep up.

The goal is to balance softscape and hardscape; you’ll want enough hardscape to make

Heating a home may keep you comfortable, but it also can be expensive. Looking to reduce your heating bills? Follow these tips.

1. Use an Efficient Heat Pump

Heat pumps can be a more energy-efficient option than furnaces because it’s easier to transfer heat than to make it. But not all heat pumps are created equal, and not every region of the country is suited to only heating with a heat pump. So it’s important to do a little homework; otherwise, it could cost you more in the long run.

The most important feature to consider when selecting a  heat pump is its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, which measures the appliance’s cooling efficiency. Basically, the lower the SEER, the less money you’ll save on the system’s operation.

Most heat pumps installed before 2006 are 10 SEER or lower, which means you’re saving just about 20 percent on your heating bills.  

That’s unreasonable when you could use a system like American Standard Heating and Air Conditioning’s AccuComfort Platinum 20 Heat Pump, a 21 SEER system that saves

Keeping a lawn looking green and lush year-round is no easy task. You can mow and water it yourself, but when it comes to treatments like fertilizer, aeration or lime amendment, you may not know what your grass needs. Luckily, there are many lawn care providers who are happy to help you keep your yard looking its best.

Located near Pittsburgh in New Stanton, Pennsylvania, Superior Lawn Care USA offers its lawn care services to the southwestern Pennsylvania area. It’s been around since 1981, and it remains locally owned by the Brown family. All of its technicians are licensed in the state, and it’s a member of numerous local business associations. In this Superior Lawn Care review, the reviews team has evaluated the company’s services, reputation, customer ratings and more to give you a verdict on the best professional lawn care company for you. 

Ultimately, the biggest drawback about Superior Lawn Care is that it’s a local company and unavailable to homeowners outside of southwestern Pennsylvania. For lawn