| Individuals value art, from literary arts to | | | | company must have documents readily available |
| visual arts and everything in between. | | | | to support their claim. If they cannot |
| What'll you do if you're given an opportunity | | | | furnish you with the same, go to the next |
| to have an art exclusively created for you? | | | | company. Don't waste your time dealing with |
| This is not a mere painting that'll be | | | | an establishment that lacks proper |
| displayed in the receiving area nor a | | | | documentation. To be honest, there are only a |
| production number where singing and dancing | | | | few companies that provide quality |
| will be present. No, this is much bigger, | | | | landscaping design California or NJ residents |
| much better. With this opportunity, you'll be | | | | opt for. |
| able to make a production with Nature as your | | | | |
| canvas. I'm talking about landscape design | | | | As for the tools, this would depend on the |
| and construction. Be it California | | | | project that you'll be doing. If a project be |
| landscaping or NJ landscape construction, | | | | divided into parts, I am confident that a |
| wherever you are, contouring your | | | | huge chunk will be allotted to manual labor. |
| surroundings will certainly make an artist | | | | From patios to the lightings---if these will |
| out of you. | | | | be installed one must know where to |
| | | | strategically place the same. I'll touch the |
| Like every artist, you need to have the right | | | | topic on installing patios briefly. Ok? Ok. |
| skills and the appropriate equipment. Let's | | | | Supplies: concrete compound, caulking |
| start with the skills. This term may connote | | | | compound (to fill the gaps between blocks), |
| your own skills or aided by professionals. | | | | patio blocks, gravel-these are a few. |
| Let's face it, landscaping may prove to be | | | | Materials: shovel (of course), drill, |
| harder than one expects. You cannot just | | | | carpenter's level and square, tape measure, |
| begin digging aimlessly. You'll end up with a | | | | hammer, saw and alike. Attitude: a lot of |
| moon-like surface as a yard. For the DIY | | | | patience. If you have yet to use or even hear |
| junkies, said project may be hard but same | | | | these words, I strongly suggest that you hire |
| can be done. First the basics must be | | | | an NJ or a California home landscaping |
| identified like the soil type, the ideal | | | | contractor. (Actually you can hire any |
| plants that may be planted in a specific area | | | | contractor within your vicinity. I just used |
| season and the time frame where everything | | | | CA and NJ due to familiarity.) Lighting adds |
| must be completely achieved. Basic carpentry | | | | curb appeal. Installing such requires one to |
| is a requirement too. These essentials may | | | | have basic knowledge on electrical wiring. |
| break or make your project. | | | | Four words, low voltage lighting system. This |
| | | | is not only for illumination but this will |
| I already mentioned this a while ago---the | | | | also serve as added security. This one is |
| skill of a professional. One may have the | | | | included in the landscape lighting design |
| perfect plan but without the right help | | | | that was prepared by my contractor. I'll stop |
| (assistance from an expert, tools and alike), | | | | here for I dare not touch the topic on wiring |
| the plan will just remain something that is | | | | because I, myself, know little about this. |
| lodged in your head or some scribble in a | | | | |
| piece of paper. Or one may hire a landscape | | | | To wrap it up, landscaping design and |
| contractor. There are a lot of NJ or | | | | construction may be done with or without the |
| California landscaping companies, however, | | | | help of an expert. Though I have to reiterate |
| not everyone will provide superior service. | | | | that basic knowledge is required for one to |
| One must know how to screen contractors. Use | | | | be able to pull it off. Carpentry and |
| your resources wisely. Ask around, lurk in | | | | electrical wiring, you'll need these both if |
| the web, utilize the phone directory. These | | | | you want to DIY. But for those who can afford |
| are only a few. Information will be | | | | professionals' fee, they have the option to |
| disseminated, but you must separate the fact | | | | hire a field expert---an assistant, an extra |
| from the fiction. Do a little detective work. | | | | hand to help them mold the ideal scenery, a |
| Call the contractor. Remember three | | | | scenery worthy to be classified as art. |
| words---licensed, bonded and insured. The | | | | |