Kurtzbros

Are you dreading the drab, dingy winter landscape? With a little upkeep and forethought, you can have your yard beautiful for the holidays, even if there isn’t much fresh snow. Here are a few suggestions for planning and maintenance that can give your yard the edge it needs to be the best-looking spot in the neighborhood, even during the winter.    Plan Ahead with Plants   When you’re planning your landscape, think beyond the warm days of spring and summer. In addition to your flowering summer plants and your leafy trees, install plants, bushes, and trees that look beautiful during the winter, too. Evergreens and Japanese maples give your yard some color during the cold months, as do stout holly hedges and yellow winter jasmine. Use dazzling cotoneaster for ground cover, or plant dogwoods with red or yellow stems for bright contrast in a dull winter landscape.    Add a Statement Piece   Trees, bushes, and flowers aren’t the on...

The most obvious and easiest way to decorate with holiday lights is to simply buy the nets of lights and drape them over the bushes or hedges in your front yard. But what if you don’t have any bushes? Check out these interesting places to hang your holiday lights.    Deck the Trees Small trees look lovely with holiday lights artfully draped across their boughs. If your trees are tall, with few lower branches, you can wind lights around the trunks instead. Use red and white lights in alternating patterns, go monochromatic, or spice things up with some multicolored lights.    Line the Driveway Drive small spikes into the ground right next to the driveway, all along the length of it on either side. Clip a string of lights to the stakes so that you have a beautifully lit driveway. If you have snow, make sure that the lights are high enough to be seen above the drifts. Also, make sure that the strings of lights do not cross any pathways— you...

When the weather gets cold, you know it’s time to order your load of winter  firewood from Kurtz Bros., Inc. — but that’s just the first step! You also need to know how to prepare your fireplace so that you can use it safely to warm your home and cheer your evenings. Check out these tips for keeping your fireplace in good condition.    Clear the Area   Before you use your fireplace for the first time this winter, make sure that the area around it is clear. No stacks of magazines, extra blankets, throw rugs, or books should be nearby to catch fire in case of sparks or embers popping out.    A fire screen isn’t an essential, but it can be useful to keep pets or young children away from the fire. Screens can also corral any stray embers or sparks, so if you’re concerned about those issues, a screen might be the right choice for you. Plus, many homeowners enjoy having a decorative fire screen to conceal the fireplace area when it is...

With winter setting in, it’s time to take note of the tools and winter supplies that you already have and create a shopping list for the things you need. Take a look at our supply recommendations for your home and vehicle.    Erosion Control Systems   Don’t put your yard at risk by leaving it at the mercy of winter storms. Severe weather and melting snow can cause erosion, especially in yards with sloped areas. You can protect against this problem using  limestone or gravel , by employing our special  Hydro Clear Bioretention Soil , or by requesting help from our  stormwater management  experts.  Call us anytime  to get quick, effective help with stormwater problems or erosion issues.    Ice Scrapers  and Shovels   All across the country, even in the southern states, ice can occasionally be a problem. You leave your home in the morning, ready for work, and discover a layer of ice caking yo...