Design, Installation, and Landscape Maintenance in Grand Rapids, MI

When it comes to landscaping, we’ve all seen the flashy trends that come and go. While it's tempting to embrace the latest craze, we believe that landscaping should be timeless and elevate your home for years to come. At Alfresco, our goal is to create landscapes that thrive continually, rather than follow short-lived trends that could quickly look outdated. In this post, we’ll explain why landscaping trends can cause more setbacks than benefits, how your outdoor space can benefit from a timeless design approach, and why selecting a style that complements your home’s architecture is the best long-term strategy. Landscaping Trends Landscaping trends are often inspired by popular aesthetics, seasonal influences, or even social trends. One year, it's all about natural areas, the next, it's the return of cottage gardens. While these trends can be exciting and eye-catching, they often don't mature well over time. The issue with landscaping trends is that they tend to define a specific moment in time. What’s "in" now can easily become "out" later, leaving homeowners with an investment into their landscape that looks outdated sooner than expected. As these trends cycle out of fashion, it can be costly to update your yard every few years to stay on top of what’s popular. Our Recommendation At Alfresco, we take the climate, your preferences, and your home architecture into consideration to create a design that will flourish and mature in ways that elevate your home. For example, when designing for West Michigan’s climate, evergreen plantings that can weather the seasons without losing all their color, texture, and shape that enrich the space. Additionally, native plants such as allium, lavender and black-eyed Susans are well-suited to our region’s growing conditions so we would lean towards using those plants rather than following trends. It's our goal to create a landscape that doesn't just look good right now – it will continue to look beautiful and thrive for many years to come. Instead of chasing trends, consider these tips for designing a landscape that will stay beautiful for years to come: Incorporate Timeless Design Elements: Stick to classic garden features like stone pathways, classic fences, and planting schemes that never go out of style. Consider Your Home’s Architecture: Choose plants and features that complement the look and feel of your home, ensuring the outdoor space feels cohesive and elevates the look of your home. Think Long-Term Maintenance: Choose plants that are well-suited to your environment. This will save you time and money in the future. Landscaping should never be just about following trends. It should be about creating an outdoor space that lasts, grows with you, and enhances the beauty and function of your home for years to come. By focusing on timeless design, sustainability, and thoughtful planning, you can build a landscape that feels as relevant and beautiful in the future as it does today. Ready to create a timeless landscape that complements your home and thrives for years? Contact us today for a consultation! Whether you’re starting from scratch or upgrading your current space, Alfresco can help you design an outdoor space that fits your style and your needs.

Winter in West Michigan is no joke. Snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and icy conditions can make your driveway and sidewalks treacherous. To keep our homes safe, we rely on salt and deicing products to prevent slips and falls. However, these winter salts, while effective at melting ice, can do a lot of damage to your lawn and driveway. In this post, we’ll explore how winter salt affects your landscaping, how to mitigate the damage, and what you can do to repair salt-stressed areas after a rough season. Why Salt is Harmful to Lawns, Driveways, and Sidewalks in West Michigan The Science of Salt Damage Winter salt (sodium chloride or rock salt) works by lowering the freezing point of water, which helps prevent ice from forming on your driveway and sidewalks. While it’s highly effective for ice control, the salt often gets carried onto lawns and landscaped areas, damaging grass and plants in the process. Here's how salt affects different surfaces: Lawns: Salt dehydrates the soil, leading to plant desiccation. It also increases soil salinity, which can make it harder for your grass to absorb water and nutrients. Over time, the grass weakens and dies, creating bare spots in your yard. Driveways & Sidewalks: The freezing and thawing caused by salt can lead to cracking and degradation of concrete, asphalt, and other hard surfaces. Salt also accelerates the corrosion of metal surfaces, such as vehicles, fences, and railings. W est Michigan’s Winter Climate & Salt Usage West Michigan's winter climate makes salt use almost unavoidable. With an average annual snowfall of over 70 inches in cities like Grand Rapids, salt and deicing products become essential for maintaining safety. However, Michigan’s cold, wet winters make it particularly challenging to manage salt runoff. Heavy snowfalls, followed by quick freezes, often lead to over-salting and eventual damage to local ecosystems. In fact, Michigan uses an estimated 500,000 tons of salt annually for road treatment, much of which ends up on lawns, streets, and natural areas. How to Mitigate Salt Damage in West Michigan While salt is necessary for winter safety, there are ways to mitigate its harmful effects on your property. Here are a few strategies to minimize salt damage: 1. Use Salt Alternatives or Reduce Salt Usage Alternatives: Consider using eco-friendly deicing products such as calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride, or sand. These alternatives are less damaging to your plants and harder surfaces. Though they may be slightly more expensive, they are less likely to harm your landscape in the long run. Strategic Application: Instead of salting every inch of your driveway or sidewalk, focus on high-traffic areas. Using salt sparingly reduces the total runoff and minimizes potential damage to your lawn and hardscapes. 2. Keep Your Lawn Clean Rinse Off Salt: After a snowstorm, brush or rinse off any salt that has accumulated on your lawn, driveway, or sidewalk. Sweep Instead of Shovel: If possible, use a broom or a shovel with a rubber edge to remove snow and ice rather than spreading large amounts of salt. This will limit how much salt ends up on your grass or landscaping. Repairing Salt Damage to Lawns, Driveways, and Sidewalks After a season of heavy snow and salting, it’s time to repair the damage. Here’s how to restore your lawn, driveway, and sidewalks to their former glory: 1. Repairing Lawns Affected by Salt Damage Reseed Bare Spots: Once the weather warms up, reseed any damaged areas. Make sure to use a seed variety that is suitable for Michigan’s climate, such as Kentucky bluegrass or fescue. These varieties are cold-tolerant and resistant to environmental stresses. Soil Amendment: Amend the soil with compost and organic matter to improve its structure and water retention. This will help your lawn recover and reduce the impact of salt in the future. Apply a Layer of Mulch: In areas where plants are suffering, adding a layer of mulch can help insulate the roots and prevent further dehydration caused by salt. 2. Repairing Driveways and Sidewalks Seal Cracks and Joints: Salt can cause cracks and chips in concrete or asphalt. After the thaw, inspect your driveways and sidewalks for damage and fill any cracks with appropriate sealants. Reseal Concrete: Consider resealing concrete surfaces every few years to protect against the corrosive effects of salt. Sealant will create a barrier between the salt and your concrete, reducing long-term damage. Protect Your Landscape This Winter and Beyond Winter salt damage is an unfortunate reality in West Michigan, but with proper planning, you can protect your lawn, driveway, and sidewalks. At Alfresco, we use alternative deicing products, specifically liquid de-icer, to minimize the risks of damage to our client’s driveways, sidewalks, yards, and plants. If you would like to utilize our winter services, contact us today. If salt damage has already occurred, we are happy to help you take action in the spring with proper lawn care, reseeding, and soil treatment. Need help maintaining your landscape through Michigan’s harsh winters? Contact Alfresco Landscapes today for advice, salt damage repair services, and winter solutions. Let’s keep your yard healthy and beautiful all year round.