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Royal Creations Blog

Winter Hardscape Construction, Fun Next Spring

Ever wonder what a landscape design company does all winter?  Well, apart from commercial snow removal, we do hardscapes.  As long as we can dig the foundation before the ground freezes, we take advantage of days over 40 degrees to pour concrete, lay paver stones, construct decks, and build pools.  We also do carpentry projects […]

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Ideas for Thanksgiving Decorations at Home

Easy ideas to make your house look perfect for Thanksgiving.  Are you hosting parties this fall?  Decorating for a festive Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be hard or expensive.  Here are some ideas for decorations inside and out for your home.  How to Decorate for Thanksgiving  Decorating for fall holidays can be a bit overwhelming.  Breaking […]

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Winter Seasonal Planters

Instead of draping your outdoor space with cut garlands this winter, why not create a delightful winter-themed planter? Let’s dive into some fun tips to get your creativity flowing!  A cheerful holiday-themed wide planter.  Containers  When it comes to planters, think outside the box—literally! You can use just about anything as long as it has […]

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Winterizing Your Trees

As we’ve chatted about winterizing your landscape over the past few weeks, let’s not forget about your trees—they need some extra love before the snowflakes start falling. Think of it as tucking them in for a cozy winter nap! Here are some fun tips to keep your trees happy and healthy all winter long.  Trees […]

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How to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture During Winter

Take care of outdoor furniture this off -season, so that you can enjoy it in the spring.  Taking care of your outdoor furniture during the off-season means you can kick back and enjoy it come spring!  As you winterize your lawn and landscape beds, don’t forget about your beloved furniture. Here are some tips to […]

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Fall In Kansas City:  A Great Time to be Outside

Ah, fall in Kansas City.  The air is crisp, the leaves are about to turn into a beautiful tapestry of reds and gold, and your outdoor space is begging for a little TLC. With the holidays right around the corner, let’s get your outdoor living area looking spectacular. Here are some fun and exciting activities […]

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Planting Time: Embrace the Fall Festivities! 

Time to plant almost anything. Why Fall Planting Boosts Plant Success  Fall is the ideal time to plant almost everything! With the leaves turning vibrant shades of orange and gold, now’s the perfect moment to give your plants a head start. Planting in the fall gives your greenery an edge come spring, when they burst […]

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Celebrating The Outdoors In Kansas City

As the weather cools down, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors in Kansas City. While we can’t cover everything, here are some of our favorite spots to spend time outdoors.  Ernie Miller Nature Center  Address: 909 N Highway 7, Olathe, KS 66061 Website: Ernie Miller Nature Center  The Ernie Miller Nature Center features […]

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Fall Leaf Clean-Up

Shade trees are dropping their leaves everywhere. Ah, fall—the season of cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice everything, and a glorious shower of leaves from those majestic deciduous trees. But before you dive into that leaf pile like a kid on Thanksgiving break, let’s talk about why those leaves shouldn’t just sit around!  Reasons to Clean Up […]

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Lighting Your Landscape

Nightime lighting is important for safety as well as to show off your landscape.  As fall and the holiday season approaches, the temperatures are beginning to cool off, so it is more pleasant to be outside.  As the night lengthens, landscape lighting becomes more important.  Now is a good time to check your lights to […]

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Fall Fire Features

With the weather finally cooling off, fall is a prime time to use your outdoor living spaces.  A fire feature can really enhance your entertainment experiences.  Here are some things to consider when planning your outdoor fire feature project.  Why?  Humans have been gathering around fire since the beginning of time.  In the evening, a […]

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Fall Pruning Season

Time to prune your trees. Fall pruning season often starts with leaf fall.  Pruning properly helps trees stay healthy, controls or directs growth, and cleans up after a wind or snowstorm.  Not pruning can harm your trees long term by creating codominant leaders, and create structural issues with the trees long term habit.  How to […]

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Glorious Bulbs 

Bulbs are often one of the first things to bloom in the spring.  Fall is the best time to plant those bulbs for a beautiful spring show.  Here are our tips for successfully planting your bulbs.  Colorful Tulips Really Say Spring Choosing Bulbs  Many places sell bulbs in bulk bins.  Pick the largest bulbs of […]

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Fall Color Starts Now 

A Recent Seasonal Color Planter Arrangement It is hard to think of fall color when it is hot and you are enjoying the last days of summer.  However, school is starting soon, and fall is right around the corner.  Do you entertain during the holidays?  Make sure the outside of the doorway looks inviting by […]

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Lawn Restoration 

You Want A Lawn Everyone Can Enjoy  Fall is fast approaching and with it comes an opportunity to restore your lawn after the heat of summer.  The Blue Crew at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping recommend the following steps to restore your lawn.  Weed Control  When your grass is struggling and thinning out, weeds take the […]

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How To Attract Butterflies And Other Pollinators To Your Yard 

Insect pollinators pollinate roughly two-thirds of the food we eat and around 85% of the flowers in the world.  However, insects are struggling in the modern world.  Planting a pollinator garden is one way to help them.  In addition, butterflies and other pollinators are fun to watch as they flit from plant to plant.  What […]

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How Landscaping Affects Home Values

Research over a range of states has shown that well landscaped properties increase in value 10-12 percent over just having a lawn.  We talked to our BNI realtor partner Veronica Jaster, with ReeceNichols on the Koehler-Borthnick Team, to find out what that means for Kansas City homeowners.     Curb Appeal  Landscaping increases curb appeal.  When a […]

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Grub Control 

Grubs are the larva of May/June beetles, masked chafers, Japanese beetles, and green June beetles.  While the adult beetles can cause problems, it is the larva that cause dead spots in the lawn.  Grubs are white insects with a brown head.  When disturbed, they curl in a C shape.  The larger the grub is, the […]

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Can You Introduce Us?

Do you live in an area with an HOA?  Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping loves our customers.  While we will always serve individual property owners, we want to keep the common areas in your HOA in good condition just as we keep your outdoor living spaces ready for you to use.  Target Areas  We are targeting […]

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Bagworms

Bagworms are a real threat to both evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs.  They are unsightly and weaken the host plant.  Bagworms attack many species of trees but prefer evergreens.  They defoliate the tree they live on, damaging it or even killing it if the infestation is severe.  Description  When the caterpillar hatches, it crawls […]

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Hardscape Maintenance

A lot of people think that hardscapes, the solid surfaces of the landscape, don’t need any maintenance.  After all, concrete and paver stones are hard as rock, right?  To look their best, they do need some tender loving care.  Clear Debris  Sweep or blow your hardscape regularly.  Leaves and other debris can keep your hardscape […]

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Summer Time Weed Control 

After all the great rain we have gotten this spring, everything is growing in leaps and bounds.  Unfortunately, that includes the weeds.  If your pre-emergent control is failing, here are the ways Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping deals with weeds.  Thriving Turf  The best defense against weeds is to maintain a thriving lawn.  Most turfgrasses will […]

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How We Can Help Your Homeowners Association

Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is expanding our business and wants to help Homeowner Associations (HOA) keep their neighborhood looking as nice as we keep your home’s landscape looking all year round.  How Quality Landscaping Helps Neighborhoods  Communities with quality landscapes often have a higher value, not only in the prices of the homes but also […]

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Pools For Summer Fun

Pools provide a focal point for summer fun.  They bring the whole family together across generations, from grandparents to grandkids.  Pools can also increase the value of your house with the right buyer.   Types Of Pools  The three most common pools are liner pools, gunite/shotcrete pools, and fiberglass pools.   Liner Pools  Liner pools are usually […]

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Choosing Drought-Tolerant Plants for a Low-Maintenance Garden 

We have had a lot of rain this year and are not having drought problems yet.  Last year was a different story, and some plants are still suffering drought stress.  As summers get hotter and drier, drought-hardy perennials will make your landscape use less water.  You can have a drought resistant garden that is beautiful.  […]

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How To Revive Your Lawn for the Summer 

Since the spring has been so wet, you may not have evaluated your lawn for winter damage.  Now is a good time to check how your lawn is doing and set it up for success as we transition to summer.  Assessment  The first step to working on your lawn is to assess it.  See if […]

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Business Networking International 

  You know that you can trust Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping with your landscape.  Did you know that we can also help you find reputable businesses to provide almost any service that we do not offer as well?   We are a member of Business Networking International.  “Over a decade ago, before Royal Creations was even […]

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Common Issues With Your Sprinkler System   

Because of ample spring rains, some area residents have not turned on their sprinkler systems for the year yet.  However, we have noticed several issues with some of the systems that we have activated for the year.  Here are the common problems we have seen and tips for how to fix them.  Backflow Testing  Backflow […]

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Time For Seasonal Color

It is almost Mother’s Day and that means it is time for seasonal color.  Instead of a bouquet of flowers that quickly wilts, you can give the mom in your life a planter full of seasonal color.  We can even swap out the plants in the planter up to four times a year for year-round […]

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Increasing Your Home’s Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is how good your house looks from the sidewalk.  A 2010 study showed curb appeal accounts for 7% of a home’s value.  in a soft market, that amount goes up to as much as 14% of a home’s value.  Increase your home’s curb appeal by following these tips.  Replace Overgrown Shrubs  Shrubs that […]

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Grading and Drainage Issues 

With the spring rains last week, we have noticed many people are experiencing drainage issues.  If these are not taken care of, they can damage your foundation and other structures, cause erosion issues, or make your yard a swampy mess.  Here are some things to consider making sure you don’t have those problems.  Swales and […]

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Creating A Beautiful Spring Outdoor Living Space 

If you plan on entertaining this spring or summer, you need a beautiful outdoor living space.  Here are some tips on making the most of your landscape.  Assess Your Space   Look at your current outdoor space.  Take note of the size, how it is laid out now, existing features such as trees, a patio, or […]

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Reviews Help Us Grow

Reviews help people find businesses that meet their needs.  Your reviews of Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping help people who need landscaping design find us.  Here are some reasons why your reviews of us are important.  Reviews Influence Consumers  When you need a product or service, the first people you ask are friends and family.  If […]

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How to Prep Your Vegetable Garden for Spring Planting 

The seed catalogs have been out for a while, and it is time to plan your spring vegetable garden.  Here are some tips on what to do to get ready to plant.  Clean Up and Remove Debris   Remove any old plants and debris that are in your garden area.  Rake up leaves and other organic […]

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Time To Wake Up Your Irrigation System

  In the Kansas City area, we recommend activating your irrigation system around St. Patrick’s Day because this is typically the time of year when the threat of freezing pipes has passed. Starting up your system is more complicated than just turning on the water.  Here are the steps we recommend you go through to […]

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Introducing Raymond Towner 

We would like to introduce our new irrigation division manager.  We are excited to announce that we are now offering lawn sprinkler service and repair.  Got Here As Soon As He Could  Raymond was born in Wichita, Kansas, but moved to Kansas City in high school.  He got a degree in agriculture business from K […]

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Top Trends in Spring Landscaping Design

 Trends change in landscape design just like they change with interior decor or clothing styles.  Here are some trends that are big right now.  Native Plants and Sustainable Landscaping   As water becomes scarcer and the environmental cost of imported plants becomes better known, native plants and sustainable landscaping are more important than ever.  Native plants […]

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Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Outdoor Spaces 

Many people engage in a vigorous spring cleaning of the whole house.  Don’t forget to clean your outdoor living space, too.  Here are some tips on things to be sure and do to prepare for spending a lot of time outside.  Clear Debris  Over the winter, leaves and other debris end up on your patio, […]

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Common Spring Garden Problems and How to Solve Them

Spring is a wonderful time in the garden, but it can bring some problems.  Here are some of the problems we at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping see the most and how to solve them.  Weed Infestation   Weeds start to grow in the spring just when the plants you want need the most nutrients.   In addition, […]

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Winter Bird Feeding Tips for a Vibrant Yard

Watching birds is a nice way to spend some time in the winter when it is too cold outside for people to be comfortable.  Feeding birds makes sure you have some birds to watch.  Here are some winter bird feeding tips to help you attract the birds you want to your yard.  Food Determines Bird […]

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Winter Lawn and Garden Myths Debunked 

Over the years, Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has heard a lot of myths about caring for your lawn and garden.  Here are our top myths and what plants really need to survive the winter and early spring.  Myth: Plants don’t need water in winter.  While plants are dormant in the winter, that doesn’t mean they […]

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Protecting Your Trees and Shrubs from Winter Damage

Trees and shrubs are valuable members of your outdoor living space.  Protect your investment by winterizing trees and shrubs to avoid winter damage.  Mulching  Mulch is always helpful, but it is especially helpful in the winter.  A three-inch-deep layer of mulch helps keep the soil moist and helps stabilize the soil temperature.  Don’t let the […]

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Indoor Gardening Projects for the Winter Months  

  During the winter, the weather often prevents us from gardening outdoors.  However, there are a number of ways to garden indoors that can keep us occupied.  Here is a selection of indoor gardening projects to keep you gardening until it gets warm again.  Herb Garden  Having fresh herbs to cook with makes all your dishes […]

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Winter Landscape Design: Adding Interest to a Dormant Garden  

Keeping your outdoor living area looking appealing during the winter can be difficult.  Most of the plants are dormant and there may even be a layer of snow covering your landscape.  However, there are ways that you can add interest to your winter garden.  Here are some tips from our experience in the garden.   Evergreen […]

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Thanks For A Great Decade

We at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping want to thank you for a great year and a great decade.  Even with the constant challenges that come with growth, our team has stuck together and made it another successful season.  We made it through the summer heat and drought into the fall with a long list of […]

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Winter Hardscapes

At Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping, winter is for construction which means hardscapes and carpentry.  As long as we have dug out the foundation before the soil freezes, we can work through the winter building all kinds of stone and paver projects from retaining walls to patios, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens.  Winter is also a […]

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Plan For Snow

Ready or not, here comes the snow.  Are you prepared to deal with de-icing your hardscape?  Here are some suggestions we have used to keep things snow and ice-free.  Snow Shovels  A snow shovel is definitely different from a garden or digging shovel.  For one thing, snow shovels are usually lighter and wider, around 18-24 […]

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Time To Prepare Your Plants for Winter

As the holiday season and winter beckons, it is time to prepare your plants for the cold.  Here are the things we at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping do so our customers’ plants go into the winter prepared.  Watering  First off don’t forget to water.  We are still experiencing drought conditions in our area and this […]

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Fall Holiday Preparation 

The holiday season is fast approaching.  We know you want your outdoor living space to look its best, so we have some suggestions for getting ready for the fall holiday season.  Pumpkins and Gourds  Pumpkins and gourds are stacked everywhere.  They add lots of fall colors to table arrangements and patio displays.  When carving your […]

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Pet Friendly Landscapes

If you have pets you love as well as want an impressive and safe outdoor living area, you need to consider your pets’ needs along with your own when designing your landscape.  We try to build in as many of the following areas in a pet-friendly landscape as possible.  Mulched Areas For Paths  Many dogs […]

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