This year's outdoor living trends are all about making your lawn, backyard, or porch, a regular part of everyday life. Building on last year's momentum, homeowners began to bring indoor conveniences outdoors with smart technology, multipurpose add-ons, and structures that allow us to be outside longer and more often throughout the year. Whether it's a spot to grow herbs for homemade meals, a private patio, or a place to do the cooking, the popularity of outdoor living spaces continue to grow in 2021.

Below you’ll find 5 popular outdoor living trends focusing on creating simple and elegant spaces to live, relax, and entertain outdoors.

1. Pool Remodels with Pavers and Coping
You can choose from so many colors, patterns, and textures, you can give your pool deck a look you really want. Homeowners can show off their pool deck designs year-round, not just during pool time. Pool decks are an excellent way to extend a home for outdoor entertainment. By simply adding tables and chairs, homeowners transform their pool deck into a patio-like area.
Below is a link to a project we have worked on to achieve the ultimate makeover:
Project Spotlight: Landscape, Front Patio, and Pool Remodel Project

2. Propane or Natural Gas Fire Pits:
Fire is a natural design choice for outdoor entertaining and family enjoyment. It creates a warm, cozy atmosphere, enticing friends and family to stay and hang out, especially on chilly nights. Gas fire pits offer a contemporary look and appeal to homeowners who prefer the ease of gas. They are always ready to light with a push of a button, no wood or ash to worry about and no smoke.
Project Spotlight: Mid Century Modern Landscape and Hardscape Project

3. Patio Remodels with Pavers:
Exterior design is seeing a trend to create patios with multiple rooms to provide ample space for entertaining guests, and act as backyard getaways. Paver patios are a high-quality, customizable outdoor patio option that offers homeowners a luxurious patio setup with minimal maintenance requirements. The entertainment options are endless with a paver patio. Hosting parties on it is sure to create lasting memories for friends and family.
Below is a link to a project we have worked on to achieve the ultimate makeover:
Project Spotlight: Patio Renovation

4. Raised garden beds:
Millions of people started growing their own vegetables, fruits, and herbs in 2020, and that trend will definitely continue.  Homeowners invested in a variety of container gardens, raised garden beds and potted herb gardens, embracing the therapeutic side of growing their own food while eliminating trips to the grocery store.  Not only do raised beds provide benefits like ample garden space, they also offer versatility for those with a larger area to fill. Raised beds help for easy access gardening right on your back patio!
Below is a link to a project we have worked on to achieve the ultimate makeover that included a raised herb bed:
Project Spotlight: Backyard Outdoor Living Renovation

5. Artificial Turf:
When you are working with a small space that needs to serve multiple purposes, you need that space to be useable as much as possible and to be easy to maintain and keep clean. This is why so many homeowners with small backyards are choosing artificial turf installation. Synthetic turf is easy to clean, requires little maintenance, does not require storing large equipment like lawnmowers, and can be used right after a rainstorm with no worries about tracking in mud or slipping on wet blades of grass. Artificial Turf is versatile to fit any sort of purpose or need, whether that may be landscape, playground or pet turf. All products are non-toxic and environmentally friendly by reducing the need for pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, and mowing, making it the perfect choice to install.
Below is a link to a project we have worked on to achieve the ultimate makeover:
Project Spotlight: Backyard Renovation

If you’re dreaming of transforming your outdoor living space for entertaining a crowd or just relaxing with a good book, we hope these design trends will help you get an idea of what your space can do for you.

If you want help with transforming outdoor living space using these design trends this year, give our team a call or text at (352) 378-5296. We're local and have been serving Gainesville for over 15 years. We look forward to working with you!

We would like to take the time to highlight some of the amazing projects and lawn makeovers that our extraordinary team has completed. The team always sees the projects from conception through to completion, and it shows!

This project came from a long term client in the suburban heights subdivision that we do landscaping for. She was tired of her inconsistent patio that was also a trip hazard going from tile to concrete. They wanted to join their patio space to include room to their new grill. This happened during covid and they wanted to create more space for entertaining outdoors.

How did we make such a turnaround happen?

• Removed the tile
• Cleaned the concrete
• Thinned the paver overlay
• Created one consistent pattern/surface color

We created an outdoor living space they now use to safely entertain in their backyard that they love to spend time in and enjoy.

If you would like to improve your outdoor living space, fill out the form at the top of the page or call us at (352) 378-LAWN!

There are few things prettier than a beautiful lush green front lawn—especially one that is stunningly green. Grass that is rich, thick, and well-maintained can make any yard look lush and inviting. However, there are just as many reasons for homeowners to not choose grass for Gainesville landscapes—most of which are practical, some of which are purely personal.

For example, some grasses consume a lot of irrigation water. Some grasses can also be a lot of work as well - mowing, fertilizing, pest control, etc.  Also, there are times when a grass-filled yard simply isn't practical or useful - shady areas with little sunlight where grass struggles, areas with heavy traffic from kids and/or pets that cause the grass to thin out, and areas that are too sloped to maintain with a mower are all great examples where alternatives become very appealing.

IAlterantives to Gainesville grass can help you conserve water—and consequently save on your GRU bill—eliminate the need for fertilizers, reduce the likelihood of a pests poulating your yard, and won’t demand too much of your time and resources for maintenance.

That being said, here are three great grass alternatives for front yard landscaping, and some important things to note about them.

Lawn Alternative #1: Synthetic Grass or Artificial Turf
Perhaps the best alternative to grass would be Gainesville synthetic or artificial grass—also known as astroturf. You get the same look and texture as natural grass without any of the extensive maintenance. One of the biggest selling points for turf is that it can’t grow or wither, which translates to a yard as fresh and perfectly manicured as the day it was installed. It is perfect for pets' play areas, backyards where dogs tend to dig up turf, and reducing the over-all maintenance of your landscape.

Pros: Literally no maintenance is needed. Get the same rich green look of a real lawn without the need to mow, fertilize, spray, trim, and edge every week.

Cons: Low-quality synthetic grass some of our competitors use can look fake from miles away, and can therefore come off as a little tacky. Make sure to always get high-quality turf. We use turf that is almost impossible to know is artificial. It even has brown strands of thatch to make it look even more realistic and not overly perfected.

Lawn Alternative #2: Gravel Walkways, Stone Pavers, and Outdoor Living Spaces
For spacious dirt yards, why not invest in permeable gravel and gorgeous stone paver entertainment areas? Plant some drought-resistant plants in the middle and then install pavers or stones to mark paths in and around your florida-friendly landscape. The initial investment may be a bit more costly than a simple planting design, but less foliage to take care of means more money saved on water and fertilizer. Permeable gravel will also keep rainwater from running off into the street—instead, it will allow it to soak into the ground, providing your shrubs with adequately moist soil.

Gainesville, Florida Paver Patios and Firepits extend the square footage of your home into the lawn and landscape to provide "outdoor rooms" to entertain in and enjoy. There's nothing better than enjoying grilling outside or a gathering of roasting smores over the firepit in the late fall, winter, and early spring. 

Pros: Maintaining stone walkways and paver patios is much easier and much less costly than maintaining grass lawns.

Cons: You will be substantially more for an outdoor entertaining area or stone walkway up front than installing plants or sod.

Lawn Alternative #3: Xeriscapes or Larger Mulch Beds Replacing grass

Xeriscaping (aka Gainesville Zeroscaping) is a landscaping philosophy that uses as many native, drought-resistant, Florida-friendly landscaping plants as possible and arranges them in efficient, water-saving ways. The Alachua County Turf Swap Program actually provides rebates for upgrading to Florida-Friednly landscaping (when combined with removing high-volume irrigation). Make sure to ask about this in 2020 as the program was recently extended!

As it turns out, Xeriscaping doesn't have to mean a bunch of tumbleweed from the southwest as some people envision it -- because it's open to the use of Florida-Friendly plants, a landscaper can select a myriad of plant varieties from his region. A Gainesville, Florida Xeriscape can look as attractive and colorful as a regular one.

Pros: The abundant beauty of multiple different plant textures, colors, heights, and shapes provide visual interests beyond any blanket of grass in any lawn. 

Cons: Maintenance is a bit extensive and can easily take up your morning or afternoon. Different plants as they mature take maintenance to keep from overgrowing their space and keeping weeds under control in the mulch beds can be a lot of work as well. 

Lawns are a lot of work and expense, but these three options provide alteratives to the typical cookie-cutter green carpet of lawn. At Master's, our #1 focus is helping you love your lawn again - and whether loving your lawn that is artificial turf, backyard entertaining areas, a Florida-friendly Xeriscape, or lush grass - we can help you get their. Just let us know how we can help! Call our team to schedule a consultant at (352)378-5296 or fill out the form at the top of the page. 

Most people agree that despite the old saying, things are not necessarily the same all over. Whether we are talking about clothes, food, or interior design- what is popular in New York isn’t always as popular in Gainesville, FL. This is especially true when it comes to landscaping, brick pavers, and retaining wall products and projects. The Master's knows this better than any other landscape company in Gainesville. Looking at the projects we have installed for our clients over the past 5 years provided us with some insights on which styles and colors are rising in popularity in different areas of our market. People that live in Duck Pond a different style than someone living in Haile Plantatioor Oakmost subdivision. 

Neither is the right or wrong style of bick pavers - just different styles.

When looking at which styles of pavers are trending, we looked back at the landscaping projects we have installed for our clients. We looked at several items to determine which brick pavers were the most popular for our clients. The trend leans towards smooth-faced pavers in large formats or sizes. Rectangular shaped pavers with a mixture of grey and tan colors are the predominant color blends for brick paver patios installed by our team. Of course, there are some projects that had varying products installed and varying style attributes.

SOLDIER COURSES
The soldier course is likely the most-used laying pattern for a paver border in our area. For this pattern, rectangular pavers are laid in a row, side-by-side. It is very easy to see up close, but not so much from farther back - unless you use a different color paver. 

RANDOM PATTERNS

Another trend in Gainesville, Florida brick paver patios are random paver patterns. They show no specific pattern because there isn't one. This hardscape photo also shows a soldier course as well.

OUTDOOR RUGS

Another trend in Gainesville, Florida patio pavers and hardscapes is utilizing outdoor rugs to soften the entertaining area. Here is an example from one of our suppliers.

GAINESVILLE PAVER CLEANING AND SEALING

Although Gainesville paver cleaning and sealing is less of a trend, and more of a service - it is definitely something to consider for your hardscape's longevity. The brick paver-patio craze started back in 2006 and has been growing strong ever since. Some of the 5-10 year old Gainesville patios are showing needs for repair, cleaning, and sealing service. Failing joints, unlevel pavers, faded color, algae and soil residue all lower the appeal and value of your brick patio and walkway. Here are some before and afters of our Gainesville paver repair services. 

If you are in need of help designing, installing, protecting, or cleaning your Gainesville paver system, please don't hesitate to call our team. You can rech us by calling (352)378-5296 or emailing info@themasterslawncare.com.

There are many benefits to sealing paver patios, but it’s not absolutely necessary. It really depends on your expectations of pavers and how long you would like them to look new. Pavers that aren’t sealed will be more likely to grow weeds in the joints, fade, and lose their color from wear and UV breakdown. Because most newer paver sealers include an additive that will harden the joint sand, it is less likely that you will have settling or shifting caused by joint sand loss, as well.

All that being said, yes you should seal your pavers. Most paver manufacturers will tell you that it’s not required to seal your hardscape, however, it is highly suggested.

What if I don’t seal my pavers?

I’m going to try and answer this question without being redundant. If you don’t seal your pavers, they won’t deteriorate and wither away. You will just likely have to clean your pavers more frequently and the stains will be harder to remove. You see, sealing was designed to protect pavers from rain and sun. Sealing can also protect your pavers from anything foreign that might fall on them – staining from oil, leaves, spills. Sealing creates an invisible layer on top of your pavers that repels water, oil and anything else you might accidentally drop, as long as you wash it away as soon as you notice it.

It’s very likely that vegetation/weeds will grow in paver joint sand if you don’t seal your pavers, as well. A properly installed paver patio with proper drainage will go a long way to prevent weeds, however, sealing pavers with a joint stabilizing sealer will harden the sand in the joint making it very difficult for weeds to grow. A lot of people are confused where weeds in the joints of pavers come from. It’s often thought that the weeds come from beneath the pavers and grow through the joint; or that maybe there were seeds in the sand setting bed and they germinate and grow up through the joint. Both of these cases are wrong and probably impossible. Weeds in pavers almost always come from seeds being blow in and deposited into the sand joint from neighboring weeds. If you have a lot of weeds in your yard or landscape beds than its almost a guarantee that you will have weeds in your pavers. Of course, sealing your pavers with a joint stabilizing sealer will help combat the weeds.

If you notice sinking spots or your pavers shifting, chances are its not a result of your pavers not being sealed. It’s more than likely a result of poor base installation or edge restraint failure. That being said, another leading cause of pavers shifting around is the lack of sand in the paver joint. The sand in the joint acts as a spacer between each paver. When that sand goes away, there are little spaces between each paver allowing them to move around because they’re no longer tight. If you were to seal your pavers with a joint stabilizing sealer, it would prevent sand loss which in turn could prevent your pavers from settling or shifting.

Can I seal my own pavers?

Of course, we’re going to tell you that you can’t, its our job. Just kidding! However, there are some things that can go drastically wrong if you don’t know what to look for when sealing your pavers. Some of the most common problems that we see from DIY paver sealing is a hazing or a white film trapped under the sealer. If this happens, the only option is to strip all of the sealer (which is a tough job) and start all over again. We also see pavers sealed that weren’t properly cleaned first. We use pressurized equipment to clean the paver patio. Since the sealer enhances colors, you may not notice a stain after cleaning but after sealing it could be enhanced causing the stain to look worse than it did before you cleaned it.

You really won’t save much money by cleaning and sealing pavers yourself. You will pay retail for the sealer, you’ll more than likely have to rent a pressure cleaner ($100 per day), you’ll need to buy new sand, buy paver cleaner and possibly efflorescence remover and not to mention the time it will take you. We’re able to clean and seal most paver patios and driveways in one day – we’re efficient and have the right equipment. It could take you an entire weekend or more depending on how large your hardscape is. And who wants to spend their weekend cleaning/sealing a patio?

If you’re interested in hiring The Master's Lawn Care to install or seal your pavers, please click here or call/text our office at 352-378-LAWN.