Page 21 - The Connection Bernards-Ridge Edition, September 2012

SEPTEMBER 2012 THE BERNARDS-RIDGE CONNECTION PAGE 21
908-626-1100
Visit our design portfolio @ www.parkerhomescape.com
Distinctive Plantings and Gardens • Intimate Outdoor Spaces • Patios • Walls & Walkways
Swimming Pools • Ponds & Waterfalls • Landscape Lighting • Drainage Solutions • Irrigation Systems
Fencing • Driveways • Boulder & Stone Design
SCOTT PARKER
a tradition of landscape, home design & installation
LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD
For more than 60 years, the Parker name has
become synonymous with landscape excel-
lence. Parker Homescape has been recog-
nized as one of the top landscape
design/build firms in the United States and
has been recognized locally by Design NJ
Magazine and New York Spaces Magazine for
their award winning work.
150 Allen Road • Suite 108 • Basking Ridge
Inquire about our
Zero interest, minimum
monthly payment programs
for up to one full year.
NJ HIC # 13VH03396000
There are many critical factors when
evaluating the outside of a home that
can save a homeowner thousands of
dollars in both expense and aggravation.
Scott Parker, President of Parker
Homescape, a successful design/build
landscape company, listed 5 key areas
that even a novice can examine.
Shade: How many times do you
walk into the woods and see spectacu-
lar color?
You don’t. Realize that a dense
overhang of trees or shaded lot will
mean two things. Your selection of
plant material, especially colorful
foliage will decline drastically. For an
avid gardener who would like many
colorful, sun-loving plants, this may
mean the expense of trimming back
branches of large trees or risking the
health of improperly planted material.
Roots: Be cautious of large trees
that have been planted too close to
existing driveways, patios, walks, other
hardscape or the foundation of a
home. Tree roots are extremely strong
and can create uprooting of any of
these structures, as well as allowing
water to permeate into the foundation
of the home.
Presence of Deer: If you are look-
ing for a home in an area populated
with deer, expect added expense when
planting trees and shrubs. Although a
landscaper can plant material that the
deer do not love, if you have a bad
winter, expect damage. There are
alternative solutions, although many
are quite expensive.
Grade of Land: Take a close look at
the pitch of land on the front, back and
sides of a home. If you see a steep pitch
towards the foundation, you better
examine the home on a rainy day. You
may need to invest to regrade the prop-
erty or install a drainage system. Both of
which can be quite costly. Water dam-
age to a home can amount to tens of
thousands of dollars to remedy.
Also, it is quite important to visual-
ize how you intend to use the backyard
of a property. If the grade is too severe
it may be difficult or extremely costly to
install pools, patios, or just have a
grassy area for kids to play.
Rock: Visualize this: Two identical
properties. One has a tremendous
amount of rock in the ground and the
other does not. When the time comes
to plant, build a patio, walk pool or
another structure, the homeowner
with the rocky earth will be paying a
lot more for the work.
Creating a beautiful outdoor living
space can add a significant amount of
value and enjoyment to a homeowner.
By analyzing a couple crucial aspects of
a property, one can make a more edu-
cated determination of possible pitfalls
to avoid. It is important to shop the
inside and outside of a home when
making one of the biggest investments
and decisions in a lifetime.
Scott Parker is the owner of Parker
Homescape, a design/ build landscape
firm that has been recognized as one
of the Top Landscape Design/Build
Firms in the United States and has
been recognized locally by Design NJ
Magazine, New York Spaces Magazine,
The Suburban News and many other
prestigious publications.
For information on Parker Home-
scape, visit their design portfolio at:
www.parkerhomescape.com or call
908-626-1100.
A LANDSCAPER’S PERSPECTIVE ON VALUING THE OUTSIDE OF A HOME
By: Scott Parker
www.theconnectionsnj.com