Salt Water Pools Versus Low Chlorine Pools – Which is Best?

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Glenn

Bonick Salt Water Pool

You probably wouldn’t sit down to dinner without salt on the table. But can you imagine buying 300 pounds a year? If you choose a salt water pool, the average 18,000 gallon pool can require that much (which is a lot of lugging from the pool store). Many people believe salt water pools are naturally healthier because you’re not adding chemicals. But the reality is, salt water pools still require the presence of chlorine; a salt water system simply creates chlorine as a by-product in the process of breaking down the salt. So there’s really no way around chlorine in a pool, but we believe the key question is….how much chlorine do you have to use?

We’re doing very few salt water pools these days because technology has advanced to the point where we can use far less chlorine. Salt water pools used to be a top request, because people liked the fact that salt water was easier on the skin and on dyed hair (no more lovely green locks). Salt water pools were far less caustic and burning eyes were a thing of the past. These benefits offset the typically higher cost of installing a salt water system, which also requires more maintenance throughout the years.

The same great salt that breaks down ice on your driveway during those Dallas ice storms does the same number on your system over time. Salt is a corrosive and damaging to plaster, stone, concrete and metal. The chlorinator cell, a critical component, can become encrusted with calcium and should be cleaned frequently with an acid wash. If you don’t clean it, you can find that the surface of the cell degrades and then you’re facing a very expensive replacement.

We’ve found a better way: the low-chlorine alternative pool. By using a combination of ozone to purify (as water runs through your pipes) and minerals to retard algae, your pool is engineered to be healthy and sparkling clean while consuming far less chlorine. You’ll still need some, but there’s less chance of eye irritation and no green hair. Best of all, you’ll save dollars at the outset and continue to save year after year over salt water’s higher maintenance costs.

And it’s not just pools that benefit from the latest technology. In our ponds, we now use a combination of ozone and UV to fight algae and keep your water looking its sunlit best. Interested? View our pools page for more pictures or contact us to learn more.

Pondless Fountains

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Glenn

Water features such as fountains are a great way to add tranquility, sound and movement to your outdoor living space. They add beauty and are appreciated for the ambient sound that can be soothing and block out less desirable noises such as traffic. But maintaining a pond or fountain reservoir requires maintenance to keep that water looking its sparkling best and free from debris. Another option is pondless or disappearing waterfalls. These allow you the inherent benefits of a traditional pond fountain without the tedious upkeep and without taking up most of your backyard.

Pondless design simply means there is no open pond or standing water. The water reservoir is hidden underground and gravel bases work well for these designs as the water easily recirculates. You can also use other design materials such as colored landscape glass, large stones and lava rocks. Since there is no open standing water, there is no need to use (and clean!) pond filters, no fish to take care of, no mosquitos, no slimy algae to deal with, no water to refill and no safety concerns inherent with open ponds. This low maintenance option is especially great if you live in an area where there are a lot tree needles and leaves falling to the ground.

How it works:

Water flows from the upper falls, and instead of being held in a still, open pond, it pours into a lined basin that is dug in the ground and filled with rocks and gravel. The water is pumped from the bottom of the basin up to the top of the falls, creating a continuously recirculating flow of water.

Another option is a recirculating bubbling fountain. Bubblers are nice in that they require even less space than a pond less waterfall, yet still provide movement, sound, and interest to your outdoor space.

How it works:

Recirculating bubbling fountains are similar in design to pond less waterfalls using recirculating water with a pondless basin, except the water is pumped from the hidden basin up through a fountain piece, such as a cored basalt column, urn or cored boulder.

Wood Pool Decks – Bring on the Brazilians!

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Glenn

Brazilian Ipe wood deck

When you embark on designing a pool, you’re envisioning that glistening water and how soothing and relaxing it will be. But you’re only half way there: what goes around the pool? One option is decking, which adds the warmth of wood to your aesthetic plan. But as anyone who has ever maintained a wood fence knows, wood requires some upkeep.

Some designers today suggest that man-made or composite decking made from recycled plastic is an eco-friendly choice that removes maintenance issues. It sounds great, but in practice, the aesthetics just aren’t quite there. It’s faux and well, it looks faux.

Another issue with man-made materials is cleanup. They require periodic cleaning twice a year to look their best and to kill mold. For green clients, it pretty much defeats the purpose if they have to use chemicals, especially where people walk barefoot frequently. And composite decks tend to stain and scratch quickly.

Wood decking is actually a great option, but it’s all in the type of wood you choose. We like the durability of cedar deck boards. These dense boards offer very small knots and stain beautifully, allowing you to introduce color to your yard. Cedar typically lasts 10 to 15 years.

For an extremely long lasting, low maintenance option, consider the range of Brazilian hardwoods which require no maintenance except a little oil. Ipe is a dense Brazilian walnut that is harder than nails. It lasts and lasts (up to 100 years!) but is more labor intensive to install as it requires pre-drilled screw holes. Its rich color ranges from an olive color to black with natural variegations.

Garapa, or Brazilian oak, is a lighter colored wood that provides an airy feeling and combines well with Ipe. Naturally pest resistant and impervious to rot, Brazilian Oak offers a beautiful, honey tone that requires only a UV sealer. Its lifespan tends to run twenty five years. Cumaru (Brazilian Red), Jatoba (Brazilian Cherry), Tigerwood, Angelim and Massaranduba (Brazilian Redwood) provide the same strength in a range of different tones and grains.

Used for years in nautical applications, teak woods are still the ne plus ultra of woods. This hardwood stands up to practically everything including fungus, rot, insects, and acids though its cost can be prohibitive. Teak’s natural oils also eliminate the need for sealants, making it maintenance free. Burmese Teak is perhaps the best known and most expensive. A lower cost alternative is Cherry Teak, another extremely hard wood, even among the Brazilians, and known for its luxurious graining.

From a cost and beauty perspective, we think Brazilian hardwoods weather gorgeously and provide a rich, real wood look that recycled plastic still can’t touch.

Green Gardening Flea Control with Nematodes

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Glenn

In the never ending quest to live more organically and naturally, there’s a new way to give your pets a break during the hot Dallas summer months. Treating your garden with nematodes (a type of roundworm) will help flea-proof your pets and your home. Nematodes happily munch on grubs, Japanese beetles, fleas, fly larvae and more than two hundred other pests without disturbing your unique eco-system with chemicals or pesticides.

You can find nematodes at home improvement stores, garden shops, or order them online. If you order online, the nematode container will arrive wrapped in cold packs to keep these helpful creatures alive when you introduce them into your soil. The beneficial types of nematodes (non-parasitic) are toxic to pests but safe for plants, animals and humans. They already occur naturally in soil and once they have completed their dining excursion they die off and biodegrade.

Application is a breeze. Simply spray nematodes on wet soil with a garden hose twice a year, during spring and fall. The nematodes will burrow in the ground, rooting out your flea population and devouring it. Over time, you’ll find your flea population is significantly reduced at an economical price (under $20) and your pets are scratching significantly less.

Mosquito Control Solutions for Your Yard

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Glenn

In February, I read about the Jumanji effect; hibernating animals were awakening earlier than usual due to warmer than usual temperatures. The article went on to talk about the unseasonably warm winter we had, and what we can expect this summer including more ticks (due to soaring deer populations that survived the mild winter) and more mosquitos (due, in part, to decreasing bat populations that have been plagued by a fungus). Deer and bats aside, we should expect more bugs simply because with this year’s unseasonably warm winter, they have managed to survive in greater numbers. So with an even buggier-than-usual summer on the horizon, what can you do to make being outside an enjoyable, less-than-pest-dominated experience?

DIY Natural Mosquito Control Solutions
The best thing to do is to minimize or eliminate any areas of open water in your yard that might be places for mosquitoes to lay and grow their eggs (they’ll either lay them on the water surface or on the ground next to it.) If your yard has a frequently-watered flower bed or you have any area that is poorly leveled and holds water after a rain, you have an ideal breeding area for mosquitoes. Larvae can live in very little water, even in wet foliage. Other obvious areas are flower pots, bird baths, roof gutters, rain barrels, streams and ponds, unused swimming pools and outdoor tubs.

Use Bacillus thuringiensis israelenis bacteria (Bti). This bacteria will infect and kill mosquitos, gnats and black fly larvae. Bti won’t harm anything else including other insects, fish, birds, worms or mammals. You can buy Bti as a dunk to submerge in standing water or buy the bacteria in bits that you can broadcast across your garden. It starts working within 24 hours.

Mentioned above, bats are one of nature’s most effective mosquito controls. Some bat species can eat 500-1000 mosquitos per night. Bats come out in the evening and sleep during the day so you’ll never know they’re around. Buy a bat house.

I won’t claim this to be a very effective approach, but there are a number of plants with repellant effects – their fragrance essentially blocks mosquitos’ ability to smell the things that attract them; these include marigolds, rosemary, and ageratum. Crushing some of the leaves when you are nearby to release fragrance can help. In the same vein, throw a bit of rosemary or sage on the fire when you barbeque. Marigolds are pretty “smelly” on their own so some claim just planting large beds of them helps. And, of course, there are always citronella products (made from citronella grass) such as candles or oil that can be burned in lamps and sprays.

Natural Mosquito Control – Professional Help
Landscaping companies such as ours also offer natural solutions for mosquito control. These natural solutions are repellants rather than insecticides and are effective for about 24 hours. Clients having a special occasion outdoor party often opt for this solution. Pyrethrin (used in natural sprays) is made from extracts of a chrysanthemum plant grown primarily in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Ecuador. Natural pyrethrin is a contact poison that rapidly penetrates the nervous system of mosquitoes and other insects. (They are toxic to ants, roaches, silverfish, mosquitoes, wasps, spiders, crickets and basically all insects and garden pests.) Within a few minutes after pyrethrin is applied, mosquitoes are paralyzed and unable to fly away. In most cases, pyrethrin alone is not enough to kill mosquitoes, and it is gradually detoxified by the enzymes in the mosquito. Sunlight also degrades pyrethrin so your yard is left residue-free. Although pyrethrin comes from flowers, it is not completely correct to think of it as either “natural” or “organic” because it is highly refined and contains a man-made “synergist” that increases its effectiveness.

Garlic-based solutions are another natural option. Like chrysanthemum-based solutions, they are repellants rather than insecticides and their lifespan is limited, requiring more frequent spraying for ongoing efficacy. Spray systems (see below) designed for garlic-based solutions need to be high pressure, so the smell can be more intense, but the solution can be diluted with water and effectively used for cooling the air as well.

Mosquito Control Spray Systems
For homeowners who want to enjoy their yard throughout the summer and need consistent and reliable mosquito control, installing a spray system may be the answer. These systems feature inconspicuous nozzles and dispense a very fine mist. Bonick Landscaping offers the MistAway control system that uses formulations that are safe for both pets and people. MistAway has several advantages over other spray systems:

• Systems have the ability to agitate the contents to ensure a consistent blend of active ingredients in every mosquito mist.
• If the system is somehow damaged and a leak occurs, the system will automatically suspend operation until the leak can be repaired.
• Every system has an optional wind sensor. The controller is programmed to check the wind speed before each scheduled mosquito mist cycle. It will check the wind every minute for five minutes, and if the wind is above a predetermined speed, the unit will go into hibernation until the next regularly scheduled cycle.

A word of caution: it is important to use knowledgeable, professional mosquito mist installers you can trust to install your mosquito control system as improperly installed mosquito systems can damage and burn plants.

On a final note, with this past winter being the fourth warmest on record and insects emerging to find food earlier in the season than usual, OFF!® Insect Repellents ranked the top 50 American metro areas to identify which cities are most affected by mosquitoes and other biting bugs. Dallas ranked in the top 20 at #17. Are you feeling itchy yet?

Landscaping with Concrete Pavers

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Glenn

In recent blog posts I have written about gravel and permeable concrete as environmentally-friendly and attractive options for various hardscape uses in landscaping. Yet another option that is sustainable, versatile and attractive is concrete pavers. Pavers are pre-formed concrete” tiles” made to look like cobblestone, tile, brick, flagstone, slate, chiseled stone and other materials. Concrete pavers are evidently an increasingly popular choice for residential use as I have run across a plethora of information on the Internet touting their use in this way.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say up front that we do not recommend or use concrete pavers with our clients for two main reasons; 1) we don’t find the aesthetics to be quite “worthy” of the residential properties we have the privilege of working on and 2) we don’t necessarily agree 1000% with all the positive hype touting them over other concrete options. Don’t get me wrong, I think concrete pavers are often a good choice in commercial projects such as parks or schools, I just don’t feel they translate elegantly into home use. So to each their own. Aesthetics are subjective and personal and you can certainly make that decision for yourself.

With that, let’s talk about the positive aspects of concrete pavers. At first blush, interlocking pavers may seem like a more expensive option than some other choices, but they actually offer long-term cost-efficiency due to their durability. Because pavers are individual units, if one cracks at some point, it can be replaced. And the high number of joints in the surface facilitates drainage of water from rain, enhancing skid-resistance and decreasing nighttime glare.

Environmentally Friendly
Studies have revealed interlocking concrete pavements (ICPs) have an average life of at least 29 years. Concrete Pavers Earn LEED® Points and Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICPs) are eligible for LEED® credits under the U.S. Green Building Councils (USGBC and CaGBC) guidelines.

Paver Driveways
Paver driveways are actually stronger than concrete, having two to three times the compressive strength and weight-bearing capacity of normal concrete. Installed properly, they are reportedly less prone to shifting, and should not settle or sag, even with heavy vehicle traffic or extreme weather changes.

Paver Pathways and Walkways
Professionally installed, pavers provide a durable, uniform surface. One of the biggest advantages of pavers is that in the event that something like a large tree root raises one or more of the pavers requiring repair, pavers are manufactured to be uniform so they can be replaced without leaving ugly patches or mismatched areas.

Paver Patios and Courtyards
Concrete pavers come in a wide variety of surface finishes, colors and shapes. Moreover, a skilled installer can create a variety of laying patterns, further expanding the customization possibilities.

“Concrete pavers” doesn’t have a very pretty ring to it, but taking into consideration all the benefits it offers as a hardscape choice it can be an attractive landscape materials option. To recap, concrete pavers:

Come in a large range of colors and patterns
Are strong (2-3X stronger than concrete)
Have a long life expectancy (30+ years)
Are low maintenance
Are easily replaced if damaged
Provide a non-slip surface

Textured or Stamped Concrete: An Attractive, Cost-Efficient and Durable Landscaping Option

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Glenn

Stamped concrete (also known as textured concrete, decorative concrete, imprinted concrete, impression concrete) is concrete that is created to simulate brick, slate, flagstone, stone variations, tile and wood patterns. Stamped concrete is created by pouring and smoothing out concrete, then allowing it to set until it is able to hold an impression. A pattern is then imprinted in the concrete with a “concrete stamp” made of polyurethane. Stamped concrete can be used to enhance pool decks, walkways, driveways, entryways, patios and courtyards.

Stamped concrete was first introduced about 50 years ago. At that time, design options were limited. But the industry had evolved and developed to the point where today one of the biggest appeals of stamped concrete is the wide availability of colors and patterns. At Bonick Landscaping we make our own custom patterns as the aesthetic standards of our clients simply require a better-looking end-product than most of the pre-fab patterns that are out there today. Stamped concrete provides the same benefits of durability as traditional concrete (it stands up well to harsh weather and high traffic and lasts for many years). These advantages make stamped concrete a good choice in terms of value among landscaping materials as the cost can represent a 50% or greater savings versus natural stone or other materials.

Stamped concrete can be colored in a number of different ways including integral/integrated colors, antiquing release colors, color hardeners and tinted sealers.

Integral or Integrated colors are mixed into concrete before it is poured and have the advantage of being consistent throughout so that if the concrete is ever chipped or scarred, the color appears the same.
Antiquing release colors are accent colors applied to the surface before stamping that prevent the stamp from sticking to the concrete but also accent color in the grooves and crevices of the stamped design.
Color hardeners are applied to the surface of concrete. They are not recommended for climates that change rapidly due to what is called the “popcorn effect” where small circles “pop out” of the surface of the concrete.
Tinted sealers have a transparent color tint added and come in a wide variety of colors.

Typically, contractors use a variety of coloring techniques to achieve an attractive and realistic faux look. To maintain its attractiveness, it is generally recommended that sealer be reapplied every one to four years depending on the area’s usage and weather exposure.

One final note on stamped concrete; because stamp selection and color application play such an important role in the final outcome, stamped concrete done correctly is truly an art. I have seen poorly done stamped concrete applications as well as beautiful examples. For best results, be sure to visit and look at examples of actual work done before choosing a contractor.

Garden Up with Green Walls

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Glenn

contemporary residence with pool and vertical garden or green wall

Photo courtesy of greenovergrey.com

Green walls, vertical gardens or living walls are gaining popularity both inside and out and I love the idea. Like most ideas, it isn’t exactly a new one. The practice of planting ivy to climb up the walls of buildings has existed for centuries. The new vertical gardens are simply a natural extension of this concept. So far, they seem to be predominantly cropping up in city environments, but we predict you’ll see more and more of this trend spreading to the ‘burbs.

Vertical gardens offer a number of benefits. The most obvious is esthetics; they can make structures more attractive and add fragrance. They can create an inviting habitat for urban wildlife. They also help absorb sound and improve air quality indoors and out. Green walls decrease CO2 and increase humidity. (Although how much they improve air quality is a pretty hotly debated topic – as are some of the other pros versus cons of green walls.)

Green wall or vertical garden on a residential rooftop patio.

Photo courtesy of agreenroof.com

Other positive claims: exterior green walls reduce solar gain (the increase in temperature in a structure that results from solar radiation) thus lowering energy costs, they provide protection from the effects of UV radiation and acid rain, and help lessen the building’s contribution to the heat island effect (when natural areas are replaced with concrete and asphalt, they become warmer).

So what are the potential negatives to green walls? The biggest concerns fall into three general categories: 1) over-inflated claims regarding the benefits (don’t expect to save 20% on your energy bills!), 2) the debatable trade-offs that relate to sustainability – for example, a number of the grid planter systems on the market are made of plastic, and 3) the long-term sustainability of the walls.

Side-by-side photos of green wall on PNC Bank

PNC Bank in Pittsburgh Sept. 2010 and Feb. 2011

Of these, the third is not something you read or hear a lot about, but it is perhaps the most important. While properly constructing and installing a green wall or green panel (after all, green walls don’t need to be an entire wall) isn’t exactly a cakewalk, maintaining a green wall is the bigger challenge. If many or all of the plants need to be replaced frequently one has to question the sustainability.

The reality is, to successfully maintain a green wall on anything but the smallest of scales is best left to experts. It requires an in-depth knowledge of design, irrigation, plants, growth media, pest and disease management and fertilizers. Choosing the right system, the correct plants for the setting and understanding the science behind the technology are all keys to green wall’s longevity.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I love the idea of green walls and vertical gardens. I’ve seen lots of striking examples, the most dramatic being some of the commercial applications. (Although personally I also love the small, less ambitious and more maintainable residential efforts.) The key, as with any landscaping effort, is in getting all the variables right for sustainability.

Why You Should Like Permeable Concrete

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Glenn

In a previous post on The Glamour of Gravel, I mentioned that in a draught-prone climate such as ours, it can be considered a more environmentally friendly choice than concrete. In this post, I’d like to clarify that I was referring to conventional concrete and not permeable concrete (also sometimes referred to as porous concrete, pervious pavement, no-fines concrete, gap-graded concrete or enhanced-porosity concrete). The use of permeable concrete is, in fact, among the Best Management Practices recommended by the EPA and other agencies for the management of stormwater runoff.

In urban areas, we deal with stromwater runoff by building sewer systems that channel the water directly to lakes, rivers and other surface waters rather than into the ground. This runoff picks up toxins such as E. coli, sediments, phosphorus, zinc, cadmium and copper as it travels, requiring expensive water purification systems to cleanse the water before it reenters the natural water cycle.

Permeable concrete is exactly what the name says, it is a concrete mixture that is porous, thereby allowing water to infiltrate and pass through it into the ground beneath. Pervious pavement reduces stormwater runoff and recharges groundwater. It is less prone to cracking or buckling from temperature extremes, requires less frequent patching than conventional concrete and properly installed, should easily last more than 20 years.

Importantly, the subgrade of permeable concrete filters pollutants. When water moves through soil it is called “infiltration.” Infiltration is the way underground water sources are replenished. As water infiltrates, many soils and plants filter out certain pollutants, helping maintain water quality. The earth is still the largest water filtration system around! And the diversion of surface waters does eventually affect the quality of groundwaters. It may take decades or even centuries for rain or melted snow to reach the deepest layers of the earth from which many wells draw water for human consumption, however, that water does come from the surface. So reducing stromwater runoff matters and is something we should all care about, especially in a climate such as ours in the Dallas, Texas area.

So next time you are planning on installing a new walkway or driveway, consider permeable concrete; there’s a lot to like about it.

Take a Walk – or Ride – on the Wild Side…in Dallas

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Glenn

Although this is primarily a landscaping blog, every now and again I go off on a tangent, usually about something related to Dallas and the outdoors. You may remember last October I provided an update on one of my favorite Dallas projects currently under construction, Klyde Warren Park (the name was just announced last month), which is a 5.2-acre deck park being built over Woodall Rogers Freeway that is slated for opening this fall.

Oak Cliff Preserve
This time it’s about one of Dallas’s best kept secrets which is hiding in plain sight – Oak Cliff Nature Preserve. Ever heard of it? Ever been there? It’s a 121-acre oasis with over eight miles of beautiful multi-use hike and bike trails just minutes from downtown Dallas. Go there and it will be hard to believe downtown Dallas is just over your shoulder (literally). Located near Pierce and W. Saner (backing up to the Hampton-Illinois branch of the Dallas Public Library), it is owned and run by the Texas Land Conservancy. One of Texas Land Conservancy’s key partnerships is with the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association (DORBA) which first approached TLC back in 2006 about creating the now established multi-use hike and bike trails on the preserve. The preserve is mostly made up of natural woodland and prairie habitat.

Cedar Ridge Preserve
Travel just a little bit further outside of downtown (20 minutes) and you’ll discover Cedar Ridge Preserve. At an elevation of 755 feet, it’s a slice of hill country. Cedar Ridge Preserve is a natural habitat of 600 acres featuring about nine miles of trails with native trees, grasses and wildflowers, a butterfly garden and plenty of wild mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. CRP has been managed by Audubon Dallas since April 2003 by charter from the Dallas County Park & Open Space Program and the City of Dallas.

So next time you want to reconnect with nature, remember these two preserves, just minutes from downtown Dallas.