Thursday, August 30, 2012
New Construction and Design
Our designers and carpenters here at All Decked Out have been creating some beautiful architecture on new decks this season. Below is a work in progress:
Above we've created a structure that not only serves as an air vent cover, but as a functioning bar and storage space as well.
Above again we have covered up air vents and simultaneously added storage cabinets and a small herb garden all in once beautiful streamlined piece.
Happy Labor Day!
As the Summer months draw to a close, we here at All Decked Out thought we would share a few striking images of life that we captured throughout the season:
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
No Stain, No Gain
We have been sweating it out all Summer long here at All Decked Out, to ensure that all of our clients' gardens are getting the best care and maintenance they deserve.
Over the past few weeks we have been power-washing our wooden decks and planters to prepare for staining.
Staining the wood on our clients' decks yields a number of positive results. First, it is aesthetically pleasing, and hides any flaws in the wood. The stain also helps to protect the wood from the wear and tear of the sun in the summer, as well as the rain, ice, and wind in the fall and winter.
The stain we use is Penofin Verde, which is also great for the environment, as well as the wood we are working with. It is an environmentally friendly stain, made and packaged with all non-toxic materials, safe for use around animals and children.
We've added our special ingredients to the mix, consisting of a lot of sweat and care, as well as a few splinters along the way, and the end result looks pretty satisfying.
Over the past few weeks we have been power-washing our wooden decks and planters to prepare for staining.
Staining the wood on our clients' decks yields a number of positive results. First, it is aesthetically pleasing, and hides any flaws in the wood. The stain also helps to protect the wood from the wear and tear of the sun in the summer, as well as the rain, ice, and wind in the fall and winter.
The stain we use is Penofin Verde, which is also great for the environment, as well as the wood we are working with. It is an environmentally friendly stain, made and packaged with all non-toxic materials, safe for use around animals and children.
We've added our special ingredients to the mix, consisting of a lot of sweat and care, as well as a few splinters along the way, and the end result looks pretty satisfying.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Competing Butterfy Pics
Now that Summer is in full swing, our gardeners have been snapping lots of photos of butterflies while they work!
Here are a couple we've found on jobs in the past week or so. Can you tell what species they are?
Here are a couple we've found on jobs in the past week or so. Can you tell what species they are?
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Celebrating the End of Spring Planting
With the Spring planting season behind us, the crew of All Decked Out went out to a celebratory dinner in honor of everyone's hard work this year.
Below are a few snapshots of the fun that ensued:
Below are a few snapshots of the fun that ensued:
Jessica, Maggie, Sarah, Tim, Joan, and the back of Nathan's head
KILIAN!
Coire, Jessica, and Maggie
Gui, Joan, and Tim
Summer Makeovers, Part II
We're back with Part II of our Upper East Side Summer Makeover installment!
After demolishing the tired old terrace to make room for it's new look, our carpenters went to work. They built a new fence for privacy and sanded and stained the planters to make them look brand-new:
After demolishing the tired old terrace to make room for it's new look, our carpenters went to work. They built a new fence for privacy and sanded and stained the planters to make them look brand-new:
With the basics complete, our designers carefully chose plants to accent
the size and complement the shape of the terrace, and our gardeners set
to work on the final installation:
Et Voila! this beautiful terrace was finished on July 3, just in time for an Independence day party!!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
And on the 7th Day, We Rested.
....But before that, we created this masterpiece!
One cold Winter's day down in the Financial District, we happened upon a bare canvas begging for a touch of our artistry.
After months of drawings, planning, and drafting, we began to work. First our expert carpenters came in and created a body. After that, our gardeners followed with a splash of color and personality....
Et Voila! We have created life.
One cold Winter's day down in the Financial District, we happened upon a bare canvas begging for a touch of our artistry.
Et Voila! We have created life.
Monday, June 18, 2012
More Makeovers
We're all the way up on the Upper West Side today for another Summer makeover-this time at the front of a historical landmark building.
The owners of this building are renovating it's foundation, and with that comes the need to renovate the planters that flank its entrance.
First, we had to spend about a week completely digging out the entire box. This was no easy feat, and came with a LOT of surprises that had been buried deep in the ground over the past century.
Next, we had to lay down rocks and gravel to prepare for the substrate to be completed:
Now, with all the dirty work out of the way, the area is once again ready for a brand new spectacular front garden!
The owners of this building are renovating it's foundation, and with that comes the need to renovate the planters that flank its entrance.
First, we had to spend about a week completely digging out the entire box. This was no easy feat, and came with a LOT of surprises that had been buried deep in the ground over the past century.
Next, we had to lay down rocks and gravel to prepare for the substrate to be completed:
Friday, June 15, 2012
Latin Lessons: Part 3
This week we ventured into full-size tree planting!
We had the pleasure of trying to figure out how to fit a 20 foot tree into a 14 foot truck when we chose the lovely "Honey Locust", Latin name Gleditsia triacanthos, for our client's new tree pit.
With some expert knot tying and beautiful flexibility shown by our precious Gleditsia, we were able to get everyone unharmed to the site!
Gleditsia triacanthos are native to North America, and can often reach heights of up to 100 feet tall. These trees bloom flowers in late spring, and fruit pods in early Autumn. Don't eat them though, they're toxic!
Fun fact: Not just any tree can grow in Brooklyn, or Manhattan for that matter. There is a very small and specific list of which trees are allowed to be planted on New York City sidewalks.
We had the pleasure of trying to figure out how to fit a 20 foot tree into a 14 foot truck when we chose the lovely "Honey Locust", Latin name Gleditsia triacanthos, for our client's new tree pit.
With some expert knot tying and beautiful flexibility shown by our precious Gleditsia, we were able to get everyone unharmed to the site!
Gleditsia triacanthos are native to North America, and can often reach heights of up to 100 feet tall. These trees bloom flowers in late spring, and fruit pods in early Autumn. Don't eat them though, they're toxic!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Gardening Isn't Just for Pansies; Part II
Remember our post about patios back on May 1st?
We were in Brooklyn delivering bluestone for a client's custom-cut diamond pattern blue-stone patio.
Well, over the past three weeks our carpenters labored intensely, and our client now has a new, beautiful patio for us both to show off!!
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more "after" pictures to follow up our earlier blogs from May. In the meantime, happy gardening!
We were in Brooklyn delivering bluestone for a client's custom-cut diamond pattern blue-stone patio.
(here's a reminder)
Well, over the past three weeks our carpenters labored intensely, and our client now has a new, beautiful patio for us both to show off!!
Stay tuned over the next few weeks for more "after" pictures to follow up our earlier blogs from May. In the meantime, happy gardening!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Summer Makeovers
Summer is almost here! While everyone sweats out the last few weeks of Spring at the gym to prepare for the next two months at the beach, we've been giving a few special gardens some makeovers of their own to make sure they too are bikini and BBQ ready.
The below terrace on the Upper East Side came to us a few weeks ago in dire need of some shaping up for Summer:
While our designers set to work on dreaming up a more streamlined, modern and colorful style for the space, we began to demolish what was left of the old planters, trees, and ivy to create room for a fresh new look:
Now that the area is clean, we've got a blank canvas on which to paint the finishing touches this terrace needs for a Summer of fun in the sun!
Stay tuned for the final product....
The below terrace on the Upper East Side came to us a few weeks ago in dire need of some shaping up for Summer:
While our designers set to work on dreaming up a more streamlined, modern and colorful style for the space, we began to demolish what was left of the old planters, trees, and ivy to create room for a fresh new look:
Now that the area is clean, we've got a blank canvas on which to paint the finishing touches this terrace needs for a Summer of fun in the sun!
Stay tuned for the final product....
Monday, May 21, 2012
Mountain Laurels and More Latin
Last week we had the pleasure of working with one of the most beautiful flowering plants on the east coast of the United States; the Mountain Laurel. Known in the flower world by it's Latin nomenclature of "Kalmia Latifolia", this bush is native to US Northeast.
The Kalmia Latifolia is a part of the blueberry bush family, latin name "Ericaceae". It is also sometimes referred to as a "Spoonwood", because the flowers were once used by Native Americans to make their spoons.
The flowers on these plants come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, but generally always have some pink in them. They' truly are a majestic plant, and being able to plant and care for them is a privilege!
The Kalmia Latifolia is a part of the blueberry bush family, latin name "Ericaceae". It is also sometimes referred to as a "Spoonwood", because the flowers were once used by Native Americans to make their spoons.
The flowers on these plants come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, but generally always have some pink in them. They' truly are a majestic plant, and being able to plant and care for them is a privilege!
Drilling Basics
While we all tend to our weekend sunburns on this dreary Monday and wait for the rain to pass, please enjoy the textbook instructional drilling video below:
(for legal reasons we have to say that you probably shouldn't try this at home)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
No Rest for the Wicked
With temperatures on the rise and the month of May rapidly coming to a close, everyday is a working day here at All Decked Out. Whether we're building decks, planting flowers or installing irrigation, we have all been working nonstop to get through these installation months in one piece!
Here's a few snapshots of the what we've been up to over the past two weeks:
Here's a few snapshots of the what we've been up to over the past two weeks:
Mulching!
Watering!
Sweeping!
Pruning!
and Bragging ....only a little :)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Gardening Isn't Just for Pansies
Happy May!
On this rainy Tuesday we left our prunes and snips at home in anticipation of indulging in one of our other favorite jobs as a landscaping company; Building patios.
Back in Brooklyn again, we are completely renovating a client's backyard. We removed over 5 TONS of debris in order to create a clean slate to work with:
With a bare surface ready, we delivered 2 tons of gravel and stone this morning in order to begin construction on our client's custom-cut diamond pattern blue-stone patio!
How will things look once we're finished? ...You'll have to stay tuned to find out ;)
On this rainy Tuesday we left our prunes and snips at home in anticipation of indulging in one of our other favorite jobs as a landscaping company; Building patios.
Back in Brooklyn again, we are completely renovating a client's backyard. We removed over 5 TONS of debris in order to create a clean slate to work with:
With a bare surface ready, we delivered 2 tons of gravel and stone this morning in order to begin construction on our client's custom-cut diamond pattern blue-stone patio!
How will things look once we're finished? ...You'll have to stay tuned to find out ;)
Monday, April 30, 2012
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Although most of our jobs are on the great island of Manhattan, we do sometimes get the pleasure of crossing the river to work in the ever green and always lovely Brooklyn.
This past week, the entire team (about 10 workers in total) transformed a rooftop in DUMBO from a simple place to get a good view of downtown Manhattan, to a menagerie to be viewed FROM downtown Manhattan!
We started the day at 5am with a trip out to our nursery to get shrubs, grasses, pansies, and planters. Then, once the goods were delivered, the team set to work to bring our designer's plans to life.
After a long hard day and a successfully completed installation, we of course all had to stop for pizza and a beer at the famous Grimaldi's before making our way back to across the bridge. Until next time...!
This past week, the entire team (about 10 workers in total) transformed a rooftop in DUMBO from a simple place to get a good view of downtown Manhattan, to a menagerie to be viewed FROM downtown Manhattan!
Above: The rooftop prior to it's All Decked Out makeover
Above: The rooftop after 8 hours of genius at work ;)
After a long hard day and a successfully completed installation, we of course all had to stop for pizza and a beer at the famous Grimaldi's before making our way back to across the bridge. Until next time...!
Plagued by Pollen and Poles!
After two long weeks, we're back on the blog! (miss us??)
We have officially hit the ground running (sprinting, really) here at All Decked Out, and we have been busy nearly every day installing new gardens all over the city, all while fighting the good fight-seasonal allergies!
As you may be able to guess, one of the most exciting and equally daunting parts of Spring installations is that you never can tell exactly what to expect-especially in a city as old and storied as New York.
Last week, during a backyard installation on the Upper West Side, we encountered the remnants of a chain-link fence installed at least 80-100 years prior. While digging a large hole for a new Cherry tree, we struck concrete and metal. Unable to stray from the original design of the garden, we spent the next THREE HOURS with a sledgehammer and pick steadily chipping away at the antique foundation.
Above: Diego, Gui, and Jessica posing in a pollen fog of victory with the enemy pole
After all our hard work, not only were we finally able to pull the (3ft
long!) metal pole and it's concrete base out of the ground, but the
Cherry tree looked perfect in it's corner spot :). A job well worth the
work!
We have officially hit the ground running (sprinting, really) here at All Decked Out, and we have been busy nearly every day installing new gardens all over the city, all while fighting the good fight-seasonal allergies!
As you may be able to guess, one of the most exciting and equally daunting parts of Spring installations is that you never can tell exactly what to expect-especially in a city as old and storied as New York.
Last week, during a backyard installation on the Upper West Side, we encountered the remnants of a chain-link fence installed at least 80-100 years prior. While digging a large hole for a new Cherry tree, we struck concrete and metal. Unable to stray from the original design of the garden, we spent the next THREE HOURS with a sledgehammer and pick steadily chipping away at the antique foundation.
Above: Diego, Gui, and Jessica posing in a pollen fog of victory with the enemy pole
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunshine is here, and Tulips are too....
...But with all this heat, they'll soon bid us adieu!
It's the first hot day of 2012, and the city is alive with color! As ladies lunch in billowing sundresses and hipsters lounge in their neon-hued denim, millions of tulips are standing tall all over Manhattan.
Unfortunately, however, these beautiful little additions of color to city-life won't be holding their own for long. It may be common sense to assume that warm weather and sunshine brings more flowers rather than less, but in the case of Tulips, that's not true.
Tulips, like the "All Temples of Beauty" bulbs pictured above from this morning, prefer cooler weather and less sunlight. That's why these early risers are always the first spots of color you see in the Spring.
All this sunshine and the heat from a day like today are like hitting the fast forward button on the life span of a Tulip, which is why they seem extra full and marvelous. In the same token, that fast forward button will stay on all day today, and by as early as tomorrow those same tulips will begin to wilt and die.
In the end, as sad as it may be that the last day of a flowering Tulip's life is it's most beautiful, the same heat and sun that are scaring away these Springtime plants are what will bring us even more beautiful summertime plants in the months to come!
It's the first hot day of 2012, and the city is alive with color! As ladies lunch in billowing sundresses and hipsters lounge in their neon-hued denim, millions of tulips are standing tall all over Manhattan.
Unfortunately, however, these beautiful little additions of color to city-life won't be holding their own for long. It may be common sense to assume that warm weather and sunshine brings more flowers rather than less, but in the case of Tulips, that's not true.
Tulips, like the "All Temples of Beauty" bulbs pictured above from this morning, prefer cooler weather and less sunlight. That's why these early risers are always the first spots of color you see in the Spring.
All this sunshine and the heat from a day like today are like hitting the fast forward button on the life span of a Tulip, which is why they seem extra full and marvelous. In the same token, that fast forward button will stay on all day today, and by as early as tomorrow those same tulips will begin to wilt and die.
In the end, as sad as it may be that the last day of a flowering Tulip's life is it's most beautiful, the same heat and sun that are scaring away these Springtime plants are what will bring us even more beautiful summertime plants in the months to come!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Friendly Goodbyes and New Beginnings
Good Morning!
Has everyone recovered from their respective Holiday weekends yet? We like to think that whether you were celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply two days off after another work week, this past weekend symbolized the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
That said, this weekend here at All Decked Out we celebrated our own form of the ever continuing cycle of endings and beginnings. One of our most beloved members of the team, Nathan, is moving on from ADO, and Friday afternoon we had a small party in his honor.
Gifts were given, drinks and many laughs were had, and goodbyes were sadly exchanged.
(Above: Nathan receives a nearly lifetime supply of his beloved Snyder Pretzels and Hot Tamales from Killian)
Now, as a fresh week begins, we excitedly move forward with some new team members, a fresh outlook on the always changing future, and clear eyes and full hearts.
Back to planting!!!
Has everyone recovered from their respective Holiday weekends yet? We like to think that whether you were celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply two days off after another work week, this past weekend symbolized the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
That said, this weekend here at All Decked Out we celebrated our own form of the ever continuing cycle of endings and beginnings. One of our most beloved members of the team, Nathan, is moving on from ADO, and Friday afternoon we had a small party in his honor.
Gifts were given, drinks and many laughs were had, and goodbyes were sadly exchanged.
Now, as a fresh week begins, we excitedly move forward with some new team members, a fresh outlook on the always changing future, and clear eyes and full hearts.
Back to planting!!!
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