Putt Like the Pros

Photo Source: Unsplash.

What do Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre, golf pro Tiger Woods, actor Mark Wahlberg, and NASCAR star Kevin Harvick all have in common? They all have golf courses built into their backyard. Thanks to new technology, you no longer have to be on the same pay grade as these A-list stars to have your very own putting green in the backyard.

This month, we took a moment to talk to TBO Landscape Systems founder Rob Thibault to get the down on (getting rid of) the dirty grass in your yard!

Q: What is one thing you wish your customers knew about getting synthetic turf installed?

A: I wish customers could understand how easily we can customize turf to the size and shape of their backyard. It doesn't matter how small or "awkward shaped" your yard or porch is - give us a little time and we can transform it into a beautiful green space! I also wish they knew that they were really saying goodbye to mud and potholes. A well installed synthetic turf allows you, your pets, and kids to enjoy your backyard regardless of the weather!

Q: You recently went to Nice, France and shared with your followers some fun sightings of turf installed there. So spill the beans, do you have a favourite celebrity home or public space that you think has used turf to transform their space well?

A: I just watched a documentary on Tony Robbins. His home, located right near the ocean, had this amazing cold dunking tub and beautiful synthetic lawn!


Q: Can you share your favourite client experience where you transformed their space through the installation of synthetic turf?

A: One of my favourite installation experiences occurred just recently. An easygoing homeowner in Kitsilano had originally been considering installing a synthetic lawn. We got talking and he mentioned that he and his family had this fun annual tradition of hosting a mini golf tournament every summer at their cabin. This client's wife won every time. By the end of our discussion he'd decided to install a putting green instead of a synthetic lawn so he could get in some extra practice during the year to give his wife a run for her money at the next golf tournament! We even added a few lights in the trees as accents to this new green so he could get in the occasional late night practice or two!

Interested? Chat with us today. 

From Green to Good Health

Photo Source: Unsplash.

Did you know that people who live with access to a green space have been found to be healthier than their peers living day to day in the concrete jungle? It’s true! The benefits of living in an green, urban space have been proven to have long term positive effect on your health.

Researcher Mathew White, of the European Centre for Environment and Human Health at the University of Exeter in the UK, has discovered that people living in greener urban areas were displaying fewer signs of depression or anxiety. Research has also come out of the University of Washington, where scholars have made a clear case for the benefits of cultivating urban green spaces.

“Having quality landscaping and vegetation in and around the places where people work and study is a good investment. Both visual access and being within green space helps to restore the mind’s ability to focus. This can improve job and school performance, and help alleviate mental stress and illness.”

Access to urban parks was cited as a helpful tool to help people gain proximity to this beneficial kind of environment. Work with TBO and bring the same water features and green space you'd find in a park to your own backyard! 

Our clients often come to us so that we can help them design the most peaceful and relaxing space possible for whatever space and budget they may have. Water features such as the installation of floating steps, a basalt gurgler, or a mid-sized garden falls nestled in a wood have been found to transform backyards into beautiful spaces of retreat for our clients.

Just recently we designed and installed our first zen garden. Located in beautiful White Rock, British Columbia, this peaceful space is located on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Tasteful lighting, urban, statues, rock structures, and vegetation were used to create a soothing backyard oasis.

Share with us, do you find that you feel less anxious and on the whole more healthy after spending time in your garden? What aspects of your garden to you find to be the most enjoyable and/or relaxing? We would love to hear from you.

Interested? Chat with us today!

Harnessing Your Green Potential

Photo Source.

Are you taking hold of your green potential? Perhaps you’ve heard that Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has vowed to make Vancouver the “greenest city in the world.”  All over Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, stories of people harnessing their green potential are emerging.

Photo Credit: Metro Vancouver News. 

The University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Fairmont have opened up rooftop gardens, companies like Inner City Farms are taking off, and Heritage Vancouver has just wrapped up its 5th Annual Garden Tour.

Often people feel as though their options are limited because they live in an apartment, own a townhouse with a tiny yard, or have an awkwardly shaped backyard thanks to poor city planning in the suburb. But gone are the days when you have to have a mini hobby farm or acreage to participate in this green revolution. TBO is here to help you dream!

Do you live in a 15th floor apartment but miss the look of a lawn? No problem! Let us install a synthetic turf on your porch, achieving the effect of a tiny manicured lawn all year round! Needing a little peace in a week filled with looming deadlines and a hectic commute? Let us build you a peaceful waterfall to sit by, or better yet, a zen garden of your very own! Let us build you a pergola to grow your own grapes for wine or a terraced garden to grow strawberries to mix in those margaritas served at your next dinner party!

Just listen to our colleagues over at BC Basalt, “TBO'S builds gorgeous, methodical landscapes. They are a great company to work with!”

It doesn’t matter how small your space is or how impossible your vision seems, let us help you harvest your green potential, bring you happiness, and make your dreams a reality!

Interested? Chat with us today. 

Ready For Raincouver

Fall is just around the corner and the rainy season will soon be upon us. But don’t fear; TBO Landscape Systems is here to help! It’s no secret that Vancouver is a city known for its rain.

Reported to be one of the “7 wettest places on earth” by BC Living Magazine, Vancouverites often jokingly refer to their city as “Raincouver.” Last year (2015), Vancouver received 516.20 mm of rain in its last quarter alone and TBO Landscape Systems was often called in to help manage the worry that comes with the wet! 

Photo Credit: Fraser Valley File

Just this past June, 2016 some residents in West Vancouver had to be evacuated from their homes due to heavy rain and flooding. Gardens were flooded and large amounts of earth were destabilized.

While it is unusual for people in British Columbia to be evacuated because of heavy rain, one of the challenges that routinely occurs in a wet climate with rocky and mountainous terrain is the crumbling of slopes and hills in backyards. This often leads to the destabilization of backyard spaces that become dangerous for children and even adults to walk on or around. Additionally, the damp climate often contributes to rot in stairs or reinforcing structures in addition to drainage issues. We see it all the time!

Work with us to terrace your backyard, reinforce your stairs, install a ground-water drainage system, or build a retaining wall. Our experienced team will work to make your backyard functional and safe again.

Interested? Chat with us today. 

 

Healing Waters

Water is good for the soul.

It's also a symbol for life and healing. Many of our clients have chosen to add a water feature to their property in memory of someone, or something. 

Perhaps you or someone close to you has experienced recent health challenges. Running water brings a natural beauty that offers both visual and auditory stimulation to your senses. Spending a quiet moment by still or running water can help promote positive thinking and reduce anxiety. 

Peaceful. Oasis. Safe.

Waterfalls and streams are loud enough to block out traffic and other neighbourhood noise (isn't that the main appeal of a backyard getaway—peace and quiet?). Ponds offer a unique serenity to your outdoor space, and those that are designed and installed correctly have their own self-sustaining eco-system. 

Chat with us about a water feature that meets your wish list. We can make them child-friendly, eco-friendly, water-wise, adjustable, compact, meandering, and more.