Learning Library
Welcome to our Learning Library! Below, you’ll find a collection of in-depth articles focused on various aspects of creating beautiful, functional outdoor living spaces. Our goal is to provide you with the information and clarity you need to help you plan your next project! Read through those that interest you and feel free to contact us with questions!
Follow Our Progress: New Fiberglass Pool and Outdoor Living Space
Follow Our Progress! Big Bend Landscaping is in Edwardsville this week building a gorgeous fiberglass pool and outdoor living space! We are especially excited about this project as it is one of the largest we've tackled to date. Check in regularly to follow our...
Small Job–Big Results: Garden Wall
The Beauty of Retaining Walls: We love small jobs that yield big results! We tore out the old worn down railroad tie wall and replaced with a Versa Lok 6” Non-Tumbled block garden wall in Bethany Ledge color. After that, we backfilled the wall installing fabric and...
Transforming Small Backyards with Patios, Walkways, and Fire Pits
Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Your Small Backyard: Many backyards in the St. Louis area can be described as “small” or—in real estate speak — “intimate.” And they can be a challenge to work with. But when it comes to outdoor living spaces, size should never be a...
A Thing Of Beauty: Using A Retaining Wall As A Drainage Solution
Retaining walls are remarkable things. A true engineering feat that came into existence shortly after mankind packed up his favorite possessions, moved into his first house, and decided to try his hand at gardening. Floods came. Droughts came. Mankind realized he...
NEW Big Bend Landscaping Logo
We’re very proud of the history of Big Bend Landscaping and all we’ve accomplished since it was founded. We thought it was time for a logo refresh, to bring the “face” of the company up to the 2020’s a bit! We started as a lawn and landscape company which is why the...
Five Ways To Use Your Outdoor Living Space This Summer
July is here! And with it comes fun in the sun (and the shade): BBQs, picnics, swimming, and evenings beneath the stars. And while there are lots of vacation destinations out there, in a way, it’s more relaxing to spend time with your family and friends in your own...
The Benefits Of Adding Lighting To A Landscaping Project
With spring’s arrival and summer within sight here in St. Louis, Big Bend Landscaping’s schedule is filling up fast. And not just with work, but with events like cookouts and outdoor celebrations. There really isn’t anything better than an outdoor gathering with...
Dream With Us: Creating An Outdoor Living Space
There are dreamers and there are planners; the planners make their dreams come true. -Edwin Louis Cole-March is a great time to begin creating an outdoor living space. Spring is not far off now. While it’s still chilly, the crocuses are up, and the serviceberry and...
Small Backyard Patio Ideas That Will Transform Your Outdoor Space
It’s all about perspective. If you’ve looked at blogs, ads, and magazines with pictures of large outdoor living spaces, then looked out at your much smaller backyard and despaired that you’ll never have a space like that, we have good news. The truth is—your smaller...
Get Your Yard Ready For Spring: Seasonal Clean up in ten easy steps
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. Hal BorlandWelcome to March! The signs are all there. Spring is just over the horizon. The crocuses are up and you haven’t heard a winter storm threat in weeks! Now is a great time to get your yard ready for spring!...
Five Backyard Drainage Solutions: When It Rains, It Pours
Despite the forecast, live like it's spring! -Lilly Pulitzer It’s February in St. Louis, and that means spring is almost upon us. And with spring comes rain and lots of it. Storm water management is an important part of home and yard maintenance here. If you’ve...
Change Your Yard: Eight Reasons to Build a Retaining Wall and Add a Drainage System
This landscaping feature remains a popular solution to a lot of homeowner headaches. And these days, they’re built out of a variety of materials, including wood (timbers), masonry, poured concrete, and interlocking concrete blocks called pavers. They can just be utilitarian or they can be attractive AND utilitarian. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re either wondering if one of these will solve a problem you’re having or if it could prevent one you haven’t had yet.
How to Use your patio this winter: Five Winter Patio Ideas
The good times are just beginning! With just a little planning, you can continue to use your patio this winter. Here are just a few winter patio ideas! Image Header textImage Header textImage Header textAdmit it. You’ve been looking wistfully out the window...
Nine Reasons to Hire a Professional Fencing Contractor
When you think about fences, what comes to mind? “Good fences make good neighbors.” (Robert Frost) “Don’t fence me in…” (Roy Rogers) “I'm just sittin' on a fence,” (Rolling Stones) Or maybe you just picture picket fences. Or think more about safety, security, and...
Outdoor Living Space Decorating Ideas for the Holidays
If you’re here because you're in search of outdoor living space decorating ideas for the holidays, welcome and come on in! If you’re here because the holidays are on upon us and you aren’t looking forward to any of it, but are in search of something to distract...
Reasons to Install A Fire Pit: How You Can Use a Fire Pit in the Fall
It's Fall o'clock! Do You Know where your fire pit is? Big Bend Landscaping has been serving the St. Louis area for more than 25 years, and not once has one of our customers called us up to tell us that they regretted hiring us to install a fire pit. In fact,...
More Reasons to Install a Fire Pit: Fire Pit Party Ideas for Fall
It’s fire pit party season! September is here, the kids are in school or will be soon, and you’re looking in the back of your closet for sweaters to wear in the morning. You are ready for cooler weather! Like many of us at Big Bend Landscaping, you’ve got falling...
Ten Reasons to Add a Fire Pit to Your Outdoor Living Space
Big Bend Landscaping builds a lot of fire pits for our St. Louis area clients and we have yet to hear any of them say, “Gosh! I sure am sorry I have a fire pit now.” Most people can’t believe they ever lived without one. When you add a fire pit to your outdoor living space, you create an entirely new reason to enjoy your yard. Fire pits are useful for many reasons—more than we have time to discuss today. So we are sharing just ten of our favorites.
I’m Just Here for the BBQ
When you think about how you want to spend July 4th, what are the first things that come to mind? Firework displays and sparklers, right? An outdoor gathering with your family and friends . . .and a flaming grill full of something barbequed What we barbeque might...
Cool Ways to Use Your Outdoor Living Space in the Heat of Summer
Big Bend Landscaping is here with some cool upgrade suggestions that will help you better use your outdoor living space during these summer months.
Enhance Curb Appeal and Safety With Our Outdoor Lighting Solutions
Whether it’s a small cottage or an expansive outdoor living space, Big Bend Landscaping can help you increase your safety and enhance your beautiful landscaping! We provide high quality outdoor lighting to customers in the St. Louis area!
Building a Concrete Paver Walkway
Building a concrete paver walkway can turn your yard from ho-hum into an extraordinary outdoor space. If you live in the St. Louis area and are considering adding a walkway to your yard, call the experts at Big Bend Landscaping. A walkway is an imaginative way to draw...
Best Outdoor Party Ideas: Ten Steps to Throwing a Great Outdoor Party
Big Bend Landscaping Agrees: It’s Time to Celebrate! Let’s be honest—it’s been a long winter and a wet spring. But sunny days are ahead! And with warmer months on the horizon, you have lots of opportunity to enjoy your yard and your outdoor living spaces. Just like...
Outdoor Lighting by Big Bend Landscaping
There are many benefits when you add outdoor lights by Big Bend Landscaping to your property. We encourage our clients to add lighting to all their outdoor living spaces, walkways, and retaining walls. Let’s talk about a few of the benefits: functionality, safety,...
Prep Your Yard for Spring: 9 Tips from Big Bend Landscaping
“Our life is March weather, savage and serene in one hour.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson described the weather in March perfectly. Especially the weather in the Midwest where it is difficult to know what to expect. But either way, spring is just over the horizon! Big...
Plan Your Outdoor Living Space Today
St. Louis is warming up and our calendar is filling up with outdoor living projects. If you’re thinking about an enhancement to your backyard, it’s never too early to plan.
Why Build a Retaining Wall? Six Solutions to Landscaping Problems
There are a number of reasons Big Bend Landscaping will build a retaining wall for one of our customers. The hilly landscape and the weather in the St. Louis area present problems easily solved by this useful outdoor feature.
Why Build a Retaining Wall? Six Ways to Dress Up Your Yard
There are many perfectly good reasons to build a retaining wall. For the most part, Big Bend Landscaping in St. Louis focuses on the most practical aspects. Like flood control, protection against erosion, and eliminating time-consuming lawn maintenance. But there are...
Change Your Life: Ten Beautiful Retaining Wall Ideas
Big Bend Landscaping presents: a brief list of beautiful retaining wall ideas for your enjoyment. There are many more where these came from. We just couldn’t fit them all into one blog. Image Header textImage Header textImage Header textIf you’re trying to decide...
Prepare Your Outdoor Living Space for Winter
Big Bend Landscaping wants to help you prepare your outdoor living space for winter weather. And winter in St. Louis often means lots of ice and snow. We know you’ve invested a lot of time and money in your yard, and we want to help you protect it. It might seem like a bit of a hassle, but it’s worth your time.
Why Add a Seating Wall?
If you live in the St. Louis area and are planning to add a seating wall to your yard, or want more information about what they are, Big Bend Landscaping has your answer! Did your last cookout look like a new version of musical chairs, with guests trying to be polite...
Retaining Wall System is a Landscaping Tool
Retaining walls are landscaping tools. St Louis customers ask Big Bend Landscaping to build retaining wall systems for them a variety of reasons. Most of them want to resolve an issue such as unusable yard space or drainage issues. But a retaining wall system is more...
Use Your Paver Fire Pit In Every Season
One of Big Bend Landscaping’s most popular outdoor living features that can be used in every season are paver fire pits. Customers love the element of intimacy they lend to outdoor spaces. There’s nothing quite like a crackling fire to encourage guests and family...