The Outback Blog

Chase Coates

Chase Coates is owner of Outback Landscape in Rexburg, Idaho.

Recent Posts

A brown tree is never a good thing. So when you gaze up at your majestic blue spruce and realize its top towering branches are a crispy brown, you’re right to be concerned.

Why is the top of your spruce tree dying? Let’s take a look.

And we’ll talk about how to stop evergreens from turning brown in the first place.


Remember when your patio looked so pretty? Smooth, clean and weed-free?

What the heck happened?

Now it's a jungle out there, with weeds and grass sprouting between the pavers like a primeval forest.

How to keep weeds from growing between pavers? How to get rid of grass between paving stones?

Is there a way to prevent them from sprouting in the first place?

We have your weed-free patio answers, step by step.


Sometimes we get calls from clients whose trees aren’t coming out of dormancy. Instead of new leaves unravelling from the tips of branches, the tree is still bare. Or the leaves are pale and fall off within a few days.

When they call us, we always ask the question, “Did you just plant or move your tree last season?”

And, often, the answer is yes.


Thinking about adding a pergola to your backyard, but not sure which material to choose? You’re not alone. Whether you’re after rustic charm, modern clean lines, or something in between, the right pergola material can make or break your outdoor space — and your budget.

Pergolas have been turning heads for over 3,000 years (yes, really — ancient Egyptians were rocking pergolas before it was cool). These days, homeowners typically choose between three main materials: vinyl, fiberglass, or wood.