Posts Tagged ‘design’
Water, slope and drainage
Sloping side yard causes drainage problem. This homeowner called us in to address a significant drainage issue. Their relatively small and compact yard had a significant right to the left slope, all wedged between large homes. The upper neighbor’s water flowed into their side yard and formed a pool of water with every rainfall. Our…
Read MoreOutdoor living space
Back yard transformed. These homeowners dreamed of adding a pool and outdoor living space to their back yard. They did some research online and provided us with sample photos from Houzz.com. The project was made more difficult because the back yard sloped downhill five feet from the house. By adding the pool with a raised bond beam…
Read MoreOrganic herb garden
Inviting herb garden close to the kitchen. The 460 sq. ft. area that would become an organic herb garden had construction soil full of stones and pieces of concrete. We removed all of the soil to a depth of two feet and built new soil with organic soil amendments, organic local soil, and worm…
Read MoreBig ideas for small spaces
Make your outdoor living space cozy, creative, and connected. You don’t need a big yard to have an inviting space that beckons you and your family outdoors. Think “cozy,” “creative,” and “connected.” Q: What’s the definition of a small space? A: I consider a small space backyard garden to be no bigger than the footprint…
Read MoreChelsea Flower Show Plant of the Year 2013
UAC member, ItSaul Plants, wins the top prize. Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ PP#20183, a plant bred by Ozzie Johnson of ItSaul Plants is awarded 2013 Plant of the Year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, England. Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ is a compact evergreen shrub that can be used in containers as well as shady landscapes.…
Read MoreGrowing outdoor walls and floors
Vines and groundcovers for the southern garden. When I think about vines and groundcovers, I remember my favorite childhood book — “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It’s the story of Mary Lennox, a not-too-nice orphaned girl who is sent to live with her uncle in England. She discovers an overgrown and neglected garden…
Read MoreDeer and rabbit control
Making landscape choices to limit deer and rabbit damage. Aren’t they cute? Bambi and Thumper sure are sweet, soft and cuddly, but ask any gardener how they feel about these furry creatures when they’re found munching on their prize hostas and begonias! Nursery employees, master gardeners and county extension agents claim that “How do I…
Read MoreWhy ‘design’ your landscape?
Plan and design for success in your landscape. Designing a garden is done either consciously or unconsciously. Even those gardens that seem to be “all over the place” are the result of a series of decisions– planting a tree here, adding a border of flowers there, perhaps placing a water feature somewhere else. The most…
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