Oak trees contribute numerous benefits to a home’s landscape. Not only are they beautiful; their towering height also means an oak tree can provide much-needed shade (which can lower energy bills) to your home. And if you enjoy seasonal color, many varieties of oak tree are deciduous, meaning their leaves change color in autumn. The…
As we often remind you in our blogs, choosing the right location for a tree is the first step to a successful planting. But this can go beyond simply identifying the right spot in your yard. You might also be wondering if you can plant a tree in an artificial turf lawn, or in decomposed…
If you purchased a home this year, you are probably still learning about the yard. Each season, your gardens, lawn, and trees will change, and bring up new questions. In fact, it can take about a year or so before most new homeowners feel comfortable with lawn and garden maintenance. In particular, you might be…
If you thought the hundred-year-old oak in your city park was impressive, you won’t believe how long some trees can survive! Many of these ancient trees are located in or near popular tourist destinations, so you can even go visit them if you like. Methuselah. Thought to be the oldest living tree in the world,…
We all have our reasons for loving trees. You might enjoy the shade they provide on a hot day, and how they keep your home cooler. You might love to witness their beauty as leaves change color in the fall, or happily munch on the fruit they provide. Then, of course, trees also offer ecological…
If your lawn is suffering due to this historic drought, you aren’t alone. Homeowners throughout Southern California are worried about their lawns, as grass tends to suffer when it is not watered regularly. We’re all reorganizing our priorities, and making new choices for our landscaping. Some homeowners are installing drip irrigation systems, while others are…
In many people’s minds, trees are essential to a visually pleasing landscape. But for many gardens, it’s the unusual trees that really make the space seem special. Weeping trees lend a sense of enchantment to your landscaping, but be careful with them. In general it is best to limit yourself to one variety per garden,…
If your citrus trees seem less than vigorous lately, you should check them for signs of cottony cushion scale. This pest can cause serious damage to your trees. Luckily the problem is easy to spot, and nature often provides a very effective remedy for the problem.
One landscaping challenge we commonly see is that gardeners really want to take advantage of every empty spot in their yards, and this often means planting shrubs or perennials underneath trees. Unfortunately, without proper planning this can cause problems for both the trees and whatever is planted beneath them. One common frustration is the idea…
During the hottest part of summer, trees tend to provide welcome shade – but that’s about it. Spring, and the glorious flowering of ornamental trees that we associate with the season, is long over. Many of us miss the color and drama provided by flowering trees once summer is in full swing.
If you want to add a few trees to your landscaping, you might feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. One of the first decisions you need to make is between evergreen or deciduous trees. Both types of tree offer benefits and challenges, but one will be more likely to fit each of the…
Trees offer some great advantages to your landscaping; they’re beautiful, provide shade, and can even lower your electric bills in the summer. But if you aren’t careful about placement and choosing the right species of trees, you could end up with a cracked and damaged driveway, sidewalk, or patio. Doing a little research will go…