Rabbits and squirrels are cute and fun to watch, but they become considerably less adorable when you are watching them tear up your garden. Since it’s almost impossible to simply keep these critters out of your yard without walls and specialty fencing, use a combination of the techniques below to encourage them to feast elsewhere. Read more
A vast expanse of lush green lawn makes sense in many areas of the country, and for many budgets. But in an area like Southern California, where rainfall is a rare commodity, it doesn’t make sense for many homeowners to pursue traditional grassy landscaping.
If you’re looking for an alternative to grass that will save you time and money, as well as benefit the local water supply, check out these creative solutions. Read more
As much as you “baby” your landscaping, your highest priority will always be the safety of your children or grandchildren. That’s why you want to be certain the landscaping around your backyard swing set provides a safe place for the kids to play. Since the main danger of swing sets lies in falls from the equipment, it’s important to remember that the material you place underneath the swing set should provide adequate shock absorption. Read more
We’ve been getting a lot of calls about the HERO program, from concerned homeowners who want to reduce their overall energy and water usage. If you’re wondering whether the HERO program can help you, read on for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Read more
Amateur gardeners often look forward to spring and summer, since those seasons are commonly associated with fresh fruits and veggies. But you can actually enjoy delicious produce from your own garden in the winter as well. The trick is knowing which veggies will thrive in cooler weather, and making sure you provide the right environment for them to flourish. Read more
We often say that properly planning a landscaping project makes all the difference in the final results. Unfortunately, many people think that growing a lush green lawn is as simple as placing sod or spreading seeds, watering the area, and waiting. There’s actually one big mistake regarding grass that we often see, and the unfortunate thing is that it would have been so easy to prevent! Read more
Any time you begin a landscaping project, one of your first considerations should be whether your desired trees or flowers are appropriate for your intended use of them. Poor placement can sometimes be remedied by moving the plant, but there isn’t a lot you can do about your climate. Therefore, it’s extremely important to choose plants that will survive and flourish in the temperatures and weather conditions to which they will be exposed. Read more
You may think of fall and winter as slow times for landscaping work, and prefer to do most of your gardening in the spring and summer when you can reap the rewards of beautiful flowering plants. If you find your cool-season landscape to be dull and uninspiring, you might be happy to learn there are some gorgeous flowering shrubs that actually bloom in fall and winter. Camellias start blooming at this time of year, in vibrant shades of pink, white, and red. And luckily, they aren’t too difficult to grow. Read more
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. Read more
Lawnmowers and other power tools make landscaping tasks much easier and more time-efficient. But it’s important to remember that these tools can be dangerous when used incorrectly. Follow these landscaping safety tips to prevent injuries and keep your family safe. Read more
If you love fruit, growing fruit trees can mean a freezer and pantry full of delicious jams, jellies, pies, and more. But it can be difficult to plant young fruit trees and protect them from disease and environmental problems, so in many orchards young fruit trees are grafted to the rootstock of a more vigorous, hardy tree. Read more
While sod is usually our preferred method of installing turf, there are times when using grass seed is needed for budgetary reasons. There are several ways to do this, but if you want to start from seed then you’ll need to follow these steps. Read more
If you’ve been sniffling and sneezing a lot lately, you may already suspect an allergic reaction. Many people are allergic to the fine, powdery pollen produced by trees. When inhaled, even in small amounts, pollen can trigger sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, a sore throat, and other common allergy symptoms. Read more
In the landscaping world, we’re often asked this question by frustrated homeowners: I tried to grow a lush green lawn this summer, but after investing my time and money in grass seed, I wound up with a barren, dead yard! What happened? Isn’t summer the growing season? Read more
When you’re shopping for a new home, it’s easy to get hung up on the details of the house itself. You might find yourself focusing on questions such as: How many square feet is the house? Is there enough closet space? Is the roof in good shape? These are certainly important questions to ask yourself, but don’t forget one detail that can add up to 25 percent to the overall value of the property: the landscaping! Read more
When selling a home, we tend to focus on improving the structure itself in order to appeal to prospective buyers. While the building is certainly important, most buyers are also highly concerned with its outdoor space. Since landscaping can make or break a sale, keep these important factors in mind when trying to sell real estate: Read more
For some of us, the best way to cope with grief is by nurturing new life. Whether you’ve lost a parent, child, or family pet, planning a memorial garden may be the welcome distraction you need. The garden will also honor the memory of your loved one, and give you a sense of closure. Read more
Landscaping is about more than adding curb appeal to your house. When planned appropriately, landscaping can increase your enjoyment of your home, by providing you a place for recreation or relaxation. If you think you’d enjoy an outdoor area where you can meditate or practice yoga while soaking in fresh air and sunlight, consider the following ideas as you plan your project.
In most cases, you will choose to combine the two methods described above. You’ll have to experiment to find out what works for your garden. Just be sure to use plants that are common in your area, so the good insects will already be looking for them. Read more
When you’re planning a landscaping project, you may put a lot of thought into the soil, sunlight, and fertilizer needs of your plants. But another factor can interfere with your plants’ growth and health: wind! If you live in a particularly windy zone, you probably need to choose wind resistant plants for your garden. Read more
In many ways, decomposed granite (often referred to as DG) is the ideal hardscape material. Formed from the natural erosion of solid granite, it’s similar to gravel but finer and more stable. It compacts down hard like concrete, but has a more natural feel than paving. Decomposed granite comes in a variety of colors, such as buff, brown, gray, black, red and even green. There are many advantages to using decomposed granite in hardscape, such as: Read more
Installing a drip irrigation system is a great way to keep your landscaping watered correctly, while saving you the trouble of standing in the yard with the garden hose. But even though drip irrigation saves you a ton of work, you still have to maintain your system. Many homeowners choose to perform this routine maintenance in the spring. Basic drip irrigation maintenance only takes about an hour, and it can save you a lot of time and expense later on. Read more
Fruit trees are intertwined into California’s history. Settlers from Spain brought seeds for the Spanish sweet orange, and quickly discovered that the climate is ideal for growing other types of fruit as well. During the gold rush, oranges sold for a dollar each in San Francisco (no small sum of money back then!). Read more
If you’re planning a summer vacation, chances are you’re focused on hotel reservations, restaurants, and activity ideas. But it’s equally important to make plans for your home while you’re away. In particular, if you don’t care for your landscaping you could come home to dead plants and an out-of-control yard. Follow these tips to get your lawn ready for your absence. Read more
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 that nothing will grow alongside certain trees, but if you choose the right plants, you have much better odds of success. Read more