Summer is upon us, and we’re all rejoicing at the beautiful blooms in our gardens. But while summer can be a gardener’s favorite season, it can also be a dangerous time for plants. Heat stress can strike quickly and do major damage to your plants, so it’s important to learn the signs of stress along with methods of prevention. Read more
If you’re looking for a way to fill out your garden with a low-maintenance hardy plant for the summer, warm-season grasses may be just what you need. These grasses grow quickly in warm weather months to fill out empty spaces, and provide beautiful movement in the garden. As with any other landscaping project, though, you need to have the correct expectations of your warm-season grasses so that you use them correctly. Read more
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. Read more
A professional landscaping job will add curb appeal and monetary value to your home. A well-landscaped yard also increases your personal enjoyment of your home, which can be priceless. But if you’re considering hiring a landscaping company, it can be confusing to sort through your options. In order to choose the service that best suits your needs, ask yourself these questions: Read more
Even the most novice of gardeners has heard that applying fertilizer is essential to the success of any landscaping project. And yet, a lot of you are still skipping this vital step. If you’re wondering why fertilizer is so important, read on: Read more
In most home gardens, roses bloom and provide the most color during the spring and fall months. But during the hot summer months of June, July, and August, rose bushes often do not look their best. Colors may be less vibrant, and blooms may be smaller due to lower petal count. It’s important to provide them with excellent care during the summer, so that they stay healthy and bloom again soon. Read more
Backyards have truly become an extension of the home. When properly planned and landscaped, your backyard can provide additional space for recreation and entertaining guests. You’ll enjoy your home more, and add monetary value to the property as well. But before you jump into adding recreational space to your yard, it’s best to do a little planning first. Ask yourself these questions to get started: Read more
We want to provide you with the landscape design of your dreams, but we also understand that budget can impact the design process. For those of you who want to invest in a valuable upgrade to your homes, but may not have enough cash saved to achieve all you want, we offer two affordable financing options. Read more
Once you’ve invested time, money, and sweat into your garden, you’re no doubt eager to show it off! Flowers are blooming this time of year, offering some great photography opportunities. Follow these garden photography tips, and you’ll have beautiful photos to share on Facebook – or print and use them to decorate your home! Read more
Each year, the U.S. Small Business Administration honors local small businesses and entrepreneurs for their contributions to the economic well-being of our country. Small Business Week was established in 1963 in order to recognize the importance of small businesses, and to reward those who have made a positive impact on their communities. More than half of all Americans work for, or own, one of the 27.2 million small businesses in our country. Small businesses are responsible for 60-80 percent of all new job growth, making them vital to the backbone of our economy. Read more
Spring is here, and the tulips are blooming! Flower gardens are beautiful to look at, but for the practical-minded among you, a vegetable garden might hold more appeal. Not only can you grow something you’ll actually use in your home, but you’ll save money on groceries and promote healthier eating habits for your family as well. Read more
With spring in full bloom and summer on the way, you may be dreaming of hosting outdoor parties for your loved ones. Food is often the centerpiece of a party, and what could be more fun than cooking for your guests in your new outdoor kitchen? If you’re considering this addition to your home, we have a few tips to get you started. Read more
March 20 marks the official beginning of spring, although even with this year’s mild winter, you’ve probably been daydreaming about it for a few months. It’s time to start preparing for spring planting. Follow these tips to get your yard – and yourself – ready for the new season. Read more
Did you know that each year, over 100,000 people call poison control centers with concerns over exposure to toxic plants? Often these misadventures don’t happen on camping trips, as you might imagine. Some of the most poisonous plants in California are also commonly found in our gardens! While most are generally harmless as long as you don’t eat them, it’s important to know whether your garden includes any of these plants. Children and pets will often put anything in their mouths, so you should at least be aware of whether these plants are growing in your yard. Read more
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 locations where you would want a tree. Often, the best solution is a combination of deciduous and evergreen trees in strategic locations throughout your yard. As with everything else in landscaping, it’s important to first be aware of what you hope to achieve with the project. Ask yourself the following questions: Read more
When you think of landscaping, your mind may automatically jump to lush plants, stone walkways, or patios where you can entertain your guests. You probably also realize that you will need to provide a source of water to your plants in order to keep them healthy. However, there is a third component of a well-planned landscaping project, and many people don’t consider it even though it’s extremely important. In order to ensure your landscaping will stand the test of time, and to protect your property value in general, proper drainage must be considered and professionally installed. Read more
When planning your landscaping project, it’s important to keep in mind the life spans of the plants you choose. You will need to budget and make a plan to replace certain plants according to their expected life spans, so consider future needs when choosing and placing your plants. Read more
As with most home-improvement projects, planning is a critical step with landscaping. Taking the time to plan before diving into your project will ensure long-lasting, attractive, and healthy landscaping. Developing a plan will also save you time and money down the road, as your landscape matures. Read more
Drip irrigation is a convenient and effective way to keep your landscaping hydrated properly. Unfortunately, there are a few myths floating around out there, such as: Read more
This week, we’re excited to announce that the renovations to our office are complete! Along with our focus on quality landscape design, we want to make your personal experience with us pleasant and comfortable as well. The changes in our office are aimed at that goal, so that you experience the absolute best service in the industry from the time you walk through our doors to the time your landscaping project is completed. Read more
As you may have heard, our state is experiencing a drought. The rivers and reservoirs are dangerously low, and Governor Brown has asked us all to cut our water usage by 20 percent. Mandatory conservation measures have not been ruled out, and could be enforced soon if conditions don’t improve. Read more
When you first begin to think of installing a pool in your backyard, you might be tempted to pick up the phone and immediately call a pool company. However, it’s best to stop and think about what you’re actually hoping to gain from this investment. Do you want a pool, purely for the sake of having one? Or are you hoping for a beautiful outdoor area you can use for entertaining and relaxing, that adds value to your home? Read more
If you’re hoping to make a change to your current landscaping and spiff up your yard, using rocks is a great way to make a big impact with little effort. Whether you utilize smaller river rocks or larger boulders, including rocks in your landscaping ensures a long-lasting investment along with low-cost, easy maintenance (without using any water!). Read more
No matter how beautiful your yard may be, it’s doubtful you’ll spend much time out there enjoying it if you experience excess road noise in your neighborhood. The good news is that you don’t have to just accept road noise as a daily aggravation in your life. With the right planning, landscaping can drastically reduce the noise level in your outdoor space and give you the peace and tranquility you crave. Read more
A good landscaping job can add beauty, enjoyment, and value to your home. It also makes caring for your yard much easier. On the flip side, a poor landscaping job might detract from your home’s beauty, can be difficult to maintain, and costs you a lot of wasted time and effort. If you want to ensure your landscaping accomplishes your intentions, make sure to avoid these seven common mistakes: Read more