Archive for Garden Design
Small Backyard Ideas for a Magical Outdoor Space
Well-designed outdoor spaces can increase your enjoyment of your home. But what if you have a small backyard? Well, the good news is you don’t need a sprawling estate to transform your backyard into an outdoor oasis. Thoughtful landscape design can transform your small patio or yard into a refreshing outdoor space.
Transform Your Home with these Small Backyard Ideas
Whether you live in an apartment, townhouse loft, or a house with minimal outdoor space, you can carve out an outdoor space for yourself. Yes, even modest balconies and rooftop terraces count. Even a small yard can feel grand if you design it the right way.
Here are some small backyard ideas that can help you maximize the little space you have.
1. Create a Container Garden
You may not have the space or time to become a master gardener, but you can learn to create striking container gardens. When you lack good soil, containers allow you to make the ideal conditions for your plants to thrive.
All you need is a planter, some potting soil, and the plants of your choice. From hanging baskets to window boxes, you can embellish your backyard with bold foliage for a refreshing space your friends and family will love.
2. Think About Vertical Space
Vertical gardens, or living walls, are ideal features for small spaces. Think of the magnificent living tapestries that ornament public gardens and some buildings. You can bring the same beauty and vitality into your home using vine-covered trellises, closely planted fruit trees, and decorating your walls with hanging plants.
Reinvigorating your exterior with a living wall brings your backyard to life, attracting songbirds and pollinators, and can help temper the summer heat. Living walls also act as art, establish boundaries within a landscape, give you a sense of privacy, and obscure undesirable views.
3. Create a Focal Point
Focal points are used in landscape design to draw and direct the eye. If your backyard consists of a swath of plants or is crammed with furniture, your eyes will sweep along the area, not knowing where to land.
If your backyard is filled with plants and feels more like a garden, you can use a statue or a small fountain to detract some attention from the plants. You can also strategically place furniture to draw in the eyes. Conversely, if your space is adorned with furniture, you can use a large plant as a focal point.
4. Use Every Inch – Even the Side Yard
The side yard is often overlooked and can easily become a sad spot adorned with nothing but unsightly air-conditioning units. You can perk up your side yard by adding a stepping-stone path or install a welcoming entry gate if your space allows.
Another way is to draw the eyes up, away from the sides, using arbors, hanging vines, or strategic overhead lighting.
5. Embrace a Multi-Level Landscape Design
Breaking up your yard with steps, decks, retaining walls, or terraces can create the illusion of a larger backyard. A multi-level design helps to break things up visually, and you can help you separate the different functionalities of your yard.
You can have a dining patio on the upper level and incorporate different greenery into the lower levels.
6. Create a No-fuss Patio or Deck
Don’t have a green thumb? Not to worry. You can set up a murphy bar or an al fresco dining room on a bed of gravel, and voila! You added a little polish to your backyard. Add some statement chairs to create a laid-back or rustic atmosphere depending on the vibe you’re going for. And don’t forget to add some hanging lights to elevate the mood at night.
The idea here is to create a warm, welcoming space that doesn’t require you to get your hands dirty.
7. A Small Kitchen and Dining Area
Love to grill? You don’t necessarily need a large space for this. You can create an outdoor cooking center. All you need is a little space for a basic grill, counter, and a small dining area. You can even add to the ambiance by adding a fireplace or a small garden.
For your family, this could mean growing herbs in the garden, cooking dinner outdoors on the weekends, and enjoying evenings by the fire.
8. Maximize on Available Space
When you have a small backyard, it’s best to create a multifunctional space. You can invest in some portable furniture that you can keep in your basement or garage when not in use. Or, you can create seating benches that also double as storage spaces for lawn games and plants.
Better yet, you can build a mini storage shed that’s cute yet functional.
Revitalize Your Backyard
Looking for small backyard ideas that make a statement? DK Landscaping can help you create the backyard of your dreams. We are a full-service maintenance company with the tools and expertise to help you create a flourishing landscape.
Contact us today! The solution to your lawn and garden woes lies with us.
5 Important Considerations When Selecting a Garden Service Expert
Maintaining a healthy and lush garden takes more than just planting and occasional irrigation. You must be willing to invest your time and effort in its maintenance. Nonetheless, as much as you want to see your garden thrive, your busy schedule may not allow you to spend enough time on it.
Hiring garden service experts is the best decision you can make to improve your garden’s appeal and ensure that it is continuously maintained. The garden service providers are highly experienced, and besides taking care of your landscape, they will advise you on the best native plants and the right weed and pest control methods. They help you save time and have peace of mind as you focus on other tasks.
However, to enjoy the benefits of hiring garden service professionals, you must entrust the job to the right providers. How do you establish if the gardeners are reliable? Here are the top guiding tips for you.
Consider the Experience
For how long have the garden service providers been in the industry? The longer they have been offering gardening services, the higher the chances that they are experienced and will meet your needs. The professional gardeners should be willing to provide you with their portfolio to prove the success rate of their previous projects. Check if their clients were satisfied with the services they got. If they were, there is a likelihood that the gardeners will meet your expectations.
Gardening Qualifications
The garden service experts should be qualified for the job. Nonetheless, you cannot gauge their qualification by merely looking at a piece of paper. Gardening involves a lot of physical work and use of tools, and you must ensure that whoever you hire for the job understands how each of the tools works. The gardener should be qualified in a range of services including mowing, feeding and fertilizing, pruning, seeding, weeding, and pest control to mention a few. With this, you only need to hire one company for all the services rather than different contractors for varying tasks.
Are the Providers Certified to Offer Gardening Services?
The garden service professional should be licensed and approved to offer landscaping services. If they are certified, it shows that they meet all the requirements of your local authorities and have been cleared to provide the services. Also, if something goes wrong while at your property or they fail to meet the agreed requirements, you can easily report them to the authorities. The gardening experts should have the license at hand to prove this. You shouldn’t take their word of mouth for it.
Pricing
Cost plays a significant role when searching for any service provider, and this case is not an exception. The gardener should be willing to offer you a comprehensive quote including all the services to expect so you can establish if they are worth the cost. Nonetheless, it would help if you did not let the urge to save money mislead you to select the wrong garden service provider. In most cases, a low price is associated with poor quality services. It would be better if you paid more for excellent garden maintenance rather than paying less only for the gardener to damage your landscape.
Check the Reputation Garden Service Provider
You can determine the gardener’s reputation by asking around from friends, colleagues and relatives and let them express their opinion on the quality of services they got from the company. You may also check online reviews on their website. If you find more positive reviews than the negatives, the chances are that they will meet your needs.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right garden service provider can be daunting, especially with so many landscaping companies in the market. With the tips above, you will undoubtedly find a qualified gardener to meet both your needs and budget. We are your go-to garden service experts, and you can trust that we will not rest until your garden is transformed to your liking. Contact us today to get a quote and more information on what we do.
Yard Maintenance Tips for Fall Season
The fall season is here, and there is no better time to focus on yard maintenance Rohnert Park than now. While the season is characterized by suitable temperatures for grass and plants’ growth, it can also be the most stressful if you do not invest in proper yard care.
From fallen leaves, overgrown weeds to pest infestations, your yard requires maximum grooming to maintain its appeal for the next season. Without further ado, let’s have a look at some tips for fall yard maintenance Rohnert Park.
Soil Testing
Whether you want to set up a lawn from scratch or to renovate the current one, soil testing comes handy to help you determine the soil’s pH and nutrition levels before putting any plants on the ground. The soil goes through a massive transition from the hot season, and balancing the pH and nutrition promotes a healthy lush lawn. Soil testing in the problematic areas should be done every year, and it is recommendable that you let yard maintenance Rohnert Park experts handle the task for you.
Collect the Fallen Leaves
A layer of fallen leaves on the grass may seem appealing from a distance, but the leaves are doing your grass more harm than good. They form a carpet which blocks sunlight and moisture from reaching the grass. This means that your plants will not enjoy the necessary elements to thrive through the season. You should rake the leaves regularly and do it gently to avoid damaging the grass. If you have never raked leaves before, let yard maintenance Rohnert Park professionals do it.
Aeration
The soil requires regular aeration for maximum oxygen and nutrients entry. The process aims to create openings in compacted soil after the hot season. You must have the right tools and experience to do it right. If you have any doubts, you should entrust the task to yard maintenance Rohnert Park service providers.
Add Nitrogen Fertilizer
Boosting the yard’s nutrients with fertilizer will help it go through the cold winter and grow even stronger during spring. The fall season is the most suitable time to fertilize the lawn due to the suitable temperatures that allow the nutrients to penetrate through the soil. Fertilizing should be done after aeration, and you should seek professionals’ help when buying the fertilizer.
Mow the Grass to the Right Size
The grass remains dormant in winter but does not stop to overgrow in autumn. It will help if you continue mowing the grass to your ideal height until it stops growing. Overgrown grass is not only indecent but also the leaves block nutrients and moisture from penetrating to the roots.
Weeding
All your yard maintenance Rohnert Park effort is bound to be useless if you leave the weed unattended. The unwanted plants tend to compete for nutrients and moisture with the grass and other yard plants. The weeds take up most of the nutrients, leaving your plants with little or nothing to consume, and this results in an unhealthy lawn.
Seeding during Yard Maintenance Rohnert Park
Most plants die during the hot season, leaving empty patches on your yard. It is a great idea to spread seeds all over the yard to fill these areas. However, you should do it cautiously, keeping in mind that any seeds that do not reach the soil will not germinate. It would be best if you let experts specializing in yard maintenance Rohnert Park do the seeding for you. They will focus their time and attention to ensuring that every space is covered.
Fall yard maintenance should be taken seriously as it helps you prepare your lawn for the next year. We are experts, and you can trust us for all your yard maintenance Rohnert Park needs. With our skills and many years’ experience, we will walk with you throughout the season until your lawn is in its best condition. Contact us for more information.
Tips for a Healthy Landscape Maintenance
Healthy soil is the key to a healthy lawn and landscapes, so you need to follow the proper tips for landscape maintenance for which you need to consider mowing, planting, pruning, and hosting the other tasks. If you are mowing your lawns offer, then these can cause various problems, and if you are more dependent on irrigation, then these can cause damages to your landscape plants that also cause a host of diseases. How about your trees; have you ever wondered what you can do to make them look better? It’s easy to take care of your trees with pruning, but if these are done poorly, then your trees can become weak and susceptible to storm damage and disease. Here are some of the key lawn and landscape maintenance tips to keep your property beautiful and healthy –
Mowing
You need to keep your lawn at the right height throughout the year, and it is imperative due to which people go with over-mowing for keeping their lawn perfect. However, if you always look for the different ways to keep your trees healthy, then you need to take care of the mowing process, and you need to consider how often it needs to be done. Mainly, over-mowing can damage the crown of the grass, but if you are doing it too short, it can burn the roots so you should use the stable method. You should avoid mowing your grass more than 1/3 of the existing glass blade as when you, it can shock the plants, especially when the outside is much hotter. If you are cutting grass too short, then you need to water them regularly, and when the plants are not good, they attract more pests and diseases.
Planting
Planting the trees and shrubs are most effective for keeping the plants healthier for long when you are following the landscape maintenance process. Most plants are planted when with their growing crown even with the soil line or just above it, so when planting trees, plants get into the native soil in a hole as deep as the root balls and twice as wide.
Weeding
Some weeds grow unnecessarily, and those mainly affect your lawn look, so you need to learn various things about your landscape maintenance that mainly includes soil for the type of weeds you are growing on your property. If you want to control weeds to improve your soil and landscape health, then you can use the hand-removal technique to keep everything in good shape.
Watering
It will help if you water your landscapes and gardens, which are the most crucial elements to keep your landscape in good condition. If you are over-watering your lawns, then these can cause fungal diseases and pest infection, whereas if you are watering too little, then it can affect your landscapes while attracting pests. It is necessary to have a rainfall of 1-inch per week with the irrigation system as it is a good way to figure out the right amount of watering the landscapes. When it is hot in the summer, you can increase the duration of the watering times for efficient landscape maintenance.
Inspect
When it comes to landscape maintenance, you need to keep it healthy while spending more time on it, so you need to look closely for the defects in your plants and the improvements they need. While inspecting your plants, you can notice the pests or disease before they become a bigger problem due to which inspecting can become the best defense against pests and diseases.
Even if your lawn is healthy, you need to feed them with the recommended fertilizer as these can keep your gardens in good shape, while enhancing the look of your landscape. The unwanted weeds can affect your healthy grass, so you need to use reliable tips for banishing those unwanted weeds. Furthermore, no matter which plant you are using for your landscape, climate plays an essential role in determining the type of grass that can work best for your landscapes. So, whenever you think about landscape maintenance, you need to consider the soil type, rainfall, and other factors that can severely impact the look of your landscape. Contact us for more information.
The Basics of Good Commercial Landscaping
Everyone knows that a well-designed and well-maintained landscape adds great curb appeal and value to a home. The same holds true for commercial landscaping. From lush green expanses to eco-friendly alternatives featuring boulders and native species, a beautiful landscape makes a commercial property more inviting to customers and employees alike.
The Value of Commercial Landscaping
If you use a professional landscaping service for your Rohnert Park home, you know that it involves much more than basic mowing and trimming. That’s doubly true for commercial landscaping services.
Both types of services offer similar benefits: to enhance a property’s comfort, functionality, and value through the use of walkways, trees, shrubs, and green lawns, whether natural grass or high-quality artificial turf. Some commercial property owners go even further, adding perennial gardens, water features, and energy efficient lighting systems.
The options are limitless, but the results are the same. Employees and clients get to enjoy a beautiful environment while your business presents its best face to the world. Other, non-aesthetic benefits to commercial landscaping include:
- Increase in property value
- Reduced water and electricity costs
- Mitigating property damage caused by erosion
Any type of business can reap the rewards of a good commercial landscaping project. Offices, retail stores, health facilities, restaurants, home associations, and industrial complexes are just a few. Going above and beyond traditional commercial landscaping lets people know you take pride in your business and value their joy and comfort.
Commercial Landscaping Basics
Good commercial landscaping should be both easy to maintain while seamlessly complementing the design and style of your property. Here’s how to get it right.
- Define your message. Even if you don’t think of it this way, your business and building have a brand to project. What do you want people to feel when they enter your business? Whether it’ professional, healing, fun, or edgy, you can use landscaping to deliver that message. For example, dancing fountains and brightly colored flowers project a light-hearted approach while green roofs say you care about sustainability.
- Find a purpose. Landscaping can both encourage people to linger or keep them on the move. How? Benches, tables, and low seating walls invite people to stop and enjoy their surroundings. A more straightforward design that uses direct pathways, low shrubs, and strategic lighting make a beautiful statement, too, but urge people to move to the entrance.
- Complement the architecture. Both soft and hard landscaping features should be chosen to highlight your building’s best features. For instance, older, more classic structures may look best with wood or brick elements. Modern buildings might be better accented with metal and concrete elements. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules here. What’s important is to create a cohesive look that people find attractive.
- Think environmentally. Commercial landscaping has come a long way in embracing the concept of water and energy conservation. Shade trees help keep interiors cool in the summer and block chilly winds in cooler weather. Green roofs help reduce heating and cooling costs while helping to control water run-off.
It’s also important to think about how much ongoing maintenance will be required to keep your landscaping looking great. An experienced commercial landscaping professional can advise you about which plants and other outdoor features can provide the benefits you desire while keeping maintenance costs within budget.
How to Choose a Commercial Landscape Company
Depending on your needs, commercial landscaping can include design and planning services as well as installation and long-term maintenance. Design services include consultation, site survey, and conceptual drawings. A typical design includes:
- Plantings
- Irrigation
- Hardscaping
- Lighting
- Ornamental features
During the design phase, a good designer will advise you of any erosion or drainage issues and help you choose plantings and other features that make the most sense for your goals and budget. These three questions should help you choose the right landscaping professional for your project:
- Do the services offered match your goals? Different landscapers offer different specialized services such as xeriscaping, the practice of landscaping that requires little or no irrigation. A full-service commercial landscaping company offers design, irrigation, enhancement, maintenance, and lighting services.
- Do you value environmentally sustainable practices? Make sure the landscaper does, too. Ask if they encourage the planting of native species, where they get their plants and landscaping materials, if they use water-conservation techniques, if they recycle and/or repurpose landscaping materials, and if the lighting systems they install are energy efficient.
- Do they have all the right qualifications? Be sure to check both the company’s website and independent review sites. Ask for references from former and current customers. Confirm they are licensed to perform commercial landscaping in your area and ask about any industry certifications and/or qualifications they have. Ask, too, if they perform all their own work or if they subcontract it out.
It’s also important to talk about what maintenance services a company offers. Though ongoing maintenance plans vary from business to business, the basics generally include:
- Regular mowing, weeding, and pruning
- Seasonal plantings
- Mulch application
- Fertilization
- Integrated pest management
Some companies also offer tree removal. Whatever your specific needs, the landscaping company you choose should be willing to come up with a maintenance routine that’s tailored to your property’s needs and your budget.
Time to Plan for Your Commercial Landscaping Project?
Investing in professional landscaping for your business gives you the peace of mind you need in knowing you’ve chosen the right plantings and other landscape features to create the atmosphere and environment you want for your property. Choosing a landscaping company with a broad range of services helps you save time and money and allows you to work with one company to complete the job. This ensures the result is a cohesive, functional design.
With the help of DK Landscaping, the design, installation, and maintenance of your commercial landscaping project will meet all your expectations. To learn more and to schedule a consultation, contact us today.
How To Find A Good Landscaper in Rohnert Park
As per the survey conducted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals, 67% of Americans agree that professional landscaping allows them to have beautiful yards. You, too, want an inviting yard and outdoor space. However, the challenge is finding the right landscaper. In this article, you will find out how to find a good landscaper Rohnert Park.
Identify what you want
There are different types of landscapers. Each specializes in different things. Some specialize in lawn installation and maintenance. Others, solely do gardening. While others offer full-range services, including landscape design.
After identifying what you want, you can know what type of landscaper to look for.
Research local landscapers
First, go to Google and search for landscaper Rohnert Park. You want to find landscapers that provide their services in your area.
Make a list of landscapers you could potentially hire. Then compare them. Compare services offered, price, and reputation.
Reputation is vital as you want to hire a company that provides quality services. So, look for reviews of the company on sites such as Yelp, BBB (Better Business Bureau), and Angie’s List. Also, check the landscaper’s website for testimonials or ask them for referrals.
Request quotes
At this point, you have identified a few (2 to 3) landscapers you consider best suited to handle your project. Go ahead and ask for quotes. Most landscapers will prefer to come and see the scope of the project before they can provide an estimate.
This one-on-one meeting is an opportunity to vet them further. As much as the budget is essential, it should not be your sole focus. Ask about:
- Insurance: you do not want to be liable to injuries to the people working in your property.
- Completion timetable: Landscapers often have multiple clients, and a company might delay your work as they are already engaged in several other projects.
- Guarantees: A good landscaping company will offer at least a 2-year guarantee on their work.
- How they will handle your project: By asking this question, you get to gauge how experienced and knowledgeable a contractor is.
Consider their personality traits
You don’t just need a landscaper with the right skills and qualifications. You need one that will understand what you need and work with you to make your dream yard come true. So, as you talk to them, look for the following personality traits:
- Excellent communication: You want a contractor that explains the processes and work involved clearly.
- Patience: A patient contractor will not only listen and but also understand your needs.
- Willingness to work with your ideas
- Creativity: so that they can improve your ideas
Do you need a landscaper Rohnert Park? Contact us today. We specialize in landscape repair and maintenance and irrigation. We are also specialists in xeriscape or water-saving landscape design.
The One-Third Rule of Pruning Shrubbery
Pruning your shrubs can give your entire landscape an amazing aesthetic appeal. Ideally, there are typically two types of landscapers when it comes to pruning shrubbery; those who prune timidly from fear of damaging their bushes and those who prune aggressively to come up with perfectly shaped shrubs. However, to achieve the best outcome when pruning your bushes, trimming about one-third of the good wood is ideal.
If you prune more than this, you risk exposing your shrubbery to excessive damage, which could stunt its growth. Prune less than this, and you might not do much to improve the appeal of your shrub.
Read on to learn about the one-third rule:
Why The One-Third Rule?
Moderate pruning is pivotal when it comes to stimulating vital growth. Plants typically live in a balance between the below-ground and above-ground parts. Once the plant loses a number of stems through pruning, it tries to gain back the balance by pushing forth new growth. This regrowth is essential, especially in moderation, since it allows the plant to heal as well as simulates growth from dormant buds.
If your shrubbery loses too much leafy growth, it goes into panic mode. This can be shown by the appearance of water sprouts or suckers, which can leave your shrubs ragged looking. Even worse, this suckering can go on for a long time, making landscape maintenance tough.
Use the Rule on Established Plants
The one-third rule is ideal for your fully established shrubbery- plants that have overcome their transplant shock. If you have newly planted shrubs, give them a grace period of one or two seasons before pruning them to ensure that their root systems become established enough.
Use the rule on small ornamental trees and shrubs. As for larger shade trees, limit pruning to at most a quarter of the total branches. While growth on shade trees is stimulated into new growth through assertive pruning, its pruning shouldn’t be as vigorous as that of multi-stemmed shrubs. Pruning the trees often is vital since it reduces the chances of wind damage.
When Might The one-third Rule Not Be Enough?
If you neglect your shrubbery for too long, it might overgrow and get out of control. Normal pruning might not suffice. For such shrubs, rejuvenation pruning (a severe form of pruning) might work. While rejuvenation pruning will leave the shrub looking unattractive for a while, it allows it to reform itself into a better shape.
As long as you show your shrubs love, they will light up your landscape. Pruning ensures that you can shape your shrubs to fit right into your ideal landscape design. Consider using the one-third pruning rule to improve the appeal of your landscape.
A Xeriscape Guide to Cold-Winter Gardening
Xeric plants thrive on any climate and can flourish on extreme temperatures, extra water, dry conditions, low light, or lots of light. Xeriscaping is one of the best ways of planning an economically and ecologically sound garden. Xeriscape winter gardening can be rock-filled, lush, and can also feature different types of fauna.
The Winter Gardening Challenges
Winter temperatures can cause stress to plants. During winter, there are less angled rays and diminished sun exposure. Rainfall is also limited, meaning that regular irrigation may be needed. The soil type, wind exposure, and the slope must be considered before selecting winter gardening plants. Winter is open to elements such as extreme cold and dryness.
The temperatures may also get to the freezing level. Tender plants need to be located to sheltered locations to keep them from the winds and dryness. Be careful to watch out on slopes. These are of particular concern given that they face moisture runs and winds, which could then create dry conditions. The arrival of winter does not mean that your xeriscape garden cannot thrive.
Go Native
Native plants are adapted to the local weather conditions and soil. They do not require much water and can survive in harsh conditions. These plants support bees, birds, and other wildlife by offering shelter and food. Native flora also protects your yard from wildfires.
Hydrozone
Select water-wise plants during winter, and group them wisely. The same way you would cater to beds based on the plants’ particular needs for sunlight should be the same logic used for water usage.
Plants that need lots of water need to be grouped together. The same applies to native perennials. When selecting your plants, look for those that can keep moisture trapped inside for longer. These are plants with thick leaves and fine hairs.
Maintain Proper Drainage
Xeric plants thrive most in rocky environments, meaning they don’t tolerate too much rain. These plants should be planted in soils with organic matter and little clay. They should also be planted on raised mounds for better water drainage. Instead of raking leaves, use them to mulch the ground. This is an organic layer that encourages nutrients to penetrate the ground leading to a lusher yard.
Xeriscaping is an excellent winter gardening that eliminates the need for supplemental water. It varies from natural landscaping due to the emphasis on the selection of plants that conserve water. For all your xeriscape landscape maintenance needs, call us today or contact us online.
Discovering the Best Flower Bed Ideas for Your Home
Flower bed ideas are typically broken down one of two ways – by the color(s) that you’re going to be using and, secondly, by the kinds of materials you might use to bring your flower ideas to life (e.g., wheelbarrow flower beds).
Monochromatic Flower Beds
Monochromatic is a blend of two words – mono, which means one, and chromatic, which refers to color. Monochromatic flower beds are designed from blooms that are all the same color.
A monochromatic flower bed can add a splash of color to your outdoor landscape, and the thing to bear in mind is that, although everything will be one color, you can use various shades and textures to create a stunning effect.
Purples and yellows are very popular variations when it comes to monochromatic flower bed ideas.
With a purple monochromatic flower bed, you have a lot of beautiful flowers to choose from: lavender, sage, leather flower, hydrangea, and grape hyacinth. A walkway lined with lavender can be absolutely breathtaking.
A yellow color scheme is also a popular choice for monochromatic gardens. Yellow gardens let you blend in deep golden hues with paler flowers with an almost buttery accent.
The Denver Daisy – a.k.a., Black-eyed Susan – and marigolds are great for adding deeper shades of yellow to a backdrop of a more mellow flower like the annual nasturtium.
Keep in mind that blues, whites, and violet flowers will have a more calming effect in your garden whereas warmer colors like red and yellow can create instant excitment!
Dichromatic and Ombre Flower Bed Ideas
Dichromatic means two colors wheras ombre is a French word that means you’re going to be using a blend of colors that gradually blend in to each other.
If you only want to use two colors, with varying shades of each color, then you probably want to look into a dichromatic garden. You’ll also want to consider using contrasting yet complementery colors to create the most powerful aesthetic look.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, then an ombre flower bed might be the way to go. Ombre flower beds typically blend some of the cool hues and warm hues discussed above to gradually blend in flowers with a lighter hue with dark hues.
An ombre flower bed typically starts off with a walkway made of flowers of a cooler, softer hue so that the eye gradually gets more and more captivated with the darker tones at the back of the garden.
Wheelbarrow Flower Garden
Sometimes called wheelbarrow planters, a wheelbarrow flower garden can be made using a wheelbarrow that’s rusted-out, cracked, or has a broken wheel.
The wheelbarrow, though, should have holes in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out. The big benefit to a wheelbarrow flower garden is that you can move it to an area with more sunlight.
Walkway Flower Beds
As alluded to above, a walkway flower bed can be a wonderful segue into a captivating garden or a landscaping effect all its own.
Millions of homeowners have already beautified their homes with a walkway flower bed culminating with their front door.
Walkway flower beds actually touch on a difference with gardens in general – a walkway flower bed would be an example of a formal garden path with right angles and straight lines.
That said, a walkway flower bed could open up into an informal pathway kind of garden (the second type) where you would have a meandering or curved path. A crescent-moon type of garden in the front yard would be an example of this second type.
Which flower bed ideas appeal to you most? Contact us for more information.
Why is Fertilizer Necessary? Is Organic Really Better?
Fertilizer has a host of nutrients that will enable your lawn and garden to reach its full potential, which really everyone wants.
The shocking thing is that fewer than half of home gardners in the United States use any kind of fertilizer in their yards, according to a Gallup Gardening Survey.
Why is Fertilizer Even Necessary?
Basically, if you’re not using some kind of fertilizer to nourish your lawn and garden, then your grass and plants aren’t getting the nutrients they need to thrive.
Even if you’re fortunate enough to live on a property or area of the country with fantastic soil, your plants will naturally pull nutrients from the soil to grow. This process depletes the soil and underscores the need for any homeowner serious about lawn care and gardening to invest in a good fertilizer.
The more plants that you have in your garden and the more depleted your soil, moreover, the more that you’ll benefit from fertilizer. Xeriscape can come by and measure your soil’s PH and perform a soil analysis to detect the levels of critical nutrients.
When you get the right fertilizer for your lawn – the “right” fertilizer is one that helps overcome particular deficiencies with your soil – you’ll have more beautiful flowers and much healthier produce.
Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorous
Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous are particularly important nutrients found in all fertilizers. Nitrogen allows plants to grow more robustly by giving plants the proteins needed for plants to create new tissue in the growing process.
Your plants will be constantly assimilating carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from the ambient air and water, but nitrogen is something that plants don’t always get in adequate amounts. That’s why plants gorge on nitrogen when the nutrient is around.
What about potassium and phosphorous? Potassium serves a number of different functions for your plants, including: helping your plants fight off diseases, improving your plants metabolism, and improving your plants’ ability to create carbohydrates.
Phosphorous is also critical for plant growth since it gives your plants the nutritional tools to grow strong roots, flowers, buds, and new seeds. Plant’s need a PH level of around 6.7 to effectively absorb phosphorous. Set up an appointment with Xeriscape to make sure your soil’s PH is good.
Micronutrients Calcium and Magnesium
After getting in to this trio of all-star fertilizer nutrients, you should know that nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous are known as fertilizing macronutrients (really important!) but fertilizers also contain secondary micronutrients.
Secondary nutrients include calcium (used for fighting diseases and cell membranes) and magnesium. You might want to consider using an organic, at-home fertilizer like eggshells because these lower your soil’s PH and provide calcium to your plants.
Magnesium is actually hugely important and almost considered a macronutrient since plants need this nutrient for chlorophyll and turning sunlight into energy. Plants couldn’t really grow without magnesium!
Organic and Synthetic Fertilizers
Organic and synthetic fertilizers contain many of the same nutrients, but the source of each is different and each enters the soil to nourish plants at different rates. Organic fertilizers enter plants more slowly, so now is the time to apply organic fertilizers.
Compost, manure, and mulch are organic fertilizers that might work for your yard. Home garden experts recommend applying organic fertilizers like those made from plant and animal byproducts (e.g., bone and plant meal) in the fall so that the soil can assimilate those nutrients over many months – in time for spring’s blooms!
If you determine with Xeriscape that your garden could benefit from a quicker-acting solution, then a synthetic fertilizer might be more desirable.
Synthetic (man-made) fertilizers are often cheaper than organic alternatives, and synthetic fertilizers let you get the exact combination of nutrients that will enable your lawn and garden to thrive! Schedule an appointment with Xeriscape today and have your soil tested. Contact us for more information.
