Larsen Landscape | Blog

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

Simi Valley Planter - Features Variations, Size, Color & Texture

Try groupings of plants.  Flowers tend to look better when they are grouped together in various places and not scattered randomly.

Odd numbers tend to give things a more natural look.  Imagine a patio in each of 4 corners of a yard to get an idea of how far wrong someone could go on this.  A large main patio, a pergola in one corner and a special garden feature halfway along the edge on the opposite side would create a nice group of three for a smaller yard.

Along with that goes avoiding size repetition.  A large garden with a multi-trunk Birch tree, two boulders and some shrubs and flowers, balanced with a smaller garden on the other side of a yard with a single trunk Birch tree, some flowers and one boulder is an example of the kind of balance we look for.

A path curving around a garden and disappearing gives the yard a larger look and creates a visual mystery as to where it leads (even if it doesn’t really go anywhere – though even a park bench could give it a destination).

Pergola, Patio and Water Make a Personal Oasis In Simi Valley

Of course all of this comes down to what is the homeowner’s opinion and goals for their property. Our motto is, ” Have it done right the first time”.

Come back next week for more on Landscaping Design.

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

There are some very definite directions to follow to get the design right for the owner. Getting all the elements to fit together in the space key to design planning. Keep in mind that it can cost just as much to build a mediocre, or even unpleasant design as it does to get a nice one.  Here are some of the things we use to ensure the construction money is spent well.

LaCanada, Privacy Wall & Water Feaure

There should be a theme.  This could be based on a tropical look, an English garden look, a geometric layout or maybe country.  It could also be just deciding which is the key element, and then pulling that in throughout the entire area.  If this one is not followed, you get one of those mish mash gardens you see here and there with 20 rose bushes, all over the place – no groupings, and you feel like someone got one for the holidays each year and had to put it somewhere.

Most people spend time outdoors in the shade 90 percent of the time during the day.  Even sun worshipers dive for a lounge chair in the shade of a

Simi Valley, Rose Garden, Patio with Trellis

pergola after an hour during the summer.  We have gone back numerous times a year later to build a patio cover once the yard is actually experienced.  This is so true that it is almost a one for one occurrence when the shade issue is not handled the first time around.

Next week more on design and the owner’s opinion.

YES, THE OWNER’S OPINION COUNTS

The first question we always ask is “Is there anything in particular that you don’t like?”  This is followed by, “Are there elements that you really do want?”

This is because those are the two most important things in any design.  Once these two factors are known, then the actual art and science of designing a landscape can begin, with a high percentage chance of everyone involved being thrilled with the result.  Without those two questions, it might come out great, but we really don’t know.

There are still more questions before any thought is given to layout.  Are young children a factor?  This usually involves trying to get some lawn into

Garden Path and Gazebo

the mix, or the most popular item for kids from actual experience, a curving walkway through the property that they can ride their toys on.

Is there going to be a lot of entertaining?  Does the client like to cook?  An outdoor kitchen could be a key feature on one side of that spectrum, or at least a serving bar.  People at parties like to wander to little surprise areas and talk to their friends, so a gazebo tucked away in the corner partially hidden by some small trees, perhaps with a water feature would be worth considering.  Or, maybe just a garden with a park bench, preferably with a walkway so everyone’s shoes stay dry.  We have designed some properties with 5 or 6 such features, and then gone to a party at the same house, and these places definitely gets a ton of use.

Landscaping Impact on Life

In my opinion, landscaping does have an impact on the way a person approaches life.  When does it cross the line into pure luxury?  I guess that really depends on what a person’s concept of his or her own quality of life is.

Personally, I think a person who works hard in life should have at least a comfortable patio to relax in once in a while, one that has a couple of trees nearby, some flowers that come and go with the seasons to keep some

Patio in Wood Ranch CA

interest in it and I don’t think it is going too far to have, perhaps, a small water feature to muffle the traffic noise if nothing else, not to mention a couple of comfortable chairs and the occasional bottle of wine.  I’ve also heard it said that avid gardeners tend to live really long lives on average since they are always looking ahead toward the future (“This sapling is going to provide shade here someday and those new roses I just planted are new hybrids that are supposed to have an unbelievable scent – I’ll find out in the Spring – I think I’ll try that new cross-bred citrus tree and find out if the fruit really is better than Navels.”)  This might be subject to test, but I do have several clients, very interested in gardening, who are well into their nineties.

I just thought I would write down a couple of thoughts on the matter since we have all been assaulted lately by the various media who seem intent on convincing us that wanting anything not absolutely essential is wrong.  I seriously doubt that any of those very reporters are planning to move into an old trailer anytime soon.

GENERAL TIPS

There is a system available to inject earth friendly fertilizer directly into the sprinkler system.  This means that you fill the tank up about once a month and all your plants and lawns get fed every time you water.  This makes the plant material very healthy and sends the root zones deeper.  It also avoids the chemical runoff that is normally associated with fertilizer pellets.  Many cities are beginning to require this type of system for commercial projects as part of the effort to eliminate chemical buildup and algae growth in lakes and ponds. The system also allows the use of organic critter control.  This is a flower extract that tends to drive away gophers, deer, rats and rabbits.

Sometimes, recycled material can be used directly in the landscape design.  This could be using broken concrete pieces for building garden walls, using soil for contouring instead of hauling it away or rocks that are unearthed for ornamental features in the gardens.

Composting is a green approach for getting rid of yard waste.

Cutting your grass with a mulching type of mower keeps a lot of grass clipping waste out of the landfills and is actually good for the lawn.

Water Friendly Landscape, Simi Valley

Adding a layer of mulch cover over the soil in your garden beds will help hold in moisture and this means that you will not have to water as much.  This could be bark chips or wood shavings.  It is important to fertilize adequately if you use

redwood chips as these use up nitrogen when they decompose and your plants will need more than normal.

LANDSCAPING ELECTRICITY TIPS

For ponds and waterfalls, there are some pumps that are much more energy efficient than others.  The way to determine this is to compare the number of gallons per minute against the amperage required to run the pump.  Installing a timer is another option so you don’t forget to turn it off when you are not there to enjoy it.

Waterfall Design By Larsen Landscape

Waterfalls should be designed with the stonework so the sound is maximized without the need to have Niagara Falls pouring over the rocks.

Swimming pools are much more efficient with a variable speed pump system.  The idea here is to avoid having to run the pump at full speed for normal circulation needs.

Of course, the ultimate green approach to electricity is to install a solar collection system for all your electrical needs.  This goes way beyond just heating a swimming pool or a water heater and the technology is already available to turn sunlight into electricity.  You can even sell your unused power back to the utility company. Hopefully the ongoing research will get the cost of these systems into everyone’s price range soon.

ELECTRICITY USE

The main use of electrical power for an average landscape would be in any outdoor lighting or for ornamental water features or swimming pools.

Outdoor Path Lighting, Los Angeles

Low voltage landscape lighting has always been much more efficient than the type traditionally used inside the house.  You can use one 20 watt bulb to light a small tree, for instance (what you pay for on your electric bill is the number of watts used).

There is an even more efficient system that has just been perfected that uses LED technology.  This has two main advantages.  The first is that you would only use 3 watts for the same amount of light that you would get from the 20 watt light used in the traditional system.  The second advantage is that the LED bulbs last typically for about 50,000 hours (15 years in normal use).  For all practical purposes, this means that you don’t have to replace bulbs.  While a traditional outdoor lighting system for a front and back yard, with 30 lighting fixtures, might cost about $300 per year to run at today’s prices, the LED system with the same amount of fixtures would be about $45 per year.

The light fixtures do cost more than traditional fixtures, but there are some

Landscape Lighting, Thousand Oaks

cost savings in things like the transformer and the cable requirements since it is a more efficient system.  There is also the fact that you don’t have to buy replacement bulbs.  Considering that it also puts about 85% less drain on the electrical supply, it is very green and definitely worth looking into.

There are solar landscape lights, but the technology is not yet up to the point where this type of system really lights a landscape.  For dim lighting of pathways for a few hours after dark, these can be used and effective.

Next week more on electricity use with water features.

Watering Conservation Tips continued

There is a type of irrigation control box, which has a miniature weather station as well as a rain override system. This efficient technology is know as a Smart controller. The sensors detect weather conditions and adjust watering based on needs. The technology has been around for almost twenty years but the cost of these has come down for residential use. The return on your investment will probably be seen in the first year if not the first few months. Remember driving past houses during a rainstorm when the sprinklers were going full blast?

There are a many companies offering smart irrigation control products. Some are: AccuWater, Green Leaf Mapping & Control Systems, HydroEarth, Irritrol, Rain Bird, Rain Master, Toro, and Weathermatic.

If you don’t have a Smart controller system, the next best option is to adjust your settings regularly. Turn off the system when it rains, use it less when it is cool or cloudy, and regularly check which areas need water the most and adjust those valves. Wherever possible, design the sprinkler system to water the shady and sunny areas separately.  This might mean investing in a few more sprinkler control valves, but it makes a difference in the long run.

Simi Valley Lawn

It is amazing how many lawns I walk across when visiting properties where I hear a squishing sound as I walk and my shoes are soaked when I get to the other side.  This is the most obvious overuse of water and is more common than you might think.  This is not only expensive and a waste of water, it is not good for the lawn either.

Watering Conservation Tips continued

Simi Valley Green Lawn

Plants with a strong, deep root system generally thrive and appear very healthy.  To help your garden plants and lawn develop deep roots ensure that the soil is properly prepared and fertilized. Plants with deep roots will use water that is lower into the soil zone thus conserving on water consumption.

As much as possible, it is better to water less often and let the soil dry somewhat between waterings.  This keeps fungus from developing and allows the roots to breath.  It also tends to send the water deeper into the soil and therefore drive the root zones deeper.  After the plants are established, stretch out the watering times until you reach several days between each one while keeping an eye on the health of the plants (the exception to this is those very hot spells in the summer – then you can set your controller for a short watering cycle to keep things cooled down once a day and still water the

Los Angeles Garden

longer cycles several days apart – this is particularly important for lawns).

Watering Conservation Tips continued

Faux Lawn, Simi Valley

Faux lawns are just catching on in some areas.  Some of these look so real that you can’t tell they are not real even standing right next to them.  The downside of this (besides being fake) is that they do not cool down the air and are actually hot to the touch in the summer.  They are also a lot more expensive to install that regular lawn.

The year was 1966 when the Astrodome in Houston introduced the nation to Astroturf. Astroturf gave rise to the hope of carefree lawns; visions of lazy weekends where you never needed to worry about wrenching your back to start the motor of the beast in the garage. Fast-forward to 2009 and you now have more than 20 firms that offer the latest tech of faux lawns.

There is no mowing, watering or fertilizing.  Faux grass provides a way to comply with water restrictions in drought areas and avoid potential fines. The appeal of some homeowners ranges from ecological to aesthetic. It can be used to totally replace all your lawn thereby water savings are maximized. Other options would be to integrate it with stone to enhance a patio or use it just in a play area.

Faux Lawn in Stamped Concrete Patio

The options and creative uses are endless. Larsen Landscape is experienced with the nuances of faux lawns and offers expert assistance to help you achieve your landscape objectives.