Backyard Oasis at Dusk

Looking back it has been an interesting 2011 with all the projects we worked on. We have designed and created quite a few waterfalls and several unique gardens. In particular, landscape lighting has been very popular.  We have clients who, not having had this before, comment on the surprise they experienced the first night the system turns on. The truth is that a landscape looks completely different at night since only specific items are lit and the light hits the foliage from different angles than it would during the daylight from the sun.

I have not completely masted night shots yet. But I have included one for you to see the dramatic effect lighting can create.

I collected together a few photos of some of the more dramatic landscape features I could find to share with you.  As I was scanning through pictures of numerous projects, I came across photo after photo that represented, at least to me, the idea of client after

Northridge Outdoor Living Room with Fireplace

client who had decided that a particular new look was what they really wanted.  No one told them they couldn’t have what they wanted and it became our job to help make it a reality.  There is something refreshing in the idea that someone wants something and that person ends up getting what he or she wants.

Rock Waterfall

To me the beginning of a new year represents a chance to find some quiet moments here and there and take an undisturbed look into the future.  It kind of goes with the traditional idea of New Year’s resolutions.  I thought I would share this thought with all of our friends and clients (these are the same as far as we are concerned).

We also would like to thank you for all your wonderful support in the past and wish you a tremendous New Year.

This project actually began with the need to handle water that had been creeping slowly through the foundation of the house and under the floors in two separate areas.  Our job was to handle any outside water issues so that this would not continue in the future.

New Front Entry

We tackled the problem from several angles, including an underground drain pipe system around much of the house, sealing the side of the foundation and removing any water sources that were right next to the foundation, itself.  Some soil types are more susceptible to holding water and creating moisture problems than others and when the soil doesn’t naturally drain well, this can be an important area to address.

Anyway, the drainage side of the problem was handled.  There are not any

New Patio

photos of that portion of the project since drainage is the sort of project where the better the job is done, the less you see after it is all put back together.  There are, however, photos of the new brick entryway and the patio that was done earlier.

The client decided that since the area needed to be dug up anyway it was a good time to get the entry and the yard done up like they really wanted it.

Fruit Tree In Landescape

Limited space does not mean you can’t enjoy your own fruit from your very own garden. There is the option of dwarf and semidwarf trees. There are many advantages to the dwarf varieties. One is the fruit is easier to reach. Due to their height, they tend to be easier to prune or care for. The dwarf trees tend to bear fruit sooner than the regular varieties.

Pool Make Over with new Pool Deck

The house sits on a property of about 60 acres of land almost completely planted with avocados. In addition to these testy vegetables (or fruit if you measure it by having a seed), it is also home to a few horses, three dogs, some geese and ducks, a pond full of turtles, a very large land tortoise and a few cats.

The challenge here was to provide an updated surrounding for the old swimming pool area which definitely had that motel feel. It began with removing all the old concrete decking, the brick around the pool, some constricting fencing which surrounded the pool area and a few other odds and ends. The pool got a new finish and faux rock trim to give it an updated look.

The decking area was expanded to allow for lots more furniture

New Concrete Patio and Stucco Wall

using an earth tone stone-like concrete finish. All the patio lines and stairs were done in curves which softened the look. In particular, the new wall with the curved elevation changes on top as well as sweeping layout gave the area a more relaxing feel. This also allowed an unobstructed view of the remarkable vista from the pool deck. The wall has a smooth stucco finish, suitable for sitting it also has lights which were mounted at regular intervals.

The finished look was much cleaner than what had been there before and I am told that it gets much more use.

The weather is cooling down due to the sun moving lower in the sky. Now is the time to reset your irrigation timer. Less frequent watering for the same length of time is best. You can cut the lawn back to every 3 days and the shrubs commonly only need watering once or twice a week.

Green Lawn and Flower Bed

Now is also a good time to divide perennials. especially those that bloom in the spring. Doing it now allows your perennials time to reestablish themselves and their root system before it is time to flower. A little care goes a long way to keeping your yard in top shape.

The weather is still very warm during the days while the nights are cool and the air crisp. So, what does that mean to your gardening, lawn and outside plants? Keep up the deep watering for another few weeks. The deep watering just means really

Healthy Lawn

soaking the roots by watering for long period of time. This encourages healthy plants with strong roots. You will want to watch for those Santa Ana winds and water thoroughly before they arrive. Doing this will help give you the pleasure of a healthy, green lawn to enjoy.

When we get light sprinkles, the rain takes the dirt out of the air and deposits it on your car, patio furniture as well as your plants. Plant leaves

Healthy Plants

which are covered in dirt and dust are a haven for mites and other insects. Help keep your plants healthy by hosing down your plants every so often to remove the dust and dirt.

Here is a set of before and after photos I thought you might find interesting.

Before Front Yard Landscaping

The home, itself is in a really nice area, backing up to a country club. It is a nice looking house and had been recently painted in a well thought out color scheme. The landscape, however, as you can see tended to give the whole property a neglected look.

The solution was to remove just about everything and start over. The new walls were done so that they looked like an extension of the house with the same paint scheme. Terracing gave the front hill more visual interest and rolling the tops of the walls give it a softer look than stepping up.

The plants are still growing in, but as we were bringing the job to completion, neighbors were coming by in droves to comment on the changes. I went back recently to look and I noticed that several of the neighbors were also doing work on their landscapes as

After Front Yard Landscaping

well.

Large BBQ Island

At the center of the patio is a very large BBQ island. The cook should have lots of company since the counter seats at least a dozen people. In case he or she gets thirsty, there is also a cold beer tap built in along with warming drawers and a fridge. Umbrellas help keep the sun issue under control.

The pool with its long slide for the kids, has a hidden cove behind a waterfall and beach entry. It also has a place for an umbrella to give the tanning a

Pool with Slide

break.

This property has other features as well. The veggie garden has five raised beds for planting of the family favorites. There is a horseshoe pit for testing the aim of the guests and a separate patio with a fire pit to warm up the cooler evenings.

One of my favorite features is a large lamppost in the center of the patio areas. It is on a rheostat which allows it to be turned down to a gas lamp-like glow or cranked up to full power which lights up the whole area.  Lights along the pathways and in the garden allow the lamppost to normally be kept on the low setting but during a party it is nice to be able to throw more lights on the tables, BBQ and pool area etc.

Flower Garden Santa Rosa Valley

Generally, most plants in the garden need to be fed in the spring, summer and fall. Winter is not recommended since the new growth being generated could be subject to a freeze (not common in Southern California but we do occasionally see one) Winter is the time when plants go dormant and hibernate through the cold season.

The easiest way to fertilize garden plants is probably just to get the bags of crystals and sprinkle them around the base of your plants. It is good to water right after this application to allow the nutrients from the crystals to seep into the earth so the plant roots can access all that good stuff.

Watch and read your labels as there are separate types of fertilizers for general plants, acid plants (like Azaleas and Gardenias), palms, citrus and roses.

Here’s to beautiful, healthy garden plants that are visually relaxing.