Septic drainfields can be tricky places to landscape over and around. There are a few things that you should be sure not to do over your drain field and you’ll likely have heard that you should steer away from anything except lawn over your drainfield. While this is true, there are plants that can actually…
Tag: landscape design
Pollinator Friendly PNW Native Plants
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all depend on various native plants for food and shelter. Planting native plants throughout your garden will not only attract pollinators but will also cut down on maintenance as these plants are well adapted to our climate so they can handle the changes in seasons, animals, and soil…
The Landscape Design Process
Each designer has their own process and when choosing a landscape designer, it’s an important topic to ask about. This will help you find the best fit for your project, and you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get throughout the process. Initial Consultation After having a phone consultation to learn about our design process…
What is a Master Landscape Plan?
A master landscape plan is a landscape design created for an entire property. It’s an important piece of information to have before any construction begins and includes all existing site information (buildings, driveways, plants, etc.) along with all proposed design elements. This includes hardscaping, lighting layout and fixture selection, plant selection and layout, plant schedule,…
Plant Selection and the Hardiness Scale
The USDA plant hardiness map is the go-to resource for gardeners, designers, and growers to help them determine which plants will thrive in a specific location. This map uses the average minimum winter temperatures which is then broken down into 10 degree zones and 5 degree half zones. They’re numbered 1-13 and are followed by…
Project Spotlight: Woodland Estate
This wooded property is surrounded by thick evergreen trees and has a peekaboo view of Swartz Lake. The homeowner was in the process of building their custom home when they contacted us to do the design of their landscape. Because this was a new custom home, the landscape was starting from a blank slate and…
Fall Garden Maintenance
As the last couple of blooms appear in the garden, it’s a good time to work on a few fall garden tasks to keep your garden tidy and ready for winter. Pruning While we don’t want to do any substantial pruning until late winter/early spring, late fall is a good time to prune out any…
Low Maintenance Gardening
It’s rare that we find a client that doesn’t want a low maintenance garden. Many people think low maintenance means no maintenance, which is typically not the case in most gardens. In general, a low maintenance garden would be one that you wouldn’t need to fuss with more than 1-2 times a year although everyone’s…
Pet Friendly Landscaping
While outdoor spaces are typically designed for the humans using the space, it’s also important to remember the pets of the family and how they use the space. As with any other design, you want to think about who or what uses the space, the flow of the space, materials, and of course plants. Hardscaping…
Favorite Ornamental Grasses
Whether you need a plant for a container, to block an unsightly view, or to make a statement in the garden, ornamental grasses can do it. With so many options, this category of plants is so versatile and they really show their value this time of year and into fall. These are some of our…