Gardening Landscaping

 Gardening landscaping involves the design, installation, and maintenance of outdoor spaces. It encompasses a variety of elements, including plants, hardscapes, and water features. A well-designed garden can enhance the aesthetic appeal of a property and create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. In addition to the visual benefits, gardening landscaping also offers numerous environmental benefits, such as improving air quality, reducing soil erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife. Proper planning and regular maintenance are essential for ensuring a successful and sustainable garden landscape.

In the Garden: Fall an ideal time for a landscaping project

It all started when my wife Loraine said she wanted better access to one of the more congested flower beds in our garden. She didn’t like that there were no stepping stones or a simple little path. And she also said how “scrappy” the border had become, with a hodgepodge of shrubs and mishmash of perennials, all of which were mostly unspectacular specimens. I agreed to take up the challenge and do a complete makeover, re-landscaping the entire border from top to bottom, or rather side to side, since it is 3.5 metres x 12 metres (around 11 feet x 39 feet) and runs perpendicular to the house in a north-south direction. What I wasn’t expecting was to be reminded of just how much hard work landscaping can be. I had forgotten how much heavy lifting you have to do, even on a relatively small project — how much back-breaking digging and raking, dragging and cutting, bending and stretching … and so much kneeling. Autumn is the perfect time to do a landscape project. I always think of it as the second spring — the second major window of opportunity to get trees, shrubs and perennials planted (or lifted and relocated), and also the perfect time to install new foundational structures such as walls and fences, arches and arbours. I started my project at the beginning of September. My first task was to remove the hodgepodge of unwanted perennials, including established clumps of autumn monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii) and Campanula latifolia alba, along with carpets of bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum Bevan’s Variety) and a smattering of euphorbia, viola and astilbe. Some of these plants, such as the hardy geraniums, were recycled elsewhere in the garden. http://vancouversun.com/life/homes/gardening/in-the-garden-fall-an-ideal-time-for-a-landscaping-project

Sustainable Landscaping

As water shortages and water quality become the norm for California, many gardeners are turning to sustainable landscaping. Not only does sustainable landscaping promote water conservation and increased water quality, it is also low-maintenance, enhances soil quality, provides safe habitat for native wildlife and can even decrease energy usage.

Sustainable landscaping practices are interconnected and include careful plant selection and placement, effective watering, recycling of organic matter to improve soil and integrated pest management to reduce chemical use while attracting beneficial wildlife.
An important facet of sustainable landscaping is selecting plants best suited for your climate and microclimates. Generally speaking, the Sierra foothills are in Sunset’s climate Zone 7, bordering Zone 9 below Jamestown as you approach the San Joaquin Valley. In the higher elevations of Zone 7, gardeners will experience cooler, wetter microclimates.

Microclimates can vary throughout a garden depending on sun exposure, wind, soil type and even distance from asphalt. Choose plants that are native to your climate zone and thrive in nature in each of the different microclimates in your garden. Unlike exotics and invasive species, many California native plants are drought tolerant and once established help conserve water.
Plant placement is also key to sustainable landscaping. Group those with similar needs, allowing them to be cared for together. Native deciduous trees can be planted on southwest and southeast corners to increase shade in summer yet allow plenty of sun to reach the house in the winter. This promotes energy conservation. Grow ground covers near heat retentive surfaces such as asphalt to increase summer cooling.
Water conservation is another goal of sustainable landscaping. First and foremost, resist overwatering. Most of us overwater our plants (particularly those that are established) rather than waiting for the first signs of distress or checking the soil for dryness. Overwatering leads to runoff and losses to evaporation. Ultimately water and soil are both negatively affected as nutrients and other valuable soil materials are washed away in the water.

Drip irrigation applies water directly to a plant’s root zone, stimulating deeper root growth. With slow application, more water soaks in at deeper levels resulting in
less evaporation on the surface. Another tactic is to use rain water and or gray water to water trees and plants. Check local guidelines regarding use of gray water on edibles.
Amending your soil with organic material helps boost water-holding capacity, decreases runoff and enhances soil quality. Compost also improves soil texture and provides vital plant nutrients, reducing the need for fertilizer. Initially when planting, work compost deeply into the soil rather than applying it to just the top few inches. Thereafter to maintain good soil quality, till infrequently.
Adding three to four inches of mulch on top of your soil is a natural way to control weeds without the use of chemicals. Mulch also decreases evaporative losses and erosion and keeps material from heading to landfills.

Integrated pest management is key to sustainable landscaping. (IPM is the use of the least toxic methods for managing garden problems.) Limit the use of chemicals that have a negative effect on water and soil quality and are harmful to pollinators and other native wildlife.
Disease-resistant native plants attract beneficial wildlife to gardens which in turn keep pests at a minimum without pesticides. Mulch, rather than herbicides, helps control weeds.
Sustainable landscaping protects our natural resources and helps to create beautiful low-maintenance gardens. The strategies used to reach the ‘ideal’ are interconnected. Implementing one approach in your garden means you are already working on others, helping you become a good steward for the environment.

For a detailed article on sustainable landscaping go to http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu; type in 8504 in the browse space. For help managing plant problems, go to www.ipm.ucdavis.edu.
Kathi Joye is a UCCE Master Gardener of Tuolumne County and enjoys gardening at an elevation above 4,000 feet.
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/212433/sustainable-landscaping.html

Garden Landscape Design - 10 Tips To Design A Beautiful Garden Landscape

1. When coming up with a garden landscape design, you should consider the size, shape, and style of your home during the landscape design phase. The landscape design of your garden should blend with the house, not distract from it. You should be trying to enhance the property as well as the existing structures with your landscape design A good garden landscape design should flow smoothly with your home by creating repeat design details, textures, colors and smooth transitions.
2. When designing your garden landscape, make sure you have a plan in mind. A garden design should incorporate height and width restrictions of the area you plan on planting your garden, especially when dealing with trees. The garden may become unmanageable blocking views or pathways.
3. A successful garden landscape design will include proper soil requirements for the types of plants that you choose within your garden. Drainage requirements have to be taken into consideration when designing you garden. Poor drainage will doom your garden from the start
4. When designing your garden landscape, make sure that you plan for future growth. Your landscape design at maturity may change how the garden receives sun and shade throughout the day. Garden plants bought with the sun in mind may end up in the shade.
5. A vital key to a great garden landscape design is to create a focal point. Whether your focal point is a tree or an oddly shaped plant or garden color, create a garden landscape around it.
6. Consider the curb appeal that your garden landscape design will bring. The backyard garden may be where you hang out, but the rest of the world will see the garden design in the front yard. A good landscape design technique is to plan curves into the garden design; nature does not work in just straight lines. This type of landscape design will increase the look and curbside appeal of your garden, adding value to your house.
7. The future needs of the family should be taken into consideration when designing your garden landscape. If you have children, design your garden with them in mind. Each member of the family will use the garden design differently.
8. One of the most overlooked elements of the landscape design is lighting, both natural and artificial. Lighting plays a very important role in any good garden landscape design. Garden lighting sets the tone for how the garden will be used during the day as well as at night.
9. Your garden landscape design does not have to be expensive, but make sure that you are being realistic about costs. It's very easy to misjudge landscaping design costs, especially if you hire contractors.
10. When planning your garden landscape design, make sure and create it around your personality, desires and maintenance requirements. If you really like an oriental garden design, why plant a rose garden. The future maintenance of your landscape design should be a major decision during the landscape design. If you do not have the time or the ability to keep up on the maintenance, your landscape design is doomed for failure.

[http://www.garden-landscape-design.com] is your source for inexpensive products to teach you how to design that perfect garden landscape design. Whether you just want a beautiful lawn, or a garden bursting with flowers, plants, and vegetables let garden-landscape-design show you how.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/581726

Garden Landscapers, Garden Makeovers Or Creations?

Garden Landscapers love good old fashioned garden makeovers or so they like to make you believe. Garden landscapers in essence are those hardy breed of men that are often seen in more cosmopolitan areas hanging off of scaffolding structures making suggestive remarks to ladies passing in the streets below. However, as one rather famous singer pointed out, the times they are a changing.
Garden landscapers these days have to be more than just garden builders and planters. Generally, people are demanding more and more from their garden landscapers. Requests such as installing a garden pond, a water feature or water fountain are fast outstripping the more conventional garden makeovers.
Garden landscapers are now far more likely to be garden technicians, requiring skills and knowledge of water gardening products, pump flow rates, water lighting requirements, water fountain jumping jets, effects of head of water, stream flow effects and much more. Top class garden landscapers now have to be equipped with garden designers, builders, labourers, water garden technicians, horticulturalists, electricians, fencing contractors along with all the necessary garden machinery and garden supplies to turn your dreams into reality.
There is much more than meets the eye to garden landscapers of quality gardens. Landscape gardeners are often found to be spiritual people, often with a drive and desire to improve the environment. Providing a garden rich in nature is often their goal although they also keep in mind the future well being and enjoyment of their human employers.
Garden landscapers often have to provide areas for seating, eating, playing and interacting with nature often within the limited space of the garden boundaries. Patios do not get laid on their own, jungle gyms for the children do not magically appear in the night, garden ponds do not dig themselves and as for garden maintenance, I shall say no more. This is where the garden landscaper excels, in those times where the hard gardening begins.
Being able to work with natures resources of earth, water, light, wood, rock & stone is what make garden landscapers of quality a commodity unto themselves. Creating shapes, textures and sounds of pleasure within the garden is what sets this breed apart. Given the opportunity to create, garden landscapers will often produce garden makeovers of awe. Turning what was once no more than a backyard into a space of tranquility, inspiration, meditation and admiration is without doubt a skill to be respected.
Garden landscaping is an art, a devotion to duty and care beyond sticking a few plants in the ground. Garden landscapers work hard, play hard and smile a lot. They have a joy of heart in the back breaking work they carry out second to none. Working with nature, moulding, sculpting the earth to the requirements of their hosts must come with pressures, but it seems that hardened garden landscapers see this as nothing more than the necessary pursuit of perfection to the senses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/770287

Use perennials for low-water landscaping

KUSA - Most of the perennials planted in the 9NEWS Water Wise garden were no more than a few inches tall or wide when they were installed in 2011. In one year's time, they have doubled or tripled in size. These plants are thriving, they are showy and they will be back for years to come. These particular perennials, called Plant Select, were chosen for the 9NEWS garden because they do quite well in spite of Colorado's irritable growing conditions. Most need little water. They can grow at altitudes even higher than along the Front Range. And they can pretty much survive whatever Colorado's changing weather throws at them. That's the power of Plant Select perennials. As the availability of water is always a concern for residents of our state, our choices in plant materials become more critical. We need less thirsty plants for more sustainable landscapes. That is why water-wise perennials, in general, and Plant Select perennials, in particular, are a wise option. Plant Selects have been developed through a partnership that includes Colorado State University, the Denver Botanic Gardens and the landscape industry. The goal of this effort is to give Colorado gardeners plants that are both showy and sustainable. Here are some of the sustainable benefits you can enjoy by planting more perennials: • You purchase and plant them once, and they come back in your garden year after year. • While all plants need extra water to get established in their first growing season, water needs fall off dramatically in the following seasons. • After growing two or three years, most will need to be divided from one plant into two or more plants. That's an ongoing return on your initial investment. • They attract pollinators that will be good for the veggie garden. • Their seeds provide food for birds. Perennials add changing interest because most plants have a limited bloom time - unlike annuals which bloom the duration of the growing season. This is both the beauty and the challenge of perennial gardening. Having a selection of plants with staged bloom times is critical for ongoing color. To be successful, one group of plants needs to start blooming when the previous group is declining. Consulting with a landscape designer who knows the timing of all the blooms will help you create a garden that's lush with changing, but non-stop color. Information courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado-sponsors of the 9News Kitchen Garden and the 9News Water Wise Garden. For help with your landscape needs, go to www.alcc.com and click on Find a Pro. http://www.9news.com/news/article/277488/188/Use-perennials-for-low-water-landscaping

Lake County gardeners workshop offers landscaping, planting advice

KIRTLAND, Ohio -- Got gardening questions or concerns that you'd like answered before spring planting?
If so, then attend the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Lake County 11th annual Home Gardeners Workshop on Saturday, March 10. The workshop, at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, begins with 8:15 a.m. registration. Workshops end at 3:45 p.m.
Sabrena Schweyer of Salsbury-Schweyer Inc., a landscape design firm in Akron, kicks off the one-day workshop at 9 a.m. with her talk, "Matching House and Garden." Not sure which plant colors and textures best coordinate with a red-brick exterior? Should your garden get a makeover after you paint your house a new shade? Schweyer will be there to offer advice.
Other horticultural experts will be on hand for workshops that include "Vegetable Gardening 101"; "Top Performing, Low Maintenance Annuals for Your Landscape"; "Small Trees for the Home Landscape," and more.
The $45 registration fee includes the program, lunch, refreshments and handouts. There will be colorful gardening displays, door prizes and a book sale.
For more information, call 440-350-2582 or go to lake.osu.edu for a link to the Home Gardeners Workshop information and registration form.

http://www.cleveland.com/insideout/index.ssf/2012/02/lake_county_gardeners_workshop.html