Our Tuesday Transformation involved taking an open space and keeping it that way, but with some improvements that were easy to maintain. We removed the bark from the ground and added cleaner looking gravel, which makes the yard look more finished and open. We cleared the overgrowth from the garden beds and added bark, which creates contrast and depth between the ground cover and raised beds. The foliage was also pruned and shaped, allowing for better viewing of plants of different heights, giving a slightly more complex look to an easy to maintain yard.

Thank you for the feature Su Casa Magazine! Su Casa Northern New Mexico Winter 2018 | Digital Edition

Thank you for the engagement! Keep sending in your curious questions. Q: I have some bare spots in my yard that are covered with creeping juniper. Do you have any suggestions on when is the best time to plant Junipers and how should I go about doing it? A: First, make sure to dig a hole twice the size of the root ball of your new juniper. You want to make the hole deep enough to plant the creeping juniper at roughly the same level it is planted at inside the container. After removing the shrub from the original container you will want to gently and carefully separate the roots which will allow for proper growth. Next, position the juniper in your newly dug hole with the best side of the plan

Although spring may not be here yet, it is never to early to start looking at early spring flowers. This week's Phil favorite is Forsythia, a showy, deciduous shrub with a broad, rounded outline on an upright form that absolutely explodes with masses of soft yellow flowers to herald the arrival of spring. Use as a barrier hedge or screen or plant as a stand along shrub. Easy to grow in average to poor, well-drained soils. Part to full sun. Prune to shape after bloom. Zone: 3 - 9 depending on variety (11 different varieties) and can grow upwards of 10 - 12 feet high.

This week's Transformation Tuesday not only made the client's landscape great to look at but also addressed some potentially serious problems: The client's front yard was sloped toward the entrance. This posed a problem when it would rain as bark, debris, and water would build up and flow towards the front porch, flooding, and creating a mess. To tackle the issue, we added a moss rock flowerbed with a few shrubs and grasses which also hid the telephone box. By adding some beautiful landscaping, it stopped water from pooling onto the front porch.

This week's question is a little more technical but we have your answer! Q: I see in so many landscaped pictures the area immediately around trees is in a perfect circle or close to it. I have tried to use an edger, and a shovel to dig it out but, I can never make the circles look that good. How do you guys do it? A: By pulling the lawn or gravel back away from your trees not only improves the appearance of your yard but it is also good for the health of the trees. It can be quite a bit of work but use the following steps for your circle: -Loosely tie a rope around the tree trunk, and attach it to a sturdy stick, (I like to use a piece of rebar) or marking paint. -Adjust the length so that i

A beautiful and bright Phil's Favorite: Pyracantha Zone: 5 - 8 Hardy evergreen to semi-evergreen prized for its bright orange berries that persist into winter. A favorite nesting spot for birds. Use as a barrier hedge or screen. Full sun. Reaches up to 10 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide.

This week we would like to showcase a different Transformation Tuesday: Maintenance Marvel! Pictured is a rental property that had not been maintained for 5-7 months. This presented several issues, including numerous fire hazards, a breeding ground for snakes and rodents, safety concerns due to the uneven footing, and was very unsightly. Fire prevention dictates keeping a 30-foot buffer of clear land between the structure and foliage. 16 man-hours later - including the use of mowers, weedeaters, rakes, and a couple of dump runs to dispose of green waste - resulted in a manageable property which is now easy to maintain, hazard-free, and something the owners can take pride in. Desert Rose cont

This great question was emailed to us last week. How fitting as the weather has gotten a bit colder: Q: How often should I water during the winter month, especially since it has been a dry winter thus far? A: You should water at least every 2 weeks. Water during midday since it is a bit warmer and the water can soak into the ground before it freezes. It’s important to water anything that was newly planted. as well as areas that get full sun or is exposed to windy conditions. Use a hose to water. If you have an irrigation system, do not attempt to use it to water since it has already been winterized. Water slowly so it can soak in. Use a sprinkler for larger areas and don’t forget to disconne

Hillside Creeper Scotch Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Zone 3-7 - plant full sun or part shade. A nice ground cover that spreads out and forms flat layered branches covered with thick, green needles. The vigorous, hardy Scotch Pine, makes an excellent ground covering option for banks or walls or tucked in and around boulders.

Part 3 of this fun large project for Transformation Tuesday: In addition to the flagstone patios pathways and plantings we did the last 2 weeks, we converted a weedy rock garden into a terraced flowerbed. Now, the landscape is much easier to maintain. After adding perennials and shrubs, we finished off the flowerbed with a bark mulch to help retain moisture and prevent weeds. We used as much of the rock from the original rock garden that we could during the construction of the single terraced bed. This entire property has now become a very usable area: 3 flagstone patios that connect to each other, native perennials and shrubs, and a low maintenance area free of weeds and unwanted grasses.

This week's Question Of The Week addresses a common misconception: Q: We had gravel placed in our yard and a weed barrier was also installed but we still got weeds. I thought that was the purpose of the weed barrier, to prevent weeds? A: You are correct, a weed barrier is used to prevent weeds - not eliminate them. What happens is even though there is a weed barrier, seeds from weeds still land on top of the weed barrier and therefore, can still grow. The seeds can come from all sorts of places from birds, wind or even the neighbor’s yard. The difference is these are surface weeds that be can easily be pulled since they are rooted above the weed barrier and not in the dirt. It’s like buying

Laceleaf Staghorn Sumac (Rhus Typhina) Zone 4-8: Plant full sun or partial sun. Great specimen tree. A large, loose, open-spreading shrub with a flattish crown and branches resembling the velvety antlers of a deer, hence the name Staghorn. One of the most interesting characteristics of your Staghorn is its unusual flowers. Green-hued, yellow flowers form in spring. Eight-inch tall, pyramid-shaped clusters of drupes appear on the female plants. The berry-like drupes ripen red in late summer/early fall, and mature to a brown color that tends to persist throughout the winter months.

Here is part II of this very large project we worked on for Transformation Tuesday: The area was overgrown with weeds, taking over the flagstone patios and rock garden. We started off with removing all the weeds and grass. Next, the current flagstones had to be pulled up, leveled, and reset. Pathways were created with flagstone steps to connect three flagstone patios which were accented with gravel and bordered with moss rock. Flowerbeds were added along with shrubs and perennials. We created a “dry riverbed” with gravel and used a weed barrier to help prevent weeds from coming back. To finish off, an irrigation system was installed to help water and maintain the finished garden.

There are many options available when looking to hire landscaping maintenance services - big chains, local companies, private individuals, and your neighbor’s teenager. The choices can be confusing, but it is important to do your research and take time when choosing a company. One bad pick can result in poor services rendered, money lost, and even legal issues. This month’s blog will help guide you through the process of choosing who will get your property in tip-top shape! Hiring a Licensed vs. Non-Licensed Contractor The biggest difference between licensed and non-licensed contractors is the risk you personally take when hiring one or the other. Landscapers hired to do work at your home