Sometimes it's nice when clients at a new project get the bulk of the work done. :) Kidding aside, their yard but needed some assistance finishing up the job.Our clients wanted a flagstone patio extended off of the cement patio they current had. The first step of this project was to level out and remove the excessive dirt in the area. We trenched out the area to continue the dry river bed from once side of the yard to the other. Next we cut the flagstone to fit the curvy exis

Q: I have been noticing a lot of ants on my aspens trees. Are ants attracted to the aspen trees? A: The ants are not attracted to the aspen tree itself but are attracted to the aphids that are on the leaves of the aspens. If you notice a lot of ant activity on your aspens it might be a good idea to have a pest control company spray your aspens to get rid of the aphids and the ants.

Helmond Pillar Barberry Berberis thunbergii Zone 4-8 Maroon colored leaves cover the spiked branches of this unique columnar perennial. Plant in well drained soil and full sun for best results. Water regularly. A slow grower that can reach 4' tall and 2' wide. Produces tiny flowers followed by small berries that birds love. Deer resistant due to the thorns on the plant. Beautiful fall colors and year round interest make this plant a great single specimen in any garden.

This project started off with an existing beautiful flagstone pathway, but a very empty yard. Our client wanted a lush, colorful, and almost overwhelming yard to walk out to everyday. We started by planting a lot of different types of plants - Aspens for immediate height and a Desert Willow for eventual height. Trumpet Vines, Yarrows, Agastache, Yuccas, Catmint, Penstemon, May Night Salvia, Powis Castle and Jupiters Beard, were planted, just to name some of plants. All the pl

Q: I noticed some white stuff on the leaves and flowers of my rose bushes, what is that? A: What you are seeing is powdery mildew. Powdery mildew is fairly common in Santa Fe due to our hot days and cooler nights, which allows the mildew to grow on certain plants. Some roses and other plants have been selectively bred to resist powdery mildew. The best way to take care of it is to go to a local nursery and buy some neem oil or garden strength hydrogen peroxide and follow the

Black Bamboo Phyllostachys nigra - Zone 5-11 Add a little Zen to your garden! Black bamboo is a great variety of bamboo that can handle the cold winter nights of Santa Fe. Can be used as a privacy screen since this bamboo is an evergreen. A fast grower that can quickly reach 20' tall. Can be invasive and spreads quickly if runners (spreading shoots) are not cut back. Plant in full to partial sun and water regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist for best growth. Looks great a

Here is the final part of our two-part series for this project! Since our client wanted a low maintenance yard, we continued that theme with the rest of the yard. We planted a Karl Forester, Moonlight broom, some lavender and a cool low growing Blue Spruce Shrub. Another honeysuckle was planted on the fence to help add some green colors and a flowering Plum Tree was also planted for beautiful springtime flowers and intense purple foliage. We ran irrigation to the plants, laid

Q: Why do my plants seem droopy? A: In the heat of summer months, the sun can beat down plants just like how it can wear us down. Just like humans, plants sweat. This process is called transpiration which has many uses. It can help a plant move water and nutrients within the plant, help it absorb CO2 and release oxygen, and most importantly in the summer, help it cool off when it gets too hot. If you notice your plants drooping more than usual, give it some additional water t

Chocolate Flower Berlandiera lyrata: Zone 4-10 These bright yellow flowers not only look good, but they also smell good too! Greenish-gray foliage creates a beautiful backdrop for the daisy-like flowers to show off their colors and scent. This very fragrant flower with a strong cocoa odor will have you craving your favorite chocolate bar on the first smell! Plant in full to part sun and water regularly for best results. Tolerant of most well-drained soils. A moderate grower t

This Transformation Tuesday is part one of a two-part series. The house was newly built and in need of some landscaping. Our client wanted something eye catching but low maintenance. Phil wanted to make a colorful flower bed in the corner of the yard since it is the first thing you see from the back porch. We created a semi-circle moss rock border and began planting. Karl Forester was planted in the corner so the stalks would create nice height, without the bulkiness of a shr