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 existing patio and hand chiseled the edges of every single piece. Weed barrier was laid on all areas to be graveled (including the dry river bed). We used 3/8" Santa Fe Brown for the lower level and 3/8" Plum for the upper l
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 plants selected were chosen not just for their colors, but for their lower water requirements to help keep this yard water efficient. A moss rock border for the flowerbed helps to keep the yard from being over powered by t
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 instructions on the package. Although powdery mildew will not kill the rose, if is not treated it can affect the growth of the plant and prevent a the roses from blooming.
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 around water features and pairs very well with Japanese Maple trees.
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 down weed barrier and finished the yard off with 3/8" Sunset Rose gravel. The client was excited about their new yard and loved the low amount of attention it required. Stay cool out there in this warm, warm weather!
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 to help cool it off!
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 that can quickly reach 18" tall and 2' wide. Blooms in late summer and is also deer resistant. Deadhead to encourage more blooms. Attracts butterflies. Cut back in the winter to promote healthy growth the following year.
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 shrub or tree. We added a honeysuckle on each side to create a balanced, green vegetation on the fence. Next, we filled in the flowerbed with Catmint, yellow Tickseed, pink Jupiters Beard, yellow Yarrows and Purple Pikes Pe
Q: Can you show me how to turn on and off my irrigation so I can do it myself? A: We will gladly show you how to properly open and close your irrigation system - it's always a good idea to know how it works. However, we advise against home owners trying to open and close their own system unless they have a complete understanding and some experience doing it. We have had numerous clients call us for help after trying to do it themselves. One missed step when shutting the system down can result in damage to the irrigation system that can be expensive to fix. Likewise, a missed step when turning the irrigation on can lead to water waste and very high water bills. When in doubt, don't hesitate t
Pink Aster novi-belgii 'Wood's Pink' - Zone 4-8 Part to full sun. Water regularly. These beautiful pink, daisy like flowers bring late summer color to your yard. This mounding flower produces dense, pink blooms that just about covers all of the green foliage. Plant in full to partial sun and water regularly for best growth. Prefers well drained, moist soils but is adaptable to most soil conditions. A fast grower that can quickly reach 16" tall and 14" wide. Divide clumps every three years to maintain best plant health. Wood's Pink Aster looks great in groupings of 3 or 5 and can also be used in containers.
This transformation Tuesday is a little different than normal since there aren't any beautiful plants or flowerbeds. However, this was an important project for the clients since they were dealing with erosion issues. There was a cement drainage channel in place that was supposed to help with drainage, but the erosion had covered it and was not allowing it to work properly. The first priority was to remove all the dirt covering the cement drainage channel. We continued to remove the dirt a couple feet past the cement to ensure it will not be covered by erosion in the future. Once cleared, we dug the holes for the posts several feet deep to give the railroad ties extra strength. Once the posts
Our July blog will cover some of the options available if you have uninvited guests eating your plants. Rabbits and deer can be a big problem for people and their yards in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. Whether you live close to the mountains or in one of our more arid landscapes, you are likely to encounter one of these hungry guests at some point during the year. There are a handful of options you can use as a deterrent which will not harm the animals, the environment, or humans, and can also help to keep your yard looking beautiful. The cheapest and easiest option is to try one of the many different types of repellent sprays. These sprays can be purchased at any of the local nurseries
