This Transformation Tuesday takes place in Eldorado and like most homes in Eldorado, our client had an open backyard. The house had several Sumac and a Chamisa, which somewhat acted as a barrier to the client's yard. The end goal was to define the yard more and give them some sort of barrier to keep coyotes and other critters out. Even though it is hard to see in the before picture, the backyard had a steep slope that also needed to be addressed. After the planning phase, the

Q: My Spanish Broom seems like it is turning brown now in the winter. Is this normal or is my plant dying? A: Spanish Brooms are very beautiful plants. However, they do have a tendency to freeze and can die during severe winter months even though they are rated for zone 4. If some branches are brown cut them off in early spring. If the whole shrub is brown, there is a good chance it did not make it through the winter and will need to be replaced. We recommend going with a Moo

Today, we have a before and after ONE season after planting. Seen here are Karl Foerster, Potentilla, Powis Castle, creeping germander, cotoneaster, Moonshine, and Paprika Yarrow. Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Q: What is the best material to use for a retaining wall? A: It depends on what you are trying to accomplish and what look you want. Moss rock makes a beautiful retaining wall that provides a very unique wall (no two are alike) and has a more natural look. The biggest advantage that landscape block has over moss rock is the landscape block has a lip on the bottom edge. This helps the blocks to interlock which provides a solid and sturdy wall. The landscape block looks great a

Western Catalpa Catalpa Speciosa Hardy to zone 4 Possibly one of the most beautiful shade trees that can be grown in Santa Fe, the Western Catalpa is always showing off. In the spring, huge, heart-shaped leaves cover the thick, heavy branches. All you see is the foliage. Around June clusters of white bell-shaped flowers with splashes of dark maroon-purple on the inside appear and fill the air with a sweet fragrance. There are so many flowers it often looks like patches of sno

Q: My coyote fence is leaning - is this something that can be fixed? A: Yes! There can be several factors that can cause a coyote fence to lean. The most common is the wire has snapped or loosened. If this is the case we will untie the fence to that point and rewire. If the main post is cracked or broke, we will need to untie the fence to a certain point, dig out the old post, and replace it with a new one. If the rail loosened we will need to untie the fence to that point, e

Blue-leaf Hildago Sotol Dasylirion Glaucophyllum Zone 7-10 One of the largest sotols, this cactus can reach 4' tall and 7' wide! Powder blue spiked leaves create a beautiful, round evergreen that adds nice color and texture to your yard. Shoots out a 7' tall flower spike that has small white flowers that hummingbirds enjoy! Plant in full sun and amend soil with sand and small gravel to improve drainage. Water occasionally the first year, then rain should take care of the rest

Happy December from Desert Rose! It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the year, but our snowy weather is reminding us that we are getting close to the start of Winter. In this month’s blog, we are going to review the installation of a water feature. Water features are a very unique addition to any yard since it is not only visually engaging but also audibly appealing as well. The sound of water breaking over rocks will bring the atmosphere of a river to your

Q: Can you put ice melt on flagstone patios? A: You need to be extremely careful if you decide to apply ice melt to flagstone steps or patios. Using ice melt can cause the flagstone to flake and corrode; so please use it at your own risk. If you decide you want to use ice melt, the safest ice melt to use on flagstone is Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA). It is hard to find locally but may be ordered online.

Narrow Leaf Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula 'Asplenifolia' Zone 2-8 Long, wispy leaves, similar to a willow but thinner. Cover this unique looking tree. With its upright growth pattern, this tree is really looking to stand out. Small flowers appear in the spring, with a strong sweet fragrance that can be smelled every time you walk by. Once the flowers are spent, small ornamental berries appear which attract birds through the fall. Partial to full sun. Water regularly. Ornamental