Archive for the ‘Landscape Renovation’ Category
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
To make the most of flowers, design and care are important elements. There is no substitute for proper planning while planting flowers or the meticulous maintenance required.
Flowers – Design and Care Tips
- Plan your landscape design: While planning a flower garden here are 5 questions to start you off.
- Do you know what you want?
- Can you visualize the final look?
- Will the plants blossom in your growing conditions?
- What kind of maintenance do your flowers require?
- Do you have the time to provide the right care?
A poorly planned or neglected garden is worse than one that doesn’t have any flowers.
- Start small: Unless you’re planning to hire a landscape design company, start small and then build slowly. A step-by-step, planned approach helps avoid frustrating mistakes. You need to be sure of the look before you invest the time, effort and money all at once.
- Understand plant requirements: Roses thrive in full sun light while lilies need partial shade and proper soil drainage. Providing the necessary growing conditions gets results. If you’re not well-versed with plant care get expert help.
- Balance your design: Your landscape design must be planned around your needs. Do you want lots of color or to replicate a company logo? Are you creating a focal point or accenting a beautiful water feature? Do you want to create a stunning entryway or introduce privacy? Flowering plants are available in hundreds of colors and sizes. An experienced landscaper will achieve the desired look without the costly mistakes.
- Get good quality plants and soil: Both plant and soil quality impact blooming capabilities. Investing in good quality plants and nutrient-rich soil guarantees beautiful results.
- Provide regular maintenance: If you want to maintain your flower garden then be prepared to prune, fertilize and weed regularly. Flowering plants need constant attention to maintain the desired look.
Flower design and care is serious business. A professional landscape maintenance service eliminates trial and error. It’s a small price to pay for lasting curb appeal.
Tags: design, flower garden, landscape
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Saturday, June 11th, 2011
Conscious about reducing your carbon footprint? Switch to sustainable landscaping. Maintaining an eco-friendly garden is an effective way to boost your environmental responsiveness.
Read our easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint through water-efficient landscaping.
- Install a sustainable landscape: Planting an eco-friendly garden is easier than you think. It involves selecting grass, plants and trees that are suitable to your growing conditions and need less water. Low water use or drought resistant plants are easier to maintain and will also reduce your irrigation requirements.
- Make energy conservation a part of your landscaping plans: Strategic placement of trees and shrubs can lower your energy consumption. Plan landscapes with plants that will shield your premises from the summer heat and let in the warmth of the sun in winter reducing your cooling and heating bills.
- Choose water-efficient irrigation systems: Drip irrigation and SMART controllers use water efficiently. Applying water to ET rates gives plants and lawns exactly what they need while avoiding run offs and puddles.
- Mulch to retain moisture: Mulching has numerous benefits. It reduces evaporation, protects your plants from temperature fluctuations and deters the growth of weeds. The colorful mulches available today also enhance landscape appearance.
- Practice natural weed, pest and disease control: Regular landscape maintenance makes it easier to deal with weeds, pests and disease without the use of harmful chemicals. Use good quality topsoil, and install landscape fabric or mulch to prevent weed growth. Be meticulous about spring and fall clean up to reduce the risk of disease. Use organic herbicides to deal with persistent problems.
- Reduce green waste: Composting your green waste will reduce the amount that goes to the landfill. This nutrient rich compost can be used to fertilize your lawn and plants.
An eco-friendly landscaping company can install and maintain a sustainable landscape reducing your carbon footprint. Do your bit to save the planet for future generations.
Tags: carbon footprint
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Saturday, June 4th, 2011
Flower pots in the landscape is a great idea for your landscape design. However, lack of proper planning can make them look awkward no matter how beautiful your plants may be.
When incorporating flower pots in the landscape make sure you maintain the overall flow and balance. Use them to heighten interest and avoid a mish mash of shapes. Here are some basic guidelines to keep you on the right track.
- Understand the scale of your landscape design: A small pot in the middle of a large space or a couple of big ornamental flowerpots in a small space can mess with your landscape’s overall appeal. Think carefully about where you want to place the flower pots. Established landscape designers use the latest technology to help you visualize the final picture before you begin.
- Pay attention to plant requirements: Vibrant flowerpots require a proper understanding of their requirements. Whether you’re planting flowers, ornamental trees, bonsai or cactus, each has specific needs. Some plants like to spread their roots while others prefer to be clustered together. Some need full sunlight, many require partial shade. Follow the recommended growing conditions to achieve full bloom.
- Choose pots carefully: There are several points to consider when selecting flower pots for the landscape. The material (concrete, terracotta, wood, plastic, etc.) and color should match or complement your hardscapes. It is also preferable to put ornate plants in a simple flower pot and vice-versa. Flowerpot material also impacts maintenance. Clay pots dry out faster, plastic requires less care. Choose accordingly.
- Flowerpots require proper maintenance: Although flowerpots offer convenience, (especially if you want to take them indoors when it’s cold) they still need regular maintenance. Proper watering, regular pruning and cleanup keep them bright and beautiful.
Flower pots in the landscape become the focal point of attention. They also speak volumes of your design and maintenance skills. An experienced landscape maintenance service can take care of it for you.
Tags: landscape designer
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Saturday, May 28th, 2011
Planning a turf renovation? Late summer and fall are the best time for your lawn makeover. A vibrant green turf is every property owner’s pride and joy. If yours has lost color, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
Follow our recommended steps for a successful turf renovation.
- Weed out your problems: Deal with weeds, pests and disease before turf renovation. There are many solutions available in the market. However, specific treatments are more effective.
- Improve soil quality: Your lawn needs nutrient rich soil to grow strong and healthy. Get a soil analysis to understand your soil type (clay, loam, etc.) and requirements before you make any amendments. Using a good quality top dressing will also improve resistance to weather fluctuations, pest and disease.
- Choose the right grass type: Select grass that is suitable to your growing conditions. Climate, shade or sun, and type of soil influence growth and maintenance. Choose grass that is hardy.
- Prepare the soil for planting: Whether you’re using sod or seed, there is no short cut to soil preparation. Fill in holes, even out the lawn area and aerate to reduce soil compaction. Grass roots need easy access to moisture and nutrients in the soil.
- Seed your lawn correctly: Seeding the correct amount and in the appropriate manner enhances turf growth. Seed in both directions, at right angles. If you’re not confident about how to do it, get an experienced landscaping company to manage your turf renovation.
- Maintain a proper watering schedule: New seeds and sod need to be watered on a regular basis to prevent them from drying out. Keep them moist and avoid over watering.
- Don’t forget to fertilize: Fertilize after a month to boost growth and disease resistance. Follow the recommended usage and watering practices to keep your newly installed lawn healthy.
- Be diligent about lawn maintenance: A vibrant lawn is the result of careful maintenance. Don’t neglect the mowing, watering, weeding or pest control.
Turf renovation and maintenance is a full time job. If you don’t have the time or the inclination, hire a reliable landscaping maintenance service to do the job.
Tags: turf renovation
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Saturday, May 21st, 2011
Curb appeal impacts the image and value of your property. Landscaping is an important investment so you want to ensure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck. A smart landscape design with reduced maintenance requirements can deliver the right results.
How to make the most of your landscape design?
- Take the time to plan your landscape: The first step towards curb appeal and is careful landscape planning. Look at several landscape designs for ideas or as a reference point. Make sure your plans suit your space, budget and maintenance schedule.
- Incorporate existing features to reduce cost: Take a good look at what you already have – existing lawn, trees, shrubs, hardscapes, etc. and try to build around it. This will reduce your landscape renovation costs. You might not need to pull out the whole lawn (a big expense); it may work to just reduce the grassy area including water features or hardscapes to draw attention instead.
- Install plants and grass that have reduced maintenance requirements. Maintenance takes time, effort and money. It also impacts curb appeal. Choosing local plants that thrive in your growing conditions lowers your upkeep. Also, there are several low water-use plants and grass that are less susceptible to weather conditions and look great too. In many parts of California, desert landscaping is popular and very attractive.
- Get an experienced landscape designer: Hiring an expert to improve curb appeal guarantees the best bang for your buck. Training and experience enables them to make a few simple but important adjustments that will transform your landscape. It will also ensure that the job is done properly, avoiding the costly mistakes associated with trial and error.
Landscape renovation is a worthwhile investment, but not something you want to do often. Think long term when enhancing curb appeal.
Tags: landscape design, landscape designers
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Saturday, May 14th, 2011
Organic weed control avoids the use of strong chemicals that are harmful to humans, animals, birds and the environment. Why use toxic weed killers when eco-friendly products and a few simple weed prevention steps can do the job.
What are the best practices for organic weed control?
- Identify the weed: Knowing what you’re dealing with is an important part of the solution. Few weeds respond to general treatments.
- Try organic herbicides: Pre-emergent weed control destroys the seed (of the weed) while post-emergent treatments is meant for full-grown weeds. Corn gluten, vinegar and some detergents (combined with vinegar or water) are effective organic herbicides.
- Install landscape fabrics: Prevention is better than cure. Installing landscaping fabric in your vegetable and flower beds discourages weed growth.
- Invest in a good weed puller: The latest weed pullers require less effort and are more effective. They can help you root out the problem.
- Use mulch for tree and flower beds: Using mulch is a form of organic weed control. It’s a natural weed suppressant.
- Use good quality topsoil: Cheap topsoil often has weeds in it. Using it will aggravate the problem or even create one. Invest in nutrient-rich, high quality soil to improve growth and prevent weed infestations.
- Don’t neglect spring and fall clean up: Whether you have a weed problem or not it’s important to give your landscape that once-over every fall and spring. A neglected or overgrown garden attracts weeds.
- Get regular landscaping maintenance: Some weeds like crabgrass and rhubarb are difficult to get rid of. Regular weed treatments and landscaping maintenance will effectively eliminate your problem.
Whether it’s a medical complex, retail property, commercial building or HOA, maintaining a weed-free landscape is not easy. Weed spores from the neighboring property or a stubborn variety can ruin your curb appeal. An experienced landscaping company with proven organic weed control treatments will restore health and vibrancy to your commercial landscape.
Tags: organic, weed control
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Saturday, April 23rd, 2011
Spring garden planning ensures lasting curb appeal for the entire growing season. Best results are achieved when you take the time to make a proper plan. It’s not something that can be done in a day.
Tips on Planning your Spring Gardens
- Know what you want. It’s time to dig out those magazine clippings, Internet pictures or photographs with design ideas or color patterns you kept aside. Having a reference point to build around will reduce spring garden planning effort and time.
- Make a list of the things you want to change such as adding more flower beds or water features, installing new grass or stone walkways, decorative retaining walls, etc. Identifying the areas to be worked on makes it easier to plan a course of action.
- Create a step-by-step project plan. It may sound complicated but it actually simplifies your work. You don’t want to be trampling on new grass or flower beds to install retaining walls and water features.
- Determine your capabilities: Be realistic about how you’re going to handle the renovations and upgrades. If you’ve never installed a pond or water fountain, or don’t have a clue about planting new trees, seek professional help. You’ll save yourself the effort and expense of clean up and redoing a botched job.
- Get quotes and references from at least 3 landscapers: It’s important to be able to compare work and prices. Low rates are not the only determining factor. There is no substitute for quality work from a reliable landscaping contractor.
- Don’t forget the maintenance: Garden upkeep is an integral part of spring garden planning. You can install the most beautiful plants or hardscapes but if you’re not meticulous with watering and clean up, it’s a wasted effort.
Spring garden planning and maintenance for commercial properties is a full-time job and year-round effort. Get an established landscaping company to handle the renovations and upkeep.
Tags: garden planning
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Spring Plant Care | No Comments »
Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Our team of landscape survey experts has helped HOAs, business parks, commercial complexes and estates across the Bay area improve curb appeal while reducing their irrigation requirements from 20 to 50 percent. Extensive knowledge of soil, climate and plant types helps us devise an irrigation plan that’s just right for your landscape.
What should your property management service be able to provide?
- Experienced lawn/turf maintenance: Round-the-clock lawn maintenance including mowing, weeding, overseeding and aeration..
- Expert tree and shrub care: Licensed arborists and tree care specialists enhance growth while effectively protecting your plants from harsh weather and disease. Pruning, fertilizing, transplanting or removal services should be available.
- Water-efficient irrigation: Are you spending more on water than you should? Request a commercial water use audit to determine your actual requirements and suggest effective improvements.
- Effective pest control: Troubled with fungi, animals or insects on your property? Only a comprehensive pest and disease control service will keep your landscape in optimum health.
- Skilled hardscape maintenance: Experienced staff and latest pressure washing equipment removes, dirt, grime and stains without damaging your expensive hardscapes.
- Meticulous external site cleaning and refuse clearance: Regular sweeping, cleaning and refuse clearance will help maintain your neat and clean property.
If your Landscape Maintenance service is lacking in any of these areas, give us a call for a prompt professional quote. We serve all of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties - 800-455-0304.
Tags: landscape management services
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Tuesday, January 25th, 2011
Landscape planning for spring should be an action item on your winter to-do list. Sorting out ideas and coming up with a concrete plan does takes time. It won’t happen overnight, especially if you’re thinking about hiring a landscaping expert to get it done. You might find yourself at the end of a long line of customers if you wait until spring to get started.
Landscape planning for spring becomes less complicated when you categorize sections. It helps organize your thoughts and ensures all areas are covered. Here are some valuable guidelines.
Landscape planning for spring – a handy checklist:
- Lawn enhancement: Are you installing a new landscape or just adding on? Perhaps you want to convert to more cost-efficient sustainable, drought-tolerant or desert landscaping. It may involve reorganizing the whole space and/or rethinking lawn areas, plant placements and irrigation equipment. This might sound like a complex project but with an experienced landscaping company doing your landscape installation the results and water savings will be extremely gratifying.
- Flower beds planning: Flowers add interest and beauty to any landscape. It’s not only the choice of plants but shape of flower bed that’s also important. Artistic shapes become the focal point of interest and add character to your landscapes.
- Inclusion of new trees: Thinking about adding trees to your landscape? California native oak and palm are excellent choices. Local trees grow well and require less maintenance. Ask your landscaping company about other native varieties you can include.
- Installation of wind blocks: Are you located in an area with excessive winds? It’s time to include wind blocks to your landscape. Shrubs and certain types of trees are excellent barriers. However, you need to determine wind direction and position wind blocks for maximum cover.
Get an established landscape management company to design, install and maintain your commercial property for year-round curb appeal. Whether you’re doing one section at a time or renovating your landscape, early landscape planning for spring brings the best results.
Posted in Landscape Renovation, Spring Plant Care | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 11th, 2011
Business parks, commercial complexes, estates and homeowners’ associations all over San Jose, Walnut Creek and the San Francisco Bay Area rely on our landscaping experts to provide year-round curb appeal. Our goal is to develop landscaping ideas to satisfy our clients’ aesthetic needs, avoid water-overuse and waste, and meet tight maintenance budgets easily.
How can we help?
- Creative landscaping ideas: Refreshing commercial landscaping ideas with creatively designed flower beds, artistic hardscapes and innovative lighting. Many design options and only the best quality plants and trees to decorate your outdoor space.
- Eco-friendly landscape designs: Commercial landscaping ideas must consider type of soil, weather and other growing conditions. Flora Terra’s landscape designers employ colorful native plants and trees that will thrive in your environment. California native oaks and palm trees for instance are easy to maintain and make an impressive statement.
- Expert landscaping installation and maintenance: Proper installation and maintenance are key to a vibrant landscape or else it’s money down the drain. Our ISA-certified arborists and landscapers make sure the installation is done right the first time and offer year-round maintenance for best results.
- Water efficient landscaping: With our knowledge and experience water management, we help you adopt efficient watering practices. You won’t have to worry about water waste or drought. Save water and money!
- Total customer satisfaction: Qualified and dedicated landscapers deliver absolute customer satisfaction. Irrespective of the type of commercial landscaping project from installing a new landscape, renovating it or just adding on, we are known for attention to detail.
Take advantage of our commercial landscaping ideas to create a unique and affordable environment for employees, tenants, and visitors. Phone 800 455 0304 today.
Tags: commercial landscape ideas
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