July 1, 2014

Landscape Design Principle No. 4 – Texture

Texture is simply the different leaves, forms, and shapes of living plants and hard surfaces.

Sango kaku Coralbark maple has fine leaf texture.

Sango kaku Coralbark maple has fine leaf texture.

Your grass has a different texture than your home. Your textures should compliment each other. Not fight against one another.

 

Contrasting the textures in your landscape is simple to do, but also easy to mess up. Don’t overdo it!

The best way to approach texture is to choose your favorite forms and use them again with other plants mimicking that form or copying it.

I typically pick a tree texture, then shrub, finally two-five textures at or near ground level. Again, the easiest way to design is using your favorite plants.

Here are two more images of different texture groups.

Red Firepower Nandina, Chinese holly, and Miscanthus grass.

Red Firepower Nandina, Chinese holly, and Miscanthus grass.

Little Blue Stem grass has excellent thin texture grass blades.

Little Blue Stem grass has excellent thin texture grass blades.

 

What is your favorite landscape plant texture? Mine is definitely a broad leaf matched with needle leaves.

Filed Under: Landscape Design, Right Plant In The Right Place, Speak Landscape Like A Pro
June 25, 2014

How To Build a Raised Bed for Vegetables and Herbs in 30 Mins.

Have you ever wanted home grown vegetables? Of course you have! Raised beds are the fastest and easiest way to grow your own food.

Cedar raised bed for veggies and herbs.

Cedar raised bed for veggies and herbs.

Sunlight

Find a sunny location. 6+ hours of direct sunlight. This is the most critical step. Many gardens have failed without this critical ingredient. I don’t know of any shade loving vegetables. (If you do, let me know in the comments below).

Easy Access

Leave an area for walking around the raised bed. It’s important to consider aesthetics along with the practical nature of the bed. Your raised bed will give strong lines and neatness to an otherwise chaotic endeavor. Veggies and weeds grow quickly. You’ll want easy access to pull weeds and harvest your crop!

Materials

Choose untreated wood. Cedar is great, but can be too expensive. Untreated pine is economical. Purchase three 2″ x 10″ boards 8 ft. long. Cut one board in half to create a rectangle. Use a deck screw that will slowly rust. Or go all-out with stainless steel screws!

Do you want a tall bed so you don’t have to bend over so much? Stack the wood until you reach the desired height. There is no wrong answer.

Soil Mix

Fill the empty rectangle on top of the ground with 50% topsoil and 50% pine tree bark or a suitable alternative. 100% soil will be too thick unless your soil has a lot of sand and silt. You want moist, well drained soil all the time.

Finish the top inch of soil in mulch or more pine tree bark to create a clean look. Install plants before or after the mulch. Read the spacing guidelines on the picture tag included with the vegetable start or plug. Normal spacing starts at 8″-24″ depending on plant variety.

Start to finish: 30 mins!

How long did it take you? Let me know in the comments below.

 

Filed Under: Edible Landscaping, Landscape Design
June 23, 2014

How to Select and Purchase A Garden Water Hose

You’ve seen the commercial, haven’t you? The infomercial, as seen on t.v., hose that shrivels? Don’t buy that unless you want to replace in a year.

Hoses are an investment. Here’s how to buy the right one, the first time.

For a landscape, purchase 100 feet lengths. 50-75 feet is the next best thing. If you’re only watering plants on a patio 50 ft. is more than enough.

I prefer 3/4″ diameter, but it doesn’t have to be premium rubber. Buy a professional grade hose in black color. If you take care of the hose, it will last over 10 years. When not in active use, drain the hose and roll. Store in a shaded place. Sunlight degrades the plastic or rubber hose. The less sunlight, the longer the hose lasts. I keep mine in the garage or under the deck.

3/4″ diameter water hoses are easier to repair than 5/8″ or 1/2″.

Dragging hoses through the yard can damage delicate plant leaves and stems. Consider buying two hoses and get a Y splitter to connect two at the source. Then you don’t have to drag one back and forth, back and forth. Each time the hose is moved, it has the potential to damage delicate leaves and stems. I’ve damaged more tender young hostas while dragging a hose than any other reason.

Do you have a particular kind of hose that you like? Please leave a comment on the Facebook page.

Filed Under: Expensive Mistakes