A little housekeeping from 2009-
Below is a photo slideshow with before and after images of a residential landscape renovation that we completed in fall of last year:
Arvada Residential Landscape Makeover
March 1st, 2010 by Matt Corrion
Up to $25,000 Rebates Available through 2010 Aurora Xeriscape Program
February 21st, 2010 by Matt CorrionMore communities are realizing that Xeriscape (low water use landscaping) makes sense, and are actively promoting it.
photo of a converted xeriscape that was previously a lawn area
The City of Aurora, Colorado and Aurora Water have been pioneers in water conservation through supporting regionally appropriate landscape design. Outdoor Design Group has been actively involved with the program for the last couple of years. For 2010, the Xeriscape Rebate program has been allocated $250,000 dollars for rebates to convert high water use landscapes (sod, turf, or lawn) to Xeriscape.
In past posts on this blog, I have documented the money and water savings and given examples of the beauty of these landscapes. Each site is different, but in general you can expect a Read the rest of this entry »
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Simple Landscape Maintenance Tips for Winter
February 6th, 2010 by Matt Corrion
Brrrrr… It’s cold out there! The last thing you are probably thinking about is landscaping. Or, if you are like me you already have the itch to get outdoors and are counting the days until spring. Whether you are a restless home gardener looking for reasons to get outside, or you are performing maintenance on a commercial property and want to do all you can to have it look great some spring, there are many tasks that can be accomplished over winter. Get the hot chocolate ready!
Key Dates
- Late February: Stop any pruning from this point on- spring is right around the corner, and woody plants are developing buds and preparing for the new season.
- Late March: Plants will begin to emerge for spring at this time. As plants (especially Xeriscape plants) emerge and show signs of new growth, begin to remove any heavy mulching that was done to protect them over the winter. Read the rest of this entry »
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Panchito Manzanita – A Low-Growing Evergreen for all Seasons
January 27th, 2010 by Matt Corrion
Panchito Manzanita is one of my favorite plants- and not just because the name is so fun to say. What sets this plant apart is that it’s: 1) low-growing, 2) evergreen , and 3) it can handle full sun and minimal watering. That combination can be difficult to find outside of the standard limited options like the low-growing junipers.
As we convert more lawn areas into Xeriscape to save water, I think the use of evergreen plants is a vital design element to help replace some of the green color of the replaced lawn that is lost. Panchito Manzanita is an excellent choice because it looks great year-round, stays fairly compact, and requires little maintenance.
PLANT STATS
Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos x coloradoensis
Plant Type: Evergreen Shrub
Mature Height: 12-24″
Mature Spread: 18″-48″ (quite variable, depending on conditions)
Water Requirement: Low- may need more water the first growing season, but requires little water once established.
Exposure: Full Sun to very light shade
Best Features: Unique evergreen foliage consisting of leathery 1″ long leaves. This plant really looks great year-round.
Flowers: Small urn-shaped pink to white flowers from February to April
Winter Interest: Very attractive evergreen foliage, reddish colored stems and bark
Disadvantages: Slow grower the first season or two
Availability and Sizes: I have been told that this plant is quite difficult to propagate- therefor It can be a little hard to find. As it gains more popularity and demand for it goes up, it should be available in larger quantities. Usually it is sold in 1 gallon size containers. Since it is slow-growing, a 5 gallon size shrub would be even better.
Maintenance Tip: A low maintenance plant. You may want to prune a branch or two here or there.
Other: Named to Plant Select in 2006. Do not confuse with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, which prefers much more moisture and shade.
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Outdoor Design Group Designing Landscape for New Assisted Living Project
January 12th, 2010 by Matt CorrionBelow is a conceptual site plan graphic for a new assisted living / memory care facility that we are currently working on in the metro Denver area:
The project includes extensive therapy gardens and many interesting site features for the residents and their families. Site design for elderly and special needs users presents many unique design challenges and opportunities.
This plan is conceptual and subject to change. I will provide more images and details about the project after the design and construction are completed.
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Are Gravel Roads Making a Comeback?
January 7th, 2010 by Matt CorrionAs tax revenues continue to drop, towns and municipalities everywhere are trimming their budgets and looking for places to make cuts- in some cases by converting paved roads to gravel.
Here are excerpts from a recent article I came across at the Denver Post (Clarke Canfield, AP), on this emerging trend:
Ever since the invention of the automobile, paved roads have meant progress. Now some cash-strapped towns and counties are finding progress too expensive, and they are tearing up battered roads and putting down gravel.
The high price of pavement and the sour economy have driven municipalities in states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Vermont to roll up the asphalt — a mile here, a few miles there, mostly on back roads — rather than repave. Read the rest of this entry »
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What Not to Do- Placing Irrigation Heads Next to Fencing
December 19th, 2009 by Matt CorrionThis is my first in a series of “what not to do” posts related to landscape and site design.
One of the ways that I challenge myself to learn and to stay on top of the latest trends is to keep my eyes open for good and bad designs and ideas as I travel around my area or out of town.
The fence on the right is located near my home, in what appears to be an HOA (home owner’s association) maintained area next to a single family housing development. This is just one example of fences like this that can be found all over Denver. The root of the problem is that they have put sod directly against a wooden fence. Sod is typically irrigated by overhead spray and the water from the irrigation is discoloring and deteriorating the fence.
Problems with placing irrigation heads directly next to fencing
- Discolored fencing is unattractive: Obviously this is an aesthetics issue- these fences are a real eye-sore for these developments and the surrounding community. Read the rest of this entry »
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Vermilion Bluffs Mexican Sage – A Long-Flowering Perennial and a Hummingbird Magnet
November 27th, 2009 by Matt Corrion
Vermilion Bluffs Mexican Sage is a large-sized flowering perennial that is a real attention-grabber. I have found this plant to be an excellent choice for dry, southern exposures and Xeriscapes. It is fairly easy to grow, and produces bright-red flowers throughout the summer. Hummingbirds love this plant- it is not uncommon to see 4 or 5 of them at a time on a single plant.
PLANT STATS
Scientific Name: Salvia darcyi ‘Pscarl’
Plant Type: Perennial
Mature Height: 36-48″
Mature Spread: 30-42″
Water Requirement: Low
Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade- best in full sun.
Best Features: Intense cardinal red flowers that hummingbirds love.
Flowers: Bright cardinal red tubular flowers from July through October.
Winter Interest: Minimal
Disadvantages: Does not perform well in poorly drained soils. Late to emerge in spring.
Availability and Sizes: This plant was introduced in 2007, but is already available through most retail and wholesale nurseries. Commonly available in 1 gallon size, or in flats of smaller pots. I would recommend the 1 gallon size.
Maintenance Tip: Mulch heavily over the winter to protect from hard freezes.
Other: Leaves and stems are very aromatic. Salvia darcyi was originally collected in the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico. Named to Plant Select in 2007.
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Developers turn to Uniquely Themed Communities in Difficult Housing Market
November 15th, 2009 by Matt CorrionHere are excerpts from an interesting article from USA Today (Larry Olmstead), on the trend of specialized themed communities, including several located in Colorado and the west:
Themed communities now are targeted at hunters and anglers, cyclists and equestrians, pilots and gardeners, even oenophiles. ”Developments are becoming more specialized,” says Orlando real estate broker Scott Kauffman of Golfcoursebusiness.com, an expert on master planned communities. “People have different passions.” Read the rest of this entry »
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How to Winterize an Irrigation System
November 3rd, 2009 by Matt CorrionAs the cold temperatures arrive across much of the country, irrigation systems should be winterized to avoid damage.
Whether you are a commercial property owner/manager that is overseeing maintenance, or a do-it-yourself homeowner, you should know the basics of the winterization process. Here is a link to a good article from John Deere Landscapes that summarizes the winterization process nicely. The author is from Michigan, but the process is the pretty much the same for any place that has freezing temperatures.
Is it necessary to winterize? Some people choose to simply turn off the water and take their chances- I have talked to many people who have done just that without incurring any damage to their systems. Here in Colorado, we often have sunny warm days throughout the winter. However, we usually have at least a few days of zero-to-negative degree temperatures- and freezing temperatures can damage an irrigation system that has not been properly winterized. Bottom line: If you have invested a lot of care and money into your own irrigation system (or, you are providing maintenance for someone else’s) then it is well worth the small expense and effort to properly winterize.
