Category: Landscape Design
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Saying Goodbye
Yesterday was a melancholy day at Land Designs Unlimited LLC. A client of 5 years is moving and yesterday was my last visit. There’s a chance the new owners will want my services, I hope they do. Unfortunately, experience has taught me it rarely works that way. This landscape is special for a couple of…
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Small Details Make a Big Difference
I installed the landscape above last fall. It’s along a lake and required plenty of natives to work with the habitat and regulations. Blue Flag Iris – Iris Versicolor While designing the landscape I noticed Jewel Weed growing next to a footbridge. I wondered if I could do better with a more colorful plant. As…
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Do The Right Thing
It’s 8:30 at night on Labor Day as I write this post. I just got off the phone with a prospective client who needed some masonry work done to get the CO for their new deck. After asking questions about the job it became clear what they needed more than a landscape designer was a…
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Common Witch Hazel – Late Fall Bloom
Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is an underappreciated small tree. It blends into the background most of the year until late Fall when in bloom. How many other trees are in bloom in early December? Where to Plant Common Witch Hazel Don’t use Common Witch Hazel in your foundation planting. It’s informal habit won’t work with…
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How to Create a Curved Stepping Stone Path
This week I finished installing a stepping stone path. This stepping stone path is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it provides a much-needed way to move through the garden. There’s no way to cross the garden without it. Second, the stepping stone path gently curves to add interest. The path curves left to make room for…
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Foundation Planting Landscape Design
This morning I completed a foundation planting landscape design. What are my clients goals for the landscape? The number one goal is color. Women want colorful and inviting homes. Men want what their wives want as long as it stays within budget. The second goal is low maintenance requirements. No one wants a landscape that needs constant…
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Prune Lawn Trees High
I just returned from an evening walk with Theo and my forehead burns from a fresh scratch. Theo walked around a tree four feet from the road. As I went around the back a branch caught me 3 inches above the eyes. I did have a flashlight. I was looking at the ground for footing and suddenly smack! This is a…
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How Close to House to Plant Shrubs
The short answer. As far as possible. Plants are constantly growing taller and spreading wider. When planting small to medium shrubs my goal is 1-2 feet of air between the edge of a shrub and the home. Not just when I plant. For the life of the landscape. You can prune the back of a shrub, where…
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Use Curves When Designing Landscapes
Straight lines get you from point a to b. Curves add interest.