Monthly Archives: June 2011

Xeriscaping for the Colorado climate

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Colorado’s notoriously arid climate doesn’t exactly provide the best weather for us to grow a tropical paradise in our backyards. However, there are plenty of flowering plants that do well without needing a daily soaking, without having to resort to a garden full of cacti.

In fact, the practice of utilizing low-water plants is called xeriscaping, or xerogardening, of which its principles were derived at the Denver Botanic Gardens 25 years ago!

Of course, plants and flowers native to Colorado work best. Some plants are able to thrive in slightly dry, moderately dry or very dry conditions.

For instance, painted daisies and periwinkles are beautiful flowers that can live in somewhat dry weather.

Greenery suitable for moderately dry soil and air include black-eyed Susans and day lilies.

The driest conditions of all are no match for these pretty yet hardy plants, such as evening primrose and prairie coneflowers.

If you like what you see here so far, have Phase One Landscapes plan your xeriscape today!

Photo source: photogirl7.1; light2shine; samenstelling; Corey Leopold; Simon Q; TexasEagle

Got run-off? Get a rain garden!

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One of the most difficult spaces to landscape in your yard is that confounded sloped side. Sure, a gently rolling hill is beautiful and adds visual character to the yard. But the downside (no pun intended) to an incline is that the land erodes when it rains. The onslaught of water– either from a hill, driveway or roof– causes water to collect at the bottom, faster than it can drain. Suddenly, you have an impromptu swimming pool on your lawn. Once drained, an ugly mess of leaves and dirt is left behind.

However, this problem may be easily remedied with a rain garden. Rain gardens aid water drainage while keeping your yard pretty. Native plants with deep root systems, such as wildflowers, rushes and shrubs, work best for this type of garden.

May as well put that excess water to good use!

Best of all, rain gardens help the environment by keeping storm drains clear and creating habitat for wildlife.

Have Phase One Landscapes design a rain garden for you, to preserve your lawn and nature.

Photo source: BevKnits; eXtension.org

What’s that brown spot? Insects and your yard

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Insects and other pests can be problematic when trying to maintain the beauty of your yard’s landscaping. One day your lawn looks fine. The next day it’s a mess. One minute your foliage has perfect edges. The next minute it looks chewed-up and uneven. It’s likely that the plants could have a disease, but the culprit is usually insects. Here are some popular intruders to your yard. These are just a sample of many bugs that can affect your lawn and garden.

If your lawn has unsightly brown spots, grubs and sodworms may be to blame. To verify this, pull on a handful of grass. If it pulls easily, without roots attached, you probably have a grubby problem. If the grass stays attached on a pull, it could be sodworm.


On flowers, you’ll get a different kind of pest. Earwigs are common and will feed on roots and leaves. The bugs are usually active at night and can defoliate plants in a matter of hours.

Your vegetable garden is susceptible to insects, too. Your prized tomato plant will be nil if you have a pest issue. Hornworms are the biggest offenders to tomatoes. These caterpillars cause rapid leaf loss on plants but are easy to control.

If you fear you have an insect issue, consult Phase One Landscapes or your local pest control rep.

Photo source: Judy Sedbrook; bramblejungle; CornflowerBlue07

Turn junk into garden treasures

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Junk and (un)found items don’t have to be left sitting on the side of the road or in a garbage bin… or in your garage. Salvage that stuff and turn it into treasures for your garden. Not only will you be keeping landfills free from overgrowth, you’ll be adding personality to your backyard abode. Here are some ideas on how you can take wayward materials and transform them into whimsical ornaments to adorn your landscaping.

Now that the kids are grown, turn those toys into something useful.

The zig-zag springs in this old chair help hold up top-heavy flowers. Add a fresh coat of paint in any hue to bring out the blooms’ radiance.

Pieces of iron fencing– or even bed framing– can be kept in its natural, rustic state.

The tool shed and garage are perfect places to pick out shapely items that can hold dirt.

Photo source: This Old House

Caring for your outdoor deck

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Your backyard oasis prettiness doesn’t stop at the foliage. You’ll want the other landscaping elements, such as terraces and and structures, to be in tip-top shape, too. That includes your wooden deck. While decks hold up well, they still require some maintenance. Foot traffic and weather give decks a decent beating over the years. Here is how to preserve your deck so that it looks beautiful and lasts a long time.

1.) Replace damaged or loose (or missing!) boards. Pound in nails that are sticking out.

2.) Choose a cleaning agent that won’t strip the wood of its color stain, sealant or paint. If you’re good about keeping it clean on a regular basis, basic hose-downs will do. A heavy-duty cleanser will rid the wood of dirt spots and light stains. A full-on deck stripper will remove waterproofing and finishes. To restore natural color to woods like redwood or cedar, a brightener is required.

3.) Soak your plants with water, then cover them with plastic before beginning work on your deck cleaning. Apply the cleansing agent to the wood, let it sit for a while (or per manufacturer’s instructions), scrub off with a bristle brush, and hose off the debris. Let the deck dry completely.

4.) Brush on a stain that is water-, mildew- and UV-resistant, using a paint pad or roller, moving in the direction of the grain. Be sure to begin in a corner of the deck, working your way outward. To prevent overlap marks, even-out with a paintbrush. This entire process is best achieved on warm, arid days.

5.) Once dry, you are ready to admire your landscaping from the comfort of your deck!

Photo source: GardenPhotos.com; NWL; Window Box Contest

Attracting birds to your garden

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Bird watching is a timeless activity that excites and relaxes you all at the same time. It’s thrilling to spot a new bird that you’ve never seen in your yard before. But what made that bird want to pay your garden a visit? Certain outdoor elements attract birds… as well as repel them. Here are some things you can do to bring the birds to you.

Obviously, a feeder is the first step. You’ll want to situate it in an area where birds will feel safe, preferably near a shrub or hedge. Water and shelter, such as birdbaths and birdhouses, go hand-in-hand with the bird feeder, too.

The kind of food you use for the feeder depends on what kind of bird you’ll get. Seeds yield the biggest flock, while suet garners insect-eaters such as woodpeckers. If you’d like to catch a glimpse of the elusive hummingbird, use a nectar feeder.

As far as foliage goes, nectar- and seed-producing plants, evergreens and prickly varieties (e.g. holly) are avian favorites. If you can stand it, even plants that attract insects will be a call to the birds.

If you’d like a garden that’s for the birds, call Phase One Landscapes to lay it out for you.

Photo source: Dawn Huczek; _leilund; kewing

Walls that retain beauty

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I guess we’re on a wall kick this week (but not kicking walls– that would hurt). In our previous post, we mentioned covering up unsightly exterior walls with pretty vines.

But not all walls are obstacles. For example, retaining walls can be quite beautiful if done right by Phase One Landscapes. Oh yes! “Retaining wall” isn’t a bad word– we’re not talking about a sea wall-looking atrocity. We’re referring to eye-pleasing lines and unique stonework that benefits a yard rather than bungles it.

Walls can complement other features in a yard. See how the structures’ surface and plants flow between the wall and the pond. Similar ledges, similar plants.

Additionally, the lushness of this garden is complemented by the intricate stonework of the wall. That is meant to be shown off!

This wall, with its curves, strengthens the serenity of the swimming pool area.

Get creative and modern-industrial with your walls! The iron vs. stone, pointy vs. smooth juxtapositions work with this mostly monotone green garden.

Check out the online portfolio to see more examples of Phase One Landscapes’ retaining wall work!

Give life to dead walls with vines

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Your garden probably has every square foot of land planned and appropriately covered with just the right amount of trees, plants, flowers and other features. Pathways, slopes and structures such as pergolas are properly dressed. But there is one boring spot, one eyesore, that leaves you at a loss– an exterior wall. The wall may belong to your home, or perhaps it was built specifically for the garden. Or maybe there is a fence or pole causing the same predicament.

But that wall (or other impediments) doesn’t have to stay empty. A great way to fill up that space is to grow a creeping vine on it. Vines are easy to grow and maintain, and they add color and life to blank slates.

There are a few different types of wall creepers. Twining vines wrap their stems around whatever will support them. These vines need guidance in the beginning but are simple to take care of after a while.


Tendril vines start out straight while growing but eventually twist as the plant gets bigger.

Lastly, clinging vines grow by attaching themselves to any surface via rootlets. These are not recommended for wooden structures, as the moisture from the roots weakens the surface.

Call Phase One Landscapes to consult with them on what vines can spruce up your landscaping.

Photo source: Grows on You; Dave’s Garden; tj.blackwell