Monthly Archives: January 2012

Get Inspiring Landscape Ideas at the Colorado Garden & Home Show

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Has the thought of a new landscape design been on your mind lately?  If so you may or may not already have an idea on what you would like to see in your landscape, but wither way you can get a few inspiring ideas at the Colorado Garden & Home Show. The home show dedicated solely to garden and landscape design will kick-off Saturday, February 11th and last until Sunday, February 19th at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

The nine-day event is the oldest, largest and most prestigious in the region where you can find inspiration from the latest ideas and trends in landscaping and gardening. There will be 14 landscaped gardens on display, representatives from over 600 companies showcasing their latest innovations, 50+ free educational seminars and demonstrations, and a botanically-correct sugar art show for fun.

If you would like more information visit the Colorado Garden & Home Show website and if you decide to attend bring us the ideas your gather and we’ll help you create a space you can grow and call your own.

Begin Planning Your Outdoor Living Space Now!

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Are you looking to take full advantage of the nice weather that comes along with spring and summer? If so you should begin planning your outdoor living space now. The addition of a well designed outdoor living space will not allow you to enjoy your landscape and nature, but add value to your home as well.

When making the decision to extend your home outdoors it’s important to consider your lifestyle as well as the needs of your family. If you enjoy hosting dinner parties you may want to consider planning an outdoor kitchen and/or dining area. If you would like to use the space to relax with friends and family members an outdoor living room equipped with a fireplace may better suit your needs.

If you want to actually enjoy an outdoor living space when warmer weather arrives instead of wishing you had one call Phase One Landscapes today at 303-750-6060 and let us help you extend your living outside!

 

Create an Elegant Leisure Space with a Modernist Garden

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Would you like to do more with your landscape, but the idea of a large, overflowing garden and various plants spread out everywhere doesn’t appeal to you? If so you may be more inclined to the modernist garden style which makes use of a sleek, uncluttered design that emphasizes hardscapes and limits planting. They are often viewed as elegant leisure spaces where planting is only one element of the entire design, not the anchor.

Modernist gardens rely on scale, proportion and open space to create a calming sense of drama in a sparse atmosphere. A few of their common features include:

  • a central visual line that serves as a guide
  • horizontal expanses of wood, stone and concrete,
  • a simple water feature
  • clean lines of steel, concrete, glass and wood to emphasize precision
  • clipped hedges, specimen trees and large blocks of planting to serve as sculptural surfaces or screens

Does this sound like your type of garden? If you would like to discuss ideas on how to create a modernist garden in your landscape call Phase One Landscapes if you are in the Denver area at 303-750-6060.

Source: HGTV

10 Ways to Conserve Water in Your Landscape

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Are you looking to get a head start on learning about green landscape maintenance so that you’re ready to use the practices when spring rolls around? One of the first ways you can go green with your landscape is by saving water. Ten ways you can conserve water in your landscape include…

  1. Water your landscape according to its needs. If you can easily insert a 6-inch screwdriver into the soil it doesn’t need watering.
  2. Water early in the morning when the wind is low and evaporation is less likely. Watering in the morning also helps to ward off turf disease.
  3. Skip watering on days following 1/2 inch or more of rain and on cool, cloudy days plants use less water and there is less evaporation.
  4. Update your sprinkler system. Consider upgrading or installing drip irrigation or underground watering systems to limit evaporation and to apply water to plants’ roots more efficiently. You can also redesign your yard to include separate watering zones for trees, flowerbeds, gardens and lawns.
  5. Check your sprinkler system to see how long each zone is scheduled to run and adjust the timer. A shade zone will require less water than a hot, sunny area and be sure to check sprinkler heads frequently to make sure that they are functioning properly.
  6. Plant native plants that are accustomed to the area’s normal rainfall, soil, and climate.
  7. Aerate. Aerate to relieve soil compaction and allow for better water, air and fertilizer penetration.
  8. Mow efficiently. Set your mower at the highest level possible and make sure the blade is sharp so it will cut blades of grass properly. Leave clippings on the lawn to recycle nutrients back into the soil.
  9. Fertilize to replenish the nutrients in the soil
  10. Mulch. Apply mulch to reduce evaporation, retain moisture in the soil and control weed. (CNGA)

If you would like to discuss how your landscape can be redesigned to better conserve water give us a call here at Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060.

Green Alternatives for De-icing Walkways

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Did the recent snowfall following the 60 degree weather have you scrambling to clear the walkways and driveway of your home? While it is important to clear your walkways for you safety as well as that of your family, you must consider the effect of salt on your landscape. It can wreak extreme damage on your vegetation, which is why you should consider using other non-harmful options.

A few green alternatives for de-icing your walkways includes:

  1. Using an eco-friendly ice melt that includes:
      • magnesium chloride
      • potassium chloride
      • calcium magnesium acetate
  2. Using an abrasive such as salt or organic bird seed to provided traction
  3. Physically removing snow with a shovel or snow thrower
Although there are ice melt products that are eco-friendly it’s important to use them as the directions specify to ward off any negative impact. Are you aware of any other green ways to de-ice pathways? If you do share your tips with us in the comments section below!

 

 

 

January Maintenance Tips for Mountain West Landscapes

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Did you vow to turn over a new leaf this year and take better care of your landscape? Luckily for you we’re going to help you get started  there is no better time than the present.Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to take better care or your garden and landscape? If so, we are going to help you start off on the right foot by providing you with some gardening tips. These tips are specialized for the Mountain West during this time of year. Keep these tips in mind as you head out to maintain your landscape this month:

  • The dramatic change in Mountain temperatures may cause some perennials “frost heave”, meaning they are pushed them slightly out of the ground. On a nicer day go out and simply step on the soil around affected plants to tuck them back in, which is a process known at the “February Stomp.”
  • When shoveling or blowing snow, try to dump it atop perennials only if it doesn’t have salt in it. Snow is sometimes considered “white mulch,” a good blanket of it will protect plants from temperature extremes.
  • Instead of sodium chloride use calcium chloride on your walks and driveways because it is less damaging to plants. Sand can even be used which doesn’t hurt plants either.
  • If you saved any of the branches from your Christmas tree lay them around the bases of roses or over perennials as a winter mulch.
  • Check on pots of any bulbs you forced late last fall. Most forced bulbs need 12-15 weeks of chilling. Remove them into warmth and sunlight indoors when the tips are 1-2 inches high.
  • Start seeds indoors for those that grow the slowest, such as parsley, thyme, tarragon, bedding geraniums, and sage.
  • If you’ve been feeding birds, continue to do so and check feeders to make sure they haven’t become clogged. Also, fresh water is important this time of year. Consider adding a heater to your bird bath to keep birds warm. (BHG)
Would you prefer to leave your landscape maintenance to the pros? If so call Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060.
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The Top Landscape Design Trends of 2012

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In our last post we encouraged you to begin the New Year with a new landscape design and we suggested that you get an early start by beginning your planning as soon as possible. If you know that you would like to increase your home’s outside aesthetics by adding a little curb appeal we’d like to help. Before we contact us to schedule an initial meeting it’s a good to already have a few ideas on what you would like to see in your landscape. To get you inspired we are going to share the top landscape design trends of 2012. They include:

  • Water-smart, computer automated irrigation systems
  • Placing the right plants in the right location
  • Naturally interesting elements
  • Metal architectural structures
  • Old fashion colors
  • Water features
  • Mediterranean-style designs

If you are interested in incorporating your ideas or any of this year’s trends into your landscape call Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060 if you are in the Denver area.