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Evergreen LandscapingBlogArchive
20 May 2011
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Butterfly Gardening

What is butterfly gardening?

A butterfly garden is a garden with plants that are chosen specifically for their ability to attract these colorful bugs. If you can create a safe environment for your butterflies, then. Keep in mind that if you own cats or if there are outside cats in your neighborhood, that they can pose a threat to the safety of your visiting butterflies.

Designing a butterfly garden works much the same as designing any other garden in that you need to think about size, what kind of flowers you need, etc… Pick a style of garden that appeals to you, but ensure it also contains the plants and flowers that appeal to the butterflies you wish to attract.

Butterflies won’t be attracted to just any type of flower that you plant. You can find out which plants will grow in your area and attract butterflies by checking out your local library or asking a landscaper.

To create the kind of environment that they find attractive, you will also need water of some kind. A birdbath will look attractive and keep the butterflies up off the ground, away from stray cats or mischievous puppies. A shallow dish on a post or hung in a tree will do just as well.

When planting your butterfly garden, be careful how you coordinate the colors you choose for your flowerbeds. While the butterflies might not care, you probably don’t want your garden to be a mismatched pile of random flowers. Butterflies like flowers that have nectar instead of pollen,  such as honeysuckle, Daises, Lavender, and others.

Some people like  to draw and color  or Photoshop a layout of their butterfly gardening plan to see what the finished product would look like. Flashy colors such as red and orange really pop against a strong green background. Cool colors such as blue and purple are soothing and toned down and would work better with a white contrast to create the look of freshness and brightness.

When making a butterfly garden, the choices of what to embody in your butterfly garden design and style are limitless. Below are some suggestions to assist you begin. They are intended to ignite the creative process of your mind and get you started on your way to creating a lovely butterfly garden.

Before developing your butterfly garden

Discover which species of butterflies are in your area. Consider having an exploratory hike around your local area with a butterfly book guide. This may take some extra time and effort, however the outcomes satisfying. Once you have created your list of local butterfly species, be sure to jot down in your butterfly garden plan what these specific species of butterflies use for nectar and food plants.

Know that your garden is in a place that provides at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Butterflies are cold-blooded creatures and thus do better where they are warm and sheltered.

The wind is usually a butterfly’s worst enemy so make sure to have plenty of wind protection in your design. You may grow tall shrubs and other plants to help create a wind break, but a place that avoids heavy winds is even better.

The best of all will be a butterfly garden placed on the sunny side of your house with windbreaks on both the west and east sides, or wherever the current winds come from in your area. Try to build your garden near to a window so you can observe the butterflies from indoors. Provide seating outside too.

If possible, you may excavate a location and build a stone wall around it. This may create the ideal windbreak for your butterflies. Make gravel pathways around your garden to save walking in mud.

There are numerous artistic ways for creating a butterfly garden. Take some time to layout a garden that you will enjoy and be proud of.

Need a jump a start with your garden? Contact us today for a free consultation. Call 805-773-5395.

22 Apr 2011
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Backyard Landscaping: An Enjoyable Garden Project

 

Many people associate backyards with picnics, barbecues, swimming, and outdoor sports. While all of these activities are nice, there are not the only things that you can do inside your backyard. Actually, there are a number of other popular backyard activities that you may never have given much considered to. One of those activities involves backyard landscaping.

When it comes to backyard landscaping, there are lots of individuals who wonder why they ought to even bother. Backyard landscaping in a garden may take a lot of time and hard work; however, there are a variety of benefits to this activity. One of the many advantages of backyard landscaping is you can design your garden however you want. There are a large number of individuals that decide to grow flowers, plants, or vegetables; however, you don’t have to select only one. Should you desire, you could have your garden be considered a collection of plants, flowers, and vegetables.

You may also find that the type of backyard landscaping you choose for your garden will have a number of benefits. For example, plant and flower gardens in many cases are beautiful. If you opt to grow plants or flowers, you might find that they help to improve the look of your backyard. Vegetable gardens are a great way to save money on food. Many vegetable gardens are comprised of potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and beets. If you can grow these foods, you and your family could enjoy them like a tasty treat or part of meals. Perhaps, the greatest advantage of gardening may be the relaxation. Although landscaping your garden takes a fairly great deal of work, there is lots of who feel like it isn’t work. Actually, there are many gardeners who say that gardening is as fantastic way to relax. This is because you can work at your personal pace. And also being relaxing, a garden will be your own creation. If you can successfully grow an outdoor garden, you may be pleased with the results and proud of yourself, while you should be.

A wonderful backyard landscaping idea

A timeless idea for your backyard landscaping is to use Evergreen Trees.  Evergreen trees bring many benefits to your backyard. They offer structure and stability as well as beauty and elegance.  The use of Evergreen Trees helps to welcome visitors to your home. Many people decide on using deciduous trees in their backyard landscaping, but these trees do not last through all seasons and leave something to be desired when they lose all of their leaves. However, Evergreens look just as beautiful in the winter as they do in the summer, which is a definite plus for your backyard landscaping. This way, your yard looks fun and interesting all year round.

Another year-round backyard landscaping idea is to use hardscape. Hardscape uses objects other than plants, such as wall, fences, and stones to bring decor to your backyard. You can accent your landscaping with climbing plants such as ivy or even with some moss. When you open up your landscaping options beyond the use of plants, there are many new ideas that you can discover and implement. Backyard landscaping can be a great way to frame your yard or sections of your yard.

If you are considering making use of your garden like a supply of relaxation, it is possible that you may prefer gardening by yourself. While you may enjoy gardening by yourself, you may also find benefits to as well as your family in the process, especially if you have young children.

Need a jump start with your backyard landscaping? Contact Evergreen Landscaping for a free consultation.

19 Mar 2011
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Water Conservation in the Yard

 

We live in a day and age when water conservation and “going green” are big ideas. We’ve come to understand that our times of scarcity can be lessened if we take care to only use what we need; even when the resources are plentiful. If you are wondering how you can care for a garden while conserving water, then check out these tips!

Tips for Water Conservation

• If you want to keep the water from evaporating before the plants get a drink, then water the plants first thing in the morning, before the day gets too hot. Also, don’t sprinkle! Using sprinklers wastes water and does not help your plant as much because the water usually only falls on the plant leaves and then evaporates.

• Try slowly watering your plants at their roots to make sure they are getting the most out of the water that you use. You could try irrigation systems. They aren’t expensive and are easy to use. Trickle irrigation systems that provide small amounts of water to the base of individual plants are available. This makes sure that the water you use is going where it is needed the most.

• Plants with limited roots such as young or newly planted trees and flowers will suffer the worst during a drought, so make them your first priority when watering. Plants that have been in the ground for a while, especially native plants, are more capable of withstanding drought conditions. Try collecting water from the downspouts of your roof when it rains. Collecting runoff can help you have a source of water to use during drought seasons.

• Don’t forget to mulch your plants! Mulch helps lessen how much water evaporates from the gardening soil. You can use organic mulch like grass clippings and tree bark or you can even purchase plastic mulch to help preserve water.

A Better Way to Water Your Plants

• One way to slowly-water your plant is by using a plastic bottle, such as a 2-liter soda bottle. Punch a few small holes in the bottom of the bottle, fill it to the neck with water and replace the cap. Place it in the soil and use the cap to regulate the flow of water. Make sure when you are indoor gardening, you do not over water your plants. Over watering your plants can in fact kill them which are the number one reason that most houseplants die. Test the soil for moisture to see if it needs more watering. Stick you index finger into the soil and if it is damp, do not water your plant further.

• When planting a new rose bush, be sure to prune the canes to about eight inches before you plant the rose in the ground. Also, remove decayed wood at the ends of the canes. Pruning a new rose will encourage it to grow more quickly. Keep in mind when you are pruning, try and cut the canes at a 45-degree angle to help the plant to shed water.

• When you are organic gardening in a humid environment, water your plants in the early morning hours. This will help you prevent mildew. Watering in the morning also prohibits fungal growth that can occur in humid climates. You do not want mildew or fungal diseases to spread; it can lead to poor growth and unhealthy soil.

• When planting your tomatoes in your organic garden, you should always be sure you water them very deeply, but you shouldn’t water them frequently because this can damage them. You should aim to water them around once a week except for during the summer when you should water them every five days.

• If your garden is in the city, there are a few things you can do to lessen city noise. Try putting a water feature in your garden like a waterfall or fountain. This will create white noise that will deaden the effects of traffic noise. Add wind chimes, if you like, for additional distraction.

• When you plant a new tree, make sure you are watering it enough. Trees need a lot of water as it is. Planting a new tree, or transplanting an existing tree, is a shock for the plant. Water daily for the first few weeks until the tree gets well established.

Try This Time-Saving Method to Keep Your Potted Plants Watered

Watering plants can be a pain, especially if you have a lot of them. After spending lots of time making trips with a watering can, you’re probably ready for a new, more efficient way to water your plants. The easiest way to keep your plants watered is to use plant wicks. With this foolproof method, you can keep one or many plants watered easily. The best part is that you can use plant wicks on your houseplants, or for containers on your deck or patio.

What You Will Need

The first things you will need are some plant wicks. You can buy plant wicks at your local garden center for a few dollars apiece, or you can make your own. You can use thick cotton shoelaces, loosely braided strips of fabric or other absorbent materials to make a plant wick. You will also need either a bucket to hold water, or an assortment of bottles. If you choose to use bottles, make sure you have one for each plant.

How to Make Your Plant Wick Watering System

The set-up is easy. First, cut your plant wicks so that they will extend from the bottom of your water container to three inches below the soil line of the potted plant. Bury the plant wick near the roots of your plant, and place the other end of the plant wick in the container you’ve chosen as your water source. Fill the container with water, and you’re done! However, you will want to monitor your plant wicks for a few days. If the wick ever feels like it has dried out, that is probably because the wick material isn’t absorbent enough.

Tips and Tricks

To keep your plants healthy and happy, make sure you inspect the plant wicks every couple of weeks. If it seems like they’re molding or rotting, you should replace them so your plants don’t get sick. When it comes to selecting a container to use as a water reservoir, the choices are endless. Some people like to use the reservoirs as an extra decorative touch to their indoor gardens. Glass bottles work well for this since you can paint or decorate them however you like. For efficiency’s sake, many people like to use a large bucket. That way, potted plants can be placed all around the bucket, letting you water several pots from one reservoir.

Use these tips to keep your garden gorgeous! If you need more help with water conservation, talk to us. Schedule an Appointment Now 805-773-5395