Landscaping and Gardening Services in Pismo Beach and SLO County
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27 Nov 2015

Coast Live Oak for Coastal Landscaping

Coast Live OakCoast Live Oak is another great species of shrub/tree for the Pismo Beach area. These trees prefer a bit more water than some of the more arid-loving species, but they are hardy and tend to find their own water by stretching out their roots. While they are not commonly found directly on the coast, they take advantage of the coastal fog as well as the milder climate that is afforded by close proximity to the ocean.

These trees are a beautiful evergreen oak and, in their older years, can have magnificent, gnarled trunks that give a look like few other plants in the region.

Coast Like Oak are fairly easy to grow, but many residents of the Pismo Beach area employ professionals such as ours at Evergreen Landscaping Service to plant and maintain the trees for the first year.

For the first year, watering once per week is a good idea. By the end of that year, or when the tree attains the height of ten feet, watering can be cut back to once per month. The base of the trunk of the tree should be kept dry, while the roots will reach for water. Somewhat riparian areas are perfect for these trees.

The roots of the Coast Live Oak prefer shade, so when first planting, covering the ground around the base of the tree with mulch, rock, or other landscaping items is a good idea, at least until the tree takes hold. Once these trees start to grow, they will take off fairly quickly.

Young trees can start out shrubby, but they can grow quite quickly to 10 to 15 meters tall. The crowns of younger trees are very lush and full in a rounded shape. As the trees get older, the crowns tend to thin out some. These trees, though, have been known to live for 250 years, so they can provide a great, permanent landscaping treasure for those willing to care for them until they take hold.

Rocky hillsides that hold some moisture are perfect for Coast Live Oak. Proximity to a small stream or the presence of coastal fog is great for these beautiful trees as well. The yellow flowers make a beautiful contrast to the lush, green leaves when they are blooming in February to April. Oaks are very important wildlife plants. They attract a great variety of animals, birds, and reptiles.

When pruning these trees, it is best to do so at the driest time of the year, in July and August. At this time of year there is less likelihood that disease-causing pathogens will survive and infect the tree at the pruning site.

Many people do not feel comfortable pruning their own trees, and Evergreen Landscaping Service is happy to help. We’ve spent years caring for trees of all shapes and sizes and we understand just what it takes to keep them healthy and looking good.

Whether we planted those trees or not, we’re more than willing to help you keep them looking great and providing you with years of enjoyment. Call us today to set up an appointment to see how we can help you create the prefect outdoor living space.

10 Aug 2012

Container Gardening for City Dweller

Sometimes, the urge to garden might be stopped by other circumstances, such as living arrangements or space constrictions, but container gardening can help you. If you live in an apartment, you obviously can’t grow a garden, as you don’t have a back or front yard! One of the best solutions for this problem is to start container gardening. You can try sitting them near the window or on your balcony, or even hanging them. Just a few containers and your whole living area will look much more beautiful and serene. Even though you miss out on the full garden experience, there are benefits to container gardening.

Getting Started in Container Gardening

One benefit of growing in small containers is the fact that you can move them around to suit your needs. If you rearrange your furniture and feel that it would look nice better if it were in the other area, you can just move it over. No transplanting or labor required! As long as the lighting is about the same, your plant won’t mind moving at all. Another benefit of container gardening is the fact that you can adapt it to any environment. Depending on the type of soil you fill it with and where you place it.

container gardening

One way to give container gardening an interesting look is to hang them at different heights. Hanging plants is a great use of space and clears up your counters and windowsills. This is called “vertical gardening”. If you pull it off right, you can make a beautiful arrangement of plants while conserving your valuable space. If you live in an apartment, you know how important it is to conserve space! One method of vertical gardening is the use of a wooden stepladder. If painted correctly, you can arrange all the plants on it in a stylish cascade of color.

A downside to container plants is that you can’t use an irrigation system. Thus, have to go around and water your plants one at a time. However, the square footage for container plants is much less than that of an actual garden, so the time spent on maintenance and watering is more balanced. You won’t have to worry about weeds or pests. It is important that you don’t over-water your container plants. This can be just as fatal to their health as under-watering.

When choosing containers for your plants, buy some extra containers in case it breaks or other unforeseeable circumstances. Change things up by buying different sizes, shapes, and colors. Try to make sure that they complement each other. Plastic containers are the best and require the least amount of watering. But if you want clay or earthen pots then you should line the inside with plastic. This helps it retain water more, as the clay will soak up water.

container gardening

Another thing to remember when buying pots is the fact that the size of the pot will ultimately constrict the size of the plant. In other words, the smaller the pot, the smaller the plant. Make a careful choice of pots according to what you wish to grow in each one. If you search for the plant you chose on the internet, you should be able to find specifications as to how much root space it should be given. This can even be an advantage for you if you choose a plant that can grow very large. If you have a limited amount of space for it, you can constrict it by choosing a pot that isn’t large enough to support huge amounts of growth.

Tools for your Container Gardening

A lot of gardeners find the hobby to be both relaxing and therapeutic. Without the right information, though, it can be confusing. Gardeners have to know not only how to do the actual gardening, but what tools and equipment are most useful. Spend some time relaxing in the sun, tending your garden.

If you’re growing veggies in the garden, they need to be in a spot that lets them get about six hours of sun daily. Many veggies require this amount to properly grow at a faster pace. This is true of some flowers.

 

Two items you need to invest in when working in a garden are a wheelbarrow, and a kneeling stool. Using a large portion of your time near or on the ground working on your garden puts a huge strain on your knees. Therefore, having a portable, lightweight garden stool will greatly assist you in making gardening easier on them. A wheelbarrow will help you move heavy items without hurting your back so ensure that you invest in one promptly.

In a dark area, pre-soak your seeds overnight. Put a few seeds in a small container and fill it near to the top with water. This lets water soak into the seeds, giving them an extra boost of hydration when they start growing. The seeds will most likely have a greater chance of maturing and surviving.

As you have learned from this article, container gardening can seem like quite the task. Yet, it is manageable if you know what you’re doing. If the benefits of container gardening sound appealing to you, then you should start planning out your container garden today. If you write a list of all the plants you desire to have, you can do the necessary research. Find out what size and shape of pots you should get. After that, it’s just a matter of arranging them in a way that makes your home look the nicest.

If you have children, then container gardening can be a great hobby for your family to bond with each other. Most children enjoy choosing the plants and flowers that will go in the garden. Not only do most kids enjoy getting dirty, they will also take extra pride in everything you grow together.

Your garden will start giving you enjoyment after you realize you have the abilities to make it happen. A beautiful garden requires the right tools, soil, water and sunlight. If you need more container gardening assistance, contact us today! Or call 805-773-5395.

27 Jul 2012

Beautiful Garden Creation With These Great Tips

Creating a beautiful garden can be relaxing, but it doesn’t really require plenty of money. Performing necessary garden chores can be an excellent way of spending time together as a family. If you have children, they will be awe-struck by how seeds transform into colorful flowers and tasty vegetables. Additionally, gardening is a powerful teaching tool that helps people and children appreciate the outdoors and nature. The article below has tips that will make gardening easier, more enjoyable and inclusive to others.

Cover any wall or fence with climbers. Climbers have many different uses and spread quickly. They also work to cover up old, and possibly dead, vegetation. Some must be tied onto a support, but a number of climbers attach to surfaces with twining stems or tendrils. Plants such as clematis, wisteria, climbing roses, or honeysuckle are always great choices.

Your vegetable plants need about two or three inches of mulch placed around them. Mulch helps the soil surrounding the plants remain moister for a longer time. It will also dramatically decrease weed growth. Time and effort will be saved pulling out all the weeds.

If you are planning on growing peas, start them indoors before putting them outdoors in your garden. Pea seeds tend to germinate much better when planted indoors, before being moved to an outside garden. The baby plants will also be stronger and will resist pests and disease better. You will be able to transfer the seedlings outdoors after they become better established.

A small shed or an area in your garage makes the perfect storage facility for garden tools. Do not leave anything laying around in the yard; you do not know who might come by and steal it!

3 Tips in Landscaping your Beautiful Garden

Landscaping is usually a pretty big task that takes up a bunch of time and energy. Before you hire a professional, here are some tips that could save both time and money for your beautiful garden.

  1. There are some tasks that you will be able to do on your own, if you are willing to invest your time. However, if you have an awkward block such as very steep ground, a pro might give you the expertise to save costly mistakes.
  2. Spend some time thinking about exactly how you want the final outcome to be. Think about the style and function of your landscape. Do you want an area for entertaining? A barbeque? Is there to be an area for children to play, a fishpond or a swimming pool? An idea of the plants you want to be there will help. Focus on the area where you spend most of your time.
  3. The style of your home must be taken into account. If you have a rural cottage, formal gardens surrounding it will look out of place. Think also about your lifestyle. Do you want to spend hours caring for many beds of annuals or pruning beds of roses? If so, go ahead and plant them, but if you’d rather spend your free time at the beach, then go for an easy-care garden and landscape.

Here are some different landscape styles you can choose for your own  beautiful garden:

  1. Formal: This style uses lots of straight lines and perfect geometrical shapes. Orderly arrangement of plants instead of random positioning is employed. Close arrangement and pruning is seen on many landscaped gardens with this style.
  2. Informal: This kind of landscaping workds well with cosy cottages. Beds with curved edges instead of straight lines and random placement of plants suit this landscape style.
  3. Woodland: This landscaping suits a house that has a wooded backyard and sloping ground.
  4. English Garden: This style emphasizes the harmony between the house’s architecture and the garden.
  5. Oriental: It is often the kind of garden found in small backyards. It uses rocks, evergreens and water. A wide variety of plants create several interesting angles with this style.

In conclusion, whether you are creating a beautiful garden on your own or with friends, the tips you’ve read above are sure to be helpful. You’ll find ways here to bring the joy of gardening to friends and family. It also helps you to learn more in-depth understanding of your beautiful garden for yourself.

For more tips and suggestions on landscaping ideas for your beautiful garden, make an appointment with us for a consultation or contact us at 805-773-5395. We’ll help you keep your beautiful garden looking great all year round.