Waterwise Blog Tips & Tricks For A Beautiful Landscape How To Deal With Drainage Is a drainage swale your solution to rain run-off and problems related to poor drainage? The typical solution to rain is to get rid of rainwater as quickly as possible, ushering it into gutters and drainage systems, which often lead to a plethora of contaminants, including sewage getting into fresh water sources. Afterwards, when there’s a dry spell for a few days, the sprinklers come out. Instead, swales stop the deluge and allow the water to slowly, passively enter the soil and keep stuff working, preventi ..read more

Winter is a great time for pruning for a lot of deciduous trees and shrubs.  The best time is late winter a few weeks before buds start swelling and sap starts flowing again. Then, when spring growth begins, the cuts have time and energy to heal during the growing season. Not all trees or shrubs benefit from pruning, or should be pruned, so before you grab your pruners do some research on your specific plants and trees. Working with a Landscape Designer is a great way to learn more about how to care for plants. Generally speaking, you can prune trees and shrubs if they are deciduous ..read more

Winter is a great time for pruning for a lot of deciduous trees and shrubs.  The best time is late winter a few weeks before buds start swelling and sap starts flowing again. Then, when spring growth begins, the cuts have time and energy to heal during the growing season.Not all trees or shrubs benefit from pruning, or should be pruned, so before you grab your pruners do some research on your specific plants and trees.Generally speaking, you can prune trees and shrubs if they are deciduous ..read more

Popular Trends in Landscape DesignHouzz commissioned a 2016 survey of home owners in San Diego and around the County to learn about what is hot in landscape design.   In this article I will share with you the highlights of this report and how it can help you with your new landscape design plans.Water-Wise Low Maintenance Gardens Most Popular Trends46% of home owners said that saving water was a top concern.Drainage, drought, and lack of privacy are top challenges.Thinking green – most ..read more

Do I Need To Hire A Monthly Landscaping Service?Of course you can do most maintenance landscaping yourself, but if you don’t have a green thumb consider and landscaping service.  Landscape pros have the knowledge of plants and products that are necessary to keep your yard looking beautiful year round.  They understand soil types, proper planting techniques and consider when pruning is needed.Money Well SpentThere is no problem with tending to your own lawn and garden.  It is a great way to ..read more

7 Cool Colorful Flowers For Your San Diego GardenLandscape Designer tips and tricks for growing beautiful flowering plants in San Diego gardens.Let’s look at the top seven colorful flowering perennials I include in my landscape design plans for flowers that are tolerant of full sun ..read more

Planting a garden can be fun and provide fresh produce to reduce your trips to the store.  We are fortunate to have a long growing season in San Diego.  Check your soil to see that it is ready for your new plants.  I would consult with your local nursery to add what is needed to your planting beds for fast growing and healthy plants.  Consider planting these veggies in the months shown.  This is a general guide and your can make adjustments as needed for your garden.Early Spring:Purple beans ..read more

Mediterranean Garden Tips For San Diego BackyardsThere are only five climates in the world that can support a traditional Mediterranean garden, and San Diego is one of these climates.  In this article, I will share with you some key elements of creating a beautiful Mediterranean garden and some plant to consider. Typically these gardens have very few lawns which works very well for people who want a low maintenance backyard.  Instead of lawns, surfaces can be covered with rock and decomposed ..read more

How To Amend Poor Soil For A Lush San Diego GardenSan Diego has a great variety of soils from very sandy to enough clay to start a pottery shop.  You have the tools available to change soil to grow just about any plant.  Soil amendments provide physical structure the increase nutrient holding capacity, improve aeration, retain water, improve percolation, adjust ph., improve nutrient and mineral values for plant growth and increase the soil microbe community.I will share with you some of my ..read more

There is a lot of confusion about how to water your yard with drip irrigation.  I wanted to share some information provided by the Nevada Water Authority to help you plan your watering needs.  Because plants have different watering needs than grass, your irrigation clock should allow different settings for drip and sprinkler stations.Drip irrigation is truly beneficial to plants in dry environments. Drip irrigation systems should run longer than sprinkler systems because they deliver water ..read more