garden design

More Landscape Design Questions Answered by Mary Palmer Dargan

January 9, 2014

We recently shared some questions Mary Palmer received from our clients and friends in need of a bit of landscape design advice, along with her expert advice for each question. Today, we have a few more questions to share with you, along with Mary Palmer’s suggested solutions and ideas.

One design question? How to keep stepping stone paths weed free?

Patricia

www.marlborobulb.blogspot.com/

Dear Patricia!

Ahhh, the thousand dollar question for age old problem… The dreaded “weed between the stones dilemma.”

It boils down to the path composition and if a carpet of plants is mixed between the cracks. I like the “outcompete” your neighbors approach. Plant densely with appropriate steppables and initially install with a small gravel mulch like permatil. I often use mixed sedums.

Of course, hand weeding is still part of this program.

The alternate weeders approach is to nuke the ne’er do wells with a blowtorch (these are excellent and come as home maintenance kits for this purpose). Alternately you could use a high concentration of acetic acid and spray.

I hope this is helpful… Please send me photos and I can help further!

Happy new year!

Atlanta landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects

Hi Mary,

When planting trees in the front yard, how do you decide where to place them?

Thanks and Happy New Year,

Joanna M.

Dear Joanna,

Front Yard Trees? Thumbs up! You are doing fantastic things for both the natural environment and your home environment.

My checklist for tree planting follows. Thanks for asking!

Why do you want to plant them: to enhance the style of the house (this leads us to type of tree to accent house), save energy expense and shade cars, to create an arboretum…choice, choices, choices!

Choice of kind of tree: Evergreen or deciduous. Height and closeness to the house depends on the variety of the evergreen chosen.

Orientation of House: Does your house face N-S-E-W. In both of my books and in the SPROUT blueprint system, I share a technique called the sun diagram. If your house faces south, deciduous trees are great for summer shade. So, don’t plant evergreens if you need summer sunlight in the winter.

Personal choice…stylistic balance is frequently chosen with classically designed housing styles like georgian, antebellum, colonial revival & italianate. Asymmetrical balance is typical of cottage, custom french and modern. A great way to test your idea is to sketch ideas on a photography of your house and your ideal mental image of your house. Houses range from 25-35′ tall, and many trees are taller than this, but only after 15-25 years.

Hmmmm, now my juices are really flowing! How about a set of flowering trees?

Feel free to contact me with a photograph!

I hope this is useful,

All best, Mary Palmer

Cashiers landscape architects — Source: Spencer Howard Design + Construction Management via Houzz

What are your landscape design questions? Ask away in the comments section below!

Dargan Landscape Architects is here to help you improve your home and garden environments. Contact us to learn more about designing a master plan or tune-up for your property, or check out our PlaceMakers program!

Mary Palmer Dargan Answers Your Landscape Design Questions

January 7, 2014

Oftentimes, homeowners desire to make a change in their landscape and have questions about how to get started. However, they may feel a bit intimidated to ask. Recently, Mary Palmer sent out an invitation for our readers and friends to send us their landscape design questions, great and small, providing each inquiry with an informative answer. Below are some of the questions sent in, along with Mary Palmer’s responses.

Beautiful photo! I am wondering about the actual design process itself. Do you begin with taking photos, sketches of spatial concepts, etc.?
I am a plant lover, so immediately go to what I want to plant, and get overwhelmed with the choices. Just curious what your own process is on the initial steps. Thanks! (AZ)

Dear Andrea,

Your question indicates that you have the design gene!

Yes, there are distinct steps involved. Sometimes, just a photo of an area begging for improvement and sketches on that photo are all that is needed. Use the art elements and design principles to make it a pleasing picture. I have some great blog posts about this at www.dargan.com/blog. All plants have distinct shapes.

For deeper study

Create a program of needs and goals

Discover the raw potential of the property by analyzing its salient raw, built and living components

Use the PLACE system to provide a framework for future decisions which include dpatial arrangements of use areas like terraces, parking improvements, etc.

Evaluate your long term needs in terms of lifelong Landscape design and learn the Principles of the 4 part master plan (2 of my books!) .

Then work in harmony at ground level !

It’s design in a nutshell! Please let me know if you want to learn more!

My Sprout program is the springboard to success!

Happy new year to you and your garden!

Charleston landscape architects — Mary Palmer providing instruction to a PlaceMakers group.

Dear Mary Palmer,

I need to know of a tropical plant that can deal with total shade AND morning sun in Texas. We want symmetrical plants on either side of a doorway. What do you think of Sago Palms?

Hugs,

Anne

They are the ideal plant, Anne. There is a whole range of cycads (sago palms family) and a trip to a great nursery will share ones that are not soooo prickly. Some come with softer foliage, a naturally rounded form and a glossy green, too… Very appealing on either side of a front door.

I appreciate you writing!

Atlanta landscape architect — Source: McDugald-Steele Landscape Architects via Houzz

What flowers and plants would you use for a colorful border for a long, curved stone front walkway? (NM)

Great jumping jehozepah! Is this a Cashiers or FL garden?

The curving walkway is universal… Lumps of anchor plants at each end and a focal point plant of an interesting texture or form can be in the curve. A carpet of ground cover under the focal point. Is it sun or shade, wind or sheltered?

Great question, Nan. Send me a photo! Xxx

We’ll have more questions and answers from Mary Palmer to share with you at a later date, so stay tuned to our blog! In the meantime, if you have a question for Mary Palmer, feel free to leave it in a comment below. If you’d like to speak with Mary Palmer or one of the Dargan Landscape Architects team members about creating a master plan or tune-up for your landscape, contact us today! We’d love to hear your ideas and share how we can help you achieve the garden you’ve always wanted!

Landscape Design Details: Pavers

December 30, 2013

Incorporating pavers into your landscape allows you to reduce your environmental footprint while also adding interest for a dynamic design. Available in various materials and styles, pavers can be used to design pathways or to create spaces for outdoor rooms while contrasting lush greenery and colorful flower beds.

Furthermore, pavers are a great sustainable hardscaping option for more eco-friendly landscapes. Permeable materials soak up rain and prevent runoff while naturally filtering water and adding to the groundwater table.

Whether you are looking to incorporate a dining table for eating and entertaining al fresco or lounge chairs for sunbathing and relaxing, pavers are the perfect way to achieve attractive and functional hardscapes for beautiful outdoor living spaces.

In this example, pavers are used to create stunning modern style living spaces. We especially love the interactive walkway design that extends over a pond with fountains jutting out from either side of the concrete retaining wall surrounding the entire space.

Pavers can be designed with grass, gravel, mulch or other materials in between based on your landscape and the look you want to achieve. This paver and lush grass design makes for a striking contemporary front yard design.

The size of pavers and pattern they are laid down can also be customized to your property and personal style. Here, long and narrow pavers are assembled in an artful design to add energy and movement to the courtyard of this contemporary home.

Atlanta landscape architecture and design — Source: Jeffery Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture via Houzz

Pavers can be traditional, too. The combination of natural flagstone and black gravel in this example are used to achieve a warm and rustic style walkway.

Cashiers landscape architecture and design — Source: Jeffery Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture via Houzz

No matter what the paver design is, you’ll have the peace of mind that surrounding plants and lawn areas will not be overwhelmed by runoff.

Charleston landscape architecture and design — Source: Shades of Green Landscape Architecture via Houzz

Are you ready to upgrade to a gorgeous, eco-friendly landscape or outdoor living space, complete with pavers? Dargan Landscape Architects offers an experienced team of designers that can help you achieve an exquisite landscape that heals the earth and enhances your property. Visit our website for more information on how we can help!

Fill Your Homes with Paperwhite Narcissus for Scent & Holiday Sensation!

December 16, 2013

During the holiday season, our homes naturally take on a more cheerful look with all of the beautiful decorations that adorn our interior landscapes. We love incorporating a few plants for an extra burst of fragrance that also generate a little extra oomph to our holiday décor. One of our favorites here at Dargan Landscape Architects is the Paperwhite Narcissus because they offer a spectacular look and scent for several weeks!

Paperwhites are a type of daffodil that is a perennial plant native to the Mediterranean. This fragrant plant features white flowers that come in clusters. What we love best about Paperwhites is that the bulbs can easily be found at your local nursery and are relatively inexpensive, easy to plant and come into bloom within three to four weeks of planting. Because of this, Paperwhites are easy to “force” into a planter of your choice to be used as holiday décor or as a gift! They’re perfect for your gardening friends and family, or to give as a thoughtful hostess gift!

And speaking of holiday gifts, our own Mary Palmer has a special gift just for you! She has created an informative video and whitepaper filled with all the information you need to know about planting Paperwhites in the winter to provide scent and sensation in your home throughout the colder months – complete with planting instructions! Mary Palmer has also included an example of Paperwhites grown by her friend, master horticulturist Virginia Almand, that are in full bloom and ready to display or to give as a gift.

To take advantage of this special gift, visit our website today to download the whitepaper! You can also find Mary Palmer’s instructional video on YouTube!

P.S. – Don’t forget about our first winter sale! The shop closes at midnight on December 18. Check out our special holiday gifts for the gardeners in your life.

P.P.S. – If you would like the opportunity to discuss your garden or landscape design needs with Mary Palmer, send her an email at [email protected]. Our legendary SPROUT in PLACE workshop will begin in January!

The Evergreen Cometh

December 6, 2013

With the holiday season upon us, evergreens are everywhere. I recently asked my Facebook friends to share with me their favorite evergreens for winter interest – short, round, tall, thin, slightly weepy, or perhaps one with slightly colored foliage. I’m curious to hear from my blog readers too. Which evergreen is your favorite?

Recently, I sauntered over to our friendly neighborhood, family-run garden center, Chattooga Gardens. While marvelling at the show-stopping, holiday boxwood wreaths created by Jodie Zahner, I saw Mr. Jeff Z sorting out a delivery of gorgeous, fresh, mint- condition evergreen trees.

Ahhh, my mouth watered watching them slide down the big box truck pulled by a chain attached to a bobcat. Out popped blue ones, green ones, grey ones and yellow ones.

With visions of sugar plums dancing in my head (shaped like conifers, of course), I immediately thought about the designs I could create with these beautiful trees.

Dovecote, our home in the mountains, needs an infusion of winter glamour! Does yours? If so, a carefully selected group of evergreens are the perfect choice.

Evergreens can be grand, soaring focal points (like deodora cedars), accents to your home composition (Nellie R. Stevens holly is a great anchor) or grouped (boxwoods come to mind) as a node. These bullet-proof, southern mainstays populate the region. But, these evergreens pale in comparison to what is available in zone 5… ahhhhh.

From the Korean Silverlock Spruce (pictured below) to Nordman Spruce, and Pyramidal Silver Fir to Blue Spruce, the list goes on and on! Austrian Pine, Weeping Norway Spruce, White Fir, Alaskan Blue Cedar, Boxwoods, Oriental Golden Spruce, Colorado fastigiata Spruce, Horstmann’s Silbe, Oriental Green Knight and Blue Korean Silveray, just to name a few! Each one offers its own unique beauty, color and texture to its environment.

I take photos of tags, since I really don’t know all these beautiful plants. (My cell phone is my notebook these days!)

This holiday season, I encourage you to treat yourself to a burst of glamour and invest in evergreens with runway style… and support your local, family-run nursery in the process.

I know everyone is already busy with various aspects of the holiday season, so I want to help you out and save some of your precious time with my December ezine. Let’s continue to warm up your holiday season with evergreen gifts. Register your email address with us to receive my ezine right in your inbox!

And now, I wanted to share news from Mrs. Santa…

Be on the lookout Tuesday for the invitation to my “Green Thumbs Don’t Mold in the Winter” winter sale.

Just 2 indispensable things… watch for the announcement next week!

Thank you for being my community of garden designing friends.

It’s heartwarming and an honor to be in your circle.

Happy Holidays from the Dargans!

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