Landscape Design Tips

Why Create a Pollinator Garden in YOUR Home Environment ?

November 21, 2014

Pollinators in Peril

The iconic monarch butterfly, whose numbers have plummeted 90% in the last 2 decades, is pending listing approval as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA). The Garden Club of America sent a resolution letter this week to Dan Ashe, Director of The Fish and Wildlife Service in support of the pending petition.

Why would you want to help this beautiful butterfly? Why help any pollinator ( bat, bees, butterfly, bird)? Pollinators serve an important purpose in sustaining biodiversity. In recent years, their survival has been compromised by climate change, habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and spread of invasive species.

You can help! By providing a plot of milkweed, the adult monarch will have a place to lay its eggs. These leaves provide the only food for the monarch caterpillar. The monarch’s dependence on milkweed is being threatened by genetically-engineered crops and pesticides that eradicate milkweed and thereby imperil monarchs and other pollinators.

There are many resources available from the Garden Club of America.

If you live in Atlanta, The Greater Atlanta Pollinator Partnership [GAPP] spearheaded by Georgia Highlands College (GHC), the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (ABG), and USDA Forest Service. The goal of the partnership is to develop pollinator-friendly habitat within a 25-mile radius of downtown Atlanta, 1.2 million acres. Individuals can register their gardens as part of the partnership at this website.

How do I Bring Eye-Catching Textures into My Garden?

November 17, 2014

As sensory beings, incorporating texture into your garden design ideas will generate appeal that draws all passers. Not only will your garden provide a beautiful visual effect with color and depth, it will exude wonderful scents to fulfill the sense of smell and stimulate the sensations of touch and sight when you add texture.

Many people shy away from experimenting with texture worrying that their garden may take on an air of messiness or become overly cluttered. But when done properly, eye-catching garden texture can bring beauty and serenity into a number of settings.

Source: Dargan Landscape Architects

To create a sense of luxury, try layering colors and textures in your garden beds by combining short and tall plants with similar colors. Shorter plants and flowers should be situated toward the front of the garden, while taller varieties can go in the background. This simple garden design idea really draws to your landscape.

For a look that can be striking, while still giving a sense of serenity at the same time, combine textural elements in a single color such as paving bricks or garden path tiles. These textural elements can be surrounded by smooth pebbles in muted shades or bordered with lush green feather grass. Not only will you be adding several textures, you are adding a striking contrast with the foliage that borders your design.

If you have limited space for your garden design, there are many different options when container gardening. These eye-catching vessels can lift up a garden while incorporating texture. To keep the setting cohesive, you may wish to center your design on a single color scheme.

Finding the right garden design can be a difficult challenge. Dargan Landscape Architects are experts at taking the concept you visualize in your head and bringing them to life. Please visit our website to learn how we can help you bring your design to life.

How Should I Prepare My Landscape for Winter Weather?

October 23, 2014

Winter will soon be upon us, but that doesn’t mean your garden duties can be placed on the back burner. There are several important landscape maintenance procedures to perform before the cold snap arrives. By preparing your landscape for winter weather, you’ll ensure grass, trees and perennials survive the winter and that beds will be ready for new plants in the spring.

While leaves can provide valuable nutrients to grass and soil, thick layers of wet leaves can smother your lawn when they compact. If you have a large amount of leaves on your lawn, it’s best to rake them into a big pile that can compost over the winter, or to use a mulching mower to shred them so they’re not as heavy.

To best prepare your trees for the cold weather, you should protect smaller, new plantings with chicken wire or specialty cages to keep animals that feed on tender bark. Remember to fertilize young trees, and if you live in a fairly dry climate, water them until they’re well-saturated before the ground freezes. For large trees, trim off any unhealthy branches that may crack or break under the weight of snow. Lastly, spread a good layer of mulch around your trees to help regulate the temperature.

Contrary to the notion that perennials need lots of care in the winter, a gardener has the opportunity to be part of the web of life, and do nothing. If you like order and structure in a perennial garden, simply break or bend down the stems and place them on the ground so they become natural mulch.

To help pollinators overwinter, a messy perennial garden is not all bad! By leaving seed heads and stems standing and intact over winter, native bees, eggs from butterflies and other pollinators are allowed to complete a natural cycle. As the plant matter decays, organic bits nourish the ground and the eggs fall with it. Pupae who hatch therefore remain in situ, ready to help your garden, and other gardens nearby, be pollinated and to set seed in the future.

Leaving 6-8″ of stems cut back or bent also provides places for birds to perch and peck thru the leaf litter looking for insect larvae…and essential food to nourish them through the winter.

Performing landscape maintenance will ensure your vegetation not only survives the winter, but thrives in the spring. Visit Dargan Landscape Architects for beautiful landscape inspiration in the autumn months, or contact us today about your landscape design.

Outdoor Sanctuaries

April 25, 2014

As spring continues to bloom, it’s hard not to spend your day outdoors. In an outdoor sanctuary, you’ll find the best of both worlds — wonderful fresh air and natural beauty, along with the intimacy of the great indoors. In Mary Palmer’s book Timeless Landscape Design, she shares some features of the best in class for this category to help you get the most out of your outdoor sanctuaries, whether you’re looking to add a terraced perimeter, courtyard, walled garden or all of the above.

Terraced Perimeters
A terraced perimeter is a paved outdoor area that behaves as an extension of the nearest room(s). They make the adjoining rooms feel and appear larger and can add space and seating that may be lacking otherwise. Consider adding a series of these areas to create a linked perimeter that wraps around your home. By simply bordering your home with a terraced perimeter, you’ll create a 24/7, multipurpose space for relaxing, eating and entertaining.

Buckhead landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Cashiers landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Courtyards
Courtyards are paved outdoor sanctuaries in which two out of four enclosing walls are shared with the home itself. The size, wall height and wall material used in courtyards vary depending on building codes and personal preference. It’s best to choose a style that will appear seamless with your home’s existing style instead of making a separate design statement.

Charleston SC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Atlanta landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For privacy, walls enclosing courtyards are typically six to eight feet tall. Growing vines and creeping plants along your walls can soften their solid appearance. To achieve this effect, try adding a custom treillage to your wall, or support lattices that guide the direction of your plant’s growth. Water elements are perfect for drowning out unwanted noise, creating ambiance and providing a lovely focal point. Remember that every decision and selection appears magnified in smaller spaces, so your area should be carefully planned and executed.

Walled Gardens
Walled gardens cover a wide variety of functions and are less room-like than courtyards. They enclose everything from swimming pools to formal gardens to lawns. They also operate as separate entities, not necessarily adjoined to any other rooms or walls of the home. You can even situate a small courtyard within a walled garden to create more dimension.

Charleston landscape design — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Are you inspired by these lush garden ideas? Contact Dargan Landscape Architects, and let us help you turn your home’s outdoor sanctuary dreams into a reality.

P.S. – Don’t forget to join us at The Garden Show of Buckhead this weekend! Hugh and Mary Palmer will unveil their miniature landscapes at the event, which takes place at The Buckhead Theatre Friday through Sunday. Be sure to stop by on Saturday from 4 to 5 pm for Mary Palmer’s Big Birthday!

Adding a Terrace to Your Landscape’s Perimeter Spaces

April 23, 2014

Terraces are one of the most important aspects of your landscape’s perimeter spaces, especially for those who live in smaller suburban homes and townhouses, where they may comprise the majority — if not the entirety — of your landscape plan. A terrace, or patio, is any paved surface that joins the house, regardless of its size. A well-designed terrace will be congruent with the existing architecture and will also create a seamless transition to the subsequent landscape, providing homeowners with more ways to use their outdoor living space to the fullest.

Atlanta GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

If you’re considering the addition of a terrace for your landscape, consider the following tips from Mary Palmer’s book, Timeless Landscape Design:

Size: The first thing you’ll want to consider is how large or small your terrace should be.

Small. A small terrace is ideal for an intimate bistro table for two. In cases where outdoor space is limited, a 6’x6′ space will suffice. For a sightly larger dining area, you may want to allow for a 12’x12′ area.

Buckhead GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Medium. If you entertain often and enjoy dining alfresco, we recommend at least a medium-sized terrace, measuring 12’x18′. This will accommodate two 60-inch round tables, which can each comfortably seat six to eight people with room to move.

Large. If you commonly host large gatherings, a large terrace should measure at least 24’x36′ and accommodate three 60-inch tables.

Charleston landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Larger terraces are often required in backyards with a pool to provide enough patio space for entering/exiting the pool and lounging. Without ample space, the pool may become littered with landscape debris.

Shapes. A terrace’s shape is usually determined by its function. If the terrace will have a grill, that should be accounted for to prevent impeding traffic flow. Pools and water features affect the shape, as does the size of the house — the larger the house, the larger the terrace for proportion’s sake. Ground-level terraces are often designed with a round or bowed shape to create a graceful aesthetic that flows into nature.

Western NC landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

Materials. The two most traditional terrace materials are brick and stone. The largest surface area is called the “field.” If you choose a different material for the edge, this area is referred to as “edging” or “banding.” The materials and colors you choose are completely dependent on your existing architecture and landscape features. Monochromatic palettes are optimal for a soothing ambiance. Contrasting colors and patterns will also liven things up.

Sea Island GA landscape architects — Dargan Landscape Architects
Photo Featured in Timeless Landscape Design

For more information on terraces and perimeter spaces, purchase a copy of Timeless Landscape Design, or contact Dargan Landscape Architects for professional assistance with your next master plan or tuneup project.

Landscape Design Tips

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