The Proportion of Plants vs. The Scale of Your Home

May 2, 2023

by Marcus Malouf Garden Landscaping

When designing your ideal landscape, it’s easy for many to simply go for plants they like without understanding how they may look once on the property. Many plants can look out of place when placed next to your home. Understanding the proportion of plants compared to your home’s scale is an essential element in making optimal design choices.

Today we’ll discuss how the scale of your home and the proportion of the selected plants can affect the final design of your landscape.

Consider the Buildings

You’ll need to consider more than the size of the home when designing your landscape. Single-story houses, multiple-story houses, homes with attached vs. detached garages, and even the type of roof of the buildings must be considered when selecting plants for your landscape design.

While the most notable aspect of a building is its size, one-story, two-story, etc., you should also consider the building’s colors, the type of roof used, and the overall size of the outer walls. If repainting the exterior is within the budget, you can better match the species of plants you use to give your property a sense of balance and unity.

Tree Selection

When selecting trees for your landscape design, you’ll want to aim for shorter trees if you have a single-story home. The Western Redbud is a reasonably fast-growing tree that grows approximately 12-20 feet high, making it an excellent option for smaller homes. Acacia aneura can get as tall as 35-50 feet tall.

Tree Location

Although many homes would look amazing with a lovely tree next to them, you need to ensure the location you choose to plant those trees is appropriate. After all, nature can grow however it wishes, and roots can cause issues if a tree is planted too close to the main property. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to plant most trees between 10 and 20 away from your foundation. This isn’t the only placement you need to keep in mind. When planting any tree, do your best to avoid any plumbing. Sprinklers and sewage plumbing are run underground and can easily be damaged by tree roots. If it’s needed to plant near these pipes, you may need to use a growth barrier. These can be made of metal or wood, preventing roots from damaging your sewage pipes. Alternatively, you could select trees and shrubs without invasive root systems.

Outdoor Lighting

Some outdoor lighting will remain the same, such as path and accent lighting. Lighting can be cast differently on two-story homes than on single-story homes. Spotlights can be used to accent features, but their shadows can make them vanish. A two-story home can add additional lights and angles that would be difficult to show with single-story houses.

Living Walls

A Living wall is a popular design feature for many homeowners. The reason is it’s a feature that can be used effectively in single-story and multiple-story homes. They can help reduce the ambient temperature.

How would you feel with a designed yard to fit your unique home and personality?

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

Choosing an Irrigation Controller; Which One is Right for You?

March 26, 2023

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

Irrigation systems come in many different prices and with several technological options like apps.

Watering your landscape is crucial to keeping your plants healthy, green, and thriving. Ideally, you want to provide the perfect amount of water to each area of your landscape without going over and wasting a single drop. Many irrigation systems have a controller to help with this, though homeowners often need to ensure they are working as efficiently as possible.

Have you checked your irrigation controller recently?

Most water is spent on landscapes through an irrigation system, and having the correct controller can save you both time and money. Join me as we explore the different kinds of irrigation controllers on the market, and help you decide which one is right for you.

Traditional Controllers

Though less efficient, many homes continue to use traditional irrigation controllers due to their simplicity. There is always an adoption curve when it comes to new technology, and irrigation systems are no exception.

Traditional controllers are often mechanical in nature. They are designed to provide water in increments. The Intermatic T8800 is an example of a conventional controller. It has limited features but is reliable and easy to use.

Programmable Controllers

Programmable controllers are the most commonly used irrigation controllers in homes. They offer more features than traditional controllers without connecting to the wifi. These controllers usually come equipped with LCD screens, buttons, and dials, making it easier to understand how the controller works. They can be set up manually and can control multiple zones. For example, Rain Birds 6-station irrigation timer allows changing the watering amount and frequency to six locations in your landscape.

Many of these styles of controllers are compatible with rain sensors which can automatically shut off your irrigation system when it detects rain. Programmable controllers are in the middle when it comes to features.

Smart Controllers

If your goal is to use water as efficiently as possible, a smart irrigation controller is the way to go. Units such as the RainMachine Touch HD-12, Rachio 3, and Orbit B-hyve are affordable for homeowners and have been shown to save the most amount of water compared to the other kinds of irrigation controllers. Smart controllers can seem overwhelming to some as they often need to connect to wireless internet and your phone’s Bluetooth. However, after the initial setup, these controllers can function independently. Smart controllers can usually control over 10 separate zones to maximize the efficiency of the water being used.

Unlike programmable irrigation controllers that require a separate rain sensor, smart controllers have access to the weather forecast because they are online. They can automatically adjust the amount of water used based on local weather patterns, saving you water and money while keeping plants healthy and green. If any changes need to be made to your watering schedule, there is a free app that you can download onto your smartphone, giving you complete control of the system even if you are out of town.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

Are you Interested in a Water Feature as Part of Your Landscape Design?

January 26, 2023

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

A small decorative waterfall in a garden can add enormous visual appeal and uniqueness to your landscape.

Just because the work at your Property is complete, doesn’t mean the work is done. Although you can hire the same company that did your work to do maintenance on your landscape, in between visits it’ll be up to you to keep your landscape looking vibrant and healthy.

Especially for plants that require specific watering needs that can’t be provided by a sprinkler system you’ll want to invest in fine touch watering tools.

Today we’ll go over some of these tools that you can use to help make yard work something relaxing and enjoyable.

Watering Can

Naturally the most iconic tool is a watering can, however don’t let the simplicity of the tool fool you. A watering can, can be an essential tool when gardening especially if there isn’t a hose nearby. Though watering cans deliver water in small drips rather than a heavy stream you would get from a garden hose. Whether it’s a vegetable garden or a flower garden, watering cans are a great way to provide your plants with just enough water to keep them healthy without the use of a sprinkler system.

For parents, watering the garden with a watering can, can be a fun activity to do with their kids to teach them how to care for plants and flowers.

Water Wand

Much like a watering can, a water wand is used to deliver water more gently than just sticking your thumb on the end of a hose. Unlike a watering can, a water wand does require a garden hose to attach to. Though a major benefit of a water wand is that it more closely mimics rainfall. The spray is effective yet gentle enough to not destroy fragile seedlings, sprouts and flowers. The length of the wand allows for you to be able to water plants at the root without having to hurt your knees bending or crouching. It can also be used to water taller plants without the need of a step stool or ladder.

Garden Hose Nozzle

Though more of a generic watering tool compared to the water wand, the adjustable garden hose nozzle is commonly used in many homes. While doing the same jobs that a water wand does, an adjustable hose nozzle can be useful outside of just your garden bed usually because it can provide more water pressure. This water pressure can be useful when spot cleaning in between landscape maintenance visits, or removing pests from your vegetable garden without using chemicals.

Watering Globes

Not everyone has the time to water their plants daily, nor do they find it relaxing or enjoyable. Lucky watering globes can help give your plants water automatically without the need to physically go out and do it yourself. Though you’ll have to monitor the amount of water in the globes to make sure your plants don’t dry out. Fortunately many water globes retain liquids for 7 to 14 days depending on the size you choose. Watering globes can also add a splash of color and liveliness to some plants, or you can purchase clear globes so as to not take away from the focal plant. Though lighter on maintenance than watering your plants daily, a water globes still needs to be cleaned regularly to make sure the opening is not impacted with soil though an agreement can be made with a landscaping maintenance company to inspect during their scheduled maintenance.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allow us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.
Our team of experts carefully manages your project. Fill out our Landscape Design request for your landscape to fit your aesthetic. Call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for your project.

Drain Pipe into Ground Floor with Drain Stones Outside Building. French drain. Modern Drainage Stormwater of House. Drainage Exterior Facade.

Stormwater Retention Ideas as Part of Your Landscape Design

November 30, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping Landscaping Maintenance

Stormwater Retention for your home is a great way to be water wise.

Living in southern California there are often droughts and water shortages. This makes rain water a scarce resource that we should use more often. Many people have at some point considered catching the rain water but aren’t sure where to start. Afterall when it rains, it’s free water that your plants enjoy and is free.

Unfortunately much of the rain water that isn’t absorbed by soil often evaporates and doesn’t get used. Amending your soil with compost or mulch can help it to retain more water but there is only so much before the soil becomes completely saturated. Today we’ll go over some suggestions and design elements on how to collect stormwater, save a bit of money and make use of this natural resource.

What is Stormwater Retention?

There is a myth that in southern California it was illegal to catch rainwater, but this can’t be further from the truth. Anyone can have stormwater retention on their property so long as the water you are collecting comes from your roof, no permit is required.

Areas such as Long Beach tend to get about 15 inches of rain on average every year. Much of the rainwater that lands on roofs or driveways results in runoff. Runoff water can collect pollutants that enter the city’s storm drain system which leads to larger bodies of water until it eventually reaches the ocean. Stormwater retention is a great way to conserve water, save money, and keep your plants looking vibrant. It may seem like installing a stormwater retention system is a drop in the bucket due to the infrequent rain we get, but it all adds up.

Designing a Stormwater Retention System

Stormwater retention typically begins with the gutter system that collects rainfall from your roof. Rain gutters are already a good investment as they protect your home’s walls and foundation from water erosion as it directs run off water to either a drain or the street. But why not collect this rainfall in a vessel like a barrel?

A simple solution to collecting stormwater from your roof is to simply put a barrel where your gutters drain. That’s all you really need to collect rainwater, however many people will agree that a large plastic barrel on the side of your home can not only be unsightly but take up quite a bit of space.

On a 1,000 square foot roof, an inch or rain can give you about 600 gallons of water. Design choices to consider for collecting water from your roof include using seamless gutters which give a clean sleek look to the system and helps prevent leaks due to having less failure points. A leaf filter and a downspout fist flush filter should also be installed to prevent debris from being collected. Afterwards it’s a matter of hiding the plumbing that goes to your water collection vessel of choice.

You could then use this water to give your landscape a splash during the dryer days, and avoid any local water ordinances you may be subjected to in the future.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Your project is carefully managed by our team of experts. Whether you are looking to turn your front yard into a showpiece or creating the backyard of your dreams we are here to help. Fill out our Landscape Design request for landscape to fit your aesthetic today. Feel free to call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for the project you have in mind.

Types of Landscaping to Consider for Your Long Beach Home

October 27, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

You’ve decided that you’re finally ready to get your landscaping professionally done. That’s great! Now it’s time for you to decide on what type of landscape you’ll want for your Long Beach home.

There are many types to choose from to fit the style and budget of anyone. As to not overwhelm you, today we’re going to go through the different types we offer at MC Landscaping. You can use this to choose the overall theme and style, or to incorporate some features when deciding your landscaping design.

English Garden Style

An English garden uses more geometric shapes like squares, rectangles and ovals to organize the different plants in the landscape. Its design style is to emphasize contrasts. An example is you can have neatly trimmed hedges, but at the base there is a bed of wild flowers. This style attempts to use materials used to build the home like brick or stone to create garden walls, columns, ponds and other features. This makes the landscaping feel like an extension of the home, not just “the yard”. Ideally the plants you choose from should change along with the seasons. These require a great deal of maintenance to keep their aesthetic.

Organic Gardens

Organic gardens are ideal for homeowners concerned with sustainability, as well as staying away from chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Organic garden landscaping creates and maintains a natural sustaining system where soil, plant nutrition and plant health is accomplished without the use of those chemicals.This type of landscaping uses an abundance of mulch, typically being topped off yearly. Without this layer of mulch, your soil can become dry which makes it difficult for some plants to naturally grow a strong root system. Mulch benefits the landscape in more ways than one, including feeding microfauna to keep your soil loose and healthy.

Drought Resistant Landscaping

Unfortunately Southern California often suffers with droughts. To help conserve water and maintain beautiful landscaping, many homeowners have begun to design their landscapes to be drought resistant. This typically means removing many of the old dying plants and replacing them with plants native to your area or plants from areas with similar climates and conditions. A drought resistant lawn will still have the bright green grass so many love to see, though usually not year round due to a dormancy period though some choose to paint the grass during this period. Instead of letting plants dry up and die during times of water scarcity, a drought resistant landscape will provide plants that won’t mind the lack of water.

Oriental Landscape

Oriental landscapes have defining hardscape elements such as a bridge, archway or stone walkway. By design an oriental garden provides refuge filled with eastern mysticism. It is meant to be a place of both relaxation and movement. People should engage with an oriental landscape design by walking through different pathways leading to the different features. If budget allows oriental landscapes, a koi pond can be an option to add an authentic oriental experience.

Modern Landscape

With clean edges and a clean look the modern landscape is designed to fit a contemporary home or to contrast with a traditional rustic architecture. Modern landscaping is characterized by the use of sleek, smooth and refined stylings. Generally the modern style emphasizes the architecture and building material over the plants and trees. Stone, concrete, hardwoods and metals are used to shape a modern landscape design.

Tropical Landscape

Tropical landscapes are meant to be lush, bright, and vivid. Plants such as bromeliads, orchids and hibiscus are often used in garden beds or containers for their bright colors. Large leaved plants like elephant ear or birds or paradise provide large areas of coverage like a tropical jungle. Due to tropical landscaping being filled with different plants, decor is often overlooked. Decorative stones not only provide a different texture to the abundance of plants, they retain heat which is helpful in regulating temperatures for some tropical plants. Tropical landscapes are also great environments for birds to come and visit, if you are a lover of birds a birdbath can be a great addition to a tropical landscape.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Adjusting Lawn Sprinkler by Professional Garden Irrigation Technician. Top View.

How Your Sprinkler Design is Critical to Supporting Your Landscaping Vision

October 16, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping Landscaping Maintenance

Sprinkler systems range from smart to timer based.

When designing your landscape, the sprinkler system is going to be what makes sure your plants get the required water as efficiently as possible. Although in the past yards would be designed with a few sprinkler heads that spray water in an area for a few minutes, now we know there are better ways of doing things.

Today we’ll go through a number of things to keep in mind when designing the sprinkler system to support your landscaping vision for years to come.

Zones

When you speak with our designers, they will mention landscape zones. This is a term used to separate portions of the landscape such as your lawn, garden or potted plants. Zones are used to determine specific areas and how they are supposed to be irrigated.

For example your lawn will require a different volume of water compared to a vegetable garden. If you were to use the same amount of water for both you could over water and drown plants in one zone while a different zone remains too dry. By separating your landscape through different zones you can use an irrigation controller to make sure each zone gets the perfect amount of water. This will help your lawn and plants to thrive while conserving water.

Types of Irrigation

In order for your landscape to look great and grow throughout the years you’ll need to water it. There are no exceptions. You can choose to do the watering yourself with a hose however, every zone may require different watering needs. Although watering a vegetable garden can be calming for some, many people don’t have the luxury of time to water their entire lawn.

To solve watering issues there are a couple of popular options for irrigation that can be used in different zones to fulfill different watering needs.

Lawn Sprinkler System

This is the classic go to system many people use to water their lawns. Although it is no longer the most efficient form of irrigation, it’s still a great option when you need to water a large area such as a lawn. During hotter seasons it’s best to use sprinklers either early in the morning or in the evening after the sun has gone down to reduce water loss to evaporation.

Drip Irrigation System

Less is more with drip irrigation systems. With drip irrigation water slowly drips through irrigation tubing allowing you to fine tune how much water plants will receive. Due to tubing often being shaded by the plant or mulch, there is little evaporation even during the hottest days.

Irrigation Controller

An irrigation controller is used to regulate how much water is being used for each zone of your landscape. Though there are a few options you have for controllers as well.

Smart Controller

Smart controllers are relatively new to the market, but have shown that being able to be controlled by a smartphone or tablet is convenient and efficient. By allowing them to connect to the internet, they can access meteorological databases, have sensors built into the controller or both to ensure efficient watering of your property.

Smart controllers like the Rachio 3 can be purchased with 4 -16 different zone counts to allow for flexible irrigation tailored to your yard.

Standard Irrigation Controller

Simple, yet cost effective, standard controllers are typically used when installing basic sprinkler systems. These controllers can use local weather conditions to regulate the amount of water used when you turn on the sprinkler system. Or may have a setting for seasonal adjustments allowing you to increase watering during summer and reduce watering during winter.

Battery Operated Controller

With many of the same features as standard irrigation controllers, battery operated controllers give you the freedom of having the controller installed without the need of a power source. Many come with small solar panels to recharge the internal battery. While others can function without issues for up to 3 years with two AA batteries.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Pros and Cons of a Pond as Part of Your Landscaping Design

October 5, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

Ponds can be a great addition to your landscape and a relaxing hobby

Featuring a pond in your landscaping brings an amazing calmness to your home that you can enjoy year round. Especially in Southern California where you don’t need to worry about water freezing. Ponds aren’t for everybody but if you have the space for it, love the sounds and visuals appeal it can bring, you should consider installing one. A pond can take advantage of otherwise empty space in your yard or garden.

Like many things in this world there are some pros and cons of having a pond in your landscaping design.Today we’re going to go through some of them with the hopes that by the end of it you can decide if a pond is the right choice for you.

Pros

A major positive for a pond is it’s a power design element that draws immediate attention. The visual appeal of a pond can be the single most aesthetically pleasing feature you can add to your landscape. In some areas a pond can also increase your property’s value.

With a pond you can incorporate Koi, Goldfish, turtles and other aquatic animals to your yard. Incorporating a pond can be both lively and calming, because you have a little bit of nature in your own backyard.

When you design a pond for your property, you have creative freedom to add as much or as little as you’d like. You can decide on a minimalist approach with just a body of water, a quiet internal filter, a few plants and goldfish to give you a simple yet beautiful addition to your garden. Or you can get all the bells and whistles; waterfalls, plants, koi, and hardscape. Outside of a budget, the only limit to a pond design is your imagination.

A well maintained pond can give you that luxury of relaxing in nature without leaving your home.

Cons

Unfortunately any man made body of water will require some level of maintenance. For a backyard pond this means cleaning filters, testing water conditions, feeding fish, trimming plants and making sure the water level doesn’t get too low due to evaporation. Although this can seem like too much work for those with busy schedules, many people enjoy maintaining their ponds as a hobby. If you choose to have your pond maintained professionally the costs of maintaining a pond can be a deal breaker for some. As you need to include the cost of water, food and professional care.

When designing a pond you need to be aware of your local wildlife, although a pond can bring in beautiful wild birds to drink and bathe in the water. Bodies of water also attract mosquitos which can be a nuisance. You can stock your pond with fish to eat the pests but stocking your pond with fish can attract unwanted animals like birds of prey, racoons, stray cats and other animals that see the fish in your pond as a potential meal.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

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Decorative Mulch… What Does it Really do?

September 30, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

Mulch is a nutritional base for many plants used for landscaping

I’m sure you’ve seen wood chips or bark around plants and in gardens, and maybe you’ve wondered what it is and why people use it so often.

The chips are known as mulch, and there are many different options for mulch as well as a number of benefits for using it.

What is mulch?

Mulch is a layer of material which is applied to the surface of your soil. Simple enough however, there are many ways to use it, from benefiting the growth of vegetables in your garden to adding some color to make some landscaping features stand out.

Join me as we learn some of the nuances of mulch and why it’s so good for your landscape.

Why use Mulch?

A big reason right now to use mulch, is that it helps prevent water from evaporating from your soil. This allows you to conserve more water while maintaining the health of your plants and trees.

Mulch can be used nearly anywhere in your landscape project, and when maintenance is done it should be replaced when necessary. Because mulch is almost always wood chips or bark, it will decompose over time. This is actually a benefit though, as it decomposes it enriches the soil under it with nutrients it may otherwise never get. Soil with high levels of sand can especially benefit from the decomposition of mulch because it not only gains nutrients, it also gains the ability to better retain water. Once again helping with water conservation.

A layer of hay or straw over a flower bed or garden bed can also help control weeds. Typically weeds will not be able to break through the layer of mulch. If you feel like you want a natural pest control use cypress or cedar chips. These trees contain natural chemicals and oils that deter insects. Cedar chips in particular can even kill insects like cockroaches. Though they may also be too heavy for smaller plants to grow from seed. In these cases it’s better to use established plants that can get transplanted.

Increase Curb Appeal with Mulch

Mulch can instantly add a splash of color and a nice finished look to your home. Mulch comes in a variety of colors, materials and sizes. Common organic materials include:

Hard/softwood chips
Bark
Evergreen needles
Grass trimming
Cut leaves

A dark wood chip mulch can contrast with flowers allowing them to stand out. You can also improve the theme and design of your landscape by adding red or brown bark to complement a brick wall.

Mulch can also be In-organic materials such as:

Lava rock
Stones
Crushed stone/pebbles
Rubber

Stones and pebbles can be used to make walkways and paths. These rarely need to be replenished making them cost effective as they’re a one time investment of material and labor. Although the stone may look appealing, it’s best not to use it on trees and other plants. The stones retain heat which can cook roots and kill your plants during hot days.

For play areas, you can use pulverized rubber as mulch. This is inexpensive and usually made from recycled tires. It can prevent children from injuring themselves during play time while accenting other parts of your landscape and architecture. Rubber mulch doesn’t decompose like organic mulch, making it a poor choice for any other parts of your landscape. Its uncertain if rubber can leach toxins into soil as well, for that reason we recommend you keep it away from any plants.

When Should I Replace My Mulch?

The tell tale signs you should replace or replenish your mulch is if you begin to notice signs of decomposition, discoloration or soil erosion. Try to maintain your organic mulch 2-3 inches deep. This will provide you with the best results. You may have to replenish every year or every other year depending on the amount of mulch, the weather, foot traffic and watering habits. Usually you won’t need to replace your mulch for 5-6 years.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

What Supporting Features of Your Landscape Design are You Interested in?

September 23, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

Landscaping features are a personal choice that suits your needs and design preferences.

For supporting features in your landscape, there are no wrong answers. Whatever it is that you love to see, smell or feel is what you should have installed. After all, this is your home, and your design inputs are necessary.

Speaking of design, what options do you have?

Today let’s cover what supporting features are available for your landscape design as well as the importance of asking about them during the designing portion of the project.

Designing Your Landscape

When designing your landscape there are a few themes you can get started with. These include:

Drought tolerant
Xeriscape
Waterwise
Low Maintenance
Contemporary
Mediterranea
Modern
Tropical
Edible Garden
English Garden

Let’s say you’ve chosen the theme for your landscape as an example you chose an Edible Garden theme. During the appointment with our designer let them know what features you are looking for in your garden and what kinds of plants you intend to grow. This can make it easier for us to provide a more unique design suited for you. At this moment it is best to ask about supporting features. These can include items such as:

Rock features
Lighting
Decorations
Garden Gnomes
Statues
Water Features

Nothing is off the table as long as supporting features are included in the designing phase of the project. Though it’s fine to change your mind, be aware that any changes after the design phase may be more difficult to incorporate and may take more time to provide.

What Supporting Features Does MC Landscaping Offer?

Ideally when choosing supporting features you’ll want to remain within the theme of the landscaping. But if you want to have a water feature like a fountain in a drought tolerant landscape that is perfectly fine as well.

Rock features

Rock features vary from large decorative boulders to small polished pebbles. Large boulders are great for larger landscapes to be seen from a distance or provide structure for other, smaller or complementary landscape features.

Making an impression at driveway entrances with large boulders or using them to retain soil for terracing a gentle slope.

Using stones for walkways can add color and texture to your landscape while providing a durable and beautiful feature.

Polished pebbles and river rocks pair well with water features as they aim to create a natural looking element to your landscape. Using small rocks like these strategically can also help with water run off and drainage.

Lighting

Lighting can be used to accent certain features in the evening. Even water features can be visible at night with underwater lights. This illumination adds a different view to your landscape after the sun goes down.

Spotlights can be installed at the base of trees or architectural features to highlight and draw attention to them during the evening.

Adding walkway or garden lights can increase visibility of pathways to avoid damaging the landscape, injuring yourself or guests.

Decorations

Decorations include lawn statues, garden gnomes, bird feeders, artwork and honestly anything else you can think of that might make your landscape unique to you. Although these can be added after the landscaping is done, we recommend you include the idea of adding decorations during the design phase to better incorporate them to the landscape.

Water Features

Water features can be used to create a sense of tranquility in your lawn or back yard. Waterfalls and fountains give soothing sounds while making your landscape feel alive with the sounds of moving water. Aquatic gardens or ponds can bring the feeling of calmness.

Though you don’t necessarily have to choose one or the other. Many people love the sound of moving water while having it connected to aquatic gardens or koi ponds.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Lover of Birds? Landscape Design that Can Welcome them to Your Garden

September 12, 2022

by Marcus Malouf with No Comment Landscaping

Do you love birds but find it difficult to make the time to go on dedicated bird watching trips?

Did you know you can design a naturalistic landscape that can bring the beautiful birds of your area to your own back or front yard.

Join me as we discover how you can transform your yard from a generic yard into a paradise for birds and bird lovers alike.

Design Theme

When you make an appointment with our designers, keep in mind the theme of your landscape. Oftentimes for naturalistic designs we’ll recommend rounded bed lines as they’re more natural than straight edges. Keep in mind if you want to attract birds you’ll need to consider how the landscape will look from above not just surface level. Birds love seeing dense vegetation, and layered foliage.

Using round shapes is nothing new and is often used without a natural design in mind. Wildlife sees round shapes and circles as a natural shape. In nature everything from berries to flowers appear round.

Native Plants

If you are looking to attract birds native to southern California it’s only natural to have a native landscape using local grown and regional plants,trees and grass. Having exotic plants that look attractive to us may dissuade local birds as they may not recognize those plants and instead avoid your yard. Birds will recognize native plants like sunflowers or black elderberry shrubs as a healthy food source or safe shelter.

Consider that for birds to feel safe they prefer plants to be layered, dense, and diverse. The smaller birds will want to hide and feel safe from other wildlife or stray cats. Denser vegetation is also more suitable for birds to nest in which can turn your yard into a permanent residence for some of your local birds.

An additional benefit of having native plants in your landscape is that since they are native to our climate, they can thrive even during heavy droughts. With plants that are accustomed to the local weather means you can give birds a home year round, while also conserving water during droughts and saving money on your water bill.

Features Birds Love

Having a natural looking and inviting landscape is the main thing that will attract birds. However if you want to enjoy watching them consider installing a few key features that nearly every bird enjoys.

Birds love to bathe, they need it to clean their feathers from dust and debris. Not to mention they need to cool down after a hot day too.

Although native plants provide food and shelter it’s a good idea to incorporate bird feeders with bird seed or nectar to attract more birds. Since bugs and insects are also a healthy food source, plan for your landscape to use minimal pesticides.

Not all birds make nests in trees to increase the amount of birds visiting your yards, try including bird houses into the landscape. These are often used by swallows, sparrows and even some bluebird species.

Would you like to improve your landscaping?

Your project is carefully managed by our team of experts. Whether you are looking to turn your front yard into a showpiece or creating the backyard of your dreams we are here to help. Fill out our Landscape Design request for a landscape designed to attract birds to your home. Feel free to call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for the project you have in mind.