My Little Paradise in San Diego

My Little Paradise in San Diego

From another recently satisfied customer: “After returning from our honeymoon in Hawaii, I just couldn’t get enough of the beautiful tropical life, so we contracted SquareRoot Landscape Group to bring a little of Hawaii back to San Diego! I say they did a great...
Beauty Without Water

Beauty Without Water

From another recently satisfied customer: “Upon hearing that mandatory water restrictions were coming to San Diego, CA, I immediately called Brian at SquareRoot Landscape Group in San Diego and told him that I had to have an amazing yard, but I didn’t want artificial turf and I had to conserve water. Brian came up with the incredible design that you see here. I couldn’t be happier with our yard or with Brian and his team at SquareRoot.” A little about the plants in this photo: Little Trudy® is a new dwarf form of catmint with tiny leaves, showy flowers and is sterile! Sea kale is the large white flowering plant (Crambe maritima), and to the right is Purple Mountain® sun daisy (Osteospermum barberiae), another Plant Select®...
Mandatory Water Use Restrictions Now in Effect

Mandatory Water Use Restrictions Now in Effect

REGION-WIDE DROUGHT ALERT DECLARED   After months of record-breaking high temperatures and concerns about statewide water reserves, the San Diego County Water Authority declared a Level 2 Drought Alert in July, triggering mandatory restrictions by local water agencies in the region. As a result, new water use restrictions for Oceanside residents and businesses are currently in effect. Over the years, the Oceanside community has done a commendable job making water conservation a way of life. With drought conditions growing more serious, water saving efforts need to be re-evaluated and may be increased to prepare for a potential fourth consecutive dry year. Together, the Oceanside community can increase water savings and make a difference for a more sustainable...
Amorphous

Amorphous

a·mor·phous –adjective. lacking definite form; having no specific shape; formless: the amorphous clouds of no particular kind or character; indeterminate; having no pattern or structure; unorganized: an amorphous style; an amorphous personality. The Problem In our field, amorphous is a ‘nails on the chalkboard’ kinda word. Just as I explained in an earlier post, anyone can go to Home Depot and buy a bunch plants and dig a few holes. The same applies to the shapes you create around your property. But the ‘have shovel, will create bed-edges’ theory creates more of a mess than one could imagine, and falls far short of satisfactory in the end. Many times, bed edges are arbitrarily created. The end result is a series of curves that have no relationship to existing geometry (such as adjacent buildings, the existing plantings they’ll encompass, property lines, etc.), or to other curving bed edges nearby. The Solution When creating planting beds in the landscape, care should be given to their shape and size. Having a plan that shows the ‘top’ view of your property is where we begin. This allows you to see every element that relates to the bed you’re creating. Some things to keep in mind: Create gentle, sweeping curves. A radius of 5′ or more is sufficient where possible. This allows a lawn mower to easily follow the edge without having to stop and abruptly change directions. Keep bed edges beyond (outside) the canopy of any tree within it. This ensures that the root system remains undamaged, as they usually extend from the trunk as much as the canopy does. Only make a...
Bland

Bland

bland –adjective. 1. lacking in special interest, liveliness, individuality, etc.; insipid. aka: bor·ing (bôr’ĭng, bōr’-) -adj. Uninteresting and tiresome; dull. The Problem Is this how you want your brand new yard to feel to yourself or those you invite over, upon its completion, to show it off? Is this the impression you want after spending thousands of your hard earned dollars and having a substantial portion of your yard torn up and full of machinery for days/weeks (months)? Didn’t think so. I’m not saying to go ‘Vegas’ on your yard. No, that would be WAY over the top (but if that IS your bag, then I’m already preachin’ to the choir). How about somewhere in between? All together now: ‘Ahhhhhhh.’ That’s more like it. Bland means 100 of the same plant. Masses of the same color or texture. Things that bloom during the exact same two week window during early summer, then retreat to that comfortable shade of green that just about disappears until fall, if you’re lucky enough to have picked the right plant to produce a fall color. Usually not, though. It was probably an evergreen, wasn’t it? A yew? An arborvitae, hosta? Thought so. They’re so easy; so conservative. Wouldn’t want the neighbors to think we’re doing anything fun over here. Don’t want them to approach the HOA and report us. God forbid, we may get a WARNING LETTER on our front door for being too creative or too individualistic. Wait, who am I kidding. Nobody goes to the front door anymore (except for me!!). It would be an email, probably Cc’d to everyone on the street....