The Unreality of "Reality" TV II

In The Unreality of “Reality TV" I wrote how these shows, while they are no doubt great for the landscape industry—specifically the design side of the industry—tend to, at times, give a rather distorted view of the overall time a project can take from start to finish. In our “fast food” way of life these days that can pose a challenge.

Recently on a business networking web site I follow a fellow landscape industry professional asked the question, “What is the consensus among the landscape professionals here about TV Landscaping, such as found on HGTV and DIY networks?”

The answers were wide and varied and reflected both the positive and negative aspects of these shows. Here is a small sampling of some of the comments:

Bill from Texas wrote, “Don't get me going on this one. My wife leaves the room when I watch these shows. She cannot stand my reaction to some of the things that are done. Poor construction methods, poor planning, poor material choices. It would be very interesting to revisit some of these projects 4-5 years after they are built to see how they are aging.”

Kyle from Arkansas wrote, “I would like to see more water management, storm water run off to efficient irrigation. More native plants. Promotion of sustainable practices. Our approach to landscaping should be changing and these shows should be educating the general public to encourage these changes.”

Douglas from Minnesota wrote, “Here is my reality in MN these days: people expect you are in the mood to slash your prices to meet their budget if you want to win their project. I am not buying this. I can only lose money if I "win" as low bidder in this kind of war. Frankly, I'd rather lose to someone who can do it for less. Then I am losing less money by running around with my crew, equipment and materials only to be NOT making my expenses. Customers seem motivated by how little they can pay a contractor to get their project installed.” He went on to say that, “ We have a client in one of our Twin Cities metro suburbs that is quite exclusive. They are obviously quite successful with careers that provide them with substantial income to just afford the taxes on this property. We came in with a small project to install some stone steps and path and patio, plus some native ground cover plants to reduce their frustration with trying to grow lawn on the dry, sandy soil their home is surrounded with. so, what happened? We prepared a simple plan, at no charge, to show how to address their concerns, with a projected budget. They asked for prices for materials vs. labor. At that point, I knew they were looking for the option of doing it themselves.”

Angela, a designer from Orange County stated, “Guys - I have to say that selling the viewing public on the idea that big landscape differences can be executed on a landscape for practically a song and dance with help from your friends is simply misleading. On the job, we all meet with clients and EVERY time they have a reaction of 'surprise' to learn what real projects actually cost, and how much time they actually take.

Can I also add that there is not enough time taken, or interest invested with who the project is for - the client.”

Interestingly there were also some positive comments including Walter from Richmond, Virginia who wrote, “Taking a positive from a negative I like that these shows spark so much interest in landscaping. No different then having to fight all of my non profit competitors in the area I have to spend a lot of time modifying folks initial thoughts in order to put together a plan that falls within their budget.

As much as I found myself in shock while watching these shows, for most of the reasons already listed, I must admit though that I have taken a lot of ideas from them.
Have fun with it !! They are doing a good job of making us look like experts.”

Andy from Philadelphia wrote, “You have to take the good with the bad. These shows get some people thinking they can do a huge project over the weekend with a few friends HA!. I agree with Walter, the shows do provide some ideas and they do, in most cases, talk about this industry as a profession which many still do not consider it. Angela's comments about the lack of the "customer" interaction is right on.

Whether a project is successful or not goes to how well we listened to our clients and what kinds of questions we ask to draw out the real truth.
We all make decisions in business. Do we agree to landscape the model house while chasing the carrot to get the rest of the development? Do we put on our own build a back yard room in two to three days? Do we begin to compete on price? Do we let anyone, or any show, tell us how to run our business? There are a lot of decisions to make and questions to be answered. I am sticking to my business plan and not worrying about carrots and sticks.”

Gregg from Columbus noted, “The set up for the shows is all about good intentions. However, they cannot address the many concerns the property owner can't even begin to understand unless they have been trained and schooled in the industry as we all have. He goes on to say that, “...we (THE INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS) have to raise the expectations of the industry and understand (AND EDUCATE) the fact that there are consequences for the money we spend or don't spend. Do it right the first time! Will it turn a 100% switch, probably not, but the turnaround is all about quality in the long run. Manage expectations!!”

Jen from the Chicago area was very succinct in her comments saying, “I watch them for fun. I don't consider these shows as sources of information, just entertainment.”

Brian also from the Columbus, Ohio area commented: “They do get people to start thinking about landscaping or outdoor living and sometimes that's nice to get the ball rolling for them to call. However, I have been called out to several homes to fix something because "that's how they did it on TV". But I do like how it generates interest for the industry.”

I was actually quite glad that this question was asked of other landscape professionals beside just designers. It gave me a chance to see just exactly how others in our profession view these shows. It gave me a chance to learn about the challenges these shows can present to others which surprisingly aren’t too much different from my own.

As I previously mentioned I find these shows to almost be a necessary evil for the landscape industry as a whole and designers specifically. These shows can introduce new concepts and ideas in landscaping as well as new installation techniques that we can all learn from.

Home and garden shows highlight our craft and industry and inform serious clients that their personal space has a tremendous potential.
There are many ways these “reality” TV shows can be looked at kind of like a glass half-full/half-empty approach. I’m confident that this is one of the main points I took away most from this conversation.

I think it is important to focus on the fact that home and garden shows can be wonderful tools in introducing potential clients to a whole host of ideas and techniques that will eventually benefit not only the client, and the landscape industry but our individual businesses as well.

I do have one major request when it comes to most of these home and garden shows and that would be if they could somehow find a way to remind folks designers don’t work for free!

California Flannel Bush

California Flannel Bush, Fremontodendron californicum, is a true California native that is, without a doubt, a plant that if you have the room you should find a place for a few in the yard. Flannel Bush also known as Fremontia is an extremely attractive and vigorous grower that can cover a great deal of space. They can generally grow anywhere from 6 to 10 feet wide and tall although there are a number of hybrids that have been bred to grow smaller. Native to the coastal ranges of California this plant is quite adaptable to about 6,000 feet.

The rich, deep green foliage of California Flannel Bush is the perfect backdrop for the rather large and very attractive yellow flowers the plant produces. This stunning array of color is truly a sight to see! The leaves are fairly leather-like and are somewhat hairy or felted on the underside. The flowers are wide with slightly elongated, 5-pointed stamens and come in great abundance from early spring to late fall.

California Flannel Bush is extremely hardy and will routinely take temps as low as -20 degrees. The plant can take a wide range of soil types from sand to clay. Surprisingly this plant does poorly though in better more "manicured" soils because the plant needs very good drainage. Very drought tolerant this is one plant where watering during the heat of summer is actually detrimental to sustaining long-term healthy growth. This is definitely something to be mindful of. Another good tip for good success with California Flannel Bush is to allow the plant to dry thoroughly before starting the next water cycle. This will help ensure consistent root depth. The plant takes full sun and reflected heat with ease and can also take some shade in certain situations. Northern exposures should be avoided.

This is one plant that does best and is much more predictable when planted in the fall and allowed to become completely established before the spring growing season. Plants can become short lived if over cared for and over watered so avoid unnecessary pruning, shaping and over watering. These plants can be shaped into small trees. California Flannel Bush is a large, beautiful and attractive addition to any landscape that has the room and need for a large screen plant. Enjoy!

Baja Fairy Duster

Baja Fairy Duster, Calliandra californica is one of those desert native plants that no xeriscape garden should be without. These striking and attractive semi-evergreen shrubs provide a great punch of both texture and color that seem to be typical attributes of many desert natives. And just like all desert natives Baja Fairy Duster's are a high-monthly-water-bills best friend because the plant is naturally drought tolerant. They are also attractive to wildlife which makes the experience of having these in the garden a bonus.

As the name suggests these shrubs are native to Baja, California, Mexico where they are generally found in areas that are sandy or gravelly, and on hillsides and in desert washes. Baja Fairy Duster has a naturally graceful slightly arching growth habit that adds a tremendous amount of texture and interest to the garden. The plant is a profuse bloomer nearly all year long in fact and produces bright red, powder puff type flowers that are very similar to the tufts of the Apache Plume; flowers are generally about and inch to an inch and a half in size. The leaves are similar to those of the Desert Bird-of-Paradise and are somewhat small, compound leaves that are darker in color that that of the DBOP.

Baja Fairy Duster will generally reach 6 feet in height and nearly as wide so make sure the area you plan to plant them in can accommodate large plantings. And yes I said "them." If possible plant Baja Fairy Duster "en masse" for a dramatic and colorful effect. They take infrequent water but do look and perform best when given regular water in the hottest parts of summer. Baja Fairy Duster can take cold weather, down to about 20 degrees, but will do better if sheltered from the cold, drying winds of winter. If necessary the plant can take occasional pruning but because of its natural arching appearance pruning is rarely needed.

Baja Fairy Duster is another one of those desert natives that are highly attractive to hummingbirds. Because these flowers produce an abundance of nectar hummingbirds can become quite territorial over them. If introducing plants that attract hummingbirds is something you are looking for make then be sure to include Baja Fairy Duster in your garden. They won't disappoint.

Spanish Broom

One plant I get questioned about many times a year and one that has quite a "love/hate" relationship attached to it is Spanish Broom, Spartium junceum. If you happen to have a large property and might be looking for a plant that makes an excellent screen or property divider then this is definitely a plant you well may want to consider. If you happen to have this plant on a fairly large property and might be looking to get rid of a plant that makes an excellent screen or property divider then you know what I mean about "love/hate".

Overtime this shrub can spread quite wide and grow fairly tall (6-15 ft.) making it ideal as a natural fence or hedge between properties. It is extremely drought tolerant and will take direct sun and reflected heat with ease. This makes Spanish Broom an excellent shrub to use when considering a plant that won't need regular irrigation. Just like our friend the Oleander, all parts of the Spanish Broom are poisonous. So if you have curious children or puppies this may not be a plant you would chose to use.

Spanish Broom is a perennial, evergreen shrub that is quite hardy (5 F) and will easily take the harsh extremes of the desert quite well. Sometimes this prolific grower is often mistaken for Scotch Broom, Cytisus scoparius, which just so happens to be another prolific grower! The sure fire way to tell the difference between the two is that Spanish Broom has somewhat fragrant flowers and its bright green stems are rounded. And in many areas of the west Spanish Broom is considered a noxious weed because of its prolific seed production.

In fact the California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) lists plants that cause serious problems in native ecosystems and Spanish Broom is on the list. So why am I telling you this is a great plant to use in specific applications? Because this is a plant that is great to use in specific applications! In desert applications where some properties are spaced fairly far apart this shrub can be fairly useful as a natural screen. I have never seen where Spanish broom has overgrown to the point where it could be considered invasive. The plant can be aggressively trimmed and sheared to keep it's shape and height in check.

Spanish Broom is not picky about soil and will work in poor, rocky soils. Planting a Spanish Broom is as easy as digging a hole! Native to the west Mediterranean basin area of Spain, and Morocco its introduction to the west is unclear. Spanish Broom produces an abundance of unique, somewhat fragrant bright yellow flowers that make this an awesome plant to behold when it is in full bloom. After blooming Spanish Broom produces these hairy seed pods that open abruptly, ejecting the seeds. These seed pods almost act as if they are spring loaded in that they will cast the seeds quite a distance.

Whatever you do don't let the fact that this plant, in certain situations and applications, can become invasive dissuade you from using Spanish Broom. The chances of the plant becoming invasive in the desert are greatly diminished due to our climate. Considering this plant makes an excellent screen, it's fairly easy to care for and maintain and it's extremely drought tolerant should be reason enough to use them. So don't be afraid, give Spanish Broom a try.

Lavender Cotton

Are you looking for an interesting groundcover that requires reletively little care and yet provides good coverage and a great look? Great! Time then to head out to your local nursery to find Lavender Cotton Santolina chamaecyparissu.

This a a very hardy small shrub that is usually grown as a groundcover that is easy to grow and care for. It will easily take the low temps of the desert and will take direct sun and irradiated heat. An evergreen by nature the plant is usually grown as a short lived perennial because, over a few seasons, Lavender Cotton can begin to look a little ragged. This ragged look usually stems from the plant not being properly cared for.

Maintenance is really easy. Lavender Cotton should be sheared every fall after the last blooms have faded in preparation for the next years growth. This shearing helps to promote new growth and it is this new growth that helps keep the plant from looking ragged and overly mounded. Without this shearing the plant will begin begin to look sparse and fairly ratty over time. This is not a good look for the garden so a little preventive maintenance in the fall will help ensure an attractive plant in the spring. Fertilize with a well balanced fertilizer right after shearing. This is really the only maintenance the plant requires but it is maintenance that is well worth the effort.

Native to the Mediterranean region of Spain and Northern Morocco this plant has aromatic, silver-gray green foliage combined with single yellow button-type flowers that bloom on tall stalks during the late spring, summer and even the fall. These flowers provide great texture in the garden in that they tend to dance with the late afternoon desert winds. Along the coast Lavender Cotton survives very well with little or no supplemental water. However in inland planting Lavender Cotton does best with regular water. Lavender Cotton isn't overly fussy about soil type but it does perform best in well drained soil.

The plant works well in direct sun and can take reflected heat but ideally will perform best with some afternoon shade. Keep this in mind when considering the location you plan on placing the plant. For the most part Lavender Cotton is an attractive and easy plant to grow and maintain that is generally drought tolerant. It works really good in rock gardens and naturalistic landscapes where good coverage is desired. All in all Lavender Cotton is a plant that won't disappoint and works well in many different applications.

Purple/Orchid Rockrose

Purple Rockrose or Orchid Rockrose, Cistus purpureus, is a compact, shrubby, and easy-to-care-for evergreen (can be perennial in some colder climates) plant that has somewhat narrow, light green leaves with an unusual flower that has great interest. Throughout the growing season Purple Rockroses produce a bounty of crepe paper like flowers that are lavender-pink with distinct stamens that are pastel yellow. The flowers are dappled with large maroon splotches at the base of each petal. This combination of pink, yellow and maroon makes these flowers quite attractive and interesting.

Purple Rockrose is a tough shrub that is extremely drought tolerant and heat resistant that is perfect for areas of your yard that receive a good amount of indirect light and reflected heat. As a result this shrub is a must have addition to any Xeriscape garden. Purple Rockrose is perfect for dry, arid rock gardens, as well as any landscape close to the sea because they take the cold ocean breezes, salt sprays with ease. In fact Rockroses thrive in climates that have hot, dry summers and are generally tolerant of aridity, Purpose Rockrose is hardy to about 15°F (-10°C) so it can take the harsh winters of the desert. Keep in mind that shelter from the drying winter winds is always a good precaution.

Maintenance is relatively easy as this plant is very care free. It only requires occasional pruning in early spring to remove any damaged branches, to control growth and to shape and does not need regular fertilizing. If need be PurpleRockrose can be sheared to keep the size very manageable. It is also a shrub that is good for foothill communities because Purple Rockrose is thought to be deer resistant. Now even though maintenance with Rockroses is fairly simple it is good to keep in mind that Rockroses can be short-lived plants without proper maintenance.

This shrub can easily get to 6' tall by 8' wide at its largest but generally this size is never found in the High Desert because of the winters. In the low desert or coastal areas plant size does need to be monitored. Usually it is only without the occasional maintenance and care previously mentioned where the plant seems to grow excessive in size. If size does start to become an issue a light trimming can be done right after the blooming season of spring is finished.

This is a plant that is at home in many different types of landscape styles from Mediterranean to Tropical. It can also be grown in a shrub border, in containers, or even on slopped sunny banks, at the base of a wall, or around paved areas. It is very versatile. It is because of this type of versatility that Rockroses make an excellent addition to any landscape.

Ocotillo

One of the most interesting, unique and downright fascinating specimens that any desert/xeriscape landscape can have, or should I say must have, is the Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. This super drought-tolerant southwestern native that is, without a doubt, quite striking when in full bloom. Ocotillo are very tough taking full sun and harsh desert winters with ease.

I think the first thing that one will notice about Ocotillo is the architectural beauty and simplicity that this plant has to offer. These attributes lend themselves to use Ocotillo as a specimen piece within the landscape. These plants can be set within a mix of low ground covers and colorful shrubs to create a natural, colorful and attractive display in the garden. Adding direct accent lighting to the Ocotillo makes the plant a focal point that stands out at night like no other plant that I can think of.

Ocotillo are native to virtually all of the desert southwest, from the Mojave and Colorado deserts, to the deserts of northwestern Mexico and are typically found below 5000 feet. In the high desert region of the Mojave Desert Ocotillo are not found with the same regularity as the low deserts, where they can easily grow to 20-25 feet tall and as much as 15 to 20 feet wide. In the high desert they are much smaller and routinely reach 15 feet tall and 8 feet wide.

Ocotillo are deciduous and come equipped with some extremely sharp spines that can easily penetrate flesh so be sure to always wear gloves when handling. This is also why it's a good idea to keep them from being too close to pathways or areas where people congregate. These sharp spines tend to make Ocotillo a great natural fence.

You are most likely to find Ocotillo at your local nursery or home improvement center in bare root form. These bare root plants usually are a hit or miss proposition because it is impossible to know when these plants were harvested. When buying bare root Ocotillo be sure to soak the plant in water for a few hours before planting to re-moisten the root junction. Bare root will usually be much larger and generally less expensive than potted plants. Once established these plants need absolutely no direct water and will survive just fine without it. In fact it is best not to provide any direct water even during the healing in process. The best thing to do is simply mist the canes with a fine spray of water from a garden sprayer. Make certain that the sprayer you use is one that hasn't been used with pesticides or herbicides.

The flowers of the Ocotillo are roughly 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length and bright orange or crimson with long stamens with creamy yellow tips. Both leaves and flowers generally appear after a good spring or summer rain. Flowers are highly prized by hummingbirds because of there nectar and are a source of great competition between individuals! Ocotillo also attract bees so definitely keep this in mind when locating the plants.

Ocotillo are a must for any desertscape. They provide great structure and awesome color. Ocotillo have great interest due to the unique architectural nature of the plant; attributes that make them great specimen plants and focal points to be highlighted by accent lighting. If you don't have any Ocotillo in your garden it's time to give one a try.