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.

Tree Aloe

As of yet I haven't posted an article about any plant that isn't at home in both the High and Low deserts of Southern California. That's about to change somewhat because of this very interesting tree. Now the reason I say somewhat is that it's quite possible to grow many different types and varieties of plants in the desert depending on how well we take care of them....not in the summer but in the winter.

Tree Aloe, Aloe barberae is one such plant that will do well in our tough desert climates provided this plant is given a sunny and warm indoor location during the cold winter months. Don't let something like this deter you from giving this interesting and unique plant a try in containers, especially if you have a swimming pool and have a tropical motif working. Tree Aloe is a slow growing tree so it won't soon dominate an area of your landscape. They make great specimen trees.

Tree Aloe is an evergreen tree that hails from the southern hemisphere, African in origin, being native to South Africa, Mozambique, and Swaziland. This is a tall, upright growing succulent that can reach heights as much as 30 feet. For the most part it doesn't generally reach that height and will stay closer in the 20 foot range. It can grow much larger though. In its native habitat the tree could possibly reach heights of up to 60 feet! This is considerably unlikely in the desert however especially when container grown.

The tree is very drought tolerant so you are safe to plant in full sun locations. During the hotter days of summer moderate water is recommended. Hardiness however depends on many factors. An occasional freeze to 25-30 degrees is not liable to cause the tree any significant damage. That explains one reason why you'll see these remarkable trees all along Southern California. Long term deep freezes are another story altogether. If you live in a location where freezes are regular then growing these trees in containers that can be relocated indoors during the winter is an alternative. Tree aloe needs a minimum average daily temperature of 50°F (10°C).

In the winter, at the end of its rather thick and interesting branches, you'll find great clusters of 4-5 feet rosettes. These rosettes in turn produce a rather colorful rose-pink flowers at the end of elongated 2 foot stalks. Then can be quite a site! So if you might be considering a tree that is unique, interesting, colorful, works well as a specimen and don't mind putting in a little work to grow them in containers then Tree Aloe might just be something to peak your curiosity.

Mexican Evening Primrose

One of the best looking and most attractive flowering perennial ground cover/shrubs that can be used in the xeriscape garden is the Mexican Evening Primrose, Oenothera mexicana (berlandieri). These perennials pack a whallop when it comes to providing awesome and unique color and as such are right at home in any desert friendly/xeriscape garden. If you happen to be looking for an easy to care for perennial ground cover for your garden look no further than Mexican Evening Primrose.

This is such an easy plant to grow and care for; no fuss or muss....just add water! Basically it's just that simple. This is an extremely hardy plant that can take all that winter has to dish out and comes popping back to glorious life in the spring. Native to all of the desert southwest and Mexico Mexican Evening Primrose has a very delicate, almost papery, looking flower that starts somewhat white and finishes as a pastel pink. Leaves are roughly 1-2 inches long and fairly insignificant. Flowers open during daylight hours hours, and bloom from early spring to late August/September.

It's best if you can plant Mexican Evening Primroses among other full sun loving plants. Make sure to plant them with plants of complimentary colors for a fabulous and striking look. Be prepared to divide the clumps every 3 years as this will help promote healthy new growth and consistent flowering. Keep in mind this plant can readily self-sow so be sure to plant these in well defined planting beds where growth can be controlled. Mexican Evening Primroses are a great perennial for novice gardeners to grow because they are simple to grow and maintain. They are relatively pest or problem free.

These plants can be used as either a small shrub as well as a ground cover but it is generally best to consider Mexican Evening Primroses a ground cover because they generally won't grow more than 18 inches tall but can, and will, spread 4 feet wide. Definitely keep this in mind when considering this plant for your garden. For a naturalistic look make sure to plant these among rocks or boulders.

Damianita Daisy

Damianita Daisy, Chrysactinia mexicana, sometimes called Mexican Daisy, is truly an awesome shrub fit for any xeriscape landscape. This plant packs quite a punch when it comes to color in that it's bright yellow daisy-like flowers are extremely abundant during its long blooming season. Blooming season runs from early March to late September and may even reach into October! Planted "en masse" and this low growing, compact and mounding shrub will provide a striking look that will surely turn heads.

Native to the low ranges of West Texas and Northern Mexico this plant is at home in elevations of
3000 ft. or even higher so as you might guess it is very hardy. Damianita Daisy will easily take the low temperatures and crazy winds that the desert can dish out. This shrub will even take temps as low as 0°F. Damianita Daisy is not overly picky about soil conditions but just like many xeriscape plants it does prefer good draining soil, so keep this in mind. The plant isn't supper fussy when it comes to watering needs either. Keep in mind that the plant does require regular water during hottest part of year and this additional water will help to increase blooming.

This evergreen shrub prefers direct sun and will certainly tolerate reflected sun as well. This type of hardiness makes the plant highly desirable in the xeriscape garden. Too much shade will cause the plant to look scraggly so make sure they get at least 6 hours of direct sun; more is preferable. Truly this is a plant that has it all and will set-off any xeriscape garden. It has all the attributes to bring great satisfaction to gardeners of all skill levels. Its hardy, drought tolerant, easy to care for, and full of bright, colorful blooms that last a long time. The foliage of the plant also provides interest and a fairly pleasant aroma when brushed.

So sum things up this is a plant that is very worthy of a place in your garden. Damianita Daisy won't disappoint. Enjoy!

Coast Rosemary

When is rosemary not rosemary? That's an interesting question isn't it and one that really isn't all too difficult to answer when discussing Coast Rosemary, Westringia fruticosa. While Coast Rosemary looks a great deal like common Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis), in terms of leaf structure and flower type and color, it tends to stand much more erect and is much more airy and open than common Rosemary. Its lavender-blue flowers tend to be more pastel in color than common Rosemary but they also have slightly shorter stamens. The cultivar "Morning Light" produces pale white flowers and has generally a more pale leaf color. Lastly Coast Rosemary is not nearly as fragrant as common Rosemary. These are just a few things that can help differentiate the two.

Coast Rosemary is quite adaptable to our harsh desert climate of both the low and high deserts. A hardy evergreen shrub native to New South Wales, Australia this plant will easily take temps into the low 20's. Depending on which cultivar you may happen to select the plant is capable of growing up to 6 feet tall and wide. However most cultivars are much smaller growing usually around 3-4 feet. Occasional pruning can keep the size of taller cultivars in check.

This shrub is drought tolerant and will subsist with infrequent water just fine but it will ultimately look its best with regular water. Coastal rosemary will take full sun or even partial shade and will tolerate a mix soil types. Keep in mind that no matter what type of soil it is it should be well drained.

One thing to consider with Westringia fruticosa is that the plant is generally not the most profuse bloomer in the landscape of the desert. Closer to the coast the plant will flower more regularly where as the farther inland they are found the bloom period is generally shorter. But don't let that stop you from wanting to use the plant. Its airy and open structure and excellent dark foliage color the plant is still plenty attractive and desirable.

One other important fact to keep in mind is that Coast Rosemary is just like most flowering shrubs in that bees are quite attracted to them. This is always a good fact to note believe it or not because it is a question that does come up regarding many flowering plants.

So in keeping with many of the plants I've written about here in the Riverside Gardening Examiner Coast Rosemary is an excellent plant to add to any xeriscape landscape. It provides wonderful textural interest due to its open and airy nature as well as being good for the environment since Coast rosemary is hardy, doesn't need much water and will get by with minimal care. It will be an excellent addition to your landscape.

Green Feathery Cassia

Plant texture is one element that can create wonderful interest in the landscape. Texture involves many aspects that include plant form & shape, leaf type & color, as well as flower color, style & shape. Texture also involves planting techniques such as alternating heights or styles of plants. In essence then plant texture is an important attribute in most landscapes because this is what aides in creating the "architectural" element of the landscape.

That said I find one of the most striking and interesting architectural plants happens to be the Green Feathery Cassia, Senna nemophila. This is a plant that offers many desirable attributes in our harsh Inland Empire climate such as low water use, toughness, hardiness, great color, interesting seed pods and a light and airy texture. Cassia is evergreen and native to Australia. It produces masses of bright yellow pea shaped flowers. After flowering the plant produces somewhat elongated, dark brown, papery seedpods that stay on the plant. They can be removed by hand or by shearing.

Pruning after flowering helps to control the size of the plant which can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet without regular pruning. So keep this in mind when deciding to use Cassia and where it is placed in the landscape. Don't whack the plant too much either. This type of stress can be detrimental to the long term health of the plant.

Cassia is tough and hardy. It will take full and reflected sun with ease and yet stand up very well in the cold winters of the High Desert. It can take temps as low as 10 degrees. They can take just about any soil type but like many desert plants Cassia's prefer well drained soils. Cassia can survive well without regular water but do ultimately look much better and much healthier with regular water. It would be good to note at this time that it's best to err on the side of too little water as opposed to too much water. Over watering can cause Cassia to become chlorotic. This is where iron leaches out of the plant causing a loss in chlorophyll and a yellowing of the leaves. At the same time however Cassia doesn't require regular feedings. A once a year application of an all-purpose fertilizer should tide the plant over quite nicely.

Here is a plant that offers a wide range of interest, from texture and color to shape and style, as well as ease of care and maintenance. Feathery Cassia is well worth considering for your landscape and is certainly a must in any xeriscape landscape. It's tough and yet fairly easy to care for and maintain. It takes heat and cold and it doesn't need regular feeding or pruning. And best of all Feathery Cassia doesn't require much water to look it's best and will even

Apache Plume

One common trait that most southwestern native shrubs share is that the flowers are generally very colorful and in most every case very interesting. Apache Plume, Fallugia paradoxa is no different. In fact, the plant produces a very unique flower structure that is full of interest and that must be seen to be truly appreciated. Talking about it just doesn't seem to do justice to the plant.

Apache Plume is a graceful, slender, arching and relatively compact shrub that is absolutely loaded with color and interest. Even though the plant can look unkempt and even messy at times it still has a very attractive and has an interesting appearance. This plant is without a doubt a must for any xeriscape landscape

First is the somewhat dark foliage that makes a very good backdrop for the pastel white flowers with a yellow button-center of stamens. Second is that very same delicate-looking white 5 petaled flower that looks like a small rose. Stands to reason then that Apache Plume is part of the Rose family! In full bloom, which is from May to September, and against the dark foliage the flower gives an awesome appearance to the plant. Third is the colorful fruit the plant produces. These fruit clusters come equipped with feathery, hair-like, pinkish-purplish tails that are said to resemble an Apache headdress; hence the name Apache Plume. It is these little fruit clusters are what are truly unique and interesting to see up close. It is a feature of the plant that is sure to turns heads and elicit questions.

Just like all southwestern natives this plant is certainly tough. It takes full sun and the cold temps of the desert. It will also take some light shade, just not too much. And it is definitely drought tolerant but Apache Plume does better with a little mid-summer water. The plant will generally do best in moderately fast draining soil so don't think you have to have the best soil around to grow them, they will adapt. Apache Plume is a semi-deciduous to evergreen dicot (dicotyledonous), perennial that will look its best when it is carefully trimmed during the fall. Trimming should only center around thinning the excess of woody growth so be sure not to hack the plant to drastically. This will simply lead to a shortened life span. Keep in mind that this is one plant that looks very attractive when left to grow in as natural state as possible.

The natural habitat of the Apache Plume is the arid, rocky slopes of the southwestern high desert mountains and grows in arroyos and dry rocky slopes in pinion-juniper woodland at elevations of 3,000-8,000 feet. The plant is native to California, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and northern Mexico. Another interesting fact is that the native people of the southwest once used the stems of Apache Plumes to make hair tonic, brooms and arrow shafts.

The flowers of Apache Plume are definitely attractive to bees and butterflies. If it is your desire for your landscape to attract wildlife then its good to know the plant also provides a refuge to native wildlife and that the seeds attract birds as well. Apache Plume is difficult to start from seed so it is best to buy young plants in 1 to 5 gallon sizes Just make sure the plants are adequately spaced for the specific look you might be trying to achieve.

So to recap if you would like a plant in your landscape that is full of color and of great interest, easy to care for, and drought tolerant then you really don’t need to look any further than Apache Plume. By introducing this plant to your landscape you will be rewarded with an awesome, yet somewhat overlooked, addition to the garden.

Desert Wllow

One of the most colorful and seemingly necessary trees for any self-respecting xeriscape or southwestern landscape design has to be the Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis. Frankly this is an invaluable tree for our harsh desert climate in that it does three important things rather well. First, it provides an abundance of wonderful color with its streaked and veined, trumpet shaped flowers that now come in a wide variety of colors. Two, it is a wonderfully drought tolerant tree that can grow as wide as it does tall. Couple that with the fact that the tree is naturally the size of a large shrub and is now being produced and sold in these smaller sizes and you have a can't miss combination. Three is the fact that Desert Willow is a tremendously fast grower that can reach mature heights rather quickly. This means less care and cost of maintenance.

The tree gets its name because of the resemblance to the Willow tree ((Salix alba) in that it has a similar graceful, arching habit that is in and of itself very attractive. In our region the Desert Willow is a very popular ornamental tree that is found in great abundance. For the most part Desert Willows are relatively maintenance free but they are highly susceptible to aphids. This is very important to keep in mind when deciding where to plant the tree in the garden. When infested the tree produces an abundance of sap that can stain concrete and damage outdoor furniture. It also makes trying to grow anything underneath the tree difficult as well. So definitely keep a sharp eye out for aphids and ants on or near your Desert Willows. Ants farm and milk aphids much like humans farm and milk cows so if you happen to see ants on your Desert Willows then rest assured you have aphids. A 'green' solution to the aphid problem is a mixture of dish liquid and vegetable oil in equal proportions. Use a common backyard sprayer to apply.

Desert Willows are native throughout the entire southwestern region from Texas to California and Northern Mexico. Because of the tremendous popularity of this tree there are now many different cultivars available to choose from. The tree has a long blooming season that starts in late spring and goes until late fall or until the very first frost of the year. The tree it deciduous and extremely cold hardy. It will easily survive even the worst winters that our desert can dish out. Keep in mind that while the tree is extremely drought tolerant it will perform best with regular water. This makes it ideal for planting near lawn turf areas.

Another wonderful benefit of the Desert Willow, just like a number of other desert trees and shrubs, is that Desert Willow is very attractive to Hummingbirds. As I've mentioned before if you like using natural means in attracting Hummingbirds to the garden this tree will help accomplish that. The flowers of the tree are somewhat orchid-like, fragrant. and trumpet shaped, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches long and come in a wide variety of colors a with various styles of veining and streaking. As previously mentioned Desert Willow is fairly maintenance free but it does create some seed pod liter that should be periodically addressed. There may be the occasional sucker to deal with so patience is required if a single trunk specimen is desired. The tree is somewhat tolerant of most soils but try to avoid planting in overly rocky soils if possible.

All in all Desert Willows are a wonderful addition to any landscape for any number of reasons. The tree provides great color and interest, has a very attractive and graceful growth habit, is generally very drought tolerant and is, for the most part, relatively easy to maintain and care for. The tree comes in either single or multi trunked varieties and can be grown as a featured specimen tree highlighted in the garden with accent lighting. When it comes down to it it is easy to see why this tree is such a popular tree for Suthern California and our desert region.

Red Yucca

One of the more interesting drought tolerant plants because of its tremendous architectural benefits in the landscape is the Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora. This plant is certainly a must accent plant in any xeriscape landscape but, in all reality, should be used in moderation. When planted too close together the plant can tend to look kind of ratty and unkempt. On the other hand when spaced properly and used as highlights for specific areas they can indeed be very attractive. So much so that they can even be highlighted in the garden at night with accent lighting.

Red Yucca is part of the Agave Family (Agavaceae) and are without a doubt quite popular as evidenced by the widespread use of the plant throughout the Inland Empire. By far one the most remarkable benefits of the Red Yucca when its in full bloom is its ability to attract Hummingbirds. As previously mentioned when discussing one of my favorite features of the Desert Bird-of-Paradise Red Yucca is also a tremendous lure for Hummingbirds. So if you like to attract Hummingbirds to the garden (and who doesn't) then make sure to find a place for a few in your landscape.

The flowers of these plants grow on long spikes that can reach up to 8 feet tall. The flowers tend to be red to pink about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, somewhat trumpet shaped and, just like Desert Bird-of-Paradise, they have long, protruding stamens. There is also a variety that produces yellow flowers. Red Yuccas also produce a rather large seed pod that in itself can be quite interesting. This seed pod contains numerous black, flat seeds that need to be dried prior to attempting to propagate them.

Red Yuccas prefer full sun and don't generally do well when overly shaded so for best flowering results be sure to plant them in the open. Once established the plant needs little, if any, direct water. This makes them perfect for our naturally dry desert climate. In fact when overly watered the plant will begin to look shaggy and overgrown and loose its naturally graceful arching habit.

The plant itself requires little to no maintenance except for the need to remove spent flower stalks at the end of the growing season so it is perfect for those looking for ease of maintenance. Red Yucca has a long growing season from late spring to late fall. The plant is very tolerant of the low winter temperatures typical of the desert and is cold hardy to the low teens and below. These plants can also take inadequate soil conditions. As long as the soil adequately drains Red Yucca will be tolerant of most soil conditions.

The plant itself is quite versatile in that it can be used many design applications. Besides the obvious uses in xeriscape and southwestern designs the plant can also be used in tropical and Mediterranean settings as well. And because the plant is clean and does not shed it is also extremely useful and quite beneficial around swimming pools.

So let review. Red Yucca is clean, doesn't shed, is drought tolerant, interesting and colorful, easy to maintain, extremely cold hardy, takes full sun and reflected heat with ease, attracts Hummingbirds and has a graceful, arching form. Wow! No wonder Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora is one of the most widely used landscape shrubs in our region.

Chilean Mesquite

If you happen to be searching for a fast growing and solid shade providing desert friendly tree then you need to look no further than the Chilean Mesquite, Prosopis chilensis for this is your tree. As the name suggests the origin and nattve habitat of the tree is the dry, interior valley's of central Chile.

There are many positives about the Chilean Mesquite for sure. As briefly mentioned before the tree is famously fast growing and for a desert tree it is a fairly tall grower. Chilean Mesquite's can grow up to 40 feet. The tree is also a broad spreading tree to 30 feet. Chilean Mesquite provides dense, not filtered, shade. The tree is tough. It takes full-sun and the reflected heat from streets and buildings and in winter it can take low temps down to the mid teens.

Chilean Mesquite is an extremely drought tolerant tree that prefers infrequent and very deep watering. In late spring and summer it blooms these puffy pastel-yellow flowers that have an interesting structure. The tree is very attractive. In its natural form Chilean Mesquite is somewhat arching, especially when young. They are also semi-deciduous in the summer and winter as well. They are also very adaptable to a wide range of soils and will take acidic soils. All of these attributes make this tree a wonderful addition to the xeriscape garden.

Now that you are familiar with the positive features of the tree there are some down sides that, to be fair, must also be mentioned. Chilean Mesquite does involve a moderate amount of work so if you aren't one for occasional maintenance around the yard this may not be the tree for you. Because of its dense foliage and semi-deciduous nature the tree can be somewhat messy. Be sure to take that into consideration if you have a pool or some other water feature. As for those pastel-yellow flowers well, they can stain decks and even concrete if allowed to pile-up and get wet so take that into consideration as well if you have a pool or some other water feature.

After bloom time Chilean Mesquite produces an abundance of elongated bean pods that should be picked up because the tree readily self propagates. Lastly, in its native form,Chilean Mesquite has pointed and sharp thorns that can be quite nasty and somewhat hazardous if not taken into consideration. There are hybrid versions that are thornless so definitely look for those if thorns are a concern.

OK, so lets review. Chilean Mesquite is a great tree, attractive, colorful, drought-tolerant, heat resistant, fairly hardy, and good shade production with some obvious negatives; messy, not good around pools, possible stains on concrete, and sharp thorns. To me the positives out-weight the negatives when we use to the tree in adequate settings. It might be worth considering using Chilean Mesquites in areas of the yard where there is minimal foot traffic yet where the shade can be enjoyed at the same time.

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The Bird of Paradise

Having grown up in Oxnard, California I am quite familiar with this plant. They grew like weeds in my mother's backyard when I was a kid. They grew like weeds in my mother's backyard when I wasn't a kid! Heck, I can even pronounce the botanical name which isn't always the easiest thing to do without tripping all over various consonants! Strelitzia reginae. These are without a doubt one of the most beautiful, interesting and unique plants one can grow in the landscape. They grow virtually throughout all of southern California. If you have a desire to have a tropical looking landscape it would simply be an incomplete landscape without this plant prominently and abundantly displayed.

Bird-of-paradise is sometimes called the crane flower and is a native of South Africa. It is closely related to the banana plant. The plant is herbaceous and gets its common names from the very unique flower it bears, which obviously looks like a brightly colored bird. The leaves are very leathery in appearance and grow on stiff leafstalks. The plant forms a somewhat dense 3 to 5-foot-tall clump that should be used as the focal point in the landscape. It can also be used 'en masse' but I don't particularly recommend this because it can tend to make the plant look ho-hum and ordinary. The plant is evergreen so year round interest and color are always present. The plant as I said is a must in any tropical landscape design and it is an excellent addition around swimming pools.

One thing that this plant can't do, and won't do, sadly, is grow in the High Desert region of southern California. This I know from first hand experience for years ago I tried planting transplants from my mother's back yard into my yard! Needless to say these plants died. OK, OK...I killed them! No need to be sad though. Plants do not have central nervous systems so it is unlikely they died a painful death! You see the winter temps here routinely drop well below freezing for months at a time. This type of freeze pattern is death for this plant and makes it is impossible to grow outdoors.

So needless to say I was a bit disheartened the other day when I stopped by our local Home Depot for some rose food and found this plant for sale in both 1 and 5 gallon sizes and readily available in a fair quantity to boot.

So what did I do?

Well, for one I informed the store manager about the situation, very politely of course. I then called the Home Depot corporate office and spoke to a wonderful young lady named Stacy (all young ladies named Stacy seem wonderful to me - and I'm not just saying that because my daughter is named Stacy). I let her know that I spoke with the store manager and let her know that a plant like this shouldn't be sold in our region. But this does bring up a valuable point. While I was looking at these plants a couple walked up and began discussing the plant. That's when I excused myself and let them know that they needn't waste their money on a plant that was just going to die in 8 months. Of course I shilled for my business at the same time! That's not the valuable point however (well it can be depending on your POV) but this is: Go to stores like Home Depot, Lowe's or for that matter even your local nursery with a specific purpose in mind for a plant and have plant information with you and readily available whenever possible. Avoid buying anything on impulse just because you like the way the plant looks without doing a modicum of research beforehand. Think of it this way. Great Dane's and Chihuahua's are both cute and small as puppies. Yet both have drastically different needs when full grown! This one simple tip will help tremendously in choosing plants that work well in your garden, serve the desired purpose and have the best chance of long term survival.

Texas Umbrella Tree/Chinaberry

This is another great desert tree that should be considered when contemplating the addition of shade trees to the yard, the Texas Umbrella Tree or the China Berry Tree, Melia azedarach ‘Umbraculiformis’. These trees are native to Australia and southern Asia. The name of the tree comes from its upward-arching branches and drooping foliage.

The tree is extremely adaptable to many different areas and conditions. Widely dispersed throughout the southern United States, from the east coast to the west (even Hawaii), this tree provides excellent shade and has wonderful ornamental qualities. It is a fast grower to 40 feet, sometimes taller. Spread is roughly 20-25 feet. Size however is greatly dependent on planting location. Planted in dry areas at elevation the tree will not generally grow as fast or as tall as areas where humidity is high and elevation is below 1,500 feet. That said the tree is also somewhat drought tolerant but does look best with fairly regular water. Planted near lawn areas should eliminate the need for direct water.

As for soil conditions that is slightly more difficult to nail down in that the tree will grow in wet conditions as well as dry. Texas Umbrella produces masses of purplish, fragrant, star shaped flowers that are very attractive. It will also take some shade so its OK to try these in a somewhat shaded area. Make sure they do get at least 6 hours of full sun.

There are some major drawbacks that should be noted and seriously considered before planting. The Texas Umbrella reseeds itself easily. This can provide quantities of unwanted seedlings that require a certain level of effort to control. Texas Umbrella is invading and disruptive in certain areas. It is reported to be invasive and disruptive in 11 states that included Hawaii and Texas. The tree is not considered invasive according to the California Invasive Plant Council.

There is some thought that these might not make the best landscape trees based on the fact that no too much will grow under them and because they have a relatively short life span. Also note that each and every part of the Texas Umbrella tree is poisonous. Leaves, bark, berries and seeds. Eating as few as 6 berries can result in death. Be very minful of this if you have young children around the house. Even birds that eat too many seeds have been known to become paralyzed.

Is this even worth the risk you might ask? That seriously depends on your point of view. If you are looking for a uniquely structured and very colorful accent tree then these negatives just might be worth the risk.

Don't Blame the Grass III

OK, hopefully this will be the last installment of “Don’t Blame the Grass.” The first “Don’t Blame the Grass” was regarding how Bay Area communities may possibly begin restricting lawn sizes and how we can better learn to manage our individual lawns.

“Don’t Blame the Grass II” was regarding a subsequent article I read on Science Daily about a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Irvine titled, “Urban 'Green' Spaces May Contribute to Global Warming.” That study concluded that GHGS (greenhouse gas sinks) were negative polluters meaning care and maintenance of these carbon ‘sinks’ actually created a negative effect.
Well now we come to find out that just a few days after this study was released the study was apparently full of holes and inaccurate information. So much so that UCI released another paper to explain the problems of the first study! This “peer-reviewed” study was never properly verified and yet it was trotted out as an accurate study! Truly amazing!

According to Lawn & Landscape Magazine days after the release of the first study another study titled “Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Urban Turf” was released by the Toro Company's Center for Advanced Turf Technology (CATT)which sought to correct certain points of misinformation that the first study had based its findings on and thus reported. That information was apparently based on faulty, non-verified calculations. Apparently "CO2 emissions reported for fuel use by turf maintenance equipment was an order of magnitude higher than work done by Toro’s research team" and thus needed correcting.

The article goes on to mention, "With the error corrected, turfgrass is actually found to be a net positive sequester of carbon,” said Dana Lonn, managing director of Toro’s CATT group. “In other words, properly maintained turfgrass actually traps and utilizes carbon thus removing it from the atmosphere. We credit the authors for tackling a complex and comprehensive issue. Consistent with what we have found in working with leading research institutions, this study provides a solid foundation for future work. With further improvements in technology to increase efficiency and reduce fuel consumption, grass can become an even greater asset."

As Gomer Pyle used to say, "SHAZAM!"

And how did this come about so? What was the catalyst for this change in thought regarding carbon sink holes and the true positive effect they offer the environment? Well I suspect it has everything to do with dollars quite frankly. Can I prove it? Nope. Should you care then or should I? Well that depends on what you choose to care about.

My personal feeling is that UCI suddenly remembered who was buttering their bread quite frankly because there were many in the lawn and turf industry up in arms about the first study. What are we being led to think? Can we take any study regarding water and turf management as fact? How many other studies regarding water and turf management and the effect on the environment have been done with faulty information only to be corrected by industry interested in protecting its own interests?

I think this is just another reason why managing your own personal law turf is so vitally important.

The Palo Verde tree

The best thing about most drought tolerant/desert xeriscape trees, shrubs and ground-covers is that because they have adapted to such harsh environments that the desert southwest offers they are generally easy to grow and nearly maintenance free. I say "nearly" because in all reality there is no such thing as a completely maintenance anything. No matter what type of vegetation we may be dealing with there will be periods when they need some type of care.

One such tree however that needs relatively little care and maintenance is the Palo Verde tree - a must for any southwestern/desert style landscape. Palo Verde's, Parkinsonia (Cercidium) spp, are not only tough they are absolutely reliable performers and require little, if any, direct water once established. They are also very fast growers that can quickly provide light, filtered shade cover.

These trees are native to virtually all of the desert southwest , from California to Texas and northern Mexico. Hence the different species such as the Mexican Palo Verde, Blue Palo Verde and the Yellow or Foothill Palo Verde. There is also a hybridized version of Palo Verde, Parkinsonia ‘Desert Museum’ which has extremely favorable characteristics for landscape use and has steadily become the preferred specified cultivar for many landscape architects and designers.

Palo Verde's generally grow 15 to 20 feet tall but can occasionally reach higher, sometimes close to 30 feet. Sometimes spread can be as much as twice that of the height. This should definitely be considered especially if the trees are direct watered. If not then the spread will usually be slightly less. The tree is deciduous and will drop its leaves in the fall. One interesting note about the adaptability of the tree is that in extremely dry conditions the tree will shed its leaves yet continue to photosynthesize because of the chlorophyll stored in its trunk and branches. The tree is usually hardy to 10 to 15 degrees and may even endure lower temperatures.

The leaf size and structure of the Palo Verde depends on the species. The tree produces a very delicate pale yellow flower in great abundance which is indeed quite striking to behold. Palo Verde's produce woody seed capsules which are four to six inches long. These mature in mid to late summer. Excepting for the hybrids the tree produces an extremely sharp thorn that prevents any desire to climb the tree.

Don't blame the grass...II

In a previous blog, “Don’t Blame the Grass”, based on a recent article from the San Jose Mercury News was in response to how some Bay Area communities may possibly begin restricting lawn sizes.

Articles such as these seem to be the norm these days as the environmental effects of lawn care and maintenance, whether a residential space or a large expanse of lawn, continues to be a hot topic.

Just a few days ago I read another article on the Science Daily web site about a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Irvine titled, “Urban 'Green' Spaces May Contribute to Global Warming.” The study attempts to make the point that large lawn turf areas, such as those found in urban parks, actually contribute negative effects towards ‘global greenhouse gases’ [sic] and the study even goes so far as to make the claim that, “..it is impossible for these lawns (large turf areas) to be net greenhouse gas sinks because too much fuel is used to maintain them.”

Now for those who don’t know a ’greenhouse gas sink’ is any large area of vegetation that has the ability to take carbon emissions and return those carbon emissions back into the earth. Previous studies have proven that large turf and vegetation areas actually have a positive effect on the earth and it’s eco-systems because these green areas do in fact have the ability to take carbon emissions and return them to the earth where they came from.

This brings up an interesting question then and that question is, So what's the solution?

The solution is simple and that solution doesn’t have to involve removing vast amounts of low lying greenery and vegetation that, in the long run, has a tremendous benefit not only on the environment but the overall quality of life that is enhanced by using and enjoying those vast open spaces.

That’s one thing that stuck me about the article frankly. It offered reasons why there are these perceived problems but it offered absolutely nothing in the way of solutions.

So what is the bottom line? I'll leave that for you to decide. I’m just a simple landscape designer taking up residence in the vast Mojave Desert. But I can say this and will continue to say this. Learn how to properly and effectively maintain not only the lawn turf that you may have in your landscape but also the other vegetation you may have in your landscape.

This is going to lead to a number of benefits. By properly maintaining your individual lawn space and the surrounding vegetation you will actually lower your water bill. Making sure your sprinkler system is properly timed and set at proper intervals in critical in providing effective irrigation to the landscape.

Pay close attention to the weather reports for your area and adjust or even shut off the irrigation system in relation to the anticipated weather. This simple practice can lead to preventing water waste so sprinklers don’t run on a rainy day. Fertilize your lawn with organic fertilizers not chemical based fertilizers. Have your lawn professionally aerated twice a year (spring/fall). This will promote and maintain healthy root growth.

Lastly, be prepared to share these suggestions with your friends and neighbors because, in the long run, everyone benefits from a well maintained lawn.

Sustainable what?

I finally got an opportunity to watch “The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie” yesterday and I must say I’m a bit perplexed by the term “sustainable landscape design” quite frankly. Now this post has nothing to do with Jaime’s design style or abilities, which unquestionably are considerable and well renowned. It’s at this point I have to admit I never heard of the guy until HGTV. My thoughts have everything to do with what constitutes the term “sustainable” especially in light of what I saw on the show yesterday.

The premise was creating an Australian styled outdoor room for a home in Duarte, California. In order to do this Jaime flew back to Australia for design ideas and inspiration from some of his previous design installations. This notion alone bothered me immensely because, after all, the man is from Australia! Does he really need to fly back and forth from California to Australia and back to California again just for design inspiration and to see in person how his designs are doing? Really? (OK, maybe he stopped by to say hi to mom and dad.) What makes this notion even more appalling is the fact that is TV – all this is “done for show.” Couldn’t he have just asked a buddy to email him some photos from the garden he did? I mean think of the jet fuel waste and air pollution alone of this one fact finding flight and how it could have been avoided. Ah, TV.

I have to say that I have never been to Australia and yet, if I want or need Australian inspiration for a garden design, I can just whip-out my handy, dandy Sunset Garden Guide and find literally hundreds of Australian natives – many readily available right here in So Cal from locally based wholesale nurseries. That being said this is California after all, not Australia. Wouldn’t the notion of using California or Southwestern natives be more in keeping with the whole notion of “sustainable”? I think it would be frankly.

My next thought has to do with the quandary (contrived or not I can’t say) regarding the shows horticulturists’ mission to find an Australian Grass Tree, Xanthorrhoea preissii. She managed to drive to three different supply centers/nurseries to find this plant and couldn’t find any. She did in fact finally find one. Question: Is it more sustainable and thus better for the environment to frantically scurry about in a Toyota Pirus (as opposed to normally aspirated gas hog) than it would be to simply look up the plant on the internet? It took me all of two seconds to find the plant on the internet and confirm its availability not too terribly far from Duarte! Personally I don’t think this lump of grass-like leaves holds a candle to the Mexican Grass Tree, Nolina longifolia, but hey, that’s just me.

My last thought regarding the show and this misuse of the term “sustainable was the use of “rammed earth walls”. The whole notion of these walls was to create sustainable design by using extremely compacted earthen walls as raised planters for the wonderful assortment of Australian natives used in the landscape. After finally finding a contractor familiar with the technique (because after all [snide remark alert] we build so many of these earthen walls in So Cal) of building these walls a concrete truck is called into pour the footings. This is where I began to think that it simply would have made more sense just to use poured-in-place concrete walls with colored concrete and rough finished but hey, what do I know? Once the footings were in place and the forms for these rammed earth walls were done the use of motorized (two stroke engine) tampers was employed. So how is this technique more sustainable than just simply using one truck and one pour? It just seems to me that while it may be “chique” to want to use these types of walls from a sustainability aspect (I guess because the technique is cool or whatever) the technique used to install them is hardly more sustainable, earth friendly, environmentally conscientious (insert your favorite “green earth” term here) than just using P-I-P concrete walls.

Then I read on the HGTV web site that Jaime “In addition to being an award-winning designer and TV host, Jamie also is an advocate for preserving our natural surroundings and environmental future. He trained with former Vice President Al Gore as a Climate Change Ambassador and regularly participates in environmental lectures around the world.”

Oh, well that says it all then, he’s part of the “do as I say, not as I do crowd”.

Don't blame the grass....

Recently I read an article that was posted on the California Landscape Contractors Association page at LinkedIn from the San Jose Mercury News regarding Bay Area communities possibly restricting lawn sizes. This has led to lively discussion and in fact has now blossomed into two separate conversations on this topic.

It seems that grass (or lawn turf if you prefer), in many cases, gets a bad rap and has become the environmentalist's equivalent of Quasimodo when in reality everything about a healthy lawn boils down to overall care. It matters not whether it's the front yard patch of lawn or the monstrous expanse of lawn turf at the local park green-scape maintenance is key to a healthy lawn.

For example, we recently experienced five straight days of heavy rain in Southern California from cyclical phenomenon known as El Nino yet how many folks paid enough attention to the weather report and shut off their irrigation systems? From the reaction I have seen from other designers and landscapers some did not.

That said however how many folks that have a lawn and pay good money to water it, even in the rain, have it professionally aerated and properly fed twice a year? I'm guessing relatively few. How many have the auto irrigation system set to water less days but properly timed for longer watering intervals? I'm guessing relatively fewer. How many have an automatic rain sensor? I'm guessing even fewer. How many even know the type of lawn they have in their yard? Even fewer still.

Ah, but how many consistently mow the lawn too short? Um, I'm going to guess most!

Questions like these illustrate that in all reality the problem is not the lawn but how it is watered, maintained and cared for that’s the real issue. And I'm certain that turf grass managers of all types will most likely tell you this is not just an issue with private homeowners but municipalities and recreation districts worldwide.

Before governments make any drastic decisions regarding private homeowners and their lawn issues revolving around proper maintenance and care should be discussed. The American Lawn Care Industry reminds us that a 50'x50' area of typical backyard lawn turf produces enough oxygen for a family of four for a year. This is important to keep in mind when discussing the environmental impact of having a well maintained lawn. The ALCI goes on to state that a properly maintained and cared for lawn offers many environmental benefits among which are the benefits of the cooling effects of lawn turf around homes and neighborhoods. Just eight average healthy front yard lawns have the same cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning - enough for 16 average homes!

Then there are the unseen benefits of pollution control. Dust and smoke particles from the atmosphere are trapped by blades of grass. Just like other plants lawns also convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Lawns also help with overall water quality. A dense, healthy lawn turf slows down and filters runoff, removes contaminants and prevents soil and the contaminants from running off into drainage systems as well.

It seems to me in our efforts to worship at the alter of the cult of "Mother Earth" and almost deify the issue of "global warming" that we have failed to see the forest through the trees when it comes to understanding the importance of lawn turf.

In order to achieve a healthy lawn proper and consistent maintenance and watering are vital. I would suggest that one of the best and certainly one of the most underutilized aspects of proper lawn care involves professional aeration. Just like golf courses do as part of there regular maintenance programs the average residential lawn will benefit greatly from aeration. Aeration cores about 2 inches of soil from the lawn which relieves build-up compaction. This also allows water and oxygen to reach the root level of the lawn. This is very advantageous to a healthy lawn. It also makes fertilizing the lawn extremely effective and it minimizes runoff.

Yet the overall cost a residential aeration service is relatively inexpensive and even downright reasonable when one considers the overall benefits to the lawn of a twice yearly aeration and fertilizing program. In time the lawn will thrive and be much more healthy with regular aeration. This type of information regarding lawn care and maintenance needs to be at the forefront of our thoughts regarding the sustainability of lawn turf.

For example what is cost/benefit trade-off for both the homeowner and the environment in removing a particular amount of lawn turf and replacing it with other forms of ground cover and whether that ground cover is organic or not? I feel questions like these need to be answered by governments and municipalities before any specific approach regarding lawn turf can be recommended.

2010 Perennial Plant of the Year ™

The Perennial Plant Association has named it's 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year ™ and the winner is: Baptisia australis.

According to the associations web site Blue false indigo grows three to four feet tall and three to four feet wide in an upright habit. This exceptional perennial grows across a wide range of zones and is one of the most adaptable native species.

Newly emerging shoots produce violet-blue, lupine-like flowers in erect 10- to 12-inch racemes atop flower stems extending well above the foliage mound of clover-like, trifoliate, bluish-green leaves. The spring flowers are present for three to four weeks. The flowers give way to inflated seed pods which turn charcoal black when ripe and which flower arrangers consider to be ornamental. The common name, blue false indigo, refers to the use of this perennial by early Americans as a dye.

Baptisia australis is an excellent plant to anchor the back of the border. It is also valuable for cottage gardens, native plant gardens, and native area of prairies and meadows. It is best as a specimen or planted in small groups. Blue false indigo can be used with bulbs and other spring flowering perennials to make interesting combinations.

• Light - Plants thrive in full sun. Plants grown in partial shade may require staking.
• Soil - This North American native is easily grown in well-drained soil and is drought tolerant after establishment.
• Uses - This spring flowering shrub-like perennial may be used to fill the back of the border or in the wild garden.
• Unique Qualities - The combination of flower and leaf color is dramatic in the early blooming season. Flowers are followed by inflated seed pods that are useful for dried flower arrangements.
• Hardiness - USDA zones 3-9