Did you know that 70% of the water we use in Los Angeles goes to watering our lawns and gardens? Even if every garden in Los Angeles was museum quality, this would still be unacceptable. Water is our most precious resource, and that percentage should be scaled back by half. Notice in the projects below how we use California Native plants and plants that thrive in dry regions to create lovely, lush gardens. This concept of water-wise gardening applies to every region of the globe. We advise using the native plants of your region. Not only will you save money and precious water, but having a native garden will encourage more of your native butterflies, birds and the good insects to visit your garden. This just makes sense. Be water wise!
Other than seeing our clients enjoy their gardens, planning environmentally friendly gardens is probably our favorite part
of designing a garden. Specifically we promote the use of deciduous trees (one that loose their leaves once a year) in areas of the
garden that need shade. In the winter time a deciduous tree will allow the sun to come through and warm your house or garden, in
the spring time there is that joy of seeing the new green leaves open, in the hot summer these wonderful trees provide much needed
shade, then there is the show of color in the Fall. These trees, if the proper variety is selected, can work for you by saving
energy to heat and cool your home, and provide year round changes in your garden. Another bonus is wonderful FREE mulch from the fallen
leaves.Plant materials are an important tool landscape architects use to solve problems and add beauty to your home. For those of you who want a garden to look like it has always been there, a lesson in patience is yours, there are no shortcuts as the TV shows would have you believe. The most common mistake is over planting, it may be fantastic the first year to those who don't know, but I guarantee you'll have a jungle in three years and not know where to begin to tame it. Proper planning is key... and remember there are no shortcuts to gracious living. Another wise idea for any garden is to plant native species. These varieties, thank goodness, are making a huge comeback, largely, because they are so well suited to their particular climate and rain fall amount. They also attract all the right insects which help these jewels stay relatively disease free. Be sure to look into native plants for your own area or region. This just makes sense, why plant Azaleas in the California desert, or why plant cactus in Mississippi? One key to a well planned garden is to find out how large that pretty little one gallon plant becomes. Countless times we have heard how small that huge tree was when they brought it home from the nursery (and planted it a foot from the house!) Hiring a professional landscape architect will actually save you money in the big picture. Proper planning is what we do best. |
![]() Master Gardening |
![]() Water Wise Gardening |
![]() Special Features in Gardens Stephen Swafford, BLA |
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| Web Design and Maintenance by Stephen T. Swafford, Photography Courtesy Michael A. Rodriguez--both of Indah Bulan |
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