by Matt Corrion
While visiting a project site last week I noticed a mistake in landscape design that I had to share:
In our landscape plans we always prefer to place fencing out of lawn areas and within landscape beds, or at least in a strip of rock. In the photos above, these nice 6″x6″ posts are being slowly whittled away by trimmers, commonly known as “weed wackers”.
This is a condo project that was only built about 10 years ago. I don’t blame the maintenance crews, I blame a poor landscape design.
If anything, the maintenance crews are probably cursing the landscape architect- because they have to trim around about 80 of these posts every week.
Since lawn was designed around the fence (rather than placing the fence in a strip of rock), it also gets over-sprayed by the lawn irrigation, which not only wastes water, but will quickly deteriorate a wood fence. That’s probably why it looks like it recently had to be re-stained.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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by Matt Corrion
Ten years ago this month, I decided to venture out “on my own” to form Outdoor Design Group, Inc. working out of my house in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver – It was the best move I’ve ever made.
A decade later, I couldn’t be prouder of all that this business has achieved. From small residential gardens, to large commercial projects and housing developments, our list of completed projects is impressive by any measure. We have also stayed true to the values that I started with: hard work, honesty, integrity and outstanding customer service.
We’ve designed projects that have been built in the real world, not just imagined on paper but touched by hands and crafted through stone, earth, water, and living plants. Along the way we’ve bettered the environment by creating sustainable landscapes that conserve water and resources. And we have added value for our clients and have created quality places in our neighborhoods and communities.
But the best part of the last 10 years has been the lasting relationships that have been built- especially those with our customers. There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone create their dream landscape or helping to fulfill their life’s ambitions through our part in their project.
I would like to thank my wife, Amanda for sticking by my side from the beginning when I came up with the crazy idea to start a business. Without your encouragement and support we never would have survived those early years! Last but not least, over the last several years as our team has grown I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the most dedicated employees, consultants, and contractors one could ever ask for. Our work could not be completed without your hard work and dedication – Thank you very much!
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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by Matt Corrion
Over the summer we helped this client create a new stone edge to their natural pond. It is difficult to tell in this photo, but there are two layers of boulders helping to navigate a 24″ drop-off to the water. In the foreground is a lush new lawn for entertaining and games. Look for more photos of this project soon on our Facebook and Google Plus pages!
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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by Matt Corrion
Osteospermum ‘Avalanche’ flowers
Looking for a low-growing, flowering perennial that will impress your friends and neighbors when they visit your garden? Look no further than the vigorous mat-forming daisy, ‘Avalanche’ White Sun Daisy. This cultivar, named to the Plant Select program in 2011, is related to other sun daisies, whose genus is originally native to South Africa. A shimmering riot of white, daisy-like composite flowers are produced above a mat of oblong, nearly succulent dark evergreen leaves. This variety of sun daisy is more disease resistant, blooms more heavily, and is more cold hardy than other Osteospermum cultivars. The numerous blooms close at night, showing off their metallic undersides of the petals.
Consider reserving a spot for this ‘Avalanche’ in your xeriscape or in the front of your sunny perennial planting beds.
Osteospermum ‘Avalanche’
PLANT STATS
Scientific Name: Osteospermum ‘Avalanche’
Plant Type: Perennial Groundcover
Mature Height: 8″-12″
Mature Spread: 24″-42″
Cold Hardiness Zone: USDA zones 4 – 9 (up to 8,000 ft)
Water Requirement: Low to medium water needs. Seems to do equally well in dry conditions or with supplemental irrigation.
Exposure: Full Sun to light shade. I have experimented with it in my garden in afternoon shade, and it seems to do quite well.
Soil: Adaptable. I have planted it in some pretty heavy, poor clay soil and it seems to thrive there unlike many other Xeric perennials.
Flower Color & Bloom Time: Flowers are white with yellow-green centers, exhibiting a unique metallic tinge on the undersides of the petals. Blooms appear in early to mid-summer and continue in fall through the first frost. Sometimes flowering will slow down in late summer or in really hot, dry weather.
Winter Interest: Minimal.
Disadvantages: I have not found any to date. Some literature mentions that Osteospermum plants are susceptible to fungal pathogens.
Availability and Sizes: This plant seems to be regularly available at retail nurseries around the front range. It is typically sold in 1 gallon or 4″ pots.
Best Features: The flowers are beautiful, but to me what really sets this plant apart is the mass of dark green foliage. In the right conditions it develops a wide mat of dark green foliage that acts a groundcover, spreading up to 42″ wide.
Maintenance Tip: While drought tolerant, Avalanche White Sun Daisy will produce the best flowers and mat of foliage if it is watered once or twice per week during dry periods.
This is the official blog of Outdoor Design Group, Colorado Landscape Architects. For more information about our business and our services, click here.
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