by Matt Corrion
Juniper bushes are the most despised landscaping plant in existence. I know this to be true, because 75% of the time that I talk with a homeowner or property owner about renovating their landscape, they say something like “those Junipers have GOT to go!”.
Juniper bushes are common in older landscapes. Here they were not given adequate room, so they have been sheared off along the walkway.
Why is this? I think there are a few main reasons, aside from the fact that they are prickly beasts that we have all tangled with a one point (either landing in one while playing as a kid, or getting that annoying rash on your arm while trimming them) :
1) They were simply overused in the past. People are just tired of them and want something unique and new. And since they live for ages and rarely die, they are often the only living survivors guarding the front doors of homes in any older neighborhood.
2) They were not planted with enough room to grow. Many of the varieties get quite large after say, 20 years, and quickly outgrow the planting bed. Because they grow too large for their setting they require excessive pruning to keep them at a manageable size. This pruning then exposes all of the dead old growth inside the base of the plant- ugly!
3) The aforementioned prickliness. And good luck getting the baseball you were tossing around out of the center of that green monster.
Given these negatives, why then should you consider using Juniper plants in your landscape?
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by Matt Corrion
Did you know that in Colorado over 50% of the water used on a typical property goes toward irrigating the landscaping?
Most of this is treated water that has gone through a long and expensive process of being collected and travelling through a complex system of catch basins, detention ponds and storm drains.
Next, the water is treated at a water treatment facility to the point where is certified drinking-quality tap water- often it is of better quality than what you would buy in a bottled water.
Finally, the water leaves the facility and travels through a DIFFERENT extensive system of pipes to your home or business. The system, and all of the maintenance on it, is paid for by you the taxpayer.
Why then, would you design or maintain a landscape that sheds drinking quality water every day right back into the storm drain?
Water Running off Into the Gutter
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by Matt Corrion
A little housekeeping from 2009-
Below is a photo slideshow with before and after images of a residential landscape renovation that we completed in fall of last year:
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
Below is a conceptual site plan graphic for a new assisted living / memory care facility that we are currently working on in the metro Denver area:
The project includes extensive therapy gardens and many interesting site features for the residents and their families. Site design for elderly and special needs users presents many unique design challenges and opportunities.
This plan is conceptual and subject to change. I will provide more images and details about the project after the design and construction are completed.
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
This is my first in a series of “what not to do” posts related to landscape and site design.
One of the ways that I challenge myself to learn and to stay on top of the latest trends is to keep my eyes open for good and bad designs and ideas as I travel around my area or out of town.
The fence on the right is located near my home, in what appears to be an HOA (home owner’s association) maintained area next to a single family housing development. This is just one example of fences like this that can be found all over Denver. The root of the problem is that they have put sod directly against a wooden fence. Sod is typically irrigated by overhead spray and the water from the irrigation is discoloring and deteriorating the fence.
Problems with placing irrigation heads directly next to fencing
- Discolored fencing is unattractive: Obviously this is an aesthetics issue- these fences are a real eye-sore for these developments and the surrounding community. (more…)
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