http://www.greenindustrypros.com/article/10625900/paver-patio-installation-tips

All to often companies skimp on the base preparation which just leads to problems down the road.

Our crews are just starting to get rolling on projects.  We still have not received our first plant order so most of the work right now is spring clean up, installing pumps back into water features and spreading mulch.  For anyone who is considering a company for spring yard clean up, don't wait any longer.  With this years growth already sprouting up, it will become harder and harder to clean up perennials and have them looking good for the season.

 You better believe it.  For the first time in my memory there are actual flowers in March.  If this gets you excited about spring I thought I could offer some ideas for Spring color in the landscape.

                 Crocus

      Crocus bloom shortly after the snow melts and offer early spring color

      Butter and Sugar Iris                   

     Iris are available in an abundance of colors  and bloom in mid-spring

          Adams Crabapple

    
Crabapple are a great ornamental tree option.  They too flower in spring and have fruit   

                                            that persists through the summer and into winter.

          Jane Magnolia

     Magnolias are one of the first large shrubs to flower in the spring offering large

                                            spectacular blooms in many colors.

These are just a few plants that can help brighten up your landscape early in the year.

It is a great time to get started on your landscape plans for the year as schedules will fill up quickly. Even if though plants are not quite ready to go in the ground hard scape projects like walls, patios and water features will be able to go in the ground very soon.

Check back in as we post more blogs as the season gets rolling.

Bella Anna Hydrangea
This is a pink form of Annabelle Hydrangea with strong stems that stand tall all summer long

Little Lime Hydrangea
This is a dwarf for of Limelight Hydrangea which was introduced a few years ago. It grows 3’-5’ tall and wide with bright green flowers.

Tickled Pink Hydrangea
A compact for of Pink Diamond Hydrangea, this shrub grows upright with white flowers that turn pink.

On advantage to a free standing wall built with modular block is the option of adding it to an existing patio. There is no footing needed so the excavation is kept to a minimum. Here are some pictures of free standing walls around patios.

In both pictures, the walls really help to create a more intimate space from what is otherwise a large and less inviting environment.

Another interesting detail is finishing the walls with columns to help anchor each end. The columns also provide a place for potted plants or setting out drinks and food when entertaining.

Keep free standing walls in mind when thinking about a way to dress up an existing patio or create an space within the Landscape

Borgert Products Inc. makes an entire line of pavers and other concrete products for various applications. The paver choices range from the basic Holland Style Paver to the more decorative Strassen Series to the environmentally friendly Permeable Pavers. Each type of paver is made to the industries highest standard and provides a wonderful finished surface.

Willow Creek Paving Stones produces several series of pavers as well. Brickstone is their basic rectangular paver while they also offer a Cobble Series and a Permeable Paver system. According to their web site, “Willow Creek Pavers will breathe new life into your outdoor environment with an elegant array of colors, textures and patterns”.

Take a look outside and you might notice that the snow is finally beginning to disappear. Months of hibernation will soon give way to the landscape season.

Here are a couple of tips for your landscape in the early days of spring.

Yard maintenance too early in the spring will only hurt the yard in the long run. Give your yard a chance to warm up and firm up as frost and moisture are absorbed into the soil.

One thing you can do is cut down those ornamental grasses that have stood through the winter. Just cut them down leaving a few inches above the roots. The cut grass can be added to the compost pile.

It has been a while since my last post, but the new landscape season is quickly approaching. Look for many new postings over the next several months.

It seems as if the economy is finally coming around and the worst is behind us. Here at Environmental Landscape, we have really focused on just surviving these last few years but as we look ahead into the new season it appears as if good things lie ahead.

We have a couple of nice large project waiting for us when the season starts which should kick things off on the right foot. This year I plan to profile some of these larger projects in the blog and will add many pictures along with these profiles.

As usual I will post many simple tips for your landscape weather you are creating a new landscape or just trying to maintain the landscape that is in place.

Check back in over these coming weeks and remember to think spring.

Every year seems to offer that one good project that defines the year. In spite of the tough economy, this year is no different.

Just over a week ago we began work on what we would consider to be this years “key note” project. It will consist of two large streams with numerous water falls, St. Croix Outcropping stone, a paver patio and walkways just to get the project going.

As we are getting into the fall season some stages of this project will not be installed until next year. We worked with the customers to lay out a staged plan of attack over the next couple of years.

The goals this year are to get the majority of the hardscape in place (walls and pavers) along with getting the water feature up and running. The homeowners may even add some fish in the pond before the season is over.

Check back as I will add some pictures of this project as we near the end of this years work.

It seems like just yesterday the snow was on the ground and the leaves were not yet on the trees. Suddenly, we are less than a week away from Labor Day. Where did the summer go?

Fortunately, the good times are not all behind us. We are just entering one of the best times of the year to plant. Seed will have an opportunity to establish itself before the harsh weather begins and potted plants will get settled in before the snow flies.

This prime time for planting will not last forever though. By the middle of October plants will have a much tougher time adapting to their new environments. Over the years we have found higher incidents of plant mortality when they are installed after the middle of October. We do, however, warranty everything as we are willing to take the risk for you.

Getting the plant material in the ground this year will get you a head start on next year. Take this year for example. Plants began to germinate by late March. We were not able to get our plant material from the nurseries until early May which resulted in this years plantings being almost two months behind those that were already in the ground. This would be particularly note worthy if you have a graduation party or wedding planned at your house next spring. Getting things in the ground now will allow them to look there best for your special event.

Lets remember, don’t wait as soon the snow will be piling up and this planting season will be just a memory.

Holy Cow!!! July is almost over!!! School is going to start soon!!! Where did the summer go? People are already starting to ask me if there is still time this season to install plants and hardscape. Actually we are getting close to one of the best times of the year to plant.

Planting in mid June through Mid August can be hard on plant material. Luckily this year we have been fortunate to get plenty of rain. Late August and September, however can provide great opportunity for plant installation. The days are cooler and there is still a reasonable amount of sun light which helps to keep the soils cool and moist. Additionally, plants that are installed in September have a chance to get used to their new environment and still harden off for the cold winter. Over the years we have had great success planting in September.

On the hardscape side, we can install retaining walls and pavers until the snow flies and the ground freezes. Some years in fact we have worked into September. Irrigation installation can be tricky once the days start to drop below freezing so Late September or Early October is generally the cutoff for installs.

So to sum it all up, there is plenty of time to install any or all of your landscape. We are entering once of the best time to install plants, and paver patios and retaining walls can be installed until the snow starts to pile up.

Picking plants out for the shade can be tricky. Some plants will tolerate the shade and wither away if they get any direct sunlight while others may require more sunlight than actually stated. Here are a few of the plants I like to use when creating a shade garden.

HOSTA
Hosta are probably the most popular of all shade plants. They are relatively easy to grow, come in a wide variety of colors and handle deep shade to sun. Simply filling a garden with different types of hosta makes for an interesting look.

LIGULARIA
This is an interesting plant with interesting large leaves. The flowers are generally yellow. This is a plant that thrives in the shade. In fact, it wilts quite badly in the heat and sun. The plant will even look on the edge of death because it wilts so bad, but once the sun goes down the leaves perk right up. On some varieties the flowers are striking with flower spikes reaching 4 feet into the air.

PULMONARIA
Pulmonaria is a small perennial that flowers in the early spring and is available with variegated leaves for an interesting color all summer long. The flower colors are pinks and blues.

FERNS
Ferns, like hosta, are a popular stand by for shade gardening. Because they can freely spread from spores they are a good choice for large mass plantings. Variegated varieties along with a wide range of sizes make this a useful specimen.

ASHLEAF FALSE SPIREA
This shrub is one of the few woody plants I have found to thrive in full shade. The branches have a soft, almost fern like, texture along with white flowers. False Spirea will have more flowers when grown in the sun but it still grows will in the shade.

Retaining walls might not be the most exciting part of a landscape but they can be a critical component in the overall landscape and cause the biggest headache down the road if they are not installed properly.

Choosing the proper type of wall is often the first step creating a long lasting landscape. Some of the more common choices are modular block walls, natural stone or large boulders.

MODULAR BLOCK
     Modular block walls are engineered concrete block that can be built to hold large loads.  With proper engineering, for instance, modular block walls can reach as high as 30 or 40 feet. They are available in many different styles and colors.

Some modular block walls will have pins to hold them in place while others may just have a concrete lip to secure them. What ever the method, the manufacturer will have specific guidelines on how high to build walls with their product.

NATURAL STONE
Natural Stone is a general term used to describe several different types of split limestone. The stone is split into 8” deep pieces of varying thickness and length. The stone are stacked on top of each other and rely solely on their weight to hole them in place. Because there is no “system” holding them in place natural stone should not be used to build walls taller than 4’ without proper engineering behind the wall.

Natural stone often provides a more rustic or classical look than a modular block will. The colors will be determined by the quarry that each type comes from.

BOULDERS AND OUTCROPPING
Boulders and outcropping, similar to natural stone, are loose terms used for any stone that is just used in its natural state as it comes from the quarry or field.

Fieldstone is a round rock with a wide variety of colors. Limestone Outcroppings are stone 24” and larger coming from a quarry. The stone is either crushed or blasted out of the ground resulting in a more angular stone than Fieldstone. Both fieldstone and limestone outcropping can be used to build big walls. They have no mechanical system holding them in place but with the weight of individual pieces weighing in the tons, the stone will not move once installed.

Ornamental Grasses are really a popular plant choice in the landscape these days. They require little maintenance, little water and last well into the winter months. Additionally, the gentle movement of the grass swaying in the breeze adds a peaceful element.

A couple of the more popular varieties of grasses are Miscanthus and Calamagrostis. Each is widely used and each is available in numerous different cultivars.

Calamagrostis Karl Foerster might just be the most popular grass. Its golden brown seed heads rise above a thick clump of grass blades. This variety can be found in both residential landscape as well as commercial settings. The seed heads will reach as high as 4’ tall and add a strong vertical form to plants.

Calamagrostis Eldorado is similar in size and shape to Karl Foerster but its leaves are variegated meaning there are multiple shades of green and gold on each blade. This color variation makes it an interesting specimen.

Looking at Miscanthus grasses, the first observation is it is a much larger species. With some varieties reaching as high as 84” it towers over many other grasses and perennials. Miscanthus Variegatus is one of these taller varieties. Its thick dense, variegated blades make it could for massing many plants together.

Red Silver Miscanthus is sorter than Variegatus but no less impressive. In late summer and fall it sports seed plumes with a silvery-red color and a cotton texture. These also are a very dense clump similar to Variegatus.

The grasses discussed here are just scratching the surface of what is available. Because of the ease of maintaining and the desire for low maintenance landscape ornamental grasses will continue to gain popularity in the landscape

Flagstone patios are possible the classiest surface of all hardscape options. Adding a flagstone patio to your backyard will definitely keep you ahead of the Jones’s. There is, however a dirty little issue that can rear its head after the installation is complete and the contractor has gone on their way.

In the northern climate that we live in, mortar between the stones is not an option as it will crack from the freezing and thawing. For many years, the only other option was to use a loose aggregate between the stones. This would look good when the project was completed but after foot traffic and a few rain storms, the aggregate would migrate onto the stone surface and make for a gritty mess. Not to mention the weeds that would start to grow after a time.

There is, however another option these days. A material, known as polymeric sand bridges the gap between mortar and loose aggregate. This material is swept into the joints between the stone and then water is applied. After the sand dries, the polymers, which are incorporated with the sand, create a hard, yet flexible material that won’t crack during winter and won’t migrate unto the stone from rain and traffic.  Weeds are not able to grow through polymeric sand as well.

Polymeric sand costs slightly more than regular aggregate but the extra expense is well worth it down the line. With multiple color choices, polymeric sand will also make the completed patio look magnificent.

Imagine lounging in your back yard with a cocktail in your and the soft sounds of a babbling brook drowning out all the back ground noise form the city. Installing a water feature can help create this personal sanctuary and also become a fun hobby.

Water feature kits make it easier then ever to have a pond or stream in your backyard. They generally consist of a skimmer box which houses the pump at the bottom of the stream, rubber liner and a filter box at the top of the stream.

When hiring a contractor to install a water feature it is important that they have installation crews with water feature experience. Every pond is unique and it takes an experienced crew to select and place rocks and boulders properly. The small details of placing stone will make the difference between a good water feature and a great water feature.

Many people with ponds in their back yards find that water gardening and fish becomes a peaceful hobby. Various types of Koi and Goldfish can be placed in the pond. These fish help to keep the pond clean ad they eat algae that are present in the water. Plant material can be selected to make your small pond look just like a natural pond with lily pads, cattails and other classic wetland plants.

Maintenance on the ponds is simple as well. Natural bacteria are used to keep the pond clean. This is applied in a liquid or powder state through out the warm season. Once or twice a summer, the filters should be cleaned and the pump needs to be removed each winter.

Environmental Landscape can assist customers with all aspects of a water feature so contact us today.

The process of creating your new landscape can be a daunting task. Environmental Landscape helps to break down the design process into easy, manageable steps from the first meeting to final installation. In general the steps include an initial consultation, meeting to review a draft of the plan, revisions, and installation.

After contacting Environmental Landscape, a sales designer will set up a meeting at your location to review the existing conditions, discuss general ideas about the direction the project should go and talk about budget for the project. A discussion of the budget is very important as it helps the designer create a meaningful design with a legitimate chance of installation.

Depending on the scale of the project, there may be a fee for the design. This fee, however, should not scare customers off as every penny of the design fee will be credited back to the installation. Additionally, the fee also places a value on the design itself which is the foundation for the entire project. This strong foundation leads to the ultimate value of the investment.

After the initial meeting the designer will begin to draw up plans for the project. They will take site measurements and pictures as necessary and inventory any existing items to include in the landscape. With this information in hand the will put together a draft of the plan using a CAD (computer added drafting) program at the office. This first draft will include any and all specifications for the landscape.

At this point a second meeting will be scheduled to review this first draft. Sometimes this first draft will encapsulate everything the homeowner envisioned but often times there may be revisions needed. The designer will listen to the changes the homeowner would like to see and then updates the plan as needed.

With a finalized plan, an estimate can be created based on the plan. If the project needs to be phased in over time the designer will offer input as to the logical steps.

Next, the installation begins. The designer switches hats and becomes a project manager to ensure the landscape is installed as the homeowners envisioned. Through out the installation there is communication with the homeowner to make any adjustments.

In the end, the project is not complete until the homeowner gives us the OK. The goal of our process is to involve the homeowner in each step, communicate and execute and leave the homeowner with a beautiful new landscape.

“Do you travel this Far?” I am asked.

“Of course we do,” I repley.

Who wouldn’t travel an extra hour or two these days to install a project. Ten or fifteen years ago contractors had enough work and we may have thought about turning projects down. These days … now that thought wouldn’t even creep into our thought process.

What cities might we travel to? Here’s a list: Hudson, River Falls, New Richmond, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Edina, Eden Prairie, Blain, Lino Lakes, Eagen and that is just the beginning.

Heck, we are even looking at a job in Atlanta Georgia. Can you believe that? What a sign of the times if there ever was one. Of course spending January and February in Georgia definitely has its upside when there is three feet of snow on the ground here.

So, the next time you call us to ask about landscaping don’t worry. We do travel that far and we are happy to do so.

Imagine this: Your just spent thousands redesigning and installing your back yard. Beautiful plants have been chosen to accent the new patio space and water feature.  You look out your window one morning and to your horror the plants have all been chomped down to little more than sticks. ARG!!!

The first question: What happened?
Answer: Deer

The next question: Could this have been prevented?
Answer: Yes

One solution to keeping the deer at bay is to religiously spray the plants with some type of animal repellent.  Generally, this needs to be done regularly and after EVERY rain.

With such an emphasis on low maintenance landscapes these days, spraying the plants all the time is not an option.  The root of the problem goes back to the design of the backyard. Proper plant selection could have eliminated the problem from the out set.

 Walker's Low Nepeta

There are particular plants that deer will not graze on.  Any plant in the mint family is a good choice. Perennials such as Monard, Nepeta and Sage offer brilliant color and due to their aromatic leaves, deer will not eat them.

Gray Owl Juniper

If larger plants are required, Junipers will provide color all year long as well as interesting shapes.  Barberries and Spirea are also plants that deer will not touch.

These examples are just scratching the surface of plant material but it proves that there are plants that can be placed in a landscape with out fear of deer damage.  If installing a new landscape is in the future keep these in mind when talking with a landscape professional.

Native seeding has been a buzz word in the landscape business for a few years now. More and more people are learning the environmental benefits of prairie restoration.

Reducing run off, habitat, sustainability, invasive species control are all benefits of establishing native plantings but it is important to keep in mind that it is not a small order.

I can’t count the number of times customers or builders have said to me, “just through some prairie seed down in this area and it will be fine”. The process is much more involved and can take significant time.

The first step is to mow and kill any existing weeds. A chopper or flail mower is often required to knock down existing weeds and invasive grasses. After the weeds or down tilling the soil is a good idea.

Now it’s time to wait. After giving the area enough time for weeds to germinate and grow to no more than 12” tall herbicide should be applied. After several more weeks to a month a second application of herbicide is to be applied to kill any of the last remaining weeds.

After all of this it is finally time to apply the native seed.

This begs the question, will there be a field full of wildflowers in a short time? Not exactly!

Some of the more aggressive flowers like Rudbeckia will bloom by the end of the first year or after the first winter but the majority of the flowers will take two to three years to establish themselves. During the first year or two it is also a good idea to mow the area a couple of times to help kill the last remaining invasive species that may be growing.

So as you can see, there is more to it than “just through down some native seed”. This by no means should discourage anyone from taking on this noble deed, but just be ready to give the project some time.

Customers often ask, “Do I really need to start off with a design?” The answer is YES. A design creates a landscape that meets the principles of design, provides continuity as well as helping to lay out the installation steps.

According to the University of Minnesota’s Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series, the 6 principles of design are Simplicity, Variety, Balance, Emphasis, Sequence and Scale. Each principle can be tested and tweaked while creating a landscape plan on paper.

A good landscape has a balance between simplicity and variety. Filling an entire landscape with one plant may seem ridiculous but planting a small residential lot with several hundred different species is just as awkward. In between these two scenarios is balance that works. Simplicity provides continuity and order through out the landscape while variety adds interest and creates a unique space.

Balance, emphasis, and sequence refer more to the placement of specific components in the landscape. Balance can be formal or informal. Emphasis highlights specific locations. Sequence describes how the different parts of the landscape transition from one another.

Finally scale refers to the human experience within the landscape. As an example, does one feel different sitting under a towering shade tree than next to hedge row of waist high shrubs? Achieving the proper scale will improve the encounter one has with the landscape and the desire to return.

With these principles in mind a landscape plan offers the resident an opportunity to lay out all the parts of a landscape. It is much more cost effective to play with lines on paper than to remove and replace things with a poorly designed landscape.

As I meet customers through out the summer months, it surprises me how little most perspective clients know about pavers patios and driveways. Some, in fact, don’t realize it is even an option for them. After a brief education, they begin to see the numerous advantages to pavers over poured concrete or any other treatment.

Pavers are not a new product in the market. They basic concept has been used for thousands of years. The Romans, for instance, created the world’s most elaborate road system using individual bricks and stone.

The #1 advantage of pavers over a poured surface starts with the individual pieces. In the harsh northern climate we live in, frost is always a concern. Frost, which causes the ground to heave, can not be stopped. When laid properly, individual bricks are allowed to move and shift with out cracking. In contrast, a poured surface will shift, but when a small section lifts the entire poured area will move which leads to cracking.

Once the poured surface cracks, the problem begins to compound itself. Water runs into the crack, freezes, and expands the crack. More water flows into the larger crack, erosion starts to occur under the surface, and more cracks form and the process continues to repeat itself.

There is no way to fix poured concrete, once it is damaged, without leaving an unsightly mark. Pavers, by contrast, can be easily repaired. After the in-laws that no body likes drive away, how do you fix that lovely oil spill they have left you? If pavers are installed the fix is simple. Individual bricks can be lifted and replaced leaving no trace of the oil spill. A cleaner can be used on the poured concrete but either the oil will still be visible or the cleaner will leave an ugly mark.

After a few simple stories like these customers begin to realize how a paver driveway or patio is a much better investment than a poured surface.