Landscape Design
Does anyone have a good suggestion for landscape design under old CA live oaks?
The area under the oaks is dry, the dirt is very hard clay, and the roots are surface. I want to create a natural looking landscape that is not cluttered. I’m told not to plant too close to the tree for fear of fungus disease. Any suggestions on plants and designs would be wonderful!
This is in Oakland CA.
First of all, you should plant NOTHING under your oak trees (from the trunk out to the edge of the farthest branches). You should NEVER water under a oak tree. Winter rain is quite sufficient once the tree is a year or two old. Excess water will kill your tree and will increase the likelihood of diseases (oak root fungus and root rot being the primary ones).
Let all the leaves that fall from your tree STAY where they fall. The roots are very close to the surface and need the protection. As the leaves compost, they become a very rich mulch that feeds your tree and will turn your soil soft. The leaves also hold in any moisture for the shallow roots. (This also saves you a WHOLE lot of work!!).
Do not put rocks under your trees. They cut off oxygen for the roots and keep the leaf mulch from getting to the roots.
Following these rules will give you a very NATURAL setting. Just look around at oaks growing on hillsides (not yards) near you. You will notice that nothing grows under them, they do not get watered and they do very fine, thank you!
Keep in mind that EACH of these trees adds THOUSANDS of dollars to your property value!!! You do not want to risk losing that value. Several of my oak trees are close to our house on the west side and save us hundreds of dollars (more?) in cooling expenses each year.
Good Luck!!
Landscape Design
The Importance of Landscape Design
Landscape designing has come of age. People these days are continuously looking for a landscape design that offers a blend of natural beauty and homely charm. Increasing standard of living has ensured that landscaping becomes an indispensable requirement for homes and commercial establishments all across the world. Companies also provide greenbelts these days. A professionally worked out landscape design ensures that a well patterned greenbelt is achieved. At times, it has been observed that people who enjoy gardening as a hobby – indulge in creating landscape design. As a result, the patterning and zoning of the garden is not achieved. This is where the need for a good landscape design comes into the picture. Here is a list of some important aspects that will help you choose the right landscape design.
Creativity: This is something very important. The crux to a brilliant landscape design is creativity. Without the slightest of doubt, we all would agree that landscaping looks great when it is unique. A professional landscape design company would always ensure that the site specifications and project compatibility are kept in mind before offering a design to the customer. Though an architectural field, landscape design has a special aesthetic value. Elements of art include but are not limited to color, line, form, texture and scale. These elements are never independent of each other, but their individual natures should be handled with care before considering the interactions. Increasing upcoming projects of urban development require high-end professional landscape design. The reason behind this is simple. The value of a housing establishment increases if proper landscaping is provided. Landscape design is a multi-disciplinary field, including within its fold mathematics, science, engineering, art, technology, social sciences, politics, history, philosophy. Color, line, form, texture and scale are tools which are used in combinations to adjust design of the landscape. Design principles include unity, balance, transition, proportion, rhythm, repetition and simplicity. All these principles interact to yield the intended landscape design.
Natural Feel: A good landscape design must give a natural feel. Once you enter the landscaping zone, you must feel as if you are on a hill station. The density of naturalness also depends on the depth of the project. For example a home landscaping project may demand a more natural look than that of an office or housing complex.
I hope this information helps you choose the right landscape design.
Scarlett’s Landscape is a leading landscape designer in Ventura and Camarillo. For more details, please visit: http://www.scarlettslandscaping.com/
About the Author
Scarlett’s Landscape Inc., CA has delivered exceptional landscape design ventura, irrigation camarillo and sprinklers oxnard to Southern California For over 30 years.
is landscape design a job to success?
i love plants and learning about them. this is why i would like to do landscaping.
Like any career, it can be if you’re good, and people talk about your work. At the very least, it’s a good living. “Successful” can be in the eye of the beholder. If you’re paying all your bills, and you hum while you work, I would call that success.
If you love it, do it. Being happy in your work is its own reward.
Landscape backyard wall, and planting,