CalSmartScape.com

How to select the best landscape design contractor

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:41:04 +0000

Always select a company that is reputable and a company that appears that it will remain in business. The cheapest contractor will usually not stand behind their work because in most circumstances this cheapest contractor will sub contract out the work and the sub they used will not be their to fix your issues should they arrive or an additional fee will be presented to fix an issue that should have been covered in the original contract.

Select a company where the owner will be on-sight throughout the contract. This will eliminate any major price change issues and changes to the original project will be resolved much faster and in a fair manner. In many cases the sales people will only show up during the sale phase. Because of this many items get lost and never get completed because of what was promised and not correctly documented in the construction plans. Your project will be completed faster and more professionally if the owner is involved throughout the project.

Clarify the warranties, get them in writing, select a landscape designer that listens to your vision and needs. Dealing with a company that designs and builds is usually a safer way to achieve your goal.

Building natural looking dry creek bed into your San Diego landscape design

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:35:47 +0000

Excavate the area down 8 to 12 inches with a .25” fall leading into an area that can handle the runoff after a hard rain. Its recommended to run a 3 inch drain with drains spaced every 14 feet. Place weed fabric down to prevent any unwanted weeds from growing. Install various sizes of your preferred rock of choice incorporating boulders in a serpentine shape and make it look as natural as possible. Planting succulents and other plants into the creek bed will aid in the natural look. Outline the outside of the dry creek bed with a bender board if you placing mulch or DG and you want to prevent these materials from falling in the creek bed.

For a more natural look don’t install the bender board and plant a ground cover such as red apple to help retain and prevent any mulch from entering the dry creek bed. Contact California Smartscape for a free design consultation for any of your landscape needs.

Proper Drainage when making amendments to your San Diego hillside property

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:29:43 +0000

When building a retaining wall to retain you San Diego hillside, be sure to install proper drainage behind the wall. French drains are effective and can be tied into the existing or new drainage system that lead to the street or storm drain. All drainage from development should be directed away from any steep hillside areas and directed towards a public storm drain system or onto a street developed with a gutter system designed to carry surface drainage runoff. This does not apply to natural drainage courses existing on the portions of the site that are not proposed to be developed. These natural drainage courses should be retained where feasible, but not be impacted by additional runoff from the developed portions of the site.

Also be sure to seal the backside of the wall with a waterproofing sealer. Then backfill the wall with gravel to help filter soils and runoff before it enters your drainage system. Be sure to check code and pull permits if the retaining wall exceeds three feet in height. Be sure to use re-bar and geo-grid and dig a proper footing to support the weight. If your building multiple walls that are three feet high then set back the next wall at least 6 feet and install geo-grid to effectively secure the weight. Make sure to compact the backfill properly. Contact California Smartscape for a free consultation

Learn more about San Diego code for steep hillside amendments

Intelligent Planting Techniques For Your San Diego Landscape Design and Installation

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 17:22:22 +0000

Xeriscaping is a smart planting technique and another way to guarantee water conservation plus save money on your water bill. Xeriscaping is one of the most ECO-FRIENDLY landscaping techniques and the term Xeriscape means landscaping with drought tolerant plants to conserve water and reduce yard trimmings and waste.

By combining plants with similar water requirements and using mulch, native ground cover and drought tolerant plants. Xeriscapes require less fertilizer and fewer pest control actions than traditional landscapes. Xeriscapes can be beautiful with a creative vision and tie into most homes and existing landscapes. So become an eco-friendly landscaper, conserve some water and save some money.

Water Saving Tips in San Diego – Low Maintenance Landscape Design – The Drip Irrigation System

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:58:09 +0000

The Drip Irrigation System is the most efficient method when irrigating your landscape. While sprinkler systems are around 75% efficient, drip systems when installed correctly are 90% efficient allowing for little wasted water. Drip irrigation works by applying water slowly and directly into the soil through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and drip emitters. Drip irrigation produces controlled amounts of water that soaks into the soil before it can evaporate or run off, so water is only applied where it is needed, at the plant’s roots rather than sprayed.

Some benefits of the drip irrigation system other than saving money is that it can reduce disease problems associated with high levels of moisture on some plants. Drip irrigation systems can be controlled manually or with an automatic timer, and they also can send fertilizer directly to the roots of plants. A properly installed drip system will save you money and eliminate water waste.

Low Maintenance Hardscape Design and Installation

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:02:12 +0000

Hardscape is a term that represents your patio, pool deck, walls, fire feature, driveway or walkway material. Some common types of materials used for your hardscape include concrete, pavers, natural stone, brick, veneer and CMU walls. Low maintenance hardscape begins with smart installation techniques and selecting the right material for your needs. Preparing the sub-base is the first step in installing a proper low maintenance hardscape. By Digging down and removing the appropriate amount of soil and replacing it with class 2 base, then compacting it to ICPI standards you reduce the risk of sinking and cracking. The base hardens to create a strong barrier for weeds when installing pavers.

Another eco option that is affordable and low maintenance is a decorative material known as “DG” or Decomposed Granite. DG can then be installed to fill in spaces between the flagstone or natural stepping stones for your permeable pathway. DG or Decomposed granite is an affordable solution hardscape material. There are various products available to solidify the DG if you choos to use this alone as a pathway or filler in your plants. Other popular hardscape materials include pavers, and gravel can be low maintenance when installed correctly and both are permeable. The last step to a smart low maintenance hardscape is the sealer. Do your research to find out the correct type of sealer for your hardscape material. And always use a professional to install the sealer. A well coated sealer on your finished hardscape is a smart investment and will preserve the look and feel of your specific material.