Welcome to our November article.
I have to admit that the title is unusual. This project is a new home with just a dirt backyard.
Laura is a repeat client. A couple years ago we landscaped her
front yard, and then later her backyard. She and her husband
sold their home and moved into this new one. When I first saw
the backyard, it was a larger than normal yard, so I created
the estimate with the size in mind. As we began the work, the
yard began to “shrink”, visually speaking. An empty lot with
just dirt, and especially a corner lot, always appears larger
than what it really is. To make a long story short, everything
was done exactly as planned, however the labor hours were
drastically reduced. We beat our estimated completion time by
3 days, which means Laura got everything she requested, but
for 1/5 less than the original cost. We mostly re-do landscapes,
and I have to imagine everything removed. I then have to
think about what the potential could be. My eye is not used
to looking at just dirt. This was a good lesson for me, and it
became quite humorous to me that every time I came, the yard
looked incrementally smaller. About halfway through, I was
able to tell Laura that she was going to save some money. I just
could not tell her how much at the time.
The yard was divided up into four distinct parts. We had the
Citrus area, (not in view) which was down the east side of the
home. There was the patio area with plants around it. (The
concrete we poured in the center of the yard but to the east
side of the yard) There was also the garden area where Laura
and her granddaughter planned to plant flowers and vegetables
together. Finally, there was the landscaped area with the dry
stream bed and ornamentals. The west side yard is just mocha
lava rock. This is a good place to store large items that will
weather well. The yard could also be very attractive at night,
but they have a streetlight that shines into their yard, which
reduces the effect of the lights. This is something to consider
when contemplating adding lights.
Laura was not here for half of the job. She had a planned
vacation that could not be changed. However, I called her to
keep her updated. She expressed an anxiousness to get back to
see the yard. I spoke to her the day after her arrival, and she
loves it, which I knew she would. I love it, but it is just nice to
hear it from the customer. Her favorite part is the raised planter
beds. Normally, we put planter beds to one side of the yard or
the other, and not in the center. If we place them in the center,
it breaks up the cohesiveness of the yard. However, Laura was
looking forward to just walking off the patio and planting and
cutting flowers with her granddaughter. The garden boxes are
nicely built and are currently planted with bulbs, flowers and a
few vegetables. All my foremen are very good at building nice,
durable garden boxes. Initially this area was going to be for
lawn, as that is how we submitted it to the H.O.A., but the more
Laura thought about it, the more the garden boxes won out.
She wanted an activity that she and her granddaughter could
do together.
Though the landscape is only 2 weeks old, it is still very
welcoming and attractive, yet it looks very young through the
camera. I find it hard to duplicate in picture what you can see
in person. The naked eye just sees more depth and dimension
than the camera. The camera takes great pictures, but they are
“flat.” The upside of Laura’s yard is its size, which for many
is just the contrary. I was able to use all my favorite full sun
plants. Often the yards can only fit 50% or 70% of my favorites,
but this yard was able to use them all. My favorites consist of
plants that bloom throughout the growing season. For fall
going into winter when the blooms are ending, I rely on fall
color turning plants. Most of these plants are deciduous, they
lose their leaves, but a few of them do keep their leaves. The
heights we use are between 2’ to 3 1⁄2’ feet. If we need plants to
hide the fence, then we select plants that grow 4’ to 5’ft., but all
the plants are easy to maintain.
With a yard of this size, most people would shrink back
because of the yard work they have experienced in their past
yards. However, that will not be true with this yard, or any yard
we do. All older landscapes have the same plants. Many of the
yards we re-do seem to be non-creatively planned, and have
Photinias (sometimes called Red Tips), Ligustrum (Wax Leaf
Privets), Escalloninas, Indian Hawthrone, Viburnum, Fringe
flower, etc. These are tough plants, and are great for the mall,
but they do not belong in homes. Therefore, with the plant
selections we have today, the homeowner should not fear the
work from a larger than normal yard.
By Arthur Navarrette
Executive Care Landscaping
Finally, gardeners who like a fall/ winter garden, I hope you
have started your garden already. We planted ours in the end
of September and are now harvesting from it. We planted
Sweet Chard, various varieties of lettuce, radishes, broccoli,
cauliflower, cabbage, green onions and carrots. We also have
chickens, and they love eating the leaves of these veggies-
especially the cauliflower and broccoli. As these specific
vegetables grow, the lower leaves begin to yellow for lack of
sunlight. Before that happens, I pick them off and feed them to
the chickens. It’s a great way to have a healthy garden with good
air circulation and healthy chickens. Until next time, which
will be Christmas, have a great Thanksgiving.
Good Gardening,
Arthur