Cercis occidentalis, commonly known as Western Redbud or Forest Pansy, in full bloom. The magenta flowers appear late winter and are an edible, colorful addition to a green salad.
February is the month to celebrate Love.
Easy for us to do at SFLA, since we love everything there is about being outdoors and gardening. Think about some of your fondest memories – how many of those memories take place outdoors? We’d love to know!!
Can't Wait to Play in your Garden?
If you love to play in your garden, here are a few things you can do in your garden this month:
Prepare your garden beds for spring by pulling weeds and adding soil amendments. Test your soil for pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and add the appropriate fertilizer and supplement. EB Stone makes and nice organic fertilizer available at most garden centers.
Plant edibles such as potatoes, garlic, onions, rhubarb and asparagus.
Think about starting seeds for your cool season vegetable garden.
Plant dormant fruit trees such as peaches, apples, apricots, pears, plums and more.
Plant trees, shrubs and perennials now to take advantage of the rains.
Keep gutters clean and area drains clear of leaves and debris, allowing for water to flow where it needs to go.
Prune roses, shrubs and trees; especially deciduous plants before they break bud.
Clean and sharpen garden tools. Stock up on garden gloves and other garden supplies.
Walk through your garden, note things that may need attention and start tackling each project one at a time.
Discover a new way to enjoy your garden; add a bench and small recirculating fountain under a tree to create a mini-retreat in your backyard.
Plan for future projects such as lawn reduction, irrigation conversion, new garden features or other outdoor use areas. If a home outdoor event in your future; plan well ahead to get designs completed and contractors scheduled.
Fire pits and Fireplaces are design elements that become beautiful focal points in the garden. The need to gather around the warmth of a flame is a fundamental human desire to gather, to be warm and fire also represents passion! In the Bay area, fire features bring us outdoors year around; especially during our cool summer evenings.
Many of our clients are asking about a fire pit or fireplace in their new backyard design. These features can be designed in any shape and style imagined. They can be veneered with any type of stone, stucco or tile, they can blend with the color, style and theme of the home or garden. There are also stylish prefabricated fire pits new to the market. The one pictured above is made by Eldorado Stone, comes in three different colors/finishes with a dedicated gas line making it convenient to ignite the flame whenever needed. It has clean and elegant lines that blend with both a traditional or modern themed garden.
DROUGHT TOLERANT GARDENS
Many of our clients are converting their water thirsty yards into drought tolerant gardens by eliminating and reducing lawns and converting to other low or no water uses. In one San Ramon neighborhood, we designed three residential projects on one block that have brand new drought tolerant gardens.
To learn more about gardening with natives, see www.cnps.org
Each unique design has features such as; dry stream beds, bird baths, fire pits, seat walls, patios, walkways, gravel paths, flagstone paths, outdoor bbq island, pergolas, and of course a variety of California native plants.
As a result, their water bills are reduced and their former green lawns come alive with beautiful plants that attract healthy pollinating creatures such as hummingbirds, butterflies and honeybees.
10 Tips for Conserving Water In the Garden
After our recent storm that dropped over 2 inches or rain over the bay area, it’s hard to imagine that California is still in a drought. Here are ideas for reducing the amount of water used and stretching the water you have:
TURN YOUR SPRINKLERS OFF when it rains or when rain is in the forecast.
WATER IN THE EARLY MORNING or late evening when there is less water evaporation allowing every drop to stay in the soil longer.
REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LAWN in your yard and consider converting to other uses or California Natives. Rebates are available from your water service provider.
REDUCE OUTDOOR IRRIGATION FREQUENCY; two days a week during the hottest months will keep your lawn from dying. The new saying is: Brown is the new Green!
SHORTEN WATERING TIMES to no more than 10 minutes each cycle. Overwatering produces wasted water runoff.
FIX IRRIGATION LEAKS; turn on each zone and observe. Adjust nozzles that spray onto paved areas and that leak. Adjust drip emitters to direct into plant root zone.
SWITCH to a water-efficient irrigation system such as DRIP for trees, shrubs and perennials. Switch spray nozzles to MP ROTATOR nozzles.
DECORATIVE water features should be recirculating.
MULCH TO KEEP MOISTURE IN. Spread up to 3” of organic mulch around plants to help reduce water evaporation.
COLLECT RAINWATER and sink “rinse” water to use in houseplants or outdoor plants for spot watering.
MORE CALIFORNIA WATER RESOURCES
SAVE OUR WATER- A partnership between the Association of California Water Agencies and the California Department of Water Resources.
EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT - Visit the WaterSmart Center for updates, REBATES, to report leaks, and for FREE devices and leak test kits.
DUBLIN SAN RAMON SERVICES DISTRICT - Information on water usage restrictions, FREE RECYCLED WATER, water-saving rebates. DSRSD: Mandatory limitations of potable water use and STAGE E water shortage rates remain in effect. Households must use no-more than 4480 gallons per week. Automatic sprinklers MUST be turned off until April 1.
Thank you to all our amazing clients we’ve worked with! We love working with you and are grateful to each and every one of you! And by the way – we LOVE your referrals.
