A beautiful landscape starts with a great design and continues with expert maintenance. We offer more than just basic mowing, blowing, and weeding. We use a holistic approach to keep plants thriving. Our crew will keep an eye out for pests and diseases, pay attention to proper irrigation, and make suggestions when needed on how best to keep your entire landscape beautiful and vigorous. A healthy lawn is a beautiful lawn.

This beautiful property is located in the hills above of Montecito with 360 degree of views onto the Channel Islands and the surrounding mountains. Inspired by the Japanese landscape design principal of the borrowed landscape the gardens on this property serves as a kind of picture frame from which to view the natural beauty of its surroundings. This 15-year-old costume-built home was crafted with all the style and workmanship ship found in Villa or Château in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the garden design was not as well thought out as the house was. Most of this property receives baking sun, drying winds and is in an extremely high fire danger area. Do to these factors many of the plants on the property were unsuitable for their location. The original planting scheme was also lifeless and colorless. Poor landscape maintenance had left many of the plants on the property sick and dying. We came in to revive this landscape, breathing new life into it. Creating a drought tolerant and fire wise landscape was of utmost importance to these clients. Staying true to the more formal landscape styles found in Southern Europe we also want to create an opportunity to design seamlessly blend with its natural surroundings. We did that by incorporating a lot of California native plants. This vast property also contains an avocado orchard and a vineyard. By adding California native plants the property is inviting in native birds and insects that help keep pollinate the orchard and vineyard and keep pest problems at bay. Because these clients enjoy harvesting from their land we added elements of edible landscaping to this project. We filled pottery and planter beds with fruit trees, culinary and medicinal herbs as well as flowers that can be used in cut flower arrangements. Lastly, we went through carefully pruning diseased plants, treating pest problems an improving the soil. Now the landscape is not only more beautiful it is more protected against fire, is more water wise and integrate into its surrounds with a wholistic approach.

Ribes malvaceum / Pink chaparral currant
Design ideas for a landscaping in Other.

Curb appeal on a grand scale. I kept the colors simple- red, white and green. Pots are all green for consistency. The center of these pots feature spineless pineapples. The center feature of the pot is a spineless pineapple. One of the most widely grown pineappple varieties in the world– 'Smooth Cayenne' or 'Cayenne', 'Cayena Lisa' in Spanish (often known in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Thailand as 'Sarawak' or 'Kew') was selected and cultivated by Indians in Venezuela long ago. It was introduced from Cayenne (French Guyana) in 1820. From there it reached the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, England, where it was improved and distributed to Jamaica and Queensland, Australia. Because of the plants near freedom from spines except for the needle at the leaftip and the size-4 to 10 lbs -cylindrical form, shallow eyes, orange rind, yellow flesh, low fiber, juiciness and rich mildly acid flavor, it has become of greatest importance worldwide even though it is subject to disease and does not ship well. Mainly, it is prized for canning, having sufficient fiber for firm slices and cubes as well as excellent flavor.

Built in 1884, this is the first house on Main Street one sees when exiting the train station. Its prominent corner location helps define the gateway to the town shopping district. Schematic design sessions for this period home’s renovation were already complete when the news was shared with the design team that one of the owners had been diagnosed with a progressive motor neuron disease. The homeowners asked us to incorporate universal design features—including wheelchair access to every room on every level of the home—but were insistent that they did not want to create a home that looked or felt institutional. Due to the home’s high visibility, it was important to the owners that the addition, including the elevator rise, be stylistically seamless and unobtrusive. This was achieved by applying existing character-defining features from the house such as octagonal massing, columned porches, steep roof slopes, and decorative shingle patterns. Complimentary architectural ornamentation was introduced to highlight the Queen Anne style and diminish the scale of the elevator rise. Interior and exterior access challenges were graciously overcome without sacrificing authentic period detailing. The addition begins with exterior entry at ground level. A half stop down to the basement provides access to a “wheelchair wash/dog wash” station and game room. A half stop up brings the elevator to the first floor followed by traditional stops at the second floor and attic/owner’s suite. Widened halls and doors make circulation via a wheelchair through the home achievable. Other universal design features and fixtures include the zero-entry shower in the owner’s and guest baths, French-door ovens, induction cooktop, touchless faucet, and refrigerator and freezer drawers. These make the home functional and comfortable for all members of the family. In collaboration with a landscape architect, we also created a lush pocket of privacy on this very public lot. The new hardscaping creates access around the house, to the grill, fire pit, patio and driveway as well as to the town sidewalks making wheelchair inclusion both possible and effortless. Substantially complete Fall 2021.

This dining and kitchen space in a wabi-sabi lakeside retreat designed by PKA Architecture and Yond Interiors is grounded by antique elm flooring, with antique elm ceiling paneling and box beams carrying the same warm tone overhead. A long dining table with leather and rush-seat chairs sits beneath layered pendant lighting, while a wood-toned kitchen with open shelving and a wood bench divider with black steel columns continue the home's natural, restrained palette. French doors open to a patio and wooded view beyond. Our antique elm flooring, ceiling paneling, and box beams are milled from barn timbers dating from 1820 to 1880, carrying unique marks such as wormholes, peg holes, and mortise pockets left behind by centuries old woodworking. Because widespread Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s made new elm nearly impossible to find, reclaimed elm remains one of the only ways to bring its warm, inviting tones into a home. The natural hues of reclaimed elm are bright and comforting, showing tans, light browns, and a subtle tinge of red that gives the wood an almost iridescent shimmer, embodying the wabi-sabi appreciation for natural imperfection and the passage of time. Whether you are a homebuilder, a home remodeling contractor, a homeowner, or a designer planning a dining space like this, Manomin Resawn Timbers has the antique elm flooring, paneling, and box beams to bring warmth and character to your home. Visit our showroom in Hugo, MN or reach out to us with a call or a message. 15152 Freeland Avenue North, Hugo MN 55038. Mon–Thu 8am–4:30pm, Fri 8am–4pm. 651.464.1771.

The two diseased spruce were removed from the front lawn. Much of the other plant material was either transplanted or removed.
Inspiration for a landscaping in Ottawa.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club installs AirField Systems AirDrain. The AirField Systems AirDrain for Golf Greens installed at Robert Trent Jones, home of The President’s Cup, continues to perform since 2004. Stronger roots, healthier turf, superior drainage and the ability to make it’s own nearly perfect perched water table without organics make AirDrain Golf Greens by AirField the choice of the most discriminating golf course architects, designers, owners and superintendents – and the savings in time, installation and maintenance make it the choice for everyone. View AirDrain Golf Greens in action after years of use at one of the most prestigious courses on the east coast. Thru a research project conducted at Texas A&M, it was concluded that you can reduce your irrigation needs using AirField Systems AirDrain. The five year research project was jointly funded by the United States Golf Association and AirField Systems and was a collaborative effort between Texas A&M, AirField Systems and the United States Golf Association. The data from the research showed that the AirField Systems drainage profile provided between one to three more days of plant available water than a United States Golf Association recommended gravel and sand profile. In addition, AirDrain by AirField Systems can significantly save on installation time because much less excavation is required compared to the traditional gravel drainage layers that have a much deeper profile. AirDrain arrives on site in 53” trailers, palletized and ready for install. Unlike gravel drainage, with AirDrain there is no need for heavy dump trucks that can compact your golf course. Benefits of an AirField System Design for Golf Greens include: 1 to 3 more days of plant available water stored in the root zone (depending on climate) Significantly reduces daily irrigation needs (as told to us by our customers) Healthier turf / Stronger root system (as told to us by our customers) 100% Vertical Drainage under the entire playing surface AirDrain is a 100% recycled copolymer with the impact modifier “metallocene” qualifying it as a “No Break” plastic Helps eliminate standing water / Simplifies maintenance (as told to us by our customers) Minimal site disturbance / Far less excavation and disposal Several Installation days are saved over a gravel installation Compact shipping that reduces overall storage and transportation costs An AirDrain System sand profile creates its own perched water table without peat moss or clay AirDrain’s sand profile and minimal organics puts it at very little risk for issues of mold or disease http://www.rtjgc.com/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

Our team was excited to hear our design submission SCATTERED SPHERES was a winner in the BENCHmark 2016 competition! The BENCHmark 2016 competition invited designers to submit proposals for the design of a permanent bench along the Bishop Grandin Trail - Winnipeg’s longest multi-use trail. A competition seeking designers to help make / celebrate places that embody physical literacy, add refinement to the art of traveling while providing a place to sit, read, discuss and exchange. In the end we decide to use reclaimed Elm as the species as choice as it pays homage to Winnipeg's Elm trees that have succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease. SCATTERED SPHERES The scattered spheres are turned from solid reclaimed White Oak, and are composed in a cluster along the Agassiz site. These pieces operate as both a composition in the landscape and a functional place for pause. These minimal and immediate forms encourage users to interact with them in fun and creative ways. These objects resist a prescribed function, but rather encourage the user to behave as a collaborator. Links: http://storefrontmb.ca/congratulations-2016-benchmark-competition-winners/ http://storefrontmb.ca/benchmark-view-submissions/ 2017 © Ray Chan Photo, All Rights Reserved

This stair landing in a wabi-sabi lakeside retreat designed by PKA Architecture and Yond Interiors is crowned by antique elm ceiling paneling and exposed timbers, bringing warmth to the space above a dark painted stair railing with carved detailing. Soft plaster walls, woven pendant lights, and a window with a roman shade complete a landing designed with the same restrained, natural texture found throughout the home. Our antique elm paneling and timbers are milled from barn timbers dating from 1820 to 1880, carrying unique marks such as wormholes, peg holes, and mortise pockets left behind by centuries old woodworking. Because widespread Dutch Elm Disease in the 1970s made new elm nearly impossible to find, reclaimed elm remains one of the only ways to bring its warm, inviting tones into a home. The natural hues of reclaimed elm are bright and comforting, showing tans, light browns, and a subtle tinge of red that gives the wood an almost iridescent shimmer, embodying the wabi-sabi appreciation for natural imperfection and the passage of time. Whether you are a homebuilder, a home remodeling contractor, a homeowner, or a designer planning a space like this, Manomin Resawn Timbers has the antique elm paneling and timbers to bring warmth and character to your home. Visit our showroom in Hugo, MN or reach out to us with a call or a message. 15152 Freeland Avenue North, Hugo MN 55038. Mon–Thu 8am–4:30pm, Fri 8am–4pm. 651.464.1771.

Are you into traditional kitchens with a bit of a contemporary appeal? Take a peek at this recently completed kitchen in the Fort Myers area and let us know what you think! Cabinetry: Kith Kitchens | Door Style: Whitfield | Color: Alabaster w/ Chocolate Glaze Countertops: Granite | Typhoon Bordeaux

Baylen is 9 years old and was diagnosed at age 6 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) in October 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. DMD is a rare disease caused by a genetic mutation that prevents the body from producing a protein called Dystrophin, to which there is currently no cure. In lieu of Dystrophin, his muscles are slowly being encompassed with scar tissue. Without Dystrophin the scar tissue will eventually take over his muscles until they cannot perform adequately for his body.

Corn gluten is a great lawn fertilizer – it gives our grass a nice natural dark green hue and can improve its disease resistance too. Corn gluten also has some natural weed control properties as well. We don’t want to oversell this quality, but if applied repeatedly (over a 3 year period) and at the correct time of year, corn gluten’s pre-emergent weed control properties can help reduce populations of many weed species. Formecology, LLC

The front entrance to the house enjoys the shade of an old-growth elm. Photography: Shea Lyda
Farmhouse exterior home photo in Baltimore

Perhaps one of the trickiest things is planting a large planter with the appropriate amount of plants so that it doesn’t look too crowded or too sparse. When you first put your plants in the pot there should be soil showing in between the different plants. This ensures that the plants and their roots have enough space to grow. If everything is full from day one everything will start to tangle together, stumping growth. Over packing plants into a planter will also increase the risk for poor plant growth and disease.

Taking care of plants, trees or shrubs may seem easy, but for many homeowners, the task is riddled with complications. For those who have no previous experience with plant or tree care, mistakes can cause damage or even death to the trees. A lack of proper training or a lack of proper information about tree care can do much more harm than good. We care about your trees and shrubs as much as you care about your property. To help you avoid common mistakes, our team at Five Star Tree Services has created an easy to follow quick start guide for shrubs and tree maintenance. Following this guide will help you take care of your trees and shrubs in-between visits from our trained arborist. Hire Help Professional arborists are qualified and the best to trim, plant, maintain trees and to preform shrub trimming in just about any environment. Not only does a professional arborist have the experience, but they also are specially trained in the care and diagnosis of various plant species and diseases. In addition to taking care of your plant life, they will also offer you instructions on how to care for your plants when they are unavailable. Make sure to take care in who you decide to hire. Instead of choosing the first company you find or the lowest priced plant care service, first you should research their qualifications by asking about how they usually care for trees, what their pruning style is, and how often they plan to visit for seasonal care. If they are not willing to answer your questions or educate you on the proper tree and plant care, keep searching. Proper Tree Care Starts With You Tree care starts with the property owner. The moment you chose a tree and how you care for it once it has been planted, will shape its health for the rest of its life. Proper care in the early years will ensure that it grows into a healthy shape and has a long life ahead of it. Working with a certified arborist will ensure that you choose the right trees for your area and that they are planted and care for properly during the early years. There are many different species and types of plants, shrubs, and trees. Understanding how to care for each one will give you the knowledge needed to help them thrive. Speaking with a skilled professional will allow you to take care of your property effectively and efficiently. Listen Carefully As tedious or as boring as tree care instructions may be, it is important to pay close attention and take notes. Understanding the responsibilities you have as a property owner towards the shrubs and trees on your property is the best way to ensure they are well cared for. In the event that you are unsure about what to do or how to care for your plant life, you can always reach out to one of our certified arborists here at Five Star Tree Services. How We Can Help Whenever you have any Toronto tree care questions, Five Star Tree Services is here to help. We care about your plant life and are dedicated to offering each of our client’s comprehensive care so that your trees and shrubs will thrive. For more information or to get some tips on taking care of the trees on your property, give us a call at (416) 990-3355 to find out more.

Design ideas for a landscaping in Toronto.

24/7 EMERGENCY STORM DAMAGE VIRGINIA BEACH When you do you’ll be connected with the most highly skilled and promptly responsive arborists on the market today who are available 24/7 to provide emergency tree services in Virginia Beach, such as emergency tree removal in Virginia Beach. Experts quickly, affordably, and safely for all the people and property in the affected area. Here at Tracstar Tree Experts, our tree service Virginia Beach professionals are serious about making your trees and your home safe no matter what emergency situations arise. It’s why our professionals are trained in quick responses and quick solutions to reduce the damage which can be inflicted by a diseased, fallen, or otherwise severely compromised tree and get you back to a state of safety and satisfaction with your home. If you find yourself with a sudden need for emergency tree services in Virginia Beach then you should absolutely not hesitate to contact the reliable and knowledgeable tree care Virginia Beach specialists at Tracstar Tree Experts. Call (757) 515-6933 as soon as you have a need for emergency tree services in Virginia Beach to receive a free estimate and the Virginia Beach tree care solutions you need to return to your life.

Apple tree blossoms
Photo of a landscaping in Other.