Landscape Design Guru
Have questions about your landscape design, installation and maintenance projects answered. Get expert advice and assistance.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Shade Tolerant Trees for Intimate Gardens in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Let me introduce you to some of my favorite shade friendly trees for Intimate Gardens in Michigan. I prefer using dwarf varieties of trees in most home landscapes because they tend to stay within the bounds of typical gardens. You should always consider the mature size of any plant you install in your landscape. Landscapes are often overwhelmed by trees and shrubs that become overgrown.
To see these trees and a large variety of unique garden trees in West Michigan, check out Blue Horizon Nursery - 09721 59th St. Grand Junction, MI 49056. Check them out online at http://bluehorizonnursery.com/?page=home. Tell Bill Brent Langley sent you.
Acer palmatum 'Okagami' is stunning dwarf upright Japanese Maple whose Burgundy wine colored leaves contrast beautifully with the white/ grey bark. |
For very narrow areas or to emphasis the entrance to a garden or pathway, or even in an urn, check out Chamaecyparis obtuse 'Spiralis'. An excellent small tree for small gardens. |
To see these trees and a large variety of unique garden trees in West Michigan, check out Blue Horizon Nursery - 09721 59th St. Grand Junction, MI 49056. Check them out online at http://bluehorizonnursery.com/?page=home. Tell Bill Brent Langley sent you.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Four Landscaping Mistakes Every Homeowner Should Avoid
Failure to begin with a landscape design will ultimately lead to a failure of the landscape. While there are many mistakes resulting from failure to plan your landscape, there are four very common landscaping mistakes I will cover here. These include:
- Garden beds out of proportion to adjacent structures
- Planting without understanding future growth needs
- Walkways too narrow to traverse comfortably
- Undersized Patios
When homes are being built, the landscape is generally the last thing on the architect's or builder's mind. So, if you happen to be one of those people blessed with a beautiful "cookie cutter" home. I understand. It's not your fault. Builders tend to wrap up their home building activities by adding a 3' wide poured concrete walkway to the front entrance with a 1-2' wide bed between the sidewalk and the structure and another bed or two in front of the house to hold a few tiny shrubs and a couple scrawny trees, beds that are far too narrow, and consider the home landscaped. They tend to add a 10x10' poured concrete slab they call a "patio" behind the home.
Of course, not all builders fall into this category. Some quality custom home builders are more careful and attentive. But money still tends to run low by the end of a building project. That means landscapes and outdoor living spaces still come last. So, to hold the homeowner over, the builder installs narrow walkways, simple planting schemes in narrow beds with less than optimal soils and nearly useless undersized patios.
Garden beds in unplanned landscapes tend to be out of proportion to the adjacent structures causing the home to appear disassociated from its setting. Your planting beds should help your home meld with the surrounding landscape. When designing a landscape, I recommend that garden beds be at least 1/3 as deep as the building is tall; preferably 1/2 as deep. Narrower beds tend to look like an after thought. So, if you have a one story home, including the roof line and foundation, the home will be around 15' tall. That means your planting beds should be at least 5' deep. A two story home will be around 24' tall from ground level to roof line. In this case, your beds should be at least 8' deep.
When planting, especially adjacent to a structure, consider the mature growth, not just the size of the plants at time of purchase. Try installing plants with the intention of never having to trim to keep them in bounds. Read tags at the nursery or store. If you love that Viburnum but your planting bed is five feet wide and the tag says it grows 8' wide x 8' tall. You either need to increase the width of your bed, or find a shrub with smaller mature height and width. Take into consideration the placement of the plants in relation to each other as well. Don't crowd more plants into your garden beds hoping to make the plantings appear more mature. Doing so will cost more money and require more maintenance. In the end, lack of airflow and light may destroy the beautiful plants you installed.
Homeowners often lack a working knowledge of plant growth habits and mistakenly install trees, shrubs and groundcovers that are unsuitable for their intended location. Previous occupants planted Yews at a home I considered purchasing last year in Grand Rapids Township. The yews overgrew the sidewalk so far, we had to walk on the lawn to reach the front door. Not at all inviting. I have seen shade trees planted just a few feet from a house damage siding, windows and roof as the branches swayed in the wind. I have seen roots crack foundations because a tree is planted too close. Ivy grows so rapidly and aggressively it can push its way through basement windows and under siding.
Walkways on most homes are too narrow because they tend to be thought of as utilitarian; just a way to get from point A (the driveway or public sidewalk) to point B (the front or side door). Again, builders and home owners tend to run out of money before they get to the landscape. So, utility becomes the driving force in order to save money. Narrow walkways, especially across longer stretches, look out of proportion. Narrow poured concrete sidewalks are uninviting and difficult to navigate especially when plantings begin to encroach. Wider walkways are imperative if you want your home to appear inviting. I recommend a minimum width of 4' though I prefer 5' or wider to allow two people to walk abreast comfortably. Larger landings at entrances are also welcoming, encouraging visitors to linger. Of course, if you do not want them to linger, you have to use your coxing skills to move them along. In that case, you will have to talk to my wife, the mental health counselor to get some pointers on how to do it diplomatically.
The Original Stairs front walkway in Grand Rapids, MI wider than typical but still too narrow for two people to walk abreast considering the walls on both sides. |
This home also had a 3 foot wide poured concrete walk leading to the front door. I designed a true courtyard that draws visitors to the front and invites them to linger. |
Undersized Patios become useless spaces. The 10x10' poured concrete patio that came with your house probably does not meet your needs when you want to entertain family and friends. It is a nice space to set a child size picnic table and a couple chairs. But once you place a full-sized picnic table or outdoor table set on there, you lose your ability to walk around the table, or cook at the grill. Grills always seem to sit just off the slab to gain those precious extra five square feet. The table blocks the door.... Consider the typical round outdoor dining table (54") and typical rectangular dining table (72"x42") that seats six adults. Once seats are filled, all walking space is eliminated. Check out the graphic below to see how these tables along with a 26" gas fits on a 10x10 'patio vs a 12x14' patio. Dramatic difference in space availability.
Luckily, the problem with the undersized concrete slab can be corrected without removing the slab. By installing pavers over the concrete and extending the same pavers beyond the edges of the slab on a crushed concrete and screed sand base you can add the needed space and beautify your outdoor living space at the same time.
An excellent resource for guidance on creating an adequate patio for your needs is ConcreteNetwork.com. Checkout this link: https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete-patio/size.html.
Friday, January 12, 2018
East Grand Rapids Outdoor Living Space Walkthru
Call or Text Brent NOW
(616) 328-3258
Your Outdoor Living Space and Intimate Garden Transformation is One Call Away
Labels:
backyard landscape,
East Grand Rapids,
fire pit,
Garden Design,
landscape design,
landscaping,
local business,
michigan,
outdoor living,
patio,
paver,
Techo-Bloc,
Unilock,
Video
Location: East Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
East Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA
Sunday, October 15, 2017
2017 Outdoor Living in East Grand Rapids
3D Sketchup Outdoor Living and Landscape Design For Home in East Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Outdoor Living Space and Landscape Design in East Grand Rapids, Michigan |
Crushed Stone Walkway with Stepping Stone Path and Raised Paver Patio
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Long-Neglected Backyard Landscape Before Transformation |
The majority of the yard was dirt or mud, depending on the weather, with slabs of flagstone and various sizes of cobblestone throughout. Boards were laid down along the side of the house to allow access from the side door to the main backyard.
Another Before Angle of Before Implementing New Landscape Design |
The homeowners' goal was to create an outdoor living space that would fit their lifestyle.
Their teenage children needed a place to gather with their friends. They needed an area to entertain family and friends. Grilling, Dining, Relaxation.
Though they enjoy gardens, their time is limited by career and family. So, the gardens were to be low-maintenance. No lawn would be easily sustained due to the mature trees surrounding their property: oak, pine, maple.
Crushed Stone Walkway with Stepping Stone Pavers - Transition Between Large Lower and Small Upper Patios
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I can design and/ or install a gorgeous Outdoor Living Space for you as well. From concept to completion. 3d designs created so you can see your landscape before installation.
If you live outside of West Michigan, I would still be happy to consult on your project and design your intimate gardens and outdoor living space.
Call or Text Brent now to your initial consultation @
Labels:
3D Design,
backyard landscape,
Belgard,
brick patio,
East Grand Rapids,
fire pit,
hardscape,
intimate gardens,
landscape architecture,
landscape contractor,
landscape design,
outdoor living,
paver patio
Location: East Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
East Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA
Friday, September 8, 2017
2017 Outdoor Living - Boston Road East Grand Rapids
I have wrapped up the patio area of the Boston Road outdoor living space project in East Grand Rapids, MI. For the paver patio, I used Belgard's new smooth/ crisp Cotswold Mist Moduline series large format pavers with Black Diamond accents.Wellington Wall was used for window well and fire pit with the 48"x14" natural gas American Fire Glass stainless steel pan. The fire pit cap is Techo-Bloc's Piedmonte in Onyx Black to tie patio and fire pit together.
The designed Trex deck with cable rails installed by Bruce Grifforst with Adaptable Homes is Completed as well. New Deck Pics Coming Soon.
I can transform your landscape from ordinary to extraordinary by designing and installing your new Intimate Gardens & Outdoor Living Space.
If you live outside of West Michigan, I would still be happy to consult on your project and design your outdoor living space.
Labels:
3D Design,
Belgard,
Cable Rail,
deck,
East Grand Rapids,
EGR,
fire pit,
Garden Design,
hardscape,
landscape architecture,
landscape design,
landscaping,
local business,
outdoor living,
patio,
pavers,
Trex
Location: East Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Boston St SE, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
Monday, January 30, 2017
Landscape Design and Installation Services East Grand Rapids, Michigan
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