Bees Under Oak Trees!

Bees Under Oak Trees

This project was especially fun and challenging, planting for pollinators underneath Oak Trees. The challenge is to find seasonal pollen and nectar with low water usage.

 

Using the University of Davis' study on local pollinators we compiled a list of plants from which we focused on natives and seasonal interest.

 

Here's the Design mock up:

 

 

The star of the installed plan was the Erigonium 'Sulfur Yellow'

A native to California the profuse yellow blooms attract all of the 7 different pollinators in our ecosystem.

 

 

Roy’s Landscaping provides a variety of services including: landscape design and installation, irrigation, maintenance and more. We offer the first visit free and would welcome the oppertunity to design or maintain your property.

 

Contact us via our website @ http://royslandscaping.com/ located in Sonoma. CA

Front Yard: In the Dog Zones

Front Yard: In the Dog Zones

 

We were brought in by a client to solve an age old problem: High Dog Traffic Sidewalk Plantings. The goal was to remove the worn out lawn and replace it with something that could stand up to the heavy animal traffic in the neighborhood.

 

Choosing the Plants:

We created a palette that was both salt resistant and low water usage. 

 

Choosing the Hardscape:

Creating a border of river rock along the highest used areas by the neighborhood dogs to give the plantings a buffer.

 

Overall this design helps to create a beautiful and functional garden in the face of high dog traffic.

 

 

 

Roy’s Landscaping provides a variety of services including: landscape design and installation, irrigation, maintenance and more. We offer the first visit free and would welcome the oppertunity to design or maintain your property.

 

Contact us via our website @ http://royslandscaping.com/ located in Sonoma. CA

Masonry in Action: Raised Vegetable Beds

Masonry in Action: Raised Vegetable Beds

Masonry has been used in building for thousands of years to alter landscapes. Having recently joined Roy’s Landscaping, I marvel at the skill, craftsmanship and beauty our team turns out on a variety of projects. Here’s a little inside look at how a set of garden planters were created. The process is almost as incredible as the final product.

 

First, we hand select the stone, this saves time and materials when installing. We then measure and pour the footing for the beds with rebar to add extra structure to the beds.

 

 Now, comes the hard part; with very little chipping and shaping, our amazing team of masons fit each stone into place with just enough cement to keep them anchored but not show from the outside.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see here the different phases of the beds altogether, from placing the large base rocks, to filling in the wall and finally finding the perfect cap stones.

 

 

 

 

 

 We can’t wait to see the client’s favorite vegetables flourishing in our vegetable beds!

 

Roy’s Landscaping provides a variety of services including: landscape design and installation, irrigation, maintenance and more. We offer the first visit free and would welcome the oppertunity to design or maintain your property.

 

Contact us via our website @ http://royslandscaping.com/ located in Sonoma. CA



Secret to Succulents

 

The secret to a great succulent garden is hidden in their diversity and habitat needs. Let's explore the world of succulents and how we use them in our designs.

 

Plant Care

Soil: Sandy or Rocky soil that is well drained. Succulents and can easily melt if you have thick clay soil.

 

Sun: Most love full sun but there are also a few that are do well in the shade.

Sources for inspiration: I always grab Debra Lee Baldwin's book Succulents Simplified. It has an amazing amount of information about the plants, their uses and some basic design theories you can apply. What is especially intriguing is the sections on wreaths, living walls and bouquets that feature succulents.

 

Design Sample

The following are process sketches from my work for a longtime client of Roy’s Landscaping.

Repetition, either through plant groupings or by repeating a focal point.



Balance, visually balancing a planting, making it all fit together.

 


Contrast, by texture or by size disparity.



 

How does it all fit together? Well here's an example of a potential planting:

 

This design includes:Agave 'Blue Flame',Aloe parryi, Aloe vilmoriniana and Echeveria imbricata 



If you would like to see a few more succulents please visit Roy’s Landscaping on pinterest @ http://www.pinterest.com/royslandscaping/idea-boardsucculents/

 

Roy’s Landscaping provides a variety of services including: landscape design and installation, irrigation, maintenance and more. We offer the first visit free and would welcome the oppertunity to design or maintain your property.

 

Contact us via our website @ http://royslandscaping.com/





Splashes of Color in Spring

Adding Splashes of Color to Your Landscape!

This time of year is always marked by a sudden burst of color. After all the grey and green months behind us, this time of year can induce plant shopping sprees. Take a deep breath and fight the urge to run a marathon through you local nursery gathering everything brightly colored. 

Here are four great rules that you might consider when picking out plants for a Spring Splash:

Like with Like Choose to keep similar color or flower types together in groups. This will allow spontaneous buying that also will look great together out in the yard.

Limit Color In each zone you can decide to have color pops. Use one color you are loving and a couple that can go along with the main color. For example, yellow is vibrant this time of year, having a few white or lilac colored flowers will allow the eye a little rest.

Ask, "How often I want to be gardening? "This is the biggest choice to make! Annuals are really exciting -- swaths of pansies, daisies and ranunculus look great -- spoiler alter, they only last a month or two around here. Perennials and shrubs only need to be planted once ever 2-7 years depending on the variety. It's up to you and your gardening style and budget.

Try something new! Here's an easy tip. When shopping for the plants yourself, combine them in your basket or cart. Select a plant that maybe seems a little odd and see what it looks like next to that giant purple daisy you just found.

For some plant ideas visit us at: Roy's Landscaping Pinterest: Spring Color in Sonoma

  

Initiating Landscape Design!

Welcome to our blog!

I am Laura Bassett, a Landscape Designer and recent addition to Roy’s Landscaping.  I have a keen interest in creating landscape designs that reflect the best of our skills with your ideas. It’s exciting to join such a hardworking and skilled team of people. The quality of work I’ve seen so far is exceptional. We strive to deliver landscapes that fit each client’s unique needs.

With an education in Landscape Architecture and roots in Sonoma Valley, I am the Designer on the team. My job is to listen to clients, to help them choose how they want their landscapes to look, function and represent their interests while installing and maintaining their landscapes.

Why did we want to start a blog?

We’ve gained a lot of information on plant research and design for clients through experience, hard work and education.  Whether in a big way or a small way, we want to share this information with others. A blog is also a great way to distill seasonal knowledge and plant selections. 

What can you expect to see?

My plan is to post what I’ve found useful in my landscape work, whether it’s little tricks I’ve used, lessons I’ve learned, or best practices. With my love of plants and some local insight, I hope you enjoy the journey of landscaping thinking this blog will follow.