Desert Landscape, Dry Landscaping, Landscape Design, Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping Part III

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Larry

Part three of our article series explores a fascinating concept: edible xeriscape plants. Yes, you read that correctly.

Xeriscape Plants That You Can Eat Part I: Cacti

Xeriscaping Can Be Beautiful | (928) 356-8167

As we said in an earlier article, most people think of a cactus when they think of xeriscaping plants. They’re spiny and have pretty flowers, however, but can you eat them? Absolutely. So, let’s start there. A lot of people know that the fruit of the prickly pear cactus is edible, and that it is made into a lot of different products including candies, jelly, and even wine. The pads are used to make nopalito, which is often eaten for breakfast.

What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that the fruit of the saguaro cactus is also edible. The fruit are a bright red, ripen in June, and are harvested by many local tribes, including the Tohono O’odham. A cactus garden can include a saguaro cactus, however, be prepared to pay a bit for one. A saguaro cactus doesn’t grow arms until it is 50-75 years old. And even a small saguaro can be about $200. Cacti, however, aren’t the only plants that pop up in xeriscaping.

Xeriscape Plants That You Can Eat Part II: Herbs, Fruits, and Veggies

Many herbs thrive in hot and arid climates like Arizona, so they’re perfect for xeriscaping. Marjoram, oregano, thyme, basil and rosemary are just some of the herbs that do well here. Hmm. Anyone want some nopalito parmesan?

There are a lot of veggies you can grow as part of your xeriscape landscape design including onions, garlic, radishes, broccoli, and cabbage. Okra grows well here, as do canteloupes as well. But what about the fruit?

Well for one thing, figs grow very well in Arizona. So do Asian pears, loquat, and persimmons. The most surprising xeriscape fruit that grows here are blackberries. So as you hopefully have seen, xeriscaping is so much more than just a cactus and a yucca.

This concludes our three part series on xeriscaping. Be sure to read part one and part two as well.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Desert Landscape, Dry Landscaping, Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping Part II

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Larry

Part two of our series on xeriscaping explores the types of plants that you can use. Be sure to read part one of this series as well.

What Xeriscape Plants to Use in Dry Landscaping

Call for Xeriscaping Advice | (928) 356-8167

Most people don’t know what xeriscape plants to use. Or they often think that their only choices are cacti or plants such as yucca. While these are obvious choices, there are a surprising number of plants that you can use from ground covers all the way up to trees. Some plants are indigenous to Arizona, while others come from climates that are very similar. Sand verbenas for example are a lovely flower that can come in vivid yellows or rich lavenders.

Aloe vera is often mistaken for a cactus, however, it is actually a type of succulent and it is found all over the world. Aloe is a unique plant as it is ornamental plant with medicinal qualities. Why do you think that so many sunburn treatments are made with aloe vera, the same with so many lotions. Aloe vera has beautiful flowers that a lot of pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees love, and as it is a succulent, it can thrive in places like a xeriscape garden. Another type of plant that works well in dry landscaping surprisingly are lilacs. Lilacs are very drought tolerant, and bloom once a year.

Dry Landscaping at it’s Best

In our last article, we discussed the economic benefits of planting a dry landscape, however, if you’re savvy on your plant choices, you will be able to create a beautiful garden spot and not use a huge amount of water to do it. There’s no such thing as plants that don’t need water, however, you can get drought tolerant plants that allow you to stretch watering farther. The Arizona Department of Water Resources has a booklet of over 19 pages of xeriscape plants that you can find at most local nurseries.

There are lot of choices out there. Sometimes they can be bewildering. If you need help, call in a landscaping expert.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Desert Landscape, Design, Landscape Design, Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping Part I

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Larry

landscape remodel — Xeriscaping is Not Just Desert Landscaping I (928) 356-8167

Xeriscaping makes sense for where we live. Arizona is a part of the Sonoran desert. Water obviously is a precious natural resource.

Xeriscaping in Ahwatukee

The population of Ahwatukee, like all Valley cities is increasing. As more and more people relocate to the Valley of the Sun, demands on our aquifers are increasing exponentially. Prices go up the more people want something. Water isn’t an exception to this rule.

Your water bill can be lowered by using xeriscaping effectively, however. What is xeriscaping? Dry landscaping or xeriscaping is a method of landscape design using drought tolerant plants. When you mention it, nearly everybody equates it with desert landscaping. However, the term xeriscaping is more about water allocation.

Xeriscaping Principles in Landscape Design

There are different tricks of using xeriscaping principles in your landscape design. One of the core concepts of xeriscaping is to group plants with similar water needs together to reduce water consumption. When you reduce your demand for water, guess what? You also reduce your water bill. Conserving water to save money is a great benefit, however, that’s only one reason for xeriscaping, Another one is trying to live green.

Is xeriscaping environmentally friendly? Absolutely. Because you are using plants that require less water, it helps in the fight against desertification. Another reason you may want to do xeriscaping at your home or business is that it also helps to stop the spread of invasive species. If you want some inspiration, look up kudzu and see what it’s done to the South. It grows a foot a day. We don’t have that here, however, we do have plants that people plant such as nasturtiums and African daisies which expand aggressively and can choke out other plants. When you’re in doubt, call in a landscaping service to help you pick your plants, which will also be our next topic.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Desert Landscape, Design, Landscape Design

Themed Landscape Design Part 2: The Gardens of the Southwest

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Larry

Part two of our series on themed landscape design explores the gardens that are found in the Desert Southwest. Be sure to read part one and part three of this series as well.

Themed Landscape Design: The Old West Made New

Landscape Design to Fit Your Taste | (928) 356-8167

Sometimes themed landscaping is more than just what flowers to plant in the fall, or how far apart you should put them. Sometimes, you want to add a touch of charm. Living in a major metropolitan area like Phoenix, it is easy to forget that Arizona was a cowboy state, and very much part of the Old West. Don’t believe us? Ever heard of Wyatt Earp? How about Tombstone or the Lost Dutchman? How about creating a space that captures the romance and bravado of the Old West.

How? Well, think about the Old West: dusty streets, magnificent buttes, railroads, lone campfires in a desert landscape. Hmm, desert landscaping. That would seem to be a great place to start. And make no mistake it isn’t just dry, boring plants and the odd cactus. Think about the brilliant gold of a California poppy, or the rich orange of an ocotillo. Desert lupine and hummingbird trumpets have amethyst purples and carnelian reds. And sandstone boulders add a nice earth tone touch to bind it all together.

Landscape Design Tips For an Old West Garden

For a whimsical touch, put a wagon wheel in a bed of white poppies, or maybe line your flower beds with railroad ties. However, it isn’t just railroad ties and xeriscaping that can make a southwestern garden.

Maybe have a container garden with brightly painted Mexican pots, or maybe a rusty iron sculpture of a coyote. It is the little whimsical touches that can transform your garden from drab to exciting.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167

Desert Landscape, Design, Landscape Design, Prescott Landscape Maintenance

Synergy and Designing Your Landscape

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Larry

In our last article we discussed the concept of synergy where landscape design is concerned. What is synergy? We are glad you asked…

Synergy and Landscape Design

call to action billbaord GreenservPro landscapingGold Synergy literally means that all the parts combined are greater than the parts as a sum. How this relates to landscape design is fairly straightforward. Let’s say part of your property is down with an Old West Motif. You’ve got a wagon wheel, and maybe a cow skull. Perhaps you have an oxidized iron cactus or cowboy silhouette. You also have rocks and desert plants.

Now, however, you want to do a landscape remodeling project and redo part of your landscape with a Chinese motif. Well, problem solved. If you know anything about the history of the west, you know that Chinese workers were part of that history. So you can tie them together and have a lot of your guests get that delighted expression on their faces when they figure out your landscaping. See, alone, the elements of Old West and China don’t work, until you tie them together. And that is synergy in motion. Whatever you go for design wise, make sure that you know the care and upkeep of it.

Landscape Design and Maintenance

Landscape remodeling means that whatever your new design is, you’re either going to have to take care of it, or hire a landscaping company to do it, otherwise, what starts out as a design ends up in overgrown and weed choked chaos. One of the things that you have to think about is that you are not locked into your design. There are no “landscape police’ out there, save for the odd HOA that’s super restrictive about what you can and cannot do to your property.

If you feel like adding something more, then you are free to do so. There are several ways by which you can make your garden more interesting. You can use rock sculpture or fountain. But always ask for assistance when you need it from a landscape design service.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

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Desert Landscape, Design, Home and Garden, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Prescott Landscape Maintenance

Landscape Design in Arizona: Work With Nature Not Against It

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Larry

Good Landscape Design is About What Works

If you live in Arizona, landscape design can be a challenge. Try to use native plants whenever possible. If it grows here, it will likely do well in your yard.

Don’t Use Invasive Plants in Your Landscape Design

Your neighbors will thank you. Your city will thank you, and your landscape design company will also thank you. If you don’t believe that planting the wrong plant can be disastrous, look at the kudzu. It grows a foot a day and has pretty much eaten the South.

Think About Water Use in Your Landscape Design

Don’t plant a rosebush, which needs a lot of water in an area designed for desert plants, and don’t put a cactus in a rose garden, plant complementary plants together, when planning your landscape design.

When in doubt, call in a professional landscape design service

Green ServPro offers landscape design, lawn care, and sprinkler repair among many other services. Call us today and let us show you what we can do for you, or arrange a consultation.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Desert Landscape, Design, Home and Garden, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Uncategorized

Landscape Design Part 3: Rock Gardens

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Larry

In Part 3 of our series, we will explore another type of landscape design: a rock garden. Rock gardens come in many forms. One of the most popular is a classic Japanese rock garden. According to this Wikipedia article:

The Rock Garden and Landscape Design

The Japanese rock garden (枯山水 karesansui?) or “dry landscape” garden, often called a zen garden, creates a miniature stylized landscape through carefully composed arrangements of rocks, water features, moss, pruned trees and bushes, and uses gravel or sand that is raked to represent ripples in water.[1] A zen garden is usually relatively small, surrounded by a wall, and is usually meant to be seen while seated from a single viewpoint outside the garden, such as the porch of the hojo, the residence of the chief monk of the temple or monastery. Classical zen gardens were created at temples of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto, Japan during the Muromachi Period. They were intended to imitate the intimate essence of nature, not its actual appearance, and to serve an aid to meditation about the true meaning of life.[2]

Ancient Landscape Designs

Rock gardens existed in Japan at least since the Heian Period (784-1185). These early gardens were described in the first manual of Japanese gardens, Sakuteiki, or Records of Garden Keeping, written at the end of the 11th century by Tachibana no Toshitsuna (1028–1094). They were largely copied from the Chinese gardens of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), where groups of rocks symbolized Mount Penglai, the legendary mountain-island home of the Eight Immortals in Chinese mythology, known in Japanese as Horai.

To read more of this article, click here.

Rock gardens are only one method of landscape design. Part 1 of our series explored desert landscaping and Part 2 explored tropical plants.

Whether you want to go for the desert, or turn your home into a paradise, the right landscape design company can help you.

Green ServPro is a landscape design company based in Prescott, AZ.

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Read:

Landscape Design Part 1: Desert Landscaping
Landscape Design Part 2: Tropical and Sub-Tropical Landscaping
Landscape Design Part 3: Rock Gardens

Desert Landscape, Design, Home and Garden, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Landscape Design, Uncategorized

Landscape Design Part 1: Desert Landscaping

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Larry

Landscape design is something that can be tailored to particular areas and climates, like the desert Southwest. This article from About.COM lists some plants that do very well in Arizona.

Desert Plants and Landscape Design

These desert plants are great choices for people who don’t want to spend lots of time working in the yard, but want a nice, colorful look in their desert garden.Keep in mind that all of these plants will thrive in the Phoenix area, but not in other parts of Arizona, where we have everything from low desert to high desert and even sub-alpine conditions.

Bougainvillea (at left)
Oleander
Texas Sage / Purple Sage
Lantana
Pampas Grass
Fairy Duster

To read more about using desert plants in your landscape design, please visit http://phoenix.about.com/od/desertplantsandflowers/a/desertplants.htm

Landscape Design in Arizona

Arizona is a diverse environment for landscape design. The plants that grow here reflect this bio-diversity. A bougainvillea would do well down here, but not as well in the White Mountains or the northern end of the state. Another thing to consider is placement with a bougainvillea. They do well where they can get a lot of sunshine. They are also very drought tolerant, but will grow quickly when watered. While there are several varieties of bougainvillea , the variety with the magenta colored leaves does the best as it is incredibly hardy. In addition to their hardiness, they are also surprisingly versatile. You can let them grow into a bush, let them be vines, or even be ground cover to keep weeds out. Be warned however, that if you let them grow wild, you will need to trim them.

Principles of Landscape Design

Landscaping design operates under various principles, and one of them is how adaptable a plant is to a desert environment. A professional company would be capable of guiding you on plant selection, placement and many other tips to improve your home’s yard.

Green ServPro is a landscape design company based in Arizona.

Landscape Design Part 1: Desert Landscaping
Landscape Design Part 2: Tropical and Sub-Tropical Landscaping
Landscape Design Part 3: Rock Gardens

Green ServPro LLC
600 W. Ray Rd. Suite B2
Prescott AZ 85225
(928) 356-8167
http://www.greenservpro.com

Desert Landscape, Irrigation and Sprinkler Service, Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care, Prescott Landscape Maintenance

Sprinkler and Irrigation Experts

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Larry

Why Choose Green ServPro for your Chanlder Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation needs?

Green ServPro is your local Prescott sprinkler repair and drip irrigation system install expert. We work on all brands of irrigation timers, valves, sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. Green ServPro understands how critical a good irrigation system is to the health and beauty of your lawn and plants throughout your Prescott, Az. landscape. We will quickly diagnose problems and professionally repair or replace what is required to get your sprinklers or drip irrigation system back into operation as quickly as possible.

We are Dedicated to giving you a Great irrigation system.

Green ServPro LLC is dedicated to ensure your irrigation system is operating in top performance. We will inspect your system from the timer to the drip system emitters delivering water to your plants and trees as well as ensure your sprinklers provide appropriate coverage for your lawn. We provide emergency irrigation repair services in Prescott and throughout the Valley. Each inspection provides the following for just $75 plus material for listed repairs. A Free Estimate will be provided for additional repairs.

Irrigation Timer checks to ensure all zones function correctly in the automatic and manual modes. Programming will be adjusted for the proper seasonal watering times.
Sprinkler and drip irrigation valves will be inspected for leaks, proper operation in manual and automatic mode. Wiring connections will be checked for corrosion due to unsealed wire nuts, connections will be repaired as needed.
All sprinkler and drip irrigation main lines will be checked for leaks. Drip irrigation emitters will be checked for proper operation and replaced if clogged or capped if not in use.
Sprinklers will be inspected for leaks from stems or nozzles. Adjustments will be made to your existing sprinklers and recommendations will be provided if it is necessary to add sprinklers for proper coverage.

**Please call us today for your sprinkler or irrigation needs! Remember it is getting hot out there so your plants and trees need to be on the summer watering schedule.**

Green ServPro (928) 356-8167

Desert Landscape, Landscape Maintenance, Tree Service

Monsoons: What will they do to your Landscape?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Larry

Monsoon Season is coming so what does that mean for my Landscape?

Monsoon Season has an average start date of the first week in July and usually ends in mid September. During the monsoon season Arizona experiences more severe weather then most states. Monsoons have dust, high winds, and heavy desert rain usually resulting in flash floods. Arizona typically gets about 2-1/2 inches of rain during monsoon season, that is about 1/3 of the yearly rainfall Arizona gets.

How monsoon season can affect your Landscape.

Monsoons can cause limbs or entire trees to fall, often landing on homes, cars, or other trees. Even an old tree with strong roots can be damaged in a monsoon with the 40mph – 60mph winds. Top heavy trees need to be thinned out to allow wind to move through the tree and help prevent storm damages from occurring. This also promotes a more upright growth and allows the sun to penetrate the interior of the tree to aid the trees health.

How much could this monsoon season cost you?

Please give an expert a call today! We will come out and give you a free estimate for a tree service. Remember it is more cost effective to have your tree serviced before the damage occurs. We would rather save your tree from falling or being damaged then having to remove it.

Call Green ServPro at 480-420-0902 or email Danielle at Danielle@greenservpro.com.