Many people have concerns about planting around oak trees and for good reason. Oaks do not tolerate summer irrigation, and those that insist on planting water thirsty plants like lawns near their oaks risk killing their trees by encouraging sudden oak death syndrome or other diseases. So that is why it’s especially important to select natives that are acclimated to this particular hydrozone. Once established, you can reduce or stop irrigation. As a tip, if you install your oak understory in the fall before the rains, you’ll have one season of “free irrigation” under your belt.

Coral Bells or Heuchera are an excellent choice for dry shade groundcover and will take your breath away when planted in large masses. There are many wonderful hybrids of Heuchera to try. For an easy growing choice, use Heuchera ‘Wendy’ with its green leaves, purple veining and tall flower spikes. This evergreen perennial can also be enjoyed in window boxes and will attract hummingbirds that you can watch from indoors.

If you want to entice hummingbirds into the garden, Hummingbird sage is another winner under oaks. Salvia spathacea spreads on its own to create a groundcover with bright pink flowers that bloom typically March through May.

Our Coastal Wood Fern, Dryoperteris arguta, is one of the few ferns that is both drought tolerant and evergreen. Since it can withstand root competition, it’s suitable for under trees like oak, bay and pine. To keep its lush, green appearance, simply remove older fronds as they brown.

Again since it can survive with little supplemental water, Pacific Coast  Iris work wonderfully as an understory plant. Iris douglasiana with  purple flowers or I. douglasiana ‘Canyon Snow’ with white flowers are sure to brighten any oak woodland.

These native plants work especially well with oak communities in the following cities: Portola Valley, Menlo Park, Atherton, Los Altos, Woodside and Hillsborough.

Test Your Worm IQ!

Written by guest Author Jerry Gach, also known as The Worm Dude, a professional worm breeder for  Santa Clara County, Alameda County and San Mateo County

The ancient Egyptians knew that soil loaded with earthworms was extremely fertile, as Earthworm’s were the barometer of soil health.  Lots of worms = Lots of crops.

Fast forward to the 21st century….Worms are more in vogue now than ever.  Classes on composting with worms (Vermicomposting) have become increasingly popular, as we realize that if we don’t start taking care of Mother Earth, she will not be able to take care of us.

Most of us think all worms are alike….and most of us would be wrong!

There are literally thousands of species of worms, but only a few are used commercially.

COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE WORMS AND THEIR SCIENTIFIC NAMES:

Canadian Nightcrawler:  Lumbricus Terrestris

Red Wiggler:  Eisenia Fetida

European Nightcrawler:  Eisenia Hortensis

African Nightcrawler: Eudrilus Eugeniae

Alabama Jumper:  Amynthas Gracilus

We’ve categorized these commercially available worms into three types, based on the performance of each species.  Some worms will fall into two categories, but we’re yet to see one multipurpose worm that can be used across all categories:

TYPES OF WORMS:

Fishing Worms

Composting Worms

Garden Aeration Worms

COMPOSTING WORMS:

Though all of the commercial worms can be used for fishing, not all of them make good composting worms.  Composting worms share the following qualities:

Surface dwellers:  Top 12 inches

Voracious:  Swarm Food

Fast Reproduction:  Can double in population every 3-4 months in optimum conditions

Ability to survive in captivity:  Very Good

Canadian Nightcrawlers are not considered composting worms.  If there was an anti composting category, these worms would set the standard.  Canadian Nightcrawlers are deep diggers, do not swarm food, are not particularly fast at reproducing, and are difficult to maintain.In captivity, keep them in the refrigerator.

Red Wigglers are the KINGS of composters, and are the most commonly used worms for Vermiculture and Vermicomposting in the world.   Red Wigglers set the standard for composting worms.

European Nightcrawlers are good composters, but a little less voracious than Red Wigglers.

African Nightcrawlers are every bit as voracious as Red Wigglers, but their cold temperature sensitivity reduces demand for these worms for all but the serious Vermiculturist.

Alabama Jumpers are considered very poor composters.  Preferring leaf litter to kitchen scraps,  these worms tend to prefer living in soil rich in organic matter.

Click here to buy composting worms.

GARDEN AERATION WORMS:

Canadian Nightcrawlers make poor aeration worms.  Their preference for living in a single deep hole eliminates them from this category.

Red Wigglers are sometimes advertised falsely as soil worms.  Their natural habitat is your local manure pile and/or compost pile.  Because their skin is relatively thin, and their strength marginal, these worms perform poorly at aerating soil.

European Nightcrawlers have similar characteristics as Red Wigglers, and as such, do not perform well in the dirt.

African Nightcrawlers are better suited for compost bins then dirt.   Their preference for warmer temps, and their relatively thin skin makes these worms best suited for a sheltered composting environment.

Alabama Jumpers are the KINGS when it comes to aerating the garden.  Their thick skin allows them to live in soil ranging from sandy to heavy clay.  With a preference for leaf litter or compost, these worms are easily propagated in the garden.

FISHING WORMS:

Canadian Nightcrawlers are the KING of fishing worms.  Why?  Because fisherman are convinced that bigger is better.  Canadians are BIG…about 100 per pound. Picked at night from Farms in the Northern United States and Canada, these worms are deep diggers, living in holes down to six feet.  Because of their preference for cool climates, Canadian Nightcrawlers are best kept under refrigeration.

Red Wigglers are commonly used for panfish bait.  Weighing in at about 1/10^th the weight of Canadian Nightcrawlers, these are the perfect size for small fish.

European Nightcrawlers are the larger cousins of the Red Wiggler.  At about 3x the size of the Red Wiggler, these mid sized worms are the trout fisherman’s dream.

African Nightcrawlers are longer than European Nightcrawlers, but thinner.  Unlike Canadian Nightcrawlers that like cool temps, these worms perform best at 70 degrees or more, making them the perfect fishing worm for warm waters.

Alabama Jumpers are the strongest of all of the commercial worms.  These are EXTREMELY active worms.  They also have the thickest skin of all the commercial worms, allowing them to stay on the hook for long periods of time.

Now you understand why all worms are not created equal.  There is no “One best worm”.   There are only qualities in worms that we harness for our benefit.  Use the right worm for the job, and you’ll be very pleased with the outcome.

Still got questions? Email Jerry!

Choosing the right patio surface for your project can be one of the most important decisions you make during the design process. Because your new patio will typically be the place where you gather the most for dining, cooking, entertaining or relaxing, you will want a hardscape that is both durable and aesthetically pleasing.

In many suburban backyards, the patio is the linking point from the interior to the exterior. Keeping in mind your homes architectural style and your interior design choices, will help you make the right hardscape decision to create a seamless experience from inside to outside.

Pavers and Brick Patios

Paver patios are a popular choice for homeowners today. Not only are paver choices diverse with wide color ranges, sizes and patterning choices but they both durable and affordable. A well installed paver patio can enjoy a life span of 30 years or more. Since pavers are “dry set” with sand on a base rock and sand base, they are also permeable. Pervious pavers are good for drainage and help storm water stay on your property.

Brick patios can be installed with the same dry set method or with concrete. If concrete is used, you lose out on the permeability but you may gain longevity. This decision really depends on your site conditions.

Stone Patios

Stone is also a popular choice for homeowners who want the look of a natural material. The price can be double or sometimes triple the cost of pavers, but the look is natural, rich and cannot be duplicated with a man-made product. Stone choices are very diverse since it is a mined product. From a sustainability standpoint, you may want to consider where your stone was mined from and what distance it had to travel to get to your home.

Stone patios can be mortared with concrete or dry set. For high traffic areas and for dining purposes (think about your chair legs), concrete mortared joints are usually the best solution.

Stones that I like to design with include travertine, flagstone, and cut stone. I usually take my design clients to a local rockery like Lyngso or a showroom so that they can see their stone choices in person.

Concrete Patios

Concrete patios are not as popular as they used to be for the simple reason that they crack. Although you can stain concrete a myriad of wonderful colors, a colored concrete patio ends up costing almost the same as a paver patio with materials and labor.

From a sustainable perspective, concrete is not an environmentally friendly surface because it is non-pervious and the process of making concrete creates an enormous amount of CO2 emissions. It is considered more environmentally sound to use fly ash instead of Portland cement when specifying concrete but this green option comes with an upcharge.  Again, most homeowners choose concrete because it’s affordable or they are not familiar with alternative products.

Now that many clients are removing their cracked concrete patios, there is a new term for the by product called urbanite. You can build raised planter beds, pathways, seat walls or another patio out of urbanite.

Gravel Patios

Gravel is often an underutilized patio option. Again it may not be appropriate for every application but for those that want a budget friendly and permeable patio, it could be a good choice for you. Gravel typically costs about ½ of what a paver patio would cost installed.

A designer tip that I share with my clients is that if footprints are not desirable, choose an angular gravel or locking gravel that will shift less when you walk on it.

Decomposed Granite/ DG Patios

DG, decomposed granite, is another affordable and permeable patio material. If you have hard wood floors in your home you should not use DG directly near them. Allow a minimum distance of twenty feet between these two surfaces or else you run the risk of a scratched floor.

DG only comes in handful of colors (warm golds and cool grays) but you can mix these colors together to create your own custom blend.

While DG is not very expensive as a material is it labor intensive to install correctly. DG can be installed with metal edging, plastic bender board or without any edging at all by using a special stabilizer. DG is great for natural looking pathways too.

Deck Patios

A wood or wood synthetic deck may also be a great option for your home especially is you have changes in grade levels. There are many different quality grades of redwood as well as synthetic woods that are made from recycled wood pulp and plastic like Timber Tech and Trex. Of course pricing varies widely between real wood and faux wood, but so does the maintenance.

A wood deck requires a yearly sealant and may need replacing if wood posts or planks begin to rot after decades of inclement weather. A wood synthetic product is more expensive but it will last forever (and is not recyclable), which is not a great thing if you think you may change your mind down the road. So you can see that there are trade offs for both products.

If you can afford a deck, you can usually afford a stone patio. Obviously these choices will give you two different looks and if you weigh all your personal consideration with your site requirements, one will come out the winner.

Designer Tip

Hire a professional landscape designer! With all these choices, and your patio being one of more costly parts of your project, you can see why I recommend getting professional advice based on your unique requirements. He or she will be able to guide you and help you make choices that fit your lifestyle, and budget.

• Buy an electronic book (available on digital formats or CDs )
• Buy recycled-content products
• Gift certificates (example: restaurant, retail store, iTunes) – no wrapping required
• Tickets to sports events, theatrical or musical performances, or movies
• Museum or park memberships
• Nice cloth or linen napkins
• Mechanical pencils/refillable pens
• Homemade coupon (for dinner, a car wash, handyman service, or babysitting)
• For children: prepare a dress-up box filled with vintage clothes and jewelry.
• Homemade baked goods in a reusable tin
• Battery charger (Buy rechargeable batteries when giving an electronic gift)
• Transportation passes (for example, bus, CalTrain or BART)
• Reusable lunch bag or tote
• Reusable holiday wrapping bags

Reusable Holiday Gift Bags

Meet Patrice Greene of DzignIt in Cupertino

As an interior designer with over 20 years of experience, Patrice has been the creative arm for homeowners, inspiring their dreams to reality.

Each project starts with the development of a personal relationship with the client; understanding their lifestyle, personalities, preferences and needs, as the client is Patrice’s true inspiration.

With a background in fine art, and a passion for architecture, Patrice pursued a formal education in the technical aspects of the design field, and completed the (advanced) interior design certification program at West Valley College.  Patrice continues to maintain the highest standards of the design industry by adding certifications in sustainable design, and aging in place to her list of credentials.

Ultimately Patrice’s passion is fueled by the joy her clients feel and see upon completion of each project, as their dreams are fulfilled beyond their expectations, time and time again.

When you are ready to take on a landscape project, who do you call? With the myriad of choices in the landscaping industry it can be difficult to know which path to take. Take a look these garden and landscape trades to help you decide which direction is the best fit for your project.

Landscape Designer

A landscape designer or garden designer has a background in horticulture and although not required, many times horticultural based degree. Depending on their studies or on the job training, they are versed in hardscape materials, plants, irrigation, soils, pest management, lighting, sustainable practices and design. Landscape designers are typically the first point of contact when you have a residential project that requires some creative and functional design planning. The plan is the starting point because it will give you a chance to work out project challenges on paper and allow landscape contractors to bid and provide you with estimates. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”

*Tip: Learning to budget a project comes from years of on site experience or by working as a landscape estimator under the direction of a landscape contractor. Ask your designer if they provide this service and how they are qualified.

*Tip: For commercial projects contact either a landscape contractor or a landscape architect

Landscape Contractor

A landscape contractor or landscaper has successfully completed a combined four years of education or journeyman experience and passed the state test to obtain their C-27 landscaping license. Landscape contractors bid, build and many times provide warranties for their services. Depending on the scope of your project, they are typically introduced to the project after the design portion has started and can play an integral part of your decision making process. If you find that you are simply replacing one item for another (like a driveway replacement) and you are not changing the design or shape, you can forgo calling your landscape designer (or just hire them for a consultation not a full design) and work with your contractor directly.

*Tip: To learn the pitfalls to avoid when hiring a landscape contractor, click here.

Design Build Company

A design/build company is a firm that has combined both the landscape design and the construction (landscape contractor) into one company. Many times a design/build company has a designer or landscape architect on staff but sometimes they subcontract their work to an independent landscape designer. The benefit of working with design/build team is that you are hiring a one stop shop experience. If you have a large estate or complicated project and like one point of contact, this might be a good option for you. However, it can also be argued that by hiring the landscape designer and landscape contractor separately, that you have a more unbiased approach with a better checks and balance system.   Of course there are always exceptions to the rule, so as with project be sure to ask the right questions for your unique situation.

Tip: Make sure that there is a horticulturist working on your project if you are doing any new planting design

Landscape Maintenance

Landscape maintenance or gardeners are a vital part of the team that will protect the integrity of the design and installation once everything in your landscape is finished. A good landscape maintenance company will train their employees in plant identification because if they don’t know what the plant is, they won’t know how to care for it. This includes when and how to prune your plants, when and what to feed it and when to replace it. Sometimes you landscape contractor will offer you a maintenance package to help you take care of your garden during its formative years. This is a great solution for most homeowners since they are already familiar with you and your project. A reputable landscape maintenance company should not be confused with a “blow, mow and go” company. As with any part of your landscape, you get what you pay for. In addition to a landscape maintenance person, you may also wish to seasonally hire an aesthetic pruner for very fine work like the shaping of maples or an arborist for tree care.

Landscape Architect

Landscape architects have successfully completed six years of combined training and educational credit and passed their licensing exam.  They can practice either residential or commercial design and can provide similar drawings to those of landscape designer, but unlike a landscape design, they can draw construction documents. Many times construction documents are needed for residential projects that have complicated site challenges or elaborate built structures.  Landscape contractors can also provide construction drawings since they are licensed too.  Landscape architects will sometimes work with landscape designers to complete the planting plans as many landscape architects are not horticulturists.

Tip: If you are going through the permitting process and your city requires a stamped landscape drawing, you will need a landscape architect. Call you city and ask them directly what their requirements are before you hire any professional.

Did you know that the phrase “Free Landscape Design” is searched over 12,000 times a month locally? Speaking as a landscape designer, just saying the word free when discussing our profession feels like a four letter word, since we make a living from our intellectual property, namely our designs.

So this brings me to the question, are homeowners really searching for a free landscape design plan or just ideas to inspire a plan before they hire a professional?

If you are searching for free ideas and images, then by all means get inspired on the web. There is a wealth of landscaping ideas including great pictures of: arbors, patios, fencing, decks, paving, ponds, water fountains, retaining walls, outdoor fire pits and more.

Of course, it goes without saying that nothing of quality really comes free when designing or installing your garden. You may be tempted by companies that claim they give a free landscape design when you hire them for the entire project. But remember, there are ways to bury the costs so that your design only appears free but you pay for it one way or another.

Speaking to those who enjoy do-it-yourself landscaping, how much would you pay to do the job well the first time? If you have ever planted the wrong plant in the wrong place, had to pay twice to have a landscape project completed correctly and are tired of throwing money down the drain, you are a good candidate for some help from a professional landscape designer.

No website can come to your home and analyze your sun, soil, wind, drainage and other site challenges. No website can take into consideration all users of the site and give you creative functional solutions. No website can really tell you the right plant for the right place in your garden, delivery it, lay it out and find a landscape contractor to plant it for you. No website cares about you enough to build a lasting relationship and to be available to you when you have questions or when issues arise.

I think you get the point. I have listed only a few reasons (click here to read more) homeowners hire landscape designers to get a finished result that they can be proud of and enjoy for many years. What is your reason?

Building a new garden is a team effort that begins by selected the right professionals. Your landscape designer is typically the first point of contact when planning a landscape project. Designers have years of experience seeing firsthand both top quality installed projects and poorly executed work by some that pose as landscape professionals.

Although designers can guide and give you contractor recommendations based on our years of working with these professionals and seeing quality results, the ultimate decision comes down to you. With a bit of knowledge, research and knowing the right questions to ask, you will be prepared to make the best decision for you and your project.

Avoid Hiring the Unlicensed, Uninsured and Unbonded

In California the laws are very clear about who can and cannot call themselves a landscape contractor. “State law requires anyone who contracts to do landscape work to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board, if the total price of the job (including labor and materials) is $500 or more. Licensed contractors are regulated by laws designed to protect the public, are bonded, and must complete four years of journey- or higher-level experience in the same trade to apply for a license. If you hire an unlicensed person, you may be financially responsible if injuries, fire, or other property damage results.” -California Landscape Contractors Association.

It’s easy to check to see if a contractor has a current, good standing C-27 license by visiting Contractors State License Board online or by phone. “To verify insurance, bonds and workman’s comp, request certificates in writing,” states Mathew Mueller of SouthBay Landscaping.

“Licensed landscape contractors carry liability insurance to protect the homeowners in case of property damage. They obtain a mandatory bond to protect against performance issues and carry workman’s compensation to cover job related employee injuries. This is not only mandatory for a business with employees, but it will protect the homeowner if there is an unfortunate injury on their property,” says Dale vonDohren of  Landmark Landscapes.

Another thing you can ask for is a list of referrals. Ask questions and find out how they resolved issues that came up during and after the project.

Also be cautious if your gardener, handyman or other trade professional offers to help you with landscape installation. While they may have a business license, if they don’t have a C-27 landscape contractor’s license, and your job is over $500, they are not legally qualified to assist. Patrick Camin of Camin Landscaping warns, “The client has no leverage against an unlicensed contractor for unprofessional work or practices without the protection of the Contractors State License Board.”

Hiring by Price Alone

All landscape projects are bid out by “time and materials”. This takes into consideration the time (“man hours” of labor) and the cost of materials for each step of the process. If the landscape designer has called out the plants/materials, placement and square footage, in theory multiple bids for the materials should all be the same, right? That tells you that the difference in the low bidder must be the labor. “Cutting costs in your labor time means cutting quality. For example, concrete work like in a new driveway has to be meticulously and quickly installed due to the dry time. If there are not enough experienced concrete finishers on the project, the concrete sets up too fast, your new driveway cracks and the job is ruined,” says Mathew Mueller, SouthBay Landscaping.

Remember that the lowest price may not always be the best. The contractor may have made a miscalculation or not included all the work quoted by competitors. Be certain that each bid lists all the preparation (demolition, grading and drainage) and finish work (hardscape, plants, irrigation) that the designer has noted on your plan.

Quality arbor built by Landmark Landscapes

Avoid Change Orders, Read Your Contract

Selecting a contractor that can communicate the scope of work and listen to clients needs will bring more value than a low cost estimate. Clear contracts and a history of little to no change orders from previous clients are ideal indicators.

“Some contractors change order their clients to death after they begin the project. It is ‘buyers beware’ world and the client should do their due diligence all through the project by asking questions and understanding the contract before signing the on the dotted line,” suggests Natalain Schwartz, Landscape Design/Build.

Warranties

Plants, labor and parts should have warranties in writing. A fly by night outfit will finish your job quickly, get paid and get out before you notice any problems. Meanwhile, they never return your calls and you are stuck with their repairs, sometimes paying double to have it redone correctly.

“Planting a garden is only the first step in a successful landscape but the real success comes in the stewardship phase. To establish a garden well may take up to five years. Your investment can be thrown away if your garden project is not managed properly,” says Alrie Middlebrook, Middlebrook Gardens.

Ask your designer or contractor for landscape maintenance and aesthetic pruner referrals.  Be sure that they have horticultural knowledge, are using non-toxic approaches to pest and weed management and pay their insurance to cover their employees for workman’s comp.

Beautiful waterfeature and flagstone bridge installed by Southbay Landscaping

In short, does your landscape contractor have a passion for helping people and enjoy construction with quality craftsmanship?  Do they have fair pricing based on their experience, size of their firm and overhead?  Lastly, look for solid history of happy clientele.

If you avoid these pitfalls and find quality, reasonable rates, and good referrals, you are on your way building a long term relationship with a solid landscape team.

Special thanks to Southbay Landscaping, Camin Landscaping, Landmark Landscapes, Middlebrook Gardens and Natalain Schwartz Landscape Design/Build for their contribution.

Gardens designed by the following professionals: Jarrod Baumann, Laura Schaub, Lisa Parramore, Jeanine Gerstenfeld and Jeff Sheehan

Fall is the perfect time for preparing your garden and home for winter weather.  With a bit of forethought and action, many landscape and home issues can be avoided entirely.

How do you winterize your property?

Check your irrigation and prepare it for shut down during the rainy season. A professional landscape contractor can help you check for leaks and breaks in mainlines, landscape lines and at the valves. This is also the time to wrap your backflows and valves to prevent from bursting during winter freezes.

Check your permeable hardscape areas such as pavers, brick and flagstone. Start by pressure washing your hardscape and then adding sand to the joints.  Add a sealer to the top to protect the finish and longevity of your hardscape. These simple steps performed by a landscape contractor can prevent shifting and tripping hazards by keeping the joints tight in your driveways, pathways and patios.

Check your drainage. Inspect your gutters and area drains by removing any debris that could clog the system. Flush out drain pipes completely before the first rains. Does your property have appropriate grading to divert water away from your home? A thorough investigation by a landscape contractor can suggest methods to prevent water intrusion into the house, under your foundation or within the crawl space.

Check trees and plants. Do you have any unstable tree limbs that are looming over your house, driveway or street? Don’t wait for the first big storm or an insurance claim before you take action. Call an arborist or maintenance company with tree experience to have branches removed. For street trees, call the city.

Fall is a great time for deadheading plants and cutting back most grasses (once a year for pennisetum and once every two years for bunch grasses).  Compost or use your green waste bin for all ground debris, spent annuals and weeds. Lastly, mulch plants well in preparation for the decline in soil temperature and cold weather.

Email me if you need help finding a landscape professional to help winterize your garden.