Landscaping Tips For Staying Connected During a Pandemic
This pandemic has created a special need in the landscape marketplace as more homeowners have realized how underutilized their outdoor spaces truly are, and many are stuck on ways to make improvements.
Horticultural Book Recommendations
Want to learn hear stories behind common plant names, try a new herbal drink or learn if trees are social? Here's some great book ideas.
Tips for Pulling your Permit with the City
Pulling your own permit can save you money and time when done right. Read our tips for how to pull a successful landscape permit.
Maintaining the Low Maintenance Garden
Whether you’ve decided to take on your own garden upkeep or hire a professional, here are the top 5 maintenance tips all homeowners should know
What are the differences between Landscape Designers and Landscape Architects?
How do I know if I should hire a landscape designer or a landscape architect for my project?
Landscape Construction Timeline
What are the steps involved in a new landscape construction project? If you've never done a home remodel before, you may be surprised at what's involved. Please read up before embarking on your new landscaping adventure to avoid headaches
Heaters for Your Outdoor Room
When I’ve designed an outdoor room, the perfect finishing touch is to add heat so that you can entertain even on cold evenings. The first thing I try to determine for my client is: how much heat will they need and where?
Living Large in a Small Space: Willow Glen Case Study
When space is limited but your wish list is tall, consider hiring a professional landscape designer to help maximize your yards full potential.
Selecting Outdoor Furniture to Complete Your New Backyard
Julie Orr has a background in furniture design from her days as a commercial interior designer. Her motto: form follows function while also "feeling good" to the end user.
Drought Tolerant Turf Alternative Groundcover
Dead Lawn got you Brown and Feeling Down? Try a Drought Tolerant Turf Alternative Groundcover instead.
What Do I Do with this Prelien Notice?
I'm a homeowner who just started a landscape installation and now I get this scary notice in the mail about a preliminary notice for $2000. Huh?
Learn to Worm Compost like a Boss
Learn to Compost from the Worm Dude in Seven Easy Steps
Water Shed Approach to Landscaping
Keeping rainfall on your property through the water-shed landscaping approach is an ideal choice for every client because it helps reduce pollution, restores life to the soils and attracts good wildlife.
The Key to Healthy Soil and Thriving Plants is….
Why do I care about healthy soil? Why do I need compost? Light rototilling? Wood Mulch? Because I would like to have healthy plants in my garden.
European Farmhouse Living- Case Study in Menlo Park
This warm and outgoing Menlo Park family saw an opportunity to turn and crowed "forested backyard" into a ideal entertaining space for impromptu pizza parties or kiddie soccer games. The inside of the home is urban farmhouse so why not bring some of the farm living and European styling into the backyard as well?
Outdoor Kitchen Designer in Palo Alto
Imagine having an outdoor room to cook dinner for your family and guests. We can custom design your new kitchen for you and have it delivered to Palo Alto.
Upgrade to LED Lighting in your Garden
With new technology and more competition in market, prices have come down for LED outdoor lighting.
Heuchera…How We Love You
Low Maintenance? Low Water Needs? Good around Oak Trees? Yes, that's Heuchera for you!
Professionally Measuring Your Property
An accurately measured site will help your landscape designer understand what elements are existing on a given site. A correctly measured site will help with the design process and allow a means of communication between design and construction teams during installation.
Featured Material – Pavers
Concrete pavers are made from a mixture of cement, aggregate, and color pigments (either topical or integral color) and as a result pavers come in numerous shapes and sizes.
Ornamental Grass Maintenance
Ornamental grasses are a great element to have in your yards. They come in varying heights and colors, and the best part about them is that they bring movement to your landscape to make it come alive. Like most plants we need to maintain these grasses to ensure they look their best when new growth begins.
Woodland Garden – Los Gatos
Woodland backyard for family fun Artificial lawn for easy maintenance [...]
Modern Family Space – Menlo Park
Steps leading up to the large play yardBuilt-in seating for [...]
Projects of 2014
Here are a few of our favorite projects of 2014, designed by Julie Orr Design and installed by SouthBay Design and Landscaping.
Featured Material – Connecticut Bluestone
Ct. Bluestone has many applications like patios, landings, pool coping, pool decking and pathways.
