Time for a few seasonal tips from our designers!

Holiday Lighting

"The holiday season has come and gone with the speed of Santa's sleigh. Before we knew it, the sounds of carols and familiar smell of Christmas trees that permeated the air have left our homes. With the exit of the holiday season brings that familiar chore of taking down the Christmas lights. When you installed them you where filled with anticipation and probably didn't mind the cold weather or rain. Now is a different story, the rain and cold are still here and your fingers are going to get cold and numb along with the rest of you.To save yourself the time, hassle, and pain of hanging, removing, and storing your lights think of Father Nature Tacoma as the holidays approach in 2010. We are now offering this service to existing clients and would be happy to give you an estimate for seasonal lighting on your home and landscape. We are going to offer the new environmentally-friendly energy efficient LED lights and the standard incandescent lights. Both will be high quality lights that last for multiple seasons. Once again think of Father Nature Tacoma for your holiday lighting needs." - Chris Scheer, Father Nature of Tacoma

Winter Clean-up

With Spring around the corner, it is a great time to prepare early for the growing season. An important part of maintaining the health and beauty of your gardens is winter clean-up. Certain fungi and plant pathogens can overwinter in leaf litter, old pine straw, and mulch. There are a few things that can be done to help keep these nuisances from returning: Prune off dead or rotten limbs from trees and shrubs, cut back any dormant perennial foliage, and remove old leaves and pin straw/mulch from bed areas. Other applications, like copper sulfate, can also be used to help protect plant tissue. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Happy gardening! - Andrew Robinson, Father Nature of Mobile Bay

Ponds

Have a pond? Need some help? In all parts of the states, we have experienced some extremely cold temperatures this year. Keeping the water flowing in ponds and streams definitely helps keep ice from forming. Small pond heaters is an option to stop ice formation. My favorite solution for keeping ice at bay is aerators. Aerators not only keep the water moving, preventing ice build up, but also provide oxygen necessary for healthy fish and aids in the decomposition of organics at the bottom of your pond. If the duration of temperatures under freezing last for extended periods of time, and water begins the leave the cavity of your pond or stream because of ice build up, remove your pump and drain your filter to prevent them from freezing and needing replacement in the Spring. Stay posted for other helpful pond tips in the Spring newsletter! - Andrew McCurry, Father Nature of Birmingham

Design Importance

In general, design shows intent and gives purpose. Designed landscapes have the ability to accomplish numerous objectives. Outside of adding value to your property, designed landscapes have the ability to save you money in the long run. Whether it is a single installation or a multi-phased installation, we can help you save by making it a seamless transition from project to project. This helps you avoid addressing your landscape issues more than necessary. A design also helps to create a sense of place and extend livable areas to the outdoors. For more information, check out my latest post, titled "Remodeling your Landscape." - Marguerite Logan, Father Nature of Birmingham

So you are thinking about remodeling your home? You may venture a few steps into the process and realize you need help—professional help. Perhaps you decide to hire a contractor/builder, an architect, and maybe an interior designer. They all work together to make a reality of your vision and desires in a functional, successful space. The result is a happier you, energized by a new kitchen, a cozy living room, and a welcoming front hall.

Thinking about remodeling your landscape? You need professionals.

There are many ways to achieve a successful landscape and a happy client. Many ponder why even hire a professional garden designer or landscape architect? Before the answer can be given, it is important to understand the difference between many of the job titles that are hovering around in the landscape industry.

"Yardman" is the guy, or your neighbor's neighbor's son's friend, who happens to own a lawn mower and a pair of pruning sheers. They are happy to stop by to handle the basics, and are almost always pleasant people.

"Landscapers" can range from good 'ol boys to educated horticulturalists. Though you probably won't hire a horticulturalist to mow your grass. He can, instead, fix the herbicide issue caused by your yardman.They also may have a few more tools, and probably can efficiently install a variety of plants.

"Landscape Designers" are an assortment of the previous "Landscaper" category. Hopefully if you hire them, they are horticulturalists with an eye for design. Their qualifications are either experience or education based, and generally can offer the services of plant installation, design, and maintenance in a complete package.

"Garden Designers" tend to fall more into the category of "boutique" when it comes to your lovely yard. (hence the use of the term 'garden' rather than 'landscape' in the title)  More than likely, trained hands will prune your boxwood hedge rather than overzealous topiary inspired Edward Scissor hands. When it comes to design they are slightly more trend savvy, and perhaps a little more educated in the design arena. You can tell them apart from "Landscape Designers" by their attire. They won't usually be seen in Carhartts. Too stiff.

"Landscape Contractors" can install most if not all landscape features. Hopefully, they have a well rounded knowledge base of horticulture, hardscapes, building, water features, and a general understanding of how to read plans and details. They might also specialize in irrigation or lighting installations. If you are a landscape or garden designer, they are a very handy sort to have around. The collaboration of the two jobs makes the odds for a successful landscape higher. By a different name, the two join to become a "design-build" company.

"Landscape Architects" are similar to "landscape contractors" in some degree, and have a wide knowledge base. Almost all states require Landscape Architects to be licensed with a 4-5 year degree from an accredited college, and a varying time period of apprenticeship. Landscape Architects can have their hand in any of the following concentrations: residential gardens, public parks and playgrounds, residential developments, college campuses, shopping centers, golf courses, and parkways. On a different scale they collaborate with a variety of other professions (architects, surveyors, engineers, environmental scientists, ecologists, and certified planners) to achieve a common, unified goal. In the very least, you can expect an education in design, engineering/construction, and horticulture.

Now that you may have a better understanding of job duties, which one will you hire when you decide to remodel your landscape? Some companies (like Father Nature Landscapes) have a talented assortment of all of the above, and should be considered over individuals. Obviously, I am biased.

Perhaps a more important question relates to the design aspect of your landscape. Trained professionals will work the same way inside your house as out. Wouldn't it be nice to extend the quality of comfort from your home into your landscape? That is why you need a designer. There is a language of materials and details that go into transforming or refining your backyard into a functional, livable, enjoyable place.  Thomas Church in his book "Gardens are for People," writes a great piece on the function of a garden:

"Landscaping is not a complex and difficult art to be practiced only by high priests. It is logical, down-to-earth, and aimed at making your plot of ground produced exactly what you want and need from it. What do you want and need? Take a long and earnest look into your crystal ball. You will see that economic pressures have reduced the average house to a minimum and that the functions of the house have spilled over into the garden. You will see that you need additional space for lounging, eating, and entertaining; you will see that your closets and garage are bulging with a miscellany of personal belongings, tools, play equipment, ad infinitum, which the site must provide for. Yet it must also preform its primary function of being a garden in the true sense of providing trees and flowers, fruits and vegetables; a place where man can recapture his affinity with the soil, if only on Saturday afternoons. It must be a green oasis where memories of his bumper-to-bumper ride from work will be erased."

Church is understandably responsible for a successful number of well thought out and designed spaces. Remodeling your landscape requires a professional if, like Thomas Church suggests, you desire a design that meets your wants and needs, and functions as both a garden and an extension of your home. So when you think about remodeling your landscape, approach it as if you are remodeling your home or even building an addition. It is another room, another valuable space worthy of special attention and deserves someone who will design it with the same understanding.