Greener side of life

Murder on the Rise in the Triangle

2010-03-12T22:50:00.000-05:00

The murder rate is on the rise. The victims are innocent and have done nothing to provoke such attacks. They simply stood there and were decapitated! Someone with a chainsaw just chopped their heads of without thought. Why, you ask? We cant say for sure. Maybe it's a copycat running rampant or a chainsaw massacre remake. Whatever the reason, it must be stopped. How, you ask. That is the hard part. Once someone has a taste for murder, they just can't stop.

The victims are nameless. No one seems to want to stop this nonsense. Some even say, "That's what my father did and his father." Some see it being done and think they have to do it too. There is no good reason, just that it must be done. What happens after this rampage and will it ever stop?

These poor innocent creatures are the beloved tree of the south, the Crape Myrtle. It is a wonderful tree that provides shade and brings color to our hot and humid summers. It never asked to be murdered but yet it is done on a regular basis. This practice causes the poor trees to loose their shape, develop unattractive knots and weakens their branches. It does not promote blooms or control the size. Instead, it makes a very unattractive and weak tree.

Please spread the word and help stop the madness. Let the Crape Myrtle stand tall and proud! Stop the practice of planting a 20' tall tree where only a 10' tree can live. Together we can stop the rampage.

Plant of the week

2010-02-10T13:09:00.002-05:00

If you're as ready for Spring as we are, we have some good news for you! While Spring isn't here yet, there is a way you can bring the season to your yard a little sooner. Early blooming shrubs can give the feel and look of warm, sunnier days before they're actually here.

Of all the early blooming shrubs, none can compare with Daphne Odora or Winter Daphne. Winter Daphne is a small, evergreen shrub that blooms in late Winter and can handle frosts well. The shrub can be a little finicky but the flowers make it all worth it! The flowers are small, but beautiful and incredibly fragrant. Be sure to plant Winter Daphne in a sunny spot where you can enjoy the view as well as the scent. Also make sure you plant it somewhere that it will not be disturbed. Once planted, the Winter Daphne does not like to be transplanted or have it's bed disturbed. It's truly a great addition to any yard or garden!

Are Your Plants Ready for the Freeze?

2010-01-28T23:05:00.009-05:00

We are expecting a freeze this weekend! Our friends at Homework Solutions have some great ways to protect your home from the plummeting temperatures. Once you've got that handled, it's time to think about your plants. We have some simple steps to shield your plants from the harsh weather.

Bring any potted plants inside, if you are able to. Make sure they are in a sunny window and leave them indoors as long as the temperature is at or below freezing. Because they are in pots, their roots are less insulated than underground plants which puts them at a higher risk.
If you are unable to bring potted plants inside, you can cover them with a blanket or cloth. Secure covering with duct tape, rocks, bricks or anything heavy. You want to trap the heat in and keep the wind out, so simply draping won't be as effective. Remove or vent covers during the day if the weather is warm.
Don't use plastic. Any part of the plant that touches the plastic, can freeze to it.
For more severe freezes or prolonged temperatures below freezing, providing a heat source under the cover improves protection. Wrap or drape the plant with strings of small outdoor Christmas lights before you cover it. The traditional lights, not the new LED ones, will generate some heat.
Make sure plants are well watered prior to the freeze to prevent added stress. If the freeze is predicted that night, water earlier in the day.
You can protect plants that are in the ground by placing four inches of mulch over the soil and around the base of these plants. The mulch acts like a blanket and traps the heat. Pine straw is best, since it stays fairly loose, which improves it's insulating qualities.

Now that your home and plants are ready for the freeze, it's time to get yourself ready. Grab some hot-chocolate and a cozy blanket and enjoy the snow!

plant of the week Red Twig Dogwood

2010-01-24T21:38:00.002-05:00

Last week I wrote about a newer variety of dogwood that is now available to us. Since I have received so much interest in the Evergreen Dogwood, I thought I would feature the red twig this week to stay with that theme. While the Red Twig Dogwood is a shrub instead of a tree, it deserves just as much attention. This is a wonderful accent to the landscape and can really give you a lot of impact year round. The best impact from this plant is going to occur in the winter after the leaves have dropped. Yes, thats what I said. This plant has the most striking red branches that add a much need contrast to the winter garden. While the stems are one of the main reasons this plant is chosen, it also has wonderful dogwood white flowers in the spring followed by berries that attract birds. If that isn't enough of a reason to choose this plant, how about the fact that it loves moist sites. If you have an area that things just wont grow due to the amount of water, this might be just what you are looking for. They will tolerate some shade making them a wonderful addition to a woodland garden. They also would work well if you have an area that is prone to erosion due to their large root system.

The Red Twig Dogwood looks best when mass planted and should be planted as a focal point. This plant can stand alone of stand out in large bed. There are a few varieties with growth to 10' so they fit in just about anywhere in the landscape. The Red Twigs do benefit from pruning to encourage the new bright red growth. Aside from some pruning and shaping they are relatively low maintenance shrubs. I believe they look best when the top of the branches are pruned to the same height giving a hedge type appearance.

Look for the the varieties Cornus Sericea Bailey for heights to 10' and Kelseyi for a lower compact growth to 3-4'. If red isn't quite your color, try Flaviramea for yellow twigs and heights to 10'. All of these make great lower maintenance additions that will really set your landscape apart from the neighborhood.

plant of the week

2010-01-20T20:40:00.002-05:00

Durning the winter is such a great time to think about your landscaping. There are always new uses for old plants as well as better developed old favorites. I recently came across this one on a trip to a landscaping trade show. I was so surprised by the foliage that I had to stop and chat with the owner of the nursery that was growing it. The leaves were a dusty eggplant purple with a bit of green on them. I thought right then I needed this tree for my landscaping. I was shocked to learn it was a dogwood.

Since this is an evergreen, it does not shed all of its leaves at one time, but will drop some of them through out the year. This variety blooms a bit later than the native varieties we are used to. The flowers last for a few weeks and can fade to a mauvy pink color. When the blooms are done there will be a fruit that will appear. This is a berry like fruit that turns red and is edible but not delectable . The fruit does attract wild life, especially birds if you are looking for that. In the winter the leaves turn to a dusty eggplant color with some green. The winter color is beautiful and a welcome addition to the drab winter landscape.

This dogwood is an evergreen variety that has been growing for awhile now. There are a few wholesale nurseries that have started growing them and they are now large enough and have proved themselves for our area so they are now available for landscaping in North Carolina. Cheap Scapes will be offering them in our spring line up of exciting new plants for you to enjoy.

2010-01-20T19:34:00.001-05:00

linking all our social media together to be better connected. Hopefully it all works ok!

A new year in the landscape

2010-01-10T13:15:00.003-05:00

January is here and the cold weather wont be going away anytime soon. While the ground is frozen the thought of spring seems very far away. As we all organize and clean out the year past this is a good time to start to plan the new year in your landscape.

Now that things are dormant and you can see the bones of your yard, look closely at the areas that need improvement. The corner of the yard where no one goes or the side of the house that no one sees might be great places to start. After you have located the area that needs some improvement, think about something different. Think about a plant you have always wanted to try or a great bench you saw at the store but didn't buy. Now use that thought for your inspiration and build on that.

There are many plants available that you might not have thought about that would work great with things you already have. Take cuttings of some of your existing plants and start new ones to save on the cost. Mixing some old favorites with some great new plants will make the area seem like an extension of your existing landscape while adding some new excitement.

Use those forgotten corners and far off spaces to create smaller gardens within your yard. Those areas just might become your favorite places to go afterwards.

Fall on a budget

2009-09-11T11:56:00.001-04:00

Fall is a great time of the year. We all look forward to the cooler weather after a long hot summer. During the hot summer months most of us have neglected our gardens and lawns. Now is the perfect time to perk them up and give them some new life without breaking the bank. There are many things that can be done inexpensively and can make a huge impact.

Color is the first thing that will make a tired yard look new again. Start by reseeding and aerating your lawn. The new green growth will make your landscape look new and refreshed. To save some money use quality products. If you use a good product you will actually use less of it and see faster longer lasting results. A good time released fertilizer will last longer and you only need to apply it every 3 months. Look for a seed that is pure without weed seed and fillers. Buying pure seed means you aren't waisting your money on filler and you will get more seed per pound.

Now that your grass is on its way to being thick and green, lets look to the beds. Add some new mulch or pine straw will not only make them look good, it will also help protect your plants from the upcoming cold weather. By topping off your beds twice a year in spring and fall, you will use less per application saving you money. Keeping a good base of mulch means less is need to to top them off each season. Don't make the mistake of letting your mulch get bare and thin, that will create more weeds and make a bigger and more expensive chore for you to do later.

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. By planting in the fall the trees and shrubs have all winter to get acclimated to their new home and you have less of risk of loosing your new plants to stress. When you plant in the fall you will be assured of a wonder spring with lots of new growth and a healthy plant. When choosing a tree be sure to check your site and choose the right tree for the area. Choosing a tree that gets to large means taking it out at a later date. Many trees have cultivators that will grow smaller but retain the beauty of that species.

The last thing to think about is color for your beds. Add some great annuals to fill in the areas when the shrubs go dormant. There are lots of things to plant that add color when all the leaves drop. These cool weather annuals will keep going all winter to give your garden a welcoming burst of color. Don't forget your walkways, porches and entries. These areas are what you and your guest see as they enter your house. Make it a welcoming site to come home to.

By using any of these examples you will surely have a great looking landscape and keep your costs under control too. By keeping your cost down you'll have more money in your pocket or more money to spend on your landscape.

Summer Color

2009-08-03T21:09:00.003-04:00

It is hard to believe that summer is almost over. Now that fall is in site and we know cooler weather is in our future it is time to look to our dry and colorless landscapes and zero in on some late season color. There are lots of perennials that really come to life this time of year. These plants will continue to give you summer color for years to come if properly cared for.

One of my favorites this year has been the Cone flower or Echinacea purpurea. This plant gives large colorfull blooms that last for a few days. With heights ranging from 1' to almost 4', they are sure to find a home somewhere in your garden. They look wonderful tucked in between rocks in a rock garden or bed, or planted in mass to create lovely flower beds. With colors of purple, pinks yellow and even orange they will really spark the landscape.

My other favorite is great for the whimsical garden . Gaillardia Lindheimeri or Wand flower is a must. The wand flower has low growing foliage that stays manageable and sends wonderful dainty flowers up above wiry stems. As the wind blows these flowers dance in the breeze like butterflies. heights range from 1 1/2' to 2 1/2' and comes in rose, hot pink and white. This is a must have for any garden that children will visit.

Salvia is another great late summer flower. Salvia has many forms from compact to very loose , short to tall. With the different foliage and flowering options they can look very different. Colors ranger from blues, purples, pinks to red.

The last and most favorite is Veronica X. This is a powerhouse planting. With its low, compact form it doesn't get out of hand. Sunny border blue will last until frost. Sending up beautiful spires of tiny blue flowers, it blooms nonstop even without dead-heading. Border blue will take very cold temperatures before it vanishes for the winter. It is quick to come back as soon as temperatures warm up.

With so many wonderful plants out there to give you great color, there is something for you. With some thought and a little energy on a cool summer morning you can give your tired summer landscape some new life.

Getting the best out of your creative side

2009-07-20T20:55:00.002-04:00

I am sitting here thinking why cant I come up with a creative and new solution to a problem that I see everyday. This should be easy for me after all I am a designer. I want to come up with something so creative and wonderful but I am getting nothing. Wondering how this can be happening to me, I stopped trying to push it and let it come naturally. By doing this I remembered something that I had learned long ago.

I can not come up with a positive solution while holding on to bunch of negative crap. The more I held on to the stuff that was bugging me, the harder it was to create. Sitting here with my self I realized that anyone can be creative and find unique solutions if they let go and open up to the possibilities. To create we must let go of our ideas and preconceived notions. How many times have we stumbled with a problem and a friend comes along with fresh eyes and like magic finds our solution. It's not that our friend is so smart, they just don't have any preconceived ideas about it. To them it is a blank canvas and it can become anything.

We all try so hard to force a solution and sometimes the answer is right under our noses. We were looking so hard that we couldn't find it. I challenge all of you to take that problem area of your yard, house or life and let go of it. See if the answer doesn't come to you when you least expect it. To be the most creative we have to let our minds open to new ideas and try them out. Stop being afraid and just do it. There is no right or wrong when you are creating. Everything is an expression of you and everyone has the ability to create something beautiful. Now lets all go make something fabulous!

Nation Water Gardening Month

2009-07-01T21:07:00.003-04:00

July is national water gardening month. During this month there will be lots of activities to bring awareness to the wonderful hobby of water gardens. This hobby grows in popularity every year because of its relaxing qualities in today's hectic world.

Most people think of backyard ponds with a few goldfish and a water lily or two. While this is very common, water gardens have evolved into very high tec gardens of all types and sizes. With the advancement of pond filters maintenance is very easy and no longer requires the cleaning of pads. Pond pumps come in all shapes and sizes for both inside and outside of the pond and are more energy efficient and cost very little to run. With all the new technology a pond can be a very easy and affordable addition to any landscape.

Maybe a pond isn't what you had in mind, but you would love the sound of water. A pondless waterfall is just for you. The water falls into a basin that is covered with rock leaving no standing water. You get the best of both worlds, great sound and the enjoyment of watching the water without the worry of the open water. If you are short on space use a water basin with a decorative pot or stone on top for some added drama to your landscape.

During National Water Gardening month visit some events around your area and see what water gardening has to offer. Whatever you decide fits your lifestyle best, install one and let the sound of water drown out the world around you. It will be the best addition to your landscape yet.

2009-06-21T11:33:00.003-04:00

Need Shade?

Trees make a wonderful addition to any landscape. They offer height and form that is need to create a finished landscape. When choosing a tree there are many things to look for depending on the end result that you are looking for. For most of us we dont consider this when shopping for a tree. What we really want is shade and lots of it.

When the heat of summer is on, we want big trees now. That can be hard if you are not fortunate to have a wooded lot. There are ways to get a larger tree now and give some shade during the summer heat. Planting a large ball and burlap tree will give you a large tree and is not as hard as you might think. Many nursery's have pre-dug ball and burlap trees in many sizes and varieties. Most trees can be found from 1 1/2" to 4" trunk size. The larger the truck, the taller and older the tree.

Ball and burlap trees come with the root ball wrapped in burlap and a steal cage to protect the tree until planting. You do not need to remove this, just open the burlap on the surface after it is in the hole. Make sure the hole is large enough to fit the ball and extra room around it to add some enriched soil. Fill in the hole with some enriched soil mixed with what some of the dirt you dug from the hole but do not add soil above the root ball. Add a stake to protect it form wind and keep it straight, give it some water and you're done.

The bigger trees can be hard to manage and you may need some help getting them home and in the hole. The exta work and cost is worth it with the size of tree that you will be getting. It can take years for a small 10 gallon tree to grow to a the size you can get with a ball and burlap. With the ball and burlap you can get a tree that is 8 feet tall or more creating instant shade. After all isnt that we we all want?

Cheap Landscaping

2009-06-10T14:59:00.005-04:00

I think I am asked on a daily basis how can I get great landscaping cheap. The answere is always the same, you can't. If you love the pictures in magazines and the model homes you tour you can have the same thing in your yard but it will not come cheap. Quality landscaping always has a big price tag because of the cost of the materials not the labor. There are ways that you can get it done cheaper but it will still cost.

The first and most important tip is do NOT sacrafice what you want. It is better to wait to get your dream landscaping then by choosing a different design, inferior quality or cheaper plants. If you settle now you will end up replacing what you did today at some point and you will have spent double the money. You know what you like and you like it for a reason so do not choose something based on the price tag.

The secound tip is to choose who does your work carefully. Some landscapers will charge you a lot for their labor and some are more reasonable. Labor is labor when it comes to most aspects of landscaping. This is not true of some of the specialty items like ponds or brick and stone work. know your company and compare their labor charges to others in the business. This however does not mean always go with the cheapest. Choose a well priced quality landscaper who will be in business tomorrow and stand behind their work. The guy down the street in the old truck that barely runs might not be your best choice.

Thridly, have an idea of what you are trying to acheive before you get started. If you want to do the work yourself consider hiring a designer to give you a base plan. It will save you a lot of money if you have a good solid plan and stick to it as much as possible. Be careful with your designer, they come in all price ranges. Know what you are getting before you agree to use them. A good landscape designer will provide you with a drawning and a plant list with plant names, colors, bloom time, size and shape. Once you have your plan it is ok to deviate a bit but be careful that you are not redoing work you have already done.

The final tip is if the budget is to tight, break the project into pieces and do one piece at a time. Do not omit a step to save money and get more done. For instance, don't skip the landscape fabric and put mulch down on the bare ground unless you are prepared to weed. It is not the landscapers fault that you have weeds in your mulch if you were too cheap to put it down.

With some forthought you will be able to save some money and still have a quaility landscape that you love without breaking the bank. Always remember you get what you pay for. For more money saving ideas check out our website cheapscapesnc.com.

Big changes come in small packages

2009-05-24T21:25:00.003-04:00

Sometimes we try so hard to think of ways to make our landscape better. We look through plant books, research the newest trends and even scour the home improvement stores. Usually we give up frustrated with no answeres for our tired landscaping and just leave it alone. Usually we are right in our decision to do just that.

Our landscape is good. We have put a lot of thought into it and liked the outcome. Now it just looks tired and boring. The best fix for our tired yards can be as easy as new mulch. Thats righ, just some new mulch can give our beds the up date it so desperately nees. Add a bit of pruning and cleaning up and everything looks new again. Fresh mulch helps make the plants look their best and keeps them cool and moist in the hot summer sun. Now we can stand back and admire our beautiful landscape and know that our plants are happier and healthier too.

Reduce, reuse and save money

2009-05-15T15:45:00.006-04:00

When thinking about your landscape it can be hard to imagine how you can reuse and reduce you water while still having a great yard. There are many ways to still have a great landscape without the typical water waisters and the expensive designer mulches. Some of these tricks are simple while others may a little imagination.

The first and most obviouse water waister is grass. You can transition from a cool season grass that strugles in the summer and requires a lot of water to a warm weather grass. The warm weather grass like bermuda love the heat and require less water. If you love your fescue and can not bring yourself to to convert, try making your grass area smaller. Pick an area that gets some shade in the afternoon and make an interesting shape for your grass to grow in. After you have established where you want the grass to grow, make the remainder of your yard mulch beds. Now you have cut your water use, still have grass and cut your mowing time.

Mulch is a great way to accent your grass. The green against the brown mulch highlights your grass area. Now you are probably thinking mulch is very expensive to cover large areas. There is a secret to saving on mulch. Stay away from the bagged designer mulches and use some of the shredded varieties. These are made from scrap wood of different kinds. The cheapest however can be found at your local landfill. Yes thats right, landfill. Most cities have an area where yard waist is taken and then shredded and composted to make a great mulch. This type of mulch is not a hard wood mulch, but made up of lots of different yard clippings. By using this type of mulch you can help to decrease the amount of yard waste that goes in the landfill, give your landscape much need nutrients and save you lots of money!

Now that you have decreased your grass area, added mulch and are feeling pretty good about yourself don't stop. There are still lots of way to continue to save. While you're putting in those mulch beds add a drip irrigation system to give water only to the plants that need them. Why water your whole beds when you can deliver the water right to the plants roots where it needs to go. These systems are very easy to install and have lots of options on emitters. You can even use a timer on your hose bid to schedule exactly when and how long you want your area to be watered. No more sprinkler moving or hand watering giving you more time to enjoy the wonderful yard you have just created.

There are many more tips to saving and reusing in the garden. These can be found on most websites. Check our our web site at www.cheapscapesnc.com for more tips.

plant pics

2009-05-15T15:43:00.002-04:00

If you read my post on new plants, I have added a picture of the loropetalum purple pixie and the purple diamond for you to see. The purple pixie is the smaller on to the left.

water savers

2009-05-09T22:05:00.002-04:00

Water Savers
The trend for outdoor living is still going strong. So is the movement to save water. Did you every think putting in a patio could save water? Well it will and so will so many things you can do to your yard just by eliminating or reducing your grass areas.

A yard without grass does not have to be hot and stark.
or without color. The leading manufacturers of concrete pavers have come up with some wonderful color blends that will match most any home color pallet.
Pavers now come in many shapes and sizes allowing for specialty designs to be integrated into the patio. Once you have chosen your color and design, find a nice spot in your yard to a create your outdoor living space. Once the patio is complete, fill it with comfortable seating and some colorful pots planted with your favorite plants.

Another way to save on water is to make your grass the focal point of your landscape. Create mulch beds and fill them with great plants that will add some interest. Once that is done your grass area will be small enough to enjoy without having to spend your whole weekend mowing, and your household budget will get a break with a lower water bill.

Whichever way you decide, you will be saving on of our most precious resources and that is a very good trend.

Curb appeal

2009-05-06T16:10:00.001-04:00

So often we get used to our surrounding and don't notice the small things around us. We pull into our driveways everyday and walk to the door without a second thought. Seldom do we stand back and look at our homes in the eyes of our neighbors, visitor and passers by. If we did we would probably not like what was right there in front of us. When we look at our homes through the eyes of someone else, we can see areas that could use some improvement. Maybe the walk way to the front door isn’t as inviting as it could be, or our grass is patchy and not as green as it could be. Any of the list of things that you come up with can be solved usually without much time or money.

To get the most bang for your buck just clean. Give the outside a good pressure wash to remove stains and mildew. A simple washing will remove the dust and cob webs that have accumulated and make everything seem fresh. After a good cleaning add some color. Anything colorful will make your front door seem more inviting. Try a colorful wreath for the door, a new door mat with a colorful design, a bright pot with some colorful plants or a fresh coat of paint for your front door. All of this will make your front door more welcoming.

If you need to go a little bit farther, add mulch! Fresh mulch makes a world of difference in the appearance of your planting beds. The beds seem crisp and fresh and makes your plants pop against the dark brown of the mulch. If there is room add some annuals with bold color. Be sure not to skimp. If you don't plant enough they will look spars and get lost in the mulch. While you are at it, trim the shrubs in your bed. Remove any dead leaves or stems and give them a good shaping if necessary. Don't forget to remove any weeds while your at it. Weeds make a house look unkept and sometimes vacant! A vacant looking home is asking for intruders and they are not the kind of visitor you want to attract.

Great new plants

2009-05-04T20:12:00.001-04:00

Too often mistakes are made when choosing plants for a landscape. The landscape should consist of different colors and textures. If all of the foundation shrubs are green, the landscape becomes boring and looses it's definition. The same can be said if all of the foundation shrubs are deciduous. The winter landscape then becomes a sea of bare sticks and looks cold and uninviting. There are some easy solutions to this problem. At Cheap Scapes landscaping we pick plants that add color and interest all year long.

One of my favorite plants is Loropetalum. There are many varieties that have been used over the years and they work just fine. One variety has a purplish leaf with a magenta fringe flower at various times of spring and summer. During the winter they turn deeper purple giving color to a drab winter landscape.

I never thought Loropetalum could get any better until a recent trip to a local nursery and found not one but two new varieties from the Southern Living collection. "Purple Diamond" is a beauty! It has a deep plum purple leaf that stays through out the summer months that offers great contrast to the magenta flowers. Purple Diamond gets about 5' tall and 5' wide at maturity. It is a moderate grower so it will take some time to get there. If you can't take a plant of that size there is a smaller form "Purple Pixie". "Purple Pixie" gets 1-2' high and 4' across and has the same great purple color and magenta flower. This would make a great ground cover or cascading over a wall. They both would look great in a Japanese garden , rock garden or shaped into formal hedges if desired. Any way that you use them I am sure that you will be pleased with the results.
Take a look around your landscape and see what you can do to give it some pop! If you are stumped and not sure what to do, take a look at magazines or look up some landscapes on the Internet for some inspiration. If that isn't working for you ask a professional for some help. What ever you do try to incorporate at least one of these into your landscape.