Bria Designs - A landscaping and design blog by Bria Sativa Aguayo

The Loblolly Paradox

2010-02-28T13:16:00.017-05:00

Since moving to Georgia I am thrilled yet annoyed with the tall and plentiful Loblolly Pines (Pinus taeda) that are totally absent where I grew up in Dallas, TX.

The main reason for being thrilled is obvious: they are majestic. There are many other reasons to appreciate the Loblolly—they create shade, feed wild life, are pretty forgiving of most conditions and this evergreen creates mulch for other plants around it (and itself).

Why annoyed? There are some apparent drawbacks to maintaining the stately tree. The pinecones (often half eaten by squirrels and birds) and the discarded branches—sometimes dangerously large—need constant maintenance unless they are growing in a wild area away from man-made architecture. The same pine straw that can be a benefit can also be a burden. It’s acidic and often messy. Pine needles are somewhat slick so they don’t “stay put” as much as other mulches, like hardwood mulch. The acidity isn’t a problem for Dogwoods (Cornus florida), Azaleas (Rhododendron sp.), Camellias (Camellia sp.)or Gardenias (Gardenia sp.); they like to be lower on the pH scale. Many other plants don’t appreciate the acid as much and may need amendments (like lime) just to get the nutrients they need from the soil.

These disadvantages are easy enough to address, and none are too severe with proper maintenance. The thing that really gets my goat is that, often, all that will make up a landscape is tall (really tall) Pine trees, their friends the Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) and grass or mulch. It’s just two levels and feels like walking into a large house and finding only carpet and walls that go up to a high ceiling. No furniture, no art, no romance. Now, if that is all you have then would you say you have a decorated the house? No. Even a minimalist style design like Japanese usually has cushions, tables, art, plants: something.

Now, this Loblolly problem is easy enough to solve. Okay, it’s not that easy. Start with a plan or hire an exterior (landscape) design if you really need help (or want a professional job).

Incorporating some ornamental trees, like Dogwood (Cornus florida) or Redbud (Cercis florida), both native to the Southeast, would be a good start. At least then you will have flat, medium and extra large.

Optimally you want to have a mixture of flat (grass,

groundcover, and mulch), small (small shrubs or large

perennials), medium (large shrubs and small trees), large (shade trees) and extra large (Loblollies or Tulip

Poplar). This, at least, will pump up the beauty quotient and general attractiveness (all psychological by the way) considerably compared to the aforementioned two-level effect. You don’t have to have all levels, everywhere, sometimes that looks cluttered.

Groupings of medium shrubs with areas with flat or small materials should be the ‘base’ of your landscape. This base is then punctuated with small, large trees or the super tall Loblollies (or Tulip Poplars).

Now, this sounds like a landscape!

Note: Pine trees or, really any tree (but especially Pine) should never be surrounded by grass (where the grass comes up to the tree trunk). Either you will most likely kill your grass by shade or by lack of water/nutrients (the tree will steal it—after all it was there first!) Create a mulch or shrub buffer (ten feet or more is best) between the trees and the lawn. Please.

Hell...

2010-01-21T23:09:00.017-05:00

… or High Water

“Water Wise” landscaping is the smart choice whether you live in a drought stricken area, a flood plain or somewhere in between. You not only save more of a precious resource but may save a few bucks as well. Here are a few tips to help you:

1) Use terrain to your advantage. Plant water loving plants in low areas and locate plants that can tolerate being dry on higher ground. Gravity will bring water to the plants that need it.

2) Group plants with similar water needs together. A yucca with a rose bush? No way! If you want to have yucca in a perennial bed make sure you choose other plants that prefer dryer, well-drained soil like Cone Flower (Echinacea grandiflora)[right], Euphorbia sp. , Lamb’s Ear (Stachys byzantina) or Sedum sp. (I’ll discuss this group more in another post.)

3) Use drip irrigation for shrub or bed areas. These are little tubes that have holes in them where needed. They deliver water to the plant’s roots instead of spraying all over the place and wasting water to evaporation. Drip irrigation can be connected to an irrigation system, a rain barrel or any other water collection device.

4) If you have a wet area take advantage of it by planting a water loving species like Iris (Iris laevigata or ensata are good choices). Two shrubs that like to be wet are Leucothoe sp. and Wax Myrtle (Myrica cerifera).

5) I can’t emphasize this enough… go native! Plants that are native to your area have already experienced the range of extremes in climate that are likely to happen and they are happy with the extremes. There are more and more nurseries highlighting these tried and true characters all the time, and most plant specialists LOVE to talk about the native plants (like flame azalea, left). Just ask!

6) Mulching saves plants. Mulch protects roots from drying out or getting too cold. You can even save yourself some work (and the environment) by raking leaves and grass clippings into beds instead of bagging them up.

“Water Wise” landscape design is something that just takes a little planning but you can have a beautiful garden AND be environmentally friendly. And save money!!

Winter Blahs

2009-12-31T16:02:00.000-05:00

Already getting out the plant catalogs to plan for all the lovelies to add to your garden/landscape in the spring?

While you may have visions of flowers dancing in your head, think about how drab the landscape is right now and prepare for next winter. This time next year you’ll be appreciating your surroundings instead of only imagining the summer beauty!

Have a combination of evergreens and plants that lose their leaves in winter (deciduous) to give you something awesome to look at all year long.

When using deciduous plants think about the interesting branch shapes, or colors or textures you’ll be able to see in colder months. That’s what nature does. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) sometimes keep their dried flower heads (left) into the winter and have reddish, peeling bark. Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia sp.) are a common tree/shrub that have a strong structure or texture when leafless. The ‘Nachez’ is a common variety with gray and maroon bark. If you want to have some real wow, plant a Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) in a prominent place and you’ll be patting yourself on the back next winter.

Evergreens are obviously. . .well.. . . GREEN, but you may want to add some color with purple (right) Fringe Flower (Loropetalum sp.) or something with cream/mint green leaves like Variegated Mock Orange (Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegata’). There are so many leaf colors that can lighten up your gray, winter days. There are also evergreens that have remarkable leaf texture to spice things up a bit. Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica) and Aucuba (Aucuba japonica) are good examples of shrubs a designer would use to add textural variety to evergreen choices.

Berries aren’t just for birds. Berries that stay on in winter, (with or without the accompanying leaves), will add some winter pizzazz. Everyone knows that Hollies have berries, but which varieties pack the biggest berry punch? (Sounds like a drink.) Buford (Ilex cornuta ‘Bufordii’), American (Ilex opaca) and Savannah Holly (Ilex x attenuata ‘Savannah’) can have impressive berry production but one that is often forgotten because it’s deciduous, is Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua). Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina sp.) also has large clusters of bright red berries and you can also add them to the colored foliage category. Indian Hawthorns (Rhaphiolepis indica) and Junipers (Juniperus sp.) have blue to purple berries for even more color.

Adding more texture, color and shape to a winter landscape may not get your heart racing like a mass of flowering azaleas accented with 300 tulips but, like me, you may come to appreciate the subtler beauty of winter. So plan now for those gray days a year from now. You’ll be glad you did when you look out into a winter garden rich with wet, textured bark, touches of colorful berries and glossy green leaves.

Size matters...

2009-09-01T13:41:00.002-04:00

Would you give someone who lived in a small studio apartment a Great Dane puppy? Why not? Puppies are small and cute. Oh right, puppies grow up. And a Great Dane will really grow up. So? Once the puppy grows up, throw it out and buy another puppy. Makes sense, right? Wrong. Yet, this is what people do all the time when it comes to their landscaping.

It’s easy to see the evidence if you live in Atlanta. Just drive down almost any major street and you will see badly topped maples, oaks, and magnolias. These trees aren't the problem. The people who planned and planted them are. Most trees, shrubs, and plants have predicable growth rates. Yet, it's not uncommon to see a tree planted under 15 foot phone lines that will eventually grow to 30 to 40 feet. I'm not sure if it's ignorance or laziness, because there are all kinds of varieties of tree that can be used depending on the circumstance.

For example, if the desired tree is a Crape Myrtle, there are many different kinds. You can use a 15 foot pink or a 10 foot white, but many times I see people planting 'Nachez' varieties than can grow to 30 feet! Not bad if you have the room, but if they're under 20 foot power lines you're going to have some issues. Issues that can cost money, time, and effort. And I'm the kind of landscape designer that believes you should spend more time enjoying your landscape than working it. But trees aren't the only culprits.

Shrubs can be worse. The reason is because they're shaped into hedges which hide the fact that they want to grow beyond their means. Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't trim your shrubs, but why plant a shrub that by its nature will want to grow so fast that you'll have to trim it daily just to keep up. Why not plant a shrub that fits and enjoys the space it grows in? Both you and the shrub will be happier. Then again, I see landscapes all the time that are committing horrendous crimes against nature in the name of keeping their shrubs under control. A gentle five to ten percent pruning is appropriate, but I've seen some shrubs cut back so much that it's hard to even tell what kind it is. And I say cut at your own risk because a butchered shrub is a weak shrub which can lead to scale, fungus, and even death. Again, this can cost, time, money and effort. Are you starting to see a theme here? But what about the danger lurking below the surface?

Getting to the root of the matter isn't just a saying. When it comes to trees and shrubs there is sometimes more going on below than above. I've seen shrubs with root balls five times bigger than the plant. And a tree's roots can spread out twice as far as its branches. This isn't a problem if the plants are healthy, unless you have underground pipes, cables, or foundations. Roots have been known to strangle pipes, damage hardscapes and crack foundations, so again it's important to know what your planting and where. Plant a baby river birch right next to your house and get ready to call your contractor in five years to remove roots from your plumbing. I've seen it happen. And things really get messy when the plants get sick. Pulling out a tree or shrub that's suffered illness can be very costly. Not only is there a large stump that needs to be grind down and hauled away, there's also the gaping hole that needs to be filled. And stump grinders and soil can be quite expensive.

So, planning ahead and knowing your plants can save a lot of pain and suffering down the road. Working with a designer who understands your needs in the long term, will insure your desires are met in the short term...and beyond.

Share and share alike

2009-06-15T15:10:00.013-04:00

My Earth Share experience.

I recently worked with Earth Share of Georgia where they had a silent auction for Earth Day. Bria Designs donated the creation of a conceptual drawing which was awarded to Elizabeth and Chad Radecker, who live in Tucker, for their gracious bid. All together Earth Share raised over $110,000 from the silent auction!

So, I went to visit Elizabeth and Chad and found that they are pretty much starting with a clean slate. Which can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. A clean slate gets my imagination flowing, but it can also be a challenge because there are so many possibilities. As for Elizabeth and Chad, they were excited about having more usable areas around their property, especially more "curb appeal". Which can encompass a lot of things like mailbox design, and driveway framing.

Also, Chad is a chef from Louisiana so I decided that herbs and other edible plants should be an essential element of the design. There are some fun plants that are beautiful and edible.

Passion vine is a unique find in Georgia while Pomegranate and Rosemary make great shrubs. Other considerations include Thyme and Oregano to fill in between stones in a patio and make good flower border plants along with kitchen sage. I wanted to be sure to give the Radeckers a rich color scheme of purple and red flowers and foliage mixed in with a little white to make it pop.

It's important to be sure to focus on various areas of the color wheel when considering your landscaping. Too many colors in similar positions will tend to blend together and cause your landscaping to look bland. Even if the colors are bright, too many similar colors will make it all seem like one big blob of color, which bores the eye and eventually your state of mind.

In addition to color, focal points are really important when putting a design together. They call the eye to attention, and then let the eye move on to the rest of the plants in the matter dictated by the design. For the Radecker design, I decided a beautiful red Japanese Maple Dissectum will be a nice focal point near the front of the house. Lush looking plants, with a variety of green foliage textures, like Fatsia japonica and Chinese windmill palm will make Elizabeth, a Florida native, feel more at home with their tropical feel.

Overall the Radecker design will be low maintenance and friendly to the birds and bees. Having an orderly feel like an English garden with defined borders and beds with rock or low shrubs and profusions of flowers, but also with more relaxed areas like flowerbeds in places where the plants will be able to spill out and ease the look. Native Flame azaleas and Oakleaf hydrangeas will do the trick quite nicely, and will also remind you that you're in the South.

I can't wait until it's all in place and in bloom, so I can take some pictures and share it with you.

Be well and remember: Your landscape is your home...live in it!

-Bria
Bria Designs
www.briadesigns.net

Special Delivery

2009-06-12T15:01:00.017-04:00

First class all the way.

Your mail carrier deserves the best. They, more than any other person, sees your mailbox on a regular basis.
So why not make their day by having a beautiful array of plants and flowers to greet them on their daily rounds.

Your mailbox is also often the first thing people see when arriving at your house and is the introductory element to your overall landscaping design. The challenge is: how to create a setting that represents who you are and introduces your home to the world without causing you to break the bank or your back?

First, know your plants! I can't stress this enough. I've seen people use plants like Banksia Rose, which look pretty when they're small, but end up growing to 15 feet! Great Dane puppies are really cute too, but not if you live in a studio apartment. You also want to stay away from prickly plants like leatherleaf mahonia or Chinese holly, because although they are strong looking, statement making plants, sooner or later you're gonna snag your shirt or pants. And your mail carrier might start dropping your mail on the street.

Low maintenance is also key. Going to your mailbox is a daily ritual, but more so to see if you've won that sweepstakes and not to continue pruning and prodding your flora. Once they are established, euphorbia, dianthus and sedums are great for sunny mailboxes, and geraniums, hellebore or hosta are good for mailboxes that don't get much sunlight. It's good to love your box, or better put, to wrap your mail box in a loving embrace by using non-invasive vines. Carolina jessamine is a manageable sized vine that blooms in spring, as well as Star jasmine.

The mail is delivered all year round. So why shouldn't your plants deliver beauty all year round? You can use perennials that bloom in spring like candytuft, summer friends like summer phlox, autumn arrivals like fall asters, and you may get lucky in the winter with scabiosa.

Many people neglect their mailbox when it comes to their landscape design, but as I said it's usually the first thing people see when they arrive at your house. So make sure you take just as much care and put as much thought into the area around your mailbox as you do for the rest of your property. Making sure you have a diverse landscape design is the best way to make sure you have an exciting backdrop to your outdoor activities no matter what the season, and your mailbox shouldn't be an exception.

Be well and remember: Your landscape is your home...live in it!

-Bria
Bria Designs
www.BriaDesigns.net

Made in the Shade

2009-06-01T00:01:00.001-04:00

Don't be afraid of the dark. Better put, don't let your plants be afraid of the shade. There are many plants that can thrive in the shade, and with little water. The video below is from the continuing series:

Bria Designs presents, Living Landscapes with Bria

More videos to come soon!

Be well, and remember: Your landscape is your home...live in it!

-Bria
Bria Designs
www.briadesigns.net

English invation!

2009-05-15T15:01:00.006-04:00

The English are coming! Actually, they're already here. English Ivy has been a part of the Georgia landscape for a very long time. Although English Ivy is drought tolerant and likes the shade, it may not be the best choice for ground cover. Unless you're willing to risk it taking over your life.

If you find your property is being stalked by this slow and quiet invader, don't worry. With the right tools and methods, you can remove this uninvited guest and make it part of the family at the same time.

First, wait until after a good rain. The water will soften the soil and make it easier to pull the ivy up right from the roots. The rain will also dampen any efforts from pollen or mold to mount a counter attack on your sinuses. Also, be sure to wear pants, boots and gloves, as well as a mask to make sure you're totally protected from any additional invaders and the possible crawly critter.

Be sure you cut ivy off of trees (at least to 6 feet from the ground) to prevent seeds from falling from the sky and getting the ivy going all over again. If you have a blanket of ivy you can start at one end and just roll it. It will practically remove itself. Once it's been removed, be sure to place it on the curb for pickup with yard waste. Don't add it to compost because it may just start another colony, and you know what happens when the English do that!

If you are overwhelmed and just don’t have the strength or time to get out there and start pulling, then consider mulch. A lot of mulch.

You’ll need to bury the ivy under 8-10 inches of mulch in order to smother it (and anything else under there). This may take a little longer than getting down and dirty with the ivy, but it works. Just be sure to reapply the mulch every year in the spring and fall. Otherwise the ivy will think you really didn't mean it and will return like an ex-boyfriend in a cheap suit.

However, unlike the ex-boyfriend, you can keep some of the ivy around for indoor use. I like to save some of the intact ivy runners (long stems) with roots still attached, and replant them in pots for houseplants, or as gifts. English Ivy is a lot easier to control indoors, and can make a nice addition to your interior design.

So don't fear the English Ivy. Although it can be a nuisance, with the right tactics and tools, you can handle that invader like it's 1776!

Be well, and remember: Your landscape is your home...live in it!

-Bria
Bria Designs
www.briadesigns.net

A new day begins

2009-05-06T13:06:00.022-04:00

Plants are my friends. They always have been. I remember walking along paths as a little girl and stopping to see the little wild flowers that would grow along the road and sidewalks.

I would smell them, touch them, look deep into them to see if I could figure out how they worked.

My grandmother encouraged me to explore her garden (as you can see in the picture) and I always wondered if each plant had it's own personality. Well, it turns out they do.

Okay, maybe not each plant, but each species does have its likes and dislikes. Some have good dispositions and some have attitude problems. The important thing is to know a plant's personality before you bring them to your home. It can cause a lot less friction and a lot more enjoyment. It's also important to know if a certain plant fits with your own personality. People who are very active and lead a busy lifestyle would be better off with a plant that enjoys being on its own (Boxwood and Lavender-Munstead are two good ones). Those who love to care for and faun over plants might do better with plants who like lots of attention (Hibiscus loves and needs to be loved, a lot).

Whichever plants you choose, remember it's always important to make sure they fit who you are, as well as where you are.

Be well, and remember: Your landscape is your home...live in it!

-Bria
Bria Designs
www.briadesigns.net