Tag Archives: Colorado

A View from Above: The Parterre Garden

A parterre garden is a formal garden design planted on a level surface that consists of planting beds, edged in stone or tightly clipped hedging and visually pleasing gravel paths that usually form a symmetrical pattern. Created in the 16th century by French nursery designer Claude Mollet, the parterre garden was conceived to be a garden that was to be viewed from the high vantage points of open windows, balconies, and palisades. So it was really a garden meant to be enjoyed by the aristocratic society. However, the English were not receptive to this type of design at first. One English herbalist even said that box had a “naughty smell” and should not be used in the garden.

It was around the time of the reign of Louis XIII at the Palace of Versailles that parterre gardens really reached popularity. Elements of the parterre garden are:

  • square boundaries made from several shrubs of different shades of green
  • elaborate interior patterns of English knot gardens
  • the use of repeating geometry
  • visually pleasing especially when viewing from above

Photo: mooseyscountrygarden.com

Photo: mysuburbanchateau.blogspot.com

Photo: slightlyrelevant.com

Lifescape Associates can design and plant any style garden you want for your Colorado home.

Spruce up your Outdoor Space with Large Potted Plants

If you are looking for a simple solution to sprucing up your front porch, the area around the front door or the patio, large potted plants will be a great option.  Potted plants can add a colorful and decorative accent to an otherwise dull and ordinary area. Large potted plants in many cases are quite easy to care for and can require very little gardening skill. The Colorado winters can get very cold and there are many large potted plants that are strong enough to endure the snowy winter weather, even when the temperatures drop to below freezing.

Large potted plants are very heavy, especially after you add in the weight of the soil in a huge pot, plus the sheer weight of the pot itself. The plants foliage or stems make it difficult to move heavy potted plants around your landscape. It’s best to call a professional landscape contractor if you are thinking about having large potted plants in your landscaping. They have all the necessary equipment to easily plant and move large potted plants.

How to Protect your Trees from Snow Damage

The recent Colorado snow storm may have caused damage to some trees due to the ongoing days with temperatures below zero. An important thing to remember during this time is to protect your trees against the heavy snow loads that can break limbs. The wet spring snow especially will cause damage. Take a proactive approach to guarding your trees. As you see the snow start to accumulate, gently shake it off the trees. If the storm is more severe with heavy snowfall, you will need to do this repeatedly as the snow continues to fall. Here are a few tips on getting snow off your trees:

  • Use something similar to a broom handle as your tool.
  • Start shaking branches at the lowest part of the tree first. If you start at the top, you’ll just be adding more snow to the snow covered lower branches.
  • Make sure you always push the branch up and not down. By pushing the branch down you add to the tension on the weighted branch and that could cause it to snap.
  • Check the deciduous trees, first. If the tree has a trunk with a V-shape, it’s more likely to split in time of heavy snowfall and strong winds.
Photo: Major Clanger via flickr.com

Important Colorado Winter Watering Tips

Because winters are dry and snow is minimal in the front range, newly planted vegetation needs supplemental water to stay alive. Irrigation systems have been turned off to prevent freezing pipes, so manually watering is necessary. This ensures plants, that have been newly planted, will survive throughout the winter.The most important plants to keep watered are plants that keep their leaves all year (broadleaf evergreens) because they perspire water through those leaves.

It’s best if you water the tree underneath the branches and within the drip line. You want to water to the depth of approximately 12 inches. Most trees should get ten gallons per inch of trunk diameter however that may be reduced due to the amount of rain or snowfall received. For young trees and evergreens, water them twice a month during the winter months. You can use soil needles, soaker hoses or soft spray nozzles to water your landscape, just be careful of water runoff and placing soil needles too deep, 6-8 inches is recommended.

Don’t hesitate to contact Lifescape Associates for your winter Colorado landscaping needs.

Photo: msa2.saccounty.net

Access Through Slopes: Landscape Steps and Walkways

When you have a home that is on a hillside or has steep slopes, you need to have access through your property to safely move to and from your gardens, outdoor pool, various outdoor rooms and etc. It’s best to have walkways and landscaping steps created through the planted areas and lawn that go around the sides of the slopes instead of through the slope.

The landscaping steps are especially needed if you are on a very steep hillside. Having stone steps designed for your landscaping adds an element of beauty to the landscaping and is a durable long lasting natural material that can withstand Colorado weather. For slopes that are not so steep, you may want to use decorative stepping stones or paving material like pavers or brick.

What material appeals to you for landscaping steps?

Send Lifescape Associates a comment and let us know what you think?