We specialize in landscape, irrigation and concrete installation for residential and commercial sites and snow removal services for commercial customers.
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23 May 2018
Woman showing flowers in a pot for planting

Choosing the Right Landscaping in Denver and Parker

DENVER, PARKER AND BROOMFIELD LANDSCAPING CHOICES

Ideal Greenery for Parker and Denver Colorado Landscapes.

A decently landscaped property in Parker or Denver is definitely pleasing to the eye. It’s your property; you have invested time and money into it. It is a part of your livelihood and so when it looks good it’s natural to beam with pride. This is why landscaping is commonly referred to as the “art of the outdoors”. A well conceived landscape on your property isn’t just eye candy; it can become a sanctuary of sorts. A secret garden of your very own, tucked quietly away, hidden in the vast suburban sea. Unless, of course, the vast suburban sea in which you find yourself happens to be in Colorado, in which case you and your “sanctuary” are at the mercy of some very fickle weather.

If you are native to Colorado then you know how very fond this state is of pine trees, or more accurately called, the Colorado White Fir. It thrives in drier climates and so it is ever present here in Colorado. They are relatively cheap, easy to plant, require very little maintenance and, if you’re blind, then you won’t mind how visually unappealing they are. Oh, and did I mention how very fond the Pine Beetle is of them?

Don’t despair. I didn’t write this to saddle you with bad news. There are some lovely alternatives to this tree that will thrive in Colorado.

Take, for instance, the Paperback Maple. This deciduous, albeit slow-growing, tree is ideal for those who are seeking a little more privacy as these trees can reach heights of 20-30 feet and will spread its branches at an equal with. It will thrive in either full or partial sunlight, in which there is no shortage in Colorado, and requires very little moisture. In the fall its leaves will turn crimson red adding awe-inspiring color and character to your yard. These saplings are relatively cheap in price but require a lot of patience as the full benefits of this gorgeous tree cannot be fully appreciated until they have been grounded for over a year, possibly longer.

Are you looking for a tree that blooms? Despite what most people think, Colorado’s weather can sustain many species of flowers. If it is a tree you’re looking for then why not plant an American Plum? The American Plum, also referred to as the Wild Plum, is actually a member of the Rose Family and is considered to be a “drought-resistant” tree. It can grow up to 25 feet high, although this is not at common in Colorado as it is out East because of the dryer climate. However, you can expect this tree to compete in size with our commonly seen Crabapple tree. And just like the Crabapple this tree boasts some beautiful blossoms, gleaming white, with a sweet, candied smell that manifests in early spring. Keep in mind, however, that the sweet blossoms this tree produces also create germinated seeds. This means that one tree, that isn’t isolate and well maintained, could easily turn into more trees. The fruits is creates will attract a variety of pests. This tree is best used as a cornerstone or a centerpiece of your landscape design. In other words, you probably don’t want to plant ten of these, unless you would like to open your own orchard. American Plum saplings are also easy on the pocketbook and grow more rapidly than the Paperback Maple mentioned above.

Individuals who are looking to brighten up their outdoor space aren’t limited to only trees. For example, Salvia greggii, or Furman’s Red Sage, was introduced to the Colorado landscape in 2005. Its soil moisture requirements range from Moderate to Xeric (meaning little to no moisture required at all) and thrives in direct sunlight. Although this fine specimen is more like a shrub in appearance, and less like a flower bed, it will bloom throughout the summer and fall decorating your outdoor space with beautiful scarlet colored blossoms. As this is a shrub, in essence, it will grow and quickly but is very easy to maintain; simply trim in the spring before the summer blossoms show, and again at the end of Autumn, or before the first frost. This particular sage is perfect for a surrounding trim, especially as a colorful accent to line a fenced area.

An ideal ground cover would be the Valley Lavender. This luscious and very generous flower is also perfect for Xeric landscapes. It is a very vibrantly colored perennial, an empowering shade of violet, that grows and spreads quickly and will bloom from the late Spring through the first frost of the season. Another noteworthy detail about the Valley Lavender; it attracts a variety of butterflies! It’s vivacious color and sweet scent is irresistible to them.

Whatever your tastes may be you can find the right flower or trees to suit your landscaping palate and survive the harsh Colorado climate. Discuss these options with an “outdoor artist” or you can visit www.plantselect.org for a complete and comprehensive list of trees, shrubs and flowers that are ideal to withstand the Colorado weather.

22 May 2018
Clerk showing topiary plants in pots

Parker CO. Landscaping and XERIscaping

INFORMATION ABOUT LANDSCAPING FOR PARKER CO. AND DENVER CO.

Why Use XERIscaping For Denver Landscaping?

Colorado weather is fickle. We are not quite fortunate enough to enjoy weather common to many states in the mid-west and yet we are separated enough from the likes of Arizona and New Mexico to be considered a “desert state”. Colorado exists in a gray area. Our summers can be scorching hot and our winters; bitter cold. Rarely are we ever able to enjoy all FOUR seasons. This leaves many Colorado homeowners wondering how to properly landscape their property. What to plant? How to plant it? What can survive the extreme and sporadic Colorado weather?

Following a significant drought near the end of the 1970’s many western states, specifically Colorado, began a major water conservation program. It was estimated, at the time, that roughly 50% of the water usage from the average, American household could be directly contributed to landscaping preservation. Xeriscaping was introduced to Colorado in the very early 80’s by the Denver Water Department in an effort to try to conserve water in the wake of a serious drought. Xeriscaping incorporates the Greek root word “xeros” meaning dry or sparse and when combined with “scaping” you get a type of landscaping that requires less maintenance, and more importantly, less WATER.

Xeriscaping is also often, and incorrectly, referred to as “Zeroscaping”. This is because of the misconception that it requires little to no upkeep or maintenance. This is simply not the case. Any landscape that isn’t full of weeds and dead foliage is going to require some maintenance. Xeriscaping requires maintenance as well, just a lot less of it. Another common misconception is that Xeriscaping includes only massive amounts of rocks and pebbles in place of trees and shrubbery. This is not only inaccurate but counterproductive. Not only is it NOT cost effective, in terms of purchasing and maintaining materials, it is also damaging, sometimes irreversibly, to any existing plants or trees in your yard, should you choose to keep them.

So why use Xeriscaping?

First and foremost, Xeriscaping is cost effective. Owning a home can be expensive in and of itself. Maintaining the property inside and out can be a challenge, especially in time such as these, and finding ways to save is essential. Folks who have considered Xeriscaping for their property have saved between 30% to 80% in water and energy savings per year! How? It’s simple! For starters, efficient irrigation practices and design, usually implemented by a trusted professional, will help you use less water with maximum results without even realizing it!

Secondly, just because you might be saving a few bucks doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice the aesthetics of your property. All too often we associate flourishing foliage and vegetation with an environment that has an abundance of moisture. This is not the case, especially not in Colorado! A reliable landscaping professional can provide you with a multitude of choices regarding greenery that can survive in extremely hot and sunny environments with minimal water and maintenance, which is, after all, what Xeriscaping is all about! Take, for example, the Western Catalpa tree. This lush, green tree requires a lot of sunlight and very little moisture. Perfect for Colorado! And when in bloom it provides a gorgeous display of fragrant, white blossoms, which instantly add charm to any landscape.

Or, perhaps you aren’t looking to invest in larger trees? Then you might like a low maintenance and vibrant flower like the Purple Iceplant. (Shown below) This gorgeous flower blooms from approximately the beginning of May through the end of June, if not longer. During the winter, although it lacks its beautiful purple flowers, the leaves of this unique plant survive the cold and sport a beautiful shade of burgundy during the colder months.

Image procured 07/21/2012 from: http://www.horticultureunlimited.com/landscape-plants/ice-plant.html

Intrigued yet? These are just TWO of a multitude of options to consider when Xeriscaping your property. Saving money does not mean skipping out on lush, green and GORGEOUS landscaping designs. You can have both!