Early Bird Garden Tips

As Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Water is the driver of nature.”  So let’s tackle that number one water guzzler right off the bat. 

1) If you water your lawn frequently, it actually becomes less drought-tolerant. Do you remember this tip shared earlier in the month? Improve your soil and make conscious efforts to reduce your chemical and water usage. And when seeding or reseeding your lawn, use varieties that are drought, disease and insect resistant.
2) Water early in the AM.
3) Use drip irrigation whenever possible.
4) When watering with a hose, irrigate the roots, not the foliage. Avoid overhead irrigation use. This can cause diseases with your crop and plants.
5) Use mulch to keep the soil cool and moist.

6) Remember to plant native and drought-tolerant materials as part of your mix. 

 

A perfect sunny spot combo 

© All Images – Property of Bilowz Associates Inc. 

If you like this blog, check in for your daily share's worth of garden inspiration, landscape architecture and design tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.  And you can also find us back on our Google+ Business Page. (Landscape architects/Landscape Design/serving Massachusetts and New England.)

The #November Design Challenge

An example of a Bilowz Associates Inc. Landscape Lighting Plan

The month of November can bring its challenges when it comes to the outdoors and our landscape, at least if you live in a region where the most beautiful season of color and foliage is now at its passing point. So rather than simply tuck away the outdoor furniture and call it garden and design quits, here are a couple ways to consider challenging yourself 'design-wise' in the month of November.

Natural light is the number one element that diminishes during the late fall and winter months. If you're in the planning stages of construction and design, consider incorporating a well-thought out lighting plan into your overall landscape budget. As has been mentioned in a past blog post, ‘Falling for the Landscape’ , lighting, which often comes last, well, you guessed it. It can end up cheapened or axed in an overall design. But it’s the backlash that ends up being more expensive down the road. Lighting is best done during the construction phase of the project versus when it's buttoned up and complete.  And if you live in a high-impact zone, choose fixtures that can withstand those types of harsh elements. Retain a portion of your overall design budget for lighting, which often comes at the tail end. It makes for better planning plus an ambient, safer landscape for all seasons, especially months like November.

And one last challenge as we edge into the winter slumber. Water conservation should be an all-year topic, not just summer banter. November is the perfect month to review your overall landscape. Consider additional places to conserve and address your water usage. This can be one of the unsung heroes of a well-thought out landscape master plan. 

Do not let November be the month of goodbyes. Let this be the month of bringing light and conserving water while launching your landscape design. 

© Copyright note: this image & design have been developed by and is the property of Bilowz Associates Inc. and should not be reproduced in any manner nor are they to be assigned to any third party without the expressed written permission and consent of Bilowz Associates Inc. 

 If you like this blog, check in for your daily share's worth of garden inspiration, landscape architecture and design tips; always original, not cookie cutter and copied. Just like our design work, we strive for unique! We invite you to contact Bilowz Associates, Inc., or to browse our portfolios. Like our Facebook follow on Twitter or subscribe to the blog to receive posts daily via email or a feed. You can follow with visuals on Pinterest and find us on LinkedIn and Houzz, too.  And you can also find us back on our Google+ Business Page. (Landscape architects/Landscape Design/serving Massachusetts and New England.)