Hardscape is a design term that means the inanimate parts of the landscape. Softscape means the living parts of the landscape. Generally, the hardscape is installed before the softscape, so it doesn’t damage any of the plants going in. We will usually install at least one, but possibly all, of the following components.
Patios
Decks
Fire Features
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Patios
The patio is a paved outdoor area adjoining the house. It can be made out of natural or man-made materials. We use three different types of material to make a patio. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Concrete
Concrete is easy to work with and is the cheapest material we install. However, as the soil freezes and thaws, it can move under the concrete. This can cause it to crack. Also, if there are pipes or wires under the concrete that need repair, you will have to hammer out the concrete for access to them. This can quickly get expensive.
Pavers
These are our most popular patio material. Approximately 80% of the patios we install are made of some sort of paver. Pavers are individual concrete pieces that are laid in a pattern to form a patio. They come in all shapes and sizes. Our favorite paver manufacturers are Belgard and Unilock brands for their quality and range of products available. Pavers are more expensive then concrete but are much more durable. They are a flexible pavement, which means they can move with soils instead of cracking. They can be dug up to get to pipes or wires below them and then reinstalled, instead of being destroyed as they are removed.
Natural Stone
This is the best choice as stone will weather the best. They can be in shapes, irregular pieces, or as squares or rectangles, depending on the formality of the landscape. They never go out of style as they are from the earth. We lay them in a mortar bed on a concrete base or dry lay on an aggregate base. We use polymeric joint sand to fill the gaps between them when laid on aggregate. Natural stone is more expensive than the other two materials but will last a lifetime.
Decks
A deck is an elevated structure adjacent to the home. They are often built so that you can enjoy a view, such as by a lake or creek. There are several different materials you can chose for your deck.
Wood
Wood decks are probably the most common. You can use pressure treated wood to repel insects that might eat the wood, such as carpenter ants or termites. A more organic solution is cedar wood, which naturally repels insects and is also resistant to rotting. Wood is normally the cheapest material to build a deck with, but lumber is in short supply right now and is quite expensive. This can add to the price of a deck, so quotes may need to be adjusted based on the current price of lumber. Decks do require periodic sanding and re-staining as the sun makes the stain fade. Or you can let the wood age naturally for more of a grey tree bark look overtime.
Composite material This is a blend of wood fiber and PVC. It looks like wood but is much more durable. It does not need to be sanded or stained as the color is added when the product is manufactured. Composite boards come in many different colors. You will need to sweep debris such as leaves off it regularly and hose it off periodically. Composite material is more expensive than wood and cannot quite match the warm glow of natural wood.
PVC boards These boards look like wood but are all PVC. PVC boards are strong, durable, and low maintenance. They are more expensive than wood or composite material and do shrink and swell during temperature fluctuations.
Alternatives
Decks don’t have to be constructed with wood or wood lookalikes. We can use a steel frame and put pavers, stone, or tile down instead of wood. These types of decks are long lasting and the lowest maintenance of the choices we install. Since they are unusual, they are great conversation pieces, as well.
Fire Features
Fire features usually go on top of patios and decks. They add to the enjoyment of evenings outside. Fire features can use natural gas, liquid propane, or wood. We install several types of fire features.
Fire pits
These are structures that contain fire in a bowl or pit inside the structure. They are great for sitting around on a cool evening or making marshmallows. They are an inexpensive way to add fire to your outdoor space.
Fireplaces
We can build a gas fired or wood burning fireplace in your outdoor living space. These look like the traditional fireplaces inside a home, but do not have the size constraints home fireplaces do. They add a warmth and depth to your outdoor space. We can even put a spit in the fireplace so you can roast your food over it.
Fire Tables
These tables have a fire inset that burns while you eat. It can be used as a flame to prepare a meal or just to enjoy one by. The tables are usually resin, metal, or stone and use natural gas or liquid propane as a fuel. They can include a glass wind guard, so the flames are not blown out by a breeze.
Outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens
Southern homes used to have summer kitchens outside that had a roof and were enclosed by screen. This meant the house was not heated up by the stove and ovens when it was already hot. It also gave the cooks some relief from the heat. We don’t have to worry about that now but having an outdoor kitchen and/or pizza oven can make preparing for a crowd easier without the cook having to miss the party. Pizza cooked over an open flame just tastes better than one cooked in a conventional oven.
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Pergolas are structures, usually made out of wood, that cast shade so you can enjoy the outdoors without the heat of the direct sun. They must be designed and oriented for your lot to cast shade when and where needed. Often people grow vines or vining roses up and over the pergolas for a stylish look and added shade. There are several styles available to choose from.
If you want shade and protection from rain, we can install a roofed structure. Often called pavilions, the roof allows for additional amenities such as fans, lights, and heaters. Pavilions can be screened in to protect from insects while allowing cooling breezes to flow through the space.
Hardscapes provide elements to improve your outdoor living space. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can design and install any of these components for you. We can advise you on what the best hardscapes are to facilitate your goals for your outdoor living space and show you what that would look like. Book a consultation with Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to get started.
Every landscape needs some supplemental water during the year. In fact, it is estimated that one third of the water used in urban and suburban settings is used to water the landscape. This amounts to about 9 billion gallons of water a day.
Ways to Water
There are three general ways to water your landscape: by hand, with a movable sprinkler, and with a professionally installed irrigation system. Watering by hand lets you direct the water directly to the root zone in the precise quantity that the plant needs. You do not have a lot of evaporation with this method, so it is very cost-efficient. However, it takes lots of time to water everything in the landscape.
Temporary Sprinklers
Hoses with temporary sprinklers on them are another way to water. There are several types.
Stationary sprinklers These deliver a set pattern of water. They are good for putting water on things such as seeds and sod without washing them away. You do need to move them frequently to avoid overwatering.
Oscillating sprinklers typically have a long tube with holes in it that moves back and forth These are good for tall plants as they can throw water high in the air to reach over them. However, since they do throw water high, a lot of the water evaporates or is blown away in the wind.
Impact sprinklers put a stream of water over a set radius on your plants. Most of them have a way to set the radius of the water from 15 degrees to almost 360 degrees. They move when an arm impacts the water stream, so can be very noisy. The water spray is quite strong and can damage small plants and wash away seeds.
Rotary sprinklers typically spray three or more streams of water from the sprinkler. As the water comes out, it spins the sprinkler in a circle. They can cover a large area but are safe for seeds and small plants.
Tractor or Travelling sprinkler This sprinkler moves over a set pattern as it delivers water. It works well for long, flat, areas with turfgrass. It can’t move in soft soil such as a vegetable garden.
All of these sprinklers require time and attention to make sure they do not overwater an area or leave dry spots. There are timers you can get that will make the water come on at a certain time. Still, if you really want to efficiently water your landscape, there is a better way.
Professionally Installed Irrigation System
A professionally installed irrigation system is the most efficient way to water your landscape. Once it is set up, you only have to set your controller each spring to get it started. In the fall, you drain it and turn off the controller, so it doesn’t try to water during the cold temperatures. There are several parts to an irrigation system. These are:
Shutoff valve This allows you to shut off the water to the irrigation system without having to turn off the water to the rest of the property.
Backflow preventer This keeps water from the irrigation system from backing up and contaminating your house water. Some places require the backflow preventer be inspected yearly by a certified backflow inspector.
Main irrigation line This runs from the main building water to the landscape. It allows the rest of the system to have water to run.
Zone lines Landscape irrigation systems are broken down into zones of plants that have similar water needs. This is because the typical residential water pressure cannot run all the sprinklers at once. It is also because different plants have different watering needs. Lawns need different amounts of water more often than trees. Accordingly, these zones typically divide the lawn and the landscape plants.
Valves When the controller tells the valve to open, it lets the water go down the zone line and run the sprinklers. When the timer expires, the valve shuts off, so the water doesn’t keep running.
Heads These are the actual sprinklers you see. Sprinkler heads are either rotary or spray (mist) based. Rotors are good for watering large areas of grass. Spray heads usually come in fan shapes that put water out 360 degrees, 180 degrees, or 90 degrees. You can get a variety of other heads to place on the spray sprinkler fixtures. One of them is a rotor that has multiple streams of water flowing out in a circular pattern. These rotors are more water efficient than the bigger rotary heads. Both these types of heads come in pop-up versions that go up when the water is running and go down when it stops. This is safer for people playing in landscape and looks better. They also are easier to mow over.
Drip irrigation This is done with tubing with emitters every so often. It fits under the mulch to deliver water right to the plant’s roots. The problem is when new plants are planted. You have to alter the route the tubing follows to water the new plant. Sometimes the emitters become clogged. This leaves dry plants that do not do as well as the other plants around it. Because the emitters are under the mulch, you probably won’t find the clogged emitter until the plant suffers from lack of water.
Controller The controller is the irrigation system’s brain. It tells valves to open or close at the times it is programed to do so. The controller needs access to power, so it is usually put in the basement. Now you can get WaterSense controllers that either have access to the weather forecast or the soil moisture. The weather controller shuts off when it is supposed to rain. The soil-moisture controller measures the soil moisture to decide when to come on. The typical resident saves 7,600 gallons of water a year with the weather controller and 15,000 gallons a year with the soil moisture model. Some utility companies give rebates for installing one of the two WaterSense controllers.
Professionally Installed Irrigation Systems
Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can design and install an efficient irrigation system. We proudly use Rainbird parts for the system. Our Blue Crew is very well trained and can install your system so it functions perfectly with no dry spots. We also maintain irrigation systems, so you don’t have to worry about winterizing your system or bringing it online for spring. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to schedule a design consultation.
Selecting a new plant for your landscape can be a lot of fun. The plant must look good in the space it is planted, of course, but there are many other factors to consider. Not every plant will grow in a particular spot, no matter how good it would look. Here are some factors to consider that will help your plants to thrive in your garden.
Site Conditions
Site conditions are the environmental factors that affect how plants will grow in the specific space. These conditions are not easy to change, so the right plants must be put in place. Only then will you have a lush, healthy landscape.
Sun or Shade Sun, in this case, is defined as getting at least six hours of sun a day. Partial sun is less than six hours but at least four hours a day, and shade is less than four hours of sun a day. Deep shade is getting less than two hours of sun a day. Shade plants will burn up in full sun, while plants requiring full sun will die in the deep shade.
Wet or Dry How much water does the location get? Does the water linger in this spot, or does it drain quickly? If a spot is boggy, you will have to place bog plants that can tolerate the moisture. If the area almost never gets rain, you need plants that are drought tolerant that will not die of thirst. While an irrigation system can help, it cannot change the drainage rate or reduce the water in a specific location.
Soils The type of soil also factors into the moisture question, but soils do more than that. Clay soil means poor drainage and needs to be amended with lots of organic matter such as compost. Sand can drain too fast, so it also needs lots of organic matter. The soil where you are may be fertile, in which case many plants can grow there, or it may be lacking in nutrients. A soil test can tell you what your soil nutrient content and pH levels are. In our area most soils are heavy in clay, adding compost is a great way to amend the soils to improve drainage and nutrients. This can be done by hand around each plant individually or with a roto-tiller for an entire garden area.
Acid/Alkaline The pH of your soil is important. There are many plants that will only grow on acid soil, such as blueberries, and there are others that will only grow in alkaline soils, such as blackberries. Soil pH can also keep nutrients locked away where the plant cannot use them. Alkaline soils make iron absorption difficult for some plants. Many people get focused on the USDA zone (discussed below) and forget that the soil pH matters, too. Sphagnum peat moss is often suggested as a soil amendment to decrease soil pH and is often used when planting azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangeas.
Plant In Layers
When creating a landscape, you do not want all the plants to be the same height. In nature, tall trees give way to smaller trees. Shrubs give way to shorter plants, and groundcovers are the shortest of all. Choosing a mixture of heights makes the landscape more complex and pleasing to the eye. Remember to put the tallest plants at the back and work your way down with the shortest plants in the front.
Variety
Landscapes look best when they feature a variety of plants. Having the exact same thing in every flower bed, for example, becomes monotonous. Here are some things to consider while mixing things up a bit.
Size As mentioned above, it is a good idea to plant in layers. More than that, you must consider how tall and wide the mature plant will be. If you plant a large tree too close to your house, it will damage the foundation with its roots. Small plants can be overwhelmed and shaded out by bigger plants. Make sure there is space for all the plants you are putting in.
Shape (habit) Each plant grows in a certain way. Some plants are very vertical, while others are mounds. Still others stay close to the ground or grow up structures as a vine. This is especially important when planting in a container. You want a thriller, or the showiest plant in the container, spiller, or a plant that will grow over the edge of the container, and fillers, which are the rest of the plants in the container. Too many thrillers, and they get in the way of each other.
Texture How does the plant feel when you touch it? A cactus has one texture, a hard and prickly one. Lamb’s-ear, an herb, feels as soft and furry as a lamb’s ear. There are many textures in between. This is especially important in shade gardens, where everything tends to be a shade of green. The different textures of ferns and hostas break up the monotony of the greens in the shade.
ColorThis is the easiest feature to focus on. You want a variety of colors but need to make sure that colors either go together or are deliberately contrasting. Use a color palette to paint your landscape. That way, even if you have a favorite color, you can use lots of different shades of plants in that color.
Seasonality Flowers bloom for different amounts of time. Some bloom once, while others bloom in spring and don’t stop until the first frost. Make sure that you pick plants that bloom at different times all through the growing season. Not only does this mean your landscape is always interesting to look at, but it also helps pollinators such as bees and butterflies find food during the year.
Contrast Sprinkle in some contrasting plants to liven a flower bed or landscape up. For example, the Japanese maple has brilliant red foliage all year. It contrasts nicely with green or gold trees and shrubs.
Formal vs Informal
Some gardens are very formal. They have a plan, with every plant in its place. Trees and shrubs tend to be sculpted without a branch out of place. They may be trimmed into topiaries of various things. Other gardens also have a plan, but plants are not shaped as formally and are allowed to grow into their natural forms. If you have a large landscape, you may have both. For example, you may have a formal cottage garden and an informal flower bed.
Maintenance
When picking plants for your landscape, remember to consider how much work a particular plant will be. Does it need pruning, or does it grow into its space naturally? Will your flowering plants need deadheading in order to continue to bloom? How much and how often will you have to water this plant? After it gets established, will it still need supplemental water? Landscapes are to be enjoyed. Will you enjoy this plant, or will it become a chore to take care of?
Hardiness
This is essentially whether your plant will survive the temperature extremes in your landscape. The USDA hardiness zones are helpful to see if your plant will manage the winter. The USDA zones do not tell you if the plant will survive the summer in your landscape. Always read the tag or catalog to see if the plant you want will grow in your zone. Zones can be deceptive, however, as plants can have the same hardiness zone but different pH needs, watering needs, etc.
Who knew there are so many factors to consider when choosing landscape plants? Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can help. We have many years of experience choosing and planting landscapes. We know what will grow here and what will not. Contact us for expert guidance in choosing plants for your landscape. We can maintain your landscape planting beds, too. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today for expert advice and assistance.
Water features can add a lot to an outdoor living space. Of course, a swimming pool is one water feature, but there are many others. Water features can add the bubbling of a brook, the roar of a waterfall, or the sound of animals using the water feature to take a bath. A sense of peacefulness often comes over people while watching a water feature. Adding fish and aquatic plants can create an ecosystem that attracts butterflies, bees, and birds to your yard.
Types Of Water Features
There are many types of water features you can add to your landscape. Starting from the smallest features and working our way to the larger features, here are a few ideas to think about.
Patio Pond
Water features don’t have to take up much room. Patio container ponds can fit almost anywhere you want to have the sights and sounds of water. These small container ponds have aquatic plants and a small fountain or waterfall to keep the water from getting stagnant. They can even support a fish or two.
Patio Pond
Rainwater Harvesting Feature
Are you harvesting your rainwater? You can take advantage of the available water to have a fountain that gurgles in your landscape. Because it comes from a reservoir, rainwater fountains are very waterwise. The water is filtered, goes over the water feature, goes back into the reservoir, and the cycle is repeated with little water from outside the system. You also have the benefit of rain filling the system so you don’t have to use the hose as much.
Decorative Fountains
You can have small water features without the plants and fish. Decorative fountains come in small packages within a container or over a stand of rustic rods in the landscape. They also come in big packages, such as a large column of water falling into a large basin. Either way, they are mesmerizing to watch. They also attract birds and butterflies, adding a flash of wings while they drink and play in the water. The nice thing about this type of water feature is that it can be plug and play and easy to set up.
Fire and Water
Fire and water seem such opposites. However, they can form a dramatic feature when melded together. The fire lights up the landscape near it and provides a focal point for your water feature. The flickering flame and smooth water form a very relaxing and dramatic duo. These tend to be very popular around pools.
Pondless Waterfalls
If you want a water feature that is a little more dynamic than a fountain or patio pond, a pondless waterfall can do that for you. This could be a babbling brook running down a drainage area in the landscape or beside a set of stairs. It could also be a tall waterfall crashing down a wall. Little babbling brooks are great for kids to explore and interact with nature. This is a good way to get a lower maintenance water feature that you won’t have to spend too much time on.
Landscape Pond
Landscaping ponds can be large or only slightly larger than a patio pond. The size of the pond can dictate the types of plants you can put in them. Deep ponds need floating plants, while shallow ponds can consist of anchored plants. Either way, plants soften the transition from land to water, so it is not as sharply defined as waterfall. These ponds will attract dragonflies, butterflies, birds, and local wildlife.
Koi Ponds
Depending on the size and depth of the pond, you can add colorful koi to it. The pond has to be large enough around and deep enough that it does not heat up too much in the summer or freeze solidly in the winter. Koi eat plants and insect larvae, so if you want special plants in the pond, you will have to block off areas of the pond for them. Koi are fun to feed and become quite friendly when they associate you with their food.
Lighting Your Water Feature
Water features do not exist in a vacuum. They should be lighted so that they are visible at night. This makes them a focal point as well as keeps guests from falling in a pond they didn’t notice. Small patio ponds can be lighted with submersible lights that shine up from the bottom. Larger features can be lighted from the water or the land or even from trees above.
Bringing It All Together
Water features can really improve the look and feel of your outdoor living space. However, setting them up just right and maintaining them can be a chore. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can help you pick the best water features for your landscape so that you will have a peaceful, relaxing space of your own. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today and we can start the discussion of the best way to incorporate the sound of water into your outdoor space.
It has been a long, hard winter, and landscapes are greening up and coming to life this spring. Now that we are getting past the chance of overnight frost, you can use hardy annual color to brighten your outside living space in time for Mother’s Day. There are several annuals that can be planted now to bring some color to your landscape after a tough winter season. Here are five of our favorites that tend to do well in our climate during the summer season.
Begonias (Begonia x benaratensis)
Begonias
Begonias have pretty flowers May through September. It is treated as an annual here because it is sensitive to frost. The BIG SERIES is new for 2021. Begonia x benaratensis is a hybrid wax begonia. It has a compact, mounding, bushy habit with dark green to bronze leaves. The flowers are in shades of white, pink, and red. There are also bicolor plants. The BIG Series flowers earlier and tolerates heat better than other begonias. It can be grown in the sun, partial sun, and dappled sunlight. Begonias are poisonous to humans, cats, dogs, and horses, so be aware of where you place them if you are a pet owner. Hanging baskets could be a safer spot.
Salvia (Salvia officinalis)
sage
Salvia is in the mint family and has very fragrant leaves with spikes of densely packed flowers in blue, purple, pink, red, white, and yellow. It attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Salvia is low maintenance and loves the sun. They require well-drained soil, so work well in raised beds. Sage is also a type of Salvia that grows into a nice bush about 4-5 feet tall. The blue flowers smell good, too. If you remove spent flower stalks it will cause the plant to bloom longer. Sage is drought-resistant.
Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)
Impatiens
Impatiens are originally from Tanzania and Mozambique. They are planted as annuals here because they can’t tolerate the cold of our winters. Impatiens are short plants. Most of them top out around 18 inches. Impatiens grow best with morning sun and afternoon shade. They will tolerate full shade but won’t flower as well. They will not tolerate full sun. Impatiens bloom May through September. The leaves are dark green to bronze to variegated. The flowers come in many colors: white, pink, orange, red, violet, and purple. Impatiens are easily available in cell packs from most nurseries.
Sunpatiens
Sunpatiens
Sunpatiens are impatiens that have been hybridized into a plant that will thrive in full sun to part shade. It also tolerates hot and humid weather that would kill regular impatiens. These plants want evenly moist, well-drained soil, so do well in containers and in raised beds. They are very low maintenance. Sunpatiens plants come in three size categories: compact, spreading, and vigorous. The compact and the spreading both do well in containers. The vigorous need to be planted in a flower bed as they spread out and grow fast and would outgrow a hanging basket quickly.
Sweet Potato Vine (Ipomoea batatas)
Sweet Potato Vine
Ornamental sweet potato vine is the same species as the sweet potato tuber. The ornamental one has just been bred for its leaves, not its tuber. This vine thrives in the full sun but will tolerate part shade. These vines are grown for their leaves, which vary depending on the hybrid. They range from almost black to chartreuse green or variegated. Depending on the cultivar, sweet potato vines can be anywhere from 5-10 feet long so make sure you plant it somewhere that it doesn’t overrun the plants in its path. This plant can be toxic to dogs and cats, so beware.
Growing Annuals In Containers
You can plant any of these plants in containers, ranging from hanging baskets to large showy pots. Most containers look best with several different kinds of plants in them. Gardeners talk about plants as thrillers, fillers, or spillers. You need all three in a mixed container. Thrillers are the spotlight plant that pulls people’s eyes toward them. Fillers are the background plants that fill out a container. Spillers are plants with a trailing habit that flow over the edge of the container. Usually, there is only one thriller and one or two spillers in the container, and fillers make up the rest of the plants.
Plants in containers need to be watered more frequently. They also heat up faster. Be sure you fill your container with plants that have the same water and fertilizer needs, or some of them will die. It is also a good idea to get a container large enough to hold a good amount of soil. The more soil in the container the longer it will take to dry out. We also recommend using packing peanuts or gravel in the bottom of the containers to improve drainage.
Planting hardy annual cover is work. If you don’t have the time or don’t know what to get and where to put it, Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can help. We can plant the annual flowers for you. We can also help you decide what to get and where it would be the most effective in your landscape. We will even maintain the plants and pull them out when they are spent in the fall. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping now to schedule your consultation and have your landscape brightened up this season.
