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PROJECT STRATEGY | MATERIALS SUMMARY | GARDEN DESIGN | RECOMMENDATIONS | RESOURCES
Project Strategy
BUDGET ESTIMATE | PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
INITIAL ESTIMATE
We’ve sent you an email with your initial estimate as a PDF for the design portion for your project. For the installation, I can make a couple recommendations of how to proceed which we can cover in our upcoming phone conversation.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Pending the specifics of our agreement, a backyard refresh including design and recommended strategies for implementation will be laid out on this page. Per our initial walk-through of your property, our main focus will be the backyard (north section). A few additional recommendations may also be made for plant species for your front yard, and along the driveway swath under the south windows.
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS
Here’s a quick bird’s eye view of the project as process and how it can best be managed. Choices are intended to help you gain perspective and balance your best course of action for your time, budget, and involvement.
HIRE INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERS — One option is for the client to hire independents for the various specialties needed. Because there are multiple essential aspects to any garden refresh that all need specific attention, you may easily find yourself doing research, leg work, and generally playing project manager yourself. A landscape team (for installation) also usually has a crew manager who may or may not play a portion of the project management role together with you. It is advantageous to invite an independent garden specialist (thanks for reaching out!) to help address things like the right plant list for your microclimate, and to provide other helpful information about how various elements work together to sustain your end goals, plus what maintenance might be required after the installation process is complete.
HIRE AN INTEGRATED BUSINESS TEAM — Another option is to hire a landscape company. They can offer you a more well-planned experience, starting with a project manager to interface with on all areas of your design, and can also provide the most value through an integrated team of specialists that covers all the bases including helpful risk assessment. Though more of an investment up front, it’s a one stop shop, and can often save you time, involvement, potential cost from oversight, and good planning can help with long term success.
WHAT REBECCA’S GARDENS CAN GIVE YOU
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS — We offer great Garden Design and Planning independently, yet we also work seamlessly with trusted installation and irrigation specialists. With our garden know-how, you’ll receive: a beautiful and functional Garden Design, a Plant list appropriate for your microclimate, local Material options, a Garden Plan with strategic recommendations around products, solutions, services, and project planning. Below, you’ll find all these points and more. You can refer back to this page whenever you need.
Ok, let’s get started… but first….if you’re curious what the cost ranges are, and want to see other projects we’ve done, you can take a quick look here:
General Service Cost Ranges (Click the title below)
Materials Summary
SOFTSCAPE | HARDSCAPE
SOFTSCAPE
SOIL AMENDING
The health of your plants is first and foremost about the health of your soil.
After sod removal, and before adding groundcover, it is highly recommend to:
1) Aerate the existing soil (using footwear gear or holes punched by a rented aeration machine). If possible, do not till up the soil.
2) Add a layer of clay-busting amendment such as Soil Pep (available at McGuckins)
3) Add a layer of soft organic compost suitable for outdoor horticultural garden use (add a layer to the top of the exposed soil)
4) Optionally add 1/8th volcanic rock or perlite (to lighten soil structure and increase moisture retention)
5) Slow water. Let the amendments soak down with slow watering (to avoid fast runoff) before planting.
6) Now your groundcover is ready to be planted. By nurturing the soil before planting, you increase the success rate of your introduction, robustness, and longevity of your new plants, as well as contribute to a healthier ecosystem.
PATHWAY GROUNDCOVER + LAWN ALTERNATIVES
Flowering Groundcovers 2-6” H
Can withstand dog + foot traffic
→ Mediterranean creeping thyme (Thymus longicaulis)
→ Elfin creeping thyme, multiple species and varieties of Thymus praecox and Thymus serpyllum
→ Wooly thyme (Thymus praecox subs. britannicus)
→ Veronica, creeping, aka speedwell (Veronica filiformis)
→ Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia)
→ Alpine Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
→ Redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana)
→ Clover (Microclover, Red clover, Crimson clover, White Dutch clover) lifespan 3-5 yrs, requires reseeding
→ English Daisies (Bellis perennis)
More delicate for around borders
→ Rockcress (Arabis)
→ Phlox, creeping (Phlox stolonifera)
Flowering Groundcovers 7-10” H
→ Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
→ Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
→Wild ginger (Asarum canadense)
→ Lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina)
→ Bulbs: Crocus, Galanthus (snowdrops), Fritillaria, Narcissus (daffodil)
Low Grasses
→ Fescue, low-grow native
→ High Altitude Mix, low-grow native
6” Native Grass + Wildflower Mix
→ No Mow Flowering Lawn Seed Mix
12” Tall Native Grass + Wildflower Mix
→ Native Western Grass + Wildflower Mix
Tall Flowering Field Covers 2-5 ft H
(Available from many seed providers)
→ Borage
→ Buckwheat
→ Chamomile
→ Native wildflower seeds
→ Self heal
→ Yarrow (in clumps)
SOD REMOVAL
If the landscape company is planning to rent or use a sod-removal machine for turf removal, please refer to these guidelines: Landscaping Around Trees, offered by local tree expert, Fred Berkelhammer, owner of a local tree company, that highlights the risks to your Maple. Avoid using a Skid Steer for removal.
The key is to avoid scraping the tops off the tree roots, which will subject your tree to immune system challenges and potentially risk the health of the tree and/or be costly to you for caring for it.
Recommended: Use hand tools to gently remove sod within a 6 ft circle around the trunk and be extra careful if using a machine, for example, keep it at a minimum depth setting.
FLOWERS + SHRUBS
See your Recommended Plant List below to get an idea of the plant portion of your project estimate. Timing is flexible on when you introduce plants, whether now or later. When you give your desired Plant List to your landscaper, they can give you an updated estimate to consider when to include in your total project budget.
Thyme + Veronica
Clover
Creeping Jenny
viewable up on 4th + hawthorn
False Strawberry
NATURAL WOOD BARK MULCH
Our most recommended type of mulch for the front range is called Gorilla Hair. The gorilla hair mulch allows water through to the roots of surrounding plants and flowers without letting it evaporate too quickly. It is useful in zones with fluctuating temperatures and seasonal extremes for it warms roots in winter and keeps the ground cooler in summer. Because the soil is kept from being exposed, it is assisted in maintaining a healthier structure and moisture level, supporting natural processes beneficial for healthy plant roots.
Recommended: Redwood gorilla hair mulch at least 3” deep for any designated garden areas.
HARDSCAPE
DECORATIVE BOULDERS
Granite is listed as the stone of choice on your estimate. Love granite for your property. Sounds like you'll go see them on Tues to choose. Good deal. Colorado Materials has a few diff versions of granite. When you're there, my recommendation is to aim for a medium to light grey with as much "interest" re: white streaks or shiny mica inclusions as possible. And stay away from the darker stones. You want to lighten up the property rather than be too heavy or dark. Just go for what you find is beautiful-- it's the fun part!
PATHWAY FILL MATERIAL
Pea Gravel is fine smooth rock, about 3/8”, in various tones, usually cool or warm.
Crusher Fines, as they are known, is soft crushed rock in an even finer sand-or-dust like medium. Its density keeps it in place, not moving or blown around.
Both substrates are excellent for use in pathways or around paver stones. Both require the use of edging to keep them in the desired place in the garden.
Groundcover can be planted directly in the soil underneath a thin 2-3” layer of substrate, for example in pathways or around pavers. (If substrate is used in a thicker layer, plantings are not advised.)
GARDEN EDGING
Due to the slight grade (re: downward slope) of your front yard toward the street, I would recommend installing edging along the front sidewalk to hold in any material such as pea gravel you might choose to use. It can be set so only a couple inches shows above the ground, just enough to be level with the pea gravel or stones. That way it would retain most of the pea gravel (you'll still have an errant few once in a while) and not necessarily be a tripping point for walking into the yard off the sidewalk. There will be a step up onto the yard material anyway from the sidewalk. Rocks can be placed to soften the ends. The brown color blends in with the natural colors in the yard, of the substrate, mulch, and plant matter. For color continuity, stay away from the forest green, or black to avoid a "tacky" color change if possible.
Recommended: Roll-Top (galvanized steel) Edging in Brown.
Vendor: Avail at CPS (Colorado Pipe + Supply). Their Arvada location may be who carries it at the moment, but they can arrange for it to be delivered to Boulder or Longmont by request.
NATURAL WEEDING OPTIONS
Click the links to read more or find out DIY tips
• Best Applications for Vinegar
CONCRETE PAVERS
The 2x2 ft square concrete walkway pavers listed, he may be getting from Home Depot (?) or someplace affordable. I'll be sending you a pattern design option or two to help you choose how best to lay them out. For example, you could butt two up against one another for that rectangular walkway look, or you could spread each square equidistant from one another for more of a patio look. Of note: Concrete at high altitudes is well known to crack more easily due to the extreme temp changes and snow-melts over time. That said, using small pavers may not be an issue.
NATURAL STONE
Your alternative choice would be natural stone. Here are natural stone choices avail at Colorado Materials, including slate and Autumn Mist (buff) flagstone we talked about. You may also like the colors of other natural stone choices. You can ask to view some when you're there choosing the granite boulders. The cost may range from similar to the concrete pavers to up to three times or more, depending on the stone and where it's sourced, etc.
GARDEN ROCK
Cobble, a type of smoothed river rock, comes in a variety of sizes. The style I envision would work best for your garden design is sold locally by the title of “Grey Rose” in 8-12” or similar. The actual stone sizes in the mix vary from around 4”—15”, but the average stone size is “palm sized”. It has an overall even look, comprised of a range of medium to light tones. For accent areas, you may also consider Mexican River Stones, which are darker in color, smoothly rounded, and of roughly equal size, providing an even continuity and a subtle tone contrast for your garden area. The value is slightly higher than river cobble.
Recommended: Cobble 8-12” “Grey Rose” or similar for any designated rocked garden areas.
Vendor: Colorado Materials, Longmont
WEED BARRIER FABRIC
I don't see Weedmat (aka Weed Barrier) on the estimate. Be sure to ask him about that. If he's wanting to stay organic with the lawn, then he'll say you don't need it or that he doesn't like using the product. That is a valid approach. However, you would then have a real weed problem in the pea-gravel/walkway areas, even up through the thyme. So, it's something to consider.
If you do want to use weedmat, this (below) is what you're looking for, ideally, (not the grey stuff, which is a lighter weight and weeds can push through more easily).
Benefits of weed barrier: It does allow air, water, and nutrients to pass through, just not weeds. It's great for xeriscape, and under rocked areas. It is designed to last 5-10yrs, if not exposed to the elements. It is suitable for small areas like this.
Recommended: Black woven weed barrier fabric, heavy grade
Vendor: CPS (colorado pipe and supply) in either their Longmont or Boulder location
It's wholesale, but your landscaper will likely have an account there
Irrigation
Do my xeric and low water plants need irrigation? Yes, all newly introduced plants need automated irrigation. To use water most efficiently, I highly recommend using a drip system for your front yard design.
When to install? Drip goes in before or at time of plantings. Each plant needs to receive a 1/4” tube with emitter directly to its roots. Situate the tubing above soil and easily accessible yet visually hidden just under mulch or rocked areas.
Basic System Requirements:
• Identify a free valve on your manifold + dedicate it as a drip zone
OR Transform your lawn irrigation zone into drip by capping the heads
• You can adjust the drip zone run time/days on the timer/clock
• You can also plan for (or adjust) water flow needs to specific plants using the drip emitters that will be set to drip at each plant root.
• Make sure the main drip line snakes through the entire yard (to the areas where plantings will be) and around the Maple tree (at the drip line).
• Installation of drip through mulch or rocked areas should visibly hide (not bury) the line just out of sight, and above the weight of excess material.
Recommended: Check with an irrigation specialist that knows plants and plant needs for the most efficient solutions. For example, a free consult by Rob. Your landscaper can always do the labor if you prefer. Best to know what’s ideal first and prevent losing plants or a costly future re-do.
Recommended Service Specialist
Sample Garden Design
SAMPLE FRONT YARD LAYOUT
SAMPLE PATIO LAYOUT FEATURES
Granite Boulder “island” with wildflowers
Juniper “Skyrocket” upright row, for “green screen”
Sample Detailed Plant List + Volume
Number of species are indicated. If plants come in a 4-6 pack, that is equal to 1 plant. Typical flower pot size is 1-2 gallon. Typical shrub pot size is 2-10 gal.
GARDEN AREA 2 | AROUND MAPLE
GROUNDCOVERS
2-3 Sedum Mix (Dragons Blood, Blue Spruce, Angelina) (2-4”) full sun
1/2 flat Iceplant, hot pink or yellow (2-3”h) full sun
6 (or 1 flat) Plumbago (6-8”h) sun or shade
1-2 flats Sweet Woodruff (6”h) full to part shade
1/2 flat Adjuga (6”) full to part shade
1 flat Lamia (4”) full to part shade
FULL TO PART SUN BY WALKWAY
3 Creeping Phlox, violet and/or pink (6-8”)
1 Candy tuft, white (6-8”)
1 Alyssum “Basket of Gold”, yellow (6-8”)
1 Blue Aveena Oat Grass tuft (1x1’)
1 Cranesbill Geranium, violet (1x2’)
1-2 Bellflower, violet (1x1’)
2 Valerian “Jupiter’s Beard”, hot pink or white (3’x3’)
1 Dwarf Blue Spruce Globe (2x2’)
2 Small Boulders
FULL TO PART SHADE UNDER TREE
3-5 Heuchera, 2 wine, 1 green or dusky orange, 2 lime (1x1’)
2-3 Columbine, any color, eg. pale yellow, violet+white (2x2’)
2 Monkshood, purple
ISLAND BOULDER
1 Echinacea, white or dusky pink (2x1’)
OR Rudibeckia, yellow
1 Penstamon, any color (2x1’)
1 Yarrow, any color (2x2’)
1 Medium Boulder
GARDEN AREA 4 | SIDE PATIO GREEN SCREEN
4-5 Skyrocket (upright) Junipers
GARDEN AREA 1 | BY DRIVEWAY
FULL SUN
1-2 Sedum Mix (Dragons Blood, Blue Spruce, Angelina) (2-4”)
2-3 Stonecrop OR Rock Cress (1x1’)
3-4 Cranesbill Geranium, violet (1x2’)
1-3 Gallardia “blanket flower” (8”)
2-3 Blue Aveena Grass tufts (1x1’)
1 Agave (2x2’)
2-3 Echinacea, white or dusky pink (2x1’)
OR Rudibeckia, yellow
1 Yarrow, white or Dusky Pink (2x2’)
2-3 English Lavender
2 Spirea, Dark Knight/Blue Mist (3x3’)
1 Large Boulder
1 Medium Boulder (optional)
GARDEN AREA 3 | TELEPHONE POLE CORNER
1 Viburnum, Chicago Luster or American Cranberry or Blue Muffin (6x8’)
OR Smoke Bush, burgundy (8x12’)
1 Daphne Bush (3x6’)
OR 2-3 Birchleaf Spireas
1-2 Spireas,Dark Knight or Blue Mist (3x3’)
1 Blue Spruce Dwarf Globe, blue/green (2x3’)
OR Dwarf Mugo Pine
2 Upright Sedum (1x2’)
1 Large Boulder
GROUNDCOVER AREA 1 | STEPPABLE FRONT PATHWAY
# Wooly and/or Creeping Thyme, violet, pink (2-4”h x 1’ w)
# Creeping Veronica, blue, pink (2-4”h x 1’ w)
# Introduce Additional recommended ground covers as desired
GROUNDCOVER AREA 2 | STEPPABLE SIDE PATIO
# Wooly and/or Creeping Thyme, violet, pink (2-4”h x 1’ w)
# Creeping Veronica, blue, pink (2-4”h x 1’ w)
# Introduce Additional recommended ground covers as desired
GROUNDCOVER AREA 3 | LOW GRO NATIVE LAWN SEED MIX
# lbs per area — Blue Gramma native grass seed + Buffalo grass seed mix
APPLICATION: Overseed as necessary to achieve volume, look and feel.
PET SAFE While we do our best to offer pet-safe species, we cannot guarantee our suggestions. For peace of mind, please always check plants on your recommended list on the pet-safe “plant toxicity list” at bottom to make sure you feel safe using it in your garden. Thank You.
SAMPLE ROUGH ESTIMATE FOR PLANT LIST
$1500 - $3500
Depending on the vendor, size, and quantity of plants, for this list you might be looking at a range under 5K. Rough cost may fall between $2500-$4500 including sourcing and delivery. (Vendor prices, plant size, and deals may vary, as well as contractor pricing. This opinion is given for informational purposes only, based on prior field experience, and is intended for rough comparison only, not as a measure of factual value, as each project is relative.)
STRATEGIES FOR GROWING YOUR GARDEN STEP BY STEP
Strategies for building your garden step by step may include purchasing one plant (as a placeholder), wherever more are recommended, and then adding more at the end of the season or next season.
Or build season by season starting with hardscape mateirals. Add the thyme and other ground covers. Then add the garden plants next season.
WHAT’S IN A PRICE?
What goes into the cost? A lot of love and labor. If you purchase plants at a local garden center, the cost includes what they paid to the growers, distribution, their %, and your installer’s %. Most are aware that industry rates have slowly increased over the past few years, due to lifestyle upgrades in various channels, as well as other global social impacts.
ADDITIONAL ROCK GARDEN PLANTS FOR ADDING IN AS YOU GO
Achillea argentea
Androsace lanuginosa
Armeria maritima (thrift)
Kniphofia 'Dwarf Yellow'
Pulsatilla vulgaris x
Pulsatilla patens 'Eastern pasque flower'
Helianthemum 'Wisley Pink'
Helianthemum nummularium 'Single Yellow'
Rhodohypoxis milloides
Geranium renardii
Helianthemum 'Belgravia Rose'
Papaver species
Potentilla fruticosa (Shrubby Cinquefoil)
Thymus 'Pink Chintz'
Iris Pacific Coast
Dianthus cruentus 'Blood Carnation'
Geranium x antipodeum 'Pink Spice'
Scutellaria indica japonica alba
Astrantia major var. Buckland
Azorella trifurcata
Scleranthus biflorus
Celisia pugioniformisPotentilla recta warrenii
ADDITIONAL DWARF EVERGREENS TO CONSIDER
CLICK HERE FOR ONLINE DETAILS ON THESE EVERGREENS
(Please check for actual mature height + zone 5 hardiness)
1. Blue Star Juniper * One of our faves *
2. Dwarf Alberta Spruce
3. Hinoki Cypress
4. Sky Pencil Holly
5. Oregon Grape Holly
6. Green Mountain Boxwood
7. Green Velvet Boxwood
8. Winter Gem Boxwood
9. Green Gem Boxwood
10. Gem Box Inkberry Holly
11. Sunshine Ligustrum
12. Japanese Aralia
13. Arp Rosemary
14. Japanese Skimmia
15. Dwarf Mugo Pine
16. Sea Green Juniper
17. Bird’s Nest Spruce
18. Blue Pacific Juniper
19. Grey Owl Juniper
20. Soft Caress Mahonia
21. Manhattan Euonymus
22. Eternal Fragrance Daphne
23. Little Gem Norway Spruce
24. August Beauty Gardenia
25. Emerald Gaiety Euonymus
26. Perfume Princess Daphne
Gem Box Holly
Our plants are selected with your microclimate in mind— including sun, soil, and water conditions, species variety, seasonal fruiting or bloom times, companion planting, nitrogen fixers, pollinator attractors, natural pest resistance, aesthetics and overall balance. With over a decade in the industry working on the front range in this high alpine zone, we believe these selections are well suited to bring your garden to life. Please note that once the plants are installed, they require appropriate maintenance and care to oversee their adaptation to the new environment. Though we may recommend a species, or best care tips, we simply cannot be responsible for the results. Talk with your landscape professional, ask a local garden center, or research on your own for further tips on keeping your plants healthy during all seasons. If you have any additional questions, just reach out.
View Your Plants
YOU WILL FIND YOUR PLANTS PICTURED AMONG THESE HORTICULTURAL FAVORITES
Perennial Plant List
PREVIEW ONLINE + PDF DOWNLOAD
Native Plant List
PDF DOWNLOAD
Search for Additional Plants by specifics
KNOW-HOW FOR YOUR GARDEN
7 PRINCIPLES OF THE XERISCAPE SYSTEM
CARE FOR YOUR THYME LAWN ALTERNATIVE
GROUND COVERS THAT PERFORM
Recommended Local Growers + Vendors
Thank you for your commitment to sourcing only organically grown plant species, soil, or other products, to stay consistent with the larger-picture holistic values of RG designs. The following non-comprehensive list of local growers and vendors is fairly safe in regard to being organic and non GMO but be sure to ask:
Recommended Service Specialists
Here are our trusted referrals for related services. Please call each directly to schedule as needed.
INSTALLATION
LAWN CARE
Continuing Care By Request
Plant Toxicity List for Pets: Plant List highlighting toxicity levels for Dogs
Medicinal Plant List for your Garden — discover native plant wisdom and DIY home remedies for the herbs and flowers growing in your garden
Rabbit and Deer Resistant Perennials List — with pictures and microclimate details
Targeted Online Gardening Classes — by Rebecca’s Gardens — join the fun! Follow a monthly email step-by-step approach to learning and practicing more DIY in your garden! You’ll try new things thanks to our bespoke class curriculum. You’ll have a month for each step, so you can work at your own pace. You’ll have access to your class schedule via your online portal (this page), plus a few live zoom calls, even your choice of an in-person final session where we garden together! The class is offered in two styles: (A) “garden bootcamp” (a more goal oriented and logical get-it-done approach), or (B) “garden retreat" (a more fluid relaxed meditative approach). Whichever you feel matches your own flow will be the way to go. Learn more and see you in the garden!
Plant Talk Colorado — We just want to give you a heads up on this amazing resource! How-To videos, and timely information on more than 600 horticultural topics. Sponsored by Colorado State University Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens, and Green Industries of Colorado.
Your Photo Album
Before
After … TBD
We’re so excited for your gardening journey this season! May your plants and hearts grow in abundance, wisdom, and joy. May you learn from mistakes and celebrate your adventures. Life is a journey… who we become while achieving our goals is the real treasure. And of course, you know where to reach me if you have any ideas, questions, or inspiration we can help with along the way. Enjoy!
~ Rebecca & Team
