1021 Stonehaven Ct

Amy & Family’s Landscape Refresh

CONCEPT DESIGN | PLANT PICS | PLANT LIST | MATERIALS | GET INTO THE GARDEN | GARDEN CARE | YOUR PHOTO ALBUM

FULL DESIGN

FRONT YARD

“ALPINE FOREST” = FRONT PORCH MICROCLIMATE OF DAPPLED SUN / PART SHADE

FEATURES

“HIGH ALPINE XERIC MEADOW” = CENTER YARD MICROCLIMATE OF FULL SUN

MAILBOX AREA (NORTH CORNER) = “ALPINE” PART SUN | PAMPAS GRASS BERM (SOUTH CORNER) = “XERIC” = FULL SUN

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CONCEPT IMAGES - SAMPLE

GROUND COVER + MULCH TO FILL SPACES IN BETWEEN BOULDERS AND PLANTINGS

INITIAL CONCEPT SKETCH SHOWING DECORATIVE BOULDERS + NATIVE PLANTINGS WITH ISLANDS + MULTI STEM SERVICEBERRY TREES

PHASE 2: BACK YARD DESIGN

INITIAL CONCEPT ONLY | EVOLUTION OF DESIGN + INSTALL WILL BE WHEN PHASE 2 BEGINS: SCHEDULE TO BE DETERMINED

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Your Plant List

NATIVE + ADAPTED SPECIES | COMMON + BOTANICAL NAMES | CONTAINER SIZE | QUANTITY | DETAILS

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Materials Image Gallery — for General Identification

SAMPLE HARDSCAPE MATERIALS FOR REFERENCE — SEE MATERIALS LIST BELOW

Your Materials List

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS | QUANTITY OR SIZE | DETAILS | SUGGESTED SUPPLIER

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Grow, Rest, Repeat

Top 6 DIY Tips For

SOUNDS LIKE FUN ~ LET’S GET GOING…

How’s Your Soil?

THE HEALTH OF YOUR PLANTS IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT THE HEALTH OF YOUR SOIL

COMPANION PLANTING

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM GARDEN COMMUNITY RECOMMENDATIONS

While there are many definitions of what makes a healthy plant community or ‘guild’, essentially we are looking to create a polyculture by placing species (tree, shrub, flower, vegetable, herb) that grow well together, are chemically beneficial for one another, will access nutrients for one another, as well as some that attract pollinators and/or some that repel pests.

We’ll give you some of our suggestions for your unique garden. Diversity is key, so play around with your senses — imagine what you’d like to see, smell, taste, or use, or experiment to find what suits your garden best. Here is a link to a good companion plant search, if you get curious about what would grow best with each specific species: https://www.epicgardening.com/?s=companion+plants

LAYERING

Similar to Forest Gardening, where we consider taller Overstory trees, Mid Level shrubs, and lower Plants and Groundcover— Layering involves creating different vertical spaces within the landscape or garden with varying heights and densities. Various root depths are represented, each able to access a different soil zone for bringing nutrients to the plant community. The various species that gravitate to one another and grow well together are responding to the microclimate. Your garden can be its own microclimate, as well as various larger ecological zones in the area, or your entire state. You can enhance the health and biodiversity of your garden by selecting appropriate species that grow well together in a specific location and microclimate. This symbiosis can improve the aesthetic appeal of the landscape, while providing various ecosystem functions, benefits, or yields that are greater than the sum of its parts, and positively impact the ecology and biodiversity around you. An example of Mountain or Xeric microclimate layering in Colorado might look like:

For Microclimates

MULCHING

Mulch protects and nourishes soil. Mulching bare soil offers numerous benefits for plants and the overall garden ecosystem. It helps conserve moisture, suppresses weed growth, moderates soil temperature, and enriches the soil. Additionally, mulch protects against soil erosion, adds aesthetic value, and provides a natural barrier against certain pests and diseases. Here are examples of using groundcover as a soil-cover versus using a layer of tree bark or leaves as natural mulch.

LIVING MULCH Short green plants like Thyme, Sweet Woodruff, or Clover can be used to cover soil between taller plants and keep weeds from growing, while enriching the soil and attracting beneficial insects. In fact, many of these are prized for their use as lawn alternatives. Check your microclimate requirements and each plant’s growing preference to make sure they will grow where you intend.

TREE BARK Gorilla hair mulch is a hairy type of shredded tree bark widely used as a garden mulch. Depending on your preference for using weed barrier material, this is a good one to use a strip of weed barrier or weed mat under for smaller walkways. This mulch settles down into a matt that is wind resistant and at the same time creates a soft thick layer to walk on that doesn’t allow as many weeds to propagate as gravel.

STRAW is the best mulch material for your raised veggie beds. (NOT HAY). The importance of covering bare soil cannot be understated. A good organic material that keeps the moisture in is essential for healthy soil, especially at high altitudes with extreme weather and low precipitation. Although they may look similar, straw and hay are different in one important feature: Hay, which is grown to feed animals, contains seeds. If used as mulch, these seeds germinate and create a weed problem. A good quality straw contains few seeds. Leaves, ground to a fine consistency can also be sprinkled as a mulch. Make sure any material you use in your edible gardens is either biodynamic or organic and has been grown free from chemicals or chemical fertilizers, including the groundwater in the area.

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Getting Started…

Watch Others Garden Tips + Then Try It Yourself

We Suggest The Following Unaffiliated YouTube Channels As You Learn The Art/s Of…

Soil

Growing Tips

Next Level Beauty + Inspiration

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO LIZIQI - A NATURE GODDESS INCARNATE IN THE RURAL CHINESE LANDSCAPE

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Garden Care = Monthly Guidance + Gentle Maintenance

We convene once a month to maintain the garden and continue the conversation as we work side by side in YOUR garden.

Choose your TOP 6 TOPICS (say that 3 tmes fast!), and explore 1-2 per month while we strategize over tea and garden maintenance.

Why Garden Together?

Hands-on learning in your garden is the best way to fast track your muscle memory and know what to do when to take care of it yourself in future.

Just like nature, Good Design is not static (or one-and-done), it’s cyclic and evolving. So consulting meets are designed to be a regular time to check-in on the evolving growth of the plants and ecology seeded by the design. It’s a time to give attention to whatever wants to come to the fore, to enjoy what’s growing, and to strategize for the future.

Grab a journal, sit under the tree for 5 minutes and jot down how you feel and what you notice, as well as your goals. Voila = garden therapy. You are encouraged to take GARDEN NOTES (see next section) and get the most out of your time + growing experience in the garden.

The benefit of a regular meet is more than maintenance, it helps refresh your thinking and allows for greater patience. Without even knowing it, when we step away from our technology and get out in the garden we feel a sense of grounding and alignment with nature’s rhythm and seasonal cycles. This boosts our health which support greater efficiency and wiser decision making.

And just like the seasons, this is your chance to focus on a relevant topic or garden area per month or per session!

What Does A Garden Care Session Cover?

We’ll choose your top 6 topics and meet for tea and garden maintenace (or sometimes by phone) to walk through the bullet points for that month.

GARDEN GUIDANCE can span almost any topic, such as the following suggestions, but not limited to:

• Evolving the design, aesthetic, and materials

• Considering a hardscape feature

• Selecting plants as a strategy for a particular area or general garden health,

• Addressing specific plant needs,

• Soil health,

• How to keep this unique ecosystem more balanced, 

• Recommendations for organic products, practices, or local vendors, etc.

GARDEN MAINTENANCE can include, but is not limited to:

• Select hand weeding

• Trimming, Shaping, Dead-heading, Pruning

• Building Soil

• Spreading Mulch

• Watering

• Planting or Transplanting

• Whatever’s needed

• Creative side project

• Thanking the elements, stones, microbes, pollinators, plants, fairies, gnomes, and various garden angels for their help

What Do You Want To Learn?

• The Basics

• How to Maintain Your New Garden Installation

• Xeriscape and Low Water / Low Maint

• Considering Irrigation

• Perennial Gardens

• Specific Species

• Raised Bed Vegetables

• Permaculture

• Forest Gradening

• Other Topics of Interest

You may learn more DIY on a topic of interest. or one that will improve garden health, you may green-light a small plant list, look at an installation estimate, or plan for the future.

I may prepare and present info useful for discussing topics of the month chosen for their relevance to the health and growth of the garden depending on what season we’re in, or we may choose to discuss what’s already in motion.

This service is intended to be a "voice for the garden", like a “garden manager” to help clients stay in sync with changing garden needs and plans throughout the season, when they can't be in the garden as much as they'd like.

Suggested Topics

• MAY — DIY Hands-on Maintenance (seasonal clean up) and learning the the distinguishing factors of different microclimates in the yard

• JUNE — DIY Guidance on general maintenance and plant selection

• JULY — Brainstorming + Outlining a Garden Plan by season as a custom ‘users manual’ that anyone else you hire to help can refer to or use, for proper care.

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Images courtesy of Introduction to Permaculture by Bill Mollison showing spatial layout.

Sample Guild list(s) courtesy of Rebeccas Gardens for Front Range microclimate species.

SAMPLE Fruit Tree Guild

What Is A Plant “Guild”? How Do Plants Work Together?

DEFINITION A plant guild is a community of plants that grow and support each other by recycling nutrients back into the soil, providing shade, and conserving water, attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests and diseases, building soil, and preventing erosion. In other words, they’re like each other’s best friends or friend circle, helping to share their unique skills and benefit the collective in their little location (aka micro-climate). They each help one another to be their best in the bio-chemical and ‘social’ environment.

DRIP LINE LAYOUT Main guild plantings are spaced most prominently within the circular area that defines the ‘drip line’ of the tree. The drip line is the area within which rainwater drips down from the trees leaves, forming a circle on the ground around the outer edge of the trees branches, mirrored by its root system underground. Just within the drip line is the area where the roots of the tree will most actively integrate with companion plants. This is because the tips of the roots are the most active and are always located near the drip line, reaching further out as the growth of the tree evolves. Specifically, this is where the tree has the most synapses for interchanges within the soil, including water and nutrient uptake. Other plantings may fill the space outside the drip line or the space that defines the garden between trees.

Aesthetically, we encourage your creativity! But in addition to your garden artistry, here are the logistical components that may help you decide what will go where for the needs of your unique guild or garden:

The 6 Main Balancing Components To A Guild

√ ATTRACTORS Great for bringing pollinators to the garden! >> Cosmos, Catmint, Sunflowers, Valarian, Sages/Salvias, Zinnias, Snapdragons, fennel, dill, lavender

√ REPELLERS Pest deterrents are a must as well. >> Allium (aka onion-family like Leeks, Chives), Garlic, Oregano, Geraniums, Marigolds, Mums, Daffodills, etc

√ NITROGEN FIXERS The ‘fertilizer’ for your tree, pulling nitrogen into the soil. >> Clover, Vetch, Legumes (clovers, beans, peas, lentils, peas, chickpeas), silverberrry

√ MULCHERS Can be cut and sprinkled around the tree like mulch which helps with water retention and soil protection. >> Comfrey, Vetch, etc, or hay or woodchips.

√ ACCUMULATORS Rejuvenate the soil by pulling up and replenishing nutrients. >> Borage, Comfrey, Chickweed, Yarrow, Nettle, Strawberries, Sorrel, Vetch etc

√ SUPPRESSORS Help suppress weed growth, like ground covers with interwoven root systems. >> Clover, Thyme, Sedum, Strawberries, etc

Pollination + Fruiting

Apple trees need cross-pollination to produce fruit, even if some varieties are listed as self-fruitful. Cross-pollination occurs when pollen from a different apple variety is transferred from the male part of the flower to the female part during bloom time. 

Here are some tips for apple tree pollination:

• Plant multiple trees: Plant a small group of trees instead of just one, even if some are self-fertile. This will increase the rate of fruit set. 

• Plant compatible varieties: Plant trees that are compatible with each other. For example, you can plant early bloomers with other early bloomers. 

• Plant with pollinators in mind: Place flowering crabapples or other pollinizers among apple trees. You can also attract pollinators by planting flowers that they like. 

• Use honeybees: Place honeybee hives in the orchard when the first blossoms open. Honeybees are the main pollinators of apples. 

• Consider the weather: Cool weather can extend the blossoming period, while warmer weather can shorten it. Chilly weather, rain, and wind can keep bees inside the hive. 

• Consider the distance: Apple trees should be planted no more than 100 feet apart. 

• Consider the pesticides: Avoid using pesticides during bloom time, as they are toxic to honeybees. 

Some apple varieties are triploid, which means they have three sets of chromosomes and cannot cross-pollinate other varieties. To pollinate triploid varieties, you'll need to plant two other apple trees nearby, each of a different variety.

Fertilizing

Fertilize your Apple tree in early spring, after the snow melts and before new growth begins.

Organic fertilizers for apple trees can include compost, well-rotted manure, bone meal, and kelp meal: 

• Compost

  Can be made from food or garden scraps, and is a good source of macro/micronutrients and trace minerals. 

• Well-rotted manure

  Rich in nutrients and organic matter, but should be well-composted to avoid burning plants. 

• Bone meal

  A great source of phosphorus that can help promote strong root development. It can be mixed into the planting hole, especially if a soil test shows a lack of phosphorus. 

• Kelp meal

  A good second choice to compost for providing macro/micronutrients and trace minerals. 

• Calcium supplement

  May be required if you're having a problem with bitter rot, especially for Honeycrisp apple trees. 

Apple trees typically benefit from a balanced NPK blend fertilizer with a ratio of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). A 10-10-10 ratio is a good option.

The recommended rate is 1/10 pound of actual nitrogen per year of tree age. 

In addition to NPK fertilizer, use additional nutrients that support microbial soil health and root uptake, including:

• Nitrogen: The primary nutrient used by apricot trees, nitrogen promotes green growth. It's leached from the soil by normal growth, so it needs to be replaced with organic or synthetic compounds. A lack of nitrogen can cause leaves to turn pale or reddish, become narrow or shrunken, or develop dead spots. 

• Phosphorus and potassium: These macronutrients are also important for apricot growth. Potassium is especially important for the size and weight of stone fruit. 

• Calcium: Improves fruit growth. 

• Iron: Helps increase fruit size and weight, and crop yields. 

• Copper and zinc: Micronutrients that apple trees need. 

• Magnesium: A deficiency of magnesium can cause apricot leaves to look abnormal. Epsom salts can help correct this deficiency

Most importantly, use Mycorrhizae innoculant to help increase the natural growth of a fungal network in the soil around your Apple Tree roots, which will connect with the other plants in the region, cultivating healthy plant root and chemical communication in your mini eco system.

You can read more about this in the section below on BUILDING SOIL…

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GARDEN NOTES can be a key part of the GARDEN CARE monthly series by request. Keeping notes about your perennial garden offers numerous benefits, from planning and record-keeping to identifying successes and failures, and even improving your understanding of your garden's microclimate and ecosystem. Like a journal, these notes can help you jot down creative ideas, anticipate future challenges, optimize your gardening practices, and ultimately, create a more thriving and enjoyable garden.

A regular garden journal or note taking practice encourages a broadening of your perspective. To become aware of the wider context in which your garden is an integral part can be in an invaluable resource for acknowledging your own learning and experience, which can help you become a more confident and knowledgeable gardener and steward of the land.

Here, we’ll identify the top uses for recording what’s happening in your garden throughout the seasons. This will benefit you through observation, discovery, and review.

Here's a more detailed look at the advantages of GARDEN NOTES:

1. KEY BENEFITS OF GARDEN NOTES

• Knowing what you're growing:

  Our Design + Plant List can map and identify your existing plants. This can help you track what plants you've chosen and where they are located, helpful for planning purposes.

• Planning ahead:

  We’ll make notes after each GARDEN CARE session. By documenting the experience and what we feel or notice as well as what we accomplish, you can hopefully learn from past successes and failures, and make informed decisions about future planting and design choices.

• To Do List - By Season

  We may identify a short TO DO LIST for your DIY garden activities, by season. For example, you can check your GARDEN PAGE for a good reminder when specific actions need to be done (like fertilizing or scouting for pests). This can help ensure your plants receive the care they need or offer options for troubleshooting. 

• Tracking biodiversity and shifting garden development:

  Documenting species or guild growth and development can help you understand how your plants are responding to their environment and make adjustments as needed. 

2. OBSERVE OVER TIME FOR A GREATER UNDERSTANDING

• Microclimate and ecosystem:

  By keeping notes on the elements, weather conditions, soil types, and pest or disease issues, you can better understand the unique characteristics of your garden and how they affect your plants. 

• Plant characteristics:

  As you observe your perennials, you'll learn their individual needs, including their bloom times, growth habits, and preferred conditions. 

• Pollinator + Animal activity:

  As you observe the pollinating insects and other neighborhood animals or wildlife in your garden through the seasons, you’ll get to learn more about how your microclimate is interacting with the neighborhood and wider ecology.

3. NATURALLY IMPROVE YOUR GARDEN PRACTICE

• Select the right plant ‘guilds’ and placement:

  By experimenting with plant placement and then observing growth and behavior, you can better identify optimal ‘plant guilds’ and idal locations for different species. This helps create a more balanced, biodiverse, and visually appealing garden. 

• Improving irrigation and soil:

  Trees require a different watering schedule than shrubs, perennials, or ground cover. And some native species require even less water or amendment than other climate adapted species in your garden. Knowing the needs of your species or ‘plant guilds’ and their placement in the most suitable area or microclimate is key. We can discuss and take notes on watering schedules, best irrigation practices, adjusting soil structure for water retention or drainage, amending with compost or other nutrients. We always recommend speaking with your irrigation specialist to confirm.

• Adapting to changing conditions:

  As your garden develops cyclically, your listening, observing, interpreting, and long term memory develop with it. You can use your GARDEN NOTES to help recall and plan additional beneficial species to balance your ‘plant guilds’, identify what to maintain, move or remove, and assess healthy preventative measures where needed.

Find your seeds or plant starts here, as well as tools, materials, and more! We’re pleased to share the health and the wealth of opportunity among these associations from our many professional and social circles. Rebecca’s Gardens Design makes it our goal to stay as consistent as possible with the larger picture holistic ecological values for plants, people, and our planet. Thank you for your commitment to sourcing biodynamic or organically grown plant species or varieties, soil, or other products.

GOT INSTALLATION?

We Recommend Scheduling With Humberto + Team When Design Is Ready

FROM HARDSCAPE TO PLANTINGS — “A G E M” HAS IT COVERED

A GOOD EARTH MAINTENANCE LLC

Owner / Lead Manager: HUMBERTO NIETE

(303) 774 - 1234

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Your Photo Album

Before

Cheers To Your Garden!

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