Landscape Evergreens and Landscape Design

The University of Minnesota Extension's Department of Horticultural Science has a great page written up on its website called "Choosing Landscape Evergreens," which talks about using landscape evergreens as a landscape design tool. When choosing an evergreen to use in your landscaping project, your focus should be on size, shape, color, texture and how the evergreen fits into your overall design.

"Landscape plantings, whether for home properties or large public grounds, are most satisfying when a clear pattern is apparent to people using the space. Simplicity and serenity are important for outdoor design. Use the fewest possible varieties of evergreen plants and select them for an obvious purpose."

If you need professional assistance coming up both designing and implementing a design for your landscape, Gary Anderson Landscaping offers free landscaping estimates.

Retaining Walls: What Type Should You Build?

If your property has issues with erosion, steep inclines, unsteady banks, slopes or hillsides, you might be thinking about having some sort of retaining wall built. There are a variety of different materials out there that can be used to build retaining walls, from wood and concrete to boulders and blocks, but you shouldn’t be make a rash decision, nor should you let your landscape contractor or a home improvement store clerk talk you into a material that may not help with your dilemma.

To select the type of retaining wall, you should look first at the area and see how big the wall will need to be. For walls over three feet, you may need to get a permit and they might require specialized equipment. After this, take a look at your home and the yard surrounding it. A formal setting might be more suited for a block wall, while a wooden wall gives off a more informal environment, but can have planting beds placed on top of it. If your home as a country or lake setting, a boulder retaining wall might be one of the better choices.

No matter what type you decided to build, contact a professional retaining wall construction company like Gary Anderson Landscaping, a retaining wall construction company in Minneapolis, to help you tackle the project.

Retaining Walls: Suggestions & Tips

There are times when installing a retaining wall is necessary to help your garden or backyard. Many homes are constructed on sloped-ground lots and while it’s built level, the yard still may need some work. Some homeowners out there have found success building retaining walls with pavers to create a terrace or play area for the kids. These walls will help in achieving this, and the hardscapes will only add to the beauty of your home and landscaping. A retaining wall should be able to hold the weight of the ground behind it, while also allowing for damage. There are decorative applications that can be applied to help bring character to the home or garden.

The first step in designing and building your wall is to figure out the condition of the location, and check for the following:

• Water drainage
• Soil condition
• Grade

These will factor in how the wall is built, so be prepared to have ready a drawing or sketch of the design you want. Having lot blueprints and pictures from different angles can help you to choose the best product.

When designing the wall, first calculate the height and width, and figure out of the size will necessitate terraces. The retaining wall construction company you work with should be able to help you pick out the pattern of the paving stones that you want.

Finally, when the wall is built, make sure it is on the lowest part of your property. This may require a trench in order to get the gravel base installed to the right depth, and this will be your leveling medium to ensure the wall is secure.

Retaining Walls Facts

Here are some facts to consider about retaining walls before dismissing them completely:

• A retaining wall is not just practical from a construction standpoint, but serves an attractive landscaping element
• If you don’t want to think of a retaining wall as that, then you can think of it as flower garden wall
• Retaining walls, when constructed right, are designed specifically to retain the soil behind them
• The same blocks used for these walls can be used for matching stairs that are integrated into the design
• The success of any wall lies in the way it’s constructed

Gary Anderson Landscaping is a Minneapolis retaining wall contractor online at www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com. 

Retaining Wall FAQs

Here are some of the most common questions we get about retaining walls:

How high can my retaining wall be built?

It depends on the site conditions. The contractors will need to consider the grade and state of the soil, site slop, groundwater and other items, as well as material type and weight.

Do I need a permit?

It depends on your local zoning regulations. In most cases, you will need a permit if the wall is over 4 feet high.

How long will my wall last?

Depending on soil and groundwater conditions, it could last 50-100 years.

Minneapolis retaining wall contractor Gary Anderson Landscaping can help you with all your retaining wall needs. Contact us today by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com. 

Minneapolis Landscaping Tips

It’s not always easy to do Minneapolis landscaping. The summer heat can present obstacles toward getting a healthy lawn or garden. When preparing to do landscaping for your Twin Cities home, keep in mind the following:

1. Getting rid of dying flowers and seed heads will allow the plant’s energy to be used for flowering as opposed to just producing seeds. This is great for annuals.

2. Pull back mums and other similar plants to make them more flower productive.

3. It’s best to apply fertilizer to azaleas, etc. in spring or early summer.

4. The last rose blossoms of the season should be left to encourage dormancy.

5. Apply in the middle of the season a slow-release fertilizer to allow for good plant performance until it begins to frost.

Gary Anderson Landscaping is a professional Minneapolis landscaper. Enlist their services by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com. 

Landscaping FAQ

Here are some of the more frequent landscaping questions we’ve received:

What exactly encompasses ‘good’ landscape design?

It should incorporate your family’s surroundings and needs, reflecting and enhancing your normal lifestyle.

How much does it cost to hire a professional landscaper?

The rule of thumb for budgeting is 10-20% of your home’s total value.

Why should I bother?

An unkempt yard or lawn is a lot like a messy bedroom or house: you don’t want people to see it out of fear they might think less of you. While your home’s dirtiness can be hidden behind closed doors, your lawn doesn’t have the same opaqueness. A yard not maintained properly can cause you and your neighbors’ property values to decrease.

What should I look for in a landscaper?

Trust. You need to be able to know that whomever you hire will get the job you want done, and that they will not try to talk you into something you don’t need.

How long does it take to landscape?

It depends on the size of your property, and what all you would like done.

Could your Minneapolis landscaping use a boost? Gary Anderson Landscaping can help. Contact them today by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com. 

MN Landscape Design Tips from Gary Anderson Landscaping

Minnesota hosts a unique, highly variable climate, from the chilliness of winter to the extreme heat of summer. This presents a unique challenge for Minnesota landscape designers, who must balance these two factors, as well as the annual Spring wildfire season, when selecting foliage and other natural elements. Gary Anderson Landscaping always reminds our clients to think about the following when it comes to their landscape design:

Extensive woodlands

Minnesota is home to some of the country’s most beautiful trees, but they can often overshadow the rest of the landscaping in your backyard. The dense foliage blocks sunlight and since the woodlands are located mostly in the back of properties and are not maintained, it gives the area an unkempt appearance.

One of the easiest ways to address this is to dress the area up as a woodland garden. Perennials need less than four hours of sun per day, making them a perfect choice for such a dim area. Once you or your landscape designer has cleaned out the area, mulch should be laid to keep the area free of weeds, tree seeds and other unwanted plant life.

Native plants

Using Minnesota’s native plant life, like lady’s slipper orchids and wet ash swamp, is becoming more popular with homeowners. They can be used for gardening and landscaping, or to restore native plant communities. These plants offer a low-closet landscaping alternative, and habitat for natural wildlife. They can also be used to make unique garden designs, like an evergreen shaded garden, suburban garden or wet meadow garden. This is a great choice for the homeowner who wants his or her property to have a rustic look.

Sunlit areas

Every homeowner has an area that seems to just take the brunt of summer heat. It’s the portion where nothing grows, except turf and maybe some brown grass and nearly dead plants.

The best way to address this area is to plant perennials and shrubs that can withstand the constant sunlight. Boulders can provide the plants with a nice backdrop, and they won’t be affected by the sun. You’ll want this area to be covered in mulch, so as to keep it free of unwanted intruders. A sun garden will provide an interesting and beautiful visual element to an area that got noticed before, but for all the wrong reasons.

If you have questions about Minnesota landscaping, contact the experts at Gary Anderson Landscaping by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com. 

Use the Summer to Get Custom Landscape Design from Gary Anderson Landscaping

Enjoying that summer weather, Twin Cities? Gary Anderson Landscaping, serving the Minneapolis and St Paul areas, is excited to get outdoors as it means we can really get to work on custom landscape designs. Given any thought to yours?

Summer is here, and pretty soon, your outdoor living space will be a scene of barbecues and family events. Is your property ready to be the location? Does your landscaping reflect what your home is all about?

If you answered “no” or “unsure,” Gary Anderson Landscaping can help. We’re professional landscaping experts, and when you need a landscape contractor in the Twin Cities, think of us.

Gary Anderson Landscaping is comprised of landscape design specialists who will create an outdoor living space of which you can be product. Contact us today by visiting www.GaryAndersonLandscaping.com.