Exterior Worlds Landscaping Blog

Traditional Garden Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:27:00 +0000

What is Traditional Garden Design?
Rustic classic garden design. Arcadia was a legendary place in Greece known for its quiet garden beauty were Virgil, the Roman poet, described as the home of pastoral simplicity. Natural woodland trees weaving into weathered stone columns and colonnades covered with Wisteria vines and English ivies is the rustic beauty of the classic garden. These ideal and romantic garden settings of the past are a cross between Formal garden design forms, English garden design and have an arid feel likened to Mediterranean gardens.

Classic Garden Design in Houston.
We can look for inspiration in the painters of the 18th century -Ruins of Greek and Roman architecture with garden statues, grottos, temples, water, winding paths, and the surrounding land. The look is natural yet the positioning of every tree, rock, and planting element was placed to present a balanced, harmonious and timeless mood. First, set up the axial paths and open spaces that create structure in the garden. A rustic patio of limestone gravel, step stones, and groundcovers for relaxed entertaining and European contemplation. Elements such as an antique concrete bench weathered or chipped with moss or ferns on it for nostalgia or concrete plinths that terminate at a Texas mountain Laurel or Olive tree in a rustic Gardiner. A natural effect utilizes plants such as Wisteria, agapanthus and lace ferns. At its smallest scale create a weathered vase with a sphere of dwarf yaupon and creeping rosemary and fig ivy covering its curves.
The Rustic Pool-an understated square pool with a Tuscan tan shell. At the waters edge; a simple mixed tile of greens, blues, and browns accented with a bold coping of thick chiseled stone.

Outdoor Water Fountains of Antiquity-An 18 century stone trough that catching the water from iron spout, is a perfect touch for an old world landscape design. Vines can be trained up its edge, which can echo the Italian centuries of long ago.
Arbors, Pergolas, Colonnades and Grottos- similar to English gardens is the opportunity for an arbor or pergola. Concrete pillars covered with a wood pergola, rambling wisteria and star jasmine vines.
Landscape Lighting- Tradition gardens did not have landscape lighting, however given the opportunity to illuminate their gardens, we can be reasonably sure they would. Landscape lighting is a fantastic opportunity to add ambiance and accent statuary for evening drama.
Landscape Maintenance- classic garden maintenance will be critical in keeping the natural yet orderly feel of your garden in check on a regular basis. Regular trimming of vines, fig ivies, and dead heading of roses is a weekly necessity in the classic garden.
Elements of good landscape maintenance:
1. Lawn service
2. Rose maintenance
3. Annual flowers
4. Irrigation inspection
5. Mulching

If you are interested in a traditional garden designs discussed above, Exterior Worlds has been providing high-end landscape services for upscale homes throughout the Houston (Hou) area since 1987. Specializing in Memorial Villages landscaping (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village, Hedwig Village), Tanglewood, Bellaire, River Oaks and West University. Contact us at 713-827-2255

Difficult Landscape Spaces

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Landscape design comes with big challenges. Perhaps your property is next to a 30 foot high wall of a neighbor’s townhouse or office building. Maybe the space is narrow with straight lines and right angles. Or you’ve remodeled your residence, changed the elevation, added a new room and reduced the size of your backyard, all of which affect the relationship to the existing landscape.

You must break through the dissatisfaction of your existing landscape design and just decide what you want. Your program elements are an outline or list of desired wants/needs and functions for the site. For example, you might want a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen or an outdoor room with an outdoor fireplace to entertainment from. Or you might want your landscape design to reflect the beauty of the Italian villa.
Once the landscape contractors or landscape designers meet on site with the client, they get the landscape program and challenges of the site. The designers will study the relationship of the architecture to the site and begin to work out a skeleton or backbone of the landscape design. A professional landscape designer or landscape architect will have intuitive, imaginative and analytical abilities to resolve the difficult landscaping space.

How to turn negatives into positives:

The purpose is to create spaces that relate to the home and elements that also have a connection with the yard and surrounding area. First, look at the big factors that will literally decide whether or not you can have all the things on your wish list or not. “We really need to screen the neighbor’s windows, or we will have to conceal the generator or swimming pool equipment.” In looking at positives and negatives we first test the big picture against the viability/capacity of the site. Define you Spaces and TransitionsOnce the larger positives and negatives are resolved you can move on to the particulars.Now is the time to address the more difficult spaces such as transitions between the home, were maybe the foundation is unsightly and needs to be hidden. This is were you put consideration on how to hide 18” of concrete foundation or moving a 3 foot path away from the foundation to accommodate for greater landscape layering. The landscape design is a hierarchy of problem/solution/problem/solution down to each detail and back out in relation to the whole. The overall objective of any great landscape design is a space that breathes with the home and has a connection to its surroundings-reflecting the client's visual desires and functionally working together in every aspect.

Additional options to consider:

 Outdoor Water Fountains

 Arbors and Pergolas

 Outdoor Fireplaces

 Landscape Lighting

 Swimming Pool

 Large trees

If you are interested in any high-quality landscape services, Exterior Worlds has been providing the high-end residential landscaping services discussed above for the Houston and the surrounding areas including Memorial Villages (Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village, Hunter Creek Village), Tanglewood, River Oaks, West University and the greater Houston (Hou), area since 1987. Contact us at 713-827-2255

Houston Garden Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:36:00 +0000

What is great Garden Design?
Dan Kiley, one of the greatest landscape designers of this century explains: “the strongest artists and designers are in search for the mystery of who we are-the best work comes from that search-the mystical dimension joins with our faculties to prepare us for further growth.” The great Roman architects described it as finding the “Genius loci” or the “spirit of place” that transcending experience we may find in life from nature, visiting a place of worship or a favorite vacation spot.

How do we create a thorough garden design?
If garden design is a master piece painting; the clients program, the architecture of the home and the site context are the composition of the painting. The clients program are the wants, needs, wishes, likes dislikes, functions and uses for the space that they intend to see. A great designer treats the home as a living anatomy that is in relationship with it’s site-never as a static lifeless building. The architecture of the home may dictate the structure of the gardens, selection of materials and there arrangements, continuations of axial views and experiences extending form inside the home to the site. The context is the potential of the site to include lot size, utilities, views, obstructions, accessibility, and sun patterns, zoning restrictions basically the sum total of what is possible or not possible in response to the clients program before the design has even begun.

The Garden Design process
After the initial meeting a garden designer’s intuitive function automates and an initial diagram, concept, or concepts emerge. “In response to our customers needs” says Jeff Halper of Exterior Worlds, “we have a creative process that involves the client from inception. Through email and informal phone meetings, we move though an assemblage of drawings and rough sketches so clients are very involved with design decisions rather than showing up with the final design all at once dictating the whole thing.”

Garden Design Elements:

Pools and Outdoor Fountains-these represent the most significant part of the overall garden design, especially the relationship to the house and the outdoor use areas. Great garden design is essential to a positive out come regardless of pool cost. We have found being involved with the architect and builder at the earliest stages allows a cohesive transition from house to swimming pool.

Hardscapes - (including patios, decks or walkways.) These use areas are essential to the extension of the home. Patios, decks and walkways need to accommodate specific uses. A landscape designer must to be very in tune with the functional requirements for these areas.

Gardens - trees, shrubs and plantings may extend the relationship with the homes architecture, serve as a transition from the home to the site, or address specific problems in the sites context such as screening neighbor views, an unsightly telephone pole or create a dramatic backdrop.

The Final Painting. Jeff Halper adds: “Continued from the inception of the concept and general layout of project elements to the final built work-we work closely with the customer in the continued refinement, selection of materials, there overall suitability and performance.”

Call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255 to set an appointment to discuss your garden design. They have been landscaping Houston since 1987, including River oaks, West University, Bellaire, Memorial Villages and Tanglewood.

Landscape Architects in Houston Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:38:00 +0000

What is the difference between a landscape architect and landscape designer?

A Registered Landscape Architect in the state of Texas has a degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited university, two years of experience practicing under a Licensed Landscape Architect and has passed a national licensure exam that tests for basic competency in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public in practicing landscaping on a residential, commercial and civic level.

What is the difference in hiring a landscape architect or landscape designer for your residential landscape?

This has to do with your project goals and the individuals/ companies experience on past projects similar in scope to your landscape garden rather than education, licensure or degrees. Does their portfolio and website reflect the breath of creativity, knowledge, beauty, skill, craftsmanship that you envision at your own home? Does the individual have experience in working with local zoning codes and permitting in your area? What is their design and construction process and what do they charge for design and or construction drawings? It is not only creative ideas and designs that make for a great project, but the ability to communicate drawings into construction documents for landscape contractors so that the design can be clearly built as proposed.

Experience as a landscape project manager
In our experience, in high end residential landscaping, hiring one person from design through construction implementation and maintenance is what most clients’ desire. Customers don’t want to deal with the frustration of hiring and managing contractors, schedules, and work flow trying to implement a landscape design that isn’t relevant to budgetary or construction constraints! In building a relationship with your design and construction professional, they should exhibit the ability to communicate known design standards for built elements and convey simple sketches, written or verbal specifications to contractors and sub-contractors in implementing design strategies. When you have one individual see a project through from vision to managing the collective contractors, all the way through to maintenance, you have someone who not only knows what they are doing but is taking responsibility for the outcome.

Experience as a landscape contractor
The proof is in the pudding, the best reflection of work well done is what is the landscape contractor’s referral base? For how many years have they been working for the same satisfied clients’? In Houston’s high-end residential landscape construction niche, quality landscape construction contractors are a select few. What you are looking for is some one who is extremely busy because they are in such demand, proof of quality work and a reference list.

Questions to Ask
Regardless of license or registration as a landscape architect or education, in high end residential landscape design and construction; landscape architects, garden designers and landscape contractors should exhibit:

1. An extensive portfolio of quality work.
2. Clearly communicate creative design solutions to you through illustrative drawings, sketches and material samples.
3. Knowledge and experience in working with local permitting and code requirements and in hiring consultants to permit design solutions so they meet code requirements.
4. Project management experience. Understanding of the entire construction process: project scheduling and multi-task ability to work with several contractors in the completion of a project.
5. Understanding of all different materials and their construction methods, constraints, costs and maintenance requirements.
6. Use of quality contractors who exhibit the kind of detail and craftsmanship that you expect.
7. Show a reference list of satisfied clients and experience in the successful and continual maintenance of landscape design installations.

Exterior Worlds can help with your urban landscaping needs. Visit their website at www.exteriorworlds.com or call 713-827-2255. Since 1987, Exterior Worlds has been providing high-end landscape design and services for Bellaire, River Oaks, West University, and other fine neighborhoods in the greater Houston area.

Mediterranean Landscape Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:40:00 +0000

As the morning mist burns off, wine vineyards and olive trees role along the valley’s of the Tuscan wine country. Limestone rocks dot along a meandering gravel path terminating at a sitting area under an arbor swing of fragrant grape wisteria. These are the images that bring us back to the timeless beauty of Mediterranean landscape gardens. These are formal garden designs expressed by the topography and palette of arid Greece, Rome, Crete, Tuscany and Spain. Mediterranean garden designs are traditional gardens relating to the classic garden design forms of Greek and Middle Eastern times. As opposed to English Garden design and Modern Garden design, Mediterranean landscapes repeat the elements of classic garden design from the ancient times-axis, rooms and points of interest for the viewer of the garden to sit, ponder, and wonder. It also utilizes classic form in an arid climate so both the color palette (blues, greens, limestone rocks, stone) as well as garden forms (compact, dry, rugged) give this style its old world charm.

Mediterranean Challenge in Houston Landscaping
How can we bring the beauty of a Tuscan villa or quaint grotto garden to our Houston backyards? How do we capture an arid climate and rolling hills on a flat, humid gulf coast property? Mediterranean gardens best fit homes of a traditional style. Stucco exteriors, arching windows and door entries of the Spanish style, southern formal Louisiana plantation style, or the ranch style house updated with a white or taupe exterior best compliment Mediterranean Garden Design. The formal design is the back bone of your Mediterranean garden. The first steps would be the spatial definition of lawn, path, pool and the garden focal points such as arbors, pergolas, statuary. In pulling off the arid and dry climate in Houston Texas, think of material selection in terms of what is reminiscent of “arid and dry.” You might want to think in terms of 50 percent green to 50 percent stone, gravels and paving. There are of course palm trees, oranges, and other tropical plants in the Mediterranean Garden but the overall look is sparse and minimal. Remember the Gulf Coast climates humidity and heat will create an overly lush garden very quickly.

Elements of the Mediterranean Garden at your Houston Home Pools - coping material selection could be lueders limestone, with a rough edge or peacock pavers. The pool finish may be a lighter bluish white or even a tan. You could use a mix of pastel washes for the pool tile-browns and terra cottas. The overall intent here is weathered, washed out-aged.
Water Fountains - could be a statuary-possibly either weathered or broken for character. If this is too pretentious and intentional a series of small fountains with a water channel connecting them together could be built of stone.
Arbors and Pergolas - materials of natural pine or rough cedar with a grey stain painted white to match the house or washed blues to attract the eye. Rather than the typical star jasmine running over the arbor maybe try passion vine, wisteria or coral vine.
Plantings- arid compact planting colors of blue greens, grays, and compact textures. Here is a short list of Houston plantings for Mediterranean gardens:
 Evergreen wisteria
 Junipers-shore juniper, Hollywood juniper, Leland cypress, Italian cypress (provide good drainage for all.)
 Will Fleming Yaupons, dwarf yaupons, pittosporums, lantana (caution all these plants need excellent drainage)
 Zoysia grass over St. Augustine

Screening Hedges- of Japanese yews, Leland cypress, and holly trees. Hedges of boxwoods and yaupons can be planted in rows or with gravel in-between relating to rows of wine vineyards.
Rows of plantings could curve to simulate changing topography-this is metaphorical of course.

Gravels and Stones- white limestone or patterns of contrasting gravels. Also, integrate large flagstones into existing paths in random patterns of 5’s could create a rustic look and add interest.
Large bowls and Rustic Garden Art –Rustic terra cotta jars and small fruit tree bowls. These could be planted with fig ivy running down the surface or creeping rosemary’s. Also old world statuary could be added to pedestals that relate to the home. Authentic old world pieces are worth their investment because they add so much old world charm and could be accented with night lighting in the evening.

Contact Exterior Worlds for more information about Mediterranean Landscape Design for your Houston home.

English Garden Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:34:00 +0000

What is the English Garden?

The English Garden design derives from the unpretentious landscape ideas of the rural farmsteads and country sides of Europe. Rolling meadow vistas with homes built of local materials-wood, stone, and stucco surrounded by woodlands, brambles, grasses and perennials weaving in and out up to the homestead. Curvilinear paths of local gravel or just a mowed strip might indicate a pathway between the natural and the slightly cultivated with simple shade trellises and benches built by the local artisans of the time. Unlike formal garden design and modern garden design, English gardens use a scattered “quilting” plant design approach to grasses, perennial, herbs and flowers.

How did this simple and natural English garden design style become popular?
It was most likely the first impressionist painters of the 1850’s such as Claude Monet. As these paintings were purchased through private shows or commissioned for the wealthy, a desire for the natural English garden at the countryside estate became popular. Beauty, simplicity and the untamed world of the natural represented a simple way of life away from the rigors of the city.

How does one design or layout an English garden?
Even in this wild setting it’s important to have definition of space or pathways which can curve around the house defining various gardens-pathways, seating areas, and large open meadows or lawns. Reminiscent of the English garden design are arbors, pergolas and lattices for vines. “Think of your planting design as a patch work of plants,” says Jeff Halper of Exterior Worlds, “spread out and mixed in natural associations.” If you have plenty of sun, dot in Ornamental Grasses such as Miscanthus followed by tall perennials like Hibiscus, Gold Dust Esperanza, Mealy Sage, the bulbs of agapanthus, butterfly iris and blue plumbago. For the ground layer society garlic, bulbine, hints of monkey grass.

English Garden Pathways, Spaces and Plantings
In the English garden pathways and space ramble naturally from one to the other as opposed to the modern garden design were experiences and spaces are very deliberate. Also in formal garden design plant elements are used in a very architectural way as opposed to “managed chaos” approach of the English garden design approach.

Features for the English garden:
Gates, Arbors, Trellises, Pergolas, gazebos and whimsical elements such as sun dials can be used. Landscape lighting can be utilized to uplight garden arbors.

Natural and Local Material Selection:
In English Garden design take cues from the homes material and use that outside especially if its brick stone and gravel.

English Garden maintenance.
Managed chaos is the goal here-deleting and weeding out plants here and there. If you want to keep some of the maintenance down or provide more order plant in organized drifts. Ultimately you still need a landscape maintenance program. In the English garden flowering trees, shrubs, bulbs, annual flowers and other perennials will need a regular feeding program. If your property has large trees, tree preservation methods will need to be employed while installing an irrigation system, you will need to do some hand-digging to prevent tree damage.

If an English garden design is your hearts desire then call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255 for its years of professional experience.

Landscaping design and Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 19:54:00 +0000

What is landscaping design for Entertainment?
It is creating ambiance and a wonderful mood. In order to do this you have to know the fundamentals that compose the feeling of repose, relaxation, elegance, pleasure and arrange landscape design elements in such a way that the whole thing has a convenient layout and provides interest. The landscape design should create intrigue with different areas to visit and ponder-the excitement factor.

How do you create the right frame of mind?
What creates a fantastic landscape design environment that keeps your guests entertained, refilling their wine glasses, smelling and tasting the fresh hors de chore. Apart from of budget and elements a great outdoor room for entertainment should have multiple uses and activities, be comfortable and beautiful. Although highly personal, a beautiful landscape design should be appealing with water fountains, sculptures, or garden art with graceful foreground trees and a soft lush back drop of hedges and shrubs. Landscape pathways of varying and unifying materials guide your visitors form one space to the next with intrigue and interest, “what else is here” is the excitement you want to generate. How can you make the most out of each garden element to create most beauty, functionality and use?

Use lawns and patios and plantings.
Creating a chain of command of pathways, patios and landscape lawn areas delineates spaces that have diverse uses. In addition, you can add details to paving and concrete areas. For instance, you can create an outdoor rug effect by adding a mosaic tile pattern to a patio or have a brick herringbone courtyard with a white stone edge to add visual interest and detail in defining the space. You could also change color or materials in transition pathways between larger spaces such as using cut stone with ground cover planted in between to soften the effect of the path and provide greater visual interest and softness with the surrounding garden. Lawns can serve as open courtyards for play with trimmed hedges and garden borders that have seating areas-just like in a public park were people love to watch other people.

Can Swimming Pools, Spas and Water Features add to you outdoor entertainment?
Over the years swimming pools have became lively landscape architectural elements with built in water features. Sun decks are common to walk into and step down into the pool. Benches can be built along one entire length of the pool for lounging. Additionally swimming pools can be shallow for walking. Water features can take advantage of adding a vertical sculptural element suck as a raised spa that descends into the pool basin or jets can be seamlessly woven into the pool for visual and auditory effects.

Can I do other things in an outdoor room beside cook?
Outdoor kitchens have become multimedia rooms. A beautiful outdoor fireplace can serve as the backdrop for a wonderful evening outdoors serving as both function and art. A simple fire pit can supply all the entertainment and focal point that you need in a small garden. Televisions can be built in and stereos and surround sound can add to your grilling enjoyment. There are all types of variations in grill setups. There are combinations of grilling and smoking as well as sinks or refrigerators depending on the amount of cooking you see doing for your company. Outdoor kitchens bring indoor entertainment outdoors.

Consider the amount of space you need.
Seating needs to vary from passive to comfortable. This would include passive seating walls and concrete, stone or wood benches, areas were your guests can sit or stand against to talk to someone for a short mingling conversation. At the next level you may have seating for eating and conversation. Then, more comfortable oversized chair seating for the family and relaxation.

Outdoor extravaganza
The more you can add the above elements, the more your landscape garden design becomes an experience for gatherings, events and private renewal. Just as the inside of your house provides for different use areas, so should the garden reflect your many public and private needs and dreams.

Since 1987, Exterior Worlds has been creating premier outdoor environments, as well as providing high-end residential landscape maintenance, for River Oaks, the Memorial Villages and the surrounding Houston area. Call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255 to discuss your Houston Landscaping needs.

Commercial Landscape Maintenance

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:45:00 +0000

What can a good commercial landscape maintenance plan do for my property?
As a commercial property manager or owner, you want to find a commercial landscape maintenance company who will partner with you in reaching your long- and short-term goals. With your daily priorities of meeting the needs and demands of tenants, establishing property security and controlling budgets, time management is critical. Therefore, it will make your job easier to work with a provider who honors your time. Finally, every property is unique, and so you want to work with a landscape service company who will maintain your property so that its strengths are maximized and, just as important, its weaknesses minimized.

What are the main elements of a Commercial Landscape Maintenance Program?

The benefits. A quality maintenance program provides these four advantages:
• Presents a positive image to your customers or tenants and their customers
• Protects your investment
• Extends and retains tenants by maintaining beautiful grounds
• Helps conserve and enhance property value

The basic components of a commercial landscape maintenance program involve:
Commercial Landscape design services and installation—
1. Design and installation. In the design phase, a landscape service provider will work with you on the program elements, permitting issues, design approach—including your likes and dislikes—and aesthetics. The next phase may include landscape layout, planting plans and cost studies. In providing landscape services, a true professional should work diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your project, determine the scheduling, coordinate vendors, assist in the selection of materials, and develop a final budget.
2. Landscape lighting. A well-designed landscape lighting system gives a commercial property 24/7 visibility. Since lighting is a big deterrent of crime, one of the most important services that it delivers is safety, thereby providing an invaluable service to establishments that conduct business at night, such as hotels, country clubs, social clubs, colleges, schools, museums, and restaurants. Ultimately, though, the main propose of landscape lighting is to create a beautiful nighttime vista of the landscape.
3. Irrigation systems. Money savings and convenience are the two main descriptors of an irrigation system. It supplies the appropriate amount of water to the appropriate plant material. It separates the lawn, beds and color areas into different zones that require different watering conditions due to the various plant types and sunlight conditions. Finally, it utilizes controller box technologies, such as timers, time delays and rain sensors, that let you set an automatic schedule based on your landscape needs while, at the same time, allowing you to switch to manual for unplanned events.
4. Drainage systems. With Houston’s heavy soils, low-lying areas and torrential rains, proper landscape drainage is essential for three reasons: a) to protect your property from flooding b) to protect the foundation of the building(s) from cracking and uneven shrinkage or swelling c) to properly drain roofs and landscaped areas to avoid standing water that can cause slippery surfaces, breeding grounds for mosquitoes or drowned landscaping. A landscape drainage system should be viewed as a whole to ensure that its appropriate functions and fixtures work together properly.

Regular maintenance—
1. Turf maintenance. One of the most basic features of a commercial landscape maintenance program, turf maintenance is more than just cutting the grass. It is edging, feeding and treating—all activities that promote healthy growth. And it is meticulous clean-up so that your tenants can quickly return to enjoying the grounds once the crew leaves.
2. Trimming hedges and ground covers. As part of a thorough commercial landscape maintenance program, hedges, shrubs and bushes should be trimmed regularly to the desired contours. Ground cover and vines should be edged to maintain a neat appearance. The intention is to ensure that all elements conform to the overall plan of the landscape design.
3. Tree care. A top-notch commercial landscape maintenance company will attend to trees, which are valuable assets. Houston summers can be very stressful for trees, so deep-root fertilization is important because it promotes healthy trees. Aeration also encourages root growth. Trees should be inspected regularly for any insect infestations. Insects, such as pine bark beetles and boring insects, can be tree killers, sometimes striking very quickly, especially when Houston’s weather turns hot or if trees are suffering due to construction duress.
4. Fertilizations. Critical to plant health, regular fertilization is a form of insurance for your plants. Commercial landscape maintenance providers should have a methodical feeding program that insures the health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants. The feeding program may also include spring and fall aeration of lawn areas with the application of fall rye grass.
5. Herbicide and insecticide treatments. These programs are also critical to plant health. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are the last part of a complete and proactive commercial landscape maintenance program.

Annual Flowers—
1. Annual flowers are an important part of presenting a positive image for any commercial property. You will want to work with a commercial landscape maintenance company whose extensive knowledge of plant material, color, and texture creates eye-catching designs.
Preventive MaintenancePreventive maintenance can be your best defense against potential landscape and property damage—or something going wrong just when you need it to go right. In the long run, preventive maintenance saves money.

As a precaution, a professional commercial landscape maintenance company will make periodic surveys of your property to ensure that everything is in good order. Items on the checklist include:
• Tree inspection. Watch for branches touching the building or overhead wires. Dead limbs need to be trimmed to promote vigorous growth. Trees should be regularly checked for disease, decay or wounds and swift action taken as needed.
• Irrigation inspection. It is critical to have irrigation systems working smoothly as proper maintenance minimizes large amounts water pouring out of broken lines and heads. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “This service is so important for commercial properties. For some of our clients, it has meant savings of as much as $5,000 to $10,000 per month.”
Whether you have a brand-new property or want to ramp up an under-performing one call Exterior Worlds to discuss your commercial landscape maintenance needs, they have been providing Houston Landscaping services since 1987.

Formal Landscape Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 20:57:00 +0000

What is Formal Landscape Design?
The hand of the landscaper is clearly in evidence in formal landscape designs as the pathways and plantings are controlled along crisp lines. It is this order that gives a sense of peace and ceremony. Formal landscape design is our attempt to bring to bear our control over nature, to fashion our idealized version of it.

Throughout history, formal gardens have evolved. Traditional, or classic landscape design, for instance, is a type of formal garden that uses linear pathways and sheared shrubbery. In the 16th and 17th centuries, knot gardens and parterres were in vogue. Originating in England, a knot garden is a square made of low, clipped hedges. Within the “knot”, a variety of blooming plants and herbs grow. Parterres developed in the formal estates of France and are four squares laid in a symmetrical pattern separated by gravel paths. The planting that makes the outline of the parterre is an evergreen shrub trimmed into a pleasant, sometimes intricate, shape. Parterres are designed to be viewed from on high—from the crest of a slope or the balcony of a chateau.

Like language, the term “formal landscape design” continues to vary with time. There are few hard and fast rules—but the main constant is to use the principles of formal landscape design to create a garden that is gorgeous and supports the things you love.

How to create a Formal Landscape Design.
Formal gardens need not be dull. They can be quietly theatrical or outright bold. While there are many kinds of formal gardens, they have two qualities in common: balance and regularity. These attributes are best exemplified by the way the structural lines, called axes, bring the eye to rest where they intersect. Axes are direct lines of sight that lead to a important feature, usually the house. Normally a formal landscape has two axes perpendicular to one another. Called the main axis and the secondary axis, they often double as paths.

The primary axis is usually wider than the secondary path that crosses it. The extra width gives the main axis visual prominence and directs the eye. Thus the eye travels along the main axis, then stops when it reaches the intersection with the secondary axis, which joins it at a 90 degree angle. This joining is a good place for a focal point, such as an outdoor water fountain, that creates interest.

In contrasting to Traditional garden design that uses curved borders with undulating edges, in formal landscape design the edges and borders are laid out in neat, geometric shapes—rectangles, squares, triangles or circles. Along with the decisive contouring of the plant materials, these shapes accentuate the stability and serenity of formal landscape designs.

Because of the acute geometry of formal landscape designs, some residential styles are better suited for formal gardens than others. Colonial and Federal-style houses built of brick or stone work well with this style of garden. Formal gardens nicely complement urban townhouses, particularly those constructed in formal architectural styles such as Second Empire, Georgian or Greek Revival. Contemporary designs, with their spare and unembellished lines, also support formal landscape design.

Other Features in a Formal Landscape Design
• Swimming Pools. The water is the whole point of a formal pool. You want to create a frame for the water that turns it into a design element within the landscape. To that end, a rectangular shape of water looks inherently formal. Round, oval and square work well, too. Within a formal garden, the swimming pool should be placed where it geometrically fits into the overall design. It can be situated in the middle of the space or unconnected to the other immediate features or structures. The pool is meant to stand out and be noticed. Be mindful of your choice of materials with a pool. You want to stay within the formal realm. Flagstone, tile or brick all work well.
• Lighting. Use the different types of landscape lighting—down-lighting, up-lighting, architectural lighting, incandescent lights—to play up the theatricality of a formal landscape design.
• Water features. Water Features fit beautifully in formal landscape designs. Just remember to keep them in the style of the garden and house design. A simple garden design with lots of open space and spare lines can take a more complex water feature.

What is required longterm?
Landscape Maintenance is the Key: An ongoing feature of formal gardens is maintenance. Regular and assiduous maintenance will keep your formal landscape design formal. “After investing a lot of money on your landscape installation, it only makes sense to protect it and make sure it develops as designed. And that’s where a landscape maintenance program comes in,” says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. “As part of a thorough landscape maintenance program, hedges as well as other shrubs and bushes should be trimmed regularly to maintain the desired contours. Ground cover and vines should be edged to maintain a neat appearance. This regularly-scheduled attention will ensure that all elements conform to the overall plan of the formal landscape design.”
Exterior worlds is located in the memorial area. They have been landscaping in Houston area including River oaks, West University, Memorial Villages, Tanglewood since 1987. Call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255 to discuss the creation of your formal landscape design.

Butterfly Garden Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:15:00 +0000

Who designed the Butterfly Garden at Hunters Creek Elementary School?

Hunters Creek Elementary School is located at 10650 Beinhorn Rd, Houston, TX 77024. This year Exterior Worlds had the great honor of donating a landscape design for a new butterfly garden in memory of Mrs. Kellie Sewell. The children really enjoy watching the day to day evolution of the project. The garden was completed in April 2008 and the teachers and children have begun using the garden for an outdoor classroom.

When challenged with creating a butterfly garden for a public school, one must always consider a low maintenance design. By using durable materials such as gravel, stone, boulders and native drought resistant plants we created a garden that should survive the rigors of drought, require minimal maintenance, and hard play. The final garden composition consists of a circular stone entry beneath a beautiful scenic mural serving as a backdrop to two seated courtyard gardens. Large boulders and long benches create opportunities for two outdoor classrooms as well as intimate seating spaces for teachers and students between classes. Multi-truck trees such as Bottle Brush are planted for vertical interest and shade. Grasses and butterfly attractors such as Butterfly Bush, Butterfly Iris, Milkweed, Hamelia, Russelia and Turks Cap are grouped throughout the garden. The entire landscape is planted in gravel for easy weed maintenance and completely eliminates the need for annual mulching.
We hope the garden will inspire creativity, imagination and be a source of inspiration and renewal for years to come. Special thanks also to the many parents who have donated their time, energy and finances in making the beautifully painted wall mural a reality.

What other low maintenance elements can you add to your garden? Here are some design ideas for low maintenance landscapes:
• Choose drought-resistant plants, like pampas grass, Plumbago, and Lantana. You might even choose older rose varieties, which are hardier than modern large-flowered hybrids. Many times these old varieties don’t require as much spraying.
• Avoid plants that need continuous pruning, like boxwood and dwarf yaupons (often used in hedges).
• Stay away from plants, such as azaleas, that are susceptible to diseases or insect problems.
• Mulching can be eliminated by using gravel, which rarely needs to be replaced.
• The use of gravel instead of mulch also cuts down on weeds and helps retains soil.
• Use ground covers that don’t need regular pruning and will cover the ground so that weeds are controlled. This type of ground cover is another choice that eliminates or reduces mulching.
• Maximize your annual flowers by installing flowers in planters, urns or bowls to lower the costly replacements season to season. Even eliminate the flowers completely and install perennials, which never need to be replaced.

Call the experts at Exterior Worlds—713-827-2255—and get their landscaping ideas for your home. Exterior Worlds has been providing memorial landscaping designs and services for fine neighborhoods such as Memorial, Tanglewood, West University, and the greater Houston area since 1987.

Landscape Design for homes in Houston Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:32:00 +0000

What is involved in having a great landscaping design?
You have gathered pictures of some great landscaping ideas but how do you apply them on your own property? Will the same plants grow here that you see in the European and New England country side estates? How will you capture the vision of the stately Italian mansion on your lot in Houston Texas? You need the services of a knowledgeable landscaping design expert. A competent landscaping professional will bring you through the entire design development process which will include: consultation and program development, analysis of the existing site, conceptual landscaping design, design development and construction documentation. It is highly recommended that you utilize a landscaping company that not only does landscaping design but also project management and landscaping installation. There is a world of difference between someone who has great ideas but doesn’t know the availability of local materials, methods of construction of local contractors, overall cost and preservation of a proposed design solution in the Houston climate.

What are the first steps of the design process?
The schematic landscaping design will develop out of the meeting, program elements, site analysis and the designer’s experience. At this schematic level the overall design intent is conveyed such as the general use areas and their sizes; patios, swimming pools, lawn areas, trees, shrubs and groundcovers. An overall estimate can be developed from the schematic landscaping design as well.

What happen after meeting with a Professional?
After setting up an initial consultation with a landscape designer or landscape architect, walk with them around your property and share your overall vision, be sure to include you likes and dislikes. It is important to know what you want and be as specific as you can. For example; you may want a deck to seat a party of 10 people, a large enough lawn area for your 3 and 5 year old and two large labs. This detailed information will be brought together to create a program of uses. The program organizes uses by their relationships to one another like the inside flow of your home. The architecture and flow of your home should relate to the outside design and flow of your landscaping. The understanding of this relationship and its interpretation will separate artist/architectural designer from landscape horticulturalist/landscape contractor.

What Next?
Once you have settled on the overall design objective, sizes of use areas, general material selections and their applications you are ready to begin the landscaping design development and construction development phase. This phase can be broken down into 3 groups: 1) Landscaping design drawings for permitting. 2) Landscaping design drawings to convey final design intent and material selections to you and the installation contractor 3) Landscaping design drawings, called construction documents, to convey installation methods, specifications for materials and their installation. These three groups may be a full package of drawings to include; an existing site survey, tree disposition and elevation plan, tree preservation plan, demolition plan, pool layout plan, drainage plan, irrigation plan, hardscape plan, landscape plan, construction details for the above plans, specifications for above materials and their installation requirements. Each city has its own distinctive permitting requirements for the acceptance of landscaping plans. Submittal of an entire permitting package to be approved or rejected by a committee board is the norm. It’s imperative to have a landscaping business that is fluent in these areas to know what vital information to include; such as lot coverage ratios, engineered drainage plans, pool fencing layout and specifications, so the permit can pass and omit unnecessary information that could create confusion or a red flag that would keep the project from passing.

In Conclusion
Whether your project is a simple landscaping design, which only encompasses landscape planting, to a complex construction package it’s vital you hire the landscape company that is competent in these skill sets. It’s also important to distinguish between off the shelf landscaping design and a designer who is after reflecting your distinctive style if this is imperative to you. Always ask to see a portfolio, website and business cards as sign posts to distinguish if the landscaping company you are hiring has a sense of style or if they are regular landscape contractors.

Commercial Landscape Design in Houston Texas

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:01:00 +0000

What can a commercial landscape design do for your property?

As a property owner, investor or developer, you want to find a commercial landscape design firm who will partner with you in reaching your long- and short-term goals. The key component of this process is a good team, which will include landscape designers or landscape architects, the professionals who will help enhance the investment potential of your property. Another key team member will be a commercial landscape maintenance company. Sometime the one company or firm can handle both aspects.

What are the basic components of a commercial landscape design?

• Design. In the early stages of the design process, your commercial landscape design team will work with you on the program elements, aesthetics and permitting issues. The next phase includes landscape layout, planting plans and cost studies. In providing design services, a true professional should work diligently and patiently to help you define the scope of your project, determine the scheduling, coordinate vendors, assist in the selection of materials, and develop a final budget.
• Irrigation systems. Money savings and convenience are the ultimate end goals of an irrigation system. It supplies the appropriate amount of water to the appropriate plant material. It separates the lawn, beds and color areas into different zones that require different watering conditions due to the various plant types, sunlight conditions and weather.
• Drainage systems. With Houston’s heavy soils, low-lying areas and torrential rains, proper landscape drainage is essential for three reasons: a) to protect your property from flooding b) to protect the foundation of the building(s) from cracking and uneven shrinkage or swelling c) to properly drain roofs and landscaped areas to avoid standing water that can cause slippery surfaces, breeding grounds for mosquitoes or drowned landscaping. A landscape drainage system should be viewed as a whole to ensure that its functions and fixtures work together properly.

What does it take to maintenance a high end Commercial Landscape Design?
With your daily priorities of meeting the needs and demands of tenants, establishing property security and controlling budgets, time management is critical. Therefore, it makes your job easier to work with a commercial landscape maintenance provider who honors your time by working efficiently without needing a lot of oversight.

Regular maintenance—
• Lawn Service. This term includes cutting the grass, edging, feeding and treating—activities that promote healthy plant growth.
• Trimming hedges and ground covers. This task ensures that all elements conform to the overall commercial landscape design.
• Tree care. Trees are valuable assets and can be protected with deep-root fertilization. Aeration also encourages root growth. Trees should be inspected regularly for insect infestations and disease.
• Fertilizations. Regular fertilization is a form of insurance for your plants. It means a methodical feeding program that insures the health of tropical, acidic and seasonal color plants.
• Herbicide and insecticide treatments. Continual observation and diagnosis of plant pests and diseases are critical to plant health.

Keep a positive image with annual flowers—
Annual flowers are an important part of a commercial landscape design because they present a continuously positive image of the property. Your commercial landscape maintenance company should possess extensive knowledge of plant material, color, and texture.
What preventive things can you do?
Preventive maintenance can be your best defense against potential landscape and property damage and, in the long run, saves money. Items on the checklist include:
• Tree inspection. Watch for branches touching the building or overhead wires. Dead limbs need to be trimmed to promote vigorous growth. Trees should be regularly checked for disease, decay or wounds and swift action taken as needed.
• Irrigation inspection. Regular inspections and proper maintenance minimize the prospect of large amounts of water pouring from broken lines and heads. Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds says, “This service is so important for commercial properties. For some of our clients, it has meant savings of as much as $5,000 to $10,000 per month.”
Whether you are developing a new property or want to refurbish an under-performing one, call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255 to discuss your commercial landscape design needs.

Houston Annual Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:26:00 +0000

Were should you plant annual flower beds?

To make the greatest impact, annual flowers in the residential landscape could be planted at the door entry, in bowls or at the street. The emphasis is more on the size of the color grouping rather than exact location although you do want to create a balanced look throughout the yard. In a commercial landscape the obvious is at entry signs although sometimes the color interferes with seeing the simplicity of the sign, so one suggestion is planting groundcover directly beneath the sign and color in large groupings at the edge of marques.

There are so many possible color combinations, how should I choose?

In choosing annual flower colors, keep the color palette simple and contrast colors rather than planting riots of the same color. For example, you may be planting all pansies in a full sun winter bed in which you could choose blue and yellow or blue and white. Just by simply alternating two colors you create wonderful visual excitement. If you are alternating two different color plants, referring to our example above, use snapdragons for height and blue and yellow pansies for the lower level. Also, make the snapdragons all pink or one color to create a “base” color or foundation. Remember less color generally creates more orderly beauty in arranging a color plant bed, the eye will pick up a mass of red cyclamen as having much more impact than one white, one pink, one red so keep it simple, bold and powerful.

What annual flowers will do well in the sun or shade and for how long will they last?

Annual flowers and perennial flowers will perform consistently for about a 3 to 4 month period depending on seasonal weather conditions in Houston. This means consistent blooms with no decline in performance. Here are a list of annual color plants that will do well in the sun and plants that will do well in the shade. Whether a sun or shade garden, it’s important to have excellent drainage:
• Flowers for the sun: Petunias, pansies, strap variety caladiums, plumbago, lantana, dianthus, snap dragons and salvias.
• Flowers for the shade: caladiums, begonias, cyclamen and violas.

Is there anything special I need to do to the ground so my annual flowers grow well?

In order to be successful and get the most out of your annual flowers keep these items in mind:
• Bed preparation to include incorporating organic matter into the native clay and tilling until it’s easy to work with a small trowel and contains no clumps.
• Good drainage and water coverage have an irrigation system that has even coverage. You may also need a drainage system to ensure oxygen getting to the roots.
• Regular fertilization about every six weeks to insure constant blooming cycles
• Dead heading or pinching off the flowers that have died should be done to encourage profuse blooming.
• Prune back plants that get rangy and stop blooming.
• Ensure that the flower beds are weeded weekly.
• Till the mulch every two weeks so that you keep the exchange of air and water flowing into and out of the soil.

Being successful with annual flowers takes some knowledge and experience of color combinations, seasonal color plant section, and bed preparation as well as a regular landscape maintenance program to be successful in our difficult climate. Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our Exterior Worlds’ designers or consultants!!!

Landscape Pathways

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:10:00 +0000

How can you pathway design improve your garden?

“Pathways can have a big impact on the landscape and the experience one perceives as they transition through the garden and landscape or from the street to the home,” explains Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds. “As an approach to a home, they tend to be the first insight into one’s personality.”

As you think about how best to use pathways in your landscape, you want to remember that, without a defined corridor into an area, you are less likely to use that area. This two-edged aspect means you can use paths to direct traffic to the areas you want to highlight and away from the ones you don’t. You also want the materials that make up the passageway to complement your home’s architecture. For instance, flagstone stepping stones work well with contemporary landscapes while brick paths enhance a formal landscapes.

Other questions to consider:
• How do I add variety, excitement and interest to the garden? You can do this with the line of the path, the materials used to construct the pathway or the plantings along the way.
• How do I interlink the different spaces of the landscape design—the outdoor kitchen, the swimming pool, and other hardscapes, like gazebos and arbors?
• How do I connect the house to the yards and garden areas? A straight path is the most functional one and encourages foot traffic to keep moving, while the curvilinear path encourages the walker meander and tarry.

Do Materials Matters?
You have a wide range of materials to choose from and they include concrete, stone, pavers, gravels, brick, wood, mulch, stepping stones, grass and combinations of these elements. Your decision should be guided by the level of maintenance you are willing to incur. For instance, if you go with grass, it will need to be regularly cut and trimmed. Gravel needs to be raked and periodically refilled. Even concrete, one of the most durable choices, needs to be patched and cleaned from time to time.

Another consideration with your building material choice is to coordinate it with any garden theme. As an example, if you have a small garden sign, perhaps grass introduces some necessary greenery into your design. For classic landscape designs, gravel works well, as exemplified by the Tuileries Garden in Paris.

Add DramaPaths and walkways are ready made for dramatic landscape lighting. Memorable gardens, both commercial and residential, can come alive after dark with it. Landscape lighting creates an enchanting interplay of light in professionally landscaped yard. It is not only a matter of how to light. Often it is as important to know what not to light as what to highlight. These decisions turn the nighttime landscape into a true work of art. Landscape lighting also adds a measure of safety, guarding against slipping and tripping along the darkened walkways.

Pathways are both object and metaphor within a landscape design. Functionally, they are the way in—into the landscape, the house, the property. Visually, they lead the eye in, through, across and around the space. There’s no way around it: pathways make a statement.

If new pathways are part of your landscape plans, call Exterior Worlds at 713-827-2255. We have been providing high-end residential landscape services and garden design services for Houston and the surrounding areas, including the Memorial Villages, Tanglewood, River Oaks, Bellaire and West University, since 1987.

Classic Landscape Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:30:00 +0000

What is Classical Landscape Design?
Thought-out history, a wealthy Roman families would most likely have had a garden surrounding their home. In it, you might find an open-air palazzo, pergola-style structures dripping with vines and blooming flowers, a dining area with couches for relaxation, water features such as an outdoor water fountain or wall fountain, and walkways that led out into the garden proper, perhaps to a prized rosebush or into an olive grove. These are some of the elements characterizing what is now called classical landscape design, also known as traditional landscape design.

Classical landscape design is a sub category of formal landscape design that uses lines and radiuses, to develop an uncluttered look. These lines can be drawn with rows of trees and well-trimmed hedges, perfect plantings for the classical landscape design. Or perhaps a seat wall made of regimented terra cotta tiles can do double-duty. Here and there, vines, such as ivy or wisteria, can soften any harshness. In this regard, this style is similar to the Mediterranean landscape design with its Roman and Greek influences.
What is the history of Classical Landscape Design?Borrowing influences from previous civilizations, classical landscape design solidified in Rome and the surrounding countryside. Villas were built with comfortable courtyards, sparkling with the sound of water, shaded by large trees, fragrant with rosemary and citrus fruits. It was from this setting that we got the term “pleasure garden.”

In the late 1700s, English property owners started looking backwards, past the Baroque period and the Renaissance, to the beginnings of western civilization. There, they found classical landscapes making use of woods, water, indigenous plants and small temples. These elements were incorporated into the gardens of that day, further defining the principles of traditional landscape design.

By the way, when Rome fell to the barbarians, the gardens had become so exquisite that the barbarians chose not to destroy them. Instead they kept them up and learned from them. This development is one of the early examples of how we, as humans, learned that beauty can change the world: it can stop violence. This principle is now being used to good effect in gardens started as rehabilitation projects in prisons, inner cities and ghettos.

What Choices are there in Classical Landscape Design?
As with all landscape design, the architecture of the house needs to be considered when using a traditional landscape design. For this style, the home and landscape can be tied together through the subtle placement of a pathways and patio feature, such as the use of tumbled travertine for the courtyard flooring.

Because of the formal principles inherent in this style, you want to strike a balance when choosing materials between boring blandness and baroque lavishness. Think instead in terms of interesting variety. For instance, well-contained decorative gravel can provide color and texture. Courtyards, pool decking and patios should use materials that are symmetrical, in keeping with the formal style. Stone, terra cotta tiles and flagstone are appropriate choices. Granite benches, concrete grottoes and marble urns add sturdiness and reference antiquities.

Your preference for classical landscape design can also be demonstrated in the plants you choose. Your homes’ garden will be enhanced by fruit trees and other dwarf trees—or perhaps a stand of cypress, mulberry or fig trees. The cheery colors of marigolds, hyacinths and roses are well suited for the classical landscape design. Herbs planted in terra cotta pots scent the air and provide fresh flavor in your outdoor kitchen cooking.

How do hardscapes relate in Classical Landscape Design?
Color, form, line, scale, and texture are your means of expressing classical landscape design preferences just as they are with modern landscape design.
Hardscapes to include:
• Outdoor rooms for outdoor living. These living areas, in effect, make your home bigger. They also serve to create transition areas that connect the indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they further the notion that a garden is a place of rejuvenation. In particular, outdoor kitchens are important to the traditional landscape design.
• Water Features. If you remember your ancient world history classes, you know that the Romans perfected the aqueduct. So water is prized within classical landscape design and nothing showcases it like a picture-perfect water feature. Look for fountains in formal, Romanesque, Italianate, Mediterranean and rustic styles. Those made of tile, cast stone, cast iron and concrete work particularly well with this style.
• Luxury swimming pools. When placed within a classical landscape design, the shape of your swimming pool should tend towards basic geometric shapes like rectangles and ovals. Thus, the shape of the pool frames the water and turns it into a classical design element of the landscape. It is often efficient to combine the pool with an water feature to eliminate some maintenance redundancies.
• Landscape lighting. Landscape lighting is another important element of traditional landscape design as it creates ambiance and lets you enjoy the outdoors, night and day.

Can I get a Classical Landscape Design in a Houston Setting?
“We implemented a classical landscape design for one of our Houston clients, whose home was French Country. For the garden, we chose a design that closely resembles a famous garden in Florence,” says Jeff Halper with Exterior Worlds. “The landscape design makes good use of gravel and limestone, which looks very natural in a Houston garden. And we planted boxwoods, which we trim and shape regularly as part of a well-thought-out residential landscape maintenance plan. It is a lovely and relaxing space.”

Call Exterior Worlds to put the principles of classical landscape design to work in your residential garden—713-827-2255.

Low Maintenance Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:33:00 +0000

What can you to do create a low maintenance landscape design?

A landscape with a design for low maintenance can easily be yours. And it doesn’t have to come at the cost of a bland, boring yard. All it takes is some knowledge about the right plants and techniques. The goals are basically the same as for any other landscape design, except we focus on using materials that reduce the Big Four of ongoing maintenance: watering, trimming, weeding and mulching,” says Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist with Exterior Worlds.

Choices are at the center piece of the process
• Choose drought-resistant plants, like pampas grass, Plumbago, and Lantan. You might even choose older rose varieties, which are hardier than modern large-flowered hybrids.
• Stay away from plants, such as azaleas, that are susceptible to diseases or insect problems.
• Maximize your seasonal color by installing flowers in planters, urns or bowls to lower the costly replacements season to season.
• Avoid plants that need continuous pruning, like boxwood and dwarf yaupons (often used in hedges).
• Mulching can be eliminated by using gravel, which rarely needs to be replaced.
• The use of gravel instead of mulch also cuts down on weeds and helps retains soil.
• Use ground covers that don’t need regular pruning and will cover the ground so that weeds are controlled. This type of ground cover is another choice that eliminates or reduces mulching.

A common problem:
A common mistake is to choose plants that look perfect the day you plant them, but then they take over the space. Thus you create an ongoing maintenance task. A professional Houston landscape designer will help you with this issue.

Even drought resistant plants require some irrigation, water is still essential. An irrigation system on a timer eliminates the need to move sprinklers around and rush around to water at just the right time. Since a little water for a long time is healthiest for plants, you might consider investing in a drip irrigation system. The latest studies show that in the U.S. there are more than 30 million acres of lawn, making grass our #1 irrigated crop. In these days when conservation—of natural resources and your personal resources—is all the rage, now is a good time to consider some alternatives that will save time, money and energy.
High-end residences in Houston and the surrounding areas, such as Bellaire, West University and the Memorial Villages of Piney Point Village, Bunker Hill Village and Hunter Creek Village, have been turning to Exterior Worlds for landscaping ideas and design services, including our design for low maintenance, since 1987. Call us at 713-827-2255 for customized solutions to your landscape design needs.

Lawn Aeration

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Why should I aerate my lawn?

There are many other benefits from aeration; increases the activity of microorganisms that promote detaching, increases water infiltration improving drainage and reducing harmful fungi, increase the earth worm population all of these things work together in a synergic relationship to give you a better lawn. Core aeration also reduces fertilizer and pesticide run off which helps the environment and ensures your are getting the most from you applications.

Compacted soil can be even worse in areas that have standing water from existing drainage problems. Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. The roots of any grass require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water from the soil. If your soil is compacted the pore spaces are reduced and the amount of air, water and nutrients is reduced. This reduction can greatly impact the quality of turf by impacting the nutrient uptake rate and water infiltration rate.

How do I aerate my lawn?
Core lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. You can do this manually or by hand, but it is normally accomplished by a machine that has hollow tines or spoons mounted on a disk or drum. This is where the “core” aspect comes in: it extracts 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on the lawn. The holes are typically 1-3 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Spike type machines pushes solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug. This process is not as effective because it can contribute to compaction. The coring process is the best way to reduce compaction of heavily used turf and to control thatch buildup.

In Houston, the best time to aerate St. Augustine is early spring and late summer. Bermuda grasses and Zoysia grass are best aerated during June and July. During these periods is when the lawn is in a period of vigorous growth and will recover quickly from aeration. If you are planning to over seed your lawn be sure to aerate at least 6 weeks before seeding. If not, your irrigation system or rain water could potentially wash a higher concentration of seeds into the cored holes and creating a spotted lawn.

Japanese Garden Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:36:00 +0000

What are the basics of Japanese garden designs?
The first decision to be made in designing a Japanese Garden is to decide what “themes” will run throughout the garden. There may be combinations of paths that create a journey through a winding path were there are seating areas for quite contemplation, meditation or entertainment. Artistic focal points of rock may be used to enlighten and excite the spirit of the observer. Paths, bridges, and walkways create diverse experiences. As an overall design intention, remember you are miniaturizing the cosmos in a naturalistic way.

A Japanese Garden is full of mystery, nature and serenity. Just as landscape gardens of the West followed historic points of reference such as Classical Garden Design, Traditional Garden Design, English Garden Design on up threw Modern Garden Design, the Japanese garden tradition has a history that followed the trends and lifestyles of their location and times. It would be very pretentious to copy directly a Japanese Garden for Houston, although there was actually a style of Japanese Garden Design that did just that. We will highlight how you could build and apply the Japanese or Zen Garden style to your own home in Houston Texas.

Japanese Garden Features Deep philosophical and spiritual interpretations and nuances were intertwined with Japanese Garden design but we can view overall meanings and structures to understand, interpret and bring Japanese Garden design into the modern day context for our own beauty, enjoyment and renewal. Japanese gardens create themes and are extensions of the architecture of the home. They are designed with very specific view points so that subconsciously universal, spiritual, or passive themes could be experienced.

Japanese Garden Design and Materials Stone-use to represent water such as a dry creek beds, ponds or a beach entry. Here various round river rocks could be used from plain brown rock special to Mexican beach pebble black or white specialty rocks. Boulders can be used in upright positions to represent mountains or be submerged to create more natural stone ledges or flat plateaus. Be careful with being to literal-stones and boulders still need to be positioned in a natural way so when viewed the composition looks natural.

Structures- such as an entertainment pavilion for private or public use. This could be a deck or platform made of wood, metal or stone. Ordinary outdoor furniture for entertainment or a meditative experience could be achieved using low benches or stone benches and simple outdoor sculptures or stones for viewing. Although borrowing from the tea ceremony experience this could be a place to enjoy wine and foods while creating a contemplative or renewing experience for the eye.

Fences - Rather than a typical fence of cedar pickets, wood, or brick and wood which simply serve to provide security a fence could vary in materials, detailing and heights. For example, pickets could be installed as panels between posts with a detail strip and cap pieces could be pyramidal or circular reflecting garden scenes. A solid brick fence could create interest and repetition by adding equally spaced metal lattice panels.

Plants - In the Japanese garden, plants are used not only for recreating nature, echoing larger themes or nature but can also serve as focal points. Japanese Maples and Bamboo are great focal point plants that work well in the Houston climate include.

Contemporary Landscape Design

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Halper) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:43:00 +0000

What is contemporary landscape design?
Not quite Modern landscape design and not quite classic landscape design but a melding of the two for sure. Contemporary Landscape design uses modern materials in its application but still has a warmer feel and usually more detail than the pure modern design. For example a modern concrete patio may have a completely slick finish with no details in its finish or just smooth were a contemporary concrete patio might have some scoring texture and depth of color but have the same design layout pattern. A contemporary landscape may have a more traditional approach to plantings with curves and groupings of natural planting patterns but much more simplified than the English landscape garden and in contrast to the modern landscape having a pure approach with only two or three blocks of planting.

What are the design principles involved in Contemporary Landscape Design?
Contemporary landscape design encompasses design principles of axial relationships with modern principles of form-follows-function so it is really classic modernism! This same approach applies to materials as well; there is a much more conservative more traditional approach to Contemporary selection of materials.

How do we create a Contemporary Landscape Design if it’s a cross between Modern Landscape Designs and the more classic?
As in Modern Landscape Design, it is still important that form follows function. The best way to think of Contemporary Landscape design is creating places that respond to today’s lifestyle with the beauty, simplicity and refinement of natural and modern materials and technologies currently available. We are bringing the functionality of modern space together with the warmth of traditional materials.If it’s not Modern, what is important about today’s Technologies in Contemporary Landscape Design? For example concrete no longer has to look stark or plain which may be desirable in the purely modern approach. We can now add multiple colors, textures, troweling and finishes creating a warm inviting effect. In contrast, there are many stone Vanier’s available on mesh that allow us to create a more modern finish than we would have been able to create in the past with sections of larger cut stone. One of the stylistic trend shifts that has taken place is brushed stainless steel is no longer considered modern, so now we see brushed metals making there way into more classic design applications.What would you consider appropriate for materials

Contemporary Landscape Design materials?
I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules here except to consider simplicity and ease of maintenance. The difference as explained above in the way we layout plants could be explained as using more “natural” bands than the purely more geometric approach usually incorporated into Modern Landscape Design. In Contemporary Landscape Design don’t shy away from using planters for color and accent plants since we want to create a sense of more scale and detail than the purely modern approach.

Final tips on Contemporary Landscape Design:
• Outdoor patios and decks for living. The California mantra applies here, “create outdoor spaces for living.” This idea originated with Modern Landscape Design and now is the norm. Extend the inside out; create plenty of different seating opportunities, and interesting focal features such as urns with color plants or small ornamental trees that can be accented with night lighting.
• Outdoor kitchens. As centers for outdoor entertainment as well as a focal feature. Outdoor kitchens can extend the indoor living space outside as well as create the second kitchen of the southern home to be used regularly.
• Luxury swimming pools. When it comes to integrating new technologies and the application of natural materials, luxury swimming pools give us the ability to really push the boundaries. With new concrete deck finishes available, various coping materials such as composite stone or cultured stones there is ample opportunity for warm finishes. Contemporary swimming pools can have built in water features creating an outdoor water fountain that eliminates building a separate water feature while adding functional, usable art as part of the overall pools function.

Don’t be afraid, go Contemporary
Remember-you are creating modern space for today’s busy lifestyles with classic and simplistic finishes available through new technologies now go for it!