Susan's Published Garden Articles

Please, Please Water the Trees

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Sat, 02 May 2015 00:00:00 GMT

To conform with drought restrictions, we're seriously regulating the water to our lawns or eliminating watering them entirely. Unfortunately, the water most trees desperately need is often missed or forgotten.

It will take thirty years to replace a thirty year old tree. A lawn can be restored in just a couple of months.

Kyle Floyd, with Green Acres Nursery reminds customers that it's the lawn that is the larger culprit for consuming water and not the trees. Unlike lawn, a majority of trees can withstand drought, but still need to be properly watered based on the tree's species and size.

Studies show, a gallon of water per square foot per hour is used with most lawn-watering sprinkler systems. That's 1,000 (one thousand) gallons of water for a 1,000 (one thousand) square foot lawn after being watered a total of just 1 (one) hour. Trees require far less water.

Kyle also reminds customers that a tree's canopy provides moisture, shade, and the need for much less water to the plants that benefit nearby and below it. Trees also cool the house and the need for air conditioning is significantly reduced.

It can be 20 (twenty) degrees cooler under the shade of a mature leafy tree, also providing a very comfortable place out of the sun for relaxing and entertainment.

There are warning signs that trees are stressed and needing water. A healthy tree's vibrancy is replaced with lifeless, under-sized leaves appearing pale and limp. Premature dropping of leaves along with yellowing and browning are other warning signs the tree needs water. The tree's canopy is often sparse instead of full. Prolonged neglect can lead to tree diseases and eventually death to the tree.

It's essential to understand trees and their water needs. Most tree roots are in the top eighteen inches of soil, but studies show the greatest number of tree roots consuming water, oxygen and nutrients are in the top six to eight inches.

The amount of water needed for a tree depends on its size and species. According to the article, "Caring For the Trees in a Dry Climate" from Colorado State University, trees must be given top watering priority during the drought over the lawn and includes these general tree watering guidelines:

A general rule is to use approximately ten gallons of water per inch of the trunk's diameter (width of trunk measured at knee level) for each watering. General formula: Tree diameter times five minutes equals total watering time.
Example: When hand watering using a garden hose at medium pressure, it will take about five minutes to produce ten gallons of water. For a four inch diameter tree, it should receive forty gallons of water. Multiply by five minutes for a total watering time of twenty minutes.
Distribute water evenly under the tree's dripline.

Change your outdoor irrigation systems to drip, micro-spray or low-flow systems based on the needs of your trees and landscape with timers for efficient and not over watering. Seek the help from professional landscapers and nurseries for low water irrigation systems and drought tolerant landscapes for your property.

Water early in the morning or after the sun has gone down. These are the times when trees restore the water lost during the day. Also, be sure to add mulch around the trees to reduce soil temperature and decrease water evaporation.

Soaker hoses and drip systems keep the trees healthy while using less water. They soak into the ground where the water is needed, and not run into the street and drains. Long, slow watering to a depth of twelve inches with soaker hoses or in-line emitter drip systems buried below three to four inches of wood mulch is often recommended. Generally in warmer months, younger trees need to be watered twice a week, and most mature trees every two weeks.

Landscape contractor, Steve Irwin of Alpine Terrace Landscaping often advises using soaker hoses placed around the drip zone (area shaded) of the tree with timers. For extra large established trees like Sequoia sempervirens (Redwoods), Steve advises watering these giant trees with soaker hoses for a twenty-four hour period every two weeks in the warmer months.

An easy and inexpensive option for deep & slow watering for very small trees is to water them using a five gallon bucket. Steve Irwin recommends puncturing a very tiny hole at the the base of the five gallon bucket (thirty-second of an inch), place the bucket under the tree's drip-line, and fill to the brim with water. This method should be done twice weekly per small tree, moving the bucket (s) when empty to other spots within the dripline.

Trees provide shade and shelter to our homes and wildlife, and most importantly trees provide the healthy air all of us need to breathe. It's critically important for our health and environment to keep our trees watered, healthy, and producing oxygen.

According to chemistry expert, Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D in her article, "How Much Oxygen Does One Tree Produce?", are the following quotes from studies made of different trees regarding the overwhelming importance about the oxygen our trees produce.

"One acre of trees annually consumes the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent to that produced by driving an average car for twenty-six thousand miles. The same acre of trees also produces enough oxygen for eighteen people to breathe for a year." - NY Times

"A mature leafy tree produces as much oxygen in a season as ten people inhale in a year." - Arbor Day Foundation

"On average, one tree produces nearly two hundred sixty pounds of oxygen each year. Two mature trees can provide enough oxygen for a family of four." - Environment Canada

"A one hundred foot tree, eighteen inches in diameter at its base, produces six thousand pounds of oxygen." - Northwest Territories Forest Management

"A single mature tree can absorb carbon dioxide at a rate of forty eight pounds a year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support two human beings." - Mike McAliney, Arguments for Land Conservation: Documentation and Information Sources for Land Resources Protection, Trust for Public Land, Sacramento, Ca. December 1993

Susan Silva Landscape Design of Orangevale, has been designing conceptual residential landscape plans for more than thirty years.

Susan recommends Steve Irwin and his crew with Alpine Terrace Landscaping for professionally engineering and installing her landscape designs.

www.alpineterracelandscaping.com

916-791-0508

Susan refers to Kyle Floyd and other team members at Green Acres Nursery, recommending them to her clients for quality service, plants & supplies.

www.idiggreenacres.com

916-714-5600 ; 916-358-9099 ; 916-782-2273 ; 916-381-1625

A greenhouse in your garden

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Whether you want to garden all year long or just prolong the spring and summer seasons, there’s a greenhouse just right for you and the space that you have. Regardless of the size of your backyard, a greenhouse comes in many sizes and designs imaginable, from something simple to something elaborate. Greenhouses also come in kits for the handy homeowner with easy to follow directions.

This Folsom greenhouse was remodeled, moved away from the side of the house and then nestled into a “Storybook Garden” of colorful and fragrant herbs and perennials requiring much less water than the lawn it replaced. It’s soft, meandering paths, one with a bold craftsman gate/arbor became the garden doorway which leads to the greenhouse. The nearby flagstone patio in the foreground is the perfect spot for outdoor dining and enjoying the garden while watching the birds at the fountain and bird feeder.

With fall upon us and winter approaching, a greenhouse will supply fresh organic vegetables and herbs for your home throughout the colder months. There’s nothing to compare to a great tasting salad with fresh tomatoes in January and February and will save on your family’s budget as well! Just imagine the fresh vegetables from your greenhouse that will replace the frozen grocery store varieties. Holiday meals are extra special when accompanied with vegetables and a sunny cut flower bouquet from your greenhouse.

On a cold winter’s day, the sun beats into the greenhouse and feels fantastic. It can often run 50 degrees higher in the greenhouse than outside temperatures on these cold and clear winter days. Off comes the sweater and gloves, and it is now a happy place to putter and unwind immersed in the rich and warm fragrance of fresh vegetables and blooms.

A greenhouse is not just for gardening, but can also turn into the perfect retreat for crafting, reading, and lounging with a hot cup of tea or soup. For those of us who love weather beaten farm tables, over-stuffed comfy chairs, antique chandeliers and luminaries, a greenhouse can also become the perfect cottage getaway in your very own backyard.

And, for those that love a tropical island, the greenhouse can be a piece of paradise, a winter escape, when filled with colorful and fragrant orchids as were grown in this Folsom greenhouse.

Your greenhouse will need air circulation, ventilation, and temperature control so that your plants will be healthy and productive all year long. Especially necessary in summer months, your greenhouse will also need an evaporative cooler.

This Folsom greenhouse was built by the homeowner.

Small backyard becomes Asian garden

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Going into the job, I knew this small backyard was in need of a complete makeover. The deck was old, worn and rotting. The brick patio and planters were falling apart. The spa always needed maintenance and wasn't being used. The backyard also needed screening from fences, high rise wires and the westerly sun.

I designed this new backyard to one with an Asian flair. The low curved walls and boulders retained the raised planter beds while offering additional seating. The inset black pebble river pattern meanders from the subtle fountain and passes under the stone bridge. As done in Asian gardens, boulders were chosen for their shape and placed to convey different feelings. A vertical tall stone, two to three times taller than its width, creates a sense of excitement. A medium stone gives the impression of rest and relaxation and a stone, low and hugging the ground suggests peace and tranquility.

The new curved concrete steps and seating areas made optimum use of space while also adding depth, interest and creativity.

Concrete, like carpet and other floor coverings come in every color and pattern imaginable. In my opinion, the simplest patterns and neutral colors are best. In Asian gardens especially, the hardscape should be subtle and natural in color so the eye is drawn to the plants, trees, boulders and garden accessories. Concrete costs much less than most other hardscape materials and is durable, requiring little if any care.

The Asian flair was also achieved with the plant selection. Japanese maples, espaliered citrus, Clematis vines, jasmine, dwarf pines, espaliered Camellias, ferns, Japanese forest grass, lily turf and bamboo are part of the planting theme and will soon fill in and mature. The planter beds were generously amended so that the plants will grow and thrive. The vines and especially the trees will provide the dense privacy, shade and screening.

Many of the plants chosen will also draw in birds. The birds will also enjoy sitting on the fountain rim and playing in the cool water. Yellow finches and robins are just some of the birds drawn to this garden.

A vertical garden was also attached to a sunny fence for seasonal herbs, vegetables and flowers. So often clients want to grow these plants, but don't have enough if any sunny space for raised beds on the ground. Vertical gardens are functional, easy to manage and a creative focal point in the garden. They don't require space while also doing the job of covering part of a fence or wall. A typical fence section measures 6 feet by 8 feet which equals 48 square feet of gardening space. Just imagine, two vertical gardens provide 96 square feet of gardening space.

Whether your backyard is large or small, you would be amazed by how many other features can be incorporated when high maintenance items such as lawn and old wooden decks are eliminated. My clients frequently tell me that these new backyards are now their favorites because they spend their time relaxing in them rather than mowing, watering and maintaining them.

This landscape design was professionally engineered and implemented by Steve Irwin and his crew of Alpine Terrace Landscaping.

Xeriscape with a zen garden

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 00:00:00 GMT

A side yard is often used for storage and growing weeds. It can be a place in the yard we more or less forget about.

This family wanted to change their unused side yard to something very special with an Asian flair. It was the primary route from the front yard to the pool in the rear and was also accessible to a bedroom from the sliding glass door. It needed to be something more than just a shed area to store paint cans and the plastic Santa used at Christmas.

The family wanted a special place to enjoy for relaxation and reading a good book. The teens wanted a place for tea parties. It needed to be easy care with drought tolerant plants for this busy family.

The conceptual landscape design addressed the change beautifully and dramatically. Flagstone, gravel, boulders, an Asian stone fountain, bamboo fencing and Asian gates were incorporated. A low wooden bench for lounging was built in the corner for comfort and conversation. Bright red glazed pots planted with black stemmed bamboo created the vertical impact against the fence and for privacy from the windows.

I designed the plan with curves, mimicking the flow of water. A flat yellow stone created the illusion of a bridge to cross from one area to the other. Each boulder was right sized and perfectly placed to flow with the Asian theme.

Making the change to a drought tolerant/easy care yard can incorporate beautiful zen features like this one does. It can be designed into a small yard and can be featured into a larger yard.

Among other plants designed into this plan were Japanese maples, ornamental grasses, camellias, yew pine and scotch moss. This was a shady side yard where these plants would thrive with much less water.

I recommended Steve Irwin and his crew of Alpine Terrace Landscaping to engineer and implement my conceptual design. They did a beautiful job installing this Zen garden.

Get your landscape ready for spring during record drought

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 00:00:00 GMT

Now that spring has arrived, there is a lot that people can do to get their landscapes fresh and ready for spring while continuing to stay water wise.

Start to think about ways to reduce and or eliminate the water-wasting lawn from your landscapes. There are so many ways to have a beautiful lush-looking drought tolerant yard without planting a lawn.

Drought tolerant plants and trees can replace the water-wasting lawn with an array of gorgeous colors and textures that bring so much beauty to the garden while drawing in the birds and butterflies. Incorporating hardscape areas and walks require no water at all with a multitude of choices in concrete, gravel, flagstone, pavers and brick, etc. available. It's important to start the process by browsing through garden and landscape books to get ideas, and walking through nurseries and supply houses while jotting down your likes and dislikes. There are so many creative and practical solutions that will work well for your home, lifestyle and budget.

When freshening up potted plants in the landscape, my favorites are perennial plants in pots, and when planted correctly to start with, the soil will need little maintenance as the plants grow.

A little fertilizer and some trimming are important for lots of blooms. Pots should be drip irrigated for water conservation. Choose a pot twice the size of the plant's root ball. Be sure the pot has drainage holes. First, place small cobbles at the bottom of the pot for good drainage. Then, line the cobbles with landscape fabric (like a pie crust) up the edge of the container to keep the soil in place while allowing drainage. Now, fill the pot with potting soil suitable for that particular plant. Most shrubs and some smaller trees can be planted and thrive in pots until the time comes to move them to larger pots if they’ve outgrown present pots. Loropetalum chinense (Fringeflower) boasting mostly purplish foliage and striking hot pink flowers, Polygala (Sweet-Pea Shrub) with bright green leaves and purple/white sweet-pea shaped blooms, all of the Lavandula and Salvia (Lavender and Sage varieties), and the gorgeous early-blooming pink, red and white Camellias perform well in pots and bring striking spring flowers to your garden.

Early spring flowering bulbs and corms such as freesia, tulips, iris and daffodils are wonderful in the garden and can also be planted in pots. Given the right care and conditions, they'll return year after year with beautiful spring blooms. Many varieties of bulbs and corms can be left undisturbed in the ground in our warmer climates. The faded blooms can be removed, but it's important to let the foliage decline naturally. The remaining green leaves are using the sunlight to restore the bulb's energy to flourish the following year. The leaves can be removed after they are yellow and dry.

My top favorites though, are the spring flowers found on early spring-flowering trees. The following are spectacular, with blooms contrasting beautifully against the blue and grey skies of early spring. The flowers on all of them emerge dramatically on bare wood before the leaves that follow. Magnolia soulangiana (Saucer Magnolia), Pyrus calleryana (Callery Pear), Prunus okame (Flowering Cherry), Malus floribunda (Flowering Crabapple), Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud), and Cornus florida (Flowering Dogwood) all make large and spectacular statements shouting spring is here.

They are all choice trees for our area, small to medium in size, and easy to incorporate into most residential landscapes. Depending on the tree, the flowers come in shades of pink, red, yellow or white. Some of these trees will also bloom sporadically during the summer. Trees provide the shade needed to keep the moisture in the planted ground below. Deep watering and densely spread bark help to hold the moisture, too. Although most drought tolerant plants tolerate a lot of sun, many appreciate a respite with the shade from a tree in the hot afternoon.

When it comes to installing my designs, I recommend Steve Irwin and his crew of Alpine Terrace Landscaping.

To put things into perspective, Irwin also encourages homeowners to change from lawn to a drought tolerant landscape reminding homeowners that a gallon of water per square foot per hour is used with most proper lawn-watering sprinkler systems. That’s 1,000 gallons of water for a 1,000 square foot lawn after being watered a total of one hour.

Recreate your landscape with water efficient tips

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

With a little ease of some rain last week, homeowners are still feeling the effects of the drought in the region.

Susan Silva, a professional landscape designer, has some ideas for homeowners on how to stay water-wise in your own backyard.

Silva, owner of Susan Silva Landscape Design based in Orangevale, said the biggest step homeowners can do to reduce water costs is to get rid of water-hungry grass lawns.

“The primary design for water reduction is to cut back on your lawn,” Silva said. “There are so many other beautiful things your can do to fill that space including gravel, dry beds, shredded bark and most trees. Most trees require less water after maturing. Trees will also help provide extra shade for less watering as well.”

Silva said she followed her own advice and replaced her lawn with a unique design including adding thyme and other ground covers along flagstones in place of her lawn. The ground covers add green color and nice fragrances to landscapes, without much water use.

She said landscapes can also become personalized with curvy, elegant designs through concrete paths, gravel and shredded bark.

Adding a pond-less waterfall feature near a bench and pathway can also create an enjoyable space without using a lot of water, she said. The water is contained in an underground reservoir, so while the waterfall is not being used, it is stored safely in the reservoir without evaporating. The water will then be constantly recycled as the waterfall is turned on, giving a soft background to the yard.

Silva said when cutting back water use in residential landscapes, proper drainage is a must.

“Low-flow nozzles and watering timers are critical to managing a drought tolerant landscape,” Silva said. “Shredded bark densely spread in the planter beds keeps the moisture in the ground and helps to prevent the weeds from growing. A weed cloth can also be used under the bark in sparsely planted beds. Grading and drainage is super important for a healthy water-wise yard.”

Silva said other types of hardscape, in addition to gravels and dry creek beds, are good choices to use in drought conditions.

“Patios and walkways can be made in stone, pavers, concrete, brick, etcetera,” she said. “There are so many choices and colors providing practical areas and paths in your outdoor living spaces.”

Susan has been designing residential landscape plans for more than 30 years. She has been in Orangevale since 1986.

Silva specializes in all types of landscapes, including Asian landscape design, rural gardens, formal designs, cottage gardens, Mediterranean designs, natural gardens, low-maintenance gardens and dog-friendly yards.

“Basically my backyard is my sanctuary, and I like to do for others as I would do for myself,” she said.

For more information, visit susansilva.com.

Water-wise plants that love the sun and blend well together, provided by Susan Silva:

Salvia (sage), one of my favorite varieties is Salvia microphylla “Hot Lips” with its vibrant coral red and white flowers that bloom for months.
Lavandula angustifolia (English lavender), “Thumbelina Leigh” is a great choice for lower foreground color with its bright purple flowers and compact form.
Cistus skanbergii (rockrose), it's a low compact grower with a profusion of pink flowers and grey-green leaves.
Dwarf varieties of spruce, pine and cedar are nice for a focal point next to a boulder outcropping.
Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo), my favorite is “Fire Power” with its compact size and rich burgundy/red leaves.
Gaura lindheimeri, the variety “whirling butterflies” is extra special. The abundant, white flowers on branching flower spikes flutter in the breeze like butterflies. It's also a wonderful plant for a “moon garden” with flowers that pop when lit with moonlight.
Thymus (thyme), they are all wonderful choices for dense ground covers with savory fragrances.

Water-wise and choice residential trees, provided by Susan Silva:

Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree), the branches of this tree are gnarled and rich red-brown in color with dark green leaves. Birds love the strawberry tree.
Lagerstroemia indica (crape myrtle), boast red, pink, purple or white blooms all summer long and have rich fall color as well. They come in many sizes and shapes.
Pistacia chinensis (Chinese pistache), produces beautiful leaflets and gorgeous fall color, a choice shade tree.
Laurus nobilis (sweet bay), these trees have the bay leaves used in cooking.
Celtis (hackberry), tough fast growing shade trees with beautiful bark and all are deep rooting.

Homeowners replace lawn with magical meadow

ssnd@msn.com (Susan Silva) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Susan Silva's grass never looked right, no matter how hard she tried.

Her problem was a common one: Her Orangevale backyard sat in half shade, half sun, dominated by large trees. Then Silva got a puppy – and with him, more complications. Rex, her energetic German shepherd, attacked the lawn as if searching for buried treasure or a stash of old bones.

"I finally decided, 'Enough!' " she recalls of the lawn's last days. "I got so sick of managing it. It was a mess. So I just got rid of it."

In its place, Silva created her own "meadow," a plant-filled space that she and her dog could share without conflict or angst.

Her magical meadow has become a magnet for relaxation, a private place to kick back with friends and enjoy the outdoors.

"This is my sanctuary," Silva says. "It's so tranquil."

Facing water restrictions and time constraints, more urban gardeners are turning to the modern meadow as an alternative to the thirsty lawn.

Compared with turf-grass lawns, these redefined spaces need a fraction of the irrigation, and they actually cut down on yard work. No lawn means no mowing. And the meadows' densely planted ground covers and stones crowd out any weeds.

"It gives you more time to enjoy your backyard instead of working in it," Silva says.

Silva knows yardwork: She's a professional landscape designer. (Her creations can be seen at www.susansilva.com. ) In her 29 years in landscaping, she's worked on many yards for clients in the greater Sacramento area.

But tackling her own garden became a true labor of love.

Silva started on her meadow in November 2007, digging up the lawn by hand. A layer of sand became the cushion for 4 tons of flagstone in peach, plum and pink tones. Stone walls formed terraces and seating areas, defining the shady and sunny portions of the garden between liquid amber trees, Japanese maples and a majestic blue spruce.

Into the borders, Silva layered her favorite flowers and herbs: lavender, plumbago, wormwood, rosemary, daylilies, irises, roses and more.

The blend of colors and textures creates a welcoming ambience. Accent fountains babble happily in the shade. A collection of wind chimes adds merry notes to the afternoon breeze under the canopy of trees.

In place of a patchy lawn pocked with holes, "Elfin" creeping thyme fills the space between the flagstones and invites visitors to doff their shoes. Other ground covers wind around the meadow's edges.

"I'm barefoot all the time out here," Silva says. "It's so soft and comfortable – and it smells good, too. These ground covers take foot traffic well and spring back up immediately. The 'steppable' ground covers also do a great job choking out the weeds, and the thyme is great for seasoning."

Bobbi Baldwin, an artist from Fair Oaks, enjoys visiting her friend's garden.

"I think it's wonderful," Baldwin says. "I view it as a painter. It has a real natural feel, but obviously it's orchestrated and planned. It has so many variations of green and so many different textures. It makes you want to touch it. It definitely gives me lots of ideas."

Zach Moore, Silva's gardener who helped create the meadow, likes it, too. "It's great. You need a ground cover that can hold up to traffic. But it looks good year-round, and it definitely minimizes maintenance."

The meadow method works for front yards, too.

Maggie Jimenez ditched her Land Park lawn in favor of colorful, flower-strewn ground covers – and lots of fun.

An accomplished artist, Jimenez incorporated whimsical sculptures throughout her meadow. Tortoises peek between pansies. Rusted garden tools-turned-yard art poke around primroses.

"My front yard has become a wonderland," Jimenez says. "I killed the grass a few years ago and have been adding rocks and art and lovely, low-growing flowering plants. (This summer) it was glorious.

"I am an artist, and I put lots of little weird pieces of art here and there," she adds. "They're stuck in the ground in cement so they can't be stolen."

Like Silva, Jimenez decided to go meadow after years of lawn frustration. "I always wanted a rock garden," she says. "We have a 100-foot, 75-year-old deodar cedar in our front yard. And the lawn always looked bad."

The turning point came when Jimenez and her husband decided to tear out their garage and build an artist studio.

"During the (construction) project, we had a big dumpster sitting on the lawn," she says. "The grass died under it. After we were done, 80 percent of the lawn was dead and I thought, here's my chance."

Jimenez dug up the lawn and started hauling in rocks.

"I didn't know what I was doing," she says. "I got lots of low-growing, crawling, purple and pink plants, and got to work."

With the help of a friend and master gardener, Jimenez laid out two footpaths through the meadow and installed a drip irrigation system. The ground covers flourished, enjoying the mix of sun and shade. Now they pack the space between the rocks, never letting weeds get a toehold.

"I just planted another three flats of pink pansies," Jimenez says. "I go out every day and compliment my meadow. I tell it how beautiful it is. It looks so natural; I really can't believe I have this garden. It's just so amazing to me.

"I ride my bike around Land Park," she adds, "and I've noticed more and more of these front-yard meadows popping up."

Both Silva and Jimenez saw their meadows reach maturity in a relatively short time. Once established, the ground covers virtually take care of themselves.

And Rex the German shepherd? "He leaves the meadow alone," Silva says. "He can't squeeze his paws between the flagstone. If he feels like digging, I created a sandbox for him. He loves it."