Current Trends in Landscape Design

If your landscape makes you want to consider some changes but your budget won’t allow it, there are a few things you can do to clean it up—small things that have big impact.  Try these three landscape maintenance ideas first.

  1. Groom the foliage. Chances are, some have gotten too big and maybe others haven’t thrived like you had hoped.  Clear out the dead stuff, prune off diseased or dying branches, and yank any errant weeds that are detracting from the aesthetic.  Now, if the season is right for cutting back plants (always research the plant first), do some pruning or shearing to re-shape the plant and trim back uneven branches and shoots.  If you’re uncomfortable doing this, a local landscape professional will know how to trim each plant and when.
  2. Provide a fresh canvas. With the weeds cleared out and only the best-looking plants remaining, it’s time to look at the ground plane and consider a covering that will help refresh the look.  Mulch is generally an inexpensive way to even out the look of a bed, leaving it with a clean and consistent appearance.  Even better, choose a material and color that are good complements to your plants and the color and architecture of your home.
  3. Cut the grass. This probably seems obvious, but a freshly mowed lawn can do wonders for the look of a landscape overall.  And when the mowing is finished (be sure to bag and dispose of the clippings for an especially neat appearance), get out the edger.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE

LANDSCAPE DESIGN – SANTA BARBARA

When it comes to creating a landscape, homeowners generally fall into two categories:  those who itch to start putting plants into the ground themselves and those who recognize a need to hire out the work. Just as it wouldn’t be wise to  …

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Trim up along the beds, making sure any taller grass blades that got missed by the mower get cut down to size.  Next do along the walks and driveway, reestablishing the clean edge that makes the entire yard look tidy.

Hire a backyard landscaping expert

Backyard landscaping
Backyard landscaping

If these simple upkeep items were just what you needed to get your landscaping looking spiffy, consider hiring a landscape maintenance professional to provide these services regularly for you.  And maybe then you’ll be able to think about adding some new plants to the mix.

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Jorge CortezContractor and Owner
California Landscape Licensed Contractor. Having grown up right here in Santa Barbara, Jorge Cortez graduated from Dos Pueblos High School in 2007 and went on to join the United States Marine Corps. After completing a tour in Afghanistan and receiving an honorable discharge, Cortez continued his education at Santa Barbara City College. Today, with over fifteen years of experience in landscape maintenance, he combines his passion for the land with his business acumen as owner of SB Evolution Landscape.
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