Archive for Dog and Cat Friendly Gardens – Page 7

True Low Maintenance Landscape Uses Synthetic Lawn

Save Time and Money by Installing Synthetic Lawn

Low maintenance landscape design in St. Johns Portland

AFTER: Low maintenance can also be lush. The plants have filled in nicely 2 years after installation.

The synthetic lawn and Landscape Design in a Day was a retirement gift Bob and Norma gave to themselves.  They were so sure about synthetic lawn they had already purchased it.

From the first phone call, I knew how many square feet of synthetic lawn we would use and where it would go.   They were looking forward to a lawn that would stay green no matter what their boxer dog did.   Mowing, fertilizing and watering would no longer be part of their new retirement lifestyle.

 

Before mid-century modern landscape makeover, St. Johns Portland, Oregon

BEFORE: Landscape Design in a Day, the synthetic lawn and all the homeowner’s hard DIY work

Plant Color and Diversity a Must
Norma especially enjoyed plants with a lot of color.  The front landscape plantings needed to have year round color, and have interesting texture.  She was interested in a very clean mid-century modern hardscape but wanted the plantings to add a softening effect.

The backyard could be completely devoted to summer color as few windows faced the back.

Norma’s New Plant Palette Includes:

Norma used the popular design website Houzz to send me pictures of her style. This saved time and worked very well for us to zero in on the kinds of plants she loved.

Synthetic Lawn Installed in St Johns Portland Oregon front yard

AFTER: Photo taken just two months after the Landscape Design in a Day was completed

Colorful foilage lasts for months, flowers in summer.

Weigela ‘My Monet’ displays colorful foliage that lasts for months. Bell-shaped pink pearl colored flowers appear in late spring / early summer and attract beneficials to your garden.

True Grit
Bob and Norma intend to stay in this home for many years.  I recommended they invest in my “true grit” soil prep process.  It creates an environment for healthy plants, the plants need less water, and often grow bigger than in typically amended clay soil.  It is a lot of work! We joked about whether Bob would still like me (since he was the one doing the heavy work) after he was done.  The results are very exciting and satisfying for me – let alone my clients!

Our Clients Say it Best
Norma commented, “Thank you for all your help. Bob has been digging and digging and hauling 19 yards of crushed rock, compost and dirt.  I have a feeling we saved a ton of money.  It was worth doing it ourselves!”

She continued saying: “We are pleased with how our new landscape turned out. In fact, people are stopping in the street and taking pictures and giving us the thumbs up. Thanks again for everything.”  – Bob and Norma, Vancouver, WA

Does Your Garden Need a Facelift?
Email or phone Carol today to schedule an appointment: 503.223.2426

 

 

Backyard Makeover for the Love of the Dog

Landscaping for Your Dog

Grass landscaping for your dog.

This is what grass is really good for!

In need of landscaping for a dog.

The shed was unattractive and too small for a home without a garage. Before Landscape Design in a Day.

Peanut was the only one using this back yard.

My client Susan wanted the back yard to be private, very simple and wanted to solve problems such as where to put her bikes, hide the garbage cans and create a mud room for Peanut to come and go from.  We had finished the front landscape the year prior designing for a sunny, easy care garden that included her veggie beds, the design also added dramatic curb appeal.  “I get a ton of compliments from my neighbors.”  Susan M.

Fabulous tool shed for dog landscaping.

Peanut’s patch of lawn in front of the new tool shed.

So while we really were fixing up the back yard for the dog, everyone uses it now.  The new stone patio entertaining area with raised planter surround makes it easy to care for the plantings and they are taller to boost the privacy effect.  The new landscape is very low maintenance

Find Peanut the dog in her newly landscaped back yard.

Peanut likes her new back porch. She is in this picture, can you find her?

with a small lawn (for Peanut of course).  The fig tree my client Susan had always wanted went up into the stone planter.  The credit for the wood structures goes to Susan’s architect.  The tool shed, the garbage can corral and the bike shed are a wonder of good design.  I worked closely with Donna Burdick of D & J Landscape Contractors to install the hardscapes (basalt stone walls, the huge extra thick flagstone for the patio, plantings and irrigation).    I love how this courtyard styled back yard looks.  Best of all Peanut approves!!

If you are looking for Portland landscaping for your dogs, contact me for more information.

 

Mushroom Season Dangerous to Dogs

Dog with mushrooms

Are these mushrooms poisonous? http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-health/pets-poisonous-mushrooms/

Mushroom season dangerous to dogs.

While walking with a friend and her dog in late November we noticed a miniature forest of mushrooms under a large tree right next to a dog park.  My advice is to presume they are toxic even though they may well be harmless.  Pick them as soon as you see them; (make sure you are wearing gloves) bag them and put them in the garbage and not in your compost.   When they are toxic they can be deadly.  Humans can have a liver transplant but dogs cannot.  Watch closely wherever you have removed trees.  The roots will decompose and fungi will grow.

“If your dog becomes ill, and you suspect mushroom ingestion, place the vomitus and any bowel movements in a plastic bag for identification, and refrigerate the bag. Try to have the contents identified within 24 hours. Notify your veterinarian that your dog may have ingested a mushroom, so that he or she can be alert to clinical signs that may require treatment.”  http://www.petfinder.com/dogs/dog-health/pets-poisonous-mushrooms/

I’m not fond of creating blogs with scary content, but there are many people who do not know about poisonous mushrooms in their home landscape.

Catio Tour – Patio hang out for you and your pets

Perfect patio is pet friendly and lets cats be outside and safe.

This enclosed patio for cats and their humans is airy and elegant.

Last weekend I toured 16 Catios (patio enclosures for humans and their cats) on the first-ever Catio Tour.  This tour is the brainstorm of the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon and the Audoban Society of Portland.  Audoban’s idea being that fewer songbirds will be made a meal of if more of us contain our cats.

This is sure to be the new trend in gardening and landscaping since as a gender women tend to love gardening and cats.  Many of the Catios were very simple affairs that let cats come outside through a window and climb around in a 6 x 4 cats only enclosure.  Others were made so the cats and their humans could pal around outside in purrfect comfort. The tour was friendly and fun and very well attended.  I’m looking forward to incorporating some of what I saw into designs for my clients who want to enjoy the company of their cats outdoors in the same way as they do indoors.

Dog-Friendly Landscape Design from across the country

As you may know, part of the joy I get working with clients is helping them design a space that reflects their life and lifestyle. So it won’t surprise you that I enjoyed hearing from two dog lovers who wanted my help with a dog friendly landscape design for their homes.

Check out the story featured in this week’s Oregonian by Kym Pokorny, “How to create a pet-friendly garden: ideas, tips durable plants.” It includes 10 Tips for a dog-friendly garden and links to toxic plants you’ll want to avoid.