Succulent Gardens

 

Try taking a walk outside in your neighborhood. You'll probably notice that Southern California has a growing penchant for succulents, and for good reason. These colorful and sculpturally fascinating plants thrive in dry climate conditions making them suitable for Southern California weather. Not to mention they are easy to care for.

 

Succulents flourish in desert conditions due to their fleshly leaves and stems that retain moisture. They may be low maintenance, but like any tended plant they require attention. Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept provides a few helpful and essential guidelines on maintaining a lush succulent garden. Succulents do not need frequent watering or good soil. However they do require adequate drainage to maintain the soil's dryness in between watering. This will successfully recreate the arid climate that succulents blossom upon. They enjoy basking in the sun and can tolerate the shade. It is imperative to stay cautious of water usage when leaving succulents in the shade.

 

 

 

Pots can be great homes for any succulent, and they will benefit from the visually striking appearance of these plants. The abstract colors and shapes of succulents can create a defined border for landscapes. Yucca, Agave, and Aloe are great additions that will complement a succulent landscape. These plants have a desert flair and are a hip addition to any California home or landscape.

 

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Rose Gardens: Pretty in Pink!

The woody perennial Rose has over 100 different species that range in color from white to reds, pinks, and yellows. Although roses have been grown in China for over a thousand years, the founder of the modern rose garden as we know it today was Empress Josephine de Beauharnais, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Josephine’s lifelong patronage helped to popularize the rose as a common garden plant. Between the years of 1799 and 1814, she employed a horticulturist with a passion for roses named Andre Dupont and as a result developed a great personal interest in and knowledge of gardens and roses. Josephine formed the first written history of rose cultivation and hosted one of the first ever rose exhibitions in 1810. By her death in 1814, her garden included over 250 varietals. Thirty years after her death, the rose variety Souvenir de la Malmaison, originally cultivated at the Chateau de Malmaison, was named in her honor by a Russian Grand Duke and was one of the first planted in the Imperial Garden in St. Petersburg.



Even beginning gardeners can successfully cultivate roses. In California, February is the best time to plant, and gardeners should wait until longer stalks are more readily available to prune. Drastic pruning should be done after the blooming season is finished. According to expert horticulturist and garden designer Tania Gybels of Environmental Concept, the best way to feed your roses is with horse manure, alfalfa meal, and fish powder. Tania also cautions against excessive water and dampness in your rose garden as the buildup of water on leaves can encourage the growth of mildew fungi that impairs the plant’s ability to photosynthesize. The mildew is identifiable by its white or gray powdery splotches on leaves and stems. Regular thinning and pruning improves air circulation to prevent excessive water buildup, and a simple fungicide can help clear up any contamination. To safeguard against pests like aphids Tania recommends using a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium such as bone meal, instead of a traditional nitrogen-rich fertilizer.

 

One of Tania’s favorite pink roses is the Cape Cod variety. The Cape Cod rose grows as a shrub and is perfect to integrate into your garden landscape. The beautiful, bright pink flowers are the reason why so many people, like Tania, love to grow roses.

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Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. Environmental Concept has completed projects for the Spelling Mansion, Dustin Hoffman, Roland Emmerich, 3.1 Philip Lim Boutique, the Ambrose Hotel, Sunset Millennium Shopping Center, Hotel Casa del Mar and the Aquarium of the Pacific. Environmental Concept has been featured on HGTV and Oprah. For more information about Environmental Concept visit www.envconcept.com

Herb Gardening!

When designing herb gardens I start by making a sun/shade study of the site to determine the best location for my plot. There is usually a need for some type of dividing element or screen, so pineapple and strawberry guava provide a nice natural element for the purpose, as well as giving back to us in the form of the their delicious fruit.

Once my beds are laid out to my satisfaction, I start with the basic herbs that any chef would need; Italian parsley, sweet basil, rosemary, oregano and thyme. Mint is also a basic but should be kept in a pot as it can become invasive.

Some of the more unusual choices I like to incorporate are: tasoi, black kale, winter savory and sorrel. Tatsoi is used as a micro green and is a member of the cabbage family. Black kale has a smooth rich texture and is a nice alternative to green kale. Black kale makes a tasty salad using lemon and olive oil.

Founded in 1992, Environmental Concept provides landscape design and installation services to the finest residential and commercial properties in Southern California. We are known for our specialty gardening and work closely with our clients to create personalized outdoor environments that are beautiful, functional and sustainable.

 All images copyright 2012 Sarah Barnard.

Environmental Concept- Earth Friendly Landscaping & Gardening

Environmental Concept, a Los Angeles based landscape company provides landscape design, installation, and maintenance services to some of the finest homes and commercial spaces in Southern California.

Gardening & Horticulture

Planting

Hardscapes

Irrigation

Storm Water Management

Water Features such as pool, water falls, spas and fountains.

Outdoor Lighting

Exemplary personalized services such as: butterfly gardens, aquatic gardens, medicinal gardens, antique rose gardens, organic culinary gardens, organic fruit orchards, custom pet habitats and event staging.

Some sustainable practices include-

Water efficient landscaping

Roof top gardens and plant-able driveways

Restoration of natural plant material and habitat

Solar heated and saline swimming pools.

To learn more about Environmental Concept or to request an appointment visit http://www.envconcept.com/ or call 310-302-9292