Pet Proofing Your Home

With the first week of spring unseasonably wet, windy and cool, I decided to side step a landscape topic for something we have in common with most of our clients-our pets.
One good client in Sherwood, OR had a complete back yard renovation mainly with their dogs in mind. We removed the lawn and installed an interesting rock garden, with plants non-toxic to dogs. A paver walkway in a U-shape attracts their dogs to run around the garden instead of through it. The design is finished off with rubber bark and smaller rock cobbles to provide a clean look without any tracking of debris into the home.

    

Our dog (and cat) are like children to us, so it makes common sense that our four-legged family members are kept safe by following some simple ways to keep dangerous items out of their reach.

The Kitchen:

Many of us allow their dogs to vacuum   up food scraps that fall from the countertops, table, or our own hands.
Certain foods like grapes, and their relatives, raisins, and currents are very toxic to dogs.They can result in kidney failure when ingested. Don't forget other less obvious places you   might find these fruits, such s cereal, trailmix, baked goods, and grape juice.

Chocolate, especially dark, or the kind used in baking is another potential danger when ingested. Vomiting, diarrhea, hart arrhythmias, and even tremors or seizures may occur when dogs eat chocolate.

Artificial sweetners, especially Xylitol found in baking and sugar-free gum, candies, mints, and other items,can result in a low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, and potential liver failure in dogs when ingested in large quantities.

Finally, fatty table scrapes, onions, garlic, compost and moldy food, macadamia nuts, coffee beans and grounds, unbaked bread dough, and alcohol, can pose a threat to your pet.

The Bathroom:

Make sure all chemicals such as cleaning supplies, vitamins, medications and supplements are stored in an elevated medicine cabinet.
Keep the toilet seat down. This is especially true if you use an automatic bowl cleaner. These products contain concentrated corrosives, which could result in oral burns to the mouth. If your dog or cat drinks out of the toilet, avoid any of these cleaning products.

The Bedroom:

You may think this is a safe haven for your pet. Sleep medications, jewelry, coins,moth balls,or other small objects can cause harm to pets. Ribbons are especially attractive to cats but can cause intestinal obstruction.

The Living Room:

Certain plants and flowers can be deadly to your dog or cat. Sago palms, certain types of lilies commonly found in florist bouquets cause severe kidney failure in cats. True lilies-EAster, tiger, Asiatic hybrid, and daylilies- area ll deadly to cats. Calla lilies and peace lilies will result in mild gastrointestinal upset, drooling, and vomiting.
     Potpourri or air fresheners while they get the job done can also cause oral burns or organ injury resulting from a few  licks of liquid potpourri on a simmer pot.

      Remote control and cell phone batteries contain dangerous corrosives when chewed or ingested.

Any product with nicotine, cigarette butts, cigars, smoking cessation packages and gum cause severe vomitting, heart arrhythmias, hypertension, tremors, seizures, and even fatalities.

     Electronic cords, cushion stuffing, tops of shoes, sewing needles and thread  are often chewed on or swallowed by small animals causing immediate attention.

The Garage and Yard:

We all know too well that poisons for the yard which are often stored in the  garage can be harmful to our pets.
Even compost bins in the yard pose a threat. Ingestion of compost or moldy foods can result in severe poisoning due to the tremorgenic mycotoxins or neurotoxins. This leads to drooling, vomiting, tremors, seizures and hyperthermia.

Common sense will keep your pet safe by following a few simple steps:
Keep all dangerous liquids, chemicals, etc out of the pets reach
Read the labels to make sure a product will not harm your pet if swallowed.
Avoid the use of mouse and rat poisoning which can poison your pet too.
Take care of spills immediately. Place cat litter over spill to absorb the liquid,  then wipe clean,  and dilute area with several gallons of water.

Pet- proofing your home, yard,and garage will ensure that your pet will live a long healthy life. Only you can prevent accidents when it comes to your pets.

March is Time to Get the Garden Going!!!

Spring is on it's way real soon. Here are some tips on getting the garden ready for planting new shrubs, perennials, or veggies:


Plant seed potatoes this month

Don’t let weed go to seed. Get them out now!

Spray trees for webworms and leafrollers if present

Start rose blackspot control

spread compost over garden and landscapes

Fertilze azeleas, camellias, Rhodies with acidic fertilizer

divide hostas, daylilies and mums

start feeding houseplants again and repot if necessary

Happy Gardening!!

Composting for Better Soil and a Happier Planet!!

Here in Forest Grove, OR, our soil is near perfect. We are lucky enough to have almost 18" of topspoil!
For our neighbors in Hillsboro, OR,Beaverton, OR, Lake Oswego, OR and of course Portland, OR, your soil could use a little help. Composting is the best way to jump-start your soil.
The essential elements to making compost are warm weather,  the right mix of brown adn green waste, sufficient moisture and oxygen.

The basic componets to making compst are the same,no matter what season it is. Brown waste  provides the carbon source neededto decompose the rawmaterial. Otside, it typically comes from leaves, twigs and straw. Inside from paper, lightweight cardboard, egg cartons and such are th most common sources.

Green wast provies nitrogen that fuels the energy exchange during the decomposition process. Outside, yard debris from grassclippings is the most common source. Inside, the kitchen provides a plethora of green waste: vegatables, salad scraps, bread and fruit will quickly fill an indoor compost holding bin.
But never add meat, dairy products or grease. These harbor potential pathogens and attract unwanted pests.

The ideal ratio of brown to green wast for optimal decompositoin is rather scientific, but not really complicated.
Combining three or four parts brown to one part green waste serves as an easy guide to get compost off to a good start and keep it cooking!

Your compost needs water. Too much water is just as bad as not enough. A saturated pile can force out oxygen and literally drown the microorganisms making the compost. Keep it simple and add enough water so that your compost is always as moist as a damp sponge.

Oxygen is a necessary element for making the compost aeorbically active. An easy way to ensure compost remains well aerated is to turn it over periodically. Use a pitchfork or other tool once a week or so to breathe new life into your compost heap.  Another option is to drill large holes into a PVC pipe, and place it dpwn into the center of the pile. As contents are added around it, oxygen is supplied to the center, keeping it aerated.

All you need is a heap or bin  3 by 3 by 3 feet. Smaller sizes don't allow   bacteria to become active enough.
Cold weather can still dramatically reduce the rate of decomposition, as can the size of the material you add.
So be sure to make the material fragments smaller before tossing them into your pile. This provides more exposed suface for bacteria to break down.
You can also insulate the compost through winter. Tightly pack straw bales around the pile, adding an optional barrier of plastic sheeting and a clear or opaquje cover that allows the warmth of the sun in but keeps much of the cold out.

If you really want to be pro-active with your composting, try worms, which is called vermicomposting. It;s a great way to build super compost in the colder weather and is fun for the whole family. You can even do it indoors! A little goes a long way and it's a resourceful way to deal with all of those kitchen scraps.

The main thing is to start or continue composting through winter, not only to get a head start on spring, but to keep all that compostable material out  of the landfills. Green or brown, it's all "garden gold" to us. And that's not only good for our gardens, but it's good for the earth!

Winter Garden Tips

Snow may be on the way soon. Here are some garden tips to better prepare your yard:

1.   Do give tender plants extra TLC
After the ground freeze, apply winter mulch to grafted hybrid tea roses, boder-line hardy plants, or anything that may need a little help through winter.
If you still have your Christmas tree (yes, some people still do!), it will provide welcome shelter for the birds and create windbreaks for broadleaf evergreens.

2.  DO patrol for trespassing pests:
Some pests are still actiive this time of year. Moles in paticular can still be wrecking havoc on the yard. Set traps if activity is evident. A mole was destroying our lawn just a few weeks ago. Jim set a trap and caught it the other day!

3.  DO remove damaged branches when weather permits:
Snow and ice storms can take a heavy toll on even the hardiest, best-established trees and shrubs. A broken bough that's dangling over a sidewalk or driveway is a recipe for disaster, so when you can do so safely, cut it off.

4.  DO keep tabs on your flower beds:
Spring-flowering perennials and bulbs frequently sprout too early if your area experiences a short-lived midwinter warm spell. Be sure to remember where your plants are and, if necessary, cover the emerging tips with protection (weed-free straw or mulch). 

5.  DON"T salt before shoveling snow:
IF you live in the higher elevations where several inches of snow may fall, follow this tip.
Shovel first, salt second. This wise practice is better for plants, your wallet and even your waistline. Shoveling first keeps the snow you pile on nearby grass and perennials clean. Plus, it reduces the amount of salt needed to melt the snow. You'll even burn a few more calories!

6.  DON'T stop watering if the ground hasn't frozen:
All of your landscape plants-especially evergreens, and new flower, shrub and tree plantings-are better able to survive winter when properly watered before the ground freezes. This rule applies to container gardens too. Keep an eye on the weather forecast

7.  DON'T shake ice and snow off your plants:
Doing this can break branches, causing even more damage than the nasty weather has. Prevent splitting and broken branches on arborvitae and other upright evergreens by loosely tying their stems together with cloth strips or canvas strapping. If you're exposing berries for birds, brush off the snow gently.

Some Christmas Tips.....

       If you are lucky enough to have received a colorful Christmas plant as a gift or have treated yourself to one, here are a few tips for care.....

Most Amaryllis plants need support because their magnificent blooms are so top-heavy. Gently attache stems to slim wood or metal stakes before the flowers pop open.


Get the most out of  your Pointsetts over the holidays. Place them where the get 6 hors of bright light, but keep away from drafts and heat, which cause stress on the plants leading to fading colorful brackets.

Another popular Christmas plant gift is a rosemary. Remember is is an evergreen shrub from the Mediterranean, so it becomes unhappy in moisture-retentive or soggy soil. You may have to repot your plant into a well-draining mix.

     Christmas trees dry out in a warm house. Even the strings of lights generate a small amount of heat that adds to the stress. So check the water level daily and turn on the lights only when you're in the room.

Have a safe and happy Christmas and  New Year's!!!!

November To-Do List

Here are some more tips on preparing your garden in fall for a more vibrant Spring yard:


1.  Make sure all perennial climbing plants are secured to supports.

2.  Protect roses at the base by applying mulch over each plant.

3.  If you are lucky enough to still have any tomatoes left on the vine, you can take the partly ripe ones and place them in a bowl with an apple to help ripen. The ethylene gas that a ripe apple natually emits hastens theis process.

4.  In our milder climate it's not too late to get in one last edible crop, including cool-weather herbs, such as parsley and chives, if the ground is still workable.   This works best in rock garden areas or around rock wall, as the rock retains warmth.

5.  Prune diseased or dead branches, or those that would interfere with buildings or power lines if covered with snow or ice.

6.  If mushrooms have sprouted into your lawn, knock off their tops with a rake and cart away.

7.  Keep cutting  your grass as long as it's growing. Winterize your mower after the last cut of the season.

8.  Drain the garden hose and bring it in for the winter. Wipe with a rag to remove any mud and moisture. Then, store it flat, letting it coil naturally, someplace dry and dark.

9.  Empty window boxes and terra-cotta and plastic planters. Scrub the interiors, and give them a good cleaning inside and out. Store planters upside down in a basement or garage until spring arrives.



http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

October To-Do List

A little work in the garden now will reward you in the Spring. Here are a list of suggestions to prep your garden while the weather is still decent:


Clean and sharpen tools

Prune out dead fruiting canes in raspberries

Shred fallen leaves

 It's time for transplanting trees and shrubs

Plant garlic cloves 3" deep so that the tip is 2" below soil

Control weeds  now and clean up beds to reduce disease
　
 Continue to bait  for slugs with SLUGGO

Protect veggie greens for the winter with a row cover

Clean bird feeders for winter

Keep winter interest in mind when it comes to design

Protect or move non-hardy plants indoors

Divide perennials that are too big for location

Store summer bulbs like Dahlia somewhere dark, dry and cool

www.classicgardencreations.com

*Information provided by Farmington Gardens-  Beaverton, OR 

Fall Planting Guide II

Here are some more options to get planting now:

Fragrant Plants:

Who doesn't want fragrance in the garden? There is nothing more invigorating then a stroll through your yard picking up scents of these great plants.

Sarcococca: Sweetbox. A bit difficult to pronouce, but easier to grow than it sounds.
A shade-loving early blooming evergreen shrub that stays compact. Very fragrant flowers in late winter/ early spring.

Daphne Odora:  A favorite of ours. Can be fickle, but best advise is just leave it alone, and it should reward you.  A shade loving evergreen with small very fragrant flowers in early spring. Does not like standing water. Recommended to plant in a raised bed.

Philadelphus:  Mock orange has a strong citrus scent. Can grow to about 6' blooming mid-late June.

Roses: A garden would not be complete without them. Need I say more??

Lavender:   Many varieties available. We prefer the dwarf 'Peter Pan' or Little Lottie'. Also, lavendula x. chaytorae, has a silvery foliage as well as dark flowers. Grows to 48" which makes it perfect as a hedge plant for an herb  or vegetable garden.

Thymus:  Herbs are great in any garden. Wether you plan to cook with them or just want to add some fragrant groundcover in between stone steps or as a border.

http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

Fall Time Planting Guide I

Fall is our favorite time of year. Not too hot or cold, a bit of rain now and then,(ok, maybe alot of rain now and then. At least there isn't a need for sprinklers to run!)

Here are some of our favorites:

Fall Color:

Trees:

Maple:  Many varieties. some do get big so be sure and check height and  width of mature varieties before choosing.

Dogwood:  Some varieties are difficult to grow. Beautiful flowers in spring make it worth a try.

Liquidamber:  One of our favorites. Showy color from yellow to deep burgandy maroon. Foliage lasts up until December in some areas.

Metasequoia glyptostroboides:  Dawn Redwood.  
NOt to common, but does have beautiful color in fall. Slow growing.

Styrax Japonica:  The Japanese Snowbell tree  is a small variety with fragrant flowers in summer. You can't go wrong with this one!

Shrubs:

Blueberry:  Don't need to say much about this one. We all love the fruit and a bonus is some nice fall color

Hydrangea quercifolia:  Great color. Flowers do last awhile as with any hydrangea plant.

Lagerstroemia indica:  The crepe myrtle is a fabulous tree or shrub. Beautiful flowers and the fall color is a bonus.

Nandina domestica:  Heavenly bamboo is one of our favorites. Evergreen with interesteing fall color. Nothing like the regular bamboo as is doesn't spread. 

September Landscape To-do List

Lime The Lawns:

If your soil has a low ph (very acidic) soil*, now would be a good time to start thinking about liming your lawns. You should wait until it starts raining more regularly and aerate if possible. Lime (calcium carbonate) does not move through the soil profile with ease. In this ara it requires copious amounts of water to get it to penatrate.
*You can purchase a soil tester at any nursery or home improvement store.

Slugs and Snails:

Timing is 90% of the battle to rid the garden of these pests. To have the greatest effect on the slug and snail population, get rid of the adults prior to laying eggs in autumn.
Several well known methods are available: I.  Dealine with methaldahyde kills them but is not good around pets or children.    II.  Sluggo with Iron phosphate will get them but is no where near as efective as Dealine, and then there is III. Coffee grounds both new and  used (dried). They will kill them as dead as a door nail without danger to pets and children - completely organic!! A 3# can of inexpensive coffee will cover 500 - 1000 sq ft.

Plant, Plant, Plant!!!

Planting bushes, trees, bulbs and shrubs is best at this time of the year. The cool weather puts less stress on plants and the soil is warm enought to help develope roots.

http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

Lawns 911!!! Pet Poisonous Cocoa Bean Mulch

If your dog likes to spend sunny days lazing in the garden, his treat-seeking nose may lead him to one danger in particular: sweet-smelling cocoa bean mulch.
Many gardeners are familiar with the use of cocoa bean shells, a by-product of chocolate production, in landscaping. It’s especially popular for its attractive odor and color and eventual degradation into organic fertilizer. But many pet parents don’t realize that cocoa mulch, if eaten in large quantities by mischievous dogs, can be toxic.
“Dogs are attracted to the fertilizer’s sweet smell,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, ASPCA Chief Operating Officer, “but like chocolate, cocoa bean mulch can be too much for our canine companions.”
Ingestion of large amounts of cocoa bean mulch may cause a variety of clinical signs, including:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• elevated heart rate
• hyperactivity
• muscle tremors
• neurological disturbances

Dr. Hansen recommends that the gardeners among us consider using a nontoxic alternative, such as shredded pine, cedar or hemlock bark, to beautify their yards. These will keep your pooch and your garden happy and healthy.
If you suspect your dog has ingested cocoa bean mulch, please contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. For more potential pet hazards living on your lawn, check out our Guide to Pet-Safe Gardening.

Watering Tips for August

Now that we have had some continuous dry weather, it's time to think about how to  keep things green with some watering tips.

Keeping the ground moist is important to avoid getting dry spots in the lawns.
Some 'experts' say 15minutes a day is sufficient.
There are some contributing factors to consider before agreeing with that opinion:

1. What type of sprinklers do you have? a 1/2 gal per hour sprinkler or a 10 gal per minute sprinkler?
2. Are the nozzles distributing equally?
3. Is there a high spot ?
4. Is 1/2 of the flat and the other 1/2 on a slope?
5. How much slope does the lawn have?

  There is no magic number. 15 minutes will not cut it unless you are on a very large water volume system.

Here are a few thoughts:

 1.  Clay:  when it gets dry is very hard to get wet again. Do not let it dry out!
Watering more often with smaller amounts of water is the best method, especially on a slope. When the soil starts to crack, you're too late.

2.   If  your system seems to be keeping the lawn nice during the warm sunny days, and we experience a 105 F day, hit the manual start one extra time in the middle of the day and let it go through the cycle.  You will get more evaporation, but your lawn shouldn't dry out or be stressed.

3.  The best time to have your watering system come on is in the early morning, timed in such a way as to finish the complete cycle just before the 1st person needs to take a shower. Early AM lets the water sink into the soil profile. Late PM does the same but there is a greater potential of getting fungal diseases.

   

Got Sand?

There are alot of paver joint sands available to consumers and contractors.

If you are considering a new paver patio or if it's time to re-sand an existing paver patio, here is some information to better educate on the differences of various sands out there.

Unfortunately, “polymeric sand” has become common terminology for stabilized joint sand around the country.

The main ways that paver joint sand can be stabilized include . . .

-       Acrylic sealer

-       Cement

-       Polymers

-       Organics

Mixing a small amount of cement powder with sand before filling the joints is not recommended or very common these days, mainly because of the staining issues.

Application of an acrylic sealer (aka coating-type sealer) to the paver surface will also soak down into the joints, binding the sand particles together. The higher the solid content in the sealer, the better the joint sand stabilization. But, if sealed too soon, can cause secondary efflorescence to be trapped. Also, acrylic sealers are not recommended on clay pavers and some types of natural stone. They need to “breathe” and acrylic sealers do not allow for that.

Polymers are water-soluble acrylic particles mixed into the joint sand and activated by water. When dry, the joint sand is hard & stabilized, similar to the results when applying an acrylic sealer, just without sealing the paver surface. This is polymeric joint sand.

Organics are ground-up plant products that are also mixed with the sand before filling joints and activated with water. When activated, the organic material swells and becomes gummy, binding the sand particles together. When dry, the joint is hard, but not as hard as some “polymeric” joint sands. Organics are also used in stabilized gravel paths and other applications outside of the paver industry.

Differences between Polymers & Organics: During activation, polymer stabilized joint sands need to be activated gently with several light misting of water. If activated quickly with too much water, the polymer washes away through the joint. Organics need to be activated one time with a thorough saturation. You don’t want to blast the sand out of the joint, but you also don’t want to mist it. Misting only activates the top and creates a scab, making it difficult to activate the rest of the joint.

Polymeric sand, once hard, does not have the ability to “heal”. Once the bond is broken (freeze/thaw, flexing of the pavement under load, etc.), that is it. Organics reactivate when reintroduced to water. Typically, only the very top of the joint reactivates, but with enough water, the entire joint will too.

In the case of concrete overlays (pavers laid directly on top of a concrete slab), polymers and organics can (not always) remain wet long enough to cause problems. Since drainage under the pavers is reduced, compared to sand set, the joint sand will remain wet longer than normal. In these cases, polymers can start to re-emulsify, allowing them to be washed away. Organics will start to deteriorate early and lose the ability to heal. In the case of non-typical pavers, such as the Belgard Mega-Arbel, the shallow false joints can present the same problem as concrete overlays to the polymers AND organics.

No matter what type of stabilized joint sand you are working with, none are designed to act or perform as a grout. You can reduce joint sand loss, but never eliminate it. All stabilized joint sands break down over time. But during that time, the silts from traffic and weather typically take over the sand binding. In fact, grout is too rigid and will fail on a flexible pavement over time as well.

Flexible pavements are just that, flexible. They are far superior to other pavements (poured concrete, asphalt, etc.) but present their own maintenance issues (joint sand washout and replacement over time being one of them). Normally, with a standard joint, just using a proper joint sand that has a good mix of particle sizes ranging from the #4 Sieve down to the #200 Sieve provides great interlock with the walls of the pavers and helps reduce loss. But with many of the manufacturers offering product lines that have wide and/or false joints, the joint sand challenge is more difficult.

Never power or pressure wash a paver patio. In some cases this will void out the warranty. 

  http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

Charity Begins at Home

Here in Portland that is.
If you have some free time this summer to support a local charity either by volunteering or to make a donation, the Audubon Society of Portland has received Charity Navigator's four star rating, the highest rating awarded!

Charity Navigator is an independent charity evaluator, who rates charities by evaluating two broad areas of financial health: organizertional efficiency and organizational capacity. After careful scrutiny, they issue an overall rating that combines the charity's performance in both areas.

Charity Navigator provides these ratings so donors can make informed giving decisions,showing "how efficiently a charity will use their support today and to what extent the charities are growing their programs and services over time. You can read more at CharityNavigator.org.

The Audubon Society of Portland is honored to have 12,000 plus members who generously give their time and their money. You can be rest assured   that they will use your donations well!

http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

June Lawn Tips

If you are planning to install a new seed lawn, June is the time to do it. Don't wait until October. The longer you can have the lawn rooting and maturing, the better it  will do through winter.

June is a good time to apply your second fertilization. However, only if you have an irrigation system. If   there is no water, there will be no microbial activity, therefore no growth. Unless, of course we get lots of rain until next spring. (Hopefully not!)

There is no need to apply lime until fall. Lime requires copious amounts of water to work itself into the clays we have here. An irrigation system just will not make the grade for this. Two applications per year both during the rainy season; spring and fall.

www.classicgardencreations.com

Forest Grove School Gets a New Sign

 

 

Neil Armstrong Middle School got some new landscaping around the school entrance sign, Saturday May 21. Teacher, Drennan Wesley along with his Leadership students got the project going by contacting Carol and Jim Bremer of Classic Garden Creations who donated a landscape design plan and flowering plum trees. S & H Landscape Supply of Hillsboro donated soil and Farmington Gardens of Beaverton supplied plants.

JIm Bremer along with employee Sergio  assisted students with planting instructions.

The end result is a new look the school will be proud of!

 

www.Classicgardencreations.com

 

Sprinkler Tune Up

With warm dry weather ahead, now is the time to get those sprinklers up and running.

Here are some recommended maintenance tips to keep your sprinkler system working for years to come.

Remove any debris inside your valve boxes.

Inspect your wire connections

Never place any bark or mulch over the box covers as you will be unable to find them.
Turn on each vavle and inspect for breaks or clogged heads. You may need to remove grass or cut back shrubbery, to allow sprinklers to work properly.

Your controller probably has a battery. The battery will keep the program if there is a power outage. They usually last awhile, but it's good to make sure the battery is still operating. If you unplug the controller and it is still operating, the battery is fine.

Make sure your sprinklers  haven't been pushed too far below grade.
Dirt can be drawn down into the sprinkler head and cause leaking.

http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

  

Sustainability

We hope you are concerned about sustainability as much as we are.

Here are some simple ways to help with your  footprint:

If you have a water feature, install an outdoor automatic timer. You'll save on power and water costs.

Install a rain-sensor on  your irrigation system

IF you choose hardwood for your deck on interior flooring, make sure the lumber was farmed and not a part of the destruction of the rainforests.

Use organic fertilizers

Remove part of or all of your lawn and install a raised veggie-garden. Or plant drought tolerant plants and trees. Accent with boulders to take up more space that doesn't need watering.

Convert your sprinkler system to drip to water beds.

Use low-voltage for your outdoor lighting system.

Build a rain garden to trap the water from your roof.

Tips On How to Build a Better Fence

Tired of looking at the old ugly fence all winter?

If you are thinking of replacing it here are some tips about getting the most value:

Be sure you use pressure treated lumber for the posts and rails. If you want to use all cedar posts you need to fill the holes with concrete and set a metal bracket into the concrete and attach to the post with bolts.

The cap on top should be cedar as are the fence boards.

When digging holes for the posts go down at least 2' and back-fill with concrete.

Set the fence boards several inches above the ground level. You can add a 2" x 6" pressure treated board along the bottom to protect the fence boards.

If your time is limited and you need to hire out the project, give us a call for a quote, 503-359-1823

www.classicgardencreations.com

Exploring the U.S. Virgin Islands

The interesting sea life and beautiful beaches were not the only highlights of our recent visit to the United States Virgin Islands.
The immense use of rock and brick to build walls, paths, homes,and out-buildings  centuries ago showed true craftsmanship as most are still standing  and in use today.

Sprat Hill Plantation, built in 1650, on the island of St. Croix is a perfect example.
Our tour of the property showed us the construction used was of concrete blocks and rock. Built to last, this home is still in use today as a private residence.

Our  business philosophy on how we construct each project  is the same as the early settlers of these islands had in mind. We focus on the longevity of everything we build by good craftsmanship and using quality materials. 

www.classicgardencreations.com

Some Great Gift Ideas For Valentine's Day!!

If your sweetheart is a bird or nature lover, or just wants to support local artists, check out the Audubon Society of Portland's Nature Store.
The store is located at 5151 Nw Cornell Rd, Portland, OR, their web-site is http://www.audubonportland.org/.

Telephone number is (503) 292-6855. Hours: 10am-6pm Monday through Saturday, 10am-5pm Sunday

The store is staffed with volunteers. 100% of store profits go directly to the support of Portland Audubon's educational programs, conservation work, Wildlife Care Center and sanctuaries. 

What better way to give a gift that gives back to the community and will outlast flowers and candy many times over!!

L.E.D. LIGHTING

Light up your yard with L.E.D. fixtures. L.E.D. lights can reduce your electric energy by 75%! This isn't the only good thing about L.E.D., you will never have to change a outdoor light bulb again! 

These lights come with a 15 year warranty and are designed to last 40,000 hours.

Classic Garden Creations offers installation of L.E.D.  and other low-voltage lighting systems. Give us a call at 503-359-1823 for a consultation.

 

Carol and Jim Bremer

http://www.classicgardencreations.com/

Winter Sidewalks

A gravel walkway can create access to your yard while adding a unique design element.

You can design the sidewalk using a garden hose to lay out the length and width. Average width is 3', but can be adjusted as needed.

These walkways can be fairly easy to construct. First remove any debris from area and grade slightly.  First install weed barrier, then composite edging along the sides, lastly install 1/4" minus gravel.   

We recommend using a plate compactor to finish the project. A hand compactor can also be used.

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Too Much Standing Water?

If you have a problem with standing water or areas that tend to flood or any water flowing towards the house you may be in need of a landscape drainage system.

French Drains: A Misconception
French drains are usually not the best way to solve the problem. They tend to get clogged up over time. Even if the drainage pipe is covered with a sock.

The best solution we have found is using silt-trap plastic boxes. These boxes are designed to be installed at the surface with either a green or black lid to blend in with lawns or beds.
Each box should be placed on 4" of gravel and have a hole drilled through it for mosquito control.
Sometimes the boxes are connected to a pipe that runs to a gutter down-spout ABS rain-drain pipe.

If the lack of time prevents you from taking on this project yourself, give us a call  to come out and give you a quote. 503-359-1823.
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Winter Birding Tips

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Some birds do stick around in winter. Here are a few tips on having them up close and personal in your yard.

     High-fat, high-calorie foods are especially important for birds during the winter. Birds have fewer daylight hours to find food and need more calories to get through cold nights. Add suet nuggets to your seed mix, or smear spreadable suet, called bark butter, onto a tree to give birds an extra boost.
     A good seed mix loaded with sunflower will satisfy most seed eaters. Hang suet feeders during winter. Make them more stable and bird-friendly by nestling them against a tree trunk or branch. Don't be afraid to place them right outside a window-your woodpeckers won't mind!


Think Ahead on Feeding:

If you are pressed for time follow these tips:
    Fill feeders and birdbaths in the midafternoon before the birds go to sleep, so they are well fed to survive the longer colder nights. If the temperatures dip below freezing, add some warm water to your birdbath in the morning.
    Birds are most vulnerable after a snow and ice storm. Brush snow and ice off your feeder and your flowers so birds can harvest leftover seeds, and keep berry bushes clear.

Don't Forget Water!

A clean bird is a warm bird. Clean feathers insulate birds better against the cold, Use an electrical heater to heat your birdbath if it does freezes up so birds can stay clean and get a drink during colder days.
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Baking IS for the Birds

BIRD  CUPCAKES

In the winter, birds benefit from a high-energy suet treat. One of the editors of Birds and Blooms magazine developed this recipe with her kids using cupcake liners to stay mess-free. They are a winner with birds for a special winter treat.

Melt 1 cup shortening and 2 cups chunky peanut butter over low  heat, then mix in 5 cups cornmeal. Fill cupcake tins and top with your choice of nuts, birdseed or dried berries. Cool in the refrigerator. To give as a gift, arrange on a plate or stack then wrap with cellophane. 

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Treat your birds to these high-energy suet treats.

House Plants that acutally Clean the Air!!!

Twenty years ago,

Bring a leafy friend into your home and breathe easy! Research shows that potted plants clean up indoor air. Plants won’t substitute for good ventilation, but they can capture "off-gas" of hazardous chemicals from furnishings, cleaning supplies and building materials.
http://www.oeconline.org/resources/livinggreen/athome/healthy-kids-tip-furniture-flooring
OEC Oregon Environmental Council222 NW Davis St. Ste. 309, Portland, OR 97209
503.222.1963 - www.oeconline.orgfound that potted houseplants filter formaldehyde, benzene and other hazardous gas out of indoor air. More research confirms that philodendrons, English ivy, spider plants, weeping fig and many others contribute to well being. Don’t reject gerbera daisy or peace lily plants when the blooms fade; they are good air cleaners, too.

Ponds in the Winter

Winter
Winter is the time to relax and plan you next pond. The pond plants and animals will be resting and require almost no care. You just have to keep the pond from freezing solid.

Winter Tasks:

• Keep pond from freezing solid :
• As organics decompose in the pond they can produce toxic gases that could be trapped in the pond if it is covered by ice for more than a few days. It is important to keep at least a small area free of ice so that these gases can escape. Do not break the ice as the shock waves created can damage or kill your fish. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a floating pond de-icer (or use boiling water)www.classicgardencreations.com. This device floats in the pond and has a built in thermostat to turn the heating element on when the water temperature drops below 40 degrees. They can also be used to keep a small pond from freezing solid allowing you to keep your fish alive.
• If filter systems, pumps, waterfalls, etc. are going, check daily for leaks due to ice jams.
• You can turn off the pumps and filters for the winter. Cold water holds much more oxygen than warm water and the fish's respiration is slow therefore you should not need the circulation and aeration. The bacteria in your biological filter does not work in cold temperatures so the only reason to run the filter is to keep the bacteria alive. If you turn off the pump and filter for the winter be sure to drain all plumbing. External filters, UV's, and external pumps will need to be drained. Submersible pumps should be left in the pond or in a bucket of water in a warm place to keep the seals from drying out. If you choose this method be sure to clean the filter before starting up in the spring.
  
  Monitor water levels and add water if the pond gets low.
• Plan for any new plants, fish, or other animals you want to add next year.
• Check pond daily for dead fish, leaks, overturned pots, or other problems.
• Stop feeding your fish after the water temperature has dropped to the upper forties.
• Also when the water temperature has dropped into the forties, reduce the circulation of the pond water by either turning off the pump for the winter and draining of all the plumbing or preferably by placing the pump or the intake to the pump closer to the water outlet (waterfall etc.) and pick up water from mid-level of the pond. Also turn down the water flow. Keeping the water flowing through your biological filter allows the bacteria to live therefore giving good water quality early in the spring.
  
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Time to Plant New Trees!!

The best time to plant any kind of tree, particularly deciduous types, is in the dornmant period between late October and March. Have the site chosen and prepared (well-worked soil with added organic matter and fertilizer) in advance, as young trees should be planted a soon as possible after delivery. When planting in turf, make sure the circle of planting area is sufficiently large to avoid any competition for nutrients and water with the surrounding grass.
Here is a good tip on how to plant a tree:

As a general rule, trees should be transplanted no deeper than the soil in which they were originally grown.  The width of the hole should be at least 3 times the diameter of the root ball or container or the spread of the roots in the case of bare root trees.  This will provide the tree with enough worked earth for its root structure to establish itself.

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Roses: Time to Order Bare Root

If you've ever been to the Portland Rose Test Garden you know how many amazing choices of roses are out there. Upon a recent visit, we were in heaven. All of the beautiful colors and the sweet fragrance made us want to expand our own garden.

Why are we bringing up roses now,  when the season is over? Because it is now time to order bare root roses for planting this winter.

One of our favorite sources is David Austin. Visit their web-site at http://www.davidaustinroses.com/ for a vast selection of colors and varieties. 

If you are not in the market for new roses, the site provides tips on care for roses. Here is some information we came upon for pruning:

Winter pruning English shrub roses

Winter pruning should be done when the season begins to warm up and the small buds begin to swell. This will be January in the warmest zones but not until April in the coldest ones. In the colder zones, wait until the worst of the frosts have passed. As a simple rule, prune your shrub to approximately half its size, aiming to create a nice rounded shrub. Always take time to step back and look to check that you are forming a balanced shape overall. Finish by cutting out any dead or weak stems. The only time this rule does not apply may be in the first year when the plant is still establishing. In this case prune more lightly, leaving two thirds of the shrub.

Pruning is not a precise science and you should never worry about doing any harm. You can easily adjust the size of your plant by altering the amount of growth removed when pruning. If you want a smaller shrub, it is fine to prune down to one third of its size (fig 1. line 1). If you want a larger shrub, prune to two thirds its size (fig 1. line 2). If you have taken our advice to plant English Roses closely together in groups of three, prune the three roses into the shape of one magnificent shrub. It is generally recommended that you always make a sloping cut an inch or less above an outward facing bud. Experienced pruners tend to do this quite naturally but there is no evidence to prove that this makes a significant difference to the performance of the roses.

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Dangerous Tires - A must see news video clip before you buy!!

 

An interesting video clip!

Dangerous Tires
 
   
Important information that you may not be aware of about tires.

There is a 30 sec commercial at first and then the video.

The video is well worth watching.

Please watch until the end, because some of the most important information you need to hear and see is
past the middle of the segment.

It could save your life, or that of someone you love. This goes true for car, truck and RV tires.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Landscape Improvements boost home value 35%!!

A study done in Lubbock ,TX published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture evaluated 75 homes and concluded that every dollar invested in landscaping returns $1.35 - or a 35 % return on investment. The same study found that having a high-quality landscape compared to an average one increases the sales price of the home by 5.7%. 

This number jumped to a 10.8% increase in the value of a home when comparing an excellent quality landscape to an average landscape.

Selling your home?
Here is a list of add-ons suggested by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado:

Add color to the front porch by planting attractive containers with mums or pansies

Make sure plants are in proportion to the  home, and not overgrown. In new subdivisions, an investment in trees and shrubs can make a home stand out.

Eliminate all weeds. Every. Single. One.

If you are planning to stay in your home for awhile, add outdoor interest with hardscapes  - decks, flagstone or paver patios, pergolas, and retaining walls. The investment on these projects now may help your home sell faster down the road.

classicgardencreations.com

Lake Oswego clients rave about their new yard!!

September 21, 2010

Rob and Brinda wrote:

Dear Carol and Jim,
 I wanted to send you this note of THANKS to express our appreciation for your great contribution to our new Lake Oswego home at Langford Lane.

The water features in Front and Back  yards are first class. The waterfalls are both visually creative and unique. They provide a sound barrier to the noise from Carman Dr and Kruse Way. Also, the lighting on the falls really highlight the water and rocks, especially throughout the night.

WE are very satisfied with the attentiveness and hard work of your crew. The fact that Jim was personally on hand throughout the construction to oversee the  installation and placement of the plants and boulders was greatly appreciated. I want to also thank Jim for taking the time to meet with me so that I could personally choose the large landscape features which my wife and I wanted to include in the overall design.

Thanks for your hard work on our properties over the years, for your patience and attention to the little things. We could not be more pleased with the final result!

With gratitude, Sincerely

Rob and Brinda
classicgardencreations.com

Create A Dog Friendly Garden

If you are dog lovers like we are you'll be interested in the following information  to make your garden more pet friendly:

Pet-Safe Landscaping
Avoid thorny and spiny plants, which can cause serious eye injuries. Be very cautious about growing poisonous plants, like castor bean or hellebore, in readily accessible areas. Visit www.aspca.org/toxicplants for a complete list.

Many wild mushrooms produce afla-toxins, which can be fatal if ingested by dogs; if mushrooms appear, dig and dispose of them immediately. Your compost pile should be off-limits for the same reason. Weeds can be dangerous, especially foxtail grasses with barbed seed heads, which dogs can accidentally inhale with serious consequences

Your dog needs a spot to relieve himself, but it doesn't have to be your lawn or flower bed. Set aside a corner of your yard as a toilet area, and train your pet to eliminate there and nowhere else. This learning process may take a puppy about three weeks and an adult dog longer. Consult a dog-training manual for instructions.

Cover the designated area with material Fido will accept and that you can clean easily. Flagstone, pea gravel, bricks, and cedar chips are all good choices. If you have a male dog, consider adding a marking post so he can define his territory (Stuckey set up a driftwood stump).

You can try to minimize yellow urine stains in the lawn by watering the area directly to dilute the nitrogen that causes the yellowing.

Plant Densely And Wisely

If you plant landscaped areas densely, dogs will stay out, our readers say. Still, most dog owners recommend additional precautions: Plant in raised beds or on mounds, and start with 1-gallon or larger plants. Put up temporary fencing around newly landscaped areas; when you remove it, add a rock border or low fencing as a reminder to stay out.
Plant romp-proof shrubs and perennials like ornamental grasses around the edge of the garden. Put brittle plants like salvias in the center, where they'll be protected


Carol and Jim Bremer

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Get on the Ball and Plant for Fall!!!

If the clear crisp air and the vibrant colors make fall your favorite season then the following plants and trees are a must for your garden:

1. Aster novi-belgii (Michaelmas Daisy)
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.

In shades of pink, purple, blue and white, these delicate daisy-like blossoms start popping open in late August and continue on until frost. Pinching in the early summer turns these Asters into mounds with dozens of flower buds. [p]Asters will tend to creep throughout your garden, but their airiness allows them to blend particularly well with other flowers.

Chrysanthemum
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.

There are many varieties of mums, not all particularly hardy. The plants sold in the fall as 'Hardy Mums' should have been sold to us in the spring, to be reliably hardy in the north. However we wouldn't have had the patience to plant them and wait. Mums and pumpkins are the flag bearers of fall. Try and get your potted mums in the ground ASAP. Keep them well watered and mulch once the ground freezes and you'll stand your best chance of having truly hardy mums.


Sedum (Stonecrop)
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2007) licensed to About.com, Inc.

Sedum 'Autumn Joy' comes as close to perfection as any plant can. It looks good all year, requires minimal attention and attracts few problems. It's only drawback is that it is not deer resistant. 'Autumn Joy' has been joined in the garden by a growing number of fall wonders like: 'Bertram Anderson, 'Brilliant' and 'Matrona'. No fall garden is complete without sedum.

TREES:

Quaking aspen trees (Populus tremuloides), with their golden-yellow fall foliage, are perhaps the dominant fall foliage tree of western North America. It is from this fall foliage standout that the ski resort of Aspen, 
Colorado derives its name. In the Rocky Mountains there are stands of quaking aspen trees that stretch for miles, their autumn gold perhaps punctuated here and there by an evergreen or two, as if for contrast.
Quaking aspens are closely related to poplar trees, such as Lombardy poplar trees.
If their fall foliage weren't enough of a contribution, quaking aspens also have a lovely, whitish bark. Aspens usually reach a height of 20'-50', with a spread of 10'-30'. Plant them in full sun and in rich, well-drained soil. Like their willow-family relative, the pussy willow, quaking aspen trees bear catkins in the spring.


Characteristics of American Sweetgum Trees:

American sweetgum trees bear leaves shaped like stars. The leaves provide excellent fall foliage color: in some cases, at the peak of the fall foliage season, some leaves may be red, others purple, others yellow, others orange -- all on the same sweetgum tree! On some trees, the branches are "winged," as on winged euonymus (burning bush), displaying corky flanges. Most people consider their seed pods (or "fruits," "balls," "gumballs," "capsules") to be messy, so I recommend the fruitless 'Rotundiloba.' Rotundiloba grows 60'-70' tall with a spread not even half that, which helps give it a narrowly pyramidal form.

"Crimson Queen" Japanese Maple

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden

Japanese maple trees are prized for their foliage throughout the growing season, including fall foliage season. Click on the picture to your right for a tree leaf identification for three types of Japanese maple trees (a photo gallery will open up, displaying additional pictures).

Japanese maple trees can be classified in various ways. I'll focus on a couple of classification criteria: fall foliage color and leaf type. For while Japanese maples with red fall foliage are better known, some varieties have golden fall foliage (e.g., Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'). Meanwhile, particular Japanese maple tree varieties are prized for their lacy, or "dissected" leaf type. The taxonomy given for these Japanese maples will often include the term "dissectum

Characteristics of Oakleaf Hydrangeas:
Photo of oakleaf hydrangea blooms.David Beaulieu

In summer, oakleaf hydrangea flowers in clusters, and the white flowers fade to a pinkish-brown in fall; their floral display is extremely long lasting. But the plant's distinguishing characteristic is its oak leaf-shaped foliage. The leathery leaves are large and turn purple, orangey-bronze or red in the fall. Oakleaf hydrangeas routinely achieve a height of 4'-6' and a spread of 4'-6', but can grow to be larger than that. They are multi-stemmed shrubs, and the branches can shoot out from the center in any direction. Exfoliating bark offers winter interest.
Oakleaf hydrangeas are flowering deciduous shrubs.

Carol and Jim Bremer

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Choose Pavers For User-Friendly Paths

Lorraine W. in the Claremont developement in NW Portland has called us back for her third project!

This time Lorraine wanted a more user-friendly pathway from the driveway in front over to a side yard.

We removed the split basalt rock which had alot of uneven edges and installed this attractive paver pathway.

Our paver patios and sidewalks all have a solid strong sub-base of 4" of crushed compacted gravel. Not using enough gravel is a common mistake people can make when installing pavers. A strong sub-base will ensure many years of solid use.

Lorraine has been our client for almost four years now. Like alot of our clientle she was referred to us by a family member, Cherry W who also lives in NW Portland. We have done several projects for Cherry, such as a random patterend flagstone patio and a multi-tiered bubbler fountain.

Carol and Jim Bremer

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Creative Water Features In Lake Oswego

Rob and Brinda G. of Lake Oswego have been our clients for several years now. They recently decided to down-scale to a smaller home and property.

At their first home in Lake Oswego we built one extraordinary water feature in the back yard. They were so impressed with it that they had us back to build an extension of the water feature!

At their new home, they wanted something smaller yet dramatic. Our creation involved building a block wall for a berm to have one of 2 water falls cascade into a small pond.

After the first feature was built, the homeowners wanted something unique to be done with an existing contemporary feature in the front yard. We created a stream to give off the effect that it was connected to the existing water fall.

Our water features stand out among others due to the variety and choice of rock. You can't create a spectacular feature with ugly rock. We hand select all rock and boulders to be used in our features.

From Forest Grove to Gresham to Vancouver we shop around to several different suppliers and quarries to ensure our customers get the best rock on the market.

That extra touch along with our creativity and prompt professional service are why people choose us for the job and keep coming back to us for additional projects.

Carol and Jim Bremer

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Brick Wall Adds Formal Look

Jack S. in the Claremont Development in NW Portland wanted us to create a formal design using the same brick to match his house.

We built this attractive retaining wall using concrete blocks with a brick fascia.

This wall not only adds more character to the yard, but is also functional as it allowed us to level out the lawn area using blended soil and new sod.

As a full service company, we were able to offer additional services to Jack such as adjusting, and adding sprinklers to cover the new lawns, trim trees, and extend a rock wall in the back yard.

Jack was quite pleased with our workmanship on all of these projects that he recently referred us to a neighbor down the street.

We are now working for them in building a European dry stack rock wall and new lawns. Photos on that project to follow shortly.

Carol and Jim Bremer

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