Great Design Books: Going Deeper in Design

 The design process is very fascinating. Many of you may have read my previous blogs on design preparedness and process and you have decided to learn more. Well here is my list of top design books to help you go deeper into design. This list is by no means exhaustive and if you have more you’d like to share please post them in the comments area.

The Essential Garden Design Workbook: Second Edition by Rosemary Alexander (check out her website!)

- a great manual to get you started! Walks you through the complete Residential process in an easy to read format. Includes wonderful sketches.

 RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE by Norman K. Booth

--a text book I used in my residential design classes in college. Reads like a text book but has great sketches and blurbs to help move you through the chapters.

 FROM CONCEPT TO FORM IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN by Grant W Reid

-- A small text book from my third year studio at Texas A&M. Covers the use of form and how to understand space concepts and organization.

 LANDSCAPE GRAPHICS by Grant W. Reid

--a fantastic book that teaches graphics; in college we used this for our first graphics studio. Easy to work through and gives great images and exercises to teach you how to draw plans, perspectives, and other types of drawings used by designers.

 COLOR DRAWING by Michael E. Doyle

--Teaches usage of color and reviews many different color media. We keep this in the office studio and refer back to it quite a bit. Has beautiful color images!

 READER’S DIGEST GARDEN DESIGN by Robin Williams

-- this book is full of beautiful and inspiring photos that help you better understand garden elements

 If you are interested in going to college for Landscape Architecture or Landscape Design I would highly recommend these books for pre-college research. These books are specifically design theory. If you are interested in getting a degree in this field I would also recommend the book LANDSCAPE DESIGN ARCHITECTURE THEORY by Michael D. Murphy.

 Bon Learning!

Kate

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Over the many years that I have been designing residential properties in the Austin, Texas area, I have often encountered yards (mostly back yards) completely destroyed by the family pet.

In many cases the owners did not seem to care about the condition of the yard; they were happy as long as long as ‘Mr. Scruffy’ had a place to run around in and a place to ‘do his business’.

Other clients were upset that the yard was starting to look worn-out, and not catering to their other desires for the yard: a play area for kids, a place to have a small vegetable garden, a pleasant adult zone with outdoor entertainment spaces, and in general just a pretty aspect appropriate to their housing investment.  

I think with judicious planning ‘Muffy’ and the family can happily share outdoor space.

If I were a dog (some folks might claim I have a canine temperament!) and I was allowed to spend a lot of time in the back yard here is what I would desire: shade to slumber in on hot days; sun to bask in on cooler days; a cozy shelter with a padded floor; a good size swath of short lawn to do ‘my business on’; open space to run around in and retrieve thrown objects by my compliant human companion; a variety of chew-toys; areas to dig in ; a shallow pool to bathe /  lounge in; if my masters followed their territorial instincts and put up a fence, I would desire a fence type that I could peer through , to observe the world beyond, and most importantly: a constant source of drinking water and large bowl of snacks (being replenished on an hourly schedule). Also, I would want a doogie door installed in the back door so I could come and go from indoors to outdoors whenever I wanted.

If I (as a human this time) was chosen by a dog to cohabitate with, here is what I would add to ‘Bandit’s’ landscape list:  a separate ‘dog-run’ that has a good view of the main back yard (and is designed using attractive barrier material…I think I would forego the chain-link aesthetic for this purpose); a designated outdoor feeding zone that I would not trip over whenever I went to water my Hibiscus; a dog shelter that provided respite for ‘Czar’ from the rain and cold, that was designed to be an interesting eye-catching bit of ‘barkitecture’; a perimeter run at the base of the fence, that allows ‘Buck’ to traipse back and forth chasing chatty squirrels while missing my favorite bedding plants (I might do this ‘alley’ in finely shredded bark mulch); a textured floor material surrounding my patios / landings to aid in wiping  ‘Zack’s’ muddy feet before he ruins the new white carpet in the den; and lastly one of those ultrasonic ‘bark-stoppers’ pointed over the fence at my next-door neighbor’s bored-to-death Doberman, ‘Braveheart’ to teach him proper noise etiquette . I wonder if there are readily available plants that dogs are attracted to (to sniff or eat for their trace mineral content or pleasure providing scent)?

Many households have canine pets that are allowed to use the backyard. With a little planning ‘Midnight’ and ‘Peanut’s’ needs can be taken into account, while not conflicting with their masters’ landscape requirements. Of course the ideal time for landscape design for dog-friendly yards is while the lot / home is being envisioned.

Often we humans move into a house with an existing lawn, patio, etc. It is my belief that most yards can be retrofitted to accommodate the needs of all species, except maybe rhinos and elephants.

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For the past few months a group of “20 somethings” have been pondering a blank field on the corner of 45th and Lamar in Austin, Texas. Eager to help out the families that utilize the Austin Child Guidance Center, these young women developed a design to install a therapeutic garden of native plants and materials. Headed up by Sarah Jones, LMSW, a therapist at the Center, and accompanied by other employees, over the course of the summer, the garden project was organized.

My permaculture teacher contacted me about offering up my design services, which I was delighted to do. In June I met with Sarah, Tracy Tanner, and Grayson Hoffman, and off we went dreaming up arbors, council circles, mazes, veggie gardens, and outdoor classrooms. After a few meetings, countless emails, and tons of fun we had a final design and a plan of action.

Thanks to the Keep Austin Beautiful program, trees and soil were donated and a grant was awarded to the Children’s Healing Garden at the Austin Child Guidance Center. With the help of William Thompson of TexFlora Nursery, plants and material for stone edging was found. Most of the plants were donated by Native Texas Nursery. Victor Vinson Trucking donated gravel and boulders.

This past Saturday the hard work and planning became visible as the mounds of soil turned into prepared beds and the decomposed granite was smoothed out over the pathways. The Key Club from Nyos Charter School scraped grass and pulled weeds clearing the way for the paths. The heavy limestone blocks were laid into trenches lining the beds that the group of amazing high school kids prepared. Other volunteers hauled materials to and fro, making the morning fun and productive.

Despite our best efforts to move all the materials, the work is not over. There will be a work day the morning of Saturday October 24th starting at 9am. This will culminate in a ribbon cutting at 12:30 and the official opening of the healing garden’s first phase of installation. A second installation of the remainder of the garden will be completed within the next year. It will include bamboo lined “hiding corners”, a native meadow, and a butterfly garden.

If you are interested in volunteering or helping out by donating plants, materials, or funding, please contact Sarah Jones at the Austin Child Guidance Center or visit the Facebook page.

Bon volunteering!

Kate

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For years, row agriculture has been the norm when it comes to providing for our daily bread. The plow is not agile, making straight, indefinite lines lines work easy and straight lines of seeds could be laid quickly making back breaking work just a bit less painful. Since the inception of this farming format few people have questioned if this is truly the most effective way.

Until Mel Bartholomew.

The engineer noticed excessive waste in traditional farming methods and set out to find a better way. Mel soon realized that if you set up the garden on a square foot grid that you could produce more in less space. Studying seed packets he realized that only one seed needed to be planted every few inches instead of planting a whole packet then coming back and weeding out the majority of the seedlings.

And thus the Square Foot Gardening method was born. It is a simple system that is based around a four foot by four foot grid. Each square foot represents a type of plant. Some plants, like carrots, can be planted very intensely, each seed being placed less than an inch apart on a grid pattern in one square foot. This practice yields far more plants than one linear foot and cuts down on the wasted open soil that invites weeds. Many plants allow one seed per square foot, such as cabbage. And others need even more space. Climbers can be planted along the back of the plot and allowed to grow straight up a climbing structure.

According to the official site, the ten basic tenets of square-foot gardening are:

1. Layout. Arrange your garden in squares, not rows. Lay it out in 4′x4′ planting areas.
2. Boxes. Build boxes to hold a new soil mix above ground.
3. Aisles. Space boxes 3′ apart to form walking aisles.
4. Soil. Fill boxes with Mel’s special soil mix: 1/3 blended compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 coarse vermiculite.
5. Grid. Make a permanent square foot grid for the top of each box. A MUST
6. Care. NEVER WALK ON YOUR GROWING SOIL. Tend your garden from the aisles.
7. Select. Plant a different flower, vegetable, or herb crop in each square foot, using 1, 4, 9, or 16 plants per square foot.
8. Plant. Conserve seeds. Plant only a pinch (2 or 3 seeds) per hole. Place transplants in a slight saucer-shaped depression.
9. Water. Water by hand from a bucket of sun-warmed water.
10. Harvest. When you finish harvesting a square foot, add compost and replant it with a new and different crop.

Bartholomew’s book All New Square Foot Gardening details the system. Pages of colored photographs go step by step through the process. He provides ideas on how to build raised beds, how to create climbing structures, and how to protect your crops through out the seasons.

Before starting your own project is helps to see what other people have created. The Natural Gardener in Austin Texas has set up experimental plots to test the system. There are different soil types, arrangements, and plants all together and open to public viewing. The square foot gardens at the Natural Gardener (pictured here) are a wonderful visual for people who wish to see the system and watch it develop before attempting on their own. The staff at the nursery is very willing to answer questions.

The Victory Garden is hip again and more and more people are growing their food at home. For many this is a scary prospect since the majority of the public has been long removed from food production processes. If you are interested in starting your own garden then the Square Foot Garden method is perfect. The step-by-step guide and space saving methods found in Mr. Bartholomew’s book will surely bring you success! And if you're already practicing the Square Foot Gardening we welcome your tips, tricks, and anecdotes.

Wishing you a happy harvest,

Kate Higdon

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We know what you're thinking: seriously, a post about gravel? Yep, a post about one of the most aesthetically pleasing and cost-effective substrates we use in our residential landscape design.

Gravel is an attractive material that can be employed in the residential landscape for various aesthetic  and functional reasons.

The curb appeal of Central Texas gardens and landscapes can be enhanced through its use. It is an organic material readily available locally, and Perfect Lawns and LandWorks of Austin has been encouraging its use for years.

Ironically, gravel is a hard material and yet has a softening  visual affect in landscape design. Gravel is available in different forms, aggregate size, color and texture. It can be used in a formal setting and can be used in an informal design, as well.  The use of gravel in the landscape of house styles including Tudor / English, Italian / Tuscan, Texas / Hill-country and Southwestern can be most appropriate and add interest and focal point.

Crushed gravels such as “Tejas Black” and Decomposed Granite Gravel are excellent for walking surfaces ,driveways and even patios. Various gravels , for example, pea gravel, river gravel and New Mexico River cobbles are great for texture in a landscape bed and can be used instead of mulch  (depending on the situation). Many plants are striking when juxtaposed against a bed or path of gravel. It is very attractive when wet. We even nestle it into the top surface of pots and around water features.

Gravel can be placed in beds and other areas where a typical mulched surface would be washed away during  large rain falls.  It is often recommended to use a filter fabric under gravel to prevent weed growth. Combined with flagstone in a path at a gate, for example, the contrasting materials add much interest and a natural ambiance.

The Cost of a Landscaping Commodity

Global resources of gravel and sand are staggering, so scarcity is not an issue. This said, clients ask all the time, "If gravel is so available, why is it so expensive?" Designing, recovering, distributing gravel can be costly depending on the source, location and actual substrate (kind of gravel) used in a design. Like anything, not all gravels are created equal. Further, gravel and sand are part of a regulated industry so invariably there are environmental laws about protecting or preserving the source location/area and regulations on where gravel and sand can be relocated and repurposed.

Residual Cost of Lawn Care and Lawn Maintenance during drought: Xeriscaping with Gravel and Sand as a Solution

The recent drought in Central Texas and the subsequent water use restrictions imposed by the City of Austin and surrounding municipalities raised a design challenge: Many people interested in re-designing their residential landscape rarely consider the residual costs and unintended consequences of their design. This is why it is a good idea to consult with a licensed and registered landscape architect that  has decades of experience designing and executing those designs in your immediate area--the earth and landscape of your lawn is a story of time and pressure; weather patterns are cyclical over years, not weeks or months. Respecting this process can literally save you and your family tens of thousands of dollars. So, while the upfront cost associated with implementing gravel and sand as a primary element of residential landscaping, generally, and xeriscaping, specifically seems too costly, it pays for itself over time when living in Central Texas (Section 8).  Gravel and sand do not require water and very little residual upkeep.

The Foundation of Your Home: Gravel and Perimeter Bordering as a Landscape Solution

Grasses, mulch beds and like vegetative, organic materials used in landscape design and architecture often decompose at a faster rate under extreme heat and drought conditions. This not only shortens the lifespan of plants and grasses, should your yard directly buttress up against the foundation of your home, the chemical effect of decomposition can directly compromise the foundation. A Gravel and Sand border around the perimeter of the foundation line can mitigate if not eliminate this problem-- a design solution that not only saves you money over time, but actually increases the value of your property should you resale your home.

Categorizing  Gravel and Sand Use in Landscape Design, Architecture and Construction

The application of gravel and sand as a resource commodity falls into two separate categories. In most cases and for our purposes as a residential landscaping company in Austin, Texas, gravel is used in construction where it may be mixed with other materials or used as is. The second use is industrial where the sand and gravel are used in the production of other materials. Because so much sand and gravel is consumed in each category, the United States Geological Survey tracks sand and gravel consumption in these two separate categories.

Made In America

Construction gravel, like we use in our designs, is extracted and available in all 50 states in the United States. The states producing the most gravel and sand are California, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Washington, and Utah. Collectively, they produce 52% of the total amount of construction gravel extracted and processed in the U.S. More than a billion tons are produced annually in the U.S. As with many commodities, gravel and sand is also imported. Because of the production and distribution costs, gravel and sand imports primarily come from Canada, but also from The Bahamas, Mexico, and assorted other nations. In other words, because these areas are in closer proximity to the U.S. it is more economically viable to source this commodity from these areas as opposed to more distant source locations.

In closing, landscape design and architecture is a diverse field and as a customer of Perfect Lawns and LandWorks of Austin, you have options that we think about and implement specific to your aesthetic preferences while educating and consulting on the practical implications. So the next time you think a post may be "dumber than a box of rocks," think again! Gravel is your friend and a fascinating study if you ask us!

More gravel please,

Tom

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Compost ("composting") is a fascinating science that is gaining attention. It is the oldest process for replenishing soils, once again growing in popularity as people return to farming the land – whether on a commercial scale or a small square foot garden plot in an urban backyard. Many people, though curious, are intimidated by the process. They have misconceptions about compost always being a steaming, smelling, unsightly pile of rotting manure. This can be true for certain kinds of composting but for the home garden there is a much more attractive way to create healthy organic material, which is essential to healthy soil structure.

Last March, a group of 20 people stood around a series of wood bins all lined up against a fence in north east Austin. Near the bins laid piles of dead leaves, boxes of kitchen scraps, and heaps of dead plant materials. Each bin represented a different phase of one of nature’s best practices – compost.

Composting is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of recycling and it is something that all of us can do in our own back garden. I was excited to learn more and gain perspective on new methods and new reasons not to "throw it away."

The first bin was full of “greens and browns” – shredded leaves and lettuce, celery stalks and wilted flowers. As we slowly walked down the line, peering eagerly into the wood bins we watched the breakdown of these items. Each bin produced a slightly more refined mound of material. The last bin showed off the rich, dark brown organic matter, waiting patiently to be worked into the garden soil.

Composting requires a few easily attained elements: air, water, and food. 

Food is what we call the “browns and greens”. Browns are items like dry, crunchy leaves. These add carbon to the mix. Greens are items like lettuce and grass clippings that will add nitrogen to the mix. These items get layered – think lasagna – in the bin. Add a few inches of brown, then green, then brown, then green…and so on. There are long lists of items that can be composted – veggies and fruits, plant material from the garden (no diseased plants, please!), newspaper (not the glossies) and paper towels, just to name a few. Do not put any fat, grease, meats, bones, or human/pet wastes into a compost pile. These don’t breakdown quickly, attract animals, and can potentially add harmful bacteria to the compost. A quick search on the internet will provide you will a list of items that are perfect to place in your bin and what you should avoid.

Air is crucial to keep the pile from producing that offensive smell. When the compost has air, aerobic microbes will do the job of breaking down the material. These “custodians” process the food effectively with out making a stench. If there is no air, anaerobic microbes will be the processors and they will produce a foul smell. In order to keep air in the pile, simply “turn and fluff” it every few days with a long handled garden fork.

Water is essential as well. As you layer the greens and browns make sure you soak the pile. This helps the microbes do their job and move easily through out the mix. If the materials are too dry the microbes will have a very difficult job and this will slow the process down. When you turn the pile check the moisture and add more water if needed.

Composting Bins for all budgets are easy to find. You can find beautiful wood bins (the perfect compliment to your perfect landscape architecture,) created with the utmost care and carpentry skill. Many garden stores carry plastic bins that you assemble quickly on site. Tumblers are also becoming popular because of their functionality– you can easily crank the bin every so often giving a burst of air without having to pull out the garden fork. If you're one a member of the DIY army (and who isn't, now-a-days?) our friends over at weekndr.com have put together a great how-to instructional on building a compost tumbler (seen here):                       

If your budget doesn’t allow for one of these commercially-made or more extravagant DIY jobs, you can easily create a bin using a few wooden wood pallets.

Simply find a couple pieces of cardboard, five shipping pallets and some string:

• Identify the dimensions to fit your need
• Set the cardboard on the ground where you wish to set up the bin and lay a pallet on the ground.
• Tie the other four pallets around the bottom pallet to create the “walls” of the bin.
• The pallets have wood slats so using these as the container will allow air to easily get in and out of the bin.

With this type of bin it is very important to keep any meats and fats out of the pile or you will attract animals. Before starting your composting adventures I would suggest checking out a few working systems. On that chilly March day last spring, I witnessed composting at its best. Each stage of the cycle was broken down and displayed in an easy manner. The system was efficient and provided rich compost for the vegetable garden of a local restaurant – East Side Café. I would highly recommend making a reservation and heading their way to get some inspiration, and not just for the composting, but also for the vegetable garden as well as the amazing food!

Bon composting,
Kate Higdon

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In concert with the Homebuilders Association of Greater Austin and Cool River Custom Homes, we are very pleased to present our residential green and sustainable landscape design and architecture contribution to Mueller Austin . #WhyAustin ? In spite of Parade of Homes cancellations across the country,     local homebuilders' and real estate professionals' "never say die" attitude made the 2009 Austin Parade of Homes one of the best in recent memory. The same attitude continues to fuel the engine that drives Austin and make it the best community to live, work, and play.

For more information on Mueller Austin, generally, and the neighborhood's over 140 acres of environmentally conscious green space, visit the development's extensive site, or point your browser to Keller Williams' Garreth Willcock's excellent blog that covers Mueller Austin, Central and East Austin development and redevelopment.

Before launching into the video, we wanted to take the opportunity to communicate our sincere commitment to all things green and sustainability, moving forward. Twenty-three years ago, the environmental awareness "landscape" was quite different; at the time, most of the language was not held in common and certainly not a household name. As we continue to perfect and streamline lawn care, lawn maintenance, landscape design and landscape architecture processes while phasing in new equipment and inventory, we will keep you informed on the latest industry innovations to ensure that we all have the opportunity to do our part to keep Austin on the bleeding edge of sustainable residential lawn care, lawn maintenance, landscape design and landscape architecture.

Without further ado... our humble 5-star green masterpiece in the heart of Austin, starring our very own Kate Higdon and her most excellent water feature design:

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