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Do NO Maintenance Landscapes Exist?

Garden Center, Landscape Design 1 Response »

Apr 022012

By Sarah Lloyd, Landscape Designer

Unfortunately there are no such things as a no maintenance landscapes. Bummer! The best we can do is LOW maintenance. This is accomplished by good design, plant selection, and correct installation.

The best landscapes use a variety of materials, both plant and hardscape. It is best to have a mixture of trees, deciduous shrubs, perennials, and of course, evergreens. This mixture will give you year round interest with a wide array of heights, colors, and textures. The question is how to create this so that it is low maintenance.

We must first narrow down the tens of thousands of plants out there. Trees and shrubs need to be carefully selected so that they will fit into the space and design once they reach mature size. This can require a little patience because the plants can take a few years to reach their mature size, and until then, your landscape might feel a little empty or spaced out.

Next, evergreens are an important aspect in the Minnesota landscape because winter brown can last from October thru April, or longer. Luckily there are many dwarf evergreens on today’s market. Many of these dwarf evergreens grow very slowly in Minnesota and thus can fit into residential landscapes very well. They offer great color, texture, and structure to the landscape all year round.

Finally, perennials complete the plant palate by supplying blocks of changing colors. Perennial selection can be most crucial to the amount of maintenance a planting requires. Some perennials, though beautiful, should not be planted unless they are going to be given a lot of attention. For a low maintenance plant list we must eliminate the plants that spread and leap to places you didn’t plant them, which is one definition of a weed. Next, don’t use perennials that get too tall and flop over without support. Finally, limit the number of perennials to 5 or 6 varieties and repeat them in drifts throughout your yard. This will make it easier to identify and maintain the plantings. It will also tie your landscape together and make it more visually appealing.

It is also important to install plants correctly. Plants installed in a location best suited to their individual needs can be fairly self-sufficient once they are established. A poorly located or planted plant will be less healthy and ultimately require more TLC.

Why Hire a Landscape Designer?

Landscape Design No Responses »

Mar 222012

By Gill Landis, Sales and Marketing Manager Dundee Nursery and Landscaping

Hiring a landscape design professional allows you the opportunity to work with someone who has vast knowledge of plants and their needs, understands the construction of hardscape features, listens to your ideas, and has the creativity to pull it all together to craft your ideal exterior space. The designer should be knowledgeable about a broad range of plants and hard materials that are attractive and durable for our climate.

Planning is a crucial step in the landscape design process. A professional landscape designer will listen to you and examine your site for challenges in sun, shade, water, drainage, and space. The designer will take careful measurements and produce a design plan that creates an outdoor space that responds to your site conditions and needs. Your designer will suggest wonderful plants and structures that will perform in your yard for many years to come based on his or her knowledge of a wide range of hardy plants and construction materials appropriate for our climate. Structure, color, and texture combine to create the aesthetics of the project.

Once you and your designer have made final decisions on materials and plants, quantities are calculated, plants and materials are ordered, and installation is scheduled. Many companies employ experienced installers who will execute the design plan in a reasonable amount of time using the proper tools and methods. With an experienced designer and crew you will experience less stress and have more time to enjoy your new living space.

Aftercare is an important consideration in keeping your investment looking good for years to come. Reputable companies have warranties in place and often have an arborist and horticulturalist on staff to serve you if any issue arises. Over time plants will mature, grow, and need maintenance. A good designer will allow for plant growth and will choose plants that require minimal maintenance.

When hiring a landscape designer choose one who is trained in horticulture and design, can show you samples of previous work, is willing to provide references, and works for a known and reputable company. There are many one truck companies driving through neighborhoods and knocking on doors asking for business. These people generally have not been trained in design and have limited plant knowledge. Hire a landscape designer, follow these steps, and you will be happy with the results for years to come.

Introduction to Dundee Landscape Design and Installation

Landscape Design 10 Responses »

Mar 082012

By Gill Landis, Sales and Marketing Manager Dundee Nursery and Landscaping

Many people are not aware that Dundee has a facility in Fletcher, Minnesota (near Rogers) where we have acres of greenhouses, trees and shrubs, plus materials and equipment for our landscape installers. Dundee has a team of 4 landscape installation supervisors who have a combined total of over 40 years working in the field for Dundee. In addition, our Installation Manager has worked for Dundee for 40 years. All that knowledge and expertise has been invaluable to me in learning about the many intricacies of residential landscape.

Dundee employs five landscape design specialists at our Plymouth location. Their primary function is to engage the customer about the specifics of the customer’s landscape needs and to design/draw a plan to meet those requirements. Much needs to be considered like location, soil, sun/shade, colors, and maintenance. I could go on all day about what the design team reflects on when putting a project together. Our landscape designers draw from their individual education and expertise as well as that of the entire team when creating for challenging situations.

After the completion of the project, Dundee’s warranty and team expertise kicks in to ensure the plants and hardscapes will last for many years. This is one of the big advantages of having a management and field staff that has been trained in horticulture. That formal knowledge and their many years of experience building landscapes is a valuable asset when issues arise.

I joined Dundee in 2004 as a business manager for the retail division after 24 years working for the JCP Company. I had relatively little knowledge of Minnesota, let alone plants, in that first year after moving here from Pennsylvania. Since then I have taken on the role of sales manager for the landscape division and have learned a lot in the process, especially about plants, soils, temperature, water, fertilizers, and the finicky soil we have here in the west metro.

Dundee works with customers on many different levels. Whether the customer is a do-it-yourself type or needs the services of a full-scale design and installation team, we can help. Dundee has seen and done it all after 40 years of landscaping.

You can meet our Dundee landscape design team and find out more about the landscape division on our website. We also have a form for you to submit with your landscape inquiries. Click here to get started. You can also reach our landscape design office by calling us at 763-559-4004.

Happy Planting,

Gill