Landscape Ideas for Dallas: Fan Flower

I’m a  fan of the Fan Flower (Scaevola), it’s a great annuals for Dallas. This plant grows 6-12″ tall in part sun to part shade, blooming mid summer to early fall. It has rounded basil like leaves and can be propagate by taking soft wood cuttings in late spring plant. They should be planted 8″ apart, a little closer in shade as they will take longer to grow. The ’New Wonder’ cultivar can survive temperatures into the low 100s and down to freezing. It’s can be used as a tender perennial in these parts and is originally from eastern Australia.

Fan Flower is a heat and drought tolerant plant so it’s perfect for Texas. One look at it’s blooms and it isn’t hard to tell where it got it’s name from.The petals are arranged around a yellow center which is a nice contrast. The flowers are a pretty shade of blue but are also available in Pink. do look like a fan. ‘Blue Wonder’ is the cultivar most commonly found. Other varieties are ‘New Wonder’ and ‘Purple Fanfair’. These plants are easy to grow and require little care often not being to particularly bothered by pests. You can prune Fan Flowers by pinching them to keep them bushy.

This self cleaning, low maintenance plant is more expensive than your typical annuals but it’s worth every penny. It looks best when planted in masses. A good companion plant is Coleus, Persian shield and Ti/Thai plant.

Landscape Ideas for Dallas: Sun Patiens

When are impatiens not impatiens–when they are SunPatiens of course. In the northen United States impatiens are grown in the sun. Now we too can grow these beautiful bountiful plants. SunPatiens were bred in Japan by Sakata Seed. Sakata is well known for pansies and is the originator of the well known ‘Majestic Giant’ Pansy, which we are all grateful for.  Daylily and Lavender make great companion plants.

Click here for more info from SunPatiens

SunPatiens compact series

Sun Pateins spreading series

Sun Patiens Vigorous series

If you would like to have SunPatiens installed in your garden by a  Landscape Company in Dallas please contact us at sales@DallasCurbAppeal.Com or call us at 214-257-8155

Landscape Ideas for Dallas: Annuals-Pentas

By Dallas Landscape Contractor

Maria Bargellini

Pentas or Star Clusters are great annuals for Dallas. These African natives come in bold colors like red, hot pink and purple. part sun (the morning kind) to dappled shade in Dallas. This is not a drought tolerant plant. As with most annuals it will require regular watering. What does that mean you ask? Well here goes. It needs to maintain it’s moisture. Annuals are typically bought in 2-6″ containers. When the first 2 inches are dry it needs to watered. Place these great Dallas annuals close to your entry points so that they can be hand watered when necessary. Expect your blooms in late spring through to fall.

This is also  a great plant for butterfly gardening in Dallas. It mixes well with the usual annuals like Begonias and Dusty Miller. I like to plant them with Gregs Blue Mist Flower (Ageratum), which is also widely used as a butterfly garden must have. If you want to take great pictures of butterflies, especially Monarch’s go to the Texas Discovery Garden and hang out by the Mist Flower–you won’t be disappointed. Pentas are widely used in borders or bedding plants but they also do well when grown in containers.

Please consider becoming a member or volunteering at the Texas Discovery Garden. It’s a fantastic place to go to with your family or just yourself. There’s great people that work there. I have and will continue to volunteer there. I learn something new every time I go. The people that work there are not only great to talk to but extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the Texas Discovery gardens. They have educational program throughout the year and are definitely worth taking a look at.

Landscape Contractor in Dallas Maria Bargellini describes a retaining wall project in Frisco

Here’s the project before picture. This customer has 3 of the coolest little pugs ever and unfortunately because of all the shade and drainage issues he had 12 little paws making tracks in his house. In addition the railroad tie were bursting at the seams and needed to be replace.

Problems

Drainage issues

Railroad tie retaining wall that was falling apart

Area was too shady to grow ground cover

Solution

We built a retaining wall to match the existing stone–making it stronger and more attractive

Added a drain to carry water away from the space

Installed artificial turf to eliminate the mud issues

The retaining wall was in a sad state, primarily because it was improperly installed. Lack of drainage can wreak havoc on a retaining wall. Unfortunately these issues aren’t apparent at the time of installation but over time as the water forces itself out through what ever means it finds.  Before he had mud and decay and now he has great looking artificial turf, a fantastic new wall, and  3 happy little girls.

Landscape Designs-3D

This is a sample of a 3D design of landscaping 360 degrees around a house
Call Dallas Curb Appeal today at 214-257-8155 for more information.

What’s the difference between hot and cold compost piles

Landscape Ideas Dallas: Cold and Hot Compost by Dallas Curb Appeal Landscape Contractor Maria Bargellini

A hot compost pile is just that, a pile of compost that is made to create heat to more quickly activate the biology in your decomposing matter and produce compost faster than a cold compost pile. You need to contain your pile in a made structure or purchase a bin that will limit the amount of airflow in your pile.

Temperature in a hot compost pile can reach over 170 degrees. Care must be taken not to allow the pile to reach or stay at 170 degrees. 130-150 degrees is ideal to kill weed seeds and excite the worms and microorganisms.  To lower the heat you can turn your pile or simply add water to it. For faster results your hot compost pile should be a mix of brown carbon material such as fallen leaves, and green nitrogen filled material such as grass clippings.

A cold compost pile is one that does not depend on the use of a container but may be contained in one. It is started the same way as a hot pile but the layers are not added all at once but overtime as it is collected. This may take 1-2 years to yield compost. Shredding of material can speed up the process. Care must be taken to ensure that the pile does not dry out and that it is turned regularly to mix the contents and stimulate the micro and macro organisms.

How to make a Simple Compost bin Dallas

Landscape Ideas Dallas: How to start a compost pile by Dallas Landscape Contractor Maria Bargellini

Now-a-days compost bins are available in almost any box store but for those of us who want to do it the old fashion way- here are some ideas your can use.

Materials Needed

• Chicken wire or any type of wire lath (preferably metal)
• Post–Metal or wood (preferably with holes in it)
• Tie Wire
• Tarp or plastic sheathing
• Hammer
• Pliers

Directions

• Your container(s) should be made no smaller than 3cft. (3’ tall x 3’ wide x 3’ long) for effective composting.
• Pick a shady spot and layout and mark your 3’x 3’ section(s)
• Set your post on the 4 corners of your marks. If your compost pile begins to bulge in the middle you can add additional post later.
• Unravel the lath and stretch it out around the inside of the post.
• Use the tie wire to fasten the lath to the post to secure it in place

Landscape Ideas: What to put in your compost pile

Landscape Ideas Dallas: Cold and Hot Compost by Dallas Curb Appeal Landscape Contractor Maria Bargellini

What to put in you Compost

• Fruit pieces & cores
• Vegetable scraps
• Grass Clippings (Fresh/Old)
• Hedge Clippings (small preferably
• Coffee Grounds/ Tea Bags
• Cardboard & Paper (Shredded or Ripped glossy OK)

What NOT to put into your compost

• Meat and Fish
• Cheese or other dairy
• Left Over Food
• Metals, Glass or Plastic (recycle properly instead)
• Animal or Human Waste
• Fireplace, BBQ or Coal ashes

Put smelly food compost items inside your pile toward the center so that it can be broken down faster and reduce smells that entice animals to have a party in your pile.

Landscape Ideas: Tips on Buying Compost

Landscape Ideas Dallas: Tips on buying compost by Dallas Landscape Contractor Maria Bargellini

1- Pick a good supplier

In the world of google and web complaints there’s bound to be good or bad stuff on-line about your compost supplier. Do your research.

2-Know what’s in your compost

Ask your supplier where they get their materials for their compost and what the organic content is in their compost blends. The highest grade compost is called Class A or Class I.

3-Be careful with manures

Some compost is made with animal or human waste. There is no regulations for manure and there’s no way to be 100% sure what’s in it.

There are many factors in using manures in your compost.

4-Do not use compost for edibles

Unless you’re 100% sure of what’s in it, do not use compost in food producing gardens.

5-Ask a professional

Most landscapers professionals in Dallas will be happy to supply you with a resource for compost..

6-Ask your neighbor with the great yard

Everyone has that house in the neighborhood that’s lush and gorgeous. Ring the bell, compliment them on their garden and ask them what they are using. Gardeners love to share.

7- Consider making it

The best organic compost is the one you make yourself from materials in your own organic gardens.

Soil building systems

Living Earth Technologies

Compost Classes

Landscape Ideas Dallas: Compost Classes by Dallas Landscape Contractor Maria Bargellini

These are links to organizations, nurseries, and other resources to help you help you get the most out of your composting efforts.

If the links are not currently showing a listing for composting classes check back periodically as these websites offer a wide variety of classes throughout the year and update their list regularly. In addition you may request for classes to be created and held if you have enough interested members.

Worm Composting Classes Keller

City of Dallas- Green Calendar—There were composts classes recently held in Dallas and luckily for us Dallas County has been making great strides in offering classes to educating the community on composting and other organic practices.

Texas Discovery Gardens Classes—I have taken the master composter class at the Texas Discovery Gardens and it was a Great Class. I got more than my money’s worth and I am grateful to the Discovery Gardens for affording me the opportunity to learn from their tremendously knowledgeable and helpful panel.

Dallas County Master Gardeners—This is a great resource that is not used often enough. Great gardening advice is just a simple FREE phone call away.

North Haven Gardens—I just love this place, they have great classes and a fantastic staff.

to view and download for free, Joeseph C. Jenkins The Humanure Handbook A guide to composting human manure. click here

The City of Denton Compost click here.

Compost and temperature