Weeds are a problem that plague every garden, and while weed killer will help once the weeds are above the surface we wanted to find a product that can help control and prevent. We came across a product that is created by DuPont called the General Purpose Landscape Fabric and quickly fell in love with it.
The easy to install fabric is a great way to block weeds from growing, but still allows for moisture and nutrients to get to your plants unlike plastic sheeting. Also the General Purpose Landscape Fabric comes backed up by a 5 year warranty, which is great news to hear for any product.
Installation is very easy and can be done in a matter of minutes. Roll out the fabric across your garden, and cut to fit your space. Use landscape anchor pins every 3-5 feet to fasten down the edges of the fabric, and then cut X's where you plan on putting you plants. Cover the fabric with 2-3 inches of mulch and you're done!
Walls, planters, and steps are common projects that are a good idea to update when transforming your outdoor living space, but usually the choice of cinder block and brick are the most commonly used materials. We suggest that you take a look at the products that Belgard has available before you make a final decision on your next project.
Belair Wall is one of the two wall systems that Belgard offers from it's collection. It is a great retaining and freestanding product that uses its beautiful aesthetic look as its main attraction. The multi-piece design and mixture of colors makes it the perfect choice when looking for a cinder block alternative.
Celtik Wall uses a more natural look by giving the edges a rough texture and using natural hues. If you are going for more of an old world European look in your backyard, then this is the perfect stone to you to build your walls and steps. Both wall systems are also great at complimenting any paving stones that you may have installed or considering to add on.
Here is another video that shows you the steps to take when changing an outdoor light fixture. While this may see to be a difficult task, it can be a quick job if done correctly. Of course like any other project, if this seems too overwhelming or maybe you have a more complicated project, then we do suggest that you contact a professional to handle the job.
Contact Service Magic if you have any further needs to find a qualified contractor to handle this job for you or any job that requires a trained professional.
In some regions, a big problem that tends to arise is having local deer wander into your garden of a meal and wiping out an entire garden. We are going to go over some plants that are not only drought-resistant but also deer-resistant that will be able to help out with this type of situation.
The first one we will mention are known as Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum Tectorum) which is a succulent plant that can grow in dry soil. This plant is mainly grown for its foliage and used as ground cover, but will bloom a spikey flower.
Another plant that will not attract deer is known as Stonecrop Plants (Sedum) like the one pictured here. Stonecrop's also consist of succulent leaves, but unlike the Hens and Chicks the Stonecrop plants produce a flower that come in different colors and worth growing in its own right.
Lambs Ear (Stachys Byzantina) is a good plant to consider if you are looking to grow plants that will turn deer away. Lambs Ear will add a certain amount of softness to the landscape and will produce a light purple flower on tall spikes.
Check out your local nursery for availability of these plants and get some other suggestions on what else can be planted to handle the wildlife issue. Armstrong Garden Center's are a good source for information if your in the Los Angeles or Southern California area, and if you need a landscape designer to include these types of plants in your design consider calling Pacific Outdoor Living to get a design done.
There are a lot of do-it-yourself readers out there, and if you have an upcoming project that requires you to measure your yard to figure out how many square feet of a material you might need like paving stones or flagstone, then you really need to watch the following video.
Take note of all the tips you just saw before starting any type of hardscape project. Like the video mentioned, falling short of material can put the entire project at a full stop, and will take especially long if you are using a custom color or stone. If the job seems like it might be a little too overwhelming, don't forget that you can still call the paving stone professionals at Pacific Pavingstone to help with the installation and get it done.
I spent a beautiful sunny California Saturday afternoon at the L.A. Garden Show at The Arboretum in Arcadia this past weekend, and enjoyed every minute of it. The show had tons of designers displaying their work and vendors showing some of the latest updates in gardening and outdoor living. If you haven't had a chance to visit the grounds of The Arboretum themselves, it's one of the most impressive gardens that I have ever seen. There are over 120 acres to explore and the botanical gardens are simply amazing to see, and even the wildlife that lives here can be seen roaming freely.
We spent some time talking to some familiar vendors that we met with out there including Pacific Outdoor Living and Phat Energy. The pond and fireplace display that Pacific Outdoor Living had available was great, and their outdoor furniture pieces were drawing in crowds like crazy. Phat Energy had their interesting "Phat Port" on display which
uses solar panels for shade on top of a pergola, and still uses that energy for everyday use. Plenty of nursery's were on hand and brought out some of their seasons finest plants and flower to sell. Whatever it was that your gardening heart desired, it was available at the L.A. Garden Show.
We have plenty of pictures of the entire show including some spaces that were re-designed and re-landscaped especially for the shows. To see the entire collection of pictures click the link below and enjoy.
Installation is very easy and can be done in a matter of minutes. Roll out the fabric across your garden, and cut to fit your space. Use landscape anchor pins every 3-5 feet to fasten down the edges of the fabric, and then cut X's where you plan on putting you plants. Cover the fabric with 2-3 inches of mulch and you're done! 
The first one we will mention are known as Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum Tectorum) which is a succulent plant that can grow in dry soil. This plant is mainly grown for its foliage and used as ground cover, but will bloom a spikey flower. 
