Like many Bay Area homeowners, you’ve probably taken measures to reduce your home’s water and energy usage, such as installing water-saving plumbing fixtures and switching to LED lighting. However, you may have overlooked another part of your property: your yard. From your garden to your pool, there are several areas where you can save water and energy by improving your exterior efficiency. Read more
Yard-Wise: 6 Ways to Improve Your Property’s Exterior Efficiency
Posted on August 18, 2022 by James Florence
Posted in: Energy Efficiency, Landscaping Tips
Tags: hardscaping, drought, landscape maintenance, home
Diamond Certified Experts: Tree Care Basics
Posted on March 16, 2021 by James Florence
Like all plants, trees have basic nutritional and maintenance needs that must be met in order for them to thrive. However, meeting these needs isn’t as simple as it often seems, which is why property owners need to follow proper protocol when caring for their trees. To learn about this in greater detail, we’re joined by seven Diamond Certified Expert Contributors in the tree service industry. Read more
Posted in: Diamond Certified Experts, Landscaping Tips
Tags: tree care, landscaping, landscape maintenance
Spring Garden Maintenance in 5 Steps
Posted on April 02, 2019 by James Florence
Everyone knows about spring cleaning, but some forget this annual ritual pertains to the yard as well as the home. After sitting dormant all winter, your lawn and plant beds need some freshening up to help them thrive throughout the spring and summer. Here are five maintenance steps to set your garden up for success: Read more
Posted in: Seasonal, Landscaping Tips
Tags: landscape maintenance, consumer tips, spring cleaning, home maintenance, landscaping, irrigation
Creating a Fire-Safe Defensible Space
Posted on September 08, 2017 by James Florence
One of the most critical aspects of fire safety is creating a “defensible space” around your home: a 100-foot radius of property that’s specifically maintained to minimize fire risks. However, defensible space is often misunderstood—a lot of people think it merely consists of clearcutting all trees, shrubs and bushes within 100 feet of their homes, but this oversimplifies the matter. In reality, creating a defensible space involves a specific strategy. Read more
Posted in: Fire Prevention, Home Tips, Landscaping Tips
Tags: fire prevention, landscape maintenance, home
Tip Sheet: Five Guidelines for Gardening
Posted on March 02, 2017 by James Florence
Following the heavy (and much needed) rainfall of the past winter, gardening enthusiasts in the Bay Area can look forward to a bounty of opportunities come spring. In addition to the finer points involved in planting flowers and crops, here are some basic guidelines to consider for optimizing your gardening experience.
Plan for all seasons. While many assume gardening is only for the spring and summer, if you plan correctly, you can keep yours looking beautiful through the fall and winter seasons as well.
Remember, plants grow. A common mistake gardeners make is installing plants that don’t fit within the schemes of their gardens. Don’t be a victim of “cute in a gallon can” syndrome—just because a particular plant looks good at the nursery, Read more
Posted in: Landscaping Tips
Tags: home, landscaping, gardening, summer-related, landscape maintenance
Diamond Certified Experts: Crucial Aspects of Landscape Maintenance
Posted on January 29, 2015 by James Florence
While it’s smart to be proactive about indoor home maintenance, keeping up with your exterior property is equally important. We asked four Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to weigh in on aspects of landscaping where maintenance matters most. Read more
Posted in: Diamond Certified Experts, Landscaping Tips
Tags: landscaping, irrigation, pest control, landscape maintenance, tree care, home maintenance
Turn, Turn, Turn: Commencing the Winter Wind-Down in Your Bay Area Garden
Posted on November 05, 2014 by James Florence
Most Bay Area residents enjoy the year-round temperate climate, but it’s gardening enthusiasts who reap some of the greatest benefits. In addition to having an exceptionally broad horticultural palette from which to draw, local gardeners have the advantage of an extended timeline in which to grow and harvest. Even when midwinter temperatures eventually put the freeze on the bulk of gardening activities, there are numerous ways for gardeners to stay productive. Here are some helpful tips for maintaining your garden during the winter season:
Keep harvesting winter-friendly crops. While most crops go into dormancy once the cold weather settles in, there are several that continue to produce. This includes root vegetables like carrots, Read more
Posted in: Landscaping Tips
Tags: consumer tips, home maintenance, landscaping, gardening, irrigation, winter-related, landscape maintenance