Planting

Amazing Benefits of Mulching Flower Beds

By Julian / February 9, 2017

You’re not just mulching a flower bed for aesthetics. It may make the flower beds look pretty, but mulching has great benefits! Stop pulling weeds Ever wonder why a bare patch of soil loves to grow weeds? That’s just mother nature protecting her soil from blowing or washing away. Mulching is a chore that will…

Read More

How To Organically Control Snails and Slugs in the Garden

By Julian / December 27, 2016

A typical San Jose January brings cool, wet weather which provides perfect conditions for slugs and snails to attack your gardens – and they are especially damaging in shady gardens. The severity of the damage from snails and slugs could really depend on the type of slug or snail that you are dealing with. Be…

Read More

There’s A Big Pay-off to Planting Summer Bulbs Now

By Julian / November 30, 2016

It’s the most wonderful time, of the year! As we hang mistletoe, place our perfectly bright red poinsettias around the hearth, and fill the home with the sweet aroma of holiday dishes, we are also thinking of another important holiday tradition  – planting summer bulbs! Wait? What? Planting summer bulbs?! Gardeners across the US baffle…

Read More

The 411 on Green Roofs for Your Home

By Julian / September 12, 2016

It’s not always possible for people to take extended breaks from modern life, but more and more people are looking for ways to bring elements of nature closer to home. One of the ways homeowners are looking to create financially and environmentally viable living spaces is through the installation of “green” roofs. So, what is…

Read More

Green Roofs for Commercial Properties

By Julian / August 30, 2016

You’ve undoubtedly heard the buzz about green roofs on commercial properties, and perhaps seen the impressive photos of green-roofed buildings from Chicago’s City Hall to the United States Department of Transportation Headquarters. The idea is gaining attention, but it’s not exactly brand-new – there are green roofs on U.S. government buildings in Washington, D.C. that…

Read More

To Plant or Purchase? When is a Planting Contract Beneficial?

By Julian / July 22, 2016

There’s an undeniable trend of “doing it yourself” sweeping the country these days – from YouTube tutorials to Pinterest boards to home-renovation shows, there’s a guide available for almost anything you want to do yourself. There’s even a DIY television network! This surge is a great thing, allowing DIYers to save money and flex their…

Read More

Best of Bayscape: 5 Blogs to Prepare Your Landscape for 2016

By Julian / December 17, 2015

In the midst of the holiday hustle, it can be easy to forget that landscaping needs and projects will be on you before you know it! Wise homeowners know that setting aside just a little bit of time to map out the year ahead can help them plan (and budget) accordingly. Check out this brief…

Read More

Why Gutters Could Be the Demise of Your Winter

By Julian / October 26, 2015

California isn’t exactly known for blankets of snowfall in the winter, save for some mountain towns. Even so, residents of the sunshine state often cherish winter’s milder temperatures and the opportunity to indulge in “sweater weather.” Unfortunately, the season can also be rough on homes if residents don’t take the appropriate precautions before temperatures drop…

Read More

Annual, Perennial, Biennial: Do I Even Care?

By Julian / May 8, 2015

If you can’t keep your Symplocarpus foetidus straight from your sphagnum, you’re in good company. The gardening lexicon ranges from obscure Latin names to the I-should-probably-know-that-but-I-don’t, and whether you’re looking to start a backyard veggie garden or convert a green lawn to a drought-tolerant landscape, you’re likely to come across some vocabulary that needs defining.…

Read More

5 Steps to #Save20Gallons and Even More Money

By Julian / March 16, 2015

Everybody understands that California’s water shortage is a serious issue facing the state, but Santa Clara Valley residents may not all realize that our water district has undertaken a great public program to reduce water usage in the county – Save20gallons.org.   Not only is this good news for the environment – it’s great news…

Read More