Savannah Landscapes
Sunset Road V9V 1K4 Nanaimo, BC, Canada

A different kind of maintenance for a special garden. Instead of cutting and removing the grasses and perennial tops, I cut everything in several stages to make the debris small. I left the grass pieces on the ground where it can be used as nesting for bugs as well as birds, and can also become compost. We'll cover the area with fresh mulch this week to hold down the stalks in the winds. In the back I edged the lawn to balance the less structured planting with the smooth lines of the lawn.

Leylandii hedging is one of the best evergreen choices we have. These cedars are deer-resistant, grow fast, are readily available, and establish quickly. Once established, they can be sheared into a green wall. We planted these two hedges to block some unattractive views, and after planting I sheared the longer side branches to encourage the tops to grow. We bermed up the second hedge to add instant height. Thankfully we don't have to worry about watering this time of year

Yesterday's project: build a drain for the overflow of this pond in our Lovely Client's Lantzville garden. With all the heavy rains, the pond over-filled and the lawn became saturated. We dug a French drain 18" deep, lined it with perforated Big O pipe, filter cloth, 1.5" drain rock, and evacuated the water to a dry area of the garden. I uploaded two videos in the comments, and as you can see it's just a big, muddy playground atm, but this lawn will bounce back in no time.

Winter is the perfect time for pruning most trees, hedges, and shrubs. On deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines, shape can be highlighted because the internal structure is most visible. Fruit trees can be shaped and sprayed (on dry days) with dormant oil/lime sulphur. Hedges can be shaped or reduced/renovated. "When the Forsythia is in bloom, the Roses we prune", which is mid-February in these parts. Always use clean, sharp tools, and clean with 5% bleach to prevent sharing disease between plants.

Yes! I did cut that post off! And the fence is complete, with wooden fill-in pieces added to keep pets in, angled fence panels custom-constructed (by Maddison). A challenging site, steep sections, blackberry, etc.

^Gasp^. I was working at our Lovely Client's garden today, hedging, fussy-pruning, and clipping the arborvitae when the light shifted so subtlety, bathing me and Miss P in warm, sublime golden perfection. Ah.... fall. The lawn-free garden we installed last summer is *still* stunning, *still* flowering, still exuding colour and movement. The Acer/Maple japonicum and Bloodgood leaves are being left to melt into the soil, where today they look nearly as good on the ground as they do on the branches. "Leave the leaves" is great for ornamentals, not so much for fruit and veg gardens, where slugs and can lay wait to your winter crops.

After 2 days off we returned to work at this Lovely Client's garden to replace their 25+yo fence. Made good progress, we'll finish tomorrow with customizing the pre-made panels and assembling 2 from-scratch panels.

We spent most of this week working hard at this expansive Nanoose Bay property. Major pruning, weeding, and edging, with a side of renovation. The upper area had trees growing into the service wires and cables, so a careful hand with the pole chainsaw was needed. We weeded the old area that used to have a fir hedge, installed pro weed barrier and gravel for more parking. Old wood posts and wire fencing was removed in the middle section where an old rose and perennial garden (fussy and high maintenance) was changed to lawn. We cut down old stumps, dug out ivy, tons of plants, and it's ready for the fence extension. The lowest section was weeded and mowed to keep tidy.

I am often asked "do you take winters off?" With all the recent storms, it feels like it, but no, we work all winter. We do projects like patios and retaining walls, we prune fruit trees and "renovate" gardens by weeding, mulching, and hard pruning trees and shrubs, and we do garden design and install of hedging and new gardens. Oh, and I also take way too many pictures of my pets. Evidence in comments

Cleaning this driveway is a bit of a sisyphean task. We removed a trailer-load of branches, leaves, and fir cones, and the next storm is already in motion The second Departure Bay property had a Big Chop today, over 50 ornamental grasses turned into tidy mounds, weeds removed, and lots of raking. The evergreen grasses get a combing with the fan rakes to remove the dead bits.

A cool day, but perfect weather for fall cleanups. Thank you to our Lovely Clients who allow us to arrive unannounced

A day of clean-up for 2 amazing Nanaimo properties. The first is walk-on waterfront on Long Lake, with mature plantings of Oak, Aralia, Japanese Maples, Dogwood, and various native evergreen trees. We spent much of the day raking leaves and cleaning up finished perennials. The other property overlooks downtown _and_ Piper's Lagoon, and has a beautiful garden, sans lawn, full of cherry and pine trees, and lush perennials. It was a perfect Autumn day with glorious sunshine, and I am grateful!

What does a gardener/landscaper do on heavy rainy days? Well.... wash the work dog and.... http://www.fraserpacificequipment.com/home/model/holp510

The day in photos: Departure Bay waterfront, Miss P finds a spot, new kit for us! and lower Lantzville waterfront

I don't normally go to 5 properties in one day, but when I do, it's to tie up loose ends and sand pavers We started with a bit of pruning, then finished this new patio with polymeric sand. 3rd pic, we tidied this garden and drained the simple irrigation line we set up for summer watering. Pics 4,5&6, a new place we will be doing regular maintenance on. The 7th and 8th pics show how I scraped off some of the flaps of bark that can harbour pests on this apple tree. The last 2 pictures show the project from yesterday, freshly mulched and joints sanded with polymeric.

A new look for a new space. Natalie Luchtmeyer MA RCC, has a beautiful new counselling studio at her home at 17 Pine Street. The pathway and landing needed an update, along with widening and grading work, which was done with Abbotsford "Old Country" pavers. Privacy was added with a border of colourful conifers, grasses, and perennials chosen for height, slimness, and scent. The new entrance is welcoming and easy to navigate. Hoping tomorrow is dry so we can finish the polymeric sand and mulch.

This North Nanaimo garden is big, and varied, a little overgrown in some spots and new in others. We've been fitting in small jobs here, (moving trees, etc) and longer days like today. Owen spent the whole day lifting and stacking brick from the site of the future studio and shed. I moved soil, gravel, and plants to make better flow, and enhance the privacy screening from the houses above.

For those of you waiting on us, either for a call back or a clean-up, my apologies for not getting back to you. Business has picked up and along with working all day, I'm trying to meet new clients, do paperwork, and have a life with my family. I do my best to keep up with the voicemails, emails, messages, texts, etc but I know some of you Lovely Clients are waiting. The best way to get in touch is by text (250) 758 6270, or email, [email protected] Thanks so much for your patience

A full day of maintenence: weeding, pruning, and cutting back. My thoughts around fall cleanups have evolved, rather than scouring your gardens, removing all leaf litter and thoroughly raking the bare areas, we let things be where possible and allow leaves and debris to settle around the base of trees and shrubs, and against fences. We do keep gravel areas as clean as possible to prevent weeds seeds from sprouting (same with expansion lines in driveways, but we can avoid "cleaning" the garden, we do, to encourage beneficial insects, feed for feathered friends, and mycelium for healthy soil. In my own garden I let the grasses and perennials self seed and feed birds, as well as provide shelter for our bug and worm buddies. More on this as the week progresses...

Today we expanded our Lovely Client's patio by 42sq ft so they can socialize a little easier in this cozy, under-the-deck space. With a new gas firepit and string lights, the LC's can enjoy this dry space with Covid safety in mind. Take care and have a great weekend, all

A glorious, sunny, clean air (!!!) day in Lantzville yesterday. Fall flowers include 1) Hydrangea, 2) Cyclamen, 3) Sedum "Autumn Joy", 4) Hydrangea "Annabelle", 5) Hydrangea "Pee Gee", 6) Hydrangea macraphyllum 7) Rose, 8) Anemone japonicum

Before (first 2 photos) and After: our Lovely Client wanted more colour and a lighter feel to this border. Mature Rhodos were moved out, soil was brought in, a rose, perennials and woody sub-shrubs (Lavender and summer heather) were planted in tones of pinks and purples. Spring and summer bulbs will add to the seasonal show.

A (seemingly) simple patio project, taking this unused space crowded with blackberries and weeds, to a functional, warm spot away from cool ocean winds. Great days' work, i have the best crew!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Lovely Clients, supporters, and gardening friendsI am grateful every single day that I am passionate, excited, and challenged through this career in your gardens. I am looking forward to more interesting and artistic projects, as well as the lovely flow of garden maintenance. Thank you so much for helping me to create financial stability for myself and my family

The flowering shrubs and perennials of September: hardy Hibiscus, Passiflora/Passionflower, Echinacea/Coneflower, Roses, fall leaf color, a shot of the moody-smokey vista, Crocosmia, and potted annuals with Canna Lilies.

Long Lake (its out there) and a little "gardening". Removed this fir tree, which *would* have been lovely had the skirt not been lopped off and limbed up. Got this majestic Trachycarpus fortunei/Windmill Palm from Green Thumb and installed it in the center of the new plantings we put in a couple of months ago. Palm trees have concentrated, shallow root systems and can be "rescued", potted, and replanted.

Perfect fall day today, enjoying the fall colour, tidying up trees and shrubs, mulching, and dividing up perennials. Fall is the best time to cleave divisions off perennial plants and spread them around. Maybe you want to share with a neighbour? Be sure you aren't passing on weeds by combing through the roots and pulling out any hangers-on. And if you suspect horsetail is in your garden, do not share!

A little renovation begun today. My Lovely Client would like more seasonal interest in her back garden, and part of that includes moving some of the Rhodos. Rhododendrons are some of the easiest shrubs to move. They have shallow, fibrous roots and can be placed on a bed of fresh soil and mounded. Ive moved hundreds of Rhodos in my gardening career, and as long as they have a good quality soil, with lots of organic matter (rotted wood, compost, etc) that holds moisture but drains well, they can be replanted in all but the hottest months. After the borders are complete (I worked a short day today due to the smoke) everything will get a 2-3" layer of fresh, rotted dark bark mulch.

A hot day with spectacular Nanaimo and Salish Sea views. We love helping you to make your outdoor spaces their very best

Today's task was to renovate this front yard space with "good bones". The hardscaping was installed a few years ago by a master. Now the pathways can shine with this fresh herb garden, that holds a fig tree in its center, surrounded by a freshly seeded and newly graded lawn.

Today Im so thankful for Payton, who worked with us from April until last Thursday. Shes headed back for her last year of university in Sudbury, Ontario, at Laurentian U., and I will miss her terribly. She was a fast learner, a hard worker, diligent, cheerful and dependable. Ive had such terrific luck with the people Ive hired, and Payton was no exception. Good Luck to her and safe travels!

Beautiful morning in Departure Bay, doing a quick tidy of the beach landscapes and watching the fog roll in. A few hours later, in lower Lantzville, the fog retreated. Photos 7 and 8 were taken about 30 minutes apart! Iam endlessly grateful for these mild, sunny autumn days

Long Lake this morning, weeding, tidying, and espaliering (sp?) the apricot. One thing I forgot to mention about the gorgeous evergreen Magnolia grandiflora is that they constantly drop leaves. (3rd picture). Later in the day, a great coincidence: one Lovely Client asked me to remove a large Miscanthus zebrinus/clumping ornamental grass, and another LC needed it I planted it where we removed the dreaded ivy hedge. I was able to split it into 6 clumps, and also transplant Perovskia/Russian sage and Japanese Anemones into the same border. Sometimes it pays to have a landscaper who is also a maintenance gardener

Some Before and Afters of a project we're happy to complete today. The brief included making a garden full of scent and colour, (especially yellow) that would be a great backdrop for a vintage muscle car collection, and also withstand the paw traffic of two - four large dogs. We made multiple pathways to give the dogs and people easy pass-throughs, and filled the garden with scented shrubs: Lilac, Lavender, Rose, Choisya, Salvia. The yellow comes from Daisies, Roses, Potentilla, Carex grasses, Rudbeckia, and Euphorbia. Looking forward to the Arbour being finished by Cory from Greensted Construction, and to the plants filling in edited to add: normally we would keep the mulch light and fluffy, but this time it was pounded with the back of a rake to keep it off the dog's feet

We returned to our "giant ivy hedge" house to finish removing the last of the ivy and to fix up some areas with _more plants_! The beautiful stepping stones needed raising and resetting to be level, and lots of weeding freshened up the spaces well be renovating. The last photo is of the Magnolia grandiflora Edith Bogue that was planted last week. Evergreen Magnolias are a great choice for an area where privacy/shade is needed. They bloom 2x per year, have large, glossy leaves with a brown, velvety underside, that can be used in flower arrangements. "Edith Bogue" is the heartiest variety for our climate.

Hedge pruning this morning... My favourite deer-resistant hedging material is Leylandi cedar. This tree has a horizontal branching habit that knits together (fast!) to make a dense, tight hedge. It can be cut back fairly hard with consistent, frequent pruning (up to 3x/yr) to make a green wall. Our Lovely Clients were thrilled to have a safer and wider exit from their driveway

Planting during the summer (and until it cools off). July, August and early September are not my favourite months to install new plantings, but sometimes it must be done Today we added Lavender Hidcote, Erica/Heather Kramers Red and Callunas/Summer heather. (The large raised bed will get garlic when it is available) How to plant during hot months: 1) dig a hole 2x wider than needed. 2) soak plants in their pots in a wheelbarrow or bucket while digging. 3)add bonemeal to the hole 4) fill holes with water 5) plant, pressing soil firmly around roots. 6) water deeply 2x/week until fall rains come

Maintenance Monday: the first photo is of the garden we started reno-ing, the second and third show the progress so far. The deer havent touched any of the new plantings but did trip over the water system so there was a little fix to be done and we buried the tubing. Photos 4,5,6 are of another lovely garden we care for. The ivy hedge, (Headers helix Jubilee) Rhodos, and roses got a light trim, gravel and mulch were weeded and it all looks good. Our large Departure Bay property got a light weed, prune and some raking and fluffing, along with blowing out the huge driveway. Thanks as always to our Lovely regular Clients who trust us to care for their beautiful gardens through the year!

Ive been forgetting to take photos all week (!), but -here- are a few before and afters of work we did today, transforming this segmented garden into a space with less barriers and more flow. The garden had a 7ft high x 30ft long hedge of trellised ivy to provide privacy on the patio. A Magnolia grandiflora Edith Bogue was planted along the fence line to increase privacy, and the hedge was removed (except for two root sections that well get to another day). The side yard needed a better planting scheme, so variegated Carex and Hemerocallis/Daylilies were added to echo the existing Hakonechloa grass. More to come...

Rainy day off, much needed for our dry forests and gardens Miss P is being a good sport with our Oddley.

A few photos from yesterday. The heat is doing the veggie and fruit gardens a lot of good! Hope everyone is enjoying this latest (last?) blast of summer

Good grief thats a hot day! We spent the day weeding, pruning, hedging, and taking debris to Milners yard waste depot. *Phew*!

There are deer, and THEN, there are deer Ive been keeping up on our project from last year, where we removed the front lawn and replaced it with herbaceous material: grasses, perennials and evergreen shrubs. This property is on a deer corridor, which means one can expect deer at all hours, "trying out" every plant and decimating even the tried-and-true deer resistant plants. Unfortunately, the large drifts of yellow Coreopsis/Tickseed, Echinacea/Coneflowers, Alliums/ornamental onions and other plants needed to be relocated to the back garden. Nowadays we are trying "singles" of plants to check if the deer ravage them or leave them (we only have to wait 20 mins to find out!). Although there have been frustrations, the plants are filling in nicely, bringing in birds, bees, and lots of neighbourhood attention

Lavender replacement day! The 5year-old plants were dug up, removed, the scent wafted all the way from Oakridge Dr to Milners yard waste dump. New little baby 4" Lavender Hidcote were planted.

"We trust your judgement", four words that mean the world to me. Ive been gardening professionally for ten years, a Certified Horticulturalist for twenty, and I use my knowledge, experience, and gut to guide me everyday to make decisions that I feel are the best choices for my Lovely Clients and their gardens. I was asked to prune this stately Picea/fir tree yesterday, and "shorten it" if need be. If I had cut the top off I would have 1) encouraged the sides to bush out 2) forced the tree to make multiple, weak lead branches 3) and disturbed the natural, graceful habit. I thinned out side branches and left the top to grow. Thank you to all my LCs for trusting me and allowing me to explain my methods *Video of water feature is in the comments.

This afternoon we returned to our Lovely Clients garden to do the usual maintenance and (!) replace a rotted fence post. This fence was built to last, and its the first post to rot in 25 years . The Alcea/hollyhocks and roses are stunning (just ignore that hollyhock rust!) and add a punch if colour to the August garden.

We had an excellent morning in our Lovely Clients lush garden, pruning, weeding and strengthening a gate post. *Note the "fussy pruning" of the front gardens maple and pine in the last photos. We scabbed a smaller treated 4x4 onto the original, then braced it from the front and moved the latch. All secure and strong again.

Some before and Afters of our day (including pond cleanup!) in this stunning woodland setting.

Up way above Pipers Lagoon there is a neighbourhood that has views for kms. A few years ago when I first started working here I would get disoriented from being able to see downtown Nanaimo one way and Neck Point the other We take care of a a handful of beautiful properties here, full of tough planted like ornamental grasses, Phormium/New Zealand Flax, Iris, Lavender, Euphorbia, and interesting conifers.

A beautiful Departure Bay Day

Love this! We all need less lawn, more flowers

Continuing on with our deep weed and renovation of this space, yesterday we removed dead trees, dozens of self-seeded fir trees, and built up the new garden with 5 yards of premium soil. Rock walls were constructed with the existing fractured rock, and new deer-resistant plantings: Rhodos, lavender, daisies, summer heather, and thyme were planted. A simple watering system was built because the key to the survival of this garden is going to be the water. Today we mulched, weeded some more, and did our clean-up. Stage I complete, and our lovely client is thrilled and thats the best prize!

A rough, overgrown, weedy, rocky, stump-filled area. What a difference a day makes More to come

Good Morning! Heres a few pics of a garden we designed and installed 2.5 years ago. The gorgeous yellow and orange flowers are Kniphofia, or "Red Hot Pokers", but tidier, shorter longer-flowering cultivars that are deer-resistant and bloom all summer and into the fall. Also: Rudbeckia/Black-Eyed Susans. Happy Wednesday!

Some pics from our morning on Long Lake. This propertys gardens are full of beautiful trees, shrubs, perennials, and... Horsetail. This is one of the most difficult "weeds" to manage. The roots are many meters long, it does not photosynthesize like regular plants, so most chemical weed killers do not fully work on it, and the more one pulls at it, the thicker it gets. Another fun fact is that each horsetail plant produces thousands of spores which spread in the spring . In these borders, Ive suggested that we "camouflage" the horsetail by planting lots of large evergreen perennial plants so we dont see the horsetail. As the season progresses, more en masse plantings will be installed, and the horsetail will be less evident.

New born puppies!!! Actually, I want to talk about *gravel* but that seems pretty boring. How to choose gravel, and the different properties of gravel. We re-gravelled these two areas last week, one in 3/4" clear fracture, and the other in 1.5" drain rock. The fracture is a rock that "knits" together. Other examples are cart path chip, driveway chip, and other sizes of fracture. This rock compacts and fits together, making it the choice for paths, and driveways. We used 3/...4 here along the driveway side where our Lovely Client parks their boat. The city raised up the water main service and we put an extension on the irrigation box. Along the side path, we used 1.5" drain rock. Round rock is used for drainage and esthetics, and is not stable or comfortable to walk on. It doesnt compact, and over weed barrier it is a great choice for a low-maintenance area because of the lack of "fines" (gravel dust or chips). Fines in gravel become a seed bed for weeds and grass, which is why gravelled areas can become so weedy after 10 or so years. We laid pro-weed barrier under this gravel, and screwed it to the fence/landscape ties for extra weed protection. See more

Beautiful sun swept ocean-front Nanoose Bay. Did you know that plants can get sunburns? Trimming shrubs hard during the summer months can cause the inner leaves, which get a sudden sun exposure, to turn yellow and "burn". Heavy prunings are best left to the cool days of fall and spring. Other shade-loving plants like Acuba, Hostas and the yellow Choisya can get dark brown sun damage on their leaves. Right plants, right place, is the best solution everytime.

Visited this garden for regular maintenance today. Everything is so lush and beautiful - and yay the lawn seed took! Barely a difference between the old and fresh lawn.

The new wildflower verges around the apartments north of Woodgrove have me wondering, "Why all the grass, Nanaimo?" What if we stopped planting grass and instead seeded wildflowers?

Katherine Crouch is an award-winning garden designer, plantswoman extraordinaire, and all around fabulously talented gardener in the UK. This recent post *must* be shared

Beautiful day in the neighbourhood. Because of the heat we finished at 2:00, and tidied 2 gardens.

A pragmatic approach to an old, seldom-used concrete staircase. Very happy with how this turned out. Three to four fasteners were used to attach each treated 2x12" tread 1)concrete screws 2)steel L brackets 3)construction adhesive 4)wood posts. Solid, and good for 8-10 years.

Gravel. Sigh. Were finding that more and more gravelled areas, as they age to about 10 years, become very weedy. Atmospheric dirt, composting leaves and debris cause the gravel to become a seed bed, and it can be difficult and boring (!) to maintain. We converted this gravelled area to mulch by re-lining the area with new pro-grade weed barrier with a healthy 12" overlap, and covering with fresh dark bark mulch. We left one small work area as gravel, and freshened it up with new 3/4 inch.

Some photos from the day: these beautiful, bee-filled lavender shrubs are replaced every 4-5 years before they split and break. Many of the woody sub-shrubs have a short lifespan of 10 or less years, like Erica-Calluna/Heather, Salvia/Sage, and Rosemary. Removing them and starting fresh is recommended when they are dying off or breaking off in winter.