Services Offered

You are welcome to meet Laramee at his office /garden before committing to a consultation. He has a large display garden and private nursery. Please call for an appointment (626)441.3725. There is no charge for this meeting.

Consultation Services
Laramee is available to comment on house remodeling and garden design plans. He can also help guide the details of other construction work taking place in the garden. He has also performed garden inspections prior to home purchase for dedicated gardeners. He is also available to analyze special problems in the garden such as Oak root fungus, drainage and other issues. An hourly consultation rate is charged for these services. Laramee also enjoys public speaking and frequently teaches gardening classes.

Estimate
To prepare an estimate, an accurate scale drawing of your property is needed. If you do not have a drawing I can recommend a measurement company to make one. Using the scale drawing, a layout design for your garden is made and an estimate to do the work is prepared. If the estimate is acceptable, we can meet to discuss the drawing and any questions you may have. Typically I do not charge a fee for preparing an estimate. If I am designing or guiding work done by other contractors I charge an hourly fee.

Layout Review
So you can see the overall garden design, I will outline paving, lawn and planting areas with white plastic pipe. This gives you a chance to see the overall shape and walk the design. This work happens after unwanted plants have been removed and the soil has been graded. Changes are welcome and expected. If the price needs to change I discuss it with you before doing the work.

Masonry
Patios, pathways, landings and other flat masonry projects are built typically using traditional brick, broken concrete or stone materials.

Our brick work includes traditional patterns and designs with used brick for a true old garden look.

Broken concrete paving is made by mixing pieces of recycled concrete from various sources. Each piece has slight variations in finish and color to give a stone like look. Each piece is broken to fit and set in a minimum of three inches of wet concrete and tapped level. A sand and cement mixture is used to grout the pieces. The result is a firm, durable surface with the flatness of brick and natural look of stone.

 

Garden walls are made using broken concrete. For walls the pieces are broken to fit set in a level course. Each course or row is stepped back slightly and packed with soil to form a durable, rustic garden wall.

Boulder Walls
We build traditional craftsman boulder walls and columns. A mix of local arroyo stones set in cement are used for this work.

For Masonry project such as pools, garden fireplaces, driveways and retaining walls the work is done by an excellent local masonry company.

Water features
Water in the garden adds interest and invites visitors to stroll out and experience the garden. Water falling adds sound to the garden. A water feature need not be complicated. A simple ready made fountain is often sufficient. Weeping rocks or large pots are great for children as there is no standing water. Ponds with fish are fascinating to watch.

Sprinklers
Knowledge of plants and their watering needs is the basis for an irrigation system design. The installation is done with the best quality components and current design methods. An irrigation control clock that automatically adjusts itself for the different seasons of the year is a standard feature. This clock can significantly reduce water use in the garden and improve plant health. A rain sensor is also typically used to help save water. The goal is an efficient, long lasting and low maintenance irrigation system.

Soil Preparation
This is an important part of building a garden. A good job grading and amending the soil helps promote plant vigor and long life. We hand dig to loosen the soil to a depth of six inches. Remove rocks, roots and debris. Add planting mix and organic fertilizer. We then hand dig a second time and rototill to mix and rake to finished grade. For lawn areas we rake and roll multiple times to assure a level firm surface for sod placement.

Plant Selection and Installation
We will fill your garden with plants following good artistic practices while maximizing plant health and accommodating future growth. The plant selection process includes a meeting to look at plants and develop a plant list. Plants are then set in your garden for you to review prior to planting. This process gives you two chances to see the plants going into your garden. A book of photos and text describing each plant used in your garden is included.

 

Lawns
Where possible we suggest reducing lawn areas to minimize watering and maintenance. The shape of the lawn is a powerful piece of art in the garden. Pond and river shapes are beautiful in less formal gardens. Squares and geometric shapes look great in contemporary or formal gardens. Lawns can also be eliminated. Many excellent ground covers are available as lawn substitutes. Adding pathways helps keep an all plants garden accessible and open.

St. Augustine grass sod is an excellent choice for lawns. It is relatively trouble free and tolerant of children's play, dogs and shade. It does need occasional spraying for chinch bug if bare patches appear. It also goes dormant or a dull green in winter. If a Marathon or Fescue type lawn is preferred, we suggest purchasing your own lawn mower to avoid weed spread and using a quarterly service for feeding and weed control.

Garden Lighting
There are several reasons for using lighting in your garden. Lighting steps and pathways guides visitors and helps avoid tripping. Lighting a front path says welcome to a guest. Our wonderful climate and busy schedules make a lighted garden a good place to relax in the evening. A glowing light in a flower bed can cheer up your view out the windows especially in winter. A good design strategy is to use fewer lights of better quality. Where possible, light fixtures with hidden bulbs are best. This reduces glare or a car head light effect. The most pleasing light is usually reflected light. For example, a path light first hits the ground and you see the lighted ground, not the bulb in the fixture. Simpler light fixture designs tend to disappear in the garden during the day. Natural copper finishes are durable and blend well with plants.

Specialty Gardens
Gardens for children are a frequent request. Special features are added to the garden with careful thought regarding how children actually play. The goal is a garden that is a delight to children and beautiful to their parents.
A children's garden may include:

Lawns and open areas for running and sports.
Hidden pathways through the planters in the garden.
A weeping rock fountain, stream or other safe water feature.
Large rocks and hills for climbing.
Raised beds for vegetable and flower gardening.
Planting with a variety of textures, colors and smells.

 

Art gardens are another frequent request. The goal is to build a garden as an artistic compliment to a statue or other special feature.
 

Formal gardens that use plants in geometric patterns are an old tradition. They are less popular today as we live in such a linear and ordered world. However, a formal garden can provide a beautiful, restful space especially when surrounded by wild shrubs and trees.
 

Twice per Year Maintenance Service
For gardens installed by Haynes Landscape Design, a twice per year maintenance service is available. This service was started to help fill the service gap between weekly gardeners and a landscape company. The service includes plant pruning and thinning, seasonal color planting, proper fertilizing, and sprinkler and lighting system repairs. This work is done on a time and materials basis. It can be a regular scheduled service in spring and fall or on call. This service, in partnership with the owner, and a reliable weekly service result in the best performing gardens.

Fine Tree Pruning
Tree pruning is often considered a maintenance task requiring only technical skill. However, as with Japanese bonsai, tree and shrub pruning can be viewed as an artistic skill. The results, especially over a number of years, can be dramatic. This is particularly true for trees and shrubs that loose their leaves in winter. Tree pruning work is done seasonally and billed on a time and materials basis.

Nursery
A small wholesale nursery is part of Haynes Landscape Design. It is open by appointment only. Several plants that are difficult to find in the wholesale market are grown at the nursery. We grow a unique Calliandra surinamen sis with pink flowers instead of the usual red color. Harpullia arborea is a medium size evergreen tree with lush foliage and orange seed pods.

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