Say goodbye to the rainy days and to the cold winter nights. Hello spring, how we’ve missed you! If you’re like most people, your home and garden are looking pretty dull right now.
Now is the perfect time to put the color back in your garden and do the pruning and fertilizing that your yard needs at this crucial time of year. Performing this maintenance now will insure a beautiful garden in the summer.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
The principal designer of Solena Landscape, Mitch Kalamian, is not only a talented designer of outdoor spaces; he is also an author having penned a guide to smooth the progress of creating the ultimate outdoor paradise.
The guide, entitled “How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Paradise: 8 Insider Secrets Every Homeowner Considering Investing in a Major Landscape Project Must Know!”, walks consumers step-by-step through the sometimes-intimidating process of planning a landscaping project. This is a “must-read” for homeowners BEFORE they start the process.
Some of the topics addressed in the guide include:
Budget: what should it be and what affects it?
How to get a top designer to design your project for “free”.
Contracts: what makes a “win-win” contract? 6 important tips you need to know.
The one thing you never want to say to a landscape designer.
The 4 important steps to creating your outdoor paradise…what options you need to consider.
Landscape “architect” vs. “designer”…are design/build firms a better choice?
Choosing the right landscape designer/contractor…what do you need to consider? Does your contractor need to be licensed?
Homeowners are encouraged to complete a series of worksheets at the back of the guide that address: the planning process, budget, how to choose a new service provider and contracts. Completion of these worksheets will arm homeowners with the information they need to interview designers/contractors with confidence and make the right choices for their project.
The beginning of the year is a great time to start the design process of your landscape project for you to be able to enjoy it by summertime.
If interested in obtaining a copy, please fill out the form in the Bookstore section of our website or click here to go directly to the site. You may also contact us at 714.960.8955 to request a copy.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
With the rain season coming up, thought it prudent to take some time to inform you of the benefits of collecting rainwater for reuse.
While it is easy to turn on the faucet and have clean water to use, by collecting water from nature you will find that your water bill is lowered and your plants healthier. You can easily harvest rainwater by installing a rain chain, a rain barrel or cistern to collect the rainwater. Rain chains are attached to the down spout of the rain gutter and guide the water that gets collected in the rain gutter to a container that has the end of it placed in it. Rain barrels can be as utilitarian as a large garbage can placed in place to catch rain water or as decorative as a faux rock looking barrel. If using a large garbage can, you can attach some sort of spout to the bottom of it to access the water. Cisterns are the most complex of the bunch and may need a handyman/contractor to set one up.
Examples of rain chain, rain barrel and cistern
Harvesting rainwater allows you to not be dependent upon the water provided to you. Rainwater, when collected directly from the sky into a barrel, does not have added chemicals or pollutants, which plants and crops respond better to. Watering your indoor and outdoor plants with soft rainwater promotes growth and health. Also, soil erosion and flooding is reduced as the water is collected in barrels rather than dispersed into the ground that cannot handle the concentration of water.
All in all, this is a simply way to be green without having to expend much effort. If you are interested in having a rain collecting system installed or for more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Watch as Mitch explains what goes on during the exciting first day of construction at new project. With a space for a large dining set by a custom fountain, to an elevated living/lounge area with a custom fireplace overlooking the pool and spa.. The design is going to be a Mediterranean style entertainers delight! Currently at the tail end of demolition and in the process of measuring out the plan onsite, to verify best use of space. A lot of times what looks great on paper doesn’t necessarily pan out the same way in real life. Always important to plot out what has been designed in the field to make sure the design is maximizing the space available.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Browsing through the HGTV website I noticed that they have a Designer’s Portfolio section set up with some of our past projects and just wanted to share this info.
Industry magazine, Landscape Online, has published an article about one of our past award-winning projects. This particular project came to be when the homeowners became tired of intentionally avoiding their backyard, which had over time turned into a dirt dog run. The family wanting an area they could entertain and relax in contacted Solena Landscape Co. to carry out the construction of the project. What started out as a barren strip of dirt used only by the family’s dog became a quaint and cozy entertainer’s yard.
This project, located in Long Beach, was awarded “Outstanding Custom Waterfeature” by the California Landscape Contractors Association in 2010.
To read more about this projects amazing transformation go here .
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Summer is officially here and with it, the gorgeous weather Southern California is famous for. The longer days are warmer, brighter and we are spending more time outdoors. Whether that time is spent lazing around in the pool or lounging in your yard, wouldn’t you want the surrounding landscape to look amazing so you can sit back and enjoy?
Here are some tips to help you accomplish just that:
Plan your space.Make note of how you want your yard to look. Sketch your yard and/or list all the ideas you have. Differentiate between your wants and needs. Take some time to figure out what you will need and how much of it you will need. This will not only give you an idea of what you’re budget should be but also help you figure out whether you will be able to complete the project all at once or should complete it in phases.
Fertilize plants.To ensure that your lawn and plants grow to its full potential apply fertilizer regularly.
Clean up Flora.Prune trees and shrubs as necessary. Deadhead flowers. Apply post emergent weed control as needed to any everyday yard plants and lawn.
Healthy plants are happy plants. Choose plants that are native to the climate of Southern California. Inspect plants for abnormalities, diseases or insects and treat immediately. Consult with an expert as they can teach you how to take preventative measures. Make sure your plants are getting adequate water. Overwatering is just as bad as drought. When watering, make sure you water slow and deep as it promotes deeper root growth, and helps the overall health of your plants.
Adjust your Irrigation System.Make adjustments to watering times as necessary. Watering your lawn and plants before sunrise to lessen water lost to evaporation and daytime winds. Shaded or protected areas may need less water than other areas. Check your sprinkler system for broken or misaligned heads and drip emitters and fix or adjust as necessary.
Hardscape elements.Clean and treat hardscape as necessary. Best way to clean your patio for the summer season would be to power wash or acid wash the hardscape. Make sure you keep your water features, pools and spas included, clear of debris and maintain proper water and chemical levels.
A simple way to take care of it all is with our exclusive 5 point Perfect Garden Program. Carried out by our trained crews, the Perfect Garden Program is designed to keep your yard looking as beautiful and manicured as the day it was finished. We stay on top of its’ ever-changing needs and keep it in tip-top shape. Read more about it here.
Your yard—as with anything else—needs regular maintenance to prevent larger (and more expensive) problems down the road. And there is no charge for our 5-point inspection, so call today to schedule yours and have our crews at your house next week…714-960-8955. We’ll have your yard looking great in no time…and you’ll be the envy of the entire neighborhood this summer.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
We are very excited to announce the release of the 2nd edition of our coffee table book Distinctive Landscapes of Southern California, which features some of our award winning projects.
Click the image above to see the book in its entirety
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
The Truth About Shortcuts and Price Cuts in Landscape Projects.
You met with your landscape designer and went over your ‘wish list’, the theme of the landscape has been decided and the colors and materials of the project have been chosen. The designer comes up with a design that you love but upon reviewing the proposal you realize that the project is over the budget you had allotted…Where can you cut corners in your landscape project? Two places you definitely DO NOT want to cut corners is the quality of the materials and the quality of the workmanship.
While your choice of materials can affect your budget drastically, be sure that your contractor is purchasing the materials from reputable sources that carry only quality products. You can lower the overall cost of materials if needed with the help of a smart designer who can insure that you have all the elements you want while staying within your budget. While your budget is certainly a concern, you do not want to choose a landscape construction company that purchases its materials from big-box stores, but instead relies upon various supply houses, specializing in each product category, i.e., lighting, sprinklers, masonry, etc.
You can have a beautiful custom outdoor fireplace built and the material used to finish the fireplace will greatly affect the overall cost of that feature. For example, depending on what your budget is you can use either colored stucco or natural stone to finish the fireplace. That is what your designer should bring to the project – the knowledge and experience to recommend less expensive options on your choice of quality materials to make you happy yet remain within your budget and stay faithful to the theme and design of your landscape.
Another top priority is quality workmanship. Sure, you can go to your local big box store and find manual labor anxious to make a quick buck, but is that who you really want creating your backyard masterpiece? With nothing to measure it against, you as a homeowner wouldn’t know the difference between a skilled landscape craftsman and someone off the street corner who is there to simply earn a wage. If you want experienced, skilled labor…be ready to pay a premium…in the end you will be glad you did. This is one instance where you really do “get what you pay for”.
So how does a client tell apart a good or decent contractor from a bad one or an exceptional one? Keep in mind that quality of work and ethics is not always established by price nor is it determined by how they portray themselves. The best thing to do, as a client, is always complete your due diligence. Do your homework and see the projects, talk to clients and ask specific questions.
There are many places that a contractor can cut corners and a qualified and competent craftsman will be able to do this without sacrificing too much of the design. It could be in the type of stone that they used or any other materials used for the project. It could be in the size of the grout joints or having radius cuts. It could be in something that has a radius, it could be miter cuts in the corners. It could be in the plant material they used; the plant material could have terrible shape or not be up to size. All of these things, as minimal as they seem, can cause the garden to look second-rate and isn’t your goal to have a landscape that just shines??
While at times price will (and should) dictate your choices, you have to keep in mind what the long-term effects of your decisions are. There really are no “deals” when it comes to landscaping projects…as time goes on and your landscape ages, how will your choices hold up? With your sprinklers coming on each and every day, do you really want to go with a cheaper, inferior product, or one that will stand the test of time? Do you want to purchase inexpensive plants that will perish after a short period of time or hearty, healthy plants that will flourish year after year? You would want your grandchildren to be able to enjoy that tree you are planting right now, wouldn’t you?
Just try to remember that the end goal is to create a space that makes you happy and gives you years of enjoyment. Your landscape is an extension of your home. Invest in it wisely and you will enjoy the rewards while you live there and when it is time to sell.
Best Regards,
Distinctive Landscapes for the Finest Homes
438 Main Street, Suite #210 | Huntington Beach, CA 92648
