I am not opposed at all to planting ornamental shrubs, trees and perennials here in the East Kootenays and Montana. I like them because of the color and variety they provided throughout the season. However, I do love my native plants and there are many areas of a site that I want to first protect, … Read more
Another technique that I have been successful with is actually stripping the native sod, not just the topsoil. Essentially you are saving the native plants to replant on the site at a later date. This is a big investment, as somebody needs to take care of your plants while your construction is being done. However, … Read more
Another key component of restoring native plants on a site, in addition to minimizing site disturbance, is retaining as much native top soil from the site as possible. When we bring in topsoil from off site we not only bring in the soil, but many of the weeds and other seeds from that site. The … Read more
Weeds are the bain of any native restoration. Disturbed areas, such as the post excavated site in this photo, are ripe for weeds to come in. One of the biggest difficulties of site work for new construction is minimizing the extent of disturbance. When contractors are on site, their goal is to get the work done … Read more
Over the coming months, we will be providing lots of tips, ideas and information about landscape architecture, garden design, and plant selection for cold climates. Have you ever wondered what exactly a landscape architect does? Are you curious about landscape design techniques for cold climates? Do you want to find out more about the benefits … Read more
I love the winter, the stark images, the squeaking snow under my skis, the smooth glide of my skates on ice, and watching my dogs frolic and slide on the slopes like fur-bound toboggans. Spring is like watching my world wake up from a slumber, gently stretching towards the sun, unfurling each leaf like frozen … Read more