4 Critical Problems and how to fix them El Niño is serving up moderate rainfall so far, but more is in store. At this point, the NOAA forecast predicts above-normal throughout this month. First, make sure your drainage can handle rain. It is one of the biggest problems we see this time of year. I […]
Fixing drainage problems in the San Francisco Bay Area — 4 Common Problems and how to fix them The San Francisco Bay Area is in shock. Many of us are racing against time to secure our properties temporarily before the next monster storm hits. Downed trees, flooding, building damage, and the loss of homes and […]
Prevention and Control of Top 7 Invasive Weeds The top 7 invasive weeds that we highlight this month are predators that will leach water and nutrients from your desired plants. Some of them are highly flammable. Our treatment recommendations for getting rid of the top 7 emphasize the least toxic practices. Getting rid of these […]
What’s Unique about Gardening for Pollinators in the Bay Area Most important is plant types. Because of the bay area microclimates, planting in the right environment is critical. Plant vigor will be impacted by sun exposure, fog, heat, soil type and wind. Learn about pollination in a stunning video (below) that catches them in the […]
Why your weeds keep coming back Have you noticed an abundant crop of weeds this spring? One reason – the heavy rains of last fall and winter may have awakened long-dormant seeds. Does it feel like the long rainy winter just erased all the backbreaking work you did last year? Our guide to weeds includes […]
8 Easy Drought Tolerant Plants for Your SF Bay Area Climate. And, how to care for them. These plants are beautiful and tough. They will save water and add color to your garden. One of these 8 plants will work for your SF Bay Area climate. Whether you live in the hottest inland part of […]
Prevention and Control of Top 7 Invasive Weeds Using the Least Toxic Practices Our report on the top 7 invasive weeds in the SF Bay Area was re-worked from one I posted in 2016 weeds typical in the San Francisco Bay Area including the most invasive weeds. The top 7 invasive weeds is focused on […]
I’ve updated our post about drainage from March of this year. We talk again about solutions to landscape drainage problems. There is additional detail added including graphics that describe the drainage problems and solutions. One of the solutions described below is a dry creek bed. It was a project of Gardeners’ Guild at Spring Lake […]
The photo above is breathtaking reminder of the toll our rainy season has taken on San Francisco Bay Area residents. El Niño surprised us with a ferocious encore performance. Many of our properties, roads and highways are still recovering. Highway 37 is an extreme example of what happens when drainage fails. Five feet of water […]
About Bamboo Adorning the perimeter of many commercial buildings, the willowy Bamboo stands, in containers and planter beds, providing screens and landscape focal points. Its reputation as a renewable resource for flooring to furniture and even fabric, make it emblematic of the sustainability movement. We maintain several sites in San Francisco with Bamboo plants and […]
What’s new in landscape and gardening? Every year there are numerous reports on the latest trends in plants, hardscape, irrigation and even color. From technology to outdoor living. Designers, Landscape Architects and Green Industry pundits weigh in on what’s hot. There are several sources for this article. The people at Gardeners’ Guild have chimed in […]
Summer May be Over but Fall’s Bounty is Upon Us. A profusion of colorful fall plants both annuals and perennials are now available from our suppliers! Their brilliant colors will make an impact on the landscape of your residential or commercial property. They come in bright colors like pink, red, purple, white and yellow. 10 […]
If you are a Property Manager, you are likely knee-deep in budget season Remember that landscaping can increase the value of a house from 5% to 12.7%. On a $400,000 home 5.5% is $22,000; 12.7% adds $50,800.* Conversely, a degraded or disorganized collection of plants detracts from a home or commercial building’s value. Bob Vila says that […]
Firespinner Iceplant “Delosperma” There are a number of resources for firesafe landscaping. This post summarizes some of the best practices, plus links for more information. Tip 1: Create Defensible Space Defensible space is the clearance created between a structure and the grass, shrubs, trees or any natural area that surrounds it. State of California says […]
It’s called pervious (concrete) paving and it’s got the attention of an increasing number of designers and property developers. Why? Because it can save money and it’s better for the environment than standard concrete paving. In fact, it’s among the EPA’s Best Management Practices. What it is An innovative technology that consists of a porous […]
Simple Irrigation Fixes That Can Save $$$$ Consider this first: 80% of plant problems are due to over-watering. (Source Sunset Magazine) Gardeners’ Guild saved a residential community client 53% off their water bill by rigorous monitoring of their system and simple repairs. Fixing Irrigation Leaks and Breaks* Capping irrigation in places that didn’t require watering […]
Every year journalists in the industry forecast what is new for the next year. What I saw when digging around (no pun intended) were subtle offshoots of similar themes over the past few years. This post tries to make sense of what experts are forecasting and why homeowners and property managers should be interested. Trends […]
Their Place in Nature Weeds are not all bad. They provide some benefits (listed below). The definition for weeds is “a plant out of place”. But considering most people welcome weeds as much as they do taxes, this definition seems more fitting: “plants whose undesirable qualities outweigh their good points.” (Taken from Penn State’s website) […]
We have not seen the last of El Niño. Episodes of heavy rain and winds will likely continue over the next few months. If your landscape on a slope, there are some actions you can take now to prevent the damaging effects of erosion. Short Term Actions (Your can do […]
We are especially proud of our construction division this year. Gardeners’ Guild received three awards for a construction project in Mill Valley. National, State and Regional landscape trade organizations have recognized our exceptional work! The National Recognition was first place. The property is situated on a steep slope overlooking the Mt Tam. The homeowners wanted […]
The Village at Corte Madera is taking steps toward more sustainable practices in their landscaping! We recently performed some landscape renovation work to planter beds on the east and west sides (against the buildings) of the shopping center. Drought resistant plantings including Ornamental grass (Fescue), Limonium, Phormium (New Zealand Flax), Cistus (Rock Rose) and Alstroemeria […]
A group of dedicated Richmond residents are working hard to beautify their community park called the Solano Playlot. Located at the corner of 38th and Solano Avenue, the park has been successful in getting the support of the city for improvements. Gardeners’ Guild got involved earlier this year when we volunteered to develop a plan […]
This year, Gardeners’ Guild has been honored with two prestigious awards this year for its work on a full-scale landscape renovation for a home in the Oakland Hills. The national award, presented by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) is a first-place award in its category. The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) presented the state award […]
I recently returned from a vacation in Spain. During the three days that I spent sightseeing in Madrid I happened on to a monster of a living wall that I had to share about. It’s size and beauty juxtaposed against a rust colored building and the bright blue sky was breathtaking. Look at the photo […]
Ghirardelli Square has been a client for a long time. We are proud of our achievements there and it’s a great example of the difference that color makes in the landscape. Color brings excitement to the landscape; it can create a mood and it provides interest through the seasons. Can you imagine looking at this […]
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