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Colorado's Front Range has a short and intense growing season, but planting some veggies and fruits at home increases your sustainability and self sufficiency while maximizing use of our region's most precious resource: water.
Garden Bed Design Solutions For Best Results: If you've ever tried container gardening in individual pots or planters, you know the disappointment of seeing plants wither and sizzle in Colorado's baking summer sun as the soil dries out. Raised planter beds are by far the superior option for successful home gardening. Why Raised Garden Beds:
Imagine if the abundance our neighborhoods could see if we all grew a few edible things like herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, berries, or fruit trees, etc." Interesting Food Facts: (Did You Know?) During World War I, facing the threat of food insecurity, President Woodrow Wilson publicly called for Americans to grow food at home. Americans responded to the call considering it a civic duty as they planted and cultivated what we history books have referred to as "Victory Gardens." Read more about this moment in history from the Smithsonian's online library or this 2020 article from the New York Times. Why wait for a Presidential call to increase community resilience? More Gardening Facts:
Raised Garden Box Design & Construction: Our licensed landscape architect primarily uses wood to construct custom dimension raised garden beds for homeowners in the Denver metro.
Green House Installation If you really want first rate efficiency with home gardening, investing in a green house or hoop house can help extend the growing season and buffer against abrupt temperature swings and weather occurrences (like snow and hail storms) common in Colorado each Spring and Fall. Consider whether you are just trying your hand at gardening or seriously investing in long term sustainability with a custom green house for garden control and outdoor winter meditation time. Ask us about pricing and options for your home's style and your budget using the link below. Tips for What To Plant: A few of our favorite veggies for first time home gardeners living in the Front Range include:
DIY Gardening Resources: Many local garden centers offer their expertise on plant cultivation, and there is also a plethora of online resources for gardening in High Desert Zone 5 (the Denver Metro's gardening zone).
Not Ready to Try Your Green Thumb?
Final Thougths: Self Sufficiency & Clean Produce During times of increasing uncertainty and growing environmental crises, growing some of our own veggies and fruits increases our self sufficiency, connects us to neighbors and nature, and reduces transportation emissions. Home grown produce also gives you peace of mind knowing exactly what potentially harmful chemicals and additives been used or avoided in the process of growing tasty treats like tomatoes and berries. Know What Conventional Produce Is the Most Toxic: Learn about the "Dirty Dozen" List of fruits and vegetables that should be eaten organic due to their absorption of pesticides and sprays. Let us know what questions you still have in the comments below! Will you be trying your hand at home gardening this year?
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Selecting Drought Tolerant Plants and Flowering PerennialsWhat are the ten best outdoor flowering perennials and evergreen plants to grow in the Denver metro? We have a number of favorite perennials that are ecologically appropriate for Colorado's Front Range semi-arid climate, but the plants that will thrive best in your unique space depend on a variety of factors that an expert should help assess to avoid costly failed plantings and wasted outdoor water.
Each of our custom design plans starts with a complimentary consultation that carefully considers the above key elements along with how much maintenance you are willing to put into your landscape. John made a beautiful landscape design keeping our ideas in mind and we were in love with his drawing... We always get compliments for our backyard and it's all thanks to John and his crew." Our Short-List of Favorite Perennials Every landscape design should customized for the home and those living there, but a few of our favorite perennials that we often use across design categories include:
John has a creative mind and eye, along with knowledge of plants in our environment. we are very happy with the finished product and have received numerous compliments."
Don’t Risk the Guesswork: Invest in Professional Consultations For Expert Results We offer over 18 years of expertise consulting and designing beautiful, ecologically appropriate master landscaping plans specifically adapted for the Front Range’s high altitude, semi-arid, and often extreme climate. Professional Plant Selection & Master Plan Guidance Before creating any landscape design plan, we consider all of the important factors around your outdoor space -- from weather elements (especially sun and shade exposure), to timelines of plant maturation and expected foliage and blooming, to complimenting the style of your home, honoring any requirements from your homeowners association, anticipating the behavior of people and animals who may frequent your space, and most importantly-- bringing life to the dreams of how you want to enjoy your outdoor oasis. Work With Us We provide complimentary consultations for design-only and design-and-build landscaping services to homeowners in the Denver metropolitan.  Pollinator Garden Xeriscape Design for Colorado Are you ready to enjoy a home oasis that saves water and is easy to maintain? Take the guesswork out of plant selection, placement, and irrigation needs. Learn more about our Wifi Controlled home irrigation and lighting systems here.
Trees are vital to our ecosystem’s soil and air quality. Denver’s semi-arid climate and extreme temperature shifts can make it challenging to maintain healthy trees and shrubs especially in the first year or two after planting.  Properly trimming and pruning woody plants is both an art and a science, so hiring an experienced professional to do the job is safer and wiser since they have the tools and know-how to do the job correctly and quickly. Professionals like our trained landscape architect can also educate you about best care practices for maintaining freshly planted trees in Colorado's semi-arid Front Range climate. Why Tree Care Matters Yearly pruning promotes more abundant flowering and foliage the following spring, allowing plants to efficiently put their energy into growth and maturation. Renewal pruning can be done three to five years apart depending on the plant type and age. Even shrubs will need at least some pruning every few years, so be sure not to skip this essential landscape maintenance service if you want a healthy and beautiful space.
Pruning trees in the summer isn’t healthy because it causes too much stress on the tree. Healthy tree limbs should be pruned in winter when a tree is dormant for best results. Dead, diseased or bug infested branches should be removed as they are identified fall through spring since these could damage your home or harm a neighbor if they break and fall due to heavy winds or snow.
If you aren’t a seasoned gardener, it can be risky to do this work on your own and might cost you the replacement of several plants. Under-pruning a plant won’t give it the needed boost for growth, but over pruning often causes stress, reduces foliage production, and increases susceptibility to pests and disease if cuts aren’t made correctly.
Call our licensed landscape architect today to schedule a free consultation of your space. We every month of the year serving homeowners in the Denver metro. When Retaining Walls Make The Most Sense For Your Space Regardless of size, if your outdoor space has sloped grades or a lackluster entryway, retaining walls add depth and functionality to your landscape design.  Some of our past clients have come to us out of frustration maintaining a lawn that is hard to mow on a steep incline, or wanted to maximize a small space by adding perennials or raised garden beds. Just like any project, we start by visiting your space, hearing how you want to enjoy your time outside your home, and then crafting a hand rendered design customized to your space and needs. We often work with individually selected river rock to create grand steps and entryways for rustic homes in the Front Range, and also have a wide variety of paver stones to choose from when creating retaining walls for modern and cottage homes, gardens, raised flower beds, and more. Email us today to schedule an appointment for your free consultation and estimate.
The perfect deck or patio invites you to relax and restore outside after a stressful day. If your outdoor spaces need revitalizing, we can help. Offering more than 18 years of experience creating custom designs for the Front Range, our award winning licensed landscape architect takes the uncertainty and guesswork out of your project with proven expertise. Arterra delivers excellent customer service and high quality workmanship while serving as a general contractor to reduce communication between builders.
Whether you want a new wood or composite deck, stamped concrete walkway, or brick inlaid patio, we’ll create the perfect design to suit your home's needs and see that it is built to last. Request a free consultation for your project today. |
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May 2023
AuthorMarketing staff contribute to our blog with thoughts from our principal, John Majeski. |
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