JW Landscape Design has one if its articles featured in the November TNLA newsletter.  The article provides great information for #landscaping with deer resistant plants in the Austin area.  Check out the link here…

Here’s a video that shows landscaping in Austin and the Hill Country. The plants and materials used are native and adaptive to the area. Enjoy!

Improperly Pruned Crape Myrtles Along MoPac

Proper pruning techniques should be taught to city employees before they are released with chainsaws and pruning shears. Better yet, they should leave the chainsaws back at the office and trim the crape myrtles the right way.

Pruning Techniques for Crape Myrtles:
• Prune trees in late winter during dormancy (January and February)
• Trim last season’s seed pods
• Selectively thin branches that cross or rub against one another
• Do not cut any branches thicker than your thumb. Don’t cut your thumb, either.
• KISS (remember last week’s blog?)
The branches and trunk of a crape myrtle have a sculpture-like quality to them in the winter. These drought tolerant trees can be enjoyed year round in the landscape, so leave the chain saw on the shelf and allow the popular Crape Myrtle to thrive with these proper pruning techniques.

Crape Myrtle in Bloom

On an unrelated note, if you’re looking for a great sushi restaurant, visit Mikado Ryotei. Nicole and I went there last Saturday and had a wonderful dinner. The sushi was fresh, the saki was hot and the atmosphere was perfect. The owner, Henry Wong, and his staff are knowledgeable and professional. Mikado Ryotei is located in Austin at 183 and Burnet.

Remember—The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.  The second best time is NOW!

Thanks for visiting jwlandscapedesign blog.  Check back often for additional post on landscaping, irrigation, patios and everything in between.  Please visit www.jwlandscapedesign.com and drop us a line.  We’d love to hear from you!

A Different Kind of Kiss

During my stint at LSU while studying for a degree in Landscape Architecture, our professors would assign us projects or charrettes to help us hone in our design skills.  These assignments could range from Campus Master Planning to Urban Revitalization to the Design of a Small Courtyard. As students, our ideas would veer off course and our professors would have to steer us back in the right direction. They would allow us to come up with fresh, innovative ideas, but also would want us to keep our design simple and useable for the client. The term “K.I.S.S.” was often heard during our critiques.

KISS Frontman, Gene Simmons

I know most of you are thinking, “Wow, I didn’t know Jack’s professors were such fans of Gene Simmons?!?” Actually, the KISS I am referring to is Keep it Simple, Stupid. The KISS mantra could be used across all aspects of life, but I’ll focus on how this applies to landscaping in the home garden.
A few basic design principles to KISS are Order, Unity and Rhythm.
Order simply refers to the framework of the yard and how it is laid out.  Without order, the flower beds look uncontrolled and one’s eye cannot easily follow through the landscape.

The Flow From Home To Garden

Unity is the connection among pieces in a design. It is the seamless flow from your back door to your patio and the smooth transition into your garden. Unity brings together the lines, colors, forms and textures that make up the outdoor living space. When these objects are successfully blended together, the space feels right and Chi is positively flowing. 
In music, rhythm refers to any flow or movement. In the landscape, this movement is repetition of plants or materials to create a pleasing result.
Remember, these standards are not written in stone, but serve as a foundational base for landscape design. The next time you’re in a space that is pleasing to you, ask yourself, “What makes this space/ garden/ patio comfortable?” See if the KISS principle applies and try to use them in your own garden.
Now, if I was only tech savvy enough to play “Rock and Roll All Nite” as bumper music to fade out of this blog….hmmm, maybe next time.
Remember—The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is NOW!
Thanks for visiting jwlandscapedesign blog. Check back often for additional post on landscaping, irrigation, patios and everything in between. Please visit http://jwlandscapedesign.com and drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!

Last weekend I attended my first TNLA Management Workshop in Galveston, TX. The focus for the event was to combine great customer service with technology to achieve the highest level of success. According to the speakers Terry Brock and Damian Skinner (both of whom are excellent); I should reach out to my existing customers and potential clients using social media to provide useful information. By utilizing the latest media outlets such as Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube and WordPress, I plan on implementing these ideas. Thus, the first of many blogs from jwlandscapedesign has been created.

Technology is knocking…should I let it in?
As I sit in front of my computer, my fingers poised on their home keys waiting for my brain the give them the go ahead to type. It is as if I can hear my fingers saying, “Whenever you’re ready to say something intelligent, boss, we’ll get to typing…you just let us know.” Thank you, fingers! No pressure…no pressure. Ya’ll are my ten smallest fans. Luckily, I may be the only person that reads my own blog, so in reality there is no pressure…Whew!

Like most landscapers, I am behind on the latest tech trends and newest online gadgets. So far, I have created a You Tube channel and dusted off my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts…not bad for Day 1 of “Technical Jack.” My plan is to provide useful information and video clips regarding landscape design, installation, irrigation, patios and outdoor living areas. I may also throw in a bit of lagniappe not related to landscaping, but some may find it enjoyable. I will continue to post on this blog and video useful information regarding the landscape industry. I hope you enjoy and check back often for posts.

It seems that everyone is conscious of being “green” and wants to do their part in helping the environment. Especially in Central Texas, conserving water and water-wise landscaping has become quite popular among homeowners. Below are Seven Principles of WaterWise Landscaping provided by TNLA:

1. Planning and Design
A landscape isn’t a bunch of plants; it’s a set of miniature ecosystems where everything affects everything. Before you begin a project, plan ahead by calling a landscape designer or landscape architect.

2. Soil Evaluation and Improvement
Soil is where it all starts. To match plant needs to soil, you have to know the soil type.

3. Practical Turf Areas
Select the appropriate grass species and consider the size and geometry of turf areas for optimal water use.

4. Appropriate Plant Selection
Use plants well adapted to thrive in your area. This includes sun/shade, soil conditions and deer resistance.

5. Efficient Irrigation
Water only the plants that need it and only when they need it.

6. Use of Mulches
Mulch cuts down on evaporation of water, suppresses weeds and keeps the plants cool. It also makes a bed look nice and tidy.

7. Appropriate Maintenance
Keeping turf at its optimal height, checking the irrigation system, and other basic maintenance saves time and water while providing a more beautiful landscape.

Remember—The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is NOW!

Thanks for visiting jwlandscapedesign blog. Check back often for additional post on landscaping, irrigation, patios and everything in between.

Please visit www.jwlandscapedesign.com and drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!