Before Picture Deck and Patio Before Picture Raise Paver Patio

This is an exciting landscape construction project in Vancouver WA.  We bid against a composite deck and added a lower patio.  The price of raising a stone paver patio vs building a composite deck turned out to be the least expensive option. 
We now get to build a longer lasting, better looking, easier to maintain product.  The idea is to build a retaining wall out of Pisa 2 wall block back filling it with compacted gravel.  Once we get it to grade we will grade it out and set our pavers and build a stair system down to the lower patio.

Before Picture Raise Paver Patio

The build up is finally done.  There is a layer of engineered netting about two layers down and some Portland cement to help strengthen the compacted gravel fill.  This patio isn’t going anywhere.  In the next few days we will work on pavers and lighting.

Raised Deck and Patio

Excavation before pavers

Hauling away the concreteStairs before

Stairs before

This is a challenging landscape project in Washougal WA.  We are doing a partial over lay on concrete and a normal gravel base paver patio.  What makes this hard is blending the two surfaces.  Since the sand on the concrete will be significantly less then the sand over the gravel we need to make sure we adjust for compaction properly.  Adding to the complication is the two man hole covers we have to go over and yet make accessible.

The idea behind the stairsThe stair are now removed and we are conceptualizing what we will do with the new steps. Because the new old stairs had a facia plate, my design of only doing two steps leading out of the man door is scrubbed. I have to do a three stair system and I'm trying to do it without adding cost to the home owner. Time to get creative. We also discovered a sewer clean out to the left of the single man door that we have to work around.Holland Harvest pavers in Washougal WAPisa 2 Step system

Mortar block planter box

Pisa 2 Step systemHolland Harvest pavers in Washougal WA

This project is a simple paver walkway that connects the front driveway to the back deck.  The homeowner has dogs and decided to upgrade from natural stone.  As you can see the stairs and the lower patio are already finished and we are screeting the sand in just before we lay the blocks down on the upper pathway.  This walkway is made with Charcoal and Harvest Paleo will using a matching Pisa 2 block for stairs. Snap Edge is installed to create interlock.

This one was pretty straight forward and looks great.  The dogs won’t be able to destroy it now.  Thank you Greg for letting us do this for you.

Excavation of the Hatfield Patio

We are excavating the Hatfield patio down to undisturbed native soil.  We ran into a soft spot in the center and had to excavate a small area down even further to make sure the patio is stable

Finished Product

This is the finished product.  We used Harvest Blend Paleo pavers with a Charcoal Paleo paver boarder to trim it out.  There is a matching step made out of Pisa 2 wall block with a Charcoal Reverser block as the stair tred.   It was finished off with a handful of plants and some organic soil as a bark dust to give it a rich black look. This project took 4 days to complete.

Finished Product 2

Your yard can be an intimidating task especially once you are confronted with a bag of fertilizer that has three numbers that you have no idea what they mean.  Ask someone about the numbers and you will just get words thrown at you such as: Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium; leaving you wondering what language they are speaking and how it translates.

Fertilizer is food for your plants.  Like the nutrition information on the food you eat, the numbers on the fertilizer bag will tell you what you are feeding your plant and what you will get in return for your investment.

Those three numbers have to be there by law and are called the Fertilizer’s Analysis.  They indicate, respectively, the percentage of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium in the fertilizer.  Each of those three macro-nutrients can and will do something very important for your plants.

Nitrogen promotes thick leafy green color and growth.

Phosphorous promotes healthy root system, flower, and fruit growth.

Potassium helps with a plant’s endurance and vitality.

If the numbers are percentages why don’t the equal %100?

20-10-10? But that only adds up to 40%, what else am I putting into my yard and garden?

Most likely the remaining portion of your fertilizer has micro-nutrients, or ingredients that help with the even spreading of fertilizer or both.  To avoid spreading the fertilizer unevenly and having unattractive brown spots or dense patches of extreme growth; a fertilizer includes ingredients that make sure a uniform layer of fertilizer will go over the desired area and give you the best look possible.

What fertilizer should I use?

To begin, try to avoid an extremely focused fertilizer such as 35-0-02.  Rather, your fertilizer should have a little bit of the described macro-nutrients.

Healthy lawns need

a Nitrogen strong fertilizer.  The Nitrogen will give your lawn that deep, lush, green look and help it remain healthy while naturally resisting weeds.

Starting lawn – and generally any starting plants for that matter – a good even fertilizer is best.  Something like 20-10-10  or 16-16-16 will give your new flora the best chance at a healthy life.

Flowering plants and vegetables will need a Phosphorous rich fertilizer.  The Phosphorous will help your plants root system and ensure that the flowers /produce grow in more beautiful than ever.

Trees need a Nitrogen heavy fertilizer; 16-4-8 will be the best.

If in doubt, 16-16-16 or something close, is always a safe bet for all plants, trees, and vegetables until you learn a little more about what you need.

How do I know what nutrients my soil is lacking?

In order to know what nutrients your soil needs you will need a sample of your soil tested.  You will have to send away a sample of your soil and the testing process generally takes ten days.  This testing will cost approximately fifteen dollars.  It is best to get your soil tested once every few years.

What is the difference between organic and synthesis fertilizers?

Organic fertilizers are, more often than not, slower to release and have a much lower concentration of nutrients [Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium] than synthesis fertilizers.  Synthesis fertilizers are usually much cheaper than organic fertilizers and have to be applied fewer times a year.

What is the difference between fertilizers and soil amendments?

By definition a fertilizer must have a high concentration of nutrients in order to help plants growth and health; however a soil amendment’s purpose is to actually change and help the soil, such as structure, drainage and microbes, and actually have little nutritional value.

What are slow release fertilizers?

Slow release fertilizers [ex. fertilizer spikes] are covered in a material that slows the release of the nutrient and can evenly give the plants nutrients over time.  They are considered too expensive for general use.

Reference:

1)         Fertilizer By The Numbers – By Patrick St. John

2)         Fertilizer Basics – Bachman’s Floral, Gift, and Garden

3)         What Do The Numbers On The Bag Of Fertilizer Mean? – By Allyn Paul

4)         Basics On Tree Fertilization -By Steve Nix

There is a chance that after a few weeks a white haze may appear on the surface of the pavers. It may appear randomly or in certain areas and will be more pronounced on dark colored pavers. The white haze may give the impression that the color of the pavers is fading. When wet, the white haze disappears and the color of the pavers is enhanced. When they dry, the white have reappears. This is known as efflorescence.

Efflorescence is completely natural and will disappear with time.

Concrete products use lime or water soluble Calcium Oxide. As water enters the concrete pavers or block wall products it moves thru microscopic capillaries thru their interior. The water reacts with the Calcium Oxide and that creates Calcium Hydroxide which is then carried to the surface of the pavers or blocks. Once exposed on the surface it reacts with the Carbon Dioxide in the air and forms a white haze of Calcium Carbonate. When moisture on the surface evaporates, the white haze becomes visible and the Efflorescence is visible.

Getting Rid of Efflorescence

Because the blocks have a limited amount of lime in them, this process will stop over time on its own. However there are cleaners you can use to hurry the process up. A light muriatic acid mix with water can be used to eliminate the surface Efflorescence. This should be done by a professional that is familiar with the process. If applied to long or too concentrated it can bleach the color from the pavers or block wall products. However, as long as there is Calcium Hydroxide remaining in the pavers or blocks Efflorescence will continue to reappear and the cleaning will need to be repeated.

When will Efflorescence stop?

The efflorescence process will stop when the supply of Calcium Hydroxide is exhausted. Typically, depending on the climate you live in, Efflorescence will stop developing within 18 months but can last up to 24 months.

Will it go away on its own?

In the Northwest it will go away all by itself but it takes time. Rain water and exposure to weather will help the process. So unless you are impatient, then you can just leave it alone.

Can I do anything to remove it?

Yes. Efflorescence can be cleaned with a commercial cleaner formulated specifically for concrete products. Please note: Clay and Concrete products need different cleaners! Also, if you use a cleaner before all the Calcium Hydroxide is exhausted you may need to clean them again later on. Test cleaners on a sample spot before using them on the entire patio and follow all the directions on the product to get the best results and prevent injuries.

This information provided by ICPI Efflorescence flyer. Please go to www.icpi.org/ICPI for more information

Transforming Landscapes into Peaceful Garden Retreats

by Jeff Naramor, Certified Professional Horticulturist (CPH)

Imagine the healing powers of returning home from a busy day and relaxing in your own garden retreat. It’s easy to do, even if you live in an urban environment.

What makes the difference between a beautiful garden and a garden retreat, you might ask? A garden is an area of grounds laid out with flowers, trees, edible and ornamental shrubs, and is for recreation and viewing enjoyment. A garden retreat is a place of its own. It is space that offers peace, quiet, privacy, and security. It is a magic you can sense before you even reach your front door. As your hand touches the doorknob, you are gently surrounded by the fragrance of flowering plants that welcome you home. Lush foliage provides a visual delight and you hear the twitter of birds, mingled with the bubbling tones from the water feature that attracts them to your yard. Immediately, the stresses of the day begin to melt away as your garden retreat beckons you to enter.

Yet, the difference between a landscape and a garden retreat affects more than our senses. Modern day stress fills our lives with the conflicts of traffic, the contest of our careers, the consumption of our resources, and the carefulness of our relationships. A garden retreat provides a haven of peace and contentment where we can find room to gather our thoughts and achieve true physical, spiritual, and emotional relaxation.

On a physical level, caring for your private garden retreat can burn calories, build muscle, and strengthen endurance. The psychological benefits range from a total acceptance from your garden of who you are, to the intoxicating sweetness and fragrance of the plants that surround you. On a spiritual level, regardless of belief or practice, a garden retreat supports the harmonious relationship between spirit and mind, helping to refocus and sustain the search for inner peace. Garden retreats also offer a practical side to well being. They are a place to dine, a space for thoughtful conversation, a gift to share with family and friends, and an environment to conduct your daily exercise regimes.

Garden retreats do not need to be completed in a few days, weeks, or even months. An organic process that can emerge over time, a garden retreat begins with a vision, a plan, and an initial investment that earns deep rewards in the long run. Defined by the owner’s personal character, a garden retreat is a vision above and beyond an ordinary landscape. A plan that can be drafted to include conceptual ideas that express personal tastes and desires, a garden retreat can be implemented in stages that reflect personal needs and available budgets. An on-going feast for the senses, the plants in a garden retreat can take decades to mature. Yet at each stage of growth, they offer grace and beauty and quietly reveal their secrets as they embrace and welcome you home.

Jeff Naramor of America the Beautiful Landscape Design can be reached at: 360-828-8597or at: jeff@americathebeautifullandscaping.com. Or vist the website at: www.americathebeautifullandscaping.com