Ecological Invention

09/30/2015

Another landscape project completed this season. Better photos coming soon to our website. Website rebuild coming soon too. 😉

09/19/2015

http://www.modularbackyards.ca/ #!Landscape-Plants-The-simple-rules-of-gardening/c1cn7/55dd0c7f0cf2174523e6e9d3

Choosing the right plants for your landscape can truly make or break the aesthetic and your gardening experience. All too often people choose plants that lo...

09/18/2015

What a cool part of nature. Zero waste. 😄

09/10/2015

Another house cleaned up and ready for the market. A small modest amount make this stand out in the trendy downtown neighbourhood.

09/10/2015

Nice massing of shade plants.

08/28/2015

Booth #48 at the East Gwillimbury Home and Lifestyle Show September 12 and 13. Come see a Modular Backyard in person and talk to one of our specialists on the cost savings, benefits and which one is right for you! 5% off Sale for show participants East Gwillimbury Chamber of Commerce Town of East Gwillimbury

08/27/2015

There are some awesome plants we all love, they can be seen and are used everywhere. The danger is having those plants become cliché and boring. If you live in a neighbourhood where everyone drives a BMW, that is a great car - even a really great car, but it's now a really great “normal” car and mig…

08/27/2015

Landscape Plants: Plant something unique (substitutes for the good but meh)

There are some awesome plants we all love, they can be seen and are used everywhere. The danger is having those plants become cliché and boring. If you live in a neighbourhood where everyone drives a BMW, that is a great car - even a really great car, but it's now a really great “normal” car and might as well be a Honda. As a landscape designer working with clients there exists (sometimes) this challenge to find substitute plants that are BMWs turned Hondas and replace with something that has the same impact and appeal (wow factor).

Luckily there are many underutilized plants out there, hardy perennials that can give you colour, blooms, fragrance, some have a tropical flare, others provide great privacy and shade. Don’t settle for “normal,” visit a few garden centres and walk around the whole lot, or better yet talk to a pro for a consult. If you’re DIYing your gardens, it can help getting some pro advice, it’s worth spending a little bit of money for advice if you're saving a bunch by doing all the work yourself.

Specimen plants; Instead of Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum sp.) in a front yard, I would suggest looking at cut leaf Elderberries (Sambucus sp.) which can be found in awesome colours from plum purples to straw gold. Another potential Japanese Maple substitute could be Sumac (Rhus sp.). Tiger Eyes Sumac (Rhus typhina ‘Bailtiger’) is a great attention grabber, it has great striking yellow colour with hints of red.

Shrub borders; Instead of Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus sp.) try one of the more well behaved Dogwoods (Cornus sp.) including Kelsey Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Kelsey’) or Arctic Fire Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera ‘Farrow’). These Dogwoods offer great fall colour and medium texture like Burning Bush, but they also carry some spring blooms and showy red stems for winter interest. One of my favourites, take a look at Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica) this is one of the most underused short and hardy hedge species with year round interest.

Groundcovers; For a medium broad leaf texture like Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis), try instead one of the most underutilized native plants Bunchberry (Cornus canadenses) or another often overlooked native Foamflower (Tiarella sp.). Instead of Japanese Forest Grass in your urban shade garden, try Big Blue Lilyturf (Liriope muscari).

08/12/2015

If you’re going to have a hand in your landscaping, whether it be planting your own gardens, hedges, trees or tackling your own deck, patio or water feature. Having a plan on paper, a design(s) or even a list of what needs to be done and in what order is the best way to troubleshoot problems ahead o…

07/22/2015

New garden and path taking shape.

07/19/2015

02/25/2011