When it comes to landscape design projects, not all are the same and thus don’t require the same approach. Some projects require a lighter touch than a full blown landscape design. Some require something a bit simpler and more affordable to help the client visualize and execute a new landscape. This is why we offer Consultations and Conceptual Sketches throughout San Diego from South Park to Del Mar and everything between.

With a Consultation we come to your property and have a discussion about whatever you would like as we walk the grounds going over all elements of the property that give you pause. You are free to take notes during our conversation and ask anything from maintenance to design and execution. This is often ideal for clients with large properties that are just trying to get a lot of little questions answered while not looking to take on any major projects at the moment.

Conceptual Sketches are ideal for clients with smaller projects that they would like to execute either by themselves or maybe with the assistance of their current gardener. These project typically don’t include tons of detailed drawings or exact measurements, they are intended for clients that might need a small planting bed refreshed or maybe some help with adding a specimen tree as a focal point to an existing landscape.

So if you are in need of some landscape design assistance but are not ready to commit to a full blown landscape design project please consider one of our other options.

Cleator Landscape Design can be reached at 619 917 3644 or jeff@cleatordesigns.com

As we here in San Diego move into fall it’s a good time to take care of a number of landscape projects. Regardless of if you live in the warmer inland communities like Del Cerro or the coastal communities like Coronado or La Jolla.

For those that love California native plants now is the time to get your California poppy seeds ready for the upcoming raining season. Also California Native Plant Society Chapters tend to hold plant sales around this time of year, which are great opportunities to find other wonderful native plants such as Ceanothus, Rhus and Arctostaphylos. Now is also the time to divide your Douglas Iris so they can bloom again in the spring.

Most of our native shrubs make wonderful background plants while providing habitat to some of other beneficial local critters. Shrubs such as Toyon, Coffeeberry, LemonadeBerry and Manzanita all are fantastic options when you need a hardy background shrub. All can be planted this time of year.

Even with our native plants be aware of the dangers associated with the dry Santa Ana winds. Trim back any trees or large shrubs that may suffer branch break and thin out top heavy canopies to allow as much wind as possible to pass through.

If you need any assistance with a California native landscape please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cleator Landscape Design for more assistance.

With the summer heat upon us in San Diego it’s important to take extra special care of the plants in your garden. It doesn’t really matter as much along our coast in towns such as Point Loma, Pacific Beach or La Jolla as much as it does for areas like North Park, Del Cerro and the such as they lack the buffer provided by the Pacific Ocean and the marine layer.  

With your California Natives make sure to limit or completely avoid providing any extra water unless the heat is intense and prolonged as they are built for our summer dry hot conditions. For ornamental plants be sure to be on the look out for summer drought stress and be ready to provide addition irrigation as needed. During times of stress other issues can arise as well so don’t forget to be on the look out for fungal or insect pressures. 

For lawns it really depends on what kind of lawn you are growing, warm season turf is in the middle of its more prolific growing season so stay on top of proper mowing and fertilizer as required by your grass type. Cool season grasses now is a very stressful time of year for them, so mow less frequently, limit to completely stop your fertilizer program and increase your water schedule as needed. 

As always try to use organic treatments for your garden and if possible install plants that are adapted to our climate, as that’s always easier than trying to fight Mother Nature. It’s a little late in the summer but it is always good practice to check your irrigation system regularly to ensure proper coverage with minimal waste. 

If you have any questions or are interested in a landscape design for your property please feel free to reach out to Cleator Landscape Design at 619-917-3644. 

Welcome to the third instalment in the series on plants that grow well in San Diego. 

In this article I wanted to discuss Acacia plants and how we can incorporate them into gardens ranging from Del Cerro to Coronado and beyond. 

Acacia plants hail from a number of continents but the majority can be found only in Australia making them a great plant choice for San Diego gardens. Some of the attributes they are known for is relatively fast growing, long-lived and with a deep root system perfect for our climate. Available in everything from full-grown trees too much smaller groundcover forms and everything between. Here are the few that I want to discuss with you today. 

First off is Acacia stenophylla or Shoestring Acacia, this fast growing weeping tree is a great addition to drought tolerant landscape especially ones that relay on succulents as it only provides dappled shade. With its great gray-green foliage and tons of interest this tree is one to consider for sure. 

Acacia cultriformis or Kniefleaf Acacia is a great midsize shrub with its interesting triangular leaves held close to the branches and bright yellow flowers this gem is perfect when you need something a bit smaller but with tons of personality. 

Acacia redolens or Prostrate Acacia is a fantastic plant for hillsides and erosion control. Staying under about 2’6″ but getting over 10′ across this plant is ideal for those tough to get to spots that just needs some green while asking for little water or maintenance. 

When you are in need of a drought tolerant workhorse plant don’t fail to consider Acacia, and when you are in need of landscape design for your property in San Diego please consider Cleator Landscape Design 619 917 3644

In what I hope we be an ongoing series I wanted to talk about Lomandra or Mat Rush. This is a fantastic pseudo grass like plant that hails from Australia. Which means it’s fairly drought tolerant and doesn’t need much of the maintenance that true ornamental grasses require. It comes in a handful of different sizes and shades of green, which means it should be easy to fit it into almost any design scheme. 

It will perform well in coastal gardens in Ocean Beach through to Mission Hills and even into our local foothills without any issues. Sun to part shade, dry to waters edge you will find this increasingly popular plant thriving. It adds not only a great green vertical element to the landscape but it also contributes movement to otherwise still gardens.

If you are interested about learning more about Lomandra for your garden please feel free to contact Cleator Landscape Design for your landscape design needs. 619-917-3644

The road to becoming a Landscape Designer here in San Diego was fairly straightforward, but I was unaware of that at the time. I had always loved to draw and design growing up in San Diego. I spent a lot of time working in and admiring gardens, from the formal landscapes of La Jolla to the casual gardens of Ocean Beach. My grandfather had a fantastic “green thumb” and getting to shadow him in his Point Loma garden, and follow him when he volunteered in the horticultural dept. at the San Diego Wild Animal Park was always a treat. 

During college I studied a wide array of design genres, but finally landed with Landscape Design. I took a job working with a local landscape design firm and leaned how to run a business, and how not to. With that practical knowledge, I knew I need more training. So I got my Masters Degree from GW and along with the entrepreneurial spirit of my father I inherited, I soon thereafter started Cleator Landscape Design. I am so happy I did. 

Over the last decade I have had the opportunity to work for some amazing clients throughout San Diego, from Del Mar in the north to Coronado in the south. I also have designed projects across the United States including in Hawaii, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia and up and down the great state of California. 

Hopefully I will have the opportunity to put a life long passion for design and the environment to work for you on your landscape design project. 

Westringia often called Coast Rosemary is a fantastic group of plants hailing from Australia. In San Diego nurseries you can often find specimens ranging from large shrubs down to low growing groundcover. Here in Point Loma all of them will be at home in our cool coastal conditions as long as they get full to almost full sun and moderate to low water once established. With white to blueish flower and small green to gray-green and even variegated leaves, there is one that will fit nicely into your landscape. A few other standout specimens are Westringia fruticosa Gray Box, Smokey and Mundi. Each has its one role in a landscape, but they are reliable tough plants that can help give your yard structure and beauty.

These hardy standout also make nice companion plants with Mediterranean plants such as our San Diego native Sages, ornamental grasses, citrus, succulents such as Agaves and even formal plants such as roses and boxwoods. If you are in need of a reliable shrub consider Westringia for your Point Loma garden. If you feel a bit lost or overwhelmed taking on a landscape renovation yourself, feel free to contact Cleator Landscape Design to schedule a landscape design consult meeting.

So its finally 2021 and even if we are still dealing with the pandemic and some lingering issue from 2020 it’s a good time to start planning for your future. What I mean by that is if you have been stuck working from home this last year and just aren’t happy with the way your outdoor spaces looks or function now is the time to make those changes. Doesn’t matter if you live in Point Loma, Mission Hills, La Jolla, Coronado or anywhere in San Diego the weather is great the vast majority of the time. So when you need to get away from the kids or the kids need to get away from you, creating an outdoor space that can both be beautiful and functional is key to this working from home life balance.

It doesn’t matter if your home is new, old, spanish, craftsman, tudor, classic 80’s modern or whatever. We can create a design that not only works with the architecture of your home but also your lifestyle. Covid 19 has forced many of us to stay at home more than we would want, and creating a space for you to work from and relax in has become more essential than every before.

With the need for better outdoor spaces and the rising prices of homes in San Diego you can consider a new landscape design not only an investment in the way you live now but also a financial asset when it comes time to sell your home. With the proper attention to the architecture of your home combined with a first class landscape design your will be glad you made the changes.

We at Cleator Landscape Design would be more then happy to help design a space that allows you and your family to take advantage of the amazing weather that San Diego offers. Imagine the difference a new patio with patio cover or deck with outdoor seating and a fire pit would make to how you use your home. Maybe its privacy hedges with a pool and spa or just a garden to decompress after video calls, let Cleator Landscape Design help you achieve the outdoor space you desire.

We can be reached at 619 917 3644 or at jeff@cleatordesigns.com