As we are all aware San Diego is dealing with yet another heatwave and the effects of continued higher than normal temperature can play havoc in your garden. It doesn’t matter if you are in Point Loma, Pacific Beach, Del Cerro or North Park the higher temps effect us all. 

Today I wanted to discuss a few ways we can reduce the stress our gardens face during times of higher than normal temperatures. In a future post I will also discuss ways we can design gardens to handle a warming planet. 

When a heatwave strikes we need to be mindful of how these higher temps and often drying winds effect our gardens. One way to help relieve some plant stress is to water your garden in the morning when temperatures haven’t risen yet. This allows the water to seep into the soil and cool the root zone before evaporation takes hold. Another effective strategy is to give you plants a quick cool shower in the middle of the day, this is less about watering the plant and more about lowering the surface temperature of the leaves to reduce internal water loss. 

Shade is another way to help reduce the stress plants face during times of extreme heat. Even if your plant is a full sun plant, higher than normal temps can still be difficult for the plant to handle. Moving the plant or adding supplemental shade can help the plant cope. Supplemental shade can come in all forms from simple umbrellas or sunshade/ sun cloth to more elaborate built structures. Not only do such measures help with the heat they can also shield them from the drying winds often associated with heatwaves. 

Try not to mow or prune plants during times of high stress, the additional leaf blade can help shade itself and the root zone aiding it ability to survive. Also be very careful about adding any type of growth fertilizer to your plants. Allowing the plant to focus its energy on deeper roots and over all stress survival is more important than the plant putting on additional growth. Some fertilizer and foliar sprays designed too improves the plants stress tolerance and the ability for the soil to retain water can be effective if applied prior to a heatwave, but that can be hard to plan for. 

If you would like additional information please call Cleator Landscape Design at 619 917 3644

When it comes to what is my recommendation for which kind of wood to use on San Diego decks my first choice is always Kebony. Haven’t heard of it you’re not alone, but it’s becoming more and more popular each year.

Kebony calls itself a modified natural wood product. Basically its real softwood that has been specially treated to act more like hardwood. The process of impregnation and curing the wood makes the cells walls 50 percent thicker and thus far more durable. This process is different from thermally treated wood which can leave the wood brittle over time. Also the use of sustainable managed forest makes Kebony far more environmental sustainable than using tropical hardwoods.

There are a number of reason why Kebony is my go to when I am designing a deck for a home all across San Diego from Point Loma to Del Mar and inland to South Park and Del Cerro. If you want more information check out the Kebony website as its full of great information and comparisons.

If you are looking for a deck design feel free to call 619-917-3644 for more information.

In the last blog post we spoke about using natural wood as a decking option for San Diego Landscapes. Today I wanted to discuss with you the pros and cons of Synthetics wood.

Might as well get this out in the open I am not a huge of synthetic wood for most landscape projects. The reason for this is they are fake, feel fake and on closer inspection look fake. Now some companies are doing better than others on making them look a bit more realistic but they are not gonna fool anyone when you get up close. They are also made up of plastics or are blended with plastics making them not the most environmental friendly option. This plastic formula heats up in warmer locations such as Del Cerro and can make walking on them barefoot in the heat of the day less than pleasurable, they are also not always the cheapest option. Enough with me bashing synthetic wood.

Now for the upsides, they are virtually maintenance free are nearly indestructible and can be used in locations other decking options would be challenging to work with.

So if you are looking for a durable material that will outlive us all, that will be located out of intense sun and can withstand lots of wear and tear then maybe synthetic woods are worth considering.

If you are looking for a deck for your San Diego landscape, please feel free to call us so we can discuss which decking option is right for you. 619-917-3644

When it comes to San Diego varied topography many homes could benefit from a deck. It doesn’t matter if you are in Pacific Beach or North Park it’s less about could I add a deck to my home its more a question of what kind of deck should I add. https://www.thisoldhouse.com/decking/21017499/decking-materials

Obviously real wood is a tried and true option but what kind of wood is best and what kind can I afford is a question we often get from clients considering a deck. Synthetic woods have been for a while and while there are some advantages there are also many drawbacks to this option. The third major group is treated or sometime called engineered wood. In the next few blog post I will hopefully begin to answer some of the common questions associated with each type of decking material.

Real wood is renowned for its beauty and design flexibility. But not all real wood is the same, lower end woods such as Pine or Fir are more affordable options but tend to have a limited useable life span. More expensive hardwoods like Ipe or Teak have a longer useable life but come with installation issues as well as environmental concerns. Cedar is a nice middle of the road option for those that want real wood, are comfortable with the maintenance required but can’t afford the more durable hardwoods. With the countless staining or painting options not to mention the varied ways the deck boards can be arranged real wood does allows for increased design options for the client.

If you are interested in a deck for your home please feel free to give us a call and speak with someone about the best option for your home. 619-917-3644

Well here we are in 2022, I know its been challenge for all of us just to get here but I wanted to thank everyone who has been so supportive of us during these trying times. We couldn’t have survived without each and every one of you. As we look forward to a new year lets all hope that it’s gonna be better than then the one we just said goodby too. 

To continue with the monthly series of what to do in your garden, let’s take a look at January. Avoid digging or trampling too much on damp soils as they can become compacted and disrupt root growth. In our colder communities even Del Cerro don’t trim off frost damage until temps warm back up as the damaged area offer some protection to the still healthy plant tissue below. Prune hybrid roses by 1/3 even if they still have some leaves on their branches, as always trim off any dead or damaged branches. Now is also a good time to plant bare root fruit tree. From Point Loma to Del Mar its time to fertilize citrus and do your twice annual pruning while you are at it. 

Hopefully these task will help you get back into your garden and allow for some much-needed stress relief and urge you to be hopefully for a happy and heathy 2022.

As we enter into fall here in San Diego its wise to check in on your landscape just to make sure everything is set for our winter weather, haha. Regardless of if you live in Point Loma or Del Cerro here are a few tips on how to get your landscape ready for what come next.

Plant strawberries now to allow for a bit of winter chill as this will help provide better fruit.

Set out winter vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, beets, carrots and turnips to name a few.

Treat stone fruit with a lime sulfur spray to control leaf curl.

Harvest persimmons as soon as they are fully colored.

Trim overly tall or dense shrubs, always follow proper pruning technique.

Cut back ornamental grass when they turn brown, check on variety to determine proper cutting height.

Be on the look out for upcoming rain storms, turn off irrigation to help save water before the storm arrives and depending on how much rain we receive you may be able to leave the irrigation off for a while.

Hope those tips were helpful and enjoy your garden and the cooler temps.

If you interest in more information please reach out to Cleator Landscape Design. 619-917-3644

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