Are you trying to make sense of when to run your irrigation system with this year’s lack of rain? Normally our irrigation systems get a break during late Winter and early Spring while our soils are replenished with water naturally through the wet season’s rains. But this year, some gardens are needing supplemental water to keep plants alive. So how do you know how long to run your water system — and if it does rain, how do you know when to turn it back on after a waiting period? There is a simple solution to all of this: install  Solar Sync http://www.hunterindustries.com/product/sensors/solar-sync    that monitors weather and provides feedback to your controller every 24 hours. This system automatically turns off in the rain; lowers the entire percentage of your watering schedule in cool, overcast weather; and raises the percentage of your watering schedule on warm days. This handy technology is a great way to make sure you’re not overwatering unnecessarily — saving you real money on your water bill, while keeping your plants healthy with correct water application rates at the correct times. The other benefit of using this technology in the East Bay Area, Marin and San Francisco is that it will make adjustments on those cool, foggy Summer days when your water systems are turned up to maximum and shouldn’t be watering at the maximum. It is best to have a professional make two follow-up visits after installation, as sometimes it can initially take some fine-tuning for optimal performance.

We don’t want to lose the resources we have around us. At Planted Earth, when possible, we reuse materials already on the site to make interesting and functional elements in the garden. This design called for a raised planter box for growing berries. We removed part of a concrete walkway and used the broken pieces in the wall, stacking them as if they were stone.

We also lined the bottom of the planter with welded wire mesh to prevent gophers and moles from getting into the box.

The photo below shows the wall in progress. Check back again later for a photo of the completed box complete.

At Planted Earth we have been happily busy building decks, planter boxes, garden gates, and the whole gamut. One of our latest projects is an installation of a hot tub in a San Francisco garden. We recently installed it on a fresh concrete pad that we formed a couple feet below our deck framing. After we install the Ipe decking and pebble detail around the tub, and complete the planters, we will plant the finishing touches of an oasis in the fog.

We have used Robert’s Hot Tubs in Richmond on a couple of installations with great results. They sell tubs made of redwood, Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Jarrah and Teak wood.

Here are a few photos showing the new hot tub and another one we installed in Piedmont, CA.

A short way into studying California Native plants I realized that many of them are closely related to our favorite, exotic plants that we’ve always admired and planted time and again. We have our own Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Roses, multitudes of Salvias, Iris, ferns, Columbine, Penstemon and many more.  When I realized these plants grow in our hills, valleys, stream beds, along roads, coastal hills, and under our Oaks and Redwoods, without needing irrigation systems, fertilizers or pruning shears, I knew they would become the new standard for planting in our gardens. (Especially during times of drought…eh hem!…)

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EBMUD is offering rebates of up to $500 if you install a WaterSmart Irrigation Controller. This type of controller monitors the actual on-site environmental conditions and provides the right amount of water-not too much or too little. Planted Earth is a certified installer of Smart Controllers. For more info contact us, go to http://www.ebmud.com/conserving_&_recycling/water_smart_tips/default.htm or talk to our friends at the urban farmer store; urbanfarmerstore.com.

Located in the East San Francisco Bay area, we specialize in custom residential garden design and garden construction. Our landscaping services include, but are not limited to, masonry terraces, walls, and walkways. Our staff horticulturist and capable crew work together to create gardens that will thrive. Irrigation and lighting systems are two of our specialties along with grading and drainage solutions. We also design and build fences, arbors, gates and decks.  Planted Earth can help with all of your landscaping and garden design needs.