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LAND DESIGNS UNLIMITED LLC

A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes

Author: John Holden

  • Weeding Tools Recommendations

    Weeding Tools Recommendations

    Today I used several weeding tools to maintain a garden overgrown with weeds.

    Truth be told it was my fault.

    Last fall I overseeded the lawn and some seed found its way into the beds.  The gardens were a mix of grass, dandelions and chickweed.

    I spent the afternoon ‘hacking’ away at the weeds with my weeding tools.  I’d like to share the method to my madness with you.

    Weeding Tools Recommendations

    First, I went through the beds with my weeding knife (Far right) and pulled the dandelions.  If you cut dandelions with a hoe the long tap-root will grow back.  You have to dig down and remove the root.

    Next, I went through the front of the bed with my grub hoe (Second from left).  The grub hoe packs more of a punch than a hoe.  It’s perfect for removing heavy weeds and sod.

    I used my cutting hoe (Second from right) where the weeds were sparse.  A cutting hoe with a sharp edge is the right tool for stray chickweed.

    Four Weeding Tools Results
    Piles of weeds at the front of the bed ready to pick up with a manure fork.

    A manure fork is a perfect tool to load weed piles into a wheelbarrow.  A manure fork has sharp tines and lightweight.  I recommend you buy a 5 tine manure fork.

    I hope you’ll try one of the weeding tools above to improve your productivity when weeding gardens.

  • Dog Days of Summer

    Dog Days of Summer

    That’s Theo our Great Pyrenees mix enjoying shade in the back of my truck on a hot summer’s day.

    I thought  Theo was a Great Pyrenees.  However, he’s almost two and not ‘fluffing out’ like a Great Pyrenees.  I think he’s a Great Pyrenees with some Golden Retriever mixed in.

    Theo is an incredibly intelligent, patient and loving 90 lb boy.  He wants nothing more than to be where I am.

    Last week I dropped the kids off at camp with Theo riding shotgun.  When we returned Theo didn’t want to get out of the truck.

    He knew I’d be heading out soon enough or perhaps he simply enjoys the cozy spot in the back of the truck.  Whatever the reason, Theo wasn’t coming out.

    Theo sitting in the back of the Dodge

  • Christy

    Christy

    Hi John,

    Thank you so much.  I love it.

    Best,

    Christy

    Foundation Planting Ranch Before
    Before

    This foundation planting had a couple difficult situations to work with. There’s little space between the house and the sidewalk.  In addition, the electric meter glares at guests as they make their way to the door.

    I planted Blue Billow Sawtooth Hydrangea between the walk and the house to add color.  A standard PG Hydrangea blocks the electric meter and provides additional color in late summer.  To the far right, the slow-growing Dwarf Hinoki Cypress will provide color through the long winter.

    Completed Foundation Planting Ranch
    After – Before mulching

    Thank you for the kind words Christy.

  • Over 400,000 Views One Month

    Over 400,000 Views One Month

    I’m happy to announce my YouTube Channel, CTScaper has over 400,000 views in the last month.  It amazes me that there are that many people who want to hear what I have to say.

    Thank you for your support.

  • How to Create a Curved Stepping Stone Path

    How to Create a Curved Stepping Stone Path

    This week I finished installing a stepping stone path.

    This stepping stone path is unique for a couple of reasons.

    First, it provides a much-needed way to move through the garden.  There’s no way to cross the garden without it.

    Second, the stepping stone path gently curves to add interest.  The path curves left to make room for a future PG Hydrangea on the right.

    I’m looking forward to filming the garden when completed.

    How to create a Curved Stepping Stone Path

    Landscape Before work Begins
    When I started there was no way to get through the bed.  The plants were randomly planted with no sense of purpose.
    Laying out the Stepping Stone Path
    The white line is where the stepping stone path will be.
    Stepping Stone Path Completed
    It took me a day to select, deliver and roughly place the stepping stones.  It took a day and a half to install them. The work usually goes faster.  I chose some odd-shaped and large stones. I’m very pleased with the results.
    Laying out Stepping Stone Path
    Placing the stones is a two-step process.  First I roughly place the stones.  Next I put an X in the middle with a grease crayon and space them 26.5″ on center. The first and last stone go 13.25″ from the edge of the bed. The beginning and end never work out perfectly. I spread the difference between the last few.
    Completed Stepping Stone Path
    Set stepping stones 2-3″ high so they aren’t covered by mulch.  Nothing is more annoying than covering your freshly placed stepping stones.
    View of the Lake and Stepping Stone Path
    I’ve been working on a lake the last couple weeks and enjoying some incredible views.  The mulch in this bed is pure Hemlock Bark.  My favorite.

    A while back I filmed how I install stepping stones.  While I’ve gotten better at producing videos the way I lay stepping stones hasn’t changed a bit.

  • Stop Chasing the Wrong Things

    Stop Chasing the Wrong Things

    When you stop chasing the wrong things in life you give the right things a chance to catch you.

    The DJ on the radio said that today.  I think it’s worth sharing.

  • Tips for Getting Work Done

    Tips for Getting Work Done

    After three days of hard work I’m almost finished preparing a garden bed.  It was a hard-fought victory that taught me tips for getting work done.

    We’ve had a mild winter and I looked forward to working with the temperature in the 50’s and 60’s.  Last week the weather changed.  It’s been in the low 40’s with overcast skies and showers.

    Landscape Before work Begins - Tips for Getting Work Done
    The first thing I do when I arrive at a job is formulate a plan to get the work done.

    First, I removed six yards of mulch from around a Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum sp.) and the landscape fabric underneath.  There was too much mulch around the tree.

    Mulch over six inches deep - Tips for Getting Work Done
    There was over six inches of mulch under the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum sp.) along with landscape fabric. The mulch and the landscape fabric had to go for the health of the tree.
    Removing Mulch Under the Red Maple - Tips for Getting Work Done
    Removing excess mulch around the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum sp.).

    The only place to get rid of the mulch was off the property.  That meant loading a wheelbarrow and pushing it up a 15 foot slope to my truck about 40 yards away.

    Did I mention this was my first job of the season?  My body is nowhere near conditioned yet.

    This afternoon as I finished for the day the sun broke through the clouds.  It was like the heavens opened up and said, “Attaboy John!”

    Sun Shines on the Future Garden - Tips for Getting Work Done
    In a weird twist of fate the sun broke through the clouds as I was finishing for the day. The line through the bed is a future stepping stone path.

    Tips for getting work done

        1. Get started.  Even if you don’t have a plan for how to do the work.  When you start a plan will form in your mind.  I’m talking about a plan to complete the work, not a landscape design.
        2. Congratulate yourself for getting started.  If you the type of person, like me, who occasionally over thinks things don’t beat yourself up for lost time.
        3. Enjoy the work.  I enjoy good “clean” hard work.  Digging, mulching, splitting wood, etc.  I feel energized, albeit exhausted, after a days work.
        4. Break the job into manageable pieces.  I set a goal for each day.  My first day on most jobs the goal is to get to the job and get started.  Once I’m working a plan will form (See step 1).  The second day my goal was to clean up the mulch under the Japanese Maple.  The third day my goal was to finish preparing the bed.  By the third day I gained momentum and prepared another bed.
        5. Take a break if you need one.  Nothing saps productivity like rushing through a job or stressing about a deadline.  It may seem counter productive but you’ll notice big dividends from a break.
        6. Wear comfortable shoes.  A landscaper is only as good as his or her footwear.  If your shoes are heavy you’ll move slowly.  If your feet are wet your day will be miserable.  Some days I bring a couple pair of shoes and a heavy and light weight sweatshirt.  The first two days I wore heavy insulated steel toe boots.  When the sun broke I put my lightweight Muck Boots on and felt like I could fly.  I wear the lightest shoes I can.  The exception is when I need steel toes for safety.
    Muck Boots vs Winter Boots - Tips for Getting Work Done
    Given the choice I prefer my lighter and more comfortable muck boots.

    You started the job.  You’re going to finish it.  That’s all that matters.

    I hope these tips for getting work done will help you get through your next job.  Get out there and have fun!

  • Jack Frost Exceedingly Bad Day

    Jack Frost Exceedingly Bad Day

    Yesterday we had snow, then rain, then ice and then snow again.  When I woke this morning it was a frigid 26 degrees.

    You’d think I’d be used to spring snow.  I’ve lived in southern New England all my life where the weather is anything but predictable.

    I’m not.

    Every time Jack Frost lays waste to the landscape I’m surprised.  Yesterday Jack was having an exceedingly bad day.

    While the pictures below show plants at their worst I assure you they’ll be fine.  In a few day they’ll look as good as when it was in the sixties last week.

    Hellebore (Helleborus sp.) sent to Hell
    Hellebore (Helleborus sp.) thrives in weather like this. In a few days you won’t know the plant was under half an inch of ice and snow.
    Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus officinalis) on Ice
    Can you can see the layer of ice on this Japanese Cornel Dogwood (Cornus officinalis)?
    Pansy (Viola sp.) Covered in Ice
    This pansy is in for a rough couple weeks. Most of the foliage will turn brown and die.  Growth deep inside the plant will survive.  It’s going to take time.  I should have brought the plant inside BEFORE the cold weather arrived.
    Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) Laid to Waste
    These poor Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) were laid out on the lawn. I can’t say the flowers will look as good as they did before the snow. However, they will right themselves and shine again in a few days.
    Tailgatecicles
    Mr. Science Guy how does water run and freeze at the same time?
    Icy on the Outside Warm on the Inside
    The first thing I did this morning was get wood to build a fire. The twine holding the tarp is surrounded by thick ice.

    What’s the weather like where you live?

  • Old-Fashioned Craftsmanship

    Old-Fashioned Craftsmanship

    After a day of office work I decided to take Theo for a walk.

    It was a beautiful evening.  The temperature was around 68 and the sun was shining.  I admit I wasn’t in the mood for a walk.  Too much office time drains my energy.

    After 45 minutes of walking I had a choice.

    Continue straight and be home in 15 minutes or take the dirt road to the right and add an hour and a half to my walk.

    I chose the road less traveled.

    I love dirt roads.  I love old houses.  I love walking through the forest.  I love walking in the rain?

    This dirt road was right where I wanted to be.

    As Theo and I headed down the road a shower started with the low rumble of thunder.

    I didn’t mind.  The rain was warm.

    While walking I saw some old-fashioned craftsmanship.

    Stone Wall with Arch for Water
    The arch through this stone wall gives the stream a stylish way through.
    Close-up of Stream Through Wall
    The stream running through the stone wall.  The job could have been done easier plenty of ways.  None would have looked better.
    Stone Wall Built on Boulder
    Here the masons used a large boulder to support the wall over the stream. I like how the masons tied the large stone into the wall.
    New England Stone Wall Rebuilt
    A rebuilt new england farm wall.  Modern stone walls often have wide mortar joints and randomly cut stones for quick construction.
    Stone Fence Posts
    There’s more to the story of this fence than stone posts and cedar rails. I’m sure that fence had different rails when it was originally built.
    Sugar Maple and Stone Fence Posts
    Notice how the maple tree engulfed the stone fence post. I wonder if that Sugar Maple was planted to shade the house.

    Theo and I left for our walk a little before six and returned a little after eight.  We feel refreshed and renewed albeit a little damp.