LAND DESIGNS UNLIMITED LLC

A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes

Author: John Holden

  • Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ – A Colorful Groundcover for Connecticut Gardens

    Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’ – A Colorful Groundcover for Connecticut Gardens

    liriope muscari

    Variegated Big Blue Lilyturf is an attractive, low maintenance and reliable groundcover for Connecticut gardens.

    Variegated Big Blue Lilyturf grows in clumps about a foot tall.  It flowers in September with twelve-inch tall lavender flower spikes.  After flowering the spikes can either be cut back or left for fall interest.

    The yellow variegated foliage brightens any dark corner of your landscape.  Cut foliage back in late-fall or early spring.

    Variegated Big Blue Lilyturf grows in partial shade.  If planted in full sun the foliage will bleach.  Lilyturf is not fussy about the type of soil it grows in, as long as it is not constantly damp.

    In the above Connecticut garden I planted Variegated Big Blue Lilyturf with evergreen boxwood behind and Fothergilla, a spring blooming shrub, intermingled around it.

    By John Holden

  • Newtown CT Landscape Design Site Analysis

    Newtown CT Landscape Design Site Analysis

    Today I completed the site analysis for a landscape design in Newtown, Connecticut.  A site analysis is the first, and most vital step, when you measure and assess the site you are designing.

    Landscape design is about getting a feel for the site.  How much sun does the space get?  What type of soil is on the site?  How does water flow over the site?  What type of emotion do I feel when on the site?  How can I enhance, or negate, that emotion?

    It takes an hour or two for the site analysis of a basic landscape design.  Yes, I could rush in, take some measurements, snap a few pictures and be gone in half an hour.  A little extra time getting to know the site will lead to a better landscape design for this Newtown, Connecticut home.  I look at the area from many different angles.  Constantly asking myself, “What if I…?”

    While completing the site analysis I start with the big picture and work down to the details.

    First, I take pictures of the site from every possible angle.  Digital pictures are cheap and I can extrapolate a measurement I missed or recall the view from the road.

    Next, I draw a sketch of the area and take measurements of the site.  While taking pictures and measuring the site I am keeping an eye out for elements of the site that will affect the design.  Are there any obstacles to move or work around?  Is there a better way to design this walkway?  How much sun does this space get?

    At last I am ready to start drafting a preliminary landscape design.  It does not have to be perfect right now.  My goal is to jot down my thoughts quickly before they disappear.  I write the names of some plants I will use, most plants names are generic, such as small flowering shrub, large evergreen, perennial etc.  My goal is to have a rough idea what size and type plants I need.

    Once I leave the job site the design mostly completed.  It’s a matter of going to the drafting table and drawing a scaled base plan and filling the spaces with my thoughts.  I also do some research on plants and materials to use during the design process.

    All decisions for this landscape design in Newtown, Connecticut, are based on the site analysis.  Doesn’t it make sense to spend a little extra time getting a feel for the site?

  • Where to Begin Your Landscape Design?

    Where to Begin Your Landscape Design?

    In my job as a Newtown, Connecticut, landscape designer I often meet people who have chosen to improve their landscape. Some have moved into a new home and need a front yard planting.  Others have an overgrown landscape that has literally eaten their house.

    Often future clients are unsure where to start developing their landscape.  They obsess over what plants to use in the landscape, what material to use for the walkway or the investment for their project.

    Design your landscape by working from the big picture down to the details.  At the beginning of the design process I ask clients questions such as:

    • What area do you want to design?
    • What function will the design serve?
    • What do you like about your current landscape?
    • What do you not like about your current landscape?
    • How will people move through the landscape?
    • Is your style more contemporary or traditional?
    • How soon do you want the design to look established?
    • Why? (Repeat often, it is a goldmine of information!)

    Remember, if you work from the big picture to the details, developing your landscape design will be both thorough and enjoyable.

  • Your Rights When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

    Your Rights When Hiring a Landscape Contractor

    The other day, while talking to a prospective client in Newtown, Connecticut, I heard the story of a contractor who had dropped the ball. My prospective client had talked to a carpenter about work in his home and never received an estimate. It had been a week since he left his last message asking the contractor for a follow-up call.

    Every time I hear this story it amazes me. Usually the person telling the story has both the want and the financial means to hire a contractor to complete the job. They just need a knowledgeable and responsible contractor to do it.

    Don’t get me wrong. Some jobs aren’t a good fit for contractors or their schedule won’t allow them to complete a job in a timely manner.

    A simple call saying, “Thank you but this job is not a fit.” While uncomfortable, it would leave the contractor in a good light with the opportunity for future work at best, and a lack of negative talk about his company at the worst.

    At Land Designs Unlimited LLC we stay in touch with our landscape contracting clients by:

    • Returning all calls before the end of the next business day or sooner.
    • All agreements are in writing so we are on the same page about what the job is, what the completion date is and the investment.
    • No changes that affect the cost of the job without our client’s consent.

    If you are looking for a refreshing experience with a landscape designer or landscape contractor in the Newtown, Connecticut, area please call Land Designs Unlimited LLC. I guarantee to return the call.