Landscaping with Concrete Pavers

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Glenn

In recent blog posts I have written about gravel and permeable concrete as environmentally-friendly and attractive options for various hardscape uses in landscaping. Yet another option that is sustainable, versatile and attractive is concrete pavers. Pavers are pre-formed concrete” tiles” made to look like cobblestone, tile, brick, flagstone, slate, chiseled stone and other materials. Concrete pavers are evidently an increasingly popular choice for residential use as I have run across a plethora of information on the Internet touting their use in this way.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I will say up front that we do not recommend or use concrete pavers with our clients for two main reasons; 1) we don’t find the aesthetics to be quite “worthy” of the residential properties we have the privilege of working on and 2) we don’t necessarily agree 1000% with all the positive hype touting them over other concrete options. Don’t get me wrong, I think concrete pavers are often a good choice in commercial projects such as parks or schools, I just don’t feel they translate elegantly into home use. So to each their own. Aesthetics are subjective and personal and you can certainly make that decision for yourself.

With that, let’s talk about the positive aspects of concrete pavers. At first blush, interlocking pavers may seem like a more expensive option than some other choices, but they actually offer long-term cost-efficiency due to their durability. Because pavers are individual units, if one cracks at some point, it can be replaced. And the high number of joints in the surface facilitates drainage of water from rain, enhancing skid-resistance and decreasing nighttime glare.

Environmentally Friendly
Studies have revealed interlocking concrete pavements (ICPs) have an average life of at least 29 years. Concrete Pavers Earn LEED® Points and Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements (PICPs) are eligible for LEED® credits under the U.S. Green Building Councils (USGBC and CaGBC) guidelines.

Paver Driveways
Paver driveways are actually stronger than concrete, having two to three times the compressive strength and weight-bearing capacity of normal concrete. Installed properly, they are reportedly less prone to shifting, and should not settle or sag, even with heavy vehicle traffic or extreme weather changes.

Paver Pathways and Walkways
Professionally installed, pavers provide a durable, uniform surface. One of the biggest advantages of pavers is that in the event that something like a large tree root raises one or more of the pavers requiring repair, pavers are manufactured to be uniform so they can be replaced without leaving ugly patches or mismatched areas.

Paver Patios and Courtyards
Concrete pavers come in a wide variety of surface finishes, colors and shapes. Moreover, a skilled installer can create a variety of laying patterns, further expanding the customization possibilities.

“Concrete pavers” doesn’t have a very pretty ring to it, but taking into consideration all the benefits it offers as a hardscape choice it can be an attractive landscape materials option. To recap, concrete pavers:

Come in a large range of colors and patterns
Are strong (2-3X stronger than concrete)
Have a long life expectancy (30+ years)
Are low maintenance
Are easily replaced if damaged
Provide a non-slip surface

Textured or Stamped Concrete: An Attractive, Cost-Efficient and Durable Landscaping Option

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Glenn

Stamped concrete (also known as textured concrete, decorative concrete, imprinted concrete, impression concrete) is concrete that is created to simulate brick, slate, flagstone, stone variations, tile and wood patterns. Stamped concrete is created by pouring and smoothing out concrete, then allowing it to set until it is able to hold an impression. A pattern is then imprinted in the concrete with a “concrete stamp” made of polyurethane. Stamped concrete can be used to enhance pool decks, walkways, driveways, entryways, patios and courtyards.

Stamped concrete was first introduced about 50 years ago. At that time, design options were limited. But the industry had evolved and developed to the point where today one of the biggest appeals of stamped concrete is the wide availability of colors and patterns. At Bonick Landscaping we make our own custom patterns as the aesthetic standards of our clients simply require a better-looking end-product than most of the pre-fab patterns that are out there today. Stamped concrete provides the same benefits of durability as traditional concrete (it stands up well to harsh weather and high traffic and lasts for many years). These advantages make stamped concrete a good choice in terms of value among landscaping materials as the cost can represent a 50% or greater savings versus natural stone or other materials.

Stamped concrete can be colored in a number of different ways including integral/integrated colors, antiquing release colors, color hardeners and tinted sealers.

Integral or Integrated colors are mixed into concrete before it is poured and have the advantage of being consistent throughout so that if the concrete is ever chipped or scarred, the color appears the same.
Antiquing release colors are accent colors applied to the surface before stamping that prevent the stamp from sticking to the concrete but also accent color in the grooves and crevices of the stamped design.
Color hardeners are applied to the surface of concrete. They are not recommended for climates that change rapidly due to what is called the “popcorn effect” where small circles “pop out” of the surface of the concrete.
Tinted sealers have a transparent color tint added and come in a wide variety of colors.

Typically, contractors use a variety of coloring techniques to achieve an attractive and realistic faux look. To maintain its attractiveness, it is generally recommended that sealer be reapplied every one to four years depending on the area’s usage and weather exposure.

One final note on stamped concrete; because stamp selection and color application play such an important role in the final outcome, stamped concrete done correctly is truly an art. I have seen poorly done stamped concrete applications as well as beautiful examples. For best results, be sure to visit and look at examples of actual work done before choosing a contractor.

Garden Up with Green Walls

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Glenn

contemporary residence with pool and vertical garden or green wall

Photo courtesy of greenovergrey.com

Green walls, vertical gardens or living walls are gaining popularity both inside and out and I love the idea. Like most ideas, it isn’t exactly a new one. The practice of planting ivy to climb up the walls of buildings has existed for centuries. The new vertical gardens are simply a natural extension of this concept. So far, they seem to be predominantly cropping up in city environments, but we predict you’ll see more and more of this trend spreading to the ‘burbs.

Vertical gardens offer a number of benefits. The most obvious is esthetics; they can make structures more attractive and add fragrance. They can create an inviting habitat for urban wildlife. They also help absorb sound and improve air quality indoors and out. Green walls decrease CO2 and increase humidity. (Although how much they improve air quality is a pretty hotly debated topic – as are some of the other pros versus cons of green walls.)

Green wall or vertical garden on a residential rooftop patio.

Photo courtesy of agreenroof.com

Other positive claims: exterior green walls reduce solar gain (the increase in temperature in a structure that results from solar radiation) thus lowering energy costs, they provide protection from the effects of UV radiation and acid rain, and help lessen the building’s contribution to the heat island effect (when natural areas are replaced with concrete and asphalt, they become warmer).

So what are the potential negatives to green walls? The biggest concerns fall into three general categories: 1) over-inflated claims regarding the benefits (don’t expect to save 20% on your energy bills!), 2) the debatable trade-offs that relate to sustainability – for example, a number of the grid planter systems on the market are made of plastic, and 3) the long-term sustainability of the walls.

Side-by-side photos of green wall on PNC Bank

PNC Bank in Pittsburgh Sept. 2010 and Feb. 2011

Of these, the third is not something you read or hear a lot about, but it is perhaps the most important. While properly constructing and installing a green wall or green panel (after all, green walls don’t need to be an entire wall) isn’t exactly a cakewalk, maintaining a green wall is the bigger challenge. If many or all of the plants need to be replaced frequently one has to question the sustainability.

The reality is, to successfully maintain a green wall on anything but the smallest of scales is best left to experts. It requires an in-depth knowledge of design, irrigation, plants, growth media, pest and disease management and fertilizers. Choosing the right system, the correct plants for the setting and understanding the science behind the technology are all keys to green wall’s longevity.

As I said at the beginning of this post, I love the idea of green walls and vertical gardens. I’ve seen lots of striking examples, the most dramatic being some of the commercial applications. (Although personally I also love the small, less ambitious and more maintainable residential efforts.) The key, as with any landscaping effort, is in getting all the variables right for sustainability.

Why You Should Like Permeable Concrete

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Glenn

In a previous post on The Glamour of Gravel, I mentioned that in a draught-prone climate such as ours, it can be considered a more environmentally friendly choice than concrete. In this post, I’d like to clarify that I was referring to conventional concrete and not permeable concrete (also sometimes referred to as porous concrete, pervious pavement, no-fines concrete, gap-graded concrete or enhanced-porosity concrete). The use of permeable concrete is, in fact, among the Best Management Practices recommended by the EPA and other agencies for the management of stormwater runoff.

In urban areas, we deal with stromwater runoff by building sewer systems that channel the water directly to lakes, rivers and other surface waters rather than into the ground. This runoff picks up toxins such as E. coli, sediments, phosphorus, zinc, cadmium and copper as it travels, requiring expensive water purification systems to cleanse the water before it reenters the natural water cycle.

Permeable concrete is exactly what the name says, it is a concrete mixture that is porous, thereby allowing water to infiltrate and pass through it into the ground beneath. Pervious pavement reduces stormwater runoff and recharges groundwater. It is less prone to cracking or buckling from temperature extremes, requires less frequent patching than conventional concrete and properly installed, should easily last more than 20 years.

Importantly, the subgrade of permeable concrete filters pollutants. When water moves through soil it is called “infiltration.” Infiltration is the way underground water sources are replenished. As water infiltrates, many soils and plants filter out certain pollutants, helping maintain water quality. The earth is still the largest water filtration system around! And the diversion of surface waters does eventually affect the quality of groundwaters. It may take decades or even centuries for rain or melted snow to reach the deepest layers of the earth from which many wells draw water for human consumption, however, that water does come from the surface. So reducing stromwater runoff matters and is something we should all care about, especially in a climate such as ours in the Dallas, Texas area.

So next time you are planning on installing a new walkway or driveway, consider permeable concrete; there’s a lot to like about it.

Take a Walk – or Ride – on the Wild Side…in Dallas

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Glenn

Although this is primarily a landscaping blog, every now and again I go off on a tangent, usually about something related to Dallas and the outdoors. You may remember last October I provided an update on one of my favorite Dallas projects currently under construction, Klyde Warren Park (the name was just announced last month), which is a 5.2-acre deck park being built over Woodall Rogers Freeway that is slated for opening this fall.

Oak Cliff Preserve
This time it’s about one of Dallas’s best kept secrets which is hiding in plain sight – Oak Cliff Nature Preserve. Ever heard of it? Ever been there? It’s a 121-acre oasis with over eight miles of beautiful multi-use hike and bike trails just minutes from downtown Dallas. Go there and it will be hard to believe downtown Dallas is just over your shoulder (literally). Located near Pierce and W. Saner (backing up to the Hampton-Illinois branch of the Dallas Public Library), it is owned and run by the Texas Land Conservancy. One of Texas Land Conservancy’s key partnerships is with the Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association (DORBA) which first approached TLC back in 2006 about creating the now established multi-use hike and bike trails on the preserve. The preserve is mostly made up of natural woodland and prairie habitat.

Cedar Ridge Preserve
Travel just a little bit further outside of downtown (20 minutes) and you’ll discover Cedar Ridge Preserve. At an elevation of 755 feet, it’s a slice of hill country. Cedar Ridge Preserve is a natural habitat of 600 acres featuring about nine miles of trails with native trees, grasses and wildflowers, a butterfly garden and plenty of wild mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. CRP has been managed by Audubon Dallas since April 2003 by charter from the Dallas County Park & Open Space Program and the City of Dallas.

So next time you want to reconnect with nature, remember these two preserves, just minutes from downtown Dallas.

The Glamour of Gravel

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Glenn

Black Basalt

Gravel may not seem like the most glamorous of subjects, but you know the old saying, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and like most of the landscaping materials I work with, I love and appreciate gravel as a diverse landscaping solution with its own unique features and benefits. There is a lot more to gravel than the drab grey stuff that probably popped immediately into your head at the mention of the word. Many types of rocks are crushed and used for gravel and like flagstone, come in an array of colors from Black Basalt to Pennsylvania Bluestone.

Colorado River Rock

Benefits and Uses of Gravel
Gravel telegraphs a more organic feeling and softer mood than most other kinds of paving. It can be casual or formal, traditional or modern, depending on the type chosen and how it is used. Gravel will last a lifetime and provides excellent drainage, allowing water to readily flow through to the dirt underneath.

Here in the Dallas area, a number of communities have ordinances that limit the amount of impermeable surface allowed on a property. So, for example, if you have a large house with a pool and concrete decking on a small urban lot, a gravel driveway and footpaths may be more than just an esthetic choice. Ordinances aside, in a draught-prone climate such as ours, gravel, because it is permeable, can certainly be considered a more practical and environmentally friendly choice than concrete.

Decomposed Granite

Gravel can be used for driveways, walkways, patios, play areas, for “petscaping” and is a great choice for mulch. It is low-maintenance, relatively inexpensive and attractive. Gravel has long been used in some of the more arid climates of the Southwest in sparsely planted dessert gardens and even as a green, sustainable alternative to lawn. (Since landscaping typically accounts for 20-50% of all residential water use, the savings can be significant.)

A gravel surface will last indefinitely, but it does require some minimal upkeep that includes occasional weeding and every few years, top-dressing of some new gravel.

Decomposed Granite

Types of Gravel
Gravel comes in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and materials. What you choose will depend on how you are going to use it along with personal preference. Gravel can be rocks that are mined or tumbled with rounded edges (commonly referred to as river rock), or mechanically crushed to make sharp angular edges (crushed rock). Rounded edges are softer underfoot but are more likely to shift because they are smooth. Crushed rock locks together for a more stable surface, which makes it a better choice for driveways and other high traffic areas. (Other types of gravel, such as pea gravel can be used for driveways and function and look beautiful, however, they are created using a mix that includes crushed granite or concrete to make the surface more stable.)

Mexican Beach Pebble

Today there is a huge range of color options in gravel (although you may have to invest some time and energy to discover all your options if you aren’t relying on a professional landscaper since the selection at the mega hardware chains isn’t that great). Mixed gravels contain many shades of color and mixtures with agate and feldspar can almost seem jewel-like. (These are a good choice for smaller projects that will be seen close up.) Some common types of gravel include:

Black Basalt Gravel

• Crushed Gravel – What you typically think of when you think of gravel. It’s gray and is made up of sharp and irregularly shaped rock fragments, which makes it easy for the rocks to interlock and compact.
• River Rock – Smooth stones that are softer underfoot, provide good drainage and come in a variety of colors, typically grays and browns and typically range in size from 3/8 inch to 6” inches. River rock is often used in flower and garden beds and on walkways for erosion control. (We used river rock in for the fountain beds in two photos featured in this post.)

New Mexican River Rock

• Pea Gravel – Pea gravel is simply smaller sized river rocks and are sandy in color. (We used a pea gravel mixture for the circular driveway featured in this post.)
• Lava Rock – Lava rock is lightweight and porous with angular edges, offering good drainage and usually ranging in size from ¾ inch to 1-1/4 inches. It comes in red or black hues. (We use lava rock a lot for fire pits, however, the black is increasingly hard to find.)
• Quartzite – Quartzite is small, like pea gravel, but a brighter, white color.
• Brick Chips – These are crushed, angular fragments of terra cotta brick ranging from ¾ inch to 1-1/4 inches and are typically used for driveways or as mulch.

Crushed Granite

• Crushed Marble or Granite – Among our favorite materials for walks, patios and drives. Crushed marble comes in varying sizes and a wide array of colors – reds, greens, golds, yellows, blacks – making it highly versatile. It always looks great and works in many different types of settings.
• Decomposed Granite – DG is readily available gravel that comes in ½ inch to fine powder. This is one of the best materials for drives and walks. It is an orange/brown color.
• Limestone – A great material that is also readily available. It comes in a variety of different sizes from, 3/8 inch – fine powder or dust for walks, drive and patios and up to 3-6 inches for use as small rip rap.

Hopefully, as you’ve been reading this post you have also been enjoying the photos that show some examples of how we use gravel to create beautiful and practical outdoor landscape environments. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll agree with me that gravel can be glamorous.

March Landscaping in Dallas: Cutbacks, Pruning and Planting

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Glenn

Is it just me, or did winter pass us by this year in Dallas? As I write this I see the forecast for today is 80 degrees (!) and the extended forecast is upper 60s and low 70s. It appears spring is, well, springing. Here at Bonick Landscaping, we are busy doing cutbacks or pruning. While not the most glamorous of landscaping activities, it’s an important one for plant and landscape health.

Proper Pruning
Properly cutting back or pruning of trees, shrubs, grasses, roses and perennials enhances the beauty of your landscape, but like any other skill, it does require knowledge of what you are doing to achieve success. In most cases, it’s better not to prune than to do it incorrectly as improper pruning can weaken, deform and even kill plants. Believe it or not, more trees are killed each year from improper pruning than by pests. Often DIY pruners don’t have a good fundamental understanding of plants – that the leaf surface reflects the root system, for example, and if you take out too much leaf system, the roots die back – add drought conditions to this equation and all of a sudden you are looking at a once healthy tree that is struggling to survive.

Reasons for Pruning
Reasons for pruning are to maintain plant health, improve the quality of flowers, fruit, foliage and stems and in some instances to restrict growth or “train” a plant. Pruning should always follow a plan that begins with understanding the reason for pruning before you begin. The most obvious reason to prune is to remove dead, broken, pest-infested or diseased limbs by cutting them at the point of origin or back to a strong lateral branch or shoot. Pruning beyond this basic level gets a bit trickier, and again, should only be approached when you are confident that you know what you are doing.

Don’t forget to cutback groundcover and grasses, too, to allow for new growth. It should go without saying, but at this point, wait to trim spring-flowing shrubs and vines until after flowing.

Other March Landscaping Activities
Remember, now is also a good time in the Dallas area to plant trees, shrubs, roses, perennials, herbs and annuals such as begonias, petunias, geraniums, alyssum and snapdragons. Did I mention roses? Some people don’t realize that there are many drought tolerant roses that grow well here in the Dallas area. If you are a DIY gardener, your local nursery can steer you in the right direction. In fact, our friends at North Haven Gardens will be hosting their Spring Rose Festival this weekend, March 3 and 4 and have several educational sessions about roses scheduled throughout the weekend.

These next few months in Dallas are truly some of the most pleasant times to be outside and gardening so enjoy!

Reflections on the Joys of Gardening

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Glenn

A while back I read a great opinion piece, “The Joy of Quiet” that talked about how “the average American spends at least eight and a half hours a day in front of a screen…in part because the number of hours American adults spent online doubled between 2005 and 2009 (and the number of hours spent in front of a TV screen, often simultaneously, is also steadily increasing).” It went on to site research findings that indicate “that after spending time in quiet rural settings, subjects “exhibit greater attentiveness, stronger memory and generally improved cognition. Their brains become both calmer and sharper.” More than that, empathy, as well as deep thought, depends (as neuroscientists like Antonio Damasio have found) on neural processes that are “inherently slow.”

I am fortunate to work in an industry where I get to spend at least some time contemplating nature, although admittedly, usually from my office window. Today’s post is simply a random collection of quotes I have collected that I hope serve as a gentle reminder of how rejuvenating the act of gardening is and how important it is to stay in touch with nature.

• The best place to find God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. – George Bernard Shaw

• I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to being present at creation. – Phyllis Theroux

• When heaven falls to earth it becomes a garden. – Stoufer

• Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back into the slow circles of nature, is a help. Gardening is an instrument of grace. – May Sarton

• A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit. – D. Elton Trueblood

• I do some of my best thinking while pulling weeds. – Martha Smith

• Garden as though you will live forever. – William Kent

• I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. – David Hobson

• Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. – Albert Camus

• Grow what you love. The love will keep it growing. – Emilie Barnes

• Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. – Robert Louis Stevenson

• Working in the garden gives me something beyond the enjoyment of the senses. It gives me a profound feeling of inner peace. – Ruth Stout

• No two gardens are the same. No two days are the same in one garden. - Hugh Johnson

• Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. – Les Brown

• He who plants a tree, plants a hope. – Lucy Larcom

• Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas. – Elizabeth Murray

‘Tis the Season for Transplanting Trees and Shrubs in Dallas

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Glenn

This is optimum tree and large shrub planting season in Dallas and Bonick Landscaping does a lot of it this time of year. In spite of the fact that trees and shrubs have an exceptionally high ROI in terms of both enjoyment and property value, the cost can add up which is why it is so important to either know what you are doing or hire someone who does. A few basic considerations:

LOCATION
There are a number of considerations when choosing where to plant trees. The site you choose will help determine the kind of tree you choose. Is it going to be located near a deck, a patio or a house? In the sun or shade? What are the soil conditions? Trees need room to grow root systems underground and branches above ground. It’s important not to plant a tree that will grow too large in a small area. This includes the root system which may invade sewer lines, crack sidewalks or create bumpy lawns when mature. Also, avoid planting trees too close to buildings or under power lines or telephone poles (unless you don’t mind seeing them butchered by the phone company).

CHOOSING A TREE
Why are you planting a tree or trees? Your reason also affects your choice. You may want be planting to increase your privacy, to create a windbreak or a sound barrier, to help shade your home or property or simply to increase your landscape’s beauty and your home’s property values. This information, combined with the desired location and soil conditions will help inform your choice. Some other considerations are fast-growing versus slow-growing trees (fast growing trees are often weaker and subject to storm damage) and various tree vulnerabilities (some trees are prone to particular diseases and insects).

TRANSPLANTING
I am not going to get into even the basics here regarding how to plant a tree (there’s too much to cover and DIYers can find plenty of resource for that on the Internet) except to note that you should always proceed to dig with caution (which again goes back to why it is prudent to hire a professional). Before digging, contact your utility company to mark the location of any underground lines. You could be liable for damage done to such lines.

For over 30 years Bonick Landscaping has served clients with the highest standards looking for out-of-the-ordinary luxury landscape designs and pools by offering the best in service, workmanship and plantings. View our portfolio.

A Warm Winter and Growing Bulbs in Dallas

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Glenn

photo courtesty of Doug Green's Garden

We are having an unseasonably warm winter, even for Dallas, and one of the results has been gardeners have already begun to see some spring bulbs sprouting and have been asking me about it. Some gardeners worry that their plants may die if a sudden cold spell hits (remember the snow we had last February?) The good news is your plants are hardier than you think.

Right now, most of what you are seeing is foliage (rather than buds and blooms) which can withstand cold temperatures. However, if the flowers actually bloom, then there is reason to be concerned if a cold snap is in the forecast. If you are concerned about your bulbs experiencing shock due to frost, you can cover them with a frost blanket. Your other option, of course, is to cut a bouquet and enjoy the blooms in the house. Realistically, the latter may be your best option with daffodils as they can be most affected by a late cold snap. (It’s also a good reason to consider planting early, mid-season and late-blooming daffodils.)

If your plants do develop flower buds and are damaged by the frost, it is normal for emerging buds that have been affected by frost to turn yellow or brown and drop off. This is an indication that the plant is returning to dormancy and may bloom again once the warmer weather returns. If your bulbs have flowered, they could be damaged for the rest of the year but should continue to grow in later years.