Description As the common name suggests, Ironwood has hard, heavy wood. One cubic foot of the wood, valued for carving and firewood, weighs 66 pounds. Ironwood’s bark is light gray when young, turning darker with maturity. The gray-green foliage is evergreen except in extreme cold. The 2-inch-long, 1-inch-wide leaves are divided into oval leaflets to ½ inch long. Pairs of …
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The Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape has finally been installed for our winner, Lisa O. at her Avondale home! While our past videos featured irrigation systems, planter boxes, and patio pavers, we all know it’s THE PLANTS that are the most important component of a fabulous Xeriscape landscape. In episode 8 of our 10-part series, Cathy Rymer from City …
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We’re celebrating the long-awaited-for GROUNDBREAKING of the Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape. Our winner, Lisa O., and her family have been patiently awaiting this day! The BIG lesson here? The steps leading up to the landscape install does take time and some good planning, especially if you want successful results. As you will notice on the video, having a …
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Ulmus parvifolia, better known as evergreen elm or Chinese evergreen elm, is best characterized by its long, arching branches which provide dense summer shade. This tree makes a beautiful and functional addition to parks, school grounds and other open areas. Their large size and extensive root systems make them less suitable for small residential landscapes. The evergreen elm is a …
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The Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab landscape is getting closer to groundbreaking. You might remember that Lisa (our backyard rehab winner) visited both a Xeriscape Demonstration Garden and a local nursery to look at plant materials. However, another important shopping trip to take before you break ground is to a landscape materials supplier… you know… rock yards and paver companies …
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We love do it yourself (DIY) as much as you, but when it comes to designing an earth-friendly, water-saving Xeriscape landscape, it’s okay to lean on a professional. Sure, hiring a pro might sound like a sit-back-and-relax kind of process, but a pro can offer you much more than peace of mind. Landscape professionals, like the ALCA-Certified ones we provided …
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The best time to think about how you’ll water your landscape is actually before you install it. That’s because a healthy and efficient landscape plan considers how much water your plants need and how best to get that water to the root systems of your plants. This week’s video brings Lisa Osborne, the Drab to Fab Backyard Rehab Contest winner, …
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Considering a winter lawn? Consider the benefits of forgoing a winter lawn this season instead. Not only do winter lawns use more water than dormant Bermuda (warm season) grass, they cost more, take more maintenance, and can weaken the Bermuda lawn. Each year, more people are embracing the monetary, time, and environmental savings of forgoing a winter lawn. A recent …
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Thanks to an amazing visit to the Scottsdale Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at Chaparral Park during Part 2 of our 10-part series, Lisa Osborne was inspired to start selecting plants she liked for size, form, color and function for her fab new landscape. She also learned about plants that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, something she’d like include in her own backyard. …
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With over 750 species, salvia (commonly called sage) offers a great variety of forms, foliage, and seasonal colors. Sages are known for their fragrant foliage and long-lasting, spectacular blooms. The flowers emerge above the rounded shrubs either distinctly spaced on tall skewers or in long, densely clustered spikes. Although mostly noted for their cool blue, purple, or lavender blooms, some …
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In last week’s video, you were introduced to our winner, Lisa Osborne, and saw her sad and drab backyard. So we’re excited in our second video to start formulating our ‘fab’ plan for our featured backyard rehab winner! In this segment, Lisa Osborne, our Drab 2 Fab Backyard Rehab winner, consults with Janet Waibel, a landscape architect with Waibel & Associates …
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This past Spring, the Water – Use It Wisely campaign had nearly 11,000 entries to its Drab 2 Fab Backyard Rehab promotion with ABC/15 TV. If you entered, THANK YOU! If you didn’t win, we invite you to live vicariously through our winners, Lisa and Alan Osborne of Avondale. Today launches a 10-part video series where you will meet the winners. See their drab backyard. …
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