Design | Madrone Landscape

Vibrant Autumn Landscapes in California’s Central Coast

Nov 6, 2023

Autumn Brilliance: Elevate Your Central Coast Landscape with Seasonal Color

Embrace the cooler season on the Central Coast with a vibrant autumn landscape. The shift to fall brings a flourish of foliage that turns your garden into a canvas of warm colors. Madrone Landscape specializes in plants that promise a vivid display as the temperatures drop. Let’s explore our top picks that guarantee a vibrant autumn landscape.

Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)

Thriving in sunny spots, the Chinese Pistache shines with drought-resistant qualities. As temperatures dip, its foliage erupts into a fiery blend of orange and red hues. The tree’s October berries are a gift to the local wildlife, while its balanced, symmetrical form makes for an exquisite focal point in any garden.

Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo biloba “Autumn Gold”)

With fan-shaped leaves that turn a luminous yellow, the Ginkgo biloba “Autumn Gold” becomes the highlight of a vibrant autumn landscape. This tree’s golden foliage creates a stunning contrast, especially when paired with the fiery backdrop of other autumnal shades.

Bloody Geranium (Geranium sanguineum)

Beyond its vibrant magenta blooms in the warmer months, the Bloody Geranium’s foliage takes on a crimson coloration in fall, living up to its name. Its delightful leaf shape offers a bushy accent or a sprawling ground cover that keeps your garden lively through the seasons.

Golden Stonecrop (Sedum reflexum “Angelina”)

This resilient succulent maintains a sunny disposition year-round, which intensifies into a rich gold with the chill of fall. Ideal for rocky soils, Golden Stonecrop is a fuss-free choice that keeps gardens bright and weed-free.

Coral Bark Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum “Sango Kaku”)

A twist on the beloved Japanese Maple, the ‘Sango Kaku’ variety captivates with its seasonal transformation. Lime-green leaves yield to golden tones and fall away to unveil a stunning red bark, providing a dramatic backdrop throughout the colder months.

Ready to elevate your landscape with these autumnal beauties? Reach out to our design team at Madrone Landscape at [email protected] or call us at (805) 466-6263 for a consultation. Transform your space into a seasonal spectacle.

On the Boards: Toad Creek Terrace Multifamily Development

Oct 18, 2023

Landscape Design in Templeton, CA

Nestled on the scenic slopes above Toad Creek in Templeton, CA, Toad Creek Terrace is a multi-family residential project that effortlessly marries cutting-edge design with environmental consciousness. Our mission at Madrone Landscape was to provide a landscape design that not only complements the native surroundings and also meets state water-use guidelines.

Water-Smart Design

Understanding California’s water conservation landscape, our irrigation strategy for Toad Creek Terrace was meticulously crafted to be efficient. We utilized advanced calculations to create an irrigation system that meets or even exceeds state regulations, without sacrificing the integrity of the design.

Harmonizing with Nature

Our planting plan for Toad Creek Terrace was created with an awareness of the project’s unique geographical settings. To harmonize with the local flora, especially the native oak trees, we integrated a palette of native and Mediterranean plants. This allows us to offer a modern aesthetic while preserving the natural feel of the surrounding area.

Toad Creek Terrace stands as a compelling example of how innovative design can be married with environmental consciousness. We are delighted with the final outcome—a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape that resonates with both residents and the natural surroundings.

If you’re a residential or commercial property owner in the California Central Coast looking to elevate your outdoor spaces, we at Madrone Landscape are here to bring your vision to life. Don’t hesitate to contact us for any landscaping services at [email protected] or give us a call at (805) 466-6263.

On the Boards: Spotlight on San Miguel Apartments Landscape Design

Oct 18, 2023

An Ambitious Project with a Historic Connection

Situated near the iconic San Miguel Mission, the design of San Miguel Apartments incorporates the timeless California Mission style. Our aim was to create an environment that not only complements the architectural elements of the apartments but also pays homage to the mission and the surrounding community.

Water-Efficient Irrigation

Given California’s water conservation requirements, our irrigation plan was crafted meticulously to be water efficient. Our experts used smart water calculations to meet or exceed state guidelines without compromising the beauty of the landscape.

Embracing the Mission

Our planting plan was designed to align with the mission style of the proposed apartment buildings. We incorporated native plants and traditional elements to create a harmonious blend of old and new.

Safety for Residents

In any landscaping project, safety is paramount. For San Miguel Apartments, the challenge was to design a planting plan that considers the safety of the residents while still maintaining aesthetic integrity. Specifically, we focused on avoiding dense plantings that could potentially block visibility or encourage loitering. Our design team conducted multiple revisions to ensure that the landscape will be both beautiful and secure.

The San Miguel Apartments project presents a unique intersection of history, community, and modern landscape design. We are currently in the design phase and are excited about bringing this vision to life. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to make progress on this incredible project. If you’re a homeowner or business in the California Central Coast area interested in landscaping services, we invite you to get in touch with us at Madrone Landscape.

If you’re a homeowner or business in the California Central Coast area interested in transforming your landscape, Madrone Landscape is here to make your vision a reality. Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or (805) 466-6263 for all your landscaping needs.

Your Ideal Landscape: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sep 8, 2023

Plants breathe life into gardens, offering seasonal dynamism. During the spring, radiant flowers blossom, and deciduous trees flaunt lush foliage, only to become stark in winter. This landscape design guide will help you factor in these seasonal shifts for a well-thought-out strategy that beautifully balances the ever-changing nature of plant life.

However, lasting elements like hardscape materials (think concrete, stone), outdoor furniture, pergolas, fire pits, and water features provide a constant backdrop. When harmonized with seasonal plantings, these elements impart a unique ambiance throughout the year.

Wondering how to transition from a bland lawn with deteriorating surroundings to a dream garden space? This landscape design guide will help you.

The initial steps are straightforward; but as you proceed, expertise in design becomes essential. A landscape designer will greatly benefit from your preliminary research and ideas. Investing time in understanding and pinpointing your preferred landscaping styles will refine your design aspirations.

Discover Local Landscaping Styles

Embark on a neighborhood stroll. Bring along a companion to evaluate various landscape styles. Discuss the highs and lows of each design, noting standout plants and materials. Equip yourself with a notebook for jotting points and a smartphone for capturing images. Don’t restrict your exploration to just your immediate neighborhood. Venture further to discover unique architectural and landscape inspirations.

Madrone North County Native Natural Landscape

Gather Digital Inspiration

Following your local exploration, dive into the vast digital world. Platforms like Pinterest, Houzz, Instagram, and HGTV are treasure troves for landscaping ideas. Tailor your online search for region-specific inspirations like California or Mediterranean landscapes, emphasizing drought-resistant or native plants. Familiarize yourself with terms like “xeric” or “ornamental grass” to better communicate with industry professionals.

Craft a Materials Palette

With a collection of inspiration at hand, start categorizing. Separate your finds into:

Character: Character photos contain a mix of elements, including furniture, architecture, vegetation, and landscape. These images are often broad angles and represent a particular style or sense of place.

Hardscape: Hardscape is the structure and backbone of a site—walls, flatwork, fountains, walkways, boulders, rock mulch—anything that is installed once and stays put. Hardscape elements are typically the biggest-ticket items, consistent throughout all seasons, and relate closely to building layout and materials.

Plant Palette: Plants breathe life into a space—yet come with a unique set of opportunities and strengths; not the least of which is need for the proper combination of sun, soil, and water. Taking plant inspiration from the neighborhood is often one of the best ways to find climate-appropriate plant selections. Even so, the microclimates within your property (particularly sun and wind exposure) may differ and affect plant viability. A palette based on the desired look can be combined with some horticultural know-how to develop a specific plant list.

Transition to Professional Collaboration

Having established your materials palette, you’ve laid a solid foundation for your landscape’s transformation. This groundwork has set the stage for the next pivotal phase. While it’s empowering to spearhead the initial steps on your own, partnering with a professional will ensure the fruition of your vision. From this point on, the subsequent steps will be a collaborative effort, where you and the landscape expert work hand in hand. Their expertise will be invaluable in bringing your landscaping dream to life, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality.

Madrone Landscape Design Concept Drawing Plan

Develop a Conceptual Plan

Begin the design phase with a precise base map. This should encompass utility locations, existing greenery, and structural details. If unsure, consider hiring expert help. Concept plans broadly represent proposed changes, highlighting primary features.

Sketch Ground-Level Views

Vignettes or sketched views offer a ground-level perspective of your landscape. They provide a tangible feel of the space, supplementing your concept plan. Employ tools like Adobe Photoshop for digital sketches or stick to hand-drawn illustrations.

Delve into 3D Modeling

3D modeling tools, such as Google Sketchup, can elevate your design visualization. With an accurate base map, these tools help in plotting out your envisioned space in three dimensions.

Bring Your Design to Life with Rendering

Photorealistic rendering tools like Lumion offer a tangible glimpse of the potential landscape. By blending 3D models with realistic textures and elements, you get a vivid visualization of your dream garden.

Not everyone might find all steps achievable. But even accomplishing the initial stages can significantly assist landscape designers in realizing your dream. From plan drawings to advanced visualization tools, every stage plays a crucial role in materializing the perfect landscape for you.

Contact Us for an Ideal Landscape

Ready to bring your landscaping vision to life? Connect with our landscape design team today and let’s craft your dream garden together! Reach out at [email protected] or call (805) 466-6263.

Meet the Team: Bailey Meyer, Landscape Estimator

Aug 15, 2023

Madrone Landscape welcomed Bailey Meyer to our sales and design office early this year, and she’s definitely exceeded early estimations… Since week one she’s flourished in the Construction Estimator position and added significant value within Madrone’s landscape construction efforts and company culture. Her smiling face and attention to detail have benefited both our design crew and construction teams. Welcome, Bailey, it’s been great having you!

What is your favorite thing about working at Madrone?
I like being a part of the design-build process and learning all sorts of new things.

Why are you here?
I studied Spanish and Landscape Architecture at Cal Poly. I’ve always liked learning about landscapes and what goes into building a beautiful landscape.

What is your favorite plant and why?
Of all the plants, I get great pleasure out of California Poppies because of their vibrant orange color, as orange is my favorite color. I’m also always on the lookout for Blue-eyed Grass and Dudleya while hiking through San Luis Obispo County. Maiden’s hair and Goldenback ferns are also favorites.

What are some of your favorite hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy cooking and baking for family and friends. My favorite things to bake are lemon poppy seed muffins, cinnamon rolls, pretzels, and English muffins. Additionally, I like going to the beach and having picnics in the Cal Poly Arboretum on a nice sunny day. I also dabble in plant embroidery when I find the time. My pet dog, Miss Luna, likes to accompany me on all my adventures (that her poor, old, frail, senior dog body can handle, which isn’t much these days).

Give us a fun fact about you!
I only drink water.

Sometimes, I go camping in the Sierra Nevadas and visit Bodie, my favorite landscape “in a state of arrested decay.”

The Essential Guide to Fire-Safe Landscaping in San Luis Obispo County

Aug 7, 2023

Fire Season is here again.

As the wildfire threat increases through the summer months, the question always remains: How can your landscape help?

In 2022, California had a bit of a reprieve from the destruction of 2021. While over 772 buildings were damaged or destroyed in 2022, no fires reached the size of the three largest fires in history, all from 2021. Just over 363,939 acres burned over the course of 7,667 wildfires, which was a significant decrease from the 2.6 million acres that burned in 2021. This was a welcome improvement from the previous two years, although a state of emergency was declared to support communities recovering from fires worsened by an extreme heat wave.

Property owners are at risk, to be sure, but what can we do to minimize those risks? Is it possible to improve the defensibility of our properties by landscaping wisely?

The answer is yes.

At Madrone Landscape, we have dealt with properties in high fire danger areas for decades. There are many ways to enhance the defensibility of a property, whether through plant selection and layout design or irrigation and water system strategies. Fire-resistant plants selections are available, but it is every bit as important that your plantings be well-spaced, properly pruned, and adequately watered in order for them to perform their fire-resistance function. Also, eliminating plants entirely from around structures may not be the best or only option. Properly chosen plants can catch air-born fire embers, letting them die out harmlessly, and plants’ roots are often vital to control erosion after a fire event.

For the latest recommendations on ways to make your family and home more fire safe, visit the SLO County Community Fire Safe Council website.

Defensible Space – Defensive Landscaping

What you plant in your yard, and where you plant it, can be just as important as how your home is built. When in the path of a wildfire, your garden and lawn can become fuel for the flames. But, by learning the different zones around your property, you can create a more fire-safe home.

Immediate Zone: 0–5 feet from the furthest attached exterior point of the structure. This is the most important zone, as fire in this area will present the greatest danger to your house. This area should be kept irrigated and clear of debris at all times.

Top Fire-Resistant Landscaping for the Immediate Zone:

Plants up to 18 inches tall that are low-volume (not thick and bushy)
Plants with a high moisture content, such as succulents
Grasses a maximum of 3 inches tall
Tree branches trimmed 10 feet up
Area is irrigated and kept clean
Use of rock mulch against the house (instead of bark mulch)
Removal of all dead, dying, and diseased vegetation from gutters, ground, roof, and exterior attic vents

Intermediate Zone: 5–30 feet from the furthest exterior point of the structure. The goal of this zone is to reduce the available fuel in order to slow a ground fire. Larger shrubs and trees can be introduced here, as long as a distance that is twice their height separates them. This will prevent the “fire ladder” effect, where fires jump from one clump of shrubbery or trees (fuel) to another. Grass in this area should be mowed to 6”. This area should be kept irrigated and maintained.

Top Fire-Resistant Landscaping for Intermediate Zone:

Succulents, small to medium shrubs
Trees at least 10 feet apart and tree crowns 10 feet off the ground
Lower tree limbs removed 6–15 feet from the ground
Grass a maximum of 6 inches tall
Shrubs separated by two times their height (a 6 foot shrub will be at least 12 feet from its neighbor)

Extended Zone: 30–100 feet, as far as 200 feet, from the furthest exterior point of the structure. The major effort here should be to thin existing vegetation and remove debris to interrupt and reduce potential fires.

Top Fire-Resistant Landscaping for the Extended Zone:

Low to medium height plants
Grass mowed to 18–13 inches
Plants grouped in “islands” for water efficiency
Dead branches, leaves, and litter removed

Landscaping in fire-prone areas should try to create a fire safe buffer—a defensive space—around your structure. On top of everything else, it is crucial to ensure there is a deliberately clear path to the structure for firefighters, ensuring both their safety and yours. Taking these measures can make it easier and safer for them to save properties from wildfires.

Looking for some inspiration and additional information?

Fire Safe Demonstration Gardens

Next time you visit the Mid-State Fairgrounds, check out the Madrone design-build fire safe landscape surrounding the Fire Safe Council Building. In addition to examples of appropriate hardscape materials, rock mulch and boulder options, and fire-resistant furnishings, a variety of informational materials are posted around the landscape.

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden has a Fire Safe Demonstration Garden located at 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. They are open daily during daylight hours. The Gift Shop and Office are open 9 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Friday.

Visit the UC Master Gardener Program‘s Demo Garden and their Fire Safe Landscape display at Garden of the Seven Sisters, 2156 Sierra Way in San Luis Obispo.

Get more tips from the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden’s Fire Safe Landscaping Brochure and the University of California’s Home Landscaping for Fire publication.

Make your landscape defensible. We can help! Contact us at [email protected] or (805) 466-6263.

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