FAQ | Madrone Landscape

Embracing Spring: A Guide to Mediterranean-Inspired Landscapes

Apr 10, 2024

Bring the Mediterranean Magic to Your Central Coast Landscape This Spring!

Spring has sprung on the Central Coast, and with it comes the urge to refresh and revitalize your outdoor space. Here at Madrone Landscape, we understand your desire to create a beautiful and flourishing California haven.

Did you know that our region shares a unique climate with several other parts of the world? This “Mediterranean climate,” characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, is found in California, Central Chile, the Mediterranean Basin, South Africa’s Cape Region, and Southwestern Australia. This common thread opens a door to a world of stunning plant possibilities for your Central Coast garden.

Why Consider Mediterranean Plants?

Climate-Smart: Plants from these regions are naturally adapted to thrive in conditions similar to ours, requiring less maintenance and water.
Year-Round Beauty: Many Mediterranean plants boast vibrant flowers and attractive foliage, extending the visual interest of your landscape throughout the year.
Unique Selection: Explore a diverse range of plants beyond the typical California natives, adding a touch of the exotic to your garden.

5 Eye-Catching Mediterranean Plants for Your Spring Landscape

1. California Native Cornus sericea (Creek Dogwood)

Eye-catching Feature: Vibrant red stems that add winter interest.
Growth Habit: Deciduous shrub, reaching 8-12 feet tall and wide.
Blooms: Clusters of creamy white flowers in spring and summer.
Light Preference: Partial shade.
Water Needs: Moderate watering, especially during dry months.

2. Mediterranean Basin – Laurus nobilis (Sweet Bay)

Perfect For: An aromatic evergreen tree with culinary uses.
Growth Habit: Reaches 20-30 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
Blooms: Small yellow flowers in spring, followed by deep purple berries.
Deer Resistant? Yes!
Water Needs: Low water user once established.

3. South Africa – Aloe striata (Coral Aloe)

Standout Feature: Brilliant coral-pink to orange flowers in spring.
Growth Habit: Succulent with a 2-foot-wide rosette of broad, pale green leaves.
Light Preference: Full sun.
Water Needs: Minimal water required.
Attracts: Hummingbirds.

4. Central Chile – Maytenus boaria (Maytens Tree)

Unique Characteristic: Graceful weeping form with light green, evergreen foliage.
Growth Habit: Small tree reaching over 30 feet tall.
Blooms: Tiny, inconspicuous spring flowers.
Light and Water: Full sun and ample summer water.

5. Southwestern Australia – Grevillea ‘Canberra Gem’ (Spider Flower)

Multi-Functional: Provides beauty and acts as a barrier plant.
Growth Habit: Shrub reaching 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide.
Blooms: Red flower clusters starting in early spring and blooming intermittently.
Attracts: Butterflies and birds.
Water Needs: Occasional deep soakings, prefers good drainage.

Ready to Breathe Life into Your Landscape?

The experts at Madrone Landscape can help you design and create a flourishing California-Mediterranean paradise. Contact us today for a consultation and let’s transform your outdoor space into a stunning oasis! Email [email protected] or call (805) 466-6263.

Our Favorite Winter-hardy Plants

Jan 20, 2024

Four Winter-hardy Plants for your California Central Coast Landscape

Each native region has unique and beautiful seasonal cycles, with plants that flourish in the cold of winter as others shrink back. These naturally winter-hardy plants keep the surrounding nature looking full and alive. On top of that, they sustain the local fauna, protect the soil, and assist with the overall health of the local region.

As such, it is important to plan each landscape for a full year’s worth of seasons—with the plants that have adjusted to the climate of the region precisely. Native planting is rewarding, colorful, and much easier than trying to support plants not built to weather your region (or worse, taming an invasive plant that weathers the region a little too well). If your landscape doesn’t already account for all four seasons, there’s always time to add them in.

Here are four of our favorite winter plants for California’s central coast:

Nandina “Fire Power”

Nandina is a vibrant evergreen shrub that provides color year-round. In the warmer months, they sport variegated yellows and greens. As autumn catches on and the weather becomes cooler, they take on their fiery red.

A form of bamboo, they thrive on very little care and require no pruning. Once established, they are drought-tolerant as well. As a dwarf cultivar of the heavenly bamboo, its low shrubbery is excellent for small gardens or ground cover.

It should be noted that this plant is toxic to pets.

Arctostaphylos “Howard McMinn”

Arctostaphylos is a low-maintenance, low water-use manzanita shrub. Adapted to drought conditions in the summer, they hold their evergreen leaves perpendicular to the sun to avoid water-loss. Manzanitas are striking year-round thanks to their gorgeous red bark and those peculiar evergreen leaves. In the winter, they show dainty winter blooms that bring a soft delight to the season.

A fruiting shrub, their dry, apple-like fruits are edible to animals, and they are solely pollinated by native bees, supporting the native fauna. The European honey bee is not adapted to pollinate them. Each flower requires “sonification” for its fine pollen to be released from its bell-like flowers. Luckily, the native bees need them too.

Sempervivum “Hens and Chicks”

Sempervivum is a cold-hardy succulent that comes in a variety of colors and can be planted in rocky places with very little soil. It is deer-resistant and an attractant for bees and butterflies when it puts out its rare flowers—with them, though the “hen” dies after flowering, its “chicks” will continue.

These plants prefer cool nights and cold-dormant seasons, both frost-hardy and adapted to flourish in soils and conditions where most plants would die. They multiply plentifully when planted in a spot they love, and their texture and colored trim bring year-long delight.

Combined with their drought-tolerance, they’re perfect for the California Central Coast (and you’ve probably seen them around!). We love the look it creates when you stick them in cracks and crevices of stone walls or walkways.

Rosmarinus officinalis “Irene”

Trailing Rosemary, like manzanitas, is low-maintenance and low water use. When planted on top of retaining walls and allowed to drape over, they add drama to your garden. Their scent and seasonal flowers give them an added edge over some of the other trailing plant materials.

These plants flower in the winter and spring, lending their soft, pale blue or white blossoms to the landscape. It is a natural insect repellent to mosquitoes and other insectoid pests while being a strong attractant for a variety of pollinators. Because of these two factors, it is considered an ideal companion plant. It supports other flowering plants during the winter and acts as a guard to prevent more vulnerable flora and seedlings from cabbage loopers, carrot flies, snails, and more.

A flourishing, sustainable landscape takes into account diverse, eco-friendly flora that support and play well with each other. With native palettes, you know the landscape will be healthy, thriving, and contributing to the surrounding wildlife. Everything flourishes. In Central Coast California, native plants are sustainable, adapted to low-water conditions that mean less water waste and lower utility costs, and easy to care for. They are built to thrive in their climate conditions.

Combined with sustainable planting and maintenance, such as mulching, building with recycled materials, and more, a seasons-balanced landscape will ask very little from you or its surroundings—and give much, bringing joy year-round.

Plan and make space for winter-hardy plants to reap the endless benefits of your native environment.

Interested in a winter garden landscape design? Contact our landscape designers at [email protected] or (805) 466-6263.

Bunch Grass Cutbacks: How, Why, and When

Dec 11, 2023

Tips for Bunch Grass Cutbacks on California’s Central Coast

Bunch grasses, prevalent in Central Coast California landscapes, offer a striking botanical mix of texture, movement, and vivid color. These perennial grasses, ranging from six inches to eight feet tall, are chosen for their foliage and seed head plumage. In the Central Coast, they typically require a significant annual trim to foster new growth.

Ideal Timing for Bunch Grass Trimming

The primary goal of cutting back bunch grasses is to stimulate fresh, green growth and to remove dead foliage, enhancing plant health. While some varieties don’t necessitate annual trimming, others thrive with biannual or more frequent cutbacks. The general guideline suggests cutting back after the last hard frost, balancing aesthetics with frost protection. In frost-sensitive species, delay trimming until late winter.

In San Luis Obispo County, we adjust our trimming schedule according to three distinct regions: the beach areas (Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Cambria, Los Osos, etc.), the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Edna, Nipomo, etc.), and the North County (Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Santa Margarita).

Regional Guidelines for Grass Cutbacks

Beach Zones: Start as early as December-January. The mild weather allows for a variety of grasses, like the striking Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum rubrum). Here, the extended growing season offers a more flexible trimming window.
Coastal Valleys: February is optimal, with the window extending from January to March. Purple Fountain Grass may wait until March, but most varieties are safe for a February trim.
North County: The colder climate, influenced by the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, pushes the trimming window to February-April, with March being ideal. The limited grass variety here still offers a breathtaking seasonal display.

The key is to time your grass cutbacks to enhance both plant health and aesthetics, minimizing the dormant period of the trimmed grass.

How to Execute Bunch Grass Cutbacks

Use sharp tools like shears, pruners, hedgers, or bladed weed whackers for trimming. Cut all blades close to the ground without harming the plant crown. Remove loose debris by hand to prevent rot and promote air circulation. Keep mulch and other materials at least 2 inches away from the grass crown.

Recommended Pruning Heights

Low(2-4 inches): Suitable for Festuca spp., Carex spp., and similar species.

Medium (4-8 inches): Ideal for Muhlenbergia rigens and dubia, small to medium Miscanthus spp., and others.

High (8-12 inches): Best for larger varieties like Miscanthus spp., Cortaderia spp.

Carex divulsa (LOW)

Muhlengergia Rigens (MEDIUM)

Seeking Professional Landscape Maintenance?

If you’re interested in landscape maintenance, including bunch grass cutbacks, contact us at Madrone Landscape. We’re currently accepting maintenance projects starting at $400/month. Reach out through our Maintenance Request Form, email us at [email protected], or call (805) 466-6263.

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.

Landscape Moisture Manager: Greener Plants AND Lower Water Bills

Aug 21, 2023

Paso Robles Youth Arts Academy’s lawn curb strip was slowly dying off. After four weeks of Moisture Manager treatment by Madrone Landscape, the curb strip is green again!

Beating the Summer Heat: Landscape Resilience with Moisture Manager Application

Summer brings soaring temperatures, along with the potential for parched lawns and burnt plants. While increasing watering might seem like the solution, it’s not always practical and can even run afoul of water conservation efforts. In this article, we explore a quick and affordable solution to conserve water and keep your lawn and plants green: moisture management.

Going Beneath the Surface: How Moisture Management Works for Your Landscape

Moisture management starts at the plant roots. Much of the moisture in your soil evaporates before your plants can make use of it. Moisture manager applications change the game by reducing water requirements. They create a protective film around plant and turf roots that attracts and captures water molecules, storing them on the root and soil surfaces. These droplets are then gradually released into your lawn, ensuring efficient water utilization.

Safe, Effective, and Easy: The Moisture Manager Product

The product used for moisture management comes in liquid or granule form. It’s both kid- and pet-friendly and doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients that could lead to runoff or groundwater contamination. Erik Gorham, Madrone’s Operations Manager, explains that applying the granules with a whirl spreader and immediately irrigating the treated area can yield visible improvements in turf color and seed germination in just one to two weeks.

Partnering for Plant Health: Year-Round Soil Moisture Management

Madrone, with its focus on water conservation, plant health, and aesthetics, offers a comprehensive approach to moisture management. The landscape maintenance teams can collaborate with homeowners and property managers to develop a year-round soil moisture management program. In cases of dry winters, Erik suggests establishing an application schedule where the crew visits two or three times a year to maintain optimal moisture levels and break the drought cycle in plants.

Saving Water, Money, and Maintaining Beauty: The Advantages of Moisture Management

Whether you’re a homeowner or property manager, there are numerous benefits to Madrone’s moisture management services. Their detail-oriented staff not only helps you save on your water bill but also ensures a beautiful, lush landscape year-round.

Contact Us for a Resilient Landscape

To discover more about Madrone’s maintenance services and how moisture management can benefit your landscape, reach out at [email protected] or call (805) 466-6263. Don’t let the summer heat wither your plants; instead, let moisture management keep them thriving.

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.

« Older Entries