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Tag: paths

  • Ask the Expert: How to Invite More Good Bacteria Into Your Garden (And Your Gut) – Gardenista

    Is your garden probiotic? In other words, is it teeming with beneficial microbes that vastly outnumber pathogens and keep you healthy? Looking at your landscape from this angle, suggests British ecological gardener and designer Sid Hill, can be an easy way to boost your gut health.

    Gardeners tend to have healthier microbiomes than non-gardeners, he says, since handling plants and soil and working outdoors increases our intake of the good guys, which easily enter our systems. Biodiversity in plants boosts the biodiversity of our gut flora. So, removing even just lowly moss or pulling little plants out of cracks reduces this access. Instead, as gardeners we need to make sure our landscapes invite more plant life, and one way to do this is by using materials that have bioreceptivity. It’s simpler than it sounds.

    Photography courtesy of Sid Hill.

    Above: Gardener Sid Hill demonstrates on his YouTube channel that even the ground can be full of beneficial microbes if allowed to support moss and other small plants.

    Sid is a gardener who also coaches other gardeners on how to make their spaces more effective in supporting biodiversity. His communication style is persuasive, seen to good effect on his YouTube channel and on Instagram. Growing up, Sid was home-schooled, traveling around Europe with his parents in a campervan. At age 15, he even set up his own gardening business. Sid’s style is thoughtful. He is not looking for instant fame.

    Recently, we asked Sid to tell us more about how something as passive as paving or a wall can support biodiversity.

    Why is it important to encourage plant life in overlooked places?

    Above: Sid Hill lives in Totnes, Devon, historically a part of the ancient rainforest around the western edges of the British Isles. It’s mossy and the trees are covered with lichen. “Use materials that naturally host life on their surfaces.”

    “Science is showing that our own biology is closely linked to the health and diversity of plants in the landscape. We are constantly exchanging microbes with the environments around us. When those environments are thriving with plant life, that microbial exchange helps to strengthen our personal microbiome. And diversity is key.”

    What materials in a garden are bioreceptive?

    Above: Sid made this paving using local slate and stone, and aged wood as seating. In a bucket of water, he broke up moss that he gathered nearby and applied it to the cracks, which soon became green.

    “Natural stone, weathered wood, and other organic materials are bioreceptive in the sense that they have the ability to host life. Surface texture is a huge factor in whether something supports life or not (the ingredients for this are shelter, water, and nutrients). That’s why cracks in paving are so successful: those crevices provide shelter from disturbance, hold moisture, and capture organic matter, which offers nutrition for mosses and other plants to establish.”

    How do you reduce the impact of paving?

    Above: To bind together pathways, Sid uses soilcrete. “It creates a semi-permeable surface which helps soften hard landscaping and bring life back into those built areas.”

    “I’m an experimental gardener, always testing ideas and playing with new theories. The idea behind ‘soilcrete’ is to create a mix of roughly 5:1 garden soil to cement instead of using sand. Sand extraction has a huge environmental footprint, although, of course, cement is even more impactful. It’s very easy to use, but natural builders I’ve spoken to have since suggested using lime instead of cement. I haven’t tested that yet, so for me it’s still open for experimentation.”

    How can we adjust or improve the hard landscaping we already have?

    Above: Resist the impulse to tidy every crack and crevice.

    “The key is to make plant growth look intentional. Allow moss to grow in a geometric pattern through paving cracks. Lift a few paving slabs and plant herbs or ornamental grasses in those gaps. Or you can sow wildflowers into the cracks so you end up with a patio that offers bursts of flowers through the season, rather than something that feels neglected or overgrown.”

    See also:

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  • Before & After: A 1940s-Suburban House Grows Up Gracefully in Mill Valley, CA – Gardenista

    In the first decade of America’s post-war boom, a million and a half new houses were built, creating vast tracts of suburbia and giving young families their first opportunity to own a home. Nowadays, however, homebuyers who stumble on a 1940s relic in vintage condition often wonder if it’s worth it to buy a house that needs a major remodel?

    For Raleigh and Michael Zwerin, the answer was yes. In 2004 they bought a circa-1944 cottage in Mill Valley, California. From the moment they moved in, baby in tow, they started thinking about the house they wished they had. Nearly a decade later, after having a second baby (and learning firsthand that the charming creeks that crisscrossed the neighborhood were prone to flood in winter), they asked architect Kelly Haegglund for help.

    For Haegglund, who lives just a few blocks from the Zwerins, the challenge was to design a modern-family-sized house that didn’t loom like the Hulk over the rest of the neighborhood, where one-story bungalows and cottages were built on narrow lots. The result? A modern three-bedroom bungalow with pleasing architectural details borrowed from the Arts and Crafts era. A low-water landscape, designed by Mill Valley-based Bradanini & Associates, surrounds the house in year-round greenery.

    Photography by Mimi Giboin.

    After searching for months for just the right dark stain color, Raleigh Zwerin suddenly saw it by accident when she drove by a house under construction in nearby San Francisco.
    Above: After searching for months for just the right dark stain color, Raleigh Zwerin suddenly saw it by accident when she drove by a house under construction in nearby San Francisco.

    “I went back to that house in the city several times until I met the lead contractor and asked him for the color, but he said the owner of the house said it was proprietary information and he didn’t want to give it out,” says Raleigh. Luckily, though, the contractor took pity on her plight. “He said, ‘I’ll meet you somewhere and give you a shingle so you can match the color.’ We ended up in a rendezvous by the side of the road. He brought two shingles in his truck, I brought a box of cookies, and it was great.”

    The custom trim color? The Zwerins also gleaned it from the same side-of-the-road exchange.

    A curtain of cape rush (Chrondopetalum elephantinum) will reach heights of from 4 to 6 feet, creating an airy screening layer behind the picket fece.
    Above: A curtain of cape rush (Chrondopetalum elephantinum) will reach heights of from 4 to 6 feet, creating an airy screening layer behind the picket fece.

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  • DIY Boardwalk: How to Lay Down a Planked Path Yourself

    DIY Boardwalk: How to Lay Down a Planked Path Yourself

    Lately I’ve been hankering for a woodsy, off-the-grid, no-screens-allowed place to escape to—no text messages, no email, no Netflix, just a paperback and someplace to float. Which has me revisiting the cabin in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region that Alice Saunders and Greg Ralich found on Craigslist and fixed up, DIY style (and which we featured on Remodelista).

    The cabin—which is about as rural as it gets, down the end of a class IV road—might not have running water or electricity, but it has simple summer pleasures: a hand-built dining nook/game table, a bright kitchen, a simple and sumptuous-looking bed, even an ad-hoc outdoor shower. It’s hands down the best-looking totally off-the-grid place we’ve seen (no surprise; Saunders is the founder and designer behind Forestbound Bag Co.). Our favorite detail? The couple needs to paddle out to the center of the pond just to get a hint of cell service. Unplugged weekends indeed.

    Recently we spotted that the couple had taken on another DIY project at the cabin: a boardwalk. “While fairly simple, it might be my favorite project to date,” Saunders wrote on Instagram. “It feels like a small way to highlight and appreciate the beauty of our land. Plus Greg and I finished this in one afternoon and didn’t get in any fights along the way, a true win when working on home projects with your partner.”

    Intrigued, we asked Saunders how this old-school, summer-camp-style boardwalk came together in just a few hours. Here’s the rundown.

    Photography courtesy of Alice Saunders.

    The area before the boardwalk.
    Above: The area before the boardwalk.

    Watch and learn.

    “Our goal was to build a very simple wooden boardwalk that wouldn’t take the focus away from the beauty of our land,” says Saunders. “We didn’t want something overbuilt and technical; we sought to make something that became part of the landscape and that, in time, it would just look like it was always there.

    “It was especially important to watch how the land and water and light changed over the year and years before I felt confident building something in this exact spot. It’s definitely the focal point of the view from our porch, so I was nervous, but this year I was ready to take on the challenge.”

    (Gently) create a path.

    “Before starting the project, we prepped the area by transplanting any ferns and other plants that were in the area we planned to build on, leveled out the soil (or well, mud), and cut back a large stump that the boardwalk would hug on its slight curve,” says Saunders.

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  • Hardscaping 101: Ground Covers to Plant Between Pavers – Gardenista

    Hardscaping 101: Ground Covers to Plant Between Pavers – Gardenista

    Too often pathway gaps are neglected and become a home for weeds. But where some may see awkward spaces between stepping stones, I see potential. Plants between pavers can soften hard lines, adding a lush, living element to a design.

    It’s relatively simple to fill the cracks between pavers with creeping plants that will stay low, won’t mind being squashed a bit, and may even be fragrant. Ground cover can triumph over weeds, too. Read on for everything you need to know:

    How do you choose a ground cover to grow between pavers?

    Above: White blooming Isotoma grows in a pathway, framing pavers with texture and color in a California garden designed by Elizabeth Everdell. Photograph courtesy of Everdell Garden Design.

    As a landscaper, I routinely feel like a boss on the plant employee search, hunting for highly qualified plant candidates for the position of ground cover. Listed below is my required criteria:

    Height: A plant should be low growing, raging in height from basically flat to 2 inches tall. Anything taller could be trip pedestrians and make the pavers look as if they are sinking, even drowning. Rule of thumb: the larger the scale of the pavers, the taller the filler plants can be.

    Foliage: The ground cover should be vigorous (but not invasive) and dense like a carpet to smother competing weeds and cooperatively traverse the spaces for continuity.

    Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista. Cotula leptinella ‘Platt’s Black’ (dollhouse fern) grows densely and has a shallow root system, which makes it ideally suited to creeping between stones to fill cracks. See more of this garden in our Gardenista book.
    Above: Photograph by Matthew Williams for Gardenista. Cotula leptinella ‘Platt’s Black’ (dollhouse fern) grows densely and has a shallow root system, which makes it ideally suited to creeping between stones to fill cracks. See more of this garden in our Gardenista book.

    Hardiness: A plant that grows between pavers should be tough and durable to withstand occasional trampling by foot or paw.

    No-Fuss: Ground cover plants for pavers must require as little maintenance as possible. A total given.

    Design: The ground cover needs to meet the design needs of foliage color, texture, and form. The choice also should complement the colors and textures of the pathway material rather than compete with it, and be congruent with the current landscape theme.

    What are the best plants to grow between pavers?

    The options below are by no means the only ones, just some of the popular ones, and you have different options depending on whether your path basks in sun or hides in shade.

    Different varieties of thyme such as ‘Minimus Russetings’ and ‘Purple Carpet’ soften the pavers in this Brooklyn rooftop garden. Photography by Marni Majorelle. For more, see Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before & After.
    Above: Different varieties of thyme such as ‘Minimus Russetings’ and ‘Purple Carpet’ soften the pavers in this Brooklyn rooftop garden. Photography by Marni Majorelle. For more, see Brooklyn Oasis: A City Roof Garden, Before & After.

    Full Sun:

    Creeping thyme (Thymus spp): Considered one of the finest ground covers for filling in between flagstones. It meets all of the criteria of a good plant employee. This petite herb comes in many varieties, all with tiny, rounded fragrant leaves in shades of dark green, lime green, and even yellow with a white edging. Elfin or woolly thyme are especially good varieties that will grow in difficult soils, stay flat and are frighteningly easy to grow.

    Above: Between the pavers grows a carpet of creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum ‘Elfin’) at this landscape in Northern California. Photograph by Jason Liske, from California Dreaming: A Golden Landscape on the Edge of the Continent.

    Dymondia (Dymondia margaretae) is a good alternative. Its phenomenally flat, tidy appearance bears slender leaves that are green on top and gray underneath. A slight upward curl on each leaf edge provides a frosted, two-tone look and it occasionally bears small yellow daisy flowers.

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  • OUTERcle: A New Source for Outdoor Tiles, Materials, and Sculpture

    OUTERcle: A New Source for Outdoor Tiles, Materials, and Sculpture

    If you’re searching for tiles for an interior design project, the hard part is choosing from the gazillion options out there. Sourcing for tiles and materials for an outdoor space, though? Even if you’re working with a landscape architect, you may find yourself frustrated by the limited options.

    That’s why Sausalito-based clé tile launched OUTERclé last month, a sister site for outdoor tile, materials, and sculpture. “We wanted to launch not just a collection of exterior forms and surfaces, but a destination that could inspire designers, architects, and their clients to consider that their outdoor spaces should be as compelling as, if not more than, their interior ones,” says Deborah Osborn, founder of the Sausalito-based brands.

    “People have been asking our team at clé for outdoor tile for years now, but one of the biggest challenges is that selling tile and materials for the outdoors is far more technical,” she continues. “We wanted to be able to not only offer beautiful materials, but also to help address issues such as freeze thaw, UV, heat absorption, slippage/DCOF, submerged material issues (pools and fountains), and driveway usage etc.”

    And lest you assume that clé has simply relocated some of its tiles over to OUTERclé, “95% of the products on OUTERclé are new (not the same as on clé),” says Osborn. “And for those surfaces that are similar to those found on clé, we have taken the opportunity to push these materials into a more exterior realm by either reconfiguring them through the use of color (either bolder or more in keeping with nature) and/or form (larger or thicker formats that better suit spaces without walls).”

    Here’s a peek at a small sampling of the many (hallelujah!) outdoor materials offered on OUTERclé:

    Photography courtesy of OUTERclé.

    The site offers several ways to browse, including: by area (patio, pool, driveway, etc.); by material (e.g., ceramic, brick, terracotta); and by collection (the tiles above fall under the Belgian Reproduction: Privé collection).
    Above: The site offers several ways to browse, including: by area (patio, pool, driveway, etc.); by material (e.g., ceramic, brick, terracotta); and by collection (the tiles above fall under the Belgian Reproduction: Privé collection).

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  • Icebreakers: 9 Eco-Friendly Tips to Clear Snow, from the High Line in NYC – Gardenista

    Icebreakers: 9 Eco-Friendly Tips to Clear Snow, from the High Line in NYC – Gardenista

    If you live in a region where snow and ice are common in winter, you probably already know you shouldn’t scatter rock salt to make sidewalks and garden paths safe for pedestrians. Sure, salt (aka sodium chloride) is cheap and melts the ice, but it can wreak havoc on plants—not to mention your poor dog’s feet and your own footwear. It also erodes concrete and corrodes metal gates, fences, and your car. What’s worse, salt in runoff harms aquatic life in our streams, rivers, and lakes, and does further damage after it contaminates the earth’s groundwater supply.

    For advice on environmentally friendly ways to clear ice and snow, we talked to Andi Pettis, director of horticulture at the High Line, the beloved New York City park that opened in 2009 atop an abandoned elevated railway and which stretches for almost a mile and a half on the west side of Manhattan.

    Avoid Compaction

    Snow collects on the branches of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’, a witch hazel on the High Line. Photograph courtesy of the High Line.
    Above: Snow collects on the branches of Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’, a witch hazel on the High Line. Photograph courtesy of the High Line.

    How do park staffers remove ice and snow from the High Line’s paths? According to Pettis, they do it the old-fashioned way. Step one: While snow is falling, they close off the park to keep people from walking on the paths and compacting the snow.

    “The weather on the High Line is always more intense than at ground level,” says Pettis. “The park is essentially a bridge thirty feet in the air, so it freezes both from above and below. And the wind off the Hudson averages twenty miles per hour faster than at ground level.” That means that snowfall freezes quickly on the paths (made of pre-cast concrete pavers), especially if it gets compacted, and takes a long time to melt.

    High Line caretakers are especially sensitive to issues of water pollution. “The grading is engineered so that precipitation runs straight into the planting beds,” says Pettis. “But any overflow drains into the city sewage system, and the less salt we put into that the better.”

    Snow collected on the ornamental grasses on the High Line after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Photograph by Jeanne Rostaing. For more, see Secrets to Surviving a Hurricane: NYC’s High Line Park.
    Above: Snow collected on the ornamental grasses on the High Line after Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Photograph by Jeanne Rostaing. For more, see Secrets to Surviving a Hurricane: NYC’s High Line Park.

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Pet Safety Tips During Snake Season

    Austin Pets Alive! | Pet Safety Tips During Snake Season

    Jul 21, 2023

    It’s sizzling in Texas and just like humans, snakes are seeking cool places to beat the heat during our record high temperatures. They may be cozied up in the shade of rocks on a favorite hiking trail, in the moist coolness around potted outdoor plants or dark recesses under decks and porches.

    Most of the time, snakes remain aloof and keep their distance from people and pets. But mid-summer is a peak time for snake activity, which increases the chance of a cat or dog crossing paths with the reptile while on a hike or roaming around outdoors.

    Austin Pets Alive! (APA!)  wants to help Austinites keep their furry friends safe by providing the following helpful pointers:

    • Keep dogs on leash while hiking on trails or when outdoors in unfamiliar areas.

    • Keep yards clear of rock piles, stacks of wood or other “covers” that could provide a shady area for snakes.  

    • Be aware that cats sometimes actually seek out snakes.

    Cats and dogs are inquisitive creatures and despite our best efforts to prevent our furry friends from crossing paths with a snake, it may happen. If you see a snake near your pet, assume they may have been bitten. If possible, take a picture of the snake or commit its color pattern to memory, which will help your veterinarian identify next steps. Keep the dog or cat as calm as possible and immediately call your veterinarian or nearest pet emergency center and follow their instructions.

    Sometimes the only clue you will have that your pet may have been bitten will be based on how your pet is acting, especially since snake bites aren’t often visible. Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

    • Your pet becomes wobbly or unsteady.

    • Your pet exhibits unexpected shaking or trembling.

    • Your pet’s breathing may become fast or shallow.

    • Your dog may vomit within the first hour of being bitten.

    Following these simple steps will help you protect your fur babies from snake bites during this time of high snake activity and extreme heat.

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