community | NORTH TEXAS GARDENIN

Know your landscaper

CARRIE DUBBERLEY

            Contributor

carrie@dubberleylandscapes.com

 www.dubberleylandscape.com

          972-618-6177

   Editor’s note: This column is part of a 13-week series on North Texas landscaping and gardening.

Here are some tips on how to find the right people to help you accomplish your goals — and how to tell the difference between the right and wrong people.

            Quality landscapes add curb appeal to your home, returning your investment dollars into cash at resale time. It is worth your time and money to find the right people for your landscape needs, considering that a great landscape will mature over time without needing to be remodeled after eight to 10 years.

            Whether you have a new home or need to remodel your landscape, is a good idea to understand how landscapes are designed, installed and maintained.

            Who do you call to help you with your landscape? That depends on the type of service that you need.

            There are many types:

• Lawn care or mow-and-blow service focuses on weekly lawn care only during the growing season;

• Retail nurseries sell plants, so pick a nursery that sells plants appropriate for your climate and soil;

• Landscape designers may be independent contractors who work with nurseries and/or landscape contractors; • Landscape architects must have a license to do more complicated stormwater management, slope changes and other hardscapes (built structures);

• Landscape contractors hire people and own equipment to put the design in the ground. They may have a designer, landscape architect and other licensed professionals on staff;

• Landscape management or maintenance involves the care of a landscape either weekly or by some other calendar schedule;

• Irrigation contractors have to be licensed in Texas;

• Certified arborists are available when a tree needs the best care possible.

Horticulture is another main area of expertise.  I received my horticulture degree in 1987 from Colorado State University, where they defined horticulture as the art and science of growing plants. Understanding the science of plant growth, and how soils and climate affect that growth, allow a deeper knowledge base from which one can draw in the process of designing a landscape.

Carrie Dubberley is the founder and president of Dubberley Landscape, Inc.   She and her husband, Don, provide consultation, design, installation and management for residential and commercial clients.

 When designing your landscape, group plants together that have the same requirements such as full sun, alkaline soil and low water use.  This grouping, with Mexican Bush Sage in the rear, behind Rosemary and Lamb's Ear (front), is low maintenance.  This picture was taken in fall when the sage is in full bloom for eight weeks.

March 25, 2011 neighborsgo | Plano | Murphy