Choosing the Right Concrete Finish

Concrete is used more than any other material worldwide because of its strength and durability. At its most basic, concrete is a mix of aggregate and cement which is mixed with water and poured into forms to cure. The exact materials and ratios used can impart a wide range of characteristics, making concrete an incredibly versatile material. In the landscape, the most obvious characteristic of a concrete installation is how it is finished after it is poured into a form. There are four typical outdoor finishes: broom-finished, exposed aggregate, sandwashed, and stamped.

Broom-finished concrete is a popular choice for driveways.

Broom-Finished Concrete

A gray, broom-textured concrete is the most basic outdoor concrete finish. It is commonly used for sidewalks and driveways and, as the name suggests, involves dragging a broom across the surface of the wet concrete to give it a ridged texture. Its popularity lies in the fact that it is a durable and economical finish, as well as one that provides good traction in wet conditions. For a little extra interest, a colored pigment can be mixed into the concrete to give it a tone other than the basic gray.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete

To give concrete an exposed aggregate finish, the surface of the wet concrete is treated with a chemical that stops the outer layer of cement from curing. That outer layer is then washed off, revealing the aggregate within the concrete. Exposed aggregate concrete features a bumpy, pebbled texture, which creates excellent traction when wet. The aggregate, however, often has sharp or pointy edges which can dig into bare feet, making it an uncomfortable choice for a backyard patio. Exposed aggregate is also prone to damage, as the protective cement that binds the aggregate together has been removed from the surface of the concrete.

Sandwashed Concrete

Sandwashed concrete undergoes a similar finishing process as exposed aggregate, but the composition of the concrete mix is different. For a sandwash finish, the mix will have a higher proportion of small sand-sized particles versus pebble-sized particles for exposed aggregate. When the top layer of cement is washed off, the concrete is left with a uniform texture much like the surface of sandpaper. The surface is comfortable to walk on while still offering excellent traction, and the unobtrusive finish is suitable for any style of landscape.

The sandwashed finish gives this concrete sidewalk traction even when wet.

Stamped Concrete

Because of the extensive process for finishing stamped concrete, its final appearance can vary. Stamped concrete typically has a pigment mixed into the concrete itself to give it a base color. Additional pigments are often applied to the surface of the concrete to give it depth and character, and then large rubber stamps are pressed into the wet concrete. The concrete takes on the texture of the stamps, which can be patterned with organic or geometric shapes that mimic stone or other material. The stamping process gives the concrete a very smooth surface that can be slippery when wet, however, which makes stamped concrete a poor choice for walkways or pool decks. The smooth surface also shows wear much more easily than a more textured finish, which may give the concrete a shorter aesthetic lifespan.

The subtle stone texture of this stamped concrete patio blends with the natural stone around it.

New concrete work is a big investment, and it’s the sort of project that you only get one chance to do right. If you’re considering concrete patios or walkways, get in touch with us to see what our expert concrete finishers can do for your landscape.

Saving Water with a Drought-Tolerant Lawn

This xeric lawn is a year old and receives infrequent supplemental irrigation.

Lawns are ingrained in American culture as the foundation of any landscape, but the climate in most of the country is not actually well-suited to the commonly used turf grasses. In the dry Inland Northwest, traditional lawns require a large amount of water—often the majority of a household’s water usage in arid regions like ours—to keep them alive, in addition to frequent mowing and regular fertilization. Lawns aren’t useless, however. They offer outdoor space for kids to play and develop important motor skills. Their smooth uniformity visually grounds a landscape design. And while they require frequent maintenance, keeping them healthy doesn’t require any specialized knowledge, making them a low-effort landscape element.

At Pacific Garden Design, we wanted to offer our clients a better alternative to thirsty turf grasses, while maintaining the functionality of a traditional lawn. We chose to develop our own low-water lawn grass seed mix to achieve that. We turned our attention away from conventional species like Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass and focused on drought-tolerant grasses native to the West. We wanted our grass mix to spread and form a uniform ground cover when mowed, but also be able to be used as a reclamation mix in native areas without growing large enough to restrict movement.

The same grass mix was used for reclamation on this slope.

Our final xeric lawn mix includes blue grama grass, Bouteloua gracilis; Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis; and prairie Junegrass, Koeleria macrantha; as well as a few other native grass species. In the wild, these species can survive on as little as 6 inches of water a year, and they are extremely drought-tolerant in the landscape. With no supplemental irrigation, the grasses may go dormant in the heat of summer, but they green up again with fall rain. Regular irrigation will keep them verdant throughout the growing season.

A drought-tolerant lawn can dramatically reduce your water bills. If you’re interested in saving water in your landscape by replacing your lawn, contact us at Pacific Garden Design to talk about your project.

Plant Spotlight: Corkscrew Willow

Corkscrew willow is an excellent choice for containers, because it tolerates heavy pruning

What It Is

Corkscrew or curly willow is a cultivar of the Chinese willow species Salix matsudana.  Left to its own devices, corkscrew willow will grow into a small tree from 20’ to 30’ high, but it can be heavily pruned and maintained as a smaller shrub without harming the plant.

Why to Grow It

As its name suggests, corkscrew willow has twisted, curly branches and similarly curly leaves. The stems are an attractive feature in the garden or when cut and used in floral arrangements. It’s a quick-growing plant that tolerates a wide range of conditions, so it can be a good solution for trouble spots. While its curly branches are a fantastic winter feature, corkscrew willow’s interesting foliage makes a statement as well, especially in autumn when the leaves turn yellow.

Where to Put It

While corkscrew willow is a fast-growing tree, it is also a short-lived one, with a lifespan of just a couple decades. In many landscapes, it is a better choice to maintain it as a large, multi-stemmed shrub. Like most willows, corkscrew willow responds well to coppicing, where the plant is cut down to the ground to stimulate the growth of vigorous new shoots. This makes it easy to control the size of the plant and provides an opportunity to harvest the stems for decorative use. Because corkscrew willow tolerates pruning so well, it is an excellent choice to grow in large pots or containers where it might be necessary to control the size. In the ground, corkscrew willow’s shallow root systems have been known to lift nearby paving, so care should be taken in locating it. While it will thrive in moist soil with full sun, corkscrew willow will tolerate a wide range of exposure and soil conditions, with the caveat that it does not do well in drought.

What Water Feature Works for You?

Water is a dynamic element, both in nature and in your yard. A water feature can be the focal point of your landscape or simply add atmosphere in the background. From natural streams to shooting fountains and bubbling rocks to metal rills, the endless variety of sizes and styles makes a water feature a feasible part of any landscape design. Not sure if a water feature is right for you? Take a look at the projects below to see some of the many ways a water feature can work in your landscape.

Transform Your Entrance

This moat-like water feature creates an experience for visitors.

The landscaping around your home defines visitors’ experience as they enter. A water feature by the front door beckons guests towards it while setting the tone with its visual and auditory displays. This project takes things a step further, with its bubbling basalt fountain emptying into an artificial stream that flows along the front of the house. A wooden bridge traverses the stream, marking the transition into the home and creating an immersive entry journey. By choosing not to treat the water with chlorine, the homeowners have made their water feature into a resource for wildlife from the nearby conservation area as well.

Keep It Natural

A woodland stream offers a contemplative spot to rest.

A stream-like water feature doesn’t have to be a show-stopper. It can be an understated natural feature in landscapes with native, unmanicured areas. Here, a small stream with modest waterfalls creates an opportunity for a calm, contemplative sitting area. The sound of running water anchors the space in nature, despite it being a short walk from the residence. The stream also provides water to passing wildlife, giving the water feature an ecological purpose in addition to its aesthetic function.

Repeat a Pattern

This core-drilled boulder fountain ties into matching boulders throughout the landscape.

Water features don’t need to be expansive to make a statement. This self-contained fountain is crafted from a boulder that echoes others in the landscape, including a large dive rock across the pool. A simple bubbling flow tumbles down the boulder into a basin hidden below a gravel-covered grate. The subtle action of this water feature allows the stone itself to hold equal prominence. Repeating that material throughout the landscape creates a site-wide pattern that integrates various areas into a cohesive design.

Tie It Together

The mix of natural and man-made materials makes this water feature a unifying landscape feature.

When a water feature is a focal point in the landscape, its design can be a keystone in the overall style. On this project, the contemporary architecture is complemented with more natural, organic landscaping. The courtyard water feature combines the two, comprising geometric poured concrete and natural basalt boulders. The basin and equipment is hidden beneath metal grating and gravel, which also conceals the mechanism for a fire pit burner. This anchors the water feature visually, further integrating it into the landscape.

Create a Theme

A statement-making fountain defines the style of this entry space.

Not every water feature has to be custom-built on site. A traditional fountain design offers a self-contained option, and the wide variety of sizes and styles available means that there is truly an option for any landscape. Fountains are often a piece of art in themselves and can define the style of a space. This classical home features a statement-making European-inspired fountain across from the entrance, establishing a geometric, symmetrical theme that is carried through the landscaping surrounding the house.

How to Use Plants to Screen Unwanted Views

One of the most common problems our clients ask us to solve with their landscape design is the need for screening. Sometimes the views to or from the neighbor’s are just too open. Having your neighbors stare down at your barbecue from their deck can certainly put a damper on things, or maybe you’re just tired of staring at the back of their shop from your patio. On a smaller scale, a well-designed landscape can hide eyesores like utility meters, plumbing cleanouts, power poles, and other necessities that nonetheless detract from the landscape. If you’ve become resigned to unsightly features of your landscape, read on for some tips on effective screening.

Consider the Season

When selecting what plants to use for screening, there is naturally a major division to consider: evergreen trees and shrubs vs. deciduous trees and shrubs. The choice between the two depends largely on the seasons during which you are looking for screening. Evergreens tend to be slower growing, but of course have the benefit of retaining their foliage through the winter. The pyramidal form of conifer trees provides less screening at the top than a broadleaf tree of comparable size, which means that they can take a long time to block views or hide large buildings.

Although they are bare in the winter, the deciduous shrubs obscure the neighboring house during the summer when the patio is in use.

The best solution will take the strengths and weaknesses of the plants into account. If you are trying to screen views to and from your patio, which you’ll likely be using only in the growing season, deciduous trees will provide more effective cover. If you are trying to block the view into your bedroom window, however, you’ll want the year-round screening that evergreens offer. In the middle are marcescent trees, which are deciduous but hold their dead leaves through the winter, like beeches and oaks. They might not be the most attractive option, but can provide winter screening across a larger area than a narrow conifer.

Because of the year-round need for screening, evergreen hemlocks are used to hide the utilities and back of the garage from the driveway, although they will take longer to mature to completely hide the area.

Similarly, the plants you use to screen smaller landscape features will depend on where the features are visible from. If you have a white plastic cleanout outside your kitchen window, an evergreen shrub will be the better option for hiding it. A gas meter next to your patio, however, only needs to be hidden when you’re using the patio, so a deciduous plant would work.

Consider the Perspective

While selecting the right types of plants is important, putting them in the right place has an equal impact on the effectiveness of their screening. When there is something we don’t want see, the impulse is often to just put something in front of it to hide it. While that strategy can work for small objects, it tends to backfire when applied to larger views.

 A well-located yarrow plant hides the small plastic plumbing cleanout from the patio area.

If your neighbors have a deck overlooking your yard, a single ten-foot spruce tree along the fenceline isn’t going to do a lot to block it. You’ll need more trees, and they’ll either need to be bigger or you’ll have to wait years for them to grow large enough to provide screening. Focusing on the viewer, however, will provide a better outcome with less expense. Moving that ten-foot spruce tree along the sightline from the neighbors’ deck towards the patio greatly increases the value each tree has. A person on a ten-foot-tall deck won’t have their view affected by the tree if it’s located next to them, but the tree will obscure more and more of the patio the closer it is. Similarly, a person standing on the patio will not be able to see the deck in the next yard if they have a ten-foot tree next to them blocking the view.

This same principle can be used to screen large areas from view. A shop, for example, would require extensive plantings around it to soften its tall walls. Targeting the places from which it is visible, however, can provide a similar effect with more limited effort. Strategically locating planting beds to interrupt the view of the shop from key areas like patios, walkways, and windows, will do as much to screen the shop as completely surrounding the building with trees would.

A little thought and planning can make a big difference in your efforts to screen unwanted views. If you have an eyesore in your landscape that you’re ready to hide, contact us for help finding a solution.