Photo courtesy of Tree Town USA, an APLD CA Silver Sponsor.
TOOLS AND TIPS:
Bamboo in Containers: a Natural Privacy Solution for Small Spaces
by Joe Ruffatto and Jennifer York
Owners of Bamboo Sourcery, an APLD CA Gold Sponsor
Photo courtesy of Bamboo Sourcery.
Bamboo is the perfect plant for visual privacy screens and evergreen hedges. It is fast growing, lush, and can grow relatively tall in a small footprint. It also serves as a sound barrier, can assist in erosion control, produces oxygen, sequesters carbon, and creates a peaceful sanctuary. Almost any species can be used for screening; at Bamboo Sourcery, we help you select a type that is properly matched to your climate and growing conditions so that it will grow to the desired height and density in the space available.
In most small spaces (both commercial and residential), growing bamboo in planters or containers is often the best and most economical solution. With the knowledge we have gained from real-world experience, we would like to share the following tips and tricks for the successful installation (and maintenance) of bamboo in containers.
Lighting Small Spaces
by David Oborn
Southern California Sales Representative at FX Luminaire, an APLD CA Bronze Sponsor
Photo courtesy of FX Luminaire.
Landscape lighting is a skill that can be applied to sites of various shapes and sizes. Whether you space is large or small, the end goal of enhancing the landscape features during the dark hours remains constant. Strangely enough, it is more difficult to light smaller spaces than large ones. The biggest concern is usually the amount of light that will fall into the space. A common mistake is having too much light and thus causing a hotspot on a feature or element. In my opinion, no more than 10 to 20 watts of light is needed unless it is a commercial space. Additionally, the size and placement of fixtures in the landscape becomes paramount. Often times, large fixtures are seen dominating landscape area thus not allowing plant material or features to work as designed. The placement of the fixture in such a confined space can also be difficult, causing a hotspot or not lighting the whole space.
California Native Anchor Plants for Small Spaces
by Laura Hansen
Principle Vegetation Ecologist, Production and Retail Manager
at Watershed Nursery, an APLD CA Bronze Sponsor
California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum). Photo courtesy of Watershed Nursery.
If your project is limited on space, the key is to go for quality, not quantity. Choose anchor plants that offer habitat benefit and attractive foliage. Choose a simple color scheme and a few species that complement each other. Then group and repeat plants for a calm, unchaotic design. Planting in layers – putting taller plants in the back and lower plants in the front - creates depth and makes the most use of a small space. Containers can also work in your favor. Shrubs and trees grown in a deep container will be compact compared to the same species in the ground.
Here are some species that can form the backbone of a small yard…