Green Jay Landscape Design

Green Jay Landscape Design

(914) 560-6570

greenjayadmin

This work in progress features many unique constructions and technologies. We started with eliminating the lawn.

Below: BEFORE photo, beginning dethaching process. 

This allowed for a predominantly native planting, a water feature was added including a bog and aquatic plants.

 

Bordering a wetland, we maximized the natural advantages of the property and invited the wildlife in. By substantially increasing the biodiversity of species, we were able to more effectively and efficiently manage the property organically, naturally and sustainably. A rain garden with passive irrigation was installed.

 

 

The Market Deck Garden features a ‘Tower Garden’ prodigiously producing produce for the kitchen including cucumbers, lettuce, basil and cherry tomatoes while perennials and annual flowers attract beneficial insects. This attractive container garden consists of Meyers lemons, parsley, Thai basil and peppers. New technologies in addition to the ‘Tower garden’ include ‘Wooly Pockets’ and ‘Window Farms’ for vertical gardens.

 

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

We’ve created this extraordinary composition here in Westchester County, Dream Window / Lakeside Masterpiece. It features combined elements of nature, the far east as well as Australian and European influences. The project includes regular maintenance and management of this lakeside property.

Part of the scope of this project was to use locally sourced stone to enhance the steps leading down to the lake, to construct paths and patios in the backyard lakeside area and for lakeside bank restoration.

 

We help keep this extraordinary landscape looking spectacular by maintaining and edging the garden and bed areas. By planting a unique variety of perennials, shrubs and flowers, we’ve helped this landscape environment truly stand out with its unique landscape features.

 

 

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

What is spring without green, without color, without flowers….What is a home without a garden?

All we need to remind us what life is like without attractive, stimulating artistic landscaping is to look around the neighborhood at all the brand new construction without any green. Everyone and everything benefits from a little touch of nature ! Trees, birds, butterflies, even a well tended green lawn (hopefully poison free) adds a touch of joy, peace and happiness to our lives.

 

The popularity of books such as ‘Bringing Nature Home’ by Doug Tallamy or ‘The Living Landscape ‘: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden by Tallamey and Rick Darke show us what is missing from much of our landscape environments. Nature Deficit Disorder plagues our culture. The need for nature is as real as our need for clean air, fresh water and healthy food. We need nature not only for the precious resources we require to live but also to satisfy our basic intellectual and spiritual desires. Look around you and notice, observe, appreciate our beautiful world and imagine all the ways we can make it better!

 

  

 

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

Wherever you go… there you are! Nature surrounds us! We are a part of it! Whether we are in Booth bay, Maine, Katonah, Somers or White Plains, New York there are naturally beautiful landscapes with stone as an integral part of the landscape composition.

The possibilities and opportunities for creating and designing naturalistic landscapes with locally sourced stone are incredible! For years I taught a one day course at New York Botanical Gardens called ‘Landscaping with Stone’. It was so much fun because the advantages of natural landscaping with stone are awesome. And… no pruning…no watering…no fertilizing…no light requirements, and…the deer don’t eat i! For sustainable resource management, it doesn’t get any better!

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

 

10 WAYS TO A HEALTHY BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE

  • Take the pledge – No more toxic pesticides
  • Reduce your lawn area
  • Go organic for your lawn, trees, shrubs and gardens
  • Recycle yard waste into brush piles and compost
  • Mulch leaves and grass clippings
  • Plant native plants and natural landscapes
  • Grow your food – fruit, herbs and vegetables organically
  • Bring back the birds, bees and butterflies
  • Trees for clean air and soil conservation
  • Create a rain garden for water conservation

VIEW THE “10 WAYS” VIDEO SERIES AND LEARN HOW TO ACTIVATE THESE IDEAS IN YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE.

 

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com

Planting Flower Bulbs: Pure Joy

There’s only one thing more rewarding than watching your garden come to life in a blaze of color after a long cold winter–it’s seeing this all happen without any effort on your part over the last few months.

Flower bulbs placed in the ground are like little time-activated capsules, and now (fall) is the time to set your automatic spring garden in motion. Gardening in the fall is cooler, requires less watering…there’s almost no down-side to bulb planting. And the cold months that bulbs spend buried in your garden “wintering over” actually make for a more brilliant display in the spring.

Flowering bulbs are a great way to add early spring color to your landscape.

Planting Flower Bulbs: When to Plant

The best time to plant bulbs is from the beginning of October until about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. Wait until the night temperatures average between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant New Flower Bulbs

Be sure to get new bulbs. Those bulbs that never got planted last year and have spent a year in the garage are long gone. It will be a waste of time to put them into the ground. Don’t even think about it! And, be sure to plant all the bulbs you get this fall. They won’t have a second chance.

White daffodils brighten up any spring landscape!

Planting Flower Bulbs: Don’t be too quick to throw out the package!

Here’s a little problem to avoid: Try not to separate the bulbs from their packaging until they’re in position ready to plant in your garden. Various colors of the same variety (tulips, daffodils…) have bulbs that look exactly the same. You’re a goner if you throw out the label before planting!

Where Do Your Flower Bulbs Love to Grow?

And, if you want your bulb garden to flourish, don’t plant it under your favorite huge shade tree. Most bulbs do best when they’re planted in a sunny spot. Remember that label you saved? It probably says something about the amount of light those particular flower bulbs need.

Here’s a curious fact: Plants that come from a location in the world that’s below sea level (Holland) don’t like to grow in soggy soil. Imagine that! So, make sure the place you plant your bulbs has good drainage.

Planting Flower Bulbs: Prepare the Soil

Take time to prepare the soil so that your flower bulbs have a fighting chance to work their way to the surface. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 8 inches. If you really want to be kind to your bulbs, mix in a little organic matter. Those leaves you shredded (see below) would make excellent organic compost mixed into the soil. Your flower bulbs will richly reward you next spring. If you add a little fertilizer, perhaps bone meal, your bulbs will worship you as king of the universe.

And, don’t forget to remove rocks from the garden. How would you like to come to life, thinking everything was amazing, only to hit your head on a rock? Bad Bad! There’s only one thing worse: Never, never plant the bulbs with their heads facing down. They’ll try to get to China, but alas, they’ll never make it. The pointy side, as with many people you know, is the head. If you’re not sure which end is the head, plant the bulb on its side. Most bulbs are smart enough to figure out what to do in that case.

Daffodils surround a garden bench in Rye, NY.

How Deep Do You Plant Flower Bulbs?

How deep to plant your flower bulbs? As a rule, the smaller the bulb, the closer it needs to be to the surface. Plant larger bulbs (allium, iris, tulips, daffodils…) about 8 inches deep. Plant smaller bulbs (crocus, grape hyacinth…) about 4 inches deep. If in doubt, be sure to read the label you saved for this important moment.

Bulbs successfully planted? Now LOOSELY fill in the space above the bulb. Don’t pack the soil down (refer to our discussion about rocks above).

Watering Your Flower Bulbs

At this point every gardener wants to water the little guys. That’s okay. It actually helps activate them. However, remember what we said about too much water. The northeastern U.S. is fairly moist in the Fall, so unless we’re in some kind of weird climate-change drought, an occasional watering after a few sunny days will probably do the trick.

Daffodils are an excellent choice for a part shade landscape.

Where To Get Free Mulch For Your Flower Bulbs

Oh yes, about that mulch: Those leaves falling from your favorite shade tree (mentioned above) are meant to fertilize the ground they land on rather than going into some far away land fill. It’s pretty easy to help that process along. Here are some ideas:

Use a mulch mower rather than bagging the leaves and having them hauled off.

Pile the leaves in some forgotten corner of your yard and let them mulch for about a year, then dig them into your bulb garden next fall.

Instant Gratification Method:

Hire us to come over with our awesome Bear Cat Shredder (one of the few such shredders in Westchester County) and turn brush and leaves into instant mulch that you can use this fall!

Call Green Jay Landscape Design: 914-560-6570

 

Victory! You’ve Successfully Planted Your Flower Bulbs. Now What?

Now that you’ve successfully planted your flower bulb garden, sit back and expect a dazzling display of color and beauty next spring. Nearly zero effort! Would that raising kids could be this easy!

The only thing easier than planting a brilliant bulb garden is hiring a professional to design and plant your spectacular bulb garden, timed to bloom throughout the spring, summer and fall months.

 

Jay Archer, President (and Bulb Enthusiast)

914-560-6570

jay@greenjaylandscapedesign.com