Grass Alternative to your boring lawn

 By removing sod and adding a flagstone patio with ground cover not only reduced the water bill but also added a seating area that made the garden more functionable. After the ground cover, Dymondia, is established the water can be cut back and eventually shut off. Best part — No weekly lawn service and little maintenance!

Clients often think they will have to sacrifice the beauty of the garden to meet the needs of conservation. Alford’s English Gardens can create a garden of your dreams while ‘Growing Green!’ We can tame the beast of finding the right garden for your needs while still meeting today’s needs in staying ‘Smart’.

Our expertise Includes:
• Well coordinated planning
• Proper installation
• ‘Smart’ environmental – ideas and products—
• Using the guidelines as set by bewaterwise.com
• Following standards for wildlife set by the National Wildlife Federation (nwf.org)

Today’s ‘Growing Green’ garden complements and protects the environment while enriching our lives. A ‘Smart Garden’ starts with a plan. When planning a garden it needs to more than just beautiful—it can and needs to…

• Fit the clients needs
• Curb appeal- its got to look great and blend with the neighborhood
• Create a beneficial balance with mother nature
• Conserve while adding beauty to the garden
• Reduce the usage of water and other unnecessary elements in the garden;
• Recycle garden materials, use and reuse.
• Reuse materials already in the garden-

• Use natural elements
• Re think the garden – set a good balance with nature and everyone’s happy.
• Use IPM methods of pest control
• Curb excess use of pesticides and herbicides
• Cut back on overuse of products that have an impact on our environment
• Mechanically (by hand) remove unwanted materials and pests if possible
• Add plants and other elements that add balance to the garden.
• Provide a place for beneficials to reproduce
• Add elements to the garden to balance with Mother Nature
• Use low water plant material
• Alternative plant materials that require less water and maintenance
• Duel purpose plant material- herbs, veggies mixed among the flora
• Use proper irrigation methods
• Use ‘smart irrigation’–a low volume watering- rotators or drip
• Use ‘smart clocks’ for accurate watering
• Add elements such as stone, DG or other natural materials to cut back on plant material and watering
• Follow the guidelines from bewaterwise.com Create a balance with Mother Nature
• Become a Certified Habitat- see nwf.org for more info

• Have the Water Department do an assessment of your property and how you can reduce water
• Conserving and protecting the environment has always be a huge priority to us.

By removing 50% of the lawn area, we were able to add some fun elements to the garden. Decomposed granite replaced the sod area around the Liquid Amber Tree and suddenly it became a focal point! Reused cement with ground cover was added to create a new porch. The parkway sod was removed and became a display area for the client’s garden treasures. Old roses were reused along with new plantings such as lavenders and salvias in the garden. New irrigation was added though out the garden, MP rotators for the sod area and a low volume drip for the rest.

This charming cottage in Long Beach touts more than just cute…

Water wise plants were chosen for the planter beds so the client can cut back on water wasting annuals.

A low water drip system was added to this old part of the garden. Mexican sage was added under the old Wisteria tree to lessen the need for annual color.

The sod area was removed and decomposed granite (DG) was added. With a new tree bench around the Liquid Amber- this part of the garden suddenly became a focal point!

Recycled cement was reclaimed and used as a new porch; Ground cover on a drip system waters the garden. After the ground cover is established water can be turned off in this shady area.

A naturalized garden was requested by the homeowner of this East Long Beach poolside garden. The ‘Water Smart’ garden, with layers of textures and colors, complement the natural stone work of the pool and BBQ. Low maintenance and low water usage was also a request granted by Alford’s English Gardens Inc.
Water has been reduced to every 10 days for 15 minutes in the two year old naturalized garden. A weather satellite based timer controls the low volume drip for pots and MP rotators in the garden area.. Drought tolerant shrubs and trees were selected to blur out neighboring properties and keep the sound of the pool noises at bay.

Grasses soften the stone on the BBQ and poolside garden.

Various grasses and a few dwarf flax add texture to the garden.

Stepping stones lead the way down a small path.

A small birdbath adds another element to the garden.