Higher Ground Landscapes

5280 Home Magazine Highlights Denver Area Landscapes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 15:55:00 +0000

5280 is the Denver based magazine that has been in existence for almost 20 years, bringing you all the ins and outs of living in Denver, Colorado. This past month they introduced a new magazine called 5280 Home. “The goal of 5280 Home is to inspire readers to shape and foster a home that reflects their style and that of the city of Denver. 5280 Home will showcase not only beautiful Denver residences, but also the people who live in them. I am excited to launch 5280 Home, to give our readers the publication they’ve been asking us to produce for years”, said Daniel Brogan, 5280’s editor and publisher. Full of great ideas for your home and landscaped yard, this magazine will be a welcomed resource for those looking to improve or change their home environment.

The September issue contains an article about outdoor spaces written by Megan Feldman highlighting Alissa Shanley, a landscape designer who transformed her tiny Platte Park yard into an inviting outdoor retreat. These are the kind of projects that Higher Ground Landscapes is happy to help you complete. We can work with your landscape designer or our designers to create your ideal backyard or front-yard oasis. Email or Contact us at 303-929-0872 to talk to us about your ideas and take a look at 5280 Home to see what other area residents are doing to make Denver a great place to live.

Plant of the Month for September - Golden Rain Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Today is Arbor Day and fall begins tomorrow, with cooler nights and more comfortable days along Colorado's front range, it's a good time to start thinking about having a tree planted. September's plant of the month is a Goldenraintree, a tree which does really well in the Denver area. A visually interesting tree throughout all seasons, the Goldenraintree's rounded crown is covered with foot-long clusters of bright yellow flowers in July. By late summer, 2-inch long papery lantern-like capsules decorate the canopy, persisting into winter. The Goldenraintree reaches 30 feet tall and wide and features attractive compound leaves with dark green, irregularly toothed leaflets that turn yellow in the fall.

Here at Higher Ground Landscapes we are happy to help you choose the right location and tree to suit your landscaping needs. Call us at 303-929-0872 or email us and we can get those trees planted before the snow flies.

Plant of the Month for July - Russian Sage

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 04:17:00 +0000

It's a really hot and dry July here in Colorado and throughout the Denver area you'll see Russian Sage blooming big and bright right now. These bushy silver grey small shrubs have attractive purple or blue flowers that grow in tall spikes and need full sun. Their drought tolerance makes them a good medium to large filler shrub along the street edge, or in a xeriscape garden.

Higher Ground Landscapes would love to include these plants in your landscape, call us 303-929-0872 or email us today!

>>>Take a look at our Plant & Tree Guide to get some more planting ideas for your landscape.

Plant of the Month for June - Daylily

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 13:03:00 +0000

This month we are featuring Daylilies, which are perennial plants. In Denver, during the month of June, Daylilies are in full bloom. Their Greek name alludes to the attractive flowers of this genus which typically last no more than 24 hours. The flowers of most species open in early morning and wither during the following night, possibly replaced by another one on the same scape (flower stalk) the next day. See Daylilies and more plants and trees in the Higher Ground Landscapes' Plant and Tree Guide.

Facebook for Higher Ground Landscapes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 04:02:00 +0000

We've updated the look of our blog and Higher Ground Landscapes has a new Facebook page, follow us by liking us!

Inspiration from Higher Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:02:00 +0000

Is it time to update your garden? Look no further than the mountains for lofty inspiration. This article in May's issue of 5280 has landscaping ideas based on Colorado's natural high-country beauty. Talking to our friends at Design Workshop, they explore many ideas that we can incorporate into your landscaping design. Click on the link and get inspired!
5280 Magazine Article

Plant of the Month for May - Columbine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:43:00 +0000

Colorado’s state flower! Columbine (Aquilegia) has been a native mountain-side and gardening favorite for generations, Long stalks, dainty bell-shaped blooms and elongated nectar spurs play an important role in the ecosystem,one of the first providers of food for hummingbirds, insects and butterflies in May.

Plant of the Month for April - Purpleleaf Sand Cherry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:15:00 +0000

The Purpleleaf Sand Cherry is an ornamental shrub that blooms during the month of April and has reddish-purple foliage that is alternate, elliptical, and about 2" long, with reddish-brown, relatively thin stems that fade to gray, and white-pink spring flowers.

Plant of the Month for March - Crocuses

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 02:31:00 +0000

Crocuses, from snow crocuses (the first to bloom) to giant Dutch crocuses, all just 2 to 4 inches tall, these blooms offer a variety in color (pinks, reds, oranges, yellows, purples, blues, and more) that stand out against the bleak late-winter landscape. Many have strong perfumes that lure bees out of their hives in February or March.

Colorado Garden & Home Show this Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:00 +0000

February 11-19, 2012 at the Colorado Convention Center. Discover the Rocky Mountain region's oldest, largest and most prestigious garden and home show – a nine-day spectacular event – where you can find inspiration from the latest ideas and trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement.
More Info Click Here

Updated Projects in Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

The project gallery has been updated, please take a look at some of our selected projects. From planted beds with water features, to decks, patios and other built structures, the quality of work is apparent at Higher Ground Landscapes.

Oh Christmas Tree Mulch!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:14:00 +0000

Your Christmas tree gave you so much joy during the holidays. Now give it a second life and recycle it with Denver’s Treecycle program. All trees collected through the program will be chipped into mulch and given away to Denver residents in the spring. Denver residents should set out their Christmas trees for recycling from January 3rd to January 13th.

Read all the directions on the Denver Treecycle site

Winter Tree Watering Guidelines for Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:05:00 +0000

Denver’s tree canopy provides many benefits to our urban environment. Many of the trees in the city are already under stress from last year’s dry winter and this year’s hot, dry summer and will need extra care this year to survive. Periods of drought are common on Colorado 's Front Range . This area is naturally a semi-arid, shortgrass prairie that would have few trees without irrigation. Growing trees here is difficult in wet years let alone in drought years. Drought makes growing healthy trees in this region all the more challenging and reinforces the value of a majestic shade tree. Properly placed and maintained trees are an asset to the environment and to our community.

Click here for more information on how to water your trees during the winter months.

From the Colorado State University Denver County Extension Master Gardener site.

Watering Tips for July

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Mulch beds and borders with an organic mulch such as pole peelings or shredded bark to limit water evaporation on hot days. Mulch will also help reduce the number of weeds. Contact Higher Ground Landscapes to design and implement planted beds with mulch.

The best time to water your lawn and garden is between midnight and 8 a.m. There is less evaporation and usually better water pressure than during the daytime. When you water in the evening the leaves stay wet during the night, making them more susceptible to disease. Contact Higher Ground Landscapes to install automatic watering systems such as drip irrigation.

Plants grown in containers will require frequent watering during the hot month of July -- possibly as often as twice a day! Container plants should also be fertilized approximately every two weeks since heavy watering washes nutrients out of the soil.

Now is the Time for Aerating Your Lawn!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:44:00 +0000

Lawn aeration is the secret weapon in making your lawn healthy. Aeration involves making holes in the lawn either by pushing a rod into it or by "coring", extracting a plug of soil. By aerating your lawn you provide the following benefits to your lawn and its root system:

Oxygen gets to the roots and the soil allowing it to "breathe"
Organic fertilizers and nutrients get access to the root system
Water is able to better soak the soil and reach the root system
Helps to break up thatch
Tight, compacted soil is loosened up allowing the root system to grow

Contact Higher Ground Landscapes at 303-929-0872 to have your lawn aerated and start your grass on the right track.

Colorado Garden & Home Show This Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:20:00 +0000

Colorado Garden & Home Show
February 12th-20th, 2011
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado

Discover the Rocky Mountain region's oldest, largest and most prestigious garden and home show – a nine-day spectacular event – where you can find inspiration from the latest ideas and trends in landscaping, gardening and home improvement.

Higher Ground Landscapes Has a New Gallery!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:14:00 +0000

Check out our new Gallery page with some of our most recent landscape projects.

Also, our website has been updated with new images and a new Testimonials page.

http://www.highergroundlandscapes.com

Tips for Fall Landscaping Care

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:21:00 +0000

Lawn Care - Fall is a good time to core aerate your lawn. Core aeration reduces problems created by thatch build-up. Apply a winterizer fertilizer to Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall fescue lawns between early October and early November. This application should be made while the grass is still green and prior to the ground freezing.Use one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn. Do not fertilize Buffalograss, Blue Grama, or Bermuda grass at this time of the year. During fall and winter your lawn and plants will still need water after your sprinkler system has been shut off and winterized for the season. Periodically apply water early in the morning when temperatures are above freezing and the ground isn’t frozen. Remember to disconnect your watering hose and have your sprinkler system blown out to prevent freeze damage. Contact Higher Ground Landscapes to handle all of your fall lawn care needs.

Tree Care - Protect the trunks of young, thin-barked trees from winter sunscald by wrapping the trunks with tree wrap in late October. Tree wrap is a crepe-type paper available at garden centers and home-improvement stores. Start at the bottom of the trunk, overlapping the tree wrap as you wind your way up the trunk. Secure the tree wrap at the top and bottom with stretch tape.

Fall Planting - October is a good month to plant spring-blooming bulbs: tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, scilla, allium and crocus. Be sure to amend heavy clay soil with organic matter (compost) and apply a phosphorus fertilizer to the soil prior to planting the bulbs. Wildflower seeds may be sown in fall. Cold winter weather and moisture from snow will promote germination in spring. When buying wildflower mixes, check the label to make sure that the mix does not contain Bouncingbet, Purple Loosestrife, Oxeye Daisy and other plants considered noxious weeds in Colorado. Contact Higher Ground Landscapes to handle all of your fall landscaping needs.

New Testimonial from Design Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 23:28:00 +0000

We wanted to send this letter to first of all thank you, and secondly, to offer a recommendation/reference for your future projects. We were impressed with every aspect of your landscape construction business including:

Flexibility- We provided our own design, probably not the typical design you have seen in any of your other projects. You reminded us when final decisions needed to be made along the way and remained flexible as we fine-tuned the design during the different phases of construction.

Very Responsive- You both promptly returned phone calls and met us at the house when you said you were going to be there. Seems like such a simple thing but we haven't experienced that high level of responsiveness before.

Attention to Detail- The exactness of the construction was very impressive. The dimensions were perfectly aligned (really important for a design that was based on 90 angles). You provided supervision to your crew to ensure that construction was perfectly implemented from start to finish.

Experience- Your experience was obvious in many aspects. You clearly love what you do and you bring a passion to it. You treat your crew well and treat them with respect. You, as owners, are hands-on, physically working hard to ensure a good outcome.

well connected- You were able to bring other subcontractors such as an electrician, landscape materials, wall construction and metal fabrication into the job in a way that was seamless to us.

Beyond our expectations was hand watering the garden when irrigation is turned off. We greatly appreciate the great job that you did for us. We LOVE our yard and garden. We wish only the best for you in your future projects.

Becky & Jeff Zimmerman, President & Landscape Architect
Design Workshop, Inc. - Denver, CO

Higher Ground Landscapes Has a New Address

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:00 +0000

Higher Ground Landscapes has a new mailing address- 4000 Umatilla St. Denver, CO 80211. Please send all correspondence to this new address, thank you.

Lawn and Garden Tips for June

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Save Water - With the large amount of rainfall we have received in Denver throughout the month of May and now June, remember to adjust your automatic watering systems and not water within 24 hours when at least .25" of rain has fallen. Over-watering is unnecessary and can harm some plants, be sure to adjust the length of watering cycles in response to weather changes and plant needs. Higher Ground Landscapes will install automatic sprinklers and drip systems for your lawn and garden, please contact us.

Deadhead - Besides inspecting plants for pests and disease, now is the time to deadhead those flowers (cut off dead blossoms). "Spring-blooming shrubs such as lilacs should be pruned right after they flower. If you wait too long, you will end up cutting off many of next year’s flowers. The perennial Phlox subulata, which brightens many gardens in spring with white, pink and lavender flowers, should be cut back after flowering. Shear off the top half of plants. Pinch off the tips of chrysanthemums during June and early July. This keeps plants compact and increases the size of flowers. Disbudding (removing all but one or two buds in a cluster) creates the largest blooms. Fall-blooming asters benefit from being pinched or sheared periodically in early summer. Remove the top 1/3 of the plant. Many annuals should also be pinched back to encourage compact, bushy growth." - From Colorado Gardening.com

Fertilize The Grass - "Kentucky Bluegrass lawns should be fertilized with one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn between May and mid-June. Tall fescue lawns require ½ pound to one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet between May and mid-June. (Kentucky Bluegrass and tall fescue lawns do not require fertilization between mid-June and early August.) Buffalo grass, Blue Grama, and Bermuda grass should be fertilized with ½ pound to one pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn between May and mid-June. Apply the same amount of nitrogen between July and early August." - From Colorado Gardening.com. Higher Ground Landscapes will help you maintain your lawn and maximize it's performance, please contact us to find out more.

Welcome to the Higher Ground Landscapes Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Welcome to the Higher Ground Landscapes Blog, we will be posting the latest news and seasonal tips for homeowners looking for advice on landscaping in Denver, Colorado. Higher Ground Landscapes is a professional, and full service landscape company that offers high quality craftsmanship in all aspects of landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Please visit our newly updated site www.highergroundlandscapes.com

Denver's Last Spring Frost Date

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Today is the last average spring frost date. Now is the time to start planting those frost delicate annuals. If you missed arbor day last week, it's not too late to plant that tree before the heat of summer sets in.

Denver Water Announces 2009 Watering Rules & Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Effective from May 1st to October 1st, Watering two days a week should be sufficient during most of the summer. If needed, water a third day during extreme heat or dry periods. Water trees and shrubs as needed, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Shrubs and perennials need half as much water as lawns. There are no assigned watering days, but never water more than three days a week.

Story via Denver Water

Alumnus Digs Dirt

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:00:00 +0000

Brian Brandy (BSBA ’01) is into dirt. Literally.

As co-owner of a new Denver-based landscape company, Higher Ground Landscapes, Brandy finds himself in the dirt a lot. And there’s no place he’d rather be.

“I absolutely love being outside,” he says. “I’ve had a couple of suit-and-tie jobs and they seemed superficial. I didn’t see an end result. With landscape projects, I see a tangible, finished project. There’s a lot of satisfaction in that.”

He and business partner Ben Scharf, a University of Wisconsin alumnus, started their company in December 2006 and had a good summer this year. They brought on a crew of laborers and a landscape designer.

While they acknowledge that Denver is thick with landscape companies, they believe they stand out due to their hands-on approach to customer relationships.

“I feel it’s real important for home owners to be comfortable with the people who are in their yard every day,” Brandy says. “If there’s an issue, I want them to have clear paths of communication and not ever feel bad or uncomfortable if something doesn’t look like they thought it would.

“Nine days out of 10, Ben, myself or the designer will be at the worksite, which is different from big companies where the owner gets the job and the homeowner never sees him again.”

Scharf says their hands-on approach also leads them to hire great laborers because they end up working with them every day.

“If I’m going to be working side-by-side with someone all day, I want to personally enjoy them while they’re here,” he says. “We hire quality people.”

Brandy and Scharf have designed and landscaped yards all over the Denver Metro area and hope that word-of-mouth keeps their business growing. But growth is not their only objective.

“Half of our paycheck is the actual job we get to do,” Brandy says. “Being outside and working in the dirt … there’s value in that. I don’t see us building a huge company and retiring early; we just want to live comfortably and do what we love.”

Story via DU Today