Curbed - Gardening and landscaping 101Love where you live2020-04-28T11:34:02-04:00http://archive.curbed.com/rss/stream/113286852020-04-28T11:34:02-04:002020-04-28T11:34:02-04:00How to pick the best outdoor furniture at any budget
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<img alt="A black wire outdoor furniture couch with white pillows sits in front of a fire pit and a pool." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tCOHsqgE_CY_YRo0kC-3hv2rkmI=/337x0:5964x4220/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/53809209/BretonBlackMetalSofaOLB20.12.jpg" />
<figcaption>The <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.cb2.com/breton-black-metal-sofa/s267345" target="_blank">Breton Black Metal Sofa from CB2 ($799)</a> is a sleek option for patio furniture. | Courtesy of CB2</figcaption>
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<p>Savor the outdoors in style </p> <p id="ILgi8z">Outdoor spaces in our <a href="https://www.curbed.com/coronavirus-covid-19">stay-at-home world</a> are more important than ever before. Whether you have a <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/18/18485032/urban-garden-container-gardening-products-supplies-to-buy-for-sale">small balcony</a> or a sprawling backyard, a bit of fresh air is key to fighting quarantine fatigue. </p>
<p id="mZ5WVI">For many of us, sprucing up our outdoor areas is at the top of the <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2020/3/25/21184365/best-home-improvement-projects-coronavirus-quarantine">home projects to-do list</a>, but picking out quality furniture can be daunting. In the past, we offered <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/3/11848284/outdoor-furniture-patio-garden">five tips for finding top-flight outdoor furniture</a>. Now, we’re breaking down the best outdoor furniture by material—wood, metal, plastic, fabric, and wicker.</p>
<p id="x4BJIs">While it’s true that some outdoor furniture can be astronomically expensive—running into thousands of dollars—don’t despair! There are plenty of options for budget-conscious patio dwellers, too. Need even more picks? Don’t miss our favorite <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/26/18517777/best-patio-furniture-outdoor-sofa-couch-shopping-buy">affordable outdoor sofas</a> and <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/2/18525761/best-outdoor-furniture-patio-dining-sets-table-chairs-shopping-buy">budget-minded dining sets</a>. </p>
<p id="4kQ1DV"><a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/3/11848284/outdoor-furniture-patio-garden">Review our advice</a> and get shopping—the outdoors are calling.</p>
<h4 id="WNW9WI">Wood outdoor furniture </h4>
<p id="Su4QF2">Wooden patio furniture is sturdy, long-lasting (if well cared for), and often feels the most like having <em>real</em> furniture outside. It can also be expensive. Look for dense-grained tropical hardwoods—like teak—that are able to resist warping and swelling, or opt for cheaper wood and throw on a cover for protection. </p>
<p id="JEh6V3">Other popular woods used in outdoor furniture are cedar, pine, and eucalyptus. Be aware that wood furniture often requires staining and oil to maintain its original appearance. </p>
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<aside id="3QYcKB"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The best outdoor sofas to buy now","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/26/18517777/best-patio-furniture-outdoor-sofa-couch-shopping-buy"},{"title":"The city dweller’s guide to gardening","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/18/18485032/urban-garden-container-gardening-products-supplies-to-buy-for-sale"},{"title":"12 affordable patio dining sets to buy now","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/2/18525761/best-outdoor-furniture-patio-dining-sets-table-chairs-shopping-buy"}]}'></div></aside><h4 id="NVTrCI">Metal patio furniture </h4>
<p id="466LCO">Thanks to the steep price tags of wooden outdoor furniture, metal is becoming an increasingly popular choice. Aluminum furniture is lightweight, durable, and doesn’t require much maintenance. </p>
<p id="u58xOC">Steel is a heavier option, but both usually need to be coated with a protective finish known as powder coating. The good thing about metal outdoor furniture is there are a lot of options at all price points.</p>
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<h4 id="jNWaNe">Plastic</h4>
<p id="Ixn9kj">Plastic furniture may have a reputation for being flimsy, but new technology proves that it can be a great material for outdoor furniture. Using high-density polyethylene—some of which is recycled from milk cartons or bottles—plastic furniture can be highly durable, doesn’t require painting or sealing, and can be designed to look like almost anything. </p>
<p id="yXkVMV">Of course, there are still some poor quality plastic products out there, but even low-end furniture can be treated with UV-stabilizing pigments to reduce fading. The best part? Plastic is easy to wipe down and won’t peel like other products.</p>
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<h4 id="mccbkE">Fabric </h4>
<p id="lirs3J">If your dream afternoon involves a couch and some sun, look no further than an outdoor sofa. Usually a blend of wood or powder-coated steel with fabric cushions, outdoor couches offer a level of relaxation that just can’t be matched in a dining room chair. Speciality treated fabrics mean that these gems can hang outside, no matter the weather. </p>
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<h4 id="wvbABf">Wicker and rattan </h4>
<p id="EEAv92">Before you think wicker furniture only belongs at grandma’s house, take a look at this generation’s wicker: It’s sleek, lightweight, and comfortable. Wicker can also be used indoor or outdoors, so it works well on sunrooms and porches. </p>
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<h4 id="3w1mkL">Rugs</h4>
<p id="VhC0zG">Maybe it’s the pop of color, or maybe it just feels better to have something underfoot, but rugs can tie an outdoor space together. They are made from materials ranging from nylon to polyester to polypropylene, but make sure you find one that is mold and mildew-resistant. Better yet, look for rugs that are treated to resist the harsh exposure to UV rays. </p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2017/3/21/14988728/best-outdoor-furniture-patio-shopping-buyMegan Barber2019-05-13T12:30:00-04:002019-05-13T12:30:00-04:00How to shop for plants online
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<img alt="A row of plants brings a bit of nature to a midcentury gem near Philadelphia." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qxopjm-8KhnG6uetg0AC712OXBw=/104x0:1768x1248/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50428475/House_Calls_Wayne_Jamieson_Heidis_Bridge_plants_Heisis_Bridge.1528994750.jpg" />
<figcaption>Heidi’s Bridge</figcaption>
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<p>The internet can’t replace a nursery, but it can make plant shopping much easier</p> <p id="n4YNDg">Megan Hansen is a self-described "plant nerd."</p>
<p id="60Lgcw">"My favorite thing to do in the world is to go to the nursery," she says. In 2009, Hansen, a user experience consultant based in Portland, Oregon, merged her love for gardening with her tech background to found <a href="http://www.plantlust.com">Plant Lust</a>, an online encyclopedic guide for plants. The site started as a spreadsheet that Hansen was creating for her own reference.</p>
<p id="SLAjan">"Then I just decided, we should all have this database," Hansen says. "We should all have a nice website that's easy to use and that doesn't feel like you have to know a lot of Latin to be able to ogle plants."</p>
<p id="kzo8aV">The site's tagline is "a seriously simple search for plants," and on it, users can search 78 plant catalogs, browse by plant types (like tree, shrub, etc.), and refine their results by zones and growing requirements. More recently, Hansen added a shopping feature, which will eventually tap the inventory of 100 independent nurseries around the country to deliver their goods with the click of a button.</p>
<p id="QeLyw5">Hansen started Plant Lust because she found online plant shopping "harder than it should be," she says. And while shopping online doesn’t replace visiting nurseries in person, it does make it so that many more plants are available at our fingertips, no matter where you’re typing. "We just want people to fall in love with plants and spread the love," says Hansen. She shared her guidelines for doing just that.</p>
<h4 id="DrbZIi">Know your site</h4>
<p id="c09sWK">Hansen says that she often hears the same refrain from newbie gardeners: "People will say, ‘I can't grow plants. I have a brown thumb. I don't know what I'm doing.’" And she can sympathize with the notion. "Every time I hear that, I think, I've got a brown thumb for certain things too," she says.</p>
<p id="lZg7tc">However, with time and experience, she's learned that it's not so much that she’s has a brown thumb, but that her plant is incompatible with its site. "I like sun plants but my yard is shade," she says. "I needed to come to terms with growing things that will naturally thrive in the conditions that I have to offer them."</p>
<p id="gji9pV">Before browsing, assess your site to make the best match. Also, know that in the process, mismatches will happen. When that happens, take heart and just relocate the plant. "I have the hardest time ripping a plant out," says Hansen. "But every time I do it frees up this whole canvas to put in something more appropriate."</p>
<h4 id="Twu4OW">Find out the plant's needs</h4>
<p id="eYOefC">For the first-time gardener, plant names and the corresponding descriptions—complete with Latin not seen since high school—can be downright intimidating. As such, it's tempting to just skip them and buy something because it’s beautiful.</p>
<p id="kTnTup">However, while that can be a fun way to experiment, there are some basics that are best checked before a purchase. These include the plant's zone and its water, soil, and exposure requirements.</p>
<p id="M4MFmV">"You can get by without reading the description, as long as you [know] the things that are going to make this plant happy and make it thrive," says Hansen. On Plant Lust, these conditions are listed at the top of each plant page, so they can be ascertained at a glance.</p>
<p id="L7ZecI">For Hansen, the write-ups are a favorite part of the plant buying experience. "Descriptions are so beautiful. Some descriptions are just like poetry," she says. "I think that was the first thing I fell in love with before I even fell in love with plants was reading all these wonderful things about them."</p>
<aside id="10WPRA"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Where to buy plants online ","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/8/17174130/buy-indoor-plants-online-stores-shipping"},{"title":"New AR app helps you choose houseplants for improving air quality","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2017/11/1/16589340/air-quality-houseplants-ar-app-plant-life-balance"},{"title":"Why cactuses and succulents are the perfect plants for this cultural moment","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2018/4/4/17199044/cactus-succulents-trend-interior-design-landcaping"},{"title":"15 irresistible planters for your greenery","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/26/18514322/indoor-planters-pots-floor-hanging"}]}'></div></aside><h4 id="7pUGML">Picture the "whole story" of the plant</h4>
<p id="JEa5ce">When Hansen first started shopping online for plants, she quickly developed a singular frustration with the sites she visited. "I noticed that most plant-focused websites had a single photo," she says. "And if it was a flowering plant, it was a close-up of the flower."</p>
<p id="ZAuLCo">Since could not see the plant in person, she wanted to be able to see the plant from all angles, to "see the whole story." She wondered: "What’s its shape and what’s its leaf texture? What do the buds look like? What does it look like coming up out of the ground?"</p>
<p id="m37t1N">Plant Lust provides answers to these questions by collecting multiple photos of each plant from contributing photographers from all over the world. That way, shoppers can see the plant from all sides and in different contexts, to get a sense of how it will fit into their own yards.</p>
<h4 id="B9H1GO">Try out plant combinations with Pinterest boards</h4>
<p id="y43Pks">"It’s so wonderful to be able to see things in person, touch the leaves, stick them in a basket together, and see them side by side," says Hansen. "That is one thing that’s definitely harder to do online."</p>
<p id="DZTsbL">To get around that obstacle, she creates inspiration boards on Pinterest to try out different plant combinations and develop themes for her planting beds. Although the context is digital, it still works for seeing how your picks will look alongside one another.</p>
<h4 id="OKSici">Assess your risk tolerance</h4>
<p id="qcvuF3">Although we might well know the conditions we have to offer plants, it still doesn’t deter us from wanting to grow the things we like the best. "Some of us want to grow things that don’t necessarily grow where we live and so we gamble," says Hansen, who prefers <a href="http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/">Zone 9</a> plants—like agaves—despite the fact that she lives in Zone 8, which has an average climate too cool for the sun-loving plants.</p>
<p id="BxhFe2">Before check out, assess your level of comfort with risk. "I’m very comfortable with those gambles," she says. "But if you don’t have that risk tolerance, pick something that’s going to be more of a sure thing."</p>
<h4 id="8zWijQ">Experiment</h4>
<p id="xSqjRc">For those that want to explore, don’t feel as though "special knowledge" is needed before you can get started. "Everybody has their own weird niche in gardening, and I love that," says Hansen.</p>
<p id="JJzdMn">She thinks people just need to give themselves permission to experiment. "Realize that you might get a whole bunch of things that you fall in love with," she says. "Or you might decide something's not for you and rip it out. That's really part of the gardening learning experience."</p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2016/5/18/11695298/buy-plants-online-tips-adviceMelissa Dalton2019-05-09T14:50:00-04:002019-05-09T14:50:00-04:00How to buy quality outdoor furniture
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/lJN57-gOtUbbZZVm_EBuk2CS1r4=/244x0:2911x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49764881/House_Calls_Healdsburg_Schlarb__Pick_exterior_seating_0167_Aubrie_PIck.1528996001.jpg" />
<figcaption>The covetable outdoor area of a <a class="ql-link" href="https://sf.curbed.com/2017/6/12/15742548/inside-a-california-wine-country-dream-home" target="_blank">California wine country dream home</a>. | Photo: <a class="ql-link" href="http://www.aubriepick.com/" target="_blank">Aubrie Pick</a></figcaption>
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<p>Tips for navigating the market </p> <p id="qn79cR">As an interior designer with <a href="http://www.jsbrowndesign.net/home">J.S. Brown Design</a>, Scott Brown has beautified interiors along the West Coast for 30 years, from Mexico to his home base in Bend, Oregon. "Fifteen or twenty years ago," he says, "The outside was all but forgotten."</p>
<p id="Ty0lOY">Now, he frequently has clients requesting equally savvy backyard destinations, and he’s happy to comply. "I think it’s so important for designers to not just stop at the door," says Brown. "The outdoor spaces are just as important as the indoors."</p>
<p id="8QbD4l">Today, the outdoor furniture market is booming, with many retailers offering pieces at a variety of price points. "It’s an interesting time right now to do outdoor design. There are a lot of resources available," says Brown. He offered his tips for navigating the market, as well as some of his favorite finds.</p>
<h4 id="mBM4oJ">Make a list of activities to determine what you need</h4>
<p id="Df0xFT">Brown approaches <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/6/2/11836492/patio-design-outdoor-room-backyard">the design of an outdoor room</a> much like he does an indoor space, and that means pulling out the tape measure and graph paper before going to the store. "Definitely start with a space plan of the area and consider the uses—whether that’s dining or sitting around a fire pit," says Brown. "Then build from there."</p>
<p id="f32NVm">Begin by knowing where certain activities will occur, then hone in on what size furniture will fit the dimensions of the area. For smaller yards, simple furniture will save space, like a wood bench adorned with cushions, and there are a variety of DIY tutorials online to build one. Having a good plan in place before you begin will keep you from wasting money on pieces that don’t work for your space.</p>
<aside id="BFQjvD"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Best outdoor furniture: 18 picks for any budget","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/21/14988728/best-outdoor-furniture-shopping-buy"},{"title":"12 affordable patio dining sets to buy now","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/5/2/18525761/best-outdoor-furniture-patio-dining-sets-table-chairs-shopping-buy"},{"title":"The best outdoor sofas to buy now","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/26/18517777/best-patio-furniture-outdoor-sofa-couch-shopping-buy"},{"title":"New outdoor furniture startup wants to turn your backyard into a showroom","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/2/11/18217567/furniture-outdoor-sofa-outer-startup"}]}'></div></aside><h4 id="FUhmxH">Choose durable materials, and know how to maintain them</h4>
<p id="MFJ7Bi">Try to choose the most durable material that you can afford. Good options include teak and cedar, powder-coated metal (including aluminum and iron), and various plastics and fabrics.</p>
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<figcaption>Emmet Lounge Chair & Ottoman, $429, <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/outdoor/chairs-and-chaises/emmet-lounge-chair-and-ottoman" target="_blank">Room & Board</a>. </figcaption>
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<p id="YDAvTt">For good examples of the latter, Brown endorsed two designs from Room & Board: the <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/outdoor/chairs-and-chaises/emmet-lounge-chair-and-ottoman">Emmet chair and ottoman set</a> ($429) is made from high-density polyethylene with UV-stabilizers added to minimize the fading, while the <a href="http://www.roomandboard.com/catalog/outdoor/chairs-and-chaises/maya-chair">Maya chair</a> ($899), is a fully upholstered piece comprised of a marine-grade plywood frame and weather-resistant Sunbrella fabric.</p>
<p id="NiSr8s">Next, know how you’ll care for the pieces once you own them. Do you have room to store them in the off-season? If so—lucky you! If not, plan for pieces to be placed under a roof overhang where they will be more protected year-round.</p>
<p id="W8Dojc">"Nothing is maintenance free," says Brown. Look out for rust or discoloration. To abate either, clean and cover metal pieces, oil or re-stain wood, and stow upholstery indoors. Chairs like the Maya are even pretty enough to use inside.</p>
<h4 id="c3mnMd">Evaluate quality</h4>
<p id="yVu0IL">"With exterior furniture, you have to buy decent quality or it's shot within a season or two," says Brown. He recommends looking for sturdy construction.</p>
<p id="WB8BPS">Start by inspecting a piece’s joinery. Metal welds should be smooth and gap-free and blend in with the overall finish. Wood joints should fit close together. Avoid glued and nailed connections; inset screws and wood dowels, as well as mortise and tenon joints, are stronger.</p>
<p id="YzaBsh">The attachment hardware, such as the screws and bolts, should be positioned so that they’re protected from the elements, or made of stainless steel. "You have to know the quality," says Brown. "At least for the pieces that have to stay out or can’t be covered."</p>
<h4 id="DQ9pFP">Shop around</h4>
<p id="QJ0A97">There is furniture to be found at every price point, says Brown, so shop around and compare. He has made successful purchases for clients at a range of retailers, like <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldmarket.com%2Fcategory%2Foutdoor.do&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F6%2F3%2F11848284%2Fbest-outdoor-furniture-materials-brands" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">World Market</a>, <a href="about:blank">Room and Board</a>, <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516509&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crateandbarrel.com%2Foutdoor-furniture%2F&referrer=archive.curbed.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.curbed.com%2F2016%2F6%2F3%2F11848284%2Fbest-outdoor-furniture-materials-brands" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Crate and Barrel</a>, and <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.dwr.com/outdoor?lang=en_US" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Design Within Reach</a>. </p>
<p id="x792qh">"We do find good deals at retailers," says Brown. "You just have to keep an eye out." Some companies, like the higher-end outfit <a href="http://www.summitfurniture.com">Summit</a>, will have lifetime guarantees rolled into the price. But remember: "It’s perfectly fine to mix the high and the low," says Brown. "That’s always been the designer’s favorite thing to do."</p>
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<figcaption>Broom Chair, $225, <a class="ql-link" href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/https://www.dwr.com/dining-chairs-and-stools/broom-chair/477.html" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Design Within Reach</a>. </figcaption>
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<h4 id="p7jnm8">Mix up styles</h4>
<p id="gSVyTU">Brown likes to blend various pieces from different aesthetic styles and materials. "I hate buying suites or matched sets," he says. "Mixing up the textures makes it more interesting. That’s what makes it more architectural and like an interior room."</p>
<p id="4gD4dr">Buying pieces from various outlets can also help with the budget, as you’re not locked in to the price of a whole set, and are better able to capitalize on deals. One of Brown’s favorites is the <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/links/8532386/type/dlg/sid/curbed/http://www.dwr.com/dining-chairs-and-stools/broom-chair/477.html?lang=en_US" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Broom Chair</a> ($225) from Design Within Reach, designed by Philippe Starck.</p>
<p id="0zloMf">"You can stack them and you can leave them outside," he says. "They’re very sturdy and they’re very classic. It’s a modern sleek design but it really fits with any style." Contrast is key here, in style and texture, so feel free to pair modern with traditional, or wood with metal.</p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2016/6/3/11848284/best-outdoor-furniture-materials-brandsMelissa Dalton2019-04-25T16:15:19-04:002019-04-25T16:15:19-04:00How to grow a garden: Three important factors to consider before you plant
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<figcaption>Shutterstock</figcaption>
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<p>Not all dirt is created equal</p> <p id="zruS8M"><em>Marie Viljoen's first terrace in Brooklyn measured just 66 square feet, yet she managed to turn the tight space into an outdoor oasis with a small grill, a table and chairs, and dozens of plants: roses, herbs, figs, lilies, strawberries, vines, and more. Her micro garden grew into </em><a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/"><em>a blog</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/66-Square-Feet-Delicious-Life/dp/1617690503?tag=curbed-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>a book</em></a><em>, both named after the tiny terrace’s size. Here, Viljoen shares her expertise for a successful garden. </em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="XzBDRw">
<p id="o7hcpi">Your <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11714404/small-garden-ideas-design">outdoor space is ready</a>, you have your <a href="http://www.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11700166/landscape-garden-design-101">ideal landscape sketched out</a>, and you want to start planting. But hold your horticultural horses until you have considered three important factors if you want to save yourself some flora-induced stress and money in plant-replacement.</p>
<h4 id="6FfvsR">Know the dirt on your dirt</h4>
<p id="Ub7ZaF">The soil is where it all begins—or ends.</p>
<p id="sg6jQX">If you are gardening in-ground, you have to work with the earthy hand that you have been dealt. What is in your soil? For starters, in a city, two words: heavy metals. Don’t freak out.</p>
<p id="IWjfcy">The highest risk of heavy metal poisoning is for toddlers and small children who play outside and inadvertently ingest dust and soil. Secondly, the concern is for gardeners who grow edible plants.</p>
<p id="OHbwRR">In terms of lead, it is the residue or soil on the outside of the plant that is the problem. This is solved by thorough washing. As it turns out, most plants—there are exceptions, like ferns—do not absorb enough lead to hurt an adult. Root crops will absorb most (which accumulates largely in their skins), followed by leafy greens, with fruit absorbing the least, if any. Also, acidic soils (with a low pH) make lead available to plants. Sweetening the soil—raising the pH to near-neutral (which is seven)—by adding soil amendments like garden lime or ground oyster shells, makes lead unavailable for absorption.</p>
<p id="ewMjFa">Arsenic and cadmium are more serious.</p>
<p id="DXCLeU">What to do? Before you plant, contact a local university or lab, take the recommended samples, and <a href="http://soilhealth.cals.cornell.edu/testing-services/">send the package for analysis</a>. Apart from heavy metals, the analysis will reveal your soil’s pH, which will guide you in choosing the best plants for that environment, what nutrients are in the soil, and the quality of the soil. There will be recommendations for correcting any problems.</p>
<p id="kSZ5i6">What if the soil test comes back for heavy metals well above the recommended levels for your state? It depends what they are. Lead can be managed, as mentioned above. But arsenic and cadmium, for example, are non-negotiable. Replacing soil in a garden is very costly. If you still want to grow edibles, your next step is to build raised beds or to use planters. These will be filled with bagged potting soil.</p>
<aside id="D54KQ5"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The city dweller’s guide to gardening","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/18/18485032/urban-garden-container-gardening-products-supplies-to-buy-for-sale"},{"title":"How to design a small urban garden in six steps ","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11714404/urban-gardening-ideas-tips-small-space-design"},{"title":"Where to buy plants online ","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/8/17174130/buy-indoor-plants-online-stores-shipping"}]}'></div></aside><p id="hZA16j">Potting soil is a pricey purchase, but you only do it once if you're gardening in containers. You are starting with a clean slate, and no in-ground contaminants.</p>
<p id="NAmWBV">Avoid anything labeled “topsoil.” Topsoil is too heavy. You want a potting medium, often labeled potting soil, despite the fact that there will be very little, if any, actual soil in the bag. It is much lighter.</p>
<p id="JE5khq">Good potting media are a mixture of products like compost, manure, guano, worm castings, seaweed, coir, bark, and perlite. The bag will list the ingredients. Of course, you want to grow organically and sustainably (don’t you?). Counterintuitively, the business of gardening is very tough on the planet. As a general guideline, avoid bagged mixes that contain peatmoss and synthetic fertilizers; the harvest and production of both is environmentally problematic. Some brands carry organic products while the bulk of their business remains conventional; I personally avoid Scott’s Miracle Gro, a Monsanto partner. Do research and find out who owns the bag you want to buy.</p>
<p id="nXFD70">How much potting soil will you need? Calculate the cubic feet (volume) of your containers by multiplying each one’s length by width by depth. A 3 x 1.5 x 1.5-foot planter will have a volume of 6.75 cubic feet. Most potting mixes come in a handy cubic-foot size. You’d need six bags, taking into account that your plants’ root balls will use up some volume.</p>
<h4 id="yLSAMQ">Learn how to plant properly</h4>
<p id="hJCPbO">So the soil is sorted, and you have your plants, which were carefully chosen to fit your USDA Hardiness Zone and sun exposure. Plants purchased in grow-pots from a nursery must be wiggled gently free of their container. With your fingers, loosen the root and soil mass that emerges. If the plant is rootbound with a rigid white root mass, use the blade of shears or a small garden fork to slash the roots from top to bottom. This helps rather than hurts; new feeder roots will establish to absorb soil nutrients and water.</p>
<p id="eSyVQa">Place the plant in a hole the same size as the root mass. Add soil to fill in and tamp down firmly. Soil will settle with watering. The top of the plants’ root and soil mass must be level with the surrounding soil (too low and water will pool, causing rot; too high and the roots will dry out).</p>
<p id="W6iuNn">If you have bought a bare-root plant, soak it in a basin of water before planting. Make its hole as deep as the roots are long. Water at once.</p>
<h4 id="yGmhig">Be prepared to water adequately and regularly</h4>
<p id="Rb2gGy">A thorough soaking trumps a sprinkle. In pots, water till moisture seeps from the drainage holes. And there must be drainage holes. When to water next? Most new gardeners overwater. If the soil looks dark and feels damp, like a wrung-out sponge, no water is necessary. If the soil is paler, and is dry to an inch deep (stick your finger in), soak it. Smaller pots will dry out faster. To cut down a little on watering duties, add a hydrogel like <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Roots-2756563-27-56563-Terra-Sorb-Absorbent/dp/B00MP7H734?tag=curbed-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Terra-Sorb</a> to the soil mix when planting.</p>
<p id="zsFsEZ">Soaker hoses on a cheap timer can save you for a weekend away from the garden. And if you have the budget for professionally installed automatic irrigation (which will run into several thousand dollars), go for it. But the settings will still have to be adjusted through the growing season.</p>
<p id="TRQJP0">Finally, for the best outcome, visit the garden every day. Observation and time are the best teachers.</p>
<aside id="g28jAS"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"curbed_national"}'></div></aside>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/5/31/11762702/gardening-tips-tricks-beginners-soilMarie Viljoen2019-04-24T16:00:00-04:002019-04-24T16:00:00-04:00How to design a small urban garden in six steps
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<img alt="overhead view of small terrace garden" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W4fPZ2wr-wZl-3P3ykK02mpBMGg=/0x0:2539x1904/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49633563/terrace3_marieviljoen.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marie Viljoen's former 66-square-foot terrace. | <a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/">Marie Viljoen</a></figcaption>
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<p>The creator of a lush 66-square-foot garden shares her expertise</p> <p id="zm2Byn"><em>Marie Viljoen knows a thing or two about gardening in tight spaces. After all, her first terrace in Brooklyn measured just 66 square feet, yet she managed to turn the sliver of a room into an outdoor oasis with a small grill, a table and chairs, and dozens of plants: roses, herbs, figs, lilies, strawberries, vines, and more. Her micro garden grew into </em><a href="http://66squarefeet.blogspot.com/"><em>a blog</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/66-Square-Feet-Delicious-Life/dp/1617690503?tag=curbed-20" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><em>a book</em></a><em>, both named after the tiny terrace’s size. Here, Viljoen shares her time-tested strategies for small urban gardens. </em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Jqg0kO">
<p id="Idg6kZ">There is very little as luxurious in a city as coming home to your own green retreat where you can smell the roses. Or pick the blueberries. Or dine beneath the light-polluted stars while watching a migrating hummingbird feeding on scarlet runner bean flowers.</p>
<p id="D0sJqn">Each outdoor space is unique, with attendant challenges and possibilities, but this six-step guide will give you a sound strategy for tackling the creation of your leafy refuge.</p>
<h4 id="jFk5Kh">1. Create a blueprint for your garden</h4>
<p id="qQTcIw">Measure your space. Then draw it on graph paper or touchscreen. It does not have to be pretty, but the scale must be accurate. For printed portability it is best if the sketch fits onto a standard sheet of paper (8.5" x 11"). Convert each linear foot to a scale that will fit on the paper. A half or quarter inch per foot is easy.</p>
<p id="q3PwJM">Now that you are looking at it objectively, you can see how and where things will fit.</p>
<h4 id="hVUUAZ">2. Allocate space</h4>
<p id="T8gr0G">How will you use this garden? Are you going to eat meals there? Barbecue? Grow fruit and flowers? What about storage?</p>
<p id="3EIh9P">Once you know what you want, add your stuff to the sketch: a table, seating, a barbecue. Planters. A shed. How big is the table, and how wide those chairs? Draw them to scale. Consider furniture that does double duty—a table that doubles as a stool or plant stand—and pieces that can be folded up and moved out of the way.</p>
<aside id="JHEmDi"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"The city dweller’s guide to gardening","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2019/4/18/18485032/urban-garden-container-gardening-products-supplies-to-buy-for-sale"},{"title":"Where to buy plants online ","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/8/17174130/buy-indoor-plants-online-stores-shipping"},{"title":"Best outdoor furniture: 18 picks for any budget","url":"https://www.curbed.com/2017/3/21/14988728/best-outdoor-furniture-shopping-buy"}]}'></div></aside><h4 id="kwtnNd">3. Incorporate hardscaping</h4>
<p id="UxK2Ib">What does your space need, in terms of construction? Be realistic about what is essential for safety, or for building codes.</p>
<p id="Up0Xp9">Aesthetic elements such as fences, decks, and stonework will depend on your budget. Professional hardscaping is expensive, but the chances are good that it will be done well and will last many years.</p>
<p id="QwhQlP">Two caveats: Place nothing on an unprotected roof membrane and never block the drain.</p>
<p id="NR3vTe">For simpler fixes, like hiding ugly chain-link, go it alone. Birch or bamboo poles make an effective screen doubling as a trellis for climbers. You hate the floor tiles? Cover them with landscape fabric and an inch of pea gravel or crushed stone. The walls are a blah beige? Paint them turquoise or cerise; in a small space color is very big.</p>
<p id="jByqyB">Is there a water source? You will need one. Hauling a watering can from the kitchen is not all it’s cracked to be.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mf2xynf_iExR2my3qUHn97Hmb4o=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6511915/terrace2_marieviljoen.0.jpg">
<cite>Marie Viljoen</cite>
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<h4 id="NZvMUj">4. Know your climate and sun exposure</h4>
<p id="tTH4kq">Choosing appropriate plants for your garden, no matter what size, is all about location.</p>
<p id="nJClgt">The U.S. is divided into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. Plants are hardy to a zone that defines how much cold they can withstand. Knowing your zone allows you to choose the right plants for your region and ensure they thrive in your available space.</p>
<p id="K5VsA1">In cities, even southern exposures might mean full shade, cast by the building across the street. Establish how much direct sun your garden receives; different plants require different light. Don’t guess: observe and record. Even in a small space, one side of your garden might be different from another. Also pay attention to the wind; rooftops and balconies often endure heavy wind gusts that can wreak havoc on many plants.</p>
<h4 id="j2Qcu2">5. Choose plants that work together and fit your climate</h4>
<p id="7vCkql">Add plants to your sketch using color markers.</p>
<p id="8asbkT">In horticultural literature and on plant labels, plants are described as suitable for full sun (six-plus hours of direct sun); semi-shade (three to six hours of direct or intermittent sun); or full shade (no direct sun). Based on your note-keeping choose plants best suited to your exposure and micro-climate.</p>
<p id="TGwbtV">A collection of plants that blooms or produces throughout the growing year is more compelling than one where it all fizzles out after spring. Choose plants for different bloom times as well as for interesting texture and foliage. Vary heights by using different size pots as well as a mix of annuals, perennials and shrubs. Repeat some plants several times (odd numbers look more natural), to weave the scheme together.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="After the 66-square-foot terrace, Viljoen enjoyed a more spacious garden at her Harlem apartment. She and her husband have since moved back to Brooklyn." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/erVAdQPBP5STIzmXSOeCXkuDXtY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6513871/harlem2_marieviljoen.0.jpg">
<cite>Marie Viljoen</cite>
<figcaption>After the 66-square-foot terrace, Viljoen enjoyed a more spacious garden at her Harlem apartment. She and her husband have since moved back to Brooklyn.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="sO1awx">Some plant basics to keep in mind when making selections for your garden:</p>
<ul>
<li id="BvbGEC">
<strong>Annuals</strong> last one growing season and die in winter. They pack punch, and are an excellent seasonal fix for tight spaces. </li>
<li id="tIxLb9">
<strong>Perennials </strong>are herbaceous plants that live longer than a year, blooming for two to six weeks.</li>
<li id="19Iz9D">
<strong>Shrubs</strong> are woody plants that can be annual or perennial in your zone. Choose them for bloom-time, fruit, and structural interest.</li>
<li id="Dd0p3q">
<strong>Climbers</strong> expand cramped spaces by taking interest up. They double as green screens. They can be annual or perennial, and they are great for maximizing greenery in a tight space</li>
<li id="ycZiOz">
<strong>Trees</strong> (small and medium) perform well in small gardens and require larger containers. Every few years containerized trees benefit from a root-pruning, to prevent girdling. </li>
</ul>
<h4 id="cQgFPV">6. Choose the right containers</h4>
<p id="cNEWf8">You will need them, unless you’re gardening in-ground. Almost anything is a suitable planting container, as long as it has drainage holes. If weight is an issue on a rooftop, go light with plastic, metal, fiberglass or grow bags. Wood, terracotta, and concrete are fine if weight is of no consideration.</p>
<p id="kUKs8D">Container size depends on the plants. Annuals can thrive in as little as 4" in diameter. Perennials need more room– 10" and upwards. Shrubs, 16" and up. Small trees, 20" and larger. Your local nursery will be invaluable in helping you make the right choices. Keep in mind that if your garden is located on a wind-swept balcony, larger containers are less likely to topple over than many small containers, so consider grouping plants rather than individually potting each one.</p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2016/5/23/11714404/urban-gardening-ideas-tips-small-space-designMarie Viljoen2016-10-11T13:35:56-04:002016-10-11T13:35:56-04:00How to create your own drought-tolerant garden
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/KF9dA75zo-NQjk_lrRlOmcsig2w=/0x128:3000x2378/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51308639/House_Calls_San_Diego_Ike_exterior_back_Darren_Bradley.1488119448.jpg" />
<figcaption>Darren Bradley</figcaption>
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<p>We talked to landscape architects who work their magic in southern California’s dry climes</p> <p id="dxshdx">Even in our succulent-obsessed times, many people feel intimidated by and unsure about the idea of drought-resistant landscaping. For some, the notion of drought-tolerant landscape still conjures a drab vision of plain gravel with a few sparse plants. But with the growing trend in artful and verdant low-water landscaping, not to mention municipal incentives for reducing water use, drought-resilient gardening makes great aesthetic and economic sense.<br><br>We’ve interviewed some top landscape architects in southern California on the key steps to create a garden that looks beautiful—and even lush—while remaining environmentally sustainable.</p>
<p id="giRb86"></p>
<h3 id="XLB6k8">Location: where is your garden?</h3>
<p id="uttTpH">Before you get started with the process of designing a garden, it’s crucial to understand the conditions of the land where you are going to plant. First, figuring out what “plant zone” you are in will help you find out what plants will do well in your garden. <br><br>Other important local factors include your soil’s mineral content, how much shade or slope there is, and whether the drainage is adequate. “The first thing for any project is to take a look and understand what the specific site conditions are,” says Judy Kameon, who founded the Los Angeles-based design firm Elysian Landscapes. “Is it sunny, is it shady, is it coastal, is it inland? Is it flat or is it hillside? Understand what the conditions are that you have and then you can pick climate appropriate plants.” </p>
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<p id="qpQlQQ"><br>But choosing climate-appropriate plants doesn’t necessarily mean that a drought-tolerant garden has to be arid. “I might start by reassuring someone that a drought tolerant garden can be beautiful. I like to think about it as not so much drought-tolerant as ‘resilient,’” says landscape architect Susan Van Atta, whose firm <a href="http://va-la.com/">Van Atta Associates Landscape Architecture + Planning</a> is based in Santa Barbara. <br><br>Van Atta advises gardeners to “look at what grows in nature itself where you live. Here in Santa Barbara, there are plants that look gorgeous and green even when it gets very hot and very dry.” If assessing soil and other conditions in your garden plot sounds daunting, a landscape designer can assess the conditions for you and provide expert guidance.</p>
<p id="8VFLx0"> </p>
<h3 id="g9EmOn">Use: How do you plan to use the garden?</h3>
<p id="1HxaD5">For Van Atta, the question of how you will <em>use</em> your garden should be a primary part of the design process. “Look at what you’d like to have happen there; you are making places for people.” Van Atta says. <br><br>Designing with usage in mind can even help to reduce water waste. “Often, creating new uses for the landscape will displace water-using plant materials,” Van Atta notes, citing the example of her firm’s Santa Barbara County Bowl project, where a sloping green lawn was replaced with a flat surface of decomposed granite and flowering native plants that allow the space to be used for events, rather than sitting unused. “It’s prettier now because it’s more interesting with flowering plants in the place of a boring lawn.”</p>
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<h3 id="GBNZUT">Research & Explore</h3>
<p id="gU3NtG">Whether you are working with a landscape designer or creating a garden yourself, it’s a good idea to spend some time visiting nurseries and reading (either online or in books) about gardening in water-restricted areas. Armed with the knowledge of what zone your garden is in and what its conditions are like, you can then peruse the plants at nurseries and in literature to find out what types of viable plants you like. <br><br>“When you get into plant selection, that’s the fun part,” says Pamela Palmer, president of Venice, California-based landscape architecture firm <a href="http://www.artecho.com/">ARTECHO</a>. “We advocate creating a plant palette that is based on plant association-—in other words, plants that grow together in a similar habitat and have similar needs.” <br><br>“I always tell people to do your homework. Before you start madly buying plants and putting them in the ground, make sure you are buying the right plant and putting it in the right spot,” advises Kameon. Palmer mentions also that you can also incorporate plants that occupy similar climates in different areas of the world, such as the Mediterranean climates of South Africa and Australia, which are very similar to Southern California.</p>
<p id="tDKzE9"></p>
<h3 id="SdHo7q">Design</h3>
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</figure>
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<p id="IV9qNT">Once you have figured out which types of plants will grow well in your garden and what plants you like, you are ready to create the design of the garden. “Another thing to remember is you’ll use the same design principles for a drought-tolerant landscape as for any other landscape—you use plants in the same way, but just different plants,” Van Atta says. When you begin designing, it may be useful to look at landscaping designed by professionals to gather aesthetic inspiration. </p>
<p id="GNartp">Kameon, who with her partner Dana Bauer designed landscaping for the Platform in Culver City, conceived the design of the landscaping there to reflect elements of the site’s architecture. “We had a lot of hard materials with concrete and metal, so we carried that through to the planting, so the planting is very much based on foliage, color, texture, and strong silhouettes.” </p>
<p id="leQ362">In addition to plant selection, you may also choose to incorporate hardscaping, fencing, and other elements into your garden design. In fact, in some municipalities, regulations require homeowners to install permeable hardscape elements on the ground that prevent local rainfall from being lost into storm drains. <br><br>But even when required, the options for hardscaping are vast, from gravel to shale to decomposed granite. The garden design store Big Red Sun in Venice sells a variety of hardscaping stones, planters, dishes, and steel vessels in a garden setting, and visiting these types of stores can be another good way to gather ideas.</p>
<p id="A0YIwE"></p>
<h3 id="wgYSul">Observe, Water, Repeat</h3>
<p id="qZjgvI">Once your garden is designed and planted, the relationship you have with your garden really begins. Experts caution that just because a garden is drought tolerant doesn’t mean it doesn’t need attention, and that paying attention to your garden and its needs is a crucial element to its growth. <br><br>“‘Drought tolerant’ doesn’t mean no water. It means plants can survive with little water, but it doesn’t mean they will necessarily thrive,” says Kameon. Palmer says, “Even if you are planting natives or low-water plants they need water while their roots are establishing, and then you can back off and water less. So the key is observing.” Kameon advises, “Try to be patient. Allow plants the time and space to grow in. For me, that’s part of the pleasure of the garden, how it grows and changes over time.”</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/10/11/13243612/drought-tolerant-gardens-tips-tricksKate Losse2016-09-27T11:30:03-04:002016-09-27T11:30:03-04:00How to install a green roof on a private home
<figure>
<img alt="An illustration of a white house with trees, grass, and flowers growing out of its roof." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZDpU3omzbNk6LZA0mEPZxYVwu7Y=/167x0:2834x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51060481/3x2House_20With_20Grass_20Roof_v2_edited-1.0.jpg" />
<figcaption><a href="http://www.sunnyeckerle.com/">Sunny Eckerle</a></figcaption>
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<p>A New York architect and green roof pro walks through the process of designing and installing a lush living rooftop</p> <p></p>
<p id="FwOrIY"><strong>The site:</strong> A more than 900-square-foot expanse atop a historic building in the Prospect Lefferts Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn. The homeowner recently re-roofed the building, in anticipation of installing a green space, she had the roofer raise the skylights several inches and bring the waterproofing material up the sides of the roof’s walls.</p>
<p id="9ILNZq"><strong>The plan:</strong> The homeowner envisioned a wide carpet of greenery in addition to a small space for growing some fruits and vegetables, as well as an area to hang out with friends. She hired architect and green roof pro Inger Staggs Yancey of <a href="http://www.brooklyngreenroof.com/">Brooklyn Greenroof</a> to bring her idea to life.</p>
<p id="U9Nlhf">According to Yancey, installing a green roof is like putting together a complicated puzzle, and because of this, it's not something you should DIY. During the initial design discussions—for this site, there were a lot—Yancey brings on a structural engineer. "The first thing you want to do is to find out how much weight the roof can support, whether it’s a lot or a little. That will change the kinds of designs you can entertain."</p>
<div id="DNvMKz"><a style="width: 300px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;" href="http://www.curbed.com/curbed-handbook"> <img alt="handbook-widget" src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6378049/sandbox_CurbedHandbook-widget.0.0.jpg"> </a></div>
<p id="486e0W"><strong>The plants: </strong>The engineer’s assessment showed that the roof could hold 55 pounds per square foot—enough strength to support a full rooftop farm. "The average green roof needs a minimum of 2.5 to 3 inches of growing media," Yancey explains. "If you’re going to grow vegetables, you need media to be 7 inches deep. But the more media you have, the more it will weigh."</p>
<p id="xo0Afo">For a time, the homeowner entertained the idea of installing a full rooftop farm but eventually decided to return to her initial concept of a low-maintenance green space with a few planters for edibles. The majority of the roof would be covered with a flowering sedum.</p>
<div class="c-float-left"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Flowering sedum" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-S51C4dvZSX4hu-nwAm3BZdeWKg=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7063851/sedum-green-roof-garden-design-install-34.JPG">
<figcaption>They chose flowering sedum, a standard green roof plant, as the roof covering.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="CzYcN6">"Sedum is the standard green roof plant," Yancey says. "It’s extremely drought tolerant, low maintenance, and never needs to be reseeded or watered. It’s a plant adapted to growing on mountaintops in low-nutrient soil. Any flowers that fall off decompose and form the fertilizer the plant needs, so it does its own little composting in a way."</p>
<p id="OXa41p"><strong>The layers:</strong> Green roofs are made of layers designed to protect the building structure from water while holding and sustaining the plants. The bottom layer is a root barrier, typically made of very thick plastic sheeting that will prevent any strong roots from digging into the building.</p>
<p id="x07xza">"Roots are drawn to carbon," explains Yancey. "And some of the more affordable roofing materials are made primarily of carbon. It’s one of those unlucky coincidences. You have to work hard to keep them separate."</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="A woman in a Mets tshirt standing on top of a Brooklyn townhouse." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yyNrdBbclo0QInD3dyz9lvHP87M=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7063849/sedum-green-roof-garden-design-install-10.JPG">
<figcaption>The roof before its green makeover. All photos courtesy Brooklyn Greenroof.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="djbioO">Several inches of edging material—typically stones or gravel—will then be used to form a root-free border separating the growing area from any vertical elements like walls or, in this case, the sides of the skylights. Metal slats placed between the rocks and the growth media help ensure separation while retaining drainage.</p>
<p id="FCioQr">Next is a moisture-retention layer that looks something like an egg-crate mattress. Enough water to sustain the plants will collect in the divots of the egg crate, while excess water can drain out through holes atop the raised bumps.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/PcObGfXWY_7LwYiUYygHgayY6ww=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7173899/green-roof-garden-design-install-roof-barrier.0.jpg">
<figcaption>Left: Installing the root barrier. Right: Installing the egg crate-like moisture-retention layer, which was temporarily weighed down with bricks.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="3G8Z5E">"One question I always get from homeowners is ‘What happens to the water when it rains? Where does the water go?’" Yancey says. "The answer is that it goes the same place it would if you didn’t have a green roof. The roof is designed so the water percolates through the green roof and can flow to the gutters and downspouts in the same pattern as a normal roof."</p>
<p id="uFhYoJ">Over the moisture layer goes a filter fabric specially engineered to hold in the dirt while draining out any water. There are a range of filter fabrics and growing media types, and it’s important for them to be compatible. Matching them incorrectly could result in clogged fabric or media that washes away.</p>
<p id="RUtkuj">Then it’s time for the growing media—a.k.a. dirt—and putting in the plants. In this case, Yancey chose pre-grown sedum that comes in large tiles.</p>
<p id="jQE0u1"><strong>The timeline: </strong>Once Yancey and the homeowner finalized the plans for the roof, Brooklyn Greenroof applied for a permit with the city’s Department of Buildings. In New York City, green roofs with dirt less than four inches deep do not require a permit. However, the city strongly encourages permitting for safety reasons, and the permit qualifies homeowners for a tax abatement. While most green roof permits will come through in about a month, the process took a bit longer in this particular case.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pNf6e0zwsrVv4luzqPFP-XVPh1w=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7173867/green-roof-garden-design-install-truck-dirt.0.jpg">
<figcaption>A crane hoisted the bags of growing media onto the roof.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="15LNAK">After that, the company began ordering the necessary materials and coordinating deliveries. Installing a green roof usually takes about a week, but because of the layered nature of the installation, it’s important for materials to arrive in sequence. So planning the installation takes a significant amount of time.</p>
<p id="xMsI7a">"It’s kind of like putting together an intricate jigsaw," Yancey says. "I have a system where I weigh down the first layer with the next layer in the same day, otherwise the materials or the growth media could blow away. It’s another reason why no one should DIY a green roof."</p>
<p id="BPI1h8">With the help of a crane and a block-and-tackle pulley system above the roof hatch, the materials made it up onto the roof in nearly correct succession: First the rolls of root barrier, then the 1x2-meter tiles of the moisture layer and rolls of filter fabric. The final day was supposed to be laying out the growth media and large square tiles of sedum, but the rock edging and metal border arrived several days late and had to be installed the following week—after the plants were already in place.</p>
<p></p>
<p id="zFlbbV">The entire installation took about five days in total, with a weekend between planting and finally putting in the edging. The homeowner also built a set of copper-covered planter boxes to sit on the raised cornice area near the front of the building, with <a href="http://www.woollypocket.com/">Wooly Pockets</a> planted with strawberries hanging down nearby.</p>
<p id="nyticH"><strong>The money:</strong> The average cost for a bare-bones green roof—including the design, permitting, and installation—will typically run between $18 and $22 per square foot. A deeper or more specialized roof, like this one, can cost more, between $30-50 per square foot. The tax abatement for this project came out to $5.23 per square foot of green roof.</p>
https://archive.curbed.com/2016/9/27/12830392/green-roof-installation-design-private-homeBarbara Eldredge2016-06-02T11:30:03-04:002016-06-02T11:30:03-04:00How to design the ultimate backyard retreat
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OA8xqxJLibkdbx2dDTf5auCffxw=/167x0:2834x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49755013/House_Calls_Chavarri_a_Robert_Edmonds___Vivian_Lee_San_Francisco_patio_family_Carlos_Chavarria.1528996437.jpg" />
<figcaption>Carlos Chavarría</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Seven steps for creating the ultimate backyard retreat</p> <p id="NSwSld">When faced with a bare and unappealing yard or patio, it can be hard to see the potential for creating a dynamic and inviting outdoor room. But Alec Dakers, lead designer and partner at <a href="http://rainbowvalleyinc.com/">Rainbow Valley Design and Construction</a>, and landscape designer Lytton Reid, have done just that for numerous homeowners in the Eugene, Oregon area. They shared their process for visualizing the ultimate backyard retreat.</p>
<h3 id="HPfPur">1. Assess the existing conditions</h3>
<p id="eC1bu7">First, the designers do a thorough assessment of the lot as they find it. "We look at the space within the property lines and what it has to offer," says Reid. They evaluate the topography, the sun exposure, wind, and drainage—even the view into the neighbor’s yard.</p>
<p id="E5hLvk"><a href="http://www.curbed.com/curbed-handbook" style="width: 300px; float: right; margin-left: 20px;"> <img src="https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6378049/sandbox_CurbedHandbook-widget.0.0.jpg" alt="handbook-widget"> </a></p>
<p id="BH5RRb">"I often look beyond the property lines and assess both the pros and cons of the surrounding area," says Reid. "What are the long views out of the space? What are the views that are dynamic and enjoyable?" Such views can determine the best spot for the new outdoor living room.</p>
<p id="cLQtvD">Additionally, they like to incorporate existing elements into the new scheme, if possible. "Were not big fans of just tearing everything out and starting from scratch," says Dakers. "We try to do things in a way that’s as sustainable as possible." For example, old cedar fencing might be planed to become new planter boxes, or an old concrete patio might be salvaged into stepping-stones for a path.</p>
<center id="I4aFfO"><img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6581387/tiny-Garden-Tool-1.0.jpg" alt="tiny-Garden-Tool-1.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="jJ3RAH">2. Determine what you want to do in the space</h3>
<p id="eVEMWE">Next, Dakers asks homeowners to jot a list of all the activities they will want to do in the new backyard. Alongside each activity, he has them note how they want to feel while they are engaged in it.</p>
<p id="a8pWHC">"A lot of times when we talk to clients we ask them how they want to feel in the space," he says. "Then we design around those specific needs." If someone wants a spot to read and nap, Dakers and Reid want to know if they see themselves lounging in an open and sunny expanse, or would prefer to feel more cozy and tucked into a sheltered nook.</p>
<center id="H2X6OR"><img alt="tiny-potted-plant-1.0.jpg" src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6582501/tiny-potted-plant-1.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="TlVFZZ">3. Plot zones effectively</h3>
<p id="lLUrYE">Once the designers know what clients want to do outside, they begin to zone the activities in the available space. While doing so, they are careful about how the zones will interact and connect with one another.</p>
<p id="GXs2OO">"Understanding the needs of every zone and how they relate to the other zones, as well as how they connect, is really the essence of coming up with a rich plan for the backyard," says Dakers. This attention to detail ultimately makes the resulting space feel more layered and inviting, as opposed to rooms "plopped down next to each other."</p>
<p id="TR5ALq">The designers think of the connection points between the zones as "thresholds," which are shaped by their own hardscaping elements and plantings. "That threshold can be an experience on its own," says Reid.</p>
<p id="R6cDcy">Also, says Reid, it’s important to check how each zone interacts with the existing house. "The proximity to the amenities inside the house is critical," he says. "It’s less attractive to have an outdoor dining space that is on the other side of the yard when you need to carry something from the kitchen sink."</p>
<center id="6dhAuo"><img alt="tiny-Garden-Tool-2.0.jpg" src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6582499/tiny-Garden-Tool-2.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="qRwMIr">4. Create both public spaces and private nooks</h3>
<p id="gHqqsm">Along with mapping out zones for separate functions, the designers also pay close attention to the quality of the rooms they create. "There are three basic types of spaces: the private, the semi-private, and the public," says Reid. "I think all three should be represented in a good outdoor room design."</p>
<p id="jRyDCn">A public space could be the main entertaining locus, open enough for many people to comfortably gather together, while semi-private and private spaces would provide more screening and shelter from the neighbors. Certain outdoor structures can come in handy for defining these spaces, as an open pergola can delineate a group dining space while a roof overhang and privacy screen produces a good nook against the house. Including the latter is especially significant.</p>
<p id="QnhJpF">"The very traditional, very old garden design principle, is the idea of prospect and refuge," says Reid. This concept says that humans prefer to feel protected (refuge) while also able to look out and see who’s approaching (prospect).</p>
<center id="58JiQA"><img src="https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6581391/tiny-Plant-In-Ground.0.jpg" alt="tiny-Plant-In-Ground.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="UnZEfH">5. Evaluate drainage and utilities early on</h3>
<p id="Yqg31W">"Thinking about drainage is a very important issue," says Dakers. "Not only to protect the house, but you also don’t want a backyard that’s soggy nine months out of the year."</p>
<p id="1B2Vxf">The main rule regarding drainage is to keep water away from the house and its foundation. Every homeowner’s site will have different needs for doing so. It’s best to proceed with caution and consult professionals to get proper drainage on your site. "Big mistakes are made when people don’t consider drainage," says Reid. The designers plan for drainage from their very first assessment.</p>
<p id="sxmxls">Similarly, they also like to know early on where utilities will need to be located, such as plumbing for outdoor sinks, gas for a fireplace, and electricity for lighting. "All of the utilities go through that early assessment process," says Dakers. This way, there’s no need to rip up that fresh laid patio because you have to dig for a gas line.</p>
<center id="MTeW0G"><img alt="tiny-Window-Box-Spot.0.jpg" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6582513/tiny-Window-Box-Spot.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="0jIlIW">6. Design for all of the senses</h3>
<p id="FuD6jt">A fun aspect of outdoor rooms is being able to design for all of the senses. To do so, Reid starts by asking himself: "What are the views and the sounds and possibly even the smells that come into the space from neighboring spaces?" Then he evaluates how he can work with those existing factors or possibly remedy them.</p>
<p id="XOzRWH">"Sometimes there are smells that you really want to enjoy," he says. "And sometimes you can mitigate the bad smells with good smells." Fragrant shrubs or perennials might alleviate the smell of the neighbor’s nearby trashcans. On one project, Reid installed a water feature to cover the sound of a nearby roadway, creating an antidote to what had been a nuisance.</p>
<center id="yNCrIG"><img alt="tiny-potted-plant-2.0.jpg" src="https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/6582509/tiny-potted-plant-2.0.jpg"></center>
<h3 id="bFri1M">7. Take style cues from the home</h3>
<p id="Bxm6zZ">With regards to an overall style, the designers will often take the house’s existing architectural features into account. They don’t want to tack an ornate colonial-style structure onto a low-slung mid-century, modern home.</p>
<p id="QHtNZg">"I think most people think of the backyard as something separate," says Dakers. "But I think good design requires that you consider it as an extension of the house."</p>
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https://archive.curbed.com/2016/6/2/11836492/patio-design-outdoor-room-backyardMelissa Dalton