Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I water my landscape?

Water needs are dependant on the local environment. It is best to water early in the morning and the length of time should be based on recent weather conditions. (Most new irrigation systems have easy ways to alter the clock’s run settings for a change in weather.) General ideas:

If it is raining, turn off the water until the rain stops, this helps conserve water and also prevents your landscape from becoming a muddy mess.

In the heat of the summer, plants will want water more often. By watching your plants, you will notice if they want more water – they will look dry and not so perky.

If plants have been recently installed, they tend to want more frequent watering until established. (This is because generally they have been nursery grown and are thus more sensitive to the change in attention.)

How is Ground Effects a "Green" company?

Here at Ground Effects we believe that it is not enough to simply follow the minimum laws regarding conservation of the environment. What many other landscape contractors do not realize is that a successful landscape and a healthy ecosystem go hand in hand. Shortcuts that damage the environment will shorten the lifespan of a landscape and create future problems. We take the extra measures and time to protect the environment: While we try try to use as few as possible we take care to properly dispose of toxic chemicals and materials. Soil erosion is a serious problem that can lead to disastrous consequences for already established construction, so we always properly direct water run-off. We don't waste any water on the job site especially during the draught that California is currently experiencing.

What can I do about the leaves on my plants (especially citrus trees) turning yellow?

Leaves on many plants, especially citrus trees and plants like camellias or gardenias tend to get yellow in color when the chemistry of the soil around them is unfavorable. Many of these plants are acid lovers and unfortunately in southern California the salts and alkalis tend to dominate the mix and deprive the plants of their ability to absorb nutrients. The imbalance in the soil reduces the intake of iron, which causes the leaves to turn yellow. The situation can be remedied by using a combination of acid fertilizer (ex. Azalea and camellia fertilizer) with an easily absorbed chelated iron product. A general rule of thumb in gardening is to never mix fertilizers, so when applying the fertilizers, mix each product into the soil separately.

What should I have my gardener do during their weekly visit?

Your unique landscape and the capabilities of your gardener will influence what is accomplished during the weekly visit. Some general things to consider having done are the following:

Pinch off/cut spent flower spikes – doing this before they go to see encourages the plants to flower again and reduces the chance of the plants reseeding throughout your yard

Fertilize where necessary

Pull weeds

How can I reduce the squirrel and insect populations in my landscape?

In a well-balanced and healthy environment, nature’s creatures will and should be present. If you happen to have an over abundance of these furry little beasts or they are over-eating your costly and nice looking plants, we recommend trying several things. A company called Bioplex makes a nice Woodchuck repellant that seems to work. Another suggestion is to try a mix of Tabasco and chili peppers sprayed onto and around the plants that are being attacked. While not really dangerous to you, it is a shock to the taste buds of the pest. If you are having trouble with insects, try a citronella based product, usually sold as candles. And finally, if these things don’t help, try calling a pest control company and have them come battle with the beasts.

How can I get rid of weeds?

Getting rid of weeds is like the eternal cat and mouse game. They will always come back. To try and cut back on the amount of weeds coming back, try a couple of things. One is when you are pulling the weeds out, try and pull the entire weed out (the roots too, not just the green part above ground) There is less chance of the weed coming back if there is none of it left in the ground. The other thing to do is to go to your local hardware/home store and purchase a chemical spray that is meant to kill weeds. Stores generally stock a wide variety of these sprays. Pick the one that you are most comfortable with or ask a salesperson to help you pick one for the particular weeds you are trying to eradicate.

How much will it cost?

Doing any work in your yard costs money. How much is entirely dependant on your wants, needs and ability to pay. Construction costs in landscape are generally higher than people imagine, but creating a nice change in your yard is not impossible on a small budget. Building elements in the landscape like pools and large hardscape elements such as built in BBQ’s and new patios are usually the most pricey parts of the project. Firepits, furniture, and water features can fluctuate in price dramatically depending on the design, but can be great and still cost effective if selected carefully. And most importantly, plants obviously have the impact and importance in the landscape. The great thing about plants is that they grow (and it is generally better for the plant to be planted when it is younger and has a less established root system). To save money and maximize the spread and success of the planting, purchase smaller, and thus less expensive, plants at the beginning.

How does the design process work?

We are proud to call ourselves a design/build firm. This means that in addition to working with you to design a new landscape for your home via meetings and drawings, we are also able to build the final result. Because we are so closely linked to both the design and construction phases, we are able to control the quality more easily and adjust to changes that may be desired once the construction process has begun. Our general process involves a series of meetings with you to discuss the design aspect of the project, once a desirable plan has been created, we estimate the project based on discussed materials, etc and then another round of meetings takes place to mold the budget and the plan to something that is both desirable and buildable. At this point, we build. If you already happen to have a landscape plan or would like to have another company do the design for you, we are also happy to participate solely in the construction phase of the project. This is a bonus aspect of working with a design/build company, we are more easily able to adapt to specific design and construction ideas and needs.

Do you work with other designers and contractors?

We work with other designers and contractors all the time. It is our pleasure to work with other design and construction professionals to help you complete your project to its best potential.