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Adding an Outdoor Kitchen to Your Backyard

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Landscaping, Outdoor Kitchen.

Homeowners in Tucson have outdoor spaces that are enjoyed all year long. If you find yourself frequently headed outside to entertain, adding an outdoor kitchen may be a great addition to your backyard.

If you are considering an outdoor kitchen, you will want it to stand alone as its own space. The kitchen should flow with your backyard design to create a cohesive space that adds value to your home.

Pave and cover the space

The kitchen space should be paved and covered so that it is comfortable and accessible all year round. Consider covering the space with an awning or pergola that can hold lights to add ambiance in the evening.

Include outdoor furniture

You can choose built-in seating or outdoor furniture. Either way, you will want a plan that has plenty of seating space so that guests can be comfortable.

Create an external focal point

Ideally, your outdoor kitchen should have a view of a focal point within your landscape, such as the pool or outdoor fireplace. This focal point will encourage relaxation as you kick back waiting for your steaks to cook on the grill.

Are you considering adding an outdoor kitchen to your existing landscape? If so Santa Rita Landscaping can help you create a beautiful design that offers the functionality you will want out of the space. You can contact us for a residential landscape design consultation by calling (520) 623-0421.

Fire Pit Options for your Backyard

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fire Pits, Landscaping.

Adding a fire pit into your landscape design adds another detail to your backyard for entertaining. Here are some fire pit design ideas that can instantly enhance your backyard.

A Covered Fire Pit

A covered fire pit allows people to sit around and enjoy the warmth of the fire no matter what the weather. A gazebo will create a new layer of design for your outdoor area.

A Stone Fire Pit

A stone fit pit will complement features in your hardscape. Its natural appeal creates a visually stimulating outdoor area that is perfect for entertaining anyone from a single friend to a party full of people.

A Rectangular Fire Box

If you want to set up a seating area around your fire pit, the rectangular firebox is a good option. Whether you want an L-shaped outdoor sofa or a lot of comfortable chairs, this feature makes it easy to achieve your ideal outdoor aesthetic.

Round Firepit

Round firepits work well if you want a less formal design. All you need to do is pull up your chairs and enjoy the warmth.

A Large, Square Fire Pit

If you are looking at a fire pit to be the focal point of your entire yard, choose a large, square design. When it sits in the center of your backyard, it is easy to choose the perfect landscape design to go around it.

Heating Options

Firepit flames can be fueled by natural gas, propane, or wood. For the gas and propane option, there are round or square burners. Burners can be covered with lava (cinder) rocks or beautiful colored glass.

Whether you want to add a fire pit to a yard that is almost complete or you want to completely transform your current landscape design, Santa Rita Landscaping is here to help. As one of Tucson’s top landscaping companies, we can give you all of the features you need to achieve your ideal exterior design. To learn more about our services or to see our gallery of completed jobs, call (520) 623-0421.

Time to Change Your Watering Schedule for Fall

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Irrigation Systems, Landscaping.

Can you feel the change in the air? So can your plants! Now that the fall season is here, you will need to adjust the water for your plants to make sure they are not being overwatered.
Our fall season creates sun that is a little less harsh with mornings and evenings providing more coolness in the air. A drip irrigation system provides a wonderful job at giving plants and trees a deep watering that can be regulated to help them adapt to the changing weather.

Just like your home, your landscaping is an investment, and adjusting the watering schedule is one way to help protect your investment in the fall and winter. This is just a general guide on how to adjust the water for your plants.

Below is a suggested watering schedule to use as a guide. Remember though to use it only as a guide because your watering schedule will vary depending on the weather, the soil, the types of plants that you have, and their maturity. It is important to keep a careful watch on your plants any time you change their watering schedule.

Suggested Watering Schedule

For the Fall Season:
Plants in their First Year
Water every other day for 1.5 hours

Plants in their Second Year
Water every third day for 2.5 hours

Established Plants
Water once per week for 3-6 hours

Tired of changing your irrigation controller? Contact us for more information on converting your existing controller to a Smart Controller. Smart Controllers have weather sensors that measure rainfall and temperature and will automatically adjust itself seasonally. You should also see a lower water bill.

If you ever have any questions about watering and maintaining your landscape, feel free to contact us at Santa Rita Landscaping.

Time to Fertilize your Shrubs

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Fertilizer, Fertilizing Trees, Landscaping.

Shrubs add new life to your home’s landscape. Fertilization will get you the most vibrant looking shrubs around your home. The guidelines below can help you nourish these diverse and resilient plants with the right fertilization techniques.

WHEN TO FERTILIZE

A good fertilization schedule falls around the major holidays of the warmer months. Mark your calendar to fertilize on Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and Labor Day, and your shrubs will look great all year round.

CHOOSING A FERTILIZER

Following the holiday fertilization method above, it is important to select a good general-purpose fertilizer. At Santa Rita Landscaping, we recommend a granular fertilizer for regular use which is easy to use and does not require mixing.

When choosing a general-purpose granular fertilizer, look for one that contains around 10% Nitrogen(N), 10% Phosphorus(P), and 10% Potassium(K), (10-10-10). Note that Granular Fertilizer can be very concentrated, so follow the directions on the brand you buy to apply properly.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply the fertilizer evenly around the plant. If you pile the fertilizer up in one spot, it will become too concentrated. Spread the fertilizer around the plant evenly from the trunk to the outer edge of the plant’s canopy. Since Granular Fertilizer is intended to dissolve slowly over time, you will need to give the plant a good watering before and after application.

If your shrubs do not look their best using a general-purpose fertilizer, you might need to invest in a fertilizer designed to address certain nutritional needs for your plants. Consulting a landscaping professional can help you determine which fertilizer will be the right fit for your yard.

SIGNS OF POOR FERTILIZATION

If you have yellowing leaves on the plant, your shrubs are not being properly fertilized. Other signs may be the absence of blooms on flowering shrubs, thinning of leaves, and weakened branches. To resolve these issues, you should change your pruning routine for your shrubs and adjust watering in addition to selecting a new fertilizer.

For more tips on caring for your Tucson, Green Valley, or Oro Valley home’s landscape, consult Santa Rita Landscaping today. You can explore our custom residential design and commercial maintenance services by visiting our website or calling us at (520) 623-0421.

Do you have mushrooms in your yard? What you need to know.

Written by csDevTeam on . Posted in Landscaping, Wild Mushrooms.

Wild mushrooms growing in your backyard can be a serious problem. Many mushrooms are poisonous and can cause bodily harm to your child and/or pets. By learning more about the presence of wild mushrooms in your yard, you can protect your family from poisoning.

The Basics

Mushrooms are produced by a variety of fungi types during rainy time periods when spores can germinate. These mushrooms can grow in your yard with some being toxic. Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell the difference between poisonous mushrooms and non- poisonous ones unless you are an expert. Therefore, it is important to remove all mushrooms growing in your yard to decrease the likelihood that your child or pet is poisoned.

Symptoms of Poisoning

In order to determine whether your child or pet has mushroom poisoning, here are some common symptoms. The most common symptoms of minor exposure include vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, and diarrhea. However, highly toxic mushrooms see symptoms like agitation, excessive salivation, hallucination, and/or death resulting from liver failure. In dogs, the early symptoms of liver failure will be yellow gums.

Poisoning Treatment

In the event that your child has been poisoned by mushrooms, call a health care provider or take them to the hospital emergency room. Be sure to collect samples of the mushroom your child ate before leaving for the hospital and give the mushrooms to the appropriate healthcare official. Your child’s healthcare provider will be able to determine the nature and extent of the poisoning so treatment can be administered.

If you believe that your dog has been subjected to mushroom poisoning, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. Make sure to collect samples of the mushrooms that your dog ate for the vet.  Doing so can provide the vet with important information regarding what type of poisoning has transpired. To prevent your pet from further illness, the vet can have him or her drink milk or water mixed with a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide for every 15 pounds of weight.