Reader's forum, answers to questions about landscape and garden problems

Your
landscape and
gardening
questions are
always
welcome!

I will answer
all I receive
and will
periodically
post my
answers here.

READER'S FORUM

Q
We're planning to add a new
patio to our backyard.
Do you have any suggestions as to
which material would be best to use?
We are leaning toward brick pavers.
What do you recommend?
A
I think a patio looks best when it
somehow compliments the style of
the house itself.

For instance, European styled
dwellings always look best with
natural flagstone paths and open
surfaces. A more formal Georgian
or Colonial styled home would
benefit better from a classic,
bricked patio and matching raised
planters. In another example, a
contemporary home can look
stunning with engineered slate or
terrazzo (polished concrete)
decking.

Ultimately, it's your budget that
will help make your mind up. You
might look into patterned
concrete, or seeded aggregate.
These options are a bit more cost
effective, but can still deliver a
beautiful, finished effect.

In any case, be sure to use a
contractor who is well qualified
and will stand behind his work.

AFTER

This garden (left) is a
good example of the
use of perennials and
evergreen shrubs for a
colorful, easy-care
landscape.
Even a small yard like
this one can be made
into a pleasant and
useful space.

BEFORE

MICHAEL TANNER
LANDSCAPE DESIGNS

MICHAEL TANNER DESIGNS

Call 972-415-5015

Spring in North Texas is
truly a mixed bag! As
many native Texans know,
our weather can go from
one extreme to another in
a matter of hours. And of
course, with Spring comes
the thunderstorms and
potentially damaging winds.

But, on the flip side, Spring
is a season of rebirth and
renewal for so much of our
landscape. Trees in
flower, daffodils and iris
bursting with color, song
birds and warm sunny
afternoons. It really is a
magical time of the year.

I truly hope that you do
enjoy all the beauty and
wonder that Spring offers.
Get outside more....visit
our many parks and
garden centers. Make it a
family event. Start to think
about how you can bring
the magic of nature into
your own yard. Plant
something new. Pot up
some geraniums. Add a
little ornamental grass to
your landscape. Try a few
perennial plants to add
some bold splashes of
color to your garden.

The rewards of gardening
are many. You can start
small at first. Have fun with
it, and you may find a new
passion, just outside your
door!

.......A beautiful
garden starts with
thoughtful planning.
This is the perfect
time to put pencil to
paper, and begin to
plan out your new
landscape.

First, make an
assessment of your
current landscape.
Decide which shrubs
and plants you don't
like and want to
change. Or perhaps
there's a part of the
yard that you want to
enhance or improve.
Think about how you
use your yard, and all
of a sudden, the
choices become more
logical.

I can provide a
thorough, on-site
evaluation that will
help to make your
decisions easier and
avoid costly mistakes
in advance.