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Projects
See how our thoughtful work, informed by experience,
can truly transform any space.
FROM A DYING LAWN TO A FERTILE YARD
This yard is typical of old neighborhoods in Albuquerque. It had sickly, thirsty grass in a hot dry area. The grass needed to go, so we covered it with layers of cardboard, topped with layers of compost and mulch to hold water and smother the grass. This combination gradually breaks down to create a rich soil to nourish drought tolerant plants.
TURNING CONSTRAINTS INTO SOLUTIONS
Sometimes there are permanent constraints in garden areas such as utility lines, boundary walls, a neighbor’s trees, or an unwelcome view. We may not be able to remove an eyesore, but can transform it. Here, an old shed was situated on a permanent concrete slab in the middle of a dry lot in an old Albuquerque neighborhood. The lot was surrounded by the typical cinder block wall used in that era. Now the shed is gone and the concrete slab has been transformed into a patio with a greenhouse. The lifeless dirt has again been covered with compost and mulch now supports robust plants. The drab walls are now a bright color, creating the feeling of an outdoor room.
FLATTENING A STEEP SLOPE
Many years ago, in an effort to conserve water, green yards were replaced by gravel and weedcloth throughout the city of Albuquerque. Now we know that heavy gravel can allow water to run off of the hard packed ground beneath. In this yard any water runs down the steep slope to the street. Very little water sinks into the ground to feed the tree. Therefore, we terraced the slope to slow down the flow of water. We also removed a section of gravel, and again covered the bare ground with compost and mulch to hold water and create an environment for drought tolerant plants. The remaining graveled areas provide an appropriate environment for various cold hardy cacti.
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