Landscaping and Garden Solutions: Keeping it Natural

Every landscape project poses unique and interesting challenges.  This project was no different.  Upon first meeting with the customers, the only elements they knew they wanted were a water feature and a weeping evergreen tree.  The property is located on a beautiful lake in western Wisconsin and is surrounded by nature.  The goal of the project was to create a landscape that was not only functional for the customers busy life style, as they travel quite a bit, but also fit into the natural setting of the property without competing with it.

 
The water feature location was determined based on the space that the home owner used most often.  The deck was a new feature the homeowner recently added and was used quite frequently by the homeowners. 
 

Material selection was also an integral part of the landscape.  Using a stone native to the area was important to both the visual integrity of the design and the project budget.  Dresser Trap boulders were selected.  The boulders were shipped directly from Dresser, WI which is only 20 miles from the job site.

To help transition the landscape from one side of the house to the other, an ornamental planting bed was incorporated in an island in the center of the driveway.  This was an ideal place to incorporate the weeping evergreen trees and include the trap boulders.

The most exciting part of this project is what you can’t see.  Because both of the homeowners traveled very frequently for work, they needed a way to keep on eye on their new landscaping.  During the installation of the irrigation system, outdoor lighting and the water feature automation technology was wired.  The

automation technology allows the homeowner to control the technical portion of their landscape from their smart phone.  The system will allow them to control the irrigation system and make adjustments based on natural precipitation thus conserving water.  They are also notified if a part of the system is not functioning.  The lighting and water feature are also continually monitored.

Contributed by:

Kevin Guanzini

Landscape Designer

Mickman Brothers Landscape Design and Installation

kevin.guanzini@mickman.com

763-413-8286

www.mickman.com

763-434-4047

Mickman Brothers offers Landscape Design and Installation; Lawn Irrigation Design and Installation; Tree and Arbor Services; Landscape Maintenance Services; Lawn Sprinkler Services; Full-Service Garden Center; Delivery and Planting Services; for the Minneapolis and St Paul metro area.