New Eco: Urban Landscape Design

About the Plant

Allium is one of those plants that makes everyone take notice.  Even if you are not really into plants and all gardens look the same to you, its hard not to get grabbed by this plant when its in bloom.  I notice that kids particulary like this plant, maybe because it looks like something from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, an amazingly bright purple puff sitting on a thin stalk that can get up to 4' high.  Whether you're a child or just a child at heart, Allium is a great bulb for your garden

Species and Cultivars

Go with the traditional Allium giganteum, or Giant Onion.  The purple florets blossom into 6-inch plus balls on top of 3-4' high stems. 

Growing Tips

Allium needs pretty much full sun, I can already see the ones around Brooklyn blooming that are planted in direct sunlight. Its best to plant these as bulbs in late fall and plant a bunch of them.  After the second blooming season, the bulb will split and now you'll have two!

New Eco was contracted by Pico Arts International recently to provide the plantscaping and design services for their annual Singapore Day event, which took place in Prospect Park this year.  We had a ton-o-fun working with everyone from Singapore, eating some delicicious food and rebuilding a little piece of Singapore right here in Brooklyn.  Check back for pictures soon!

Here is a great little bit of information from the landscape architect Owen Dell.  It explains why cheap is expensive and the benefits of planting an actual low-maintenance and water efficient garden.  Click on the link below to check it out. 

Just How Cheap is That "Cheap" Job?

About the Plant

I'm going to be honest, you will most likely never have a Japanese Maple in your backyard like the one to the left, but I think its a great example of the potential this tree has.  This tree is low-maintenance, provides great color and is ideal for small urban spaces like we have here in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  These can add a focal point amongst a garden full of other trees and plants or can act as a single speciman in a planter or bed.

Species and Cultivars

There are many, many, many different types of Japanese Maples (Acer Palmatum) and we don't have the space to go into them all.  In New York and many areas of the United States you will see mainly the 'Bloodgood' (its the upright maple with bright red foliage in the spring that turns dark green in the fall), 'Burgundy Lace' (upright with red in the spring and fall and green during summer) and the ever popular 'Dissectum' which is the smaller of the varieties that looks like an umbrella (drive into any Long Island suburb and you will see what we are talking about).  My personal favorite it the Bloodgood but be sure to do some more research to see all the options that are out there. 

Growing Tips

Although they can withstand it quite well, if they are in direct sunlight all day the leaves tend to wither a bit.  I see many of these in quite shady locations and they seem to thrive.  We once came across one that was left in the backyard of a house that had been vacant for sometime and the plant was doing excellent on its own.  Its good to prune it so it develops the branch structure you would like it to have, and pruning will strengthen the branches that are attached to the trunk.  It doesn't love water, but it does love mulch (what doesn't).

We have been getting a lot of calls this year for organic topsoil, mostly from customers that want to grow vegetables and are worried about the high levels of lead we have in much of the soil here in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

But what is "organic" topsoil?  I know when people hear the word "organic" they think it must be better than something that is not, but isn't dirt pretty organic already? How do you make something that is already organic, MORE organic?

When people talk about organic topsoil, I think what they are really referring to is loam, which is actually different than topsoil.  Loam is soil composed of sand, silt and clay in relatively even concentration (if you actually care, find out more about loam here).  What we really are looking for is a soil that is as fertile as it could possibly be. 

Vegetable plants grow best in well-drained, "sandy loam" soils that are rich with organic matter.  Unfortunately, most gardens around here do not contain that type of soil.  This is where the "organic" part comes in.  Our organic topsoil means that it is soil that has been enriched.  It means the soil is:

• screened
• modified by the use of soil conditioners such as course sand and organic matter such as compost
• peat free
• analysed for chemical levels 
• contains a minimum amounts of rock or stone
• has a pH range between 6.5 - 7.2
• has an organic content between 2-9%

Got it all? Good.  This should be enough to hold you over for now but if you are "loam"-ing at the mouth (sorry) for more information, check out this link and this link.  

Springtime in the garden for many usually means staring out their window at a mess of three months worth of winter neglect and thinking, "Do we have to?".  

Unfortunately the answer is "Yes" but I am totally understanding of the dread.  Even in my own garden, the fun part for me is NOT spending hours taking out nature's trash, but in the end I have my new, clean canvas to work on and that's the part I look forward to. 

There are many benefits to doing a real spring cleanup.  Here are a few to get you motivated:

What Needs to be Done and the Benefits

1.  Clean out the garden beds

Doing this will give you hope for the future and put your mind at ease.  Any leftover annuals need to come out.  Dead branches, leaves and any other unwanted organic matter on the ground needs to be removed.  This will allow for better ventilation and removes hiding places for bugs and other critters.  The debris needs to be composted to be used as organic mulch later. 

2.  Trimming and pruning

If you forgot to take of some things that needed to get trimmed last year, now could be the time to do it.  Any dead branches or twigs that are on plants need to be removed.  Getting rid of dead and diseased wood encourages new growth but be careful, some plants should not be trimmed or pruned this early.  It is important to have someone who knows what they are doing take care of this stage.  

3.  Till the garden

The garden and soil need to be aerated for health.  This is a good time to start adding organics for better soil conditions and increased plant growth and health. 

4.  Mulch

I think that mulch is one of the most important things in a garden and I am always disappointed when I don't see any in a garden.  Mulch retains water (to lower your water bills during the sprinkler months) and is healthy for plants, as you see in the wild.  In nature, nobody comes along and removes all the leaves.  Trees naturally "mulch" themselves for many reasons (ever see whats under a pine tree?) but I won't get into that now. 

5.  Plan ahead

Now is also a great time to plan for any new additions or changes you want to make to your garden this season.  This is the year to do it! You've worked hard and deserve that garden you've always dreamt of...plus we wouldn't mind doing it for you!

Feel free to contact us with any other questions about spring cleanups that you might have. 

We made a video this winter about one of our favorite projects from last year, a garden we designed and built in Fort Greene.  We put in a bluestone patio, pond with waterfall, stone wall and then planted the whole thing.  We also installed landscape lighting and a drip irrigation system.  Check it out on our new YouTube channel and feel free to share it.

Andddddd we're back!

It's been a while, and although it's not quite spring just yet, were are officially back for the season as of...now.  New Eco had a great season last year (check out our portfolio) and we are looking forward to another great one, providing more services for our customers and always striving to be the best company we can possibly be.  

This winter we have been working on quite a few garden designs for our clients, check back for photos and updates soon.

Last year a lot of gardeners were asking us if we sold and delivered plants and plant material that they could use themselves so this year we are launching our plant nursery that sells and delivers a variety of native plants and organic plant material to the NYC area.  We will also be renting and delivering plants and plant material to businesses for events and indoor use.  

We'll be posting more info about everything, plus updating our plant nursery site, over the next few days. Good to be back and looking forward to seeing you all this season!

New Eco: Urban Landscape Design

It has been common knowledge in the gardening industry for a long time that fall is the best time to plant.  I know as soon as the weather gets nice, the spring rush to plant begins and I think this is the reason many people think that spring is actually the ideal time to plant.  One of the reasons I prefer planting in the fall is because I don't have the summer heat chasing me down but the other reason is because in the wild, nature "plants" in the fall and if thats what happens in nature, I have a nagging feeling that it might be happening for good reason.  Here is a good article from the seed company American Meadows that sums up all the reasons why you should skip spring and wait for cooler weather. 

Why Many Experts Feel Fall Planting is Best

You know its fall when you see Mums and Flowering Cabbage everywhere in New York City.  A lot of people always ask me if there is anything else they can plant to spruce up their garden this time of year.  Here are some ideas:

1. New England Aster  

Also known as Michaelmas Daisy, this North American Native is a great alternative to Mums.  They most famously come in purple but their are other cultivars that offer more colors. These are a great perennial so don't be afraid to give it a permanent place in your garden.  

2. Creeping Wintergreen 

Pinch of one their berries and you will know where the taste and smell of every "Wintergreen" gum comes from.  This plant makes a beautiful, evergreen ground cover that offers year-round interest but is quite a compliment to a garden or planter in the fall. 

3. American Beautyberry

The small flowers that start on this shrub in the spring eventually turn into beautiful clusters of purple berries that make for a nice fall display.  Cut the stems off later in the season and put them in a vase or in your holiday plantings.  

4. Autumn Fern

It doesn't take a genius to figure out why this call Autumn Fern.  This plant is native to Eastern Asia but adapts quite well to the climate here in New York and shows off a beautiful display of colors in the fall.  The other upside to this low-maintenance plant is that it is semi-evergreen.  

5.  Bearberry

Also known as Kinnikinick, this is one of my favorite ground covers: an evergreen with hardy foliage thats low-maintenance and provides fall color.  Looks great around boulders, in planters or under your favorite deciduous tree.