Photo - Acacia redolens

This tough, drough tolerant plant is great for slopes. 

Acacia redolens a large, low growing shrub that can reach

8 feet in diamter and 4 feet in height. 

Yellow flowers cover this plant in the Spring.

Acacia redolens can be flamable so do not use this plant

 in a fire zone.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Century Plant (Agave americana)

This stately succulent can reach 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide.

It only flowers once, at the end of it's life (15-20 years).

By then there are ususally dozens of pups at the base ready

to take the mother plant's place after it dies.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in La Mesa

Photo - Outdoor Tile on Concrete

Another way to spruce up old concrete is add outdoor tile

on top.  Make sure to install a slip screen inbetween the tile

and the concrete.  The purpose of a slip screen is to prevent the

tile from cracking should the concrete crack in the future.

A great place for outdoor tile is Arizona Tile, here is their web page;

http://www.arizonatile.com/

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Concrete Coating with Paver Edging

This patio had concrete with some minor cracks, so I designed

a renovation that called for the cracks to be jackhammered out

and pavers added to fill in the new expansion joints. 

A concrete coating was then added to give

the concrete a fresh look.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Rancho Penasquitos

Photo - Flagstone with Dymondia

This flagstone patio has Dymondia, a wonderful drought

tolerant ground cover, growing inbetween the stone pieces.

  Dymondia does best in full sun and flowers in the Spring.

This was my 2010 San Diego County Fair Garden.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Solving Common Landscape Problems

Want to improve your landscape but are not sure where to begin? “Patios, Pathways & Plants for Fixing Your Landscape” will give you great solutions for creating a dazzling outdoor environment at your home. This free presentation will cover a wide variety of topics such as the different types of materials to use for patios, plants for hummingbirds, what to do if you have shade areas or slopes, what drought tolerant plants are best for you. With dozens of plants and material examples to see, you’ll be inspired to transform your yard into a beautiful landscape! This lecture series will be coming to the
Mira Mesa Library, 8405 New Salem St, San Diego on Tuesday, February 7th @ 6:00pm.

Photo - Flagstone with Pebbles

Pebbles that are compacted into place also make a niece

compliment to the color and texture of flagstone.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Encinitas

Photo - Flagstone with Creeping Thyme

Another way to use flagstone for a pathway is to plant

Creeping Thyme inbetween the pieces.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in Kensington

Photo - Flagstone set on Concrete

For a more stable surface, flagstone can be set on concrete

and then mortared in place.

Photo by Doug Kalal

Photo - Flagstone set in Decomposed Granite

Setting flagstone in decomposed granite allows for a

permeable surface that reduces rain runoff.

Photo by Doug Kalal, taken at a client's garden in La Mesa