Tag: xeriscape

This has been a year full of really cool landscaping projects! I’ve had a lot of excellent opportunities to expand my skill base and have worked really hard to make some yards stand out, look beautiful, and function properly

Getting into Fencing and Carpentry

These last three years I’ve done a lot of work. Recently I’ve gotten into something that I did not foresee; carpentry! Now I’ve done over a dozen fences and gates and am looking for more big projects to take on.

I was also able to build some steps and a landing for a client in Newcastle… I think it came out really nice! The before and after pictures are further down below.

Installing Artificial Grass

I’ve also gotten a chance to hone in my turf skills and work with some high quality fake grass. It’s a lot of work! The grading took several days and included road base, 3/4 crushed rock, decomposed granite, and sand. I also built the smaller fence to hide the pool equipment horizontally according to the customers specification.

Full Yard Installs

This year I’ve done a couple of full year installs, but also got to do a lot of repairs. Its definitely easier to start a yard from scratch! Usually I try to make everything as accessible as possible for repairs, because I am usually the person that repairs things, especially outdoor irrigation and drainage.

Back Yard Play Area, mini-fence and wooden gates

Antelope Xeriscape Front Yard Installation

Newcastle Back Yard Full Install

My biggest project this year was the back yard revitalization in Newcastle. Check out some before and after pics!

Lots of work for a smaller sized yard! This project will be continuing to develop over time and I will be maintaining it.

I’ve also finished some smaller yards, and some major repair work!

From a smaller back yard in Rocklin. I repaired the water feature and installed lots of new plants!

Repair Work

I was also able to save some clients money on their irrigation systems and fencing repairs! What a year of fun projects!

Irrigation Repair

Gate Repair (new posts with existing panels)

Elliot Telford’s Landscaping Projects from 2020

Leave a Comment / art, construction, landscaping

Check out the recently updated Landscaping section of my site in the menu above!

This year I have gotten some excellent opportunities to work in the Sacramento area. My projects are happening from Antelope to Auburn with lots of work in Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, and other places in Placer County.

I’ve been extremely lucky to have great customers that appreciate the level of quality, durability, and value that I can create in a project.

My projects can fit into 3 major categories:

1. Planting

Salvia and Drought Tolerant Hedgeline by Elliot Telford Landscapes — Salvia hedge and privacy fence in Roseville, CA

Most of my other work revolves around create an appropriate habitat for plants so that they can thrive. Plants are well suited to all environments, and sometimes it takes a bit of experimentation to get plants that work in tandem.

I am enjoying creating xeriscapes and using more drought tolerant plants; I am also learning to special the plants for different areas. Auburn is slightly different than Antelope, or even Rocklin, so the optimal plants are slightly different also.

2. Water: Irrigation/Drainage

Drainage is essential for the health of plants, especially drought tolerant and Xeriscape oriented plants. Sometimes, you can get away with superficial drainage, or non-subterranean drainage, by creating a creek bed in the landscape to create a path for water through the yard. Below, you can see a creek bed xeriscape I created in Antelope, CA:

3. Masonry, Carpentry, and Outdoor Structures

I have also been working very hard to learn masonry and mortar setting rock and brick. Masonry is really fun for me because I love to create long lasting work.

One of my most recently completed projects was a black slate patio in Roseville. This took me a couple of weeks of work with concrete that was already set. I did rough up the concrete a lot to ensure that the mortar had as much traction as possible and washed the rock with muriatic acid at the end. Check out the video!

I have also included some photos of my other projects. Enjoy!