4 Tips for Planter Gardening

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

With mum season here, we thought we’d revisit tips for successful container gardens. Today’s post is courtesy of Tina Foreman, a writer for OutdoorLiving.com.

Adding plants to your living space, indoors or out, is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to enhance the look of it. Whether it’s a few flowers or a large display of greenery, plants are always a welcome addition to any home. Today, we’re going to look at a few tips for planter gardening – that is, placing your flowers and plants in planters instead of in the ground.

container garden

 

1.   Keep Weather In Mind

Everybody knows how important it is to choose plants that work well with the weather conditions in your region. Choose the wrong ones and you’re going to have a tough time keeping them alive, much less seeing them thrive. This is why plants native to your region are the best bet. But weather also plays a role when choosing a planter. Certain materials will do better in certain weather conditions. For example, wood and plastic planters will do better in cooler temperatures than materials like terra cotta and glazed clay, which can become quite fragile and crack.

 2.  Get The Right Soil

With in-ground gardening, you don’t have a lot of choice in the soil you use. You’re usually stuck with what’s in the ground unless you can afford some expensive excavation work. With planter gardening, you can get a soil mix that’s perfect for your plants. While the best soil for each plant type can vary, a good basic mix is to use potting soil, Pete moss, sand, and a slow releasing 14-14-14 fertilizer. If the potting soil contains a wetting agent, even better – this will help the soil hold moisture.

3.   Get Some Sun

Proper sun exposure is mandatory for helping any plant achieve maximum growth. When using a planter, you can easily move your plants in and out of the sun as need be, so they don’t get too much or too little (this also comes in handy in case of bad weather). As a general rule, most plants need 5 hours of sunlight a day. Foods are a special case, as vegetables can get by with less light, while fruits often need more. If you have your planter indoors, either place it outside for a while each day or make sure you have it by a window so it can get the natural light it needs.

 4.   Prevention is the Best Medicine

While technically not a tip exclusive to planter gardening, it can’t be stressed enough – the best way to protect your plants and flowers from problems is with preventive measures. Here’s a few to keep in mind:

  • Insects like wet foliage, so water in the morning so your plants stay dry for most of the day.
  • Use things like mulch, fertilizers, and composts to help your plants grow and stay strong. A backyard compost bin is an easy way to do this.
  • Always pull any plants that look like they’re infected – the disease can quickly spread to others and ruin your plants before you know it!

The next time you’re ready to do some planters gardening around your home, keep these helpful tips in mind. You’ll have a backyard oasis in no time!

 About The Author – Tina Foreman is a writer with OutdoorLiving.com/learning-center/ and loves to spend time in her outdoor space. For more info on things like outdoor fountains, planters, wind chimes, and patio heaters, visit OutdoorLiving.com.

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Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Mitigation

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

Urban runoff is the number one cause of pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams. What’s more, it’s estimated that 50% of a Minnesota home’s water use is for exterior irrigation. We’re buying  municipal water and letting the free water run down the street. Seems like a disconnect.

There are many small things each of us can do to reduce the amount of water leaving our properties and carrying pollutants and excess nutrients through storm drain systems to our beloved lakes. At the Blue Thumb website, www.bluethumb.org, you download a free Guide to Year Round Lawn Care that has many easy-to-implement suggestions for responsible lawn care. Taking it a step further, why not capture the free resource that falls from the sky and use it when we need it? Rainwater harvesting is one technique, and it has the added benefit of capturing and reusing a free natural resource.

There are several ways to capture, store and reuse rainwater. One easy way is by installing a rain barrel. Styles of barrels vary; there’s something for every taste. Important things to look for in rain barrels are: screened lid to keep out debris and prevent mosquito breeding, durable material and overflow pipe to direct water away from your foundation when the rain barrel fills up. Hedberg carries several styles.

Rain Barrel Styles

Different styles of rain barrels.

Rain barrels hold 50-75 gallons of water and your delivery pressure is limited by gravity flow. They are useful for hand watering, bathing the dog, things like that. You can store more water and increase delivery pressure with a RainXchange rainwater harvesting system, plus get a beautiful water feature for your landscape.

RainXchange is an elegant system that allows you to store 500 to 5,000 gallons of water underground and reuse it. The water feature (typically a bubbling rock, fountainscape or pondless waterfall) is the only part visible above ground. It recirculates the water to keep it from getting stale. Using a booster pump, you can tie it into an existing irrigation system and use it for watering your lawn, your garden, washing your car and other higher pressure applications. Some developers filter the captured rainwater and use it for “greywater” applications including toilets and laundry.

RainXchange under patio

The RainXchange system underneath this permeable paver patio stores 3,500 gallons of rainwater. The bubbling rock circulates the water to keep it fresh.

The cost of a RainXchange system installed varies according to the decorative water feature you select to go on top, but for a simple feature the cost is around $5,000 for a 500 gallon system and $8,500 for a 1000 gallon system. In some areas, grants may be available to offest part of the cost of this stormwater BMP. Please check with your local watershed for more information about grants.

Tna Ham Peterson, a participant of last year’s Blue Community Makeover for Diamond Lake in Minneapolis, said, “I like most that I’m going to be able to use rainwater to water my garden and it’s a better way to do things in general. Look at what you can possibly do and think long term verus the short range cost and then think of the benefits you’ll reap over the years.”

Whatever you choose to do, we hope you’ll take advantage of nature’s free resource and reuse it, rather than letting it go down the drain.

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It’s a Brick House

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

Side View Brick House

Today’s post is courtesy of Al Oppegaard, Hedberg’s Chief Sales Officer.

In 1991 my wife  and I bought a “starter” home in Maple Grove. It had orange siding, a small amount of orange brick and a buckskin roof. After several years of finishing the basement we decided we needed more room for storage so we added on to the garage.  

Al's starter house

Before

We wanted to change the exterior appearance of our home and we knew we wanted brick because we love it.  We have a good friend, Tom Potter from E&E Masonry, who is a great mason and we hired him to brick our house. The challenge was, the house didn’t have a brick ledge. We had to dig out around the foundation to fabricate a Slip Footing which we attached to the existing foundation.

Tom and his crew finished the project in about a week.  It looks fabulous to this day.  The brick walls have not budged even a single micrometer.  The project was finished in 1999.

Brick House

After

A few years later, in 2003, our youngest son completed his Eagle Scout project which is a Prayer Labirynth at our church.  A friend of mine, Bob Swanson, who is a great landscaper took a look at the site and asked how we were going to handle all of the excavation and fill  that was going to be necessary.  I said the Scouts would take care of it.  He told us they would never get it done in time.  As is allowable according to the Guidelines set by the BSA, the Bob and his company, Meadowood Inc., donated his time and services, machinery and manpower to help the Scouts.  Together they finished the project on time and it still looks beautiful.  So why is this long commentary stuck in this story about our brick house?  Keep on reading. Our asphalt driveway was giving out; even with sealing it every year it was crumbling.  So we contacted our good friend Bob from Meadowood, the landscaper who helped our son with his Eagle Scout project, and asked him to figure out how much it would cost for a paver driveway, walkways and patios.  He helped us design it and went ahead with the job.  Again, a fabulous job done to perfection.  It couldn’t be more beautiful.  No settling or repairs needed for over seven years.  The pattern for the pavers is a series of fan shaped patterns that take up the whole driveway and one edge of a flower bed.

Paver Driveway

Fan design on paver driveway.

We invested many hours of sweat equity into our projects and we’re very happy that we did.  It was worth it.  Since we did the projects with a few years in between each phase we were able to make it all work from a financial standpoint.  We love our brick home, the paver driveway and walkways. 

Man Shack

The brick man shack.

Two years ago we put up a brick Man Shack in the back of the yard.   Chad Davis from Davis Masonry in Maple Grove helped us. What’s next? Only time will tell…

If you’re curious about ways to update the look of your home exterior and get more curb appeal, I’ll be happy to talk with you. You can reach me or any of our exterior design experts at 763-225-0551 or send an email to info@hedbergaggregates.com .

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Accessorizing Your Garden

Posted on August 23, 2011 by gschaal
 

Just as interior designers use throw pillows to decorate a living room or fashion designers add that perfect necklace to a classic “little black dress,” landscape designers know accessorizing a garden can mean the difference between a “ho hum” garden and a “show-stopping” garden.

With all the garden accessories available nowadays, you – the homeowner – can decorate your garden like a pro and have a ton of fun while doing it!  Here are some ideas – from low cost (under $100.00), to middling ($101-300), to high end ($300+).

Colorful pots add a smile to everyone's face.

 Some low cost ideas include adding some stepping stones to your garden – making a delightful path that might lead to a bench or swing.  Stepping stones can be purchased for around $9.00/SF.  Brightly colored ceramic pots add a kick of color plus you get the additional height of the pot which showcases your plants above ground level.  Metal wall art and iron yard art can be purchased for under $100 and they add visual interest where you wouldn’t expect it (hang the art from a fence, garage wall or from a lattice trellis).  Don’t overlook the power of lighting.  Decorative solar light stakes are reasonably priced and add a romantic ambiance to a summer evening spent in your garden.

Gazing balls have been used by royalty for centuries. Why not place this 12" gazing ball at the end of your garden path? It would be an unexpected treat for your guests.

Gazing balls (available in 8″, 12″ and 15″ in diameter) add a pop of color to a garden and are usually unexpected so they add a visual punch to your garden enjoyment.  Don’t forget the pretty colored watering cans, pink flamingos or some well-placed Mexican beach pebbles.

For that next price tier, why not purchase a bistro set so you and your friend can enjoy a glass of ice tea or wine in your garden?  While seated, why not gaze at a bubbling water feature?  Ask the Hedberg sales associates how to transform a regular clay pot into your own water feature.  Not that ambitious?  Install a birdbath or statuary instead.

Who wouldn't want to sit here and enjoy a glass of lemonade, sangria or beer?

Although prices can vary, garden items generally $300 or more, include stone benches, stone sculptures, fountains and garden swings.  A new item this season is the Gronomics® bench.  What is that you might ask?  It’s a bench constructed of 100% Western Red Cedar that is elevated.  Excellent for small patios, decks, condos and apartments, one can grow vegetables, herbs or flowers in them.  The elevated garden bed eliminates bending over while gardening so it is perfect for gardeners with mobility and back strain issues.  You can find these at Hedberg Nursery where you’ll also find the landscape fabric, potting soil and plants that you’ll need.

Gronomics benches are typically 30-32" high making them "user friendly" - especially for people who have mobility and/or back strain issues.

 

All these suggestions are ways for you and your family to enjoy your gardening efforts the most this summer.  Adding seating, the soothing sound of water and decorative items that add visual interest will make your garden as individual as YOU!  We hope you’ll stop in at Hedberg Nursery, located one mile east of I-694, on Highway 36.  A part of the Hedberg-Stillwater location, this nursery features specialty perennials, native plants, raingarden materials, trees and other eco-friendly supplies.  For hours and directions, call (651) 748-3158 or log on to www.hedbergrocks.com.

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Managing Japanese Beetle Infestations

Posted on August 9, 2011 by splant
Several Japanese beetles devour a leaf.

Japanese beetles can wreak havoc on plants.

The Japanese beetle may be this summer’s biggest threat to healthy plants in the Twin Cities’ Metro area, and successfully managing this pest requires dedicated action. Entomologist Jeff Hahn recently told the Star Tribune that based on reports from colleagues and complaints from gardeners this is likely the worst summer yet of beetle invasions in this region. Horticulture professor Jeff Gillman said that the infestation may continue to get worse before it gets better. However, he believes eventually the beetle will cycle between good years and bad years. Generally, the damage the beetles do is not permanent and unsightly plants will likely leaf out again the same year following a beetle invasion.

The Japanese beetle is an extremely destructive plant pest that, according to the United States Department of Agriculture, was first observed in the United States in southern New Jersey in 1916.  In the United States the beetle has no natural predators and has thrived with a favorable climate and an abundant food supply. Since 1972, the pest has spread to Southern and Western states, and without its natural checks the Japanese beetle has become a serious plant pest and a threat to American agriculture.

Adult Japanese beetles feed on the foliage and fruits of several hundred species of fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, vines, and field and vegetable crops, leaving large holes in leaves. The grubs develop in the soil, often destroying turf in lawns, parks and golf courses. Today, the Japanese beetle is the most widespread turf-grass pest in the United States.

There are no quick ways for homeowners to rid their yards of the Japanese beetle once it becomes established, but the USDA does have recommendations for an integrated pest management program that combines biological, cultural and chemical strategies. This program manages pests while exerting minimal impact on the environment. The USDA recommends that:

  • “Automatically and routinely applying pesticides can be counterproductive, economically wasteful, and environmentally unsound.
  • The Japanese beetle is here to stay. Therefore, we must learn to ‘live with’ or manage this insect pest while attempting to minimize its impacts.
  • It is not necessary to eliminate the beetle in order to protect your trees, plants, and lawn.
  • It is hard to predict when and where Japanese beetle populations will increase, and there is no guaranteed control formula to follow. Consequently, intermittent monitoring and appropriate planning are necessary for adequate management.”

In the Metro area this summer, gardeners have employed various tactics. At the Lake Harriet Rose Garden in Minneapolis gardeners have used an over-the-counter pesticide and, at the height of the infestations, dispatched volunteers to pick beetles off the rosebushes, cannas and crab apple trees and drown them in soapy water, the Star Tribune reported. At the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum gardeners have treated plants with Tempo, a permethrin treatment that is deemed minimally harmful to bees.

The University of Minnesota recommends against the use of pheromone Japanese beetle traps, stating “research demonstrated that more beetles fly toward traps than are caught; resulting in surplus beetles that feed on your plants. Think twice before purchasing and installing a pheromone trap.” Additionally, the university’s website lists benefits and disadvantages of several insecticides. Both this website and the USDA report provide a list of plants that are particularly resilient and especially susceptible to Japanese beetle infestations.

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Just Add Water

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks
water garden
Water Garden in Monticello.

Water features are a popular trend in modern residential landscapes. Ponds with exotic lotus, lilies and koi have been popular among water gardeners for many years, and swimming ponds with biological filtration have emerged as an alternative to in ground pools. For many people, a small pond, waterfall or fountainscape adds just enough water to enhance their landscape and enjoy the water gardening lifestyle. You can see a variety of water features on the Minnesota Water Garden Tour, July 30-31. We’ll take a look at options for the main three categories of water features, one at a time.

small pond

Small pond in Mahtomedi

Small Ponds

Professional landscapers can install a 6′ x 8′ pond in a day, complete with rocks, plants and mulch to make it look natural within your yard. A “starter pond” may be all you ever want, but you can add to it in later years if you decide you want to go bigger. Mary-Susan of Mahotmedi is a charter member of the Minnesota Water Garden Society. Her 100 year old home is surrounded by casual cottage gardens packed with an abundance of flowering plants. She has four ponds on her property, ranging in size from 6×8 ft to 14×22 ft. She keeps koi and shubunkins in her ponds and enjoys the visits from frogs and toads while tolerating bunnies and deer. Her beautiful yard is featured on this year’s Minnesota Water Garden Tour, July 30-31. For information and tickets, go to www.mwgs.org.

waterfall

Waterfall in Farmington.

Pondless Waterfalls

One benefit of a pondless waterfall is safety; there is no pool of water to worry about. If you’re a fan of the North Shore and want to capture the crash of water on rugged boulders, you can have that. Many people choose a more subtle option, a gentle stream spilling over boulders and disappearing into a patch of river rock. Waterfalls can be accented wtih plants, driftwood, spitters and statuary. A small scale waterfall can be installed in one day.

If you’re a fan of big waterfalls, we suggest visiting John and Michele’s home in Sunfish Lake on the Minnesota Water Garden Tour. This water garden was transformed seven years ago from a children’s swing-set and play area that was cut into a hill in the back yard. The 30 x 15-foot pond is 46-inches deep in the middle and holds an estimated 6,000 gallons of water. The head of the waterfalls is 10 feet higher than the pond. The water spills out and winds its way 15 feet through a stream that has three separate waterfalls and tumbles back into the pond. There are pathways, a 10 foot arched bridge, a patio and two arbors from which to view the water features. The pond is surrounded by various grasses, shrubs, evergreens, trees and flowers.

Bubbling rock

Bubbling rock fountainscape in Farmington.

Fountainscapes

These small water features can be tucked into an existing garden or stand out as a main feature. They can incorporate elaborate stone or brass sculptures, or be as subtle as a drilled bubbling rock. A simple fountainscape can be installed in four hours. They deliver the soothing sounds of water, require very low maintenance, and little critters love them.  Low voltage LED lights can be added for twilight magic.

You can see more water feature photos and videos at www.hedbergaquaticaddiction.com and www.tcpondandlandscapetour.com and for the real thing, try next weekend’s Minnesota Water Garden Tour, July 30-31.

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Stylish Raingardens

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks
I’ve heard it, but I don’t agree. “Raingardens look like weed patches.” That may be true of poorly maintained raingardens, but well kept raingardens look fabulous, full of healthy native plants. And they don’t have to be 100% native. You can incorporate some beautiful perennial cultivars and still have an excellent functioning raingarden.

Raingarden diagram

Quick definition. A raingarden is a bowl shaped garden with loosened soil, typically topped with shredded mulch and planted with hardy native perennials. The bottom of the bowl is 6″ or more lower than the sides of the garden. When it rains, the raingarden fills with rainwater running off roofs, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, streets or lawn. The water that is held there slowly soaks into the soil over the next several hours. Raingardens in sandy soils may drain immediately,while raingardens in clay soils may take 48 hours to drain.  The long roots of native plants help draw the water down into the soil and keep it loose. The benefit is more water soaks down into aquifers and less water runs down the street, picking up pollutants and depositing them into storm drains that dump into lakes, rivers and streams. Remember, everything is interconnected. Ultimately, somebody’s recreational area or drinking water source is impacted by runoff from your property. In this case, less is better.

This is all very beneficial. But do they look good, or are raingardens an eyesore?

raingarden with stone

A well designed and maintained raingarden adds beauty and benefits the environment.

We say that when they are done right and maintained, raingardens are absolutely beautiful. In July a group of Blue Thumb partners toured raingardens in Lino Lakes, Circle Pines and Shoreview. You can see tour photos here. All were properly constructed and are efficient at infiltrating (soaking in) stormwater runoff. Some have been maintained better. Some were designed with more interesting features. Bottom line, some look better than others. Factors that contribute to a better appearance are:

1. Maturity of plants. The bigger and more lush the plants, the greater the color and interest. Any raingarden will look better after two growing seasons than when it is initially installed, we just need to be patient or start with larger plants.

raingarden

New raingardens with smaller plants need time to mature and fill in before they look good.

2. Steepness of side slopes. Raingardens that are engineered to hold a lot of water must either be very large or very deep. When you can see the deep sides of a raingarden (before the plants mature) it looks odd, rather like a hole. If you understand the function, you appreciate the design more. One way to get around awkwardly steep slopes is to install a retaining wall.

raingarden with retaining wall

Deep raingarden with block retaining wall.

3. Retaining walls add style and interest to any raingarden design. Several of the raingardens we viewed incorporated retaining wall block, which masked the steep slopes, eliminated erosion and helped define planting areas. Two raingardens we viewed that used natural stone were absolutely stunning. Stone connects the raingarden with the surrounding landscape, gives it an upscale look and establishes the raingarden as a specifically-designed feature.

raingarden with stone retaining wall

A natural stone drystack wall gives this raingarden a classy look.

mature raingarden

This mature raingarden has lush plantings interspersed with rugged stone.

4. Maintenance. While native plants are hardy and need little nurturing, a raingarden still requires some maintenance. When they are first installed, native plants need to be watered. They need to be tended for at least a season for their roots to grow down far enough to sustain themselves. Their roots also need time to become established so the plants don’t wash out from heavy runoff. In fact, some raingarden installers leave the raingarden inlet closed the first year to allow the plants time to become established. Installing large (1 gallon) plants largely solves this problem but it can cost significantly more than using six-packs or plugs and being patient. We recommend using as many large plants as budget will allow. Raingardens also need periodic weeding, like any other garden. Leave it alone and the usual invasives will creep in. The last part of maintenance is to clean out the debris that flows in after a heavy rainfall and replace any mulch that may have been displaced. Cities, watershed districts and private contractors have developed innovative inlet solutions to make them easier to clean. Some use inlet boxes that strain out large debris and slow down the flow so mulch and plantings aren’t disturbed. These boxes can be cleaned out seasonally.

inlet box

An engineered inlet box makes for easier maintenance.

Another clever idea is to use a bundle of sticks as a pre-filter for the raingarden inlet. Cheap and effective, you can just switch it out for a new bundle when the old one is sufficiently clogged with sand and debris.

 
inlet filter

This bundle of Buckthorn twigs and roots traps sediment and debris like grass clippings before it can enter the raingarden.

Installing a raingarden can make a positive impact on local surface water quality and it can be a beautiful addition to you yard. Keep in mind our tips for achieving a better looking raingarden and visit www.bluethumb.org for information on classes and events, grants and how to build your own raingarden. Hedberg Nursery is proud to be a Blue Thumb partner. For more information please contact Tina Plant at 763-392-5909.

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Rain, Rain Go Away

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

How To Manage Excess Rain

flooded landscape  

With the extreme rainfalls we’ve had this year, making sure you have adequate water drainage for your landscaping is extremely important.  Gutters can help gather storm water from your roof and distribute it away from your house, but oftentimes that water doesn’t make it to a safe place. This can cause problems inside your house and potentially damage your landscaping.  Installing a proper residential landscape drainage system can solve a number of problems caused by storm water.  

  

catch basin

The catch basin and drain tile will carry water from the downspout away from the home's foundation.

 If water accumulates around your home, it could cause foundational abnormalities that cost a lot to fix. Properly designed drainage can protect your home from wet basements and flooding by moving water away from your foundation. Standard installation products include catch basins and drain tiles that help move water to desired locations. 

  

 

  

  

 

Perforated drain tile
Perforated drain tile installed underground lets water seep into the subsoil

Installing proper drainage is also important for plant and tree health. Some plants are well suited to damp areas, but chances are most of your valuable landscape flowers, shrubs and trees will suffer and rot if they are subject to standing water for very long. Soggy landscape areas can result in soil erosion and also are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other undesirable insects. One way to avoid these issues may be to install perforated drain tile and move excess water to areas where it can be absorbed into the soil. Not all yards are the same and many solutions exist when dealing with standing water problems.

Hiring a professional landscaper experienced in drainage design is highly recommended. 

 

        

Channel drain

Channel drains prevent pooling of water on patios, driveways and pool decks.

Water drainage for patios and driveways is also very important. Puddles on a patio or driveway are more than inconvenient or unattractive, they can be a sign that the base material underneath the paved surface is breaking down and further settling may occur. Channel drains and other drainage systems can preserve the integrity of your natural stone or concrete patio or driveway by getting rid of excess water. These products meet local regulations while helping to maintain a cleaner environment and water table. 

 

Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies offers an array of drainage products suitable for many water removal issues, and we work with hundreds of landscape contractors qualified to design and install drainage systems. Investing in a properly designed drainage system is a precautionary measure that will protect your landscape and potentially save you thousands of dollars in house foundation repairs and interior flooring replacement. Please contact us for more information on this and other landscaping topics.  

  

Website: hedbergaggregates.com 

  

Email: info@hedbergaggregates.com 

  

Phone: 763-545-4400 

 To view a video showing how to install one type of residential drainage system, click here.   

     

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Just Add Fire

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

Outdoor kitchen 

For many of us, cooking outdoors is a summertime ritual. Spring, fall and winter activity, for that matter. Our options for cooking have expanded in recent years from a simple grill to elaborate outdoor kitchens with everything a chef could want to create culinary masterpieces. Or just cook a really great meal that family and friends enjoy. Outdoor kitchens have gained so much popularity that this year, for the first time, House Beautiful will showcase an outdoor kitchen in their annual “Kitchen of the Year” in Rockefeller Plaza, New York City. Belgard Hardscapes will build the outdoor kitchen. It will be unveiled on July 18 and is open to the public July 18-22, 2011. 

 Tyler Florence, renowned chef, Food Network host, and best-selling author has designed both the indoor and outdoor sections of the Kitchen of the Year.  His custom designed outdoor kitchen will include items from the Belgard Elements Collection, as well as a designer patio created with a combination of Mega Lafitt, Mega-Arbel, and Urbana Belgard pavers.  

brick oven close up

In addition to beautiful stone and stainless steel grill islands, what are your cooking options? We’re seeing a trend towards brick ovens, both from kits that masonry professionals install, and pre-built components that a landscape crew can easily machine set on a concrete pad or patio. Wood smoke gives a distinct flavor to foods and both amateur and professional chefs delight in the nuances of cooking with a wood fire. Plus, after you’ve prepared the meal you can enjoy the warm glow of the fire while you entertain. Contrary to what you might think, brick ovens cook much more than pizza. Everything from appetizers to soups to meat and bread can be prepared in a brick oven. 

 

fire table at night

Gathering around fire with friends.

Fire tables are also becoming popular as an upscale alternative to bonfires. They offer warmth, soft light, a place to socialize and the option for cooking on a stick if you want to. Many of fire tables we have provided have been set up for gas or propane for the sake of convenience. 

Finally, many outdoor kitchens combine several cooking elements to give a chef ultimate options. Grill, rotisserie, side burners, smoker, brick oven, open flame. Let your culinary creativity flow by just adding fire. 

combination kitchen  

If reading about grilling has you itching to fire up the hibachi and cook, try this recipe for Coconut Lime Shrimp Skewers courtesy our friends at Belgard Hardscapes and Sunset Magazine, June 2009.  

For more information about outdoor kitchens, visit a Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies location or visit our online photo gallery at http://www.hedbergaggregates.com/ProjectGallery/OutdoorKitchens.aspx .

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A Landscape Revival

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Hedberg Rocks

Landscape Revival logo on banner

On June 4, 2011, the Roseville Rainbow Foods Pavillion sizzled with the energy of hundreds of native plant buyers, sellers and environmental enthusiasts. The first annual Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo & Market attracted avid native plant gardeners as well as folks new to the concept.

St. Paul Audubon table at the Landscape Revival

The St. Paul Audubon Society, a major sponsor of the event, promotes the planting of natives because they require less water and other resources to grow, and because they’re the building blocks for the web of life.

Blue Thumb and several area watershed districts gave visitors insight to the benefits of native plants for stormwater management and grants available to help with installing raingardens. Master gardeners, author Lynn Steiner and several other groups in the Expo area shared information about how native plants attract native insects, which in turn feed our resident and migratory birds and other wildlife.  

insect display

Native Plants for Pollinators: display of insects that benefit from native plants.

On the Market side, 11 native plant growers from across the state and Wisconsin helped enthusiastic gardeners select the right native plants, grasses, shrubs and trees for their projects. For a complete list of participants, see http://www.saintpaulaudubon.org/events/2011/06/landscape-revival-native-plant-expo-and-market .

“Some people came with shopping lists in hand, looking for specific plants,” said Tina Plant of Hedberg Nursery. “The message is getting out about this beneficial form of gardening. It’s no longer weird to install a raingarden or plant native flowers around your house or convert part of your lawn to native grasses. It’s a credible – and beautiful – form of landscaping.”

Hedberg and Cedar Hills Natives at Landscape Revival

Native plants are available for sale throughout the season from independent growers. One source in the east metro (just east of Oakdale on highway 36 one mile east of 694) is Hedberg Nursery. In collaboration with local grower Cedar Hills Natives, a variety of native plants are available in six packs, 4 ½ inch pots and gallon containers. You can see photos and descriptions of native plants on our website. If you would like to ask us about native plants, raingardens or other stormwater management solutions, please call us at 651-748-3158. We love helping people and the environment!

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