Corte Madera Modern Remodel

We don’t often get to do a project twice, but this project in Corte Madera provided a unique opportunity. The homeowners remodeled their one story home, and in the construction process both the front and rear landscapes were erased. The task of this project was to update and restore the landscape we had installed about 10 years ago with an updated version. The result matched the modern lines of the new residence well.

Nine Favorite California Native Plants

California natives are versatile garden anchors, which are well adapted to our climate and wildlife. Here are 9 of our favorites that fit in almost any landscape scheme- whether it is to provide color, texture, or mass, these plants can do it all!

Photos from our awesome Plantmaster Online Database.

Our Favorite CA Natives

Botanical Common
Tree
Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud
Shrub
Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’ Manzanita Emerald Carpet
Ceanothus ‘Julia Phelps’ Julia Phelps California Lilac
Salvia clevelandii Cleveland Blue Sage
Perennial
Epilobium californica ‘Everett’s Choice’ Ghostly Red California Fuchsia
Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’ Elk Blue California Gray Rush
Penstemon het. ‘Margarita B.O.P.” Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon
Grass
Deschampsia ces. ‘Northern Lights’ Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass

Trees

Western Redbud

Cercis occidentalis | Western Redbud

Shrubs

Manzanita Emerald Carpet

Arctostaphylos ‘Emerald Carpet’ | Manzanita Emerald Carpet

Julia Phelps California Lilac

Ceanothus ‘Julia Phelps’ | Julia Phelps California Lilac

Cleveland Blue Sage

Salvia clevelandii | Cleveland Blue Sage

Perennials

Ghostly Red California Fuchsia

Epilobium californica ‘Everett’s Choice’ | Ghostly Red California Fuchsia

Elk Blue California Gray Rush

Juncus patens ‘Elk Blue’ | Elk Blue California Gray Rush

Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon

Penstemon het. ‘Margarita B.O.P.” | Margarita Bop Foothill Penstemon

Grasses

Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass

Deschampsia ces. ‘Northern Lights’ | Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass

Deer Grass

Muhlenbergia rigens | Deer Grass

Completed Project- East Petaluma Landscape Renovation

This compact front and back yard in East Petaluma was in need of a make-over after the builder installed landscape had run it’s course.

We replaced the existing lawn with low maintenance synthetic turf, expanded the patio with porcelain pavers to compliment the house and added a new vegetable garden area.

In the front yard a new rock garden style landscape of low maintenance succulents and mediterranean plants completed the renovation.

“We’ve been admiring the yard all afternoon as we set about cleaning things up and putting things away. The lights just came on and it was so wonderful to look out and see the olive tree & back wall illuminated as well as the front steps.

Thank you to you and your crew!  It’s Christmas, New Years and our birthdays all in one day!”

Completed Project- West Petaluma Versa-lok Wall

This year has been a roller coaster with the spring shut down, followed by an increase in project demand as folks spend more time at home. One of the nice surprises of 2020 is how many repeat client projects we have done this year. We have installed 6 projects for past clients as part of new phases or remodels of their landscapes.

This project in Petaluma featured a repeat client who downsized into a smaller home. We installed a new Versa-lok retaining wall to open up some additional space in their yard; renovated the existing irrigation system and installed new turf and a seating area in this preliminary phase.

This is a repeat performance (second home and landscape project) with O’Connell Landscape and we couldn’t be happier.  The first project resulted in an award-winning yard (which undoubtedly helped in last year’s sale).  In our current down-sized home we didn’t hesitate to call Michael and his crew, the same men were we worked with 12 years ago.  They transformed an overgrown yard into an attractive, low maintenance, functioning living space.  They offered detailed fore-thought, responsive collaboration, and quality implementation. We can’t recommend Michael and his team highly enough.
-Sharon & Mike Morgan, Petaluma

 

Good Hedging Options

Hedges are traditional yet versatile components of planting design. They are great for screening, to act as a fence, to provide borders, and to lend a formal or modern element to a planting scheme. Here are some of our favorite plants for hedging from our great Plantmaster database. You’ll notice that some hedges are classified as small trees, which can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning.

Plantmaster Interactive View

Hedge Options

Botanical Common
Tree
Callistemon citrinus Lemon Bottlebrush
Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple Guava
Laurus nobilis Grecian Laurel
Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’ Waxleaf Privet
Prunus caroliniana Carolina Laurel Cherry
Prunus laurocerasus English Laurel
Shrub
Abelia X gra. ‘Confetti’ Variegated Glossy Abelia
Buxus ‘Green Beauty’ Green Beauty Boxwood
Coprosma ‘Pacific Sunrise™’ Pacific Sunrise Coprosma
Coprosma repens ‘Marble Queen’ Dwarf Variegated Mirror Plant
Escallonia X exoniensis ‘Frades’ Frades Compact Escallonia
Nerium ‘Petite Salmon’ Petite Salmon Oleander
Photinia X fraseri Fraser Photinia
Pittosporum ten. ‘Marjorie Channon’ Marjorie Channon’ Pittosporum
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ Golf Ball Kohuhu
Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Variegata’ Blackstem Pittosporum, Tawhiwhi
Prunus caroliniana ‘Compacta’ Dwarf Carolina Laurel Cherry
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ Luykens Laurel
Rhaphiolepis indica ‘Pink Lady’ Pink Lady Rhaph or Indian Hawthorn
Westringia fruticosa Coast Rosemary
Broadleaf Evergreen
Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’ Variegated English Boxwood
Euonymus japonicus ‘Silver Queen’ White Variegated Euonymus

Tree

Lemon Bottlebrush

Callistemon citrinus | Lemon Bottlebrush

Pineapple Guava

Feijoa sellowiana | Pineapple Guava

Grecian Laurel

Laurus nobilis | Grecian Laurel

Waxleaf Privet

Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’ | Waxleaf Privet

Carolina Laurel Cherry

Prunus caroliniana | Carolina Laurel Cherry

English Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus | English Laurel

Shrub

Variegated Glossy Abelia

Abelia X gra. ‘Confetti’ | Variegated Glossy Abelia

Green Beauty Boxwood

Buxus ‘Green Beauty’ | Green Beauty Boxwood

Pacific Sunrise Coprosma

Coprosma ‘Pacific Sunrise™’ | Pacific Sunrise Coprosma

Dwarf Variegated Mirror Plant

Coprosma repens ‘Marble Queen’ | Dwarf Variegated Mirror Plant

Frades Compact Escallonia

Escallonia X exoniensis ‘Frades’ | Frades Compact Escallonia

Petite Salmon Oleander

Nerium ‘Petite Salmon’ | Petite Salmon Oleander

Fraser Photinia

Photinia X fraseri | Fraser Photinia

Marjorie Channon' Pittosporum

Pittosporum ten. ‘Marjorie Channon’ | Marjorie Channon’ Pittosporum

Golf Ball Kohuhu

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Golf Ball’ | Golf Ball Kohuhu

Blackstem Pittosporum, Tawhiwhi

Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Variegata’ | Blackstem Pittosporum, Tawhiwhi

Dwarf Carolina Laurel Cherry

Prunus caroliniana ‘Compacta’ | Dwarf Carolina Laurel Cherry

Luykens Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ | Luykens Laurel

Pink Lady Rhaph or Indian Hawthorn

Rhaphiolepis indica ‘Pink Lady’ | Pink Lady Rhaph or Indian Hawthorn

Coast Rosemary

Westringia fruticosa | Coast Rosemary

Broadleaf Evergreen

Variegated English Boxwood

Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’ | Variegated English Boxwood

White Variegated Euonymus

Euonymus japonicus ‘Silver Queen’ | White Variegated Euonymus

Completed Landscape- Cotati Paver Patio

Sometimes a simple installation can result in the most profound transformation of an existing yard. This was the case for this patio installation near Helen Putnam Park in Cotati. The owners had removed an existing deck and wanted a new paver patio and some grass redone to make the yard more usable. We settled on a classic Calstone Paver with some decomposed granite pathways to tie the areas together. The result was a clean and open new space.

The work you completed here was nothing short of amazing. From your initial consult and design, to the crew’s meticulous work, we are very pleased with the outcome!
-Darin, Cotati

Completed Landscape- San Rafael Eichler Back Yard

This mid-century style installation in Terra Linda focused on clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. We took a tired back yard patio and lawn and renovated with a new patio, connecting paths, spa and shower area, and slab for a soon to be installed studio.

We were in need of a completely new look for our boring, rectangular, flat backyard. Of the design/build firms we contacted, Michael O’Connell of O’Connell Landscape was by far the most responsive, thoughtful and creative. He was familiar with our neighborhood and was interested in working with the mid-century design elements we were hoping to complement. He was willing to work with our rough, preliminary sketches and bring them up to a higher level.

The O’Connell Landscape team was exceptional. Since it was COVID-time, Michael had the same two highly skilled workers on the job, start to finish. They showed up every day at 7:00 and did everything from complete demo of two patios, tree, root, rock and dirt removal, to laying the DG pathways, setting the concrete forms, laying electrical conduit and all new irrigation, building the fences and an outdoor shower and all the plantings. They wore masks consistently and Michael provided two separate portapotties to ensure their safety.

Michael provided regular updates on the job and detailed invoices. He did not go over budget, except for the changes we wanted and approved. There were some unforeseen issues (an older, hidden concrete patio that had to demo-ed, for example) and he itemized the extra costs clearly and in writing. We just love our new yard. It is exactly what we wanted and the entire process was easier better-communicated than some of our other past projects.

-Dru Parker, San Rafael

Post Installation Video

Post Installation Images

 

West Petaluma Yard- 2 Years Later

I had the pleasure of revisiting one of our past installations in preparation for some additional fencing and gate work we are going to do on the property. This landscape has really grown in since it was first installed two years ago and looks great.

Completed Project- East Petaluma Oasis

This project in Petaluma started with a yard that was in need of a clean slate and new vision. We created a design scheme that incorporated multiple use areas- a new patio, a firepit area and a vegetable garden, all tied together with a beautiful redwood pergola. Several accents, including boulders, a new fountain and low voltage lighting tied the front and rear yards and brought the whole project together.


Our experience with O’Connell Landscape from beginning to end was exceptional. Michael came to our house, listened to our thoughts and ideas and came up with the perfect design for our front and back yards. He took our ugly, weed infested yards and created an oasis. Michael and his crew were very professional and super easy to work with. Any questions or concerns were addressed in a very timely manner. We can not express how much we love our new ”Shangri La”!
-Melanie & Russ, Petaluma

Our Favorite Deciduous Small Scale Trees

Recently we featured our favorite evergreen small trees. Here are their compliments in all their fall foliage and spring bloom beauty- trees that make nice accents and don’t get huge. All images come from our Plantmaster database.

Plantmaster Interactive View

Small Scale Deciduous Trees

Botanical Common
Tree
Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ Crimson Queen Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Viridis’ Laceleaf Japanese Maple
Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ Forest Pansy Redbud
Cornus florida Flowering Dogwood
Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ Muskogee Lavender Crape Myrtle
Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ Natchez Crape Myrtle
Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ Yellow Bird Magnolia
Pistacia chinensis Chinese Pistache
Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ Chanticleer Columnar Callery Pear
Crimson Queen Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’ | Crimson Queen Japanese Maple

Laceleaf Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum Viridis’ | Laceleaf Japanese Maple

Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ | Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Forest Pansy Redbud

Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ | Forest Pansy Redbud

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida | Flowering Dogwood

Muskogee Lavender Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia ‘Muskogee’ | Muskogee Lavender Crape Myrtle

Natchez Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia ‘Natchez’ | Natchez Crape Myrtle

Yellow Bird Magnolia

Magnolia ‘Yellow Bird’ | Yellow Bird Magnolia

Chinese Pistache

Pistacia chinensis | Chinese Pistache

Chanticleer Columnar Callery Pear

Pyrus calleryana ‘Chanticleer’ | Chanticleer Columnar Callery Pear

Our Favorite Ornamental Grasses

In our last post we highlighted our favorite Small Scale Evergreen Trees, using our awesome Plantmaster Database. This time we wanted to share some favorite grasses. Truth be told, these selections include “grass like” plants, such as sedges and reeds, as well as true grasses. Many of these grasses are evergreen (indicated with – (EG), providing year round appeal. Grasses are a great component of any planting design, providing a break in texture, form, and color. They range in size from the small Mondo Grass (less than a foot), to towering Miscanthus which may be 6′ or more. These plant genera also host many other interesting and nice cultivars to explore.

Plantmaster interactive view

Favorite Ornamental Grasses

Botanical Common
Perennial
Chondropetalum tectorum Cape Rush (EG)
Grass
Calamagrostis X acu. ‘Karl Foerster’ Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass
Carex divulsa Berkeley Sedge (EG)
Deschampsia ces. ‘Northern Lights’ Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass (EG)
Festuca ‘Siskyou Blue’ Siskyou Blue Fescue (EG)
Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass
Lomandra ‘Platinum Beauty’ Platinum Beauty™ Lomandra (EG)
Lomandra longifolia ‘Breeze’ Dwarf Mat Rush (EG)
Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ Morning Light Silver Grass
Miscanthus transmorrisonensis Evergreen Miscanthus (EG)
Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Pink Flamingo’ Pink Flamingo Muhly Grass (EG)
Muhlenbergia rigens Deer Grass (EG)
Ophiopogon japonicus Mondo Grass, Lily Grass (EG)
Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ Black Mondo Grass (EG)
Pennisetum alo. ‘Hamelin’ Hamelin Dwarf Fountain Grass
Sesleria autumnalis Autumn Moor Grass (EG)
Stipa ichu Peruvian Feather Grass (EG)

Perennial

Cape Rush

Chondropetalum tectorum | Cape Rush

Grass

Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Calamagrostis X acu. ‘Karl Foerster’ | Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass

Berkeley Sedge

Carex divulsa | Berkeley Sedge

Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass

Deschampsia ces. ‘Northern Lights’ | Northern Lights Tufted Hair Grass

Siskyou Blue Fescue

Festuca ‘Siskyou Blue’ | Siskyou Blue Fescue

Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ | Japanese Forest Grass, Hakone Grass

Platinum Beauty™ Lomandra

Lomandra ‘Platinum Beauty’ | Platinum Beauty™ Lomandra

Dwarf Mat Rush

Lomandra longifolia ‘Breeze’ | Dwarf Mat Rush

Morning Light Silver Grass

Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’ | Morning Light Silver Grass

Evergreen Eulalia

Miscanthus transmorrisonensis | Evergreen Eulalia

Pink Flamingo Muhly Grass

Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Pink Flamingo’ | Pink Flamingo Muhly Grass

Deer Grass

Muhlenbergia rigens | Deer Grass

Mondo Grass, Lily Grass

Ophiopogon japonicus | Mondo Grass, Lily Grass

Black Mondo Grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ | Black Mondo Grass

Hamelin Dwarf Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alo. ‘Hamelin’ | Hamelin Dwarf Fountain Grass

Autumn Moor Grass

Sesleria autumnalis | Autumn Moor Grass

Peruvian Feather Grass

Stipa ichu | Peruvian Feather Grass

Our Favorite Small Scale Evergreen Trees

For many modern homes the back yard can feel like a fishbowl. Higher density housing often means more eyes peering from neighboring second story windows. In these situations plant screening becomes a great way to create privacy. The challenge here becomes selecting the right plants that screen, but don’t turn into monster trees over time.

Small scale evergreens are the solution, but what are some good selections? Many times these plants are either trees proper, or large shrubs that can be used as a tall hedge or trained as a small tree (standardized to a single trunk). Here are some of our favorites shared via our Plantmaster online database.

View these in the cool Plantmaster Presentation Modes

Small Scale Evergreen Trees

Botanical Common
Tree
Arbutus ‘Marina’ Marina Strawberry Tree
Feijoa sellowiana Pineapple Guava
Ilex X altaclarensis ‘Wilsonii’ Wilson Holly
Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia
Olea europaea ‘Wilsoni’ Wilson Fruitless Olive
Prunus caroliniana Carolina Laurel Cherry
Shrub/STANDARDIZED TREE
Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ Saratoga Sweet Bay
Pittosporum tenuifolium Blackstem Pittosporum
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ Schipka Cherry Laurel
Rhamnus alaternus Italian Buckthorn
Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegata’ Variegated Italian Buckthorn
Podocarpus gracilior Fern Pine

Trees

Marina Strawberry Tree

Arbutus ‘Marina’ | Marina Strawberry Tree

Pineapple Guava

Feijoa sellowiana | Pineapple Guava

Wilson Holly

Ilex X altaclarensis ‘Wilsonii’ | Wilson Holly

Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’ | Little Gem Dwarf Southern Magnolia

Wilson Fruitless Olive

Olea europaea ‘Wilsoni’ | Wilson Fruitless Olive

Carolina Laurel Cherry

Prunus caroliniana | Carolina Laurel Cherry

Shrub

Saratoga Sweet Bay

Laurus nobilis ‘Saratoga’ | Saratoga Sweet Bay

Blackstem Pittosporum

Pittosporum tenuifolium | Blackstem Pittosporum

Schipka Cherry Laurel

Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’ | Schipka Cherry Laurel

Italian Buckthorn

Rhamnus alaternus | Italian Buckthorn

Variegated Italian Buckthorn

Rhamnus alaternus ‘Variegata’ | Variegated Italian Buckthorn

Fern Pine

Podocarpus gracilior | Fern Pine

Completed Project Kentfield

This project was a complete demo and renovation of a deep lot on Sir Francis Drake Blvd in Kentfield. The design redeveloped the front of the yard with a privacy fence, driveway gate and auto court, providing a much need break with the street. In the back a large patio, deck, and softscape areas were detailed to transform and make the area more usable and kid friendly.

Michael and his team recently completed a complete renovation of our outdoor landscaping. We did extensive use of pavers, woodwork, lighting, drainage and of course planting. Michael is clearly very knowledgeable about landscaping and provided excellent advice on design and implementation. We are very happy with the quality of his work and his very reasonable pricing. Highly recommended!

-Loren, Kentfield

Should You Install Weed Fabric for Your New Landscape

Nothing is worse than a newly installed landscape that is quickly overcome with weeds with the arrival of the spring rains. One potential solution is to install weed fabric under mulched areas to reduce weed growth. Weed fabric is typically a spun polycloth that allows water to pass, but limits weeds. We don’t typically install weed fabric on our projects, but it has its uses and applications.

Here are some Pros and Cons of weed fabric:

Pro: Reduces weed growth
Con: Small weeds can grow on top of the cloth

Pro: Reduces need for hand weeding or herbicide.
Con: While not very expensive, the cost of weed cloth can add up over large areas. Weeds will grow next to plant crowns where fabric windows are cut for plant installation.

Pro: Can help control weed prone areas like rural installations
Con: Can pop-up over mulch with time and must be cut to install new plants

Pro: Segregates gravel mulches from soil
Con: Adds expense, but this is one of weed fabrics best applications

Alternatives: Good alternatives to traditional weed cloths or fabrics are increasing the depth of mulch layer or using a sheet mulch cardboard to reduce weed germination.

Davey has a good blog post with some additional pro’s and con’s

Feeling Like Mr. Blandings

Working in home improvement contracting can be very interesting. As a contractor you get to work with clients to build something that will improve and enhance their home. It’s typically something that people are excited about, and that makes the work rewarding and fun.

As with any trade that deals directly with the public, it can also at times be extremely frustrating. It’s at these moments that I think of the classic 1948 film, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, starring legends Carey Grant and Myrna Loy. The Blandings, tired of apartment life in New York City, move to the country to build their dream house. Whoever wrote some of these scenes felt my frustrations.

My favorite two scenes (see clips below) are when Mrs. Blandings picks paint colors and when the Blandings are helping their architect design their dream home. In 1948, their custom home budget was $10,000! That might get you a patio now-a-days – Enjoy!

 

Why People Dislike Contractors

Contractors get a bad rap. Sometimes however this reputation is deserved. We are working on a project in Marin that needs extensive demo, grading, and excavation. On the client’s behalf we are soliciting bids for the work. We meet on-site with one prospective company.

“When can you get me numbers?” I ask.
“Two days” says the excavator.

I think to myself this is either an efficient estimator or he is putting me on. A week rolls by, no response. A second week comes and goes. I decide to reach out:

“Just touching base on our site visit from a couple weeks back. Let me know if you have any questions or need anything additional from us in putting together an estimate.”

I get back this reply:
“We appreciate having been given the opportunity bid this job. However, we are not bidding any new projects at this time.  We are in contract with many other jobs and do not have the man power to take on any others at this time.  Therefore, we are regrettably not in a position to submit a proposal.”

This type of bush league business practice is the reason for contractor’s bad reputation with the public. Clearly they were too busy to be bothered, and we are on to do business with a more professional outfit.

 

O'Connell Landscape Blog