New Eco Creations

Plant of the Week: Allium (Flowering Onion)

5/4/2012 12:00:00 AM

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 at Singapore Day 2012

4/15/2012 12:00:00 AM

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!

How Much Does a Professionally Designed Landscape Cost?

3/29/2012 12:00:00 AM

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?

Plant of the Week: Japanese Maple

3/20/2012 12:00:00 AM

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).

What is Organic Topsoil?

3/8/2012 12:00:00 AM

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.

Benefits of Giving Your Garden a Spring Cleanup

3/7/2012 12:00:00 AM

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.

Our First Garden Design Video Now on YouTube

3/5/2012 12:00:00 AM

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.

Back for Spring!

3/4/2012 12:00:00 AM

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

Why Fall is Planting Season

10/6/2011 12:00:00 AM

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

5 Native Plants for Fall Color

9/20/2011 12:00:00 AM

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.

Design Project Update in Cobble HIll, Brooklyn

8/16/2011 12:00:00 AM

Here are some more photos of a project we did this spring/summer. We used mainly native and adaptive plants for this modern garden such as Mountain Laurel, Inkberry Holly, an Eastern Redbud tree and a number of native ferns. We took these photos as we were installing the low-maintenance lawn that will be done entirely out of Pennsylvania Sedge. Look for final photos of the project soon.

Here is a nice shot of the cedar fence we built.

We also installed a gravel path around the perimeter of the garden for easy access.

New Eco Featured in New York House Magazine

7/21/2011 12:00:00 AM

Hey Friends! We were just featured and interviewed for a feature piece in New York House Magazine for our recent landscape design projects. You can read the New York House Magazine Article here or by clicking on their logo below and thank you all for the support!!

Project Spotlight in Fort Greene, Brooklyn

6/20/2011 12:00:00 AM

This is a full backyard renovation that we recently did in Fort Greene. Our client came to us with the idea of a U-shaped retaining wall with a water feature and a large enough patio space to entertain plenty of guests. Here are some pics of how it came out. Below you will find the before shot.

And here is the after...

Here is the outline of the waterfeature in-progress.

During the renovations, the homeowner found this ornate, iron fireplace plate and wanted to incorporate it into the design somehow...

So we decided to make it the face of the weeping wall waterfeature we installed, pictured below.

And here are a few more pics just for fun. The site had three existing River Birch trees and a Japanese "Bloodgood Maple" that the homeowner wanted to keep, so they acted as the backbone of the garden as we worked around them and incorporated them into our design. We also installed a number of drought-tolerant and native species including an Eastern Redbud.

Design Project Update in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

6/11/2011 12:00:00 AM

Here is a sneak peak of a cedar fence we are currently doing for a design/build project in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Before we got there the backyard was truely wild, with a large mosquito population that was calling it home (the majority of them have since relocated). For this project we are building a custom red cedar fence, recycled bluestone patio and installing an almost fully native landscape (the only thing that will not be native is a Japanese "Bloodgood" Maple, which is a fully adaptive tree for the New York City area. Keep you posted on the end result soon...

Fan Mail from A Satisfied Customer

6/10/2011 12:00:00 AM

I haven't blogged in a bit and here is why, we've been busy making people happy. We got this note from a big fan of ours and it really means so much to us when we receive these tokens of appreciation. Thanks Joan!

Our Favorite Landscaping Books for New York

5/17/2011 12:00:00 AM

The economy is definitelty getting back on its feet. How do I know? Because we have received a boatload load of requests for designs this year (keep posted for how they turn out). Whenever we are doing a design, you would find one or all of the books I've listed below nearby. Use these books if you're taking some design and gardening into your own hands, you won't regret it.

New York Gardener's Guide by Ralph Snodsmith

This was one of the first books I bought and it never lets me down. It has incredibly important information regarding the best and most relaible trees to plant in the New York climate. We especialy like the dedication to native species and a section on water efficient plants and planting.

Garden Design and Decoration by Peter McHoy and Tessa Evelegh

We found this book at a used book sale for a dollar. This is a hard find but a great design tool. It gives the reader a ton of ideas and styles to choose from and explains in detail how to build everything yourself.

Small Gardens by John Brookes

For the New York City area, we like this book because it acts as a pictoral encyclopedia of a bunch of different ideas you would never think of on your own. Definitely worth checking out.

Native Sedges as a Grass and Lawn Alternative

5/9/2011 12:00:00 AM

This season, it seems that sedge lawns are finally catching on and we are replacing a number of traditional grass lawns with the lower maintenance sedge. We have been planting Pennsylvania Sedge and Catlin Sedge so check back for pictures once they have established themselves. All this alternative-to-turf talk makes me want to write a little bit about how turf lawns are actually good for the environment, just to stir the pot a little bit, so check back soon for that blog. In the meantime, here is some information about native sedge lawns from an article by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

Sedge Lawns for Every Landscape

By John Greenlee on December 31, 2001 | Short URL

Few breakthroughs in the history of turf have been as significant as the arrival of an entirely new kind of lawn—the sedge lawn. Sedges are close botanical cousins of the grasses and look a lot like them. Properly selected and planted, sedges can function as a traditional lawn, yet they require little or no mowing, fertilizing, or chemicals. Some require less water than many conventional turfgrasses. Others tolerate wet, moist areas, and many thrive in shade. What's more, sedge lawns restore something of the character of the native sods that existed before agriculture and development transformed the American landscape.

Conventional lawns consist of grasses from Africa, Asia, Europe, and other places. These foreign, high-maintenance species have largely replaced the native sods composed of sedges and grasses. Today very little remains of the native sods. Perhaps the new American lawn is the original sod just waiting to be rediscovered.

Part of the attraction of the genus Carex, into which sedges fall, is its tremendous variety and adaptability. There are more than 2,000 species of Carex, and they are found in a wide range of habitats in nature. They vary from miniatures with foliage only 1 to 2 inches high, to specimens growing to 3 or 4 feet. Some creep, some clump, some do a little of both. They can be found in sun or shade, in wet soils or heavy clay, from coastal dunes to alpine scree. In almost every ecosystem, there is at least one sedge with good, lawnlike qualities.

California meadow sedge is evergreen in all but the coldest climates, and grows 4 to 6 inches unmowed. This informal lawn planting with spring bulbs is in Pomona, California. (Photo: John Greenlee)

Five sedges that have shown excellent promise as substitutes for traditional lawngrasses are catlin sedge(Carex texensis), Texas Hill Country sedge (C. perdentata),Baltimore sedge (C. senta), Pennsylvania sedge (C. pensylvanica), and California meadow sedge (C. pansa).These species are described below.

These native sedges have been selected for their compact growth and good, green color; most are evergreen as well. Many will tolerate varying degrees of shade and competition from tree roots. They are best grown in the regions where they are native, although most have shown amazing adaptability and grow well in regions outside their native range. As more horticulturists become aware of the sedges' potential in gardens, many more species are being collected from remnant populations in nature. Hybridization is still untapped and offers enormous possibilities for lawns of the future.

Carex texensis Catlin sedge

This wide-ranging sedge is found in nature from Texas through Ohio and has naturalized in parts of southern California. In nature, it hybridizes and mingles with closely related, similar species throughout the Southeast. Catlin sedge is adapted to a wide variety of climates, from the hot, muggy Southeast to the hot, dry Southwest. It is hardy to USDA Zone 6, and perhaps Zone 5 in sheltered locations. It forms a matlike clump 3 to 4 inches high and 6 inches wide. To maintain as a lawn, catlin sedge will require two to three mowings per year. This dark green sedge is at its best in partial to full shade. Planted in full sun, it will tend to be lighter green and require ample water to look its best. Catlin sedge makes a fine lawn mowed or unmowed, planted either from seed or from plugs 6 inches on center.

Planting Sedge Lawns

Sedge lawns are usually planted from plugs, as the seeds of many sedges are short lived and have low germination rates. The most important step in establishing a new sedge lawn is to start with weed-free soil.

When converting an existing lawn, make absolutely sure the old lawn is dead (see "Planting a Native Grass Lawn Step by Step"). Top-dressing newly planted plugs is far more beneficial than incorporating mulch into the soil. Fertilize as you would a lawn to speed establishment. Mowings every month in the growing season will speed tillering and help the newly planted plugs to fill in.

Carex perdentata Texas Hill Country sedge

This Texas native is another excellent lawnlike sedge. It is drought tolerant and moisture tolerant with surprisingly soft, medium-green foliage. Its slowly creeping, almost clump-forming foliage is a light green color growing 4 to 6 inches high. A very versatile sedge, C. perdentata grows equally well in sun or shade, heavy or sandy soils. Its evergreen foliage is dependably hardy to Zone 6 and possibly lower. It looks best when watered regularly, but like most sedges it will tolerate periods of summer drought. Plant from plugs 6 to 12 inches on center in fall or spring.

Carex pensylvanica Pennsylvania sedge

Pennsylvania sedge has a wide distribution throughout the eastern and central U.S., with one form, C. pensylvanica var. pacificum, reaching all the way to Puget Sound in Washington state. With such a wide distribution in nature, this sedge and its hybrids hold much promise for natural lawns of the future. Many distinct and varied clones are being evaluated by nurseries throughout the country. Typically found on sandy soils in dappled shade or as a constituent of low prairies, Pennsylvania sedge can tolerate less than ideal conditions in the garden. Its noninvasive, creeping foliage forms dense mats of medium green, fine-textured foliage growing 6 to 8 inches unmowed. As a mowed lawn, this sedge looks best cut two to three times per year at 3 to 4 inches high. Plant Pennsylvania sedge from plugs 6 to 12 inches on center in fall or spring.

Carex pansa California meadow sedge

This native Pacific Coast sedge is hands-down one of the finest native sedges for making natural lawns. Largely untested in the East, it has proven durable in Texas and Colorado. Slowly creeping, dark green foliage grows 4 to 6 inches unmowed. California meadow sedge will tolerate varied types of soil conditions and temperatures, from sandy, exposed seacoasts to heavy clays and hot, inland valleys. It is also exceptionally traffic tolerant. Thriving in full sun to partial shade, it will thin out in deep shade. Mowing two to three times per year keeps the foliage low, tight, and lawnlike. Unmowed, it makes an attractive meadow and remains evergreen in all but the coldest climates. California meadow sedge is fast to establish from plugs planted 6 to 12 inches on center.

Carex senta Baltimore sedge

This native eastern sedge is essentially a refined version of catlin sedge—identical except for shorter flower spikes, which lend a neater, more lawnlike appearance when unmowed. Discovered originally by Briar Hoffman growing in the lawn of a church in Towson, Maryland, Baltimore sedge is one of the best low-growing, lawn-forming sedges for deep shade. Treat this sedge as you would C. texensis. Plant plugs 6 to 8 inches on center. Like all sedges, plugs of Baltimore sedge planted in spring or fall will establish quickly.

New York's Rooftop Gardens Article

4/18/2011 12:00:00 AM

Here is an article I came across today to promote a book called "Rooftop Gardens: The Terraces, Conservatories and Balconies of New York" (although there was only one picture in the article?!?!). I haven't checked it out yet but will definitely be combing it for some ideas. Check it out.

Visiting New York's Exclusive Rooftop Gardens

10 Beautiful Native and Adaptive Plants for New York Landscaping

4/11/2011 12:00:00 AM

Here are ten of our favorite low-maintenance, water efficient plants that we have had much success with. We chose these specifically for their beauty, since having a sustainable backyard or front yard in New York City doesn't mean it has to be an eye sore.

1. Creeping Phlox

Excellent ground cover in lieu of a grass lawn. Comes in a variety of colors.

2. River Birch

This excellent shade tree does well in wet soils and in dry summers. Great choice when you are looking to add a "speciman" plant to the garden.

3. Lily Turf (Liriope)

Lily Turf is one of those plant that you might not be able to kill even if you tried (we havent). Makes for a great ground cover, looks great all year round as long as you give it a trim in early spring and shows a beautiful flower from August through September.

4. Deer Fern

Perfect for neutralizing the garden and good for the shady areas. We like it better than Lady Fern (they tend to attract slugs).

5. Stonecrop

A great drought tolerant plant and little care is needed in general. Plant the "Autumn Joy" sedum for a spectacular show of the colored, puffy flowers that bloom in mid-to late summer.

6. Butterfly Weed

If you want some friends in the garden, this is the perfect plant that butterflies cannot resist. Needs a little bit of TLC here and there but we think it is well worth it.

7. Japanese Wisteria

Great in full sun or partial shade, this drought-tolerant climber produces bunchs of flowers that can be up to 18 inches long depending on the species. Great over a patio or trellis but don't let it get too close to your house, it might tear it down. Seriously.

8. Japanese Black Pine

One of my favorites, maybe because we had them around my yard as a kid and I loved collecting the pine cones. Like with a lot of Japanese plants, they inherintly give off a sense of stability and calmness and grow unbelieveably well in the New York climate. Don't plant near a patio or where any cars are present, you'll never get the sap off either.

9. Highbush Blueberry

Some people might not think of the blueberry plant, which can grow wild, as "beautiful" but we certainly do. Not only are they native, provide habitat for birds, attract other wildlife and provide excellent fall color...they also produce blueberries!

10. Cherry Blossom

This is truely my favorite on the list. We have one hanging over our pond and in spring when the Cherry Blossom blooms it makes a for a photo scene that is worthy of a magazine cover. They can grow quite large but need little care, the three in our yard have been growing wild for 25 years.

Springtime in New York CIty!

3/20/2011 12:00:00 AM

Springtime in New York City is finally here!! It was definitely a cold and snowy winter and I think we are all happy that the sun seems to be making more frequent appearances. Here at New Eco Landscapes the projects are already starting to lineup in anticipation of the nice weather ahead of us. It seems that on the first nice day after winter our phones start ringing and ringing and ringing. Keep your eyes open for our posters and flyers around town to see where we've been hanging out and we're ooking forward to seeing you all this season!