Excavation/Demolition

After your landscape design has been finalized work can begin on your landscape project. This step will may involve the excavation or demolition of any existing landscape that will be a part of the new landscape design. Living Water carefully plans its site work to limit the impact on surrounding landscaping. Job sites are left clean on a daily basis.

Hardscaping

Hardscape, or "hardscaping" refers to the inanimate (i.e., non-living) elements of a landscape. This includes elements made from wood, even though wood was once animate (in the form of trees). Living plants, by contrast, constitute the "softscape." In particular, as the name implies, "hardscape" refers to hard elements such as those composed of concrete, brick or stone, in addition to wood. For instance, constructing a patio or deck is a hardscape project, as is a brick walkway, a stone wall, or a wooden fence. But hardscape goes beyond large-scale projects such as these. Any non-living ornamentation in your landscaping is, technically, part of the hardscape.

Living Water believes that the hardscape of a project is to set the foundation for a well designed landscape design. The use of hardscape helps to create visual elements both subtle and bold to a landscape. In addition, hardscape is used to improve or fix problems that topography of a plot might impose.

The choice of hardscape is critical in helping it not only to be functional but aesthetically pleasing.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is the slow and precise delivery of water to chosen plantings. It uses flexible polyethylene tubing with devices for dripping water (emitters) and low-volume sprays. Drip irrigation maintains near-perfect moisture levels in the root zone of plants, avoiding the too wet/too dry swings typical of overhead watering. Drip systems are controlled by hand or by an automatic timer, and can also be used to apply fertilizers directly to the roots of plants.

Drip systems irrigate all types of landscape: shrubs, trees, perennial beds, ground covers, annuals and lawns. Drip is the best choice to water roof gardens, containers on decks and patios, row crops and kitchen gardens, orchards, and vineyards.

Outdoor Lighting

Landscape lighting are used to showcase the landscape design. Night-lighting your landscape offers a creative way to show your home and property after dark. Properly place lights can dramatize trees, highlight favorite shrubs and accent fountains and flowerbeds. Like other aspects of landscaping, outdoor lighting options are countless.

Trees/Plants

Trees and plants are what help to make every landscape design come to life. The choice of plants is critical not only for over all look o the the landscaping, but must also be able to thrive in a high desert region like Santa Fe. Plants used in other regions of the country are not always suitable for the climate and elevations found in this area.

Living Water plant selections strike a nice balance of colors and low water use. A well selected palate of plants can not only provide color and texture year round, but can help reduce the amount of water needed to sustain them.

Some of the trees and plants that we have found to do extremely well in this region are:

Revegitation

Revegetation is the establishment of annual and perennial plant material for temporary and/or long term soil stabilization. The purpose is to stabilize soil, reduce raindrop impact, reduce the velocity of surface runoff, prevent erosion by wind and water, and enhance and/or restore natural attractiveness. Stable vegetation generates natural mulch and provides organic matter for soil nutrient cycling.