Author: csDevTeam

When you design a commercial landscape for your Tucson office building or retail space, you not only need to think about the aesthetic components of your design, but you should also consider the functionality of it. All types of people may need to visit your business, so your landscape should create accessible pathways and minimize potential hazards, reducing your chances of facing liabilities due to inaccessibility or accidents and injuries on site. Your professional landscaping team can work with you to create the ideal design, which may include the following:

Pathfinding Lighting

Especially if your business is open early in the morning or in the evening, your landscape should be well-lit. It is particularly important to incorporate downward-facing light fixtures along pathways and in the parking lot, so visitors can easily find their way to the entrance and avoid any hazards in the walkway.

Ample Pathways and Ramps

Your hardscaping is just as important, if not even more essential than the natural features of your landscape. This will include all concrete walls, walkways, and ramps that may be incorporated into the design to ensure that people of all capabilities can get from the parking lot to your door. You do not have to compromise design to remain compliant with ADA regulations, so be sure to emphasize your creative vision as you discuss hardscaping ideas.

Shaded Seating Areas

If you have ample outdoor space at your business, it may be nice for visitors to sit down outside and enjoy the scenery. Placing benches and other seating areas under trees or patio structures can be a great way to open up space and make it more inviting for visitors.
Your commercial landscape is a reflection of your business as a whole, so give it the attention it deserves with Santa Rita Landscaping. To consult us about your design or landscape maintenance, give us a call at (520) 623-0421.

There are many elements that come together to create your home’s landscaping, and lighting is one of them. From keeping pathways illuminated to show off your favorite front yard or backyard features, lighting can be both stylish and functional when it comes to your home’s exterior. Keep reading to see what you should consider when choosing landscaping lighting:

How to Keep Things Safe

Landscape lighting doesn’t just add style to your space—it can also enhance your space’s safety. Even if you have a clear pathway in your yard, it can be difficult to walk along with it at nighttime, leading to potential falls and trips. With landscape lighting, you can be sure to keep all pathways illuminated as soon as the sun goes down. This will help your family and any guests stay much safer when they’re walking around the front yard or backyard at night.

What Styles You Prefer

Lighting plays an important role in home décor, including exterior home décor. The type of lighting you choose can fit in with other design elements found in your yard to create a cohesive look. If you prefer more modern pieces, then you can add to your design scheme with simple landscape lighting. If your outdoor décor style is more traditional, then you might want landscape lighting featuring more complicated design elements.

Which Parts of the Yard You Want to Highlight

Along with being a part of your décor, lighting can also help you show off your favorite décor elements. Do you have any outdoor features that you want to highlight, such as a favorite plant or a water fountain? If so, you can use landscape lighting to illuminate these features when the sun goes down.

If you’re looking for new landscape lighting for your Tucson home, contact Santa Rita Landscaping. Our team can help you find the right lighting for any size or space, making it easy to take pride in your home’s exterior. Call us at (520) 623-0421 to get started.

Some of the most amazing gardens in the world are in places you would never expect. One such example is outside of San Francisco at the California Academy of Science. Here, you can find an incredible rooftop garden on the school’s living roof, which is not only a sight to behold but also a stunning example of eco-friendly architecture and exceptional landscape design. Keep reading for a more detailed description of this rooftop spectacle, which may inspire your own unique landscape features at home.

A distinctive rooftop design

Living roofs are a growing trend, but the California Academy of Science’s stands out because it incorporates many native plants and a multi-layer natural irrigation system. The roof also functions as an excellent insulator, keeping the building below about 10 degrees cooler than any other roof would. It is this quality that gave the building LEED Platinum certification in 2008, which is the highest level of certification possible, indicating the exceptionally eco-friendly qualities of the design.

A seamless transition into the natural landscape

Another feature that sets this living roof apart is its integration into the surrounding landscape. The California Academy of Science sits in front of the backdrop of the hills of Northern California, so the roof features slopes to promote better drainage and match the surrounding geological features. There is also an open-air observation deck built into the roof, so visitors can view birds, bees, and other flying wildlife that is attracted by the native plants in the garden.

Roses are among the most iconic and beautiful flowers in the world, and they can grow in a variety of environments—including the Sonoran Desert. Though not native to the region, there are many varieties of roses that can be a welcome addition to home gardens and commercial landscapes in Tucson, provided that you know the right growing techniques. Read ahead to get a look at some select tips for growing a rose garden in Arizona.

Select Plants That Have Been Adapted for Heat Resistance

Like any plants you choose for your Arizona landscape, you should be sure that your roses are adapted for heat resistance. There are a variety of rose plants that can handle the harsh heat of the Southwest, so consult your landscaper or a local nursery to make the right choices with your aesthetic preferences in mind.

Plant Your Roses in December or January

In colder climates, you might not plant roses until mid-spring, but Tucsonans might start much sooner since there aren’t hard freezes to worry about in the valley. You’ll want to plant no later than January, though you could start as early as mid-December.

Ensure That Flowers Have Plenty of Sun

One reason roses are able to fare so well in Arizona is that they need plenty of suns. You should seek to have about 6 hours of sunlight for most rose plants, and climbing roses can benefit from an eastward orientation so that they get the bright light of the morning and early afternoon.

Drain Soil and Provide Airflow

Your soil should be fertile and well-drained, though you will want to keep your plants plenty hydrated as they grow. There should also be adequate air circulation, so give your roses enough space when you plot where to plant them.

For help cultivating your beautiful desert garden, contact Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. We offer commercial and residential landscape design services throughout Southern Arizona, and we can help you create a lush garden that stands up to the heat and dryness of the region.

Inspiration from your landscape may come from anywhere, including some of the world’s most famous gardens. If your travels ever take you to Singapore, you might schedule a visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which represents the nation’s rich and varied history and display some of the most beautiful and exotic plants in the world. Let’s take a quick tour of what the Singapore Botanic Gardens have to offer for curious visitors hoping to glimpse at the local flora.

Historical Importance

Though the idea of a national garden of Singapore originated in about 1822, it was not until 1859 that the Singapore Botanic Garden first became planted in its current location. The gardens were designed in the English Landscape Movement style, and they soon became taken over by the British colonial government. Through this period, the gardens expanded as an institute for botanic research and native plant preservation, and they became an important landmark. Today, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the nation.

3-Core Design

The modern garden features a 3-core design with three distinctive zones offering something unique in each. The Tanglin is the historical core, where the oldest elements of the garden can be found. The Central Core is the tourist belt, which includes the National Orchid Garden, Rain Forest, Healing Garden, and Evolution Garden. Finally, the Bukit Timah Core is designated as the learning and discovery center of the gardens.

A Growing Attraction

Singapore Botanic Gardens only continues to grow, and there is the development of a fourth core, which will enlarge the forest habitat of the gardens.