Mistakes New Homeowners Make

Realtor.com. May 30, 2022. By Jennifer Kelly Geddes: Homebuyers who actually manage to land their dream house in today’s crazy market are understandably excited to make it their own. And now that the weather’s warmed up, many will no doubt be eager to take their itch for decorating outdoors. But watch out: If you’ve never owned a house with a yard or outdoor area before, you may make some rookie mistakes that can seriously crimp your property’s curb appeal rather than enhance it. Read More

10 Native Trees Designers Love

Houzz. May 3, 2022. By Annie Thornton. Planting a tree is a big investment in your landscape — but one that can have large payoffs, from beautifying your yard and enhancing curb appeal to shading your home and helping cut energy use. With the 10 native trees profiled here, the benefits are even greater. Read More

Work with Native Plants

Sustaining U.S. on KLCS. December 15, 2022. By David Nazar: The U.S. Green Building Council’s thought leading LA Chapter (USGBC-LA), the California Native Plant Society and Theodore Payne Foundation have developed a curriculum for training landscapers in native plant landscape creation and maintenance. Learn more about the program and its many benefits here.

Women of Influence

Los Angeles Business Journal. January 17, 2022: The Journal lists Cassy Aoyagi, president, FormLA Landscaping among its Women of Influence: Construction, Architecture & Engineering special edition as a result of her relentless efforts to improve the resilience of our community.

10 Most Popular 2021 Yard Tours

Houzz. December 18, 2021. By Marianne Lipanovich: From sleek, modern patios with a resort vibe to plant-filled destinations reminiscent of hidden gardens, homeowners are combining personal style and serious functionality in their outdoor spaces. Check out the following countdown of the most-read yard tours to discover ideas you can use in your own design. Read More

A First Line of Defense

Irrigation and Green Industry. September 2021. By Rodric Hurtle-Bradford: While the landscaping and irrigation industry cannot prevent wildfires, the importance of building and maintaining fire-resistant landscapes continues to gain relevance to minimize the impact of a growing wildfire season across the western half of the U.S.
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Plant Late Summer Edibles

Houzz. July 21, 2021. By Marianne Lipanovich: A gardener’s work is never done. Even though August is the high point for the summer vegetable garden, with ripe tomatoes and peppers, freshly picked corn and never-ending zucchini rewarding you for your hard work in the spring, it’s time to start thinking about what vegetables you want for fall. Read More

Create Defensible Spaces

Houzz. August 2021. By Eileen Kelly: Firescaping incorporates the design of the landscape and property surrounding a home to lessen its susceptibility to fire. This can be achieved through a well-thought-out landscape design plan that specifies less combustible plants, incorporates fire-resistant materials and follows the advice and guidelines determined by fire-safe organizations. Read More

Yard of The Week

Houzz. August 8, 2021. By Annie Thornton: Homeowners Tom and Bea Schumacher dreamed of converting their conventional lawn yard in Pasadena, California, into a landscape of outdoor living rooms connected by a series of paths and naturalistic gardens. “One aesthetic I longed for is from reading ‘The Secret Garden’ as a child,” Bea Schumacher says. Read More