Tulsa Landscape Design Challenges - Slopes

Slopes in your landscape can make designing your perfect outdoor living space much more of a challenge. Numerous Tulsa residents find themselves with this type of landscape design problem because so many Tulsa homes were built on the area’s beautiful hillsides. These steep hillside slopes can be rather tricky to garden, but it’s important to landscape these areas to prevent costly and possibly even calamitous erosion and drainage complications. What are some ways to landscape slopes to prevent these kinds of issues?

Make some walls.

Erosion takes place when surface runoff moves downhill taking with it loose soil. The faster the water flows down a slope, the more soil it likely will take with it. Thus, to effectively control erosion, the rate at which water flows downhill must be decreased, and yet still allow for drainage. Carefully constructed retaining walls and terraces can be very adept at preventing soil erosion and flooding. Retaining walls can be made using a variety of decorative hardscape materials such as natural stones, brick, interlocking blocks, concrete, wood, or cinder blocks. Because of their decorative appearance, retaining walls can add dimension and character to your landscape. They can be textured and aged or smooth and symmetrical, adding a decorative structure and organization to the landscape while holding back an embankment and creating level areas of land.

However, retaining walls must be properly built so they can withstand the pressure of weather, time, and other elements. These retaining walls need to also complement your property’s drainage and irrigation system to be effective. Several shorter terraces are often more effective than one or two larger segments because the more gradual the slope, the less chances there are for runoff.

Put nature to work.

Woody shrubs and trees that have a deep network of roots can help bind the various layers of soil together. Over time or through construction, these soil layers can become weak and less compact. Thus, plants with a strong root system can help keep the soil layers intact and slow water runoff. Hardy, drought-resistant plants like succulents, groundcovers, and native plants that are plentiful in Oklahoma will help reduce erosion and even help combat weeds. These plants are also usually more low-maintenance plants, providing easy maintenance for you landscape.

Rocks and boulders provide another decorative means of slowing the flow of water down a slope. Add native plants or shrubs behind these stone hardscapes and you’ll create a beautifully natural landscape. Make sure boulders are packed tightly into the soil.

Steps that stabilize.

Meandering steps can be used to help guests up what would otherwise be a difficult slope. You could make a series of steps in a winding or zigzag pattern that adds personality and charm to the hillside. Plant colorful shrubs or groundcover next to the curving stairway to create even more interest and help prevent surface runoff.

Use Water to the Full

While surface runoff can cause much erosion damage, you can work with the water by diverting it through a stream, waterfall, or other water feature along a shallow slope. Fill in the stream with rocks and you have a natural creek bed. Thus, your babbling brook can safely allow water to flow downstream and form another visual piece for your landscape.

Because of the delicate nature of slopes, soil, and their proper drainage patterns, it’s often best to seek the advice of professional landscape designers before making any major adjustments to your slope or hillside. The Tulsa landscape designers at Oklahoma Landscape will be glad to help you correct or prevent drainage and erosion issues by properly landscaping your hillside or slope.

We provide a complete range of landscape architecture, drainage, irrigation, and hardscape services to help you ‘find yourself outside’ in your beautiful and engaging landscape.

Great Uses Of Low-Maintenance Plants In Tulsa Landscape Design

In Tulsa, and really all of Oklahoma we know first-hand how tough it can be for plants, wildlife, and even us to survive the heat of summer. To combat the effects of a long drought and overall help with the global conservation of water and resources, many Tulsa landscape designers are using low-maintenance landscaping techniques.

This type of Tulsa landscape design makes use of plants native to the area that are already better suited for the Oklahoma weather and also drought-resistant plants. Native plants are also typically more resistant to local disease and insects. Using these types of plants can often lessen your landscape’s need for irrigation and maintenance. Succulents like cacti, aloe, and sedum are very tolerant of dry weather, although they do need more water during their growing season and do best in soil that drains well.

Ornamental grasses such as blue oat grass, feather reedgrass, and purple fountain grass are another kind of decorative foliage that can, withstand conditions with less water. Some groundcover plants and shrubs can also do well in these conditions. Groundcover can also be used on slopes to replace lawn areas that are difficult to mow.

Using low-maintenance or xeriscaping techniques can also include grouping plants together with similar watering and sunlight needs so that less water is wasted when caring for these plants. This form of landscape design also groups together plants that tend to require a similar amount of maintenance, which in turn will make landscaping and lawn work overall simpler.

Hardscapes are also used in low-maintenance landscaping to cut back on the resources and energy used for landscape maintenance. A stone walkway or paver pathway can lessen the amount of regular maintenance while also creating an added dimension to your landscape.

Another part of low-maintenance landscape design in Tulsa is preparing the soil well for native plants and shrubs. Making sure the soil is healthy with regular lawn fertilization will help reduce its need for water. Using mulch or compost can also help your soil retain water better in addition to preventing erosion and weeds.

The Tulsa landscape design architects at Oklahoma Landscape would more than glad to help you create a low-maintenance landscape design plan that’s geared to your particular landscape with the perfect plants, shrubs, and hardscapes to complement your home and lifestyle.

What is Involved in Landscape Architecture? What is a Tulsa Landscape Architect's Job?

The results of architecture are all around us; they are often intriguing and diverse. Although mainly known for constructing buildings and other physical structures, architecture’s most attractive works of art are perhaps found in the fascinating sceneries created by landscape architects. New York’s Central Park is one example. In fact, the term “landscape architecture” only became common after 1863 when Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux designed Central Park, the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) noted.

But what is involved in landscape architecture and how can it benefit your home or business?

“Landscape architects design the balance between the built and natural environment,” ASLA noted. So landscape architecture goes beyond traditional gardening or lawn care to include the careful analysis, planning, design, and management of an outdoor space. These architects design and manage the land of outdoor public areas like public squares, cemeteries, parks, waterfront developments, transportation facilities, and zoos, as well as campuses, office and retail parks, commercial property, hospitals, hotel resorts, golf courses, and residential areas such as your backyard.

They work with engineers and city planners to ‘meet human needs by making wise use of our environmental resources,’ ASLA noted. Using environmental science, these architects help to promote public health and conservation by encouraging the effective use of nature and the built environment – such as tree-lined streets, green roofs, and healing gardens at hospitals. Landscape architects are often involved in restoring damaged natural places like wetlands, mined areas, and polluted sites.

Thus, they must have a diverse set of skills that not only include landscaping but also environmental psychology, geology, site design, horticulture, drainage, grading and more.  To be a landscape architect, a license is required to practice landscape architecture in all 50 states, ASLA noted.  

So, much careful planning is involved in a Tulsa landscape architect’s job. They figure out how the homeowner, property manager, or city planner wants to use the landscape and designs an outdoor environment best fit for those needs so the landscape is not only beautiful but practical and engaging. But this also includes site analysis to know how best to care for the landscape and protect its long-term well-being. With artistic style and science, a landscape architect can help your outdoor living space reach its full potential even by adding hardscape features like an outdoor fireplace or kitchen.

With this careful design comes detailed drawing and often 3D modelling of how the outdoor space will look, what features it will include, and where to plant trees, shrubs, etc. to best use the landscape and help conserve energy. By strategic placement of trees and shrubs, landscape architects can even lower a home’s heating and cooling costs.

After initial planning and design, landscape architects continue to oversee the landscape development throughout the construction process to ensure the project is done right. They may continue to oversee the care of the landscape after project competition, providing direction for how to best care for the landscape.

Thus, when you hire a Tulsa landscape architect, you get a wealth of knowledge and well-thought out planning that far exceeds simple lawn care. A licensed landscape architect can help you create a balanced, practical, and artful outdoor environment for your backyard or commercial property. They can help you ‘find yourself outside’ by utilizing nature and the built environment to create a captivating architectural environment.