Hilltop Landscaping fun facts: 40 years adds up

Author: Victor Rodriguez; Published: Feb 28, 2011; Category: New Mexico Landscaping; Tags: Irrigation Systems, Landscape Design, New Mexico Landscaping, The Hilltop, Xeriscape; No Comments

Arguably, The Hilltop has done more to change the face of Albuquerque than other landscaping contractor. And any company that has been in business for a long time starts to build up some accomplishments. After 40 years in the landscape business, The Hilltop has quite a few, so I decided to make a short list. And while I don’t mean to brag (well, maybe just a little), when I looked at this list I was rather impressed myself!

In the past 40 years The Hilltop has:

• Landscaped more than 50,000 homes in the Albuquerque area
• Done the “streetscapes” in more than 50 subdivisions
• Completed thousands of commercial projects
• Put down enough gravel to make a two lane road from Albuquerque to Santa Fe—and back!
• Designed and built 40 city and private parks
• Planted more than 150,000 trees
• Planted 1,000,000+ shrubs (yes, more than a million!)
• Installed more than 750 miles of irrigation (enough to run a pipe from Albuquerque to Los Angeles)
• Put in over 19 miles of irrigation in 2002 (enough to a run a pipe from Nine Mile Hill to Tramway Blvd.)
• Installed enough grass to make 1000 NFL-size football fields.

But even after 40 years we are not basking in our accomplishments. What has helped The Hilltop be successful over 40 years is our ability to grow and adapt to changes in what customers want. In the late ‘70’s and 80’s water savings were not on people’s minds and customers wanted lush lawns. But through the 90’s and after the turn of the century, customers have become more aware that water is an expensive commodity. We’re now at the forefront of xeriscaping, educating our customers about xeriscape alternatives and helping them create xeriscape gardens.

Most of our success though, has to be tied in to the loyalty of our clients. We have some clients that have used us for every house they have bought, from the starter, two-bedroom tract home, to their much larger dream home 20 years later.

Our clients today want beautiful landscapes that do not impact the environment as much. We do that by providing you with solutions that fit your lifestyles, be it an intimate back yard with a kiva or fire pit; or even an outdoor kitchen! Or perhaps you want to take advantage of Albuquerque’s Xeriscape rebate program.

Whatever the landscaping “landscape”, we are proud to continue to serve Albuquerque and the rest of New Mexico after 40 years.

New Mexico’s windy season is upon us: are your trees ready?

Author: Fred Roybal; Published: Feb 25, 2011; Category: Tree Care; Tags: New Mexico Landscaping, Spring, Tree Care; No Comments

New Mexico’s windy season is ready to blow in with a blast! Are your trees ready? As an arborist, every year during wind storms I get emergency calls from frantic tree owners. I have seen whole trees and large limbs fail and fall on homes, vehicles, and other structures, causing thousands of dollars of damage.

Having your trees professionally evaluated and pruned before the heavy winds (or early in the season) can reduce the risk of costly broken branches. Not all potential failures can be seen or remedied, but many situations are obvious to an experienced arborist, and can be dealt with prior to a wind-induced failure. Typically, when an arborist assesses a tree for pruning, weak branches or branches with poor attachment would be pointed out for remediation. Thinning or weight reduction on long heavy horizontal branches might be suggested.

Having your trees cared for by an ISA-certified arborist isn’t without cost, but it is a lot less expensive than neglecting the maintenance of your trees and possible having a storm related failure resulting in costly damage to your home, car, or other structures. And it could save your tree from a limb failure that might necessitate the removal of the whole tree due to the compromise of the structural integrity of the trunk of the tree.

Please note that working in trees is dangerous and should be left to professional arborists. They have the specialized equipment and training to get the job done safely.

Get your trees ready. Then batten down the hatches and prepare for the onslaught of the upcoming winds.

Seven elements of xeriscaping for less water, less maintenance

Author: Victor Rodriguez; Published: Feb 23, 2011; Category: Xeriscape; Tags: Landscape Design, Landscape Maintenance, Watering, Xeriscape; No Comments

There is no such thing as a NO maintenance yard, but xeriscaping your yard can reduce the amount of work you put into it. Not only does a xeriscape require less maintenance, but you will reduce your water bill and the cost of fertilizers and pest control normally associated with a water-loving lawn.

Besides those benefits, if you live in Albuquerque, the City of Albuquerque offers a rebate for people who convert their thirsty landscapes to xeriscape! Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Work the plan, plan the work
   Have a plan. Take a look at your yard’s layout. Is it hilly or flat? Is it sunny or shady? Rich soil? Create planting zones and group your plants by their needs. For example, group tough, drought-tolerant plants in areas exposed to full day sun, give tender plants some partial shade and keep the more delicate or demanding plants for a spot near your water source. If you’re not sure how to start, our design team can help you.
2. Put the right plant in the right spot
   You may choose to incorporate a few plants that will need to be coddled, but for the most part, selecting plants that thrive in your area during low water conditions will give you the best results. This includes native species that we so often take for granted. You might be surprised to see how many plants are considered xeric once they have established themselves and are properly cared for. Look at our resources page for some ideas.
3. Improve soil to support xeriscape
   While many xeric plants do well in native soils, it is not a bad idea to improve the soil. The trick is to incorporate generous amounts of organic matter. This will improve water penetration and retention in any type of soil. Rich, loose, water-holding soil will encourage good root development and lessen the plant’s need for supplemental water. It is best to amend your soil before planting.
4. Mulches hold moisture and aid in weed control
   Organic mulch moderates soil temperature, holds moisture, slows erosion and suppresses weeds that would compete with your plants for food and water. It also gradually decomposes and feeds the soil. Gravel mulch helps in much the same way except it doesn’t add organic matter to the soil. Gravel doesn’t have to be replaced as often and can be used in beds that need to look tidy all the time.
5. What about a lawn?
   There are benefits from having a lawn, but many of us have way too much lawn. How much water, fertilizer and gasoline does it takes to keep your lawn green throughout the summer? What is the purpose of the grass? Is it part of your outdoor living space? A place that family and pets can enjoy? If the answer is yes, then by all means include a lawn in your yard. If you are using grass only as a ground cover, there are other options that would be less labor and water intensive. This is especially true for front yards.
6. Water efficiently
   Not every plant needs the same amount of water. We recommend an automatic drip irrigation system for watering. You can control when and how much water a plant gets and direct the water only to the plants that need it. But don’t just “set it and forget it.” Make seasonal adjustments. Plants will require more watering for the first year or two as they become established, so keep an eye on new plantings. However, after they have acclimated and developed a good root system, supplemental watering should be less frequent.
7. Maintenance is still part of the equation; but less than with a “normal” landscape
   Yes, even a xeriscape yard will require some maintenance. Watering, weeding, pruning, deadheading and sensible pest management is part of your overall maintenance program to keep your landscape looking good.

Xeriscapes do not have to be boring expanses of gravel. By using the right combination of plants, trees and accents you can have a lush looking yard and still feel good about saving money and our precious resources. Contact us if you’re interested in turning your into a xeriscape garden.

Following the big freeze, get irrigation systems checked to avoid plant damage

Author: Fred Roybal; Published: Feb 21, 2011; Category: New Mexico Landscaping; Tags: Irrigation Systems, Plants and Trees, Spring, Watering; No Comments

We are at that time of year where we are having warmer days, and we look to returning to our favorite outdoor activities, like backyard BBQ’s! As we re-enter our outdoor living spaces, there are a few maintenance items that should be taken care of to ensure the well being of our landscape plants and trees.

Number one on the list is to get our sprinkler systems checked out. With the freezing temperatures of winter comes the possibility of frozen and broken pipes. The other major concern is that debris might have entered the system and cause malfunctioning valves and sprinklers. Not all malfunctions are as obvious as leaks! When the emitters on the drip irrigation gets plugged you’ll never know until that shrub starts showing stress. And then it might be too late to save the plant from damage!

Valves can open and then fail to close, causing over-watering, flooding and a huge waste of our most precious resource, water. When debris gets lodged in the sprinkler nozzles, or the ports of drip irrigation emitters, they will either quit entirely or spray inefficiently.

The two main benefits of keeping your sprinklers in top working condition are preventing water waste (wasted $$$$$), and getting water to the plants and trees efficiently. The time and dollars invested in the maintenance of your sprinkler system will be paid back many times over in saved water and money!

Whether your landscape is a xeriscape or lush, filled with turf and trees, having your irrigation system working properly will ensure a happy healthy landscape. If you’d like our help with your irrigation system, give us a call.

You are not alone: I hate Zero-scapes too!

Author: Carrie Johnson; Published: Feb 18, 2011; Category: Xeriscape; Tags: Landscape Design, New Mexico Landscaping, Xeriscape; No Comments

Click on image to view full-size.

Oh Boy, do I!?! There is nothing fantastic about a sea of gravel. That’s why we don’t do “zero-scapes.” But we’ll design a Xeriscape for you that will make your neighbors green (with envy of course). “Xeriscaping” is a portmanteau of xeros (Greek for “dry”) and landscaping, and it refers to a method of landscape design that simply minimizes water use.

The best part about it is, you don’t have to have cactus, if you don’t want it. No one—least of all, The Hilltop—wants to turn the City of Albuquerque in to a barren land of cacti, yucca and rock. It’s the exact opposite! We need trees, shrubs and flowers in order to have a healthy atmosphere. Remember this word from 3rd grade: photosynthesis? It’s a lot more complicated than our happy crayon-drawn tree sucking in dirty air and breathing out clean air (I’ll spare you all the math and long scary words), but that is basically what happens.

With that said, there is an amazing plethora of lovely plant material that you can choose from. We have such an array of colorful flowers, attractive and versatile shrubs and groundcovers, whimsical ornamental grasses, architecturally striking desert accents and stately trees. So many options are available, that the design possibilities are wide open! And that is coming from someone who learned landscape design in the most tropical and lush part of the USA.

It is not impossible to have a beautiful verdant landscape in the high desert. You can have Formal English, Tsukiyama, Tuscan Renaissance, or simply a colorful, leafy, and ornately exciting setting. It takes knowledge of our area’s micro-climates and the proper way to irrigate, in addition to using the plant’s characteristics, the site’s advantages and available resources in the most intelligent way.