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Landscaping in Moorpark

This landscaping project in Moorpark was done for a client of many years. Landscaping work on the client’s previous house, also in Moorpark, began almost 20 years ago and included several phases with a spa, dog run and basic garden to begin with then moving on to a fish pond and waterfall, stone barbeque, lighting and other amenities.

When the client decided to buy a new house, we came in to lay out a different type of design. The fish had been fun, but the owner decided that the fish tank in the house was enough care and another pond wasn’t needed. The new house had an entry courtyard which provided a perfect place for a small patio with a fountain. Tile was added over the top of the existing concrete that the builder had installed in the courtyard and the entry walkway. A vine was trailed up over the curved gate foyer using wire attached to the stucco. All of this made for a very pleasant entryway as well as a place to have breakfast on the weekend.

A new barbeque was built in with a different look than the previous one and more counter space for serving. Texture stamped concrete was used for the patio space in the back and the walkways. Multiple earth-tone colors were used to give it a stone-like feel and color was used for the concrete in the dog run as well, partly to make it look better and partly to cut down some on the sun’s reflective heat.

The client likes to work in the garden, particularly with annual flowers, and this presented a special challenge since the house was close to native hillsides and there were lots of rabbits. Typically, rabbits will gobble up the flowers at an amazing rate. A special in-line fertilizer tank was added directly into the sprinkler system which also allows for the automatic distribution of a natural substance called Critter Control (as well as fertilizer for the lawn and garden areas). This acts as an irritant for pests such as rabbits, gophers, deer, rats, etc. and tends to drive them away. The system has been working well and the rabbits have deserted the property almost completely allowing the annual flowers a chance to grow in and give the property a different look at various times of the year.

The finished yard included a new sprinkler system for all the lawn and garden areas, an outdoor lighting system with brass fixtures and, of course, the initial planting of all the garden areas. The last time I visited the property, it was looking lush and inviting.