This is a sunken courtyard we built by digging down nine feet, going across 20×30 feet. We poured the cement walls, added a heated floor and drain so the snow would be easy for removal. The walls were stucco and stone veneer with LED lighting. The fireplace has a waterfeature added. The sunken courtyard has heaters and lighting. One of the windows was removed and a french door was added for access from the basement. There is a deck above 1/3 of the sunken court yard. A bladder system was put in and a beautiful ceiling so the electronics would be safe from the elements.

The bar above also has the same bladder and ceiling underneath. The bar has a granite top. The deck is Evergrain composit and we used a bending board system to get the round effect rather than cutting every board. On the deck is a fire rail rather than another fireplace. It is stone veneer as well. This puts out a lot of heat with carved mountain glass behind it. The deck railing is glass with LED lighting.

The pond that you see is actually a boulder that lifts every 15 minutes and shoots water out into the pond. Outside of the deck and courtyard area we built putting greens and a horse shoe pit. 25′ trees were brought in and many plantings to soften the hardscape.

Fall is one of the most important times to care for your landscape.  It is
vital to ensure your lawn and trees have sufficient nutrients going into the
winter season.  Even though landscapes are going dormant, the root systems are still actively taking in water and nutrients. A mistake a lot of home owners make is turning off water too early. Soil temperatures do not cool at the same as air temperatures.  With this being said, root systems are still seeking water into November and even December depending on weather conditions. When you observe plant damage in the spring, a lot of time it occurred in the late fall and early winter months. Below are tips to help prepare your landscape for the winter months.
Lawn

v  Cut
back your watering to twice weekly as long as high temperatures are remaining
above 60 degrees. You will want to water fairly early in the morning and try to
accomplish .75”-1” of water per week. The timing per zone will vary greatly depending
on the type of heads and coverage you have with your irrigation system.

v  Water
monthly during the winter. You can use a hose sprinkler to accomplish this
without turning on your irrigation system. Pay special attention to South and
West facing areas since they are most prone to winter desiccation and Mite
damage.

v  Fertilize
heavy in the fall to make sure your lawn has all the nutrients it needs to into
winter dormancy.

v  Aerate
the lawn to allow more air, water, and nutrients to your root system, roots are
developing in the fall, so this is extremely important.

v  Clean
up all the leaves from lawn areas, cut the grass short, and haul away debris
fir the final mow of the season.

v  Winterize
or “blow-out” your irrigation system to prevent freeze damage. Early in the
fall you can simply drain your backflow to prevent damage on cool nights. We usually
don’t see the ground freezing until December.

Trees

v  It is very beneficial to deep root fertilize
your trees and shrubs late fall after they have begun to head into dormancy. If
you use the right type to slow release fertilizer, you can have consistent
feeding for up to 11 months.

v  Prune back perennials and trees after they have
dropped their leaves. Trees and shrubs will heal faster and have less of a “shock”
factor when they are dormant pruned.

v  Wrap maple trunks. Maple trees are extremely
prone to Sunscald over the winter, so it’s important to protect the trunks.

v  Water trees monthly. It is best to use a probe
attached to your house and water the roots. Most trees will require 5-10
gallons of water monthly depending on how mature they are.

These are just a
few tips on how to prepare your landscape for the winter months. Consult your
landscape company and request an evaluation with recommendations to minimize
winter kill in your landscape.

Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of your true nature
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go like leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night
Seek nourishment for the good things in life

Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light
Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots
Enjoy the view!
Ilan Shamir