Boy by the end of July I’m hot and the ground is dry.  I’m continually looking for a place to cool my paws and wet my tongue. If I pant this much, I can’t image how the plants and trees feel. They can’t cool themselves off,  so why don’t we help the vegetation out just a little bit?  Let’s add some items, and remove some items:
*   Remove dead leaves, trim branches (off of roof line), and clear any fire fuel brush.  Thin plants out so they don’t touch each other, it eliminates fire “ladders”.  You are creating a free zone area near your home in case of a fire.

*   Add decomposed granite, rock or path fines for ground cover.  Place boulders in your landscape.  Create rock walls for fire blocks, and a place to sit!  Or in my case a place to perch from. Accent with some fire resistant plants, such as lavender, honeysuckle and agave.
By all of us dogs and humans working together, we can all stay safe.  And don’t worry, if I do smell or see anything, I will bark. Happy Digging!

Have you ever been so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start. Like when you want to rip up a drip line, but there are so many to chose from?  Then you end up chewing all of them up? No bueno. But even us dogs have trouble making a decision. So when starting a landscape project, keep a few things in mind:
*  Style -Determine your style…Is your home, tropical, medditerranian, farmhouse-ish, or country cottage?  Go with your style as you make product selections.
*  Purpose of the area.  Will it be formal sitting area, a casual fire pit, a water feature or a multi purpose area?  Keep it in mind where the sun is and if shade is required with trees or a structure.
*  Product availability.  We all have found a picture that we really like.  But what if it is in Austrialia?  If you have a picture we can take a look, and see what products are readily available to make your vision come true.  Of course we can always try to get the exact products you desire
*  Assess your skill level.  Is this a project that you will be completing?  Or is it wiser to hire it out?  What ever way you go, we can help you with both.  From product calculation to referral lists, just stop on by.
*  Time and Money.  Do you have a deadline that you need to meet?  A party, a wedding or a holiday gathering, keep the date in mind and work towards it.  And as always, check your budget!
Happy Digging!

As we get to the end of July, yawn, the heat does start to get to us dogs.  Cooling my warm paws and digging a hole to find a cool spot, that is my daily routine.   While I lounge around, here are some items to be working on in your backyard:
*  Pull the weeds before they flower again.  A little work now, will save you later.
*  For your established trees, add some fresh rich soil (planters mix) and mulch (bark) around the base.  Then give the trees a good soak early in the morning.  The tree stress out just like us dogs in the heat.
*  Deadhead, deadhead, deadhead.  Whether it is the old blooms, dead branches, or overgrown veggie plants.  Toss, trim and pinch those plants.  Besides looking better, it will help your plants stay healthy.  We ALL need a little love.
*  A light green/brown lawn can find happiness too!  Don’t cut your lawn too short.  The longer blade can take more heat (shade the soil),  help hold more moisture and block those pesky weeds.
*  Clean out the bird bath and eliminate stagnant water. The   mosquitoes won’t like you, but the humans will.  When BBQ-ing, throw some rosemary on the flame, the mosquitoes hate that!
*  Pick some of that fresh basil along with a lemon and make yourself a frosty beverage.  Now sit back and relax.
So for now, happy digging on a hot day, yawn…….

Yes I know I do like to try and squeeze the word “bone” into every conversation.  But what I really enjoy this time of year is the smell of basil.  For us dogs it is one of the approved herbs.  Basil has antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties, so go ahead and sprinkle some on my food!  Along with the fresh basil, my owners also have fresh tomatoes, yum.  How about preparing some caprese or brushetta with all your fresh ingredients?  Here is a simple recipe even a dog can do.
3 ripe tomatoes (my owner likes one red, one orange, one yellow)
1 lb. mozzarella cheese cut in 1/4″ slices
25-30 basil leaves (one health bunch)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Balsamic glaze (adds an extra burst of flavor)
Slice tomatoes and cheese, alternate the tomato, cheese and a leaf of basil as you stack it.  Top with a drizzle olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, a dash of pepper and dribble of balsamic glaze.
My owners like to eat it just like that, but you may want to serve it on lightly toasted french bread.
Au revoir, ciao, adios and happy digging!

Now every dog knows when the sun is shining to seek shade and pant.  That usually does the trick for me.  But our gardens and plants don’t know what to do, so that’s when my owners step in.  Here are a few suggestions we can all take to get through the dog days (yes it is all about me) of our valley summer:
*   Don’t skimp on that yummy smelling compost.  Amend that soil with 3″ to 4″, and organic is preferred.  Healthy plants=less water.
*   Bark, bark, bark, 3″ to 5″ around plants, trees and any exposed dirt areas.  Topdressing=evaporation reduction
* Update/install your drip system.  The drip system you can direct more to each plant.  I always say, more drip = less spray!
* Keep the weeds out.  Weeds are stealing the water, and look awful!.  Good looks=happy plants (my favorite equation).
*  Shade cloth your garden if you really want to get handy.  Our summers can be brutal at times.  This may prevent the burning of our precious vegetation not to mention that I also will take advantage of a new shady spot.
So what ever tips you utilize remember, Happy Digging!