Santa Barbara Landscaping Permit Process

February 23, 2013 By Bruce Koehler

Backyard Pergola with hardscape and softscape

Most Home Landscaping Projects Require a Permit

City ordinances, or codes, can often seem confusing. We are all so busy, and our hectic lives might tempt us to overlook them because many homeowners believe that government building and safety agencies are too busy to follow up on all the landscaping jobs currently in process and therefore can sneak under the radar.

At Down to Earth Landscapes, we urge you resist this temptation because not only is it illegal, but also because it can be dangerous and can negatively impact the future sale of your home.

The codes and ordinances are there for you protection. They protect consumers by creating a standard of safety for all contractors to follow. Many construction jobs are shut down or penalized by overlooking permit process requirement. That means delays and even more money in the long run. You don’t want this to happen to you!
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Introducing New Landscape Design Services

February 21, 2013 By Bruce Koehler

Down to Earth Landscapes Inc in Santa Barbara

Down to Earth Landscapes Inc Introduces New Landscape Design Services in Santa Barbara

Local specialists for a broad range of landscape services, Down to Earth Landscapes Inc. has just announced that the company is now adding a new free lawn and garden evaluation to it’s landscape design services. By adding this new evaluation service to their comprehensive suite of solutions, the Santa Barbara landscape company can ensure that each client is provided with a custom-based approach to landscaping that helps make their garden design dreams come true.

Property Walk-through

The Santa Barbara company’s new service begins with a property walk-through by a certified professional. The organization’s landscaping professionals will visit the property in order to determine the scope of the project and assess how best to meet the homeowner’s unique landscaping requirements. During this time the company’s team will evaluate the condition of the homeowner’s lawn, garden and related systems. This includes drainage, sprinklers, soil quality, plant health and much more. This initial evaluation is complimentary and acts as the precursor to a final a recommendation which is also complimentary. If the homeowner choose to request a landscape design, this is also complimentary if the homeowner chooses Down to Earth Landscapes to build and install the new design.
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Filed Under: Commercial Landscaping, Residential Landscaping Tagged With: Commercial Landscaping, Landscape Design

Landscaping for Autumn Colors in Santa Barbara

September 1, 2012 By Bruce Koehler

Autumn color Landscape design in Santa barbara

Autumn Colors in Santa Barbara - Viburnum Opulus, Common name is Snowball

Autumn Colors in Santa Barbara

The bustling sound of Santa Barbara’s children returning to school has the staff at Down to Earth Landscapes yearning for the beginning of autumn colors. Although the autumnal season does not technically begin until Saturday, September 22, 2012, the signs of our favorite season begin early here in Santa Barbara County.

Many transplants to the area will say that there is no such thing as autumn colors in Southern California and especially Santa Barbara, but natives know that you can feel changes in the environment, including temperature, the angles of the shadows, and the smells in the air, as early as August.

We’ve been feeling those changes this week, which naturally made us think about autumn leaf colors. Those spectacular oranges, reds, and yellows are often considered out of reach here on the central coast. But that is not necessarily true. It is possible to have fall color in Santa Barbara.
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Filed Under: Landscaping Tips, Planting Tips, Uncategorized Tagged With: deciduous trees, fall color, Landscape Design

Santa Barbara Landscaping Company – 5 Customer Service Rules

April 19, 2012 By Bruce Koehler

Bruce & Mark Koehler " The Natives"

Customer Service Rules for Santa Barbara Landscaping Company

In this week’s blog, I’d like to share a value central to our landscaping business here in Santa Barbara—Customer Service.

In our Santa Barbara landscaping company, we strive to deliver our customers with the highest level of professional service in every thing we do. Delivering quality customer service begins with devotion to a honing a craft and caring and respecting the customer’s time and project needs.

Customer service in today’s marketplace tends to range from pathetic to mediocre. Rarely will you find someone that goes the extra mile. This is an opportunity to rise above the crowd and make a positive impression.

At Down To Earth Landscapes, Inc. we prefer a “embracing” approach, blending the best the technological age has to offer with old-fashioned craftsmanship and caring and attentive service. Our team differentiates itself from other companies through this holistic approach to managing your residential landscaping project.

That means that we are always up to date on the newest horticultural technologies and with internet marketing and social media networking. This means we want to connect with people wherever they feel most comfortable….Face-2-Face or online.
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Filed Under: Residential Landscaping Tagged With: Landscape Design, santa barbara landcaping company

Rock Walls in Santa Barbara Landscapes

March 22, 2012 By Bruce Koehler

In honor of St. Patrick ‘s Day and my Irish heritage, I’ve decided to spend the month of March blogging about the contributions Irish immigrants have made to Santa Barbara landscapes. This week’s topic: Irish rock walls in Santa Barbara.

History of the Irish Rock Wall

The Irish rock wall, also called the dry stone wall, is an ancient landscaping form used across Europe and the Western Mediterranean region. Rock walls of this sort are found in any region where materials are plentiful. The word “dry” refers to the construction of a rock wall without the presence of mortar. This tradition employs a method of building a wall by fitting each piece of stone against the next until the wall resembles a perfectly constructed puzzle. These rock walls are particularly abundant in the West of Ireland, especially Connemara.
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Filed Under: Hardscapes, Landscape Design, Rock Walls Tagged With: Irish Rock Walls, Landscape Design, landscaping tips, Rock Walls