Rob Halpern

If you want to make it as an entrepreneur then pretty much everything is “worth the effort” unless it takes away from getting paid work done on time.
At the very least you might learn something useful for next time.

Russell, you are quoting my post but I have no idea what you are trying to say.
To clarify my point: we live in a sexist, racist, homophobic society and culture. It remains all over pop culture, common conversation, the media and the politicians. No one is completely cured of it, we all swim in the same polluted sea taking in the water. It’s nice…[Read more]

Expanding on craig’s comment…
 
Aside from what this thread reveals about our “culture of victimhood” (there is a whiff of “You think you’re a victim? No, I’m the victim!”) – which is just plain perverse — I can’t help noticing that BZGirl did not ask for help figuring out what to do about her status problem, but simply wanted to compare notes…[Read more]

And (to add to your evidence) while it is drought tolerant in the right landscape, it will not be on 6″ of roof mix.

Although this looks pretty promising: “Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center”

Well my work is too specialized to be pertinent (does an African Savanna at the Dallas Zoo using mostly Texas natives count? – and since they are West Texas natives I can’t even see it as a native landscape in Dallas)… but the California Academy of Sciences’ native landscape is a more appropriate local example.
Perhaps not local enough for you,…[Read more]

Adam, there is a bit of a disconnect in your posting.
 
On the one hand, you want to counter the boss’ arguement that a native planting will need to be replaced in a few years.
On the other, you acknowledge that there are few landscape maintenance firms than can properly maintain such a landscape.
Until you can propose a workable solution to the…[Read more]

Good points, David.
Thank-you

Fair question.
Nutty answer:
The local L.A. designed this. They are sub to an out-of-town design firm (architects and L.A.s) who have their own horticultural consultant. She (that consultant) questioned the use of CU soil. That’s all she questioned. So they wanted a second horticultural opinion. I have good history with the Owner and this design…[Read more]

Of all the concerns, sun scald is actually my least. The trees penetrate a shade structure.
But it seems that all who have posted so far are uncomfortable with the idea especially for this species. Just as I was.
 
If someone in addition to Peter would chime in with their successful or failed experience I’d have more to take to the client.

Yeah, I absolutely agree. I was surprised at the choice.
But when I was brought in the trees were “on the way” (!)
 
I refer to these as street trees, but plaza might better capture the feel of the place

Still, Gleditsias can be so much tougher than sugar maples, and they leaf out late anyway so they may be better suited to this treatment.
Since it is not my project and was not the issue I was asked to evaluate all I felt I could do was draw the client’s attention to my concerns while acknowledging my lack of experience with such a situation. I…[Read more]

Peter,
that is exactly my concern: full dormancy and also the tree experiencing a “false thaw” during any milder winter weather.
Location is Minnesota.
Your air gap makes perfect sense to me
 
How have your Alaskan trees done?

Hi Dennis,
 
Since I am not the originator nor really “on the team” I can’t post their detail.
Imagine a 14′ diameter tree pit with cantilevered sidewalk over it to an 8′ diameter tree grate.
CU-structural soil below sidewalk within tree pit
Insulation material and sidewalk with embedded heating cables above.
 
I hope that is clarifying

And remember that there is more to doing a job then drawing plans.
Time meeting with clients, time spent going back to them for review,time spent emailing or on the phone,  time spent making sure the plants are available, etc.etc all should be figured into your costs and therefore your fee.Your 10 hour job is really 15-20 hours

I’ll bet it depends a lot on the employer in question.
Some will appreciate the currency of a website… some will see that a slick website does not say anything useful about the L.A. skills of the applicant… some will prefer paper copies because, well, they prefer paper copies.
 
And if one is really looking for a super efficient CAD jockey,…[Read more]

Well, maybe, but our times may require it as a contrast to “horribly pleasing”, “disturbingly pleasing”, “Goth pleasing” etc. The Dark Side has been popular for decades!

Why stop there?
http://www.gardenharvestsupply.com/productcart/pc/Perm-A-Mulch-Tree-Rings-Mulch-Mats-c84.htm

One of the leaders in this sort of thing:
 
http://www.natsys-inc.com/
 

And in the end, they do as much damage to the bark… where the mulch has been piled 3, 4, even 12″ !… as the stringtrimmer would have. (OK, that’s an exaggeration)