This document provides tips for landscaping to improve property value and neighborhood harmony. It recommends choosing landscape that is in scale with the home, preserves views, and avoids fire hazards. Trees planted too close to homes can cause maintenance issues and should be replaced with more appropriate choices. Diseased or dead trees and plants should be promptly removed to prevent the spread of pests or risk of fire. Well-designed landscape can increase property value while enhancing safety and aesthetics.

1. Is A Spectacular Place to Live

2. What Can You Do to Make It Better?

3. How Does Landscape Improve your Property and its Value? You can express yourself artistically in your landscape. Everyday you can enjoy that expression. Landscape, when well chosen, can save you from costly maintenance. Landscape adds between 14-35% to the value of your home.

4. We have a wide latitude in designing. Here you see the trees are in scale with the house. They don’t overpower the house

5. Here you see how the tree on the right dwarfs the architecture and the planting in front of the house is out of scale (too small) for the face of the house. Also the Ficus trees on both sides of the entry could cause problems for the water pipes coming in or leaving the house.

6. This tree is too big to be planted so close to the house.

7. And it will be a maintenance problem for you.

8. When you plant vines near a tree, don’t let them climb the trees. Eventually, they will kill the tree.

9. These Palms are representative of Los Angeles. They also harbor rats. (So does Ivy)

10. Look at how ugly the tree looks after it is over trimmed. When you pick a tree that will grow the appropriate height you won’t need to butcher it. A tree like this needs to be Cut yearly. Think of the money and hassle you can save by removing and replacing it with a more appropriate tree.

11. Bringing Harmony to Your Neighborhood Setting a “style” for the neighborhood. Allow for view sheds Protect against fire hazards

12. Setting a style for the neighborhood doesn’t mean you will all have identical landscape. After all, you all have different architecture, styles and aesthetic preferences.

13. But you have architectural standards and the neighborhood would benefit from having some more consistency in landscape.

14. One of the Premier attributes of this neighborhood is the VIEW Even the view corridors along the streets are important to preserve.

15. Here’s a case in point. Your landscape could be cutting Off your neighbor’s view.

16. Once the Pines are trimmed it opens up much of the view.

17. But from the street the trim looks very unattractive. Once a tree is cut to like this, it will never grow back to be attractive.

18. Here the scale of plants matches the scale of the house. They all look like they fit together.

19. Another low profile landscape that really suits the house.

20. Here’s another appropriate landscape. These trees however will need to be severely pruned throughout their long life to maintain their low profile. This will cost you thousands!

21. There are many ways you can protect yourself from the threat of fire. Some plants are more flammable than others- Avoid Them When trees and plants die - Remove Them The Fire Department has fire safe standards- Use Them

22. Looks like a candle and burns like one too. Notice how close it is to the house. Pampas grass not only goes up like a torch, it reproduces like a Rabbit. Eucalyptus has lots of oil. Guess what happens when fire gets to them. Many of the Junipers even Look like fire.

23. If its brown, take it down. Watch for disease in your trees. What do you look for? --red or black staining on trunk --blistering and oozing on the surface of the tree --crown thinning --twig and branch die-back --premature leaf loss If you see a tree looking sick, call an Arborist. With early treatment, many times they can be saved.

24. Pine Bark Borer These insects usually enter the tree at eye level and above. You may see the tiny holes. You may see tiny dribbles of sap, or little dried mounds of sap, especially on a white pine. If you spot these move quickly to remove the tree. Spaying and other methods of deterrent won’t work. Nearby Pine trees on your property and your neighbors WILL VERY LIKELY become infested if not removed

25. Trees planted too close to the house are a maintenance problem and a fire hazard.

26. Your Landscape offers you the delight of interacting with the natural world around you. Make it a safe place for you and your entire neighborhood.