Bright Leaf Landscaping Nominated for Best of Durham 2012!

We just found out that one of our great clients has nominated us for Best of Durham – Best Landscaper.  We are very excited to be nominated and look forward to providing excellent service throughout Durham for a long time.

If you’d like to vote for us all you need is an email address – go to:

http://www.durhammag.com/the-magazine/best_of_durham

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Exciting Evergreens – Selecting Plants with Great Winter Interest

Evergreens are some of the hardest working plants in the garden – they provide a backdrop for flowering plants in spring and summer, highlight vibrant fall color, and provide structure and interest in the winter garden.While the value of evergreens is widely understood, many gardeners see them as a necessary evil – plants that are important but that can be boring, without the dynamic seasonal changes of other types of plants.  One evergreen that is definitely not boring is the Thunderhead. A shrub form pine, the Thunderhead, can be broader than tall with an irregular form and showy candles.  Consider using the Thunderhead where you would ordinarily use a midsize deciduous specimen like a Japanese Maple.
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Mulching, Pruning, and Winter Landscaping Maintenance in Durham

It’s not officially winter yet, but it is a great time to start planning for your garden’s winter maintenance needs. In the last few weeks the leaves have fallen from the trees, making it a great time to mulch. Winter mulching gives your plants extra insulation against the coldest months of the year, while also giving your yard a fresh neat look for winter visitors. Mulching in the winter is also a good way to get a head start on next season’s yard work.

Winter is also a great time to prune trees and shrubs. Plants without their leaves show their underlying structure, this makes it easier to see where to make the best cuts. For many plants winter is also the healthiest time to prune – many summer blooming plants as well as many varieties of conifers prefer to be pruned during dormancy.  Read the rest of this entry »

Installation Crew Leader Landscaping Job in Durham

Job Description: This position may require the employee to perform all, but not limited to, the tasks listed below. This position is responsible for directing 1 – 4 crew members in daily operations including quality control, training, punctuality and safety. Candidates must also have strong organization skills, ability to complete appropriate paperwork, and possess good leadership and communication skills. The employee will provide quality service that meets or exceeds our customers and management’s expectations. The employee will show attention to detail and effectively communicate with subordinates, peers and his/her supervisor. All employees will possess a friendly, customer service minded attitude and will conduct themselves in a professional manor, and treat all crew members with respect. (Reports directly to Landscape Install manager)

Daily/Weekly tasks may include but are not limited to:

1. Daily preparation of trucks and equipment

- Report 15 minutes prior to regular start time to prepare/review the days work with the Install Manager and prepare for the day.
- Load tools and necessary equipment. Secure all equipment
- Load and secure all plant material and hard materials required for the day.
- Check truck oil, fluids, tire pressure, proper trailer connection, and all lights are in working condition.

2. Perform and manage landscape installation and maintenance tasks on customers property

- Work in conjunction with the Install Manager/Designer to ensure the work sold is implemented efficiently and according to the contract specifications.
- Provide “on the job” training to crew members. Read the rest of this entry »

Front Yard Fragrance, Year-Round

A project we installed a few weeks ago got me thinking about front entrances and how we use them. If you’re like me (and Jonathan) you probably enter your house through a back door or garage. It seems that as housing styles have changed so has the way that we look at and interact with our home’s primary entrance.

So, the project that we recently completed is in an older neighborhood of Durham, where street parking is dominant, and many residents still enter through their front door. If you’re wondering why this matters – I mean, a front yard is always very prominent, even if only for people driving by on the street – here’s my answer – FRAGRANCE! A space that is used every day and one where you can predict exactly where the users will walk is a great opportunity to incorporate fragrant plants.

Some of my favorite fragrant plants actually come into bloom in late winter and early spring. Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, or Himalayan Sweetbox is one of these plants. It is very low growing, evergreen, and a great option for part shade or full shade conditions. Daphne odora ‘Aureo-marginata’ is also a fantastic plant for fragrance. Daphne can be somewhat finicky, but once established makes a beautiful addition to the garden by providing glossy variegated evergreen foliage in a mid size shrub.
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