I asked Renee Macalino Rutledge, editor of CalFinder (a free referral service for remodeling contractors) what information home gardeners should know about her industry, and got this handy lis
t of situations in which we should hire someone who knows more than we do, and these inspiring photos. Thanks, Renee!
1. Water features. This first example is one where people are tempted to do the work themselves, with mixed results, to say the least. I’ve watched neighbors take apart and totally redo their ponds because of leaks and know that it’s no fun. I made enough mistakes creating my dry streambed and it’s not nearly as complicated as ponds and waterfalls. Renee reminds us that it’s not just all that digging, but knowing what kind of liner to use (waterproof, with watertight seals), which filter to choose, and even which plants to put in the pond, an extra service of some pond-installers.
2. Gazebos. Construction? Clearly not a DIY option for most of us but man, wouldn’t we all love one of these? Wonder what that beauty on the left cost. But back to our potential contractor. I’m told that they can suggest different types and help us pick the right shape and size, and style. (I’d grab that portfoliio and start drooling at the options.) And someone who knows what they’re doing can add electricity for us, or plumbing for an outdoor kitchen.
3. Decks and patios. Again, no argument from me here, but Renee suggests finding someone who’s "just as passionate about decks as you are about gardens." Well, that’s a cool idea. "Laying the wood and putting together a sturdy, flawless structure takes patience and fine craftsmanship," Renee writes, and it reminds me of the high school science teacher who built my current deck and the beautiful work he did. He was SO proud of it, he made no bones of his displeasure at the vines I quickly attached along the edge - it was spoiling the view of his deck!
4. Stone pathways. Now here’s where I’d be tempted to do it myself - and have. But as she warns, "A walkway must withstand heavy foot traffic, machinery, and the wear and tear of the elements." I’m a big proponent of garden paths, even if they’re only mulch (though stone is awesome!) Paths are so inviting, and they let you get to your plants so you can tend them without harming plants you might otherwise step 
on. True, stone is expensive, but these days there are some less expensive alternatives that look great, and options include slip-resistance, interlocking pavers that can easily be replaced. and more. Then we get to choose from various patterns for different effects - herringbone or another classic pattern, or even a custom design.
5. Retaining walls. Another beautiful garden feature that I wouldn’t attempt myself, unless it’s 6 inches or shorter. Anything taller takes engineering, after all, to figure out what Renee calls the "mounting lateral pressure of backfill and possible hydrostatic pressure of water.:" Right, that stuff. But when they’re done well and especially with natural materials, man, do they add a lot to the garden. Wish more people had them. 
6. Outdoor sheds/studios. Ever seen those charming little buildings in garden magazines? They’re painted in cool colors, and art or hanging baskets give them a bit of personality (not like the plain-Jane one below). Of course Home Depot sells those kits for sheds and I suppose I could pay some handyman to put one together for me but how good could it look? It sounds so much better when Renee talks about custom-designed sheds, studios, even guest quarters. (A boon to guest-hostess relations, no doubt.) In my case I hired someone to turn my beat-up old metal garage into a tool shed/workshop. No heat, just good lighting and some colorful carpeting. Then I grabbed some paint in my favorite outdoor color - teal - and it turned out to be surprisingly…not-ugly.
7. Better-looking concrete. Renee tells me that concrete has "come a long way from the poured driveway. If you’ve got old concrete outside, it can be dressed up with paint or stain." And can I add that if you’ve got old concrete outside it probably looks horrible and DO check into having it resurfaced somehow, unless you’re getting rid of it altogether.
I have only a vague notion of how this can be done, so I asked for more details and got them. A very thin coat of a decorative, fine concrete can applied over the existing surface. These "overlays" come in various colors, and the texture is achieved during application. E.g., a broom can be used to achieve a non-slip finish, and trowels can create swirls and arcs. And concrete dyes can be used for all sorts of cool effects.
I asked about cost and learned that overlay kits are available from companies like Decorative Concrete Kits for $300.00 for 400 square feet. A concrete contractor would charge $2 to 7 per square foot, plus the cost of the concrete (which is cheap). Asked about a faux marble look, Renee says it’s done with the same stamped concrete method that’s also used to mimic fractured slate, aged stone, limestone, effects that are achieved at an "affordable cost."
Renee, one more question. Are there any affordable make-overs available for cinder block walls? Something that would disguise their essential (and ugly) blockiness?
Photo credits: Waterfall by LandPlan Landscaping. Gazebo via Flickr. Deck by BBC Construction. Stone path via Flickr. Retaining wall by Antigua Landscapes. Shed via Flickr.
July 23rd, 2008 
by Susan Harris 
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First up, my curbside garden is looking pretty colorful, with plain old garden phlox and some snappy red daylilies (’Brave World’). The more I show off this curb garden the more I realize how lucky I am to have this little strip where:
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never use hearing protection while mowing, and 12% said they throw back a few brews while pushing the mower. Wow, it’s dangerous out there - surveys also show that almost no one reads product directions. 
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