All decked out

Design and InstallationGarden CareLighting and Irrigation
Written By Peter Morris

This week we have had a couple of e mails asking about decking versus paving so today I thought we would talk decks !

This deck is extremely high maintenance to keep it looking this spectacular year round .

You have many choices with decks - the only choice you don't have is how you install it - it needs support it needs to be structurally sound - no one wants to walk on a deck that is moving around with every step you take.

You should remember a few things while building a deck - especially on a rooftop - easy access to drains. Wherever the drain or drains are on a rooftop you will need to access at least twice a year. Ideally these should get monthly checks. - as debris may accumulate and ultimately block the drain causing floods in the building.

Access to drains can be subtle with panel that have hinges for easy access for cleaning.

If you want lighting, a grill, music - then you need to plan for placing electrical outlets. Anything that you can think of for entertaining on your rooftop deck that needs access to electricity will help with the planning of your deck. If you do not have an outlet outside - you really need to have your electrician install one before you start your decking project.

Water access is necessary - even if you are not going to have a garden on your deck. You will need it for washing dust off your deck or your furniture - especially in a big city. If you will need it for watering your garden placement becomes very important. A licensed plumber will be able install an outside faucet for you.

You have many choices for what materials to use - Plant Specialists uses anything from synthetic woods such as Trex - which is made of sawdust, plastics such as shopping bags etc. and re purposed wood products.

The beauty is that it uses recycled materials and it lasts for a very long time! Natural woods are also very popular although take a lot of up keep. Wood will require constant sanding, oiling, staining, lacquering and replacing certain pieces over time.

All buildings in all cities have codes - a fancy name for rules. You can't just start building on a rooftop that is owned by many people - too many liability issues. Make sure you check with the building on what their rules are before calling Plant Specialists. It will give you insight into what you can or cannot do.

Need a deck - call us !

PLANT SPECIALISTS

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with our own permission !

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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