sustainability

The Cobbler’s Kids

April 28, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 2 Comments

If you’ve not heard the story of the cobbler’s kids, this week’s blog would likely make very little sense to you. But, for those of you that have, I’ll just come clean with you now… I am very much “The Cobbler.” Before becoming the “Celebrity Landscaper” I was just the Landscaper, before that I was the gardener, and let’s face it, gardening has really always been a trade that’s less than glamorous, to put it lightly.

We gardeners are people of the earth. We see beauty in nature and desire to work with nature, rather than against her. Mother Nature is an abundant creator; she bares such an abundant harvest that, for many of us gardeners, we have more work than we could ever complete. We are hoarders of all things plant related and we know that with a little love, a little water and a little compost, all will be well and look gorgeous as ever. So long as plants grow, we’ve always got plenty of work to get done.

I like to think before I put it out there.

My own yard has of course never been”crashed.” Nobody in TV land is wanting to watch the show where the guy on TV gets his own yard done for free. While I shoot plenty of web video for the Green Industry, I’ve shot no web videos at my own house showcasing any green industry tools or tips. In all honesty, my yard, as a backdrop, simply isn’t worthy, yet! I believe that one of the reasons my yard looks like a raggedy 3rd world country is because I’m really not all that bothered by it. I mean of course I’d like to have my space look better, as would my family. Unfortunately, the amount of time, energy, and conscious awareness that I choose to put into my yard and the fact that I want to do so much of the work myself means I can only do these improvements in bits and pieces when time permits. I do this in between making sure that my bills are paid and seeing that all is well with my family. There are plenty of more important priorities that I choose to allocate my precious resources on before I’m willing to splurge on our outdoor aesthetics.

My yard has never been “crashed”.

Both Tiffanie and our kids have said on more than one occasion, “When are we gonna have a nice yard, like the ones you’ve done on TV?” To which I’ve answered, “As soon as you’re willing to go outside and help to start making things look better.” The last thing I wanna teach my wife or kids is that beauty in outdoor living just happens through osmosis. Yard work and gardening is a true labor of love. I spend most of this labor and my time making money and my yard doesn’t worry me because I know how to manage, maintain and change it. It’s more about finances and my time. Here’s an interesting article about the subject I found on-line.

All of this is in my driveway as we speak!

My yard is a place for me to collect and store all kinds of goodies until I’m ready to install them as permanent structures and a part of my landscape. It’s also a place where I can work with plants; dividing, growing from seed, and incubating them in my small inexpensive greenhouses, while getting them ready for sale.

Oh that’s right! I also run a couple small retail nursery outlets. I sell plants at Under the Arbor and Churchill’s Hardware. My house is more like Club Med for plants, a place of refuge for my container plants that aren’t quite sellable, due to poor watering practices, too much sun exposure, or whatever other reason.

How I use both sides of my house

The north side of my house is used for rain water collection and shade for my plants. While the south side is used for rain water storage, hand tool storage, and a variety of other things like transplanting, mixing of soils, and a place where I put boulders, gravel, and other elements to use in the yards that I create. On any given day I’ve got piles of mulch, compost, soil and other landscaping supplies in my driveway. It’s my life, my passion, and my livelihood.

In closing, I must speak on behalf of us cobblers and acknowledge that we professionals do not work on making our own stuff look lovely just because we lack funds and/or time. It’s also an issue of priority. We put them off as a lesser priority, since we deal with these same things daily, for the folks we call our clients and customers. We’re a little desensitized and less bothered by what others think is critically important. When the time is right; bit by bit, and little by little, we’ll enjoy the process of creating beauty for our own families in our own homes and gardens.

My kids remind why I also must leave some of the work alone, and just be present and playful. There’s a time for work, a time for play and a time for rest. The yard will get done when the time is right.

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Making Orange Juice Outta Oranges

March 17, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

Today’s blog post is stimulated by yesterday’s visit to one of my client’s yards. Victoria Kidman is both my client and friend. In 2013 under my small business, Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services, we both designed and installed a beautiful new front and backyard at Victoria’s newly remodeled East Sac property. One of the first things I learned while working there was that this particular area suffers from very poor drainage. The soil is a clay loam, meaning it’s predominately clay in texture, and is very slow to percolate.

Could you eat ten grocery bags filled with oranges?

Because of this we ended up installing 2 sump pumps on the property in order to move and assist drainage efforts from the backyard, and underneath the house itself. It was helpful to perform the landscape renovations in the fall, which also happens to be the best time of year for landscaping in Northern California. The only plant growing in the backyard when we started was a beautiful mature orange tree with some of the tastiest and juicy oranges I’ve ever had. When I find a wonderful fruit tree such as this, I feel as excited as a miner striking gold. Vicky would bag up the oranges and share them with as many people as she could. This after all is what growing fruit trees and a garden is all about. It’s almost impossible to harness and utilize all of the fruit from a full size tree yourself. A single family would have to squeeze a whole lotta juice, and nearly make themselves sick with oranges in order to consume all 10 bags of oranges their tree produces each season. Whenever I begin a landscape renovation, the first thing I do is assess the space and determine what in my professional opinion is healthy, has vigor, and is worthy of maintaining and integrating into the new landscape.

The beautiful, healthy, orange tree in Vicky’s yard that served as my inspiration for her space!

This tree was it! There we’re a few other camellias that we’re recently planted by the contractor that remodeled the house, so these were shifted around, since it was fall, and a great time for transplanting. When we finished the yard we did what most folks here in Northern California do; we mulched all of the garden beds with a decorative 1/4″ fir bark. I say decorative because these days most folks merely choose a bark mulch based primarily on it’s aesthetic value or cost. What they may or may not realize is that different types of mulch do make a difference.

While I won’t get into the specifics during this post I will tell you that what is recommended for soil that is dense, tight, and clay based is a loose, very porous mulch. When the soil is sandy and fast draining, a shredded and/or finely ground tight knit mulch should be applied. In this way the mulch can assist the soil by helping to regulate temperature in both situations, and assist the soils in either draining and drying out, or retaining moisture; whichever is needed.

In almost all situations some type of mulch should be applied. The benefits of mulch can be found right here.
Because we’re in Northern California we employed the use of drip irrigation for the newly remodeled garden beds. Hunter Industry’s MP Rotators we’re used on the lawn spaces and all was well. That is, right up until Ahmad got busy and left the garden maintenance to other people. For a few years Vicky would seek out good and affordable help with maintaining her yard. Someone to manage the “mow and blow” weekly, as well as occasional pruning and other seasonal chores that arise. She found a local gardener from Angie’s List. While this site is a great resource for locating contract professionals in your area, it is still up to you, the homeowner, to thoroughly vet the contractor before they begin work. So Vicky hired this gardener to fix a supposed irrigation issue; and because the fir bark that I installed was thin in areas, he suggested reapplying a “better, longer lasting mulch”.

3 inches of mulch is recommended for most applications

Yet he failed to consider that when you’re applying mulch, you typically want to create about a 3″ mulch layer in order to reap the 3 main benefits of mulch. They are:
1. Soil Water Retention
2. Soil Erosion Protection
3. Weed Suppression.

This gardener actually had the nerve to bad mouth Ahmed Hassan, The Celebrity Landscaper and saying that I installed the wrong mulch, because it was fast to break down. In his opinion I was trying to simply make more money with by needing to reapply mulch on a frequent basis. Yeah buddy! There I am, The con artist landscaper, deep in thought on how I can juice my clients for more money when it comes to their yards. Wow!

While Mike assesses the situation, I contemplate “plan B”.

It truly saddens me that folks are simply uneducated in proper, solid horticultural practices. Yet here I am, doing all that I can to beautify and educate the masses on how to have better success with their outdoor spaces.
At this point the only thing I can do with the dead Citrus tree that’s sitting in my client’s yard is make lemonade outta lemons. Okay so orange juice outta oranges.

So here’s my list of 10 optimistic thoughts that come out of this whole experience for me.
1. Always and in everything give thanks!
2. Myself and so many others got to enjoy the wonderful fruit from the orange tree.
3. Myself and a few others got to enjoy the beauty of this lovely structural plant in nature.
4. I’ll chop up all of the dead branches and turn them into mulch and compost.
5. I’ll chop all of the larger wood into firewood size pieces so that it can be burned and used for heat.
6. This same location will be planted again, using the existing soil. It will be elevated on a small mound to aid drainage for the new fruit tree. This time… a Peach!
7. Both myself and this other gardener made money while working on site.
8. My client Vicky was likely tired of picking all those damn oranges.
9. The orange tree was a free gift that came with the house. Someone else planted it, and plenty of us got to benefit and enjoy it’s fruit.
10. Give thanks that we have an abundant earth and that she alone nurtures, feeds, and provides for us.

It lived a good life, now a peach tree will grow in it’s place.

Nothing lasts forever, except change.

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Chickenshititis

March 10, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 4 Comments

Chickenshititis, that condition that, from time to time, I’ve gotta believe we all suffer from. Even the most courageous and well intentioned of us, manage to find ourselves not quite living up to our standards for personal integrity and/or doing as we said we would. The topic, and word chickenshit, is very much a term that most Americans can relate to. I know this because I can Google the word “Chickenshit” and Merriam’s got a definition right there for me to read:

chickenshit

adjective chick-en-shit \chi-ken-shit\

Definition of Chickenshit

1. usually vulgar: petty, insignificant

2. usually vulgar: lacking courage, manliness, or effectiveness

My reasoning behind using this offensive word was due to the fact that I experience being chickenshit; and I also tend to recognize when others seemingly fall into this rut as well. Hey, it happens! It’s okay, it’s natural and normal. Yet, it’s also something, that with clarity and awareness, we can rise above in order to improve our lives and the way we relate with others.

So I recently had an experience where a male client and I consulted. I visited his property and we discussed various options and ideas for making improvements. Mind you he’d already had another contractor over to do this same thing too, though the other contractor focused primarily on what his specific trade was. None the less, both of us contractors had different opinions as to the process and direction we’d have my client go. This became a mental conflict for him. As a result, he somehow fabricated in his mind that I would be disappointed and he didn’t want to disappoint me. So what’d he do… nothing!

No call, no text, no NOTHING! He was experiencing what I call Chickenshititis, also known as fear. Fear is a huge factor in so many of our lives. It hinders our creativity, and causes us to live lives where we unknowingly limit ourselves and cause more drama than we ever imagined. Rather than continue to succumb to this condition that I’ve just defined and pointed out, I’d like to share just a few ways in which you might over come and cure yourself of chickenshititis. Living life courageously is how we overcome Chickenshititis.

Operating from the standpoint of love keeps you smiling.

1. First you might wanna consider that there are really only 2 emotions that exist, Love and Fear. All other emotions stem from these 2 cerebral sides of our brain. While fear is a good and legitimate emotion that ‘s necessary for our safety and survival, it’s also something made from our memory; and we often confuse this made up reality with what’s real. The solution is to ask yourself,

“Am I thinking and acting out of FEAR or LOVE?”

The more often you can choose love, the better your results and outcome will be. A great resource for this is one I touched on in last week’s blog post. Dr. Jerry Jampolsky’s book, Love is Letting Go of Fear, is a must read. Check it out.

Invest in People

2. Let your intention be your guide. That is, of course, when your intention is loving, rather than fear filled. Our intentions are the back up documents and rationale for what we do. They are the “WHY”. I am in no way saying that your intentions will be understood by others. That is never a guarantee. But I will say that when your intentions are loving, and you allow these loving intentions to guide and direct your actions, you’re bound to experience a more pleasant response from, and with, others. That link will take you to an interview with Brother Ishmael Tetteh. His book “The Way Forward” is an awesome read.

Go for it!

3. Be willing to act immediately. Whether it’s as simple as making a phone call to inform someone you’re going to be late, or delivering what you know and anticipate someone might take as unwanted or bad news. Be willing to honestly, share immediately, and deliver this information. The longer you sit and flip flop this unwanted news in your head, the larger, and more seemingly dreadful, it becomes. So be courageous, don’t allow the chickenshit mindset to consume you. Act NOW and act expeditiously. In time you’ll get even better at doing this.

My reasoning behind sharing as I do is because I love humankind. I live and learn, then seek to teach what I have learned in life. My hope is that we will evolve in such a way that our lives, our relationships with others, and ourselves grow even deeper in love, and prosperous development.
Thanks for reading and sharing.

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Say Yes

March 3, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 3 Comments

The awesome power that comes from saying yes. I do, I will, I can, and yes! All action words. Each willing to step out and live or stand, rather than crawl or stay put. Last week I was asked, “why Ahmed?” Why are you helping this little girl, Daniella Collazo? Why her? Of all the people, and through all of the years that I’ve been known as a TV host, I’ve now been asked why did I say yes?

So here’s what I said….

“I chose to simply say yes!” was Ahmed Hassan’s response to his agreeing and assisting Mystic Force Foundation’s request for Daniella Collazo’s backyard play space.

Ahmed did, admittedly, have some internal doubts after his initial reaction passed and “how” was the biggest query of all. Once the initial angst went away, he recalled the role models he grew up wanting to emulate; the regular everyday heroes in society. He intuitively knew he must follow what was in his heart, the right thing. Against all odds.

“It’s just time and money. Daniella doesn’t have any time and I do. She can’t help herself, but I can. I needed to grasp a hold of my courage to help her. This project is a gift from myself, and others like me, that are grateful to live lives where we stand and sometimes step into “bad ass” mode when we need to. In this instance, I must be a bad ass for sweet Daniella who cannot be one for herself.” We all have this power and there’s nothing we can’t do if we simply believe and act on that belief.”

There’s an incredible power that comes from saying yes. It’s the power that comes when we decide to go for it!
It’s the power that comes from being willing to act in spite of the fear; to run towards our fears and conquer them.

This is a REAL BIG DEAL!

There are people that say no all the time, and it’s not because they’re incapable. It’s because they’re afraid. There is no love in fear. In fact, according to Dr. Jerry Lee Jampolsky, love is letting go of fear. Indeed Dr. Jampolsky wrote a book titled the same. I read this book many years ago and I’m still practicing, still walking thru my fears. I spend a lot of my life’s time acknowledging, and discovering my fears. In the last several years I’ve been actively pursuing getting over them, and learning to simply say yes to living life.

Consider this…

The sunrise says yes.

The sun rises each and everyday; nature is NOT afraid.

The tree doesn’t up root itself at the threat of a storm. It merely weathers it and continues growing, branches bending, developing even more roots in order that it might fair even better for the next storm.

Nature says YES and persists.

Spiritually, I work daily on saying YES to that spirit within me that causes life’s growth and expansion, NO MATTER the fear.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed hassan with his daughter

I say Yes to being an influence for my kids

My dad was my HERO. I only hope and aspire to be the same for my children.
Not only for my youngest here depicted with me, Camille Hassan, but also for others like Daniella Collazo.

Pema Chodron wrote another book that I’m reading called “The Places That Scare You, A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”. If you ask me, life is filled with difficult times. It is filled with all sorts of daily opportunities to stay put, to stay inside, to stay small and small-minded.

Yes You Can!

But I’ll tell you my philosphy. I say, we only live once. When we die, there’s no more. No more saying yes, no more having a choice. No more can we say, “I wish I’d done this or that”. So instead, do it now! Whatever it is that you think you can’t, prove to yourself like the little engine that could. Say, I THINK I CAN, then go one step further with, I know I can. Then do like Michael Jordan and Malcolm X put together… Just do It. By any means necessary.
Say yes!

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Evolution

February 24, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

It’s not a conspiracy theory, it’s merely our reality and evolution. Humankind’s impact on the planet is largely responsible for the climatic changes we’re experiencing back east and out west. Flooding and drought conditions are just a few of the causes and effects that we have going on in our ecosystem. This is nothing to be alarmed about or freaked out about. I mean really…

AHLS at your service

When has your freaking out ever helped bring about sustainable solutions for change? As for me, I choose to take responsibility into my own hands. As a professional landscaper, former TV host, and Celebrity Landscaper, I travel the country spreading knowledge, goodwill, and what I know to be good horticultural practices. Locally, around the greater Sacramento, California area, I continue to offer landscaping services via my small business… Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services (AHLS). I love what I do and plan on doing it for a long, long time.

My own prediction is that for the next decade or more, I will continue to be solicited, and encourage best management practices while assisting folks with creating drought tolerant/friendly, and ecologically friendly landscapes, at home and abroad. Take a look at these two examples to give you an idea of what I mean. Here is a before and after of my client Annie Tran’s Yard

Ahmed Hassan Trans Home Before and After

Drought tolerant plants make for easy maintenance

And another example… the Hughes’ Lawn Before and After Transformation

Hughes Project by AHLS Ahmad Hassan Landscaping Services

Here we transformed the lawn into a dry creek bed

In order to keep the cost down in both instances we used lots of small plant material. Most folks have more time than money. As the plants grow, the boulders and rock work will diminish, as the garden and greenery take center stage. At the end of the day, my goal was to be ecologically sustainable, as well as create something for both of them that presents well aesthetically. This is my obligation to the planet, and a commitment I make to myself and the human race. I get a real kick out of being a role model for change.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan loves being a role model for change.

This guy wants to be a role model for change

I intentionally plan to leave my mark on the planet with my life and impact the world in my own small way.

Ahmed Hassanpresenting at a home and garden conference

Educating people on sustainability

Television allowed me to grow my popularity, and because of this, I am committed to returning to TV in order to become the next Anthony Bourdain of the environmental industry. Bourdain is best known for his ability to communicate and share folks experiences around food, wine, and culture. He loves what he does and it definitely shows through in the programming. This is why he has been so successful.

My interests lie more within our local and global environment. I seek to give people an expanded awareness of what’s going on in both their own backyards, and the local community, and beyond. I enjoy creating these outdoor living spaces and giving my clients and fans the tools that they need in order to make a positive impact during our evolutionary period. It’s all about educating and then putting that education to use if we’re going to make a difference. I believe most people will do whatever is necessary to live in a sustainable manner if they just knew what to do. My job is to teach them those very things.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan often calls himself the big mouth landscaper

Watch out… big mouth landscaper coming through!

I don’t claim to be an expert in all things environmental, but I do understand soil, plants, water management, and how water is utilized by plants. I also understand our need for plants as a part of our human diet and overall nutritional health. I’m a nerd in case you haven’t noticed… A garden nerd who gets by with the title of “Gardener”. I’m ok with that. I often introduce myself to people and call myself the “big mouth landscaper” because it’s true!

It’s this big mouth that let’s me bring about awareness within the Green Industry and affect sustainability. It also helps me affect positive change. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease because the squeaky wheel gets things done. Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the director of sustainability at Ewing Irrigation to discuss having me join their team of speakers and teachers on that subject.

Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan at Ewing Irrigation in Phoenix, Arizona

Partnering with Ewing Irrigation to make a difference!

A little later this year you’ll have an opportunity to learn even more about what I’ve been doing over the past year with another irrigation manufacturer, Hunter Industries. I feel like all of us humans, landscapers, gardeners or not, need to take responsibility for ourselves and this planet. We don’t have another planet to move to and if we did, we’d likely throw that one out of balance as well. Learning what we need to, in order to improve and make living conditions better, is a real trial and error process. It took us many years to get to where we’re at. I only hope that we can expedite our learning curve so we can enjoy the years we have left and create something sustainable for our children, and their children, to enjoy.

Thank you for reading and sharing and caring.

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Green it Up This Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

ROSES are red…

VIOLETS are blue…

Boy do I have a GREEN Valentine’s Day idea for you!

Go green with your love this year

It’s that time of year again, not only is Valentine’s day a reminder of the official day to start your annual rose pruning stateside, but it’s also the prickly cash crop’s largest harvest of the year. The interesting thing is, roses aren’t even blooming in February, unless of course they’re grown in green houses or shipped from South America.

Have you ever thought to consider just how many folks will head out this holiday, and buy roses, or some other fresh cut flowers this Valentine’s day? And have you ever considered that cut flowers could be anything other than “Green”or eco friendly.

You might be surprised to find the stats from last year as to how many folks had the same idea you did and decided to buy their significant other some fresh cut flowers on February 14th. Going green and not being all party pooperish is still fairly easy to accomplish. Because I love both the planet and the human race I’ve decided to make it my duty to spread a lil love and some creative and affordable ideas for you this Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day Love from your favorite Celebrity Landscaper!

Cut flowers, foliage, branches and berries all make attractive bouquet ingredients. Dry flowers and even seed pods can all be assembled in some fashionable arrangement to where your significant love interest is bound to feel special on the day of love. There really aren’t any hard and fast rules with regards to what Valentine’s day brings. The pagan holiday started way back when, while it’s significance on several levels is somewhat warped and wrapped up in our history. The only reason I even celebrate the day is because the essence of what I understand is that it’s a day to recognize our loved ones.

The day before V day I ended up flying out of town to a skate party in Arizona. I did however leave a few early Valentine’s day gifts for both Tiffanie and the kids. The kids merely got aloe vera gummy bears and a personalized, loving note from Dad. Tiffanie got a little more substantial gift and I hope she knows that in spite of us spending time separately this weekend, I love her dearly.

Ahmed Hassan- Tiffanie Hassan Power Partner

Me and My Valentine

Upon my arrival to AZ, I drove by the Arizona Flower Market and couldn’t help but say hi to my fellow Petal Pushing friend Brad Denham. Brad owns 3 businesses that will provide you with local or imported fresh flowers, foliage, and accoutrements for making your own DIY floral arrangements in the greater Phoenix metro area.

Me and fellow petal pusher Brad Denham

Behind the scenes at Arizona Family Florist:

Brad spices his arrangements up with accent greenery

More greenery used for making your flowers look spectacular!

Brad’s “canvas” that he uses to create his artwork!

Here you might be a bit more limited within your own garden space or desire an extra bit of floral color. Brad also operates 3 other businesses all designed to assist you with gifts and floral or plant decor in AZ. All of his pricing is quite reasonable since he’s wholesale to the public, and family owned and operated. They sell floral supplies, arrangements, floral services for weddings and special occasions, and delicious, edible, decorative fruit bouquets!

One of many delicious fruit bouquets Brad offers!

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10 Interesting Tree Facts!

February 3, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

Yesterday’s pictures and Facebook post led me to thinking I should share 10 interesting facts about trees with my peeps. That’d be you if you’re reading this! So here they are in no particular order. I assume I can even come up with 10, if not I might just wing it and make up some stuff (kidding).

1. Did you know that trees are quite different than all other plant species? Unlike herbaceous plants, trees develop a large wooden structure that rises high above the ground. This allows the tree’s canopy (it’s leaves that actually feed the plant and keep it alive), to reach high above other plants, and receive the necessary light it needs in order to survive.

2. In the plant world, trees are the tallest members, the most prominent, and the most permanent. While I wouldn’t say that they are the most important, I will say they add value to your property because they are considered a permanent structure. Of course they must be healthy, in the right location, and have been properly and aesthetically maintained to be of value.

Trees add value to your property when maintained properly.

3. Because of their height, trees nurse smaller plants beneath them. Smaller plants benefit from the micro climate-controlled area created by the trees. They also benefit from fallen leaves that decompose, and recycled nutrients around the base of the tree. One more thing, the trees canopy drips for hours after rainfall. This continues to moisten the soil around it’s base, not only benefiting the tree’s roots, but the neighboring plant roots of other lower canopy plants.

4. Trees are typically sold…

ball and burlap

bare root during dormancy

pot or container

5. Leaves have evolved from needles and other appendage like structures that are attached to the wooden scaffold/branches of the tree. Earlier trees that existed were more closely related to our current coniferous species. Trees have evolved and adapted to their environment. In colder, more severe weather areas, trees began shedding their leaves during times of drought, and during the winter. Once the snow melts and weather begins to warm, leaves reemerge enough to resume regular growth rates and development of the tree.

6. Trees in the nursery are sold in several forms.
Street Tree: Typically tall with first limbs up around 6ft or higher
Standard: This one is very common. The term means that the tree looks somewhat like a lollipop or the way that a child draws a tree, with trunk and a head.
Multi Stem: Means just what it says. The tree has a single trunk then splits into typically 3, sometimes more trunks, fairly low from the ground.
Low Branching: Is when the tree develops it’s first branches fairly close to the ground. A tree can have multiple trunks and also be low branching. Conifers are typically sold this way. If the low branches get in the way of the landscape design, they are just sawn or lopped off.

7. Many shrubs and grasses are grown as trees and are often thought of as trees even though they are technically shrubs or grasses. A few examples are Citrus, Crape Myrtle, Palms, and Manzanita just to name a few.

8. The primary difference concerning the use of trees and shrubs in your residential landscape is as follows. Trees should be planted and given space from your house foundation, sidewalks, etc., whereas shrubs can be planted much closer. They will do less damage because their roots don’t grow as large in size. They are far less likely to damage your hardscaping by pushing it up.

9. When trees come from the nursery they are shipped with a nursery stake. This stake aids the nursery grower in shipping the tree. You can and most often should remove this stake once the tree is planted. Otherwise it’s likely to do more damage than good by rubbing against the trunk and preventing branches from developing where the stake is. Proper staking techniques can be found in this YouTube video. I approve of what he’s doing, but might need to shoot my own video soon.

10. Wow! I’m already at #10 and I’m just getting warmed up! So the last couple of things I’ll tell you about trees is that once the tree has reached the same size, or is larger in caliper (trunk thickness) than the stakes, feel free to remove them. The tree will actually sway in the wind a bit, but that’s okay. Every time it sways, the roots are gently stimulated. They will respond by growing even more roots, thereby increasing the foundation and stability of the tree helping it to weather the next storm.

10.5 Sorry, I couldn’t help myself! Whenever you find a fallen or leaning tree, only straighten it and lift it into position once. Gather your guy wire, tree stakes, and straps. Then fix the tree once, remembering not to make the stake or bracing so tight that the tree can’t sway a bit. Think of it like a brace or cast on your leg. If you wore your brace too long and too tight, you’d never become a strong track runner. Your tree needs to sway and be challenged a bit in the wind in order to develop it’s root system in the same way that your body needs movement to develop your muscles. The stakes or braces are merely to keep it from being toppled completely.

So there you have it, 10.5 great facts about trees you can use the next time you consider planting or staking your tree. The weather will warm up in the next few months and you’ll likely be able to put this information to good use. One final thank you to my photographer and friend Tim Engle for the feature image on this post. This is just one of many amazing outdoor images he has collected. Don’t just take my word for it though, click the link and see for yourself.

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#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAHmedTV

Shifting Towards Sustainability

January 29, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

Sustainability involves death. You might be thinking that is a bit counter intuitive. When we hear the word sustainability we most often think about something lasting. However, that is just one aspect; true sustainability involves so much more. Nature teaches us that nothing truly can last forever in a single form.

Consider how things change…

We have 4 seasons each year.
The weather continues to shift and change as it pleases.
The water and waves wash onto the shore only to be swept back into the sea.
The sun rises in the east each morning then sets along the western skyline.

About the only thing that is truly permanent is change and the cycles of life! I’ve never had a “new” anything that kept it’s “newness”. I’ve never visited any place that didn’t look different with the passing of time each time I returned.

So what does it really mean to be, and live, sustainably?

In my opinion it takes an understanding that the earth is alive. It takes respecting the fact that products and inventions are created, and they (just like nature), will deteriorate and return to the earth. It is not something that MIGHT happen, it is something that WILL happen.

I tell people this…

“The only thing live plants need in order to survive is the decomposition of dead plants,

aka organic matter or compost. “

In the beginning there was nothing and everything. Mankind figured out how to build and create. Stone, then straw and wood. Being a Landscaper was not my initial goal. As a kid I remember wanting to be a carpenter. I wanted to build and create. Landscaping was what I settled into because I learned from my dad how to work outside. I discovered how to improve the aesthetics around my home and yard. I digress; let me get back to the issue of sustainability.

Wood, as dimensional lumber, is still hugely popular as a building material and I assume that it will be for some time to come. It is sustainable. We grow trees for harvesting. Once harvested, the wood is milled and utilized for a multitude of purposes. Those uses have evolved over the years as sustainability practices have improved.

First we have pressure treated wood. This evolved from our desire to slow the natural deterioration process. The chemicals used are harmful to the so called “pests” that feed on the wood. This makes the wood last longer and slows the need for harvesting more natural resources.

Some is used for composite decking. This was developed as a means to give a bit of permanence to wood. Much of today’s composite decking is actually made from recycled plastic bags and a blend of recycled wood pulp. It assists us with not having the need to develop, grow and or exploit new raw materials and other goods. It is sustainable!

There are also several other inventions like PVC decking, bamboo decking and unique products like Nyloboard. These boards are made from recycled carpet fibers. Pretty neat stuff!

From carpet to concrete, we have been loving our floors for a long time!

When I was a kid growing up here in the states, everyone had carpet in their homes. Wall to wall carpet was the norm. These days many folks are more interested in hardwood floors, or laminate, if not concrete and tile.

My point in all of this is to say that there is no ultimate evil when it comes to manufacturing. As mankind evolves we are merely seeking to develop and create sustainable products that will both suffice for whatever the intended purpose is as well as generate the capital needed to maintain and build businesses, while also supporting the global economy.

Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper- Dollar Signs

Our innovation creates capital for global sustainability.

In the United States we’ve become accustom to recycling, reusing, and manufacturing our new products with formerly used products (our waste). Our sustainability, and global health, require us to do this. We must continue to seek out better ways to create a greener environment, and do less damage in the process. My hope is that every person reading this blog will begin using the word “sustainability” in your regular vocabulary.

Then put that word to use by taking action on the following questions:

1. How can I personally assist nature and be a part of the natural solution?

2. How can I relate to others and build relationships that are sustainable?

3. How do the products that I buy and use support our local, regional and global sustainability?

You will begin to notice your life moving in cycles is you do this. Recycling bottles, Reusing shopping bags at the grocery store, saving scraps for your compost pile, etc. That is completely normal. Remember that things come and go, it is what we do at the end of their life cycle that contributes to sustainability. After all, to quote myself…

“The thought of any product living and existing forever is scary and in no way sustainable.”

-Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper

For more info, and a LOT of landscaping ideas, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

Balancing Kids, Family Life, Work, and Fame

January 15, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 4 Comments

This week’s Blog Topic was inspired and requested by none other than my Facebook friend Maria Strickland.

The week of Jan 12th has been quite a busy week indeed. I realized late on Wednesday that I had yet to write a blog for this week, so I put a post on my Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper page. I asked for inspiration for today’s blog post because this week’s project is very time and energy consuming.

Richie Rich was very different than me in many ways.

Maria offered a suggestion, and this morning I’m refreshed and ready to delve in head first! First of all, I want to acknowledge and share with so many of you that while you might see me as some big time celebrity, I waiver and waffle at this notion. I consider myself a regular guy. I know that I’m popular and all, but I’m in no way an “A List” celebrity. Here’s a funny story that I’ve rarely shared. When I was a kid growing up, I watched a cartoon character named “Richy Rich”. What fascinated me about this cartoon character was that he was so much different than I was. He was white, I was black. He was rich, I grew up poor. He had everything; I was taught by my dad, mom, and step mother Mabel, to appreciate everything I did have.

I actually remember stating to God or the Universe, “I don’t wanna be rich”. It was one of those prayer like affirmations that we sometimes make when we “claim” something. We’ve all heard that money is the root of all evil and I distinctively remember this Richie Rich character having so many challenges to deal with because he had so much money. I was like, “I just wanna be comfortable, but not rich”. It wasn’t until my 30’s that I realized that being comfortable in today’s society was considered being “rich” by the standards I was raised by.

You see, everything is relative. Some people might see me as some big time celebrity that’s got it made. In fact, I’m that same kid who’s been hustling, doing yard work all my life. I finally decided that I would be “ok” with being rich. Yet, I want to also be responsible and enjoy my life, family, and fame. I’m not rich now, but I am willing and wanting to experience the reality so I continue to prepare.

Ahmed Hassan- Power Partner Tiffanie Hassan

My Power Partner, Tiffanie Hassan!

You’re probably wondering, “So what about the balancing act that Maria asked about?”. When it comes to balancing and being there for my kids, I could not do it without Tiffanie. It’s Tiffanie who is the primary chauffeur, back to school mom, the one that pays the bills, and the one that creates most, if not all, of the structure that the Hassan’s have at home. Tiffanie and I are business partners, friends, lovers, and co parents. I often refer to us as “Power Partners”. We have teams of others that we work with in order to do all that we do, but it’s she and I that manage all things Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper, as well as Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services.

I actually run and maintain 4 businesses. I create and provide web video assets and content for my industry and national brands like Monrovia Nurseries, Hunter Industries, FX Luminaire, and Shindaiwa, just to name a few. I also do personal appearances at home, garden, and builder shows around the country. I continue to maintain and operate my own business in the greater Sacramento area, and in 2014 we began operating a couple of small nurseries in Shingle Springs where we live. The way I manage everything is with a little bit of patience, understanding, love, and inspiration. I’ve learned that being perfect is overrated, it’s merely a matter of being present.

Tiffanie helps keep the smiles on these faces!

I love my wife and kids. I love my fans and friends. I love my work and creating beautiful, functional, outdoor living spaces. I love teaching and inspiring others to find, explore, and exploit their passions. I continue to dream up new things and ideas because I’m in love with life. Truly I am! There’s absolutely no reason that Yard Crashers should have become as big a hit on television as it did except that it was a show with this crazy, energetic guy who was in love with what he was doing. He actually knew something about landscaping, building, creating, and gardening.

That brings us full circle to the work I have this week. I am going to design, build, create, and develop a new presentation for the Like Water Event at Free Flow Academy’s Rocklin, CA location. It’s a health and wellness event happening this weekend. I’ll be right there in the gorgeous space that my team and I are developing. Everything I do requires the help, assistance, and buy in from so many others. This weekend’s event is no different. This space is an area that a couple of Master Gardeners are going to use. I’ll be using it to host a workshop on Gardening, The Original Crossfit.

I’m tired and fatigued this week because I’m creating. I work within the metaphysical realm, designing, plotting and planning. Then I utilize all of my natural powers to communicate, explain, design, acquire, and create what it is that I see in my minds eye. It’s tiring work. It’s physically and mentally taxing. Yet it is what my life looks like and I’ll continue down this path. I love life and seek to do everything, and experience anything, I see as beautiful and worthy while I’m here. Thanks for this mornings inspiration Maria Strickland. Thank the rest of you all for reading.

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay current on upcoming events! Check out the sponsors below for this weekend’s event!

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Energy, Intention, and Faith for the New Year!

January 6, 2015 By Ahmed Hassan 5 Comments

The 3 ingredients in the title are needed to accomplish anything.

I sometimes lie in bed in the morning and begin to think about what I want, or need to do, on a given day. At some point I’m finally inspired to get up and get things going. I’m either INSPIRED or MOTIVATED with fear. I don’t wanna miss out or be late!

My ENERGY and intentions have me living the life that I do and chasing after those dreams that inspire me. I take full advantage of my Celebrity status wherever I can and yet I’m fully aware that I’m the same kid that dropped out of High school in the 11th grade because I was simply more interested in smoking weed and hanging out than I was in academia. Today I intentionally live my life in a way that pleases and inspires me. It seems foolish to do anything but this! Being clean and sober was the best choice I could make 22 years ago.

My ENERGY and INTENTION are the fuels that keep me going. My FAITH, coupled with the conscious action I put towards making my dreams come true, helps me execute my wants around my business, and the whole of my life.

The concept of ENERGY is used everywhere around us, but what is energy?

The dictionary definition of the word states as such:

: The ability to be active
: The physical or mental strength that allows you to do things
: Natural enthusiasm and effort
: Usable power that comes from heat, electricity, etc.

So it seems that energy is any number of things, but they all come from the state of being alive, able, and capable… which is what we all are.

When you’re dead. You’ll lack any energy or capability.

Now let’s consider the word INTENTION. It means:

: That thing you plan to do or achieve
: An aim or purpose

Bear with me for a moment and assume that you’re just like me; a regular person that lives, breathes, and goes about your day doing things that you either need, want, or have to do. Have you ever noticed how different tasks during your day affect you emotionally?

This is true for EVERYONE.

I have things that I’m inspired to do that come from something I might have imagined, or something that someone else has collaborated with me around and we’ve decided we’re going to make it happen. My energy and intention around this event might range from, “I’m super excited and can’t wait to get started with things!” OR “I know that things need to get done but I lack the urgency or desire to get them going right now”. I choose to focus daily on staying inspired.

Ahmed Hassan - Celebrity Landscape - Energy

Here’s to a beautiful day!

I’m best known for my television work on HGTV and DIY Networks Yard Crashers. This is a show that came into existence because of my passion and love for landscaping. The show was developed by me, a few producers at a very small production company, and Scripps Networks. We developed a show that was based around me, playing myself, on television. At the time of the shows creation, I was merely a landscape gardener. I wasn’t yet a licensed contractor. I became one because the network wanted to feature me as such, and I had already intended on becoming one because I wanted to grow my vision for Ahmad Hassan Landscape Services. However, I lacked the money and was already over booked with local work through my word of mouth network.

DIY paid for the cost involved with me obtaining my license. I took the classes, passed the contractors exam, and to date, I am still a licensed, bonded and insured C-27 (California Landscape Contractor). Sacramento never had it so good! I have been learning and working in landscaping most of my life. My bio says since the age of 10 because that’s when I recall having the drive and ambition.

While landscaping isn’t all that I do, it’s what I call my occupation and what people mostly know me for. I was featured on HGTV’s “Landscape Smart” shows dating back to 1999. I didn’t start hosting until 2007 for DIY Network. As a kid I always imagined myself as someone that would be in the limelight. I sang choir and did a little acting in junior high and always enjoyed entertaining, teaching and leading.

As a host for a landscape and gardening show I believe I’m unparalleled due to the energy and excitement I have around the Green Industry. When you’re interested in something, it’s amazing how much you’ll commit to learning, exploring, and becoming the best at it. When Yard Crashers first came out it was a dynamic television show. My energy mixed with my creative team of professionals, artists, and contractors; our real world approach to making Outdoor Living spaces,it was all something that hadn’t yet been featured on television. Not like this at least.

As each season was produced, I evolved. As a professional, I became interested in making more of an impact with what I taught and the messages I sent out to folks. I eventually out grew it and became bored with the format of my own show. Folks began recognizing me everywhere and that too changed the dynamic of the show.

Oh yeah, another word to define! “Dynamic” Means:

: always active or changing
: having or showing a lot of energy
: of or relating to energy, motion, or physical force

Ahmed Hassan - Celebrity Landscape - Action

Whatever you do in this life remember… results require action!

As a result of my becoming complacent with producing the same formatted show again and again for television; many of my fans are beginning to see why the man that they first became interested in on TV is no longer there. I get bored easily and have to switch things up here and there. While TV evolves as an industry, a particular show doesn’t typically allow for evolution to happen within a formatted program. Yard Crashers had awesome appeal and was real when it began. What it evolved into was a tightly formatted television program that no longer held my interest.

In 2015 I intend to return to television. That is to say that my Energy, Intention and my entire life’s work will be focused on bringing this idea, and plan, into existence.

When you have dynamic energy like I have you’ve gotta simply support your thoughts and ideas with one key ingredient in order to make life happen. You’ve gotta take ACTION. Even if you don’t know how or know where to start.

All of us started life in the same way. We had no clue or idea. We grew up and we acquired all of what we needed to get us right here. If we want to go further, we must focus on what it is that we want. We must set our intention; focus, manage, and maintain our energy and momentum; and apply the action that’s required on a daily basis to bring our life’s desire into reality. Sure it’ll be a challenge. All of life is!

Religious people say just pray on it. Others say to meditate. Then there are those that subscribe to the law of attraction and understand that it’s merely your energy, intention, and action bringing all of what you focus on into reality. You decide which concept works best for you but at some point you’ve got to DO. Take action and make things happen. As you believe, so shall you receive.

I have faith in you. 2015 is a new year. I know that if I can do it, so can you!

#GoGreenWithAhmed #TeamAhmedTV

Follow Celebrity Landscaper Ahmed Hassan on Twitter and Facebook. If you are brave and really want to have your mind blown, check him out on Pinterest!

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