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No Easier, Softer Way

January 6, 2016 by Ahmed Hassan Leave a Comment

It’s what we all want. Yes I, like you, wish there was a can of “Easier Softer Way” sold at my local hardware store. This way I could just buy it and spray a lil of it on those tougher than ever jobs that always seem to crop up in my
life. Talk about a popular item for retail sales everywhere!

I first heard “No easier softer way” from my dad.

I first heard this term spoken by my dad. Dad was one of the first persons in our family to go through and experience a 12 step program. He was one of the first to start reading daily affirmations, and he was also one of the first family members I know of to commit suicide. While his death was legally deemed “accidental” by the coroner, he and I were best friends and I knew intimately what he was going through.

The anniversary of my dads death is December 14th 1994. As the years go by, I continually learn to accept his death, primarily because he taught and gave me so much while he was here. Even in his passing, I’ve been educated on what works, and what doesn’t, in life. I decided to do a word search on “No Easier Softer Way,” just to see what comes up. I’m not surprised that it’s a quote that stems from AA.

Twelve step programs are a rigorous step by step process for reprogramming ones life, learning to be honest and ideally improve personal health, well being and relationships. Whether you’re seeking to do that, or your merely someone who appreciates doing interpersonal work on yourself, you’ll at some point find that there’s really no easier softer way when it comes to truly making something right.
This is true when it comes to washing dirty dishes, fixing something mechanical or designing your outdoor living.

The way to have the qualitative, sustainable and long lasting results you’re no doubt looking for, is to do the quality work you know to do. That, or hire a professional like myself to consult, design and work with you. Most entrepreneurs, artists and small business owners know this and are constantly torn between their exquisite craft and being able to sell their services and make an honest living. It’s limiting for me to be the guy that’s sometimes out there working in the trenches trying to physically make things happen the right way, and balance out the other side as the flamboyant Ahmed Hassan Celebrity Landscaper.

No easier way means planning and working through a design with clients.

It’s still kinda cute when I come across an employee or client of mine looking for an easier softer way to handle a situation. There they are, trying real hard to get out of doing something or spending the right amount of time and money to make something truly nice because they’re looking for that quick and simple path to cheap and easy. The path of least resistance, in my opinion, is typically downhill. Either that, or it’s when we’re coasting on the momentum we’ve already worked hard for and created.

When we’re building and striving for our biggest and best dreams, life is going to be challenging. When it’s time to cultivate, plow the fields and start a whole new crop, this is where the work and struggle takes place. I don’t care how philosophical you wanna be, landscaping, gardening, and construction all take work and lot’s of it.

The beauty of gardening, though, is that we’re working with nature and her magnificent power of growth. All we’ve gotta do is get things started and do the initial work well. We don’t have to grow the tree. We’ve just gotta plant it in the right location and offer it the essential elements and minimal maintenance it requires.

No shortcuts means taking the necessary time to do the hard work and do it right.

Ideally we select the appropriate species for the particular climate zone and we provide for it’s water, soil and exposure needs accordingly. If as a young tree its branches and trunk are developed correctly, a central leader is established and maintained, we’ll be successful with a tree that can withstand quite a bit, year after year. We will have one that will provide ample benefits to our home and family, as well as our landscape and garden areas.

The moral to the story is that learning what works and what doesn’t is what life affords us all. We have ample opportunities to try and try again, until we get it right. In everything we do we get to choose. We can spend copious amounts of time looking for the easier or softer way out, or we can just settle on the fact that most things in life are simply going to take plenty of time and work, to give us the kind of results that we want. So whatever it is that you’re trying to rush, force and label as simple…

I challenge you to consider, what kind of end results you actually want. Then use this vision to direct and determine how you move forward.

Thank you for caring and sharing.

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That Which Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

September 8, 2015 by Ahmed Hassan Leave a Comment

“That which doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” This phrase first coined by German philosopher Freidrich Nietzsche in and around the late 1800s is one of those iconic phrases that has stood the test of time, and is as true today as it was then. I love using analogies. It’s something I got from my father. Analogies allow me to teach and use various examples to tell a story, rather than simply conveying the facts of a particular event. “It’s kinda like this, or kinda like that.”

In nature it’s very easy to see that what doesn’t kill a tree can actually make it stronger. Hurricanes, wind, drought and flood are all challenges to a tree’s development. These challenges have the capacity to over take a fragile tree and do it in. But these same challenges also stand to challenge, or harden off, the tree and then develop its physiological character, as well as it’s ability to withstand these same challenges even better, the next time around.

Trees, need to sway in the wind. The swaying actually lifts up their roots and causes them to grow more, allowing the tree to improve upon its foundation. Without this natural, or what we call biological, challenge, the species would never be able to endure a more severe hurricane or gust of wind. If you’ve ever enjoyed looking at the structure and branch development of a large old oak tree, you are likely seeing and appreciating the challenges that tree has met, head on.

angel-oak-ahmed-hassan-make-you-stronger

South Carolina’s “Angel Oak Tree” has stood on St. John’s Island for more than 400 years, weathering more than its fair share of hurricanes.

That’s right, trees and plants don’t get an opportunity to back down. They don’t get to say, “Hey I’m afraid, I don’t think that I can handle this.” Instead they must deal, and when they do; again and again, they have the capacity to do and deal with even more. This is the absolute truth! Nature is such a wonderful teacher.

Intuitively I know that you and I are very similar to the tree. In our lives we need challenges in order for us to build our muscles (grow an expansive root system). We’ve always been like this. Since we were young, life has thrown us hurricanes, and heartache, and yet, we’re still here. There were times when we didn’t think we’d make it, and in those times, we got grounded, we learned to dig deep and set more roots.

We are all destined for struggle. It is this process that helps us mature into something amazing.

Adversity and life’s trials and tribulations are essential. They’re natural and necessary in fact. The Christians say to pray. The Buddhist say to meditate. The arborist will tell you to stake up your tree, but be sure not to stake it too tight because the tree needs to sway a bit. Boundaries and parameters are a good way of looking at it. It’s okay to safeguard, and see that total obliteration doesn’t happen; but whatever you do, don’t expect that life shouldn’t be challenging. And remember, that which doesn’t kill you is actually serving you quite well. It is making you stronger, more aware and showing you just what you’re really made of.

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We’re Really Not Controlling Anything

August 18, 2015 by Ahmed Hassan 2 Comments

I’m lying in bed this morning listening to the birds give thanks for the day. Another Tuesday, another blog post. Today’s thought is all about control. The mirage of control. The idea that we humans are in control, is what still amuses me.

Sharing is caring, right?

I must’ve been 19 years old when I started going to codependents anonymous meetings. My dad recommended I check out a meeting close to where I lived in North Oakland. I continued to attend and listen to others. I learned how to love, live and not be totally enmeshed with others. Codependency is something that so many of us suffer from. It’s a characteristic, 2 steps on the other side of compassion. We people that tend to over love, over do, over give and over expect from others, can truly benefit from attending Codependents Anonymous meetings. Check and see if there’s one in your area, and sit in on a meeting if you like.

If you don’t know by now, I’ve attended counseling sessions, twelve step meetings and read countless books on self help for at least the last 20 plus years. What can I say, I come from a long line of pretty dysfunctional folks, and am of the opinion most of us do. I think that each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives. I believe that by age 16 years old, we’re pretty much adults. We want to do as we wish and want to be treated as an adult, so it’s really on us to live our lives in such a way that we might be able to do just that (live and be treated like an adult).

My oldest son Julian is 16 years old. He’ll be 17 in March of next year. I talked with him the other day about letting me and his mother know where he’s at. He often gets permission to go hang out with a friend, then at some point, the evening’s plan changes; he and his buddies are elsewhere, and his mother and I are clueless as to where our child is. This creates a feeling of not having control.

Teenage kids will help you to understand just how much you don’t control, can’t control and really don’t need to control. I see my job as a parent is to teach and educate. It’s my job to be responsible for doing both of those things. I’m a person that is responsible for so much and so many. I’m a father of 3 kids, and although Tiffanie and I are separated, we still live together and I’ll always have some responsibility to and for her. I hire and manage several employees and contractors and within my immediate and extended family, I’m a burgeoning elder, uncle, cousin and son to my mother(s).

My job is not to control this young man. My job is to educate and encourage him.

I’ve been a control freak most of my life, meaning I’ve tried and continue striving to know what I’m doing, and figure things out on my own. I’m an opinionated Virgo and a complex thinker, just talk to any of the producers I’ve ever worked with and they’ll tell you, “Ahmed’s difficult to work with.”

I spoke to one of the producers from my early days of DIY Networks “The Dirt On…” and “Yard Crashers”. She admitted that she was as good a producer as she was because she’d worked with me. I was the most difficult talent, but the most dynamic she’d worked with. I fought with my producers, not to be combative, but to be myself. I wanted to play my own character and to produce the story I understood in my own head.

ahmed-producers-were-not-really-in-control

Pop Quiz: Who is in control here?

It apparently worked, considering “Yard Crashers” spun off into “House Crashers”, “Bath Crashers”, “Kitchen Crashers” and “Room Crashers”. I also shot a few seasons of a spin off titled “Turf War” and got DIY Network to green light a full 1 hour show. I mean who does that! Yup, I did (pat on the back). This control freak, difficult to work with, confident-as-I-wanna-be-maniac, that’s hell bent on integrity, is the same guy that lives to teach and inspire folks while doing our best to encourage and show others how to believe in themselves and their abilities. I don’t have any desire to “control” people and situations. I merely want the best for those around me and am committed to doing all that I can to this end.

My mind puts things together in such a way, but I remain flexible enough to allow things to shift. The lesson learned is to stay flexible and fluid. Here is a great resource on doing just that. I plan, strategize and get up early in order to prepare for my days, then allow the day to organically happen, and call folks when I’m running behind or things need to change. I communicate as clearly and concisely as I can, and am careful with my assumptions since they all stem from my own head and aren’t necessarily reality. Just because I see it the way that I do doesn’t mean that this is real for any one else. Hey they’re not me!

Lastly, what I’ll say about being a control freak is that none of us are really “In control”. We’d like to think that we are, and we can sometimes get others to believe this, but in reality we’re all living reactive lives. Hopefully doing are best to respond to what is. We don’t control the weather, we don’t decide who our parents or children are. We don’t get to determine our neighbors, or whether or not our bosses, or clients, love us.

ahmed_were-not-really-controlling-anything

One of my idols is Sir Richard Branson. Following his intuition is what I respect most about him.

All we can do is our best. Each day, each moment and the next. The only thing we really have control over is our response to what comes, and this in itself is an awesome opportunity.

Love and Light!

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Searching for Inspiration

June 30, 2015 by Ahmed Hassan 1 Comment

The California sun can be brutal, but I am thankful nonetheless

Temperatures are suppose to hit 109 today here in Northern California. Finding the inspiration to work outside in this heat is…Well… Yesterday I fasted for most of the day. I’m no Muslim, but I do know that we’re in the middle of Ramadan and I figured I’d participate and fast for the health benefits and mental clarity. Then, by the time I did finally eat something, I had to take a nap, and the heat was simply unbearable.

Today’s post is still swinging back and forth within my head. “Do I write something that’s more personable or do I write something that’s gardening or landscaping related…” What to do, what to do! I think I’m more inspired to write about inspiration. Since I’m looking for a bit of it this morning. I, like you, have so very many things going on in my life. The stresses of everyday living here on planet earth, the responsibilities both financially and physically of raising and providing for my family, as well as running a small business, and seeking to maintain any kind of celebrity status with my career. All of life is an opportunity to learn and experience more or less of what we want. That’s going to determine how we feel.

Camille’s cure for boredom involves helping dad. She loves it!

The other day my youngest daughter Camille was pouting and walking around the backyard complaining about how bored she was. “There’s nothing to do!” She wanted this and wanted that and life was just so horrible in this instance as far as she was concerned. I immediately thought of what my dad taught me when I was maybe 14 or so. He taught me to give thanks and spend some time in appreciation for what I had. He would invite me to write a list of what I was thankful for, from the very big things in life, to the essential items that we often take for granted, like having toothpaste, toilet paper and running water. I suppose this is also one of the primary purposes of Ramadan in the first place. It’s a time to reflect, have compassion and to relate to those that do not have.

So today I invite you to analyze your life, rather than mentally delve into all that you owe the IRS, or what’s so wrong in your relationship. Spend a little time in thanksgiving. Create your own list, mentally or physically. Begin to look around and notice just how abundant you are. There are people all over this planet that don’t have the gifts, opportunities or the physical/mental capabilities that you do. It’s a true fact that whatever we think about is what’s both monumental and having an impact on us in the present.

Time to suit up for the day

So notice what’s good in life! Acknowledge how much you do have. Truly give thanks for this wonderful life that’s likely going to get better because of the lessons you’re learning and applying right now. Little by little things will start to get better. None of us are 10 years old like my sweet Camille. We all know that there’s so much to do, and so much to be thankful for. Your life is what you make of it!

So continue to dream up whatever it is that you want. Always, always, always remember that there are likely thousands of individuals at any given moment, that not only have far less than you, but would kill to have just a few of life’s luxuries that both you and I often take for granted. Thanks for sharing and reading my morning’s inspiration lecture to myself. Now it’s time for me to plan and get ready for the sweltering day today and give thanks for my ice chest, my sun screen, my white long sleeve shirt and large brimmed sun hat. I also give thanks for having work that I love and I get to finally finish Chelle Henderson’s backyard so that next weeks blog post will consummate the whole process. For those who don’t know. Here’s some history on this work… and a little more.

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To Be Continued Part 2

June 16, 2015 by Ahmed Hassan Leave a Comment

So it’s been 1 week since Chelle and I both said yes to doing her tiny yard. One week of me visualizing and thinking on how I can best and most creatively construct a new and improved space for this real estate Diva. She’s so cute with all of her dreams and ideas.

First there’s…

Chelle’s inspiration pic

A beautiful small space garden. This space is gorgeous and a wonderful use of building materials and the elements. This space is also about 12 to 15 times more than Chelle’s budget of $4k. It’s likely a $60k small yard considering the built in seat wall, water fountain, tile flooring, custom wrap around exotic wood carpentry, plantings, bed work, irrigation and drainage. Oh and don’t forget the additionally priced items that add even more to the space, like the sauna in the corner and the small bistro set. This yard is also about 50% bigger than Chelle’s space but it’s a perfect inspiration pic for her to share with me so that I know what moves her.

Then there’s…

Chelle’s inspiration pics for her fence

Another of Chelle’s pic was this mixed media rock pathway and custom fencing. Chelle’s current budget isn’t enough to even build the fencing but what it does tell me is that I could trim out in a dark color and paint the field of the fence lighter to give her an effect.
We shall see.

She also sent this fence pic to me to serve as inspiration…

Another fence inspiration pic from Chelle

This pic cracked me up, because of the fact that it’s a Yard Crashers project that Badass Designer Jake Moss and I did several years ago for Mike and Erin Hare. They’ve since remodeled their space, and this water feature wasn’t what Chelle was pointing out. It was instead, the Bond brand Bamboo fencing . By the way, bamboo isn’t in the budget. I’ll likely get a great deal on paint, and simply paint fencing, unless Chelle decides to dig a lil deeper.

Anything beats what she’s currently got, which is what you see below.

The bones of the fence are good. I just need to find a way to dress it up a bit.

Finally, her final inspiration pic was this one…

Final inspiration pic from Chelle

That’s right, Chelle wants stained concrete for that there walkway. I’m seeing if my homeboy Ben with “Just Stain It” is up for the job. Stay tuned…

She’s so cute. Here is another water feature from Yard Crashers. Jake Moss, you’re still the man! He designed and we installed the copper wall with shear decent in like season 1 of YC. Chelle’s budget unfortunately won’t get her either of these but I’ve got a sweet set up for her. Just you wait!

I looked on how I could save money without compromising the space’s creative flare, since my first rendering cost about $7500. For more information about the creative part of this process, and what it took to arrive at a final rendering, take a look at last week’s post. Finalizing a budget that is realistic, and one that meets the expectations of a client, takes work!

Because I’m a professional landscaper and gardener I’ve always got leftover materials and goods, just waiting to be utilized and given a new life. Upcycling is a term that best describes this adventure in recycling. There is ALWAYS a chance that something can be used again. Just because it is discarded does not mean its life is over. If you are nodding your head right now then you are one of those people who troll neighborhoods looking for “upcycling material”. Usually this material comes in the form of large piles of “stuff” people have thrown out of their house for one reason or another. To most it looks like trash, but you see treasure. Well to that end, “One man’s trash, is another man’s treasure”, and Chelle’s new water feature, if you ask me. Pics and a little video of the water feature will be shared next week in the 3rd but not yet final post and documentation of this small space install. For now, enjoy the inspiration pics she sent me. Also, keep in mind that she wants to hear water. Here’s a sneak peak of what I’m cooking up. Take a look at my scaled base rendering below! I blew it up extra big for you. Bonus points if you can read my chicken scratch!

Adrienne gives me the base, I do the sketching!

Thanks for caring and sharing.

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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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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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10 Interesting Tree Facts!

February 3, 2015 by Ahmed Hassan Leave a 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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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

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