Christensen’s is dedicated to always doing a better job of supplying landscapers. To that end, we added Techo-Bloc to our hardscape lineup 2 years ago and this year we’re bringing back Oaks Landscape Products. 

Right now, we can order whatever you need from the full line of Oaks pavers, slabs, steps, curbs, walls, copings, and accessories. Large orders of 10 pallets or more can be here at Christensen’s within 2 days of ordering. You can pick up smaller orders in Wixom on the same day. Christensen’s can bring in orders of less than 10 pallets if an adequate lead time is available.

Next year, we’re planning to stock several product lines. Since we’re still in the early stage, you can let us know what products you might need at a moment's notice, so we can have it ready for you in 2025. Just stop by and talk to one of our friendly Hardscape Team members about the products on your wish list.

One product that we’re excited to have available in this product line is the Nueva 24”x24” Smooth Pillar Caps (in two colors). Besides the intended purpose of topping off pillars, these can also be used as a slab paver for walkways or in gapped patios for the popular “California look.” The Nueva offers curbs, walls, steps, slabs, and pavers in matching colors to complete a uniform space with the same look.

Oaks Landscape Products introduces a different price point to the Christensen’s Hardscape product lineup. New sample boards with examples of the rich Oaks colors and styles have arrived in the yard, so we would like to invite you to peruse our selection of all of our Hardscape lines, now including, Unilock, High Format, Techo-Bloc, Fendt, and Oaks.

Imagine this… It’s a beautiful spring day and I’m wandering a backyard with a client to discuss their landscape needs and wants. The design will include many elements, not only plants, but hardscape, and structures as well as a fire pit and a water feature. They want it all and I’m ready to design the outdoor space that makes them excited to spend many wonderful days entertaining and relaxing.

As I look around, and imagine the discussed possibilities, I see that there will be areas that will be on full display to the backyard neighbors' door. Then, I see that the neighbors to the right have a yard full of kid toys, that while quite natural to see in a home with children, is not the view my client wants to see. Then, of course, the client whispers that they have not gotten along with the neighbor on the other side of their yard for years. The client would rather not have them looking into their space.

OK, maybe you don’t often run into all these scenarios on the same site, but it does happen. Privacy and creating intimate spaces is not something new, but we don’t have to address it in the same way every time we run into the need.

The old standard, “let's plant a row of arborvitae” is not the only solution and should not be the only consideration. While it may indeed be the best solution for a particular scenario, as a designer, its good to branch out and look at other possibilities.

Sometimes an Emerald Green Arb will not be a good fit. For example, if you have deer wandering around your space, these Arborvitae will likely be lunch for the deer, at least as far up as they can reach. There are other varieties of Arbs that will be less likely to be browsed by deer. Green Giant Arbs or Wintergreen Arbs are better solutions for deer areas if, indeed, you and/or your client want the row of Arbs.

You need to know your plants, as they all have different growth rates and height and width requirements. Then there are also considerations like utility lines over a fence line to consider. There is no worse thing than planting beautiful things only to have the utility company come through and chop it all in a very unattractive way.

If space allows, why not create something with more variety of plants giving winter screening, spring or summer flowers, fall color, and just more interest. As we have seen in previous years, a monoculture of plants, can also be a bad idea. If an insect, disease or fungus decides to go after whatever you’ve planted, the entire screening row of plants is wiped out.

Mix different plants and different focal points for a more interesting look and seasonal interest overall. Adding plants that flower in the spring, have wonderful fall color, include evergreen options and great interest during all the seasons makes a garden more enjoyable all year long. Of course, talking to the client to find out where it may be necessary to have year round coverage is a must. Perhaps, its important to the homeowner to have flowers during a specific time of the growing season, as they have a large picnic at that time every year. Maybe feeding the birds is important to them. All these things can and should be considered when selecting the plants for a natural screened area. Also consider plant growth habits so that you are providing the correct size and type of plants to accomplish the privacy. Sometimes an immediate need changes the plants as there just isn’t time to grow in the coverage. It’s also important not to over-plant as some plants' health and development will be compromised if crowded.

Plants are not the only options to consider. Beautiful screening options can be considered as well.

 Custom-built trellis for clematis or cut metal panels can help break up a plant row while still providing beautiful options for privacy. These panels are a particularly great idea when space is an issue. They take up very little yard space and still can be set to provide the blocking of areas. Trellis and metal panels can be mounted to give extra height where needed as well. Then plants can be installed under the area for added interest. These types of panels can also be installed on the side of a pergola or hanging from a roof over a patio.

Because it is not fencing, permitting is not usually needed for this type of installation, however, if you do too long an area, you could have issues. To avoid problems, contact the municipality in the area to see if there are questions about how many continuous panels are too many to be considered a strictly decorative installation that does not need permits.

When we design, there’s so much more than just picking out pretty plants. Professional landscape design needs to encompass all of the needs of the homeowner along with the physical limitations of the space. If you find yourself in need of designs, I’m here to help and can be reached at barowley02@gmail.com or 734-890-9386.

There’s a reason I work in the Hardscape Center amidst the limestone aggregate and the concrete pavers... I’m easily distracted by rocks.  (...as you might remember from my previous Sticks & Stones article) It makes perfect sense that my vacation time allows me to get closer to some monumental formations.

On a recent trip to Arizona I was able to check two places off of my bucket list.

The first story begins 50,000 years ago when a meteor slammed down onto what is now Arizona. The impact struck with more power than early nuclear bombs, creating a crater ¾ mile wide, 600’ deep! The shockwave vaporized everything near ground zero, pushing winds outward at over 600mph within a 2 mile radius. Animals over 1 mile away likely were killed by the pressure wave and debris, vegetation was destroyed over 200 miles away, and regional weather would have been affected for several weeks.  

Early non-indigenous people thought the crater was an extinct volcano caldera. In 1902 self-taught geologist Daniel Barringer proposed the idea that the geological feature was actually a collision crater. It wasn’t until the 1950’s that this idea was accepted by the scientific community.   The site of the crater is currently preserved by the Barringer family. It’s a family-friendly tourist site if you’re in the Flagstaff/Sedona area.

This second story starts back even further in time. Just a short drive away from Barringer Crater, but 200 million years back in time, Arizona was covered in forests and swampy rivers.   I was originally excited about seeing so much petrified wood and quartz, but upon arriving at Petrified Forest National Park, I became enamored by the gorgeous colors painted across the mounds of layered sediment. Scattered almost everywhere in the park are logs and pieces of petrified wood. In places, they look like hundreds of petrified wood “headstones”, memorializing a place in time where these trees once stood.

It was a surreal experience walking behind my long evening shadow, feeling the cool sinking air on my face as I strolled between mounds of bold reds and crumbly gray rocks and fossils. Then, to turn around and witness the sun sinking beneath the horizon. To say it took my breath away is an understatement.  I became lost in wonder and pure beauty.     

Historic Route 66 runs through the park, so if you’re thinking of a road trip, this would be an excellent stop.

Where’s next on my bucket list?  Someday I’d like to check out 'Jurassic Coast' in England and The Gates Of Hell in Turkmenistan!

Do you know how to enlighten a brick?  That is a great setup for a dad joke!  I’m a dad, and I of course love horrible and cringe-worthy dad jokes.  But bad jokes aside, how do you light up a brick?  Why would you want to light up a brick?  Can a brick emit its own light?  These are some of the questions I hear on occasion.  Let me illuminate some answers to brighten up your knowledge.

The first question is ‘how?’  The easiest way to install lights is during the construction phase of the project.  This will give you the most choices and opportunities to strategically place the wiring for the fixtures.  However, you can still add lights to your preexisting project with some ease as well.  We offer brands like Alliance and Sollos lighting products at the Hardscape Center to give you a variety of choices.  We stock path, ledge, puck, up lights, and many more types and designs in a large array of styles and sizes to meet your needs.  We offer transformers that can power a small job like a walkway to the big 600-watt transformer to tackle the backyard yard party house capable of landing airplanes.  Do you know how many LED lights you can run with 600 watts of power?!?! (Just ask the hardscape team!)

The second question is the most fun and easy; why?  One of the biggest reasons is to extend the time you can utilize your outdoor living space.  Adding lights to a seat wall around a fire pit can add to the ambiance.  Add lights around a kitchen, bar, or even a water feature.  Just like the lighting around flower beds and trees with uplighting on them, adding light enhances their beauty at night.  Another great use of lights around brick projects is for safety.  A few well-placed lights may thwart a stubbed toe or prevent an accidental fall.  Lighting stairs, landings, and walkways are a great way to avoid these mishaps.  Lights can also highlight the areas you do not want to inadvertently go into like attached flower beds.  

Do you know that we have fixtures with color-changing, dimming & warm-cool settings & capabilities? The options for how the light emits from the fixtures are almost endless.

And, yes, there is a company that does make a brick that can emit its very own light.  It uses a glow-in-the-dark material that lasts for hours after dark.  It does not have an off switch, so it’s always on.  There are other styles of lights, some that can be installed directly into the brick by boring a hole through it.  Others have a concrete-colored plastic shell that looks like a brick but is a lighted fixture.  Some of these can be more challenging to install after the project has been completed, but it is not impossible.  Finding the right style and color for your area might be the hardest task of all.  Do you know that there is a tiki torch that has a light underneath it?!?

What if you don’t have any brick patios, walkways or garden walls?  Don’t feel like you’ll be left in the dark.  These same lights can be used on poured walls or pillars, placed around cement driveways and sidewalks.  Wall sconce and puck lighting work great to add lights to a porch or side of a garage.  What if you have a deck?  Do you know that these outdoor lights can be attached to almost every type of material available including wood, plastic, metal, and of course concrete?

We have come a long way since the start of landscape lighting, there are so many more styles, colors, and options.  The way technology keeps advancing, who knows what new and exciting products they will think of next?  If you want a good history lesson, I know a guy who has been installing lights for a few moments, our very own Dave Reutter.  So, if you have questions or concerns, give us a call or stop into the Hardscape or Plant Center here at Christensen’s.  We can help illuminate any questions and bring to light any concerns you may have about shining a little light on a brick or two.  As far as the enlightened brick goes, I don’t know the answer to that; nobody has shined any light on that subject yet.

Marketing is like magic. Magic is all about misdirection and sleight of hand. The performer will have you so focused on what the left hand is doing so that you never notice the right foot. Marketing can be very similar, focus on the positive and redirect from the negative. Everybody, I’m sure, remembers the expandable garden hose craze. For $25, they were great! Until you got 1 teeny tiny little hole, but nobody mentioned that the stretching feature comes at a cost of durability. Concrete wall and pavers are in the same boat, they have been advertised and promoted as low maintenance, especially compared to traditional wood decks. But what does that really mean, low maintenance? Let me redirect your focus over here then.

‘Low’ does not mean ‘none’. And, that does not always mean quick and easy, either. Concrete is a sponge; its pores will trap all sorts of dirt and debris. Rusty water, red soda stains, tree sap and salt residue are just a few examples of what your concrete products can soak up. This does not affect the strength or longevity of the brick but it sure can alter the color and appearance of it. To bring it back to almost a new appearance you will need to wash it!

So how does one wash a brick? It does not involve any toothbrushes or mops, but it does involve some specialized cleaners depending on the stain or material you are trying to wash away. Not all, but most chemical cleaners have some small amount of acids in them, this is why you rarely need to scrub the concrete. The cleaner is designed to either soften or dissolve the materials, then simply rinse away with a garden hose. But with that dissolving effect comes a warning, left for too long or too strong of a mix could start to dissolve the concrete’s smaller particles which will leave the concrete pitted and appear much more aged. Always test on a small obscure place on the concrete to test the effects. There are cleaners that specialize in gum, oil, tar, rust, and organic material like food condiments and popsicle drippings.

After the cleaning, you now have an opportunity to seal the concrete, if you so desire. Years and years ago you would have to wait 6 months to a year for the efflorescence to work its way out of the concrete. Back then the sealers were not breathable, they trapped everything in. Now they have water based breathable sealers that can be applied shortly after installation. But why would one want to seal the concrete, especially if you can simply clean it? Think of sealer like shoe shine, it helps protect the shoe’s material while it helps to improve the appearance. It will make cleaning stains much easier as well as help maintain or enhance the color of the concrete. This could be very important around cooking and dining areas. You don’t have to seal every year, maybe not even every other year, but you will have to reapply again at some point to maintain the same protection and appearance.

Sealing can be both a blessing and a curse. It is so nice to take the hose to a grape jelly blob and simply hose it away. But you may have one more thing to add to an ever-growing list of springtime chores. I choose to live dangerously; I go sealer free. But I also have an amazing washing system, a yard full of kids and a hose. The car, house, dog, tree, neighbor kids, and most times the patio get a good washing many times during the summer. But if you do not have a high fructose fueled (kids with popsicles) washing system like me, stop by the Hardscape Center and let us help you make your stains and grime disappear, magically!

We’re off and running into the season here at Christensen’s.  It’s always fun as we see customers again, talking about what we all did over the winter. Some plowed snow or remodeled houses. Some fled south to soak up the warm sun’s rays, whilst others embraced the cold and hit the slopes. The conversation generally ends up on the topic of “what’s new?”

Last year we freshened up the inside of our Hardscape building. This year we are spending time reorganizing the brickyard. You’ll notice several products have been moved to different places. Once you get the hang of it, we think you’ll find it efficiently organized and will be happy with the natural flow of traffic.

We have welcomed Techo-Bloc into our family of hardscape manufacturers and are pleased by the response so far. Currently stocking some of the most popular Techo-Bloc product lines like Blu, Brandon, and Raffinato, we want to hear from you. What Techo products do you like using? –let the guys in the Hardscape building know!

Some new items from Unilock include Treo Smooth. I think of it like a Beacon Hill for sidewalks since the pieces are sized so that you can lay a nice 36” wide pattern. If you want more lines in a patio, but still have an easy time having chair and table legs finding support, Treo is the paver for you!

The Beacon Hill lineup has added more color options in the small recs and a vehicle-friendly 8cm thick version.

Stop in for some strong coffee and let’s talk about What’s New!

One of my favorite toys growing up was Legos. I loved the kits and themes they offered; their designs were amazing. And best of all, you did not have to follow the instructions, you could just make up anything you wanted so long as you had all the pieces. I am lucky to have a daughter that was equally as interested in Legos as well. She was young when she started, so I had to make many of the initial kits for her which gave me an excuse to play with these bricks once again. As a child, I always remember getting so excited around Christmas when I would pick up a box, and you could hear the pieces parts rustling in the box knowing that was going to be a great gift for sure! I am slightly older since the Lego days, but here I am still playing with bricks and blocks. And just like before, I am excited to announce that I have a brand new shiny set of Legos to play with: Techo-Bloc!

Techo-Bloc was founded by Charles Ciccarello back in 1989, starting the company with only 5 employees. Now, 34 years later with over half a dozen state-of-the-art factories throughout North America, they are one of the top manufacturers of pavers, wall stones, steps, and curbs. Most of the products that Techo-Bloc produce have a modern design to them and tend to lean toward neutral earth tones and colors. This has been a growing trend over the last few years, and I do not expect that to change for several more years. Colors such as reds and oranges have been phasing slowly out as well as circle and curved designs.

We hinted at this new addition in the mid to late summer of last year. We were testing the waters with some of Techo-Bloc’s accessories such as their Flexlock polymeric sand and Gator sealers and cleaners. We were planning on bringing the pavers and wall stones in over the winter, but due to the immediate demand for some of their more popular items, we decided to get a head start.

We are starting out with Techo-Bloc’s most popular paver, the 60mm Blu HD2 in both smooth and slate texture in the Chestnut Brown, Greyed Nickel, Shale Grey, and Champlain Grey. We are stocking the 3 pc Slab series, but we can special order the Grande and the 6”x13” pieces if your job requires them.

We are stocking Techo-Bloc’s Raffinato and Brandon wall series in both the 90mm and 180mm sized pieces. You can find the Beige Cream and Greyed Nickel in the Raffinato wall, and the Champlain Grey, Shale Grey, and Oynx Black in the Brandon wall. There is also Brandon and Raffinato wall caps in stock, too. We will also be carrying some of the Raffinato Steps.

We will continue to add and adjust the products stocked as the demand grows and changes. I expect a truckload of products from Techo-Bloc to arrive weekly, so please ask us about special order items, or concerns for your larger-sized projects. We can check into Techo-Bloc’s online inventory and help you know what, when, and where the status of your material is.

I do not get to play with the blocks like all our contractors do, but I do enjoy watching how they use them! I hope to see the enjoyment that you will have through the successful pictures of your beautifully created projects. And don’t worry, if you happen to lose that one piece you really needed, give us a call. I have a salesman with bare feet that will find it for you in a painful moment!

Every year at the end of the nursery season, managers and owners do the same thing I am now doing. We sit down and try to express how we appreciate our customers and having all of you as a part of our business. And every year we try not to say the same thing that we have already said. This year is no different from any other year. I sit at the computer and try to express our thanks and appreciation, but, honestly, words can’t capture the level of gratitude we have for our outstanding customers.

But this year is a little different. This was the last year Christensen’s Plant Center and Rushton Farms will operate together. Starting in 2023 the two companies will be operated independently of each other. A first, ever.

We also celebrated the retirement of Holly Christensen, who had worked here since she was a teenager. While we're happy for Holly, she left big shoes to fill and she is missed. 

So, I write this at the end of an Era. And next year will be the start of a new era. But in the eyes of you, our customers, it will be business as usual. Christensen’s Plant Center and Rushton Farms will continue to operate just as they have for the past several decades. Both companies will continue to provide you with the same exemplary quality and service that we have for years.

Starting in 2023 Christensen’s Plant center will also be expanding its hardscape line. We are excited to be adding Techo Bloc as a new offering to our customers in 2023. This new line will complement our already outstanding lineup of hardscape products, plants, ponds, pavers and walls, and low-voltage lighting. Christensen’s Plant Center remains your one-stop for landscape supplies.

As I close out 2022 and look towards 2023, I am excited for what the future holds. The future of the nursery industry looks as exciting as it ever has. Opportunity abounds for innovation and I encourage everyone to look for it. The coming season will be full of success if we simply seek it out.

A 50-year-old birthday is no small feat. As many of my friends, and in a few more years myself approach or crest that half-a-century milestone, I find myself reminiscing about the journey it took to get here, and the road from here on out. Looking back at having the first VCR and having to choose from VHS or BETA.  Power steering and automatic transmissions were considered options, not standard equipment. Phones had 50’ spiral cords and every gas station, convenience store, 

It all started back in 1972. That is when Ed Bryant brought the first paving stone from Europe over to North America. As one of the foremost leaders in the industry, Unilock has had many more firsts over the years including permeable pavers, facemix, and Ultima products. The technologies that produce these products have also changed dramatically. The days of measuring and leveling ingredients are now done with a computer and sensor-controlled mixers in a state-of-the-art facility. That’s a long way from the first plant in Barrie, Ontario.

They have also had their trials and tribulations with recessions, labor shortages, material shortages, and most recently the pandemic. But they have always strived with innovation to overcome adversity, creating new and unique quality products even when the times were tough. But let’s face it, you need a great team to make success grow and thrive.

Many of the sales reps, managers, and service reps that work at Unilock started out in the landscaping business in some way shape or form. I have seen everything from a lawn crew employee to a previous landscape owner working in the front or back offices. They add their knowledge and experience to a company that encourages learning and growing. It can be fast paced, intense and maybe be even hectic at times but the employees have always shown their best professionalism, patience and understanding. I have had the pleasure to see many of their employees rise throughout the ranks and take on new positions and challenges. I look forward to seeing many new faces that will become part of the Unilock family in the years to come.

What is next? What will be the next best product, idea, design, or tool? There is so much potential in what we already have that I can’t imagine what could be next. But I like to think that Unilock does. To help commemorate their fifty years of success, they are planting a tree along with a time capsule with the intention of opening it back up fifty years from now. That’s confidence, and comes with all their hard work and effort. I sure would like to be a fly on the wall to see all the new cool things they will have by then! Congratulations to 50 now, and 50 more to come!

As I write this article, I am looking at a 4x8 Unilock Hollandstone Premier paver on my desk. It is uniform in shape, density, and color to the rest of the pavers on the pallet it came from. The beginning of this concrete paver’s story is actually set 7000 years ago on a warm Mediterranean island. The Minoans were Europe’s first advanced civilization. Their island of Crete was a hub for trade and artisans. They built fire kilned brick structures, had methods to pump water, and created the first segmental pavement to engineer their way over loose subsoils. The Romans were next, installing 50,000 miles of paved roads. Amazingly, some of these roads are still in use today!