Van Slyke Landscaping recently completed a huge renovation at a two-acre Encinitas property, planting over 338 different species including large specimen trees and fully grown plantings. No space on the property went untouched—the large variety of plants and trees cover and complement the long sloping driveway and gated entrances, the front and back yards, patios and sports courts.
“Landscape is typically the last thing you do but it was the first thing I looked forward to the most…I thought there was an incredible opportunity to do something special,” said homeowner Rob Haskell, the former San Diego Surf Sports CEO and owner of Dime Basketball, a basketball league based in Encinitas and South Carlsbad. “The house doesn’t make the landscape, the landscape makes the house.”
To achieve his vision, Haskell worked with landscape architect Rich Risner of Grounded Landscape Architects and Encinitas’ Van Slyke Landscape, which will celebrate 50 years in business this year.
“The Haskell project is unlike any other typical landscape renovation,” said Sean Van Slyke, president of Van Slyke Landscape. “Vast spaces of very unique and rarely planted in San Diego plant material make the landscape stand out in Encinitas and in the county. We were very proud to help make this landscape project come to life.”
Haskell, a 30-year resident of Village Park, purchased the property off Lone Jack Road in 2017. At the time, the flag lot was mostly weeds with a diseased lemon tree orchard. The property had its challenges with the sloping geographical layout, as well as its difficult soil.
“The soil at this site is pure clay, probably the worst soil in this area,” said Van Slyke. They worked with AgriService of Oceanside, a sustainable mulch and ground cover company, to create a custom soil builder to enhance the quality of the soil. Before they started any work, hundreds of yards of the soil-building material was blown onto the site with the large blower trucks and worked into the native soil during trenching and planting: “We can see a big difference with this initial amendment installation and have continued this on other projects with the same good outcomes.”
“Sean and I transformed every inch of the landscape,” said Haskell, who has known Sean since they were kids. Van Slyke took a project plan and made it come to life—they constantly pushed each other to come up with new ideas.
Large specimen trees like the drako/dragon tree and strawberry trees (Arbutus Marina) were transported by crane and set into the property to add to the existing tipuanas and some statement palms.
“Tipuanas are one of my favorite trees” said Haskell of the large shade trees that bloom bright yellow. They added a 25-year-old fully-grown California pepper tree and Coast Live Oak tree at the top of the long driveway.
Rare and drought-tolerant plants such as colored aloes, Dracaena Marginata, the tall spindly Madagascar Ocotillo and large cactus Mexican Fence Post were installed larger than normal to allow for faster growth and maturity. Some aloes and cacti were planted in corten planters, a type of steel that is meant to rust and bring distinctive beauty to the landscape.
Throughout the property, they created little vignettes—as Haskell said, there are no throwaway spots: “From every spot you were standing I wanted there to be something to look at.” An existing pepper tree was trimmed up and liquid ambers were added to a rocky river bed where water flows naturally when it rains, “La Jolla” colored bougainvillea fills the lush green hillside in front of the home and a drab drainage culvert off the driveway was transformed by rocks and plants.
“Rob was here to place every single one of the boulders,” Van Slyke said of the multiple decorative rocks and boulders throughout the property. Haskell believes one can never have enough rocks: “The lizards dig them and they look cool.”
For the succulent gardens along the driveway and around the home, they brought in the “crazy creative” and talented Samantha Owens, owner of Barrels and Branches nursery.
“Choosing plants for landscape renovations doesn’t always need to include repetitive standard varieties and drab colors,” said Owens. “Types of Aloes that boast bright orange and red colors, salvias that bloom with brilliance in shades of pink, groundcovers that bloom in color developed in Australia, and multiples of plants in bright greens, grays and blues round off the Haskell residence and make it as unique as they come.”
As great as it looks in the sunshine, Haskell said the property might even look better at night, with lighting provided by Wayngs Alliance Corporation. The low-voltage lighting, commonly used for museum exhibits, highlights the tipuanas and pepper trees: “It just glows,” said Haskell.
A common misconception is that a large property such as this would consume a lot of water but Haskell didn’t want that. Van Slyke installed a sophisticated low-water irrigation system that uses a fertigation method, where fertilizers are injected through the system to help the plants stay healthy and thriving.
The house now doesn’t look anything like what it looked like before Haskell bought it– formerly Mediterranean-style architecture has been replaced by a modern Spanish vibe. Haskell was meticulous about the linear design of the home, the textures of smooth stucco and brush form concrete and wood accents, even the patterns in the custom tile in the backyard pool and spa.
An outdoor kitchen and bar features a custom deckton stone table and pizza oven, and the lofty backyard features artificial turf, multiple large screen TVs, a fire pit and an enviable view.
Toward the back of the property, Haskell added a batting cage and a basketball court. He frequently hosts practices for Encinitas and Carlsbad Little Leagues and Dime league has basketball sessions most days.
Even the sports courts are mindfully landscaped. Above and around the courts there are remnants of the lemon grove and an added mandarin tree that bears giant fruit, a hillside about to pop with purple flowers and carefully placed succulents —Haskell will invite you to look closely not to miss rare mangaves.
Haskell said he can’t help “geeking out over plants” and as happy as he is with the results of Van Slyke’s work, he plans to keep working with Sean to see what works well and what to change as it matures over the years: “We’re never done.”