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www.landscapeirrigation.com August 2014 Landscape and Irrigation 23 flower pots or even installed directly in the ground. "People are straying away from box speakers outside of the house because they ruin the ambiance," said Felter. A recent Soundworks project included in-ground speakers and subwoofer in a client's basketball court. "It sounds amazing near a sports court, and it brings life to a party," he added. Using direct burial wire, much like a lighting system, the instal- lation of an outdoor sound system is relatively simple. "You do have to take into account voltage and how long the wire runs are going to be," Felter explained. "The wire length and gauge will determine the amps." Ideally, discuss the potential for an outdoor entertainment system with a client at the same time they are discussing a larger renovation project. "It's better if all the contractors on the project can work together so we're not installing wire after the sod has gone down, but there are always ways to make it happen even if you're not included from the beginning," he said. A remote control system goes hand-in-hand with an entertain- ment system "A lot of people like to change the volume or change the station from their lounge chair with a tablet or phone," Felter explained. "A really good network signal is needed to do that." In some cases, a secondary Internet access point is needed outdoors for smooth operation. A new twist on gardens As the ASLA survey indicated, gardens and landscaped areas are one of the most commonly requested design features in residential properties. What's interesting for 2014 is the unique approach hom- eowners and designers are taking to gardens and landscaped areas. With an increased focus on sustainability, gardens and land- scapes that feature native plants, are sustainable, are easy to maintain and provide a source of fresh produce for the family are more prevalent. Sustainable landscapes cover a broad range of "themes" ranging from garden habitats to raised planting beds, keyhole gardens and rain gardens. Garden habitats, often called backyard restorations, transition a planned landscape into an area brimming with native plant species. "Some are used to actually return more wildlife habitat or attract certain kinds of wildlife, like butterfly gardens," said Donny Duke of Engledow Group/Director of Litchfield Studio in central Indiana. A garden habitat benefits wildlife by creating shelter and pro- viding a source of food and water for native birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. "Others focus on lower maintenance native types of plant material, which give a more natural look," he added. Property size and client expectations for landscapes are the most common challenges to creating a garden habitat. "The fact that most native plant materials best suited for many of these purposes is alien to most residential customers who are looking for more polished and full plant material," he said. "We have found some clients really enjoy the idea of this type of creation, but struggle to accept the more native plant species because they lack a more formal appearance."