In late March/early April foliage growth is commencing on your garden hydrangeas (Hydrangea Macrophylla).
After leaves have emerged, prune out any dead wood.
Fertilize soon with a slow-release ornamental/landscape fertilizer.
Don't do any height reduction pruning as your 2024 flower buds were set late last summer/fall.
1) Inspect gardens for overwintering pests and diseases.
2) Begin removing cool season weeds from planting beds.
3) Fertilize spring-blooming bulbs with a balanced fertilizer.
4) Cut back ornamental grasses before they start to display new spring growth.
1)Redefine your flower bed edges to keep grass from growing into the bed.
2)In late March, cut back perennials that were left standing over the winter.
3)Sow hardy annuals such as larkspur, sweet peas, and love-in-a-mist.
4)Prune your evergreen hedges, keeping the base wider than the top.
5)Plant bare root roses after the ground thaws, but is still moist.
1-Clean & sharpen your garden tools and have your lawn mower and other mechanized tools serviced.
2-Plant peas, potatoes, and parsley towards the end of the month.
3-Prune your fruit trees, berry bushes, and other wood ornamentals.
4-Spread compost over the beds you'll plant next month.
Improve the health and beauty of your crepe myrtles with the following proper pruning practices.
Don’t lop off the top. This creates ugly stumps and prevents pretty, mottled bark on mature trunks.
Do thin out the plant by removing crowded branches, dead links, and seed pods as needed.
Try to avoid these 4 Fall Landscaping Mistakes.
1) I forgot to rake my leaves! Unraked leaves can suffocate and kill your grass. Schedule time to rake them, blow them, or mulch them so you aren't left with dead areas in your yard.
2) I pruned my azaleas really late in the fall! Pruning too late may cause your azaleas to not produce flowers next spring. It's best to prune soon after they are finished blooming for the season.
3) I am done pulling weeds this year! Don't give up because they won't either. Continue to pull them and you'll have fewer to pull in the spring.
4) I think I'll pass on the fertilizing this year! Just not feeling it. You'll have a healthier lawn next year if you go ahead and fertilize. Cooler temps during the winter season are great for growing strong roots.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Here are 5 quick tips for preparing your lawn for the holiday:
1) Remove leaves and debris.
2) Fertilize your lawn.
3) Add mulch around your flower beds, bushes, and trees.
4) Continue to mow and water your lawn.
5) Decorate your lawn with simple, natural fall decor. Plant your potted mums!
Tip for homeowners who do their own mulching: Mulch piled high against a tree trunk can cause damage to your tree.
The mulch retains water which can make the tree bark susceptible to decay. Mulch interferes with the flow of oxygen to tree root cells, causing a secondary root system to grow into the mulch and around the tree restricting the tree's vascular flow. Too much mulch can cause your tree to be stressed out and unable to defend against pest infestations.
What to do! Maintain a mulch depth of 2-3 inches and keep the mulch pulled away from the trunk flare.
We all look forward to summer. Vacations are our hard-won reward for weeks and months of hard work, deadlines, and responsibilities. While you and the family go on vacation, your lawn will be staying at home. It will need nourishment, water, and upkeep to maintain its beauty. You can ask your neighbor to keep an eye on it, but that’s not the same thing as being there to make sure that problems don’t ruin all the hard work that went into making it especially vibrant.
Mow the Lawn: Mow the lawn before you leave. This will compensate for the time you will be away. However, if you mow it too short, you may expose the soil to the scorching sun and summer heat which will dry out the lawn and expose it to scalping. The height to which you mow your lawn should correspond with how long you will be away. If you know what kind of grass is planted around your house, you can find out how long it takes to grow from a lawn professional and take care of it according to the recommended maintenance. The general rule is to not cut more than one third of the grass height. For example, if the grass is three inches high, mow off no more than one inch of grass.
Adequately Water Your Lawn: Typically, a lawn needs about one and one half inches of water to remain lush. This amount of water will take about twenty minutes to half an hour depending on your irrigation and what kind of grass you have. You can condition your lawn to use less water by not watering as often but watering more deeply when you do. This helps grass roots to grow deeper into the soil to access water. Another alternative would be to install an automatic lawn irrigation system. The systems allows you to program the water frequency as you like it. Make sure the system works before you leave. Check to see if water is pooling in certain areas of the lawn, which could destroy plants and other greenery while you’re away.
Do Not Apply Fertilizer Before You Go: Applying fertilizer before you go may result in you coming home to a wild and unruly lawn. Wait until you come home.
Be Aware of the Weather Forecast: Knowing what the weather will be will help you with taking care of your lawn. If the forecast is rainy, adjust the sprinkler system to water less frequently. If the forecast is dry, adjust the system to water more frequently.
Does Your Lawn Have Pests? Inspect your lawn before you leave. If there are weeds, use an herbicide to get rid of them.
Do Not Leave Heavy Objects on the Lawn: When you leave heavy objects such as cars on your lawn, you compact the soil underneath. Any lawn compaction can cause the soil to dry out. Besides the soil compaction, any free-standing objects or structures on your lawn can become hazardous in an unexpected weather event.
Don’t Make Major Changes to Your Lawn Until You Return: You never know how any major changes such as re-sodding will impact your landscaping. Wait until you are there to respond to any adverse reactions your lawn may have.
Schultz Lawnscapes are the landscaping specialists. We offer landscape design, installation and maintenance services to commercial and residential customers. We also provide snow removal services during the winter. For additional information, please email sales@slilawns.com or call (804) 586-9787and follow us on Facebook.
Landscape and lawnscape experts are forecasting what they believe will be the upcoming residential landscape trends in 2019. However, depending on many factors such as amount of land, existing structures, weather and climate changes, and other variables, the homeowner’s taste and sense of style will dictate how they can transform their home and outdoor surroundings into their own personal slice of heaven.
Staycations are the Newest Vacations
Saving money by enjoying a staycation in the comfort of your own backyard is the newest trend. For many people, their own backyard is much more attractive compared to waiting in airport lines, living out of a suitcase, and paying thousands of dollars for a week-long vacation. Home prices are increasing for most areas of the U.S. and the great thing about updating your surroundings is that your changes will last as long as you want them to and will be accessible to you every day. Since vacations generally involve private getaways where we are unbothered by constant cell phone ringing, demands on our time, driving kids to their activities, driving to and from work every day, and a host of other responsibilities that we must respond to, why not create a tranquil and secluded backyard you can get to in one minute. Meditation gardens, a reading nook in the middle of a copse of trees, gently gurgling water fountains, and other features help us to reconnect with nature, unwind, and distress.
Curb Appeal is Everything
We are in a seller’s market, so making a great first impression is crucial. The first thing a buyer will notice about a home is how the front looks from the street. If they see a home that is lacking landscape or lawnscape design, they will probably not be interested in seeing the rest of the house. Landscapers are skilled in designing an entrance into a homeowner’s front yard by installing plants that emit a beautiful scent along the walkway or making the entrance more appealing by adding dramatic lighting or beautiful planters and other structures. More and more homeowners are using edible plants in their outdoor spaces and growing herbs in planters.
Accenting your home with organic and sustainable elements, including trees, flowers, edible plants, succulents and cacti, water features, etc., makes an
enjoyable space for you, your family, and your guests. Your lawnscaper has dozens of ideas for shrubbery, walkways, and other areas to help you create your own beautiful backyard garden or front lawn appeal.
Landscaping and lawnscaping professionals can show you:
· How to make a small yard look bigger
· What to consider when designing a rooftop garden
· How to utilize the space in a large yard
· How to enhance large yards with trees and plant layering
· How to make the most out of long and narrow side yards
· How to use fences, privacy screens, and plants to create privacy
· Solutions for landscaping a steep slope or hillside
· How to reduce outdoor noise using plants and water fountains
· How to solve common backyard drainage problems
· When to use plants that thrive in shady spaces
· How to shade your outdoor landscaping if there is too much sun exposure
· How to landscape and lawnscape in fire hazard zones
Your home is your sanctuary. Schultz Lawnscapes are the landscaping specialists that can help you address any issues or problems inherent in your outdoor spaces. Besides offering landscape design, installation and maintenance services to commercial and residential customers, we also provide snow removal services during the winter. For additional information, please email sales@slilawns.com or call (804) 586-9787 and follow us on Facebook. We look forward to speaking with you.
