Trees, shrubs, and plant beds can help make your property a beautiful and inviting space. These landscape elements also bring with them practical benefits that include structure, definition, and privacy for your outdoor spaces.

The physical layout of your plant beds carves out the shape of your landscape area, creating perimeters that separate turf areas from living spaces. By breaking up your green space into multiple areas, plant beds provide your backyard with variety and usability.

Trees and shrubs add another dimension by maturing into natural “walls” that you can use to build distinct outdoor rooms. Hedges and rows of trees create a sense of intimacy for dining and sitting areas. When planted along your property line, trees can be used as a type of privacy fence. Wherever they’re located, rows of shrubs and trees provide shade that can be very welcome in the heat of summer.

Living landscaping improves your property by adding color, beauty, and texture to your outdoor space. It also serves the practical side of your landscaping by providing definition and privacy. As you plan any new project, keep in mind the structural as well as the ornamental benefits of landscaping.

Most of us know that mulch makes plant beds look great. With a clean edging job, fresh mulch does just that. The consistent color and texture do improve the looks of your shrubs and flowers. In fact, dark-colored mulches even widen the pupil of the eye, making bright plants stand out even more. Mulching also cuts down on the amount of time and effort needed to keep your beds and your whole property looking good throughout the entire season. Here are some of the advantages of spring mulching.

Mulch prevents many weeds and grasses from sprouting by blocking sunlight from the soil. It also retains moisture from irrigation by soaking up water and delivering it to the root zone. Mulch reduces heat stress by insulating soil from direct sunlight. This can cool your soil by up to 10 degrees.

What’s the best mulch to use? There’s a huge variety of mulch material available, and you can buy either bulk or bagged mulch. Your choice will probably depend on what’s available and your personal preference for color and texture.

Whatever type of mulch you prefer, it’s best to get an early start for the most benefits. Mulch now for an easier and more attractive season later.

Does a forecast of prolonged wet weather bring a sense of foreboding about more than just a washed-out picnic or tee time? If so, there’s a good chance that your lawn suffers from poor drainage.

Sometimes, standing water in your lawn is the result of roots damaging or destroying underground drain pipes. Drainage issues can render parts of your lawn inhospitable and unusable. If the problem area is close to your house, your foundation itself could be compromised.

Usually, there are multiple ways to address a drainage problem. A rain garden is a landscape feature made up of plants that thrive in extremes when it comes to water supply. Another option is to plant trees or shrubs that require a lot of water. Sycamores, willows, and alder bushes are just a few examples of woody plants which need a large amount of water.

Most often, homeowners simply want to rid their yards of standing water without adding new plants. In this case, the best option is the addition of some sort of drain or drainage tile to remove water. There are many varieties of these, but they’re all considerable installations best done by a professional. A well-designed setup will keep your lawn from sinking down the drain.

Did you have big plans for 2020 that didn’t quite come to fruition? Maybe some outdoor tasks or ideas that may have slipped through the cracks? You aren’t alone. It happens to the best of us in any given year, and last year was HARDLY “any given year.”

The good thing is that it’s a new year, and we are here to help you bring your dreams to fruition. All planning helps, and creating a general plan for your landscape is relatively easy to do. Just follow a few guidelines, and you’ll be on your way to the landscape you’ve always wanted

Think about what you really want out of your landscape. Do you have a big social event like a graduation coming up, or have you been wanting outdoor living space for when the grandkids visit? Maybe you want a place to host get-togethers safely this year, or maybe you just want to get the place spruced up before you put it on the market. Whatever you have in mind, put it down on paper. If you’re artistically inclined, feel free to make a quick drawing of what you have in mind. Even simple sketches can be great tools for initial landscape planning.

Contact us! Let’s get together and take a look at your property, and the sooner, the better. Even if spring seems a long way off, we would love to start the conversation now. Having more time to design and plan your landscape only helps, and this is the perfect time of year to get the ball rolling.

Keeping a landscape healthy and appealing is important. Most properties have a wide variety of trees, shrubs and turf areas that all need to be maintained in different ways at different times of the year. Proper timing and scheduling make logistic and economic sense. Pruning, planting, and seeding are all more effective when performed in the appropriate season.

In addition to a seasonal maintenance schedule, it’s helpful to adopt a long-range plan that goes beyond the calendar year. Bed installation, turf area development, and tree installation or removal are all major improvements that benefit greatly from deliberate planning. When timed correctly, new improvements will complement existing landscape elements. By mixing old and new landscape elements, you avoid the need to overhaul entire areas all at once.

In addition to avoiding a disruption to your property, long-range planning also allows you to schedule new additions at ideal times in terms of plant health and viability. For example, trees planted in the fall will be well established by the spring. An extended plan also allows you to schedule new projects in a way that fits your budget.

For maintenance and landscape upgrades, a long-range plan allows you to maximize the return on your investment while limiting disruption to your property.

During this holiday season, we want to sincerely express our thanks to you for choosing us. We know that this has been a different and challenging year. We appreciate the chance you have given us to make your green spaces a little nicer. We know that our industry is full of many companies, and we are honored that you’ve chosen us. We simply would not exist if not for our loyal customers.

We truly enjoy creating and maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces for our customers, and we take a personal interest in each property entrusted to us, from the most expansive areas to the tiniest. Quality is our ultimate goal, and we will do whatever is necessary to make your property look its best. Our first and foremost goal is satisfying you, so please let us know if we can do better. We’ll keep trying harder, and we hope you’ll keep coming back. Together, we can make your outdoor spaces look better every year.

As we look forward to next year, we’re always trying to improve the way we do things. We appreciate any input that you might have, so please feel free to call anytime if you have questions or suggestions. We will be busy in the off-season, training and getting ready to make next year a great year for your property. Have a happy holiday season and a great winter!

Fall weather can be finicky. Days go from mild and sunny to cold and gray literally overnight. Once the weather turns, the notion of yard work becomes less attractive. In spite of that, it pays to give your yard a thorough fall cleanup before winter sets in.

For most homeowners, the biggest cleanup task at this time of year is leaf removal. Layers of leaves left to lie can damage grass by blocking needed sunlight, weakening your turf. If left on the ground through the winter, fallen leaves can also render your lawn more susceptible to winter damage.

Cutting back perennials and removing dead or dying branches from trees and shrubs are also fall cleanup steps that will help prepare both for go-time in the spring. Plant beds also tend to collect dead leaves, debris, and trash over the fall. These messes only get worse over the course of the winter. By the time the warm, wet spring rolls around, you’ll find yourself with mucky beds full of slime. In addition to being unsightly, unkempt plant beds are also breeding grounds for pests and fungus.

Whether handling it yourself or leaving it to professionals, a thorough fall cleanup is an important step in closing the book on the year.

Living landscaping such as shrubs and trees is a big investment in your home. If executed with care and

forethought, these landscape elements can mature into prominent aspects of your property that can be

enjoyed for years and even decades.

Plants have an ideal life cycle, and proper timing goes a long way. Planting in the fall gives new trees

and shrubs the best chance for long-term health and vitality. For multiple reasons, fall is the best time to plant.

Autumn is also the easiest time to plant physically. During these months, moderate rainfall typically

means the soil is neither muddy from heavy rain nor hard as a rock due to drought. Practically

speaking, the digging process is straightforward and not too difficult.

The key to getting the most out of your landscape investment is setting your new plants up for success.

The cooler temperatures of autumn allow new root systems to develop and establish themselves in

advance of winter. A robust and extensive root system makes your new trees and shrubs well equipped

for winter dormancy. This means a forceful spring emergence, with plentiful spectacular blooms.

Living landscaping can shape your property for years to come. While spring planting may seem like the

most logical timing, fall planting is actually better. If your landscape could use some improvements,

don’t hesitate. Fall plantings set the stage for a beautiful, healthy spring landscape.