Benefits of Mulch in Xeriscaping
Xeriscape gardening is drastically gaining popularity as we face climate change that affects rainfall amounts. Over the recent years, even the lush, green gardens in the Northeast U.S. have had to endure more droughts. Xeriscaping is ideal for many garden situations, including rock gardens, rocky soil, slopes, salt spray environments, harsh winds, and bright sun.
You need to consider a number of elements when designing xeriscaped gardens, such as creating irrigation systems, grouping plants according to their water requirements, and choosing the best type of mulch.
Benefits of Mulch in Xeriscape Gardens
Mulch is simply any organic or inorganic material used to protect soil from moisture loss and/or improve the condition of soil when applied on the surface. You need mulch to help keep moisture in and weed out of your garden. Mulches come in a variety of forms, including pine back, straw, cocoa shells, mini nuggets, rock, and shredded back.
You should mulch your garden at the onset of the growing season each year. This protective layer effectively insulates the soil from the hot summer sun and dry winds while at the same time eliminating weeds.
Mulch also covers the soil, keeping it cool and reducing the evaporation of moisture. As a result, mulching reduces the water required by up to a third throughout the growing season. Soil typically stays moist under the mulch, and as organic mulch decays, it improves the soil.
Mulch also minimizes weed growth and reduces runoff and erosion. It can help maintain a more constant soil temperature by buffering the extremes, hence favoring a healthy population of earthworms and other beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Types of Mulches
There are two main categories of mulches: inorganic, and organic. Organic mulches include straw, wood chips, peat moss, leaves, sawdust, dry manure, grass clippings, pine needles, and bark chips. Inorganic mulches mostly include rock, lava, and gravel.
After the mulch is applied, there is no need to hoe between the rows. Ensure that the mulching is at least three inches thick for it to be effective.
When to Use Inorganic Mulch
Inorganic mulches such as rock and gravel can add exciting color and textural appeal to a garden. In the dry areas of your garden, rock can provide a clean, pleasant appearance and will not blow away under high winds. For perennial gardens and rock gardens with xeric plants, consider crushed gravel mulch since it encourages most perennials to self-seed.
Penstemon, Lavender, Santolina, Flax, Cariopteris, Yuccas, Agastache, Ornamental Grasses, and several other native species also thrive in rock mulch. Rock mulches are ideal for windy situations where lightweight materials such as leaves will blow away. They are also preferred in areas bordering on wildland where wildfires can occur. The only disadvantage of rock mulch is that it reflects heat and glare, an important consideration around building entries, windows, and patios exposed to the sun.
When to Use Organic Mulch
Organic mulches have the advantage of not reflecting heat and glare, and they gradually add organic matter to the soil. They are ideal for flower beds where there is always some planting activity. Organic mulch provides coarse compost that you can dig into the soil when planting new flowers. For more permanent plants such as trees, shrubs, and groundcover, consider pine needles, screened hog fuel, or bark shells.
When using decomposing organic mulches, you should be aware of the possibility of nitrogen deficiency. As organic mulches decompose, they utilize some of the soils’ nitrogen content, triggering a deficiency. A common sign of nitrogen deficiency is a yellowing of plants, especially of the lower leaves. When this happens, apply nitrogen fertilizers to the surrounding plants.
When to Apply Mulches
If you are using mulch to control weeds or for aesthetics, be sure to spread it before the weeds begin to crop up. If the mulches are meant to protect new transplants from freezes in the fall, apply the mulch soon after transplanting. And if you intend to use the mulch to reduce frost-heave and delay spring growth for plants such as crocus and other bulbs, apply the mulch after the ground has frozen.
Ultimately, proper use of mulch can improve water-efficiency in your garden while enhancing aesthetics and keeping weeds at bay. For more information about mulching xeriscaping gardens, contact us today. We are a landscape maintenance company that specializes in maintenance, repair, irrigation, and water-saving landscape design.
Get Started on a Santa Rosa Xeriscape Design
Xeriscapes aren’t a human invention. Xeriscape (pronounced zeh·ri·skayp) exists all over the planet in desert and arid climates and areas where cyclical droughts are the norm. The root “xeri” means zero and refers to the landscape’s ability to thrive without regular irrigation.
Here in Santa Rosa, we benefit from a Mediterranean climate – but one prone to droughts. Therefore, wise home and business owners focus on drought-tolerant landscape design – the very essence of xeriscape.
Xeriscape Sana Rosa: There’s No Need to Sacrifice Abundance
That said, there’s no need to worry that your Santa Rosa xeriscape’s minimal water needs translate to sacrificing abundance, lush foliage, or bright seasonal colors. Quite the opposite. Sonoma county is lucky to have an indigenous tree, shrub, and plant base that supports year-round greenery, color, and interest.
Here are three basic tenets of creating your own xeriscape landscape design. Use them to guide your initial planning stages. Then, connect with a local landscape design team specializing in xeriscape to watch your ideas sustainably come to fruition.
1. Observe your property’s micro-climate
Our county has a wide range of climates, from drier and more arid climates to the north and east, to wetter climates as you approach the coastal areas and into the redwood forests. Even a single quarter or half-acre can have multiple microclimates based on sun/shade exposure or soil drainage.
Observe your property and selected landscape areas, and evaluate them through a no-irrigation lens.
- What are the various soil types?
- How does water move, drain, or not drain?
- Which areas get the most sun versus the most shade?
- Which areas are more exposed to the wind?
- How does sunlight move across your landscape?
- How do soil/sun/shade conditions change with the seasons? For example, areas protected by deciduous trees during the spring and summer may be more exposed to winter sunlight once the leaves fall.
Draw a map of your property and take notes at different times of the day and throughout the seasons. You can fill in seasonal gaps if you have outdoor photos from previous years. Otherwise, your landscaper will make astute guesstimates based on lot orientation and existing tree/shrub/plant species.
This assessment helps you determine which plants will grow best – and where. Ideally, we’d work with the existing soil on your property – without too much amendment – replicating what Mother Nature already provides. However, in some cases, initial soil amendments are necessary to restore or reconfigure previously manipulated soil during construction or previous non-xeriscape landscape plans.
2. Minimize lawn space (or eliminate them)
Green lawns are incredibly water consumptive. The most complete Santa Rosa xeriscape landscape has zero lawn space. We understand if you can’t imagine a yard without some lawn space. However, it’s best to limit the size of the lawn to minimize water usage. Similarly, you may find that relocating the lawn makes more sense.
Shadier spots require less water, making better homes for lawns. And we promise there are plenty of drought-friendly, green groundcover options that provide the visual appeal of a cool green lawn.
Dichondra is a perfect example of a green, drought-tolerant ground cover that makes an excellent substitute for lawns. Once established, dichondra requires very little water and can be mowed just like your lawn (although it requires far less mowing than a lawn does). Best of all, dichondra feels soft and lush underneath bare feet and doesn’t cause itchy skin after sitting or lying down on it.
3. Mimic Mother Nature’s plant selection
Xeriscapes can and do include plants native to other parts of the county or the globe. However, we recommend mimicking the native landscape as much as possible. And, as referenced above, that’s pretty easy to do here in Sonoma County, where tree, shrub, and flowering plant diversity abounds.
Before meeting with your landscape designer, we recommend visiting the University of California’s page on Master Gardening and native, drought-tolerant plants. They’ve cataloged extensive lists of native plants that thrive in drought-tolerant landscapes. Pay careful attention to the codes as you navigate the lists.
- “N” stands for Native, and those plants are best for a xeriscape landscape that honors our cyclical rain/drought cycles and supports native wildlife populations.
- “L” and “V” stand for low-water and very low-water needs. This is the priority for a xeriscape.
- “S,” “A,” “P,” & “F” stand for full sun, afternoon shade, part shade, and full shade.”
- “s,” “m,” and “g,” means small, medium, or large.
Those are great for beginning planners to get started. However, if you’re up for more complexity of design, you can also look for plants that serve your property’s needs based on seasonal observations in terms of things like “deer resistance,” “pollinator friendly,” “erosion control,” “wildlife habitat,” and so on.
Ready To Get Started on a Xeriscape Landscape?
The team at XXX are xeriscape Santa Rosa professionals who specialize in planning, implementing, and maintaining xeriscape landscape designs. Contact us to schedule your on-site consultation and begin designing a drought-tolerant landscape specific to your property’s microclimate.
6 Simple Garden Care and Maintenance Tips
Regular garden service and maintenance are critical to not only keeping your garden in tip-top shape but also discouraging pests and keeping your plants in prime condition. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced gardener, there are several tips and tricks that you need to have up your sleeve to ensure your garden thrives.
Here are some simple and effective things you can do to make garden maintenance more manageable.
Understand Your Soil
When it comes to proper garden care and maintenance, you first need to know the type of soil in your garden. Having a good understanding of your soil allows you to make good choices regarding what kind of plants to grow, how often you should water them, and the appropriate fertilizer to use.
Before you start planting, adding a layer of mulch to your soil is also an excellent idea to minimize soil erosion and improve water retention.
Establish and Maintain a Watering Routine
Although it might seem like a simple garden management tip, watering your garden is one of the things that people tend to ignore. The fact is the majority of the plants in your garden won’t have deep roots, which can make it harder for them to access subsurface water. This is especially true of potted plants, which typically depend on the rain and the water you provide.
It’s, therefore, essential to establish a daily watering schedule for your plants. Avoid planting during the hottest part of the day, when the intense sun can vaporize the water before your plants’ roots can access it.
You should also be careful only to hydrate your plants’ roots rather than their leaves and blossoms. Watering leaves encourages the growth of mold and fungi, which can lure pests and potentially lead to disease.
Choose An Appropriate Fertilizer
Because plants obtain nourishment from the soil, it is crucial to ensure your soil is of exceptional quality. One of the best ways to enhance the quality of your soil is through fertilizer application.
Fortunately, you can readily purchase fertilizers with nutrients like potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. That being said, most fertilizers purchased from stores often contain hazardous compounds. So a great alternative is to make your natural fertilizers from compost.
Eggshells, for instance, are a great source of calcium and other essential nutrients. So crushing and sprinkling eggshells around your crops can help your crops obtain these nutrients once the eggshells naturally decompose and release their nutrients into the soil.
Control Weeds In Your Garden
The presence of weeds can be a huge obstacle to your garden service and maintenance. Not only are weeds an unsightly nuisance, but they can rob your crops of the nutrition they require to thrive. For this reason, weed control should be an important part of your garden maintenance practice.
There are several methods you can use to remove weeds from your garden. For instance, you can use your hand or a little object like a hand fork to manually excavate and pull out the weeds from the soil. It’s important to ensure that you’ve removed all of the weed’s roots since if any are left behind, the plant will grow back up.
An alternative you can use if you prefer a hands-off approach to weed control is spraying herbicides on the weeds. Just remember not to spray your plants when using this approach since doing so can damage or kill them.
Deadhead Your Plants
Deadheading refers to the practice of removing dead or dying flowers from ornamental plants. Deadheading flower is beneficial to your plants for several reasons. First, it allows for the blossoming of new healthy flowers, which enhances the aesthetic appearance of the plants. Another benefit of deadheading is that it inhibits seed formation and self-seeding.
To deadhead a flower, simply pinch the wilting flower and pluck it from the stem. Alternatively, you can use cut the stem just below the flower head.
Have The Right Tools And Comfortable
It’s crucial to have the proper tools and equipment if you want to keep your garden looking its best. Ensure the tools you select for your garden are the appropriate size and shape.
A huge wheelbarrow works well for transporting heavy loads of soil or mulch, whilst a compact garden trowel is ideal for planting in confined locations.
You could also require some other instruments in addition to gardening tools, like a hose or a sprinkler system. Having the right tools and equipment at your disposal will make your garden service and maintenance a lot simpler and more fun.
In Conclusion
While keeping your garden well-maintained is no easy task, regularly applying the above-mentioned tips in your garden maintenance practice will help you ensure your garden looks beautiful all year long.
A Closer Look at Irrigation Systems – Part 2
Today irrigation systems vary, where some techniques used can be simple and some a bit more complicated, however the big question is which one will be best for your garden? To properly answer that question it would be best to take a look at the different types of irrigation systems, how they work and the benefits each offer.
Irrigation Types and Benefits
SURFACE IRRIGATION
Surface irrigation is one of the oldest and most common methods of irrigation used. Dating back as far as far as the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations this method uses the force of gravity to distribute water into the soil.
Later referred to as flood irrigation, simply because it allows water to flow and pool into an area, this is not as efficient as other irrigation methods because overwatering can occur, however it has still been successfully used throughout the centuries to produce healthy crops and lush, beautiful gardens.
Let’s Observe The Benefits You Can Get With Surface Irrigation
- Surface irrigation systems cover a large area of land in a faster time than that of other irrigation systems.
- It requires less manual labor.
- Irrigation systems are not negatively impacted by winds or sediments.
Depending on the type of gardening you do, you can determine if this type of irrigation system is more effective for you, however if you live in an area where water regulations are strict you may want to utilize a more conservative irrigation method.
SUB-SURFACE IRRIGATION
Similar to that of the low-drip method, sub-surface irrigation works by distributing water through tubes and emitters. As you can probably guess by the name of this system, the tubes that distribute water throughout this system are located below the surface of the soil.
Brought about in the 60’s as a way to deal with water scarce landscapes, this system works best in areas that are hot, arid, or windy to effectively provide plants with the water they need to thrive.
The Benefits Of Sub-Surface Irrigation Include
- By eliminating surface water sub-surface irrigation prevents water evaporation in hot and arid conditions.
- Reduces weed growth by depriving weed seeds of water.
- Because it’s below the ground, it protects the system from damage caused by animals or machinery.
If for some reason you still have a few unanswered questions on what irrigation method would be best for your landscape, then DK Landscaping is here to offer that expert advise you need.
Just a call or click away we can come in to evaluate your property and help you to decide on, and install an irrigation system that is not only efficient but effective enough to maintain the integrity of your landscape.
Contact us today at (707) 280-3632 to book an appointment or you can visit our website dklandscaping.com for more information.
Turn to the Pros for a Professional Sprinkler System Design
Xeriscaping is a water-wise approach to gardening that reduces water use and maintenance in your front and backyards. An efficient sprinkler system design helps you maintain a healthy landscape, saves you money on your water bill, and helps maintain your home’s curb appeal.
Working with a professional sprinkler system design and installation firm has many benefits, including:
- Working with certified designers who can help you create a personalized, economical solution for your sprinkler system.
- Access to experts who understand the most efficient layout for irrigation system elements.
- Layout designs and maps that are minimally invasive.
- Identifying and maximizing coverage zones and spray patterns.
- Accurately measuring the landscape so the job is done right the first time.
Basics of Sprinkler System Design
There’s a lot that goes into designing, installing, and maintaining the right sprinkler system for your home. In addition to the traditional spray system, low water use irrigation systems often utilize features like smart timers and drip systems.
A good irrigation system not only improves water use efficiency, it also protects the water’s quality and is sensitive to the environment. The goal is to maintain a healthy, functional landscape without exceeding minimal water requirements of the plants or the maximum water allowance in your area.
Here are some of the points you should discuss with your sprinkler system designer .
- What are the ideal areas for the plants you want to install and how will the system be designed to avoid wasting water on plants and shrubs that require different needs?
- Is your home’s water pressure able to handle the proposed sprinkler system components? For example, high pressure can cause water to drift and blow away from the area you want to water.
- Does it make sense to install a rain sensor that pauses the system whenever it rains?
- Does the design work to prevent overspray onto patios, decks, driveways, paths, and sidewalks?
You’ll also want a watering schedule for your timed system. One of the greatest recent innovations has been the introduction of smart controllers into sprinkler system design. These systems decrease water use by drawing on data from weather and soil moisture sensors to accurately determine your landscape’s water needs, delivering just enough moisture at just the right time. You can even monitor and control different zones from your mobile device!
Learn More
Designing, installing, and maintaining a sprinkler system is not a small investment but it can be a smart one that will serve you for years to come. No one knows better than California homeowners that water is an extremely valuable resource for all our communities. Working with a professional sprinkler system design and installation company like DK Landscaping ensures you get an irrigation system that is perfect for all your landscape needs.
If you’re ready to get started on designing and installing a new water-smart irrigation system for your Sonoma County home, contact us today. We’d love to show you how a sprinkler system creates not only a more beautiful yard but a more beautiful life for you and your family!
Types of Irrigation Systems for Residential Yards
In the past, homeowners overlooked the essence of a well-maintained yard. They focused only on their interiors. Nowadays, people realize that guests base their perception of their homes on their exteriors. Moreover, most entertainment in homes now happens outdoors because of dwindling indoor spaces. As such, getting and maintaining the best-looking front and backyard is essential.
Besides picking the right plants, you need a yard maintenance Santa Rosa company to institute the right irrigation system to keep your plants thriving. Some homeowners assume that any irrigation system will do. Others believe that hand watering can work though this is often a hassle, more so for busy people and those with large outdoor spaces.
Without a sound irrigation system, your plants will die and leave your outdoors looking drab. Below are the irrigation system options you have for your outdoors.
Drip Irrigation
When you have different plants to care for in your yard, it is best to use a drip irrigation system. This allows the fine-tuning of the amount of water that your plants get. In a drip irrigation system, porous hoses are laid throughout your yard to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants. Since plants shade the hoses, there is little water lost through evaporation, even in hot weather.
Some drip irrigation systems have in-built timers attached to special emitters to allow plants that need more water to get it at specified times. This minimizes the hassle of watering plants because all you do is set the timer to ensure your plants get enough moisture. Though it guarantees efficient water use and reduces weed growth, drip irrigation works best for small yards.
There is a variant of the drip irrigation system known as the rain catchment drip irrigation system. It is integrated with rain barrels that collect water before distributing it to your plants through porous hoses. This option works through simple gravity that pushes water through pipes down a slope.
Subsurface Irrigation
This is similar to the drip irrigation system because it distributes water through tubes and emitters. However, unlike in the latter, the pipes in a subsurface irrigation system are underground. This minimizes losses from evaporation and allows water to be pushed under low pressures, thus allowing the use of smaller pumps. Furthermore, a subsurface irrigation system allows direct delivery of water to plant roots without hideous pipes running across your yard.
Sprinkler Irrigation
In a sprinkler irrigation system, water will be supplied to your yard overhead like a downpour rather than directly to the roots of a plant. Though there are several types of sprinkler irrigation systems available, they all work the same way. They are the most versatile alternatives for large yards with the same plants because they spread water over a large space.
Sprinkler irrigation systems do not rely on gravity like other options. Therefore, they can be used on almost all land topographies. Moreover, the systems are easier to maintain and work exceptionally well for plants that need regular watering.
In hot months, it is best to use sprinklers in the evenings and early mornings. Irrigating your yard in the middle of the day will only lead to the evaporation of the water and less water reaching your plant’s roots. Sometimes, a yard maintenance Santa Rosa agency can recommend setting up timers for your irrigation system to ease their use and efficacy.
Bubbler Irrigation System
Bubbler irrigation systems are a cross between drip and sprinkler systems. They deliver a lot of water to plants, but only from about six inches above the ground. You can include timers on them and focus on their emitters so that only specific plants are watered at different times. Bubbler irrigation systems are ideal for yards with many identical plants in the same small location. They also work for raised plant beds, small trees, and shrubs.
Though bubbler irrigation systems are highly efficient and save about 75% water, they have high initial costs. Moreover, in very sandy soils, the high filtration rates make it challenging to get uniform water distribution in a place.
When considering which of the above irrigation systems works best for your yard, you should consider your plants and your land’s gradient. For example, bubbler irrigation systems work for gardens with homogenous species or large plants. On the other hand, drip irrigation systems work best for yards with different plants with varying needs.
You can also use multiple types of irrigation systems for your yard to maximize the benefits of watering your land. With the easy access to information online nowadays, you might assume that a yard maintenance Santa Rosa specialist is an unnecessary expense in your household budget. However, without a specialist to guide your choice of an irrigation system that best works for your landscape, getting a perfect yard will be challenging and sometimes impossible. Contact us for more information.
8 Essential Lawn Treatments for a Healthy Lawn
A healthy and vibrant lawn does not just happen. It takes a lot of care and treating it the right way. You can get a lush yard by using the best lawn treatment practices. Time your treatment procedures correctly to avoid damaging the turf by exposing it to weed, pests, and weather damages.
Although each lawn is unique, there are common lawn care practices for people wanting an evergreen, lush lawn. Here are 8 essential treatments for a healthy lawn.
Plant Types
Find out the best plants to grow in your location. You can grow warm-season or cool-season plants- depending on your climate. The climate and plants you grow will determine the herbicides and pesticides to use. Consult with your lawn treatment specialist to help you select the ideal plants for your yard.
Mowing
The best time to mow your lawn is early in the morning or late evening when the temperatures are low. This protects your grass from going into shock.
When cutting your grass, adjust your blades to help you trim the top third of the lawn grass. This is called the one-third rule of mowing. Avoid mowing wet grass as it clogs the mower blades, causing them to transmit diseases across your yard.
Weed Control
Prevent weeds from growing in your yard to get a healthy lawn. Proactive weed control helps you stop pre-emergent weeds. Do this continually to avoid the weds from resurfacing in the next season.
You can achieve this by using targeted weed control, where your lawn treatment expert tests the soil to find out the predominant weeds and their growing seasons. This helps you use pre-emergent weed control measures to eliminate all weeds in your lawn.
Avoid toxic herbicides that may harm your grass, pets, and the environment. Study the labels on herbicides and follow the instructions, or let a lawn expert apply them for you to avoid undesirable results.
Watering
The amount of water and frequency of watering depends on the climate. If you receive enough rain, your lawn will grow well with minimal watering. Look out for signs of water shock to know when your yard needs watering.
The best test for water shock on a lawn is walking on it and observing if your footprints remain visible. If they do not, the grass has sufficient water.
Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to ensure it has enough water to support the grass to grow healthy. The yard should drain well so that the grass is watered uniformly without any parts forming water puddles that can damage your turf.
Aeration
Harsh weather conditions and heavy foot traffic may cause compacted soil ad dense thatch to form on your lawn. This blocks pathways for water, nutrients, and water, leaving the yard looking unmaintained.
If your pets spend all the time on your lawn, they may ruin it if they do not have specific urination spots. Assess the yard to note the damages you need to correct during aeration.
Aeration reduces soil compaction, water run-off, and thatch build-up. As professionals aerate your lawn, they will test the soil to determine nutrients deficiency to advise you on the best fertilizers for your turf.
Overseeding
After aeration, you should spread grass seeds over your turf to encourage new growth to replace damaged grass. This improves the overall appearance and health of your lawn. It also ensures there are no bare spots on the turf.
A thick turf leaves no room for weeds to grow. It is also easier to control pests on a thick turf since they don’t have spaces to hide in.
Fertilization
The right kind of fertilizer and accurate application timing is essential for a healthy, vibrant lawn. Ensure the fertilizer is appropriate for the issues your yard is experiencing, such as bare spots, dry conditions, or nutrients depletion. Read the labels on your fertilizers to know the amount you need for your lawn and the right season to apply it.
Pest Control
Pests on your lawn are dangerous to people and plants. Assess your yard to know the existing pests to control them effectively. Some common pests include fire ants and grubs that cause extensive damage to lawns when they burrow the soil and feed on plant roots.
Some pesticides are harmful to humans and pets. Examine the labels on the containers to know how to handle them. You may also apply them when you expect minimal activities in the yard, such as overnight or when away. You can also use organic pesticides to minimize their effects on the environment.
Soil Amendment
Most lawns grow well if the soil has a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5. Too much acidity damages roots, preventing them from absorbing nutrients.
Soil amendment helps you balance the pH level to suit the type of grass on your lawn. Call a lawn treatment expert to test the soil and advice you on the best way to balance the soil pH level.
Tips To Keep Your Bushes Looking Their Best All Year
We can all agree that bushes are an essential part of any lawn. They make a great attraction and addition to places like walkways and fountains. You can also use them as the background of your lawn’s garden beds.
But for these small to medium-sized woody plants to keep looking their best all year, you need to take great care of them. The goal here is to ensure they add structure, texture and beauty to your landscape.
If you already have bushes or plan to plant them in your loan, there’s something here for you. We’ll cover the maintenance tips needed to keep the woody plants strong and healthy.
- Plant the Bushes at the Right Time
The lawn plants you choose to plant must be adaptable to your area’s climatic conditions and soil. Check the package for instructions and labels on the right growing conditions.
Fall is the best time to introduce new plants to your lawn. This allows the plant to get more time to adjust and grow before winter arrives. Also, during fall, the plant’s root system can easily establish before spring.
- Set a Watering Schedule
Your lawn plants will definitely need water to thrive and survive. You should therefore schedule watering at least once a week and do it thoroughly.
If watering the plants with a sprinkler, set the timer at least 10 minutes. Stop watering when the soil absorbs the water completely or when the lawn is soaked in water.
Water your new plants at planting time and intervals of 1 to 2 weeks daily after planting. You should also water them every 2 to 3 days once 3 to 12 weeks pass after planting. The plants will have more established roots after 12 weeks.
- Stick to Proper Feeding Habits
Instead of feeding your newly-planted bushes with fertilizers, mulch the soil with adequate compost. Mulching helps enrich the soil with essential micronutrients.
Later on, you can add fertilizers based on the nutrition requirements of the plants. For fragile plants, a layer of compost can help amplify the soil nutrients.
The most commonly used nutrients for the plants are potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen. Other essential nutrients include fairly large quantities of sulfur, magnesium and calcium.
- Prune at the Right Times
Pruning can only help maintain the shape and size of the plants if done regularly. You also need to employ different pruning tools for the task.
The best time for pruning the plants has to be spring. However, you have to figure out when the plant blooms. If its blooming season is spring, prune it when flowering stops.
And if it blooms in summer, consider trimming it in early spring or late winter before new growth forms. Either way, light summer pruning will work with a deciduous plant, while heavier pruning (in late winter) will be ideal for a dormant plant.
- Tie or Stalk the branches
Stalking the new bushes will work if they appear weak and it becomes difficult to straighten them. Give the plants some support until they develop a strong trunk. While doing this, ensure that the stalk has the same height as the plant.
You can also tie the stalk to the branches using heavy wrapped wire. But the cable needs to be shielded with a hose to protect the plant’s bark from grinding.
- Test the Soil
Soil testing will help you find out if the land has any deficiencies. If the test results suggest that there are deficiencies, address them using appropriate fertilizer. For instance, slow-release fertilizers will help you overcome nitrogen deficiency.
You can have your soil tested expertly if you send a sample to a soil lab in your area. Locally purchased soil test kits can also help you do this task.
- Watch out for Pests
Pests are undeniably a cause of concern in the maintenance of lawn plants. A lawn care professional can advise you on a suitable method to counter pest infestation on your lawn.
Examples of the most damaging lawn pests include Japanese beetles, masked chafers and white grubs. Others include caterpillars, mites and aphids.
- Mulching the Soil to Retain Moisture
Mulching is a great way to retain the warmth and moisture of the soil. The mulch can help your bushes take water from the soil during winter. It can be in the form of tree bark and wood chips if you lean more on the organic side and plastic paper for the inorganic options.
You can apply the mulches to the soil surface around your plants. This helps reduce soil erosion and control weeds. It also helps maximize the growth of your new bushes while cutting fertilizer costs.
The Takeaway
Implementing proper bush maintenance and gardening is the best way to keep your bushes and lawn looking healthy all year round. Good luck trying out these practices on your lawn.
And if you need professional lawn and landscaping help, we are always here to help you. Reach out today for a free estimate.
A Guide to Lawn and Landscape Maintenance
In theory, landscape maintenance shouldn’t be so hard, right? Just trim, water, and fertilizer. In actuality, landscape maintenance comes with a host of problems. Maybe your grass is dying in patches, or weeds have taken over your lawn.
Achieving a beautiful lawn and garden takes time, patience, and the right information. From pruning to fertilization and pest control, here’s everything you need to know about proper landscape maintenance.
Landscape Maintenance Tips and Tricks
1. A healthy lawn starts with healthy soil
For a healthy lawn, your soil should ideally be loam soil – a balance of sand, silt, and clay. Such a composition is great at retaining both moisture and nutrients. It allows for proper aeration, creating the perfect foundation for plant growth.
Nutrient-stressed soils are breeding grounds for weeds. Naturally, healthy soil has a highly diverse array of microscopic life. It’s this blend of living organisms that helps create ideal growing conditions and strengthen your lawn against disease and pests. Your grass will have deeper, healthier roots and will naturally thrive in all seasons.
So, how can you make your lawn soil healthy?
- Feed your soil with organic matter such as shredded leaves, humus, peat moss, and home composting organic matter
- Protect your soil with organic mulching, as this will lessen weed growth and germination and help retain soil moisture
- Remove weeds as they steal nutrients from your grass
You might also consider getting your soil tested. Just because your dirt looks rich doesn’t mean it’s the right pH for grass and plant growth, as most grasses prefer a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Fortunately, you can easily fix soil PH by adding lime to raise it or iron to lower it.
2. Tread and till with care
Soil compaction occurs with too much foot traffic. Treat your garden soil with extra care by walking on paths and not parking or riding heavy vehicles on the lawn – especially when the soil is wet and compacted. Soil compaction increases soil density preventing plant roots from penetrating the soil properly. As such, your plants or grass will be unable to exploit the soil for nutrients and moisture.
If your lawn soil is hard to the touch or your grass looks stressed, you might have compaction problems. Aerate your lawn at least once a year to improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients. You can hire a landscape maintenance service to aerate your lawn for you or invest in aerators and do it yourself like a pro.
3. Re-assess your mowing technique
The number one cause of a lackluster lawn is mowing too short, so it’s important to keep your lawn at the right height throughout the year. You never want to cut more than 1/3 of the existing grass blade as you could burn the roots. Doing so also reduces water retention, which means you’ll have to water your yard more often.
On that note, it’s important to grow the grass variety that’s best adapted to the local environment. You’ll find that such grass requires less maintenance to look good.
4. Water properly
Now, this doesn’t mean you should water your lawn more – you just need to change the way you water. Aim to water deeply instead.
Water conservation and a healthy, luscious lawn aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive. Most lawn grasses need the equivalent of 1 inch of rainfall to retain a healthy and attractive appearance. If it doesn’t often rain in your area, supplemental irrigation is an absolute must. There’s no hard-and-fast definition for watering deeply. It just means watering in a way that soaks the soil, as most plant roots aren’t sitting close to the surface.
Consider investing in a drip irrigation system as it will water your grass slowly, thereby limiting evaporation concerns.
5. Mulch for your flowerbeds
Mulching is important for a few reasons:
- It insulates the soil, providing a buffer from heat and cold temperatures
- It helps retain soil moisture
- It prevents soil compaction
- It prevents weeds from popping up in your flower beds
- It helps control soil erosion, enabling you to retain the healthy layer of fertile soil
6. Address aggressive weeds early
It’s best to deal with weeds in early spring just as they’re popping up. The longer you allow them to grow, the more deep-rooted they’ll become. You may opt for an organic herbicide, but the best way to minimize weed is through good cultural practices.
- Maintain the health of your soil
- Leave mow clippings on the grass for nutrients and protection
- Devote parts of your lawn to wildflowers
- Do not mow your grass too short
Work with a Landscape Business You Can Trust
We’ve been creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes for years. Contact us for more tips and tricks on keeping your landscaping manageable and low maintenance.
7 Lawn Treatment Tips for the Best Looking Lawn on the Block
Your lawn needs just as much love as any garden. A good lawn brings all the elements of your yard together, creating a perfect space for fun and relaxation. It also works wonders for curb appeal.
Lawn care is a bit more involving than most people realize. It involves trimming, mowing, watering, weed removal, fertilizing, soil health, and more. A thorough lawn care program involves services like pest control and soil testing to ensure your turf is healthy and disease-free. And this is in addition to your lawn maintenance responsibilities like removing debris, edging borders, and mowing grass.
Keeping your lawn healthy and luscious can be overwhelming. So, here are some lawn treatment tips to make the process less tasking so you can achieve a thick, lush green lawn.
1. Establish a Lawn Care Calendar
Mowing is one of the most important processes for maintaining a healthy lawn. Ideally, you should cut your lawn at least once a week during the summer months and once every two weeks during the rest of the year.
If you’ve already established a great-looking lawn, then your priority will be maintaining the health of the grass year-round. If not, autumn is the perfect time of year to start again with your lawn treatment – as temperatures are still warm enough to sustain growth.
2. Get to Know Your Soil
The fastest way to a beautiful, healthy lawn starts with healthy living soil. And nothing contributes to the health of your soil more than a thick, rich organic lawn. It’s a symbiotic relationship.
Although the way a lawn looks is a good indicator of the overall health of the soil, the only way to know for sure what lawn treatments it needs is to do a soil test. Taking a soil sample to your local agriculture extension office helps you understand which fertilizer you should use and whether nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels are sufficient.
Everything else is mere guesswork and could lead to over-fertilizing your lawn, which could kill your grass in the worst-case scenario.
3. Use Natural Lawn Fertilizers
Nitrogen is what gives your lawn that lush green color. Lawns should be fed with fertilizer at most twice a year – in spring and autumn. Natural lawn fertilizers are made from organic matter and can improve the health of your lawn without introducing potentially harmful substances into the soil and water.
Depending on the health of your soil, spring feed should be high in nitrogen to facilitate growth, whereas autumn feed should be high in phosphorous and potassium to toughen the grass for harsh winter weather.
4. “Grass-Cycle” Your Grass Clippings
Grasscycling is simply the process of leaving leftover grass clipping on your yard after mowing. As the clippings break down, they improve the health of your soil as they contain moisture and valuable nutrients. What’s more, grass clippings decompose fairly quickly, providing your lawn with a ready source of nutrients.
Not only does grasscycling improve the texture of your lawn by helping the soil retain more water, but it’s also an environmentally friendly option.
5. Aerate Your Lawn
Aerating, or spiking, involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. It relieves soil compaction and enhances growth. Aerate your lawn in the spring and the autumn for best results and when your lawn gets compacted.
On that note, make a point of regularly removing weeds, thatch, and moss as they can prevent growth by blocking air and nutrients from getting to the roots.
6. Pre-Emergent and Targeted Weed Control
Weed control helps improve your lawn’s natural defenses and reduce future maintenance chores. Finding the right weed treatment plan requires you to understand:
- The different types of weeds
- Their growing seasons
- And how to treat them based on these conditions
Weeds are a problem you need to deal with sooner rather than later. Do so by using weeding tools to get rid of deep-rooted dandelions or get a weed killer if your yard is run over with weeds. You can even use a pre-emergent herbicide to stop weeds from germinating.
7. Watering
A lawn needs enough water for it to grow bright green– that much is clear. What’s less clear is how much and how often you should water your lawn. Too little water and your lawn will shrivel up and die; too much and it’ll become over-saturated and die.
The best method for lawn watering is to water deeply and infrequently unless you’re going through a dry spell. If the weather is especially dry, then it’s best to have a consistent irrigation schedule.
Maintain the Perfect Lawn with a Professional Landscaper
Lawn care involves a combination of simple daily and weekly tasks that you can do yourself. You can also get a little bit of help from a landscaping professional, particularly if you’re dealing with bare patches, pests, or weeds.
Get in touch to see how we can help you get the perfect lawn.
