Archive for Spring
How to Transplant Shrubs in Summer
The best times of year to transplant trees and shrubs are spring and fall; however, certain situations may make it necessary to move your plants outside of those seasons. For example, you may want to take your shrubs with you if you are moving or you may have to move the plant because of the weather.
If you find it necessary to move a plant during the warmest part of the year, you will need to take certain steps to ensure its health. Here are some tips on how to move shrubs in the summer without harming them:
- Choose the Right Location
Transplantation represents a dramatic change and a plant will have to adapt to its new environment slowly in order to survive. This means that you will have to keep factors like sunlight, soil drainage and soil pH in mind when choosing a new location. - Dig an Appropriate Hole
You will need to dig a hole that is approximately twice as large as the shrub’s root system. The additional space allows the roots to grow into the new site comfortably. - Carefully Remove the Shrub
Work carefully to avoid damaging the root system when uprooting shrubs. You will want to take as much of it as you can. You will also want to move some of the soil from the old location to the new one. You can place larger shrubs on a tarp and drag them to the new location along with some of the soil. - Add Adequate Water to the New Hole
You will want to wet the hole thoroughly before placing the shrub into it but avoid oversaturating it as this can cause the shrub’s roots to rot. - Place Shrub in the New Hole
Along with the shrub, place some of the soil from the old location into the hole as well as some potting soil. Pat the soil down around the base to ensure that the shrub stays upright. You can add watering stakes to the ground so that the shrub can water at root level but this is not essential. Be careful to avoid damage to the roots when installing the watering stakes.
The quality of your landscaping plays a major role in your ability to enjoy your yard and in your property value. If you need help with moving shrubs or with any other aspect of landscape maintenance, contact us today. Our experienced landscaping crews know how to move your shrubs and trees quickly and without damaging them.
Stop and Smell The Flowers!!
Flowers! From incredible wedding bouquets and beautiful Mother’s Day arrangements to blooms we offer in the hope of soothing hurt feelings, there are many occasions and reasons for why we plant them and offer them as gifts. So As you begin to paint the picture of your landscape plan, take a moment to consider their meaning before you begin to plant. Here are a few of the most popular floral choices and the meaning that they convey:
Roses 
There is no flower that has been revered and celebrated as much as the rose. As a source of inspiration to people throughout history, roses are the definitive symbol for love and appreciation, but the different colors also have a meaning all of their own:
Yellow roses mean joy ~ Red roses mean passion ~ Burgundy roses mean unconscious beauty ~ Orange/coral roses mean desire ~ Red and white roses together mean unity ~ Pink roses mean grace and gentility ~ White roses mean worthiness
Orchids
With an exotic appearance, orchids have come to represent rare and delicate beauty. Those seeking to make a lasting impression with a unique flower have found the orchid to be a perfect choice. As both potted plants and cut flower arrangements, these tropical flowers have an undeniable appeal. Different cultures throughout history have believed in the healing, disease-fighting and protective properties of the orchid. In traditional Chinese medicine the orchid is used to help cure coughs and lung illnesses. The ancient Greeks associated it with virility, and the Aztecs were said to drink a mixture of the vanilla orchid and chocolate to give them power and strength.
Lily 
A very common flower at funerals, lilies also symbolize virtues such as purity, sweetness and friendship. The Greeks believed the lily sprouted from the milk of Hera, the wife of Zeus. White lilies signify purity and sweetness, day lilies symbolize coquetry and yellow lilies can mean falsehood or gaiety. Lilies of the Valley mean a return of happiness.
Iris Flowers
Few other flowers can match the elegant beauty of the iris. Representing faith, hope, and wisdom, the iris is a flower that can be used for many different occasions. While it is most known for its distinctive blue varieties, the iris can also be found in other colors such as yellow and white.
Tulips
With their flower meaning being perfect love, tulips can impart a sense of grace and elegance wherever they are displayed. The tulip is recognized throughout the world as one of the most popular cultivated flowers, but they are particularly associated with the Netherlands. Dutch tulips are among the leading tulip varieties within the floral community.
Carnation
As one of the most popular flowers in the world, the carnation is widely appreciated and enjoyed. Carnations are available in a variety of colors and are generally symbolic of love and fascination.
- Red carnation symbolizes love, pride and admiration
- Pink carnation symbolizes the love of a woman or a mother
- Purple carnation symbolizes capriciousness;
- Yellow carnation symbolizes disdain, rejection or disappointment
- White carnation symbolizes innocence and pure love
- Striped carnation conveys refusal
DK Landscaping are your landscaping and gardening experts. If you need a company to spruce up your existing landscape or custom design one, call us.. DK Landscaping serves Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, West County, Santa Rosa and Windsor areas. Call us today 
707.280.3632.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Landscaper
Every homeowner wants to have a beautiful, pristine and well-manicured landscape. Oftentimes, homeowners decide to design and maintain it themselves to save money. But the reality is, keeping your lawn well-maintained and healthy is a time-consuming job – fighting weeds, heat, debris and pests and trying to keep everything green and lovely. If you spend a lot of time at work, you may not want to commit your off days to yard work. So before deciding whether to continue do it yourself or hiring a professional landscape maintenance company, here are a few more things to consider may sway your decision:
Professional grade work – While DIY can be fun, unless you have some experience with these types of projects, this can end up consuming more of your time and can potentially end up to be disastrous. If you’re going for curb appeal or a professionally manicured lawn, a professional lawn maintenance company is the answer. With the right equipment and experience, professionals can get the job done quickly, efficiently, and beautifully while you focus on other things.
Knowledge –A skilled landscaper has knowledge that your average person doesn’t have concerning grasses, trees, shrubs, and plants. They know when to prune, what grows best where, and how to care for difficult plants. Having someone who knows the ins and outs of botany can be the difference in a mediocre backyard and one that all your neighbors are talking about.
Economical – Hiring a professional can sometimes be more economical. For a certain weekly fee, homeowners receive the benefit of professional knowledge and execution. Also, homeowners will not have the expense of purchasing the various tools and equipment necessary for lawn and garden maintenance, tools and equipment that include lawnmowers, weeders, edgers, fertilizer, grass seed, leaf blowers, and shovels.
Convenience – Lawn care will take you away from other activities like work, family time, entertaining friends and relaxation. Although you will pay for professional landscape maintenance, the convenience may justify the cost.
We at DK Landscaping also offer a spring-cleaning service that will help prepare your lawn and garden for the spring and summer months. It’s a time to prune the old and plant the new. We know exactly what needs to be taken care of this time of year and are ready to tackle even the most difficult home landscaping job.
Handing the reigns over to someone who landscapes for a living gives you freedom to enjoy your spring and summer without worrying about your projects going undone. Call Kathy or David Lee at DK Landscaping (707) 280-3632.
Think Spring
While we continue to pray for more rain that our mother earth very much needs, Northern California folks have been fortunate to experience a mild, pre-spring like kind of winter. So as we continue to wait for more rain, why not get outside, spend sometime in your garden and get a head start on your spring chores?
To help your home and lawn look its very best in the blooming months that are coming, you may want to make the following spring to-do-list:
Remove Dead Plants and Debris: Even though we haven’t seen too many days of freezing temperatures, it still tends to get very cold and results in fallen leaves cluttering upon brown grass and dead shrubbery. Rake away any debris and dead leaves the winter has collected on your lawn. By doing so, you can open your grass up to soaking in more moisture and sunlight as the air gets more humid and the sun begins to shine for longer hours.
Dethatching: Thatch is the landscaper’s term for the layers of dead grass and thick roots that can accumulate around the bases of the grasses in your lawn. Removing this layer of dead material will help rejuvenate your lawn, allowing fertilizer and water to penetrate to the roots of the grass plants.
Mulch and seed: Due to the the lack of sun and the cold temperatures these last few months, it’s no surprise that your lawn and plants have suffered. Because of this, recommend you apply new layers of mulch to your trees, shrubs, and bushes, as well as fresh grass seed to your lawn, to ensure that your lawn will be vibrant and green by the time the springtime rolls around.
Control those weeds: During the winter months, your lawn will be contaminated with some stray weed seeds. By applying a chemical pre-emergent weed control, your days of digging dandelions and crabgrass out of the lawn are over.
Mow and fertilize: To manage the fresh spring growth and give new grasses time to mature, you should set your mower blades to the highest setting when you are cutting the grass for the first time in the spring. Now is the time to feed the lush growth of spring grasses. You can choose chemical fertilizers or use natural compost to get a lush, green lawn in the spring.
Begin a Watering Schedule: Generally, homeowners tend to avoid and ignore watering their lawn in the winter seasons. However, as the weather heats up again, it is time to begin a regular watering regiment so your plants and lawn may thrive. Keeping in mind water conservation restrictions in your area, we recommend watering at a specific time on specific days. This way your lawn will adapt to the amount of water it is receiving, allowing it to grow more freely and naturally, resulting in a more beautiful front for your home.
If you need a company to manage your spring lawn and landscaping needs, turn to DK Landscaping Inc. We have the experience and knowledge to get your lawn in shape this spring. DK Landscaping serves Petaluma, Cotati, Rohnert Park, West County, Santa Rosa and Windsor areas. Call us today 707.280.3632.
What’s Growing On?
Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul. ~ Luther Burbank
Around this time of year I start to get spring fever, that urge to go outside and dig around and plant something. Even if you naturally don’t have a green thumb, flower gardening allows you to use your artistic playful side, being outside in nature soothes your soul, and a beautiful flower garden increases the curb appeal of your home. One of the first things a flower gardener learns is that there is not one date when it is best to plant all flowers.
This group of exotic and tropical summer bloomers can be planted right now and all through April in most of the country; planting times for colder regions of the North are typically from April to June, depending on the bulb.
Cannas are a personal favorite for their showy, tropical-like flowers and vibrantly-colored or variegated banana-like leaves. Dahlias offer numerous flower types from dazzling daisies, to showy pom poms, to show-stopping colorful blooms. Other note-worthy spring-planted bulbs include gladiolus, windflower (Anemone coronaria), pineapple lily (Eucomis), freesia, summer hyacinth (Galtonia), begonia, red hot poker (Kniphofia), Asiatic and Oriental lilies (Lilium), and Aztec lily (Sprekelia). 
So start by finding an empty spot in your yard that you see frequently that could use some color. If you don’t have an open bed, remove a patch of lawn in front of shrubs. Measure the size and note what time of day and how long the sun shines on that spot. Consider the following when designing your garden: hardiness, color, fragrance, height, time of bloom and size of plant. Do you want to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, or song birds? Or are you trying to create a work of beauty just for you? Next, visit your favorite full service nursery. They will help you pick out the right flowers for that spot. And be sure to ask about fertilizer, weed preventer and mulch.
Here are three easy ways to start planting your summer bulbs:
- Start with bulbs that are plump, firm and feel heavy for their size. Prep the soil by working a complete fertilizer into the entire bed or bottom of planting holes.
- Arrange the bulbs in groups or random clusters, then plant them at the depth recommended on the package with the pointed side or sprouting side facing up.
- Cover the bulbs with soil mixed with compost and keep the soil moist to slightly moist from planting until the foliage of the mature plant dies back.
One of the biggest things about gardening is the upkeep, depending on the plants and flowers you choose this can require little maintenance or high maintenance. Be realistic about your daily scheduled and how much effort you are willing to put in weekly to maintain your gardens.
Work all day? Busy with kids? Then opt for low maintenance plants that need very little maintenance or call DK Landscaping to keep your yard looking beautiful all year long! (707) 280-3632.
Springing Forward
Spring is an exciting and one of the most beautiful times of the year. The days are becoming longer, the weather is getting warmer, you awake to birds chirping in the morning, and spring blooms and lush green plants come alive in your landscape.
After a long winter, your lawn and gardens may be looking a big ragged and dreary. So before you pull out your lawn furniture from storage, get in the “spring spirit” by getting your yard looking spectacular. Help your lawn, trees and shrubs get off to a healthy growing season with these six luscious landscaping tips:
1. ASSESS YOUR TOOLS: Check, maintain, sharpen and repair your landscaping tools for a smooth spring and summer experience. This includes your lawnmower, weeding/pruning tools, rake and edger.
2. CLEAN UP: Clean out dead leaves, branches, trash or anything else that could impair your garden and lawn’s growth. Prune
3. WEED CONTROL: Uproot any existing weeds you find out of flower beds and check your lawn for any weed growth, whether they’re leftover stalks from last year or brand-new shoots. Once weeds are clear, DK Landscaping recommends spending between 10-15 minutes a few times per week to prevent new weed growth in your garden.
4. FERTILIZE: Make sure your early spring fertilizer has less nitrogen and more phosphorus to promote strong roots. Be sure to keep fertilizer on target to prevent run-off, and sweep fertilizer granules that may reach pavement back onto your lawn. Give your lawn a slow, steady watering about once a week, but adjust depending upon rainfall, grass and soil type in your area.
5. MULCH: A fresh layer of mulch can take any flower bed from drab and dreary to beautiful. DK Landscaping suggests applying four inches of mulch over the top soil, which will help retain moisture and prevent growth of those pesky weeds.
6. IRRIGATION: Check your in-ground sprinkler system and make sure all your sprinklers are working properly. Remove any overgrown grass that may have covered up any part of the pop-up heads. Check the sprinkler heads for cracking and breakage from last year and have them replaced if needed.
It’s the perfect time in Northern California to gather up tools, slide into your boots, pull on your garden gloves, and enjoy that first breath of spring.
DK Landscaping specializes in landscape maintenance, irrigation, clean-up and colorscape in Sonoma County. Contact Kathy or David Lee for more information and a consultation on your landscaping (707) 280-3632.
How to Create a Landscaping Design Plan
Another mild winter has come and gone. So when the sun starts shining and the weather begins to get warmer, it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about some spring landscaping projects. This gives you the opportunity to list all the current features you enjoy about your current landscaping, and any that you would like to improve upon. It could be as simple as enhancing a focal point, such as a pool area with a stone patio or water feature or it could be having the landscape that you always dreamed of having.
Even if you have a naturally green thumb, DK Landscaping suggests hiring a landscape designer. They are trained professionals that can save you from wasting money on wrongheaded ideas and open your eyes to possibilities you haven’t considered. Landscape designers can take all of your big picture ideas and create a realistic plan that works with your budget and time. It can also help you make decisions on prioritizing your needs with the landscape project.
- How long do you intend to live in your home? This helps with budgeting and prioritizing phases of the landscape project.
- How do you see yourself using your yard? hosting Sunday barbeques, working on a crossword puzzle in your hammock, swimming laps, growing vegetables, roasting marshmallows by fire pit, waterfalls/ponds, putting green? The ideas are endless.
- What is your Landscape Design Style (formal, informal, contemporary, Asian flare, Tuscan, Mediterranean, eclectic, tropical)? It’s important that you select a landscape design style that best matches the look and feel of your home and still reflects your unique personality.
With a bit of proper planning with our design consultant, Kathy Lee, you and your family will be able to enjoy a resort style space for years to come. To get started on your project contact your friends at DK Landscaping (707) 280-3632.
