Archive for Spring
Designing Your Dream Spring Garden: Inspiration from DK Landscaping for March
As the landscape awakens in March, it’s the perfect time to not only tend to essential gardening tasks but also to dream and design the spring garden you’ve always envisioned. At DK Landscaping, we believe that thoughtful planning and creative inspiration are key to creating outdoor spaces that bring joy and beauty throughout the season.
This March, let’s explore some inspiring ideas and design considerations to help you craft your dream spring garden, with guidance and inspiration from the experts at DK Landscaping.
Embracing Color and Fragrance:
- Layering Spring Blooms: Create a tapestry of color by layering different spring-blooming plants with varying heights and bloom times. Start with early bloomers like daffodils and tulips, followed by mid-season favorites like irises and peonies, and then late-spring beauties like roses and foxgloves.
- Adding Fragrant Flowers: Engage your senses by incorporating fragrant spring blooms such as lilacs, hyacinths, sweet peas, and stock. Place them near walkways, patios, or windows where their delightful scents can be easily enjoyed.
- Creating Themed Color Palettes: Consider designing specific garden areas with a cohesive color palette. For example, a serene blue and white garden with forget-me-nots, white tulips, and bluebells, or a vibrant warm-toned bed with red poppies, orange calendula, and yellow daffodils.
Designing for Structure and Flow:
- Defining Garden Beds and Borders: Create clear definition between your lawn, pathways, and planting beds using edging materials like stone, brick, or metal. This adds a sense of order and visual appeal to your garden.
- Incorporating Vertical Elements: Add height and visual interest by incorporating vertical elements such as climbing roses on trellises, clematis vines on arbors, or tall flowering spires like delphiniums and snapdragons.
- Creating Pathways and Focal Points: Design inviting pathways that encourage exploration of your garden. Create focal points with striking plants, unique sculptures, or charming water features to draw the eye and add personality.
Considering Functionality and Enjoyment:
- Designing Outdoor Living Spaces: Extend your living space outdoors by creating comfortable seating areas, dining nooks, or even an outdoor kitchen. Consider the placement of these areas in relation to sunlight, shade, and prevailing winds.
- Attracting Pollinators: Design your garden with pollinators in mind by including a variety of nectar-rich flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Include native plants whenever possible.
- Creating a Cutting Garden: If you enjoy bringing fresh flowers indoors, dedicate a section of your garden to growing cut flowers like zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, and dahlias.
Getting Started with Your Spring Garden Design:
- Assess Your Existing Space: Take a good look at your current garden, noting sunlight patterns, soil conditions, and existing plants.
- Gather Inspiration: Browse gardening books, magazines, websites, and social media platforms for ideas and inspiration that resonate with your style and local climate.
- Sketch Your Ideas: Create a rough sketch of your desired garden layout, noting the placement of different plants and features.
- Consult with the Experts: If you need help bringing your spring garden vision to life, the design team at DK Landscaping is here to provide expert advice and create a customized plan for your outdoor space.
Let DK Landscaping help you design and cultivate the spring garden of your dreams this March!
Contact us today for a consultation and let’s bring your vision to full bloom.
Spring Awakening: Essential March Gardening Tasks with DK Landscaping
Ah, March! The air is alive with the promise of new beginnings, the days are noticeably longer, and a vibrant energy returns to our California landscapes. At DK Landscaping, we eagerly anticipate this time of year, as it marks the true awakening of our gardens.
March is a bustling month for gardeners, filled with exciting opportunities to nurture new growth, plant for the season ahead, and revitalize our outdoor spaces after the quieter winter months. Let’s dive into some essential March gardening tasks to ensure your landscape flourishes this spring and beyond, courtesy of your friends at DK Landscaping.
Embracing the Burst of New Growth:
- Fertilizing for Spring Vigor: As plants emerge from dormancy and begin their active growth cycle, they benefit from a boost of nutrients. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer to your lawns, trees, shrubs, and flower beds. Follow the product instructions carefully.
- Spring Pruning (Selective): Now that spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas, rhododendrons, and lilacs have finished their bloom (or are just finishing), it’s the ideal time to prune them. Prune to shape, remove dead or crossing branches, and encourage bushier growth for next year’s floral display. Avoid heavy pruning now, as you could remove developing flower buds.
- Dividing Perennials: Many perennials that have become overcrowded can be divided in early spring. This rejuvenates the plants, encourages more blooms, and allows you to expand your garden or share with friends. Look for plants with multiple crowns that can be easily separated.
Planting for a Colorful Season:
- Planting Warm-Season Vegetables: With the soil warming up, March is the perfect time to start planting many of your favorite warm-season vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, and cucumbers. Be sure to check your local frost dates and protect young plants if unexpected cold snaps occur.
- Direct Sowing Annual Flower Seeds: Sow seeds directly into your garden beds for a continuous display of colorful annual flowers like zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, and sunflowers. Choose varieties that thrive in your local climate and soil conditions.
- Planting Summer-Blooming Bulbs & Tubers: Get a head start on summer beauty by planting bulbs and tubers like gladiolus, dahlias, lilies, and cannas in March.
Lawn Care for a Lush Carpet:
- Lawn Aeration: If your lawn experienced heavy foot traffic or the soil feels compacted, consider aerating it in early March. Aeration improves air circulation, water penetration, and nutrient uptake, leading to a healthier and greener lawn.
- First Mowing & Edging: As your lawn begins to actively grow, it’s time for the first mowing of the season. Set your mower blades to a higher setting for the initial cut and maintain a consistent mowing schedule. Don’t forget to edge along walkways and garden beds for a crisp, clean look.
- Weed Control & Overseeding (if needed): Address any winter weeds that have emerged in your lawn. If your lawn is thin or patchy, early March is a good time to overseed with a suitable grass seed variety.
Ongoing Garden Maintenance:
- Continue Weed Control: Stay vigilant with weed control throughout March. Young weeds are easier to remove than established ones.
- Monitor for Pests & Diseases: As new growth emerges, keep an eye out for any signs of early pest infestations or diseases. Addressing problems promptly can prevent them from spreading.
- Watering as Needed: While spring rains are common, monitor soil moisture levels and water deeply when necessary, especially for newly planted items.
Embrace the Energy of Spring with DK Landscaping:
March is an exciting time to be a gardener in California, and DK Landscaping is here to help you make the most of this vibrant season. Whether you need assistance with spring planting, pruning, lawn care, or designing a stunning spring landscape, our experienced team is ready to bring your vision to life.
Contact DK Landscaping today to discuss your March gardening needs and let us help your garden thrive!
Love Your Landscape: Enhancing Beauty and Function in February with DK Landscaping
February, often associated with romance, is also a wonderful time to show some love to your landscape. Beyond the essential gardening tasks, this month provides an opportunity to focus on enhancing both the beauty and functionality of your outdoor spaces. At DK Landscaping, we believe a well-loved landscape contributes to your enjoyment and the overall value of your home.
Let’s explore some ways to show your landscape some extra attention this February, creating spaces you’ll adore in the seasons to come.
Adding Elements of Beauty and Ambiance:
- Consider Adding Hardscape Features: February’s milder weather can be a good time to plan and even begin smaller hardscape projects like adding a charming pathway, a decorative patio extension, or a cozy fire pit area. These features enhance the usability and visual appeal of your outdoor spaces.
- Install Outdoor Lighting: As the evenings remain a bit longer, consider adding or upgrading your outdoor lighting. Well-placed lights not only improve safety and security but also create a warm and inviting ambiance for evening enjoyment. Highlight architectural features, pathways, or favorite plants with strategically placed fixtures.
- Introduce Water Features: The gentle sound of flowing water can add a sense of tranquility and beauty to your garden. Consider installing a small fountain, a bird bath, or even a more elaborate water feature to create a focal point and attract beneficial wildlife.
- Enhance Seating Areas: Think about creating comfortable and inviting seating areas where you can relax and enjoy your garden. Add a new bench, a set of outdoor chairs, or even a hammock. Consider the views and the sun/shade patterns when choosing locations.
Focusing on Functionality and Sustainability:
- Improve Drainage: If you’ve noticed areas in your garden that tend to stay waterlogged, February is a good time to address drainage issues. Consider installing French drains or amending the soil to improve drainage and prevent root rot.
- Build or Expand Raised Beds: Raised garden beds offer numerous benefits, including improved drainage, easier access for planting and harvesting, and better soil control. February is a great time to build or expand your raised bed areas in preparation for spring planting.
- Install or Upgrade Irrigation Systems: Ensure your irrigation system is functioning efficiently. February provides an opportunity to inspect sprinkler heads, repair leaks, and adjust watering schedules in anticipation of the drier months ahead. Consider upgrading to a more water-efficient system like drip irrigation.
- Create Wildlife Habitats: Show your love for nature by creating habitats that attract beneficial insects, birds, and pollinators. Consider adding bird feeders, bird baths, and planting native flowers that provide food and shelter.
Showing Your Plants Some Love:
- Top Dress Planting Beds: Refresh your planting beds with a layer of compost or well-rotted manure. This provides a slow-release of nutrients and improves soil health.
- Mulch Thoughtfully: Ensure your plants have an adequate layer of mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect roots from temperature fluctuations.
- Inspect Plant Supports: Check the supports for climbing plants and make any necessary repairs or adjustments before vigorous spring growth begins.
At DK Landscaping, we’re passionate about creating outdoor spaces that you’ll truly love. Let us help you enhance the beauty and functionality of your landscape this February and beyond.
Contact DK Landscaping today to discuss your landscape enhancement projects!
The Principles of Xeriscaping on Your Property
Living in a hot and dry area or one that does not have much rainfall does not mean that you cannot have the exceptional landscapes typical in places with a lot of rain. Furthermore, you need not waste the average 90 gallons of water watering the plants for a thriving lawn or landscape. There is one option for having a flourishing lawn in an eco-friendly manner, even in dry regions. The solution lies in xeriscaping.
Xeriscaping denotes a landscaping design method based on water conservation. Though often meant for property owners in semi-arid and arid places, the design can also be used in areas with a lot of rain to conserve water. The concept in xeriscaping is conserving water through the correct landscaping principles.
Below are the guiding principles of xeriscaping.
Limited Turf Area and Use a Suitable Grass Variety
Grass is beneficial in landscaping because it controls erosion and water infiltration into the soil. However, a large turf section is one of the biggest causes of wasted water for landscaping. You should try to have grass only in the sections where kids and pets will need it or, in commercial spaces, only in regions that can accommodate many people.
It is best to limit the grass in your landscape to the flat and shaded areas of your property. This minimizes the risk of runoff and evaporation. You should also pick the grass varieties that have deeper roots, since they retain moisture better than those with shallow roots. Some of the best varieties for xeriscaping include Blue Grama, California Oatgrass, Blue Fescue, Bermuda, Buffalo, and St. Augustine.
Improved Soils
Consider using organic soil enhancements like manure, wood chips, peat moss, or grass clippings to improve your landscaping soil. These will support the growth of plants with broad root systems, allow natural aeration, and increase the soil’s water retention capacity.
There are also commercial inorganic soil amendments, but these are more expensive than their organic counterparts. However, they will still benefit your lawn if you, for whichever reason, cannot get organic enhancements. Before any soil improvements, the soil is tested to know its elements that need increasing and the best options for it.
Addition of a Water-retaining Mulch
Mulch will form a protective layer between the air and your plants’ roots, thus encouraging water retention. The best options for this are pine needles and shredded hardwood. Water retention not only improves plant health but will also minimize the evaporation rate and thus reduce the frequency of watering plants. In hot, dry climatic regions, steer clear of rocks and mulch types that radiate or retain heat. These only burn your plants.
Inclusion of a Rain Garden in Runoff Sections
Rain gardens are ideal options for cleaning and capturing groundwater in the low-lying sections of your property. Though dry in most instances, they will hold a generous amount of water after it rains. You can include perennials, flowers, and native shrubs around the rain garden to create a beautiful landscape bed. You can also settle for cisterns, porous paving, and rain barrels to capture runoff that can be recycled to water your landscape.
The Use of Drought-resistant and Native Plants
Drought-resistant and native plant species will often consume less water than exotic species. You can find a broad range of drought-resistant landscaping plants at your local nursery to match your envisioned design. To ensure you get the suitable plant varieties, research the distribution and amount of rainfall in your area beforehand.
Pick plants based on their expected sizes when mature rather than the size in which you buy them. Moreover, pick a few trees to maximize the shade in your landscape for the plants. This shade reduces evaporation, and the trees will act as windbreakers that protect your fragile plants.
An Effective Irrigation Method
Soaker hoses or drip irrigation is the ideal irrigation option in xeriscaping. This comprises a network of pipes with tiny holes that deliver water to the plants’ roots to minimize evaporation and water wastage. Overhead irrigation or using a watering cane leads to less water delivered to your plant roots and wastes a lot of water.
Furthermore, consider watering your plants in the morning because the water will evaporate slowly in cool conditions at this time. Watering plants in the morning also allows them to dry as the day progresses. This reduces the risk of your plants contracting fungal diseases that usually affect humid or constantly wet plants.
If you want to start conserving water in your landscaping design, do not assume that this is as easy as sticking to the xeriscaping principles above. There are different elements like making the right choice of mulch in relation to your soil, climate, and plants. To save time and guarantee the best results, hire skilled landscapers from DKlandscaping to handle your xeriscaping.
Tips for the Best Sprinkler System Design
Your sprinkler system is essential for keeping your yard lush and healthy. When you invest in the best sprinkler system, you reduce your water usage and the time you spend tending your lawn. Here are some tips for the best sprinkler system layout for a hassle-free, flourishing yard.
Determine the Size of Your Yard
Knowing the size of your yard is the first step in designing your sprinkler system. The yard size determines the size of your sprinkler system, the number and types of pipes, valves, manifolds, controllers, and the number of nozzles to use. When measuring your lawn, include the driveway, walkways, outdoor sheds, and your house.
Measure the Water Pressure
Your local water authority can give you a report on your property’s water pressure. But since the pressure may vary from one point across your yard to the other, measure the water pressure and gallon per minute from different locations. Hook a water gauge to an outdoor spigot, and then turn it on fully to detect the water pressure.
Measure the gallons per minute( GPM) water flow in your property by placing a gallon under a tap and recording the time it takes to fill up with water when you turn on the tap to full blast. The water pressure and GMP determine if there will be sufficient water flow in your sprinkler system to irrigate your yard.
If the pressure is low, you may need to operate sections of the sprinkler system separately. This is not a problem since the sprinkler sections serve areas with different watering needs.
Determine Your Hydrozones
Different parts of your property have varied watering requirements based on the soil type, type of plants, and shade covering. Shady areas require less watering than the areas that receive sunlight all day.
Besides, native plants may need less water, the same way clay soil needs less water than sandy soil since it holds water better. These hydro zones will help you set different watering frequencies on your sprinkler system.
Draw Your Sprinkler System Layout
Determine the layout of your piping, nozzle heads, valves, and irrigation controller. Draw your sprinkler system design on graph paper to a scale to ensure your measurements are accurate. This will tell you the number and size of fitting you require.
Select Your Sprinkler Heads
Pick sprinkler heads from the same brand since each brand designs sprinkler heads differently. You may need different sprinkler head designs to suit your hydro zones. Here are sprinkler head designs to consider:
- Spray Heads with Rotary Nozzles
They are ideal when spraying a large area. They can consistently sprinkle water to a radius of about 13-30 feet.
- Rotors
Fix the same size of rotors in each hydro zone for consistency. The rotor head size will depend on the area and radius you want it to reach. They can deliver water to 15 feet to 50 feet radius.
- Fixed Spray
Fixed sprays reach a radius of about 6 to 18 feet, with each sprayer delivering water to the same area consistently. Arrange your fixed sprayers to ensure a subsequent sprayer begins where its predecessor ends.
- Specialty Patterns and Bubblers
These sprayers deliver water to special landscapes areas such as lawn end strips, shrubs, and trees. They can throw water as high as 15 feet and up to 5 feet radius.
- Drip Irrigation
This sprinkler system consists of many small emitters that deliver water directly to a plant. They are laid on the ground in landscape beds and ground covers.
Acquire Your Sprinkler System Parts
Buy your sprinkler system parts from the same brand to ensure they integrate well. Ensure you pick the correct sizes and types for each hydro zone. You will need pipes, nozzle heads, manifolds, irrigation controllers, and valves.
Layout Your Sprinkler System
Follow your design sketch to lay out and join the sprinkler parts for each hydro zone. You can use common valves for small nozzle heads. You can also connect several valves to one controller.
Test and Adjust
Once you have assembled your sprinkler system, test if the sprinkler system layout works as expected. Note any anomalies and rectify them.
Test if the sprinkler system delivers water concurrently to all the parts of your yard or there are parts where the water pressure is insufficient. Some parts of the sprinkler may deliver water well when operated individually if they are affected by low water pressure and GPM.
Set your controllers appropriately to meet the watering frequency needs for each hydro zone. To get the best out of your sprinkler system layout, work with lawn experts with experience in designing, laying out, and maintaining sprinkler systems.
Are you looking for a reliable landscape maintenance company to help you with your sprinkler system design? Reach out to us. We will test your water pressure and GPM to determine the best sprinkler system parts and layout.
We will also help you identify your hydro zones for the best sprinkler system layout. Contact us today to discuss your landscape maintenance project.
The Right Fertilizer and Landscape Maintenance for Your Unique Property
Every property needs landscape maintenance tailored to its unique idiosyncrasies. Though few know it, the winter fertilizer placed on your lawn makes a major difference in its look and quality. The degree of proper landscaping maintenance applied to your property matters a great deal. Instead of attempting to figure out all the nuances of lawn and landscaping management on your own, let our team do the work for you.
The Optimal Fertilizer for Your Lawn
There is a common misconception that any old fertilizer will suffice for a lawn. This is precisely why we closely evaluate local lawns to determine which fertilizer is best. Though you won’t notice results right away after we apply our specialized winter fertilizer, it will provide your lawn with all sorts of benefits.
Our special fertilizer for wintertime treatments bolsters grass so it doesn’t need nearly as much water. Our fertilizer stimulates root development and also boosts resistance to disease as well as traffic. Place your trust in our team to fertilizer your lawn and provide landscape maintenance and you will rest easy knowing the best in the business are hard at work on your property. We have provided service throughout Sonoma County for more than a decade. We have all the expertise, manpower and equipment necessary to manage your landscape during the challenging winter and also year-round. Let our team do all of the work and you will be liberated to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of your property.
We Sweat the Small Stuff so You Don’t Have To
Our team provides a lawn fertilization management program so you don’t have to lift a finger to ensure your lawn is properly fertilized and maintained throughout the entirety of the year. This is your opportunity to kick back and relax while our team handles all the aspects of landscape maintenance on your behalf. We add lawn fertilizer once every two months. Our team applies truly elite fertilizers optimal for the specific season. In fact, we even add slow-release fertilizer in the summer and spring months to bring out the best in your lawn.
The Best Lawn Maintenance Management Program in Town
While many other landscape maintenance companies do the bare minimum, we take the opposite approach. We have gone to great lengths to ensure our standard maintenance program covers all aspects of lawn maintenance management. There are absolutely no hidden fees when you lean on our team for landscape maintenance. We do all of the work so you can enjoy the beauty of your landscaping. Our services extend to both local homes and local businesses. Take advantage of our maintenance management program and you will be treated to mowing, lawn edging, blow yard services, leaf/litter cleanup and our lawn fertilization management program as detailed above.
We really do go to the extent of adding fertilizers to your lawn that are optimal for each unique season. In fact, our team even controls and manages weeds on your lawn so it looks its best throughout the entirety of the year. Whether you are looking for your plants to be trimmed/pruned, herbicide to bet added to weeds, fresh batteries to be added to your timers or your irrigation to be checked by QWEL-certified personnel, our team gets the job done to perfection on the first try without exception.
Reach out to us Today to Schedule Service
If you own a home, a business or any other property, contact our team today to schedule landscape maintenance and additional services. You can reach our landscaping experts by dialing (707) 280-3632 or by emailing Kathyx159@aol.com.
Landscaper Rohnert Park: Maintain a Beautiful Yard
If you have ever walked into any building or garden landscape in Rohnert Park California and you felt warm and welcome, chances are that the yard was cleaned, creatively designed and well maintained by a professional landscaper in Rohnert Park.
A well looked after yard is a sight to behold and creates a serene atmosphere that is second to none. However, this does not happen automatically. For you to enjoy a beautiful, lush and green yard, you will need to make a few investments. These include time and patience. You also have to get the right information that will guide you on the best way to go about it.
Tips From a Professional Landscaper in Rohnert Park
Fortunately, if you are looking for a landscaper in Rohnert Park, you don’t have to break a sweat. In this article you will learn how to transform your yard from a boring one into something that you can proudly look forward to come home to.
Here are different ways to ensure that your yard is elegant regardless of the season.
- Start right
Just like in every other aspect, the foundation will more often than not determine the outcome. In this case, since you will be dealing with soil, it important to have it right. In most cases the soil acidity level, commonly known as pH is high, thus hindering proper growth of grass. It is advisable to take some soil samples for testing and advice on the best way to fix any problems that may present.
It is also important at this stage to get the right information on what is the best type of vegetation to consider. There is no one size fits all vegetation. While some may be suitable for a certain location, they may be unsuitable for you.
- Access unique needs for your yard.
Whenever you have plants be it grass, trees or flowers, it is important to understand that they all have unique needs. Grass in the shady areas, for example, will need less water and fertilizer as the level of evaporation is low, and they grow less. And the opposite it also true. Having this in mind will make is easy for you when undertaking your daily yard maintenance.
- Create a monthly routine based on seasons
Different seasons present different challenges for maintaining lawns. If you have been keen to look around, you may have noticed that most people take care of their lawns during summer and barely touch them after. Unfortunately, due to the negligence, these lawns do not thrive well. To ensure that your backyard yard remains attractive throughout the year, you need to carry out specific tasks based on the season.
- Spring time is the best time to strengthen your grass in readiness for the expected warm days. It is during this season that you should rake to remove any twigs and leaves, mow regularly, apply fertilizers when the soil is moist and also sow new grass to fill in any soil patches. Remember that proper covering discourages weed growth.
- During summer, the activities are centered on maintenance activities. You will engage on more watering, mowing and applying fertilizer.
- In autumn, leaves may suffocate grass. To avoid this, there is need to aerate the yard, mow the lawns and apply some fertilizer.
- Winter season has the least activities in yard maintenance. You only need to remove any leaves that may have fallen over and avoid stepping on the grass. However it provides the best season for planting a new lawn.
A lawn make-over is just what you need if your lawn isn’t in great shape. For more tips on yard maintenance, repair, irrigation and water saving landscape design, feel free to contact us.
Landscaping Ideas Just in Time for Spring
Spring is the ideal time to take stock of your yard’s overall health and consider a few landscaping ideas. It is also a good time to remove broken branches and have shrubbery pruned back by a professional landscaping company.
First: Test Your Soil
Testing your soil and having your lawn fertilized could also be a helpful practice to get into at this point in the season.
When you have your soil tested, you’ll receive a rundown of your soil’s pH level as well as whether your soil has the right mix of nutrients to allow bushes and flowers to thrive.
The great thing about getting your soil tested early is that it gives you time to respond.
If your soil is missing a particular mix of nutrients, for instance, you’ll be able to have a professional landscaping company like Xeriscape fertilize your lawn to get the perfect blend of nutrients.
Mix Enclosure and Openness
The root word for garden is actually enclosure. With a great outdoor landscape, you’re actually looking to blend an enclosed space with the openness of the great outdoors.
There’s even something called the law of significant exposure to guide your landscaping ideas.
The idea behind this is to create a sense of refuge while allowing you and all of your guests to bask in the outdoors.
The law of significant exposure says that the vertical top of a space should be at least a third of the horizontal length of a space.
How does this all work in practice? If you have a patio that’s 21 feet wide horizontally, then a nearby hedge or overhanging tree should be at least 7 feet tall (3:1 ratio) so that there’s a comfy sense of enclosure. The same thing applies to gardens.
Create Multiple Seating Areas
Installing different seats and tables for different purposes and different times of the day is one of the best landscaping ideas out there.
A hammock deep in the yard, if you have the space, would be great for relaxing. A pair of set-off seats might be nice for enjoying a coffee in the morning or a cocktail later in the evening.
On the other hand, a table and perhaps a few couches would be ideal for entertaining guests or bringing a few plates outside and enjoying dinner al fresco!
Start with the Big Stuff
You might have to fight off the temptation to immediately plant your perennials in the sense that there are practical and design benefits to planting the big stuff before the small stuff.
Landscapers recommend going from planting trees and shrubs to dealing with perennials and ground cover.
You should start with something bigger like a tree because doing so gives you an anchor and an idea of where you’re going structurally.
It also prevents you from trampling newer planted flowers if you have to use a tractor or other heavy machinery to get your trees and shrubs into position.
And remember to follow the law of significant enclosure (mentioned above) and ensure, for instance, a small tree abutting a garden is at least a third the height of the garden’s width.
Variation Within Consistency
Repeating similar tones and textures in your garden often achieves a more powerful effect than experimenting with a bunch of individually interesting but collectively jarring colors.
A few different varieties of ferns lining your walkway and leading into the backyard achieves a consistent yet beautifying effect as opposed to dozens of mismatched plants and exotic flowers.
Summing it up, landscaping ideas should revolve around a sense of enclosure, comfort, and intriguing consistency of textures and tones. Contact us for more information.
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
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