When planning what you are going to plant in your landscape, always consider when the plants will bloom. You want to know when everything blooms so that you can maintain color throughout the growing season. It is best to select groups of plants that will bloom in the spring, summer and fall. You can always supplement color throughout the season with annuals.
The knockout roses are fully leafed out all ready this year. If you haven't gotten around to cutting them back don't worry you still have time. Cutting the roses back will encourage new, healthy growth and flowers. If you have questions please give us a call!
Spring bulbs this year have put on an unbelievable show! WOW! Happy Spring!
Is there an area in your landscape where every year your favorite spruce keeps dying? You have replaced it with a smaller speciman, tested the soil, and tended to it more each year but it still keeps croaking? Maybe it is not the plant, but the site. When your new planting dies off the first time, check out the site before planting a replacement. Maybe your blue spruce is not thriving because it is not getting the right amount of sun, drainage or another factor in that area. Consult www.monrovia.com to find out site requirements for most plants.
This time of year the streets are lined with beautiful flowering ornamental trees. These trees range from Ornamental Pears, Flowering Crabapples, Magnolias and our native Redbuds. These trees all make great additions to the landscape. They are perfect for that smaller landscape space that can't quite hold a large shade tree. If these trees inspire you to get out in the yard, give us a call to get one installed!
Pachysandra has long been a favorite groundcover for use in the shade. 'Green Carpet' is an improved selection over the species, its compact form and deeper green foliage vary from the species. Once established, it is a vigorous spreader and remains evergreen all year. In early spring, bottle brush-like white flowers are produced above the new growth.
In addition, This plant is considered deer resistant.
It has been a rather mild winter and we are all starting to get the itch to get out and work our the yards. Now is the perfect time to start thinking about any upcoming landscaping projects that you may want to tackle this year. Give us a call if you are needing some help getting those projects drawn out and put into the ground. Now is the perfect time to get the ball rolling. Beat the rush! We look forward to helping you make your home beautiful!
The unseasonal winter has gotten people thinking Spring! That means it is time to add a fresh look to your landscape with a fresh coat of Chocolate Mulch. Give us a call today to get a free quote. Happy Spring!
Wow, what a hot summer we have been having. You know its hot but just think about your plants. In most cases, the gardener needs to supplement natural rain water. The questions of how much and how often are a matter of judgement. The best way to tell when a garden needs watering is to look at it. If the soil is dry to a depth of a half an inch or so, it's time to water. How often you need to water varies greatly with the temperature. With high temperatures in the mid-70s (24 C), watering once a week will probably be more than adequate. But when temperatures hit the mid-90s (35 C), you may need to water as often as every other day. Other factors influencing the frequency of watering are the nature of the soil, the amount of sunlight, how well the garden is mulched and whether the plants are in flower (during flowering plants generally require more water). But always keep in mind, you can most definitely water too much.
When watering you want to make sure the soil is well moistened. This can be time consuming, but it is better to water thoroughly once a week than to give your garden a brief shower every day. Never use a spray nozzle on a hose, it delivers either too strong a flow or an inefficient mist. The best way of controlling water flow is to use your thumb. Always try to water the base of the plants, but in times of meager rainfall you can give the foliage an occasional spray as well. The best time to water is in the morning, but the warnings against mid-day watering are over done. Late evening is probably the worst time to water, as it leaves the foliage damp at night when molds and fungi are most active. But never let a bone-dry garden go without watering simply because you can't do it at the optimum time of day.
Don't give up on your plants if they are severally wilted as they are doing everything possible to just stay alive. A good long watering will do amazing things if you can provide the plants with the water necessary for them to recover.
Low Voltage Landscape lighting is a excellent way to enjoy your landscape longer and differentiate yourself from your neighbors. When the sun sets in the winter coming home at 5 p.m. to a house that is dark is not a pleasant site. However with a 12 volt lightning system we can highlight certain areas of your home and make it a much more pleasant experience. It is a proven deterrent to crime to increase your familys safety and protection and only cost pennies a day to operate. If your interested please give us a call and we can show you the benefits of a low voltage lighting system.
