Landscape Maintenance Services FAQ’S
When is the best time to prune my shrubs?
It depends on the type of shrubbery you have; spring blooming bushes such as forsythia are generally pruned just after they bloom. By contrast, prune most summer-flowering shrubs (including rose of Sharon, butterfly bush, ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, and spirea) in early spring.
Evergreen shrubs are best pruned in early summer after the bulk of their new growth has finished. No matter what trees and shrubs you’re growing, it’s a good idea to prune out any dead or diseased branches. This helps the plant look better and can prevent the disease from spreading.
Aside from pruning for appearance, you should prune out any stems or branches that block pathways, driveways, or grow into the side of a house or other structure. Also remove branches that cross and rub against one another; as the bark gets rubbed off, it makes the tree more susceptible to disease.
Professional landscape maintenance services provided by a professional landscaper knows the proper time to prune and trim. So if you see any landscaper trimming every plant in a yard in the spring, that landscaper is most definitely IS NOT providing knowledgeable professional landscape maintenance services to their customer.
When is the best time to over seed my lawn?
The best time to over seed your cool season lawn is in the fall (September to mid-October) when the soil is still warm but the air is cooler and less humid. There are also fewer weeds for new grass to compete against, meaning you will have a lush lawn faster than other times of the year. Also, diseases that attack seedlings are less active at this time of year meaning your chances of success are greatly increased. If you can’t seed in the fall, your next best time is in the spring.
When is the best time to de-thatch my lawn?
One of the first things landscape maintenance services should do for a lawn in the spring is thatch control. Thinning out the thatch in the spring clears out old, dead grass and other organic matter that has built up over time but has not broken down. De-thatching will open up the lawn surface allowing for improved nutrient and water uptake as well as severing up solons and rhizomes which encourages new growth. The renewed growth and warming temperatures of spring provide the ideal setting to perform this procedure.
What are the benefits of bark mulching?
Applying bark mulch to your planting beds can provide a number of benefits. Bark mulching can suppress weeds, keep soil warm in the winter and cool in the summer, conserve moisture and eliminate stress in shallow-rooted plants, provide nutrients to the soil, improve soil drainage and provide an aesthetically pleasing effect for your landscape.
How do I apply Bark mulch correctly?
Preparation is a key point here; make sure you weed before applying bark mulch to planting beds, as any weeds left behind may grow through after application; a per-emergent herbicide such as preen may also be used before applying bark mulch. Spread bark mulch evenly at a depth of two inches with extra care taken to avoid “mulch mounding” around the base of plants and trees, this is caused by mulching too thick and too close. Mulch mounding causes rotting to occur and diseases to be introduced; excessive mulch can be removed and if discovered soon enough will prevent plant decline and death.
Please feel free to contact us with any further landscape maintenance services questions you may have. If you prefer having a professional do the work we will be glad to come by and give you a free quote.