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July 2010, Volume 2, Issue 5
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FEATURED ARTICLE
Resurrecting Your Neglected Landscape
This hillside shrub bed has gotten out of control over time and is now infested with weeds and Buckthorn.  | In our day to day work we regularly meet
clients who, for one reason or another, have paid little attention to their landscape for a
period of time. Often they seek assistance in tackling the major 'clean up' portion of the work, and then advice for the basics on how to keep the landscape under control to avoid a similar fate in the future. The basics include
improving the appearance of the turf, controlling weeds and pests, pruning
trees and shrubs, and The existing bed was removed and the Buckthorn was eradicated before installing this new design.  | fertilization of all of the plants and turf on site. These simple maintenance tasks may seem difficult
and time consuming at first, however with a little bit of professional advice, the fear of doing something incorrectly will
fade with practice. With the correct information and a small amount of regular
attention, your landscape will appear healthy and vigorous for many years. If
you are past the point of no return we will often advise identifying the worst
areas and prioritizing according to time and budget. And of course, if you
don't have the patience for that approach, we can always begin the process of
creating a new site plan that reflects your current tastes and life style.
Here are some general guidelines to follow to keep your landscape installation from getting out of control:
1. Weed planting beds at lease once every two weeks. Weed control is by far the most
important task to perform on a regular basis. It doesn't take long for
weeds to become a major problem in planting beds, and once they are
established, it takes much longer to eradicate them.
2. Fertilize ornamental trees, shrubs, and perennials in May with slow-release fertilizer. Perennials should be fertilized again in late July. Fertilization is very important in keeping plants in prime shape to combat disease and insect problems, should they arise, as well as get the maximum show of flowers and foliage.
3. Prune trees and shrubs to maintain form & vigor. Pruning and shearing your plants properly has a very large impact on the life span of the plant, ability to flower, and the general overall health of the plant. If you are unsure how to properly prune your plant, contact us and we would be happy to teach you or check out the many web tutorials available. Check out this video on Renewal Pruning Your Shrubs from Utah State University.
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LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION
Amending Perennial Planting Beds for Optimum Plant Health
Beautiful
and healthy perennial plantings are dependent on several factors including existing
conditions, watering and maintenance (including weeding, monitoring soil
moisture and fertilizing). To make successful
planting beds we must understand these factors and be willing to adapt as the
plantings mature. The following steps
outline a procedure for creating healthy perennial planting beds.
ANALYZE
EXISTING SOIL CONDITION- The first step
to better plant health is the soil, so we must first inspect the existing soil
and assess its fitness for plant growth and health. There are several questions to ask when
making a site inspection. Is the soil
compacted from construction? What is the
soil PH? What is the soil
structure? Sand, clay or more
organic? Is there any drainage
challenges? What is the sun exposure? We may have to rely on the client's knowledge
of the soil conditions. The existing
soil and environmental conditions will dictate how we change or amend the
planting bed soil.
DEVELOP
AN AMENDMENT PLAN- Based on the findings
at the site inspection we can make a plan for improving the planting soil. If the soil is sandy, organic matter and
water holding soil such as black dirt or clay can be tilled into the top to
surround the plants and the sand underneath drains excess soil moisture. This makes a very desirable planting bed
structure. Some existing soil may have
to be removed to make room for the new soil amendments. If the existing soil is clay as much of our
sites have the process becomes more complex.
Clay has a tendency to get compacted easily reducing the plant roots
ability to penetrate the soil. Clay also
holds moisture and becomes saturated so the plants cannot access any oxygen. The clay must be broken up and amended with
more granular soils to promote drainage.
Raising the planting beds above the existing grades can also improve the
water filtration down through the ground if the site allows this design.
EXECUTE
PLAN- Improving soil health for planting
can be a labor intensive and have some costs associated with the process. Soil may have to be removed and amendments
tilled in. Specialized machinery like a skid loader or backhoe may be
required. However if vigorous healthy
plants are desired the easiest time to give them healthy soil is before they
are planted. Afterwards it is difficult
to amend the soil and we must rely on applying fertilizers.
MAINTENANCE
AND MONITORING- Once the plants have
good soil and are growing they will need maintenance such as weeding to
eliminate competition and watering the proper amount to keep the soil moist but
not saturated.
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JULY LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT TIPS
INSECTS & DISEASE-
Japanese Beetle is shown up in many landscapes already this season, so be on the lookout for this devastating pest.
With our warm, wet spring and summer so far, fungal diseases have been a common problem this season. Apple Scab is a common fungal disease that causes ugly brown lesions on both the leaves and the fruit of Apple and Crabapple trees. It is spread by wind or rain transporting the spores to other parts of the tree. Although unattractive, Apple Scab rarely kills the affected tree.
Contact us if you need assistance identifying insect or disease problems in your yard.
PRUNING & SHEARING -Deadhead spent or faded perennial and annual flower heads to promote re-bloom of the plants.
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SHOP TALK
News from Landscape Renovations***Team member Sarah Hartung recently passed the International Society of Arborculture's exam to become a Certified Arborist.
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| PLANT HEALTH CARE
Landscape Management Department
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The Versatility of Native PlantsPrairie Establishment & Management Expectations Native plant installations and prairie restorations are a very popular solution to a number of different situations in the landscape as of late. The benefits of these installations are countless, and uses range from stormwater management to soil stabilization to reduction of the heat island effect and more. The versatility of these powerhouse plantings is endless, which has lead to their increase in popularity.
 Participating or investing in a native restoration or installation takes a special kind of commitment on the part of the homeowner or property owner when it comes to the establishment and management of these installations. Because most prairie or native installations are performed with a combination of seeding or plugs, the establishment period is much longer than a typical landscape installation. A restored prairie that has been seeded will take up to five years to become fully established with proper care and attention from the owner and/or maintenance contractor. Weed control is also a crucial factor in the long term success of the installation.
Native plantings have a reputation of low-maintenance needs, which is entirely true once they are successfully established. Getting through the establishment period is the most difficult part for most homeowners who have chosen to invest in a native installation. Landscape Renovations can help you design, install, and maintain these beautiful plantings so that your property may enjoy all of the benefits that a native installation has to offer.
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Thank you for checking out this edition of our e-newsletter. If you know of someone else who would enjoy receiving this newsletter, please use the "Forward to a Friend" link at the bottom of this page, and they will have the opportunity to opt-in to receive future newsletters. Also, feel free to share this page on your social networking sites.
If you have any questions about Landscape Renovations or the services that we provide, give us a call at our Office (651-769-0010) or email us marketing@landscaperenovations.com.
We are looking forward to serving you in the upcoming season...
Sarah Hartung
Marketing, Landscape Management, & Design
Landscape Renovations
651-769-0010 |
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