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Boulder Landscape and Design News
October 2009
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Greetings!
Thank you all so much for your warm reception of the Boulder Landscape and Design Newsletter! We are pleased to be able to share these tips and suggestions for a better lawn and garden all the year 'round. This issue will help guide you through the joys of fall and planning ahead for winter.
Thanks for reading!
The Staff and Crew at Boulder Landscape and Design
www.BoulderLanDesign.com
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 Fall Is the Time to Plan for Spring...
Plant bulbs and flowering shrubs now for a riot of spring color!
It is not too late to install trees, shrubs and those wonderful spring flowering bulbs, despite the recent cold weather. A good rule of thumb in Colorado is to plant before November 1st, giving your plants and bulbs six weeks before the ground freezes. If Mother Nature doesn't provide moisture, be sure to water about once a week to help them establish new roots, and then keep up a watering schedule about every two weeks during the common warm spells in a Front Range winter. Be sure to mulch around the roots of your fall plantings to help retain the moisture and keep the ground a little warmer.
Here are some tips for planting your new bulbs:
- Plant in full or partial sun in well drained soil.
- Group your bulbs for that riotous look. Odd numbers tend to look more natural.
- Set larger bulbs down about 8 inches; smaller bulbs can be planted at about 4 to 6 inches.
- Cover the bulbs with soil and water them well. Cover with a layer of mulch to keep them moist.
- New bulbs have been fertilized and fattened for planting, so no fertilizer needs to be added now. If you plan to leave them for several seasons, however, you can add some compost or well-rotted cow manure when you plant, or gently dig it into the top inch or two of your soil the following spring.
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Fall Colors Mean Messy Gutters!
Clean drains and gutters protect your house and garden.
If you're like most homeowners, cleaning the gutters is at the top of your "things to procrastinate doing" list. Saturdays are meant for scaling mountains, not awnings, and then there's that horrible goop that you need to scoop out with your (hopefully gloved) hands! Still, those lovely deciduous shade trees mean leaves and twigs lodging in your roof's drainage system - and a bunch of trouble if they haven't been cleared for fall rains or the first heavy snow-melt.
Clogged gutters can damage the edges of your roof by forcing tannin-enriched "leaf tea" up under the shingles to begin a decay process. If run-off can't get down the well-planned pipe system, water will also spill over in torrents to erode lawns or garden soil and stress the roots of over-wintering plants or create wet areas in the landscape.
Here are some tips to make your gutter-cleaning easier:
- To preempt the chore next year, cover your gutters with a wide caliber, heavy-duty mesh wire. Larger leaves can then be brushed off and the smaller ones that fall through the mesh can be rinsed out with the garden hose.
- This year, however, get a good ladder, a pair of gloves and a bucket that can hang on the ladder and start scooping!
- Use a free standing ladder rather than leaning your extension ladder against the gutter, which can break or damage it.
- If your roof has a gentle pitch, you can clean from the roof. The best way is to sit or kneel and scoot along the gutter, either collecting the leaves in a bucket as you go or tossing them down to be picked up later.
- Finish the job by running water from your hose into the gutter and down the drain pipe to assure that it is clear.
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Plan Ahead for Winter and the Holidays - Already?
Yep! It's time to think about snow removal and holiday lighting!
We've already seen the first real snow of the season and the holidays will soon be here as well. Whether you plan to do-it-yourself or hire someone, October is a great time prepare for winter.
Snow Removal
If you do your own shoveling or plowing check your equipment, from plows to snow-blowers to hand-shovels, and repair or replace worn or broken parts. Check the gas and oil levels and start blowers and plows to make sure they are functioning so you won't be caught without them on a snowy morning!
Holiday Lighting
The stores are already filling with fun holiday lighting. Now is the time to check your strands from last year and replace any worn, burned out or missing strings or bulbs. There are many energy saving lighting choices now. LED (light emitting diodes) lights use up to 90% less energy than traditional holiday lights and are available in mini's, and C5, 7 and 9 bulbs. There are also solar options that have been vastly improved over the years and seem to work even after an overcast day.
Hiring Out?
With either of these chores, if you are planning on hiring a service to do it for you, now is the time to call and contract with them. Both snow-removal and holiday lighting companies often get book early in the season and some offer discounts for early sign-up.
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Visit Our Holiday Lighting Sampler House
Twinkling lights, colored lights, solar-powered lights, rope lights, two kinds of icicle lights and a moose! We've put it all together for you at one location so you can drive past and see what you'd like to try at your home this year!
Visit with us at our Street-Side Open House Sunday October 18th from 6:30 to 8:00 PM for hot cocoa and a cookie, or pass by any night at 938 Lincoln Place in Boulder. Lincoln is between 9th and 10th off Baseline.
We will be installing holiday lighting this year. Please call us with any questions or for your free estimate at 303-443-3460.
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Thanks for reading our newsletter! Boulder Landscape and Design offers Fall Clean-Ups, Irrigation Turn-Offs, Gutter Cleaning and Snow Removal as part of our services. Be sure to take advantage of our coupon below and pass our newsletter along to your friends.
Sincerely,
The Staff and Crew
Boulder Landscape and Design
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Save 10%
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Mention this coupon and receive 10% off any one-time fall clean-up, winter fertilization, irrigation turn-off, gutter cleaning, or snow removal.
We would also like to offer you 10% off your holiday lighting installation if you contract with us by November 1st. Our calendar will fill quickly, so don't delay!
Thanks so much for your business!
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Offer Expires: November 15th, 2009
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