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Cedar Run Landscapes News
September 2014 |
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Plant for Spring Interest
Planting Bulbs and Pansies
Hardy winter pansies can make a great addition to your garden. As the weather begins to cool down, the performance of summer annual flowers starts to fade. We like to begin the Fall gardening season by adding some visual interest back into the garden palette. After removing summer flowers, we plant spring bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, snow drops, crocuses and hyacinths. Then pansies are planted on top. The pansies bloom until the weather gets very cold, usually mid-December, when they go dormant.
When the sun returns and the days grow longer in spring, the pansies awake from their winter slumber and begin to blossom again. The spring flowering bulbs planted among them will also emerge amongst the pansies, and the result is a beautiful cacophony of color.
We are now putting together pansy and bulb orders with our select suppliers. We do this early to ensure the best color palette and the quality that you expect from Cedar Run Landscapes. Please let us know if you would like to add these beautiful, seasonal displays to your gardens.
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Prepare for a Fall Lawn Renovation
Improving Your Turf's Appearance
Keeping a green lush lawn means understanding the requirements of our turf and providing the appropriate conditions they need to thrive. Such things as drought, excessive shade, poor drainage, soil compaction, inadequate fertility, acid soils, infestations, disease, thatch build-up, improper mowing, poorly adapted grass species, and others may contribute to poor lawn performance.
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The first step to a successful lawn is to assess your soil conditions by checking for compaction and the amount of topsoil present. Also it is essential to get a soil test done. A soil test provides information about the soils pH level and the amount of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and organic matter it contains. If you have been struggling to get an established lawn it may be time to do a full lawn renovation (check out the chart below). With the cooler temperatures in the fall, growing conditions are perfect to renovate thin, tired, weak, and worn out lawns.
Basic Steps for Renovating a Lawn
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Step
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Options
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Comments
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Weed Control
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Physically Pull
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For large or spreading weeds; won't kill all weeds.
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Broadleaf Herbicide
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If weeds are primarily non-grasses.
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Nonselective Herbicide
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Kills most green vegetation; allow 5-14 days to effectively kill the plants.
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Thatch Removal
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Vigorous Hand Raking
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Not practical for extreme thatch problem or large areas.
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Vertical Mower
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Can be rented or hired; can also be used to prepare seedbed.
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Sod Cutter
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Recommended for extreme thatch problem; can be rented or hired.
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Soil Preparation
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Vigorous Hand Raking
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For small sites with little vegetation remaining.
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Aeration
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3-5 passes with commercial aerifier; especially recommended if soil is compacted.
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Vertical Mowing
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Tines should nick surface to a depth of ⅛-½ inch.
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Fertilize
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Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P) Potassium (K)
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½ pound of N per 1000 square feet; P and K as determined by a soil test.
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Seeding
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Hand
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For small sites mix 1 part seed with 4 parts fine sawdust or a natural organic fertilizer such as Milorganite.
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Rotary Spreader
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Preferred method if mixed with sawdust or Milorganite.
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Drop Spreader
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Seed in 2 directions or overlap ½ way.
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Slit Seeder
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Equipment can be rented but requires skill; generally best done by professionals
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Irrigate
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Water lightly to provide good seed-soil contact; then, water lightly twice daily to rewet soil surface. Don't allow to become soggy.
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Mow
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At 3½ inches, mow to 2½ inches with sharp mower; continue regular mowing as needed.
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If you would like a lawn renovation this fall please e-mail us or by calling 215-653-0707.
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Hydrangea quercifolia
Oakleaf Hydrangea 
Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
Average Height: 6-8'
Average Spread: 6'-8'
One of the few native hydrangeas, the oakleaf hydrangea is an upright, rounded, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub. Blooming on old wood, the attractive pyramidal white blooms emerge in mid summer and fade into pink as the season progresses. Exfoliating branches produce large lobed, oak-like, dark green leaves which turn a beautiful purple/red in the fall. Use in mass or as a mixed naturalized border. It is also used for backgrounds, specimen, or foundation planting.
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Renewed Lawn
Newly Installed Turf 
This customer's front yard had succumbed to compaction and poor soils resulting in a patchy unhealthy lawn. Too far gone to complete a lawn renovation, the customer opted to replace the lawn with new healthy sod. Our crew also redirected a sump pump line to emit into a dry wet well away from the house foundation. With the addition of evergreen foundation shrubs and perennials, the curb appeal on this home increased 100%.
 If you like what you see here, contact us to schedule a time to meet at your home and we can discuss how to transform your landscape.
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We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter. E-mail us with any suggestions for our future newsletters.
Sincerely,
Kaitlyn Dibble
Designer
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