Landscape Tips for the High Summer Heat
With the Summer season in full swing, heat waves are sure to follow. Here are 6 tips on how to help your landscape survive summer’s high temperatures. Take these steps to ensure the health of your landscape: 1. Water your plants early in the morning. Mornings are cool, and water doesn’t evaporate as readily as […]
Watering your Landscapes/The Smart Way
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program can help you take some of the guesswork out of keeping a healthy yard while using less water. Outdoor water use stresses existing water supplies by contributing to peak demand during summer months. During these hot, dry times, utilities must increase capacity to meet water needs, sometimes […]
Soil Mixture for Your Raised Bed
You should keep in mind that the best soil mixture for any raised bed can and sometimes should vary from one gardening situation to another. Different Soil Mixtures for Different Situations For example, certain plants require a different level of soil pH from that preferred by other plants (blueberry shrubs need an acidic soil mix, […]
The Use of Rock/Stones for your Landscaping Decor
Landscaping rocks bring character to your garden. Carefully chosen materials and artistic placements not only serve as a focal point but also give your outdoor space a unique feel. Explore the wide variety of landscaping rocks available to introduce different contours, heights and textures to your entryway or backyard. Landscaping rocks have versatile usage. You […]
Compost Broken Down for your Understanding
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment. Compost is used in fertilizing all tree and plant life and is the key ingredient in organic farming. At the simplest level, the process of composting simply requires making a heap of wetted organic matter known as green waste (leaves, […]
The Importance of Soil and Soil Care
After you have planned out how you want your lawn to look, the next step is to put your plans into action. If you are replacing your existing lawn, you will first need to get rid of your old lawn. Most people will choose to kill-off the old lawn with a broad-spectrum herbicide before they […]
Spring Frosts & Snows/ Perennials
Snow in the spring is welcome. The snow provides great insulation for plants and can protect hardy flowers from frosty temperatures. The moisture provided is a real boost to bulbs and perennials that are ready to emerge. If daffodils and hyacinths are blooming and snow is predicted, cover them with a bucket or similar container […]
Beware of Plant Advertisements Misleading You
After a long winter indoors, gardeners yearn for spring and the growing season. Magazines fill with enticing pictures of flowers and sumptuous looking vegetables just waiting to be planted. It is hard to resist wanting to try that new variety. Some ads are obviously misleading with pictures of plants with unbelievable growth; whereas with other […]
More on Drainage Swales and Berms
When land is converted from its natural state to other uses, especially urban land uses such as roads, homes, and shopping centers, many impervious or paved surfaces are created. Rainfall can no longer soak into the ground. Instead it becomes stormwater or runoff. As land is developed the volume, speed of flow, and pollutant loading […]
Some Steps to Excavation and Grading
Excavation contractors are fond of telling their friends that they couldn’t bear to give up their childhood dump trucks, so they exchanged them for bigger versions. In the world of construction, excavation contractors do much more than haul dirt around; their responsibilities include site preparation, grading, trenching and many other soil-related tasks. And, yes, they […]