One of the biggest things you have to worry about when planning your garden or yard is something that you may not even think about at all: your soil. After all, it’s just dirt, right? It’s actually not that simple. Soil testing is a vital part of planning a garden or landscape maintenance because it looks at the pH of the soil, which determines which plants will thrive, among other things. But what is pH, and why does it matter?
When most people think about landscaping the property around their homes, they envision planting trees or flowers, laying down nice-looking mulch, and maintaining the grass. Landscaping is more than those surface things, however. Sometimes landscaping means reforming the land—in this case, grading it. If you’re in a situation where you’re considering having a professional help you grade the land, it will help to understand the differences between rough and finish grading.
Have you started seeing web-like structures in the branches of your trees? You may be dealing with a widespread pest that isn’t talked about enough considering how often we see them: tent caterpillars. They’re the larvae of different kinds of moths that live in your trees and end up feeding on the leaves. They get their name from the silk tents that build in trees, which can be unsightly but also defoliate your trees as well. It’s important to control tent caterpillars if you want to keep your landscaping safe from infestations.
With all the reds and yellows surrounding you, you may not associate fall with growth and landscaping. Most of us tend to think of spring or even summer as being ideal times for this kind of thing; but ask any landscaping expert, and they’ll tell you fall is a good time to work on these kinds of projects. Autumn is a great season for planting, pruning, lawn renovations, or adding irrigation thanks to its increased moisture and relatively cool temperatures. It’s also vital that you plan ahead for the coming winter months when adjustments are harder to make. If you’re considering upping your landscaping game this fall, you may want to consider some of these bright ideas.
There are many people talking nowadays about native plants versus non-native (and sometimes invasive) plants. Some people even are trading their standard grass yards for a habitat of native plants in order to protect and promote the local ecosystem. But what is the value of native plants? Should you really go out of your way to choose native trees? In short, yes you should.
Rain is a natural part of any growing season, so much so that one of our biggest worries is usually a lack of rain or drought, not too much. But like with anything else, too much of something, even a good thing like water, can be a bad thing. Rain that falls torrentially, with lots of accumulation over a short period, can damage and occasionally even kill some plants. How can you help your plants avoid or survive this rain damage?
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One of the best things to do in the summer is to hang out and relax in the garden, preferably in a hammock with lots of shade or with your friends and family. Unfortunately, bugs and other pests also like to congregate near people and plants. Luckily there are several different types of plants that will help you keep bugs and other pests out of your garden!
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When you think about drains, you probably picture your shower or maybe the kitchen sink. After all, these drains are the ones you see on a daily basis. When working properly, drains keep water from building up around them. Drainage in your yard works similarly, it just looks a bit different. Water buildup on your property can lead to lots of expensive damage. Here are some of the reasons you will want to make sure your yard has plenty of drainage.
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Trees add immense beauty to any property. If you have a tree that hasn’t been looking so great lately, it may be diseased in some way. Here are some common signs of tree disease, and some care and prevention tips.
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There really is no doubt that the summer heat can truly end up taking a massive toll on your lawn. In fact, Watering too much or too little, not mowing properly, ignoring the early signs of insects and bugs — it can all wreak havoc on your turf. Therefore, taking the proper measures initially can increase the chances your lawn looks great — even during the brutal summer heatwaves that come through the mid-Atlantic. Here are some of the key tips to ensure your lawn looks great despite the heat.
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