Preparing the Yard for Fall

The end of summer normally calls for an end to the gardening fun out in the sun for most people. But that doesn’t have to be the case for all! There are plenty of things you can do to get your yard ready for the fall season and still stay active in the gardens. Find out some ways that might keep you off the couch before the end of the year.

When the summer season starts to dwindle away, this leaves the garden centers empty with plenty of remaining plants on the shelves. This is a great time to take advantage of striking deals on your favorite plants or even trying a different plant for a good price. You can also stock up on gardening and lawn tools before they fly off the shelf next spring. Believe it or not, the end of the summer is a smart time to plant for spring emergence. The ground is still warm this time of the year and the sun’s heat isn’t as strong which is ideal for your plants. The next time you visit the store, ask about proper landscape maintenance in Huntsville AL to prepare your yard for the future.

Why Install Landscape Lighting?

Your hard doesn't have to adhere to Mother Nature's lighting schedule just because it's located outdoors. Lighting up your landscape can light up your whole life. What are some reasons people choose to install outdoor lighting?

• Firstly, safety. Safety is the number one reason people install landscape lighting. People walking around your yard will be lead to the location of pathways, steps, and stops. 
• Security. Lighting up dim areas of your lawn will discourage burglers, who work in the dark, from intruding.
• Beauty and fun. Well-planned lighting installation adds immeasurable charm to your garden or outdoor seating area. 
• Usability. Increase the time window you're able to spend time in your lawn by adding lights that you can keep on through many hours of the late night. 
• Property value. Even though having a professional in landscape lighting in Myrtle Beach SC install everything for you may cost a pretty penny, it is a good investment because it will ultimately increase the value of your home.

Don’t Trash Your Wood Chips

This is the time of the year that you can expect to see fallen tree branches whether it is due to storms or just maintenance work on a yard. But don’t be so quick to toss those pieces of wood. Wood chips can serve as a valuable piece to your yard in a couple different ways. Find out how tree trimming in Glenmoore PA can help your yard.

Wood chips can actually be used for mulching. Using wood chips can help your garden in many ways such as keeping moisture in, minimizing weeds, and even keep your plants warm. This is an older technique but can also give a unique look to your yard. Wood chips can also be used to temporarily stop erosion. If you have erosion in your yard, try creating a barrier with the wood chips to prevent soil loss. And believe it or not, wood chips can serve as a surface for a playground. This makes a safe ground for kids to play on so they don’t slip and hurt themselves.

Fall Weed Control

One of the most annoying parts of landscaping is dealing with weeds. No matter the time of year, there are always different types of weed that will be trying to thrive in your lawn. Each season brings out different weeds, and different strategies for killing them.

In the fall, plants start the process of preparing for winter. Part of this process is moving nutrients from the leaves to the roots so they can survive for the winter. We can use this to our advantage when fighting weeds. When we use weed killers on our weeds during the fall, those chemicals will be transported down to the roots, more effectively killing the weeds.

While this is one example, there are many effective ways to kill weeds throughout the year. Each solution will be different depending on your yard and the type of weeds. For questions about your yard, contact an expert in weed control in Pittsford NY.

Fall Lawn Tips

When you think of fall, one of the things you likely think about is leaves falling. Instinctively, you also probably think about raking leaves from your yard. However, recent studies have shown this might not be the best way to take care of your landscaping.

Instead of raking your leaves to the curb or bagging them up, use them as fertilizer. The easiest way to do this is to mow over them with your lawn mower and let the grass/leaves mixture cover your lawn. This will act as a great fertilizer that will help get your lawn through the fall and give it a kick start in the winter.

If you have any questions about the best way to keep your lawn this fall and winter, or how to best use your leaves as fertilizer, contact an expert in lawn mowing in Red Hook NY.

Landscaping Tips For a Small Yard

We understand not everyone who reads our blog has enough room for some of the suggestions we give. We haven't forgotten about you guys!

We want to take this opportunities to share some landscaping tips for people who feel like they don't have enough room. These tips were provided by professionals for landscaping design in Palmetto FL.

• Never forget to use the vertical space of your landscaping. If you're running out of room to plant flowers in the ground, consider window boxes or hanging pots along your fence.
• It can be easy for small gardens to look messy. A good trick for avoiding this problem is to only use one or two colors.

More Late Summer and Fall Tips

We got a good response to our last post about seasonal tips, so we wanted to come back with more tips. Late summer and early fall can be a busy time, and we want to make this time of year easier by sharing helpful tips with our readers. These tips were provided by experts in landscape design in Springfield VA.

• Are you thinking of starting a project this time of year? Hiring a professional can help save time and money. They will know how to budget the project to get the most for your money.
• Are you going to be traveling at the end of summer? If you want to have flowers in your landscape but won't be able to water them for some time, try Daylilies - as they are very drought tolerant.
• As we move into fall, remember fall isn't the time to prune. Pruning encourages growth and fall is not the correct time for that.

Late Summer/Early Fall Tips

This is one of our favorite times of year. While sadly our leaves will start to fall and bloom has already passed, the landscapes turn a wonderful color. Here are some tips to keep in mind for the later summer and early fall seasons. These tips were provided by an expert in landscape design in Manchester MA.

• Looking for a good plant for late summer? The Shasta Daises thrive in hot temperatures.
• Early fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. You can also likely find good sales before winter.
• If you're planning a landscaping project during the winter, take some time to look around your home for any materials you can use. This will help cut costs.

Keeping Your Garden Jobs Simple

In today’s landscape world, they are coming out with new technologies left and right to keep your yard in great shape. But are all these fancy tools really worth the cost? If you are looking to maintain your lawn on a realistic budget, consider these simple tools and tips for lawn cleanup in College Park MD.

Try using a traditional rake opposed to vacuums or leaf blowers. Blowers and vacuums tend to get rid of all leaves and dirt when in turn, your yard and garden could use those materials to create healthier mulch. When it comes to those tedious weeds, using your hands is still the most effective way to get rid of them. This method results in more labor but you will be happier than after using any type of electric weeder. If you are big into maintaining your home garden, a traditional garden fork is still a great option. This is one of the only tools you need to shape your home compost.

Outdoor Kitchens to Bring Your Yard to Life

Do you enjoy spending your time in the backyard with friends and cooking the day away? Maybe a stylish outdoor kitchen is the right move for you. Contrary to belief, this can actually be an affordable item for your backyard. Here are some options you might want to consider.

A popular type of outdoor kitchen is built out of stone. There are many different stone options that can fit in with your landscape and give a grill and counter-top a unique look. Consider lueders stone in Keller TX as your option when building this type of kitchen on your patio. Another type of outdoor kitchen is all metal. This brings a more rustic look and it tends to be a lower cost material. That way if you are on a budget you can still fulfill your needs. The last type to consider for your house is brick. This is getting towards the expensive side but a brick oven is always a nice idea when cooking outdoors. Get expert advice on which outdoor kitchen best suites your home!

Keeping Your Lawn in Great Shape

Your lawn can go through a lot of damage throughout the year. That can be the cause of severe storms, dry spells, or even pests and rodents camping out in your yard. So how can you stay ahead of the game to keep your lawn in great shape? Check out these tips for lawn care in Hopewell NJ.

Take measures to repair damaged lawns. Many times when grass is damaged it needs to be reseeded or re-sodded. Looking into the type of grass that best suits your environment will help to restore and keep the grass around. Along with your grass, take care for tampered with plants. Make sure plants are well watered and soiled properly. Consider re-mulching your plants in your yard every year.