August Checklist

The hot temperatures of August can turn even the hardiest of gardens into a wasteland. This is the time to make sure you are continuing watering and other garden maintenance. However, watering can be a Catch 22: you don't want to drown your garden, yet you don't want it to go through a drought either. So keep these tips as a Rule of (Green) Thumb:

Watering Tips

Slightly moist soil is your best bet. If the ground is saturated, the plants will rot at the roots. Not enough water will cause desiccation. In the heat of summer, especially, keep an eye on the plants. The curling and drooping of branches and leaves is an urgent indicator: Water!
Watering in the morning or in the evening ensures that the most amount of moisture is reaching the plant and not just evaporating.
Check your sprinklers for adequate water supply. Dry or wilting plants indicate water stress.
Water more frequently the plants in pots. Potted plants tend to dry out much faster than those in the ground.
Clean beds of debris to prevent critters nesting.
Deadhead your perennials and annuals.
Ensure adequate mulch coverage to retain moisture.
Check for water flow and sitting water around the house.
Schedule your Fall Project Consultation!

Download our Summer Checklist!

Front Entrance Renovation

This project took on a space that was needing some attention. The client already had the wall in place, the original plantings had just been lost over time. They wanted to elevate the front entrances to be warm and inviting for all who came to visit or pass by.

We are always trying to create new ways to add value to our clients. Something we have added to our project process is providing better notes, better concepts, and better communication so we can ensure that our clients are happy with the ideas and understand what they are signing up for. It enables us to work out the issues ahead of time as well as to effectively communicate with our crews.

Gardening: The Original Self-Help Movement

"If you have a garden and a library, then you have everything you need." -Cicero

I admit I am an avid reader of all things, and a consumer of endless self-improvement books, business books, and the like. They come in all shapes and sizes, differing perspectives, some faith-based, others not so much; some are applicable, others not so much. Each one has played its part in my journey and, if worthy of repeat visits, has a place on my bookshelf.

In the past few years, I have taken to become a "gardener", not just a landscaper. During one of my many "rescue attempt" sessions (i.e I didn't weed anything for a week and now I have to spend hours trying to undo my laziness) It dawned on me that if one were to spend more time gardening and less time "planning to succeed", all the lessons contained in a collection of personal improvement courses (including the number one self-help book, the Bible) could be grasped.

For example, think how easy it would be to understand the concept, " You reap what you sow" when you plant a carrot seed and, VOILA! a carrot grows. Not a turnip or a clump of lettuce, a carrot. Try planting a cucumber seed with the hope that it will become a sunflower. What disappointment! It is a mere cucumber. Yet, every day, we go about planting seeds, some good and some bad, and we lament that they have not become what we expected. If we plant the seed of order and contentment, that is what we receive. If we plant the seed of gossip, resentment, the contention that is what we receive in return.

It could also be said that if you fail to sow, you will have nothing to reap. I am a planner. I plan everything out as best I can beforehand to avoid as much pain as possible. It's what makes me a good landscape designer but not the greatest gardener. In order to be a great gardener, some planning is in order, but the most important thing you can do to be a successful gardener is to PLANT SOMETHING SO YOU CAN GROW SOMETHING! Thinking about it, charting it out, buying organic and non-GMO seeds, preparing the soil to perfection are all great and necessary. However, if you never actually plant the seed, it will all be for naught.

So if you really want to make the self-improvement journey, set your highlighted book aside for the spring and get out there and:

Grow something and in the process, grow yourself.

No Water Required

With summer fast approaching with its scorching heat, irrigation will become the foremost thought of most gardeners. For those of you on a private well, be cheered to know that your plants should respond well to your watering attempts. Us city dwellers on city water have to deal with chemicals and lack of good stuff to keep our green friends happy.

I find that rainwater produces the lushest and most abundant onset of new growth. Watch your plants after a good soaking and you can almost hear them singing! Well-water comes in a pretty close second. And although this city water perks things up, the plants seem to unfurl almost reluctantly.

If the area you live in is particularly hot and dry, (or you allow it to become that way frequently) try sempervivums and sedums (AKA Hens n Chicks). With the new green roof phenomena re-circulating, the sedums are becoming the new garden darling. They are hardy, don't require a lot of water, and are near impossible to kill (for those of you "black thumb gardeners" out there!).

So grab a mix of these guys to keep your water bill low and your green thumb intact.

What not to prune in March

I find this time of year to be one where it is easy to get pruner-happy. While most things can survive a poorly timed pruning, there are a few that will make you skip a year of beauty if you cut at the wrong time.

What can be cut now?

old perennial growth
dry branches and leaves
old grass growth
some fruit trees, vines--depending on whether they bloom on year-old wood
old flower heads

What to avoid cutting now?

Rhododendrons and azaleas: the buds were set in the fall and should only be pruned immediately after they bloom
Forsythia -- wait until done blooming
Hydrangea macrophylla (mop head hydrangea) -- except to remove old flowers. Wait until new growth comes on before pruning out dead

If in doubt, wait.

Has Spring Already Sprung?

This has got to be one of the most unusual winters i have seen in a while. Barely an inch of snow made an appearance this season and already the plants are preparing for their big debut . . . in February! As of the last week of February I have found that I have a peach in the fullest of bloom, dill regenerating from last year's fallen seeds and dozens of daffodils and iris' trying to poke through the compacted mulch.

I know in Michigan, my home state, there has been a fear of the short and out-of-the-ordinary cold season. It could result in a reduced or damaged crop this year. But no need to blame global warming. This is just the way things go--cyclical and changing and unaffected by any great human theories.

According to the Richmond International Airport's records, we have been in a cycle of warmest and coldest winters for the entire century. 1889/1890 saw an average temp of 49.8 degrees, while Jan of 1940 saw the coldest temps at -12 degrees. 2011/12 has seen what seems to be high averages in the low 40's but surprisingly only captures the 5th warmest winter on record.

So instead of surmising on the cause of this pleasant gift of early spring, enjoy the signs of hope in anticipation of warmer times to come.

Ready for Spring

PROJECT: Nokesville New Installation

Landscape Design Concept to Real Life Beautiful

I think one of the best parts about what we do is taking something from ugly to beautiful--from barren and unimaginative to delightful. Unlike some home projects where you can measure and paint and have a pretty good idea of the outcome, landscape design is always a little bit of a mystery. While the design is the beginning of how everything works together, only time will tell whether or not the harmony persists.

This project in Nokesville was done in the spring, following the installation of an in-ground pool. The construction process generally leaves everything around it in need of attention. We essentially started from square one.

The design above laid out the plants. We combined the client's preferences for color and utility to come up with the concepts.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DESIGN INTERVIEW

Meet on-site well before you want the work done. It takes times to develop a concept and this first step is important in knowing where you are heading.
Take the time to research what you prefer and what you definitely despise. Last thing you want to do is have the design ruined by a key feature that you hate.
Do not say, "You are the professional. I defer to you." In the whole scheme of things, that's exactly why you hire us. In the beginning, though, take ownership of the project by communicating your preferences, your ideas and your long term goals for the space you will be addressing.
Communicate your long term plan and how you intend to use the space. If you are designing for near-future re-sale, that will elicit a different type of design than one done for longer term pleasure.
Supply your designer with any pertinent information regarding the condition of the area. For example, deer, rabbits, shade, dogs, sporting kids, etc. a good designer will ask you those questions, but it is good to be prepared.

Interested in developing a long term plan for your property?

Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

Summer Landscaping Check List

Summer is a great time to hit the re-set button on life.

Your landscaping benefits from a review also. While you are spending time outside, take note of how you are using the property.

Are you "outdoorsy" people who love to spend time outside all summer?
Do you entertain frequently outside?
Are there some neighboring properties that are affecting your privacy?
What value can you add for the future sale of your home?

Here is a Summer Check List for your property: Summer Landscaping Check List.

Questions on how to make your property work for your life? Contact us today for a design consultation. We love making your property a place you love to live in.

It’s April — What Should I Prune?

old perennial growth
dry branches and leaves
old grass growth
some fruit trees, vines--depending on whether they bloom on year old wood
old flower heads