Landscape Advice

ASK CRAIG: Lawn Recovery After a Drought

This summer was hot and dry. You and your lawn have survived the hot, dry weather, and the drought… mostly. Let’s bring that grass back to life:

• Assess the damage: Is your lawn dead or damaged? Do not despair if the grass is brown. Most grass species can withstand 4-5 weeks of dormancy without dying.
• Aerate: Core aeration allows water, air, and nutrients to access the roots of the lawn. Use this method on green lawns, and follow with regular watering.
• Don’t aerate a completely brown or dormant lawn.
• Fertilize carefully: Just as you want your grass to focus on healthy roots and water absorption during the drought, the same is true after a drought. 
• Follow the manufacturer’s directions when fertilizing to avoid too-rapid growth and burning.
• Water Smart: Once the water ban is over, follow a schedule and water accordingly. Water deeply during early morning hours, from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., to a depth of 6 to 12 inches. Don’t “sprinkle” the lawn with frequent but shallow waterings.
• Mulch-established areas: Once your grass is healthy, mow and mulch your grass clippings into the lawn to help retain water and build a strong root system. 
• Continue to mow high, and stop mowing if you notice the lawn is under stress.
• Create a lawn renovation plan: Come up with a plan for over-seeding dead or struggling patches of lawn. Add compost where necessary, rethink the choice of grass or grass seed mix, and select one that is drought resistant. The right grass on your new lawn may help you withstand the next drought.

ADDING HOLIDAY DECORATIONS to YOUR LANDSCAPE

Winter is about to set in. Days are shorter. Leaves have fallen from the trees. Everything is beginning to look gray. What can you do to add more color and whimsy on even the coldest days?  Decorate your landscape! Create a look that reflects the style of your home and interior decorating, as well as your family’s personality. After you have the interior of your house in the holiday spirit, why not decorate your landscape as an extension of your indoor decorations for a cohesive look? Why not extend your decorations all the way to the street or entrance to polish off the look?

Try these simple additions that can transform your outdoor space.

• Add sprigs of greenery to your posts, front doorway, and lighting fixtures.
• Add. some bright red berries and pinecones to your greenery and your wreath.
• Add some bright colored bows to your planters, posts, and window boxes.
• Stack firewood beside existing porch decor to add dimension.
• Add white or colored lights to fences, railings, statues, posts and doorway.

Ask Craig: Poison Sumac

I have been asked a lot about Poison Sumac. Here is an excellent article by David Beaulieu: Poison Sumac Pictures for Identification: How to Spot Toxicodendron Vernix in All Seasons.

Ask Craig: Interested in a Good Read?

February is a good time to do some research on landscaping ideas for your property.

Here ‘are some great websites to start your research:

1. The Spruce::.https://www.thespruce.com/landscaping-4127779
2. The Farmer’s Almanac :https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/landscape-design-ideas-and-advice-beginners.
3. University of Minnesota Extension: https://extension.umn.edu/lawns-and-landscapes/landscape-design.
4. University of Florida Extension: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG08600.pdf.
5. Landscape Network: https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/landscape-design/principles.html.
6. Garden Design: https://www.gardendesign.com.
7. HGTV: https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/outdoor-remodel/how-to-plan-a-landscape-design.
8. Arbor Day Foundation: https://www.arborday.org/trees/landscapeDesign/plans/knotGarden.cfm.
9. Country Living: https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-tours/g1432/landscaping-ideas/.
10. Landscaping Network: https://www.landscapingnetwork.com/front-yard-landscaping/front-of-house-ideas.html.

Ask Craig: Happy New Year!

It’s time to start preparing your landscape to look its best in the spring. While it is easy to hide away from the cold winter weather here in Massachusetts, be sure to spend some time in January and February knocking out some simple yard work- beyond taking down the decorations you put up for the holiday season.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful suggestions:

January

Believe it or not, January usually has a few nice, sunny days that provide the perfect opportunity to work on your landscape. It is the ideal time to inspect flowering trees and shrubs for broken, diseased, or weak branches and carefully prune them out. It is also the ideal time to prune flowering trees for shape but be careful, pruning is a skill that takes years to learn! You can also trim your fruit-bearing plants to encourage new growth and fruit production. Be sure to remove any debris from your yard.

There are a few things you can do in the garden bed, too. We recommend gently turning the soil if the ground isn’t frozen or wet. This will expose any insect eggs and also can help break apart the dirt. You should reapply mulch around trees and shrubs to maintain a depth of 2 to 3 inches, and a bit more for newer or more sensitive plantings. Be sure not to pile mulch up against the trunk, though.

Now let’s talk about your lawn. Remove any leaves that blow into it, and make sure children don’t leave stray toys lying around. These can damage and even kill grass and ornamental plants.

February

Not only are local garden centers mostly empty in February, but they often have sales on plant material, tools and other items ahead of their spring rush. Make a trip to one in your area and see what treasures you can find.

Now is when you may begin springtime applications of crabgrass preventer and fertilizer, but we’d aim more towards the end of the month. You can often save money by purchasing the yearly treatment all at once for programs like Scotts 4 Step.

Finally, one of the most important landscaping tips for all of winter is to remember to water your plants if there’s been no significant rain or snowfall. This is even more critical for any new plantings that haven’t had a chance to establish a root system.

If you don’t want to brave the elements or prefer to leave these tasks to the landscape professionals, RC Marc-Aurele Landscaping is just an email [email protected] or text/phone call away. You can reach us at 978.500.3197.