Your Landscape Partner: Thoughts, ideas, experiences, and expertise from the field…
Fertilizer Basics
Fertilizing your lawn and garden can transform a lackluster landscape into a thriving, lush paradise. However, understanding the types of fertilizers, how to read labels, and the best practices for application can be daunting. I’ll explain the essentials to help you make the most informed decisions for your green space.
Planting Techniques for Blocking Noise
As urban areas continue to expand, so does the issue of noise pollution, especially from traffic and roads. This persistent noise can significantly affect the quality of life for residents and the appeal of properties. For landscape contractors and designers, integrating natural sound barriers into designs is a practical and aesthetically pleasing solution. Among the various plant choices, evergreens stand out as an exceptional option for creating effective sound barriers. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to use plants, particularly evergreens, to mitigate noise pollution.
Don’t Use These 9 Sales Tactics
In the competitive world of home improvement services the role of a salesperson is crucial. As a landscape contractor, ensuring your sales tactics are above board not only builds trust but also fosters long-term customer relationships. However, some common sales tactics can do more harm than good. Here are some key strategies to avoid when selling your services.
Help With Creeping Charlie
As a landscaper, few challenges test my patience and perseverance as much as battling Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea). Known also as ground ivy, this invasive perennial weed is notorious for its rapid spread and tenacity in landscape beds and turf grass alike. In this blog post, I'll share my personal journey in combating Creeping Charlie and combine it with expert strategies to provide a comprehensive guide on how to manage this relentless invader.
Lurking In Your Landscape - TICKS
Ticks. Just the word is enough to send shivers down the spine of any outdoor enthusiast, especially landscape contractors and home gardeners. While we often talk about the beauty of our outdoor spaces, there's a silent menace lurking amidst the foliage: ticks. These tiny creatures might not be the most glamorous topic, but understanding them is crucial for anyone who spends time outside. So, let's learn about the world of ticks and explore why they're a landscape hazard that demands our attention.
The Gas To Battery Switch
In landscape contracting, staying ahead of the curve isn't just about aesthetics; it's about efficiency, sustainability, and meeting the evolving demands of clients. As the world shifts towards more eco-friendly practices, the transition from gas-powered to battery-powered equipment is not just a trend but a necessity. In this guide, we'll dive into the hows and whys of making this transition, addressing current limitations, highlighting the benefits, and discussing strategies for marketing your green approach.
Evil Tree Rings
The pursuit of a pristine appearing landscape sometimes results in methods that inadvertently damage the very plants we aim to beautify. Take, for instance, the widespread practice of creating hardscape tree rings—those neat circles of bricks or blocks placed around the trunks of mature trees. While they might appear as a solution for defining spaces and simplifying lawn care, these tree rings can actually be incredibly damaging to trees, leading to a slow death.
Mulch Blowing
Mulching is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy and visually appealing landscape. Traditionally, mulch application involved manual spreading, which is very labor-intensive and time-consuming, especially for large-scale projects. However, with the advent of mulch blowing services, the process has been revolutionized. In this blog post, we will explore what mulch blowing is and why you should consider subbing out professional mulch blowing companies to handle this task for your large landscape project.
Landscape Tips for Home Sellers
You want potential buyers to fall in love with your home from the moment they pull up to the curb. But if your landscaping isn't up to par, you might inadvertently be driving them away. Let's explore some simple yet effective ways to ensure your yard is a selling point rather than a deterrent.
Magical Hellebores
As winter's chill begins to wane, a delightful surprise emerges in gardens across the globe: Hellebores, also known as Lenten Roses or Christmas Roses. These charming perennials offer a splash of color and joy long before the rest of the garden awakens from its slumber. Join us as we unravel the magic behind these special flowers, explore how to incorporate them into your landscape, uncover their simple care needs, and marvel at the variety of new varieties available.
The Forgotten Trees
As cities grow and strive for a better balance between development and nature, the planting of trees on commercial landscape sites becomes a vital part of the plan. These trees aren't just decorations; they're essential for keeping our environment healthy. These trees are an important part of our green infrastructure, providing shade, reducing pollution, and enhancing the overall aesthetics of our urban spaces. However, there's an overlooked aspect to this green initiative: what happens when these newer trees, mandated for occupancy, permitting, or as replacements for mature trees removed during construction, succumb to various factors and die prematurely?
Cicada Countdown
Get ready, Illinois landscape contractors! This year marks a momentous occasion in nature's calendar—the emergence of the 17-year cicadas. For about four to six weeks, there will be millions of big, red-eyed insects flying around and making an ear-splitting noise, especially in areas with lots of old trees. They will be annoying, but they are harmless to people and pets; they can’t bite or sting. By the end of June, it will all be over. As these remarkable insects prepare to make their grand entrance, it's essential for landscape professionals to understand what to expect and how to mitigate any potential impacts on the landscape. Let's dive into the details and equip ourselves with the knowledge needed to navigate this natural phenomenon with ease.
Pruning VS Shearing
Keeping your shrubs tidy isn't just about a quick trim. Understanding the difference between pruning and shearing is key to making sure your plants not only look good but stay healthy too. Let's break down these methods to figure out which is best for your greenery.
Semi Trailer Types Used In the Nursery Trade
In this blog post, we'll look at the various styles of semi-trucks used in plant transportation, including reefers, flatbeds, roll-tites, side-kits, stepdecks, and intermodal containers, exploring their unique features and benefits in ensuring the health and vitality of nursery stock.
10 Common Landscaping Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Solutions for the Top 10 Landscaping Mistakes
One Solution to Our Plastic Problem
In the nursery and landscape industries, where the beauty of plants is meticulously crafted, there lies a not-so-pretty problem – plastic pollution. Plastic pots, trays, packaging and labeling have become ubiquitous in these sectors, contributing to environmental degradation due to non-renewable resource extraction and harmful and permanent waste. However, amidst this challenge, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of innovative solutions, such as CowPots, offering a sustainable alternative that could reshape the trajectory of these industries.
Hourly VS Contract
When it comes to pricing landscape construction projects, two common methods are hourly labor and contract pricing. Each approach has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of charging clients based on hourly labor or using contract pricing in landscape construction.
The Value of Trade Shows
In the green industry, staying updated on the latest trends and connecting with others is key. One way that consistently proves valuable is attending trade shows. These events bring together a mix of people who love landscaping and nursery growing, creating a space to share experiences, build relationships, and move the industry forward.
Snowless Winter
In the complex rhythm of climate shifts, El Niño frequently plays a significant role, affecting weather patterns across the world. Even though the Midwest usually braces itself for winter, the occasional occurrence of a snowless El Niño can throw off the expected seasonal patterns. This blog post discusses the distinct challenges this weather event presents for plants in Midwest landscapes and provides insights on how gardening enthusiasts can adapt to the unexpected twists.
We Really Do Have the BEST Job
Finding fulfillment in our work is a universal desire. The satisfaction of knowing that we have made a positive impact is a feeling that few jobs can truly provide. In the world of landscaping, this sense of accomplishment is ingrained in the very essence of the profession. From transforming barren spaces into lush gardens to revitalizing neglected landscapes, landscaping offers a unique opportunity to leave things better than when we first encountered them. In this blog post, we will explore why landscaping stands out as a job that brings immense satisfaction through the act of transformation and improvement.
