Fall: The Best Time to Fix Drainage Problems

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The Hudson Valley had a particularly wet spring. If you had water collecting in your yard, fall is the best time to act. Aside from the aesthetics of standing water in your yard and the inability to utilize your yard the way you’d like, drainage issues can lead to some serious and costly problems. 

Here are some signs that you have drainage problems:

  • Cracks in your foundation can be caused by water that collects right around your house. 
  • Water that has exposed roots, gutted out areas of your lawn, or created swampy sections. This erosion washes away many of the nutrients that your lawn and plantings need to thrive.
  • Water leaking into your basement or garage means water is pooling up around your foundation.
  • A constantly running sump pump means that water from poor drainage is consistently entering your home.
  • Plants and shrubs that have fungus or mold in wetter areas of your yard.
poor drainage conditions

Poor Drainage Conditions

Causes of Poor Drainage

  • Poor Yard pitch or slope either toward or away from your home will result in water running to the downslope.
  • A depression in your landscape will cause rainwater to collect, causing puddles or soggy areas that take forever to dry up. 
  • Impacted soil makes it difficult for rain or snow to be absorbed, so it just sits on top.
  • Pathways around your house and yard can act like a dam, retaining water. 
  • Lack of or improperly installed downspouts make it hard to divert rainwater away from your house.

DRY CREEK and OTHER FIXES

Dry creek landscaping

The good news is that these are problems Augustine Nursery can fix by:

  • Grading the soil incrementally away from your house, patios, walkways, and driveway
  • Installing a dry creek that is both beautiful and functional to redirect water
  • Building French drains – an underground drainage system – to move water to a designated area
  • Permeable pavers for pathways can alleviate water build up in walkways.
  • Add a water feature to give your yard a place for excess water to collect.
Dry creek landscaping

Dry Creek Landscaping

French Drain

French Drain

Right now, before the winter snow accumulation and the spring thaw, is the perfect time to put your drainage problems to bed. Just remember, the Grand Canyon was created by a small flow of water, so don’t underestimate its power of erosion. Ask Augustine how to channel your drainage problems away. 

Poison Ivy Panic

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Today we write about a plant you’ll never find at Augustine Nursery – poison ivy. 

It is one of Mother nature’s worst plagues. It lurks everywhere in our region and is the bane of every gardener. It seems to exist solely to irritate anyone who enjoys the outdoors. In the height of summer when all you want to do is enjoy the yard, brushing up against poison ivy is the last thing you need. 

For those who aren’t experienced with poison ivy, it bears a nasty oily resin called urushiol which can penetrate clothes and can also pass on its oil by sticking to your pet’s fur. 

Poison Ivy

If you feel like you’re growing a poison ivy farm on your property it’s because poison ivy loves climate change and is one of the few species that has a positive response to rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The added carbon dioxide encourages it to grow faster and more rampantly.

Here are a few facts:

  • Less than a millionth of an ounce of urushiol can cause a blistering rash that lasts for about two weeks.
  • You have about 15 minutes after coming in contact with poison ivy to wash with soap and cool water before the urushiol binds to your skin. Tecnu scrub works well as a wash.
  • Only 15% of the population is not allergic to poison ivy. And, if you think you are in that group – beware, because it can change.
  • Poison ivy is toxic year round and even when dead, the urushiol can remain potent for a year or more.
  • Never burn poison ivy because the smoke is dangerous to eyes and lungs. 

The bottom line is that poison ivy can stop you from enjoying outdoor activities like tending to your flower beds or hanging out on the patio. Left unchecked, it will continue to spread. There are two ways to effectively handle poison ivy eradication safely and both involve calling a specialist. A poison ivy control specialist will eradicate your poison ivy with chemicals. A newer, greener type of control is by contracting with a company that will bring goats to your property to eat the poison ivy. Poison ivy seems to taste as good to goats and a fresh garden tomatoes taste to gardeners. They love it. And you and your family might like the idea of having some cute goats around for a bit.

Rent a goat

Goat Grazing, RentAGoat 2010, Mjrichmo from Wikipedia

 

Best Ways to Water

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You’d think watering your lawn and landscape plantings would be a no-brainer – just point the hose and squeeze. But, there are issues to consider such as the health of your landscape, water bills, and conservation of resources.

Best Time to Water

The absolute best time to water your lawn, shrubs, flowers, and vegetables in in the early morning, before 10 am. Cooler temperatures help keep evaporation to a minimum, keeps plantings cooler during the hotter parts of the day, and allows plants to dry slowly, minimizing the risk of fungus. When watering shrubs, flowers, and vegetables, aim for the roots.

Best Amount to Water

Water your plantings long enough to moisten the soil six inches down. Six inches is a depth that encourages good root growth. Water deeply, less often. If it rained recently, you can water less.

Best Sprinklers

For watering grass, built-in irrigation systems make the most sense but are an investment. For those who choose sprinklers, a pulsating, not oscillating sprinkler is best as they shoot water out horizontally at a high velocity making the spray less vulnerable to wind and evaporation. The only exception is when you’ve newly seeded your lawn. At this time, the strength of pulsating sprinklers can push your seed around.

If watering shrubs and flowers, soaker or weeping hoses (any kind of drip irrigation system) is ideal as it puts water directly at the roots and saves water.

Best Practices

The U.S. EPA reports that as much as 50% of the water we use outdoors is wasted because of inefficient watering methods and systems. If you have questions on the amount and type of watering the different plants in your yard need, you can count on Augustine to answer your questions. Here are a few general rules:

Trees and Native Plants – Many do well with only rainwater. This does not apply, however, to newly planted items.

Grass – Grass does not necessarily need watering. If you choose not to water your grass, it might become brown for several months buy will green up again in cooler temperatures.

Non-Native Flower & Vegetable Beds – These should be watered in the hottest driest months. Water one inch per week, minus rainfall. A layer of mulch will help reduce evaporation, keeping your plants moister longer.

Collecting rain water in rain barrels or cisterns is a great way to harvest rain water for irrigation. Many allow you to attach a soaker hose.

To learn more about caring for your landscape during the hot, summer months, read Preparing Your Lawn for the Dog Days of Summer.

The Flowers of July

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Summertime brings with it much sunshine and heat. It also brings an array of show-stopping summer flowers that thrive in heat. They come in every color of the rainbow and many are care-free. Here are a baker’s dozen of favorite July blooms.

Black Eyed Susans
This sunflower-like plant prefers full sun, can grow over 3 feet tall, attracting birds and butterflies. Native to North America and one of the most popular wildflowers grown, they tend to blanket open fields, often surprising the passerby with their golden-yellow beauty.

Blanket Flowers
Gaillardia looks like a miniature sunset, fading between yellow, orange, red, and sometimes burgundy. They are a short-lived perennial with richly colored, daisy-like flowers that slowly spread to blanket an area.

Cleome
Cleome, also called spider flower, grows to be about 3 to 5 feet in rose, pink, purple, and white. Cleomes are sometimes overlooked at the nursery as they look weedy as seedlings. But once the flower clusters emerge, they will become a easy-to-care-for favorite in your yard.

Coneflowers

Coneflowers
This is a favorite flower of birds, butterflies and humans. A native American plant indigenous to the central plains, it is virtually indestructible. These large daisy-like, rosy purple petals surrounding a copper-colored, dome-shaped central seed head are a perfect cutting flower.

 

Cosmos
Cosmos are annuals with colorful daisy-like flowers that sit atop long slender stems. Blooming throughout the summer months, they attract birds, bees, and butterflies to your garden. This full-sun perennial grows to 2 to 5 feet high with blooms in crimson, pink, and white.

Dahlias
Spanish Hidalgos observed dahlias growing in Mexico as early as the 16th century, where they were cultivated and eaten by the Aztecs.  These colorful, spiky flowers bloom from midsummer right through first frost, when many other plants are past their best. Plant bulbs in the springtime if you want to add Wow to your garden.

Daisies
Always cheerful, these perennials grow in mounds of tall stems bloom for months on end, and almost never fail to reappear next spring. They will bloom all summer long.

 

 

Delphinium
Delphinium, also called Larkspur are the birth flower for the month of July.  It blooms from late spring to late summer, and are said to symbolize ‘an open heart’. They are perennials grown for their showy spikes of colorful flowers in shades of blue, pink, white, and purple. They are popular in cottage-style gardens and cutting gardens.

Hydrangeas 
The name for these summer-flowering plants comes from the Greek “hydor.” Unlike many July flowers, hydrangeas need plenty of water and bloom from early spring to late autumn. The color of the hydrangea flower depends on the pH of the soil in which they are grown and can be white, blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple.

Lilies
Lilies have large, showy blooms, adding striking elegance to your yard from early to midsummer. Grown from bulbs, lilies are perennial flowers that will return year after year and require minimal care.

Peonies
Peonies signal the beginning of summer each year. Some bushes can thrive for half a century or more! One of the most magnificent mainstays of any garden, peonies are virtually pest-free; deer and rabbits don’t like its bitter taste.

Sunflowers 
Sunflowers grow best with full sun in fertile, moist soil, and are readily available throughout the late summer. They are sure to brighten up even the gloomiest of days, whether planted in a long row along a fence or massed in a sunny border.

Zinnias
A traditional plant for pollinator gardens, zinnias are easy to grow and require full sun. Great in borders and container gardens, the flowers are great for cutting. They can grow anywhere from 4 inches to 4 feet high and comes in almost every color except for blue.

Make Your Outdoor Space Ready for Company!

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With Graduation, Fourth of July, and plain old – Yay it’s Summertime! parties on the horizon, the best place to start planning is with the space. Outdoors on the patio makes the most sense for fun and sun. Is your patio up to the event? Now’s the time to spruce that patio up with landscaping to make your outdoor space lush and inviting. Refresh your memory with our Patio Planning article and then head on over to Augustine so we can help you find the right mix of plantings.

See what you can find for your patio at Augustine Nursery

Preparing your Lawn for the Dog Days of Summer

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The spring weather is beautiful right now. But before long we’ll find ourselves in the dog days of summer. Scorching heat without end and long periods without rain. Even the best cared-for lawns suffer under these conditions.

The key to maintaining a healthy lawn in the peak of summer heat comes down to two things – water and mowing. Here are a few tips for lawn mavens and newbies alike:

water hose and grassWatering Your lawn

Many people think the answer to summer heat is watering, watering, watering. However when soil is constantly wet, it causes diseases. Grass only needs one inch of water per week, including rainfall. Less frequent, thorough waterings are better than more frequent, shallow ones. Giving your lawn a deep watering promotes deeper root growth resulting in greater drought tolerance. Water your lawn in the morning when cooler. This allows more of the water to soak into the ground instead of evaporating. And, once you start watering your lawn for the season, don’t stop. Keep to a habit of watering once a week unless there’s been a good rain.

lawn mower and lawnMowing Your Lawn

When mowing your summer lawn, keep two things in mind – height of the cut and mower blades.

Your lawn does not have to be cut short to look neat and trim. Set your blades as high as possible. Your grass has a crown from which the new growth emerges. If your lawn is cut too short it reduces its ability to grow well. A longer blade of grass shades the crown and protects it from burning. In addition tall blades of grass are able to get more light during peak sun hours and therefore more nutrients. And, the taller grass helps maintain moisture in the soil. If you know what type of grass you have, ask us at Augustine Nursery what the proper cutting height is for your lawn.

Make sure the blades of your mower are kept sharp. When grass is cut with a dull blade, it tears the plant tissue making it more susceptible to stress and disease. A sharp blade will keep your lawn greener as the cut edge will heal instead of turning brown.

One last mowing tip – Do not bag your clippings. Use a mulch mower that returns clippings to the lawn. Clippings act as a slow-release fertilizer as they decompose and shades the soil, keeping moisture from evaporating.

 

 

 

Choosing A Flowering Tree

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A flowering tree can bring beauty and diversity into your yard. Planted next to your doorway, along the driveway, next to your patio or even in a large pot on your deck, it will provide delicacy, a habitat for birds, and foliage throughout the year. Best of all, it will accomplish something annuals cannot – bloom every year.

Dogwood

white dogwood treeDogwoods are one of the most popular flowering trees and are beautiful to look at all year round. Dogwoods typically have white flowers, but some varieties have pink. They are quick-growing trees whose leaves turn a beautiful purplish-red in fall. If you love birds, this is the tree to plant as they love the Dogwood’s red berries.

 

 

Flowering Cherry

This is an ornamental cherry tree that explodes in a pink bouquet in late March through April. They require minimal care and add a big impact to any landscape. These are the beautiful blossoming trees of Washington DC in early spring. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden also has a section of these trees in their Japanese Hill and Pond Garden.

Redbud

red bud leafSeeing a redbud tree in full bloom is memorable. Magenta buds swell into bright pink flowers before any of the leaves appear. They are one of the longest blooming trees – with flowers lasting for two to three weeks. The leaves are heart-shaped and turn bright yellow in autumn.

 

 

 

 

Plum Newport

If you’re looking to add a blast of color to your summer landscape, the plum Newport is a hardy choice. With plum-colored leaves and delicate light pink flowers, this tree requires no accompanying shrubs or plantings to make a statement.

 

 

Magnolia

Magnolias have large glossy foliage and sweet fragrant blooms. Mostly found in the south, there are a few that thrive in our zone. Sweetbay and Magnolia Butterfly are two great options that bloom for about two weeks in spring/summer.

Any of these trees will add value to your yard as they grow, adding fragrance, shade, and attracting wildlife and pollinators to your country living.

New Trends in Eco-Friendly Yards

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Keeping your yard green at the same time you’re trying to be green can be a challenge. Most homeowners want to have the perfect yard filled with shrubs and trees arranged in an aesthetically pleasing array. Unfortunately, many of the tenets of home landscaping are no longer based on what’s good for the environment.

Obvious culprits include many of the chemicals used to help lawns grow or keep weeds under control. But, other things to take into consideration include the conservation of water and the gas used in our equipment. The good news is that there are eco-friendly ways to create and maintain the yard of your dreams.

Large Trees Save Energy & Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Many people don’t realize that strategically placed large trees can shade your home in summer and protect it from the northern winds of winter. This can significantly lower your energy use.

Trees and shrubs make their own food from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, water, sunlight, and a small amount of soil elements. In the process, they release oxygen (O2) for us to breathe.

According to the Energy Information Administration, a red mulberry or laurel oak, two trees classified as speedy growers, will sequester an average of 69.5 pounds of carbon per year.

Augustine maintains its own tree farm and can help you choose a tree of the right kind and size for your location.

Watering

Did you know that about half of the typical residential water use goes towards landscaping? Cutting back on watering will help conservation. For instance, annuals require more water than perennials. Tall ornamental grasses are also good water-saving plants. And, use mulch generously. It helps retain moisture in your flower and shrub beds.

Lawns

Lawns not only require watering to stay green during the hottest summer months, they also require mowing – most often by a gas-powered mower.

  • Save water by leaving your grass 3” tall in summer. The ground will retain a bit more moisture. Higher grass also blocks weeds from getting the sunlight they need to thrive.
  • Consider replacing gas equipment with battery-powered lawn and yard equipment.
  • Replace parts of your lawn with ground cover and or a patio.

Augustine Nursery can help you plan and plant a landscape that is beautiful, easy to maintain, and eco-friendly. We’re here to answer all of your landscaping questions.

 

 

March is the Time to Plan Your Landscaping

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The best way to pass this last leg of winter is begin planning for the spring and summer outdoor living that lies ahead. We know there is snow and ice outside, but the geese are starting to fly north again and soon we move our clocks ahead. So now is the best time to put together your wish list and price it out.

What’s on your Wish List?

Does your front yard need a large tree? Would a retaining wall and walkway add to your curb appeal? Is your back patio too small for entertaining? Every project starts with a vision of how your landscape will add to the enjoyment you derive from your home – much of which will also add monetary value.

Large Trees

When you need a shade tree or a large tree to add curb appeal to your landscape, you don’t want to wait a decade for that tree to grow into its role. Planting a large tree is a bit more costly, but the benefits of having it to enjoy right away far outweigh the cost. We grow our own, we deliver, and we plant it for you. All you do is enjoy.

Outdoor Cooking

You may not need an entire outdoor kitchen on your patio, buy enclosing your grill with stonework and adding a simple prep space can give you tremendous functionality and beauty. If you love to entertain, this added feature will not only make you look like a pro, but will allow you to spend more time with your guests, especially if you tack on a patio bar. Or, how about a stone pizza oven?

Lighting

As the days get longer, the idea of adding lighting to your patio can extend the amount of time you get to enjoy the outdoors. In addition to adding style, good lighting always adds a layer of safety and security. Lighting also sets a wonderful mood as evening approaches.

Planning Early

Planning early means you can start enjoying sooner in the season. And, if you need the advice and physical labor of Augustine, contacting us now will get you on our work schedule early too. Give us a call or come on in and share your vision with us. We’re just the guys to help make your vision reality.

 

 

 

Early Spring Gardening Checklist

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Hurray for May! Spring is here at last.

For those of us who love to dig in and get our hands dirty, there’s much to be done. Even though the weather is still a bit unpredictable, here’s an early spring checklist to help you organize.

  • Lawn Care
    Spring is the best time to prevent weed seeds from germinating in your lawn. A good crabgrass preventer should be applied when your forsythia bushes finish blooming. Or, if weeds are not as much a priority, it’s time to seed and fertilize. You might also want to do a soil test to see if it needs correcting.
  • Prune
    Now is an ideal time to prune shrubs that do not bloom in the spring. Prune away any deadwood and reshape its silhouette.
  • Structural Repairs
    Now’s a great time to repair raised beds, reinforce that trellis, and freshen up gravel or stone pathways.
  • Clean out Debris
    Clear out unwanted brush, rake remaining leaves, and clean out planting beds.
  • Feed & Protect your Beds
    As soon as your soil dries enough, add a top dressing of compost or your go-to organic mix. Then cover your beds with mulch.
  • Take Care of the Birds
    Birds add so much to any garden environment. Now’s the time to fill your bird feeders and clean out birdhouses.
  • Check your Equipment
    Time to open up those sheds and check on equipment and supplies. Clean and organize your garden tools & pots. Check on hoses and hook them up for the season. Sharpen cutting tools.

Planting & Caring for Evergreen Trees

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Evergreen trees are great for property barriers and screening. Most of the evergreen trees in our nursery are grown in our own fields and have shown to be capable of surviving the winter months. Learn how to plant and care for your trees.

  1. Measure the depth of the root ball so that the top of it will sit 1-inch higher than ground level, but never lower.
  2. Dig a hole that is 1–1½ times larger than the ball.
  3. Center the root ball in the hole and untie or cut away the top ⅓ of burlap by either folding it back or trimming it off. If a wire basket is present, cut it open and either fold it down or discard.
  4. Clean the excavated soil of rocks and other debris.
  5. Make a mixture (enough to back-fill the hole) of 50% cleaned, excavated soil and 50% compost (peat moss/fertilizer/compost).
  6. Back-fill the plant half way with the soil mixture, then water thoroughly. Continue to back-fill with the remaining excavated soil while leaving room for an approximately 3-inch deep saucer of mulch to completely surround the plant.  Make a mound of soil around the outer edge of the hole and tamp it firmly to create a moat.
  7. Water thoroughly.

Optional: 
Tree wrap and staking are optional based on actual location conditions, i.e. wind & grade changes.

 

GENERAL MAINTENANCE TIPS

Watering Trees and Shrubs
After planting, water trees and shrubs 2–3 times per week 
for the rest of the growing season. Each tree or shrub should receive 1–10 gallons of water depending on its size.
Note: In times of stress or extreme heat, increase amount of water.

Root Feeding/By June 30th
For acid loving plants use Holly-tone®. All other plants should 
be fed with specially designed fertilizer stakes.
Foliage Feeding/As Early As April 30th. For acid loving plants, apply Miracid® every 7–10 days until mid-August. All others apply Miracle-Gro® every 7–10 days until mid-August.

General Pruning and Trimming
For flowering trees and shrubs, the rule of thumb is to cut them back after they have flowered.
For evergreens, pruning should be done after the new growth hardens, which is usually mid-July up to November.

Anti-desiccant
As a treatment to reduce moisture loss due to winterkill, windburn, drought, etc. all plants should be treated with an anti-desiccant or anti-transpirant. Suggested applications:
 All newly planted material
s, Annual fall application

Insect Infestation
A watchful eye should be kept for any signs of an infestation. If an infestation seems to be occurring the problem should be identified and addressed immediately.

Tree Stakes
Stake deciduous trees that are 2–2½ inch in diameter and larger. Stake evergreen trees 5–6 feet tall and larger. Tree stakes, wire and hose should be removed after 1 year.

How to Winterize Your Landscaping

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Whether you live in the Hudson Valley year round or have a weekend place that gets closed up until spring returns, there are tasks you can accomplish in autumn to ensure your lawn and landscaping gets off to a great start once the warm, sunny weather returns.

Lawn Care

  • Remove Weeds & Broadleaf – By doing this task now, you take away some of the competition for available nutrients and water needed by your lawn.
  • Have a soil test – If you soil is too alkaline, apply sulphur. If it’s acidic, apply lime.
  • Rake the leaves – While most people use blowers, raking also provides another benefit. A vigorous raking helps to dethatch your lawn.
  • If you seeded your lawn, now is the perfect time to fertilize with something like Scotts’ WinterGuard Turf Builder.

Shrubs and Tree Care

  • Small shrubs can be protected from winter damage with a lean-to or teepee that keeps heavy snow off their limbs. Delicate shrubs should be wrapped with a breathable fabric like burlap.
  • Once larger deciduous trees and shrubs lose their leaves and before the ground freezes, give them a final and deep watering.
  • Evergreens require the same deep watering as deciduous trees and shrubs.

Garden Bed Care

  • For annual and vegetable garden beds, plant a cover crop or apply mulch. The leaves you rake are a good and readily available source of mulch.
  • Remove old stalks and leaves from perennial beds.
  • Clear any fruits and vegetables left in the garden as they provide the perfect environment for rodents.

Equipment Care

  • Drain gas out of equipment like mowers and rototillers.
  • Bring in the garden hoses and turn off its water source.
  • Change the oil in your snowblower, install a new spark plug and do a general inspection. Then add fresh gas so you’ll be in top shape when that first snowfall arrives.

Outdoor Living Area Care

  • Clean and store garden pots.
  • Bring in outdoor furniture or cover them with specially designed covers.
  • Winterize pipes to outdoor kitchens.