Landscaping in February for Fanatics

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No, this isn’t a joke. Most homeowners understand that there are always chores to be done in the yard. But, not many except the diehard venture out to actually do them in the cold. Luckily, our winter has been a bit on the warm side, so those who feel compelled to work can do it in a bit of comfort.

The big news is that Punxatawney Phil says winter is on the wane. So, throw on a coat, boots, and gloves; slap on the chapstick and let’s get started.

Deciduous Trees

Winter is the ideal time to prune deciduous trees because the loss of leaves allows you to really see their structure and shape. It’s easier to tell which branches are growing in what direction. This dormant time is also the dormant time for insects and diseases attracted to fresh cut branches.

Shrubs

Hedges, summer blooming shrubs, grapes, and raspberries canes like to be pruned this time of year too. Get rid of all deadwood and suckers. And, if you’re feeling creative, it’s the best time to design topiary shapes.

Trellises & Arbors

If you have trellises and arbors the lack of growth will let you better see if repairs are needed. The lack of foliage also lets you see if your garden would benefit from a trellis.

Wildlife – If you love gardening, I assume you also love those creatures that add charm, song, and life to our outdoor hours. Birds and other small critters need extra nutrition to survive the cold weather. High fat foods are best.

Garage & Shed

Most gardeners are also putterers. Well now’s the time to reorganize pots, take stock of tool needs, declutter, and set yourself up for spring.

Catalog Shopping

Planning and shopping is a great way for garden enthusiasts to pull themselves out from winter lows. Go through those catalogs and reward yourself with some new garden tools and accessories. There are so many new and nifty gadgets to make gardening and landscaping easier.

Follow Augustine on Instagram – We always have images of new arrivals and posts to whet your landscaping appetite and feed your imagination. Find us @augustine.nursery. Remember, we’re your best resource. Hit us up anytime with questions.

Plan for Summer in Winter

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When the days get short and the temperatures turn cold, there’s one great thing you can do for your yard – plan out your one big project for the spring.

Just like the inside of your home, your yard needs continual updates as well. As we begin to take stock of the yard from the windows of our warm home, dreams of summer draws the mind to what would make our yards the perfect entertainment place or more secluded hideaway. Laying plans now for larger outdoor projects allow for both figuring out priorities and budgets.

Here are some popular yard projects Augustine has experience with:

  • Plant a large mature tree or two: Planting a mature tree instead of a sapling provides multiple benefits to your yard. It adds instant curb appeal, can decrease the amount of heat and air conditioning you use by providing shelter from the sun in summer and cutting down the wind in winter. Trees can also aid drainage problems by soaking up storm water. A properly sited tree can increase the value of your property by up to 20%.
  • Build or update a patio: More and more people consider their backyard an outdoor living space. And as such, want to create an environment with amenities like outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and beautiful lounge areas.
  • Add some stonework: Stone paths, a wall, or a few large stones set for effect adds elegance and is a durable, long lasting and low maintenance element all year round. Stone paths create the ideal way to connect different areas of your landscape.
  • Illuminate your yard: Landscape lighting is a burglar deterrent, adds safety for those walking up your drive, and highlights your home’s architectural features.
  • Increase privacy: Evergreen trees with dense foliage will add both privacy and a noise buffer to your property. 

Investing in your landscape puts your home in its best light and gives you and your family an outdoor space in which to have summer fun. Don’t let spring creep up on you and leave you unprepared. Plan that landscape project now and give yourself something to look forward to when the cold winter comes to an end.

Landscaping From the Couch—A Winter Guide for Garden Owners

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Winter can be a frustrating time for yard enthusiasts who have a hard time waiting for spring to return. Winter is an ideal time to imagine all your yard can be and to map out a plan. While you can’t actually get your hands dirty in December, you can do so virtually.

There are a number of landscape design apps for homeowners that let you create a digital layout of your landscape so you can see what a new flowerbed might look like, fencing, pathways, and more. And even if you plan to hire a professional to help you do the work, the designs you create will help any pro better understand what you want to accomplish. Use the winter months to book a landscape design consultation with Ronnie Augustine to get his expert advice.

Landscape Design Apps for Homeowners

PRO Landscape Home

PRO Landscape HOme

With a very high App Store rating, this tool allows you to redesign your entire landscape. You start with a photo of your yard, then add plants, trees, and man-made features like paths and patios. You can search for plants by climate zone and even add furniture. Once your design is complete, you can share it on social media and get feedback from friends. The app is free, but there is an extensive image library that is an add-on for $14.99 that gives you nearly infinite choices.

Garden Designer

This app is better for simpler designs. It allows you to place the plan you create directly onto your photos of the space. It has an extensive library, allows you to drag and drop items, and also lets you resize things like fences and paving.

iscape

Iscape also has a free and paid for version. And, you can test out the full version before you buy it. This tool has a texture tool that lets you see a more realistic rendition of grass, mulch, pavers and stones. They have an elite version that is targeted to professional landscapers.

So don’t fret those gray skies and chilly temperatures. Light a fire in your fireplace and let these apps inspire your spring spruce-up projects now.

Sod: Here Today, Lawn Tomorrow

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For those who may not know exactly what sod is, It’s mature lawn that has been professionally grown, cultivated, and cut into rolls including underlying soil and roots. You’re basically buying lawn that someone has nurtured for you for about 18 months – a careful mix of several grasses that are chosen for optimal color, texture, and heartiness. For homeowners who dream of a lush lawn to luxuriate in, sod is well worth the investment.

You’re also buying convenience – none of that watching the lawn grow.

Fall is Sod Season

Fall is a great time to do many lawn projects and laying sod is no exception. Cooler temperatures, occasional rain, and practically no competition from weeds makes early fall ideal. It’s at this time that the sod can continue to grow and take hold without the harsh summer sun. You just have to lay it in enough time (6 weeks) for it to develop a strong root system before the ground freezes.

Benefits of Sod vs. Seed

  • Sod takes less time and care to establish
  • Provides an instantly healthy and lush lawn without patches
  • Seeding requires families to stay off the lawn – hard when you have kids and pets
  • Sod is a great choice for sloped lawns or erosion-prone areas where seed would wash away

The only cons to laying sod is its expense and the prep work required to make your soil sod-ready. And Augustine can help with both the prep work and laying the sod. If you don’t want to sit and watch the grass grow, give us a call to learn more about sod. What you lay this fall will truly pay off in a beautiful lawn to enjoy this coming spring and summer.

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. 

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.

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.

 

 

 

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.

An Evergreen Winter

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In our northern climate, evergreens play such an important role in our home landscapes. As the leaves turn yellow and orange and drop from our deciduous trees, integrating evergreens into our yards help keep the winter from turning quite as bleak.

If you don’t have an array of evergreens to round out your plantings and add cheer to your winter months, you may have to wait six months before seeing an emerging leaf. In addition to adding color, evergreens provide excellent privacy, screen out unwanted views, add structure to your landscape, and add shelter for birds.

There are basically two types of evergreens – conifers and broadleafs. Most people picture conifers when imagining an evergreen.

boxwood and snow plantBroadleaf Evergreens

  • Andromeda
  • Boxwood
  • Rhododendron
  • Holly
  • Inkberry

 

 

yew branch with berryConifer Evergreen Shrubs

  • Juniper
  • Cypress
  • Yew
  • Arborvitae

 

 

cedar branchConifer Evergreen Trees

  • Cedar
  • Hemlock
  • Pine
  • Spruce

 

 

The best gardens use an imaginative mix of tree and shrub species, and evergreens have a place in that mix. The best time to plant evergreens is in the fall. The threat of drought or getting scorched by the sun is past and the cooler temperature helps encourage new root growth.

evergreen trees in tree nurseryDon’t accept the monotony of a typical winter landscape. Augustine Nursery carries an impressive array of evergreens in all shapes and sizes for homeowners and landscapers. Ask us how you can best add evergreens to your yard. We can even plant them for you. No winter landscape is complete without that touch of snow on green.

And don’t forget to consider how paths, walls, and even weather-proof garden art such as obelisks and potter further add to the beauty and walkability of your yard. Without all the color of spring and summer, these elements become more important than ever.

7 Smart Sloping Yard Solutions

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Most people think of the sloping part of their yard as a problem. Hard to mow- impossible to enjoy, it often suffers from neglect. If your front or back yard includes a hill or slope, you need a plan that gives you maximum beauty with minimal maintenance. Lucky for you, that is totally achievable.

Solutions for Your Slope

  1. Plant on it. There are many varieties of flowers, shrubs, and ground covers that thrive on slopes. The plant roots will efficiently act as an anchor for any loose soil, holding the slope securely in place. This is a good place to plant perennials and ground covers that need minimal care.
  2. Rise above it. Construct a deck over your slope. It can provide you with a great entertaining area up top while giving you storage space underneath. Or make a multilevel deck that leads to more level areas of your yard.
  3. Retain it. A retaining wall is a good idea if you want to make a level place area out of your slope, thus providing your yard with more usable space.
  4. Terrace it. If one big retaining wall isn’t for you, try several low walls with level terraces in-between. One level could be patio overlooking several other levels of garden.
  5. Add a water feature to it. Creating a waterfall is the ultimate solution for using your slope. It creates drama and can manage any wet areas nicely. Everyone loves the sound of water while relaxing in the yard.
  6. Step it up. Steps create a pathway to stroll through your sloping garden, whether you decide on a formal stairway or meandering stone steps.
  7. Make it Boulder. Add a cluster or two of boulders. It will add natural beauty to your sloped garden and a natural focal point.

Many of us in the Hudson Valley live in hilly areas. Instead of wishing you had one of those open, flat landscapes, embrace the slope and make it work for you.

Lawn Care Basics

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While buying a home might be the American dream, keeping up with one’s lawn just might be every homeowner’s nightmare. A beautiful lawn begins and ends with proper annual care and each yard comes with its own set of unique characteristics that make lawn care decisions seem like a guessing game.

You can order a home test kit or send a soil sample to the local Cooperative Extension for testing. The results will let you know what needs to be added to soil, if anything, to make it ideal for the grass you seed to grow.

The best times to work on your lawn is in the spring between the end of April through mid-June and then again in the fall between the end of August through mid-October.
Grass Seeds: A few cool season grasses that do well here are bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue.

Seed Amount: Often, people buy more seed than they actually need. An average amount is one pound of grass seed for 750 square feet, when starting a new lawn. Seed in spring and fall. If you can only seed one time per year, do it in the fall when your seed has less competition from weeds.

Soil Additives: In general, the soil in our region is acidic. You can regulate this with the addition of lime, which is organic, natural, and very inexpensive.

Fertilizer: Feed your lawn in spring and fall. It needs to be fed while it’s actively growing. Again, if you can only do it once per year, choose the fall when the growth has slowed but the grass is still green.

Aerating: All lawns benefit from aerating. To get good penetration, aerate when the grass is actively growing and the soil is moist. Either water your lawn before aerating or wait until after a good rain.

Watering: If you need to water from time to time, do so in the early morning so the sun can dry the grass. This helps discourage prolonged moisture which can bring disease. You are better off watering thoroughly less often than short spurts more often. The better soaking will encourage deeps roots and will make your lawn more drought-tolerant.

Popular cool-season grasses:

  • Bluegrass
  • Perennial ryegrass
  • Tall fescue
  • Fine fescue