Our Favorite Plantings for Fall Beauty

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Sweater season is almost here and there’s nothing better than being able to throw it over your head, grab a cup of hot apple cider and sit out on your porch to take in the beautiful colors of fall.

Most homeowners think about spring and summer as the seasons for yard beauty, but if you plant with fall in mind as well, you’ll be highly rewarded.

Here are some of our favorite fall trees and shrubs:

  • Sugar Maples make a stunning addition to your yard, offering that bright red and orange of fall that we know and love. 
  • Ginkgo trees are elegant to behold. Their fan-shaped leaves turn a remarkable gold. And, unlike most other trees that lose their leaves slowly as the season progresses, Ginkgos will remain full and golden, losing their leaves all at once overnight. 
  • Oakleaf Hydrangea are a great choice for summer and fall. Named for its oak-shaped leaves, this hydrangea has cone shaped blooms. In fall, its leaves turn a gorgeous dark burgundy. 
  • Burning Bush is perfectly named for its dark green leaves that transition to bright fiery red in fall. 
  • Viburnum is a shrub that has fragrant white flowers in spring. In fall, their bright clusters of berries will not only bring color, but birds to your yard. 
  • Chokeberry shrubs produce small, glossy, red berries that will last way into winter. Although the berries are edible, they are quite tart and astringent. They are better used to make jam, syrup, and tea. And the birds love them too. 

Having a yard full of blooms in summer is a wonderful thing. However, with a little planning, your yard can continue to provide you with joy all year round. Don’t be afraid to ask us for help. We’re happy to help you grow your year-round landscape.

Ginko tree

Five Reasons Fall is a Great Planting Season

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Fall is a great time to…

When fall rolls round most gardeners begin to wind down their gardening activities to start getting their landscape ready for winter. Time is spent mulching, raking leaves, and cleaning tools before setting them aside til spring. 

What is often overlooked is that fall is a great time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, and bulbs! Here’s why.

Moderate Temperatures

Warm temperatures coupled with cool nights are the perfect conditions for both gardeners to work without the searing summer sun and for new plants to begin to establish themselves. Planting in fall will yield wonderful surprises in spring. 

Fewer Plant Pests

Pests like aphids, caterpillars, and beetles are nowhere to be found creating a healthier environment in which plants encounter fewer bug assaults. 

Roots Take Hold

Planting trees and shrubs in fall gives them a  month or so of growing time before turning dormant for the winter. But you might not be able to see that growth because its not the usual above ground growth. Roots can grow in soil as cool as 45 degrees so fall provides root systems to expand. Plant a tree in your yard in fall and they will be well-established by the time summer comes around.

More Spring Perennials

Divide your perennials in fall and make a  new garden bed. Perennials sometimes have a way of spreading out beyond the borders we’ve created for them. Dividing in fall will give you more time in spring to do other tasks. Cover with mulch to insulate your bulbs.

And, don’t forget to plant new bulbs that will brighten up early spring with color and beauty.Tulips, daffodils, and crocus should be planted before the ground freezes.

Competition-Free Seed Starting

While the soil is still warm and the ground has adequate water plant grass seeds. They will germinate quickly and have no competition from weeds.

How to Keep Your Large Trees Happy

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Like most homeowners, we tend to fret over our shrubs and flower beds, while thinking our trees can take care of themselves. But this is not the case.

Trees are living things whose value and benefits only increase over time.In addition to adding beauty to our landscapes they provide shade and privacy, add to the value of our homes, and can cut utility bills by blocking out the wind and shading the house. But, they can succumb to weather, disease, and pests. Here’s how to care for and safeguard the beautiful trees on your property:

Pruning Trees

Removing dead or unhealthy branches or those growing in an undesirable direction is one of the most important things you can do to care for your trees. Prune in winter or early spring before any new growth has begun. 

Mulching Your Trees

Mulching protects trees from weeks, pests, and harsh weather. It also protects the roots by insulating them. Mulching should be an annual task, spread two to four inches deep in a circle around the base. Don’t pile it up against the bark or it can lead to rot. And, only use wood mulch. Rubber or rock are not recommended.

Watering Your Trees

Even trees need water when the weather gets dry for several weeks straight. Give trees a deep soaking around the roots. Slow watering is best so the roots have time to absorb the water. Watering is especially important for newly planted or young trees.

Providing the Freedom Your Tree Needs to Thrive

Keep grass and weeds away from the roots at the base of your tree as they will compete for water and nutrients. Keep power tools such as trimmers at a distance so you don’t nick the trunk.

Give Your Trees a Check-Up

Look for firm bark. Are the leaves full and the correct color for the time of year? Are there dead branches? Do you see pests or fungus?

The professionals at Augustine are tree specialists. We can help you troubleshoot any problems that might arise. Want a tree of your own to care for? Ask us about our tree farm and how we can help you plant a large tree in your yard.

Fall Tree Maintenance

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Now that summer is officially over, landscaping tasks become more about cleanup, winter maintenance, and prepping for next spring. The trees are starting to display the change in seasons with foliage that ranges from bright oranges and reds to warm golds and rusts.

While many take this as a time to rest from landscaping til next spring, it is actually a great time to plant a new tree and to prep the trees you already have for winter. Your trees will be grateful for the fall TLC and will show their appreciation when spring rolls round once more.

In a forest, the soil remains quite rich in nutrients from all the organic matter present on the forest floor. These nutrients nourish the trees year round. In our yards, we have to supplement our soil to make it more like a forest floor for our trees.

Fall Fertilizing

To make sure our trees are well-fed through the winter, apply a slow-release fertilizer this fall. Slow release fertilizers best mimic the forest by providing nutrients in a slow and steady rate throughout the year. It’s the consistent access to the nutrients they need that helps trees maintain their health – growing healthy leaves, roots, and wood.

Mulch

Mulch not only makes your landscape look great but also helps your trees thrive. Mulch helps conserve moisture around trees, maintain soil temperature, and keeps the soil from eroding away. Mulch can be store bought, but it can also be made up of the ground-up leaves from your fall lawn clean-up. Just be sure not to over mulch; one to two inches of mulch is ideal. And, it’s best to keep the mulch an inch or so away from the trunk.

Water

As trees prepare to drop their leaves they need less water. This is because as temperatures cool, the trees enter a dormant phase and need less water. In addition, the soil naturally stays more moist in cooler temperatures. Continuing to water trees can result in root disease.

Trimming

Now is the time to prune dead, diseased, and unsafe branches from trees. This not only promotes better growth in healthy areas of the tree but can protect you, your home, and your car from falling branches.

Plant More

Fall is the best time of year to plant new trees. In fall, newly planted trees get a jumpstart on establishing healthy roots over the dormant season so they can then concentrate on their above ground growth in spring. Augustine has had its own tree farm for 25 years and can help you choose the right type of tree for your landscape. We carry trees of all sizes and specialize in large trees that don’t make you wait ten years before showing their full majesty. We can even deliver and plant it for you!

The Symbolic Meanings of Trees

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Today, most of us plant trees as a way to create shade and privacy, and some are planted because of their beautiful flowers. But planting a tree can mean so much more.

Since ancient days, trees have been used to represent life, growth, wisdom, prosperity and more in legends, poetry, literature, and religion. We all know the symbolism behind an olive branch and the Tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden. 

Cultures around the world hold both deciduous and evergreen trees as sacred symbols. Here are some of most popular trees and their symbolic meanings:

Apple Trees represent goodwill, happiness, and the bounty of life. They are important to both Greek and Norse mythology. Bees and birds love apple trees.

Wisteria and cherry trees are cherished for their beautiful and fragrant flowers. They represent love and romance in many cultures.

Oak Trees are one of the most loved trees in the world. It is a symbol of strength, courage, and knowledge. wearing oak leaves was a sign of special status among the Celts, ancient Greeks, and Romans.

Birch trees represent new beginnings. Often thought of as a pioneer, the birch takes root  in landscapes where no other tree would before.

Elm trees represent life and eternal wisdom. No wonder so many college campuses plant elms along their entrances.

Maple trees represent balance, longevity, and generosity. One reason behind this symbolism is that maple trees have the ability to adapt to many different soil types and climates. 

Fir trees are a symbol of honesty, truth, and forthrightness because of the way they grow straight like a tower. When grouped together they symbolize long-lasting friendship because of their evergreen display.

Yew Trees symbolize longevity because of their long lives. The oldest yew is thought to be at least 3,000 years old.

Now is the perfect time to plant a large tree. Whether you choose which tree to plant because of its looks and size, or because of its symbolism, ask Augustine about choosing a tree from their tree farm along the Esospus. Why plant a sapling that takes years to produce shade, fruit, or blooms. Augustine can install a large tree in your yard that will provide instant gratification and a century of enjoyment.

Trees to plant at Augustine

Augustine Nursery

(Feature image by @veeterzy)

 

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.