The effort it takes to properly maintain the appearance of our exterior spaces is of great concern to us. We strive to place our best face forward to our communities.
Their impression of us matters, so we relish the know how to present ourselves in the best light. Here we will try and provide information with seasonal value as well as ideas for inspiring new looks and refreshing old ones.
The past few days have
soaked the Montgomery County area. This large downfall has
wrecked havoc with a recent clean up and mulching. Even though
we made 4 inch edges around the beds the amount of water that
fell carried the mulch out of the beds. Of course we returned
as soon as the weather broke to rake up all the mulch and
replaced it in the beds.
Other issues we have encountered are areas that have
recently been seeded - the seed has been washed away. Or the
ground becoming so soaked a tree fell over destroying a
Japanese Maple. My ornamental grasses and many others through
out the County have fallen under the heavy pounding. And the
many calls of standing water and the request for solutions.
If you would like
our
help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
Fall is for Pumpkins
and Mums. Get those Mums in the ground now! Grab some
from the nursery that are close to blooming and install them in
front of any beds maybe add some pumpkins or gourds to brighten up
your yard.
Ornamental Cabbage get more colorful the colder it
gets and provide a visual appeal with its large exotic circular
leaf structure. They are great as an edging plant or install them
in a pot with pansies.
As for those pansies planting them now may very well
reward you with pansies returning in the spring.
If you would like
our
help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
Over-Seeding is broadcasting about a
pound of seed per
thousand
square feet onto an already established lawn.
Golf courses over-seed in the Spring and Fall. You need
only
over-seed in the Fall to replace any grasses that have died
over
the year.
Nature does its own over-seeding at the end of summer when the
grasses drop their seed. However your lawn is cut
regularly
so that the grasses do not go to seed. You must perform
this
renewal for your lawn or it will slowly depopulate.
Over seeding when done in conjuction with Aeration gives
you
the best results.
Fertilizer
Business
Licenses are Required by
Professionals under the law going into effect October
1,
2013. Seneca Gardens
obtained its license
and
is
in compliance with the regulations effecting everyone from
farmers, municipalities, counties, commercial applicators, and
home owners.
Soil Test are mandatory for the application
of
Phosphorus in the lawn. Retailers will need to ask for a copy
of
your soil test before they are allowed to sell you fertilizer
with
phosphorus. Lawn care companies will not be allowed to apply
fertilizers with phosphorus with out a soil test.
How to take a soil sample.
Use Clean Sampling Equipment
Use a soil-sampling probe, an auger, a spade or shovel.
Tools should be either stainless steel or chrome-plated. Do
not
use brass, bronze, or galvanized tools because they will
contaminate samples with copper and/or zinc.
If a shovel or a spade is used, dig a V-shaped hole to sample
depth (4-6’’), then cut a thin slice as shown on the leftt.
Mix soil cores for each sample in a clean, plastic bucket. If
the
bucket has been used to hold fertilizer or other chemicals,
wash
it thoroughly before using it for soil samples.
Sampling Area
Each sample should represent only one soil type or area—for
example, a lawn, vegetable garden or perennially landscaped
area.
For each unique area, take at least six to eight samples.
Place
all the samples for one unique area in a plastic bucket and
mix
thoroughly. Use the mixture in the bucket to fill a soil
sample
bag about two-thirds full. Look for the fill line on the bag.
If one area of your yard seems healthy and another has bare or
yellow areas, sample healthy and unhealthy areas separately
even
if both are lawn grasses or flower gardens, etc.
We need to be responsible with our use of fertilizers both as
a company and as a homeowner. By following the regulations of
the State Law and the recommendations of the Maryland State
University we can enjoy a healthy Chesapeake Bay.
If you would like our help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
Plants grow and
die.
We need to watch what is going on in our landscapes
and
take action as needed.
We can not be afraid of change but rather embrace it realizing
the
potential to grow our gardens and experience them anew.
If a plant should die or become too
retched that it must be pulled - Look around first at what you
have. Can another plant that may have out grown its space be
transplanted? Is this a good time to reduce the size of the
bed?
Can a large stone or a grouping fill the space?
I had a Japanese Maple loose half of
its
branches to a heavy snow fall. Instead of tossing it I
transplanted it up against a large stone angled in such a way
as
to hide the scar of the missing branches. This created a
small
story of a tree growing up the side of a mountain.
I
then
populated the surroundings with other stone a Hosta pulled
from
another location added some Ivy to the mix a Liriope also
scavenged. I added some moss to the rock and petunias as
color.
More plants soon joined and became players in the story.
Today the story needs to change again.
The
supporting players have become to big and need to be
rearranged.
The Hosta and the Liriope pulled out from under the maple's
branches. The Ornamental Grasses need to be split as they are
taking over the story. And the Holly needs some attention.
But this is part of the ever
changing story of the landscape and a welcome one. As we grow
in
experience through living our own lives our stories change. We
meet new people move to other homes begin families and nurture
them towards their own discoveries and adventures.
We must at least provide a little of
that
care to our landscapes or they will reflect exactly how much
we
do.
If you would like
our
help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
Fertilizer
Business
Licenses are Required by
Professionals under the law going into effect October
1,
2013. Seneca Gardens
obtained its license
and
is
in compliance with the regulations effecting everyone from
farmers, municipalities, counties, commercial applicators, and
home owners.
The new law is designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay from
excess
nutrients that contribute to explosive algae growth that rob
the
waters of oxygen. Algae block sunlight from reaching Bay
grasses,
robbing the water of their oxygen production through
photosynthesis. With out that oxygen, or the plants that
produce
it, the Aquatic Life is dying off in large numbers.
We need to be responsible with our use of fertilizers both as
a company and as a homeowner. By following the regulations of
the State Law and the recommendations of the Maryland State
University we can enjoy a healthy Chesapeake Bay.
And someday I can take my 22 foot sailboat out onto clear Bay
waters of the Upper Chesapeake with the hope of an overnight
stay, after a relaxing swim and then dinner of fresh caught
healthy fish.
If you would like our help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
My Ornamental Grasses provide my landscape with a
sense
of grandeur over Winter. I use them as a barrier, screen and
wind
break through out most of the year.
In the winter they contrast nicely with a denuded Japanese
maple
and the conical shapes of evergreens. Their large volumes
provide
interest in an otherwise drab winter setting.
Ornamental grasses take full shape at the end of spring and
only
turn brown once the first freeze arrives and the grasses go
dormant.
To often I see people cutting back these beauties at
the
end of Fall. This is a waste as the grasses maintain their
form
through out Winter and need very little maintenance until
Spring.
Spring is when the grasses are cut back so that they can begin
their new growth and provide the fabulous interest to the
landscape.
Many a Winter on milder days with the wind gently
blowing through the grasses their hypnotic movement and the
rustling of their many leaves provide memories of warmer times
on
quite beaches.
If you would like our help please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
When it comes to Fall there are a lot of preparations
that must be accomplished to maintain the health and
appearance of your outdoor spaces.
First remove all the leaves from the lawn. If you leave the
leaves on the grass over winter it could very well kill the
grass. And Trying to remove them in the spring will be that
much more difficult as they will be wet and matted down.
Next remove all the weeds from the beds as well as dead
foliage from perennials. Remove any left over mulch from
Spring as you will be adding about an inch of mulch for over
Winter. If your beds have natural edges these need to be
freshened up with a square edging spade or mechanical edger.
Next plant any Spring bulbs and Mums or Pansies.
Pansies planted in fall will over Winter well and bloom again
in the Spring. Finish with a thin layer of newspaper
(optional) and 1" of shredded hardwood mulch.
Gather your debris and leaves and add them to your compost pile. Prune any dead or diseased branches from trees and
give all your trees a good last watering. And now would be a
good time to empty any rain barrels and disconnect them from
downspouts for Winter. Also shallow water features should be
emptied and the pumps turned off and stored for winter.
If you would like our help with a Fall
Cleanup please fill
out our free estimate
request form
or call:
September is the preferred time of relieving compaction and
allowing air to enter the soil and help break up the thatch
layer. By Aerating and seeding in the early Fall we provide
time for the new grasses to mature. We also take advantage of
cooler temperatures and the end of Summer drought.
By removing cores of earth the surrounding root system is
allowed to grow outwards into looser soil. These roots will
continue to grow through Winter if the ground is not frozen.
September aeration penetrates the thatch layer that may have
arisen during the Summer allowing water to enter deeper into
the earth feeding roots and carrying organic materials to the
microbes.
By giving the grass time to grow after aerating and seeding in
September when Spring arrives those grasses will perk up and
even provide them a good chance of being fully mature by the
time Summer rolls around.
Call us at 301-980-9005 to schedule Aeration and
Seeding this fall.
Or fill out our
Estimate Form.
When your lawn gets tall enough to hide pests, snakes will
arrive.
Will mowing keep out snakes?
Yes. Snakes hate mowers. They slither away from them as fast
as
they can. Keeping your grass mowed leaves them little to hide
in.
Mowing keeps out their prey: rodents, bugs, and rabbits.
But if the snakes are are not fast enough then
Sashimi!!!not Sushi is what you get. Sushi
requires vinegared rice and thats not what we get here.
If you find yourself with a large
portion of
Snake Shashimi after mowing - You need to mow more often or -
Call us at 301-980-9005 to schedule for Mowing.
Or fill out our
Estimate Form.
Seneca Gardens
obtained its license
and
is
in compliance with the regulations effecting everyone from
farmers, municipalities, counties, commercial applicators, and
home owners.
