Proper Irrigation Practices

This is the time of year for New England lawns to burn, so if you're lucky enough to have an irrigation system, you should keep your lawn watered. Here are a few tips to make sure you are watering your lawns properly:

You want to make sure that you water your lawn long enough to have an effect, but not so long that it gets soggy. Applying water faster than the soil can absorb it can lead to run off and wasted water. Keep in mind that light, frequent watering encourages shallow roots. On the flip side, excessive watering keeps the root system saturated with water and is harmful to the lawn. Roots need a balance of water and air to function and grow properly. We recommend watering 2-3x a week for at least an hour, rather than everyday for only 20 minutes or everyday for several hours.

What about time of day? The best time for lawn irrigation is in the early morning hours. Watering in late afternoon or late morning may be detrimental if it extends the time the lawn is naturally wet from dew. Avoid watering during the day to prevent immediate evaporation and even scalding the lawn on very hot days.

If your lawn has burned and you don't have a sprinkler system, don't worry. Fall is the best time to aerate and seed your lawn. Check back for our next blog about just that topic!

Weeds Are Always Bad, or Are They?

Everyone hates weeds. We hear and read that the presence of weeds is harmful to the landscape. But, are there any weeds that have benefits to the landscape? Here’s what we’ve learned.

New Team Member!

We are pleased to welcome Justin Littlehale to the TGK team as our new Commercial Account Manager. Justin found his way into the green industry after working at an office job, where sitting inside looking out wasn't good enough! He quit his desk job and started his own landscape company which he ran for the last 10 years.

Justin brings a new skill set to The GroundsKeeper - he is ICPI certified. The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) is the North American trade association representing the interlocking concrete paving industry. We are excited about the skills, training and ideas Justin will bring to our hardscape & enhancements services. He also has his Massachusetts Pesticide license.

According to Justin, his favorite parts of his job are the ability to work outside with nature, and the instant gratification he gets when he leaves a property at the end of the day.

Justin lives in Brockton with his wife Christina and they are expecting their first child in August.

MCLP, MCA & MLP - What does it mean?

The very first TGK blog was about certifications, but what do all of those letters (MLP, MCA, MCLP) really mean? Read on to find out why hiring certified technicians is important to your landscape:

Wow!

These pictures were taken about 3 weeks apart - these planters look amazing!

Beautiful Containers

Here are some beautiful and unique containers Lauren has been working on at a new property. 

Flower Installations

Our crews have been hard at work installing the flowers that we had delivered back in May. Check out their progress!

Pruning: What and When is it Done?

Hard to believe June is almost over, which means it's time to start thinking about mid-summer pruning. So what is mid-summer pruning and why do you need to do it? And furthermore, what are the different kinds of pruning that need to take place throughout the year? I asked Lauren for clarification.

We're on Facebook!

Are you on Facebook? So are we! Stop by and "like" our page, and while you're there check out all the latest photos!

All Facebook Fans get $25 off TGK services!

http://www.facebook.com/GroundsKeeperInc

June Landscaping To-Dos

We are often asked about what to do in the yard during each summer month. Now that June is upon us, here are the things you should be focused on getting done!

• Do an irrigation run-through and adjust the controller as needed
• Keep an eye out for mildew, black spot, and insect damage on shrubs and trees. Treat any signs of disease early.
• Round 2 of turf application
• If you mow your own lawn, remember to raise your mowing height to 3.5" when the hot weather arrives to prevent burning as long as possible
• Keep deadheading flowers for regrowth. Once a bloom dies, the plant will devote energy to seed production unless you remove the spent flower.
• Plant hanging baskets, window boxes and containers to add color
• Finish planting new trees and shrubs
• It's too late to plant grass seed - wait until the fall
• Cut back browned foliage of bulbs
• If you start pruning any of your shrubs or trees, you'll have to prune at least 1 more time this summer. Wait until next month, if you can.
• Water as necessary
• Weed and fertilize annuals, perennials & rose beds
• Keep up with the weeds!

We hope you are enjoying your summer! If you need any help with your yard or have any questions, let us know!

Backyard Play Area

If you have kids, you most likely have a play area in your yard. So how do you make a fun and functional area for your kids while maintaining the landscape? From our experience, here are the things to consider:

Flower delivery!

Lauren received a large shipment of flowers at the shop on Wednesday. Before she installed them all, she shared with us a little about what she ordered and how she’ll use them.

Container Gardens

Short on space to plant a garden? Try a container garden, perfect for balconies, porches or patios. You can also use containers to add color on steps & decks, by a pool or seating area, or between your garage doors. You can grow almost anything in a container. Here are some tips for success.

Creating a Backyard Destination

If money is tight and your summer vacation was postponed this year, create a backyard destination that you can enjoy every day. Your oasis will give you a place to de-stress after a long day and enjoy quality time with friends and family all summer.

• Create privacy with a fence, a trellis, shrubs, trees, flowering vines or even outdoor fabric hung like curtains. Any of these can help block the view of the road or the neighbor’s yard, reduce noise and give you a hidden feeling.

Opening Your Irrigation for the Summer

If you’ve survived another cold winter in the Northeast, you are probably excited to break out the shorts and get the sprinkler system fired up for the summer. But it’s not as easy as just turning on the water. There are several simple steps to follow to start up your system for the spring.

Selecting a Landscape Contractor for Homeowners

Yesterday we gave tips for selecting a landscape contractor for condos and homeowner associations, but what if you are a homeowner looking for help in the yard?

Did you know that landscaping will add 7-15% to the value of your home? On average, this signifies 100% to 200% return on landscaping investments! Landscape projects can be complex, expansive and expensive, so hiring the right firm is essential. But what are the steps to choosing the right company? We’ve outlined them below:

10 Great Backyard Ideas

I just stumbled across this great article on myhomeideas.com (which is a fantastic site full of information from All You, Coastal Living, Cooking Light, Health, MyRecipes, Real Simple, Southern Accents, Southern Living, Sunset, and This Old House). 10 projects that are fun and easy, and can be finished in a weekend or less! Check it out!

10 Great Backyard Ideas

Selecting a Landscape Contractor for HOAs & Condos

A large portion of our clients are condominium & apartment complexes and Homeowner Associations, so we thought it might be helpful to share some information about how to select a landscape contractor in those situations.

Rejuvenating Your Existing Landscape

Not looking for a huge outdoor overhaul this year? Here are a few simple ideas to update your yard.

Overgrown Landscapes
Are your trees and shrubs becoming overgrown or in need of a little TLC? You’ll be surprised what a few hours of appropriate pruning can do to rejuvenate your existing landscape! Not only are you bringing your landscape back to proportion with your home, but you’re also increasing the health and vitality of the plant material with just a little extra attention.

Before and after a dormant pruning

 
More ideas after the jump...

Enhancements

Take a look at a couple recent TGK projects.

Deck Planting

Before:

Design:

After:

Click the link below to see one more great TGK project!

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch!

Maybe it is because we’re in the business, but one of our favorite springtime smells is fresh bark mulch. You may not think a lot about the specifics of mulch and mulching best practices, but there might be issues in your yard that you need to address.

Click the link below to learn more about mulch!

Soil Testing

One of the most important lawn projects any homeowner takes on is fertilizing. With a recommended application of 4 times per year, the process is time consuming if you do it yourself or expensive if you have your landscaper do it. So what’s the most important factor in a successful fert program? The pH level of your soil. Fertilizer works best when the soil pH is 7.0. New England is known for having acidic soil, especially where oak and pine trees grow. So how do you figure out the pH level of your soil and how do you fix it? The answer is soil testing; not a service you hear a lot about, but one that can make all the difference in your landscape.

Friday Landscape Tips from TGK

Here's the first in our new Friday Tips series. If you have questions or need advice on a specific topic, leave us a comment and we'll get you an answer!

One of the first things you should plan in the spring is rake your lawn. Raking is one of the most beneficial factors in having a healthy lawn. Raking removes any matter that may be embedded in the grass that will prohibit new growth (like acorns, pine cones, pine needles, sticks and branches). It also removes thatch (a mat of undecomposed material). Although having a thin layer of thatch is always a good thing, a thick layer will suffocate your grass. It will also make it more difficult for water and nutrients to make it deep into the roots, where it is vital to have a strong and healthy lawn. Having raked your lawn, you now have “opened” up the barrier at the base of the grass to let the sunshine and nutrients work their magic.

Spring is here!

If you live in the Northeast, you most likely intend to spend your Easter weekend outside, drying out from the record rain we've seen over the last month. Want to tackle the yard? Here are some do's and don'ts for getting your yard in shape from The GroundsKeeper:

• Don't do any yard work if your lawn is soggy or saturated; let it dry out. If you start too soon, you run the risk of doing more damage than good.
• Do take pictures of any areas in your yard where you had standing water (or still have it). Now is the time to plan drainage construction projects to help prevent these issues in the future, and pictures will help your contractor.
• Do clean the winter and fall debris from your lawn and beds.
• Do rake your lawn - if you clean up piles on your lawn, you'll prevent yellow spots from forming.
• Do clean out any organic materials from around the new shoots on perennials.
• Do plant pansies! Add a little color to your yard with these great spring flowers.
• Don't put grass seed down on any bare spots on your lawn. The ground temperature hasn't warmed up enough for the seed to germinate.

Whether or not you decide to start any yard projects this weekend, make sure you get out and enjoy the sunshine! If you'd like to schedule a spring clean-up or would like a free estimate on any of our lawn services, call us at 508-881-4136, send us an email at info@groundsinc.com, or visit our website at http://www.groundsinc.com/. Happy Spring!

Certifications and Accreditations

At The GroundsKeeper, education and industry involvement are key parts of our employees’ roles. Enhancements Manager Lauren Conroy holds the most certifications on staff and hopes to add another credit to her name in the very near future. So what does it all mean to Lauren and ultimately to her customers? Read on to find out.

“I initially received my MCH accreditation while working at a nursery when I was younger because I love plants! I quickly realized how important education and certifications are to maintaining your position in the industry. It also prepares you for greater job responsibility, strengthens your skills and knowledge, and demonstrates your commitment to your profession.

Although all my credentials are important and valuable to my role at The GroundsKeeper, Inc., my Design Certificate (CLD) is the most important to me. I received it through the Landscape Institute at Harvard University after college and it was a great experience. Aside from my CLD, my Massachusetts Certification for both Horticulture and Landscape Professional allow me to be knowledgeable in shrub care, hardscape features, and most importantly, safety! In addition, they all combine to give me the confidence needed to pursue anything in the landscape industry.

To become accredited, there is usually a written exam and often additional time or experience requirements that you must complete. To become a Mass Certified Landscape Professional, you have to pass a test that covers everything from safety to proper walkway construction, and tree and shrub identification. However, it doesn’t end there! Every year, there is required association involvement to keep your accreditation. This includes trade shows and meetings where we continue to learn about landscape, horticultural and design topics such as the Asian Long Horned Beetle and water conservation.

Next, I’m working to become a Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA). This accreditation is through the Massachusetts Arborist Association (MAA), and addresses various topics such as tree and soil biology, arboriculture safety, proper pruning techniques, disease and insect identification, and tree and shrub installation and identification. This accreditation will allow me to become more familiar with the tree care industry so The GroundsKeeper, Inc. can really handle all realms of the landscape!

For the customer, these various accreditations show how serious we are about industry involvement and continued education. We know it is important to stay on the cutting edge of developments, issues, techniques and new products.”

In addition to her CLD, MCH and MCLP, Lauren also holds a Pesticide License and is one of four Certified Snow Professionals on staff at The GroundsKeeper, Inc. Visit http://www.groundsinc.com/ for more information on our services.