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.

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.

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...

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.

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!