Ah, spring, what a fun time for all of us! While the ladies are probably more drawn to our Spring Fashion article this month, the guys have probably turned to this, our Spring Landscaping feature. Spring is about renewal and growth and nowhere is this more evident than in the grass, trees, flowers, shrubs and other parts of your yard and landscape. As the snow melts (and mud dries), we are usually left with a pretty drab picture of our outdoor area. However, there is no need to worry! By making a few simple calls to professionals who specialize in lawn care, landscaping, hardscaping and lighting, you can take the task off your plate and still know that your outdoor area will be perfect for relaxing in entertaining as soon as the weather warms up!
Lawn Care
“Over the next several weeks the temperatures will slowly warm up and our attention turns from snow removal to lawn care,” says Lee Schumacher with TDK Lawncare. “This is a perfect time to start the healing process from last year’s drought and extreme heat. By changing our practices we can help our lawns survive Mother Nature’s twist and turns she has for us this year.
To help repair the damage from last year’s drought, aerating while at the same time broadcasting grass seed around 5lbs per 1,000 sq. ft. is an easy way to help rejuvenate your lawn.
Aerating is the process of making finger size holes in your lawn and depositing the removed material on the surface to break down. This allows fertilizer, water and oxygen to get to the roots where healthy grass originates. In areas where the soil has a high clay content, compaction and thatch buildup is more prevalent and aeration should be done twice a year.”
Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries & Garden Centers adds, “In most cases following the standard recommendations of applying a two or four step lawn program and ensuring you are ready to water your lawn as warm weather arrives is the best recommendation. That said, if someone let their lawn go dormant in the drought last year, or even saw some issues in the lawn last fall then repairs may be necessary through reseeding or resodding portions of the lawn. We won’t know for sure until the lawn begins to green up with warmer weather. In those cases it is important to apply a product during the pre
-emergent step of the lawn programs, usually labeled a crabgrass preventer, that is designed to be used when reseeding a lawn. If the wrong product is used you may have problems as many of the products typically used may keep new seed from germinating just as well as they prevent grassy weeds in the lawn. In addition, with the drought and somewhat drier winter it may be necessary to begin watering earlier this year to ensure the lawn has enough water to grow normally this spring. Only time and Mother Nature know how much rain we will receive this spring so we recommend everyone be prepared to help if the rains don’t arrive as they do in more normal years.”
Lee Schumacher offers the following Five Steps You Can Take to Create a Healthier Lawn:
1. Water at the correct times, with the correct amount of water for your grass type. (Blue grass requires ¼” every other day. Tall fine fescue requires 1” per week.)
2. Varying the heights of the mower for the variety of climates here in Nebraska. (During the warmest months, the mower height should be between 3” – 3 ½”.)
3. Aerating your lawn once to twice per year. (Aerating is usually done in the fall and spring when the grass is growing rapidly, and repairs itself easily. We also recommend at this time that you over seed with a turf tall fescue).
4. Over seeding should be done with drought and fungus resistant seed. Tall fescue works well for this. This is usually done in the spring or mid to late September.
5. Having the correct fertilizing schedule. (Usually includes a 6 step program for an average lawn. Using pre-emergent, weed and grub control along with a Winterizer.
The Importance of Fertilizer
Everyone familiar wit
h lawn care is aware of the importance of fertilizer and Jeff Nelson with Husker Organics tells us why: “Weeds are the number one reason why fertilizer is important. The best defense against weeds is a dense, tall lawn. After a dry year like we experienced last season, many lawns were left damaged and thin. It’s important to keep your desirable turf well-fed in order to help fend off infestations of undesirable plants. A thick lawn is helpful in your battle against weeds whether your plan is to use herbicides or not.”
When it comes to fertilizer, Jeff believes that organic is best. “Organic fertilizer is better to use because it helps improve the soil as it feeds the plants. A synthetic fertilizer, while it makes your grass look greener, does not add any beneficial long-lasting properties to the soil profile and can, in fact, cause a harmful build-up of elements. Man-made fertilizers are palliative, while natural fertilizers are curative. Make sure you do your homework on what products are being applied to your lawn to make sure they are truly ‘natural’. Many are not as natural as you may think. Another huge benefit to natural fertilizers is that there is no risk to you, your pets or your kids. The products used by Husker Organics, while terrible tasting to humans, are edible.”
Landscape Upgrades
Your landscape is not all about your lawn. It can include a number of other features, including trees, flowers, bushes and more. There are so many things you can do to improve your landscape and can be difficult to narrow down which options might be best for you. Again, this is where a landscape professional comes in very handy.
“I always recommend clients think about the big picture and the long term plan before they begin the process,” suggests Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers. “Whether the project is simply adding some color to an area, installing a new bed, or working on the whole landscape, by knowing where you want the landscape to end up long-term you can better plan the landscape and your plantings. While there are many questions to consider depending on the scope of the changes and your focus, knowing where you want the landscape to end up will allow you to better plan the landscape. Most landscapes are phased in over time due to budget or because there is simply only so much time in our busy schedules to devote to planting. By knowing where we want the landscape to end up, we can better craft a plan that can be phased in over time and budget, but will allow all the pieces to fit together giving you a much more pleasing result.”
Kristin Hain with Land Escapes agrees with Andrew by adding, “Don’t just go out to the garden center and randomly buy plants or landscape materials. Take pictures of other local landscapes you like, find pictures in magazines and make a portfolio of how you’d like your property to look. Be aware of things like screening, power lines, roof overhangs, sun exposure and how the area will be used. Far too often, people jump into a project without a plan and end up with something that’s not properly suited for the area, plants planted in the wrong location for sun exposure or future growth and an overall look that’s messy or not appealing. Remember, the plants will be around for many years, so thinking ahead and planning today will increase your property value and also resale potential in the future.”
Keeping in mind the new trends that are occurring in landscaping is also a good idea. Though many of them may not be a good fit for you for a number of reasons, you may find one or two trend that fits right in with your lifestyle and landscaping plans. “I think we are seeing a surge in people thinking about adding drought-tolerant plants to their landscape,” explains Andrew Campbell. “With the drought last year, it certainly is on the minds of many of our clients. I also believe that a number of trends continue to be important including season-long interest in the landscape, reducing maintenance needs as much as possible and overall working with the right plants, in the right placement, for each client’s needs. I also believe that we are seeing many of our clients adding or enlarging their vegetable gardens. There still isn’t anything quite like the taste of a home-grown vine-ripened tomato.”
Kristin Hain is also seeing trends that related to the recent drought. “I think water conservation will be very important,” she states. “Choosing plants, trees and shrubs that can tolerate periods of drought and educating the public on proper watering techniques will be important. Land Escapes will be using drip irrigation bags with every new tree installation to help property owners easily monitor and manage tree watering for that first critical year. In addition, water features are still a big hit with homeowners and small bubbler features have been very popular with our clients for the past couple years. The bubblers are small and easily maintained by the homeowner yet provide lots of enjoyment from spring through fall. For plantings, it’s important to consider foliage color when creating a design. I believe a landscape or garden is successful when there’s lots of color and visual interest year round, yet not one flower is blooming. Remember, most flowering plants only bloom for a short period of time and you’re left with foliage the rest of the season. When you focus on foliage rather than flowers, be sure to incorporate blue, gold, burgundy, purple and variegated in amongst standard green foliage plants. This way you always have color! There’s no reason to quit or cut back on adding or redoing your landscaping, just be smart about it and make sure that you hire qualified landscape professionals who have experience and also have all of the required license and certifications.”
Tree, Bush and Shrub Removal
“This is a great time of year to get the yard ready for spring,” advises Brannon Hall, CTSP with Blue Ox Tree Service. “This includes removing any trees, bushes and shrubs that succumbed to last season’s drought or pines suffering from wilt. Wilt disease has already claimed many pines and it’s a perfect time to get those trees removed from your landscape and replaced with something new. Dead or dying trees can not only be a safety hazard, they can also lower your property value. Now is also a good time to get your trees trimmed and cleaned up before they begin to leaf out in the coming weeks.
It’s important to do your research and hire licensed, bonded and insured arborists. Keep in mind that cheaper is not always better. Your trees are an important investment in your landscape and should be treated as such.”
Other Landscaping Options
Landscaping is not just about the ‘living’ things in your yard like the lawn, trees, flowers and shrubs. Landscaping is about curb appeal (what others see when they drive by your home or into your driveway and about how you feel when you pull up) and about outdoor enjoyment of your space. Whatever achieves these goals can be considered landscaping!
Lance Roach with JL Exteriors suggests adding a pergola (a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice upon which vines are trained), covered roof, fire pit or outdoor bar/kitchen to your outdoor area. “There are many unique choices out there to truly make your outdoor space stand out and be a relaxing retreat for your family. Whether you are focused on tranquil options for leisurely enjoyment or more impressive features that will wow guests you welcome to your home, landscaping is all about finding the perfect fit for your lifestyle.”
One of those ‘perfect fits’ could be incorporating a pool and/or hot tub into your outdoor space. Although these may not be right for everyone, they can be a huge source of enjoyment for families who enjoy being outside and who love to swim or lounge in the water. If you do decide to incorporate pool into your home, it’s important that you work with the professionals who can help you find the perfect fit. Of course, working with a professional pool specialist such as Jeff Bonsall with Bonsall Pool and Spa is a must. Though you may know what you think you want for a pool, someone who has experience and training in the industry will actually be able to guide you to the products and services that will best fit your needs. It might seem tempting to run out to the nearest big box store and buy a pool that looks appealing, but you are opening the door to a whole host of problems when you do that. Not only will you be asking advice from people who probably are not trained nor have much experience with pools (and who may not even be emp
loyed there next month), but you are also taking a chance that the pool will be delivered and installed correctly, that the warranty was properly explained and that installation and maintenance will all go smoothly. Are these really chances you want to take when it comes to such a large investment (and the safety of your family)?
You also need to keep in mind that adding a pool or spa to your home is not JUST about the pool or the spa. You need to create a beautiful environment in which to enjoy your new investment. Think about it: do you really want your expensive new pool to be out in a bare yard with weeds growing around it? Of course not! You chose to add this to your home because you wanted to create a tranquil, tropical feel to your landscaping where everyone could have a good time and feel like they were at the beach (or at least at a resort!). Working with either your pool specialist or your landscaper to create the right environment for your new investment is key. You want to plan and create a pool environment that is easy to get to and difficult to leave! Your first step is to get inspired. Find pictures of other pool environments you envy, whether they are from magazines, other people you know who have pools or even from some of your favorite movies. These pictures will give your landscape designer a place to start and a vision they can be guided by.
You’ll want to keep in mind your deck and walkways as these are the foundation for your landscape design and how you will access your pool. You also should consider the plants that you want around your pool area (and that will flourish in the geographic area we live in). If you think of the resorts you’ve been to in the past, you’ll probably recall that the most luxurious ones were those complete with beautiful flowers, plants, trees and other landscaping features.
The key to a truly enjoyable back yard is creating one where you, your family and your guests feel just as comfortable as you would indoors (or even more so!). This means plenty of comfortable lounge chairs or couches, an eating area and a place to prepare food (such as a barbeque area or outdoor kitchen). Remember that you will be spending a lot of time outdoors when it’s sunny and hot, so shade and privacy should be at the top of your list (think an awning, pergola or gazebo or plenty of high quality sun umbrellas).
You want to be able to enjoy your new tropical environment even when the sun goes down, so lighting is another option you’ll want to consider. Enhancing your poolscape with lighting not only allows you to enjoy it into the evening hours, but it also provides safety and adds a decorative effect. Fiber optics, perimeter, floating and color-changing lighting will create beautiful and unique nighttime gatherings.
If you are adding a pool to your back yard, you’ll also want to add a fence (or improve on your current fence if it does not provide the security and privacy you need). A proper fence can provide a safety measure against unwanted visitors and make sure that all of your neighbors and everyone driving by can’t see your family and guests in their swimsuits! If you build a deck around your pool, a fence can also provide additional security and keep children or animals from wandering into the pool area unsupervised.
Added Security
Creating the perfect outdoor retreat is not easy—nor is it cheap. When you have invested the time and money necessary to create a beautiful landscape, you want to protect it (and the people who will be relaxing in it). That’s where a professional security system comes in. R.J. Lipert with AlarmLink USA explains, “We can come in and evaluate your needs, speak with you about your concerns and develop a security system that is uniquely designed for you. Maybe you want something that alerts you when a door or gate is opened, or perhaps you want security cameras so you can observe the kids in the pool even when you are indoors. Whether you are trying to keep your loved ones safe in your outdoor environment or keep unwanted visitors out of it, we can help you achieve your goals.”
Choosing the Best Landscape Professional for Your Needs
Throughout this article, we have talked about the importance of choosing the best landscaper for your needs. However, we haven’t really talked about how to choose that landscaper. Here are a few pointers from the professionals themselves:
“There are so many aspects involved with designing and installing a nice looking and functional landscape and many homeowners just don’t have the vision and experience to do this,” explains Kristin Hain with Land Escapes. “That being said, not all “professionals” have good experience and many spread themselves too thin offering a wide range of services yet knowing only a little about each service. If you want an amazing landscape with plants, find someone who really knows about plants. If you want an extensive outdoor kitchen or patio space, find someone who specializes in that. You will get better service and quality of work from smaller companies with a few specialized areas of work vs. a company who “offers it all”. All aspects of the area must be considered including sun exposure, screening, utilities, irrigation, color, height, texture, form and contrast.”
She continues by saying, “Hiring a landscape professional like Land Escapes ensures that all plants chose will be correct for the site considering sun exposure and future growth, city codes are met, and plants and materials will be installed with proper techniques ensuring and extending their life expectancy. Simply reading the tag or label on a plant at the nursery often does not give the best information for how that plant will grow in this area. Plant tags are mass produced and cover a wide range of growing conditions across the country, they are not specifically written for the location where they are purchased and will be planted. Land Escapes specializes in knowing our plants and what will and won’t grow in and around Lincoln. We have over 35 years of combined experience and pay close attention to detail, technique and design. We specialize in more unique designs and plant selections creating a home landscape that’s completely your own and doesn’t look like every other yard on your block.”
Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nurseries and Garden Centers has this advice: “While landscaping isn’t rocket science, I do believe that working with an experienced landscape designer will result in a better designed plan that offers more interest and less maintenance over time. Picking the right plants for the right locations that offer season-long interest and lower maintenance is much easier for a designer with experience than someone just starting out in the trade. Many times finding this professional may be as simple as asking friends and neighbors who they have worked with on their projects. Or this may be accomplished by keeping an eye out for companies working in your neighborhood and seeing the work they accomplish. Once you have picked a company or two to consider for your project, I recommend talking through your needs with the designer. Ask them questions about the type of project you are planning, their experience and design philosophies, and see if you are comfortable with them and their answers. Finding the right landscape professional should result in you finding a company you are comfortable working with and who can be a partner in your landscape well beyond just this planting season. You want this company to be able to help you through the whole project especially if it is phased in over time, including any potential replacement plants needed, while also teaching you how to properly maintain your landscape now and down the road. This long term relationship may be more easily found in a company who has been around and has a focus in all aspects of helping you with your landscaping including the long term maintenance.”
Spending time outdoors is good for you and your family. Being in the fresh air and around living grass, plants and trees is rejuvenating, healthy and brings with it a feeling of camaraderie and togetherness. By creating the perfect outdoor environment for you, your family and your guests, you are investing in your family and your peace of mind. Though Nebraska can have some nasty winters, it also has some beautiful spring months, sunny and warm summers and pleasant falls. Being able to enjoy these days on a gorgeous deck or patio or floating in your pool next to a tropical paradise is a luxury almost everyone can afford. Add in a nice barbeque grill and some high quality outdoor furniture and you’ve expanded the living space of your home and created an oasis where everyone can go to de-stress and relax.
Remember that the key to a successful landscaping project is to work with the right professionals. Get them involved right in the beginning so they can help you plan everything, develop a budget and make sure that all the pieces of your project are fitting together properly.