How to Plant Spring Bulbs.

November 26, 2009 · Filed under Landscaping, Plants

Planting spring-flowering bulbs is fairly simple. It just takes a few simple steps and a little knowledge to get the job done. The best time of the year to plant spring-flowering bulbs is now, between mid September to mid December. Planting spring bulbs now is very important, because the cool temperatures help to stimulate the flowering buds and to promote root growth. Below are some of the best bulbs to plant in this area:

  1. Tulips
  2. Daffodils
  3. Iris
  4. Crocus
  5. Alliums
  6. Galanthus ( Snowdrops )
  7. Leucojum aestivum ( Snowflake )
  8. Ranunculus
  9. Grape Hyacinths/Muscari

Before planting your bulbs, inspect them and make sure that they are not rotted. The bulbs should be heavy and solid with no cuts on them. The cuts can open the door for disease or insects. When buying bulbs just make sure that they are of good quality before leaving the store.

The next step in planting bulbs is to make sure that they have the right lighting. Most all spring-flowering bulbs do there best in full or part sun. One good thing is that most bulbs are done blooming before the trees put on all their leaves. So if you have a spot where it gets sun in the winter, because there are no leaves on the trees, than it probably would be fine to plant some there if you wanted too. Also a little shade and cooler temperatures help the bulbs flower longer.

Planting and soil quality are the next steps. Most bulbs do well in just about any kind of soil, but a good sandy loam or top soil usually works the best. You just really want to have good drainage so that there is no standing water around the bulbs. This could cause them to rot and die. When planting the bulbs it is best to plant them about 2 to 3 inches deep, depending on the bulb size. Just don’t plant them to deep, because they will not be able to push through the soil. Proper spacing is also a key factor in planting your bulbs. It is best to place tiny bulbs about 3 inches apart and larger bulbs about 6 to 12 inches apart. This will insure give you the look that you want.

Now that you have your bulbs planted and ready for the spring, when will they start to bloom. It depends on the variety of the bulb, species and the climate. They can start to bloom any where from January to May depending on the temperatures. If we have a warm winter than the bulbs will start to bloom earlier, but if we have a cold winter than they will start to bloom later.

One of the last steps to keeping your bulbs looking great year after year is maintenance. Once the bulbs have matured and are done flowering it is time to remove the foliage and divide them up. You want to wait to remove the foliage when it starts to die. This will allow the bulbs to build up their food supply for flowering the next year. It usually takes about six weeks from flowering until the foliage is ready to be removed. If you remove the foliage too early, you risk harming the bulb or even killing them. If you choose to divide them, this is the right time, right before your remove the foliage, so that you know exactly where all the bulbs are.

The last step is the chilling process. Most of the spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, need to be chilled for about 6 to 8 weeks at a temperature between 40 to 50 degrees for excellent blooming in the spring. Now that you know what to do, go have fun and make your landscape look stunning for the spring.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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What to do with all those leaves…

November 1, 2009 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance, Organic Lawn Care

Leaves are a huge problem this time of year, but their dramatic beauty can be breathtaking.  There are several ways to deal with the leaves in the fall, such as using them as mulch or as compost.

Unfortunately, to use leaves effectively as mulch and compost they still need to be raked or blown from your gardens and lawn so that you have control over where they are used.  Leaving a thick layer of leaves on your lawn or garden can create conditions that lead to rotting of the grass or plants beneath.

Once your leaves have been gathered, you have a choice between using them un-decomposed, as mulch, or composting them before you put them in your garden. Regardless of how you are going to use them, the first step is to chop or shred your leaves. This will save space if you are placing them in a bin, minimize their blowing around if you are placing them in the garden, and it will help speed up their eventual decomposition into composted organic matter.

One way to shred the leaves is by using your lawn mower. First attach a bagger to your lawn mower before you begin cutting. As you cut the lawn, the leaves will be shredded and gathered into the bag. You may also gather leaves in a pile and run the lawn mower without a bagger through the pile. Turn the discharge shoot in one direction so that the shredded leaves are placed in a pile and not blown all over the place.

Once you have your shredded leaves, you may place them in your landscape beds as mulch immediately, if you wish. But be careful not to place too much of mulch directly on the crowns of perennial flowers, because it can lead to root rot. If you do use un-composted shredded leaves as mulch in your garden, you should add some nitrogen fertilizer to the garden in the spring, as the leaves break down they may rob the soil of nitrogen.

Another way to deal with your leaves is to compost them, either alone or with other organic matter. The easiest but longest process is to place the shredded leaves in a wire bin. Leave them there for two years, turning them occasionally, and you will have a really nice product. The only problem with using leaves alone for composting is you will need a tremendous amount of leaves to produce any quantity of compost.

Leaves can be most effective as a component in a compost pile that contains a variety of organic matters. Your  compost pile should contain materials rich in nitrogen and others rich in carbon. Leaves can provide the carbon component of your pile. Other good carbon components include straw, wood and bark chips. Good nitrogenous materials include grass and plant clippings, raw fruit and vegetable scraps, eggshells, and coffee grounds. Use your shredded leaves and other carbon materials to layer between your nitrogenous materials in a bin. Turn the pile every so often to aerate it, and make sure that it is moist, but not to wet. The amount of time it will take to produce compost depends upon its size, composition and conditions. The process can take anywhere from three months to one year. Most small compost bins take 6 to 9 months to produce a fully composted product. Make sure that you cut the materials into small pieces, and turn the piles about once every 2 to 3 weeks. Happy composting!

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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The Perfect Time To Plant

November 1, 2009 · Filed under Landscaping, Plants

The recent change in weather has many people thinking it must be too late to plant trees and shrubs. Actually, fall is surpassing spring as the better season to plant shrubs and trees.

Why you may ask?  Since the summer heat is over and the cool winter season is yet to come, the shrubs and trees love this time of the year. Any time the soil temperature is 40 degrees and above the plant roots are growing, and in Texas that could be all winter long. During the winter months the newly planted trees and shrubs can establish their root systems, so that when spring comes they are ready for the wave of new foliage.

It is also a great time if you have any plants or trees that you might want to transplant. The cooler temperatures help to prevent the shrub or tree from stressing as much. Just make sure that when transplanting you leave enough soil and root ball on the plant, if not you could harm the plant severely. This is also the time of the year when a lot of nurseries have bargains on trees and shrubs, but remember a lot of the time the ones that are on sale are the ones that are unhealthy.

So before you jump at any bargains just make sure the plants that you are buying are good and healthy. So don’t wait for spring, you are in the season of the plants.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Mulch the lawn?

September 28, 2009 · Filed under Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care

While the concept may sound odd, mulching your lawn is the best thing you can do for it.  There are many different ways to mulch your lawn and all are beneficial to soil health.  Just choosing to mulch the lawn clippings and leaves in the fall are two simple ways to help your lawn all year long.  For maximum results you can add a compost topdressing to your lawn in the late fall or early winter once the grass has stopped growing.  It will protect the roots from the cold weather and nourish the soil, which causes the grass to stay greener in the fall and come out earlier in the spring.  Most lawns are thicker and free of weeds, diseases and pests.  With just one treatment a year you will be able to fertilize less, or not have to at all.  The addition of compost to your soil will also improve water retention,  so you can water less!

Application Instructions:

The topdressing can be applied at anytime, but it is most effective when applied after the cool weather has stopped the grass from growing.  A 1/2″ layer is recommended, but anywhere from 1/4″ to 1/2″ is beneficial.  1 cubic yard of compost will cover 650sq ft at 1/2″.  The best way to spread the compost is to use a wheelbarrow to put small equidistant piles throughout the area and then to spread them evenly with a rake.  It is important to water thoroughly after spreading so no nutrients are lost and so it doesn’t smother the grass.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Stop the weeds from sprouting!

September 28, 2009 · Filed under Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care

Although the lawn stops growing in the wintertime, weeds will continue to pop up.  Wintertime weeds can be even more unsightly since they are so noticeable against a dormant lawn.  The best bet for preventing them is to treat your lawn with a pre-emergent.  The organic pre-emergent of choice is corn gluten meal because it has a unique property which prevents all seeds from developing root systems.  Corn gluten meal is also an effective fertilizer, making it the perfect weed & feed!

Application Instructions:

It is most effective when applied at 20lbs per 1,000sq ft.  It is most effective when applied one to three weeks before weed seeds are expected to sprout.  The corn gluten meal also comes in a granular form which is easier to spread in a regular fertilizer spreader, but it is not nearly as effective as the actual meal (which looks like cornmeal).  You can use your spreader to apply the meal version as well, just make sure that there is no moisture as it may be prone to clumping.  It is important to water it in thoroughly after applying, and then if you see some weeds start to pop up discontinue watering for a week or more.  It is important to remember that the corn gluten meal will prevent all seeds from germinating, so wait at least 3 weeks after applying before planting any new grass seed.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Foliar Feeding

August 17, 2009 · Filed under Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care

It has been scientifically proven that plants can absorb nutrients through their leaves.  When fertilizers are sprayed directly onto the foliage, the nutrients are soaked in more quickly, often producing immediate results. Frequent foliar spraying will also help to stimulate plant growth by increasing photosynthesis.  You can also use liquid fertilizers to soak the soil, which will help to improve the quality by increasing the microbial activity.

If your lawn suffers from yellowing, then spraying with organic fertilizers can help to replace the nutrients that the sun has leached out.  With regular spraying your grass will show greening improvement within a few days.  Foliar feeding also increases the heat tolerance of plants, and spraying during high humidity or early morning will increase the effectiveness.

Below is a list of liquid fertilizers that can be used to foliar feed:

  • Compost Tea
  • Liquid Seaweed
  • Fish Emulsion
  • Molasses
  • Garret Juice (a mix of multiple fertilizers, can be purchased locally)

Foliar feeding can be a great addition to your organic program, and the quick results will give you instant gratification for your hard work!

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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At what height should I mow?

August 17, 2009 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance

Although it can be tempting to cut your grass as short as possible in order to avoid weekly cuttings, it can be harmful to the grass, especially in the summer heat.  The root system of your grass is directly related to the length of the blade, so cutting your grass at the recommended height is important to keep a healthy root system.  It is important to mow regularly, because removing more than 1/3 of the blade can be harmful to the grass.

Cutting too short can also expose the soil to more sunlight, allowing weed seeds to germinate.  It is a good idea to start out at the recommended mowing height for your grass in the beginning of the growing season, and then raise it up to 3″ during the hottest summer months.  This will help keep your grass healthy and avoid that unattractive yellowing.

Recommended Mowing Heights:

  • Bermudagrass – 1 ½ inch
  • St. Augustine – 2 inches
  • Zoysiagrass – 1 ½ inches
  • Buffalograss – 3 inches
  • Perennial Ryegrass – 2 inches
  • Tall Fescue – 2 inches

Scalping the lawn is never recommended unless it is prior to overseeding.  It is ideal to mulch your grass clippings.  The nitrogen in the clippings will act as a fertilizer, and they will also make the soil healthier preventing more weeds from growing.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Choosing drought tolerant plants

June 25, 2009 · Filed under Landscaping, Plants

A key element to saving water is plant choices.  Native and well adapted plants will easily thrive on small amounts of water.  So if you’re thinking about adding plants to your landscape in the future, you might want to consider using some that are native or well adapted to your area.  There are many different types of drought tolerant plants.  Some that work well in North Texas are listed below:

Trees

Mexican Buckeye

Desert Willow

Bald Cypress

Rough-Leaf Dogwood

Lacebark Elm

Eve’s Necklace

Yaupon Holly

Mesquite

Wax Myrtle

Bur Oak

Texas Persimmon

Chinese Pistachio

Mexican Plum

Redbud

Vitex

Shrubs

Abelia

Althea

Carolina Buckthorn

White Honeysuckle

Variegated Ligustrum

Texas Mountain Laurel

Nandina

Chinese Photinia

Texas Sage

Yucca

Perrenials

Columbine

Purple Coneflower

Coreopsis

Blackfoot Daisy

Gloriosa Daisy

Dusty Miller

Gayfeather

Gazania

Lantana

Rosemary

Gregg Salvia

Mealy Blue Salvia

Verbena

Yarrow

Mexican Bush Sage

Sedum

Annuals

Cosmos

Portulaca

Zinnia

Mexican Heather

Moss Rose

Purslane

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, don’t hesitate to call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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How to get the most for your water

June 25, 2009 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance, Organic Lawn Care

Following an organic program will not only help to make your soil healthier, it will also save you money when it comes time to water.  Quality soil will hold water longer, so you don’t have to water as often.  Chemical fertilizers and pest controls strip your soil of it’s nutrients, which creates a barren soil that dries out quickly.

Another way to conserve water is by watering in the early morning hours.  This will prevent evaporation, especially in the summer.  Stay away from watering in the evening because any water that doesn’t soak in can cause puddles, which are a breeding ground for mosquitoes, fungus and mold.

It is also better to water longer and less often.  This allows the soil to properly absorb the water so that it will reach the plant’s roots.  Deeper, infrequent watering causes plants to grow deep roots which will help to make them more drought tolerant.  Watering for short periods of time can cause plants to grow more feeder roots (roots close to the surface), which are weaker than roots that grow deeper in the ground.

How much you should water depends on multiple factors:  soil quality, plant types, and if you’re using an organic or chemical program.  The best way to come up with a schedule that’s right for you is to start with watering 1″ once a week during the summer.  If you notice that your plants are wilting, then up watering to twice a week.  It’s best to water on an as needed basis to prevent wasting water.  Plants in containers will need to be watered more often by hand.  Also, if you have some more high maintenance plants, those can be watered as needed.  Just make sure to water deeply when hand watering.

It is also a good idea to make sure you have a rain sensor on your irrigation system.  They help make sure you’re not watering when it’s been raining.  Too much water can cause the roots to rot and will cause serious harm to the plants.

Another great way to prevent evaporation is to make sure there is no bare soil.  Adding ground covers and/or mulch to your flower beds will create a barrier to keep moisture in, so your plants won’t dry out so quickly on those hot summer days.  Your plants will benefit from the extra water and they will also help to keep weeds from popping up!

When it cools off it is time to cut back on watering, but make sure to still water some.  Your grass is dormant, not dead, and you still have shrubs that need water as well.  The soil will hold moisture longer when it is cooler, so watering isn’t needed nearly as often.

If you have any questions about this subject or anything else, just give us a call, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Making the Organic choice

May 20, 2009 · Filed under Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care

Everyone thinks that anything organic will be expensive.  This couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to your lawn.  Organic and all natural fertilizers the same or even less than your typical chemical fertilizers.  That is because the cost of the chemicals rises each year.  Organic fertilizers sold at major hardware stores will cost about the same as the chemical ones, but if you find a smaller nursery that specializes in organic fertilizers, you can find some for quite a bit less.  A great locally made organic brand is Nature’s Guide, and their products are very reasonably priced.  Doing a topdressing of compost, which is recommended once a year, can be more costly, but you only have to do it once a year, and it will benefit your soil so much more than chemicals ever could. 

Another misconception about organic lawn care and fertilizers is that they don’t kill weeds.  While this is true, they don’t actually kill the weeds, because they lack the poison that is in chemical fertilizers, they can prevent the weed seeds from germinating and keep other grass and plants healthy enough to choke out the weeds.  Corn gluten meal is a very effective pre-emergent that keeps the weed seeds from ever forming.  It is the active ingredient in some widely used products, like Preen.  The corn gluten meal is also an effective fertilizer and fungicide.  It’s best to get the non-spreadable kind, as it is more effective, and you can actually still use it in your spreader still!  Apply it in early Spring and Fall to stay weed free year-round!  Make sure to follow it up in late spring with a good organic fertilizer to keep your soil and plants healthy.

Making the choice to go organic is  not only great for your yard, but keeps toxic chemicals from running off into our streams and lakes.  Its also important for the safety of your family and pets, and the safety of our planet. 

If you are interested in organic lawn care and are in the DFW or Denton area, give us a call, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net today!

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