Mulch to the Rescue!

March 19, 2011 · Filed under Landscaping, Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care, Plants

Are your beds full of weeds? Do they have exposed soil that dries out quickly, forcing you to water more often? Da da da DA! Mulch to the rescue! Most people think of mulch as an accessory to your flower beds, when it is actually a necessity.

Mulch can prevent weeds from germinating, help your beds to retain much needed moisture and acts as a buffer to the heat, keeping the soil cooler. This gives your plants the protection they need during those hot summers and cold winters.  Natural mulches are better than synthetic ones because they break down putting organic matter back into the soil and feeding the plant roots. Hardwood and cedar mulches are preferred while other mulches, such as pine bark should be avoided.  Mulch should be installed at a depth of 3 inches and make sure to keep mulch off of tree trunks because it can trap moisture and cause them to rot!

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!  Visit our website www.monsterlandscapes.net for more great info!

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Mounds, Bites and Rashes, Oh My!

August 5, 2010 · Filed under Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Pest Control, Plants, Safety

If you’ve ever come in contact with poison ivy or been bitten by a fire ant you know that it’s something worth avoiding.  Don’t let these pests put an itch in your outdoor fun, get rid of them easily using all natural products!

Fire Ants

Fire ants can easily take up residence in any backyard and can really be a danger to small children and animals. The common solution is to spray chemicals, which can be just as harmful as the bugs themselves. The good news is that there is an easy, and naturally safe, solution for getting rid of these bad bugs. Drench the mounds with the below recipe for Mound Eliminator. Need a temporary fix quick? Drench the mound with soapy water, this will give you a head start, but may not exterminate the entire colony. Also, to help eradicate the ants and prevent insect imbalances in the future, release beneficial nematodes!

Fire Ant MONSTER Mound Eliminator:

2 ounces Compost Tea

2 ounces Horticultural Molasses

2 ounces Citrus Oil

1 gallon Water

Not sure where to purchase these items? Click here.

Poison Ivy and Oak

Poison ivy and oak are more common than you might think, so it’s important to be able to identify both when in your own yard, or anywhere else your outdoor adventures might take you.

Click here to see pictures of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

If you have poison ivy or oak in your own yard it’s important to get rid of it as soon as possible. The best method is removing the entire plant by hand. Removing the root system will prevent it from sprouting again. If you are severely allergic, then it’s not recommended that you come in contact with the plant. Drench plants with a mixture of 20% vinegar, orange oil and liquid soap.  Continue spraying as plants grow back.

Poison Ivy & Oak Spray:

1 gallon 20% Horticultural Vinegar

2 ounces Orange Oil

2 tablespoons liquid soap (preferably all natural)

Not sure where to purchase these items? Click here.

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Work Smarter, Not Hotter!

August 5, 2010 · Filed under Liesure, Safety

With consecutive days over 100 degrees it’s important to be careful when spending time outdoors. Try these tips for keeping cool!

  • Try to avoid any outdoor activities from 10am to 2pm when the sun is at its highest point.
  • Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Cotton or fabrics engineered to wick away sweat work best.
  • Make sure to wear a hat, preferably with a large brim to deflect as much sun as possible keeping your face and neck cool. Also wet the hat when working outside to cool off even more.
  • Wear open shoes if possible, this will allow the sweat to evaporate, keeping your feet nice and cool.
  • Keep hydrated by drinking water and sports drinks.
  • Freeze a bottle of water and take it with you when you go outside, as it melts you’ll have a lasting supply of ice-cold water.
  • Avoid alcohol, caffeine and sugary sodas, since they progress dehydration.
  • Eating spicy foods can encourage perspiration which will actually help you cool down.
  • Tired of drinking water? Eat some watermelon, it has a higher content of water than any other food.
  • Eat light foods, heavy foods high in saturated fat can make you slow down in the heat. Eating fruits and vegetables will help you stay hydrated and keep you light on your feet!
  • Keep a portable personal fan with you to help you cool off!
  • Don’t forget about Fido! Make sure your pets have access to fresh water and a shaded area at all times when outside. Pets can suffer from the same heat related problems as humans, but they can’t sweat, so if they get overheated help them out by wetting them down and getting them inside!

Remember to watch out for the warning signs of dehydration. Below are some sure signs that you need to get inside and hydrate, quick!

  • Dry Lips and Mouth
  • Decreased Salivation
  • Feeling Tired, Loss of Energy
  • Dizziness
  • Sunken Eyes
  • Rapid Pulse
  • Loss of Skin Elasticity
  • Infrequent Urination, Dark Urine

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Get the best yard on the block!

March 31, 2010 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance

While lawn and landscape maintenance may not be the most difficult task, there are some key tricks of the trade!

  • Mow your grass at the recommended height.  Click here for a list of mowing heights for your grass.
  • Cut grass taller in the summer.  To help keep your grass green and prevent extra weeds from popping up, it’s best to cut at a height of 3″ in midsummer.  Keeping the grass taller will not only keep it healthier, it will prevent the strong sunlight from getting to the ground, which is where weed seeds are just waiting to germinate!
  • Never cut off more than 1/3 of the actual grass blade.  This traumatizes the grass and exposes it to more sunlight, which dries it out and can promote weed growth.
  • Make sure your lawnmower blades are always sharp.  You can get your blades sharpened at a local mower shop for much less than buying a new one. Make sure to haven them sharpened at least every season, more if your yard is larger than average.
  • Mulch your clippings.  If you have a mulching blade on your mower, you can mulch your clippings while cutting your grass.  As the clippings decompose they will add nitrogen back into the soil, giving you a greener lawn.
  • Do not mow your lawn after it has rained.  Light rain is okay, but anytime the ground is saturated it isn’t good to run your mower over it.  The lawnmower can cause ruts in the soil and ultimately damage the grass.  It’s best to wait until after the ground has dried out.
  • Always mow in a different direction.  Mowing in the same pattern each time can eventually flatten the grass and cause it to grow in a certain direction.
  • Stay away from trees, plants and fencing when weedeating and edging.  Try to get as close as possible without damaging trees and plants.
  • Follow directions when applying fertilizers and weed control.  Overuse of chemical fertilizers and weed products pollutes our drinking water.  Make sure to read the directions before applying, or try using an organic/semi-organic alternative.
  • Make sure to always give your lawn a balanced diet.  Your lawn is a living thing and has different needs depending on the seasons.  Having a good fertilization schedule will keep your lawn green and make it the best on the block!

If you need help maintaining your lawn and landscape call us, 972-420-4858, or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Make your beds burst with color!

March 31, 2010 · Filed under Landscaping, Lawn Maintenance, Plants

Annual flowers boast some of the most beautiful blooms around.  Annuals do have to be replaced yearly unlike perennials, but their blossoms attract such attention that these little flowers are a must have for most homeowners.  Annual plants also allow you to have seasonal color when everything is dormant, such as Pansies in the wintertime.

With nature’s paintbrush the color possibilities are endless.  Mix and match different annuals to make a stunning display in your landscape!

Click here for a list of Seasonal Annual Flowers Currently Available.

If you are in the Denton/DFW area and would like your Seasonal Annual Flowers installed, call us at 972-420-4858 or email us at info@monsterlandscapes.net!

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Let your lawn get some air!

February 26, 2010 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance, Organic Lawn Care

Lawn aeration is one of the best things you can do for your lawn. It helps to loosen up compacted soil. Soil compaction is a big problem in our area because of the clay that we have in our soil. The clay in the soil doesn’t allow the water, or any fertilizers to properly soak in as they would if you aerated your lawn. It also allows oxygen to penetrate the soil causing the microorganisms in your soil come alive, rejuvenating your lawn. The healthy microbes give off a tacky substance when breaking down organic matter, this helps to bind the soil and create the perfect air to soil ratio. The look of healthy soil will be soft, moist and clumpy.  Unhealthy soil will be hard, dusty and dry. It’s good to aerate your lawn once a year,depending on your soil condition, and especially if you have any high traffic areas.

You can do the lawn aeration just about any time of the year, but it is best to do it either in the spring or in the fall so it won’t disturb the growing 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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Corn Gluten Meal VS Weeds: Round 1

February 26, 2010 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance, Organic Fertilizers & Weed Control, Organic Lawn Care

Corn Gluten Meal is an organic pre-emergent herbicide. It is a by-product from the commercial corn milling plants. Corn gluten meal contains the protein part of the corn, which unlike chemicals, is harmless to people, pets and the environment. Corn gluten meal is 60% protein and 10% nitrogen, nitrogen will give your lawn a nice boost, greening it up the organic way.

The proper time to apply corn gluten meal is 2 to 3 weeks before weeds start to germinate. Which depending on the weather could be anywhere from March 1st to mid April. Spread it out at a rate of 20 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft. of lawn. Water in the corn gluten meal for a couple of days. Then let the soil dry out for about a week or so, this will help the corn gluten meal to prevent the weeds from establishing roots. Some weeds will start to sprout, but they will soon die off once they are unable to grow a proper root system. If it is kept too wet, you will see some weeds developing roots despite the presence of the corn gluten meal.

If you choose to do the corn gluten meal, you better hurry, because the weeds will be coming soon!

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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Mistletoe: The Kiss of Death for Your Trees

January 28, 2010 · Filed under Landscaping, Plants

Mistletoe isn’t just a plant to kiss under during the holidays, it is actually a parasite that grows on weak and sickly trees. Just about every deciduous tree can be prone to mistletoe, but some of the most common ones are maples and hackberry trees. Other trees such as oaks and elm trees can develop mistletoe due to improper planting, not enough water or even too much water. Even using the wrong kind of fertilizer  or the use of chemical pesticides can promote mistletoe to grow.

The proper way to remove mistletoe is to cut it off of every branch that is infested. If it is growing on smaller branches than you could just remove the entire branch, but be careful not to disfigure the shape of the tree. To remove it from bigger branches you will need to cut into the branch in order to remove all of the mistletoe, and then seal up the spot with a organic sealant such as Tree Trunk Goop (recipe below). Do not use tree paint or any other chemical sealant that would be harmful to the tree. It is a timely task, but it will save the health of your tree.

Tree Trunk Goop

one-third compost

one-third soft rock phosphate

one-third natural diatomaceous earth

with some water

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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Save the Crepe Myrtles!

January 28, 2010 · Filed under Lawn Maintenance, Plants

If you look around town, you will see a lot of  beautiful crepe myrtles in our area, but you will also see crepe myrtles that have basically had their tops hacked off. This kind of pruning is not good  for the tree whatsoever. It causes the tree to have a distorted shape, meaning that the bottom of the tree is much bigger than the top. When the tree eventually starts to grow back what was pruned off, the branches are very fragile and weak, which makes the entire top of the tree frail.  These branches stay thin, so when the tree starts to produce blooms in the summer the flowers can actually be too heavy, causing the branches to lay over or even brake off.  Some people believe that this kind of pruning promotes better flowering in the summer, but this is not the case. There are a lot of  crepe myrtles around that have never been pruned which have beautiful blooms in the summer.

The proper way to prune crepe myrtles is by pruning only the really small branches, pencil size and smaller, dead branches and any suckers coming out at the bottom. This will help to keep a good flow of air blowing through and help reduce problems with powdery mildew. The only exception is if you have branches that are rubbing on your house or other buildings, then it would be ideal to trim back the branches to avoid any damage. There is also no reason to worry about removing the old seed pods, but if you prefer to remove them it will not hurt the tree in any way. The best time to do all crepe myrtle pruning is right before spring, in order to avoid any freeze damage. If you follow these simple steps than you will have beautiful crepe myrtles to enjoy year after year.

If you already have a crepe myrtle that has been overly pruned year after year, and you would now like it to grow properly, the best solution would actually be to cut off the tree at the ground and let it grow back naturally. Although it may take a while for your tree to grow back in full, its beauty will be worth the wait.

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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Don’t let that live tree go to the landfill!

December 22, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

The Holiday season is here, and most people have purchased a live Christmas tree. In just a couple of weeks you will be looking to take off all your ornaments and dispose of it. This year you might be thinking about what would be an environmentally friendly way to dispose of my tree.

One way to dispose of your tree in an eco-friendly way is to chop up the tree and use it as mulch around your trees and plants. Another, is to place your tree out by your bird feeder, songbirds and other animals can use it as shelter for the winter. If you have a pond on your property, you can properly sink the tree so that the fish can use it as shelter as well. Or if you are just looking to dispose of it, find out were in your city you can take your tree to, so that it can be recycled and turned into mulch.

All of us here at MONSTER Landscapes wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

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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