Tag Archives: Planting Season

Preparing Your Annapolis Lawns for Beautiful, Spring Landscaping

Emerging from the shadow of winter’s gloom, spring is the ideal time for taking stock of a home’s landscaping and flower beds. A homeowner or a professional landscaper should first walk around the garden and check for signs of winter damage, and decide what needs to be repaired, extended or created to neaten or improve the landscaping. It is also the time to plan for the planting of trees, shrubs and perennials.

Timely preparation and planning is vital for successful spring planting and a beautiful summer show. A reliable landscaping company can work with homeowners to provide advice, make suggestions and undertake the necessary work. Preparations might include:

– Soil Analysis: This will determine if soil amendments are needed to provide optimal growing conditions for perennials and annuals. Compost may need to be added to enrich the existing soil.

– Mulching: Early mulching conserves the moisture in the ground and suppresses weed growth. Depriving weed seeds of light inhibits their germination.

– Plant Division: Some plants may have reached a size that warrants division. This prevents overcrowding and opens up space for adding annual plants for summer-long color. Some plants may need to be removed altogether.

– Trimming Trees and Shrubs: Some trees and shrubs may need to be trimmed and to have dead wood removed. Providing structure to the garden, they should accentuate the flowers – not detract from them with untidy appearances.

– Landscaping Lights: A special tree or shrub could be up-lighted for a spectacular effect.

– Retaining Walls: Old walls might need replacing. Signs of soil erosion or water run-off could indicate the need for new retaining walls, some of which could be created to provide raised flower beds.

– Edgings: Flower beds are the canvasses upon which the garden will be painted with flowers, and edgings are the frames. undefined edgings will take away from the most-lovingly tended plants.

– Lawns: These should not be overlooked. Repairs and pest control should be undertaken before problems become worse.

For  beautiful landscaping services in Annapolis and successful gardening, a trusted landscaper is a gardener’s best friend.

Tips for April Planting

Spring is here and I’m sure you have been out in your yard surveying and planning for a beautiful season.  The trees and bulbs are blooming…and the weed seeds are sprouting.  Now is the best time to control weeds in your planting beds.  All perennial and annual weeds should be removed – we recommend only mechanical removal – not the use of harsh weed killing herbicides.  Most annual weeds are easily removed at this time of year before they have had a chance to develop strong root systems and most critically – create THOUSANDS of seeds.  Perennial (returns every year), weeds need their entire root system to be removed or they will come back.  Clean and rake your beds and then apply at least a two to three inch layer of mulch – preferably shredded hardwood, cedar or pine.  These mulches stay in place and shade the ground to prevent weed seeds from sprouting.

Lawn weeds are a little tougher to control naturally, but there is a product called WOW made from corn gluten that is a natural pre-emergent weed control product for lawns.  It will also stop any lawn seed from sprouting, so it should only be used if your lawn is established.