J & S Lawn Service, LLC

Mother's Day is Coming

2011-04-29T16:52:00.002-05:00

A good rule of thumb for planting flowers is Mother's Day Weekend. Usually there have been several nice days, the the ground is ready to accept new plants. Start by taking a look at the soil in the area to be planted. Does it need to be tilled, weed barrier added, is new mulch necessary, etc... Now is a great time to do this. Also, look at the areas to be planted. Try to get a visual of what the end result you are looking for. Make a plan for flowers. Pick an assortment that will add depth,as well a color throughout the growing season. Remember that some plants and flowers will only bloom once, while others will keep blooming as long at they are taken care of. Start watching the sales flyers. The big stores are already offering plants and flowers on sale or at a discount. Once the plan is complete, pick a nice weekend and enjoy. I know it is a lot of work up front, but the end is near and it is so beautiful.

Lawn Care ideas:

May is another wonderful time to over seed your lawn. With all of the snow gone, you are able to get a good look at the bare areas. Do not be afraid to throw down some grass seed. With the cool temperatures, your lawn will thank you for it.

Don't Fertilize Too Early

2011-03-31T13:51:00.003-05:00

Save your money...don't fertilize on frozen ground

We have been seeing a lot of companies out fertilizing for the last couple of weeks. As a customer, please know that this is not beneficial to your lawn. Fertilizing on frozen ground does not allow the nutrients to absorb into the soil. Therefore, this first application that you pay for, is not beneficial. In addition, the frost and the rain is also allowing this fertilizer to wash away. Again, this is not allowing the fertilizer to be absorbed into the ground. There is no point in throwing away money, have your fertilizer company wait until the ground thaws out. This is the only way that you will benefit from the first application (early spring). This first application is to work as a "wake up" for your lawn. This is a very important application for the start of a greener lawn. As long as the ground is still frozen, these nutrients cannot be absorbed into the root system, and therefore is not able to work as intended. It is better to hold off until the ground thaws, and then apply the first application to get the full benefits.

September Lawn Care Tips

2010-09-13T13:13:00.002-05:00

Labor Day marks the day for increased lawn care activity to begin. The cooler temperatures, and the rain make this is great time to start a new lawn, or repair and old one.

Avoid late seeding(after September 20th). After this date, the grass may not have time to establish and might get killed during the winter.

Now is the time to correct compacted and thatch problems. Both interfere with root growth and result in thin or bare lawns. Removing the thatch allows water and fertilizer to reach the roots. The actively growing grass will quickly recover from the stress of dethatching.

Water new planting often enough to keep the soild surface damp. Reduce the watering frequency onece the grass seeds have sprouted.

Fall is the best time to control perenial weeds. Use a broadlef weedkiller to control biolets and other difficult weeds. Make the first application in Mid-September and then repeat in late October is weeds are still present.

Grubs are starting to move deeper into the soil for winter. Do not apply a grub treetment after September 15th.

Watch for leaf spot, mildew and rust. Fall fertilizations and proper maintenance are usually enough to control these.

This is the time to start thinking about fall clean-ups. The removal of leaves from flower beds and planters is important for good spring health. The leaves will be falling soon enough. Be prepared to compost, or remove these from planting areas.

August Lawn Care Tips

2010-08-27T09:45:00.003-05:00

By mid to late August, the weather usually begins to turn cooler. This is the best time to repair, replace, or start a new lawn. Lawns with 50% or more weeds should be replaced. Those with compacted soils, some weeds, or bare spots would benefit from renovation and repair.

Begin seeding at this time. The soil is warm, so the seeds will germinate quickly. The temperature is cooler and perfect for growing grass.

This is also a good time to lay sod. The cooler the temperatures promote rooting and mean that you will need to water less frequently for the sod to take root. Be sure not to cut the newly sodded areas until a good root system is in place.

Bare areas can also be repaired. Remove the dead grass, turn soil. Mix new grass seed in a bucket with some top soil and sprinkle this mixture over the surface to be repaired. Be sure to water often enough to keep the soil surface moist.

Overseed thin lawns. Creating a denser turf will help reduce weeds, fight pests, and improve the overall appearance.

Sunday afternoon

2010-07-18T18:11:00.001-05:00

Hard to believe that two months ago this was bare space. I hope eveyone else gets the same carpet of flowers.

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What is wrong with my mulch?

2010-07-11T14:27:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone. We have been receiving concerned calls from people wanting to know what is wrong with their mulch. They are finding a slimy substance growing in their mulched beds. Some people are removing their mulch for fear of it "infecting" their plants. Others,are not letting their kids out to play on the playground.

We would like to let you know that this is called slime mold, and it is completely harmless to your plants, children, and animals. There is no need for alarm.

This type of mold generally appears quickly when the humidity rises after rain. Mulch is a living organism. The slime mold appearing confirms that nature is taking its course, and allowing the mulch to break down as it is supposed to. It does appear quickly, sometime overnight. It has the appearance of orange slime.(Some pet owners believe that it looks like pet vomit.) We have read that the movie "The Blob" is loosely based on this particular type of mold.

There are a couple of ways to deal with this. If you would like, though not necessary, you can remove the spot of mulch. We recommend waiting until it dries, and then raking it back into the mulch. This is a natural process, and therefore nothing to be concerned about. This is just the wonder of nature in your own backyard.

10 Tips for A Beautiful Landscape...cont

2010-06-22T12:47:00.002-05:00

6)Be Creative. your landscape isn't limited to grass and a few flower beds. Fountains, ponds, sculptures and other landscaping accessories can make an ordinary space become extraordinary. Try stepping-stone walkways, arbors, gates and other structural pieces to give your landscape direction and depth.

7) Irrigate. While you want an attractive landscape, you don't want to spend all your time watering it. talk to a professional about proper irrigation so that you won't have to worry about getting enough water to your plants.

8) Use lighting. Lighting not only improves your ability to see where you're walking, it also adds an elegant touch to any landscaping style and allows you and your guests to enjoy the outdoors no matter what time it might be.

9) See into the future. Your landscape is going to look different five years from now so take that into account when mapping your layout. Trees and bushes will have matured and you may find that what was once a sunny spot now actually has quite a bit of shade. When planting long-term, think about how the plants will affect your yard in the years to come.

10) Be original. Creating a landscape is like creating a work of art - each one is original. Or at least, it should be. There may be similar pieces from place to place, but each landscape should have its own unique qualities. When planning your landscape, forget what your neighbors are doing and find your own look. Try different themes - country or Mediterranean for example - and experiment with benches, steps and swings. Factor in your normal outdoor activities and you'll end up with an outdoors that suites you perfectly.

10 Tips for a Beautiful Landscape!

2010-06-14T11:13:00.005-05:00

Are you ready to tackle the outdoors? here are some tips to make your outdoor adventure a snap.

1) Have a plan. One of the biggest landscaping mistakes people make is to start digging before they have a plan. give some thought to your particular landscape. What are it strengths? Its weaknesses? What features would you like it to have? Planning your landscape before you start to plant can keep you from having to change course when you're half way through.

2) Landscape to Your Location. As much as you might love those shade plants, they just won't do well in a full-sun area. Before you invest in a multitude of plants, do your research. Talk to a landscape professional about your area and what type of plants might work best. You'll get much more enjoyment out of your landscape and enjoy minimal upkeep.

3) Going With What Works. While we all want to have the best yard on the block, you landscaping needs to be functional as well. A relaxing sitting area might look great under that big tree but if its too far away from the rest of the yard, it may not get used as much as you had hoped. Likewise, a retailer who hopes to add some aesthetically-pleasing walkways will want to make sure that they're still convenient for their customers. Pick plants and accents that you like by all means, but make sure that you vision allows you to get as much functionality out of you choices as possible.

4) Remember Your Pets. There are some plants that are toxic to pets so if your prized pooch will be roaming the yard on a regular basis, make sure you've planned you landscape accordingly.

5) Mulch. Different mulches provide different benefits. Bark and wood chips for example, are good for providing insulation and drainage while stones and rocks are more suited around trees, hedges, and cacti. Some mulches also add to the nutrient value of your soil, giving your plants and added boost of vitamins throughout the year.

Please check back for the remaining 5 tips in our next post. J & S Lawn Service, LLC

Creating Constant Curb Appeal

2010-06-09T09:38:00.003-05:00

An important aspect of any property is its curb appeal or rather, how it looks as a whole. Color, symmetry and testure all play important roles in creating positive curb appeal and with just a little planning; you can enjoy constant curb appeal all year round. Here are some things to consider when designing your landscape.

Color:
Color is an essential piece to the curb appeal puzzle. Different colors elicit different emotional responses so it makes sense to group your colors accordingly.

Warm colors such as red, yellow and orange, generally attract attention and excite the senses, making them ideal for drawing your visitors to a certain area or focal point. Warem colors also tend to feel "cozier" than their cool counterparts so if you want to create an intimate setting, warm colored accents are your best bet.

Cooler colors - blue, green and purple - create the opposite effect, providing a relaxing and soorthing atmosphere. And where warmer colors give space a more intimate feel, cool colors can make a space seem bigger than it is.

Hardscape:
While your planting may change from season to season, year after year, hardscape fixtures provide continuity to your landscape. Fountaints, decks, walkways and other permanent fixtures remain constant focal points regardless of climate or season and create strategic focal points that can tie the rest of your landscape together. When planning your landscape, consider adding a few stone or wooden elements to round out flower beds and foliage.

Texture:
In the case of landscaping, "texture" actually covers two different aspects: the first refers to the texture of the plants and hardscape itself. Is it flat and smoth, Flowing, Prickly? Different textures can be combined to give your landscape depth and definition or use similar textures to create continuity around a specific focal piont, such as a walkway or flower bed.

The second way texture is used in landscaping is in the form of the fixture or planting. Tall versus short, square versus round...the shape of your landscaping element can either tie two focal points together or create a point of interest all its own. Shrubs and trees for example, tend to be used as a backdrop for smaller plantings while stones and bricks can create a pathway from one area to another.

Line:
As your landscape begins to take shape, you'll notice distinctive lines or paths from one area to another. If you've planned well, these lines will form a flowing path throughout your lawn or garden, allowing the viewer to move from one are to another without obstruction. These lines also direct and guide the viewer's gaze so if they don't flow, your landscaping could end up feeling chaotic and overwhelming. To avoid this, use texture, color and hardscaping elements wisely to create a natural flow throughout your landscape.

Balance:
Just as your landscape needs lines and texture, it must also have balance. Too many contrasting colors or large hardscaping elements grouped closely together can produce a cluttered effect, leaving the viewer feeling claustrophobic. Your landscape should maintain a balance of strong focal points - beds, seating and fountains - rounded out by softer, flowing elements sucha as pathways and groundcovers. proper balance gives the viewer the chance to enjoy each element individually without being inundated by too much color and texture all at once.

Welcome!

2010-06-01T18:53:00.002-05:00

Good Evening. J & S Lawn Service, LLC is happy to welcome you to our blog. We will be linking this blog through our website at www.jslawnllc.com. We will be using this a a way to give out simple tidebits, and interesting ideas that we have found.