How to Prepare Your Landscape for the Winter Months

Winter Lawn Care: How to Prepare Your Landscape for the Winter Months

We all enjoy the gorgeous fall weather here in Texas, but unfortunately its time is fleeting. Soon those cozy backyard fire pits and crisp late-year parties will be replaced by frigid air and some fairly harsh snows. But don’t allow your green thumb to rest just yet, as there is plenty of work for your landscape in winter! Your dream landscape may look less active as the cold sets in, but there is still a lot going on behind the scenes.

The experts at LandXscapes Lawn & Landscaping are here, primed and ready to walk you through the steps you should take to prep your landscape for the incoming icy chill. Don’t fret, it’s all fairly simple!

Winter Lawn Care: Prep Your Soil

Remember, you’re not seeing a lot of growth, but plants are still very active in the cool months, gathering nutrients and preparing for an extended rest. Prep your landscape for winter with these steps:

• Rake it up. There are some arguments to be had about leaving fall leaves on the lawn, as they can make for a solid source of winter compost. However, thick, damp coats of leaves can suffocate and kill your grass. Don’t allow this to happen. The best winter lawn care is to mulch the leaves, allowing for a nice, nutritious compost while avoiding suffocation. Failing this, just rake the leaves up. Better to let your grass stay alive!

• Mulch it. We mentioned in a previous post that mulching in the fall can provide your garden with much needed moisture and nutrients. For winter lawn care, add a much thicker coat, as you want to create a thermal layer to protect your plants. Annuals have little chance of surviving winter, but with appropriate prep, the root of perennials can fare just fine. Thick layers of mulch should be spread around the base of trees, and in any gardens containing hardier plants that are likely to survive. Be sure not to cover all the way up to the base of trees, as this can encourage rot.

Winter Plant Protection: Helping Your Foliage

Many plants that thrive in our zone are perfectly capable of fending off winter weather. Take this opportunity to improve their chances:

• Prune back leaves, branches and stems that exhibit the signs of rot or disease. This will help your plants survive the winter, and make them healthier next year as well! Take care not to prune trees before a freeze, as you may kill the branch. For perennials, cut down to the soil base, leaving the root bulb intact.
• Dead plants, foliage and annual plant that aren't likely to survive the winter. These will do little more than clutter up your garden, and potentially create dead zones in your soil.

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10 Yard Landscaping Mistakes You Shouldn't Make This Fall/Winter

10 Yard Landscaping Mistakes You Shouldn't Make This Fall/Winter


Let's admit, everyone's after a nicer looking yard this year. It's unfortunate that the masses aren't prepared to invest time into landscaping. Obviously, leaves have already started shedding as cooler winds swirl around and make room for a colder season. Here are 10 winter landscaping preparation mistakes every homeowner should avoid this season:


1.Extreme lawn manicure

When manicuring the lawn, it's crucial to keep consistent with recommended grooming requirements. Some grass species are susceptible to expensive damage that impairs development it's cut too low. Plant doctors suggest a minimum height of 2 inches for Zoysia grass.

2. Forget once-over lawn manicuring

As winter nears, it's typical for homeowners to reseed, aerate or mow the lawn. For optimal health and proper growth, plant doctors recommend the once-over lawn manicuring technique to keep it looking attractive and even throughout the winter. The final process is to reemphasize the lines diagonally. They'll keep a lush, neat appeal even as springtime return.

3. Not watering plants

Hedges, fruit trees and shrubs all need water during colder winter months. It outside has tolerable temperatures during winter, DIY home gardeners shouldn't delay watering plants, the lawn, etc. Poor watering of plants could result in serious damage arising from dehydration and/or disease.

4. Not using the correct plant fertilizer


Granular fertilizer isn't an ideal product for plants because it takes longer to dissolve especially in colder temperatures. For those enjoying minimal warmth during cooler months, it's acceptable to continue fertilizing the lawn and garden plants. DIY gardeners should use a spray applicator to maximize plant care efforts. If the lawn or plants aren't getting enough fertilizer, it's likely for it to wither or suffer severe frost burns.

5. Not using high-quality mulch to treat the soil

For mulching, a DIY gardener should use the best materials to promote plant health, hydration, growth, and fertility. Poor quality mulch could infest healthy soil and plants with fungus or pests. Gardeners should mulch the soil of trees or houseplants and the surface if the weather permits it. If the ground has frozen, it'll be difficult to undertake such as task successfully.

6. Not raking the yard

Yes, it's a tedious chore, but it's the secret to keeping the yard tidy and clutter-free. Should a homeowner neglect this duty, fungus and mold are likely to thrive with the snow accumulating on the leaves. Removing the accumulated snow after the weather improves won't be the easiest undertaking.

7. Using weed killer to spray the plants during winter

In colder temperatures, it's ill-advised to use pesticides such as weed killer to treat plants. When the temperature is warmer, it's an acceptable treatment, but plant care professionals advise against DIY gardeners using any form of pesticides especially weed killer during winter months. They recommend weed killer treatment only if temperatures remain above 60 degrees.

8. Delay spring planting 

Gardens nursing beautiful lilies, tulips, and other plant life look enchanting. The harvest won't be as fruitful since it takes a while for plants to mature. Shrubs, crops, and trees need adequate time to grow. Therefore, it makes logical sense to prepare them early.

9. Not stocking up on new garden supplies

Summer and spring clearance at a local gardening supplies store promise the best bargains on various items, including tools, soil, pots, seeds, etc. Sometimes, markdowns are as massive as 90%.

10. Neglecting minor pests problems

If the crops harvested has worms or the leaves show signs of pest infestation, it's necessary to take better care of the yard to minimize infestation. Failing to put proper measures in place to remedy the problem could have serious consequences.

Garden and lawn care isn't the easiest chore. The location, landscape design and choices of plants are essential to improving the quality of life. It's imperative to handle winter landscaping and yard care with due diligence to minimize damage to precious garden or houseplants.

- See more at: http://www.landxscapes.org

10 Fresh New Ways to Landscape Your Yard

Get inspired! Update your front yard or backyard design with shrubbery, gardens, walkways, and more.

Resting Place

Portulaca, variegated sage, cherry tomatoes, Padron peppers, parsley, and more thrive in galvanized troughs in the backyard of this California home.

Geometric Garden

Twenty varieties of hosta create a lush patchwork in front of this New Hampshire barn.

Wine Country Garden

The lush garden of this Napa Valley country cottage features lavender, rosemary, irises, and fruit trees.

Winding Path

Boxwood hedges—whether rounded, squared off, or snaked through other borders—can add charm to any country garden

Make an Entrance

An allée of fast-growing Bradford pear trees leads to this 1850s farmhouse.

Plant Coral Honeysuckle

Throughout this perennial's long bloom time, from mid-June through September, its trumpet-shaped blossoms can perfume your entire garden. Coral honeysuckle will twine around anything in its path, scaling a 10- to 15-foot trellis in a single season, and attract hummingbirds as well.

Covered Addition

Oak-leaf hydrangeas and lady's mantle bloom in front of the sugar shack in the backyard of this Ohio farmhouse, while wisteria vines punctuate the building's reclaimed windows.

Going on Green

'Blushing Bride' hydrangeas and 'Morning Light' ornamental grasses soften the path to the guesthouse in the backyard of this California farmhouse.

Stone Walkway

This 19th-century Italianate villa features a generous helping of lighthearted touches in the garden, like this walkway, to soften the stern edges and loosen up any lingering pomp. The homeowner planted allium for its simple geometry.

Gardens are beautiful but aren't always easy to build up nor to maintain, but LandXscapes can help! 

Awesome Fire Pit Ideas!

Winter's here! The best time of the year to relax in your back yard with a cup of hot chocolate... and a Fire Pit to keep you warm! 

Here are some great fire pit ideas! -

How do I winterize my lawn irrigation system?

Its that time of year to get the irrigation system winterized.  This service typically costs anywhere from $60-$150 to get professionally done by a service.

So I bet you are wondering, is this something that I can do myself?  Well... Maybe.

3 reasons why you should apply mulch around your plants

How does mulch work?

Learn how mulch works and let it save you time and money...

There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day. Your time is precious! Whether maintaining landscape is a passion or a chore, the last thing you want to do is see your hard work go to waste. If you don't use mulch to finish the job properly, you'll have to work doubly hard and possibly lose your plants altogether.

What is Mulch, Anyway?

Mulch varies in composition but is most commonly made from organic material such as leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, peat moss, pine straw, or bark chips. It can also be made from compost or manure. It is typically spread around the base of plants, trees or throughout flowerbeds.

Understanding How Mulch Works in 3 Easy Steps

1. Mulch Prevents Erosion

Unmulched soil is vulnerable to the elements. Wind, rain, and even sprinkler splatter can cause unprotected soil to erode. Erosion causes a multitude of problems for your plants. Those problems have knock-on effects that can definitely kill the plant or tree in question.

Erosion depletes vital nutrients from the soil. Plants need a healthy diet in order to survive. Erosion saps the soil of important nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which must remain on the menu for your plant to thrive.

Mulched not only deters erosion, it provides much-needed nutrients for the soil as it breaks down, aided by the daily business of worms and other organisms.  No matter what climate youre in, your plants will need mulch the same as say Dallas Tx, or a landscape in Atlanta Georgia, both ares of the country will need mulch protection for their plants. 

2. Mulch Slows Evaporation

Nutrients are important but so is water. Unmulched soil is left to bake in the sun which drastically increases the rate of evaporation. Malnourished plants, potentially suffering from exposed roots, will wilt from moisture stress.

Mulch provides an excellent barrier to prevent the sun from reaching the soil thus minimizing evaporation.

3. Mulch Prevents Weed Growth

When weed seeds are exposed to the sun, they germinate. When they are buried beneath a layer of mulch, they do not germinate. It's almost too good to be true. If you have spent long hours weeding your flowerbed, you really must do yourself the favor of properly mulching before you call the job finished. The weeds will be back before you know it, and you'll have the job to do all over again.

If You have a questions, LandXscapes would love to help! 

Putting A Garden In That Works

You have torn up the lawn, removed the grass and you have that perfect patch of dirt that you are going to turn into a garden. Now what do you do to make it perfect? Well, you need to start growing the garden but how do you do that? Sure, you put seeds into the garden and get ready for them to bloom, but there is a lot more to do other than that. 

How to Maintain your Lawn Mower

Lawn mowers can last a long time as long as they are maintained properly. lawn mowers are mainly used in the warmer weather when the lawn tends to grow rapidly and requires care and maintenance. There are a number of lawn mowers currently available through a variety of manufacturers. 

One of most important ways in which a mower can be preserved is by storing them in a proper place. Machinery of this kind must be stored in an area that protects them from the changing weather conditions. Protecting lawn machinery from the cold winters as well as dampness and rain will certainly help to keep it functioning properly.

It is best to store machinery of this nature in an insulated shed or garage. In addition, you may even consider covering it with plastic or a heavy cloth for additional protection. Protective covers can be easily purchased at a hardware store at a reasonable price.

After every use the lawn mower should be cleaned properly. Proper cleaning techniques should be followed on a regular basis. Therefore, any leftover grass or other particles should be removed at once. In addition, cleaning around the blades will remove any grass that may clog the mower and affect the efficiency and overall performance.

It is a good idea to periodically check the engine. Make certain that nothing becomes lodged within the motor that can ultimately cause the motor to malfunction. Also, it is an excellent idea to make sure the engine has the proper amount of oil at all times. Just like a car engine it must be properly oiled in order to stay in top working condition. If the oil is low, the mower will certainly not run at full capacity. Not checking oil levels can also lead to engine malfunction and possible engine damage. 

The lawn bag must be emptied after each and every use. The bag should be completely cleaned after every use. Leftover grass in the lawn mower bag can cause the bag to become overfilled and may cause breakage.

It is best to check all nuts and bolts to make sure nothing has worked its way loose. Loose screws or nuts can cause the mower to become loose and parts can actually fall off if not corrected. In addition, make sure lawn mower wheels are tight and secure at all times. 

Blades should be checked for sharpness and accuracy. Lawn mower blades that become dull will certainly not cut properly. If it appears that blades need to be sharpened make sure you take proper safety precautions before performing any maintenance to the blades. Blades can be fairly sharp therefore, caution needs to be taken when examining blades.

If you require any replacement parts for the mower it is best to go directly through the manufacturer to order parts. Most manufacturers will send any parts as long as it is in stock fairly quickly.

The manual that comes with most lawn mowers can serve as a huge help if malfunction occurs or if you need to order replacement parts. In most cases, the manual will supply a toll free number for additional information. Make certain you have the make and model of the lawn mower handy if contacting customer service.

Finally, lawn mowers help keep a lawn and grounds properly maintained. However, like any thing lawn mowers do require repair and maintenance from time to time. With proper care a lawn mower may last a number of years.

Any questions or if you need weekly/biweekly lawn service contact LandXscapes 

Happy Mowing! 

Seasonal Care For a Lush Lawn

Lawn care cycles from early spring to early fall and until the winter season gets into full gear. By following a few simple lawn care tips, you are actually being kind to yourself come the next year. In other words you are going to reap benefits the following year for a gorgeous lawn depending upon how you took care of your lawn the previous year. Season to season lawn care tips are easy to follow and you will greatly appreciate your efforts come the next summer.

Prepare Your Lawn and Landscape for Winter

Pre-Winter Lawn Mowing

The most important tip is the need to mow your lawn short for the winter, especially in the northern areas of the country. If the grass is left too long, it will lay over on itself from the pressure of the snow cover. Air circulation around the plant is reduced, and Snow Mold, a destructive early spring lawn disease, can become a problem in your lawn. It can cause large areas of grass to die, or at least weaken in vigor.

Spring green-up and grass growing may also be slow. Often the grass blades will turn brown during the winter. This is a normal response to the cold weather of winter. The grass plant will need to grow an entirely new plant, from the crown up, the next spring. If there is a lot of brown grass left from the previous year, it will take a long time for the old plants to fall away and allow the new plants to show through and make the lawn green again.

Other Winter Lawn Maintenance Tips

There are several other late fall, early winter jobs that need attention. If you have any perennial plants that have gone dormant, cut back the brown tops. If the tops are still green, wait until they turn yellow or brown before cutting. There is still energy being transferred to the root system from the top growth. Depending upon the amount of snow cover your area receives, you may have to wait until spring to complete this yard care task.

Lawn Furniture Tips

Outdoor furniture should be covered or brought indoors. Clay pots and other outdoor statuary should be brought indoors to keep from breaking. Alternating freezing and thawing of these items could cause them to crack. If they are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp.

Winter Mower Maintenance

Your lawn mower needs attention at the end of the mowing season. Drain the gas tank or add a few drops of a stabilizing agent to the tank to keep the gas from getting ‘old’. It is also a good time to change the oil, clean the underside of the deck, sharpen the blade, and replace the spark plug and air cleaner. Be sure to disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting any repair on your mower, regardless of the time of year the maintenance or repair work is performed.

Snow Clearing

If you are in an area that receives significant snow fall, many of your plants could be damaged from excess accumulation of snow on the branches. This is especially true of evergreen trees, such as Arbor Vitae. Carefully and gently, brush the snow in an upward direction off the limbs and boughs. If they become coated with ice, leave them alone. Trying to break off the ice could damage the tree or shrub, and won’t help much with your tree maintenance. The ice normally melts at a rapid pace, even if the temperatures are below freezing.

Finally, put out a bird feeder or two for our feathered friends. There are many birdseed mixes available, so choose one that will attract the varieties of birds that are most common for your area.

LandXscapes can help you with any of your landscape needs! Visit our website !

7 plants that dazzle, even in the snow!

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles)

If you've got a black thumb, flowering quince is a good choice. Virtually indestructible, flowering quince tolerates climate extremes and neglect. This deciduous thorny shrub can stretch up to 8 feet wide, makes great natural fencing,and puts on a big show of blossoms in winter. Plant in spring or fall.

Snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii)

When most other plants are hiding away from winter’s chill, snowdrop is eager to get going. One of the first blossoms of late winter, snowdrops are still shy, preferring to hide away in rock gardens and under taller shrubs. Plant these bulbs in fall. 

Boxwood (Buxus)

Your winter garden will come alive with shapes and forms that add texture. Evergreen boxwood hedges are easy to grow and shape, and make terrific borders for paths and garden outlines. Along with a quintet of arches and some tall conifers, boxwoods have turned this snowed-in landscaping into a fairy tale.





Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
Winterberry — a deciduous version of holly — loses its leaves in late fall, leaving behind dazzling sprays of lipstick-red berries. Most species of holly are either male or female, so you’ll have to pair them up to get berries. Plant in spring or fall.

Camellia (japonica)
Like an unexpected gift, some varieties of camellia will surprise you with a showy display of rose-like blossoms in the middle of January. Check with your local greenhouse to select types that are winter-blooming. Evergreen camellias have thick green leaves, will easily grow 10 feet tall, and can live 50-100 years.

Christmas rose (Helleborus niger)
Looking for that special decoration to impress holiday visitors? Try planting Christmas rose in shady spots along your walkways. This winter-loving plant blossoms from late December through early spring on stout stems that rise above modest snowfalls. Plant this perennial in springtime.

Sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana)
Wishing for some hints of summer in the dead of winter? The thick, evergreen leaves of sweet box cheers up your yard in all seasons. As a bonus, the shrub puts out fragrant, tiny white blossoms in late winter. Plant sweet box near your entry door for aromatic comings and goings

 

The Blue Lagoons

Water Garden Landscaping Ideas

A Sloping Stream

A cacophony of colors and materials decorates the outlines of a stream.

• A variety of visually-interesting materials and plants, including a weeping willow and variously sized boulders, move the eye from the top of the gentle slope downward.
• Large, flat boulders do double duty, edging the pond and providing a wide enough spot for an informal path.
• A few dwarf evergreens add year-round structure among the brightly colored lilies and black-eyed Susans.
• Groundcovers and water plants, including water lilies, soften the otherwise hard edges of the pond's rocky border
• A gentle curve cut out of the walkway mimics the outlines of the pond.

Dressed-Up Fountain

A water feature set into a sloping corner offers traditional style.

• Distinctive hardscape, including stone steps and a geometric paved landing, lend an air of formality to this elegant waterfall.
• Urns overflowing with bright purple lobelia and red double impatiens soften the water's edges.
• While many garden water elements feel natural, this pool was designed to contrast with the lushly planted landscape around it.
• The rich hues of ivy, lacecap hydrangea, ornamental grass, and pigsqueak warm the cool tones of the waterfall's stonework.

Circle 'Round

A series of spheres supplies structure to a minimalist water feature. A gravel path from the house ends at a gently bubbling pond.

• Plants echo the shape of hardscape. Here, liriope encircles the small pond.
• Repetition is a key design element to this water landscape; multiple circles tie everything together.
• The continuation of the path around the pond maintains circulation through the garden.
• In place of a stationary pool of water, a bubbling base in the pool offers water movement.

Focus on the Fountain

A pretty water feature livens up a small slice of yard.

• Intricate trelliswork complements the elegance of the fountain and sculpture.
• Gentle curves at the edge of the fountain soften the hardscape edges.
• A pair of myrtles, grown in topiary form, adds a splash of fun to the garden. Their rounded shapes echo the curves in the lattice and water basin.
• Containers set at the fountain's edge pick up the colors and foliage of the surrounding plantings.
• Shade-loving begonias and caladium in colors that warm the cool gray stonework nestle close to the small-scale fountain.

Pond Perfect

A restful landscape includes an expansive pond.

• A bench, chair, and table offer a quiet alcove overlooking the expansive lily pond.
• An arched bridge takes garden visitors over the water below.
• Lighting can be an unobtrusive element when its shape and materials complement the rest of the landscape; here, a few lanterns light the way across the bridge.
• Large and small boulders tumble and flit in and out of the pond's edges
• Movement in water and elements on the surface offer visual interest to water features. Here, water lilies bloom and a small stream cascades into the larger pond.

Wonderful Waterfall

A dense mix of evergreens and shade-loving plants creates a richly sculpted landscape around a backyard pond.

• A dense planting of reliable arborvitae serves as a year-round softscape fence.
• A garden with several vantage points offers multiple areas for enjoyment; this landscape can be viewed from up on the deck or down closer to the water feature.
• A series of stacked boulders in varying sizes offers a naturalist edging for the waterfall and pond.
• Extending from the lower seating area, a few flagstones jut over the boulders for a third garden outlook spot.
• Paths and water features are easy elements to utilize to conquer slopes, and water features another. This cascading water feature tumbles gently over boulders and a series of flagstone steps before ending in a pond.

LandXscapes- Landscaping 

Koi & Fish Pond

Koi Pond Design TipsA koi pond must be properly designed in order for the fish to thrive. Most professionals recommend that a pond intended for koi meet a certain set of requirements in order to provide the best habitat for the fish. Generally, koi ponds are larger than fishless ponds.

Koi pond size requirements:

• 3+ feet deep
• 25 sq. ft. of pond per koi
• No less than 1,000 gallons of water

It's important to realize that fish need shade. If your pond location is in direct sunlight consider growing floating plants like water lilies. Half of the ponds surface should be shaded to provide koi with a comfortable place where they can escape the sunlight. Another benefit of floating plants is that they provide a place for the fish to hide from predators.

Water plants are an essential element of a koi pond. Aquatic plants help balance the ecosystem, creating a more natural home for the fish. Some plants are oxygenators, meaning they will release oxygen into the water, which the fish can then breathe. Additionally, koi eat many types of water plants. Fish do not have to be fed provided you do not overstock your pond. They will live off of algae, insects and other miscellaneous food that the environment provides. Certain water plants can be included in this source of food.

FiltrationA good pond filter will help keep your pond clear and clean. Koi produce a significant amount of waste, making a filter a necessity. There are two types of filtration: mechanical and biological.

Mechanical filtration traps debris and fish waste. Pump baskets, bottom drains and skimmers are all good for mechanical filtration. Biological filtration utilizes beneficial bacteria to convert toxins into harmless substances.

AerationFish need oxygen to survive. Depending on the size of your pond, the amount of plants growing and the number of fish you may need to consider aeration. Aeration is a process in which oxygen is circulated through pond water.

Waterfalls and fountains are two pleasing ways to aerate a pond. The motion of the water will allow oxygen to circulate naturally. However, you may also want to consider installing equipment that will help aerate your pond. Aeration pumps or jets are especially beneficial if you live in a hot climate or have large fish.

Water QualityThe quality of your pond water will have an impact on the health of your fish. You'll want to keep a close eye on water temperatures and pH levels. Ideal water temperature for koi is 39° to 68° F. The deeper your pond is the easier it will be to regulate the temperature. The best pH level for a koi pond is between 7.0 and 7.8.

Be aware that chlorine is harmful to koi, it will burn your fishes gills and possibly lead to death. For this reason you must wait at least a week after filling your pond for the chlorine to dissipate before stocking it with fish. If you don't want to wait you may purchase a dechlorinator from a local pet store.

 Great  thing about ponds are, as time goes by they just get more beautiful as  foliage grows in and even seeing your fish grow and become  pets of the family!

LandXscapes offers Koi Pond build & weekly Pond service in the Dallas area!

How To Build A Flower Bed

How to Create a Flower Bed

So you want to build a flower bed. Where do you begin? Before starting a flower bed, you need to plan ahead. Take a stroll around your property and choose a suitable location. Take note of available light and nearby structures. Determine the whereabouts of any underground utility lines and the nearest water source.

Before you plant a flower bed, you should make a sketch. This is important, as it allows you to play around with ideas, like the size and shape of the flower bed. It will also make it easier when choosing plants, as these should always be compatible to the area. Use a hose, spray paint or flour to mark out and shape the bed. If building a raised bed, determine the type and amount of edging material as well.

How to Start a Flower Bed

Once you know how to create a flower bed, you’re ready to build it. Depending on its location, size and whether or not containers are used, starting a flower bed often begins with the removal of grass. There are several ways to accomplish this – dig it out, apply herbicide or smother it with cardboard or newspaper.

If you choose to dig out the grass, it will be easier to use a flat shovel. Dig down about four or five inches around the bed’s perimeter. Include sections inside the bed as well, especially for larger ones. Then carefully lift out or peel back the sod. Clear out any debris and loosen the soil, working in organic matter. Add some plants, water thoroughly and mulch generously to keep out weeds. Don’t forget to add an attractive border to define the edges.

Most people prefer the no-dig approach. It starts with eliminating the grass as we did in the dig method. While using herbicides can effectively kill grass, it may not be suitable for planting until much later, as herbicides are not environmentally friendly. However, you can easily smother grass quickly and effectively without the use of harmful chemicals simply by using cardboard or newspaper.

You can start the no-dig bed in early spring for summer planting or build a flower bed in fall, as grass begins to go dormant. Fill the area with cardboard or several layers of newspaper and saturate with water. Add about six inches of compost or rich soil on top with another layer of organic mulch (like straw) on top of this. You can plant a flower bed right away if the grass was dug out or within the next season using the no-dig method.

Knowing how to start a flower bed, along with careful planning beforehand, makes building one as easy as that!

Happy planting! 

Vist LandXscapes

10 Plants To Grow in The Winter

     Whether they're blooming through a crust of snow, or showing off their vivid colors­ while dropping temperatures force us indoors, hardy winter plants are doing more than just surviving when the winter rolls in; they're thriving. These garden inhabitants create interest, texture and a touch of the unexpected in the landscape when our springtime favorites are taking a long winter's nap -- and they do it with style.


Let's take a look at 10 plants, trees and shrubs that can transform a barren, chilly landscape into a winter wonderland.

10 Yard Landscaping Mistakes You Shouldn't Make This Fall/Winter

Leaves have already started shedding as cooler winds swirl around and make room for a colder season. Here are 10 winter landscaping preparation mistakes every homeowner should avoid this Fall/Winter.