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 !