Losing weight is on a lot of our New Year’s list each year. This year set out to accomplish complete your resolution before Spring. “Over weight” landscapes increase your plants chances for catching diseases and often lower your home value. By starting now you can also take advantage of the dormant season for plants and increase the survival rate of your transplants.

There isn’t a scale or doctor’s recommendation, but over weight landscapes are easy to spot. Ask yourself these questions: Is my home more than 5 years old? Has it been re-landscaped during that time? New home builders typically over plant so the landscape has a fuller look, but this quickly leads to over crowding. Can I stand back and get a “bird’s eye” view of my landscape with an objective opinion? Or should I get a second opinion? Where are the focal points in the landscape? Can the shape of the plant materials in the landscape be distinguished? Or are the plants become one continuous mass? Have some of the plants become diseased due to a lack of sunlight or enough water (common issues in over crowded landscapes)?

January and February are the perfect time to “re-use” what you have. Everyone loves to save money this time of year. Trees and shrubs transplant best during this time of year during their dormant season. If your plants are more than 5 years old you may want to check on the survival rate for your specific plant materials. Buying new plants may be the best option for very mature shrubs and trees. Generally the younger the plant the higher transplant rate.

When transplanting always use a clean sharp shovel and get as much of the root system as possible. Re-landscaping during the winter also helps you keep a balance of evergreen and deciduous materials. You want to avoid using all deciduous plant materials in your landscape. Your home will look barren 5 months out of the year.

If you need help deciding how much to “lose” in your landscape contact us. 972-492-5495

Winter Landscape

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Solutions to “cow paths” include: Acknowledge that people will continue to cut across the yard and provide a pathway for them. Pathways can be as simple as flagstone sunk into the grass where you can mow over. To beautiful landscaping that creates a focal point for the walkway. By designing a walkway you can eliminate mud and grass getting tracking into your home.

Here the walkway was designed down the middle of the landscape. It is hidden from the street view, but convenient for those parking on the driveway.

Here is a simple walkway set in crushed granite. No mowing or weeding required. The walkway allows you to get larger items moved in and out. This works well around areas with pools or lots of direct sunlight.

Flagstone sunk into the grass provides a simple walkway around the house or to the back alley. Mowers can mow over the top. You will need to occasionally weed eat the edges of the flagstone if the grass starts to grow over.

Another options would be to block the “Cow path” that people are using. This option needs to be designed well or it can look like the landscaping is out of place stuck in the middle of no where. If you use this option think about what is most important to you? Function of forcing traffic onto your designed pathways for safety, & flow? Form which translates to the design and look of the pathway. If you are selling your home in the new future think about the potential value the walkway and it’s design will have for potential buyers.

We are here to help so please call us if you are not sure what would work best for your home. 972-492-5495

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Color: Remember that fall flower colors last until May so those beautiful oranges and burguny look great in October & November, but may be tiresome by March. Once Christmas is over I enjoy lighter colors in the landscape as we look forward to spring. One of my favorite pansie mixes includes light blue, white, and pale yellow. These colors stand out in the winter months. For the fall our focal points include hay bales, scarecrows and pumpkins so your eyes are not as drawn to the color of the pansies.

Kale and cabbages grow taller and should be planted behind the pansies. When choosing your kale and cabbage get thicker plants that are not tall or leggy. Think about color combinations as kale & cabbage tend to come in green, white, and purple colors.

We have found that cabbage and kale do not attract rabbits as much as the pansies do (guess Texas rabbits have not read any of Beatrice Potter’s books). We have also found raw eggs mixed into the soil when planting pansies can also deter rabbits. Once planted you can sprinkle ground red pepper around the flowers to also deter rabbits.

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Water: Now is the time to switch  your sprinklers to summer mode. We recommend watering 4 times a week with 20 minutes on each popup station. For rotors water 45 minutes for grass areas. Look at to see if water restrictions have been put in place.

Chinch Bugs: Notice dead patches of lawn in irregular patterns? This could be the work of chinch bugs that enjoy sucking the juice out of your grass.

Heat Related Stress in the landscape:
Majority of the problems we see are related to heat stress and watering.
1) High temperatures in North Texas cannot be avoided but you can do something about the amount of
stress you see in your landscape.
Plants you have in your landscape
should accommodate our crazy summers. “Partial shade flowers and shrubs” means morning sun only – no afternoon sun of any kind.
2) Water consistently. Plants like routines. Don’t water a lot over
the weekend and skip weekdays.

Castle Hills Elementary PTA and Green Meadows Landscaping are proud to present their 9th tree planted in honor of Arbor Day on June 3 on the Castle Hills Elementary Campus.  Green Meadows Landscaping chose a Russian Olive to be planted for the 2011 Arbor Day tree.

All of Castle Hills elementary classes came out to celebrate the tree planting with several students pitching in to help Mrs. Blake put the finishing touches on the tree.  The tree planted was delayed because of Castle Hills Elementary being closed for TAKS testing on April 29, 2011.

Nine tree have been planted by Castle Hills Elementary PTA and Green Meadows Landscaping.  You may do a walking tour of the campus and find a marker with the common tree names, latin names and date planted.

The Russian Olive has silver leaves and is distinct from any other trees planted at Castle Hills Elementary.  The tree was planted in the back of the school closer to the gym drop off and circular drive.  The tree will be maintained by the Castle Hills Elementary PTA Environmental Chair Jennifer Muskovich and Green Meadows Landscaping through the summer to ensure adequate watering in our Texas heat.

Castle Hills Elementary is located at 1025 Holy Grail in Lewisville, TX

The Lewisville Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the Denton County Women in Business Conference and Expo on Friday, June 3.  Green Meadows Landscaping is excited to attend the Women’s Conference in the support of Women in Business.  The Denton County Women’s Conference will feature several guest speakers: Regent Ducas & Bob Kaplitz; Joy Weaver; Jeff Klein; and Rhonda Shasteen.

The topics covered will allow women in business to grow their marketing strategies and business presence both.  This is the third year for the Lewisville Chamber to host the Women in Business Conference for Denton County.  Green Meadows Landscaping has attended the event as it continues to grow every year.

This event includes a business expo for vendors that allows you to meet the owners of the company and learn more about each company.  Green Meadows Landscaping will have a booth and will be available for design and landscaping questions.

The Denton County Women’s Conference and Expo is located at the new Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater located at 100 North Charles Street in Old Town Lewisville across from Lewisville City Hall.  Registration begins at 8:00 with the conference speakers starting at 9:00 AM.  You may also register online at the Lewisville Chamber of Commerce website.

www.lewisvillechamber.org

Can you hear it? That gentle flowing sound that rushing water makes. Just think of all the possibilities of having an outdoor watery oasis. Calming, soothing, feed the fish. Get away from the sounds of the city with your own touch of nature. Call us!

MobileMe Gallery – Green Meadows Landscaping Waterfall.