Here is one New Year’s Resolution that you will enjoy checking off your list!
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