Useful Tips
-
How to Correctly Prune Your Trees in the Spring
Basic Rules of Pruning Early spring is by far the best time to prune your shrubs and trees. Dormant pruning (shortly before the spring growth starts) minimizes the amount of time fresh wounds are exposed. Also, pruning before there are leaves allows you to make better decisions because the structure of the plant is not obscured by leaves. However, trees and shrubs that bloom early in the growing season on last year’s growth should be pruned immediately after they finish blooming. Some examples include azalea, chokeberry, forsythia, magnolia, or early blooming spirea. Shrubs grown primarily for their foliage should be pruned prior to when their spring growth begins and some examples include barberry, burning bush, and honeysuckle. Some trees such as maples, butternuts, walnuts, and birch trees have free flowing sap in the late winter or early spring. While this is generally not a major concern, unless you are into…Read More
-
How to Choose the Right Lilac
Choosing Your Lilac There’s nothing quite like the sight and smell of lilacs in the spring! Along with their beauty and fragrance, they are a low maintenance shrub and really thrive here in upstate NY. With proper maintenance and care, they can last for years in your garden. Spring or fall is the best time for planting lilac bushes. When planting, you will need to make your hole deep enough and wide enough to accomodate the roots spread out vertically in the ground. You can plant multiple bushes together to create a nice hedgerow, just make sure to space them at least 5 feet apart to prevent overcrowding. Lilacs need an area with plenty of afternoon sun and good drainage. They do especially well when planted in a slightly elevated area since the drainage tends to be better. Once planted, make sure to water them thoroughly and add a layer…Read More
-
How Flowering Herbs Can Contribute to Your Garden
How Flowering Herbs Can Contribute to Your Garden It’s time to start planning your garden! Spring has arrived (even though the snow makes it hard to remember which season it really is) and summer will be here before we know it. It’s time to think about what we want to grow and plant in our gardens and our landscapes this year. We have so many new plants for 2018, and we can’t wait to show you! But one thing we think would be a great addition to your garden are flowering herbs – they’re nice to look at, smell great and are a great addition to a healthy lifestyle! Considering that we live in a pretty northern climate, you’ll need to do some garden planning beforehand, so you know which ones to choose. Our landscape designers recommend selecting herbs that will complement existing elements in your garden. You’ll need to…Read More
-
Landscape Lighting is the Secret to an Outstanding Space
Landscape Lighting is the Secret to an Outstanding Space Nightscaping is one of the hottest trends in home improvement today. It is an often overlooked design feature outside your home but is something you’re bound to enjoy as it will call you outside on those perfect evenings. Most of us spend our days working inside rather than outside. Many nights, once we get home, fix dinner, take care of the kids or finish up chores the sunlight has faded. Without the right landscape lighting, there may not even be a reason to go outside at all. Soft outdoor lighting will not only enhance your deck, patio or yard, it has the ability to transform it into a place you’ll love to be – no matter if it is already dark out or not. Imagine a warm summer night, a soft breeze in the air, an inviting patio with…Read More
-
How to Attract Birds in the Winter
How to Attract Birds in the Winter Have you ever spent any time trying to attract birds to your garden? It’s an entertaining pastime, and can even be quite rewarding, to tally up the various species that visit the feeders and bird friendly landscaping in the garden. While many homeowners look for their birds during the spring and summer months, there is actually a great need to help our fine feathered friends during the long cold days of winter. During the winter months, birds spend most of their time and energy seeking out food, water and shelter. It can be a desperate time for them, especially here in Upstate New York when the temperatures plummet and snow blankets most of their feeding grounds. With a little bit of planning, however, you can transform your garden into a prime location for birds to find both shelter and sustenance. The selection of…Read More