Sirhornsalot
**The Official Horn Sports Landscaper and Landscap
- Joined
- Nov 6, 2013
- Messages
- 35,164
Wow, time flies when you’re having fun in the garden! We’re in the middle of fall now and the weather finally reflects that. The leaves on our deciduous trees are beginning to turn. What an exciting time to be outside!!
One season winds down, another begins
Your mowing duties now are slowing now as turf grass growth has slowed due to the cooler temperatures. In a matter of weeks now, it will be dormant. The homeowner/landscaper’s duties will now change but are no less important than they are in the middle of July. You no longer worry with keeping the turf cut and watered. Now, it’s leaf collection through end of December, especially if you have mature adult deciduous trees near your home.
There are several ways of handling leaf collection. I’ll elaborate on a few of them.
1. Mulching your leaves. This is my preferred method of dealing with leaves. We basically blow out the beds and turf to where the leaves are in a single line pile. We then mow over them several times until the leaves are a fine mulched state. We then disperse this back into the turf with rakes.
2. Collect the leaves, bag them, take to an organic composting center near you. A materials (stone, soils, etc) vender near me will accept all the organic material I bring them. They turn it into compost.
3. Collect and compost the leaves yourself. When composting, remember that you need a good balance of dead and green matter to create a good decomposition rate.
4. Collect, bag and dispose via city collection.
Why do we need to collect and dispose of our leaves? Because they can become a fire hazard when left next to the house and around wood sources near the house.
If you’re bagging your own, here’s a tip on how to do it with more ease. Instead of picking the leaves up and placing them into a bag, lay the bag down beside your pile of leaves and push the leaves into the bag while holding the bag opening up with one hand. Much faster.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE TULIPS!
Get those Tulip bulbs planted now! Remember, the fat side of the bulb goes on bottom, at least three inches down!
WINTER WEATHER IS COMING
Plan right now on how you’re going to protect your stuff! If you have potted plants on your patios, get them inside. Potted plants have the same issues going on as a highway bridge does in cold weather. Three sides are exposed to the elements so the root systems of the plant inside will take a real beating.
Plan to run your sprinkler system a nice long cycle the day before the cold front arrives. This will get your turf and beds very wet and thus they’ll be protected during the cold as it takes much colder temperatures to freeze soil when it’s wet than when it’s dry.
Once you run this cycle, turn your system off IF your system does not have a freeze sensor.
For plants you really don’t want to see at risk, employ the use of a freeze blanket to protect them. Make sure you secure the blankets down well as cold fronts are usually accompanied by high winds. They now make freeze blankets that are designed specifically for this purpose and are able to keep temperatures below the blanket at least five degrees warmer than on the outside.
LAVA SAND INSTEAD OF SALT
If we get ice - try opting for lava sand to put on driveways and sidewalks instead of salt. Salt kills. And after the ice is gone, it will end up in your turf and in your beds. Lava sand on the other hand will enhance your soil and turf. Your plants and grass will thank you. Lava sand gives great traction in ice. It can be purchased from Home Depot and Lowes.
PRE EMERGENT THIS MONTH!
The last application of pre emergent should be put down this month. Remember, pre emergent applications are effective only if you time them correctly. The timing will always vary to a small extent because weather is always different each year, but mid-November is generally the time we put down the last pre emergent application of the year.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!
Now is the time to be thinking about your plans for decorating the exterior of your home for Christmas. Many landscape services, including Green Thumb, offer decoration services like this.
Green Thumb is now in the process of taking orders for professional Christmas lighting. We sell commercial quality C-7 and C-9 lights, along with mini lights for various purposes, wreaths, garland (lit and unlit). We first consult with the homeowner to determine what they’d like to accomplish, we create and submit a proposal, then install after approval.
For the first year, you purchase the lights and the installation/storage. The following years you only pay for the installation/storage. We put them up in November, take them down in early January. We box them up and store them either at your place or our own storage facility.
We make no marks on the home. All attachments are made using plastic clips or hot glue.
For a free estimate, email me at greenthumbtx@verizon.net or call 972-436-2841. We install in DFW, Austin area, and Longview area.
One season winds down, another begins
Your mowing duties now are slowing now as turf grass growth has slowed due to the cooler temperatures. In a matter of weeks now, it will be dormant. The homeowner/landscaper’s duties will now change but are no less important than they are in the middle of July. You no longer worry with keeping the turf cut and watered. Now, it’s leaf collection through end of December, especially if you have mature adult deciduous trees near your home.
There are several ways of handling leaf collection. I’ll elaborate on a few of them.
1. Mulching your leaves. This is my preferred method of dealing with leaves. We basically blow out the beds and turf to where the leaves are in a single line pile. We then mow over them several times until the leaves are a fine mulched state. We then disperse this back into the turf with rakes.
2. Collect the leaves, bag them, take to an organic composting center near you. A materials (stone, soils, etc) vender near me will accept all the organic material I bring them. They turn it into compost.
3. Collect and compost the leaves yourself. When composting, remember that you need a good balance of dead and green matter to create a good decomposition rate.
4. Collect, bag and dispose via city collection.
Why do we need to collect and dispose of our leaves? Because they can become a fire hazard when left next to the house and around wood sources near the house.
If you’re bagging your own, here’s a tip on how to do it with more ease. Instead of picking the leaves up and placing them into a bag, lay the bag down beside your pile of leaves and push the leaves into the bag while holding the bag opening up with one hand. Much faster.
NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE TULIPS!
Get those Tulip bulbs planted now! Remember, the fat side of the bulb goes on bottom, at least three inches down!
WINTER WEATHER IS COMING
Plan right now on how you’re going to protect your stuff! If you have potted plants on your patios, get them inside. Potted plants have the same issues going on as a highway bridge does in cold weather. Three sides are exposed to the elements so the root systems of the plant inside will take a real beating.
Plan to run your sprinkler system a nice long cycle the day before the cold front arrives. This will get your turf and beds very wet and thus they’ll be protected during the cold as it takes much colder temperatures to freeze soil when it’s wet than when it’s dry.
Once you run this cycle, turn your system off IF your system does not have a freeze sensor.
For plants you really don’t want to see at risk, employ the use of a freeze blanket to protect them. Make sure you secure the blankets down well as cold fronts are usually accompanied by high winds. They now make freeze blankets that are designed specifically for this purpose and are able to keep temperatures below the blanket at least five degrees warmer than on the outside.
LAVA SAND INSTEAD OF SALT
If we get ice - try opting for lava sand to put on driveways and sidewalks instead of salt. Salt kills. And after the ice is gone, it will end up in your turf and in your beds. Lava sand on the other hand will enhance your soil and turf. Your plants and grass will thank you. Lava sand gives great traction in ice. It can be purchased from Home Depot and Lowes.
PRE EMERGENT THIS MONTH!
The last application of pre emergent should be put down this month. Remember, pre emergent applications are effective only if you time them correctly. The timing will always vary to a small extent because weather is always different each year, but mid-November is generally the time we put down the last pre emergent application of the year.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!
Now is the time to be thinking about your plans for decorating the exterior of your home for Christmas. Many landscape services, including Green Thumb, offer decoration services like this.
Green Thumb is now in the process of taking orders for professional Christmas lighting. We sell commercial quality C-7 and C-9 lights, along with mini lights for various purposes, wreaths, garland (lit and unlit). We first consult with the homeowner to determine what they’d like to accomplish, we create and submit a proposal, then install after approval.
For the first year, you purchase the lights and the installation/storage. The following years you only pay for the installation/storage. We put them up in November, take them down in early January. We box them up and store them either at your place or our own storage facility.
We make no marks on the home. All attachments are made using plastic clips or hot glue.
For a free estimate, email me at greenthumbtx@verizon.net or call 972-436-2841. We install in DFW, Austin area, and Longview area.
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