Soil, by definition is “The top layer of the earth’s surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with organic matter”. So does that mean that you can go into your yard with a shovel, take a scoop of “dirt” and fill up your containers?  NO, NO, NO….

Seasonal plants (annuals), and plant seeds, need to be planted in loose, organic material that is rich with nutrients.  When plants are installed in mix like this they will quickly develop, and grow, a healthy root system, which will help them flourish quickly in our short growing season.

So, what’s in the mix?  Soils for containers (and seed trays) need to be well aerated (loose) and well drained while still being able to retain enough moisture for plant growth.  These mixes are often composed of various things such as peat moss, vermiculite, organic matter (leaf mold), bark and the mixes will vary depending on the manufacture and the type of plant material being grown.

When I prepare my gardens I always have on hand a bale of peat moss, a bag of vermiculite, an organic fertilizer (such as Planttone) and a bale of good organic compost.  The compost I use is soil that has been created from heaps of wet, organic matter (leaves), that has been decomposed and aerated over time.  I mix those ingredients up into a workable potting mixture, which is free of weed seed, loose (from an aeration standpoint) and well drained.   Now, one secret passed on from my grandfather is to ADD a little “super-phosphate” to the potting mixture.  That macro-nutrient will help promote root growth in your new seedlings.   And my other secret (which I kid around with my kids about all the time) is this… after my containers are planted I dust the soil surface with a slow-release fertilizer,  that will provide daily nutrients to my container plants for months to come.  I then install my drip irrigation feeder tubes into each container and away we go!

With the proper soil mix and a shot of slow-release fertilizer in all of my containers my annuals, plants and veggies simply take off!

If you’re interested in adding spring-blooming shrubs to your property, here are some favorites you may want to consider.

Forsythia: Provides yellow blooms in early spring and can reach 10’ in height. Prefers full sun to partial shade.

Lilac: Purple, pink, red or white blooms in mid-spring. Prefers full sun and can reach 15’ in height.

Mountain Laurel: Blooms in late spring with red, pink or white flowers. Grows up to 15’ in height and prefers partial shade.

Rhododendron: Pink, red or white blooms in mid-spring. Grows well in full sun to partial shade and can reach 15’ in height.

Beyond these, there are dozen of other choices for getting past winter and moving into spring beautifully!

se around your landscape:

Shrubs:

• Butterflybush
• Trumpet vine
• Summersweet

Perennials:

•  Bleeding heart
•  Butterflyweed
•  Beardtongue
•  Daylily
•  Bee balm
•  Cardinal flower
•  Coral bells
•  Delphinium
•  Foxglove (bi-annual)
•  Hollyhock (bi-annual)

Annuals:

•  Impatiens
•  Nasturtium
•  Salvia
•  Spider flower
•  Snapdragon
•  Morning glory
•  Petunia
•  Flowering tobacco

Hummingbirds are a delight to watch, and common North American species can beat their wings up to 53 times per second!

So you may be asking yourself, what do I look for when hiring a professional contractor?

1. In most states, especially New York State for sure, if a company has any employees (even just 1), they are required to have a workers compensation insurance policy covering each and every employee they employ.  Ask your contractor for a copy of their declaration page.
2. Liability insurance is a must.  God forbid a job goes bad and/or there is damage to your property as a result of an accident.  A contractors liability insurance policy might help you recover from an accident.  Ask your contractor for a copy of their declaration page.
3. Contract, Contract, Contract.  In todays fast paced world, why take a chance with mis-communications.  If all aspects of the job are detailed in a contract, as well as payment plans, then there is little room for mis-communications, which lead to conflict.  And if the scope of work changes, ask the contractor for a “Work Change Order”, which simply changes the scope of work in writing.
4. Does the service professional have a “Home Improvement” license?  Most municipalities have a consumer protection department that advocate for consumers.  Many times during a dispute with a job, the consumer may reach out to their local consumer protection department to help remedy any conflicts.  .
5. Start date….agree on a start date, or at a minimum a date range to begin the work.
6. Ask for a list of references.  Every professional that I have dealt is more than happy to provide me with a list of references.  And check social media…..you’ll typically find ratings, pictures, and write ups on line describing the quality of work of a contractor.
7. And lastly, I want to know how the contractor stands behind his/her work.  Is there a guaranty? If yes, for how long?  Is the guaranty in writing? If not, ask for it to be.

With unemployment rates being as high as they are these days, I find that there are a lot of people “claiming” to be a professional….and consumers hiring these “unqualified” individuals could end up having problems that come back to bite them later on. So if you are in the market for a new service professional, please do your homework.  Don’t be afraid to ask the questions and review the documents listed above.  You will be happy that you did!

A soil-less seed starting mix or packaged potting soil is the best growing medium. Any clean container that allows for drainage will work. Generally, smaller seeds call for shallow planting, while larger seeds should be planted a bit deeper.

Of course light is an essential ingredient. A bright location with southern exposure will work, but you’ll get better results suspending a fluorescent or grow light fixture above your seedlings. If you notice seedlings reaching for light, turn them so they’ll develop evenly.

Be sure to water regularly. A seed germinates just once, and if the emerging seedling is deprived of water, it dies. The goal is to keep the soil evenly moist, but not waterlogged.

You can check the back of the seed packet to find out the best time to start seeds so that they’re ready to plant outdoors when soil and air temperatures are right. In general, the range is from four to eight weeks between seed sowing and outdoor planting. It’s a good idea to introduce seedlings gradually to cool outdoor spring temperatures so they can harden off before transplanting.

Not sure what plants to grow from seed? Try some of those listed below, all of which germinate easily and grow quickly. Have fun!

• Beans
• Cosmos
• Cucumbers
• Peas
• Pumpkins
• Radishes
• Squash
• Sunflowers
• Zinnias

It’s a fact: No lawn is completely immune to crabgrass. Thankfully, there are steps that can be taken this spring- throughout the growing season ahead- to keep it under control.

AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE

Just one mature crabgrass plant can produce thousands of seeds, which are able to grow in the hottest, driest conditions. Even incompacted soil along sidewalks and driveways, crabgrass seeds have no trouble germinating.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?

The healthier and thicker your lawn, the less crabgrass it’s going to have. Four keys to a lush lawn include:

• Fertilizing regularly
• Controlling insects and diseases as needed
• Removing no more than 1/3 of the grass blade each time you mow
• Making sure your lawn gets from 1” to 1 ½” of water per week

EXTRA PROTECTION

A post-emergent herbicide can be used to treat any established crabgrass plant in your lawn. This type of herbicide will kick off the crabgrass as it is absorbed through the leaves of the plant.

A pre-emergent herbicide will also be very effective against crabgrass as long as it is applied at the right time (before the crabgrass seeds germinate). This preventative treatment will form a barrier in the soil, and newly sprouted crabgrass will be killed off before it can emerge aboveground.

There are always going to be crabgrass seeds in your lawn. So, annual treatment with a pre-emergent herbicide, and post-emergent herbicides as needed, are recommended for ongoing control. If you’re planning on reseeding this spring, it’s important to wait six to eight weeks after a pre-emergent application (the pre-emergent can prevent grass seeds from growing too). Likewise, post-emergent herbicides shouldn’t be used on newly seeded lawns until the new grass has been mowed at least three times.

With a combination of good lawn care practices and the appropriate herbicides, crabgrass doesn’t stand a chance!

Pruning: Many structural problems in ornamentals can be corrected right now, before plants leaf out, with corrective pruning.

Clean-Up: Leaves and debris should be raked and removed from lawn areas, as well as shrubs and flower beds.

Mulching: A spring application will help to prevent weeds, conserve moisture in the soil and keep soil temperatures cooler as the weather heats up.

Durable and versatile, pavers will bring form and function to your property while complementing your landscape’s natural components. Plus, the joints between pavers help to eliminate the cracking that normally occurs over time with poured concrete.

Consider some of the paver types shown here when it’s time to get started on your next walkway or patio project!

IT ALL STARTS WITH A PLAN

Landscapes consist of several different parts, such as walkways, hedges, trees, flower beds and patios. A good improvement plan will take each part of your property into consideration and ensure that all of your new landscape projects work.

Even if you’re just making a few improvements immediately, creating a strong plan early can save you significant time and money in the long run. You will find that with a good plan, it’s easier to set priorities, and individual projects can be tackled more quickly because they’ve been thought out in advance.

If you have an older landscape, you might consider a systematic plan for rejuvenating a small section of your property each year. This is an effective way to spread landscape renewal expenses out over several years while “keeping up” with the aging of your plants. Plus, by focusing on just one or two areas at a time, there will be less distraction to slow down your process.

By planning carefully now, you can look forward to a beautiful landscape! So next time your snowed in, get out your pencil and paper and start planning!

         In order to have a healthy and vibrant lawn remember that water is a critical component. When grass plants lack water they have very little chance of survival. And if the plant does survive, it will no longer be green and full, instead it will dry out and be more prone to infestation, like weeds and/or fungus. A sprinkler system is an excellent way to keep your lawn properly hydrated.  Watering with a sprinkler system is as simple as a flick of a switch. Here at Emil Yedowitz Landscaping we could help you to chose and install the right sprinkler system for you. A sprinkler system can assure that you can add a check mark next to watering on your list of resolutions!

         In addition to plenty of water, aeration is an important step towards a healthy lawn. Compacted soil and excessive thatch can starve turf roots of the air, water and nutrients they need in order to grow deep and strong. Aeration can help with this maintenance problem. With this process, a machine known as a core aerator punches through turf and pulls out plugs of soil and thatch, which are left behind to dissolve during rainfall or sprinkling. As the plugs dissolve, decomposition of thatch layers is promoted. Plus, the holes created during aeration make it easier for air, water and nutrients to reach the roots. This process will provide a healthier lawn as well, and yes….that could be check mark #2 for a new years resolution.

         And lastly, a 5 round lawn care program comprised of  well balanced fertilizers, weed control products and a little insect control. Why, you ask? Just like the human body, plants need nutrients to grow healthy and stay healthy.  If you neglect the nutrient component of growing a healthy lawn, then your lawn will eventually fall victim to weeds and/or fungus a.k.a “Pests”. 

         These lawn care processes are vital for a healthy lawn. As well, now that spring is soon to be approaching, once the weather warms up and the ground begins to soften up, all of these things should be done to your lawn to resurrect it from the winter and prepare it for the summer! By vowing to make these changes this year your lawn will be sure to thank you!