Team Turf Landscapes

A Little Lesson in Aerating & Overseeding

2011-08-24T08:04:00.000-04:00

So, many of us know that the Fall is the perfect time to aerate and overseed Fescue lawns, but not many of us know why.

Basically, all cool season grass should be overseeded each Fall to keep it thick and lush. Unlike warm season grass, Fescue, Rye and Bluegrass don’t spread. Seeding it each Fall ensures that your shade grass stays nice and thick.

THE OVERSEEDING PROCESS

Water heavily a day or two before we come out, in the absence of rainfall. This will allow the aeration machine to work more smoothly.

After we have aerated and overseeded we can work together to accomplish the following:

WATER - Please keep your newly-seeded areas moist for 3 weeks. Water lightly (5-10 minutes) at least once per day, up to 3 times per day. If it’s windy and/or still warm, it will dry out more quickly. If the seed dries out, it will not germinate. If newly-germinated seedlings don’t get water, they will die quickly. After we mow for the first time, you may return to a normal watering schedule.

GERMINATION - Seed should begin to germinate in about 7-10 days. All of the seed will not germinate at once. Maximum germination will not occur until mid-February of next year.

KEEP LEAVES OFF – Fescue must have sunlight to do well next year. When the leaves are off the trees in the winter, fescue is busy using sunlight to build carbohydrate reserves (by photosynthesis) to get through the hot summer coming up. We will need to keep leaves off of the seeded areas, before germination and after. A blower is best for this until the seed is up and it’s been mowed. Please do not use a rake on the seed or new seedlings.

KEEP TRAFFIC OFF – Please keep heavy traffic off your newly seeded areas. If dogs or children are present, you may want to rope off the area until it is established.

MOWING – When your new grass is about 2-2 ½” tall, it’s okay to mow, but we will forego scheduled mowing until proper growth is shown.

If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to call us or email us at info@teamturflandscapes.com.

Remember -- now is the time to get on the schedule!

Yard Makeover: Day 3

2011-07-29T12:47:00.000-04:00

And we so continue with our yard makeover project of the week. On Day 3 Team Turf installed sod in the front yard, continued to pull out unwanted shrubs and dangling limbs, and finished the day by adding fresh pinestraw, and cleaning up the mess we made in the progress!

So here is the original before photo . . .

And here is the newly landscaped front yard . . .

Wow! What a difference a landscape can make! Not only will the homeowners now be able to add new plantings in the pine areas down the road, but their home is no longer hidden behind overgrown junipers. And curb appeal? They've definitely got it now. Take a look --

On Day 4 the backyard gets its makeover, so make sure you check back to see the final results!

Yard Makeover: Day 2

2011-07-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

We've been so busy with this week's yard makeover that I just realized I forgot to update you all on the progress we made yesterday.

If you remember, we were removing an outdated railroad tie retaining wall (that was actually hidden beneath a mound of junipers -- yikes)! and replacing it with very natural-looking stacked stone, installing new sod, and in general, just tidying up the aesthetics of the yard.

So here's what we started with on Monday . . .

And this is what the front yard looked like at the end of the day yesterday . . .

The junipers were completely pulled out and disposed of, as was the hidden retaining wall underneath. Grading was done to accommodate the new retaining walls, and we also pruned existing bushes that will remain in the new landscape.

We're so excited to have you all follow along on this yard makeover, and I hope that you'll see how easy it is to give your landscape an entirely new look! What I especially love about the changes taking place at this property is that in the end you'll really be able to see the house -- it won't be hidden behind a mound of plants and foundation bushes.

Also, this is a good example of how you don't have to do everything at once. The beauty of re-landscaping is that you can bite off chunks at a time. The Roaches are doing a major overhaul with the new retaining walls and sod, but they will also be waiting until the fall to install fresh plantings that will complement their new landscape.

So, that was day two, and currently day three is underway. The sod is being installed, and even more clean-up is taking place. Stay tuned . . .

What Team Turf Is Up to This Week

2011-07-25T11:47:00.000-04:00

So, we're trying to get better about showing you all exactly what we spend our time doing other than making rounds at our regular maintenance accounts. Our install crews have been extremely busy this summer enhancing the outdoor living spaces of several of our existing clients, as well as new clients that sought us out for specific projects.

This week we're at the home of Al and Betsy Roach where we're planning an extreme yard makeover. The homeowners have gone through multiple yard environments over the years as they slowly lost three very large oak trees that were original to the property when the home was built. The loss of the trees dramatically changed the landscape until they were left with a mass of junipers, a failing railroad tie retaining wall beneath the junipers, and no real focal point in the yard.

Once the project is complete, the junipers will no longer be present, nor will the rotten and outdated railroad ties. Instead the front yard will boast a stacked stone retaining wall, completely new sod, and several areas for new plantings.

Take a look at what the front yard looked like before we began this morning:

We're very excited to be a part of this yard transformation, and we hope you'll check back to see the finished result. What you'll find is that a good clean-up, the addition of a more modern hardscape created from resilient materials can really pack a punch!

Spruce Up Your Yard Without Breaking the Bank

2011-05-05T08:30:00.000-04:00

So many times I hear, "We'd love to make our yard look better, but it's just not in the budget this year." I imagine for some folks updating their landscape is never really in the budget, just like when you hear someone say that they're not financially ready to have children. Those of us with kids know that you're never really ready financially! And granted, a complete yard overhaul can get costly, but there are some simple ways to improve outdoor living areas that aren't so hard on your wallet.

One of the easiest ways to achieve a quick yard makeover is to do a clean-up. Many properties that we see have tons of bedded areas, and gathering and removing branches and pine cones, raking out dead leaves, and freshening the straw or mulch in those areas packs an immediate punch. We also suggest removing aged, overgrown shrubs. Less is definitely more in this instance -- bare and clean is much crisper and pleasing to the eye than overgrown and wild. This is supposed to be your yard after all, not a jungle!

And, of course, mowing, edging, and simple, regular maintenance will help your yard look tended and loved. Adding some color in flower beds or bright colored pots will also distract the eye from other the other stuff and take care of bumping up your curb appeal at the same time.

So those are just a few of the simple ways to vamp up your landscape a bit, but if you've got bigger plans in mind, then we'd love to talk about those, too. Retaining walls, paver patios, outdoor fireplaces . . . these are a few of our favorite things! Whatever your plans for your yard this season, Team Turf is happy to help you make those a reality.

March Is the Time To . . .

2011-03-14T15:07:00.000-04:00

Prune hollies, boxwoods, gardenias, spireas, abelias, butterfly bushes, evergreen shrubs, and most summer-blooming shrubs.
Cut back and fertilize roses (although you can do this as early as Valentine's Day). Cut hybrid teas back to 18" tall, remove dead canes, and canes that rub. Knockout roses can be pruned back to half their size if necessary. Climbers should be pruned after first flush of blooms.
Fertilize shrubs, trees, and Fescue lawns.
Fertilize blueberries with Cotton Seed Meal.
Get those vegetable seeds started so you can set them out in mid to late April.
Cut back ornamental grasses to 6-10 inches tall. If they were laying over on you last year, it may be time to divide them as most grasses will need dividing every 4-6 years.
Clean any debris from fountains and ponds, check hoses for cracks, scrub clean with a mild solution of bleach.

Want some help? Give us a call because we'd love the chance to help get your yard ready for Spring!

It's Time to Prune

2011-02-04T08:04:00.000-05:00

This is the time of year that you will look outside and see our crews pruning and cutting back the perennials in your yard. So don't get upset when you come home and things look tidier, and perhaps a bit smaller -- we're doing what needs to be done to get your yard ready for spring.

Here is a quick overview of why we do what we do:

Why prune?

Reduce plant size,
Reshape plant
Remove dead, damaged, diseased wood
Encourage new growth and more bloom

When?

If it blooms in spring, prune soon after it finishes blooming - these plants bloom on last year's growth.
If it blooms in summer or fall, prune in late winter to early spring - these plants bloom on current year growth.
Dead and diseased wood can be removed anytime.

How?

Use sharp tools, with the cutting edge toward the part that stays on the plant.
Cut about ¼" above an upward- or outward-facing bud, at a 45˚ angle,

cut back to a main branch or trunk, not flush, but just to the slightly raised branch collar.

Pruning the plants in your yard is just one more thing that Team Turf does to keep your yard looking its very best. If you have any questions about specific plant pruning, please feel free to give us a call.

Conditions Are Right for Fall Armyworms

2010-08-18T08:25:00.000-04:00

A lot of yards have suffered this summer. Scorching temperatures, not enough rain, too much rain -- all of these factors have worked together to upset the very delicate balance that nature strives for in order to keep our grasses green and our flowers and plants thriving. One would think that with Fall creeping ever closer that we'd be in for a bit of reprieve with the promise of cooler temps and the ability of our yards to heal themselves, so to speak.

Enter the Fall Armyworm. Who, you ask? Well, apparently these little pests have been becoming more and more active within the United States over the past few years, and their ability to take a thriving, healthy lawn and swiftly and efficiently make it the most unsightly yard in the neighborhood has gained them much notoriety.

Here are some things you should know:

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugipeda) are caterpillars that feed on agricultural and turf grasses.
The larvae feed at night on grass blades while the caterpillars feed on a variety of plants.
Warm-season grasses such as bermuda grass, St. Augustine grass, and some others are commonly attacked.
Bluegrass, ryegrass, fine fescue, and bentgrass are preferred cool-season turfgrasses.
Heavy infestations may seriously damage large areas of turf.
Populations of fall armyworms are typically kept in check by natural means, though population booms can occur, generally after a drought.
The damage creates a frosted appearance or a brown area (look for this symptom late in the summer or early fall) or in the case of severe infestation, the turf may be completely denuded.

Below is a photo of an adult armyworm.

And this is a photo of a young armyworm.

Heavy infestations of armyworms can seriously damage large areas of turf, so let's hope that we don't run into any of these little critters in our yards. If you do suspect that some type of pest has taken up residence in your lawn, be sure to look for dew sparkling on the webs in the early morning or at dusk -- a sure sign of armyworms. Treatment is definitely possible, but catching on early is the key.

Find out more about armyworms.

A Big Dry Spell

2010-07-23T10:40:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd share this article from a newsletter I received from Autumn Hill Nursery -- one of our favorite places to shop for great yard additions:

"This current dry spell has crept up on us after we enjoyed a wet spring, and with the soil as dry as it has become, we are fielding more calls than ever about plant problems.

Many of you are calling with dying evergreen trees such as cryptomerias, hollies, cedars and leylands. Often the damage to these plants is done even before the plant shows signs of stress. While dead branches won't come back, you can often prune these out, bump up the moisture the plant can take up, and recover the lost growth within a year.

If you have stressed plants you may consider using soaker hoses. When the soil is this dry, hand watering with a garden hose is inadequate. The surrounding dry soil quickly wicks away the moisture before the plant can take up what it needs. Think about a paper towel soaking up a spill. Wrapping affected plants with a soaker hose is much more effective. For young trees or shrubs, wrap a soaker hose 3-4 times around the plant, making the radius larger with each circle. Run the soaker hose for 2-3 hours. This will prevent runoff while saturating the surrounding soil. It may be necessary to water 2-3 times per week while this dry spell continues.

Soaker hoses can also be used in the vegetable garden. Weave lengths of hose through the rows, and again let it run for a couple of hours. The ground becomes evenly saturated, and you will avoid fungus problem that can occur with frequent overhead watering.

Under the new outdoor watering guidelines, homeowners and businesses are stilled allowed to water daily between 4pm and 10am. Watering during this time avoids excessive evaporation from the heat from the mid-day sun.

A watering schedule that was sufficient just a month ago, may now be inadequate."

Autumn Hill is located in the Crabapple area of Roswell, and the ladies there are very knowledgeable. You'll love this nursery, especially if you're shopping for roses!

Garden Update

2010-07-09T17:03:00.000-04:00

Finally! Here are the pics of the new vegetable beds and surrounding area that we installed in our backyard this spring. I remember how excited I was to be able to plant even more vegetables this year, and I had some pretty grandiose ideas about corn and watermelon . . . well, let's just say that there's always next year!

Here's what we do have planted and growing (quite well, if I do say so myself):

Cucumbers -- pickling types, of course, since I think they have a better flavor and because we have friends that beg for our pickles each summer

Green, yellow, & red bell peppers -- although I have to say that I struggle with peppers, and I have no idea why

Lima beans -- These are my daughters favorite, so the plant marker reads, "Lilla Kate's Lima Beans."

Squash -- What can I say about squash? Ridiculously easy to grow, and very yummy.

Strawberries & Blueberries -- the kids' favorites

Several varieties of heirloom tomatoes -- Black Zebra, Chocolate Stripe, Kelloggs Orange, Sunset Gold, Black Cherry, Roma, Brandywine, Green Zebra, Red Zebra, Black Krim . . . and a few more

Various herbs including a few varieties of basil, sweet marjoram, oregano, rosemary, creeping thyme, and lavender . . .

Oh! We also have edamame, but that seed tray got mixed up with a tray of hollyhocks, so there are hollyhocks growing next to my squash and the edamame is mixed in the landscape! Everything is progressing nicely, though. Tomatoes have been coming in a few at a time for a couple of weeks, and this week has been the beginning of cucumbers.

So in celebration of the plentiful summer bounty, I invite you all to send me pics of your own home gardens. I'd love to see what you all are growing and to hear about what's working and what's not. Just send them to jtucker@teamturflandscapes.com, and I'll publish them in an upcoming post.

Running A Little Behind . . .

2010-06-21T15:05:00.000-04:00

So, I know that I've promised you all a study of local vegetable gardens, and I will get to that soon. What with all the rain we've been having lately, coupled with the very high temperatures, our workload has been a bit stressful to say the least. Until I can get my veggies in a row (sorry, I can't help myself sometimes), I thought I'd at least give you a few photos to browse through because let's be honest, nothing says summer in the south like a yard full of gorgeous hydrangeas (apart from the humidity and mosquitos, of course)!

These photos were all taken in my backyard . . . where apparently the motto is: "You can never have too many hydrangeas!"

What you should take away from this post is this: if you're looking for dramatic color in your yard, you cannot go wrong with hydrangeas. There are so many varieties, and the varieties go so much further than simple blossom color. There are textures and bloom types that will blow you away! They're easy to care for, so very southern, and they can literally make people say, "Wow!"

And, folks, that is something that I think all landscapes should strive to achieve.

New Outdoor Watering "Rules"

2010-06-04T15:48:00.001-04:00

So, not that many of us have had to really be concerned with whether our grass, flowers, and gardens have been getting enough water lately -- thank you very much, Mother Nature -- but you should take note of the new outdoor watering regulations that went into effect June 1, 2010. I want to point out that the new legislation is not a watering ban, but rather it outlines a smarter way to use our resources.

Outdoor landscape irrigation is now allowed 7 days per week between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Outdoor irrigation is not allowed between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. with the exception of the following uses:

Irrigation of personal food gardens
Irrigation of new and replanted plant, seed, or turf in landscapes, golf courses, or sports turf fields during installation and for a period of 30 days immediately following the date of in-stallation
Drip irrigation or irrigation using soaker hoses
Hand-watering with a hose with automatic cutoff or handheld container
Irrigation of horticultural crops held for sale, resale, or installation
Use of water withdrawn from private water wells or surface water
Irrigation of athletic fields, golf courses, or public turf grass recreational areas
Installation, maintenance, or calibration of irrigation systems
Hydro-seeding
Commercial agricultural operations
Capture and reuse of cooling system condensation or storm water in compliance with applica-
ble local ordinances and state guidelines
Reuse of gray water in compliance with Code
Use of reclaimed waste water by a designated user from a system permitted by the Environmental Protection Division of the department to provide reclaimed waste water

So the green industry just wants us all to water smart. Personally, I think it's about time. My rain barrel overfloweth.

For more information about efficient water use in the landscape, please visit ConserveWaterGeorgia.net.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-05-25T08:23:00.000-04:00

What I love about a vegetable garden is that they come in all shapes and sizes. Take a look around on your next drive through the neighborhood, and you're sure to spot all sorts of "gardening" in all sorts of places. Even though most of us live in a very suburban, or even urban, area, we all have roots. What I mean is, we all have ties to a simpler time when our families relied on the land for sustenance, and some of that knowledge of the land was passed down to us and it comes out in our various gardens.

In my neigbhorhood there are a few full-fledged gardens, and by this I mean dedicated space complete with raised beds or carefully planted rows of young vegetables. Now some of these gardens have been filled with plants purchased at Home Depot and Wal-Mart, but maybe one or two are made up of young plants nurtured from seeds carefully selected from well-respected seed catalogs. Some of the vegetables are heirloom varieties, some have been grown by the gardener year after year, and I bet there are a few gardeners that feel like they have no idea what they're doing -- they may just really like the taste of a good, home-grown tomato. I mean, who doesn't?

So in observing the many different forms that the modern garden shows up in, I've been thinking that it would make an interesting topic for a blog series. Seeking out gardens wherever they may be -- obvious ones filled with tomatoes and cucumbers, bean poles and trellises; gardens tucked away in between foundation plants because that's the only place there is enough sun to produce ripe fruit or veggies; the "tub" garden; or, even the as seen on tv variety we've all come to know as the "topsy turvy" type.

The point is that I bet we could all learn something from each other, and the more we learn, the more wide-spread back yard (or front yard) gardening would become. I might be able to share my secret for keeping blackspot away, and the gentlemen up the street from me could share how he is able to produce such a varied crop each season from such a small plot of land. And that random extremely hot pepper planted in another garden that is never eaten? We'd all know why it's there, because there is one thing I do know about gardening: every plant has a purpose.

So I'll do my best to be a collector of vegetable gardens. A few pictures, a bit of advice from the creator -- it should give us something to think about. And I'll also do a bit of research on local community supported agriculture for those of you who just don't have any hint of a green thumb. Sadly, I know you're out there, but you know what else is out there? Wonderful farmers who want to share their locally grown abundance with the the rest of us in an effort to create a truly sustainable community. Who says the good old days are behind us?

Prepping Beds

2010-04-23T10:13:00.000-04:00

Team Turf has been busy this week prepping flower beds and picking out the best specimens from local nurseries to pack those beds full of amazing summer color. One of the best things you can ever do when planting is to prep the area where the plant is going to be placed -- whether it be an annual flower, a perennial plant, or a vegetable. Plants and shrubs that are pampered from the get-go are going to be your best performers, and the blooms and overall health that you will get as a result of taking a bit more time initially are definitely worth it.

In getting ready for our summer garden at home, one of the first things we always do is to clean out any leaves, debris, or weeds from the raised beds. Step two is topdress with a nutritious mix of vegetable soil. There are tons of different "recipes" for adding nutrients to your vegetable beds. In fact, when we first started growing vegetables at home we simply dumped in several bags of mushroom compost from Home Depot straight into the soil and tilled it until it was nice and fresh. Now our soil comes from Green Bros. Earth Works here in Atlanta. Their mix of topsoil, NutraMulch, and granite sand makes a concoction that our vegetables love! (Although we still dump in the mushroom compost from time to time -- in the middle of the growing season, your vegetables will thank you for that extra TLC).

There are always a few extras to toss in when planting certain vegetables and flowers, and every gardener has their favorite secret ingredient -- tomato plants love a bit of lime, coffee grounds worked into the soil are always a big hit for any vegetable bed, and at home we feed our roses an "ambrosia" that includes beer and fish emulsion. A bit stinky, but it packs a big punch!

So, as promised, here are a few photos of the new raised boxes we've added to our home garden, as well as a couple of "before" photos of an area that we designed and planted last week. In true Southern style, we've incorporated a cottage garden into our landscape complete with roses, lavender, and several other old-fashioned blooming perennials that will wow us with their color while attracting hummingbirds and butterflies in droves (we hope). The vegetables themselves have not been added to the garden quite yet. Seeds are sprouting in trays all around the house, and as soon as the ground is a bit warmer we'll start settling them all into their proper places.

I hope that you'll look around your yard this weekend and try to envision the potential. Where can you add a bit of color? Do you have an area that would make an inviting home for a raised vegetable bed, or an herb garden? Our children have been so excited to plant their seeds and get their hands dirty while helping us "prep" for our summer showcase, and it's a really good feeling to know that we're teaching them about being green and working the earth. Food really does taste better when you grow it in your own backyard, zinnia blossoms truly are more beautiful when you've coaxed them from seed, and passing the love of gardening -- whether on a large or small scale -- down to your children is something that will stay with you, and them, for a lifetime.

P.S. Check back for the "after" photos -- they'll be here soon!

Food Revolution Hits Home

2010-04-05T16:46:00.000-04:00

I know some of you have seen it -- Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? For those of you who haven't seen this new reality television show, it is based around renowned chef Jamie Oliver and his attempts at bringing fresh food into public school cafeterias. I've caught a couple of episodes, and it is eye-opening and says a lot about the culture of food in our country.

Jamie is focusing his attempts on a small West Virginian town, and during a recent episode he showed up in a Kindergarten classroom to find out how much the kids knew about eating fresh food. The answer? Nothing! I watched in disbelief as he held up various vegetables in their natural whole state and asked the kids to name them -- they had no idea. Now, my three-year-old son may not eat broccoli, but he knows what one looks like for goodness sake!

Which brings me to my yard where you'll always find some variation of a kitchen garden growing each summer, and where my own campaign for healthy eating will be kicking in very soon. My focus for this planting season is to expand our home garden to expose my family to even more fresh options -- I want to get them excited about eating homegrown veggies, and to illustrate to them that yummy food comes in other forms besides that of a chicken nugget and a side of fries. And here's what I've got to remember and what part of the challenge will be in bringing in more fruit and vegetable yielding plants into our yard: not every one will be "pretty," nor will they all fall into the tidy category, which is the way I like my landscapes. Sounds like this could be interesting.

My kids are pumped, though. They've already been told that they'll have their own bit of garden to tend, and that we'll be adding some of their favorites -- strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, corn, and sunflowers -- to accompany our old standbys of cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and various herbs. I think we'll even give a year-round garden a go because my daughter actually does eat broccoli (loves it, in fact), and having them involved in the preparation, planting, growing, and harvesting of their food will hopefully go a long way in teaching them about the importance of nutrition, as well as about the good feelings you get from getting out in the garden every day. Not to mention that fresh food actually tastes good.

So stay tuned because there will be lots of updates on my own food revolution, and it's starting this week. The first step? Building a few more raised vegetable beds and bringing in good soil with a healthy dose of mushroom compost and cow manure.

A Little Bit of Inspiration

2010-03-29T16:35:00.003-04:00

So much of what keeps yard and garden enthusiasts going is the sense of a new beginning that always arrives with Spring, and for many of us the tell-tale signs are the same -- the emergence of daffodils, The Masters and its magnificent azaleas bordering each hole, and, of course, Easter with its symbolic lilies and general message of life and rebirth. All of this has been in the back of my mind, but this year I got hit with a big dose of inspiration during a recent family vacation.

Let me just preface this by saying that I am constantly looking for new ideas for flowerbed design and interesting ways to use new plants, because come on, it gets a bit boring year after year seeing the same old plants in the same old front entrances, right? Well, I also appreciate floriculture more than the average person, I'd say, and sometimes I get excited when I see a huge flower bed that requires thousands of flowers -- most people don't realize the cost and labor involved in a project like this. In fact, one of my favorite flower beds each season is at an office park right off of 400 on the way to Perimeter Mall. Their flower beds are always packed with blooms, and the beds themselves go on and on -- I'm usually pretty impressed.

So, last week I travelled to Walt Disney World with my family. It was our children's first visit, and my daughter actually turned 5 while we were there, so it was magical in all the right ways. About mid-week we trouped off to Epcot, and they just happen to be hosting the Epcot International Flower and Garden Show right now. I was floored by the detail, the amazing use of plant materials, and the sheer number of flowers in each and every centerpiece. We're talking topiaries depicting the likeness of many of the best-loved Disney characters, a miniature village complete with a working train, fairy houses made out of found and natural objects, an outdoor kitchen in "Italy" complete with herbs for fresco cooking, and beautiful vegetable gardens. One of the most amazing things that I noticed was that there were beds with a mixture of cooler season perennials and summer perennials, which is not something that you normally see mainly because of the cost of using a specimen that will not last the entire season.

I became inspired almost immediately to return home and put some of what I'd seen into play in my own yard and in the yards of Team Turf clients. We certainly don't have to be on vacation to be surrounded by outdoor beauty, and our own properties are the most ideal place to make an investment of this sort. And while I realize that the majority of folks probably aren't yearning for a Mickey Mouse topiary in their front yard, there are more options than you'd think for incorporating some of these showstopping ideas into residential landscapes.

So for the next several weeks I'll be sharing some of the ways that we can do just that. From raised vegetable beds that blend into your landscape, to European inspired outdoor sitting areas, to tasteful topiaries, we'll look at different ways to incorporate a bit of your personality and lifestyle into your landscape -- just remember to keep your eyes open because you never know where you'll be when inspiration strikes!

To Prune or Not To Prune?

2010-03-03T08:12:00.003-05:00

That seems to always be the question, and especially in this economy, you'll want to remember that cutting back shouldn't just apply to your monthly spending. (Sorry, bad joke).

Proper pruning and cutting back of your perennials keeps them healthy, attractive, and allows them to grow stronger and last longer. The trick? Knowing what you're doing before you get out the pruners.

Let's have a look at some common sights around East Cobb -- the lovely Crape Myrtle in its various stages of life.

Here is Crape Myrtle that has been left to grow without any assistance:

This is an older, established tree that unfortunately is not able to be as beautiful as it could be because its pruning needs are being ignored. This tree doesn't need to necessarily be pruned to keep it at a certain height, but selective pruning would give it a "cleaner" look. It is true, though, that the fate of this tree is far more favorable than being pruned incorrectly, which results in extremely unsightly specimens that suffer from stunted growth and the inability to become a full-sized, healthy Crape Myrtle.

Take a look at what some folks refer to as "Crape Murder" --

Seriously? I am amazed and appalled every time I see this, and believe me, I see it over and over again while I'm evaluating properties or simply driving through the areas where I work and live. A tree should not look like it is in pain, but when I see pruning jobs that leave Crape Myrtles like the ones above, I am reminded of the gnarled, arthritic hands we've all seen in horror films -- not exactly what you should be shooting for when designing a warm, welcoming landscape.

When a Crape Myrtle is pruned back too far it has two effects -- it reduces the number of blooms that will be produced during summer, and the new branches will grow far too long and therefore not be able to support the weight of heavy blooms, especially when wet.

So what should you do if you've got Crape Myrtles? The answer is very simple: the trees should be properly pruned annually to maintain proper height, and to give them a tidier appearance. They should not be massacred. They should not be attacked with a chainsaw. They should be trimmed from the bottom up, carefully removing old growth that will allow for the newer growth that will arrive with the Spring. When a Crape Myrtle is pruned properly it will produce twice the number of strong branches and therefore twice the number of blooms as it did during the previous year.

The time to cut back is now. Whether it's Knock-Out Roses, Lenten Rose, or Crape Myrtles, doing so means more beauty to enjoy during the flowering season. My only advice is this -- do it right, and keep in mind that not all "professionals" know the difference between pruning and "Crape Murder."

Spring Is In the Air

2010-02-01T10:47:00.000-05:00

Well, not exactly, but the temp is supposed to be in the mid-50s by this afternoon, and quite frankly that is almost a heat wave compared to the frigid air that has been hanging around town the past few weeks. And we're so excited about our redesigned Web site, that we're ready to start redesigning everything -- lawns, patios, outdoor living areas, you name it!

My wife is an avid gardener, and she's also extremely organized and loves to clean things out and redesign, which is why she loves this time of year. A few days above 50 degrees, and she starts cutting back perennials, clearing out last year's beds, and flipping through her seed catalogs. The end of winter signifies a clean slate for her gardening projects, and promises new growth, more potential, and lots of blossoms and produce. (For me it usually means lots of digging, but the outcome is always worth it).

So as you look ahead to warmer months and the emergence of crocus and daffodils, keep Team Turf in mind as you envision your yard and the never-ending palette of potential that it possesses. We truly do believe that your yard should be an extension of your home and your personality, and we'd love to help you create an outdoor environment that is welcoming and inviting.

Don't forget to check out our new site -- TeamTurfLandscapes.com, and check our blog frequently for tips, ideas, and checklists for keeping your yard beautiful.

New Web site for Team Turf Landscapes

2010-01-26T09:57:00.001-05:00

We are in the process of rolling out a new Web site and blog for Team Turf Landscapes. Check back later for more pertinent information and updates