Fresh Thoughts: The Latest Tips, News and Resources

FRESH THOUGHTS

The latest news, tips and resources just for you By Complete Landsculpture

Planting Time

We often get asked “When is the best time to plant trees or shrubs?” With the climate in North Texas we can plant year-round; any time is a good time to plant. We also know that we live in North Texas and never know what mother nature will throw at us each summer. If I had to pick a time of year that I recommend, it would be spring. Now is a great time of year to plan any landscape improvements so the plants are in early. This is great for the plants but also allows you to enjoy your investment all summer long.

Irrigation System Checks and Repairs

Just like your air conditioner, when you need it most it seems to break down. The same for your irrigation system. Don’t delay on getting the irrigation system checked and make any of the recommended repairs. We all know how valuable and expensive water can be so let’s not waste it. In the heat of the summer licensed irrigators are busy working from sun up to sun down. It can be a challenge to get any repairs done quickly.

My favorite time of year. Warmer temperatures, lots of sunshine and beautiful flowers everywhere. It may seem early to most people but the time of year to plan your summer color is now! Growers only produce a set quantity of flowers and when they are gone we need to wait for the second crop, which could be weeks. If we plan in advance and get our orders in early, we get the best selection of flowers and don’t have to wait for the second crop. We like to start planting our summer color in April. That’s right around the corner. If you’re like me and can’t wait, there are flowers that can be installed for the spring. They typically are flowers that don’t like the heat so when summer arrives they need to be replaced with something that can take the heat. There are many varieties of flowers available and new colors that come out every year. Preparing your landscape for the upcoming season begins in the winter. Here are a couple of key tasks to make sure are done before the end of March.

• Pre-emergent applied to the turf to prevent those weeds from popping up in the summer.

This needs to be done by mid- March • Lower the mower height slightly to remove the winter killed brown stubble.

This allows sunlight to warm the ground a little quicker which in turn will help the lawn green up a little quicker. • Finish any dormant season pruning. Prune ornamental grasses back, roses should be trimmed (except climbers) about 50%. Shade trees- any broken or crossing branches as well as any branches hitting the building. Do not top

Crape Myrtles. Spring flowering plants should be trimmed right after they finish flowering. • Trim any ground covers (Asian Jasmine and Liriope) to remove winter browning on the tips. • March and April are a great time to fertilize your trees. Trees begin to push out new growth in the spring and greatly benefit from the added fertilization. We prefer an organic fertilizer for your trees and shrubs. Contact us and