Spring Operations On Your Sites

EDGING AND MULCHING

One of the more labor-intensive services your landscape provider performs is the edging and mulching process that occurs each spring. After the site clean-up, new edges to many of the beds and tree rings are made to help define these areas and then mulch land-Spring Operations a layer of quality, partially decomposed hardwood is applied to the beds. Mulch is one of your best scape materials to help reduce soil erosion, prevent weeds, reduce soil moisture loss along with providing

ON YOUR SITES the site with a clean, professional appearance. Mulch depth should be between 1–2 inches in depth in most areas; on the higher end for around trees and shrubs and less when put on groundcover and perennials. Mulch is usually

It is a busy time of the year for landscape companies a hardwood product that has been shredded a number of times and as they scramble to get sites ready for the upcoming growing then aged for a few months to produce the end product found on most season. As we are now into the late spring, early summer period sites. Mulch can be the natural wood product, or a dyed material can for landscape maintenance, most of the spring activities have be used to provide different visual effects. Brown and black dyed mulch been completed on your sites in preparation for the growing is popular in many landscapes while red dyed mulch can also be found season. While landscapes may vary, from HOAs, Condominiums, in certain areas but is more popular in the South. These dyes are harmCommercial, Residential and Business Parks, these landscape prac- less to plants and are only used for aesthetic purposes. If you see mulch tices will be very similar for these different sites. While contracts layers exceeding this amount, then a mulch reduction may be in order will have variations as to how some of the landscape practices are for next season to reduce the buildup. It is not advisable to disturb the performed, generally they all should lay out how and when they soil/mulch layer when the plants are actively growing. will be performed. Sitting down with your landscape provider and going over these details as to expectations can increase clarity and a clear understanding of what is expected from this partnership. LAWN APPLICATIONS Let’s take a look at some of these practices and what you should Turfgrass is often the most visible part of many landscapes and the expect from your landscape provider. importance of a green, healthy turf cannot be overestimated in the overall look of the site. The success of your lawn starts in the early PRUNING AND SITE CLEAN-UP spring with the application of fertilizer and weed management applications. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for turfgrass success

Over the winter, leaves that have blown into the landscape and since it is critical for chlorophyll production and needs to be applied on branches that dropped during winter storms littering your sites, a regular basis during the growing season on most lawns. Your contract should be cleaned up and blown out of beds. Liriope ground cover, from your landscape provider will usually have anywhere from 3–5 perennials and ornamental grasses should have been cut back to seasonal applications and is dependent upon the overall desired make way for new growth later that is now occurring. Normally appearance of the lawn. Since most of our lawns are of the cool-season plants that need to be pruned before new growth starts should varieties (fescue and bluegrass) that prefer the cooler months of March–have been pruned earlier in the season, usually in the February May and then again from September–November, this is the most to March time period. Plants that required some pruning include important time of the year to treat them. Weed management will be of Roses, summer-flowering Spirea, Panicle Hydrangea, Butterfly two types; annual weeds that germinate each summer, such as crabBush, St John’s Wort and Clematis so they can maximize flow- grass, purslane, spurge to perennial weeds that are winter hardy, such ering this summer. It is also a great time to prune other shrubs as dandelions, clover and black medic. Crabgrass will be one of your if needed to reduce their height or rejuvenate them as a remedy biggest challenges in lawn weeds since they will germinate anytime from being excessively sheared over the years. Dormant pruning from May into late mid-July as the soil warms up. Treating them after of shrubs, such as Burning Bush Euonymus, Privet, Holly, they germinate can be difficult, so a weed prevention application is Viburnum, Forsythia, Boxwood, Cherry Laurel and Weigela necessary for most landscapes. At this time of the year, a post-emercan all be cut back now to help reduce their height if they are gent herbicide to treat the existing weeds should have been applied last obstructing window views or blocking walking paths or are just month if your goal is a lawn with minimal weeds. A successful lawn becoming over-sized. Even now in late spring, many of these will be dependent upon your weed and fertilization practices along shrubs can still be pruned as long as new growth has not occurred with your growing season cultural practices. Most cool-season lawns or is minimal. Dormant pruning of these plants will allow the prefer a mowing height between 3 1/2–4 inches and watered during shrubs to produce new, healthy growth that increases flowering periods of drought. Mowing lower can not only stress the grass but and reduces pest and disease issues. Some of this type of pruning can allow for weeds to germinate and increase soil water loss. A higher may be in the contract, but often large shrub reduction will be an turfgrass length will be your best defense in combating weeds and additional add-on to a contract. increasing the vigor of the lawn. continued on page 21