LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, August 27

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Removal of Existing Plants and Shrubs

Step one in any renovation is the demolition. 

• In landscaping, this refers to removing plants that cannot be salvaged or those in the way of paving and cannot be transplanted to another locale.
• Some woody ornamentals can be cut off at ground level, but others will resprout and so must be dug out. 
• Your LandscapExperts Team keep in mind that as one plant is dug up, the roots may be entwined with neighboring root systems, and we work to preserve the remaining shrubs.
• For large trees, we call in our experienced Arborists to remove them safely. Firewood and wood chips are often salvageable. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, August 20

Stretching Your Landscape Budget

CrabappleLandscapExperts are masters of the many ways to stretch your landscape budget, but we never sacrifice quality for price. 

• We select the smallest-sized plants, so long as they achieve our design objectives and are effective
• Bare-root plants are more economical and grow more quickly, if the renovation schedule and the calendar allows (narrow window of opportunity in late winter)
• Use inexpensive annuals as fillers while slower-growing shrubs and trees are getting established
• Use more common, less expensive plants as background, and new introductions as specimens
• Space ground covers with an eye to mature size rather than immediate impact 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, August 13

Understanding Plant Sizes

American Standard for Nursery Stock

This is a set of guidelines for growers and wholesale nurseries that helps them to standardize the sizing and description of trees, shrubs, roses, bulbs and plant material. Using these measurements ensures that a 3-gallon or a 3-inch caliper plant will be similar in size across nurseries. As well, they can assign different grades to indicate the quality of plants. Crabapple LandscapExperts choose large, robust plants for your installations.  .

Trees

Trees are graded by height, pot size, or if field-grown, larger sizes are graded in caliper inches (diameter of the trunk at breast height or DBH)

Shrubs

Shrubs are graded by height or pot size. Each type of shrub has standard measurements (low spreading, tall upright) 

Roses

Roses are graded by the number of canes

Bulbs

Bulbs are graded by circumference

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, August 6

Renovation Calendar

Let Crabapple LandscapEXPERTS summarize your renovation plans

Phase 1

Pamper plants that will stay in place with optimum water and fertilizing

Transplant existing plants to new locations

Remove plants that cannot be saved, rejuvenated or relocated

Phase 2

Install hardscaping (paving, fencing, arbors, decks, walls)

Phase 3

Select and install new plants

Renovate the lawn and spruce up ground cover areas

Add flowers

Mulch to finish